The Army psychiatrist suspected of going on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood recently asked for advice on what he should tell fellow soldiers concerned about fighting Muslims in Iraq or Afghanistan, a local Muslim leader said Saturday.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has declared a moment of silence for U.S. military forces worldwide as a show of respect for the Fort Hood victims. UPDATE: Law enforcement officials say a 5.7-millimeter pistol used in the Fort Hood shooting rampage was purchased legally at a Texas gun store. UPDATED: The cousin of the suspected Fort Hood shooter says family members have met with the FBI and answered all their questions.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says any request for additional U.S. troops or funds for the war in Afghanistan would only come after officials study a new assessment of the conditions there by Gen. Stanley McChrystal.

He was the first casualty in the first Persian Gulf War, 18 years ago, but his body was never found. Now, 18 years after the crash of Captain Michael “Scott” Speicher’s jet, his family finally has some closure. CNN’s Samantha Hayes reports.

President Barack Obama has hailed the Senate’s decision to stop additional production of F-22 fighter jets, saying the move will “better protect our troops.“

Sen. John McCain wants to remove the $1.75 billion recently inserted into the proposed 2010 defense budget for more fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is defending his plans to trim more than a billion dollars from the planned system to build a broad missile shield for the U.S. and its allies. Gates says he’s been a supporter of the concept since the days of Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, dubbed “Star Wars” by its opponents.

The White House says President Barack Obama is shocked by news that a U.S. soldier opened fire at a counseling center, killing five fellow soldiers. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Monday the shooting at Camp Liberty was a “terrible tragedy” and Obama plans to meet with Defense Secretary Gates later in the day to discuss the matter.

The Pentagon is replacing its top general in Afghanistan as President Barack Obama tries to turn around a stalemated war. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday he asked for the resignation of Gen. David McKiernan. He said a fresh approach was in the U.S.‘s best interest.

President Barack Obama has ordered an internal review to determine how the decision was made to send of one of his official airplanes on a low-flying photo op past the New York City skyline.

President Barack Obama says it was a mistake for one of his official airplanes to be sent zooming past the New York City skyline for a publicity photo shoot. He said Tuesday it will not happen again.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he thinks it would be a good idea to keep a small number of U.S. forces in Iraq past a deadline agreed to by the U.S. and Iraq.