Military News Updates: 5/7/10

Today we look at the efforts being taken to combat IEDs, the number one killer of NATO troops in Afghanistan and the new policy effecting how veteran benefits are determined.

Combating the No. 1 killer of troops in Afghanistan

Improvised explosive devices — or IEDs — are the No. 1 killer of NATO troops in Afghanistan. And although more than 40 nations are fighting in the ISAF coalition there, none of them have the kind of experience and resources the U.S. has in finding and eliminating these deadly bombs by insurgents.

VA letter addresses burn pits, other hazards

A new 30-page Veterans Affairs Department training letter outlines a new policy for VA regional offices to use in determining benefits for veterans who have been exposed to environmental hazards, including burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pakistani Taliban: Shahzad did a ‘brave job’

NEW YORK – The Pakistani Taliban on Thursday denied any role in the botched car bombing in Times Square but praised the suspect for a “brave job,” as New York authorities pressed him on his claims of terrorist training.

FOX Video: Coast Guard Commandant on Gulf Cleanup

Admiral Thad Allen says oil containment dome is ‘worth the effort’

Last SEAL Acquitted in Iraqi Abuse Case

NORFOLK — Sometime next week, Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe will fly west and rejoin a group of his fellow SEALs training in Nevada’s harsh high desert.

First Women Headed to Subs Feel Blessed

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — The first female U.S. Naval Academy graduates who will be able to serve as officers aboard submarines said Thursday they feel ecstatic, thankful and blessed by the chance to break one of the military’s last gender barriers.

Need a job? Contract work could be new normal

Stephen Luebkert was laid off in March 2009 from a Boston-based semiconductor company. He lived for four months on his severance while he looked for another full-time job and eventually ended up working again for the same firm.

Oil spill costs: What will BP really pay?

Alabama National Guard members worked this week on a containment barrier to protect the coastline from the leaking oil spill.

The Gulf oil spill is going to cost billions to clean up, a tab BP has publicly pledged to pay in full. But thanks to the unpredictable nature of the oil slick and the legal maze surrounding maritime law, what BP will pay and to whom is very much an open question.

If spouse has dementia, your risk rises, too

Being married to someone with dementia may sharply increase your own risk of developing the condition, a new study shows.