Branstad Rebukes Defense Leaders On Iowa National Guard Cuts
(Des Moines Register) In a rare appearance before a House Armed Services subcommittee in Washington, Branstad said the move by the Air Force to cut the countrys Air National Guard, which included the reduction of 378 people now serving with the Des Moines-based 132nd Fighter Wing and the elimination of all 21 F-16 jets there, was met with surprise by many governors. The move, he said, demonstrates a lack of understanding of the role the Guard plays in domestic projects such as flood response.
U.S. Concerned As Syria Moves Chemical Stockpile
Legislation Aims To Help Veterans Apply Job Skills
(Washington Post) Congress has sent the White House a bill to promote faster hiring of veterans by generally crediting relevant military training toward occupational licenses issued by the federal government.
The Arts Can Save Veterans? Lives
(New York Daily News) More than 2.4 million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11. As a country, we have largely come to know them through caricatures on television and in the movies. They are Rangers and SEALs, the proud and the few, macho and elite.
Reinstating The Draft: Other Perspectives -- (Letters)
(New York Times) Re Lets Draft Our Kids, by Thomas E. Ricks (Op-Ed, July 10): Since the end of conscription in 1973, America has relied upon a virtual military class that is unfairly carrying the burden of war. Out of the more than two million men and women who were deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, nearly half served on more than one tour of duty. Multiple deployments cause many soldiers to come home with post-traumatic stress disorder or without limbs.
?Mechanical Problems? Reported In Two F-22s
(New York Times) The Air Force said Thursday that it had determined why two more pilots recently experienced oxygen problems in the F-22 Raptor, the stealthy fighter jet. Lt. Col. Tadd Sholtis, a spokesman, said malfunctions in the aircrafts life support systems caused a problem at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., on June 26 and one at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on July 6. Colonel Sholtis said that since the episodes had known causes related to mechanical problems, they are not part of an investigation into why a disproportionate number of F-22 pilots have had breathing problems in the jet.
F-22 Investigation
(CBS) The F-22 Raptor is Americas most advanced fighter plane, and it ought to be: Each one costs $143 million. But for months, something mysterious has been happening to F-22 pilots in flight, putting them in jeopardy. Tonight, we may have discovered what the problem is.
Pilots Saluted With Silver Stars
(San Antonio Express-News) An Army helicopter had gone down 20 miles outside of Bagram, its two pilots pinned down by enemy fire. Hallada, pilot of Pedro 83, led the two-ship formation, with Bryant his wingman. Each had four crewmembers and two rescue team members on their ships, and they were ordered to save the downed soldiers.
C-27Js Grounded After Flight Control Failure
(DefenseNews.com) The U.S. Air Force has grounded its fleet of C-27J cargo planes after an aircraft experienced a mechanical failure in part of its flight controls during a training sortie last week.
Navy To Convene Panel To Probe Submarine Fire
(Portland (ME) Press Herald) The Navy is convening a special panel to investigate the fire that damaged the submarine USS Miami while it was in dry dock for an overhaul at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in the river between Maine and New Hampshi (Wall Street Journal) Syria has begun moving parts of its vast arsenal of chemical weapons out of storage facilities, U.S. officials said, in a development that has alarmed many in Washington.
With Obama Due In Va., GOP Targets Proposed Defense Cuts
(Washington Post) Republicans are launching an aggressive effort to blame President Obama for deep cuts due to hit the Pentagon next year, spotlighting a potentially dangerous issue for the president a day ahead of a two-day campaign swing through military-rich Virginia.
Pentagon Rescinds Short-Report Policy Criticized By Lawmakers
(Bloomberg.com) The Pentagon revoked a year-old guideline that most reports to Congress shouldnt exceed 10 pages after the restriction triggered protests from Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee.
Dem Leader To GOP: Compromise To Avert Defense Cut
(Yahoo.com) The Senate's Democratic leader insisted on Thursday that if House Republicans desperately want to avert automatic cuts to the military, they have to compromise and make tax increases part of any solution.
House Panel Wants To Question Obama Aides
(New York Times) The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday asked President Obama to allow seven top aides to be interviewed by Congressional investigators about recent reports in the news media about such national security matters as cyberwar against Iran and the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Virginia Lawmaker Fights To Get Early Retirement Benefits For Navy Sailors
(FoxNews.com) A top Virginia lawmaker is challenging the U.S. Navy over its refusal to delay the layoff date for some 172 sailors so that they could meet their 15-year service mark, making them eligible for retirement pay.
Retired U.S. Military Brass Wage Political Battle For Biofuels
(Reuters.com) A coalition of retired U.S. military officers defended the Pentagon's plans to boost the use of more expensive biofuels, telling senators and their staff on Thursday that reduced dependence on oil from the Middle East would ultimately reduce costs and improve national security.
Pentagon To Keep 2006 Spending Power With Cuts, CBO Says
(Bloomberg.com) Defense Department spokesman George Little said the CBOs reports were based on several assumptions contrary to the Pentagons calculations. In their analysis, CBO took the departments long-term budget plans and assumed that Congress would reject some or most important cost-savings proposals, Little, who didnt discuss the comparison with 2006 spending, said today at a Pentagon news conference.
Navy Doctor Fined For Letting His Children Handle Brain
(Norfolk Virginian-Pilot) A Navy medical examiner found out the hard way the level of respect required when transporting organs of deceased service members.
Guantanamo Drug Probe Raises New Questions
(Yahoo.com) A newly released Pentagon report says there is no evidence
Syria's Revolt Reaches Deeper Into Damascus
(Washington Post) The revolution that has engulfed much of Syria in bloodshed is now encroaching on the capital in ways that challenge long-held assumptions about President Bashar al-Assad's hold on power even in the city presumed to be his stronghold.
U.S. Imposes New Rules To Tighten Vise On Iran
(New York Times) The Obama administration, seeking to plug loopholes in its sanctions against Iran, said Thursday that it would impose additional measures against more than a dozen companies and people involved in that countrys nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Senior General: U.S. Atomic Arsenal Could Deter A Nuclear-Armed Iran
(Global Security Newswire (nti.org/gsn)) The top U.S. military commander for strategic combat on Thursday said Washingtons atomic weapons could serve as the ultimate tool for deterring a nuclear-armed Iran.
U.S. Ambassador Hails 'Significant' Turn In Afghan Talks
(Wall Street Journal) A peace forum in Japan attended by a high-ranking member of the Taliban represented a promising new development in efforts to reach a negotiated end to the Afghan war, the U.S. ambassador to Kabul said.
US, Russia Top Brass Discuss Syria, Missile Defense
(Yahoo.com) The top US military officer met with his Russian counterpart, discussing missile defense and the Syria crisis, amid tensions between Washington and Moscow on the issue, the Pentagon said.
Museum Plan Ignites Battle Over Narrative At Checkpoint Charlie
(Washington Post) Here at Checkpoint Charlie, where Soviet and American tanks once aimed at each other separated by 30 yards, Cold War tensions are still running high.
Blinded In Afghanistan, Navy Veteran Doesn?t Let It Stop Him
(Baltimore Sun) The 28-year-old Snyder lost his vision after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan last September while serving as a bomb defuser in the Navy. But earlier this month, less than a year since losing his vision permanently, he was named to the United States Paralympic swimming roster.
End Of The Line?
(Los Angeles Times) As Boeing Co.'s beleaguered cargo jet-making complex in Long Beach faces dwindling orders for its huge planes, the Air Force has issued a $500-million contract to begin planning the shutdown of the assembly line.
No Longer Just A U.S. Toy, Drones Go Global
(Reuters.com) Having revolutionized warfare for the United States in the last 15 years, unmanned aerial drones are going global as the number of countries building and operating them soars.
General Dynamics No-Bid Contract To Maintain Strykers Questioned
(Bloomberg Government (bgov.com)) The Army is weighing changes in General Dynamics Corp.s contract to maintain Stryker armored combat vehicles after the Pentagons inspector general found the terms led to excess spending of as much as $336 million, or 23 percent.
Asian Leaders At Regional Meeting Fail To Resolve Disputes Over South China Sea
(New York Times) Disputes in the strategically important South China Sea proved so contentious here on Thursday that an annual regional gathering ended without even a basic diplomatic communiqu, which appeared to have been blocked by China.
We Need Nukes To Deter The US, N. Korea Tells ASEAN
(Yahoo.com) North Korea insisted Thursday it needs atomic weaponry to deter a US nuclear threat, and vowed never to give up its right to launch rockets as part of what it called a peaceful space programme.
Satellite Imagery Shows Ramped-Up Work At North Korea Reactor
(Security Clearance (CNN.com)) New satellite imagery obtained by CNN's Security Clearance shows increased activity at a North Korean nuclear facility.
America?s New Bomb Threat
(TheDailyBeast.com) In Iraq and Afghanistan, homemade, low-tech bombs, often hidden along roadsides, have been some of the deadliest threats to United States soldiers. In Afghanistan alone, these improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, were responsible for 1,290 of the 2,477 U.S. and coalition casualties since 2001, according to iCasualties.org, which tracks troop deaths. Now, IEDs could be coming to U.S. shores.
Veteran Convicted Under Stolen Valor Act Doesn't Want His Record Cleared
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Richard David McClanahan served 30 months in federal prison for his lies, a lengthy penalty imposed because he also lied about his income to buy a pickup from a dealership. Now living in Fort Worth, the 34-year-old ex-convict has a chance to have at least part of his conviction overturned after the Supreme Court's decision. But McClanahan said he has no interest in clearing his record.
American Power And The Libya Naysayers
(Wall Street Journal) The U.S. and its allies should invest in Libya's efforts from training the new military to joint exercises and operations, sales of weapons and defense technology, and expanded opportunities for Libyan officers to participate in our professional military schools. This cooperation can empower Libyans to fight terrorism and protect their sovereignty.
Afghanistan, From Bad To Worse
(Chicago Tribune) If Charles Dickens were writing "A Tale of Two Cities" about today's Afghanistan, his opening line would be abbreviated: "It was the worst of times."
How Iran Steams Past International Sanctions
(Wall Street Journal) Too often, one man's sanctions become another man's windfall. So it is with Iran sanctions and the minuscule Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, to which Iran's main oil tanker company, NITC, has just reflagged roughly half its fleet.
'Al-Qaeda Is A Plague'
(New Statesman (UK)) A remarkable insight into the mind of a senior member of the Afghan Taliban movement.
The Egyptian Mess
(Los Angeles Times) Whatever Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is carrying in her attache case as she visits Egypt this weekend, it won't be nearly enough to begin to fix what ails the U.S.-Egyptian relationship.
A welcoming home for our Troops.
