Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

March 14, 2017     Senators skeptical of top Marine's vow to change service culture in wake of photo scandal Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee told Gen. Robert Neller on Tuesday that they were skeptical of his promises to change the Marine Corps culture in the wake of a nude photo-sharing scandal.   Trump administration rejects ‘pivot’ to Asia – at least in name The new U.S. administration has yet to unveil its plans for a new strategy toward the Asia-Pacific, but the “pivot” or “rebalance” — as former President Barack Obama’s policy of deeper engagement was known — has been officially put to rest.   Plan to base Ospreys at Yokota Air Base delayed until 2020 A plan to base CV-22 Ospreys in western Tokyo has been delayed with the first of the tilt-rotor aircraft due to arrive in fiscal year 2020, the Department of Defense said.   House bill that would enable gun sales to many vets deemed 'mentally incompetent' draws criticism A House bill seeking to end federal checks that prevent more than 167,000 veterans deemed “mentally incompetent” from keeping or purchasing firearms is receiving criticism from some Democrats and former generals.   US, Japan, South Korea practice missile-threat response off Korea Ships from the United States, Japan and South Korea kicked off drills Tuesday aimed at countering the growing missile threat from North Korea.   British, American recon troops share notes When U.S. Army convoys into eastern Poland later this month for a new NATO mission they will be joined by a contingent of British troops, part of a multinational force positioned less than 100 miles from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.   BMW being probed by US over car leases to military members The U.S. Justice Department sought information from BMW AG's leasing business last year about how it handles overdue payments from U.S. military personnel, according to documents obtained by Bloomberg.   Report of Japan training with US Navy in South China Sea draws Beijing’s notice China reacted cautiously on Tuesday to reports that Japan’s largest warship may deploy on a three-month patrol to include training with the U.S. Navy in the South China Sea.   Mattis withdraws Patterson as choice for Defense undersecretary for policy Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has withdrawn retired senior diplomat Anne W. Patterson as his choice for undersecretary for policy after the White House indicated unwillingness to fight what it said would be a battle for Senate confirmation.