* The Government Accountability Office (GAO) thinks the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) should reassess its inventory reduction goals and schedule, lest they risk disposing of items only to have to buy them again.
* Stan Soloway, president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, says the way the US federal government is buying IT and services is starting to go through a major shift, though not necessarily for the better.
Iraq
* The US and Iraq are in talks over legal immunity for the (up to) 300 military advisers to be sent by the Pentagon. This is necessary, but it would have been vastly preferable for the US government to make a more serious effort at securing a Status of Forces agreement back in 2011.
* National Journal: understanding Iraq’s disappearing security forces.
Europe
* Leaks of secret recordings of conversations among politicians have been rocking the Polish government last week, but the latest revelations are taking an international turn. Radek Sikorski, the Foreign affairs minister, is allegedly heard saying that his country’s alliance with the US is worth less than nothing because it creates a false sense of security. NYT | Wprost [in Polish].
Asia
* Elbit announced a contract worth about $20M to upgrade the Philippines’ APCs. An executive from Russia’s Rosoboronexport reportedly said [in Russian] the Philippines are interested in BMP-3F amphibious IFVs. Indonesia bought 3 dozens in past years on a large line of credit from Russia.
* China is sending more oil rigs in contested waters in the South China Sea, just after fruitless talks with Vietnam supposed to resolve flaring tensions over a recently-deployed rig.
Aerial Refueling
* Today’s video shows aerial refueling of fixed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft, performed by the US Marines over the Mediterranean in daytime and at night:
