Monday Morning Joe: World without just wars, China's satellite killers, Army drawdown, female Ghostbusters ...

By Northwest Military News Team on August 4, 2014

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Two wars - one in Gaza the other in eastern Ukraine - are unfolding simultaneously. They have nothing in common except this: both should be being seen as unambiguous in terms of which side is right and which wrong.

Five government soldiers were killed and 15 wounded over the last 24 hours in fighting in eastern Ukraine where Kiev forces recaptured an important railway hub from pro-Russian rebels.

A United States reconnaissance plane recently crossed into Swedish airspace to avoid being intercepted by Russian fighter jets.

U.S. defense experts and the U.S. State Department are describing China's successful so-called "anti-missile test" as another anti-satellite test raising fears the U.S. will be unable to protect its spy, navigation and communications satellites.

Amid mounting casualties and mutual recriminations over the sixth failed ceasefire in their ongoing war, Israel and Hamas continued late last week to battle on parallel fronts: under the sands of Gaza and in the court of public opinion.

Israeli intelligence agents eavesdropped on Secretary of State John Kerry during the peak of peace negotiations he led between Israel and the Palestinians last year.

Palestinians and Israel accused each other of breaking a seven-hour ceasefire intended to allow humanitarian aid into the battered Gaza Strip soon after it came into force.

Russian sanctions: India defiant, Finland nervous.

Iran's elite Guards fighting in Iraq to push back Islamic State.

Special report: The doubt at the heart of Iraq's Sunni "revolution."

Army preparing for steep drawdown, losing patience with Congress.

Joint trauma system vital link to saving lives.

When the military's top cyberwarriors gathered last year inside a secretive compound at Fort Meade, Maryland, for a classified war game exercise, a team of active-duty troops faced off against several teams of reservists. And the active-duty team apparently took a beating.

Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John F. Campbell stresses relationships, upcoming ISAF Tour.

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III: The Army Ethic is the "doorway" into our profession.

Air Force Academy athletes, including football players, participated in wild off-campus parties featuring booze, marijuana, and date-rape drugs, according to an investigative report.

Former Army officer Capt. Kevin Ryan who has launched microbrewery Georgia-based Service Brewing Co. knows everyone will raise a glass to help support a veteran-owned business that gives a portion of its proceeds to charities backing military members, policemen and firefighters.

The New York Times has a piece about folks who dress up as characters in Times Square.

Jack White's Lazaretto is the best-selling vinyl release in 20 years.

Dave Grohl's HBO show premieres in October.

Paul Feig's female-centric Ghostbusters reboot.

William Shatner and NASA had an amusing Twitter exchange.

His generation's Dick Van Dyke.

LINK: Original photo by Spc. Lisa Vines, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment