military

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$100M Fraud Uncovered at California National Guard

Superiors apparently ignored missing, fabricated documents

(Newser) - In an exclusive investigative report, the Sacramento Bee exposes massive fraud at the California Army National Guard to the tune of $100 million in improper bonuses and recruiting incentives. From 1986 to 2009, Master Sgt. Toni Jaffe was in charge of approving the student loan repayments and bonuses the Guard...

US Military Officers: UFOs Deactivated Nukes

Ex-Air Force captain giving press conference today

(Newser) - Extraterrestrials do exist … and they apparently are not fans of our missiles, according to a few former US Air Force officers. Capt. Robert Salas and some of his colleagues will give a press conference in Washington, DC, today to testify that UFOs have appeared at numerous nuclear weapons sites—...

Troops Ignoring $324M in Unclaimed Backpay

Many believe it's too good to be true

(Newser) - The government is trying—really hard—to dole out $324 million in no-strings-attached money to military troops, but many have yet to apply for their share of the free cash. About 145,000 troops who were involuntarily kept on duty under the military’s controversial “stop-loss” policy , which was...

Cuts, Not Parades, for Returning Troops

As defense spending falls, military services are in danger

(Newser) - Rather than brass bands and parades, troops returning from Iraq could be greeted with pay caps and cuts in benefits—or worse. As the federal budget deficit rises, pressure is being put on Washington to cut military spending, and troops could even lose their jobs if Congress decides it no...

Iran Unveils 'Ambassador of Death'
 Iran Unveils 
 'Ambassador of Death' 
NEW DRONE
Aug 22, 2010 7:11 AM CDT

Iran Unveils 'Ambassador of Death'

Does not have capacity to hit Israel

(Newser) - A day after yesterday's fun with nuclear reactors, Iran unveiled its first domestically built unmanned bomber drone. The 13-foot-long aircraft can carry up to four cruise missiles and will have a range of 620 miles, which is not far enough to reach Israel, notes the AP . "The jet, as...

Israel Denies Chomsky Entry
 Israel Denies Chomsky Entry 
May 17, 2010 5:57 AM CDT

Israel Denies Chomsky Entry

Vocal critic of nation's policies stopped at border

(Newser) - Israel denied entry to Noam Chomsky yesterday, blocking the renowned academic from a speaking engagement at the West Bank's Birzeit University. Chomsky believes he was denied entry because the government "did not like that I was only talking at Birzeit and not at an Israeli university, too," he...

India's New Military Weapon: 'Ghost Chili'

Military will make mini hand grenades with it

(Newser) - The Indian military has a new weapon against terrorism: the world's hottest chili. Defense officials have decided to use the thumb-sized "bhut jolokia," or "ghost chili," to make tear-gas-like hand grenades to immobilize suspects. "The chili grenade has been found fit for use after trials...

Colin Powell Backs Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Architect of military's gay ban says times have changed

(Newser) - Colin Powell says he supports efforts to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Powell, who proposed the policy as a compromise in 1993 while serving as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says he "fully" backs the plan outlined by defense chief Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, who...

Military to Ease Off on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Gays outed by third parties won't be prosecuted

(Newser) - The military will no longer aggressively pursue disciplinary action against gay service members who are outed by a third party, the Pentagon will announce today. Under the new policy, gay personnel would face discharge only if they go public themselves on their sexual orientation. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm....

Prosecutors Hope Plea Deals Will Close Gitmo Cases

Federal, Military prosecutors fight for rare testimony

(Newser) - Federal and military prosecutors looking to convict Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other high-profile Guantanamo Bay detainees are competing with each other to offer plea bargains to lower-profile inmates in exchange for testimony. Some detainees have remained at Gitmo because they are considered too difficult to prosecute, and the evidence against...

Marine Beats Terrorist... Er, Orthodox Priest

Reservist may be guilty of hate crime in Tampa, police say

(Newser) - A Marine reservist in Tampa chased down a terrorist and beat him with a tire iron—only the terrorist was actually a lost tourist and Greek Orthodox priest who spoke little English. Jasen D. Bruce went after Alexios Marakis after Marakis approached him asking for directions. Bruce chased him for...

Iraq, Afghan War Reporter Said to Be a Spy

... or so Gawker thinks

(Newser) - A war correspondent whose rescues in the Mideast have cost several lives is a spy for Washington, Gawker claims, declining to name names or reveal, for "blazingly obvious reasons," the sources for this report, except to say that they are current and former special forces troops. "We...

Air Force Pulls Video After Marines Complain

Recruiting vid says airman 'in better shape'

(Newser) - The Air Force hastily pulled down its latest recruiting video yesterday in response to a complaint from a high-ranking Marine Corps official. In the video, an Air Force instructor boasts that his charges leave basic training “in better shape than most Marines.” Marines spotted it on the Air...

Navy Will Allow Women to Serve on Submarines

Female officers will be the first to join sub crews

(Newser) - The Navy is going to start allowing women to serve on submarines, with the first female officers reporting for duty in 2011. The close confinement of subs has kept co-ed crews at bay, but that's going to change, reports the Honolulu Advertiser. “I believe women should have every opportunity...

Obama Lashed McChrystal in Tense Faceoff

Prez reads commander riot act over his 'Chaos-istan' dig

(Newser) - President Obama's talk last week aboard Air Force One with Afghanistan commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal wasn't merely a meeting, as was widely reported in the press, but a dressing down over the general's "shocking" recent comments calling for more troops, says the Telegraph. McChrystal was called on the carpet...

Bush Redux? Runaway Exec Power Traps Obama, Too
Bush Redux? Runaway Exec Power Traps Obama, Too
OPINION
Sep 28, 2009 7:34 AM CDT

Bush Redux? Runaway Exec Power Traps Obama, Too

Every modern president succumbs to the National Security State, writes Wills

(Newser) - George W. Bush expanded executive power to an extreme degree, but he wasn't an exception, writes historian Garry Wills. Since World War II, the presidency has accrued massive, unintended authority—controlling nuclear weapons, intelligence agencies, and a worldwide military network under "the cult of the commander in chief."...

Aussies May Let Female Soldiers Fight

Proposal sparks fierce debate over women's fitness for combat role

(Newser) - The Australian military may change its guidelines to allow women soldiers to serve in front-line combat roles, the AP reports. The country's defense minister says he believes all service roles should be open to women if they can meet the physical demands, and the move may help persuade more females...

Troops Fume Over Proposed Smoking Ban

'If I were forced to quit, I'd probably be unbearable,' says one

(Newser) - Since the days of Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s signature corncob pipe, through the rationing of cigarettes during World War II, smoking has been ingrained part of military culture. But a new proposal to introduce a smoking ban in the armed forces is sparking fierce opposition, with some saying it could...

Army Probes Charges That Worker Spied on Protesters

Members say employee used alias to get names, email addresses

(Newser) - Officials are investigating charges by two anti-war groups that a civilian employee for the Army spent more than 2 years infiltrating their organizations under an assumed name, reports the New York Times. The groups, active near one of the nation’s largest military bases close to Tacoma, Wash., say criminal...

New GI Bill Gives Veterans Better Shot at College

Vastly expanded aid begins tomorrow

(Newser) - The new GI Bill, called the biggest veterans’ educational benefit program since 1944, takes effect tomorrow—and it’s poised to make a big difference, the Houston Chronicle reports. Some 90% of vets will receive two to three times more help paying for college, says one advocate. “This type...

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