Snow day? Here's what Washington is reading
Published: December 21, 2009
If you’re one of the tens of millions in the northeast U.S. who remain snowed in, now’s a perfect time to catch up on what military and national security stories journalists are covering these days.
Just a few weeks after President Barack Obama’s speech at West Point commanded attention, the dust has settled, the dignitaries have made their visits to Kabul and Helmand. Now, the work begins.
But it’s not all Afghanistan all the time…
Defense Spending
While a blizzard pounded Washington, Senators pounded their podiums and passed the FY2010 Defense appropriations bill. Even 92-year old Robert Byrd, keeper of the Senate flame, was wheeled to the floor, casting his vote to a standing ovation. The $636 billion measure passed 88-10 and included $128 billion in war funding, and cuts that Secretary Gates sought, no money for F-22s but more for F-35s, for example. It also included a ton of other earmarks and non-defense related stuff. One watchdog, Taxpayers for Common Sense, tallied nearly 1,800 earmarks. Deb Price, of the Detroit News’s Washington bureau, did a great job finding its state’s perks, like $1.2 million for a Michigan firm to develop rooftop solar panels that could power military housing units. Both Michigan senators voted “yes”.
Bunker Buster Delay
Jim Wolfe, who covers the defense industry in Washington for Reuters, updates that the huge new bomb the Pentagon had requested to be delivered quickly, the Massive Ordinance Penatrator, or MOP, now won’t be delivered until next December, six months late. The word first surfaced that the Pentagon wanted the 30,000-lb bomb on a rushed schedule right when the U.S. revealed it knew of Iran’s underground nuclear facilities. But officials on the record demurred that the timing was coincidental. Now, the Pentagon is delaying the bomb by six months, which coincidentally allows the Iranian government more time to meet the international community's wish list. Still, one Congressional advisor says the bomb “amounts to a message to Iran.”
Karzai’s Cabinet
When Stars and Stripes traveled with Secretary Gates to Afghanistan, within hours of landing in Kabul rumors were swirling about President Hamid Karzai’s choices for his new presidential cabinet. Karzai was going to announce something, but after meeting with Gates, the two came to the podium to say not so fast my friend, the list wasn’t ready. Karzai faces global scrutiny over corruption in his ranks, and watchers think it’s necessary he appoint a clean cabinet. This week, Karzai’s picks emerged. Two ministers were not renewed, as both are under government investigation for corruption. Gates is a fan of Defense Minister Adul Rahim Wardak. He will remain.
Iraq-Iran Border
Also this weekend, Iranian forces seized an oil field on the Iraq side their disputed border, planting an Iranian flag atop of a well. In response, Iraq sent forces to the area and a standoff has ensued, roughly 200 miles from Baghdad. The Associated Press’ Lara Jakes, recently installed as Baghdad correspondent after a short stint at the Pentagon, reported Gen. Raymond Odierno saying the Iranians had withdrawn, but the incident is a reminder of ongoing border tensions.
Remember Panama?
Apparently nobody else does either. But the Houston Chronicle got a quote from the elder President George Bush, who ordered the action 20 years ago this month. Twenty-three Americans were killed and 325 wounded invading the Latin American country to oust Gen. Manuel Noreiga, who tried to void democratic elections, and ensure the essential Panamal Canal remained open to internaitonal shipping traffic.
"Lot of people don't realize that it ever happened," said Bush. He added: "I don't think the canal was in danger but it could have been. ...Yet that was never the main thing that motivated my decision."
This also marks the last time that the American public saw the return of military personnel killed-in-action in flag-draped coffins at Dover AFB, for 19 years. A network news split screen at the time showed footage of the returns next to unrelated footage of Bush appearing to be laughing. A media blackout on Dover returns slammed down and lasted until earlier this year when Secretary Gates lifted the ban.
[PHOTO: Robin Hoecker]
