Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:people/martin_dempseytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/18/opaque_picture_Syria_rebels_general_3351

The United States is struggling to track a fragmented Syrian opposition and has found it increasingly difficult to get a clear picture of rebel factions, the US military's top officer said Monday.

2013-03-18T20:30:58ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/12/Pentagon_second_thoughts_drone_warrior_28e1

The US military said Tuesday it halted production of a new medal for drone and cyber warfare, ordering a review after critics called the award an insult to combat veterans.

2013-03-12T21:17:01ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/general_wants_13600_troops_stay_6e67

The general overseeing US forces in Afghanistan told senators Tuesday that he recommended keeping 13,600 American troops in the country once NATO withdraws in 2014, even as White House officials have pushed for a smaller presence.

2013-03-05T19:42:50ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/defense_chief_seeks_reassure_Israel_138a

The Pentagon's new chief held talks with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday and pledged to ensure US budget cuts have no effect on funding for military assistance to the Jewish state, officials said.

2013-03-05T19:27:34ZAFP American Editionby Dan De Lucetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/03/05/Pentagon_chief_hosts_Israels_Ehud_7891

The Pentagon's new chief hosted Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday for talks after having faced allegations from some US senators that he was too critical of the Jewish state.

2013-03-05T15:57:14ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/14/Pentagon_chief_wants_hell_town_44f3

With a feuding Senate holding up approval of his successor, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday joked that he hoped he would be allowed "to get the hell out of town" and retire as planned.

2013-02-14T20:01:26ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/08/evaluating_next_steps_Syria_conflict_4cbe

US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States is exploring ways to end Syria's increasingly bloody conflict as the White House defended its refusal to arm rebels there.

2013-02-09T03:22:20ZAFP Global Editionby Jo Biddletag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/07/defense_chiefs_backed_arming_Syria_e727

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday acknowledged for the first time that the Pentagon had backed proposals to arm the Syrian opposition battling to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

2013-02-07T23:26:58ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/07/defense_chiefs_defend_Benghazi_response_9b9c

Defense chiefs on Thursday defended the military response to a militant attack on a US mission in Libya, but warned looming deep budget cuts threaten America's ability to protect itself.

2013-02-07T19:56:21ZAFP American Editionby Jo Biddletag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/07/military_service_Panetta_5941

The US military is not a 911 service ready to rush to every emergency around the world, Pentagon chief Leon Panetta told lawmakers Thursday, defending the response to an attack on a mission in Libya.

2013-02-07T19:11:47ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/31/Syria_accuses_Israel_striking_research_7cd8

Syria accused Israel of staging an air raid on a military research centre, a day after a peace envoy issued a fresh warning of the 22-month conflict spilling over into neighbouring states.

2013-01-31T05:45:55ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/30/Syria_accuses_Israel_striking_research_7cd8

Syria accused Israel of staging an air raid on a military research centre on Wednesday, a day after a peace envoy issued a fresh warning of the 22-month conflict spilling over into neighbouring states.

2013-01-30T20:52:20ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/30/declines_comment_raid_hosts_Israeli_6cea

The United States on Wednesday declined to comment on an Israeli air raid against a weapons convoy from Syria as senior officials hosted Israel's director of military intelligence for talks.

2013-01-30T19:31:30ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/28/Britains_Hague_hosts_farewell_dinner_6ac6

British Foreign Secretary William Hague Monday hosted a private dinner to bid farewell to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she steps down from her post this week, officials said.

2013-01-29T00:55:43ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/24/military_opens_door_women_ground_4d54

Ushering in a new era for the US military, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta lifted a ban on women serving in ground combat, saying female troops had proven themselves in a decade of war.

2013-01-25T01:42:54ZAFP Global Editionby Dan De Lucetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/24/officially_lifts_women_combat_Panetta_766f

The US military officially dropped its ban on women serving in ground combat Thursday after a policy review by top commanders, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said.

2013-01-24T16:03:21ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/24/military_lift_women_combat_c323

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will lift a ban on women serving in combat, officials said -- a ground-breaking move after a decade of war that saw female troops thrust onto the battlefield.

2013-01-24T10:38:00ZAFP Global Editionby Dan De Lucetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/23/military_lift_women_combat_c323

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will lift a ban on women serving in combat, officials said -- a ground-breaking move after a decade of war that saw female troops thrust onto the battlefield.

2013-01-24T02:01:18ZAFP Global Editionby Dan De Lucetag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/23/military_lifts_women_combat_official_34bb

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has decided to lift a ban on women serving in combat, a senior defense official said Wednesday, after a decade of war that saw female troops thrust onto the battlefield.

2013-01-23T21:32:30ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/10/focused_Syrias_chemical_arms_after_9dda

The United States is increasingly focused on how to secure Syria's chemical weapons if President Bashar al-Assad falls from power, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday.

2013-01-11T00:49:38ZAFP Global Editionby Dan De Luce