Tough new sanctions will now be imposed on Iran for refusing to negotiate on its nuclear program. Also today, Pentagon officials say top administrators have been fired for the Arlington Cemetery scandal. 

Obama Sees Mideast Progress This Year

President Obama is pledging unwavering commitment to forging significant progress in the Middle East this year, despite the furor whipped up by Israel’s raid on a Gaza aid flotilla.

Petraeus: Afghan mission will fail without UK

LONDON — Gen. David Petraeus warned Wednesday that the effort to quash the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan would fail without British support, making his case to U.K. leaders facing painful choices over what kind of military commitments the country can afford.

Officials: Taliban executes boy, 7, for spying

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — Suspected Taliban militants have executed a 7-year-old boy, accusing him of spying for the government, officials in southern Afghanistan said Thursday.

US Gets Tough, Not Crippling Iran Sanctions

UNITED NATIONS — The United States and its allies won approval for the toughest U.N. sanctions against Iran for refusing to negotiate on its suspect nuclear program — but they’re not the “crippling” penalties U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed to pursue a year ago if U.S. attempts to engage Iran diplomatically failed.

Sources: Scandals at Arlington Cemetery prompt firings

WASHINGTON – A number of scandals at Arlington National Cemetery , including one in which a service member’s body was buried on top of another, are costing the top two administrators their jobs, Pentagon officials said Thursday. 

US Retools Plan for Kandahar ‘Offensive’

The prospect of a robust military push in Kandahar Province, which had been widely expected to begin this month, has evolved into a strategy that puts civilian reconstruction efforts first and relegates military action to a supportive role.

Marine Suicide Attempts at Record Pace

U.S. Marines are trying to commit suicide at a record pace this year, despite a program begun last year aimed at preventing such attempts, Corps data indicate.

Clinton: Iran Sanctions Toughest Ever

QUITO, Ecuador — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called the proposed new U.N. sanctions against Iran’s suspect nuclear program the toughest ever, a day before the U.N. Security Council was expected to vote on the measure.

The Limitations of China’s Defense Industry

I thought that Russian military official’s slapdown of the Chinese knock off of their Su-33 carried based fighter (Chinese designation J-15) was really interesting. Now, as I mentioned yesterday, this could all just be posturing for the global arms market, a bit of tainting the competition if you will.

Akaka unveils plan for big changes to GI Bill

The chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee has unveiled his plans for improving the Post-9/11 GI Bill, including one change certain to please active-duty members using the new education benefits program.