Threats

With or Without U.S. Intervention, Syria Will Become Iraq

Old line in Washington: Syria will be another Iraq if the U.S. military gets involved. New line: Syria will become another Iraq if they don’t. By Kevin Baron

Science & Tech

The NSA May Have Access to 75 Percent of Domestic Internet Traffic

New revelations indicate that the agency's domestic surveillance capacity is much broader, and older, than what was previously reported. By Abby Ohlheiser.

Threats

A Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria May Have Killed Hundreds

Specific details about the incident are currently unknown, but the attack could be one of the war's deadliest to date. By Dashiell Bennett

Defense Systems

Army buys six Shadow drones for $11.8M

The RQ-7B collects intelligence, relays real time video.

Defense Systems

Navy awards $18M modification for Aegis testing

Aegis Combat System can simultaneously attack land targets, submarines and surface ships.

Defense Systems

B-1B Lancer crashes during routine training

All four crew members safely ejected from the bomber.

Ideas

Once an Iraqi Interpreter, Now an American Soldier

The American dream -- and the fear of post-war Baghdad -- has led tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees to the U.S. For one former interpreter to the U.S. military, the only way to stay was to join up.

Policy

50 Percent of Americans Say Obama Isn’t ‘Tough’ on Egypt

As confusion swirls around the administration’s Egypt policy, many Americans say it’s time to cut military aid. By Mark Micheli

Ideas

Whispers in the Ranks that Iraq Has Turned Obama Isolationist to a Fault

Some in Obama’s diplomatic corps fear the president has “learned all the wrong things from Iraq” -- a deadly lesson for Syria’s rebels. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Science & Tech

Pentagon Wants To Expand Program That Detects Foreign Nuclear Tests

A new solicitation indicates that the DoD is considering an upgrade to a system used to track nuclear activity abroad. By Aliya Sternstein

Ideas

Just 75 Al Qaeda, Room for the Taliban and Organized Crime. Is This How It Ends in Afghanistan?

The enemy in Afghanistan is “a complex mosaic” and "may continue this fight for many, many years.” By Stephanie Gaskell

Science & Tech

Area 51 Has Been Hiding U-2 Spy Planes, Not UFOs

The existence of Area 51 isn’t the CIA’s most impressive revelation within the newly declassified document—it’s the U-2’s price tag. By Mark Micheli

Ideas

Why Is the Pentagon Dragging Its Feet on 3D Printing?

Troops in Afghanistan are testing 3D printers on the battlefield, but the military's acquisition process is getting in their way. By Kyle Chayka

Threats

Hagel Admits U.S. Influence in Egypt Is ‘Limited’

In his first public remarks about the violence in Egypt, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says “it will be their responsibility to sort this out.” By Kevin Baron

Policy

The NSA Needs a Church Committee

It's time for a new Church Committee, the mid-1970s surveillance oversight investigation named for Sen. Frank Church, and this time it should be led by Sen. Ron Wyden. By Conor Friedersdorf.

Defense Systems

Navy awards $243M contract for aircraft engineering services

Six contractors will provide systems engineering services to the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Department.

Defense Systems

Internet chat rooms used for joint exercise command and control

U.S. and Australian forces used chats alongside traditional technology during Talisman Saber.

Defense Systems

Coast Guard procurement of navigation app raises security concerns

Coast Guard seeks to replace mission critical paper navigation with electronic system.

Science & Tech

Exclusive: NSA Loophole Keeps Congress Clueless on Foreign Intel Violations

The leaked audit showing the NSA broke privacy rules nearly 3,000 times in one year is just the tip of the iceberg. The NSA is not telling Congress much more. By Marc Ambinder

Defense Systems

President Obama cancels U.S. participation in Egypt’s Bright Star Exercise

The biennial training brings thousands of U.S. air and ground forces to Egypt.