Defense
The [Air-Sea Battle] concept, the details of which are classified, has angered the Chinese military and has been pilloried by some Army and Marine Corps officers as excessively expensive. Some Asia analysts worry that conventional strikes aimed at China could spark a nuclear war. – Washington Post
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced Wednesday it has opened an investigation into why the Army destroyed a test report that favored an off-the-shelf software program that troops say has helped them find deadly explosives in Afghanistan. – Washington Times
Republicans on Tuesday accused the White House of trying to “intimidate” defense companies into keeping silent about major job losses if automatic military spending cuts take effect early next year, after the administration said Monday that it would be “inappropriate” for employers to warn workers of layoffs. – Washington Times
Republican lawmakers and the Obama administration’s budget chief blamed one another for sequestration Wednesday as a top Pentagon official warned the automatic spending cuts would lead to an “unready, hollow” military force. – DEFCON Hill
The heads of the House Armed Services Committee were not pleased with the tone of Wednesday’s hearing with President Obama’s budget chief, which devolved numerous times into a near-shouting match. – DEFCON Hill
An Obama administration decision to exempt military personnel programs from potential across-the-board budget cuts in January does not mean troops and their families would feel no impact from the budget process known as sequestration. – Defense News
With automatic, across-the-board federal budget cuts slated to begin next January, defense industry leaders warned of deep wounds to America’s backbone if Congress fails to act to avoid the roughly $1 trillion in reductions. – Medill News Service
There are many breakthrough war-fighting technologies available to U.S. Air Force planners, but perhaps only 10-20% of these projects have any chance of being funded for the foreseeable future. – Aviation Week
A key U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday announced that it would seek to restrict a Navy program to build new missile launch tubes into its Virginia-class attack submarines – Global Security Newswire
A new issue involving improperly installed bolts has emerged in the latest ships built by the Avondale shipyard near New Orleans, delaying the delivery of one ship and affecting another. – Defense News
Cybersecurity
Chances appeared slim on Wednesday for any agreement that would allow the Senate to move forward on a bill aimed at protecting American computer networks from cyberattacks. – National Journal
The Obama administration is unleashing a full court press for the Senate to pass cybersecurity legislation this week as the prospects for moving a bill before the August recess are flagging. – Hillicon Valley
Editorial: The House and McCain cyber-security proposals offer limited solutions to guard against a “digital Pearl Harbor.” In a world of fast-changing technology, less is better policy, and in this case it stands a far better chance of becoming the law of the land. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Ashton Carter and Jane Holl Lute write: This legislation is a critical step for defending America’s infrastructure against the clear and present cyberthreats we face. We’re not going to solve this problem overnight; it will involve a learning experience for both the private sector and the government, but we must learn fast, and develop solutions as quickly as possible. The legislation will help pave the way to American security and prosperity in the information age. It deserves the full support of Congress and the American people. – New York Times
The War
Mohamed is the younger brother of al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, and shares many of his views. He is suspicious of the international media but recently agreed to talk with CNN in his first interview with a western network. Mohamed al-Zawahiri takes the long view when talking about the rise and endurance of al Qaeda. – CNN’s Security Clearance
Nonproliferation
Jeffrey Lewis writes: If the administration really can persuade Taiwan and Jordan to agree to accept the gold standard, doing so will demonstrate that the United States can negotiate nuclear trade agreements that also have strong nonproliferation provisions. And this, in turn, will put pressure on the tougher cases, like South Korea and Saudi Arabia, to conform with what will appear to be an emerging global standard — 24 carats and nothing less. – Foreign Policy
