* The Pentagon released its annual report [PDF] to Congress on military developments in China. The excitable media is getting their panties in a bunch over the explicit denunciation of Chinese attacks that could help map “military capabilities that could be exploited during a crisis.” Stop the presses, that exact same phrase was already in an October 2009 report [PDF] from the congressional US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Somehow it’s a bold move for the Obama administration to tell back to Congress what Congress told them almost 4 years ago. The report and its predecessors are in our Google Drive.
* While traveling in China, Daniel Goure from the Lexington Institute observed a critical shortage… of toilet paper. It’s not as silly as you might think it is:
“How does the state of public restrooms relate to a nation’s great power status? Simply put, it is a clear reflection of China’s uneven development. There is over investment in such areas as industrial production and transportation. At the same time, there is massive under investment in public services. Also, the public toilet situation is an indicator of the government’s skewed priorities with respect to the well-being of its people.”
* The relationship between the US Army’s contracting team in charge of its Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) III contract and KBR are reportedly quite tense.
* The latest Crosstalk journal [PDF] is dedicated to large scale agile software development. Apparently that is not doomed to be an oxymoron.
* More Su-30 fighters have reportedly been delivered to Uganda but good luck getting straight talk from the government about how many planes they have ordered.
* Serbia is weighing the purchase of up to 6 MiG-29M Fulcrum jets from Russia. Somewhat awkward choice if the Serbs are going to apply to join the European Union.
* The Center for Strategic and International Studies tries to assess the state of Syria’s air defenses. The think tank warns against drawing definitive conclusions from Israel’s successful strikes over last weekend.
* Ultra-strength steel with high fracture toughness, not much cobalt and nickel seeks defense applications for long-term mating. If interested, send profile (and a nice picture) to Navmar Applied Sciences Corporation of Warminster, PA.
* HEICO Corporation is acquiring Reinhold Industries, a manufacturer of niche components and composite assemblies used in Patriots and Standard Missiles, among other programs.
