News You Can Use: 12/14/18

National Security

Trump’s New Vetting Center Just Opened. Will It Make Us Safer?, Defense One

Alleged Russian spy Maria Butina pleads guilty to engaging in conspiracy against US, CNN

China Involved in 90 Percent of Espionage and Industrial Secrets Theft, Department of Justice Reveals, Newsweek

FBI: China threatens ‘the future of the world’, Washington Examiner

Trump says military could build border wall, but Democrats push back, Defense News

From Small Wars to Great Power, Trump’s Africa Reset Could Change US Military’s Role, Defense One

Shadowy special ops sea bases are a ‘gap we know we have and we’re working on,’ Navy secretary says, Military Times

Pentagon to Take Over All Security Clearances in Nine Months, Officials Say, Nextgov

Four Steps to Fix the Security Clearance Backlog, Defense One

DOD at Risk of Losing Artificial Intelligence Edge, Air Force Magazine

Here are three ways to pay for new investments in infrastructure and end partisan gridlock, Brookings

Cybersecurity

How DHS is Trying to Separate Quality Cyber Tools from Snake Oil, Nextgov

Public Health

Miss the deadline to sign up for Tricare, dental or vision coverage? Now there’s a little more time, Military Times

Fentanyl Surpasses Heroin As Drug Most Often Involved In Deadly Overdoses, NPR

Navy SEAL Sues Roche over Malaria Drug, Claiming it Left Him Permanently Disabled, Military.com

Human Rights & Humanitarian Efforts

The Global Compact on Migration: Dead on arrival?, Brookings

Trump Moves to Deport Vietnam War Refugees, The Atlantic

A Powerful Mechanism To Respond To The Atrocities Perpetrated In Iraq And Syria, Forbes

Egypt and Turkey Among Countries With Highest Risk for Mass Killings, Slate

The Grim Future of Urban Warfare, The Atlantic

#BecauseYouCare, Jewish World Watch

Government & Military Personnel

Federal bosses, are you listening?, Federal Times

As Spending Talks Break Down, a Pay Raise for Feds Hangs in the Balance, Government Executive

See Who Would Get Furloughed in a Christmas Shutdown, Government Executive

As VA works to implement appeals reform, GI Bill problems cast doubts, Stars and Stripes

The Army is putting off some involuntary discharges to help build the NCO corps, Army Times

Good Will Hunting: The Strategic Threat of Poor Talent Management, War on the Rocks

Retirement Overpayments, TSP Hardship Withdrawals and More, Government Executive

Congresswoman, Interrupted, The Atlantic

Military ‘equality’ issues — including transgender troops — atop Democrats’ 2019 defense agenda, Military Times

Potential Landmark Case Could Upend Major Civil Service Reform, Government Executive