According to Veterans Affairs, the FBI has ended its forensic examination of the laptop computer and external hard drive recovered last month with a “high degree of confidence” that the files containing personal data on more than 26 million veterans and military members “were not accessed or compromised.” That is good news, but it should not dissuade Congress from pressing on with plans to ensure the VA cleans up its act in securing personal information. The VA’s Inspector General has just delivered a scathing report over the entire data theft affair, and then there are those five years’ worth of negative reports.
Walking the flight line occupied by Blackhawk attack helicopters and American troops on rotation at the “MK” air base in Romania, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III highlighted the important strategic value of one of NATO’s newest members Oct. 20 ahead of NATO defense ministerial meetings in Brussels Oct. 21-22.…