By Charles Hoskinson

THE DEBT-REDUCTION SUPERCOMMITTEE IS ON THE BRINK OF FAILURE with just one week to go and no sign of a bipartisan deal for $1.5 trillion in budget savings before the Nov. 23 deadline.

REPUBLICANS ARE REVOLTING OVER TAXES and Democrats concerned about cuts to entitlement spending, adding more pressure to the panel’s work. POLITICO’s Jake Sherman and Manu Raju have the details here: http://politi.co/t4jYIi

WHEN IT COMES TO DOD, we’re right back where we started after months of lobbying by Panetta, military leaders and pro-defense lawmakers – in spite of poll results showing most Americans oppose the idea, lawmakers may find it easier to cut defense than deal with either hot-button issue. Or, they could reach for what many analysts have called an illusion and count as savings money nobody ever intended to spend on wars which are already winding down.

PANETTA AND DEMPSEY TUESDAY DEFENDED the administration’s decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year. Appearing at a SASC hearing, the secretary said Iraq’s decision not to grant U.S. troops immunity from local prosecution left Obama with no other choice. He said talks would continue to see if a deal can be reached.

THE HEARING WAS CALLED AT THE REQUEST of GOP senators on the panel, who have called the withdrawal decision a failure and said it would open the door for Iran to play a dominant role in Iraq after eight years of U.S. sacrifices. Our story is here: http://politi.co/vve2ys

LATER, SASC MADE ANOTHER TRY at crafting language on detainees to help move the stalled defense authorization bill, voting 26-0 on a modified bill designed to meet administration objections and clear the way for floor action perhaps later this week. However, the changes did not assuage the concerns of the chief critics of the legislation in the Senate, at the White House or the Pentagon, making the bill’s ultimate prospects unclear. POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein has the story here: http://politi.co/w0xRny

THE PANEL ALSO TRIMMED AUTHORIZATIONS in the bill by $21 billion to conform with the cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act. You can see a summary here: http://politi.co/uh5XJw

STARS AND STRIPES TODAY TAKES A LOOK at a controversial policy commanders at Ft. Carson, Colo., are using to fast-track wounded soldiers for separation if they get caught using drugs. The story by Bill Murphy Jr. found that the policy saves money on pay and benefits by prosecuting soldiers with no previous discipline record on first-time drug offenses that some experts say may be linked to PTSD. Read it here: http://1.usa.gov/vmX3W7
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