Military News Updates: 5/12/10

Death toll in Iraq rises to 114, now US looks at slowing the pace of major troop pullout this summer in light of the rise in violence. Also, we look at the “clogged pipeline” perpetually slowing down the applications for VA disability benefits.  

Disabled Veterans Face A Faceless Bureaucracy

The Department of Veterans Affairs is struggling to cope with tens of thousands of veterans filing for disability benefits. Because there are applicants from two current wars — plus a new wave from the first Gulf War and Vietnam — thousands are now stuck in the clogged pipeline.

Guard Critical to Help Block Oil Slick

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers built a 300-foot floating pier to help block an oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico from reaching the Louisiana coastline.

Toll in Devastating Iraq Attacks Rises to 114

BAGHDAD — The toll for a triple bombing in Iraq’s southern city of Basra has risen to 30, a morgue official said Tuesday, bringing to 114 the number of people killed across the country the day before, the deadliest in Iraq so far this year.

Iran will allow hikers’ families to visit

Families of three American hikers detained in Iran will be allowed to visit them, Iranian state media reported Monday.

US May Slow Pace of Iraq Troop Pullout

BAGHDAD — American commanders, worried about increased violence in the wake of Iraq’s inconclusive elections, are now reconsidering the pace of a major troop pullout this summer, U.S. officials said.

Top U.S. officials in Afghanistan: Progress slow but steady

[Updated at 5:25 p.m.]  One of main “deliverables” Afghan President Hamid Karzai is looking for, according to a senior State Department official is a commitment by the United States that it will be engaged with Afghanistan beyond July of next year, the date that President Obama has laid out for U.S. troops to begin to withdraw.

Judge: Torture No Grounds to Dismiss Case

NEW YORK — A Guantanamo Bay detainee brought to the United States for trial on charges he helped the bombing of two U.S. embassies in Africa while he was an aide to Osama bin Laden cannot use allegations of torture by the CIA to dismiss the indictment, a judge said Monday.

‘A Failure to Comply’

Despite Federal law, Federal agencies are still failing to make sure that small businesses owned by service-disabled veterans get at least 3 percent of all federal contracting dollars.

AF Begins Social Media Access

Air Force officials recently began allowing access to social media sites Air Force-wide.