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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The Monitor's View: Senate must ratify new START agreement on nuclear arms
The most important reason why the Senate should ratify the US-Russian new START agreement is that without it, America has no way to physically monitor Russia's nuclear forces.
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Why Senator Lugar is worried about bioterrorism in East Africa
Pentagon and congressional officials who toured a Kenyan medical laboratory are concerned that terrorist groups could get their hands on disease samples stored there.
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Can troops get too much love? Military struggles with a dark side on Veterans Day
As troops in war zones become accustomed to directing civil society, rather than the other way around, and are lauded at home, concern rises within the military that some are coming to see themselves as 'warrior kings.' For Veterans Day, a closer look at this worry.
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Obama lauds Indonesia for religious tolerance, democratic reform
While visiting his former hometown of Jakarta, Indonesia, President Obama focused his speech Wednesday on development, democracy, and religious tolerance while sprinkling his delivery with cultural references.
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In Pictures: Bush's most interesting decision points
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'Decision Points': 8 most interesting revelations
What you should know about 'Decision Points.'
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In Melbourne, Mullen keeps US sights on China, Iran
In Melbourne to meet with his Australian counterparts, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen stressed US interest in assessing China's growing military capabilities.
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Gates: Military force is not the only way to deter Iran
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday that American diplomatic and economic efforts to halt Iran's nuclear program need more time, rebuffing Israel's call for military force.
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Can US kill American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki? Judge to hear case.
American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki is hiding in Yemen, where he's a leader of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. He's trained terrorist recruits and helped prepare the Christmas Day bomber.
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The Monitor's View: Midterm election shellacking: Obama must adjust
Obama got a shellacking in this midterm election. As Bill Clinton did, he must now change course by taking smaller steps and reaching toward the middle.
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WikiLeaks defends its release of classified documents on Iraq War
WikiLeaks released nearly 400,000 classified reports detailing more than 100,000 deaths in the Iraq War, some 60 percent of which were of civilians. WikiLeaks also intends to release thousands more documents on the war in Afghanistan.
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Pentagon pans new WikiLeaks release, but expects few surprises
WikiLeaks is expected to post imminently some 400,000 classified documents from the Iraq war. The WikiLeaks release could put both US troops and some Iraqis at risk, the Pentagon says.
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At Pentagon, 'don't ask, don't tell' is back, but under heavy guard
A new Pentagon regulation requires the 'personal approval' of one of a select few senior officials to enforce 'don't ask, don't tell.' The policy likely will hinder the removal of openly gay service members from the military.
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Big British defense cuts weaken Pentagon's top military partner
As other European allies have dialed back military spending, Britain has been America's most reliable and capable security partner. But the British defense cuts announced Tuesday will affect Britain's 'long-term ability to fight alongside the US.'
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The Monitor's View: British budget cuts: two big lessons for America
Only time will show whether severe budget cuts in Britain are too deep for that fragile economy to sustain. Even so, the political will to cut spending and the readiness to sacrifice sacred cows stand out as examples for America.
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No delay for 'don't ask, don't tell' ruling, so Pentagon takes gays - for now
A federal judge refuses to suspend last week's ruling that the Pentagon must stop enforcement of 'don't ask, don't tell.' So the Pentagon says it will comply and accept openly gay recruits. But it cautions that the ruling is being appealed.
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Wikileaks: US says limited damage from leak of Afghan war logs
Despite the secret classification of the Afghan war logs Wikileaks posted on their website, the US says the damage is limited.
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Pentagon to federal court: Give us time to end 'don't ask, don't tell'
Its lawyers warned that the military could be 'irreparably' harmed by a court order to stop enforcing the ban on openly gay troops. Still, around Pentagon halls, it's clear an end to 'don't ask, don't tell' is coming.
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Pastor Terry Jones is given car for refraining from burning holy book
Pastor Terry Jones, of Gainesville, Fla., never burned a Quran but told The Associated Press on Thursday that the offer of a car was not the reason, saying he learned about the offer a few weeks after Sept. 11.
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China, US calm regional tensions at ASEAN defense conference
China-US defense chiefs met Tuesday for the first time since Beijing severed links earlier this year. The nations worked to ease tensions over a string of recent maritime disputes in East Asia.
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Does Pentagon trust Tom Donilon, new national security adviser?
Defense Secretary Robert Gates says he works well with new National Security Adviser Tom Donilon. But reports suggest there has been friction between Donilon and the Pentagon in the past.
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Free speech: Westboro church Supreme Court case tests First Amendment
A Supreme Court case challenging the Westboro Baptist Church anti-gay protests will test the limits of free speech, with First Amendment implications for other forms of expression such as Quran burning and racist demonstrations.
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The Monitor's View: Is Obama ready for a stare-down with China?
China's provocation of Japan over the Senkaku Islands shows a need for Obama to be ready for a crisis in Asia. He must buck up Japan and send a clear signal to Bejing.
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Admiral Mike Mullen: Cost of military health care is 'not sustainable'
At a Monitor breakfast, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, suggested an increase in co-pays that would affect military retirees and their families. Their co-pays haven't been raised for 15 years. Should they pay more, like other Americans have had to?
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North Korea succession: Analysts see turbulent period ahead
Amid signs that North Korea's Kim Jong-il is paving the way for his Swiss-educated son to assume power, analysts caution that his youth, and need to prove himself, could pose risks for the US.
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