Here are recent headlines about the military in Kansas:Fort Leavenworth(KC Star commentary by David A. Anderson, an associate professor at Fort Leavenworth’s Command and General Staff College) Economic analysis must precede military action: During the lead-up to the Iraq war, no meaningful consideration was given to analyzing the economics of a military conflict in Iraq. In light of the increased role of economics in the U.S. national security strategy, going to war without considering the economic implications of a war and postwar stability and reconstruction operations, not only on Iraq and the U.S., but its impact on other nations and international economic institutions, is inexcusable. … In contemplating future interventions, the U.S., its allies and international economic institutions need to conduct a coordinated interagency economic analysis long before committing military forces and foreign aid to ensure that they are dealing in the realm of the possible.Fort Riley ¢ 1st Infantry Division(Richmond.com) Mission: Cuisine Combat: Army food wasn’t affectionately deemed “slop” years ago for nothing. Troops were often served up large portions of unidentifiable brown material from silver packages that read “beef” – perhaps the only evidence that what they were eating was, in fact, meat. Thankfully, this hard-to-swallow food has become ancient history for the U.S. Army and its mess kits, as this year’s 32nd Annual US Army Culinary Arts Competition, held at Fort Lee, will again feature a sampling of more than 150 of the Army’s culinary wizards. Running from March 5 through 16, the tour de force competition of Iron Chef-style cooking contests will end with winners in a variety of contests; some of whom will go on to compete in the 2008 World Culinary Olympics. … Nowhere is that more apparent than at the day’s morning Field Competition between installations Fort Bliss of Texas and Fort Riley of Kansas, who go toe-to-toe in a three-hour cooking match that ends with formal judging via a point-system. Both installations are obviously not slouches when it comes to working as a team. While Bliss creates a meal comprising brisket in a tangy sauce, custard, veggies and a side salad, Fort Riley is busy readying its breaded turkey cutlet dinner in the MKT-I next door. All field cooking is done within an MKT-I; a portable field kitchen that can feed up to 300 soldiers per meal.Kansas National Guard(Topeka Capital-Journal) General wants to eliminate disparity: Kansas National Guard Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting urged legislators Monday to bring equity to benefits paid heirs of Kansas Guard soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Bunting told a House committee the $250,000 state death benefit contained in House Bill 2421 would eliminate an unintended disparity in compensation for families of soldiers killed in combat. “This legislation is clear and straightforward in supporting families of a fallen member of our National Guard,” he said. Seven Kansas guardsmen have died while on active duty since 2003. The first three received $750,000 from state and federal government sources, but actions by the Legislature inadvertently limited payouts to $500,000 in the four most recent deaths.