Defense
A new survey shows a large majority of Americans support cutting defense spending, including military personnel costs. – Military Times
The U.S. Air Force will return to its roots in the coming years, tailoring its acquisition needs to meet the Pentagon’s Pacific-focused military strategy by buying stealthy aircraft and systems. – Defense News
The U.S. Defense Department and Lockheed Martin are still trying to iron out a deal for 32 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer said. – Defense News
With prices rising and schedules slipping for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Boeing says it is seeing a resurgent interest in the F-18 in U.S. foreign markets. – Aviation Week
Josh Rogin reports: Senate Democrats won’t agree to any deal to avoid $1.2 trillion on impending defense and entitlement cuts without new taxes, according to Senate leadership member and former “supercommittee” chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA). – The Cable
Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake write: When one considers concept of operations and overall capability it is the ability to have synergy across the joint force structure that counts. The future belongs to agile, modular, and scalable forces. The CNO’s article in effect underscores this reality. – AOL Defense
George Hill writes: Congress must act now to end the threat that sequestration poses to our nation’s businesses. Deep, automatic cuts to the defense budget will weaken our national security and decimate an industrial base already hurting. – AOL Defense
Law of the Sea Treaty
The Senate champion of the United Nations’s maritime convention declared himself unfazed Monday by reports that opponents have garnered enough Republican opponents to kill the Law of the Sea Treaty if it ever comes up for a vote on the floor. – The Hill’s Global Affairs
Josh Rogin reports: As of [yesterday], 34 Republican senators have expressed opposition to Senate ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty, a number that would add up to rejection of the treaty if all those senators vote against it when it comes to the Senate floor. – The Cable
Piracy
Pirate attacks have plunged in the last six months as naval forces stepped up their efforts to stop Somali outlaws from hijacking boats, the International Maritime Bureau announced Monday. – LA Times’ World Now
The War
The next hearing for five Guantanamo prisoners charged with plotting the September 11 attacks has been postponed for two weeks to allow the defendants to observe the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. – Reuters
