U.S. Senate approves $165 billion in new war money
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved an additional $165 billion to wage war in Iraq and Afghanistan for another year after lawmakers blocked proposed timetables for withdrawing American troops from Iraq. By a vote of 70-26, the Senate passed the new war money the Pentagon says it urgently needs to avoid civilian layoffs and the interruption of soldiers' paychecks within months. The House of Representatives still must weigh in on the legislation. Last week, it passed a drastically different bill that failed to provide any new money for the wars and would withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of 2009. The House is likely to consider its next step in early June after lawmakers return from a week-long recess. President George W. Bush, speaking to U.S. troo...    Continue

Spending On Iraq Poorly Tracked
Washington - Spending On Iraq Poorly Tracked Audit Faults Accounting for $15 Billion in Work The inspector general for the Defense Department said yesterday that the Pentagon cannot account for a...    Continue

Navy Helicopter Crash Kills 3 in Texas
Texas - A Navy helicopter's crash during a training mission killed three crew members and injured a fourth, a Navy spokesman said Jan. 17. The injured crew member was taken to Christus Spohn Hospit...    Continue

Casey Sees Return to 12-Month Tours
Washington, DC - The top U.S. Army officer says the Army may begin moving to 12-month battlefield tours this summer, which is seen as critical to reducing the strain on a force that has been enduring ...    Continue

Afghan army to take lead in Combat Ops
Afghanistan - The Afghan army will take the lead in nearly all military operations in eastern Afghanistan this year, with U.S. troops in a support role, a top American general said. Since the first...    Continue

JCS Chairman Wants Gitmo Shut Down
US - The chief of the U.S. military said Jan. 13 he favors shutting down the prison at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base as soon as possible because negative publicity worldwide about treatment of terrorist s...    Continue

TAX BREAKS FOR DAV
IR-2007-198 - Please pass this liberally ***************************************************************************** Certain Payments to Disabled Veterans Ruled Tax-Free; Some May Be Due Refunds ...    Continue

House Committee Slams VA On Veteran Suicides
US - "This is going to be an emotional hearing." With that statement, Rep. Bob Filner (D., Calif.), chair of the House Veterans Affairs (VA) Committee, opened a Dec. 12 hearing on what he and other...    Continue

Turkey praises US help as jets bomb northern Iraq
Turkey - Turkey praised the United States on Wednesday for providing intelligence in support of attacks against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, as it confirmed its third such air strike in 10 days. ...    Continue

M4 Carbine Fairs Poorly in Dust Test
Maryland - The primary weapon carried by most soldiers into battle in Iraq and Afghanistan performed the worst in a recent series of tests designed to see how it stacked up against three other top car...    Continue