Increasingly concerned that time is running out for Congress to avoid $500 billion in automatic defense cuts, the Pentagon is assessing all options, including the possible implications of a one-year, $100 billion, governmentwide, “mini-sequester” deficit-reduction deal.
ON THE FIGHT
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Africa July 31 through August 10, 2012.
ON THE HILL
An anti-leak measure approved by a key Senate committee would all but eliminate a long-standing practice in Washington in which senior intelligence analysts occasionally provide what are known as background briefings for reporters.
IN THE MEDIA
Pakistan will allow NATO supply convoys to cross its territory into Afghanistan until the end of 2015, one year beyond the deadline for withdrawal of U.S. combat forces there, under an agreement signed today by U.S. and Pakistani officials.
The Department of State will release the annual Congressionally mandated Country Reports on Terrorism 2011 today, at 12:30 p.m.
CONTRACT WATCH
The Navy and Marine Corps are expected to top the Pentagon’s spending on electronic warfare programs over the next decade. In a 10-year period from fiscal 2008 to 2017, the Navy and Marines have spent or are set to spend a cumulative total of about $21.9 billion.
The State Department promised an unknown country or government some pretty sweet gear.
