June 22nd, 2010
05:24 PM ET
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Security Brief: U.S. indirectly funding Afghan insurgents

Portions of a taxpayer-funded $2.1 billion Pentagon contract to truck supplies to U.S. troops in Afghanistan are being indirectly paid to Afghan insurgents and corrupt public officials as protection money, a congressional investigation revealed.

The U.S military outsources much of the security for truck convoys carrying food, water, equipment, fuel and ammunition to remote and dangerous areas in Afghanistan, and those contractors hire local Afghans who pay bribes for safe passage, according to investigators. FULL POST

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Filed under: Security Brief
April 15th, 2010
06:51 PM ET
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China's mineral dominance prompts U.S. security concern

China's dominant position in the production of rare earth minerals has long-reaching implications for the U.S. Department of Defense, according to a recent government report.

The report from the Government Accountability Office was commissioned by Congress amid growing concerns that China's potential reduction of the supply of much-needed rare earth minerals could impact critical military uses.

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Filed under: China • National security
April 2nd, 2010
06:52 PM ET
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Unemployment on the rise for veterans of current wars

The unemployment rate for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars reached 14.7 percent in March, according to the latest government statistics.

The number of unemployed veterans increased to more than 250,000, up about 40,000 over the previous month's figures, according to the Department of Labor Statistics. Veterans groups say the figures are unacceptable.

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Filed under: Afghanistan • Iraq • Military • U.S. • Veterans • World