http://www.mail.com/in-en/people/16928-leon-panetta.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.28/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/in-en/people/16928-leon-panetta.html http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2080096-review-chairman-clinton-benghazi-call.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The seasoned diplomat who penned a highly critical report on security at a U.S. outpost in Benghazi, Libya, defended his scathing assessment but absolved then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. "We knew where the responsibility rested," Thomas Pickering said Sunday. "They've tried to point a finger at people more senior than wher... Sun, 12 May 2013 18:53:17 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2080096-review-chairman-clinton-benghazi-call.html 2013-05-12T18:53:17Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2054338-military-court-reverses-suicide-attempt-conviction.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military's highest court has reversed a discharged Marine's criminal conviction for slitting his wrists in a case that raised questions about whether suicidal service members should be prosecuted. The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ruled in a 3-2 decision released late Monday that a military judge shouldn't have accepted ... Wed, 01 May 2013 00:23:15 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2054338-military-court-reverses-suicide-attempt-conviction.html 2013-05-01T00:23:15Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2038448-israeli-focus-syria-hagel-respite-iran.html JERUSALEM (AP) — On Chuck Hagel's inaugural visit to Israel as U.S. defense secretary, Syria surpassed Iran as the security threat of greatest urgency to the U.S.' closest Mideast ally. That quite unexpectedly gave the new Pentagon chief a temporary respite from the delicate duty of tempering Israeli warnings about attacking Iran to stop it from building a nuclear bomb. ... Wed, 24 Apr 2013 01:59:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2038448-israeli-focus-syria-hagel-respite-iran.html 2013-04-24T01:59:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2026196-praise-levity-greet-hagel-senate-return.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators who nearly buried Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel found reasons to praise him on Wednesday. Seven weeks after his bruising Senate confirmation fight, Hagel fielded questions on the defense budget, Afghanistan, Syria and North Korea in his first appearance before the Armed Services Committee since it narrowly approved his nominatio... Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:21:40 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/2026196-praise-levity-greet-hagel-senate-return.html 2013-04-17T21:21:40Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1919926-us-europe-move-to-expand-role-syrian-conflict.html ROME (AP) — The United States and some European allies are edging closer to direct involvement in Syria's civil war with plans to deliver meals, medical kits and other forms of nonlethal assistance to the rebels battling President Bashar Assad. The U.S., Britain, France and Italy aren't planning to supply the Free Syrian Army with weapons or ammunition. B... Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:07:08 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1919926-us-europe-move-to-expand-role-syrian-conflict.html 2013-02-27T21:07:08Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1916046-apnewsbreak-taliban-attacks.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The American-led military coalition in Afghanistan backed off Tuesday from its claim that Taliban attacks dropped off in 2012, tacitly acknowledging a hole in its widely repeated argument that violence is easing and that the insurgency is in steep decline. In response to Associated Press inquiries about its latest series of statistics on... Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:59:51 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1916046-apnewsbreak-taliban-attacks.html 2013-02-26T22:59:51Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1908612-up-to-12000-us-allied-troops-afghanistan.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and its NATO allies revealed Friday they may keep as many as 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends next year, largely American forces tasked with hunting down remnants of al-Qaida and helping Afghan forces with their own security. Patience with the 11-year-old war has grown thin in the U.S. and Europe, yet ... Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:25:49 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1908612-up-to-12000-us-allied-troops-afghanistan.html 2013-02-22T21:25:49Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1908510-panetta-cybersecurity-focus-nato-meeting.html BRUSSELS (AP) — With cyberthreats escalating, the next meeting of NATO defense ministers will include a major focus on cybersecurity, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said. Panetta said he called on NATO to address the issue, as the cyberthreat from other nations and hackers continues to grow. "We are seeing continuing attacks in the cyber arena, on the ... Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:06:04 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1908510-panetta-cybersecurity-focus-nato-meeting.html 2013-02-22T18:06:04Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1908050-panetta-nato-partner-differ-troop-numbers.html BRUSSELS (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his NATO counterparts are considering leaving 8,000 to 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014, but it was unclear how much of that force would be American, U.S. officials said Friday. A dispute flared, but was quickly dissipated at the NATO defense ministers gathering here to discuss the endgame of the 1... Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:59:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1908050-panetta-nato-partner-differ-troop-numbers.html 2013-02-22T15:59:29Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1907956-german-us-to-leave-8000-12000-troops-afghan.html BRUSSELS (AP) — A German official said Friday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has told NATO allies that the U.S. will leave between 8,000 and 12,000 American troops in Afghanistan after 2014, when combat ends. German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere told reporters Friday that Panetta informed him of the numbers. U.S. officials have yet to say publi... Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:39:10 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1907956-german-us-to-leave-8000-12000-troops-afghan.html 2013-02-22T13:39:10Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1906010-nato-to-consider-maintaining-larger-afghan-force.html BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO is strongly considering a proposal to continue funding a security force of 352,000 Afghan troops through 2018, as part of an effort to maintain security and help convince Afghanistan that America and its allies will not abandon it once combat troops leave in 2014, senior alliance officials said Thursday. Such a change, if NATO endorse... Thu, 21 Feb 2013 20:44:43 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1906010-nato-to-consider-maintaining-larger-afghan-force.html 2013-02-21T20:44:43Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1905436-nato-chief-urges-countries-to-halt-defense-cuts.html BRUSSELS (AP) — The head of NATO urged member countries Thursday to stop cutting their defense budgets in response to tough economic times, saying continued reductions will compromise the safety of all of the military alliance's 28 members. "It is of course a matter of concern that we have seen and continue to see declining defense budgets all over the al... Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:59:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1905436-nato-chief-urges-countries-to-halt-defense-cuts.html 2013-02-21T13:59:38Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1890406-officials-us-general-reconsidering-europe-command.html WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the Marine general who just left a 19-month command in Afghanistan is undecided about becoming the U.S. military's top soldier in Europe after being linked to — and cleared of — a sex scandal that felled former CIA Director David Petraeus. Marine Gen. John Allen was nominated last autumn for the coveted job overseeing... Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:15:34 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1890406-officials-us-general-reconsidering-europe-command.html 2013-02-13T23:15:34Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/asia/1882800-us-ships-military-equipment-afghanistan.html KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The United States began its withdrawal from Afghanistan in earnest, officials said Monday, sending the first of what will be tens of thousands of containers home through a once-blocked land route through Pakistan. The shipment of 50 containers over the weekend came as a new U.S. commander took control of U.S. and NATO forces in A... Mon, 11 Feb 2013 17:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/asia/1882800-us-ships-military-equipment-afghanistan.html 2013-02-11T17:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1878400-kerry-us-weighing-syria-options-mum-arms.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that the United States is evaluating new options to halt Syria's civil war, but he refused to weigh into administration debates over whether to arm the rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's regime. In his first news conference as secretary, Kerry said the Obama administration was looking at th... Fri, 08 Feb 2013 22:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1878400-kerry-us-weighing-syria-options-mum-arms.html 2013-02-08T22:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1870036-hagel-to-5th-pentagon-chief-with-enlisted-time.html WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Barack Obama declared that his defense secretary nominee, Chuck Hagel, would be the first former enlisted man to lead the Pentagon, he seemed to overlook four previous defense chiefs who served part of their military years as enlisted men. William J. Perry, who served as defense secretary from 1994-97, was in the Army's en... Tue, 05 Feb 2013 18:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1870036-hagel-to-5th-pentagon-chief-with-enlisted-time.html 2013-02-05T18:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1847648-french-mali-forces-head-toward-timbuktu.html SEVARE, Mali (AP) — French and Malian forces pushed toward the fabled desert town of Timbuktu on Sunday, as the two-week-long French mission gathered momentum against the Islamist extremists who have ruled the north for more than nine months. So far the French forces have met little resistance from the militants, though it remains unclear what battles may... Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1847648-french-mali-forces-head-toward-timbuktu.html 2013-01-27T21:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1845312-whats-threat-north-korean-rhetoric-reality.html TOKYO (AP) — According to its official statements, North Korea is ready to go to the brink. But how serious are Pyongyang's threats? This week, new U.N. sanctions punishing the North's successful December rocket launch have elicited a furious response from Pyongyang: strong hints that a third nuclear test is coming, along with bigger and better long-range... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1845312-whats-threat-north-korean-rhetoric-reality.html 2013-01-25T17:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1844042-troops-women-meet-standards-men.html SAN DIEGO (AP) — During her time in Iraq, Alma Felix would see her fellow female soldiers leave the Army installations where she worked at a desk job and head into combat with their male counterparts. But many returned home feeling that few knew of their contributions. "I guess we do disappear into the background," the 27-year-old former Army specialist s... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1844042-troops-women-meet-standards-men.html 2013-01-25T00:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1844212-women-serve-combat-related-jobs.html The Pentagon is knocking down old barriers to women serving in combat, but some already are in risky jobs. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's order, signed Thursday, opens 238,000 new jobs to women. A look at some of the dangerous jobs women can do now, and what will be open to them if they meet the qualifications: PILOTS. In 1991, Congress ended a ban on w... Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1844212-women-serve-combat-related-jobs.html 2013-01-24T20:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1838334-senate-chair-count-up-hagel-vote-hearing.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Senate Republicans said Tuesday they would reserve judgment on Chuck Hagel's nomination until after his confirmation hearing next week, a positive sign for President Barack Obama's choice to head the Defense Department. Hagel, who already has drawn strong opposition from six Senate Republicans, continued his outreach to lawmakers on ... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1838334-senate-chair-count-up-hagel-vote-hearing.html 2013-01-22T23:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1837956-pentagon-aq-ally-top-suspect-algeria-attack.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon on Tuesday stopped short of saying al-Qaida's North Africa affiliate is definitely to blame for the deadly Algeria terrorist attack, but it said there is good reason to believe the group had a leading role. "When it comes to terrorist attacks of this sort in North Africa, AQIM has to be at the top of the list of suspects, I'... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:49:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1837956-pentagon-aq-ally-top-suspect-algeria-attack.html 2013-01-22T19:49:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1835160-3-americans-die-algeria-attack-7-survive.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Three U.S. citizens were killed in last week's hostage standoff at a natural gas complex in Algeria, while seven Americans made it out safely, Obama administration officials said Monday. The State Department confirmed that gas workers Victor Lynn Lovelady of Houston, Texas, and Gordon Lee Rowan were killed at the Ain Amenas field in the ... Tue, 22 Jan 2013 00:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1835160-3-americans-die-algeria-attack-7-survive.html 2013-01-22T00:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1831890-obama-us-ready-to-assist-algerian-officials.html WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said Saturday the U.S. stands ready to provide whatever assistance Algerian officials need in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack at a natural gas complex in the Sahara. The four-day standoff appeared to end Saturday after Algerian special forces stormed the complex. The clash left at least 23 hostages dea... Sun, 20 Jan 2013 04:02:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1831890-obama-us-ready-to-assist-algerian-officials.html 2013-01-20T04:02:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/europe/1829868-algeria-12-hostages-died-siege.html PARIS (AP) — The bloody three-day hostage standoff at a natural gas plant in the Sahara took a dramatic turn Friday as Algeria's state news service reported that nearly 100 of the 132 foreign workers kidnapped by Islamic militants had been freed. That number of hostages at the remote desert facility was significantly higher than any previous report, but i... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:50:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/europe/1829868-algeria-12-hostages-died-siege.html 2013-01-18T20:50:00Z http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1829490-panetta-us-british-working-to-free-hostages.html LONDON (AP) — Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the U.S. is working with the British and Algerian governments to assess what is happening on the ground at a natural gas complex in the Sahara where Islamic militants are holding hostages from at least 10 countries. The fate of many of the captives remained uncertain. Speaking Friday at Kings College in Lo... Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:54:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/in-en/news/world/1829490-panetta-us-british-working-to-free-hostages.html 2013-01-18T14:54:00Z