Defense dept. urged to combat extremism

WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S. Senate committee Wednesday urged the Defense Department to take firmer steps to combat the threat of Islamic extremism within the ranks of the military.

The U.S. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee called current procedures inadequate for heading off possible attacks.

The recommendations by committee leaders come a day before the Pentagon is expected to release an internal review of the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, that left 13 people dead.

That review, led by two former senior defense officials, will propose ways to improve the military's ability to identify service members who may be a danger to others and quicken reaction times by emergency response teams.