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October 9, 2012

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Panetta to address NATO concerns about insider attacks
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and other U.S. officials are heading to NATO meetings this week in Brussels, where they will look to assure allies that the U.S. is doing all it can to counter a rise in insider attacks on coalition troops in Afghanistan. Officials will also seek to address growing political tensions, reflected in recent comments by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is criticizing U.S. strategy in the region. ABC News/The Associated Press (10/9)

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In the Pentagon

U.S. to ramp up Philippines presence despite peace deal
The U.S. plans to maintain a counterterrorism base in the Philippines and is proceeding with plans to send hundreds of Marines to the region despite a peace deal between the government and Muslim extremists. Filipino authorities announced a deal with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front over the weekend aimed at ending decades of separatist violence. The Hill/DEFCON Hill blog (10/8) , The Washington Post/The Associated Press (10/7)

Afghan intelligence personnel die in bomb attack
Two Afghan intelligence officers with the country's National Directorate of Security died Monday in a bomb attack on government offices in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province. Afghan casualties have been rising as local forces assume greater security responsibilities. Google/The Associated Press (10/8)

Other News

U.S. mainland is within range of missiles, Pyongyang says
Air Force Times(free registration) (10/9)

On the Hill

Senators seek improvements to disability evaluation system
U.S. Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., have sent a letter to the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments urging them to improve the disability evaluation process for service members and complete a review of the Integrated Disability Evaluation System. "I am not convinced the Departments have implemented a disability evaluation process that is truly transparent, consistent or expeditious. Getting this right is a big challenge -- but it's one that we must overcome," Murray said. The Hill/Floor Action Blog (10/8)

Service Section News

University of Utah could take over historic Army Reserve buildings
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is proposing that control of Fort Douglas, which was established in 1862 and which now houses headquarters staff for two Army Reserve commands, be handed over to the University of Utah, which has expanded in the region in recent years. Under the proposal, the Army would lease the buildings to the university, and the Reserve commands possibly would move to an Air Force base in Utah. "My goal is to make sure the University of Utah has sufficient room to expand, while simultaneously ensuring Utah's Army Reserve units have modern facilities to support their vital missions," Hatch said. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (10/3)

Navy's solar power plan for Pearl Harbor draws criticism
A Navy plan to place 27.5 acres of solar panels on the Ford Island airfield at Pearl Harbor has raised concerns among historians, veterans and aviation aficionados who say the panels would detract from solemnity of the site. Pentagon officials say the plan would help the Navy meet a requirement that half of its power come from alternative sources by 2020. Los Angeles Times(tiered subscription model) (10/8)

Reserve Strength

DOD may shield weapons, furlough civilians under cuts
The Defense Department may furlough civilian workers to help pay for Afghanistan operations but protect major weapons programs and try to shift funds to high-priority programs if sequestration goes through, Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale says. The comments are some of the first that reveal how the Pentagon may handle defense cuts if they take place. Defense News (10/8)

Reserve Life

Survey: Two-thirds of active, reserve troops support Romney
In a Military Times poll of more than 3,100 active and reserve troops, two-thirds of respondents said they planned to vote for Mitt Romney, while about a quarter said they planned to vote for President Barack Obama. The majority of respondents said the economy or the candidate's character was the most important factor guiding their vote, while less than 16% said national security was their biggest concern. Army Times (10/7)

Study will examine how fatty acid intake affects suicide risk
The Veterans Affairs medical center in Charleston, S.C., will launch the first phase of a $10 million, three-year study to examine the effects of omega-3 fatty acid intake on military personnel. Researchers are examining whether consumption of omega-3 fatty acids lowers suicide risk. The Baltimore Sun/Reuters (10/8)

SmartQuote

If it's very painful for you to criticize your friends -- you're safe in doing it. But if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that's the time to hold your tongue."

--Alice Duer Miller,
American writer and poet

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