Bipartisan House Passes Intel Bill On Eve Of 9/11 Anniversary

In a 384-14 vote, the House voted nearly unanimously Friday to pass legislation that keeps federal entities vital in the America’s national security efforts funded through FY2012 . 

Given that the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack on America is just two days awe, the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2012, originally introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), ensures agencies like the CIA, FBI, DEA, along with the Departments of State, Defense, Energy and Justice, among others, have the capabilities to operate and continue to keep the country protected from terror threats. 

“This bill makes smart choices that will help eliminate wasteful spending while still ensuring that our intelligence community personnel have all the tools they need to keep America safe,” Deomcratic Whip Steny Hoyer said in a statement. “As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and confront new threats to the homeland, we are reminded of the challenges we face and honor the brave men and women in the intelligence community who work around the clock to protect us.”

Aside from authorizing agencies vital to the nation’s national security, the bill would require officials to provide Congress with detailed information about the mission that ultimately ended in the death of Osama bin Laden. 

Obama Will Speak At Pentagon To Mark 9/11 Anniversary

The White House announced this morning that President Barack Obama will make remarks and participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon this Saturday to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The events will begin at 9:30 am…

Military Now Prohibited From Viewing WikiLeaks

It is being reported that all branches of the military have explicitly told staff not to access WikiLeaks, the controversial website that recently released classified documents about the war in Afghanistan.

A spokesman for the Pentagon told the Washington Times Thursday that the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have all ordered their staff to stay off the website. Additionally, the Times obtained a memo the Navy sent to employees saying, “There has been rumor that the information is no longer classified since it resides in the public domain. This is NOT true.”

- Sarah Mamula

Pentagon Press Secretary Defends Denial Of Rolling Stone Writer’s Embed Request

A Pentagon spokesperson Thursday defended a decision from coalition forces to deny a request from Michael Hastings, the free-lance journalist behind the Rolling Stone profile that cost former Afghan Commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal his job, to embed with U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

“Based upon his previous engagement with this command, he showed himself not to be trustworthy, not to be credible,” Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told reporters. “Therefore, they made a judgment that they were not going to partner with him again.”

Added Morrell, “It should come as no surprise to anybody if unit commanders in Afghanistan are apprehensive about doing work with this reporter in light of the previous experience this command had with this reporter.”