US Senators Warn Of Sequester’s Effects, But Offer No Alternatives By John T. Bennett

DeM Banter: Well... admitting we have a problem is the first step in solving it...no? Or... are we just sitting around admiring the problem? Looking toward the future...prediction....it will get much worse before it gets any better. DefenseNews.com July 18, 2013 Nelson: 'Shooting Ourselves Up The Torso' WASHINGTON — Senators on Thursday warned the United …

The Next QDR Is The Last Chance For Sanity By Shawn Brimley

DeM Banter: There are so many DEEP question that MUST be answered before this QDR even begins...that we all know will remained unanswered. We need strategy....leadership....innovation...collaboration--and I'm still wondering where the lions are.... No doubt it is hard, difficult, time consuming, etc...but this is America...we are so much better than this.... DefenseOne.com July 15, 2013 …

Idled Air Force Squadrons Resume Flights By Julian E. Barnes and Damian Paletta

DeM Banter: So.. if the sequester continues into FY14 (indications are that it will)... we will have to ground these units again as of 30 Sept? Brilliant... Wall Street Journal (wsj.com) July 15, 2013 Training Flights Are Back for Crews Idled Since April Due to Sequester WASHINGTON—The Air Force said Monday that it resumed training …

Afghanistan And The ‘Zero Option’ : Chicago Tribune

DeM Banter:  Agree...and here's to hoping it was merely a threat...and we won't have to revisit in 5 years. Chicago Tribune July 13, 2013 Pg. 12 Why the U.S. should keep a hand in there President Hamid Karzai’s erratic behavior has President Barack Obama considering a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 2014. …

Freeze Possible On All Promotions, Recruiting By Tom Philpott

DeM Banter: the question is...what do we expect of our military? What quality of military does America need? And fund it... Hanford (CA) Sentinel July 13, 2013 Military Update Failure by Congress to end budget sequestration could force the services in fiscal 2014 to freeze military promotions, suspend recruiting and halt all change-of-station moves, Defense …

Modest Debut Of Atlas May Foreshadow Age Of ‘Robo Sapiens’ By John Markoff

DeM Banter: ...and they don't need medical care, pilot bonuses, or a housing allowance...interesting times... New York Times July 12, 2013 Pg. 11 WALTHAM, Mass. — Moving its hands as if it were dealing cards and walking with a bit of a swagger, a Pentagon-financed humanoid robot named Atlas made its first public appearance on …