Picking up on Thursday's heavy critique of the Obama administration's defense and national security strategy, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney hammered the White House for its decision to eliminate a critical piece of the U.S. military arsenal. 

In recent weeks, Romney and Ryan have explained their positions in noticeably more centrist terms than they have previously.

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the U.S. soldier accused of going on a shooting spree during his deployment in Afghanistan, will stand trial before a military court in early November. 

A new survey found that more than half of the public opposes cutting defense spending in order to reduce the deficit.

But the idea is still divided along party lines, with President Obama supporters in favor of cutting defense and Mitt Romney’s backers opposed, according to the survey from the Pew Research Center released Friday.

The poll found 56 percent of total respondents opposed “reducing military defense spending” in order to cut the debt and deficit, while 40 percent supported it. The idea had the fourth highest disapproval rating among 12 tested by Pew for reducing the deficit.

"Blaming those who put their lives on the line is not the kind of leadership this country needs," he said.

Panel chairman says contractors were encouraged to "flout" law requiring layoff notices for sequestration. 

Defense secretary for the first time said the Pentagon stands ready "to help defend the nation in cyberspace."

Vice President Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) got into a testy exchange Thursday over the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan this year, arguing over the wisdom of withdrawing 23,000 U.S. troops.

During the vice-presidential debate, Ryan questioned the U.S. decision to withdraw troops during this year’s fighting season in Afghanistan, saying that the troops left behind had to do the same job with less manpower, making it less safe.

"Yes, we drew 22,000 troops down last month, but the remaining troops that are there, who still have the same mission to prosecute counterinsurgency, are doing it with fewer people," Ryan said. "That makes them less safe."

Vice President Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) traded barbs Thursday night over the best way to handle Iran's nuclear program

During the first and only vice presidential debate of the election, Ryan claimed the White House's strategy to contain Tehran's nuclear ambitions has only resulted in Iran being "four years closer to a nuclear [weapons] capability."

The Obama administration's insistence on pursuing economic and political sanctions on Iran, rather than seriously entertain the notion of military action has only given the country more time to refine the program, he said.