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If reports in Russian state media last Friday are accurate, the world may be on the brink of seeing a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) race, though of a conventional type rather than the nuclear arms race of the Cold War.

According to a report by RIA Novosti, Moscow may be developing a heavy-liquid-fuel, non-nuclear, precision-guided payload capability for a new class of ICBMs, which would give Russia near-global coverage similar to that sought by the U.S. under the controversial “Prompt Global Strike” program.

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My Comment: This may surprise many Americans .... but as far as Russia is concerned (from what I read in their publications and news reports) .... there is a new arms race between the U.S. and Russia .... and Russia is determined to win it.

WASHINGTON — An independent inquiry into the attack on the United States diplomatic mission in Libya that killed four Americans on Sept. 11 sharply criticized the State Department for a lack of seasoned security personnel and for relying on untested local militias to safeguard the compound, according to a report by the panel made public on Tuesday night.

The investigation into the attacks on the diplomatic mission and the C.I.A. annex in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others also faulted State Department officials in Washington for ignoring requests from the American Embassy in Tripoli for more guards and safety upgrades to the mission.

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Review of Benghazi attack faults ‘grossly’ inadequate security, leadership failures -- Washington Post
Benghazi panel faults State Department for 'grossly inadequate' security arrangements -- Foreign Policy
State Faulted in Libya Attack -- Wall Street Journal
Report on Libya attack cites 'systemic failures' in security, confirms no protest -- FOX News
Report on Benghazi attack cites 'systemic failures' -- CNN
Inquiry harshly criticizes US State Dept. over Benghazi attack -- Reuters
Benghazi review finds systematic security faults -- USA Today
Benghazi report blames 'systemic failures' within State Department -- NBC
State Department Cited for Libya Security Failures -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Benghazi report: Systematic failures -- Politico
Benghazi review: 'Systemic failures' to blame -- Politico
State Department: Clinton not dodging Benghazi hearings -- CNN

My Comment: More questions are being raised than answered. No names are named .... and the report does not even mention what discipline actions are to be taken.

This is unbelievable.

As I have mentioned on many past posts .... someone has to be held accountable for this tragedy .... for the lack of action when the attack was taking place .... for the lies that were voiced to explain it later .... and for the obfuscation and insensitivity to explain to the families on why their loved ones died. Bottom line .... I expect people to be named and fired for failing to do their job.

And yes .... where is Hillary?

The U. S. defense community encompasses the best America has to offer: leadership, innovation, technology and vision. It’s a combination that has helped ensure the U.S. has fielded the best-trained, best-equipped military force in the world for nearly a century.

But the U.S. military does not exist in a vacuum. The world’s most powerful military operates under the civilian control of the president and his appointees and is funded through Congress; its size, shape and employment are determined by many influencers, both civilian and military. Some are elected; most are not. Some move in and out of government, alternating between stints in industry and think tanks, and others wield influence less visibly, sharing experience and wisdom behind closed doors.

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WNU Editor: The list starts here.

WASHINGTON — With Chuck Hagel, a former senator from Nebraska, emerging as a front-runner to be President Obama’s next secretary of defense, critics are taking aim at his record on Israel as well as remarks he made about pro-Israel lobbying groups in Washington.

Mr. Hagel, a Republican, has been skeptical about the efficacy of American sanctions against Iran, has opposed efforts to isolate militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and has spoken candidly about the influence of what he once referred to as the “Jewish lobby” on Capitol Hill.

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Chuck Hagel is not the right choice for defense secretary -- Washington Post editorial
GOP critics line up against Hagel -- Politico
Conservatives criticize potential Pentagon nominee Hagel -- USA Today
Sen. Ayotte ‘concerned’ about Chuck Hagel’s ‘prior positions with regard to Israel and Iran’ -- Daily Caller
Democrats speak out against Hagel as Flournoy’s star rises -- Washington Post
Neocons push against Chuck Hagel -- Dana Milbank, Washington Post
Foxman Calls Hagel Anti-Semitic, But Won't Oppose His Nomination -- Daily Beast
EXCLUSIVE: ADL pans possible Chuck Hagel pick -- Washington Post
Hagel Could Face Rough Ride to Confirmation -- Roll Call

My Comment: Neo-Conservatives are against him. Many Republicans oppose him. The Washington Post is critical of him. Jewish groups are hostile to his nomination. Democrats and liberals are not happy with this choice.

Hmmmm ..... is it too late for President Obama to not nominate him?

"You've got to be kidding me." That's how Secretary of Defense and former CIA Director Leon Panetta first responded when asked about David Petraeus's sudden and unceremonial departure from the CIA. The question was asked during an event Tuesday at the National Press Club. "As the former head of the CIA, please explain why Gen. Petraeus was forced to resign, rather than a lesser punishment," an unidentified audience member asked. As soon as the question was asked, Panetta laughed and said, "You've got to be kidding me." He continued: "In this town, with that kind of e-mail, do you think he could have survived as director of the CIA? I don't think so."

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My Comment: And Panetta is 100% right.

In a wide-ranging speech delivered at National Press Club in Washington on Dec. 18, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta presented a vision of the future that includes a very active role for the U.S. military in a post-Afghanistan world, even as the Pentagon shrinks its end strength and tightens its fiscal belt. Panetta—whose potential replacement may be announced as early as this week—said that the Pentagon has learned the lesson of past postwar draw-downs, “when deep across-the-board cuts hollowed out the force, and left the military demoralized and unready to carry out the missions assigned to it. Instead, we have set priorities and made tough decisions to build the force of the future,” he said.  

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Panetta cites budget woes, Afghan war progress -- AP
 ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Threatens Defense Strategy, Panetta Says -- US Department of Defense
Panetta: For sake of troops, Congress must act on "fiscal cliff" -- CBS
 Panetta Cites Budget Woes, Afghan War Progress -- ABC News
Panetta outlines busy future for military -- Air Force Times
DOD chief Panetta fires back at sequestration, outlines the future of a 'leaner, more efficient' fighting force -- al.com Panetta plays troop card to press DC on budget deal -- Foreign Policy
 Panetta: Military Will Still Be Able to Fight Multiple Wars -- National Defense
Panetta Cites Turning Point in Afghanistan -- Voice of America
Leon Panetta cites turning point in Afghanistan war -- Politico/AP
Panetta Promises Cuts to Military Brass -- Military.com
 Panetta: Troop pay may be on the table in future budget cuts -- Human Events

Although lawmakers have been moderating dire predictions, some small businesses are talking about layoffs if no deal on the fiscal cliff is reached. And some have already lost contracts.

Rodney Hudson’s 13-person business, QuickSilver Analytics, builds sampling kits for weapons of mass destruction, used by Air Force bases, the Coast Guard, and Special Operations Forces.

Even though the test kits are widely popular and his Abingdon, Md., company’s sales average $2 million to $3 million annually, Mr. Hudson is predicting a 15 percent slowdown in orders next year.

That’s due almost entirely, he says, to the threat of looming cuts known as sequestration, which would contract the US defense budget by $500 billion over the next decade if Congress doesn’t come to a “fiscal cliff” deal.

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My Comment: And what is distressing about this fiscal/debt crisis is that the fiscal cliff is only addressing a small part of the U.S. budget deficit. In short .... trillion dollar deficits are not sustainable .... and in this White House if given the choice of cutting entitlements or the Pentagon's budget, it is the Pentagon's budget that is going to be slashed. As for a business owner whose client is the Pentagon .... now is probably the time to get into something else.

PENTAGON — The part of the U.S. government set to be hurt the most if U.S. lawmakers and the White House don't reach a budget deal is the Defense Department, which is set to take about half the budget cuts. Discussions have been going on at the Pentagon on where the U.S. military will have to make nearly 10 percent reductions totaling $500 billion in the next decade.

The cuts are set to be massive, $50 billion a year for 10 years, and so are the consequences.

That's the warning from officials including the nation's top military officer, General Martin Dempsey.

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My Comment: If sequestration hits .... it would make the 2013 defense bill moot. And the consequences .... hard to imagine. But at this moment the only thing that is going through my mind is that while I do understand the political reasons on why the Democrats agreed to sequestration last year .... what I do not understand is why did the Republicans agreed to it also .... why did they believe that the Democrats would not put them in the position that they find themselves in today. In short .... what the hell were they thinking?