Behind Closed Doors:

The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee met last week—in closed sessions—with the Air Force and Navy in one session, the Army and Marine Corps in another, and Guard and Reserve in a third. The subject was readiness. According to Government Executive, panel chair Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who has vehemently opposed the war in Iraq, wants to tie any future war supplemental to US force readiness.