Obama announces his plan to send 1200 National Guard troops to help secure our Mexico border this week and the Senate Finance Committee unveiled new legislation offering tax incentives to businesses hiring Vets.

U.S. destroyer shadows ship under pirate control

(CNN) — A U.S. destroyer is shadowing a ship off the coast of Somalia after it was taken over by 50 pirates, authorities said.

Navy Shipbuilding Plan Not Affordable; New Boomers to Cost $8 Billion Each: CBO
The Congressional Budget Office is out with a new estimate (.pdf)  of the Navy’s latest 30 year shipbuilding plan, issued in February. While that new plan reduces the total number of ships purchased between 2011 and 2040, and thus shipbuilding costs, CBO says the annual price tag is still much higher than the total shipbuilding funds the Navy has received in recent years.

Obama to Send 1,200 Troops to Mexico Border

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border, according to an administration official and an Arizona congresswoman.

US Soldier Beaten After Reporting Crimes

A U.S. Soldier who blew the whistle on his comrades over possible drug use and the deaths of three civilians in southern Afghanistan suffered a severe beating in retaliation, officials said Tuesday.

Bill would ease tax credit for hiring vets

Legislation that would expand tax incentives to encourage businesses to hire recently discharged veterans was unveiled Monday by the Democratic chairman and Republican ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Experiencing an Afghan ambush, first hand

COMBAT OUTPOST REILLY, Afghanistan — It was about 6 p.m. when things began to look sinister. Second Squad detected men running back and forth in a tree line several hundred yards to their north — a possible indicator of a coming ambush.

Afghan Opposition Leader Sees Chance In Kandahar

The NATO strategy to secure Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan, relies on a solid Afghan government that can take over when the Taliban leave. Opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah says that can happen — but that it depends on President Hamid Karzai.

Fugitive cleric al-Awlaki warns of future attacks

Fugitive American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki warned of new attacks on Americans at home and abroad in a new video released over the weekend.

WH Reaches Deal on Delayed DADT Repeal

WASHINGTON –- The White House announced a compromise deal with congressional leaders on Monday night to pass a limited repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law in coming days, but leaving the final implementation details to the Pentagon.

Senate Passes VA Claims Bill

The U.S. Senate has passed bill H.R. 5014 to clarify that VA health care programs can meet the minimum coverage standard required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.