The self-described "Jihad Jane" who thought her blond hair and blue eyes would let her blend in as she sought to kill an artist in Sweden is a rare case of an American woman aiding foreign terrorists, and shows how extremist groups are looking to recruit Americans to carry out their goals.

John Patrick Bedell was a brilliant and seemingly gentle computer whiz, yet so withdrawn that people in this rural community where his parents and grandparents are civic leaders knew little about him until he opened fire at the Pentagon this week. Family and friends now paint a portrait of a troubled man who sank deep into mental illness.

In a potential reversal, White House advisers are close to recommending that President Barack Obama opt for military tribunals for self-professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four of his alleged henchman, senior officials said on condition of anonymity.

Marines and Afghan troops who fought through the center of Marjah linked up with U.S. Soldiers on the northern edge of the former Taliban stronghold, clearing the town's last major pocket of resistance. Some Taliban operatives are believed to remain west of Marjah.

The self-described "Jihad Jane" who thought her blond hair and blue eyes would let her blend in as she sought to kill an artist in Sweden is a rare case of an American woman aiding foreign terrorists, and shows how extremist groups are looking to recruit Americans to carry out their goals.

John Patrick Bedell was a brilliant and seemingly gentle computer whiz, yet so withdrawn that people in this rural community where his parents and grandparents are civic leaders knew little about him until he opened fire at the Pentagon this week. Family and friends now paint a portrait of a troubled man who sank deep into mental illness.

In a potential reversal, White House advisers are close to recommending that President Barack Obama opt for military tribunals for self-professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four of his alleged henchman, senior officials said on condition of anonymity.

Marines and Afghan troops who fought through the center of Marjah linked up with U.S. Soldiers on the northern edge of the former Taliban stronghold, clearing the town's last major pocket of resistance. Some Taliban operatives are believed to remain west of Marjah.

EADS will not mount a solo bid for the U.S. Air Force KC-X tanker program, ending the company's highest profile effort to grow its footprint in the U.S. market.

Boeing's so-called NewGen Tanker, a 767-based design for the U.S. Air Force KC-X competition, will �feature a new refueling boom and a flight deck based on the 787 �airliner.

Boeing hopes to minimize the impact of job cuts on the C-17 line following its decision to slow the airlifter production rate by a third, but acknowledges that some losses are inevitable.

The F-35 manufacturer hopes to "buy back" up to 90 stealthy fighters that were lost in the recent program restructuring, but a likely cost-overrun declaration this month will be a major hurdle for the company to surmount.

While U.S. military acquisition and program officials continue to say they have stretched and innovated to win both conventional and irregular conflicts, they express a lack of direction when it comes to the day-to-day information war. Evidence of this poorly understood conflict is often most visible in the form of constant cyber-probes and attacks that cannot be traced to any government.

Boeing officials plan to begin taxi tests on the company's Phantom Ray demonstrator in July, a slight delay from earlier plans, but first flight is still targeted for December 2010, according Darryl Davis, Boeing Phantom Works president.

Release of the final request for proposals (RFP) for the U.S. Air Force's KC-X tanker could lead to a contracting conundrum. If the Northrop Grumman/EADS North America team follows through on its threat not to bid, the Pentagon's �strategy designed to elicit low, fixed-price offers from competitors could backfire.

Electronic warfare and maritime surveillance are among the new roles being eyed for Raytheon's Astor aircraft, as designers look to exploit the inherent capability of the platform.

Complaints from Pentagon officials -- from Defense Secretary Robert Gates down through the ranks -- are mounting about the quality of products from the aerospace industry.

Eight German air force personnel have completed training in Israel to operate the Heron unmanned aerial vehicle due for deployment to Afghanistan next month.

While looking for money for school many servicemembers, veterans, and their families tend to overlook the more than $300 million of military -- and veteran -- related scholarships and grants.Learn to use scholarships to eliminate out-of-pocket expenses.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that the GI Bill will soon be worth $38,700 -- a total increase of nearly $1,500 over last year's rate.

Join our military expert, CGCPO (ret) Terry Howell as he explains the GI Bill and how to use it in conjunction with tuition assistance to get the maximum benefit you're entitled to.

A bipartisan bill which authorizes more than $2 billion in funding for numerous major medical facilities for veterans in 22 states passed the Senate recently by unanimous consent.

This is the complete version of this week's Veterans Report. Print it, circulate it, and make sure your colleagues and friends keep up with the latest military benefits updates.

Time is running out to find and recognize the last remaining veterans of "The Great War." The rolls of World War I veterans have declined so rapidly that the day is fast approaching when there will be one remaining, then none.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is urging America's boaters to start thinking about taking one of many boating courses offered by the Auxiliary to enhance their boating skills.

Veterans Day, celebrated each year on November 11, is the day America sets aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in our nation's military.

Chairman Henry Brown (R-S.C) and subcommittee members expressed concern that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) had not spent all of the mental health care dollars appropriated for it.

The House Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs received testimony recently on the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Pension Program.