http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/dod/ en-us Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:41:10 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102928/posts American soldiers can hump 60-pound packs through the broiling desert, kill for their country and die for it, but they can't always vote for their commander in chief. A solution has long been proposed: Just get rid of the Byzantine process which forces those in far-flung battle zones to vote by mail that must be delivered to thousands of local election districts across the United States. Advertisement But the Pentagon has found that bringing military voting into the 21st century is not so simple. The number of absentee military ballots applied for that ultimately get counted is consistently low. In... signonsandiego.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102928/posts#comment Sat, 11 Oct 2008 04:41:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102649/posts U.S. Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia wants the Pentagon to freeze up to $300 million in contracts with companies the military is hiring to place pro-U.S. news stories and entertainment programs in the Iraqi media . Webb wrote Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday to ask that the deals be suspended until they can be reviewed by the Senate Armed Services Committee and the next presidential administration. A freshman Democrat, Webb sits on the Armed Services panel. With the United States in "a grave economic crisis" and Iraq's government carrying a $79 billion budget surplus drawn from oil exports, "it... Virginian-Pilot http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2102649/posts#comment Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:18:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100196/posts The Federal Communications Commission has begun notifying several TV military analysts that it is probing congressional complaints that the pundits did not properly disclose their ties to the Pentagon when reviewing the war in Iraq on air. According to a copy of the October 2 FCC letter to one of the pundits, the probe was prompted by Reps. John Dingell and Rosa DeLauro, who filed a complaint with the agency after the New York Times reported that some of the pundits were working on or bidding on Pentagon contracts and had also taken free military trips to Iraq. "When seemingly... US News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2100196/posts#comment Wed, 8 Oct 2008 04:45:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098143/posts A few minutes ago I was reading an article about the Taliban in Pakistan and this so-called region of Waziristan. In an effort to geographically orient myself, I decided to type Waziristan into my beloved Google Maps. Unfortunately, Waziristan could not be (properly) located, and I received this response. Waziristan, Pakhistan [sic] ‎Address: Removal requested (No such place) Luckily, one can look up Waziristan elsewhere and find out where the place really is. Wikipedia, for example. I'm not a conspiracy nut or anything like that, but I'd like to throw this question out to everybody reading this post. Who do... Google Maps http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098143/posts#comment Sun, 5 Oct 2008 20:36:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094390/posts WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2008 – Some 30 Russian tanks and various munitions aboard a Ukrainian vessel that was hijacked by Somali pirates Sept. 25 has caused serious concern for Defense Department officials, Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters here today. “[The Defense Department] has seen a dramatic increase in piracy in this area, and it is a matter of real concern,” Morrell said. “This particular vessel has on it a number of Russian tanks, ammo and [rocket-propelled grenades] and anti-aircraft weapons that raise this to another level of concern.” The Ukrainian cargo ship, the Faina, was transporting an estimated... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094390/posts#comment Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:26:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089804/posts WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2008 – The Defense Department is examining its operations and strategy in Afghanistan as part of a broader U.S. governmental review, a senior Pentagon spokesman told reporters today. Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell answers questions from news reporters during a press briefing at the Pentagon, Sept. 24, 2008. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The completed Pentagon report and reviews by other U.S. agencies will be presented to the White House’s National Security Council, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said. “Various departments within this... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089804/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:55:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2087438/posts Was the Stephenville UFO a National Security Threat? american chronicle Franklin D. Fields, Jr. Esq. Stephenville, Texas attracted worldwide attention earlier this year (Jan, 08) after residents sighted an unidentified flying object (UFO) that some say was a mile long. By news accounts, there were more than 30 residents to specifically report the sighting. It was front-page headlines in a large number of news forums. Many of the witnesses were interviewed on national television programs such as CNN´s Larry King Live. All of the witnesses were credible and none were shown to be perpetrating a hoax. They might have been... american chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2087438/posts#comment Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:44:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086461/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), its largest supplier, sought on Friday to shoot down criticism of their $299 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the costliest planned U.S. arms buy ever. Published reports that Russian-built Sukhoi fighter jets thrashed the F-35 in simulated dogfights last month are "just flat false," Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles Davis, the Pentagon official in charge of the program, said in a teleconference hastily called by Lockheed to rebut negative publicity at a critical juncture for the program. > Citing U.S. Air Force analyses, he said the F-35 is at... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086461/posts#comment Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:59:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086463/posts As part of our special investigation "Mission Creep: US Military Presence Worldwide," we asked a host of military thinkers to contribute their two cents on topics relating to global Pentagon strategy. (You can access the archive here.) The following dispatch comes from Katherine T. McCaffrey, an assistant professor of anthropology at Montclair State University in New Jersey and author of "Military Power and Popular Protest: The US Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico". Mother Jones http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086463/posts#comment Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:02:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086211/posts WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2008 – Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England welcomed civilian business, academic and local government leaders to the Pentagon today to kick off a weeklong schedule that will give them a firsthand look at the military at work. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England speaks to the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference Group during their visit to the Pentagon Sept. 19, 2008. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The Joint Civilian Orientation Conference participants are slated to travel to sites throughout Europe to meet U.S.... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086211/posts#comment Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:54:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086210/posts WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2008 – Fifteen employers accepted a Defense Department award last night for their exceptional financial and emotional support of National Guard and Reserve members on their payrolls. Thomas F. Hall, assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs; Air Force Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, director of the Air National Guard; and David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, prepare to present the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award at the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve ceremony Sept. 18, 2008, in Washington, D.C. Defens Dept. photo by John J. Kruzel  (Click photo for... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2086210/posts#comment Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:47:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085932/posts The CBS television network battled it out with the Marine Corps Wednesday morning at the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. The fight is over outtakes from a 60 Minutes interview with a Marine sergeant accused of killing civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Lawyers representing the three sides (the Marine Corps, CBS and SSgt Frank Wuterich) told the five-judge panel why, and why not, the Marine Corps should be entitled to video recordings the news program didn’t use. The interview was conducted by correspondent Scott Pelley for the 60 Minutes investigation, "The Killings in Haditha". It... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085932/posts#comment Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:28:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085652/posts According to the secretary of the Navy, Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta gave his life to save his comrades in the Iraqi city of Fallujah in 2004, grabbing a hostile grenade, pulling it to his body and absorbing the brunt of the blast. President Bush later praised Peralta as a hero. But a decision by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates not to recommend him for the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, stirred an outcry yesterday by his family and Marines whose lives he saved. Peralta instead will be posthumously awarded the second-highest award for valor in combat, the... The Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085652/posts#comment Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:14:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078568/posts Opinion: Maintaining air superiority Congress must fund more F-22s By Phil Gingrey, Washington Times 09/09/2008 The F-22A Raptor is the key to America's air superiority, and we need more of them. Recently, however, some have argued otherwise. Many of the dissenters suggest that Congress is considering continuing F-22 production for simple, political reasons. I respectfully disagree. Continuing the F-22 production is not a political nicety for the Air Force or for the defense of our nation. It is a necessity and the current program of record - 183 Raptors - is woefully inadequate to fulfill the National Military Strategy. This... Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078568/posts#comment Tue, 9 Sep 2008 23:30:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2082298/posts The US Department of Defense has notified Congress of a potential sale of 1,000 smart bombs capable of penetrating underground bunkers to Israel, which would likely be used in the event of a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. The notification of the possible sale to Congress was made over the weekend by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the branch of the Pentagon responsible for evaluating foreign military sales. Congress has 30 days to object the deal. The deal is valued at $77 million and the principal contractor will be Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The bomb which Israel has... The Jerusalem Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2082298/posts#comment Sun, 14 Sep 2008 19:18:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2079892/posts Joint Strike Fighter: The Latest Hotspot in the U.S. Defense Meltdown While its illusion as an "affordable" multi-role fighter-bomber is alive and well in Washington D.C., the F-35 "Joint Strike Fighter" is already a disaster, and the bad news has barely begun to roll in. Internationally recognized combat aircraft designer Pierre Sprey and Straus Military Reform Project Director Winslow Wheeler summarize the many failures in a new opinion piece that appears in the Sept. 10, 2008 issue of Janes Defence Weekly and is reproduced below. "Joint Strike Fighter: The Latest Hotspot in the U.S. Defense Meltdown" by Pierre M. Sprey... Center For Defense Information (CDI) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2079892/posts#comment Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:24:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078590/posts Missing WWII Soldier Is Identified The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Pvt. James W. Turner, U.S. Army, of Altus, Okla. He will be buried on Sept. 11 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Representatives from the Army met with Turner’s next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army.... DOD http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078590/posts#comment Tue, 9 Sep 2008 23:46:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074827/posts The Pentagon says the remains of a Portland man and two other sailors who died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor have been identified and will be returned to their families. kgw.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074827/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 21:05:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2075032/posts Washington, D.C. - At a conference in Washington, D.C., this week, a Department of Defense official sounded a startling alarm. "The defense community is critically reliant on a technology that obsoletes itself every 18 months, is made in unsecure locations and over which we have absolutely no market share influence," said Ted J. Glum, director of the DoD's Defense Microelectronics Activity unit. "Other than that," he cracked, "we're good." Forbes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2075032/posts#comment Fri, 5 Sep 2008 01:27:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074957/posts The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of three U.S. servicemen, missing from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Ensign Irvin A.R. Thompson, of Hudson County, N.J.; Ensign Eldon P. Wyman, of Portland, Ore.; and Fireman 2nd Class Lawrence A. Boxrucker, of Dorchester, Wis.; all U.S. Navy. Boxrucker will be buried on Sept. 6 in Dorchester, and the funerals for Thompson and Wyman are being set by their families. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, the... DOD http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074957/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 23:51:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071425/posts Army Deploys 'Experience Center' The high-tech launch in a Philadelphia mall features giant TV screens, helicopter simulators and a cafe Aug 29, 2008 -By Andrew McMains   NEW YORK The U.S. Army today opened an "Army Experience Center" in a major mall in Philadelphia with the goal of explaining how the modern Army operates and becoming a hub for community outreach programs. But unlike recruitment centers in office complexes, the center is surrounded by retail stores and designed to look hip and modern, with giant plasma screen televisions, brushed stainless steel fixtures, interactive displays, helicopter and Humvee simulators, a gaming... Adweek, various others http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071425/posts#comment Sat, 30 Aug 2008 21:06:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067347/posts After a century of green uniforms, the last one is being retired from the U.S. Army. The new "Class A" uniform, as of August 21st, 2008, will be the current blue "Dress Uniform.". By 2010, troops graduating from basic training will be issued the "dress blues" as their "Class A" uniform. The "Class B" uniform will be the dress blue trousers and a white shirt with decorations (ribbons, combat badge and so on). For both enlisted and officers, rank will be worn on epaulets. The new uniform "system" is similar to the one the U.S. Marine Corps has been wearing... Strategy Page http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2067347/posts#comment Sun, 24 Aug 2008 23:26:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065985/posts The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from World War II, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is 2nd Lt. Howard C. Enoch Jr., US Army Air Forces, of Marion, KY. He will be buried on September 22 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Representatives from the Army met with Enoch's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate internment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army. On March 19,... Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2065985/posts#comment Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:46:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064416/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iran's attempt to launch a dummy satellite into orbit was a "dramatic failure" that fell far short of the country's assertions of success, a U.S. official said on Tuesday http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2064416/posts#comment Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:29:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063810/posts TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- A test in Iran of a rocket able to carry a satellite into orbit was likely a failure, Pentagon officials said Monday. A senior U.S. defense official told CNN while Iranian officials claimed the launch of their country's first satellite carrier was a success this weekend, Pentagon officials opposed such a claim. "The Iranians did not successfully launch the rocket," the unidentified official said of Saturday's launch. United Press International http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2063810/posts#comment Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:06:04 GMT