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Military
Air defense system behind schedule and over budget
Michael Fabey of Aerospace Daily & Defense Report writes that the Air Force’s planned defense system meant to protect the US against a repeat of 9/11-type aviation attacks is 2 years behind schedule and millions over budget. In the meantime, the US relies on NORAD Contingency Suite – the interim system put in place immediately…
Read MoreAfgan detainee deaths concealed by US Special Forces
Kevin Sack and Craig Pyes, special to The Los Angeles Times, report on misconduct by U.S. Special Forces in Afganistan. On two separate occasions, the Special Forces team concealed the death of Afgan detainees. “What distinguishes these two fatalities from scores of other questionable deaths in U.S. custody is that they were successfully concealed
Read MoreGround war costs dominate defense budget
The most recent Pentagon contract data show more payments for logistics, support and ground vehicles and less money for aviation programs, compared to a year ago. “One year of wartime operations equals about four years’ worth during peacetime, analysts say. In Iraq, with the harsh environment, the ratio has been more like one to five.”…
Read MoreAviation deaths down but accidents increasing for Army
Michael Fabey of Aerospace Daily reported that while aviation-related deaths have decreased, serious accidents have seen a dramatic increase in 2006 over the past three-year period. Analysis of the Army’s aircraft records database revealed this trend. “The largest increase, percentage-wise, has been in the number of incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – which only…
Read MoreSexual misconduct and military recruiters
Associated Press reporter Martha Mendoza reports on a probe into sexual misconduct by military recruiters. In a six-month investigation, the AP found “at least 35 Army recruiters, 18 Marine Corps recruiters, 18 Navy recruiters and 12 Air Force recruiters were disciplined for sexual misconduct or other inappropriate behavior with potential enlistees in 2005, according to…
Read MoreVietnam war crimes revisited
In continued coverage of unpunished war crimes during the Vietnam War, Deborah Nelson and Nick Turse, special to the Los Angeles Times, reveal disturbing details of military cover-ups. ” While the Army was working energetically to discredit Herbert, military investigators were uncovering torture and mistreatment that went well beyond what he had described. The abuses…
Read MoreWar Crimes in Vietnam went unpunished
A report by Nick Turse and Deborah Nelson for the Los Angeles Times shows recently declassified documents regarding war crimes committed during the Vietnam War establish that hundreds of soldiers went unpunished for crimes against Vietnamese civilians. “The records describe recurrent attacks on ordinary Vietnamese
Read MoreWitnesses, Army records describe confusion and cover-ups in Tillman case
ESPN.com offers a series delving deeper into the 2004 death of Pfc. Pat Tillman, who left the NFL to serve with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan, and the questions still under investigation by the defense department. TThe story of Tillman’s patriotism and personal sacrifice made headlines, but the Pentagon later acknowledged that he was killed…
Read MoreTroops kept on duty while mentally unfit
Lisa Chedekel and Matthew Kauffman of The Hartford Courant used military investigative records to show that unsuitable practices handling troops mental health “have helped to fuel an increase in the suicide rate among troops serving in Iraq, which reached an all-time high in 2005 when 22 soldiers killed themselves — accounting for nearly one in…
Read MoreClassified military information on sale in bazaar
Paul Watson of the Los Angeles Times found stolen computer drives containing classified military assessments of enemy targets, names of corrupt Afghan officials and descriptions of American defenses were on sale in the local bazaar no more than 200 yards from the main gate of the U.S. base in Bagram, Afghanistan. “Shop owners at the…
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