Defense
The July 8 roadside explosion that killed six Army soldiers in Afghanistan has analysts worried that the Taliban are turning to bigger homemade bombs to take down the best armored U.S. vehicles. What is particularly troubling to the military is that the enemy was able to penetrate the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, whose V-shaped hull disperses a blast away from the troops inside. – Washington Times
The defense spending bill passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee [Friday] keeps Block 30 Global Hawk drones flying, instead of letting them be warehoused as the Air Force had planned, a congressional source confirmed to AOL Defense. – AOL Defense
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) implored 44 on Sunday to work with lawmakers seeking to avert potentially devastating automatic defense cuts set for the first of the year, calling the sequester “the dumbest” idea. – Hill Tube
Vice President Joe Biden pledged to fight for veterans’ benefits and blamed looming sequestration cuts on House Republicans in an address to the Disabled American Veterans national convention in Nevada on Saturday. – The Hill’s On the Money
Cybersecurity
Perhaps Democrats figure they’ll be able to blame Republicans for any damage if there is a major cyber attack before the election. But it’s the White House that has walked away from a potential bipartisan compromise. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
