DOD has launched the 14-member—seven military, seven external—taskforce that Congress mandated in the Fiscal 2007 defense authorization bill should contemplate the future of military healthcare. The Pentagon recently stated that it would be revamping medical operations but not creating a single medical command. Congress has charged this task force primarily with focusing on the matter of rising health care costs, having successfully fought off—this year—the Administration bid to raise Tricare premiums for military retirees. (The list of task force members is in this news release.)
The U.S. is moving to surge firepower over Iran, including its capital of Tehran, defense officials leading the campaign said March 5 at U.S. Central Command headquarters. Bomber strikes are being stepped up and additional fighter squadrons are being deployed.