After Election, Panetta Told Obama He Wanted to Retire

By Marcus Weisgerber in DoD, Intercepts Tags: , , , , , ,

(DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley)

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressed his desire to retire to President Barack Obama shortly after the November election.

Per a DoD press release issued this afternoon:

Soon after the election, I informed President Obama of my intention to retire from public service and return home to California.  Today, the president announced that he will nominate Chuck Hagel to succeed me as secretary of defense, and I want to express my strong support for this nomination.

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Today in Military History: Jan. 7, 1789, the first Commander in Chief.

By Blair Tomlinson in Intercepts, Today in Military History Tags: , ,

The first Inauguration of George Washington occurred on April 30, 1789, in front of New York's Federal Hall, overlooking Wall Street.

On January 7, 1789 America’s first presidential election was held. George Washington was elected the first President and Commander in Chief but wasn’t sworn into office until April 30, 1789.

Photo of the Day: Jan. 7, 2013

By Zachary Fryer-Biggs in Intercepts, Photo of the Day Tags: ,

Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) attends a news conference to unveil planned exhibits for the new Vietnam Veterans Memorial Center at the U.S. Capitol May 22, 2007 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Meet the new Secretary of Defense, at least if Obama gets his way.  Former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel will be tapped as the next Sec. Def., after several weeks of speculation surrounding possible difficulties in a confirmation fight.  More after the break. More

Key Trends to Watch in China in 2013

By Wendell Minnick in Intercepts Tags: , , , ,

Andrew Erickson and Gabe Collins have come up with a Top Ten major trends to watch for in China in the Year of the Snake (2013). These are issues that policy makers, businesspeople and the general public should follow closely to understand China’s growth and evolution.

Amongst the predictions, China will face growing internal challenges, China’s new leaders may adopt a more nationalistic foreign policy, particularly vis-à-vis regional disputes; China will be the world’s single largest builder of warships; details of China’s next aircraft carrier will emerge; and the Y-20 transport aircraft will take its first flight.

Andrew Erickson is a professor at the U.S. Naval War College and a research associate at Harvard’s Fairbank Center. Co-founder of China SignPost (洞察中国) with Gabe Collins, founder of ChinaOilTrader.com and is a J.D. candidate at the University of Michigan Law School.

China Might Conduct Anti-Sat Test This Month – UCS

By Wendell Minnick in Intercepts Tags: , ,

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) believes China may be planning to conduct an anti-satellite (ASAT) test sometime this month. USC China Project Director Gregory Kulacki provides details about the possible test and its timing in a blog posted today titled “Is January Chinese ASAT Testing Month?”

Background: One hint that China is planning a test is the fact that it used its interceptor technology to destroy targets in space twice before—in 2007 and 2010—on January 11. The 2007 test destroyed a defunct Chinese satellite at an altitude of about 530 miles (850 kilometers (km)). China used the same technology for a missile defense test in 2010.

Today in Military History: Jan. 4, 1910, commissioning of USS Michigan (BB-27)

By Blair Tomlinson in Intercepts, Navy, Today in Military History Tags: ,

Photographed circa 1916-1917 by O.W. Waterman at Hampton, Virginia. The ship is wearing a horizontal "two-tone" paint scheme, possibly an experimental camouflage. U.S. Navy photo.

On January 4, 1910 the USS Michigan (BB-27) was commissioned. The 16,000-ton South Carolina class battleship was built at Camden, New Jersey and spent most of it’s time in the Atlantic. During World War I she was used for convoy, training and battle practice operations in the western Atlantic area. After the conflict, the USS Michigan took on the mission of bringing thousands of veterans home. The ship finally made it to the Pacific in 1919, was decommissioned in February of 1922 and scrapped in November of 1923.

For photos of the USS Michigan throughout the years, click the more tab.

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Photo of the Day: Jan. 4, 2012

By Zachary Fryer-Biggs in Intercepts, Photo of the Day Tags: ,

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (C), stands with the Democratic women of the House to highlight the historic diversity of the House Democratic Caucus, on January 3, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The new congress was sworn in yesterday, and one of the changes that Democratic leadership looked to emphasize was the diverse nature of the party.  But what may be even more significant than the overall picture of many women dressed in red, is the woman standing next to Nancy Pelosi, Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

Duckworth is the first disabled woman ever elected to congress, and a decorated combat veteran. More

Pro-Defense Sen. Ayotte Named ‘Counsel’ to Sen. McConnell

By John T. Bennett in Acquisition, Budget, Capitol Hill, DoD, Industry, Policy Tags: , ,

Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., addresses the media in late November. On Thursday, the rising Senate star and pro-defense lawmaker was named a "counsel" to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

She quickly became the fourth member of the so-called “Three Amigos” in the U.S. Senate, joining GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Independent former Sen. Joseph Leiberman. When the latter announced his retirement, she became the third “Amigo.”

And now, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., has achieved rising star status within the Senate GOP caucus. The pro-military senator’s rise could be very good news for the defense sector, which has more reasons than ever to be worried about the much-feared possibility of deep cuts to planned via sequestration. More

Sen. McCain Joins Foreign Relations Panel. Possible Benghazi Hearing Just Got A Lot More Interesting.

By John T. Bennett in Afghanistan, Capitol Hill, International, Policy Tags:

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., calls on a reporter during a December press conference. McCain, a hawk on foreign policy matters, has been named to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, giving him a prime seat from which to criticize administration officials. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who often advocates for U.S. military intervention in the world’s hot spots, is joining the Foreign Relations Committee.

“Very pleased to be named to Foreign Relations, Armed Services, Indian Affairs & Homeland Security Committees – lots of work to do,” McCain tweeted late Thursday afternoon.

McCain is one of President Obama’s fiercest Capitol Hill critics on foreign affairs matters ranging from Obama’s decision to end the Iraq war  to the commander in chief’s plan to essentially end the Afghanistan war in 2014 to the 2011 Libya intervention to Obama’s decision against intervening in Syria’s civil war. More

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