TheRepublic.com - Chuck Hagel News

Senator: Assaults let military culture continue

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:33:01 -0400

ALBANY, New York - Charges that an Army sergeant secretly photographed and videotaped women at West Point are part of a military-wide pattern of sexual misconduct, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said Thursday.

Pentagon: New record plan won't help vet backlog

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:01:17 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has decided to buy a new computerized health records system to be able to better share and merge its data with the Department of Veterans Affairs, but officials cautioned that it was part of a "long-term modernization" effort and would not help ease the backlog in VA disability claims.

Soldier charged with videotaping women

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:06:25 -0400

WASHINGTON - An Army sergeant has been charged with secretly photographing and videotaping at least a dozen women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, including in a bathroom.

Military sex abuse has long-term impact for vets

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:31:32 -0400

WASHINGTON - New government figures underscore the staggering long-term consequences of military sexual assaults: More than 85,000 veterans were treated last year for injuries or illness linked to the abuse, and 4,000 sought disability benefits.

AP IMPACT: Military sex abuse victims seek VA help

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:42:27 -0400

WASHINGTON - More than 85,000 veterans were treated last year for injuries or illness stemming from sexual abuse in the military, and 4,000 sought disability benefits, underscoring the staggering long-term impact of a crisis that has roiled the Pentagon and been condemned by President Barack Obama as "''shameful and disgraceful."

US slams Russian anti-ship missiles going to Syria

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:38:34 -0400

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration denounced Russia on Friday for providing Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime with anti-ship missiles, saying the weapons would only worsen a war that Washington and Moscow have been promising to work together on stopping.

Influential GOP lawmaker wants answers on military orders...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:19:54 -0400

WASHINGTON - By MICHAEL COLLINS

Hagel informed Obama of latest sex abuse case

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:02:03 -0400

WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel informed President Barack Obama of the latest sexual assault allegations against a soldier who was assigned to prevent such crimes - the second soldier involved in similar accusations - and the president made clear he wants that behavior stopped, officials said Wednesday.

Soldier in sexual assault office accused of abuse

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:27:18 -0400

WASHINGTON - A soldier assigned to coordinate a sexual assault prevention program in Texas is under investigation for "abusive sexual contact" and other alleged misconduct and has been suspended from his duties, the Army announced Tuesday.

French minister to discuss shaky Libya on US trip

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:24:37 -0400

PARIS - Terror groups ousted from Mali appear to be trying to set up a new haven in Libya, France's defense minister said Monday, vowing to discuss ways of helping Tripoli improve its shaky security with U.S. officials later this week.

Is there a morale crisis in the US nuclear force?

Sat, 11 May 2013 09:18:45 -0400

WASHINGTON - Beyond the Air Force's embarrassing suspension of 17 nuclear missile launch officers lie two broader questions.

Rep. Heck nominated for Army Reserve promotion

Thu, 09 May 2013 17:46:26 -0400

LAS VEGAS - Nevada Congressman Joe Heck may soon be moonlighting as a one-star general.

AP Exclusive: Commander cites 'rot' in nuke force

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:39:19 -0400

WASHINGTON - It was an attitude problem, Air Force commanders insisted, not a matter of competence. And besides, they contended, security was never at risk in spite of what one commander called "rot" in the crew force.

Erbe: Why does sexual assault in the military persist?

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:23:20 -0400

By BONNIE ERBE - Raise your hand if you, like me, have a hard time understanding why the military seems powerless to end sexual assault within its ranks.

May: Decisions must be made on Syria

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:57:07 -0400

By CLIFFORD D. MAY - "Arming the rebels -- that's an option. You look at and rethink all options. It doesn't mean you do or you will. ... It doesn't mean that the president has decided on anything." -- Secretary of State Chuck Hagel, May 2

Obama: Sexual assault in military is a 'betrayal'

Tue, 07 May 2013 14:25:07 -0400

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says military personnel who engage in sexual assault are betraying the uniform they are wearing. He says he has directed Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to "step up our game exponentially" to halt such assaults.

Airman who led sex assault unit charged in groping

Tue, 07 May 2013 00:17:24 -0400

ARLINGTON, Virginia - An Air Force officer who led the branch's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response unit has been charged with groping a woman in a northern Virginia parking lot, authorities said Monday.

A look at reasons for Israeli airstrikes in Syria

Sun, 05 May 2013 15:22:41 -0400

BEIRUT - A look at the reasons for and possible implications of the escalation of Israel's involvement in Syria's civil war.

Obama doesn't foresee US ground troops in Syria

Fri, 03 May 2013 20:52:29 -0400

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - President Barack Obama said Friday he doesn't foresee any circumstance requiring the U.S. to send ground troops into Syria, even as Washington pursues more evidence about the regime's purported use of chemical weapons.

Obama: All options for Syria are being considered

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:27:57 -0400

MEXICO CITY - President Barack Obama says his administration is looking at every option to end the bloodshed in Syria.

Syrian air defenses pose formidable challenge

Thu, 02 May 2013 15:10:44 -0400

BEIRUT - International military action against Syria's government over its alleged use of chemical weapons would run up against one of the Middle East's most formidable air defenses, a system bolstered in recent years by top-of-the-line Russian hardware.

Third target emerges in ricin letters case, as Miss. homes...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:19:26 -0400

The tangled search to find who sent poisoned letters to President Barack Obama and other public figures took yet another twist Thursday as attention moved to a house in rural Itawamba County, Miss., east of Tupelo. - Authorities reported early Thursday that they were searching the house in the Ozark community where James Everett Dutschke, the prime focus of investigators the previous two days, was believed to have been with an acquaintance, Kirk Kitchens, overnight.

US urges China collaboration on cyber intrusions

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:59:12 -0400

BEIJING - The top U.S. military officer said Wednesday that he has called on China to be more transparent about cyberattacks and boost collaboration with the U.S. to tackle a common threat to their economies.

Israeli focus on Syria gives Hagel respite on Iran

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:03:55 -0400

JERUSALEM - On Chuck Hagel's inaugural visit to Israel as U.S. defense secretary, Syria surpassed Iran as the security threat of greatest urgency to the U.S.' closest Mideast ally. That quite unexpectedly gave the new Pentagon chief a temporary respite from the delicate duty of tempering Israeli warnings about attacking Iran to stop it from building a nuclear bomb.

GOP report faults State Dept. on Libya security

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:17:51 -0400

WASHINGTON - An interim report released Tuesday by House Republicans faults the State Department and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for security deficiencies at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, prior to last September's deadly terrorist attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.