China says U.S. ship violated international law

A U.S. surveillance ship violated Chinese and international laws during patrols more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the Chinese coast over the weekend, China’s state-run media reported Tuesday. “China has lodged serious representations with the United States, as the USNS Impeccable conducted activities in China’s special economic zone in the South China Sea,” said Ma Zhaoxu, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.

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Commentary: Lifting image ban respects war dead

The reversal of two decades of policy on images of returning war casualties is an important and welcome milestone for the American people. NEWARK, Delaware (CNN) — The reversal of two decades of policy on images of returning war casualties is an important and welcome milestone for the American people.

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UK Pentagon hacker nears extradition to U.S.

British prosecutors said Thursday they will not seek charges against accused Pentagon hacker Gary McKinnon, which puts him one step closer to being extradited to the United States to face charges. The Crown Prosecution Service said its decision comes despite McKinnon’s admission that he broke the law and intentionally gained unauthorized access to computer systems

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Sources: Weapons, subsidies, loopholes among budget cuts

After promising the American people his team has already found $2 trillion in budget savings by scouring the federal budget, President Obama is planning to lay out some of the potential spending cuts in great detail when he unveils his first blueprint on Thursday, according to senior administration officials familiar with the budget plans. “My administration has also begun to go line by line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs,” Obama said Tuesday in a speech to a joint session of Congress.

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How a New Fleet of White House Choppers Spiraled Out of Control

One response of the Bush Administration to the attacks of 9/11 was to invade Iraq. Another was to order up a new fleet of hyper-secure helicopters to transport the commander-in-chief — out of concern that a president borne by the current generation of choppers could be cut off from the rest of the world.

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Policy review of war dead coverage nears end

A Pentagon review looking at allowing media coverage of the flag-draped coffins of fallen troops returning to the United States could be ready for the secretary of defense to look over within days, according to Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell. The review was ordered by Secretary Robert Gates after President Obama asked for more information on the Pentagon’s longstanding policy of barring media from viewing the coffins as they come into Dover Air Force base in Delaware

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Rights groups: Pentagon sought Geneva Convention loopholes

The Bush Pentagon tried to find loopholes in the Geneva Conventions for its "ghost detainee" program in Iraq and to delay the release of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to avoid bad press, three human rights groups contend. Pentagon documents discuss CIA and Pentagon detention activities earlier this decade and indicate coordination between agencies in hiding internees from the Red Cross.

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