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IAVA Daily Brief 02.26.09
Posted by Michelle McCarthy on February 26 2009

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA. MUST READS     (1) Obama to deliver address on Iraq Friday   President Obama will deliver a speech Friday at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina outlining “the way forward in Iraq” and his expected August 2010 deadline for pulling out U.S. combat troops.  "We're keeping a campaign commitment," Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview Wednesday when asked for details about the speech.   (2) Iraq Pullout Won't End US Combat Role   Pentagon officials clarified Wednesday that some of the up to 50,000 U.S. troops likely to remain in Iraq after President Barack Obama fulfills his pledge to withdraw combat forces will still have a combat role fighting suspected terrorists in the country.  Pentagon spokesman George Morrell said residual troops would have three primary functions: (1) training and helping Iraqi forces, (2) protecting Americans and U.S. assets in Iraq and (3) participating in limited counterterrorism operations in which Iraqi forces would take the lead.  "I think a limited number of those that remain will conduct combat operations against terrorists, assisting Iraqi security forces," Morrell said. "By and large you're talking about people who we would classify as enablers, support troops."   (2) Falling Revenues Threaten Rebuilding and Stability in Iraq   Economists and military officials are concerned that a decline in Iraqi government revenue – mainly from, plummeting oil revenues and American fiscal support amid the financial crisis- could reverse security gains made in the provinces.   According to new analysis, vital infrastructure projects are being put off as Iraq struggles to fund huge raises granted to government employees and meet payroll for some 609,000 Iraqi police officers.   AFGHANISTAN   Af-Pak coverage today focused on three-party talks between the U.S., Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as new polls showing that Americans overwhelmingly support President Obama’s plans to deploy more U.S. troops to the region.   U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet Thursday with the foreign ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan to discuss new U.S. strategies in the region, including an expected 17,000 troop surge in Afghanistan.  The meeting comes as a new ABC News/Washington Post poll shows nearly two-thirds of Americans support Barack Obama's decision to send 17,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan -- despite substantial skepticism on whether the war there has been worth fighting.  In an editorial Thursday, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger lays out why America cannot withdraw from Afghanistan.   IRAQ   Iraq coverage today largely focused on President Obama’s plans to drawdown U.S. combat forces in Iraq and concerns from policy experts that American presence in the region is necessary to maintain security gains.   In the first prosecution of an alleged Iraqi insurgent in a U.S. court, a Dutch national is expected to plead guilty Thursday to charges of planting roadside bombs to kill U.S. troops in Iraq.      Iraqi authorities on Wednesday launched a manhunt for an Iraqi politician, an ex-member of an elite Saddamist force, who was accused on Sunday of ordering an April 2007 bombing in the parliament's canteen that killed eight people.     Short of dismissing a 19-month withdrawal plan, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and other lawmakers cautioned Wednesday that security gains in Iraq could be lost if the new administration pulls troops out too quickly.  Based on their own analysis on the ground, Michael O’Hanlon and Kenneth Pollack of the Brookings Institution also argue that American involvement in Iraq will be crucial for several more years. Separately, officials are expressing concern that "giant gaps" in the Iraqi supply system, particularly a shortage of mechanics for Iraqi military vehicle maintenance and repairs, compounded by a lack of modern technology to track parts and services will jeopardize the Iraq military’s ability to hold security gains.   OTHER MILITARY NEWS   Military coverage today focused on new U.S. Army efforts to protect troops from IEDS and nontraditional warfare. For the first time since the Cold War, the U.S. Army will update its manual for the electronic battlefield — a move aimed at protecting soldiers against roadside bombs and other nontraditional warfare used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.   INSIDE WASHINGTON   Beltway coverage today focused on defense allocations in the 2010 fiscal budget.   President Obama is scheduled to unveil his fiscal 2010 budget overview on Thursday, allocating $537 billion for the Defense budget—a 5 percent increase from the 2009 spending plan.  According to sources, the administration is expected to seek $75.5 billion in supplemental funding to cover war operations for the rest of 2009.  In 2010, the administration is likely to seek $130 billion in supplemental funding to pay for Afghanistan and Iraq operations.   CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE   THE SENATE The Senate will convene at 9:30 a.m.   FLOOR ACTIVITY of  INTEREST No issues today.   THE HOUSE of  REPRESENTATIVES The House  will convene at 10:00 a.m.   FLOOR ACTIVITY of  INTEREST No issues today.   IAVA IN THE NEWS Media Outlet: Military.com Title: IAVA Not For GI Bill Recap Date: Wednesday, February 25th Representative: Paul Rieckhoff   Media Outlet: VA Pilot Title: IAVA Not For GI Bill Recap Date: Thursday, February 26th Representative: Paul Rieckhoff   WHAT THE BLOGS ARE SAYING Blog: VA Watchdog Title: UPDATE: IAVA SAYS NEWSPAPER STORY ABOUT "CAP" ON G.I. BILL WAS WRONG Date: Thursday, February 26th Representative: Paul Rieckhoff   Blog: Black Ops Unit Title: IAVA Not for GI Bill Cap Date: Thursday, February 26th Representative: IAVA   Blog: Physical Evaluation Board Forum Title: IAVA Not for GI Bill Cap Date: Thursday, February 26th Representative: IAVA