Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 28, 2014

Israeli soldiers gather at a staging area after crossing back into Israel from Gaza July 28, 2014. Credit: REUTERS/Baz Ratner

The Reasons Why Israel's Military Is In Such A Tough Fight -- Greg Myre, NPR

Ever since its sweeping victory in the Six-Day War of 1967, Israel has been regarded as the dominant military power in the Middle East. No Arab state has risked a full-fledged war in decades, and few question the conventional wisdom that Israel would swiftly defeat any national army in a traditional, head-to-head confrontation.

Yet for the third time in the past decade, Israel's powerful military finds itself in a protracted, messy fight with a small, elusive, Islamist group and has been unable to score a quick and decisive victory.

The current bloodletting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip is nearly three weeks old and Israel has pounded the Palestinian territory, leaving more than 800 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians. Yet Israel has not halted the Hamas rockets and is still working to destroy a tunnel network it's cited as the main reason for the operation.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 28, 2014

Hamas spokesman: Israel has reached only a fraction of our tunnels -- Jerusalem Post

Islamic Jihad Said to Have Iranian 'Judgement Day' Missile -- Arutz Sheva

As wounded Israeli troops return home, military censorship is harder to enforce -- Washington Post

Destroying Hamas would only create another ‘Islamic State’ – top Pentagon official -- RT

Obama quietly sends more advisers to Iraq -- The Hill

IHS Jane's study shows arms embargo wouldn't hurt Russia's military -- AP

Putin Says Russia’s Defense Industry Absolutely Self-Sufficient, Safe From Political Risk -- RIA Novosti

Russia must accelerate domestic military parts production – Putin -- RT

Second Mistral Warship to Head Russia's Mediterranean Fleet -- Moscow Times

Fifth Borei Class, Fourth Yasen Class Submarines to Form Backbone of Russian Navy -- RIA Novosti

Warships parade across Russia on Navy Day (PHOTOS, VIDEO) -- RT

Transfer of Ukrainian Weaponry from Crimea to Remain Suspended Amid Ongoing Clashes -- RIA Novosti

Europe Hurriedly Seeking UAV for Eyes Over Ukraine -- Defense Tech

China Adds East China Sea Drills to Military Exercises -- Bloomberg

Latin America’s military is making a comeback -- Global Post

Washington Unable to Track US Weapons Sent to Afghan Army – Reports -- RIA Novsoti

US military assists in Libya embassy evacuation -- Stars and Stripes

Marines to Get Fewer Assault Ships -- DoD Buzz

‘$1 Billion-Plus Short’: Hill’s Amphib Add Isn’t Enough, So Navy Wants To Repurpose It -- Breaking defense

How Much Does an F-35 Actually Cost? -- Winslow Wheeler, War Is Boring

Expeditionary Logistics: Putting the F-35 Effort Into a Global Context -- Second Line Of Defense

Rough Ride for the F-35 -- New York Times editorial

Stealth destroyers, littoral combat ships headed to Pacific, Mabus says -- Stars and Stripes

LCS to Conduct Test of Norwegian Missile -- Defense News

Defense News Roundup: Pentagon Trains for WMD, and Are Helicopters Heading to Africa? -- Motley Fool

Mini-drones to night-vision phones: 5 cool military tech gadgets -- FOX News/Live Science

Actually, the V-22 Ain’t Half Bad -- Vincent Mazzurco, War Is Boring

Professor Touts Faster, Cheaper Way to Test for Explosives -- Defense Tech

Spy talk: NSA seeking spokesperson -- The Hill

More military sexual assault reports — a positive sign? -- Stars and Stripes/Daily Press

Defense: Gov't suppressed evidence in Blackwater trial -- AP

Afghan teen gets 7.5 years for killing 3 Marines -- Washington Post

Ex-officials demand to see CIA report -- The Hill

The Pentagon Overpays for Almost Everything—Even Prescription Drugs -- Bloomberg Businessweek

CNN EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon security clearance holders owe $730M in taxes -- CNN

Tentative agreement reached on U.S. veterans' funding bill -- Reuters

How Military Guns Make the Civilian Market -- Matt Valentine, The Atlantic

Will the U.S. Really Defend Japan? -- Paul Sracic, The Diplomat

The Five Most Overrated Weapons of War -- Robert Farley, National Interest