Pentagon – U.S. Dept. of Defense

The Pentagon disclosed the information four days after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Friday that uncertainty surrounding sequestration was impacting U.S. defense capabilities, and if allowed to take its course would have far reaching effecs.

Lockheed Martin Corp., a major U.S weapons contractor was awarded a $333.7 million contract just moments before the sequester was set to take effect.

President Barack Obama’s nominations of Chuck Hagel and John Brennan as U.S. defense secretary and CIA director, respectively, have been unusually delayed in the Senate.

President Obama nominated former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) as secretary of defense and John Brennan, counter terrorism specialist, as director of the CIA on Monday, Jan. 7.

The U.S. Pentagon is reviewing the contents of the soon-to-be-released memoir by a Navy SEAL of the raid, which led to the death of Osama bin Laden, the AP reports.

The Pentagon will reduce the Army and Marine Corps, retire some programs, and delay others, but increase special operation forces as part of its 2013 defense budget request.

The US has sought in a recent Pentagon report and other public statements to be conciliatory toward China.