Topic: Armed Forces
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
-
China's growing military might: top 4 concerns for the Pentagon
In a report issued this week, the Department of Defense for the first time directly accused China’s military of using cyberattacks to spy on US networks. In this arena and others, “China’s military buildup shows no signs of slowing,” said David Helvey, deputy assistant secretary of Defense for East Asia, who presented the report.Here are Pentagon officials’ top four concerns as they carefully monitor the growth of China’s military.
-
Where do things stand at Guantánamo? Six basic questions answered.
President Obama this week pledged to “reengage” with Congress to find a way to close the terror detention camp at the Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, naval base. The renewed focus comes as 100 of the 166 detainees are reported to be engaged in a hunger strike. Here is a brief look at where things stand now.
-
Briefing
Chemical weapons 101: Six facts about sarin and Syria’s stockpile
President Obama said Assad's use of chemical weapons would be a 'red line' for US. Did he use sarin or any other chemical weapon against his own people?
-
CSMonitor editors share their favorite people to follow on Twitter
Twitter turned 7 this week. In celebration of the social network's birthday, The Christian Science Monitor compiled a list of favorite Twitter accounts. Each is informative and useful in its own way. Find out what each section recommends for you.
-
Briefing
After the 'sequester,' now what?
$85 billion in across-the-board cuts to defense and social programs took effect March 1. The cuts must occur this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Here's how things look.
All Content
-
Focus How US military plans to carry out Obama's 'pivot to Asia'
A US policy shift toward Asia means a greater role for the Navy. Even pre-'pivot to Asia,' it already stationed half its ships in the region, and it is developing a new 'afloat forward staging base' in the Pacific.
-
North Korea: EU approves tighter sanctions (+video)
The sanctions expand those approved by the UN Security Council in January, adding measures that prevent trading in North Korean government bonds, gold, precious metals, and diamonds.
-
N. Korea nuclear test: Will it spoil Obama's disarmament plans?
Pyongyang's recent nuclear tests have hawks in neighboring South Korea and Japan clamoring for nuclear weapons of their own and China jittery about its own stockpile. The US is caught in the middle.
-
Why the Iran threat assessment may be easing – for now
Iran's unexpectedly slow missile progress, a dialed down 'covert war,' and uranium enrichment changes may yield more room for diplomacy over the country's nuclear program.
-
Syrian rebels battle at military base near Aleppo airport
Rebels have been attacking the civilian airport in the city of Aleppo for weeks, and now appear to have overrun the main defenses around the facility.
-
Afghan president welcomes US troop withdrawal announcement
Afghan President Karzai has been pressing for a faster paced withdrawal of foreign combat troops from Afghanistan.
-
Terrorism & Security Will Iran allow UN nuclear inspection? (+video)
The UN's nuclear agency team is in Tehran today to try to reach an agreement on how a probe of Iran's contentious nuclear program should be conducted.
-
Medal of Honor recipient: Taliban 'simply couldn't have' outpost
Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha was awarded the Medal of Honor for preventing the Taliban from overrunning his outpost in 2009. Tuesday he was inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.
-
Syria border bombing: How will Turkey respond if attacks continue?
Turkey has worried about Syria's war creeping across the border since the uprising began. Yesterday's bombing at a border crossing indicates it may finally be happening.
-
Rebels capture air base as Assad's forces come under pressure
Fighting in the nearly two-year-old Syrian conflict has intensified in the three weeks since the political leadership of the opposition offered to negotiate a departure for Assad.
-
The Monitor's View: For Obama's second term, a call to arms control
From gun control to nuclear-weapons cuts to drone warfare, Obama's second term may be highlighted by a need to define new concepts of security for instruments of aggression.
-
Opinion: Israeli airstrike on Syria shows strategic strength
Despite pledges from Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah that use of force will be met with force, there has been no retaliation since Israel's airstrike inside Syria Jan. 30. Israel clearly retains the strategic high ground in the region, with full knowledge that its enemies are bogged down.
-
Japan says Russian jets intruded in its airspace
Tokyo's claim coincides with Japan's annual 'Northern Territories Day,' during which rallies are held to urge Russia to return several islands the Soviet Union seized during World War II.
-
Gun debate 101: Is the AR-15 as popular as the iPod?
The commando-style rifle, used in the Sandy Hook shootings, is now the most popular gun in America. Anticipating new gun-control measures, consumers are depleting stocks and driving up prices.
-
Amid talk of Mali exit, French forces find war in north still hot, not yet over
African and western nations looking for post-war structures: 'There will never, ever be a solution if you don't talk to the Tuaregs,' says Jeremy Keenan, British expert on East Africa.
-
Did 'sequester' backfire? Obama calls for 'smarter solution.'
President Obama asks Congress to pass limited spending cuts and tax reforms to avoid the March 1 sequester – and buy time for a long-term deal on deficit reduction. Republicans aren't impressed.
-
The Monitor's View: A comforting arm to curb Army suicides
A record in military suicides, despite many new prevention programs, points to a need to change military culture to help detect those in need and make it easier to get help.
-
Backchannels Afghan corruption, opium, and the strange case of Kam Air
Kam Air, an airline owned by a politically-connected Afghan businessman, was blacklisted by the US military in Afghanistan for opium smuggling. Then the Afghan government complained.
-
Opinion: A better way to keep Islamists at bay in Mali
France says it will withdraw from Mali once an African peacekeeping force is in place. To keep Islamists at bay, the US is considering increasing its military presence in the region. A better approach is to focus on fixing the governance issues that fuel radicalism to begin with.
-
China Navy frigate locked weapons radar on Japanese destroyer
Chinese navy vessels locked weapons radar on Japanese ships and helicopters during two incidents last month, says Japan. The incident marks an escalation in the tensions between China and Japan islands in the East China Sea.
-
Terrorism & Security Could North Korea be planning multiple nuclear tests? (+video)
North Korea says it plans 'higher level' test as part of its military deterrent in its confrontation with the United States. South Korea says that's code for multiple nuclear tests.
-
Chuck Hagel: Filibuster in store for Obama nominee?
Chuck Hagel filibuster: Republican Senator Mitch McConnell said opposition to the former Republican senator leading the Pentagon was growing.
-
French out of Timbuktu by end of week, airstrikes continue (+video)
French forces will leave to subdue rebels in the north while Malian troops will handle security for the ancient crossroads town.
-
Terrorism & Security Israel implies it was behind last week's airstrike in Syria, but little else is clear
As fresh details emerge about the suspected Israeli airstrike in Syria last week, key facts – like what the strike targeted – remain muddled.
-
Politicians and guns: Why it's important that Obama shoots skeet
The White House has released a photo of President Obama firing a shotgun. In the US today, it seems important that politicians – especially men – know their way around guns. Why is that?
Previous
Become part of the Monitor community