Topic: U.S. 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.
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.
Top 3 threats to the United States: the good and bad news

The annual Worldwide Threat Assessment of the US Intelligence Community is out this week, a widely-anticipated report compiled by the nation’s intelligence agencies. Here is the good and bad news about the top three threats facing the United States, according to an unclassified version of the report.
Bestselling books the week of 3/10/13, according to IndieBound*

See what's selling in bookstores across America.

All Content

Culture Cafe 'Zero Dark Thirty': What's the story behind the film about bin Laden? (+video)

The plot of 'Zero Dark Thirty,' the movie by 'Hurt Locker' director Kathryn Bigelow, has been shrouded in secrecy. Check out the trailer to learn more.
Pentagon vs. Al Qaeda: Panetta hints at shifting US tactics

In a little-noticed policy speech, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says Al Qaeda has been adapting to the US offensive against its leadership, requiring the Pentagon to adopt new tactics.
What has the US already tried in Mali?

The US and the international community are debating how to intervene in war-torn Mali. But over the past decade, the US has already been heavily involved.
Israelis ponder alternatives to 'mowing the lawn' in Gaza (+video)

Israel has yet to articulate a long-term strategy for Gaza, but there is a growing consensus that a military operation every few years is not the answer.
Obama visit to Cambodia overshadowed by row over South China Sea

Disputes at the summit illustrate the difficulty of forging a Southeast Asian consensus over dealing with an increasingly assertive China.
Latin America Monitor Four messages Obama is sending Latin America from his trip through Asia

Obama may be sending an unintentional message that the US holds Asian countries like Myanmar and China to a lower standard on democracy and human rights.
The Monitor's View: Pentagon can recover from Petraeus and Allen scandals

The Petraeus affair and the 'inappropriate' e-mails of Gen. John Allen push defense chief Leon Panetta to demand changes in the military's ethical culture. But conduct by the book also needs conduct by a conscience that knows right from wrong.
Gaza: Egypt shows support of Hamas (+video)

Israel and Hamas are trading fire. Egypt's president, Mohamed Mursi, denounced Israel's role in the fighting. In support of Hamas, Egyptian officials plan to visit Gaza on Friday.
Why Susan Rice is being targeted by Republicans (+video)

Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the UN, is on the short list to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But Sen. John McCain is leading a charge to keep Susan Rice from being nominated.
Tragic killing of Honduran teen leaves US asking questions

In May, Honduran soldiers tracked down and killed a 15-year-old boy. This week, the boy's father found that the soldiers had been trained and equipped by the US. The State Department is pressing the Honduran government for answers.
US cybersecurity report points accusing finger at China

An annual report to Congress says China is the biggest threat to US cybersecurity, spelling out in some detail who might be doing the cyberspying.
Space cooperation with Australia the latest sign of US pivot toward Asia

In addition to last year's agreement to rotate US Marines through Australia, the US and Australia are now cooperating on advanced military space equipment that will help tackle 'space junk.'
Opinion: Obama's post-election Syria policy is unlikely to change, but it should

Obama’s policy of 'staying the course' in Syria should be weighed against worsening strategic realities in the country and region. Only a careful military program to help the rebels, including arming and training them, can stem the growing costs of US inaction.
Who is Jill Kelley? (+video)

Jill Kelley identifies herself as an 'Honorary Consul General.' The Florida hostess, mother of three children and wife of a surgeon, is in the middle of a sex scandal involving Gen. David Petraeus. Now Jill Kelley's 'flirtatious' emails with Gen. John Allen are under investigation.
Petraeus scandal: 'Wouldn't call it welcome,' says White House (+video)

According to a nearly complete investigation, Marine Gen. John Allen played a role in the scandal which prompted CIA Director David Petraeus' resignation. General Allen's involvement has delayed a planned White House decision to transfer him to Europe.
Bestselling books the week of 11/15/12, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best at independent bookstores across America.
Backchannels Be wary about what you read on the Petraeus scandal

Welcome to the 'wilderness of mirrors.' For those of us on the outside, great care should be taken in assessing each new 'reveal.'
Gen. John Allen: How top US commander got caught up in Petraeus scandal (+video)

Gen. John Allen, the top US commander in Afghanistan, is now the subject of an FBI investigation for alleged "inappropriate communications" with Jill Kelley, a married socialite in Florida. Gen. John Allen denies any wrongdoing.
'The Invisible War': what we can do

A Christian Science perspective: Some insights after viewing the documentary ‘The Invisible War,’ which reports on widespread sexual abuse of women serving in the US military.
Readers Write: US-NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan is complicated; Quran must be better understood

Letters to the Editor for the weekly print issue of November 11, 2012: The US military entered Afghanistan in 2001 in order to bring democracy, gender equality, and security to that nation, but many would argue that they have failed on all counts; The Quran must be discussed with reason and intelligence, as an International Quranic Studies Association would hopefully accomplish.
Opinion: Veterans Day: To regain trust, Congress should take a cue from US military

This Veterans Day, the military is one of America’s most trusted institutions; Congress is one of the least. Confidence in many public institutions is low because they lack a sense of duty, trust, loyalty, and teamwork – qualities US troops hold dear, and which all Americans can practice.
Petraeus affair: From romantic jealousy to the downfall of 'King David'

Details are emerging about the extramarital affair that led to CIA Director David Petraeus's resignation. Some in Congress want to know why the FBI waited so long to inform them.
Are you smarter than a US Marine? Take the recruitment quiz

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is made up of 10 tests. but only four are used to see if you qualify to join the US military. Word Knowledge (WK), Paragraph Comprehension (PC), Arithmetic Reasoning (AR), and Mathematics Knowledge (MK) are used to compute your Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) score. Our 24 sample questions cover just those areas. The real recruitment test has 105 questions.Are you smart enough to be a US Marine or Air Force pilot? Take our quiz.
Iran fires at US drone: the top 3 pressing questions

Iranian military forces fired at a US Predator drone for the first time ever earlier this month, the Pentagon acknowledged this week. It’s a revelation that has raised a host of questions for the US military. Here are the top three.
Terrorism & Security Refugee flow soars as Syrians flee intense fighting between rebels, Assad forces

The UN says that more than 11,000 people fled Syria overnight, and is warning that by early 2013, some 4 million inside Syria could need humanitarian aid.