Rapid Fire Oct. 23, 2012: Does Not Follow

Oct 23, 2012 10:50 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
  • The final debate between President Obama and Governor Romney (full video | transcript) showed relatively little differences between the two candidates on foreign policy. They agreed on a number of policy choices, from not sending US troops to Syria, to withdrawing from Afghanistan in 2014. Romney regrets that negotiations on renewing a status of forces agreement [PDF] with Iraq allowing the presence of US troops there eventually fell apart, a fact Obama seemed eager to brush aside. Yet the Obama-Biden 2008 platform stated that “a residual force will remain in Iraq” and “it is vital that a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) be reached.”
  • When the debate touched on the defense budget, President Obama said the sequester “will not happen.” He also rejected that counting how many ships there are in the US Navy is a relevant metric, in a weird twist of logic that suggests the US is the only country benefiting from technological advances. But quantity does matter, especially when you want to maintain a worldwide blue water footprint.

  • US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno on whether Gen. William Ward should be demoted following a scathing IG report on his use of public funds for private expenses: “I’ve never heard of a private getting fined a million dollars.” Well, General, neither have you ever heard of a private being in a position to spend tens of thousands of dollars on personal flights and hotel stays, or retiring on $236K a year.

  • The US Army’s number of exhibits at the AUSA tradeshow has dramatically dropped this year: Reuters | Defense News video.

  • US Defense Acquisition chief Frank Kandall asked DARPA to start thinking about the future of air dominance after the F-35. Memo [PDF] | Bloomberg.

  • The US Navy is dropping the Service Dress Khaki (SDK), an optional uniform introduced 4 years ago – but reminiscent of WWII designs – that could be worn during the summer. Chief of Naval Personnel | NAVADMIN.

  • France plans to move 2 UAVs from Afghanistan to conduct surveillance in northern Mali. Associated Press.

  • Invesco, a major shareholder in BAE Systems that expressed its displeasure with the company’s attempt to merge with EADS, wants BAE’s chairman to resign. Bloomberg.

  • India’s Future Infantry Combat Vehicle competition may be re-tendered. Business Standard.

    • Categories: BAE, Budgets, Daily Rapid Fire, DARPA, Fighters & Attack, India, Issues - Political, Middle East - Other, Scandals & Investigations, Soldier's Gear

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