Ideas

Five Takeaways from a Decade of War

After Secretary Hagel’s CSIS speech, Generals Cartwright, Chiarelli and Fogleman reveal key lessons of Iraq and Afghanistan the Pentagon should heed for the future. By James Kitfield

Ideas

Boring! Brass Worried Less War and Training Lulling Force

Joint Chiefs tell Congress the troops are getting bored as Afghanistan ends and sequester keeps them idle. By Stephanie Gaskell

Science & Tech

Satellite Firms Want Rules Eased for Intel-Quality Images

The satellite industry wants permission to sell images at twice the current resolution limit on the open market. By Joseph Marks

Business

Pentagon's Kendall: Budget Climate 'Worst I’ve Seen' for Planning

The DOD's top weapons buyer says that uncertainty is threatening the workforce 'and their ability to do their jobs.' By Charles S. Clark

Policy

Gillibrand Builds Support for Military Sex Assault Amendment

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand will get a vote on her effort to prosecute military sexual assaults outside of the chain of command -- a move the Joint Chiefs oppose. By Stacy Kaper

Ideas

Five Ways Obama Can Fix Drones Right Now

Civilian casualties can be prevented with better use of drones. By Sarah Holewinski and Larry Lewis

Science & Tech

Government Agencies Have No Way of Warning Each Other About a Cyber Attack, IG Says

The Pentagon, Homeland Security and NSA have no way of sharing warnings of cyber attacks with each other or with industry, a DHS inspector general report finds. By Aliya Sternstein

Business

Poll: Shutdown Skyrockets Public Opinion of Federal Workers

Confidence in federal workers hits five year high in a wave of shutdown sympathy, according to a new GWU poll. By William C. Adams and Donna Lind Infeld

Business

Beth McGrath, Top DOD Management Official, to Resign

Beth McGrath’s 25-year career focused on bringing business strategies to Defense Department operations. By Charles S. Clark

Ideas

Hagel’s Plan for the Military in the Post-War Era

As the nation comes off a 'perpetual war footing,' Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warns against relying too heavily on military might. By Kevin Baron

Business

Pentagon Building Security Chief Is Accused of Abusing His Authority

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency chief is accused of abusing firing range, golf and meal privileges. By Charles S. Clark

Science & Tech

Drones Deliver Missiles, But Not Pizza... Yet

Here are five reasons why drones don't beat Dominoes. By Philip A. Stephenson

Threats

How to Balance Safety and Openness for America’s Diplomats

U.S. embassies abroad increasingly resemble militarized compounds. That has to change, for America's own good. By John Norris

Business

Panel: DOD, CIA Required Doctors to Break Ethics With Detainees

Pentagon rejects as "high comedy" independent panel's criticism of post-9/11 intelligence gathering practices. By Clara Ritger

Policy

How Obama Can Bypass Congress and Ease Sanctions on Iran

A recalcitrant and hawkish Congress won't cut back on Iran sanctions by itself. Good thing the White House has plenty of other options. By Sara Sorcher

Science & Tech

NSA Overreach Awakens Tech Giants

Finally, Google, Apple and the others begin to shake their fingers at the spy agency. By Dustin Volz

Business

No More Nuclear-Tipped Cruise Missiles

The Pentagon is expected to decide soon whether to spend $30 billion on nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. Bad idea. By Tom Z. Collina

Business

The Percentage of Veterans Working for the Government Reaches a 20-Year High

Federal agencies have been making a big push to hire more veterans since November 2009, when President Obama ordered them to make it a priority. By Amelia Gruber

Business

Budget Cuts Put Acquisition Reform Back in the Spotlight

While the Defense Department grapples with budget cuts and sequestration, the House Armed Services Committee sets its sights once again on acquisition reform. By Charles S. Clark

Business

Is There Anything Left for the NSA to Spy On?

New leaks from Edward Snowden portray an agency breaking into systems it already had obtained legal access to. By Dustin Volz, Matt Berman and Brian Resnick