

AFP - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that American forces were prepared to stay in any role beyond a scheduled pullout late this year, but time was running out for Iraq to ask.

AP - A Navy petty officer who was investigated for violating the military’s ban on openly gay servicemembers says a review board at his California base has voted against his discharge.

AP - The U.S. military is too white and too male at the top and needs to change recruiting and promotion policies and lift its ban on women in combat, an independent report for Congress said Monday.

AP - The U.S. military is too white and too male at the top and needs to change recruiting and promotion policies and lift its ban on women in combat, an independent report for Congress said Monday.

AFP - Japan said Thursday it has no plans to set a deadline to resolve a dispute over a US base on Okinawa island, a day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hoped for a solution by spring.

AFP - Japan said Thursday it has no plans to set a deadline to resolve a dispute over a US base on Okinawa island, a day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he hoped for a solution by spring.

AP - President Barack Obama will send Congress on Monday a $3 trillion-plus budget for 2012 that promises $1.1 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade by freezing many domestic programs for five years, trimming military spending and limiting tax deductions for the wealthy.

AFP - The Pentagon on Monday said it was unclear how soon the repeal of a ban on openly gay troops could be carried out after Congress scrapped the law in a ground-breaking vote.

AFP - The Pentagon on Monday said it was unclear how soon the repeal of a ban on openly gay troops could be carried out after Congress scrapped the law in a ground-breaking vote.