Military News

1. Inside the Ring
Bill Gertz Washington Times Thursday, January 1, 2009
http://www.investigativeproject.org/ext/2072

IPT NOTE: The cited "Joint Operating Environment 2008" report is posted at http://video1.washingtontimes.com/video/jointoperatingenvironment.pdf

China's pearls

1. Death from above: how Predator is taking its toll on al-Qaeda
Unmanned and heavily armed drones are killing off the 'senior management'

January 3, 2009: While the U.S. Army is sharply cutting back on its enlistment, and re-enlistment bonus program, mainly because the economic recession reduces the competition recruiters get from civilian employers, the army still pays well for those with rare skills.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: “This Week in Military History,” appears every Wednesday as a feature of HUMAN EVENTS.

This Week in American Military History

1. Suspected Saddam spy is caught at Peace Bridge
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Updated: 12/30/08 08:33 AM BUFFALO NEWS
http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/535754.html
IPT NOTE: The DoJ press release is posted at
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/December/08-nsd-1151.html

The Coast Guard has undergone many changes in the last two years, and 2009 won’t be any different.

Force recon is back after a nearly two-year break, giving the Corps an additional option for reconnaissance and special operations missions.

BEIJING/TOKYO (Reuters) - Three Chinese naval vessels left for Somalia on Friday to help tackle piracy in a sign of the country's rising global clout, and Japan said it may soon follow suit.

The U.S. Defense Department has taken several steps in recent weeks to ensure that hard won lessons in counterinsurgency are not lost when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are over.

1. Charges Referred Against One Detainee, Charges Dismissed Against Another

U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release No. 1028-08 December 19, 2008

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12402