Defense
The U.S. military is discussing significant changes in its war plans to adhere to President Obama’s new strategic guidance that downplays preparing for conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan, and counts on allies to provide additional troops. – Washington Times
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has introduced legislation to replace a mandatory across-the-board discretionary spending cut in fiscal year 2013 that is required by last summer’s deal to raise the debt ceiling. – The Hill’s Floor Action Blog
He may come to regret it, but Gen. Martin Dempsey [yesterday] offered what may come to define his tenure as the president’s top military advisor, a doctrine that the United States should never send the military to war by itself. – AOL Defense
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz warned the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that if Congress restores aircraft that the Pentagon wanted to scuttle, it’s got to pony up the money that goes with it. – DEFCON Hill
Three top House Republicans want the Navy to come clean on just what ships it is counting as part of the nation’s fleet and why. – AOL Defense
Many of the Air Force’s F-22 Raptors may not get their long-promised capability upgrades until well into their service lives, Congress’ watchdog warned this week, though there doesn’t appear to be much anyone can do about it. – DOD Buzz
Cybersecurity
Senior military leaders are recommending that the Pentagon’s two-year-old cyberwarfare unit be elevated to full combatant command status, sending a signal to adversaries that the U.S. military is serious about protecting its ability to operate in cyberspace, officials said. – Washington Post
The War
Al Qaeda was so unpopular among Muslims that Osama bin Laden considered changing the terror network’s name and warned other extremist groups to keep their distance in public, according to computer files found at his hideout. – Washington Times
U.S. and allied officials said they are increasingly concerned that doctors working with al Qaeda’s Yemen-based affiliate will implant bombs inside living militants in order to try to circumvent airport security measures and bring down aircraft. – Reuters
Missile Defense
A House of Representatives is looking at a potential revival of an experimental missile defense aircraft that was retired earlier this year – Global Security Newswire
Nuclear Weapons/Nonproliferation
Election-year political considerations are playing significantly into a high-level Obama administration deliberation on the method and schedule for announcing details from a confidential assessment expected to lay the groundwork for potential further reductions to the U.S. stockpile of nuclear arms – Global Security Newswire
A senior Obama administration official on Monday rejected suggestions that the Nuclear Security Summit process should strive to establish enforceable international standards for protecting vulnerable nuclear materials – Global Security Newswire
