VA Mismanagement Making Headlines as US Congress Works Through FY15 Defense Bill

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* The House of Representatives will start debating the FY15 NDAA this week, while the Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up its own version the the bill. * LA Times: Growing evidence points to systemic troubles in VA healthcare system * Gannett’s Army Times: VA’s Shinseki must step down. State of Sats * The Satellite Industry Association released its annual “state of the industry” report [PDF]. With revenue growing just 3% in 2013 – for a total of $195B – this marks a significant slowdown. But that is somewhat overstated, as the launch industry saw revenue decreasing by 7% because fewer high-cost launches were made, but satellite manufacturing and services still grew in the 5%-8% range. Military surveillance accounted for 30% of the manufacturing total last year. Don’t Forget Political Engineering * USAF Col Michael W. Pietrucha argued in Air & Space Power Journal that the F-35A should be terminated. The author’s problem? He also needs a solution for the US Navy, and for US diplomacy, given the effect on allies. Reacting to Russia * NATO is reportedly working on defensive scenarios in case Russia were to make a move against some of its Eastern Europe members. Deutsche Welle […]

* The House of Representatives will start debating the FY15 NDAA this week, while the Senate Armed Services Committee will mark up its own version the the bill.

* LA Times: Growing evidence points to systemic troubles in VA healthcare system

* Gannett’s Army Times: VA’s Shinseki must step down.

State of Sats

* The Satellite Industry Association released its annual “state of the industry” report [PDF]. With revenue growing just 3% in 2013 – for a total of $195B – this marks a significant slowdown. But that is somewhat overstated, as the launch industry saw revenue decreasing by 7% because fewer high-cost launches were made, but satellite manufacturing and services still grew in the 5%-8% range. Military surveillance accounted for 30% of the manufacturing total last year.

Don’t Forget Political Engineering

* USAF Col Michael W. Pietrucha argued in Air & Space Power Journal that the F-35A should be terminated. The author’s problem? He also needs a solution for the US Navy, and for US diplomacy, given the effect on allies.

Reacting to Russia

* NATO is reportedly working on defensive scenarios in case Russia were to make a move against some of its Eastern Europe members. Deutsche Welle | Der Spiegel [in German].

* In a switch, Sweden’s Social Democrats say they want more funding for defense than the conservatives in power requested.

* Eurasia Review provides an analysis of existing and potential US and Russian military bases in Latin America.

Reacting to China

* While a new report from security firm Mandiant links Chinese military to cyber hacking, the US Department of Justice is charging 5 Chinese military hackers for industrial espionage against American energy firms.

* 3,000+ Chinese have been evacuated from Vietnam after days of riots targeting (mainland and Taiwanese) Chinese factories. Video from Al Jazeera below:

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