Topic: Armed Forces
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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France agrees to arm Russia with assault ships
France's agreement to sell amphibious assault ships to Russia raises concerns from the US and former Soviet satellites, including Georgia.
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Sri Lanka crackdown goes beyond arrest of Sarath Fonseka
The arrest of Sri Lanka’s former Army chief Sarath Fonseka, who challenged the president in recent elections, comes soon after the detention of former military members tied to him.
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Afghanistan war: US troops' new push into 'heart of darkness'
US soldiers in the Afghanistan war are battling to clear the 'heart of darkness' in Kandahar Province where Taliban chief Mullah Omar used to preach. It's one of many operations gearing up in southern Afghanistan as more foreign troops arrive.
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Sarah Palin hints at presidential run in 2012
GOP superstar Sarah Palin said in an interview Sunday that she was open to a presidential bid in 2012, and that President Obama wouldn't win if elections were held today.
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Ending 'don't ask, don't tell' seems inevitable. But not soon.
US society and the Pentagon are moving toward ending the ban on gays serving openly in the military. But powerful lawmakers want to keep the 1993 law, and it may be other conservatives who convince them that times have changed.
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Romania agrees to host US missile interceptors
Romania's decision to host US missile interceptors is not widely seen as a threat to Russian defense capabilities, unlike the scrapped plan for a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.
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In Pictures: NASA's Space Shuttle
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US troop presence in Pakistan meets surprisingly muted response
One day after three US soldiers were killed in the north, the widely anticipated backlash at US troops operating on Pakistani soil has yet to erupt.
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In Pictures: Inside President Obama's White House
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Colombia's 'neo-paramilitaries' on the rise
'Successor groups' of right-wing paramilitaries are growing fast, causing a steep rise in violence in many areas, according to a new report from Human Rights Watch.
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Taliban kill 3 US soldiers in Pakistan roadside bomb attack
The US military deaths in Pakistan represent a significant victory for Taliban militants after months of increasing drone attacks.
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Top Pentagon brass endorse ending 'don't ask, don't tell'
The Pentagon will undertake a year-long review of the 'don't ask, don't tell' law that bars gays from serving openly. A separate 45-day review will look to halting discharges of service members outed to by a third party.
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QDR: Pentagon revises its long-held two-war doctrine
A key Pentagon strategic document released Monday, called the Quadrennial Defense Review, increases the emphasis on a new range of threats, including cybersecurity. It departs from the military's traditional goal of being able to fight two conventional wars at once.
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Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 02/01
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USS Vinson to leave Haiti soon, signaling turning point in aid efforts
The USS Vinson, which arrived in Haiti days after the earthquake, is the largest US naval contribution to relief efforts. It will leave behind more than 15 other naval ships.
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Israel admission on white phosphorus doesn't settle larger debate
In its response to the Goldstone report, Israel revealed that two senior military officers have been reprimanded for using white phosphorus in Gaza. But that doesn't settle the larger debate over launching an independent commission.
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Israel says white phosphorus use in Gaza "exceeded authority"
On Friday, Israel said it had used the incendiary white phosphorus in the Gaza war and that two officers were reprimanded for "exceeding their authority."
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Who’s who in the Pakistan Taliban
New reports surfaced Sunday that Pakistan Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud died after a US drone attack Jan. 14. A look at other senior figures in the group.
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Israelis disciplined for white phosphorus attack on Gaza
While dismissing many of the allegations made in Richard Goldstone's UN report on the war, Israel has reportedly disciplined two high-ranking officers for ordering the use of controversial white phosphorus during its invasion of Gaza in early 2009.
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Russia flexes military power with 'futuristic' fighter jet
Russia returned to the global stage Friday as a first-rank military and technological power by launching a 'fifth generation' fighter plane, with futuristic characteristics of stealth, sustained supersonic cruise, and integrated weapons.
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China joins multinational naval force to fight Somali piracy
With Somali piracy still posing a severe threat, China agreed Thursday to join the US, Europe, and others in a multilateral naval force. Since late 2008, China has dispatched four flotillas to the Gulf of Aden area, expanding its military activity abroad.
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Obama orders cut in federal government's greenhouse-gas emissions
President Obama Friday told federal agencies to cut energy use to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 28 percent by 2010. Agencies are taking measures ranging from using more solar energy to switching from gasoline vehicles to hybrid vehicles.
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In Pictures: Airshows
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To repeal 'don't ask, don't tell,' Obama has work ahead of him
President Obama on Wednesday renewed his campaign pledge to repeal the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy toward gays in the military. It's on his agenda for this year, but he didn't say how he'd pursue it.
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North Korea arrests American; continues shelling near disputed border
Analysts and diplomats are scratching their heads as to why North Korea continued firing artillery shells into its disputed maritime border with the South for the second day in a row.
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