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- 2 American intel officials killed in Afghan insider attack
Four Afghan and two American intelligence officials died Saturday in an insider attack on an Afghan intelligence office in Kandahar province. Authorities have identified one of the Americans as military intelligence company member Brittany B. Gordon, and the second is believed to have been a CIA operative. A suicide bomber today drove a truck full of explosives into the wall of a NATO-Afghan base, wounding 45 Afghan soldiers, officials say. The Washington Post
(10/17)
, CNN
(10/17)
 
| In the Pentagon
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- Pentagon tracks rise in noncombat firearm incidents
The number of active-duty troops dying by firearms outside combat zones has risen 62% over the past decade, according to Defense Department figures. More than a third of the 4,657 incidents recorded from 2002 to 2011 resulted in fatal wounds. Army Times Prime(subscription required)
(10/16)
- Editorial: Pentagon report shows lifesaving benefits of MRAPs
The Pentagon released a report last week rebutting several academic analyses critical of mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, or MRAPs. Critics of the armored vehicles say they don't prevent enough casualties to justify their high cost, but the Pentagon's research, which utilized classified data not available to academics, disproved this notion, writes the editorial board of The New York Times. "Protecting the troops is paramount, and, clearly, these vehicles are better equipped to do the job," the editorial board writes. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)
(10/16)
| On the Hill
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- Obama outpacing Romney in contributions from military personnel
Military personnel through August had donated almost twice as much to the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama than to challenger Mitt Romney, finds research from the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington. Army personnel had donated $165,646 to Obama, compared with $87,218 to Romney, the research found. In 2008, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., raised slightly more than Obama from military donors. Bloomberg Businessweek
(10/16)
- Democrats, GOP still at odds over deficit fix
Both political parties say stopping sequestration cuts is a high priority, but they remain far apart in just how a funding solution can be found. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has said new revenue can be found through economic growth, while Democrats say some form of tax increase on higher-income Americans must be part of the formula. Defense News
(10/16)
| On the Home Front
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- Cardiologist colonel joined Reserve in his 50s
Despite having no previous military experience, prominent cardiologist S. Ward Casscells III joined the Army Reserve in 2005 when he was in his early 50s. He served in Iraq, where he survived at least two attacks and was wounded in a Humvee accident. Casscells, who died Sunday of prostate cancer, returned from Iraq to take on the post of assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. "There was no greater advocate for the value that military medicine provides this nation than Dr. Casscells," Jonathan Woodson, the current assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said in a statement. The Washington Post
(10/17)
| Service Section News
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- Air Force hopes to define its cyberspace mission in upcoming meeting
Top Air Force officials are set to meet in November to discuss the service's role in America's cyberdefense efforts. A lack of clarity on this issue has hamstrung efforts to conduct cybersecurity operations, officials say. "We have to figure out cyberspace now, or at least get on a common vector," said Gen. William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command. AOL Defense
(10/16)
| Reserve Strength
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- Opinion: Air-Sea Battle concept could use some refinement
The Pentagon Air-Sea Battle concept is rooted in meeting emerging challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere, Michael O'Hanlon writes. A name change to a less-overtly combative title and the integration of other military branches in addition to the Air Force and Navy would help move Air-Sea Battle from a concept to an operational platform, he argues. Defense News
(10/15)
| Reserve Life
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- Lawsuit: VA could have prevented veteran's death with better care
The Veterans Affairs Department is facing a lawsuit alleging that it released military veteran Gregory Lee Smith too soon after back surgery in 2010, which contributed to his death several days later. According to the complaint, Smith's blood oxygen levels were unstable, and Smith had told his roommate that he didn't feel comfortable going home when he was released from VA Medical Center. The lawsuit was filed by Smith's parents. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah)
(10/16)
| SmartQuote
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 | In times of change, learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists."
--Eric Hoffer,
American social writer
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