3/24/11 - Totally Thursday Stuff

[TSPking]

Cyber Command to combat growing cyber threats

Gen. Keith Alexander announces hardened IT architecture plan
http://defensesystems.com/articles/2011 ... tives.aspx

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Senate makes fresh pass at cybersecurity legislation

Senior staff members working on the issue of cybersecurity and how to address it in law
http://defensesystems.com/articles/2011 ... enate.aspx

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U.S. should take stronger stance to protect infrastructure, experts say

Active defense might be structured like NORAD
http://defensesystems.com/articles/2011 ... ttack.aspx

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Stuxnet will require new security mindset

New attacks could cross the 'air gap' to systems not connected to the Internet
http://defensesystems.com/articles/2011 ... reats.aspx

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DoD Brass Expect More Cuts (Then the Administration Needs to Stop Using DOD to solve all its problems)

Top Pentagon officials are huddling this week in advance of White House budget guidance, which is likely
to call for additional sharp cuts in defense spending, according to senior DoD officials.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6037566

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US role in Libya costs hundreds of millions so far

Stretched thin by two wars, the U.S. military is spending upward of $1 billion in an international assault
to destroy Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses and save rebels from likely defeat, according to
analysts and a rough calculation of the military operation so far.
http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U ... 3-15-38-16

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Five days into Operation Odyssey Dawn, costs mounting

The Libya operation could cost billions -- and require the Pentagon to request
emergency funding from Congress.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?a ... dcn=e_gvet

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U.S. spending on military operations in Libya drains Pentagon (Did Congress take another break??)

The U.S. military operations in Libya will cost hundreds of millions of dollars and force Congress to seek
help next week for the cash-strapped Pentagon, which is operating on a short-term funding resolution.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us- ... ltoafriend

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House Lawmakers Draft Legislation to DEFUND Libyan Operations (They gonna defund humanitarian assist to Japan too??)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/2 ... 39688.html

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Cracking down on improper payments requires a fine balance, panelists say

Government officials discuss challenges agencies face in juggling oversight and expediency.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?a ... dcn=e_gvet

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U.S. Army, Navy Near JHSV Deal (Is this another one of those you got the mission but no money for it good deals??)

The U.S. Army is nearing a deal to transfer its Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSVs) to the U.S. Navy
to operate and maintain.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6038779

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DOD TODAY WILL ISSUE A STOP-WORK ORDER FOR THE F136,

Reported Bloomberg's Roxana Tiron and Tony Capaccio, citing industry and defense officials. This would fulfill
Gates' promise that if Congress did not terminate what he calls "the extra engine," he would do so himself - with
extreme prejudice.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-2 ... ngine.html

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F-22 Raptor flown on synthetic biofuel

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123248331

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UTC-built oxygen generator fails on U.S. submarine

The machine that produces fresh air aboard the USS New Hampshire submarine failed during a mission under the vast ice cap
of the Arctic Ocean last week, prompting the submarine to use an alternate oxygen candle system instead. Hamilton Sundstrand,
a unit of United Technologies Corp (UTX.N), is sending a representative to a temporary ice camp to investigate the problem with
the oxygen generator, said Navy Commander John McGunnigle, captain of the nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarine.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/ ... U420110321

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Growlers Over Libya - An Update

http://defensetech.org/2011/03/23/growl ... an-update/

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Army, Marines begin separate ERP rollouts

After some false starts, the Marine Corps and Army are rolling out next-generation software systems designed
to track logistics information all over the world. They'll replace a hodgepodge of antiquated databases-some
dating back 40 years.
http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?sid=2315651&nid=35

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Following the Epic Systems Money (ethics??)

I reported yesterday that five members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation asked the Veterans Affairs and
Defense departments to consider using a single commercial system for their new electronic health records, a move
that could benefit one of the state's largest employers, software company Epic Systems Corp.
http://whatsbrewin.nextgov.com/2011/03/ ... _money.php

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'Ludicrous' Defense contract keeps Reserve physicians from treating troops, congressman says

A $790 million Defense Department contract prevents uniformed doctors from performing medical exams on
soldiers during drill weekends, said a U.S. congressman who also serves as an Army Reserve doctor.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110 ... ne=NGtoday

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Group Wants DADT Repeal Process Sped Up (Not worried about Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, or humanitarian aid to Japan Speed up DADT REPEAL)

Pentagon leaders are confident that a full repeal of the controversial "don't ask, don't tell" law will be
finalized later this year, but at least one gay rights group believes military officials can and should
speed up the process.
http://www.military.com/news/article/gr ... html?wh=wh

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Enterprise sailor killed in non-combat incident

A senior petty officer died Tuesday aboard the aircraft carrier Enterprise stemming from a "non-combat
related incident," according to a Defense Department news release Wednesday.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/n ... t-032311w/

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DOD offers internal guidance on insourcing

Memo to serve as strategy for building workforce in lean budget times
http://defensesystems.com/articles/2011 ... rcing.aspx

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Few employees denied step increases for poor performance

Does job performance play a factor in employee raises and step increases? Unions defending the General
Schedule say yes. But the latest numbers say clearly no.
http://www.federaltimes.com/article/201 ... 20301/1001

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Bill seeks to end FERS pension for new hires beginning in 2013

Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., last week introduced a bill that would end the Federal
Employees Retirement System's defined benefit pension for new employees beginning in 2013.
http://www.federaltimes.com/article/201 ... 20302/1001

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Ins and Outs

Take our quiz on long-term care insurance open season.
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0311/032411pb.htm

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Boehner Presses Obama on Libya Action (Where is the President??)

The House speaker is clashing with top Senate Democrats over the president's
handling of the Libyan crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/us/po ... l?emc=eta1

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U.S. Dems Counter GOP Criticism over Libya (Maybe they should pass a budget funding this)

Democratic leaders from the U.S. Senate came out March 23 to support the president's decision to intervene
in Libya, countering growing criticism from both Republicans and Democrats.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6039549

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Senators miffed over drunk driver apps (Pass Budgets first)

Drunk and want to avoid the police? There's an app for that, and Congress doesn't like it.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110 ... ne=NGtoday

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A Lack of Fiscal Leadership

http://blogs.govexec.com/fedblog/2011/0 ... ership.php

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Fed's Clash With Bank of America Raises Questions

The Federal Reserve denied Bank of America's request to raise its dividend. Other banks did not reveal
their plans for buying bank stock or increasing their dividends.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/ ... /?emc=eta1

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States Pass Budget Pain to Cities

More layoffs, service cuts and tax increases are almost certain as deep
cuts loom for state aid to cities.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/us/24 ... l?emc=eta1

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Illinois: Some Movement in House Stalemate (The Party of run out of town)

The leader of the boycotting Indiana House Democrats returned to the Statehouse on Wednesday
for what he called a very positive meeting with the Republican House speaker.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/us/24 ... l?emc=eta1

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Justice Department, SEC cracking down on U.S. companies engaging in bribery abroad (Raise their Taxes!!)

To win computer business with the South Korean government, IBM allegedly delivered cash bribes in shopping bags.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ ... ltoafriend

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Toyota Says Scarce Parts to Idle Some U.S. Plants

Shortages of some Japanese-made parts are expected to force the automaker to
halt production at one or more plants.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/busin ... l?emc=eta1

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Lawmakers question pay for USPS employees

House committee plans hearing to scrutinize postal workforce costs and new union contract.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?a ... dcn=e_gvet

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Tower at Reagan National goes silent as planes attempt to land

The control tower at Reagan National Airport went silent early Wednesday, forcing the pilots
of two airliners carrying a total of 165 passengers and crew members to land on their own.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/tow ... ltoafriend

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Japan Nuclear Crisis Revives Long U.S. Fight on Spent Fuel

The nuclear crisis in Japan has caused new arguments over a derailed repository
for spent fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/us/24 ... l?emc=eta1

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Administration issues new coal leases amid uncertain policy landscape

There are no plans to build new coal plants in the U.S., so companies are
increasingly mining coal for export.
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?a ... dcn=e_gvet

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Feds: Former Marines caught uniformed illegals

SAN DIEGO - At first glance, the white van seemed full of clean-cut Marines in uniform - not necessarily
an unusual sight near the Border Patrol's desert checkpoint along Interstate 8 in...
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/a ... ls-032311/

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Report: Time is now for talks to end Afghan war

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/A ... 2-03-16-00

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Start Of Afghan 'Fighting Season' Will Test U.S. Strategy

After the most violent winter since U.S. soldiers arrived in Afghanistan, the spring thaw has come, ushering in
a new "fighting season" in which, intelligence suggests, the Taliban leadership believes they will storm back into
their former strongholds in the south and reverse the much-trumpeted gains of U.S.-led coalition forces.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/22/v ... eason.html

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Protests continue in southern Syrian city

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/M ... 3-12-34-17

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With Yemen in chaos, U.S. walks fine line

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration sought Wednesday to avoid undermining an embattled ally in
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, offering no prediction as to whether he could ride out...
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/a ... ne-032311/

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Israel passes laws that critics say are anti-Arab

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/M ... 3-07-47-53

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Gaza police report Israeli airstrike, no injuries

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/M ... 3-11-04-31

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Egypt's Facebook revolution faces identity crisis

A 30-minute walk from Tahrir Square, in a dark, dilapidated room lighted by a single, bare bulb,
members of the April 6 movement are meeting to decide the group's future.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/egy ... ltoafriend

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Allies' War Options May Be Limited In Libya

The top commander of the allied air war to protect civilians in besieged Libyan cities said the forces of
Moammar Gadhafi must pull out or face attack, a task analysts say is complicated by the risk of bombing in
populated areas.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011 ... ibya_N.htm

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Global Hawk Drone and E-8 JSTARS May Be Helping the Libya Fight

http://defensetech.org/2011/03/22/e-8-j ... ght/?wh=wh

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Details of Marines' pilot rescue released

An operation to recover the downed Air Force pilot of an F-15 that crashed in Libya just before midnight
Monday involved dozens of Marines, seven Marine aircraft and two dropped bombs, a senior...
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/m ... d-032211w/

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Obama: No ground invasion in Libya (So the Bataan ARG & 22 MEU left early because??)

WASHINGTON - President Obama on Wednesday categorically ruled out a land invasion to oust Libyan leader
Moammar Gadhafi as coalition forces launched a fifth day of air strikes against...
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/03/a ... ya-032311/

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Adm. Sidesteps Troops in Libya Question

After four days of missile strikes against Libyan defense systems and direct attacks on ground forces,
a senior official speaking on behalf of the U.S.-led effort to keep Col. Moammar Gadhafi from killing
his own people would not say today if that mission can be done with air power alone.
http://www.military.com/news/article/ad ... stion.html

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Allies Pressure Qaddafi Forces Around Rebel Cities (This Doesn't Sound like enforcing a NO-FLY Zone this sounds like direct intervention)

The United States and its allies shifted to ferocious airstrikes on ground forces, tanks and artillery,
marking the second phase of a military campaign that drew the Pentagon deeper into the fight.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world ... l?emc=eta1

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Libya: Nato Refuses Military Ops Command

NATO has again refused to take over command of military operations in Libya, with objections
from Turkey frustrating U.S. efforts to hand over control.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World- ... ibya%3A_Na


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Arab countries on the sidelines in Libya campaign (The Arab League Talks a good Game)

http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U ... TE=DEFAULT

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Sanctions in 72 hours: How the U.S. pulled off a major freeze of Libyan assets

The Treasury Department team had been working nonstop on a plan to freeze Libyan assets in U.S. banks, hoping
they might snare $100 million or more and prevent Moammar Gaddafi from tapping it as he unleashed deadly attacks
against protesters who wanted him gone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/investiga ... ltoafriend

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Shady Dealings Helped Qaddafi Build Fortune and Regime

Since the United States reopened trade with Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's government in 2004, businesses
have witnessed a Libyan culture rife with kickbacks, strong-arm tactics and political patronage.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world ... l?emc=eta1

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Turk Satellite on Track Despite Israeli Objection

ANKARA - The Italy-based maker of Turkey's first planned military satellite said the construction of the Gokturk
satellite is on track, with a scheduled launch in 2013, despite objections raised by Israel against the device's
operational capabilities.
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6040077

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Germany Steps Away From European Unity

Chancellor Angela Merkel has raised questions about Germany's ability to play a
global role in foreign policy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world ... l?emc=eta1

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9 NATO Countries Launch ISR Sharing Project

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6039232

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Austerity Debate Fells Portugal's Premier (President, Senate, Congress Take Heed)

The failure to complete painful financial measures led to the government's collapse and
pushed the nation closer to a bailout from Europe and the International Monetary Fund.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world ... l?emc=eta1

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Navy can authorize stop-movement waivers for sailors who are part of Japan relief effort

Commanding officers and officers-in-charge will be able to request waivers and operational holds to
fill critical billets related to the ongoing relief efforts in Japan, according to a new U.S. Navy
directive.
http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/jap ... -1.138745#

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Reagan air crews pause relief operations to decontaminate

Navy officials halted air operations from USS Reagan on Wednesday so they could clean the ship of contamination
from radioactive plume it hit while conducting humanitarian relief operations off the coast of Japan on March 13.
http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/ear ... -1.138602#

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Anxiety Up as Tokyo Issues Warning on Its Tap Water

Radioactive iodine detected in the water supply added to the anxiety about Japan's nuclear crisis.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world ... l?emc=eta1

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S. Korea Launches 3rd Aegis-equipped Destroyer (wonder if they have 3 different versions of AWS??)

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=6043657

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PRC Starts Seeking Space Coop

http://www.dodbuzz.com/2011/03/22/prc-s ... oop/?wh=wh

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