Rapid Fire 2011-01-04: Afghan Contracts

* $2 billion in Afghan infrastructure projects under the US military’s Commander’s Emergency Response Program [PDF] are in disrepair, according to a report by the Washington Post. See also McClatchey’s ongoing coverage. * Meanwhile, the US Marines are less focused on weapons, and more on local police and district government. CFR’s Foreign Policy magazine suggests that this may be the missing piece in Mexico’s insurgency as well. * That said, firepower trends in Afghanistan are also distinctly up… perhaps it’s about both? * Defense Aerospace offers “Exquisite Technologies: Counting the Cost of USMC-Specific Weapons” * Tim Colton’s Maritime Memos offers a recap of 2010 American civilian and military shipbuilding developments: good, bad, and ugly. Their site doesn’t use permalinks, but it’s currently at the top of the page. * Report says Stuxnet worm likely took out 1,000 centrifuges at Iranian nuclear facility. * Snipers are a critical asset in the current wars. Vanity Fair takes an up-close look at what that means, through the lens of Master Sgt. Russ Crane’s experiences. * DoD to swap [PDF] IT, cybersecurity experts with private sector. * 2011 forecast is mixed for US state defense industries. Texas | Michigan | North Carolina * ITT […]