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Industry Execs: Don't Rule Out Tax Hikes to Avoid Defense Cuts
Tweet Share on Facebook July 18, 2012 CommentFind a way to void deep reductions in government spending on which defense companies are dependent, and consider raising taxes to do so. That was the somewhat surprising message several industry executives delivered to lawmakers Wednesday.
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Panetta: Situation in Syria 'Spinning Out of Control'
Tweet Share on Facebook July 18, 2012 CommentWestern officials inched closer to calling for direct intervention in Syria Wednesday as a series of suicide bombings rocked Damascus, reportedly killing Bashar al-Assad's defense minister and brother-in-law and signalling the end of his reign could be near.
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called the suicide attacks a "real escalation in the fighting," adding the civil war in Syria "is rapidly spinning out of control." Panetta also renewed the Obama administration's insistence that Assad step down.
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As House Vote Looms, Prepare for a Fight on Military Cuts
Tweet Share on Facebook July 17, 2012 CommentPentagon spending cuts took center stage in Washington Tuesday, with both sides jockeying for position just one day before the House is slated to vote on a measure that would require the Obama White House to lay out its plans for the cuts.
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U.S. Mum On Releasing Funds to Syrian Rebels
Tweet Share on Facebook July 17, 2012 CommentU.S. officials have not commented on when—or if—they will deliver Syrian opposition leaders over $10 million in frozen funds, money rebel sources say would help their fight against Bashir al-Assad's forces.
One opposition source says Washington recently promised to turn over around $13 million to opposition leaders, but those leaders are scratching their heads about when the funds might arrive.
"We have not seen that money," the opposition source says. "It's been three months and it has not been distributed."
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With Shooting, U.S. Navy Ship Sends Message to Iran, Al Qaeda
Tweet Share on Facebook July 16, 2012 CommentThe crew of a U.S. Navy ship opened fire Monday on a small vessel in the Persian Gulf that the Pentagon says ignored several warnings, effectively sending a deadly message to foes like Iran and al Qaeda: Don't press your luck.
The Pentagon announced Monday that the USNS Rappahannock, a fuel resupply ship, opened fire on the small vessel in waters about 30 miles off the United Arab Emirates coast. In a statement, the Pentagon said the small vessel "disregarded several warnings and rapidly approached the U.S. ship."
The Rappahannock's crew reportedly killed one individual who was aboard the small boat, and wounded three others.
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Survey: Majority of Voters Favor Defense Cuts
Tweet Share on Facebook July 16, 2012 CommentOverwhelming numbers of Americans living in both Republican-leaning and Democratic-leaning congressional districts favor slashing annual military spending, according to a new survey.
Seventy-four percent of Americans living in Republican districts say they favor cutting the Pentagon's budget, while 80 percent residing in Democratic districts answered the same.
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Four Reasons Picking Condi Rice as V.P. Could Hurt Mitt Romney
Tweet Share on Facebook July 13, 2012 CommentSpeculation kicked into high gear that a pillar of George W. Bush's foreign policy, Condoleezza Rice, has made Mitt Romeny's vice presidential short list when the Drudge Report reported as much late Thursday. But Democratic and Republican sources tell U.S. News & World Report that picking Rice might open a Pandora's Box, allowing the Obama campaign to hammer the former secretary of state and national security adviser for her roles in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
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Defense Firms Ignore Presidential Fight, Pour Millions Into Congressional Races
Tweet Share on Facebook July 13, 2012 CommentThe top U.S. weapons manufacturers are largely sitting out the 2012 presidential race, opting instead to pour millions into congressional races as the firms use campaign cash to influence lawmakers' fight over massive defense cuts.
The five biggest American arms manufacturers have donated a combined $7.1 million into the presidential and congressional races so far, according to data analyzed by U.S. News & World Report. But $6.8 million of that amount has gone to congressional candidates, with $4.2 million donated to GOP Capitol Hill hopefuls thus far.
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London 2012: An Olympic-Sized Target For Terrorists
Tweet Share on Facebook July 12, 2012 CommentTake the world's premier athletic spectacle. Then, place events at 100 venues across the United Kingdom. And finally, scatter tens of thousands of athletes, coaches, spectators and vendors to those sites.
What you get are the 2012 Olympic Games. You also get what security officials and would-be terrorists see as the definition of a target-rich environment.
As U.K. officials begin setting up the massive security apparatus that will guard the Games, they have determined the task is even more daunting than they initially believed.
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Study Warns Cost of U.S. Troops 'Is Unsustainable'
Tweet Share on Facebook July 12, 2012 CommentIncreasingly costly benefits for U.S. troops, if left unchecked, would force the military to shed so many war fighters that it would struggle to perform even its simplest missions.
The massive cost of America's all-volunteer military is unsustainable, states a blunt report released by a Washington, D.C.-based think tank Thursday.
