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<title><![CDATA[Wash Post Pentagon Procurement]]></title>
<!-- title><![CDATA[Wash Post Pentagon Procurement]]></title -->
<link><![CDATA[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/business/special/5/index.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5]]></link>
<description><![CDATA[The Defense Department's process for acquiring weapons and other equipment has been rocked by recent scandals and the scrutiny of the "revolving door" that can benefit former Pentagon officials.]]></description>
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<ttl>30</ttl>
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<title><![CDATA[ US role in Libya costs hundreds of millions so far ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/23/AR2011032300141.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:22:34 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
WASHINGTON -- Stretched thin by two wars, the U.S. military is spending upward of $1 billion in an international assault to destroy Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's air defenses and save rebels from likely defeat, according to analysts and a rough calculation of the military operation so far.
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</description>
<dc:creator>DONNA CASSATA</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[US]]></category><category><![CDATA[role]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Libya]]></category><category><![CDATA[costs]]></category><category><![CDATA[hundreds]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[millions]]></category><category><![CDATA[so]]></category><category><![CDATA[far]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Report criticizes defense agency's auditing ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/20/AR2011032003376.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:18:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Internal oversight of Defense Logistics Agency activity falls short.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Robert O'Harrow Jr.</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Report]]></category><category><![CDATA[criticizes]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[agency's]]></category><category><![CDATA[auditing]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ AP News in Brief ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/20/AR2011032003355.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Sun, 20 Mar 2011 18:19:50 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
-- Gadhafi vows 'long war' as US, allies pound his forces from air and sea
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</description>
<dc:creator>AP</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[AP]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Brief]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon overpaid oilman millions, audit finds ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/17/AR2011031704998.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:38:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
A Pentagon audit has found that the federal government overpaid a billionaire oilman by as much as $200 million on several military contracts worth nearly $2.7 billion.
<br clear="all">
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</description>
<dc:creator>Penn Bullock and Kimberly Kindy</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[overpaid]]></category><category><![CDATA[oilman]]></category><category><![CDATA[millions,]]></category><category><![CDATA[audit]]></category><category><![CDATA[finds]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Senate to send 3-week funding bill to Obama ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/17/AR2011031700166.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:18:10 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
WASHINGTON -- A divided Congress is about to send President Barack Obama a stopgap funding bill to keep the government open for three more weeks in hopes that budget talks between the White House and Republicans in charge of the House start to bear fruit.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>AP</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[send]]></category><category><![CDATA[3-week]]></category><category><![CDATA[funding]]></category><category><![CDATA[bill]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Tricare target of Pentagon cuts as health care projected to reach $65B ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/14/AR2011031404645.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:31:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Among government workers, one group enjoys lifetime health benefits virtually unmatched in the United States: military retirees.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Lisa Rein</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Tricare]]></category><category><![CDATA[target]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[as]]></category><category><![CDATA[health]]></category><category><![CDATA[care]]></category><category><![CDATA[projected]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[reach]]></category><category><![CDATA[$65B]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Tricare target of Pentagon cuts as health care projected to reach $65B ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/14/AR2011031405076.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:58:01 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Among government workers, one group enjoys lifetime health benefits virtually unmatched in the United States: military retirees.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Lisa Rein</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Tricare]]></category><category><![CDATA[target]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[as]]></category><category><![CDATA[health]]></category><category><![CDATA[care]]></category><category><![CDATA[projected]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[reach]]></category><category><![CDATA[$65B]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Now 'good enough' wins the defense contract ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/13/AR2011031304386.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:44:02 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Air Force's decision late last month to award the long-contested, $35 billion aerial refueling tanker program to Boeing ended a competition that had been fraught with controversy. But analysts say the decision may have sent another message to the contracting community: The government isn't ne...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Marjorie Censer</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Now]]></category><category><![CDATA['good]]></category><category><![CDATA[enough']]></category><category><![CDATA[wins]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[contract]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon cancer research budget comes under scrutiny ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/12/AR2011031203453.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:44:01 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
As the Pentagon seeks to trim spending, there are some programs Congress believes the military can't do without. Among them: cancer research.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Walter Pincus</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[cancer]]></category><category><![CDATA[research]]></category><category><![CDATA[budget]]></category><category><![CDATA[comes]]></category><category><![CDATA[under]]></category><category><![CDATA[scrutiny]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ U.S. defense leaders warn of no-fly-zone risks ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/01/AR2011030104406.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:18:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
U.S. defense leaders expressed caution Tuesday about military intervention in Libya, warning that enforcement of a no-fly zone would require scarce air assets, domestic political approval and international authorization.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Karen DeYoung and Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[U.S.]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[leaders]]></category><category><![CDATA[warn]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[no-fly-zone]]></category><category><![CDATA[risks]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Boeing wins $35 billion contract to supply new aerial refueling tankers ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022404699.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:42:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Pentagon awarded Boeing a $35 billion contract Thursday for a new-generation aerial refueling tanker, after a decade-long battle between the U.S.-based aircraft manufacturer and Europe's largest aerospace company.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Karen DeYoung and Walter Pincus</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Boeing]]></category><category><![CDATA[wins]]></category><category><![CDATA[$35]]></category><category><![CDATA[billion]]></category><category><![CDATA[contract]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[supply]]></category><category><![CDATA[new]]></category><category><![CDATA[aerial]]></category><category><![CDATA[refueling]]></category><category><![CDATA[tankers]]></category>
</item>
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<title><![CDATA[ Boeing wins $35 billion contract to supply new aerial refueling tankers ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407922.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/24/AR2011022407922.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 Feb 2011 21:46:01 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352834802" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352834802" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Post</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Boeing]]></category><category><![CDATA[wins]]></category><category><![CDATA[$35]]></category><category><![CDATA[billion]]></category><category><![CDATA[contract]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[supply]]></category><category><![CDATA[new]]></category><category><![CDATA[aerial]]></category><category><![CDATA[refueling]]></category><category><![CDATA[tankers]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Marines' amphibious vehicle program could end under House budget plan ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022004211.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022004211.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 23:34:01 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The House has approved legislation that could permit termination of the Marine Corps' multibillion-dollar amphibious Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, giving Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates a victory in his attempt to reduce Pentagon spending on costly or unneeded programs.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Walter Pincus</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Marines']]></category><category><![CDATA[amphibious]]></category><category><![CDATA[vehicle]]></category><category><![CDATA[program]]></category><category><![CDATA[could]]></category><category><![CDATA[end]]></category><category><![CDATA[under]]></category><category><![CDATA[House]]></category><category><![CDATA[budget]]></category><category><![CDATA[plan]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ The GOP's defense budget mystery ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/11/AR2011021105062.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/11/AR2011021105062.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Current defense spending cannot be defended until it is understood.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>George F. Will</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[The]]></category><category><![CDATA[GOP's]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[budget]]></category><category><![CDATA[mystery]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Defense officials warn of crisis unless Congress approves 2011 funding bill ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/12/AR2011021202850.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/12/AR2011021202850.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 12 Feb 2011 21:48:01 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
While the Obama administration is set to release its 2012 budget request Monday, Congress still has not approved a final 2011 budget for the military. Now the Pentagon is warning that it faces a crisis situation.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Walter Pincus</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[officials]]></category><category><![CDATA[warn]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[crisis]]></category><category><![CDATA[unless]]></category><category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category><category><![CDATA[approves]]></category><category><![CDATA[2011]]></category><category><![CDATA[funding]]></category><category><![CDATA[bill]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Gates says Pentagon faces spending 'crisis,' blames Congress for potential cuts ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012703769.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/27/AR2011012703769.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:40:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
OTTAWA -  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the Pentagon is facing a spending "crisis" and could be forced to make immediate cuts in training and operations because Congress has failed to approve a final budget for the military this year.
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352835048" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352835048" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Gates]]></category><category><![CDATA[says]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[faces]]></category><category><![CDATA[spending]]></category><category><![CDATA['crisis,']]></category><category><![CDATA[blames]]></category><category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[potential]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Lawmakers grill Pentagon officials on defense spending cuts ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/26/AR2011012604110.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/26/AR2011012604110.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:56:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
A day after President Obama pressed Congress for spending reductions in his State of the Union address , House Republicans and Democrats challenged some of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates's plans to cut $78 billion from the Pentagon budget over the next five years.
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</description>
<dc:creator>William Branigin and Walter Pincus</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Lawmakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[grill]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[officials]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[spending]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Ike was right: Defense spending must be cut ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012504783.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012504783.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
In this season of budget politics, defense spending must be cut.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>David Ignatius</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Ike]]></category><category><![CDATA[was]]></category><category><![CDATA[right:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[spending]]></category><category><![CDATA[must]]></category><category><![CDATA[be]]></category><category><![CDATA[cut]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ U.S. troop rollbacks may not stave off calls for more Pengaton cuts ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/09/AR2011010903630.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/09/AR2011010903630.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:53:01 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Pentagon's plan to shrink the size of the Army and Marine Corps for the first time in two decades is unlikely to stave off pressure to impose deeper cuts as U.S. troops pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan, according to defense officials and analysts.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[U.S.]]></category><category><![CDATA[troop]]></category><category><![CDATA[rollbacks]]></category><category><![CDATA[may]]></category><category><![CDATA[not]]></category><category><![CDATA[stave]]></category><category><![CDATA[off]]></category><category><![CDATA[calls]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[more]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pengaton]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category>
</item>
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<title><![CDATA[ Gates wants to drop $14 billion Marine landing-craft program ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010506374.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/05/AR2011010506374.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:54:01 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
A long-troubled $14 billion program to build a landing craft for the Marine Corps is destined for the chopping block, defense officials and analysts said Wednesday, part of $100 billion in savings that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has pledged to squeeze from the Pentagon's budget.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock and Greg Jaffe</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Gates]]></category><category><![CDATA[wants]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[drop]]></category><category><![CDATA[$14]]></category><category><![CDATA[billion]]></category><category><![CDATA[Marine]]></category><category><![CDATA[landing-craft]]></category><category><![CDATA[program]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ U.S.-funded infrastructure deteriorates once under Afghan control, report says ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/03/AR2011010302175.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/03/AR2011010302175.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:19:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Roads, canals and schools built in Afghanistan as part of a special U.S. military program are crumbling under Afghan stewardship, despite new steps imposed over the past year to ensure reconstruction money is not being wasted, according to government reports and interviews with military and civilian personnel.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Josh Boak</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[U.S.-funded]]></category><category><![CDATA[infrastructure]]></category><category><![CDATA[deteriorates]]></category><category><![CDATA[once]]></category><category><![CDATA[under]]></category><category><![CDATA[Afghan]]></category><category><![CDATA[control,]]></category><category><![CDATA[report]]></category><category><![CDATA[says]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Senate panel ban on stock for appointees but not itself seen as double standard ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121802499.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121802499.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:12:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Gordon R. England's appointment to a top Pentagon post in 2006 came at a high price. The Senate committee overseeing his confirmation demanded that he give up lucrative stocks and options he held in companies that do business with the military.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Scott Higham, Kimberly Kindy and Dan Keating</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category><category><![CDATA[panel]]></category><category><![CDATA[ban]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[stock]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[appointees]]></category><category><![CDATA[but]]></category><category><![CDATA[not]]></category><category><![CDATA[itself]]></category><category><![CDATA[seen]]></category><category><![CDATA[as]]></category><category><![CDATA[double]]></category><category><![CDATA[standard]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/12/19/PH2010121901819.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="152"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/12/19/PH2010121901823.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Consensus is forming on what steps to take in cutting the deficit ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/21/AR2010112103919.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/21/AR2010112103919.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:47:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
After an election dominated by vague demands for less debt and smaller government, the sacrifices necessary to achieve those goals are coming into sharp focus. Big cuts at the Pentagon. Higher taxes, including those on home ownership and health care. Smaller Social Security checks and higher Medi...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Lori Montgomery</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Consensus]]></category><category><![CDATA[is]]></category><category><![CDATA[forming]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[what]]></category><category><![CDATA[steps]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[take]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[cutting]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[deficit]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ National intelligence director says budget will be moved from Pentagon control ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110206813.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110206813.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:55:01 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
NEW ORLEANS - Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. said Tuesday that he has won a "conceptual agreement" to remove the $53 billion national intelligence budget from Pentagon control and place it under his purview by 2013, as part of an effort to enhance his authority over the U.S....
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</description>
<dc:creator>Ellen Nakashima</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[National]]></category><category><![CDATA[intelligence]]></category><category><![CDATA[director]]></category><category><![CDATA[says]]></category><category><![CDATA[budget]]></category><category><![CDATA[will]]></category><category><![CDATA[be]]></category><category><![CDATA[moved]]></category><category><![CDATA[from]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[control]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Auditors: Is US overselling diplomacy in Iraq? ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110204250.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/02/AR2010110204250.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:59:44 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration could be overstating what U.S. diplomats can do to contain Iraq's ethnic and sectarian tensions without U.S. military forces, a State Department audit concluded Tuesday, raising fresh concerns about the planned pullout of American troops next year.
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</description>
<dc:creator>ROBERT BURNS</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Auditors:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[US]]></category><category><![CDATA[overselling]]></category><category><![CDATA[diplomacy]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraq?]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/11/02/PH2010110205607.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="145"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/11/02/PH2010110205611.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon plans $60 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102006518.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102006518.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:58:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Defense Department has notified Congress that it wants to sell $60 billion worth of advanced aircraft and weapons to Saudi Arabia. The proposed sale, which includes helicopters, fighter jets, radar equipment and satellite-guided bombs, would be the largest arms deal to another country in U.S....
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[plans]]></category><category><![CDATA[$60]]></category><category><![CDATA[billion]]></category><category><![CDATA[weapons]]></category><category><![CDATA[sale]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Saudi]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arabia]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Britain announces major military cutbacks ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101904810.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/19/AR2010101904810.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
LONDON -  Washington's closest ally unveiled its deepest military cuts since the end of the Cold War, with a cash-strapped Britain announcing Tuesday that it will withdraw thousands of troops from continental Europe, decommission warships, mothball an entire class of fighter jets and delay upgrad...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Anthony Faiola</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Britain]]></category><category><![CDATA[announces]]></category><category><![CDATA[major]]></category><category><![CDATA[military]]></category><category><![CDATA[cutbacks]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon cuts are just a preview of what's to come ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/04/AR2010100406383.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/04/AR2010100406383.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 04 Oct 2010 22:58:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The bipartisan uproar in Congress caused by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates's attempt to reduce excess Pentagon spending by eliminating the no-longer-needed Joint Forces Command in Virginia is just a preview of the battle that will occur next year when the country awakens to the drastic measure...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Post</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[are]]></category><category><![CDATA[just]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[preview]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[what's]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[come]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ For many with stake in Alaska native corporations, promise of better life remains unfulfilled ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/29/AR2010092906318.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/29/AR2010092906318.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:53:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
When Congress established more than 200 Alaska native corporations 40 years ago to provide land and money for indigenous people who had long been mired in deprivation and dislocation, each of the 75,000 original Alaska native shareholders received a stake in one of the new corporations, which held out the promise of economic development and a better life. But the original promise remains largely unfulfilled.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Robert O'Harrow Jr. </dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[For]]></category><category><![CDATA[many]]></category><category><![CDATA[with]]></category><category><![CDATA[stake]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Alaska]]></category><category><![CDATA[native]]></category><category><![CDATA[corporations,]]></category><category><![CDATA[promise]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[better]]></category><category><![CDATA[life]]></category><category><![CDATA[remains]]></category><category><![CDATA[unfulfilled]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Good intentions aside, should the Pentagon fund cancer research? ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/27/AR2010092705813.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/27/AR2010092705813.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:53:01 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Top Pentagon officials are to appear before the Senate and House Armed Services committees Tuesday and Wednesday to support Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' ambitious effort to reduce Defense Department overhead by $100 billion in the next five years and to eliminate redundant spending.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Walter Pincus</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Good]]></category><category><![CDATA[intentions]]></category><category><![CDATA[aside,]]></category><category><![CDATA[should]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[fund]]></category><category><![CDATA[cancer]]></category><category><![CDATA[research?]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Is freedom's price too high for the right?  ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/23/AR2010092305493.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/23/AR2010092305493.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Is freedom's price too high for the right?
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</description>
<dc:creator>Danielle Pletka and Thomas Donnelly</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Is]]></category><category><![CDATA[freedom's]]></category><category><![CDATA[price]]></category><category><![CDATA[too]]></category><category><![CDATA[high]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[right?]]></category><category><![CDATA[]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Gates starts outlining cuts to save $100 billion for defense ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091403804.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/14/AR2010091403804.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:25:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Tuesday started laying out some details of his plans to save $100 billion over the next five years as he tries to run the Pentagon more efficiently.
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<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352837357" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352837357" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Gates]]></category><category><![CDATA[starts]]></category><category><![CDATA[outlining]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[save]]></category><category><![CDATA[$100]]></category><category><![CDATA[billion]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Defense cuts could slow D.C. economy for years ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/10/AR2010091007056.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/10/AR2010091007056.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 11 Sep 2010 03:29:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
After surging in size and profits during the post-9/11 era, the defense industry in metropolitan Washington is bracing for a major contraction and significant layoffs that economists said could produce a drag on the regional economy for years.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Marjorie Censer and Peter Whoriskey</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[could]]></category><category><![CDATA[slow]]></category><category><![CDATA[D.C.]]></category><category><![CDATA[economy]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[years]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ One-quarter of Lockheed Martin executives take buyout offer ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/08/AR2010090806981.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/08/AR2010090806981.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:21:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Bethesda-based contracting giant Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday that more than 600 executives have taken the company up on an early-exit program that provides financial incentives in exchange for leaving.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Marjorie Censer</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[One-quarter]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lockheed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Martin]]></category><category><![CDATA[executives]]></category><category><![CDATA[take]]></category><category><![CDATA[buyout]]></category><category><![CDATA[offer]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/09/08/PH2010090806983.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="295"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/09/08/PH2010090806992.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ One-quarter of Lockheed Martin executives take buyout offer ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/08/AR2010090804316.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/08/AR2010090804316.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:24:01 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Bethesda-based contracting giant Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday that more than 600 executives have taken the company up on an early-exit program that provides financial incentives in exchange for leaving.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Marjorie Censer</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[One-quarter]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lockheed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Martin]]></category><category><![CDATA[executives]]></category><category><![CDATA[take]]></category><category><![CDATA[buyout]]></category><category><![CDATA[offer]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/11/16/PH2009111603641.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="119"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/11/16/PH2009111603645.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
</media:group>
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<title><![CDATA[ Veterans groups and lawmakers suggest that VA take over Arlington Cemetery ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/22/AR2010082202686.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/22/AR2010082202686.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Veterans groups and members of Congress are questioning whether management of Arlington National Cemetery should be transferred from the Army to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352839136" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352839136" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Christian Davenport</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Veterans]]></category><category><![CDATA[groups]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[lawmakers]]></category><category><![CDATA[suggest]]></category><category><![CDATA[that]]></category><category><![CDATA[VA]]></category><category><![CDATA[take]]></category><category><![CDATA[over]]></category><category><![CDATA[Arlington]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cemetery]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/08/22/PH2010082203035.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="127"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/08/22/PH2010082203039.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
</media:group>
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<title><![CDATA[ Gates's lonely battle to rationalize the Pentagon ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/15/AR2010081502291.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/15/AR2010081502291.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Republicans should heed Robert Gates's latest efforts at reforming the Pentagon.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Fareed Zakaria</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Gates's]]></category><category><![CDATA[lonely]]></category><category><![CDATA[battle]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[rationalize]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ State Dept. faces skyrocketing costs as it prepares to expand role in Iraq ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/10/AR2010081006407.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/10/AR2010081006407.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
As the last U.S. combat troops prepare to leave Iraq this month, the State Department is struggling to implement an expanded mission that it has belatedly realized it might not be able to afford.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Karen DeYoung and Ernesto Londoño</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[State]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dept.]]></category><category><![CDATA[faces]]></category><category><![CDATA[skyrocketing]]></category><category><![CDATA[costs]]></category><category><![CDATA[as]]></category><category><![CDATA[it]]></category><category><![CDATA[prepares]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[expand]]></category><category><![CDATA[role]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraq]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Defense secretary's planned cuts upset investors and defense contractors ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/10/AR2010081006290.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/10/AR2010081006290.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The stock prices of several major government contractors fell Tuesday, a day after Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he planned to cut spending at the Pentagon.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[secretary's]]></category><category><![CDATA[planned]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[upset]]></category><category><![CDATA[investors]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[contractors]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/08/10/PH2010081006291.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="152"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/08/10/PH2010081006295.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ U.S. commander stresses importance of funding Iraq security forces ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/10/AR2010081002717.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/10/AR2010081002717.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
BAGHDAD -- The outgoing commander of U.S. forces in Iraq said Tuesday that Iraqi security forces will continue to rely heavily on American funding as the U.S. troop drawdown accelerates, forcing them to take on more responsibility.
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<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352839637" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352839637" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Ernesto Londoño</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[U.S.]]></category><category><![CDATA[commander]]></category><category><![CDATA[stresses]]></category><category><![CDATA[importance]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[funding]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraq]]></category><category><![CDATA[security]]></category><category><![CDATA[forces]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon to cut thousands of jobs, defense secretary says ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/09/AR2010080904903.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/09/AR2010080904903.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Monday that the Pentagon will cut thousands of jobs, including a substantial chunk of its private contractors and a major military command based in Norfolk, as part of an ongoing effort to streamline its operations and to stave off political pressure to slas...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[cut]]></category><category><![CDATA[thousands]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[jobs,]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[secretary]]></category><category><![CDATA[says]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/08/09/PH2010080906124.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="144"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/08/09/PH2010080906128.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Virginia stands to feel the most pain from defense cuts ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/09/AR2010080906083.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/09/AR2010080906083.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
RICHMOND  -- Virginia officials reacted with bipartisan dismay on Monday to Defense Department budget shifts that will cost the state thousands of jobs in coming years and will dramatically impact the economies of the Norfolk area and Northern Virginia.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Rosalind S. Helderman</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Virginia]]></category><category><![CDATA[stands]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[feel]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[most]]></category><category><![CDATA[pain]]></category><category><![CDATA[from]]></category><category><![CDATA[defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Navy poised to pick builder of new Littoral Combat Ship this summer ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/03/AR2010080306332.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/03/AR2010080306332.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Navy plans to pick a winner this summer in the contest to build a new high-speed warship that can prowl close to shorelines, a vital part of future military strategy. But whether the service can live up to its promises to build an inexpensive ship that can do a variety of missions remains a b...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category><category><![CDATA[poised]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[pick]]></category><category><![CDATA[builder]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[new]]></category><category><![CDATA[Littoral]]></category><category><![CDATA[Combat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ship]]></category><category><![CDATA[this]]></category><category><![CDATA[summer]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Navy poised to pick builder of new Littoral Combat Ship this summer ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/02/AR2010080202619.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/02/AR2010080202619.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:55:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Navy plans to pick a winner this summer in the contest to build a new high-speed warship that can prowl close to shorelines as a vital part of future military strategy. But whether the service can live up to its promises to build an inexpensive ship that can do a variety of missions remains a...
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<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352840450" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352840450" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth </dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Navy]]></category><category><![CDATA[poised]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[pick]]></category><category><![CDATA[builder]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[new]]></category><category><![CDATA[Littoral]]></category><category><![CDATA[Combat]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ship]]></category><category><![CDATA[this]]></category><category><![CDATA[summer]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Lockheed wins $9 billion deal to supply fighter jets to Canada ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/16/AR2010071606037.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/16/AR2010071606037.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Bethesda defense giant Lockheed Martin said Friday that it secured a roughly $9 billion deal to sell the Canadian government 65 of its new fighter jets, a move that industry analysts called a positive sign for one of the company's biggest and most closely watched programs.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Lockheed]]></category><category><![CDATA[wins]]></category><category><![CDATA[$9]]></category><category><![CDATA[billion]]></category><category><![CDATA[deal]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[supply]]></category><category><![CDATA[fighter]]></category><category><![CDATA[jets]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Canada]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ In war-funding vote, Democrats cast doubts on Obama's Afghan policy ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/01/AR2010070104373.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/01/AR2010070104373.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 02 Jul 2010 02:11:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Democrats in the House begrudgingly approved an additional $37 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on Thursday, as a growing number of members of President Obama's own party cast doubts about his strategy in Afghanistan.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Perry Bacon Jr.</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[In]]></category><category><![CDATA[war-funding]]></category><category><![CDATA[vote,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Democrats]]></category><category><![CDATA[cast]]></category><category><![CDATA[doubts]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Obama's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Afghan]]></category><category><![CDATA[policy]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon looks for 100 billion in cost savings ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062805053.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/28/AR2010062805053.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Pentagon officials said Monday that they plan to try to cut as much as $100 billion over the next five years out of the billions of dollars spent annually in buying weapons systems and other services from outside contractors.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[looks]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[100]]></category><category><![CDATA[billion]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[cost]]></category><category><![CDATA[savings]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/06/28/PH2010062805054.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="283"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/06/28/PH2010062805058.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ U.S. military criticized for purchase of Russian copters for Afghan air corps ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/18/AR2010061805630.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/18/AR2010061805630.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The U.S. government is snapping up Russian-made helicopters to form the core of Afghanistan's fledgling air force, a strategy that is drawing flak from members of Congress who want to force the Afghans to fly American choppers instead.
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352841027" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352841027" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[U.S.]]></category><category><![CDATA[military]]></category><category><![CDATA[criticized]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[purchase]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Russian]]></category><category><![CDATA[copters]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Afghan]]></category><category><![CDATA[air]]></category><category><![CDATA[corps]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ NATO allies poised to slash military budgets; Gates urges other cost savings ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/08/AR2010060804299.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/08/AR2010060804299.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
LONDON -- European allies are bracing for their deepest cuts in military spending since the end of the Cold War, fueling concerns in Washington that an already wide gap in military power between the United States and the rest of NATO will grow.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[NATO]]></category><category><![CDATA[allies]]></category><category><![CDATA[poised]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[slash]]></category><category><![CDATA[military]]></category><category><![CDATA[budgets;]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gates]]></category><category><![CDATA[urges]]></category><category><![CDATA[other]]></category><category><![CDATA[cost]]></category><category><![CDATA[savings]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Gates: Cuts in Pentagon bureaucracy needed to help maintain military force ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/08/AR2010050802495.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/08/AR2010050802495.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 09 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
ABILENE, KAN. -- Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates vowed Saturday to lead an effort to cut as much as $15 billion in overhead costs from the Pentagon's $550 billion budget and warned that without the savings, the military will not be able to afford its current force.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Greg Jaffe</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Gates:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[bureaucracy]]></category><category><![CDATA[needed]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[help]]></category><category><![CDATA[maintain]]></category><category><![CDATA[military]]></category><category><![CDATA[force]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/05/08/PH2010050803279.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="148"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/05/08/PH2010050803283.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon asking Congress to hold back on generous increases in troop pay ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050703188.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050703188.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 08 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Previously unreported internal Ford documents conflict with the finding that only tires were to blame and call into question federal agency's decision not to open a full investigation into Explorer accidents.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[asking]]></category><category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[hold]]></category><category><![CDATA[back]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[generous]]></category><category><![CDATA[increases]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[troop]]></category><category><![CDATA[pay]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon asking Congress to hold back on generous increases in troop pay ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050703054.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/07/AR2010050703054.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 08 May 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Pentagon, not usually known for its frugality, is pleading with Congress to stop spending so much money on the troops.
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352841401" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352841401" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[asking]]></category><category><![CDATA[Congress]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[hold]]></category><category><![CDATA[back]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[generous]]></category><category><![CDATA[increases]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[troop]]></category><category><![CDATA[pay]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon planning more oversight of war-zone contractors ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/19/AR2010041902162.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/19/AR2010041902162.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Defense Department said Monday that it plans to improve oversight of contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq by hiring more contracting specialists and providing additional training to government employees who supervise work performed by outside firms.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[planning]]></category><category><![CDATA[more]]></category><category><![CDATA[oversight]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[war-zone]]></category><category><![CDATA[contractors]]></category>
</item>
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<title><![CDATA[ GAO analyst says cost overruns, delays continue to plague F-35 program ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031102462.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/11/AR2010031102462.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
A congressional auditor said Thursday that the Joint Strike Fighter, the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program, "continues to struggle with increased costs and slowed progress," leading to "substantial risk" that the defense contractor will not be able to build the jet on time or deliver as many...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[GAO]]></category><category><![CDATA[analyst]]></category><category><![CDATA[says]]></category><category><![CDATA[cost]]></category><category><![CDATA[overruns,]]></category><category><![CDATA[delays]]></category><category><![CDATA[continue]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[plague]]></category><category><![CDATA[F-35]]></category><category><![CDATA[program]]></category>
</item>
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<title><![CDATA[ Northrop halts pursuit of tanker contract ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/08/AR2010030802463.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/08/AR2010030802463.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Defense giant Northrop Grumman said Monday that it is pulling out of the $40 billion competition to build aerial refueling tankers for the Air Force, a move that defense analysts and procurement specialists say leaves its rival Boeing as the likely winner.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Northrop]]></category><category><![CDATA[halts]]></category><category><![CDATA[pursuit]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[tanker]]></category><category><![CDATA[contract]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/03/08/PH2010030804970.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="165"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/03/08/PH2010030804984.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Obama 2011 budget request: Defense Department ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020101795.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020101795.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:17:57 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Pentagon will get a 3.4 percent boost to its regular budget plus extra money for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the Obama administration's spending plans for 2011.
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352841741" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352841741" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category><category><![CDATA[2011]]></category><category><![CDATA[budget]]></category><category><![CDATA[request:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[Department]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Draft Defense Department budget avoids weapons cuts, adds aircraft ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012904235.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012904235.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Obama administration's 2011 defense budget avoids the controversial weapons cuts of last year, according to a draft copy, and continues to shift modest amounts of money to weapons programs such as helicopters, unmanned planes and Special Operations units that are in heavy use Afghanistan and...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Greg Jaffe and Craig Whitlock</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Draft]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[Department]]></category><category><![CDATA[budget]]></category><category><![CDATA[avoids]]></category><category><![CDATA[weapons]]></category><category><![CDATA[cuts,]]></category><category><![CDATA[adds]]></category><category><![CDATA[aircraft]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Lockheed Martin to cut 1,200 jobs as Pentagon work slows ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/06/AR2010010604544.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/06/AR2010010604544.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin of Bethesda said that it plans to cut 1,200 employees by the spring as it consolidates two of its business units and that it foresees a slowdown in its upcoming work from the Pentagon.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Lockheed]]></category><category><![CDATA[Martin]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[cut]]></category><category><![CDATA[1,200]]></category><category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category><category><![CDATA[as]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[work]]></category><category><![CDATA[slows]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/01/06/PH2010010604700.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="146"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2010/01/06/PH2010010604704.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon contract saves jobs at Wisconsin truckmaker Oshkosh Corp. ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/18/AR2009121804342.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/18/AR2009121804342.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
OSHKOSH, WIS. --  Just as the recession was threatening the Oshkosh Corp. with ruin, after builders stopped ordering drywall lifters and cement mixers, and cities stopped buying fire engines and garbage trucks, the little-known specialty truck company went after a long-shot Pentagon contract.
]]>
</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[contract]]></category><category><![CDATA[saves]]></category><category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category><category><![CDATA[at]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wisconsin]]></category><category><![CDATA[truckmaker]]></category><category><![CDATA[Oshkosh]]></category><category><![CDATA[Corp.]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/12/18/PH2009121804343.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="132"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/12/18/PH2009121804347.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Army contractor in Iraq is warned to cut workforce ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/02/AR2009110203730.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/02/AR2009110203730.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Army's primary support contractor in Iraq has been warned by Pentagon auditors to cut its workforce there or face nearly $200 million in penalties for keeping thousands too many on the payroll.
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<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352842286" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352842286" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Richard Lardner</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Army]]></category><category><![CDATA[contractor]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraq]]></category><category><![CDATA[is]]></category><category><![CDATA[warned]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[cut]]></category><category><![CDATA[workforce]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/11/02/PH2009110203731.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="192"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/11/02/PH2009110203735.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
</media:group>
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<title><![CDATA[ Audit finds that Iraq contractor overcharged for repair parts ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102904437.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/29/AR2009102904437.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
A defense contractor that supplied vehicle parts for the Iraqi army sought reimbursements from the U.S. military far in excess of the cost of the items, according to a new report by the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Walter Pincus</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Audit]]></category><category><![CDATA[finds]]></category><category><![CDATA[that]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraq]]></category><category><![CDATA[contractor]]></category><category><![CDATA[overcharged]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[repair]]></category><category><![CDATA[parts]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Washington Sketch: Defense spending bill is exercise in waste on want-not ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/28/AR2009102804175.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/28/AR2009102804175.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Not quite three weeks ago, President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize. On Wednesday afternoon, he put his signature on the largest military spending plan in the history of the world.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Milbank</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Washington]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sketch:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[spending]]></category><category><![CDATA[bill]]></category><category><![CDATA[is]]></category><category><![CDATA[exercise]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[waste]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[want-not]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Shelving of Missile Defense Reflected Military's Concerns ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR2009092002532.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR2009092002532.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Call it another revolt of the generals. More than 13 years ago, the nation's military leaders told civilian defense officials they wanted to limit spending on missile defenses and to emphasize the protection of forces deployed overseas over defense of the American homeland against a long-range mi...
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</description>
<dc:creator>R. Jeffrey Smith</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Shelving]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Missile]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[Reflected]]></category><category><![CDATA[Military's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Concerns]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Obama Defends Afghanistan Policy Before Veterans ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/17/AR2009081700300.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/17/AR2009081700300.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
PHOENIX, Aug. 17 -- President Obama on Monday defended his administration's new approach to the fierce fighting that rages in Afghanistan, calling it "not only a war worth fighting" but also one that "is fundamental to the defense of our people."
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352842636" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352842636" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Michael D. Shear</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defends]]></category><category><![CDATA[Afghanistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Policy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Before]]></category><category><![CDATA[Veterans]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ A $191 Million Question ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/06/AR2009080603918.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/06/AR2009080603918.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
He called her Princess. She called him Bubba. They got together whenever they could, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, traveling to business conferences, taking long walks. They exchanged e-mails night and day.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Robert O'Harrow Jr.</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[A]]></category><category><![CDATA[$191]]></category><category><![CDATA[Million]]></category><category><![CDATA[Question]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/08/07/PH2009080701112.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="193"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/08/07/PH2009080701116.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Despite Obama's Objections, House Appropriators Seem Intent on Earmarks ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/29/AR2009072902676.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/29/AR2009072902676.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Democratic-controlled House is poised to give the Pentagon dozens of new ships, planes, helicopters and armored vehicles that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates says the military does not need to fund next year, acting in many cases in response to defense industry pressures and campaign...
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</description>
<dc:creator>R. Jeffrey Smith</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Despite]]></category><category><![CDATA[Obama's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Objections,]]></category><category><![CDATA[House]]></category><category><![CDATA[Appropriators]]></category><category><![CDATA[Seem]]></category><category><![CDATA[Intent]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Earmarks]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Senate Votes to End Production of Controversial F-22 Fighter ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072100135.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/21/AR2009072100135.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Senate voted Tuesday to kill the nation's premier fighter-jet program, embracing by a 58 to 40 margin the argument of President Obama and his top military advisers that more F-22s are not needed for the nation's defense and would be a costly drag on the Pentagon's budget in an era of small wars...
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</description>
<dc:creator>R. Jeffrey Smith</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category><category><![CDATA[Votes]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[End]]></category><category><![CDATA[Production]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Controversial]]></category><category><![CDATA[F-22]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fighter]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/07/21/PH2009072100249.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="292"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/07/21/PH2009072100253.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ High-Priced F-22 Fighter Has Major Shortcomings ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR2009070903020.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/09/AR2009070903020.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The United States' top fighter jet, the Lockheed Martin F-22, has recently required more than 30 hours of maintenance for every hour in the skies, pushing its hourly cost of flying to more than $44,000, a far higher figure than for the warplane it replaces, confidential Pentagon test results show.
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352844458" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352844458" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>R. Jeffrey Smith</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[High-Priced]]></category><category><![CDATA[F-22]]></category><category><![CDATA[Fighter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Has]]></category><category><![CDATA[Major]]></category><category><![CDATA[Shortcomings]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/07/09/PH2009070903089.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="154"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/07/09/PH2009070903093.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ At General Dynamics, Chief Leaves a Legacy Of Nailing the Numbers ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/21/AR2009062101831.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/21/AR2009062101831.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
When Nicholas D. Chabraja, a former Chicago trial lawyer, took over running General Dynamics 12 years ago, the giant defense contractor had $4 billion in sales, 29,000 employees and pretty simple businesses -- one made tanks, another made nuclear submarines.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Dana Hedgpeth</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[At]]></category><category><![CDATA[General]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dynamics,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Chief]]></category><category><![CDATA[Leaves]]></category><category><![CDATA[a]]></category><category><![CDATA[Legacy]]></category><category><![CDATA[Of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Nailing]]></category><category><![CDATA[the]]></category><category><![CDATA[Numbers]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Demise of Helicopter Program Means Hundreds of Jobs Lost in Owego, N.Y. ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/20/AR2009062001729.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/20/AR2009062001729.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
OWEGO, N.Y. -- When the U.S. military announced in 2005 that it would commission the next generation of presidential helicopters to be built here, this hard-luck area in New York's industrial Southern Tier rejoiced.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Philip Rucker</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Demise]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Helicopter]]></category><category><![CDATA[Program]]></category><category><![CDATA[Means]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hundreds]]></category><category><![CDATA[of]]></category><category><![CDATA[Jobs]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lost]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Owego,]]></category><category><![CDATA[N.Y.]]></category>
<media:group>
<media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/20/PH2009062001730.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="228" width="106"/><media:content url="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2009/06/20/PH2009062001734.jpg" type="image/jpeg" height="80" width="72"/>
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<title><![CDATA[ Senate Approves War Funding Bill After Obama Presses Democrats ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061804094.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061804094.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
A war funding bill passed the Senate overwhelmingly yesterday, but the 91 to 5 vote came after a fractured process that included objections from Republicans and Democrats alike, and required President Obama to intervene repeatedly to lobby members of his own party for his foreign policy vision.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Perry Bacon Jr.</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category><category><![CDATA[Approves]]></category><category><![CDATA[War]]></category><category><![CDATA[Funding]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill]]></category><category><![CDATA[After]]></category><category><![CDATA[Obama]]></category><category><![CDATA[Presses]]></category><category><![CDATA[Democrats]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Obama's Pentagon Budget: Not Enough for Defense ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/09/AR2009060902647.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/09/AR2009060902647.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The president must set more defense money aside to support national security.
<br clear="all">
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352846103" target="_blank"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/wpni.rss/business/special/5;pos=ad9;tile=9;ad=rss;sz=479x40;ord=132352846103" border="0" vspace="5"></a>
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</description>
<dc:creator>Michael O'Hanlon</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Obama's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Budget:]]></category><category><![CDATA[Not]]></category><category><![CDATA[Enough]]></category><category><![CDATA[for]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Lower Oil Prices Lead Iraqi Security Forces to Cut Payrolls, Halt Key Purchases ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051903259.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051903259.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
BAGHDAD -- Reeling from a sharp drop in oil prices, Iraq's security forces are trimming bloated payrolls and will be unable to purchase ships and aircraft that Iraqi officials had hoped would allow the country to develop a basic ability to fend off external threats by 2012, the United States'...
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</description>
<dc:creator>Ernesto Londoño</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Lower]]></category><category><![CDATA[Oil]]></category><category><![CDATA[Prices]]></category><category><![CDATA[Lead]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraqi]]></category><category><![CDATA[Security]]></category><category><![CDATA[Forces]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cut]]></category><category><![CDATA[Payrolls,]]></category><category><![CDATA[Halt]]></category><category><![CDATA[Key]]></category><category><![CDATA[Purchases]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon's Gates Keeps Single-Minded Focus on Dual Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/14/AR2009051404450.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/14/AR2009051404450.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
On a rainy night in March, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates traveled to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to witness the military's ritual for welcoming home its war dead.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Greg Jaffe</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gates]]></category><category><![CDATA[Keeps]]></category><category><![CDATA[Single-Minded]]></category><category><![CDATA[Focus]]></category><category><![CDATA[on]]></category><category><![CDATA[Dual]]></category><category><![CDATA[Wars]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraq]]></category><category><![CDATA[and]]></category><category><![CDATA[Afghanistan]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ White House Proposes Cuts in Military Recruiting Budget ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002172.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Citing the Pentagon's recent success in meeting its manpower needs, the Obama administration is proposing to cut the Defense Department's budget for recruiting by nearly $800 million, or 11 percent, for 2010.
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<dc:creator>Steve Vogel</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[White]]></category><category><![CDATA[House]]></category><category><![CDATA[Proposes]]></category><category><![CDATA[Cuts]]></category><category><![CDATA[in]]></category><category><![CDATA[Military]]></category><category><![CDATA[Recruiting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Pentagon Budget Devotes More To Afghanistan War Than to Iraq ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/07/AR2009050704239.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
Afghanistan war funding surpasses the outlay for Iraq for the first time in next year's proposed Pentagon budget, demonstrating a shift in priorities that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates seeks to execute in defense spending.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Ann Scott Tyson</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Pentagon]]></category><category><![CDATA[Budget]]></category><category><![CDATA[Devotes]]></category><category><![CDATA[More]]></category><category><![CDATA[To]]></category><category><![CDATA[Afghanistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[War]]></category><category><![CDATA[Than]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Iraq]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Senate Approves Bill to Overhaul Defense Procurement ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/07/AR2009050702549.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
The Senate unanimously approved legislation yesterday to overhaul Pentagon procurement practices in an effort to prevent billions of dollars in cost overruns and block misspending on weapons that do not meet pressing military needs.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Shailagh Murray and R. Jeffrey Smith</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Senate]]></category><category><![CDATA[Approves]]></category><category><![CDATA[Bill]]></category><category><![CDATA[to]]></category><category><![CDATA[Overhaul]]></category><category><![CDATA[Defense]]></category><category><![CDATA[Procurement]]></category>
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<title><![CDATA[ Democrats Assail Obama's Hit List ]]></title>
<link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/07/AR2009050702001.html?wprss=rss_business/special/5</link>
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<pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT</pubDate>
<description>
<![CDATA[
President Obama's modest proposal to slice $17 billion from 121 government programs quickly ran into a buzz saw of opposition on Capitol Hill yesterday, as an array of Democratic lawmakers vowed to fight White House efforts to deprive their favorite initiatives of federal funds.
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</description>
<dc:creator>Lori Montgomery and Amy Goldstein</dc:creator>
<category><![CDATA[Democrats]]></category><category><![CDATA[Assail]]></category><category><![CDATA[Obama's]]></category><category><![CDATA[Hit]]></category><category><![CDATA[List]]></category>
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