Petraeus: 'You Gotta Beat The Bad Guys To The Headlines'

General David Petraeus, Commander of the U.S Central Command, mentioned cooperation with the media as an essential part of the fight against terrorism and insurgencies. Petraeus explained that the U.S military should be the first to make a truthful announcement to the media before the terrorists or insurgents do, so as to prevent propaganda. (0:36)
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Analyst: China Key To Stopping North Korea

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

Celia Canon talks to Bruce Klingner, an analyst for the Heritage Foundation, about North Korea’s recent underground nuclear tests and what can be done to halt Pyong Yang’s recent acceleration in its technological developments and trials. Klingner insists that China will be pivotal is sanctioning and stopping North Korea’s nuclear program.

However, Klingner also warns that this will not be an easy task, but that the government needs to stop praising China for its efforts when it could really do much more to involve itself in the international community’s sanctions. (1:01)
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Troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan not necessarily correlated

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell says that the U.S. has global force commitments and that choices about troop levels are made considering all those commitments. He says that the military has the means to draw troops from locations beyond Iraq to increase force levels in Afghanistan, but does not comment on a time line. (1:13)
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DOD has "failed the war fighter"

At a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting to discuss the acquisition of major weapons systems by the Department of Defense, Katherine Schinasi of the Government Accountability Office says that the DOD has “failed the war fighter” by delivering capability late and in fewer quantities than planned. She also said that when equipment is delivered, it is not what is needed for current operations. (0:18)
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AFRICOM's intentions non-violent

Vice Admiral Robert Moeller, deputy to the commander for military operations for the United States African Command (AFRICOM,) says not only will AFRICOM analyze what it needs to do from a military standpoint to assist African partners, but it will also analyze what resources other US government agencies need to carry out their responsibilities to African states. (0:42)
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Military assets in the Middle East a reminder to Iran, not yet a threat

During a press briefing at the Pentagon, Defense Department spokesman Geoff Morrell says that the U.S. has more than enough assets in the Middle east to serve as a reminder to Iran of the U.S. military capability, as a part of pressure the American government hopes to put on Iran. (1:04)
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Murtha says U.S. army is "broken" and military readiness has declined

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) says that while U.S. troops once had the highest rate of readiness, they are no longer able to maintain this standard. He says the U.S. army is “broken,” and ill prepared to manage potential threats from countries like China and Russia. (1:36)
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Murtha says "there is a limit" to U.S. military power

Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) said at a Center for American Progress discussion on Iraq that the Bush Administration did not realize when it began the Iraq War that “there is a limit to military power,” and that the most important thing is to ultimately “win the hearts and minds of the people.” (0:21)
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PTSD is a "major health issue" for U.S. soldiers and veterans

At a RAND congressional briefing on the "invisible wounds of war," senior social research analyst and lead report author Terri Tanielian says that conditions like PTSD, depression, and TBI are a "major health issue" for U.S. soldiers and veterans. She says that the impact of mild TBI is still largely unknown, and stresses the need for better screening and treatment of those at risk for these conditions. (0:24)
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Turkish Minister of Defense Vecdi Gonul speaks about Turkish operations in Iraq

The Turkish military, using U.S. intelligence is conducing military operations in Iraq to target the PKK Kurdish militant group. During a joint press conference with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Minister Gonul speaks about the details of the Turkish operation. (0:42)
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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates speaks about relations between Turkey and Iraq

While traveling in Turkey Sec. Gates says that the U.S. hopes to establish better relations between Turkey and Iraq to target Kurdish militant groups while respecting Iraqi sovereignty. He gives an analogy to U.S. relations in Pakistan. (0:46)
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General Carter Ham speaks about Turkish military operations targeting Kurdish militant groups inside Iraq, during a press conference at the Pentagon

Gen. Carter Ham, director of operations for the Joint staff, spoke about how Turkish offensives into Iraq aimed at disabling Kurdish militant groups are coordinated with the U.S. military and the Iraqi government. (0:54)
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