Drone Losses Debate

I got an interesting response on my post last week about the Air Force’s 2010 OCO request for $216 million to buy 12 MQ-9 Reaper drones. Air Force officials say the money is needed to replace lost or damaged Reapers from combat operations. In my post, I noted that at least the intention was demonstrated in the [...]

Jack Murtha Hall of Fame

All right folks, you’ve had your “cricket” dance with Murtha’s death, now it’s time to look back at his career. I’d like our readers to list their top three most influential DEFENSE-RELATED things Murtha has done or championed in his more than three decades on The Hill. Here are mine: 1.) Beating the Soviets: Murtha was a Scoop [...]

Murtha Dead at 77

Just now posting a story to Military.com on the death of one of the most influential defense lawmakers on Capitol Hill ever. I’ve had my beefs with Rep. Jack Murtha in the past, but I truly am shocked and saddened by his death. He was a tireless advocate for Pentagon programs he believed in and forced [...]

Sea Drones in the Works

I guess it was inevitable. The Air Force has its Leer Jet-sized drones flying circles around the globe, taking snap shots of Iranian nuke plants, Chinese sub pens and Haitian wreckage. So what about the Navy, huh? Well a tipster sent us an interesting story the other day about a DARPA project looking into producing unmanned frigates [...]

The Keating Report (Where is it?)

Don’t expect much folks… Our boy Greg Grant got his hands on the investigation report into the incident at COP Keating and true to form, the Army redacted 90 percent of it. Here’s an example. This is the “Recommendations” page: Keating Recommendations Granted, this is the recommendation page, but to wholesale redact the entire thing is retarded. Also, [...]

BAE pays hefty fines, but ducks full trial

London (UPI) Feb 9, 2009 - BAE Systems, Britain's biggest defense company, has accepted guilt in a scandal concerning bribery of a large scale in an $85 billion arms contract with Saudi Arabia and got itself off the hook after a bruising six-year investigation that threatened it and the Saudi royal family.

Baltic concerns mount over France-Russia warship plan

Riga (AFP) Feb 9, 2010 - Concerns mounted Tuesday in the Baltics over France considering the sale of an assault ship to Russia, as Latvia joined Lithuania and Estonia in upping the pressure on their NATO and EU ally.

Blair attacks hunt for 'scandal' over Iraq war decision

London (AFP) Feb 9, 2010 - Former British prime minister Tony Blair has lashed out at the hunt for a "scandal" and a "conspiracy" over his controversial decision to back the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

China-born aerospace engineer gets 15 years for spying

Los Angeles (AFP) Feb 8, 2010 - A Chinese-born aerospace engineer was jailed for more than 15 years Monday after being convicted of selling technology related to the US space shuttle program to China, officials said.

Europe battles declining influence

Brussels (AFP) Feb 9, 2010 - The European Union is hoping that its revamped leadership can reverse a decline in global influence, wary of being marginalised by the United States and emerging Asian powers such as China, experts said.

Kim Jong Il & Commitment to Nuclear-Free Peninsula

Iran Defies West, Begins Boosting Uranium

Iraqi Forces Capture Terrorism Suspects

Russia criticizes Iran over uranium enrichment

Forces Seize Weapons, Kill Attackers

Iran says nuclear swap case still open

US Welcomes Chinese Dialogue with North Korea on Nuclear Issue

Tehran, Moscow & S-300 missile delivery delays

Obama: New Iran Sanctions Being Developed Quickly

02/01/10 Gates/Mullen DoD News Briefing

A Downward Spiral in Latin America

Bloody Friday: Anti-Shia Terror Violence Hit Karachi Again!

Terrorist Dropouts

Assessing the Militant White Separatist Movement

Ft Hood's Terror: The US failed by its own experts