Daily Intelligence: Mali, the Fight and the Force

ON MALI

France has launched limited military operations into Mali, in support the Malian government forces there fighting the expansion of Islamic extremism.

ON THE FIGHT

On Wednesday, January 16 in Washington D.C. at noon the American Security Project will hold a conference entitled “The Iran Nuclear Challenge: Exploring Policy Options”. Among the invited speakers/panelists are retired Admiral “Fox” Fallon and the former deputy commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

DARPA has begun exploring ways to take preventative measures to harden the cloud computing services in use across the Department of Defense.

Turns out that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps has been arming most of Africa.

ON THE FORCE 

The Office of the Secretary of Defense has updated their guidance governing the establishment and regulation of contingency bases overseas. Changes include mandating the creation of a Contingency Location Master List, and giving the US Special Operations Command greater sway over requirements they need met to execute their missions abroad.

The Army Times has an exciting scoop: ” The Army is recruiting women to become pilots and crew chiefs for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment for the first time as part of its ongoing effort to expand roles for women in the service. The move by the 160th is the result of an appeal by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno to expand combat roles for women. ‘We are looking for women to serve in the cockpit, we’ll start with a pilot [trial] program, and assuming there’s no significant issues, we’ll integrate women,’ said Brig. Gen. Clayton Hutmacher, the commander of Army Special Operations Aviation Command. ‘We plan on going out and actively recruiting women. We’re fully supportive of this initiative.'”

POTOMAC TWO-STEP 

In a move surprising almost no one, the state of Virginia has begun aggressively courting the Federal Bureau of Investigation, when and if they choose to relocate. The General Services Adminstration has been exploring alternate sites after concerns about the viability of the Hoover building.

Arlington Cemetery is expanding, and the Army has returned some land to the state of Virginia to accommodate the changes.

Tysons Corner, home to the National Counterterrorism Center and countless defense and intelligence contractors, is on the rise.

Chuck Hagel: The 7 Point ‘Myth vs. Reality’ Fact Sheet

ON SECRECY – OR LACK THEREOF

The Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence has established guidelines for what it calls “Execution of Defense Clandestine Source Operation” — but the document is restricted.

Rear Admiral Howe is headed to Hawaii to lead Special Operations Command – Pacific. While cause to celebrate, the announcement that bears his name has caused consternation for those charged with keeping the Joint Special Operations Command special — and secret. With each release of a promotion or new assignment, the Pentagon inadvertently provides a not-so-rough outline of JSOCs organization chart, an organization that itself is classified.

The Central Intelligence Agency has leaked to the Washington Post that it plans to reduce its “bases” in Afghanistan from 15 to as little as 5.

Robert Caruso is a veteran of the United States Navy, and has worked for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Business Transformation Agency and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.