The Trump administration’s plan to bar most transgender individuals from military service is already facing a series of legal challenges with the US Department of Justice saying it is ready to defend the Pentagon’s authority. The White House on Friday
said it allowed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to implement a new policy, finding “the accession or retention of individuals with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria—those who may require substantial medical treatment, including through medical drugs or surgery—presents a considerable risk to military effectiveness and lethality.”
Read the full story by Brian Everstine.
43 House Democrats Raise Doubts About Trump Nuclear Posture Review
Forty-three House Democrats, including members of the Armed Services Committee, Monday
wrote President Trump to express misgivings about the administration’s Nuclear Posture Review. The administration issued its review in
February, outlining plans for a new era of US nuclear power, emphasizing the possibility of a nuclear response to a non-nuclear attack and announcing development of low-yield weapons that can provide more “flexibility” and the possibility of a more proportional nuclear response to a smaller-scale attack. In their letter, the House members expressed “deep concern” over the review, saying that if implemented, the policies would “likely increase tensions with Russia and other major world powers, while making our country less secure.” —Steve Hirsch
Raytheon Gets $523.1 Million AMRAAM Contract
Raytheon has received a $523.1 million Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile production contract, the Air Force
announced Friday. The contract provides for production of AMRAAM Lot 32, including production of the AMRAAM missile and other AMRAAM system items. This contract is a modification of a December
contract. Work under the new contract is to be completed by Jan. 31, 2021, and the contract involves foreign military sales to Japan, Kuwait, Poland, Indonesia, Qatar, Germany, Australia, and the United Kingdom. —Steve Hirsch
US Strikes al Qaeda in Southern Libya
The US effort supporting the Libyan government expanded Saturday as American aircraft struck al Qaeda targets in the south of the country. The strike, which reportedly killed two terrorists in the town of Ubari, was conducted in support of the Government of National Accord and was the first on al Qaeda in the country, US Africa Command said in a statement. The command assessed no civilians were killed in the strike, according to Reuters. Similar efforts in recent years have targeted ISIS inside Libya, and have largely been focused on its northern territory. “We are committed to maintaining pressure on the terror network and preventing terrorists from establishing safe haven,” AFRICOM said according to Reuters. —Brian Everstine
AFCENT: No Truth to Claims of Downsizing at Incirlik, Al Udeid
US Central Command and Air Forces Central Command have pushed back on reports that US forces are pulling out of two key bases in the Middle East. Claims that the US was moving away from Qatar and Turkey and into bases in Saudi Arabia appeared late last week, triggering the pushback. “There is zero credibility to news reports asserting the US is leaving Incirlik and Al Udeid air bases in Turkey and Qatar,” AFCENT said Sunday on Twitter. “These unhelpful reports feed mistrust and division among regional partners at a time when we need to work together to address shared security concerns.” Citing purported military sources, an Israeli intelligence site claimed Thursday the US was removing forces from the two bases. According to that report, the US would move them to Prince Sultan air base following last week’s White House visit by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. It is the latest in a series of claims that the US is downsizing in Turkey, a base that was key to the US effort targeting ISIS in Syria. —Brian Everstine
___________
RADAR SWEEP
—Russia’s “destabilizing activity” in Afghanistan includes smuggling weapons to the Taliban inside the country, the head of the US mission there said:
BBC News.
—The FBI is investigating four suspicious packages sent to military bases in the Washington, D.C., area, including JB Anacostia-Bolling: CBS News.
—The Air Force is studying four bases in Arizona, Florida, Missouri, and Texas as possible locations for a new F-35 Reserve squadron. The candidates are Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.; Homestead AFB, Fla.; Whiteman AFB, Mo.; and NAS Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas:
The Associated Press. —More than 1,350 people in the Tucson, Ariz., area have filed formal claims to the Air Force claiming pollution from a nearby base has caused sickness, including cancer:
The Associated Press.
—Airmen with the 352nd Special Operations Wing, along with Army Special Forces soldiers, recently concluded an arctic winter training course in the north of Sweden:
Special Operations Command-Europe release. 
