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☆ What's in the leaked Pentagon documents that could hurt Ukraine and has US officials panicking
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( John Haltiwanger | Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Dozens of secret Pentagon documents were leaked online in recent weeks. Many of the documents appear to be intelligence briefing materials on a wide range of subjects, dating back to around early March. When were the documents leaked and who leaked them? But Bellingcat reported that some of the materials date back to January and may have been leaked online earlier. Leaked documents claim that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to attack Russian troop deployments inside Russia with drones.

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☆ Russian jamming may have hamstrung a US-made bomb kit being used in Ukraine, leaked documents say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Leaked Pentagon documents highlighted concerns about the Joint Direct Attack Munition weapon. The American-made bomb kit used by Ukraine may have been hamstrung by Russian jammers. One document in particular highlights concerns about US-made bomb kits which have been sent to Ukraine in recent months. One factor is the bomb fuses aren't arming at their release, which Ukraine's air force has worked to fix. Photo by Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe Pentagon documents first became public last week and circulated through social media platforms like Discord, Twitter, and Telegram.

☆ Ukraine May Run Out of Air Defenses by May, Leaked Pentagon Documents Warn
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Yaroslav Trofimov | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Russia could achieve its long-sought goal of air superiority in Ukrainian skies as early as May because Ukraine is running out of antiaircraft missiles, according to purported Pentagon presentations that have leaked on social media. The Pentagon and the Justice Department began an investigation last week into document leaks when some purported U.S. Department of Defense presentations were posted by Russian propagandists on Telegram on Thursday. The Wall Street Journal, which viewed these documents and a larger trove that emerged on Friday, hasn’t been able to independently verify their authenticity.

☆ More than twice as many Russian troops as Ukrainians have been killed in Putin's war, leaked estimates show
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Leaked estimates show more than twice as many Russians and Ukrainians have been killed in the war. The documents, which were recently leaked on social media and are currently the focus of a federal investigation, offer estimates for Russian and Ukrainian casualties. The Center for Strategic & International Studies, meanwhile, assessed that same month that between 60,000 and 70,000 Russian soldiers have died in Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers of the Aidar battalion training at an undetermined location in Donetsk oblast on April 4, 2023. For example, in some cases, information about Russian casualties appears to have been altered to show a much lower killed in action figure for the Russian forces.

☆ Putin may be preparing to bring Russia's prized bomber jets to the war on Ukraine after leaked military intelligence found Ukrainian air power will 'be completely reduced' by June, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Intelligence documents were leaked this week, revealing American and NATO plans in the Ukraine war. The New York Times reported the documents said current Ukraine air power will be depleted by summer. Facing a weakened air force, Russia may be emboldened to bring out bomber jets it has reserved from combat. At the current rate of use, the leaked documents say, Ukrainian air defenses will "be completely reduced" by May 23, The New York Times reported. Fighting against a weakened Ukrainian air force, increased Russian firepower could change the course of the war.

☆ A millennial who grew his net worth to $600,000 explains what it took to dig his way out of debt after overcoming a gambling addiction
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ambus Hunter, 36, said he almost went broke when he became addicted to gambling over a decade ago. His net worth is now about $600,000, and he works part time as a financial coach. Over the course of just four weeks, he said he lost roughly $10,000 — almost all his savings — playing roulette. Hunter said he'd had one major hiccup since he committed to quitting gambling but that he was able to get back on track. He said he set out to quickly replace the roughly $10,000 he'd lost.

☆ U.S. reviewing whether Ukraine war documents were leaked
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A member of the Ukrainian special force engages in zeroing his weapon prior to a mission, amid Russia?s attack on Ukraine, in the region of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 6, 2023. They are not war plans and they provide no details on any planned Ukraine offensive. If the published documents are authentic to any degree, however, the leak of classified data is troubling and raises questions about what other information about the Ukraine war — or any coming offensive — could be distributed. The Justice Department released a statement Friday night saying, "We have been in communication with the Department of Defense related to this matter and have begun an investigation." One U.S. official said the documents resemble data produced daily by the Joint Staff, although some numbers are wrong.

☆ Documents that appear to be classified US-NATO war plans were leaked or stolen and can now be found on Twitter and Telegram
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apparent classified US-Ukraine war plans were leaked or stolen, The New York Times reported Thursday. The documents, which may have been doctored, appeared on Twitter and Telegram. "We are aware of the reports of social media posts and the department is reviewing the matter," a Pentagon spokesperson told the Times. "They've obviously been doctored," Michael Weiss, a Russia expert and senior correspondent at Yahoo News, posted on social media. "Still bad that they were leaked — or stolen."

☆ Ex-DOJ lawyer tells jury he met with Chinese to further illegal lobbying campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Sarah N. Lynch | Thomson Reuters | Sarah N. Lynch Is The Lead Reporter For Reuters Covering The U.S. Justice Department Out Of Washington | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

George Higginbotham testified that he made money on the side while working at the Justice Department by offering legal advice to Michel, a long-time friend. But he did so anyway, telling the jury he let his friendship with Michel cloud his judgment. "This could get me in a lot of trouble," he told the jury he recalled thinking, adding that his actions were "definitely outside of official lines." Higginbotham, who pleaded guilty in 2018 for his role in the foreign influence campaign, testified that Justice Department investigators later found out about his meeting and questioned him. Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ AUKUS needs to pool tech resources as US edge erodes -Australian intelligence chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Andrew Shearer, the director-general of the Office of National Intelligence, said the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region was starting to "shift away from the United States and its allies, undermining deterrence". "We are seeing our longstanding technological edge start to erode, and in some cases that edge is totally gone," he added. Schmidt, who has advised United States Department of Defense on artificial intelligence, said China is organised around drones, hypersonic and automation technology, and this should influence Australia's military spending decisions. Although it was likely there would be decoupling between China and Western allies in critical technology, China was not an enemy and the could work together in other areas, he added. He criticised the U.S. government for restricting Chinese researchers from moving to the United States to work on technologies like quantum computing.

☆ Russian fighter jets are reportedly ambushing Ukrainian pilots in sneak attacks. Fending them off would require F-16s, pilot says, which the US previously said 'won't help them.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian fighter jets are ambushing Ukrainians in sneak attacks, an official told The Telegraph. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the White House to send F-16 jets to fight back. The Biden administration has so far refused to send F-16 fighters and MQ-9 drones to Ukraine. They will send up a Russian jet alone, tricking the Ukrainian pilot into thinking there is only one jet. Kahl added that the subject was discussed by President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during Biden's visit to Kyiv on February 20.

☆ Signal President Meredith Whittaker learned what not to do from working at Google
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Meredith Whittaker, a former Google Manager who is now president at Signal. Whittaker has real-world reasons to be skeptical of for-profit companies and their use of data — she previously spent 13 years at Google . Signal app SignalAt Signal, Whittaker gets to focus on the mission without worrying about sales. Beyond just the confusing structure of OpenAI, Whittaker is out on the ChatGPT hype. And she definitely wants people to know that Signal has absolutely no plans to incorporate ChatGPT into its service.

☆ Zelenskyy says Ukraine had to change faulty air-defense equipment from a European ally 'again and again' because it didn't work
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a European ally provided a faulty air defense system. Zelenskyy also told the AP that Ukraine is still waiting for the US Patriot system to be deployed. One air defense system provided by a European nation failed, resulting in Ukraine needing to "change it again and again," Zelenskyy told the Associated Press. Ukrainian soldiers have received training in the US on how to use the Patriot system, Zelenskyy said, but the system is yet to be deployed in Ukraine. US defense officials said last week that they intend to speed up the deployment of the Patriot system to Ukraine.

☆ Josh Hawley splits Senate GOP over 'duplicative' idea to create a new office tracking US aid to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Senate rejected a bill from Josh Hawley to establish a new office to oversee Ukraine aid. Many Republicans said they were confident in the Biden administration's aid tracking efforts. "We already have a very extensive operation to oversee spending in Ukraine," said Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah. Hawley's bill did win over at least one Republican who's a vocal supporter of aiding Ukraine: Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The underlying AUMF repeal bill, which is backed by a large bipartisan majority of senators and has been endorsed by the White House, is expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday.

☆ Labcorp to pay $2.1 million to settle allegations it overbilled Defense Department for genetic tests for military members
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Laboratory Corporation of America will pay the U.S. $2.1 million to settle allegations that it overbilled the Department of Defense for genetic tests that involved children and fetuses, the Justice Department announced Monday. Hecker-Gross' allegations surrounded genetic tests performed under a contract LabCorp entered with the Defense Department in 2012. Hecker-Gross alleged that LabCorp overcharged and double or triple-billed DOD for genetic tests performed by GeneDx. There were $210,959 in overcharges on 38 tests, including $113,525.50 for 21 tests billed between March 2016 and January 2017 alone, the lawsuit alleged. In 1996, LabCorp agreed to pay $187 million for fraudulently billing the government for unnecessary tests on elderly patients.

☆ Going to war? Good news! The United States is 13 years behind in ammunition production.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Since production capacity changed after the Cold War, the US can no longer keep up with wartime demands. In fulfilling those promises, The New York Times reported the US has sent Ukraine so many stockpiled Stinger missiles that it would take 13 years of production at recent capacity levels to replace them. US officials in January proposed a production increase up to 90,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition each month to keep up with demand. The United States has rarely seen production shortages in ammunition and missiles to the degree the country currently faces. While improvements to production facilities have been budgeted for going forward, the US is currently pushing suppliers to capacity to meet current wartime demands in Ukraine and keep pace with China's production.

☆ The future of the U.S. military's tank force
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Brad Howard | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"The Russian tanks didn't fare well," said William D. Hartung, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute. "They were taken out pretty quickly by modern anti-tank systems. And I think that would be a problem also for U.S. tanks in a future conflict." "It's pretty obvious from that, that the tank is still an important part of the battlefield." Watch the video above to find out more about tanks and what military experts view as their potential relevance in future battles

☆ Pentagon probes lapse in Boeing security credentials for Air Force One
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

On March 14, Boeing discovered that "Yankee White" credentials for about 250 employees who work on the Air Force One planes had lapsed, the Air Force and Boeing confirmed. All of the workers involved have retained current top secret clearances, according to the Air Force and Boeing. However, the additional Yankee White clearance is required for individuals working on matters connected to the presidential aircraft. "When Boeing discovered this administrative issue, we quickly notified the Air Force, and, in coordination with the Air Force, we temporarily suspended access to the VC-25A and VC-25B areas for those Boeing employees who were affected," a Boeing spokesperson said. On March 19, "the vast majority of employees" with lapsed Yankee White credentials were approved to begin working in the secured areas where Air Force One planes are built and maintained, the Air Force said.

☆ Ukraine's getting depleted-uranium tank rounds that can punch holes in Russian armor, and Moscow's not happy about it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The UK has indicated that it'll provide Ukraine with tank shells consisting of depleted uranium. When used in tank shells, the material is particularly effective because its bulk allows the munitions to penetrate through enemy armor. Cody Bialcak, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians, safely remove over 500 depleted uranium rounds on June 23, 2022 at Tooele Army Depot, UT. US officials have said repeatedly that Russia has likely lost half its tank force in Ukraine, if not more. And depleted uranium shells in the hands of Ukrainian tank operators may make life harder for Russia's armor forces.

☆ Ukraine to receive Abrams tanks from US as soon as this fall -officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In January, the U.S. pledged to supply Ukraine with 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks after months of shunning the idea of deploying the difficult-to-maintain tanks to Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia in February 2022. The new plan would give Ukraine the M1A1 SA Abrams tank variant, which can run on diesel fuel like the majority of the Ukrainian fleet, one of the officials said. US soldiers stand with Polish and US flags near M1/A2 Abrams tank outside a hall of 30th International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, Poland September 5, 2022. The General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) production line is currently completing about 12 Abrams tanks a month. The M1A2 tanks would be sourced from government owned "hulls" and refurbished specifically for Ukraine, Ryder said.

☆ Top US general predicts that much of the world's armies, navies, and air forces 'will be robotic' in 15 years, if not sooner
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

He said that robots will play a huge role in the world's armies, navies, and air forces within the next decade or so. Gen. Mark Milley also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence as a military application. Within the next 15 years, if not sooner, Milley said, "you're going to see significant portions of armies and navies and air forces that will be robotic." Some examples of robotic or unmanned systems already exist within the US military, such as drones, but more systems are in the works. Just last month, the Air Force announced that it successfully let AI pilot a fighter jet, building off past testing involving simulated dogfights.

☆ Russia can't match the US military's hardware, but it has other ways to keep it from working properly
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But Russian information operations could still affect US forces, a US government watchdog says. Once perceived as a conventional near-peer threat, the Russian military now appears to be more of a paper tiger. While Russia can't match the US military's hardware, it has other ways to keep it from working. Near-peer adversaries, such as China and Russia, know that and have sought ways to counter their more powerful adversary. Doing so could mean that Chinese or Russian intelligence services could not only to influence individual service members but also the performance of specific weapons.

An Insider review found that his company has sold to foreign governments, including a $228 million dollar contract. What Mills didn't advertise was Pacem's munitions contracts with foreign governments. The company's chief legal officer Joseph Schmitz said all of Pacem's foreign munitions sales are approved by the Department of State. Mills's influence over American military spending while having ties to a munitions company poses the potential for conflicts of interest, an ethics watchdog said. In Congress, Mills sits on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, which oversee military spending and foreign weapons sales.

☆ Russia's Wagner army is recruiting fighters on Pornhub in a desperate attempt to strengthen troops, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Wagner Group has struggled to recruit more fighters to support Russia in the Ukraine war. "Don't whack off, go work for PMC Wagner," an advert on Pornhub said, according to the report. "Don't whack off, apply for a job with the Wagner Group." The advert also includes a phone number, which is reportedly linked with Wagner Group recruiters. A Ukrainian military intelligence report, published in December and first obtained by CNN, said that Wagner Group fighters, which include prisoners, "have become the disposable infantry" in Ukraine.

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