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Pentagon budget: top 3 winners and losers In Pentagon parlance, the word 鈥渃ut鈥� is a relative term. The Defense Department鈥檚 base budget decreases from $553 billion this year to $525 billion in 2013, but it rebounds steadily to $567 billion in 2017. With this in mind, here are the top three winners and losers:
Daring special forces raid shows Somali pirates are on the runThe SEAL Team Six聽rescue of an American hostage shows US special forces are tightening the noose on increasingly desperate Somali pirate groups, military analysts say.
Famous US Special Forces operations Here are six of the most famous successful American special operations missions in recent memory.
SEAL Team 6 rescue in Somalia frees two from pirates' lairSEAL Team 6 members raided a compound in Somalia early Wednesday to free two hostages held by pirates since October. The raid signals that US 'will not tolerate' abductions of Americans, Obama said.
Marine demoted to private to end Haditha trial. Did military justice work?A pretrial agreement means Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the last defendant in the Haditha trial, will not serve any time in prison for his role in the killing of 24 Iraqis in 2005.- Army report: Suicide rate sets record; some alcohol abuse up 54 percentBut efforts to confront suicide have produced some encouraging successes, says a high-ranking Army official. And the number of soldiers being referred to treatment programs is increasing.
Pentagon report: Sexual assault in the military up dramaticallyDefense Secretary Leon Panetta vowed to reduce sexual assaults within the military with a series of new initiatives. Some say, though, that the initiatives were already mandated by Congress.
US report on Afghan rampage raises questions about NATO鈥檚 exitLast April, an Afghan officer in a highly secure facility killed eight US troops. Overall, Afghan national security forces are the key to America鈥檚 exit strategy in the war.
Veteran charged with homeless murders: Hint of larger problem for US military?A veteran charged with killing four homeless men was troubled after returning from Iraq, reports say. That has highlighted the rising mental-health problems facing the US military.
Urination video: Outcry aside, history suggests minimal punishment for MarinesExperts say that despite the strong language from the Pentagon over the video showing Marines urinating on dead Taliban, the military's record for prosecuting similar crimes has been lackluster.
How video of Marines urinating on Taliban could put US forces in dangerA video that appears to show Marines urinating on Taliban soldiers comes just as the US is trying to reach out to the Taliban. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called the actions 'utterly deplorable.'
On the front lines of sexual assault in the military: Army chaplainsWith the Pentagon ramping up its efforts to root out sexual assault in the military, Army chaplains are poised to play an important role. Finding the right voice, however, can prove difficult.聽
US Navy rescues Iranians from Somali pirates 鈥� no 'thank you' expectedA US Navy search-and-seizure team rescued the crew of an Iranian fishing vessel that had been hijacked by Somali pirates in November. Maybe Iran will send a fruit basket.聽
Under new defense strategy, what is biggest threat facing US now?The new defense strategy rolled out by the Pentagon Thursday centers on military priorities that are, in many cases, dramatically different from the ones that dominated the post-9/11 decade.聽
New Pentagon strategy recasts military in Obama's imageThe new Pentagon strategy unveiled Thursday is aimed at trimming defense spending. But Obama took the opportunity to overhaul the military's priorities so they match his own.聽
Leaner military, weaker military? Obama must tread tricky line.The defense strategy released Thursday faces up to budget realities, but the Obama administration will have to balance the need for cuts against Pentagon warnings about undermining security.聽
Pentagon to abandon two-war strategy, but at what cost to US security?The Pentagon has long said it must be prepared to fight two wars at once. Budget cuts and changing global threats mean that standard is no longer practical, experts say.
