Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he was frustrated and disappointed President Obama vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act, noting the budget “gridlock,” now and in recent years, does a disservice to the troops. “This is a source of uncertainty for them and their families that I think is unworthy of them and what they’re doing for the country,” Carter told reporters Friday afternoon. Carter said the inability for leaders in Washington, D.C., to come to an agreement was “embarrassing” and affects US allies, civilians, and industry partners, as well as US military members. The veto was reflective of the budget turmoil that has plagued Washington politics in recent months. “I very much hope that it’s possible for everybody to come together here and put us on a normal, multi-year budgeting horizon that doesn’t have the managerial inefficiencies and the uncertainty to our operations and our people that is represented by this,” said Carter.
For the fourth time in a week, a Russian spy plane has been intercepted by U.S. Air Force F-16s near Alaska, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command. The most recent flight, which occurred Aug. 26, marks a dramatic uptick in Moscow’s approach operations near the U.S. by Il-20 COOT…
