Debt-Ceiling Deal Means $350B in Defense Cuts

WASHINGTON — Congress is moving quickly on an agreement to avert a potentially devastating default on U.S. obligations, with legislation that mixes a record increase in the government’s borrowing cap with the promise of more than $2 trillion in spending cuts.

 

Afghan Withdrawal Plan Ordered by Mid-October

KABUL, Afghanistan — The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has been ordered to submit a plan by mid-October for the initial withdrawal of American troops, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Sunday. That plan may hinge in part on whether the latest surge in attacks continues through the holy month of Ramadan.

 

Soldiers and suicide: Widow says despite pleas, help never came

Three months before her husband shot himself in the family’s garage, Nicole Simmons said, she met with a chaplain and her husband’s commanders at Fort Bragg.

 

Delay on Iraq decision threatens smooth withdrawal

MOSUL, Iraq (AP) — Iraq’s indecision on whether to ask American forces to stay beyond the end of the year is pushing the U.S. close to the point where a smooth, safe troop withdrawal will be jeopardized, the top U.S. military officer said Monday as he arrived in the country.

 

Vets With PTSD, Government Reach Settlement

WASHINGTON – More than a thousand Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder would be given lifetime disability retirement benefits such as military health insurance under the terms of a settlement reached between the government and the veterans.

 

Authorities investigate soldier over possible Fort Hood plot

One U.S. soldier was in local police custody Thursday and under investigation for possibly plotting an attack on the U.S. military base in Fort Hood, Texas, two senior U.S. military officials told NBC News.

 

VSO Leaders Frustrated By WH Visit

The White House called a meet­ing late Tues­day with lead­ers from sev­eral veteran’s ser­vice orga­ni­za­tions to dis­cuss the poten­tial impact on vet­er­ans ben­e­fits if a debt ceil­ing deal can’t be reached by next Tues­day. Most of the VSO lead­ers came away frus­trated, hav­ing no more infor­ma­tion to give vet­er­ans and fam­i­lies who rely on their vet­eran and mil­i­tary ben­e­fits to sur­vive.

 

Special Ops Chief Warns of al-Qaeda 2.0

ASPEN, Colo. – The top commander of U.S. special operations forces said Wednesday that Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida is bloodied and “nearing its end,” but he warned the next generation of militants could keep special operations fighting for a decade to come.

 

Soldier Found Guilty of Killing Afghan Civilian

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – A U.S. Army National Guardsman was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with the chance of parole for the murder of an Afghan civilian.

 

Senators try to tackle long-term costs of war

WASHINGTON — Crystal Nicely said she doesn’t mind serving as the chief cook, driver and groomer for her husband, Todd, who lost both arms and legs in March 2010 when he stepped on an explosive device during combat operations against Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan.

 

Debt limit failure would be ‘totally devastating’ to military, vets

WASHINGTON — White House officials told veterans groups Tuesday that failure by Congress to approve a debt ceiling increase would be “totally devastating” for active-duty troops and veterans, but offered few specifics on which services and benefits are at risk.