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4,486 American Troops killed in Iraq; 1,957 American Troops killed in Afghanistan
In the News:
Security Pact Ensures America’s Presence in Afghanistan (Cato-at-Liberty.org, May 2, 2012) The signing of a strategic partnership agreement extends Washington’s military and financial aid ten more years, repeating a mistake experts say contributed to 9/11:unwavering support of the Muslim world’s most corrupt regimes.
SIGAR Report Finds Afghanistan Reconstruction Compromised By Security, Corruption (HuffingtonPost.com, May 1, 2012) Afghan reconstruction efforts remain severely hampered even after nearly $100 billion in spending over the last 10 years, according to a new watchdog report. The most immediate challenge stems from the insistence by Afghanistan’s government that the private army of hired guns providing security for ongoing projects be replaced with Afghan locals, who do not appear to be up to the job, the report noted.
Troop Brain Injuries Hit Record(USA Today, Apr 12, 2012) Improved battlefield diagnosis has led to a record number of concussions detected among U.S. troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq last year, with an average of 16 inflicted each day last spring, according to newly released Pentagon figures.
Costs Rise For Disposal Of Chemical Weapons(Washington Post, Apr 18, 2012)Work to destroy the U.S. Army’s remaining stockpiles of chemical weapons in Kentucky and Colorado may take longer than expected and cost about $2.5 billion extra, officials said.
Panetta: ‘We’re Within An Inch Of War Almost Every Day’ (CNN.com, Apr 19, 2012)The U.S. is prepared for “any contingency” when it comes to dealing with North Korea, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told CNN.
TRICARE Increases Opposed(LA Times, April 29, 2012) The House Armed Services subcommittee on military personnel declined to give the Obama administration new authority it sought to phase in higher Tricare fees on military retirees over the next four years and to peg future Tricare fee hikes to medical inflation.
Tajikistan: President Denies Requests for Foreign Bases(New York Times, Apr 18, 2012)Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic bordering Afghanistan, has rejected requests by foreign powers to allow them to set up military bases on its territory because it does not want to upset Russia, its president said Tuesday.
Rare Earths Shortage Would Spur Pentagon To Action(Bloomberg.com, Apr 10, 2012)The Defense Department would intervene in case of a shortage of rare earth materials for defense electronics and motors.
Vietnam, US To Hold Five Day Naval Exchange(Yahoo.com) Vietnam and the US will hold five days of “non-combatant” naval exchange activities next week in the port city of Danang, the US Embassy said, amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
Pakistan Delays Decision On NATO Supplies Restoration(Xinhua News Agency, Apr 18, 2012)Pakistan has delayed decision to reopen key supply route for NATO-led troops in neighboring Afghanistan
Watchdog: Pentagon Buys Weapons Backwards(ABCNews.com, Apr 24, 2012) The federal agency charged with catching U.S. government waste said in a new report that the Pentagon has squandered millions in taxpayer dollars on expensive and complex weapons systems by spending first and asking questions later.
Pakistan Says It Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile(NYTimes, Apr 25, 2012) Pakistan successfully tested an improved intermediate-range ballistic missile, according to a statement by the Pakistani military.
Defense Department Plans New Intelligence Gathering Service (NY Times, Apr 24, 2012)The Pentagon is revamping spy operations to focus on high-priority targets like Iran and China in a reorganization that reflects a shift away from the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan that have dominated Americas security landscape for the past decade.
