DefenceTalkBudget pressures mean defense acquisition workers’ lives “are going to stay difficult for a while,” their chief told the workforce here this week, but he reminded them that they have a critical mission for the country. Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, visited here Sept. 3 to discuss the Pentagon’s Better […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-official-predicts-bleak-budget-picture-for-fiscal-2014-48965/

DefenceTalk“Will we be helping Syria? We will”, Vladimir Putin said at a press conference following the G20 summit in St. Petersburg on Friday. The US and other countries will put themselves outside the law if they launch a military operation in Syria, Putin added. “I presume that everything concerning the so-called use of chemical weapons […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-help-syria-in-case-of-external-military-strike-putin-48962/

DefenceTalkArab nations have offered to help pay for any US military intervention in Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry told lawmakers Wednesday as he sought support for missile strikes. “With respect to Arab countries offering to bear the cost and to assist, the answer is profoundly yes, they have. That offer is on the table,” […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-tells-us-it-needs-un-approval-for-syria-strike-48960/

DefenceTalkTurkey deployed tanks and anti-aircraft guns to reinforce its military units on the Syrian border, as the U.S. considers strikes against Syria. Convoys carrying tanks and rocket-launchers headed to border areas in Hatay, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa provinces today and yesterday, according to Hurriyet newspaper and Anatolia news agency. Tanks, missile launchers and anti-aircraft guns on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/turkey-reinforces-syria-border-as-erdogan-backs-us-attack-48948/

DefenceTalkBritish military officers will join the Prime Minister for talks later, to discuss the UK’s response to last week’s chemical weapons attack in Syria. The National Security Council, which also includes the Defence Secretary and intelligence chiefs, will meet at 12. David Cameron set out the options he is considering for action against Syria in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uk-sets-out-options-for-syria-action-48893/

DefenceTalkThe United States has announced a major increase in U.S. funding for military education and training programs in Southeast Asia. U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made the announcement Sunday during a speech at the Malaysian Institute of Defense and Security in Kuala Lumpur. He said the latest Pentagon budget includes $90 million for the programs, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-significantly-boosts-military-funding-for-southeast-asia-48882/

DefenceTalkMilitary action against the Syrian regime would be a “tragic mistake”, Russia said Sunday, warning the West not to preempt the results of a UN probe into alleged deadly chemical attacks. Moscow warned there was a danger of history repeating itself a decade after the US-led invasion of Iraq, which it opposed, and urged the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-warns-us-against-syria-military-action-48875/

DefenceTalkMental health problems in the military are on the rise and pose a growing challenge to active duty forces, the Congressional Research Service said in a major new report on the subject. “Between 2001 and 2011, the rate of mental health diagnoses among active duty service-members increased approximately 65%. A total of 936,283 service-members, or […]https://www.defencetalk.com/mental-health-problems-surge-in-the-military-crs-48873/

DefenceTalkThe People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China on Sunday called for better implementation of the country’s ambition for a strong military, according to a circular from the PLA’s General Political Department. The circular, which was approved by Central Military Commission (CMC) President Xi Jinping, urged enhanced construction of the political environment within the military via […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-stresses-goal-of-stronger-military-48868/

DefenceTalkRussia warned the United States on Sunday against repeating past mistakes, saying that any unilateral military action in Syria would undermine efforts for peace and have a devastating impact on the security situation in the Middle East. The Russian Foreign Ministry said its statement was a response to U.S. actions to give it the option […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-warns-us-not-to-repeat-in-syria-past-mistakes-in-region-48861/