Military

Estonia wants new NATO defense plans

By Desmond Butler, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Estonia's defense minister was in Washington Monday discussing with the United States why NATO needs plans in case his region is attacked. Jaak Aaviksoo told The Associated Press that his country sees new threats since Russia's... Full story

Report: Problems continued at Illinois VA hospital

By Sophia Tareen, The Associated Press

CHICAGO — A federal report shows inconsistencies with reporting deaths at a southern Illinois Veterans Affairs hospital. The report comes more than two years after the facility had at least nine deaths attributed to substandard care. The... Full story

Congress extends benefits to military spouses

By Kimberly Hefling, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Congress on Monday sent President Barack Obama a bill that allows military spouses to claim residency in the same state as their wives or husbands. Under current law, service members can choose to keep their original residency... Full story

ElBaradei asks Iran for quick response on nukes

By George Jahn and Michael Astor, The Associated Press

UNITED NATIONS — The head of the U.N. nuclear agency urged Iran on Monday to clarify its response to a U.S.-backed proposal that would have Tehran ship most of its nuclear material abroad for processing. Iranian officials sent mixed signals... Full story

Boeing backers press Obama on $35B tanker contract

By Donna Borak, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of lawmakers who support Boeing in its bid for a $35 billion tanker contract want President Barack Obama to force the Air Force to include a recent World Trade Organization ruling against Airbus in its... Full story

Afghanistan's Karzai effectively handed 2nd term

KABUL — President Hamid Karzai was effectively handed a second five-year term Sunday when his only challenger dropped out of the race, and the Obama administration said it was prepared to work with the man it has previously criticized to... Full story

MILITARY UPDATE: Survivor plan is a good value

TOM PHILPOTT

A typical officer retiring today who declines to enroll in the Survivor Benefit Plan lets the government off the hook for a subsidy worth $50,100 in “net present value,” say Department of Defense actuaries.The typical enlisted retiree... Full story

U.S. combat injuries spike in Afghanistan

By Ann Scott Tyson

WASHINGTON — More than 1,000 American troops have been wounded in battle over the past three months in Afghanistan, accounting for one-fourth of all those injured in combat since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.The dramatic increase has filled... Full story

Fort Carson units headed for Afghanistan, Iraq

TOM ROEDER

A pair of Fort Carson companies will say farewell to the post Monday in a ceremony that marks their departure for the Middle East. The 43rd Sustainment Brigade’s headquarters company and its 60th Ordnance Company will leave soon for yearlong... Full story

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Fort Carson soldiers increasingly on the sidelines in Iraq

TOM ROEDER

As the U.S. presence shrinks in Iraq, tales of the war are absent from nightly newscasts and slipping from front pages around the country. Fort Carson’s Col. Butch Kievenaar thinks that’s the way it should be. “That means... Full story

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