Topic: The Pentagon
Top galleries, list articles, quizzes
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Opinion 4 ways Chuck Hagel can improve cyber security
Newly sworn-in Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel must guide the Department of Defense through a few key challenges to better secure the nation’s cyber networks. His focus at the Pentagon should be on these four key areas.
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If not 'sequester,' then what? Five ideas from left and right.
Few in Washington believe that "the sequester,” $85 billion in automatic spending cuts set to hit the federal budget as of March 1, is a good idea. But what's the alternative? Here are five proposals, from the right, the center, and the left, to replace the sequester. Which do you like?
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Sequester 101: What happens if $85 billion in cuts hit on March 1
The sequester is a complex concept with a tortuous history. Here are the basics on the automatic spending reductions set to kick in March 1.
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Opinion 5 reasons why Africa is not ready to meet its own security needs – yet
Africa’s experiment in a regional approach to security is serious and laudable, but it will take time to build credible capacity. Here are five reasons why Africa is not ready to meet its own security needs – yet.
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Pentagon's budget nightmare: How each branch would handle sequester cuts
With the threat of a mandatory, across-the-board series of cuts known as sequestration looming over the Pentagon, each of the services has begun its worst-case-scenario planning. Here is where the cuts stand now:
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Cover Story What Americans want from the next president
On the eve of a historically tight election, a writer drives through swing states and listens to the voices of America, hearing one overriding plea: 'Washington, stop bickering. Get something done!'
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The Monitor's View Good riddance, Sandy. Hello sea barriers?
Individuals and government have done much that is praiseworthy in the recovery effort following superstorm Sandy. But what should be done to prevent the next disaster?
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In Sandy's aftermath, military brings rescue swimmers and 'bucket trucks'
The US military has manpower, equipment, and skills that make it uniquely suited to disaster relief. In the aftermath of hurricane Sandy, it is filling in important gaps.
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Benghazi attack: Urgent call for military help ‘was denied by chain of command’
Fox News and others report that military help was available during the terrorist attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, but denied. CIA and Pentagon officials strongly deny the claim.
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Backchannels Last post on US politics and the Benghazi attack
I hope.
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Cybersecurity chief: Attacks on US banks tough to pin down
Cybersecurity getting increased attention from US government after a wave of Internet attacks on US banks. Pentagon blames Iran, but cybersecurity expert Gil Shwed says they could come from any developed country.
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Decoder Wire Bob Schieffer and presidential debate: Will this moderator enforce the rules?
Bob Schieffer moderates the third presidential debate, on foreign policy, Monday evening. If the first two debates are any indication, the challenge for him will be containing the discussion.
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The Monitor's View Please, a discerning presidential debate on foreign policy
When Mitt Romney and President Obama debate foreign policy Monday evening, they need to admit the US faces wholly new challenges that require a national consensus on the core values that can drive US responses.
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Presidential debate 101: Does Romney want extra $2 trillion for Pentagon?
Romney's call for Pentagon spending to be no less than 4 percent of GDP could add $2 trillion to its budget. But Obama's claim that this is money the military doesn't want misses a key issue: civilian control.
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9/11 cases: Do broad constitutional rights apply to Guantánamo detainees?
US Supreme Court has identified some rights that apply to terrorism suspects at the US detention camp. At a pretrial hearing at Guantánamo, detainees' lawyers argue that the Constitution should be presumed to be in effect during war-crimes trials.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: the 3 most surprising things you didn't know
Fifty years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the United States and the Soviet Union within a hair’s breadth of nuclear war. Here are three things that many Americans don’t know about what historians routinely call “the most dangerous moment in human history.”
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9/11 cases: Three of five Guantánamo detainees skip pretrial hearing
A military commission judge said Monday the defendants don't have to attend the proceedings, and on Tuesday Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other Guantánamo detainees opted out. It's a day-by-day decision.
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Decoder Wire Vice presidential debate: Did Paul Ryan want $300 million embassy security cut?
In the vice presidential debate Thursday, Joe Biden said a budget written by Rep. Paul Ryan sought a $300 million cut in embassy security. The facts are more nuanced.
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At meeting, Billy Graham pledges to do 'all he can' to help Romney win presidency
Romney went to see Graham and his son, the Rev. Franklin Graham, at the elderly evangelist's mountaintop home in the mountains of western North Carolina.
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Pentagon's Plan X: how it could change cyberwarfare
The Pentagon has always been secretive about its desire and ability to carry out offensive cyberwarfare. Now, Plan X makes it clear that offensive cyberattacks will be in the Pentagon playbook.
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Mitt Romney wants to arm Syrian rebels: What are the risks?
Extremist elements, some affiliated with Al Qaeda, appear to be playing a growing role in the fight against the Assad regime, posing a challenge to proposals, such as Romney's, to arm the Syrian rebels.
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Swing voters the presidential debate forgot: veterans
Wednesday's presidential debate included some love for Big Bird, but none for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, whose plight was ignored. But vets could prove an important voting bloc.
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Economy is the name of the game in Mass. Senate race
As Massachusetts voters scrutinize Republican Sen. Scott Brown and challenger Democratic Elizabeth Warren the candidates may be have to tackle issues like foreign policy and national security.
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Rep. Scott Rigell: Maverick GOP freshman in the eye of a political storm
Obama is hitting Virginia Beach, Va., Thursday for a reason: It's one of the hottest political ad markets in the country. Its congressman, Scott Rigell, is out to change Washington's 'toxic mix of partisanship, no facts, weak ideas.'
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Focus Can GOP survive its 'minority problem'?
Polls show that the GOP continues to be 'the party of old, white men' – and that could be decisive in the 2012 presidential election. Demographics suggest that the party must change, and soon.
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Congress exits Washington to hit campaign trail
The most partisan, least productive Congress in memory has skipped out of Washington for the campaign trail. Left behind for a postelection session is a pile of unfinished business.
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Cybersecurity bill: Why senator is taking his case straight to top CEOs
Amid opposition from business groups to a cybersecurity bill, Sen. Jay Rockefeller is writing CEOs of the nation's top 500 companies for their views 'without the filter of Beltway lobbyists.'
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Afghanistan: Why don't we leave now?
The rise in attacks by Afghan forces against Western troops is threatening US-Afghan military cooperation – a key reason to stay until 2014. The trend could affect the US exit strategy.
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Winter of the World
The second book of Ken Follett's 'Century' trilogy is a gift to lovers of popular fiction.
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Libya attack: US doubts that Al Qaeda planned ahead (+video)
UN Ambassador Susan Rice said Sunday she doubts the deadly attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was a pre-planned Al Qaeda operation that could have been detected. As protests to an anti-Islam video continued, some knowledgeable lawmakers aren't so sure.
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