White House Reaches Agreement With Russia On START

President Barack Obama announced Friday that he will head to Prague on April 8 to sign a new arms control agreement with Russian President Dimitry Medvedev. The new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the U.S. and Russia is an attempt by the two nations to limit the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide.

"Since I took office, I’ve been committed to a “reset” of our relationship with Russia. When the United States and Russia can cooperate effectively, it advances the mutual interests of our two nations, and the security and prosperity of the wider world...Today, we have reached agreement on one of my administration’s top national security priorities -- a pivotal new arms control agreement," said Mr. Obama during brief remarks in the White House.

The President spoke via telephone with Medvedev shortly before the announcement. According to White House officials, the conversation marked the 14th meeting or phone call between the two leaders. Mr. Obama was joined in the briefing room by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen.

Under the new treaty, both nations would agree to cut their stock of nuclear warheads by 30 percent. Mrs. Clinton said the deal symbolized the ushering of a new era in relations between the U.S. and Russia.

“The START treaty, it says to our country the Cold War really is behind us and these massive nuclear arsenals that both of our countries maintained as part of deterrence no longer have to be so big."

Slight Changes Will Be Made On 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Changes to be implemented:

-- Only a general or flag officer may separate an enlisted member believed at the conclusion of an investigation to have engaged in homosexual conduct. Under previous policy, a colonel -- or for a captain in the Navy and Coast Guard – could order separation.

-- A revision in what’s needed to begin an inquiry or a separation proceeding. Information provided by a third party now must be given under oath, “discouraging the use of overheard statements and hearsay,” Gates said.

-- Certain categories of confidential information -- such as information provided to lawyers, clergy and psychotherapists -- no longer will be used in support of discharges. Information provided to medical personnel in furtherance of treatment, or to a public-health official in the course of seeing professional assistance for domestic or physical abuse also is excluded, as well as information obtained in the process of security-clearance investigations, in accordance with existing Pentagon policies.

U.S.-Pakistan Relationship Improving, Say Officials

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen met with Congress Wednesday to discuss a $549 billion DOD budget for FY 2011, and the U.S.'s relationship with Pakistan.

The budget request does not include an extra $159 billion to support Overseas Contingency Operations, primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a war supplemental of $33 billion this fiscal year to support the military's mission in Afghanistan.

During a hearing before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, Mullen said Afghanistan is becoming the “center of gravity” for U.S. forces, adding that the nation’s efforts will yield positive results in the coming months. Within months, Mullen said the number of American troops should decrease to 50,000, and the military’s role will shift from combative to an advise-and-assist role.

Both Mullen and Gates testified that Pakistan is becoming more cooperative with U.S. forces deployed in the area.

“There is a developing partnership or relationship with General [Stanley] McChrystal, in terms of coordinating what’s going on on both sides of that border, that I think represents a hugely salutary development,” Gates said.

Mullen added that improvement will not happen overnight, but the efforts of the Pakistani military show lasting promise.

“It is a matter of us building trust in the relationship,” Mullen said. “It’s coming back and we’ve had an impact on that border area and we will continue to do that.”

Progress In Marjah Steady, But Slower Than Expected, Reports Military Leader

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen conceded Monday that while steady progress is being made through the military offensive in the Afghan town Marjah, advancement is slower than expected.

"We need to be realistic about this operation," said Mullen during a press briefing with Defense Secretary Robert Gates. "It's going to take some time."

The offensive, which is in its second week, is part of a joint effort between U.S. and Afghanistan security forces to eradicate the heavy Taliban presence in the 72 square mile region.

Both Mullen and Gates denied that the pace in Majrah is an indicator that General Stanley McChrystal, who commands U.S. forces in the nation, will need to reevaluate the overall military strategy for the country.

DOD Requests $549 Billion From Congress

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen pleaded with Congress to approve a $549 billion DOD budget for FY2011 during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

But this request does not include an extra $159 billion to support Overseas Contingency Operations, primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as a $33 billion war supplemental to support the President’s new agenda in Afghanistan.

Mullen said that Afghanistan is becoming the “center of gravity” for U.S. forces and added that the nation’s efforts will yield positive results within the next 18 months. Mullen also said that in that time, the number of American soldiers should decrease to 50 thousand and the military’s role should shift from combat to an advise-and-assist role.

“Getting there will demand discipline and hard work,” Mullen said. “It will most assuredly demand more sacrifice and more bloodshed, but the stakes are far too high for failure.”

Both Mullen and Gates stressed the importance of balancing the dissemination of funding to a variety of DOD initiatives.

The $549 billion budget is said to support a wide array of new and continuing Armed Forces initiatives. The modernization and creation of new ground, sea and air combat vehicles are key investments in preparing the military for the future, Gates said.

According to Mullen, the budget will also secure nearly $9 billion to support military families and advocacy programs. This includes child care and youth programs, counseling for veterans, military spouse employment and $2.2 billion for wounded, ill, and injured soldiers.

“It’s about balance, it’s about deterring and winning the big and the small wars, the conventional and unconventional,” Mullen said. “But where balance is most needed is in the programs and policies of our most important resource, our people.”