House Armed Services Committee

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House Panel Says Women Should Register for Draft

If there's an emergency, 'we need all hands on deck,' Republican says

(Newser) - It's been more than 48 years since the last soldier to be drafted in the US entered the Army—but the draft is still on the books, and lawmakers have taken another step closer to expanding it to women. The House Armed Services Committee voted 35-24 Wednesday night to...

House GOP: Bergdahl Prisoner Swap Was Illegal

Report accuses administration of acting recklessly

(Newser) - The Obama administration broke the law and deceived Congress when it traded five Guantanamo detainees for Taliban captive Bowe Bergdahl last year, according to a House Armed Services Committee report seen by the New York Times and the Washington Post . The report from the committee's GOP majority, which will...

Hagel Grilled on Bergdahl: 5 Standout Lines

He appears before House Armed Services Committee

(Newser) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today became the first Obama administration official to testify publicly about the controversial decision to swap Bowe Bergdahl for five Gitmo prisoners, and the New York Times reports that he "wrote almost every word of his opening statement himself," canning his speechwriters' suggestions and...

Chiefs on DADT: Gays Can Serve Openly by Summer

'We've not seen issues,' says Marine commandant

(Newser) - A House GOP hearing on the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" didn't have quite the outcome some Republicans were apparently hoping for. Military chiefs testified before the House Armed Services Committee that training is going better than expected, and gays should be able to serve openly by this...

McChrystal: We'll Know by This Time Next Year

General says troop surge should show results within a year

(Newser) - The US should know by this time next year whether the troop buildup in Afghanistan worked, Stanley McChrystal told the House Armed Services panel today, though he cautioned that there was no easy road to success. "The sober fact is that there are no silver bullets," he said....

US Speeds Up Iraq Withdrawal
 US Speeds Up Iraq Withdrawal 
Sep 30, 2009 7:10 AM CDT

US Speeds Up Iraq Withdrawal

(Newser) - The United States is speeding up its military withdrawal from Iraq, sending 4,000 more troops home next month, top commander Ray Odierno will announce today. That'll bring the total number of troops in the country down to 120,000 by the end of October. "We have already begun...

Obama to Name NY Republican Army Secretary

McHugh is ranking GOPer on Armed Services Committee

(Newser) - Barack Obama will nominate yet another Republican to an administration post today, tapping New York Rep. John McHugh as Army secretary, the New York Times reports. McHugh is the ranking Republican on the House armed services committee, and serves on West Point’s Board of Visitors.

Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked
Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked
Opinion
Jul 24, 2008 11:54 AM CDT

Anti-Gay Rant Makes Hill Wish It Hadn't Asked

Outspoken activist succeeds in unifying lawmakers against her

(Newser) - Don’t ask Elaine Donnelly what she thinks of gays in the military—she’ll tell you. Congress made that mistake yesterday, and the anti-gay activist let out what Dana Milbank of the Washington Post calls an “extraordinary exhibition of rage.” Donnelly warned the panel of the “...

Petraeus Sees No New Troop Buildup in Iraq

General wraps up two days of testimony before Congress

(Newser) - Gen. David H. Petraeus told the House Armed Forces Committee today that he does not foresee another buildup of US armed forces in Iraq, calling the possibility of a new surge "a pretty remote thought in my mind." If violences escalates again, the Army will make do with...

More US Troops Outfitting Themselves for Combat

With slow supply chain—and style—among concerns, market grows to $150M annually

(Newser) - US troops are increasingly augmenting their military-issue gear with higher-end commercial products to gain an extra edge—and look sharp, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The military has encouraged the trend, perhaps in response to the equipment shortages that have dogged the Iraq and Afghanistan war efforts, loosening procurement rules...

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