Defense
In almost every war of the modern era, artillery has played a decisive role. But the lowly IED, cobbled together explosives ignited by cobbled together detonators, has now replaced artillery as the greatest killer on the modern battlefield, according to Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, head of the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) – AOL Defense
The Air Force plans to reinstate substantial formation flight training for CV-22 Osprey pilots that it eliminated four years ago, AOL Defense has learned. – AOL Defense
A leading defense and aerospace trade group is unhappy that last night’s presidential debate did not get into what will dominate the political discussion in Washington once the election is over: the “fiscal cliff” and sequestration cuts. – DEFCON Hill
The nation’s future defense capability depends on unsurpassed global presence and power projection. To remain a global power, the United States must remain an aerospace power. – AOL Defense
The War
The recent wave of anti-West demonstrations across the Muslim world and the attack that killed four Americans in Libya have triggered mounting concern among analysts and U.S. officials that al Qaeda is exploiting the chaos that has followed the Arab Spring’s overthrow of secular dictatorships aligned with the United States. – Washington Times
Wearing a camouflage hunting vest, the alleged mastermind of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, issued a blistering critique of U.S. defense policy during a court hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Wednesday, saying Washington has wantonly used national security as a pretext to murder and torture. – Washington Post
A 21-year-old Bangladeshi man, who the FBI said came to the United States on a student visa this year to conduct a terrorist attack, was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly attempted to detonate what he believed was a 1,000-pound car bomb outside the New York Federal Reserve Bank. – Washington Post
Proliferation
Terrorist groups trying to get hold of nuclear weapons on the black market are becoming more sophisticated and the world needs to do more to prevent sensitive material from falling into their hands, the U.N. nuclear chief said on Wednesday. – Reuters
