Senate Republicans block debate over ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy. And, Bob Woodward claims Obama aids doubt the President’s Afghan policies.

Vietnam Airman Awarded Medal of Honor

The nation’s highest award for valor was bestowed posthumously Sept. 21 to Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger, who died in combat during a secret mission in Laos during the Vietnam War.

White House urges Senate to not ax 2011 military funding for Guam

SASEBO NAVAL BASE, Japan — The Obama administration urged the Senate on Tuesday to not put off funding for a planned military buildup on Guam.

‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ reversal measure falters in Senate

WASHINGTON — Gay rights groups suffered a significant defeat Tuesday in their efforts to overturn “don’t ask, don’t tell,” with Senate Democrats failing to get enough support to move ahead debate on legislation reversing the law.

Pakistan ties complicate efforts to connect some to Afghan government

SHINKAI, Afghanistan — In Zabul province near the Pakistan border, Afghans use Pakistani rupees rather than their own currency, the Afghani. They wear clothes bought in Peshawar and send their sons to study in Karachi, or to work in coal mines near Quetta.

Book: Aides Doubt Obama Afghan Strategy

WASHINGTON — President Obama’s top advisers spent much of the past 20 months arguing about policy and turf, according to a new book, with some top members of his national security team doubting the president’s strategy in Afghanistan will work.

Marine move to Guam gets final approval

HONOLULU — The U.S. military gave final approval to the single biggest part of its planned buildup of forces on Guam: a proposal to move 8,000 Marines and their dependents from Okinawa, Japan, to the U.S. territory in the Pacific.

Suicide task force faults Pentagon for lack of coordination

WASHINGTON — A lack of coordination by the Pentagon and the rush by each service to develop suicide prevention programs have led to scattershot initiatives that overlap in some areas and have significant gaps in others, according to a report released Tuesday by a congressionally mandated task force on suicide prevention in the military.

Conway: Afghan drawdown unlikely to include Marines

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. Marines will be fighting in the southern Afghan provinces of Helmand and Kandahar for years beyond the White House’s July 2011 target date to start withdrawing American troops and transitioning power to local forces across the country, according to the Marine Corps commandant.