IN THE FIGHT
U.S. officials first must find ways to work with the post-coup government in Bamako, Mali to combat the militants said Michael Sheehan, the Defense Department’s assistant secretary for special operations. AP WSJ CNN
West African leaders contemplate a military intervention to stabilize Mali.
In Afghanistan and elsewhere, Navy Seabees support Special Operations Forces as they conduct Unconventional Warfare and Village Stability Operations. Combat Service Support Teams serve as liaisons between special operations forces and Naval Construction Forces when forward deployed, and coordinate external augmentation support as required for joint operations.
The director of NSA and CDRUSCYBERCOM said yesterday there has been a 17-fold increase in computer network attacks on American infrastructure.
General “A”[lexander] keynotes the DEFCON hacker conference today in Las Vegas, where he’ll discuss a litany of cyber threats.
IN THE MEDIA
Tens of thousands of civilian employees in the Defense Department could receive warnings about potential layoffs four days before the November election if impending spending cuts aren’t averted.
Adam Elkus, blogging at the Center for New American Security’s Abu Muqawama, ponders the utility of limited war.
Colonel Davis, the director of USAFRICOM public affairs, is displeased with recent media coverage of BPC (building partner capacity) initiatives.
TURNOVER
Lieutenant General John Mulholland has begun his new duties as deputy commander of Special Operations Command.
TURMOIL
Secretary Panetta wants the Building and the VA to ‘kick ass’.
CONTRACT WATCH
ITT Exelis will supply Oman’s air force with electronic warfare systems under a $23.6M contract.
The Department of State is on a roll: “new countrywide 380-400 MHz LMR (Land Mobile Radio) system based on ETSI Tetra (Terrestrial Trunking Radio) standards, to provide wireless communications for the LISF (Lebanon Internal Security Forces) in the country of Lebanon” and body armor for Diplomatic Security. Meanwhile, the Air Force wants two Minibuses and a handful of sedans to meander about Ankara, Turkey.
