http://www.mail.com/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/people/16928-leon-panetta.html http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2094950-why-benghazi-issue-coming.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The night of smoke, chaos, gunfire and grenades that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, is well-documented. Eight months later, it is the decisions made back in Washington that remain murky and in perpetual dispute. Why were a diplomatic outpost and the visiting U.S. ambassador left so poorly protected? Should the Pentagon have ru... Sun, 19 May 2013 12:26:04 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2094950-why-benghazi-issue-coming.html 2013-05-19T12:26:04Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2094030-navy-pilot-earns-degree-combat-zone.html SAN DIEGO (AP) — Finals week was dangerous for Thomas Saenz. The Navy lieutenant needed armed guards and an armored car to get to an exam site, in Kabul, Afghanistan. A deadly bomb attack also caused him to his miss classes — transmitted live via the Internet — but he persevered and earned a master's degree in engineering from the University of Southern C... Fri, 17 May 2013 23:53:50 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2094030-navy-pilot-earns-degree-combat-zone.html 2013-05-17T23:53:50Z http://www.mail.com/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/news/world/2080096-review-chairman-clinton-benghazi-call.html 2013-05-12T18:53:17Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2070520-us-official-describes-libya-attack.html WASHINGTON (AP) — A former top diplomat in Libya on Wednesday delivered a riveting minute-by-minute account of the chaotic events during the deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi last September, with a 2 a.m. call from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and confusion about the fate of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. In a slow, ha... Thu, 09 May 2013 04:28:25 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2070520-us-official-describes-libya-attack.html 2013-05-09T04:28:25Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2067080-diplomat-us-team-stopped-going-to-benghazi.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Four members of Army special forces ready to head to Benghazi, Libya, after the deadly assault on the American diplomatic mission had ended were told not to go, according to a former top diplomat. Gregory Hicks also argued in an interview with Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that if the U.S. military ha... Tue, 07 May 2013 07:20:07 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2067080-diplomat-us-team-stopped-going-to-benghazi.html 2013-05-07T07:20:07Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2067538-airman-who-led-sex-assault-unit-charged-groping.html ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — An Air Force officer who led the branch's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response unit has been charged with groping a woman in a northern Virginia parking lot, authorities said Monday. Arlington County Police said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski of Arlington faces a misdemeanor charge of sexual battery following an alleged assault about 1... Tue, 07 May 2013 04:16:20 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2067538-airman-who-led-sex-assault-unit-charged-groping.html 2013-05-07T04:16:20Z http://www.mail.com/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/news/world/2054338-military-court-reverses-suicide-attempt-conviction.html 2013-05-01T00:23:15Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2052882-outraged-lawmakers-to-change-military-justice.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Outrage over an Air Force officer's decision to overturn a jury's guilty verdict in a sexual assault case has Republicans and Democrats joining forces on ambitious legislation to change the military justice system. On both sides of the Capitol, lawmakers have interpreted Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's recent proposal to essentially stri... Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:47:43 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2052882-outraged-lawmakers-to-change-military-justice.html 2013-04-30T13:47:43Z http://www.mail.com/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/news/world/2038448-israeli-focus-syria-hagel-respite-iran.html 2013-04-24T01:59:00Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2038408-ap-impact-congress-slows-military-efforts-to-save.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Parked around the airstrip at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland are more than a dozen massive C-5A Galaxy transport planes. There is no money to fly them, repair them or put pilots in the cockpits, but Congress rejected the Air Force's bid to retire them. So, in the weeks and months ahead, crews will tow the planes around the Texas tarmac ... Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:18:16 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2038408-ap-impact-congress-slows-military-efforts-to-save.html 2013-04-23T14:18:16Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2034052-hagel-trip-to-mideast-pentagon-chief.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Saturday began a weeklong trip to the Middle East to consult with Israeli leaders on Syria's civil war and Iran's nuclear program and to discuss a set of U.S. arms deals with Israel and two Arab countries. On his first Mideast visit as Pentagon chief, Hagel planned stops in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, E... Sat, 20 Apr 2013 22:12:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2034052-hagel-trip-to-mideast-pentagon-chief.html 2013-04-20T22:12:38Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2026090-records-army-allowed-police-shooter-to-resign.html SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Records show the Army commander of a former soldier who gunned down two California police detectives had allowed him to resign from the military instead of face a court-martial when he was twice accused of rape. The findings are contained in Jeremy Goulet's criminal records, obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Goulet g... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:11:36 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2026090-records-army-allowed-police-shooter-to-resign.html 2013-04-18T00:11:36Z http://www.mail.com/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/news/world/2026196-praise-levity-greet-hagel-senate-return.html 2013-04-17T21:21:40Z http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2021142-hagel-cancels-creation-drone-cyber-medal.html WASHINGTON (AP) — In the face of withering criticism, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has canceled the creation of a new military medal for drone and cyber warriors, instead ordering military leaders to develop a special pin or device that would be attached to already existing medals or ribbons. Hagel's predecessor, Leon Panetta, created the Distinguished W... Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:19:50 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/economy/2021142-hagel-cancels-creation-drone-cyber-medal.html 2013-04-15T19:19:50Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2012550-hagel-job-to-cut-heart-pentagon.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel rejected the suggestion that President Barack Obama tapped him to "cut the heart out of the Pentagon," pointedly reminding lawmakers Thursday that Congress approved the smaller, deficit-driven military budgets long before he took the job. Faced with a $487 billion budget cut over a decade, Hagel and Gen. Mar... Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:46:35 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/2012550-hagel-job-to-cut-heart-pentagon.html 2013-04-11T20:46:35Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2004736-pentagon-struggles-with-high-cost-health-care.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The loud, insistent calls in Washington to rein in the rising costs of Social Security and Medicare ignore a major and expensive entitlement program — the military's health care system. Despite dire warnings from three defense secretaries about the uncontrollable cost, Congress has repeatedly rebuffed Pentagon efforts to establish higher... Mon, 08 Apr 2013 07:55:37 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/2004736-pentagon-struggles-with-high-cost-health-care.html 2013-04-08T07:55:37Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1978714-militarys-same-sex-couples-seek-overturn-doma.html The death certificate read "single," even though the fallen soldier was married. When it came time to inform the next of kin, casualty officers did not go to the widow's door in North Carolina, nor did she receive the flag that draped the casket of her beloved, a 29-year-old National Guard member killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:29:01 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1978714-militarys-same-sex-couples-seek-overturn-doma.html 2013-03-25T20:29:01Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1967982-us-diplomatic-presence-iraq-shrinking-fast.html BAGHDAD (AP) — A decade after the start of the war in Iraq, the American diplomatic footprint here is shrinking fast. As recently as a year ago, the immense U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and other sites around the country were staffed by more than 16,000 personnel. Today, that number has fallen to about 10,500, U.S. Ambassador Robert Stephen Beecroft said this ... Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:48:02 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1967982-us-diplomatic-presence-iraq-shrinking-fast.html 2013-03-20T17:48:02Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1963794-chinas-leader-xi-meets-us-treasury-secretary.html BEIJING (AP) — China's new leader, Xi Jinping, told the U.S. Treasury secretary he wants strong ties with Washington as the two sides resumed high-level interaction Tuesday following a months-long hiatus during the Chinese leadership transition. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew's agenda for the two-day visit includes North Korea's nuclear program, China's exc... Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:41:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1963794-chinas-leader-xi-meets-us-treasury-secretary.html 2013-03-19T08:41:00Z http://www.mail.com/business/finance/1963222-hagel-orders-review-us-defense-strategy.html WASHINGTON (AP) — In response to the budget cuts that took effect March 1, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a re-evaluation of the underpinnings of the defense strategy that President Barack Obama announced 14 months ago. Hagel spokesman George Little said Monday that Hagel wants to see the results by May 31. The Obama strategy, unveiled with gre... Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:12:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/business/finance/1963222-hagel-orders-review-us-defense-strategy.html 2013-03-18T21:12:29Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1958422-carnegie-mellon-nsa-seek-high-school-hackers.html PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bored with classes? Carnegie Mellon University and one of the government's top spy agencies want to interest high school students in a game of computer hacking. Their goal with "Toaster Wars" is to cultivate the nation's next generation of cyber warriors in offensive and defensive strategies. The free, online "high school hacking competi... Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:12:15 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1958422-carnegie-mellon-nsa-seek-high-school-hackers.html 2013-03-15T22:12:15Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1955520-lawmakers-they-oppose-base-closings.html WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers said Thursday they are opposed to a new round of military base closings in the United States and challenged Defense Department officials to provide tangible evidence of the need to reduce the number of installations. Military bases are often the economic lifeblood of the communities that surround them and any discussion a... Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:58:47 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1955520-lawmakers-they-oppose-base-closings.html 2013-03-14T21:58:47Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1951870-top-house-chairman-optimistic-afghanistan.html WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military leaders and the American ambassador favor a residual force of 13,600 in Afghanistan after combat troops leave at the end of 2014, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Wednesday as President Barack Obama faces political and military pressures on his upcoming decision on the size of the force. A day after w... Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:56:21 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1951870-top-house-chairman-optimistic-afghanistan.html 2013-03-13T17:56:21Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1948728-cyber-medal-production-stopped-reviewed.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The military has stopped production of a new medal for remote warfare troops — drone operators and cyber warfighters — as it considers complaints from veterans and lawmakers over the award, which was ranked higher than traditional combat medals like the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered a review of t... Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:40:56 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/news/1948728-cyber-medal-production-stopped-reviewed.html 2013-03-12T18:40:56Z http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1940684-report-details-flaws-armys-handling-ptsd.html SEATTLE (AP) — An Army report released Friday finds the service still has trouble diagnosing and treating soldiers for post-traumatic stress disorder, despite more than doubling its number of military and civilian behavioral health workers over the past five years. Confusing paperwork, inconsistent training and guidelines, and incompatible data systems ha... Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:09:58 GMT http://www.mail.com/scitech/health/1940684-report-details-flaws-armys-handling-ptsd.html 2013-03-08T22:09:58Z http://www.mail.com/news/us/1937430-general-foresees-to-grim-rise-army-suicides.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Army suicides are still increasing, but the four-star general who has been at the forefront of seeking solutions, Lloyd J. Austin III, says he thinks a turnaround is in sight. "The trends are not going in the direction that we want them to go — they haven't been for some time," Austin told The Associated Press in his last interview as th... Thu, 07 Mar 2013 08:18:59 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/us/1937430-general-foresees-to-grim-rise-army-suicides.html 2013-03-07T08:18:59Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1934720-too-money-spent-iraq-too.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten years and $60 billion in American taxpayer funds later, Iraq is still so unstable and broken that even its leaders question whether U.S. efforts to rebuild the war-torn nation were worth the cost. In his final report to Congress, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowen's conclusion was all too clear: Since the ... Wed, 06 Mar 2013 18:01:55 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1934720-too-money-spent-iraq-too.html 2013-03-06T18:01:55Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1933506-hagel-meets-with-israeli-minister-pledges-support.html WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel promised Israel Tuesday that he will work with Congress to ensure continued funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system, a senior defense official said after the Pentagon chief met with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The two-hour session in the Pentagon was Hagel's first meeting with a foreign cou... Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:20:34 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1933506-hagel-meets-with-israeli-minister-pledges-support.html 2013-03-05T23:20:34Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1932536-taliban-attack-trends-mind.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.-led military command in Afghanistan will no longer count and publish the number of Taliban attacks, a statistical measure that it once touted as a gauge of U.S. and allied success but now dismisses as flawed. The move comes one week after the coalition, known as the International Security Assistance Force, acknowledged in respon... Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:10:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1932536-taliban-attack-trends-mind.html 2013-03-05T22:10:38Z http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1933250-us-general-sought-larger-us-force-afghanistan.html WASHINGTON (AP) — The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East told senators for the first time Tuesday that he had envisioned keeping about 20,000 troops in Afghanistan after combat operations end in 2014, far more than the number the Obama administration and NATO are considering. Gen. James Mattis, head of U.S. Central Command, said he personally ... Tue, 05 Mar 2013 20:05:39 GMT http://www.mail.com/news/politics/1933250-us-general-sought-larger-us-force-afghanistan.html 2013-03-05T20:05:39Z