Republican defense hawks are declaring a partial victory over a change of heart by the Obama administration on funding some vital weapons systems. Politico: The turnabout is causing a major credibility problem for the Defense Department ahead of Tuesday’s release of the president's new budget proposal, key lawmakers told POLITICO. Republican defense hawks spent the last year opposing the department’s efforts to retire the aging A-10 Warthog attack jet and stop buying Tomahawk missiles and F-18 Super Hornet fighters — the very weapons getting praise now from Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Rep. Mac Thornberry and Sen. John McCain, who chair the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, are already gloating over what they see as a small victory in their larger battle with Obama over military spending. “I think it harms their credibility because they’re changing positions,” said McCain. “It’s also, I think, an argument for...(Read Full Post)