Topic: Robert Gates
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North Korea abandons armistice: 4 key questions answered
Tensions on the Korean peninsula are ratcheting up. The US has started its annual war games with South Korean forces, and North Korea has used that fact to declare that it is invalidating the armistice agreement that ended the Korean War in 1953. What really has North Korea upset, though, is the tough, new sanctions passed by the United Nations in response to the North's nuclear test last month.Here are the top four questions analysts are wrestling with on the heels of these developments.
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Pentagon budget: top 3 winners and losers
In Pentagon parlance, the word “cut” is a relative term. The Defense Department’s base budget decreases from $553 billion this year to $525 billion in 2013, but it rebounds steadily to $567 billion in 2017. With this in mind, here are the top three winners and losers:
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Five ways 9/11 has transformed the US military
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Who will carry out Obama's Afghanistan exit plan? Three new guys.
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In Pictures: Leon Panetta's career
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With no-fly zone in Libya now, US-led coalition freer to attack
Missile attacks on Libyan air defenses have freed US jets to attack ground targets. But questions remain, including the use of human shields and the chance that Qaddafi might remain in power.
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A 'gender gap' in Obama administration’s approach to war?
Senior men in the Obama administration argued against a no-fly zone in Libya. But several prominent women, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Ambassador Susan Rice, pushed for military action.
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With Libya, is 'Obama doctrine' on war emerging?
Barack Obama entered the White House responsible for two wars he had inherited. Now, as Iraq winds down and Afghanistan drags on, he finds himself at the outset of possible US combat in Libya.
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Amid tough words, Obama seeks to limit US role in Libya
President Obama sought to place boundaries on any US military involvement in Libya, even as he ordered Muammar Qaddafi to rein in his troops.
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Among allies, Germany is the odd man out in UN vote on Libya
Germany sided with Russia and China as it abstained from the UN Security Council vote to take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya. Berlin took the decision that would be most popular at home. Politicians do such things. But Germany's allies certainly notice.
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UN Security Council allows 'all necessary measures' to protect Libyan civilians
With pro-Qaddafi forces advancing on the Libyan opposition capital, Benghazi, the UN Security Council approved a no-fly zone and other measures to protect civilians with 10-to-0 vote.
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The Monitor's View: In Stage 2 of the Arab spring, Obama faces tougher choices
Use of armed force in Libya and Bahrain, the question of a no-fly zone, as well as the role of oil, make the choices for Obama much tougher than during Egypt's revolution.
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Iran condemns Saudi troops' arrival in Bahrain
Iran's decision to get involved threatens to change the situation from a local dispute into a regional standoff between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran, with Bahrain as the proxy.
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Saudi troops arrive in Bahrain as protests escalate
Amid concerns of a Shiite uprising in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia sent troops to support the Sunni monarchy. Bahrain's opposition denounced the move as an 'occupation.'
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Arab League approves no-fly zone in Libya. But is it too late?
The US and UK expressed support for the Arab League's approval of a no-fly zone as Libyan rebels beat a hasty eastward retreat from forces loyal to Col. Muammar Qaddafi.
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What are pros and cons of a no-fly zone over Libya?
As some Congressional leaders urges military intervention in Libya, the Pentagon emphasizes the difficulty of implementing a no-fly zone or other proposed military solutions.
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Photos of the Day: Photos of the day 03/08
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Obama orders Guantánamo tribunals to resume. Is he abandoning his pledge?
Obama ends a two-year ban on military tribunals at the US prison at Guantánamo Bay, which he had vowed to close. In a bid to enhance US 'values,' he orders a new review process for detainees.
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Obama wants Qaddafi out of Libya, but what is he ready to do?
Amid calls for a no-fly zone, Obama says a wide range of options are being discussed to deal with Libya. Analysts say he is in no hurry to use force, especially not unilaterally, to oust Qaddafi.
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Why is Robert Gates making a surprise visit to Afghanistan?
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived Monday in Afghanistan. The visit is expected to shape decisions about the gradual US troop drawdown slated to begin this summer.
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Pressure mounts for no-fly zone in Libya
As Libyan rebels encounter rough going, the calls for attacking Muammar Qaddafi’s air force are growing in the United States. The Pentagon and the White House resist the idea.
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Obama to Pentagon: Give me a list of options to protect Libyans
President Obama says he has asked the Pentagon and other agencies to come up with ways that the US could help protect Libyans in case the 'situation deteriorates rapidly.'
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Nations weigh imposing no-fly zone on Libya
The Arab League expressed support for a no-fly zone to prevent Qaddafi's forces from carrying out air strikes in Libya, while other countries debated the military action.
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Libya uprising: 5 steps the world is taking
The international community is struggling to respond to the escalating Libya conflict. Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi has warned of “bloodshed” if other countries intervene, and the opposition rebels have yet to formally request military assistance. Here's what's been done so far.
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The Monitor's View: No fly zone over Libya? Obama must take a stand soon.
The US is weighing a no-fly zone in Libya that might prevent Qaddafi from more attacks on rebel forces. Obama must weigh key lessons from history before acting.
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In Pictures: Foreign forces to Libya
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Qaddafi forces push into Libya's east
Forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi have launched what seems to be a campaign to take back parts of eastern Libya after a week of focusing on keeping control of Tripoli.
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Can the US military help Libyan rebels oust Muammar Qaddafi? Four options.
As violence in Libya increases, US officials have promised that the administration is exploring “all possible options for action” against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi. Yet Pentagon officials emphasize that they are also weighing the adverse risks of US military action aiding rebels, such as the possibility that Mr. Qaddafi could galvanize support in the name of anti-imperialism. What are steps the US military could take to aid rebels, and how feasible are they?
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Gates's warning: Avoid land war in Asia, Middle East, and Africa
In a speech to cadets at the United States Military Academy at West Point, Gates’s message was clear: The US military services, as well as the elected and appointed civilians who send them to war, need better ways of foreseeing and preparing for national security threats.
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US faces difficult situation in Bahrain, home to US Fifth Fleet
The US has important strategic interests in Bahrain, including the US Navy's Fifth Fleet – patrolling oil shipping lanes, keeping an eye on Iran, and involved with the war in Afghanistan. But US officials also worry about Bahrain's violent response to pro-democracy demonstrators.
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