Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 17, 2011

BUDGET REQUEST - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Robert F. Hale, undersecretary of defense (comptroller) testify at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the department's 2012 budget request in Washington, D.C., Feb. 16, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

House Votes To Scrap F-35 Engine: Why Gates Can't Crow Too Loudly -- Christian Science Monitor

The House voted Wednesday to stop funding for an alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter – a program Defense Secretary Robert Gates called 'unnecessary.' But his arm-twisting of Congress is far from finished.

By day’s end Wednesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates had scored a considerable victory.

Just hours after he told Congress that it must halt funding for the production of a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter – or he would “look at all available legal options" to do it himself – the House heeded his warning. It voted 233 to 198 to kill the program that Gates had called “an unnecessary and extravagant expense."

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Iraq to face problems without U.S. military: Gates -- Reuters

Egypt military rulers face Iran warship passage -- Reuters

SA-21 SAMs To Threaten Japan, China or North Korea? -- Ares/Aviation Week

New North Korean Space Launch Site Appears Completed -- Voice of America

Canada hit by cyberattack from China computers: report -- Yahoo News/Reuters

India to issue $11 bn tender for six more submarines -- Sify Finance

USAF Gen.: Affordability an Issue for Long-Range Strike Systems -- Defense News

GA-ASI Completes Key Wind Tunnel Test on Sea Avenger UAS Model -- defpro

Joint High Speed Vessel: Great Potential, But Questions Remain -- National Defense

Pentagon F-35 chief sees no change in total buy -- Reuters

Defense comptroller: Military wants ‘80 to 100’ new bombers -- The Hill

EADS says it lowers price in final tanker proposal -- Reuters

USAF Could Award KC-X Contract by End of Feb.-- Defense News

Pentagon Ramps Up Funds for New Strategic Command HQ -- Global Security Newswire

Wanna Cut the Army? End the War First, Gates Says -- The Danger Room

Gates defends health-care fee increase for retirees -- Washington Post

Ban of NASCAR Military Sponsors Sought -- Military.com

Lawmakers: Must troops sue for voting rights? -- Army Times

U.S. Female veterans struggle in jobs market -- USA Today

Pentagon chiefs vow 'zero tolerance' on sex assaults -- AFP