Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) is planning a “speak-up tour” to get members of the military and the defense industry to speak out publicly against the cuts that are facing the military.

Forbes said Thursday that Congress is also to blame when it comes to cuts to Defense. He said that leadership in Congress “put these blinders on” as they agreed to the August debt deal that led to $487 billion in Pentagon cuts and the potential for an additional $500 billion in cuts if sequestration takes effect in January 2013.

The Defense Intelligence Agency’s director said though Iran is prepared to retaliate, it is unlikely to attack if not provoked.

Two anti-war lawmakers are circulating a letter urging President Obama to exhaust all diplomatic options with Iran.

Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.), a staunch war opponent, and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) are asking House members to sign onto a letter they will send to Obama that says the United States should not enter a new war.

“We agree with most Americans that the United States should not enter a new war, just as we are finally ending two others,” they write. “A military strike against Iran could lead to a regional war in the Middle East and attacks against U.S. interests.”

The Department of Homeland Security has stepped up its outreach to the Jewish-American community in an attempt to thwart attacks from Hezbollah, secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday.  

Napolitano stressed that she was not aware of any specific or credible plots to attack U.S. groups, but told lawmakers her department is in frequent contact with the FBI and “constantly monitoring” the activity of Hezbollah, a militant group bankrolled by Iran. 

“We share your concern about Hezbollah,” said Napolitano in response to questions at a House Homeland Security Committee hearing.

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Iran's chief nuclear negotiator called for talks with permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, including the United States.

Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said that he considered reducing the nuclear force by 80 percent “reckless lunacy.”

A key Republican on the Senate Budget Committee sharply criticized President Obama's proposal to use savings from reduced defense spending to help fund the Department of Transportation.

The $3.8 trillion 2013 budget that was unveiled by Obama this week includes $74 billion for DOT. The Obama budget includes $96.7 billion for "overseas contingent operations," but the White House has said money saved from winding down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could fund other areas of the federal budget, like transportation.

In a hearing of the Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday to review the DOT's appropriations request, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the war savings would provide $281 billion that would go to both the DOT's operating budget and the president's call for a spending $476 billion on a new surface transportation bill.

But New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) called the plan "a budget gimmick."

"Does the president believe we're going to be fighting in Afghanistan for the next 10 years?" Ayotte asked LaHood. 

"Fighting wars is not in my portfolio," LaHood responded. 

Rep. Buck McKeon said Obama’s new budget puts the military at risk of losing its superiority.

Iran has loaded fuel rods into the core of a nuclear reactor, plans to start producing yellow cake next year.