http://www.mail.com/organizations/252-us-department-defense.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.23/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/organizations/252-us-department-defense.html http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1861812-games-to-follow-pentagon-women-combat.html LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lara Croft. Samus Aran. Jill Valentine. Chell. In the realm of video games, it's not difficult to identify tough-as-nails women who uncover ancient treasures, blast away aliens, battle zombies and outwit malicious robots. However, when it comes to finding fictional females who take down terrorists, call in airstrikes, frag combatants an... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 20:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1861812-games-to-follow-pentagon-women-combat.html 2013-02-01T20:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1861216-us-weighs-tougher-action-china-cyberattacks.html WASHINGTON (AP) — High-level talks with the Chinese government to address persistent cyberattacks against U.S. companies and government agencies haven't worked, so officials say the Obama administration is now considering a range of actions. China-based hackers have long been an economic and national security concern, but as cybersecurity experts report a... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1861216-us-weighs-tougher-action-china-cyberattacks.html 2013-02-01T08:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1860682-marine-leader-skepticism-infantry-women.html SAN DIEGO (AP) — The head of the Marine Corps — the most male of all military branches — said Thursday the infantry side is skeptical about how women will perform in those units, and some combat positions may end up being closed again if not enough females meet the rigorous, physically demanding standards. Gen. James Amos made the remarks to reporters at ... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1860682-marine-leader-skepticism-infantry-women.html 2013-02-01T03:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1860562-us-action-china-cyberattacks.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is considering more assertive action against Beijing to combat a persistent cyber-espionage campaign it believes Chinese hackers are waging against U.S. companies and government agencies. As The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that their computer systems had been infiltrated by China-base... Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1860562-us-action-china-cyberattacks.html 2013-02-01T00:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1858372-republicans-hammer-defense-nominee-chuck-hagel.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican senators hammered former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing Thursday on issues ranging from Israel and Iran to his support for a group that advocates the elimination of nuclear weapons. But with most Democrats in his corner, an unflustered Hagel seems headed for approval as defense secretary. Hagel, a former two-... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 22:17:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1858372-republicans-hammer-defense-nominee-chuck-hagel.html 2013-01-31T22:17:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1858548-congress-grapples-with-gap-scofflaw-contractors.html WASHINGTON (AP) — With thousands of civilian contractors remaining in Iraq and Afghanistan, Justice Department officials want Congress to resolve a legal issue they say obstructs efforts to prosecute any such workers who rape, kill or commit other serious crimes abroad. Scofflaw Pentagon employees and contractors supporting the American war mission overse... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:37:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1858548-congress-grapples-with-gap-scofflaw-contractors.html 2013-01-31T18:37:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1859818-american-deaths-afghan-war-drop-to-4-year-low.html WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan have plunged to the lowest level in four years, reflecting a pullback from direct combat into the less deadly role of advising and assisting Afghan forces as they do more of the fighting. Attacks by Taliban insurgents also have declined, although the war is far from finished. Pentagon figures show that th... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1859818-american-deaths-afghan-war-drop-to-4-year-low.html 2013-01-31T18:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859614-reset-pentagon-nominee-hagel-fights-job.html The odds should favor Senate confirmation of Chuck Hagel as President Barack Obama's next defense secretary despite strong Republican criticism at Thursday's Senate confirmation hearing. For one thing, Senate rejections of Cabinet nominations are rare. It hasn't happened since March 1989, when President George H.W. Bush's nomination of former Sen. John To... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:51:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859614-reset-pentagon-nominee-hagel-fights-job.html 2013-01-31T16:51:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859340-joint-chiefs-looming-cuts-would-hollow-military.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The military's top leaders are warning Congress that automatic spending cuts looming in March would force the Pentagon to slash operating budgets, weakening the armed forces and possibly forcing furloughs of 800,000 civilian employees. The Joint Chiefs say in a letter to Congress that the cuts would create a "hollow force" and would requ... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 16:17:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1859340-joint-chiefs-looming-cuts-would-hollow-military.html 2013-01-31T16:17:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1858390-economic-jitters-compete-with-obama-agenda.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Just as President Barack Obama is pushing new initiatives on gun control and immigration, the gloomy old problem of a sluggish economy is elbowing its way back into prominence. Consumer confidence is falling, the economy is contracting and large automatic spending cuts are threatening to hit the Pentagon and other programs, with uncertain consequences. ... Thu, 31 Jan 2013 15:06:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1858390-economic-jitters-compete-with-obama-agenda.html 2013-01-31T15:06:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1855648-gop-lawmakers-automatic-cuts-leverage.html WASHINGTON (AP) — There's a growing sense of resignation that the country's political leaders will be unable or unwilling to find a way around looming automatic spending cuts despite fresh signs the cuts would threaten the recovering economy. On one side are conservative Republicans, outnumbered and frustrated, who see the painfully large cuts as leverage... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 23:25:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1855648-gop-lawmakers-automatic-cuts-leverage.html 2013-01-30T23:25:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1855804-high-tech-cargo-airship-built-california.html TUSTIN, Calif. (AP) — The massive blimp-like aircraft flies but just barely, hovering only a dozen feet off a military hangar floor during flight testing south of Los Angeles. Still, the fact that the hulking 230-foot-long Aeroscraft could fly for just a few minutes represents a step forward in aviation, according to the engineers who developed it. The De... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 22:32:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1855804-high-tech-cargo-airship-built-california.html 2013-01-30T22:32:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1857232-hagel-military-view-shaped-vietnam.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Chuck Hagel says his experience fighting in Vietnam alongside his younger brother will shape any decision he makes to unleash military force if the Senate confirms him to be President Barack Obama's defense secretary. On the eve of his confirmation hearing, Hagel offered his opinions on a long list of issues, from cuts in defense spendin... Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:11:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1857232-hagel-military-view-shaped-vietnam.html 2013-01-30T21:11:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853334-senate-confirms-kerry-nomination-dept.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed President Barack Obama's choice of five-term Sen. John Kerry to be secretary of state, with Republicans and Democrats praising him as the ideal successor to Hillary Rodham Clinton. The vote Tuesday was 94-3. One senator — Kerry — voted present and accepted congratulations from colleagues on the Senate ... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:30:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853334-senate-confirms-kerry-nomination-dept.html 2013-01-29T23:30:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854050-hagel-supports-nuclear-arms-cuts-then-elimination.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Chuck Hagel, the likely next secretary of defense, would be the first to enter the Pentagon having publicly advocated for sharply reducing the number of U.S. nuclear weapons, possibly without equivalent cuts by Russia. He supports an international movement called Global Zero that favors eliminating all nuclear weapons. That puts him outs... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:22:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854050-hagel-supports-nuclear-arms-cuts-then-elimination.html 2013-01-29T23:22:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854750-us-eyes-drone-base-africa-with-al-qaida-mind.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Plans to base unarmed American surveillance drones in the African nation of Niger highlight the Obama administration's growing concern about extremist influences in the volatile region. They also raise tough questions about how to contain al-Qaida and other militant groups without committing U.S. ground forces in yet another war. In the ... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:14:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854750-us-eyes-drone-base-africa-with-al-qaida-mind.html 2013-01-29T21:14:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854682-us-military-deaths-afghanistan-2045.html As of Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at least 2,045 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count. The AP count is two less than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST. At least 1,706 military service members have died in A... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:58:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1854682-us-military-deaths-afghanistan-2045.html 2013-01-29T19:58:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1854542-reid-replace-automatic-cuts-short-increments.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Democrat in the Senate said Tuesday that lawmakers should redouble their efforts to replace looming across-the-board cuts to the Pentagon and domestic programs with alternative spending cuts and tax hikes. The comments by Majority Leader Harry Reid came amid increasing resignation among both Democrats and Republicans that the acr... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1854542-reid-replace-automatic-cuts-short-increments.html 2013-01-29T19:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853300-official-us-set-up-drone-base-niger.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is moving toward setting up a military base in northwest Africa from which to operate surveillance drones to collect intelligence on Islamic militants in the region, several U.S. defense officials said Tuesday. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the plan is still in the works, said the base in Niger wo... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:08:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853300-official-us-set-up-drone-base-niger.html 2013-01-29T18:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853930-graham-threatens-to-block-hagel-pick-libya.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican senator is threatening to block the nomination of Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon unless Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies about the deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya. Sen. Lindsey Graham said in an interview with Fox News' "On the Record" Monday night that he would "absolutely" block the nominat... Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:56:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1853930-graham-threatens-to-block-hagel-pick-libya.html 2013-01-29T15:56:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1851770-fact-check-stretched-case-chuck-hagel.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican-leaning groups opposing President Barack Obama's choice of Chuck Hagel to head the Defense Department have let loose a barrage of claims about the former GOP senator. They say he endorses automatic cuts to the defense budget, that he wants to decimate the nation's nuclear arsenal, that his membership on the board of a major co... Mon, 28 Jan 2013 20:38:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1851770-fact-check-stretched-case-chuck-hagel.html 2013-01-28T20:38:00Z http://www.mail.com/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/news/world/1847648-french-mali-forces-head-toward-timbuktu.html 2013-01-27T21:08:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1848576-us-to-support-french-mali-with-aerial-refueling.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has decided to provide additional support to the French military in its war against Islamic militants in Mali by conducting aerial refueling missions. The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has told the French defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, that U.S. Africa Command will provide the aerial refueling supp... Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:10:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1848576-us-to-support-french-mali-with-aerial-refueling.html 2013-01-27T01:10:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/world/1847482-health-answers-sought-burned-off-war-garbage.html WASHINGTON (AP) — J.D. Williams didn't think much about the smoke cloud that often shrouded his air base in Iraq. Not when it covered everything he owned with black soot or when his wheezing and coughing made it difficult to sleep at night. "We just went about our business because there was a war going on," said Williams, a retired chief warrant officer w... Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:26:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/world/1847482-health-answers-sought-burned-off-war-garbage.html 2013-01-26T13:26:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1847384-wife-female-army-officer-join-spouses-club.html FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — A woman who is married to a female Army officer at Fort Bragg and who was recently denied membership in its officers' spouses club said late Friday that she has been invited to become a full member. Ashley Broadway told the Associated Press that she received the invitation from the club's board in an email Friday. The invitation ca... Sat, 26 Jan 2013 05:13:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1847384-wife-female-army-officer-join-spouses-club.html 2013-01-26T05:13:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1846108-pentagon-budget-crisis-hurt-war-effort.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The Afghan war effort eventually would be harmed by across-the-board budget cuts, even as the Obama administration intends to shield the military's combat mission from the reductions, the Pentagon's No. 2 official said Friday. "There will be second-order effects on the war," Ashton Carter, the deputy defense secretary, said in an intervi... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/markets/1846108-pentagon-budget-crisis-hurt-war-effort.html 2013-01-25T21:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1846808-american-women-served-died.html WASHINGTON (AP) — American women have served and died on the nation's battlefields from the first. They were nurses and cooks, spies and couriers in the Revolutionary War. Some disguised themselves as men to fight for the Union or the Confederacy. Yet the U.S. military's official acceptance of women in combat took more than two centuries. New roles for fe... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 21:31:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1846808-american-women-served-died.html 2013-01-25T21:31:00Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1842142-practically-human-smart-machines-your-job.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Art Liscano knows he's an endangered species in the job market: He's a meter reader in Fresno, Calif. For 26 years, he's driven from house to house, checking how much electricity Pacific Gas & Electric customers have used. But PG&E doesn't need many people like Liscano making rounds anymore. Every day, the utility replaces 1,200 old-fash... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:24:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1842142-practically-human-smart-machines-your-job.html 2013-01-25T17:24:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1844782-ap-photos-womens-military-service.html Through the years, women's roles in wartime have evolved — not that women ever have been inclined to just stand by. During the American Revolution, Nancy Morgan Hart was famously depicted with a musket, defending her home and children from British soldiers in Georgia. In World War II, members of the Women Army Corps worked in a support capacity, while in ... Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1844782-ap-photos-womens-military-service.html 2013-01-25T13:27:00Z