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☆ China's defense budget was reported as 3 times smaller than America's, but 2 analysts say the Pentagon is underselling Beijing's true military strength
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewBeijing's military spending and threat are likely far higher than portrayed by the Pentagon, which recently reported figures that indicate China's defense budget was nearly four times smaller than America's, two US analysts said on Monday. Peters and Beaver wrote that the Pentagon's assessment failed to account for China's military research spending. "Confusingly, the report does not attempt to account for either of these significant considerations in its treatment of China's defense budget topline," Peters and Beaver wrote. China's reported GDP for 2023 was around $17.8 trillion. "We should avoid overreacting to what seems to be this more accurate data of China's military push," Stavridis wrote.

Persons: —, Robert Peters, Wilson Beaver, Peters, Beaver, Sen, Dan Sullivan, James Stavridis, Stavridis Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Business, Allison Center for National Security, Heritage Foundation, The Defense Department, Beaver, Beijing's, National Atlantic Treaty Organization, Bloomberg, China's Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Alaska

☆ Trump White House Pharmacy Improperly Provided Drugs and Misused Funds, Pentagon Report Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Ahmed AbouleneinWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House Medical Unit during the Trump administration provided prescription drugs, including controlled substances, to ineligible staff and spent tens of thousands of dollars more on brand-name drugs than what generic equivalents would have cost, a Pentagon report shows. The unit, part of the White House Military Office, did not comply with federal government and Department of Defense guidelines, the report, which was released on Jan. 8, found. Ineligible staffers received free specialty care and surgery at military medical facilities and were provided with prescription drugs including controlled substances, in violation of federal law, the report also found. "The White House Medical Unit's pharmaceutical management practices ineffectively used DoD funds by obtaining brand‑name medications instead of generic equivalents and increased the risk for the diversion of controlled substances," it said. Opioids and sleeping medications were not properly accounted for and were tracked using error-filled or unreadable handwritten records, the report said.

Persons: Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, Trump, ineffectively, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Lester Martinez, Lopez, Ahmed Aboulenein, Leslie Adler Organizations: White, Medical Unit, Pentagon, Military Office, Department of Defense, Medical, Military Health

☆ Powerful weapons the US sent to Ukraine are breaking down — but the Pentagon says it can't help fix them
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It means the US can't repair weapons it sent to Ukraine, the Pentagon's press secretary said. AdvertisementThe Pentagon said that US weapons are faltering in Ukraine because it can't help the Ukrainians repair them. Ryder explained that at this time, the US can't help Ukraine "sustain systems that we've previously provided to them." But repair assistance can't be provided without further aid from Congress, Ryder said. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby warned that without new approvals its ability to support Ukraine would dry up.

Persons: —, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, John Kirby, Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Ukraine, US, White, National Security, Business Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Ukrainian, Mexico, Russia

☆ Pentagon says it created more hoops to jump through on AI weapons to calm fears it was 'building killer robots in the basement'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The update was partially to assure people that DoD wasn't "building killer robots in the basement," a senior official said. The US and some of its adversaries are making rapid progress on AI weapons, with lots of controversy in the mix. Last year, DoD updated its directive on autonomy in weapons systems, which was originally published back in 2012. AdvertisementThe move reflects the US' growing interest and progress in developing AI weapons systems. Other nations, however, had hoped to use the UN as a platform to propose restrictions and limit how autonomous weapons operate.

Persons: —, Kathleen Kicks, Dominic Garcia, William Pugh, Michael C, Horowitz, isn't, Henry M, Jackson, Devin M, Langer, Tiffany Price, Khalil Hashmi, Hicks Organizations: Defense Department, DoD, Service, Pentagon, of Defense, Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Defense for Force Development, Center for Strategic, International Studies, AI, Technologies, Strategic, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Tyndall Air Force Base, United Nations, New York Times, UN, The Times Locations: China, La, Ukraine, Fla, United, Russia, Australia, Israel, Pakistan

Biden said the U.S. would continue the strikes, even though so far they have not stopped the Houthis from continuing to harass commercial and military vessels. Saree said the attack took place in the Gulf of Aden, the waters just south of Yemen. The Pentagon was not immediately able to confirm the strikes but has cautioned that it anticipates the Houthis will continue their attacks. On Wednesday the U.S. military fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against 14 Houthi-controlled sites. But the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Houthi, Yahya Saree, Saree, John Kirby, “ I’m, “, Sabrina Singh, ” Singh, Jon Gambrell, Jack Jeffrey, C, Sagar Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Iranian, ”, ” U.S . Central Command, Twitter, Navy, Pentagon, White, Marshall, Chem, Prosperity, U.S, Wednesday, U.S ., National Security, Hamas, Associated Press Locations: — U.S, Yemen, ” U.S, U.S, North Carolina, Houthi Brig, Gulf, Aden, Iran, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Jerusalem, London, Washington

☆ Investing in Space: Pentagon's satellite constellation awards near $10 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Now we're pushing $10 billion in awards, to build more than 400 satellites, with seven companies in the mix. York Space has been tapped to make more satellites than anyone but Northrop Grumman, to the tune of $1.3 billion. – The Wall Street Journal / Deere Hyperspectral satellite imagery company Pixxel opens Bengaluru facility, a 30,000-square-foot facility in India for satellite manufacturing. – KeyBancBoldly goingKurt Vogel named as NASA associate administrator for the agency's space technology directorate, effective immediately, previously having been the director of space architectures at the agency. – NASAfor the agency's space technology directorate, effective immediately, previously having been the director of space architectures at the agency.

Persons: Yasin Ozturk, CNBC's Michael Sheetz, – Northrop, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, you've, Momentus, John Plumb, –, Artemis, – SpacePolicyOnline, Tom Mueller's, Redwire, KeyBanc, Kurt Vogel, Chiara Pedersoli, Marco Fuchs, – OHB, – OHB Frank Di Pentino Organizations: SpaceX, . Space Force, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Space Force, Space Development Agency, – Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, York, Space, Lab, Sierra Space, CNBC, CNBC NASA, Boeing, NASA, NASA ESA, Science, Technology, Industry, ISS, – NASA SpaceX, Deere, Street, Deere Deere, KKR Locations: Cape, Florida, United States, U.S, Brazil, Bengaluru, India

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, announced the projects Wednesday at the Pentagon. Because of the Pentagon's “relatively congested air space” outside Washington, solar panels were the best option for clean energy, he said. The building is a nationally registered historic landmark, so officials will work with local officials to ensure the panels meet all requirements. In addition to the Defense Department, projects also include installation of thermally efficient windows at the Energy Department headquarters in Washington, as well as efficiency upgrades to the Commerce and Transportation departments. The projects also include installation of solar panels at the U.S. Army Garrison in Wiesbaden, Germany, as well as energy and water efficiency improvements and solar panels at the Maui Air Traffic Control Tower in Kahului, Hawaii.

Persons: Biden, ”, Jennifer Granholm, Kathleen Hicks, Brenda Mallory, Brendan Owens, Owens, U.S . Army Garrison Organizations: WASHINGTON, The Defense Department, Pentagon, Energy Department, Energy, White, Council, Environmental, Naval, Defense Department, Commerce, Transportation, Interior, Veterans Affairs, General Services Administration, Personnel Management, Social Security Administration, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Energy Conservation Technologies, U.S . Army, Maui Air Traffic Control Locations: U.S, Germany, Washington, Georgia, Tennessee, Loa, Hawaii, Mauna, Wiesbaden, Kahului

☆ Defense Secretary Austin is 'actively involved and engaged' while hospitalized
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is still hospitalized following doctors' advice, but he's "actively involved and engaged," according to national security spokesperson John Kirby. "A lot of the work that gets done in national security is done at the staff level." Austin has been treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center since Jan. 1, following complications from a surgery nearly two weeks earlier to treat prostate cancer. Kirby said Sunday that physical therapy is part of the reason doctors have kept Austin in the hospital. "The Pentagon's investigating this, and we'll see what comes out of that, but that is not the way that the process is supposed to work," Kirby said.

Persons: Defense Lloyd J, Austin, Lloyd Austin, John Kirby, Kirby, It's, Joe Biden, Austin's Organizations: Defense, Armed, Office, Washington , DC, Walter Reed National Military Medical, Austin, Pentagon Locations: Afghanistan, Rayburn, Washington ,, Iran, Yemen, Austin

☆ If You Can't Beat 'em, Impeach 'em
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Susan Milligan | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

Republicans want President Joe Biden out of office. And they've taken the clashes to an unprecedented new level: If you can't beat 'em, impeach 'em. "Secretary Mayorkas has brazenly refused to enforce the laws passed by Congress that knowingly made our country less safe. But Justice did not prosecute three other Republicans – White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark and former Trump Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino – whom the panel referred for legal action. "They're struggling to come up with the votes to impeach President Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Biden, Tom Whalen, William Belknap, Ulysses S, Grant, Joshua Matz, Donald Trump, Matz, Kaplan Hecker, Fink, Alejandro Mayorkas –, Mayorkas, Mark Green of, nefariously, Hunter, Nancy Mace, Merrick Garland, James Comer of, Garland, ” Comer, Trump, Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro –, Republicans –, Mark Meadows, Jeffrey Clark, Staff Dan Scavino –, Lloyd Austin, Matt Rosendale, They're, Brad Woodhouse, They'll, Woodhouse, Whalen, Austin, John Kasich, Bill Clinton Organizations: Justice Department, GOP, Boston University, Fink LLP, Homeland, Congress, House Republicans, Republican, Democrat, Department, Republicans, Republicans – White, Trump, Staff, White, Montana Republican, Austin, House, Democratic, Congressional Locations: Washington ,, Mark Green of Tennessee, South Carolina, James Comer of Kentucky, Austin, Montana

☆ Fox News ran a conspiratorial segment saying the Pentagon wanted to use Taylor Swift as a psy-op
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Jesse Watters floated a theory the Pentagon wanted to make Taylor Swift a pro-Biden "asset." Speaking on "Jesse Watters Primetime," Watters started out with the conundrum of why Swift has so many fans. AdvertisementHe said: "Around four years ago, the Pentagon's psychological operations unit floated turning Taylor Swift into an asset during a NATO meeting," he said. AdvertisementIs Taylor Swift a Pentagon PsyOp asset? I include Taylor Swift in here because she's a fairly influential online person."

Persons: Jesse Watters, Taylor Swift, Biden, Swift, —, Joe Biden, Watters, she's, Alicia Marie Bargar —, yHp8WywKh8 — Jesse Watters, Bargar, NATO StratCom's, Johns Hopkins Organizations: Pentagon, Fox News, Service, Fox, NATO, 11th, NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence, of Excellence, White Locations: Tallinn, Estonia

☆ White House stands by Defense Secretary Austin as bipartisan furor grows over secret ICU stay
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said there are no plans other "than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job." He remains focused on conducting his duties as Secretary of Defense in defense of our nation." The Pentagon's lawyers were examining whether any laws were broken when Austin failed to report his medical condition. Austin's secret hospitalization came during a week when the U.S. was weighing several notable national security matters, including military action in the Middle East. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that Biden maintains "complete confidence" in Austin.

Persons: Defense Lloyd Austin, Lloyd Austin, John Kirby, Austin, Elise Stefanik, Pat Ryder, Kirby, Staff Kelly Magsamen, Jake Sullivan, Kathleen Hicks, Jan, Joe Biden, Biden, Mike Rogers, Adam Smith, Sen, Jack Reed, Reed, Karine Jean, Pierre, Monday Organizations: Defense, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ramstein Air Base, White, National Security, Walter Reed National Military Medical, Congressional, Republican, Republicans, Pentagon, Staff, NSC, National, House, House Armed Services, Armed Services, Department, Department of Defense Locations: Ukraine, Ramstein, Miesenbach, Germany, Austin, U.S, Baghdad, Iran

☆ Senator Tuberville lifts blockade on some US military promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) speaks with reporters on the way to the Senate floor for a procedural vote regarding top military appointees at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2023. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has blocked hundreds of military promotions for months to protest the Pentagon's payment of abortion-related travel costs, said on Tuesday he would lift his hold on some of them. Tuberville's actions have affected some 400 officers and their families, as well as lower-level officers in the military. Democrats have said Tuberville should show his objection on a policy matter by targeting Biden nominees involved with policy. Reporting by Jasper Ward and Susan Heavey; writing by Costas Pitas; editing by Rami AyyubOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tommy Tuberville, Jonathan Ernst, I've, Republican Tuberville, Biden, Jasper Ward, Susan Heavey, Costas Pitas, Rami Ayyub Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Republican U.S, Pentagon, Republican, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Alabama

☆ US Navy says it will trial using AI to track Chinese submarines in the Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US, Australia, and the UK will use AI to counter China's growing military assertiveness in the Pacific. AdvertisementThe US, UK, and Australia have unveiled new plans to trial the use of AI to track Chinese submarines in the Pacific. Data processed by AI will enable the three countries to track Chinese submarines with more speed and accuracy. The P-8A poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft will be equipped with AI-powered tools to help tackle rising Chinese aggression. "Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a professional and safe manner," he added.

Persons: —, MLADEN ANTONOV, Richard Marles, Marles Organizations: US, Service, Australian Defence Force, Power Locations: Australia, Pacific, China, Mountain View , California

☆ Satellite photos show how the US Air Force is reclaiming a WWII-era airfield from the jungle to prepare to dodge Chinese missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The US Air Force is developing more dispersed bases to counter the threat posed by China's missiles. US engineers quickly began building what became the biggest and busiest air base of the war. "Air Force engineers are scheduled to remove the vegetation that have penetrated through the cracks and joints of the old pavement surfaces," Peden added. Money is allotted for work at Tindal air base — including $93 million to build a parking apron for six B-52 bombers — and Darwin air base, both of which are in Australia's Northern Territory. The Air Force is working with the rest of the military to address those challenges, Thomas Lawhead, acting deputy chief of staff for Air Force Futures, said at an event this month.

Persons: —, Gen, Kenneth Wilsbach, Wilsbach, Lance Cpl, J, Gage, Capt, Gerald Peden, Peden, Jason Robertson, Cesar Basa, Michael S, Murphy, Frank Kendall, Kendall, Sgt, JT May III, Thomas Lawhead, Joseph P, Lawhead Organizations: US Air Force, China's, Service, Airport, US Pacific Air Forces, an Air and Space Forces Association, Field, International Airport, Commonwealth of, Marines, Air Force, Google, Air, Tinian's, US Marine Corps, KC, Pacific Air Forces, Tech, Northwest Field, Tindal, Pentagon, Air Force Futures, Army Locations: Tinian, SkyFi, Japan, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, West, Commonwealth, Northern Mariana Islands, Pacific, —, Guam, Northern Territory, Philippines, Manila, Philippine, China, North Korea, Northern Mariana

☆ After blocking hundreds of promotions, Tuberville said the US has 'the weakest military than we've probably had in my lifetime'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tuberville said the US has "the weakest military that we've had in probably a year in my lifetime." NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRepublican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said in a recent interview that he believes the US currently has "the weakest military that we've had in probably a year in my lifetime." "We've got the weakest military that we've had in probably a year in my lifetime," he added.

Persons: Tuberville, we've, Biden, he's, —, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Newsmax's Eric Bolling, We've, Joe Biden, Defense Austin, he'd, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Rick Scott, Josh Hawley, Mike Lee, JD Vance, Mitch McConnell Organizations: Service, Republican, Defense, Democratic Locations: Sens

Many countries are working on them — and neither China, Russia, Iran, India or Pakistan have signed a U.S.-initiated pledge to use military AI responsibly. Another AI project at Space Force analyzes radar data to detect imminent adversary missile launches, he said. One urgent challenge, says Jane Pinelis, chief AI engineer at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab and former chief of AI assurance in Martell’s office, is recruiting and retaining the talent needed to test AI tech. Testing and evaluation standards are also immature, a recent National Academy of Sciences report on Air Force AI highlighted. Might that mean the U.S. one day fielding under duress autonomous weapons that don’t fully pass muster?

Persons: —, Replicator —, Kathleen Hicks, ”, Gregory Allen, we’ve, Missy Cummings, George Mason, Lisa Costa, Wallace ‘ Rhet ’ Turnbull, Tom Siebel, Matt Visser, Palantir, Jack Shanahan, Maven, Mark Milley, Christian Brose, Paul Scharre, ” Anduril, Nathan Michael, Michael, Shanahan, Craig Martell, Martell, Jane Pinelis, “ Organizations: U.S ., Russia, Air Force, China, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Navy, ” U.S . Space Force, Space Force, Space Systems Command, Blackhawk, ., U.S . Missile Defense Agency, Defense Counterintelligence, Security Agency, Third Infantry Division, NATO, Maven, National Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, U.S . Special Operations, ISIS, Command, Control, Chiefs, Armed Services Committee, U.S, Marines, Special Forces, Industry, BAT, Marine Expeditionary, Pentagon AI, LinkedIn, Johns Hopkins, Lab, National Academy of Sciences Locations: Md, Ukraine, U.S, China, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, ” U.S, Silicon Valley

☆ The US may no longer be able to fight more than one major war at a time
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

During the Cold War, the US had the capacity to fight two wars simultaneously. PoolNow, the Pentagon faces the possibility of war with resurgent major powers Russia and China which can deploy huge militaries and sophisticated weapons. In planning for the possibility of a new world war, the US must look at the global picture. AdvertisementBut China, Russia, Iran, and other US adversaries are drawing closer together, sharing weapons technology and drawing up new alliances, magnifying their threat. "If there's a World War, you know, it won't be the sort of single-handed conflicts that we've sort of gotten used to," he said.

Persons: —, Bradley, Scott Nelson, They've, Raphael Cohen, Cohen, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, it's Organizations: US, Service, Pentagon, Soviet Union, US Army, RAND Corporation, Defense Strategy, Iran Locations: America, Soviet, Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Kuwait, Soviet Union, Russia, People's Republic of China, Beijing, Ukraine, Taiwan, Iran, Israel, Pacific, Australia, Japan

☆ Israeli army displays tunnel beneath Al Shifa it says served as Hamas hideout
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Ronen Zvulun | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

GAZA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The Israeli army showed a reinforced tunnel beside Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza on Wednesday, complete with a bathroom, kitchen and an air conditioned meeting room that it said had served as a command post for Hamas fighters. Israel has long accused Hamas of using the Shifa hospital complex as a command and control center as part of a wider strategy that seeks to hide its forces among the civilian population. [1/5]Israeli soldiers stand near the opening to a tunnel at Al Shifa Hospital compound in Gaza City, amid the ongoing ground operation of the Israeli army against Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the Gaza Strip, November 22, 2023. He said the army knew the tunnel led to another opening in a Gaza kindergarten. Israel has faced international criticism for its Gaza campaign, including its attacks on Shifa, the enclave's largest hospital.

Persons: Elad Tsuri, Israel's, Ronen, Tsuri, Israel, Daniel Hagari, Noa Marciano, Al, Ronen Zvulun, Howard Goller, James Mackenzie, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Hamas, Army, Palestinian, REUTERS, White, Thomson Locations: GAZA, Al Shifa, Gaza, Israel, Al, Gaza City, Washington, Shifa

☆ Israeli Army Displays Tunnel Beneath Al Shifa It Says Served as Hamas Hideout
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Ronen ZvulunGAZA (Reuters) - The Israeli army showed a reinforced tunnel beside Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza on Wednesday, complete with a bathroom, kitchen and an air conditioned meeting room that it said had served as a command post for Hamas fighters. Israel has long accused Hamas of using the Shifa hospital complex as a command and control center as part of a wider strategy that seeks to hide its forces among the civilian population. He said the army knew the tunnel led to another opening in a Gaza kindergarten. Israel has faced international criticism for its Gaza campaign, including its attacks on Shifa, the enclave's largest hospital. But Hagari, referring to Hamas' use of a hideout beneath the hospital, said: "The world now should say what happened in Shifa, what happened in the hospitals, is a war crime."

Persons: Elad Tsuri, Israel's, Tsuri, Israel, Daniel Hagari, Noa Marciano, Al, Ronen Zvulun, Howard Goller, James Mackenzie, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Hamas, Army, White Locations: GAZA, Al Shifa, Gaza, Israel, Washington, Shifa

☆ With job cuts and drug tests, the Pentagon hopes to prepare its special-ops forces for a new era of warfare
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

US Navy/MCS 1st Class Anthony W. WalkerNaval Special Warfare Command announced in September that it would start testing its personnel, including Navy SEALs and Naval Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen, for performance-enhancing drugs. The initiative comes after several drug-related incidents in the Naval Special Warfare community and is designed to protect the force's health and readiness. Special Forces Assessment and Selection candidates carry a telephone pole during a ruck march at Camp Mackall in North Carolina in March 2020. The Navy Special Warfare Community has swelled to about 4,000 SEALS — 10 times as many as at the height of the Cold War. A US Special Forces soldier free falls over a drop zone in Germany in March 2015.

Persons: —, Anthony W, Keith Davids, Jason Johnston, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Pentagon, Service, US Navy, Walker, Warfare Command, Navy, Warfare, Craft, Navy SEAL, Special Forces, US Army, Special, Command, Army, 75th Ranger, Operations Command, US Special Forces, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, Boston College Law School Locations: Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine, Beijing, Asia, Pacific, Russia, China, Coronado , California, Mackall, North Carolina, Germany

☆ US Army tests new missile set to replace ATACMS, weapons Ukraine has used to punish Russia's helicopter fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) program is expected to give a boost to field artillery units. The Army says PrSM will extend the range of ATACMS, which Ukraine has used with great success. During a demonstration last week at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the missile cleared a production qualification test flight. US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) firing a missile into the East Sea during a South Korea-U.S. joint missile drill. "The excuse often cited to not sending" the 186-mile range ATACMS "is that there are not many to spare in the US inventory," Rice told Business Insider.

Persons: —, Lockheed Martin, it's, Dan Rice, Rice Organizations: US Army, Army, Service, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, Russia's, White, Artillery, Lockheed, Pentagon, US Army Tactical Missile, Korean Defense Ministry, Getty, Kyiv, American University Kyiv, Business Locations: Ukraine, New Mexico, South Korea, U.S, Russia, Moscow

☆ Pentagon fails audit for sixth year in a row
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The Pentagon failed an independent audit of its accounting systems for the sixth consecutive year, a Pentagon official said Wednesday. "Things are showing progress, but it's not enough," Mike McCord, the Defense Department's chief financial officer, told reporters. The Pentagon is striving for a "clean" audit but that is still years away, McCord said. To conduct the audit, 1,600 auditors conducted 700 site visits and assessed $3.8 trillion in assets and $4 trillion in liabilities, the Pentagon said. Required by law, the annual audit assesses the record-keeping processes for the Pentagon's weapons systems, military personnel and property around the world.

Persons: Mike McCord, Defense Lloyd Austin, McCord, Mike Stone, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Pentagon, Defense, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington

☆ Senate Republicans can now stop Tuberville's military blockade — if they want to
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

For much of the year, Sen. Tommy Tuberville has prevented hundreds of military promotions. After a Senate Rule Committee vote on Tuesday, there's an opportunity to circumvent the block. For it to succeed, around 10 GOP senators need to be on board, which is no guarantee. He explained his decision to reporters, noting he wants to give his Senate colleagues more time to find a way to stop Tuberville without altering Senate procedure. But without the support of the head of the Senate GOP, it's increasingly unclear if there will be enough support from members to pass the resolution and put a stop to Tuberville's blockade.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, there's, —, GOP Sen, Tommy Tuberville's, Chuck Schumer, Independent Sen, Kyrsten Sinema, hasn't, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, Rick Scott, JD Vance, Josh Hawley, Roger Marshall, Mike Lee, it's, Tuberville, I've, Lindsey Graham Organizations: Service, GOP, Senate, Republicans, Democratic, Independent, Republican

According to the Pentagon's most recent report on China's military power, Beijing has “denied, canceled or ignored” military-to-military communications and meetings with the Pentagon for much of last year and this year. In an effort to improve transparency and communication, defense leaders from the two countries were meeting regularly. He and other defense chiefs, Joint Chiefs chairmen and regional high-level U.S. commanders routinely traveled to China over the next decade, and Chinese defense leaders came to the Pentagon. The Pentagon routinely complained that there was little tangible progress in the press for greater transparency in China’s military ambitions and its burgeoning defense budget. But the lack of communications heightened worries about an increase in what the Pentagon calls risky Chinese aircraft and warship incidents in the past two years.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, “, Robert Gates, ”, Chuck Hagel, Hagel, China's, Obama, Trump, Nancy Pelosi’s, Pelosi, Newt Gingrich, Carolyn Bartholomew, Bonnie Lin, ” Lin, Tara Copp Organizations: WASHINGTON, Economic Cooperation, Military Maritime, U.S, Pentagon, Defense Department, Chiefs, Yuchi, Pacific ., Beijing, The Defense Department, China Economic, Security, China, Center for Strategic, International Security, Associated Press Locations: Asia, San Francisco, China, Beijing, U.S, Singapore, South China, South, America's, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, Syria, Washington

The Rules Committee voted 9-7 - along party lines - to send the resolution for a vote in the full Senate. The resolution would temporarily sidestep Tuberville's holds by allowing many promotions to be considered by the Senate simultaneously. Under Senate rules, one lawmaker can hold up nominations even if the other 99 all want them to move quickly. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, a member of the Rules Committee, said productive discussions with Tuberville about reaching a deal to ease his holds were under way. Just last week, the senator objected to quick approval of the promotions of 364 officers.

Persons: Tommy Tuberville, Jonathan Ernst, Tommy Tuberville's, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, sidestep Tuberville's, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Tuberville, Schumer, Patricia Zengerle, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Democratic, Republican, Democrats, Pentagon, Senate, Marine Corps, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

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