A soldier with the 1229th Transportation Company, Maryland Army National Guard, fires an M249 light machine gun during the unit’s annual training at Camp Dawson, West Virginia, on June 11, 2016. U.S. Army National Guard photo / Staff Sgt. Margaret Taylor
The Army Brief: Missing guns; Malpractice reform; 2002 AUMF bill; and more.
Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future.
Missing guns. The Army had at least 1,504 firearms lost, stolen, or missing over the last decade, with some later used in violent crimes, the Associated Press reports. The investigation found paperwork issues and discrepancies for securing and accounting for firearms.
Demand for answers. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., asked Army leaders at a Senate hearing to investigate the details of this story and bring back annual reporting to Congress on lost and stolen firearms.
New medical malpractice rules. Service members who want to file a medical malpractice claim against the military can now do so, Military.com reports. The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act repealed the Feres Doctrine, which had long prevented troops and their family members from filing claims.
Repealing the 2002 AUMF. A House bill to repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force in Iraq passed Thursday by a vote of 268 to 161, CBS News reports. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va, has a bill that would repeal the 1991 authorization for the Gulf War as well.
Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On this day 209 years ago, the War of 1812 began between the United States and Great Britain.
From Defense One
Biden’s Hair Should Be ‘On Fire’ Over Afghan Translators Being Left Behind, Senator Says // Jacqueline Feldscher: Sen. Angus King proposed solutions, such as sending Afghans to NATO allies temporarily, but said there’s not enough time for Congress to act.
NATO Members Agree to Broad Tech Agenda, Environmental Agenda // Patrick Tucker: A new tech accelerator and innovation fund comes with new commitments on cyber resilience and a collective look at emissions.
Russia, US Will Launch Arms Control Talks To Avoid ‘Accidental War’ // Jacqueline Feldscher: The agreement reached during the summit between President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin is “a positive first step,” according to one analyst.
How Biden Can Leverage Missile Defense in His Summit with Putin // John Tierney, Joe Cirincione: Putting it on the table would put the United States in the driver’s seat in strategic stability talks.