Department of Defense

NATO Chief Proposes Defense Missile Shield With Russia

Nation & World - September 18, 2009

The head of NATO calls for linking defense systems against threats from Asia and the Middle East. more >>

Pentagon's Gates to Face His Air Force Critics

By Paul Bedard - Washington Whispers - September 14, 2009

Under fire in Air Force circles, Defense Secretary Robert Gates isn't afraid to meet them head on. more >>

Tennessee Colleges Will Train Nurses for Disaster

By Jessica Calefati - The Paper Trail - September 8, 2009

The Defense Department is funding the program to prepare nurses for natural disasters and war. more >>

GAO Says Pentagon's Officer PR Program Is Legal and Ethical

By Paul Bedard - Washington Whispers - July 31, 2009

GAO finds no problem with Pentagon PR campaign, despite issues raised in a Pulitzer-winning story. more >>

Civilian Casualties Could End Airstrike Support

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - June 17, 2009

Pentagon officials say stopping civilian deaths is their top priority. more >>

Honeybees to the Rescue on Battlefields

By Paul Bedard - Washington Whispers - June 7, 2009

A research team is looking into using bees to track the vapors explosives emit. more >>

Pentagon War Games Predict Future Threats

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - June 5, 2009

The military's big thinkers plan for future needs by predicting potential security threats. more >>

Obama Nominates Republican McHugh as Secretary of the Army

By Amanda Ruggeri - Nation & World - June 2, 2009

McHugh would be the third Republican in a high-ranking post in Obama's administration. more >>

Time to Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell? Most Americans Favor Gays in the Military

By Robert Schlesinger - Robert Schlesinger - May 27, 2009

Gallup finds a large majority of Americans now favor gays in the military. more >>

McChrystal Represents a New Direction at the Pentagon and in Afghanistan

By Joshua Kucera - Nation & World - May 18, 2009

Defense Secretary Gates brought in a new commander to replace McKiernan in Afghanistan. more >>

Obama Seems to Care About U.S. Soldiers' Lives; Why Doesn't the ACLU?

By Mary Kate Cary - Mary Kate Cary - May 13, 2009

Why the ACLU isn't concerned about jeopardizing the lives of U.S. soldiers is beyond me. more >>

Pentagon to the <i>New York Times</i> on Pulitzer: Never mind

By Paul Bedard - Washington Whispers - May 6, 2009

The Defense Department trashes its own investigation. more >>

Budget Constraints at Pentagon Could Affect National Security

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - May 4, 2009

The Defense Department starts its yearlong review of strategic priorities. more >>

Why the Obama Administration is So Worried About Pakistan

By Thomas Omestad - Nation & World - April 28, 2009

The Taliban are advancing in Pakistan and it's unclear whether the government can push them back. more >>

Why the Pentagon Needs to Rebuild Its Relationship With Pakistan's Military

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - April 14, 2009

To win Afghan war, the U.S. military needs better relations with the Pakistani armed forces. more >>

10,000 More Troops for Afghanistan? The Pentagon Request Isn't Really New

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - April 2, 2009

Petraeus surprised some with the request for more soldiers, but it's been in the works for months. more >>

Why the Heat Is on Robert Gates Over the Pentagon's Big-Ticket Weapons

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - March 25, 2009

The defense secretary faces a budget showdown over some of the Pentagon's most expensive systems. more >>

Defense Secretary Gates Could Stay Through Obama's 4 Years

By Paul Bedard - Washington Whispers - March 12, 2009

Forget all the media speculation that Defense Secretary Robert Gates is a short-timer. more >>

Was the Pentagon Right to Lift Military Coffin Photo Ban?

Opinion - March 9, 2009

Critics argue that photos honor the fallen, proponents say families don't need more tough decisions. more >>

Ban on Photographing Military Coffins Protected Grieving Families from Media

By William C. Martel - Opinion - March 9, 2009

The ban protects grieving families from a media maelstrom, says Bill Martel. more >>

Pentagon Was Correct to Lift the Photo Ban on Military Coffins Returning Home

By Ron Milam - Opinion - March 9, 2009

Photographing coffins of fallen service members lets us honor their return, argues Ron Milam. more >>

On Pentagon Waste: Just Give It to Us Straight

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - March 3, 2009

Often, bureaucracy-speak masks the real story. more >>

To a Bailout Economy: Defense Contractors Fight Budget Cuts With Jobs Promises

By Stephen Glain - Opinion - February 27, 2009

Defense contractors fight budget cuts with 'Now Hiring' signs, Stephen Glain writes. more >>

Barack Obama, Robert Gates, and the Rumsfeld Pentagon-State Relationship

By Stephen Glain - Opinion - January 7, 2009

Defense secretary talks big on diplomacy, Stephen Glain writes, but must put money where his mouth is. more >>

In the Battle Against Modern-Day Pirates, the Pentagon Eyes Its Role Warily

By Anna Mulrine - Nation & World - December 23, 2008

Some want the U.S. military to go ashore in Somalia to hunt pirates, commanders aren't enthusiastic. more >>