Heroism in Sangin Recognized
By Harold Hutchison

Major Matthew H. Peterson was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device for heroism during operations near Sangin District, Afghanistan. The award was presented on board USS Green Bay, which is deployed carrying part of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Distinguished Warfare Medal Drew Fire
By Harold Hutchison

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has ordered a review of the Distinguished Warfare Medal as the controversy over the new award has not gone away. The order came less than a month after the medal’s announcement.

ISAF Captures a Third!
By Harold Hutchison

Two Taliban leaders were killed during operations in Afghanistan, according to an ISAF release. A third Taliban leader was captured. This followed the capture of a facilitator for the Haqqani Network.

Idris Kaka, killed during an operation in Helmand province, was responsible for directing the carrying out of IED attacks against ISAF and Afghan forces. He also was believed to have been involved in kidnapping Afghans.

Seven Killed in Chopper Crash, Insider Attack
By Harold Hutchison

Seven American troops were killed during operations in Afghanistan. The deaths came in two separate incidents – one of them a “green on blue” attack in Wardak province.

The helicopter crash in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan left five American troops dead. ISAF did not identify the type of helicopter in its announcement of the tragedy.

ISAF Nabs Another Bad Guy!
By Harold Hutchison

ISAF confirmed the capture of an unidentified Haqqani network facilitator during operations in Paktiya province. The facilitator was believed to have not only provided what the NATO force’s joint command termed “lethal aid” to insurgents, but also to have panned attacks against Afghan and ISAF forces.

During an operation in Helmand province on Saturday, ISAF confirmed that three insurgents were killed. ISAF also reported that nine insurgents were captured during the hunt for a Taliban commander in Kandahar province.

Sanctions, Counter-Attack Among Options Presented
By Harold Hutchison

Two years ago, the Obama Administration turned down a range of retaliatory options to deal with ChiCom cyber attacks. The decision was made as an effort to avoid disrupting relations with a country that holds $1.2 trillion of America’s debt. Among the options rejected were retaliatory cyber-attacks and economic sanctions.

NASA Hire Linked to ChiCom Espionage
By Harold Hutchison

Representative Frank Wolf has alleged that NASA has allowed classified and sensitive information to fall into the hands of the Chinese Communists. The leak came about due to officials allowing the hiring of a ChiCom national who was viewed as a security risk by a contractor.

The Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument will mark its groundbreaking by paying special honor to the 3,417 Texans who died in the Vietnam War. Read on for a full description of all events.

March 24, 2013
• 08:30 – 5:30 Reading of the Names at the LBJ Presidential Library. Open to the public.

Decision to Try Bin Laden In-Law in NYC Draws Fire
By Harold Hutchison

Two Republican Senators have strongly criticized the decision of the Obama Administration to try Sulaiman Abu Ghayth in New York City. The criticism was joined by the prosecutor of the “blind sheikh” Omar Abdel-Rahman, Andrew C. McCarthy, who accused the Obama Administration of turning “the clock back to the pre-9/11 days, when al-Qaeda was a law-enforcement problem, not a national-security challenge.”