Shadow Wars Get Big Bucks In Last-Minute Defense Bill -- The Danger Room
Fighting (or pretending to fight) al-Qaeda on behalf of the U.S.? Congress is your private Santa.
Defying Beltway expectations, both chambers of Congress approved a $724.6 billion defense bill for the current fiscal year. Congress was feeling generous, and the money lavished on the U.S.’ proxies shows it.
The big winner is Pakistan. The $400 million Pakistan Counterinsurgency Fund, which provides helicopters, night-vision equipment and training to the Pakistan’s Army Frontier Corps, gets another re-up. There’s also $1.6 billion to reimburse Pakistan (and some other nations, but really Pakistan) for “cooperating in contingency operations in Afghanistan,” which must come as a surprise to U.S., Afghan and Pakistani troops. This cash appears to be yet another U.S. down payment for the Pakistanis to invade North Waziristan, something they’re currently pledging to do the week after never.
Read more ....
MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS
Sources: White House Orders DoD to Cut $90B Over 5 Years -- Defense News
Russia and India agree to US$ 35 billion contract for 300 fighter jets -- Asia News
Japan funding U.S. Marine transfer to Guam -- UPI
Gates to Visit China from Jan. 9-12: Pentagon -- Defense News/AFP
U.S. Forces in Korea Get an Armor Upgrade -- Defense Tech
Conventional War Dominance and the Railgun -- Fogg of War
Boeing, EADS backers clash over Air Force tanker bill in Congress -- al.com
WEAPONS: M2A1 Heavy Machine-Gun -- Strategy Page
U.S. Army seeks 3 variants of camo to replace UCP -- Army Times
Quarter of students fail exam for Army -- Washington Times/AP
Decades-long push for a general's exoneration gains new urgency -- L.A. Times
U.S. Air Force suicide rate highest in 17 years -- Stars And Stripes
Repeal of Gay Ban Opens Door to ROTC Return at Top Schools -- ABC News
U.S. Military Assures U.N. WikiLeaks Suspect Treated 'Fairly' -- FOX News
WikiLeaks revelations keep coming, but few pay attention -- Intel News
Blacks, women, now gays: Military to adjust again -- Washington Post