Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 1, 2020

Approximately 750 #Soldiers will deploy to the region immediately & additional forces from the IRF are prepared to deploy over the next several days. This deployment is an appropriate and precautionary action taken in response to increased threat levels against U.S. personnel...

— Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper (@EsperDoD) January 1, 2020

The Hill: Esper says 750 troops to deploy 'immediately' in response to violent embassy protests in Iraq

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Tuesday that 750 U.S. soldiers will deploy "immediately" to the Middle East after violent protests at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.

In a series of tweets, Esper said that more U.S. forces stand ready to deploy to the region.

"At the direction of the Commander in Chief @POTUS, I have authorized the deployment of an infantry battalion from the Immediate Response Force (IRF) of the @82ndABNDiv to the @CENTCOM area of operations in response to recent events in Iraq," Esper said.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 1, 2020

Trump deploys more troops to Mideast after US embassy attack -- AP

US deploying additional troops in wake of protests at U.S. Embassy in Iraq -- France 24

Up to 4,000 US troops could deploy to Middle East amid Baghdad unrest: officials -- FOX News

US Fed Up with Baghdad's Failure to Act Against Iran-Backed Militias, State Officials Say -- Military.com

Lockheed Martin nabs $2.35B in contracts for F-35 -- UPI

The Air Force Must Learn From The F-35 Before It Builds Its Next Fighter -- National Interest

14th Air Force Redesignated as Space Operations Command -- Air Force Magazine

General Atomics nets $10.1M for work on USS Kennedy, future USS Enterprise -- UPI

U.S. Fleet Created to Counter Russian Subs Now Fully Operational -- USNI News

Correcting the Legacy of Los Angeles-Class Submarines -- Captain William Toti, U.S. Navy, US Naval Institute

Suppose There Was a War and the Merchant Marine Didn’t Come? -- US Naval Institute

New in 2020: Army combat casualties trend upwards into 2020 -- Army Times

Pentagon Creates ‘Cadre of Pricing Experts’ to Curb Parts Abuses -- Bloomberg

Faulty Equipment, Lapsed Training, Repeated Warnings: How a Preventable Disaster Killed Six Marines -- ProPublica

TikTok app banned by US Army on work mobile phones -- BBC

Robert O’Brien Slashing National Security Council Staff -- Bill Gertz, Washington Times

Lockheed nabs $114M deal to deliver Patriot missiles to UAE -- UPI

AFRICOM ends 2019 with record number of strikes in Somalia -- Stars and Stripes

North Korea to develop new 'strategic' weapon: Kim -- DW

North Korea's Kim says world will soon witness 'new strategic weapon' -- France 24

China steps up warship building programme as navy looks to extend its global reach -- SCMP

The U.S.-China Tech Wars: China’s Immigration Disadvantage -- The Diplomat

Russian troops to use solar panels to power their equipment -- TASS

Russia’s aerospace forces to receive about 100 planes and helicopters in 2020 -- TASS

Hypersonic Putin and Gonzo Weaponry -- Binoy Kampmark, International Policy Digest

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