Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 3, 2015

Nancy A. Youssef, Daily Beast: Iraq’s Attack Against ISIS Catches U.S. ‘By Surprise’



The biggest offensive against ISIS so far happened without American help—but with plenty of assistance from Iran.


The Iraqi military launched a major campaign to take back a key city from the self-proclaimed Islamic State over the weekend—a move that caught the U.S. “by surprise,” in the words of one American government official.


The U.S.-led coalition forces that have conducted seven months of airstrikes on Iraq’s behalf did not participate in the attack, defense officials told The Daily Beast, and the American military has no plans to chip in.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 3, 2015

U.S. fears Iran military influence growing in Iraq -- USA Today



US intelligence official: Iran involved in fight against IS -- Stars and Stripes/AP



Lloyd Austin, CENTCOM commander: ‘We are making progress’ in Islamic State fight -- Washington Times



General: ISIS campaign has killed 8,500 fighters -- The Hill



Australia to Send More Troops to Train Iraqi Military -- WSJ



Around 70% of Russian strategic aviation to be modernized by 2020 — defense minister -- ITAR-TASS



Major Artillery Drills Begin in Russian Far East – Defense Ministry -- Sputnik



Defense minister: Russian Navy will receive two Borei-class submarines this year -- ITAR-TASS



Does Russia Really Need a Second Aircraft Carrier? -- Ankit Panda, The Diplomat



Russian Black Sea Fleet to get 3 surface ships, two submarines in 2015 — Сaptain -- ITAR-TASS



Second Mistral ship intended for Russia to undergo first sea trials mid-March -- ITAR-TASS



Russia may sanction French companies over Mistral non-delivery – media -- RT



Russia, Egypt to Hold Joint Naval Drills in the Mediterranean in 2015 -- Sputnik



Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption purge takes aim at China’s military -- Financial Times



Red red army: To be a good soldier in China is to be a good Communist -- The Economist



Is India's Defense Budget Adequate? -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat



Slovakia Seeks to Ditch Russian Equipment in Army Modernization Plan -- Sputnik



Turkey: Notice on Military Maneuvers in Aegean Was a Mistake -- ABC News



Japan leaders in talks over broadening troops' weapons use overseas -- Stars and Stripes/The Yomiuri Shimbun



US govt issues logistics support tender for 300 military personnel in Ukraine -- RT



White House denies threat to shoot down Israeli jets -- The Hill



Next-gen stealth bomber is secret, but debate over cost is on the radar -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post



Air Force to move A-10 jets into backup status despite congressional opposition -- Washington Post



Senators say A-10 moves amount to backdoor retirement -- Stars and Stripes



Navy Deploys Drones Under Arctic Ice Ahead of Increased Ship Presence -- DoD Buzz



Army National Guard stands up cyber protection teams -- Army Times



Is The Military Prepared to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance? -- Armed With Science



The U.S. Army Almost Adopted a German Machine Gun -- Joseph Trevithick, War Is Boring



Secret tactics of successful Army recruiters -- Army Times



Reporting Sexual Abuse in the Military Is "Inherently Unfair." Here's Why. -- Jenna McLaughlin, Mother Jones



Russia Tops China as Principal Cyber Threat to US -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat



Snowden ready to go to US if he gets fair trial - whistleblower's lawyer -- RT