Top Military News Headlines | September 16, 2010

The House Armed Services Committee will soon examine the rules of engagement used by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. And, Air Force General Brady says military should close more bases rather than cut military hardware to lower the defense budget.

MOH Soldier: ‘A Huge Honor but Bittersweet’

Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta said his head has been spinning since he received a call from the president last week congratulating him for earning the Medal of Honor for his battlefield heroics. “I’m a regular line Soldier, so this has been a whole different world for me.”

Congress to scrutinize rules of engagement

The House Armed Services Committee will soon examine the rules of engagement used by U.S. forces in Afghanistan, Military Times has learned.

Troops Continue Advance on Taliban Stronghold

ASHOQEH, Afghanistan — U.S. Army Capt. Brant Auge swept his hand across a satellite map of southern Afghanistan and pointed to a dark band of river-fed vineyards, pomegranate groves and marijuana fields arcing through an otherwise barren valley.

Obama: Clock Ticking on Stop-Loss Pay

There’s just over one month until the deadline arrives for those who were stop-lossed because of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to file for special pay that makes up for their extra time in uniform.

For advise-and-assist brigade, the battle moves to the conference room

DIYALA PROVINCE, Iraq — The 5th Iraqi Army Division colonel overseeing training paused at each PowerPoint slide to heap more items onto the U.S. Army’s plans.

Military needs to close more bases: general

General Roger Brady said closing military bases could help avert cuts to military hardware and troop levels as pressure mounts on the defense budget.

New information emerges on post-9/11 hunt for bin Laden

(CNN) — Western intelligence agencies were able to form a detailed picture of Osama bin Laden’s movements in the years after 9/11, and came closer to capturing or killing him than has so far been acknowledged, a former European intelligence official has disclosed.

Exiting AF Intel Chief: No US Air Superiority

OXON HILL, Md. — The U.S. Air Force’s former top intelligence officer warned a roomful of generals this week that the U.S. has lost its air power advantages and is dangerously ill-prepared to stop the gap-closing efforts of China and Russia.

Report: U.S., Saudis close to largest arms deal ever

The United States may be on the verge of its largest arms sale ever, a package of aircraft and weapons systems for Saudi Arabia that could total $60 billion when the final bill is done, according to a report in Monday’s Wall Street Journal.

VA Officials Knew About Death Benefit Profits

(CBS)  Revelations that the country’s second largest life insurer was profiting from the death benefits of fallen soldiers was news to almost everyone.

Record Level of Airstrikes Hit Militants

MIR ALI, Pakistan — Drone aircraft unleashed a missile attack in a lawless tribal region on the Afghan border Wednesday, keeping up the most intense period of U.S. strikes in Pakistan since they began in 2004, intelligence officials said.

U.S. begins long-awaited assault on Taliban stronghold

ASHEQEH, Afghanistan — U.S. forces launched a major operation in southern Afghanistan early Wednesday in the district that gave birth to the Taliban movement, in what could be one of the most important offensives of the war.

US Plans $60B Saudi Arms Sale to Counter Iran

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is seeking a go-ahead from Congress to sell up to $60 billion worth of sophisticated warplanes to Saudi Arabia and could add another $30 billion worth of naval arms in a deal designed to counter the rise of Iran as a regional power.

Iraq has budget surplus, can pay for more of its own defense, GAO report says

Reporting from Baghdad —

A U.S. government study released Monday found that Iraq has a budget surplus of $52.1 billion, with $11.8 billion that is readily available for spending on its security forces.