AFP - A federal appeals court on Monday threw out a lawsuit challenging the legality of the US military's ban on homosexuals, an issue with so many ups and downs it will likely end up in the US Supreme Court.

AFP - A federal appeals court on Monday threw out a lawsuit challenging the legality of the US military's ban on homosexuals, in a case with so many ups and downs it will likely end up in the US Supreme Court.

AFP - Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday the importance of the US nuclear arsenal was likely to grow in importance in coming years as Russia moves to strengthen its nuclear forces.

AFP - World military spending grew 45 percent in the past decade, with the United States accounting for nearly half of all expenditure, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said Monday.

AFP - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday nominated Michael Donley as secretary of the air force and General Norton Schwartz as air force chief of staff to replace leaders ousted over two major nuclear-related blunders.

AP - As of Saturday, June 7, 2008, at least 443 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures May 31 at 10 a.m. EDT.

AP - As of Friday, June 6, 2008, at least 443 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to the Defense Department. The department last updated its figures Saturday at 10 a.m. EDT.

AFP - Controversy surrounding the US military's new Africa Command has forced the Pentagon to put plans for establishing a headquarters in the continent on a slow track, US defense officials have said.

AFP - US defense contractor Lockheed Martin said Friday it had been awarded a 233.6-million-dollar contract to supply Morocco with 24 F-16 fighter jets.

AFP - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates expects to move quickly to replace the air force civilian and military chiefs ousted over two major nuclear-related blunders, a spokesman said Friday.

Reuters - Iraq said on Friday it would not grant U.S. troops freedom of movement for military operations in a new agreement being negotiated on extending the presence of American troops on its soil.

Reuters - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates fired the Air Force's top two officials on Thursday after mistakes involving their most sensitive mission -- the safety and security of America's nuclear weapons.

AFP - The US Air Force's chief of staff and civilian secretary resigned Thursday following a "scathing" report into the service's handling of nuclear weapons components, a senior defense official said.

Reuters - The U.S. military said it shot down an incoming SCUD-like missile in its last seconds of flight Thursday in a successful test off Hawaii, a step the contractors said reflected their hardware's versatility.