Af/Pak & Other News (3/21/2021)

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin makes unannounced visit to Afghanistan

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/03/21/Defense-Secretary-Lloyd-Austin-surprise-visit-Afghanistan/9081616359833/



In Kabul, Pentagon chief speaks of ‘responsible end’ to war

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-afghanistan-lloyd-austin-ashraf-ghani-6d57e76434b146c6dfb93aeb208f3464



The Contractor Conundrum

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htcbtsp/articles/20210321.aspx









India, US to expand military engagement, defense ties

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lloyd-austin-india-china-new-delhi-6a9c7db72c4242d12a0a8efc7c644e52



For first time, Israeli interceptor missile designed by Rafael being produced in India

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/48979



Fleeing coup, Myanmar police refugees in India seek asylum

https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-india-immigration-asia-narendra-modi-91f8546a791c8ba14c27f939354f9155









Iran Advances Missile Research in Defiance of U.S. Concerns

https://www.newsweek.com/iran-advances-missile-research-defiance-us-concerns-1577348



AP sources: Iran threatens US Army post and top general

https://apnews.com/article/national-security-iran-only-on-ap-army-1285df40348182e1b74dc403607c5928



US officials recount Iranian plan to attack Washington military base

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/us-officials-recount-iranian-plan-to-attack-washington-military-base-1.1188587



Iran Lawmaker Admits Nuclear Expansion Is Leverage for Joe Biden Talks

https://www.newsweek.com/iran-lawmaker-admits-nuclear-expansion-leverage-joe-biden-jcpoa-talks-1577381









Intercepting Iraqi MiG-25s, flying DACT against USMC F/A-18s and flying training sorties with live weapons: how RAF Tornado F3 crews prepared for Operation Desert Storm

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/intercepting-iraqi-mig-25s-flying-dact-against-usmc-f-a-18s-and-flying-training-sorties-with-live-weapons-how-raf-tornado-f3-crews-prepared-for-operation-desert-storm/



Pirates hijack Iraqi ship stranded off Iranian coast

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1829321/middle-east









Saudi-led coalition targets Houthi missiles' workshops in Yemen's Sanaa: State media

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi/saudi-led-coalition-targets-houthi-missiles-workshops-in-yemens-sanaa-state-media-idUSKBN2BD0S9



Saudis lead airstrike on Yemen’s capital after Aramco attack

https://www.worldoil.com/news/2021/3/19/saudis-lead-airstrike-on-yemen-s-capital-after-aramco-attack




Turkey police briefly hold pro-Kurdish MP after 4 nights at parliament

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-politics-kurds/turkey-police-briefly-hold-pro-kurdish-mp-after-4-nights-at-parliament-idUSKBN2BD04J









In Syria, US Commanders Hold the Line — and Wait for Biden

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/03/syria-us-commanders-hold-line-and-wait-biden/172808/



Russian jets hit gas facilities and civilian areas near Turkish border, witnesses and rebels say

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-idlib/russian-jets-hit-gas-facilities-and-civilian-areas-near-turkish-border-witnesses-and-rebels-say-idUSKBN2BD0E2









US confirms new security pact with Jordan

https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/us-confirms-new-security-pact-with-jordan-1.1188648









Israel, UAE in joint struggle against money laundering and terror financing

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/48962



The Israeli M-346s Fought (Virtually) In The Six-Day War

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/21/the-israeli-m-346s-virtually-fought-in-the-six-day-war/









Ukrainian Court Seizes Aerospace Company Motor Sich From Chinese Investors

https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-seizes-motor-sich/31161801.html



Russian-backed rebels deploys tanks near demarcation line in eastern Ukraine

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/russian-backed-rebels-deploys-tanks-near-demarcation-line-in-eastern-ukraine.html



Meet the Russian 'Information Warrior' Seeking To Discredit COVID-19 Vaccines

https://time.com/5948017/news-front-covid-19-information-war/




USS Monterey, USS Thomas Hudner Enter Black Sea for ‘Multi-Domain’ Operations

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/19/cruiser-uss-monterey-enters-black-sea-for-multi-domain-operations




Report: Iranian hackers operating from server farm in France

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/48966




British surveillance aircraft circling near Russian naval base

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-surveillance-aircraft-circling-near-russian-naval-base/



Britain’s special forces to target meddling Russians in defence escalation

https://amp.smh.com.au/world/europe/britain-s-special-forces-to-target-meddling-russians-in-defence-escalation-20210321-p57cnx.html



New Royal Navy ship to protect 'critical' undersea cables

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56472655



The UK Is Secretly Testing a Controversial Web Snooping Tool

https://www.wired.com/story/uk-secretly-testing-controversial-web-snooping-tool/



'Pandora's box' of Northern Ireland could be opened unless EU changes Brexit deal - loyalists warn

https://news.yahoo.com/1-northern-irelands-peace-deal-123148328.html









China Weapon Development Surpassing US sometimes

http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/03/china-weapon-development-surpassing-us.html



Combat drones in China are coming to a conflict near you

https://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/unmanned/article/14199662/china-military-drones-uav-unmanned



Why is the military worried about China expanding into South America?

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-worried-china-expansion-south-america/



China’s Damaging Influence and Exploitation of U.S. Colleges and Universities

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/china%E2%80%99s-damaging-influence-and-exploitation-us-colleges-and-universities-180581



The Peculiar Ransomware Piggybacking Off of China’s Big Hack

https://www.wired.com/story/dearcry-ransomware-exchange-server-china-hack/





Large Chinese destroyer spotted in waters near Japan, following law that lets Beijing’s coastguard fire on ships near Diaoyu Islands

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3126243/large-chinese-destroyer-spotted-waters-near-japan





Philippines says 220 Chinese boats have encroached in South China Sea

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-china-southchinasea/philippines-says-220-chinese-boats-have-encroached-in-south-china-sea-idUSKBN2BD0DE



Philippine defense chief asks Chinese flotilla to leave reef

https://apnews.com/article/south-china-sea-philippines-coronavirus-pandemic-china-manila-1bba6bede5d013515044c01dee2256ac



Filipino troops kill rebel commander, rescue last hostage

https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-philippines-kidnapping-manila-7a8f824ada255fbec039b095537a4427



Philippine army promises 'massive' operation against terrorists after hostages rescued

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/asia/philippine-army-promises-massive-operation-against-terrorists-after-hostages-rescued-1.1188178





South Korea Hints It May Strengthen Military Ties With Japan

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/south-korea-hints-it-may-strengthen-military-ties-with-japan/ar-BB1eOvr2










Quantum Mischief Rewrites the Laws of Cause and Effect

https://www.wired.com/story/quantum-mischief-rewrites-the-laws-of-cause-and-effect/



Intel Community, DoD Fast-Track New AI Breakthroughs

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/future-weapons/intel-community-dod-fast-track-new-ai-breakthroughs-dFQUHlAVmEeYuZ2XLLUvUg



Joe Biden stumbles on steps of Air Force One – video

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2021/mar/19/joe-biden-stumbles-on-steps-of-air-force-one-video



The Real Reasons the U.S. Can’t Win Wars Anymore

https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/03/the-real-reasons-the-u-s-cant-win-wars-anymore/



The Great Space Force NatSec Nip Slip

https://sofrep.com/news/us-space-force-chief-space-is-the-wild-wild-west/



US Army eases body fat rules for postpartum soldiers after Tucker Carlson mocked pregnant woman in the forces

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-army-eases-body-fat-rules-for-postpartum-soldiers-2021-3



Bell-Boeing gets $182M for two more CV-22Bs for AFSOC

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/21/bell-boeing-gets-182m-for-two-more-cv-22bs-for-afsoc/



Touch of gray: The Air Force can’t retire the Boeing 707

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/03/touch-of-gray-the-air-force-cant-retire-the-boeing-707/



US Navy Teams with NASA to Test Next-Generation DAVD Helmet Upgrades

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/03/us-navy-teams-with-nasa-to-test-next-generation-davd-helmet-upgrades/



U.S. Navy expects MQ-25 Stingray to conduct approximately 960 annual flight operations

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-navy-expects-mq-25-stingray-to-conduct-approximately-960-annual-flight-operations.html



Navy Should Bring Back a Stealthy Carrier-Launched Maritime Attack Drone

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/sea/navy-should-bring-back-a-stealthy-carrier-launched-maritime-attack-drone-1BgBXdXwoEWAUZR9JXSXVA