Business

Report: NSA Director To Step Down in April

NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander is reportedly set to step down in April. By Connor Simpson

Ideas

No NSA Poster Child: The Real Story of 9/11 Hijacker Khalid al-Mihdhar

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is wrong to claim today’s NSA data collection would have stopped 9/11. We had the technology and data to catch Khalid al-Mihdhar. By Michael German

Ideas

Submarines Alone Are Not Enough Nuclear Deterrent

No one leg of the nuclear triad, alone, can be considered an effective deterrence to nuclear war. By Robert Spalding

Business

Senate Shutdown Deal Includes Back-Pay Measure For Furloughed Feds

Even if the legislation passes, it may be a while before furloughed civilians receive their paychecks. By Kellie Lunney

Policy

Senate Shutdown Deal Moves to House, Again

House GOP scheduled for 3 p.m. meeting on bill that will require Democratic support. By Billy House

Business

Afghan War Waste Revealed: Coalition Lost $230 Million in Spare Parts

One year ago, ISAF learned it had lost track of more than $300 million in taxpayer funded vehicle parts for the Afghan army. Now, the inspector general let the public know. By Kevin Baron

Science & Tech

Shutdown Shutters Very Large Array Radio Telescope

A lack of federal funding forces the iconic telescope to halt its research activities on outer space. By Bob Brewin

Business

Budget Crunches and Travel Restrictions Force Army Conference Online

The service says that streaming conference panels is a 'cost effective' way of reaching the Army's audience while encouraging professional development. By Bob Brewin

Defense Systems

Seapower symposium cancelled due to shutdown

The Chief of Naval Operation said the biennial conference is a victim of the government shutdown.

Threats

New Study Says Iraq War Led to Half a Million Iraqi Deaths

For every three people killed by violence in Iraq, two died as a result of conflict-crippled health care, water and transportation systems, a new study finds. By Marina Koren

Ideas

Is John Kerry a Better Secretary of State Than Hillary Clinton?

In the last two months, Kerry has reopened mideast peace talks, negotiated a chemical weapons ban in Syria, found common ground with Russia and met in a historic sit-down with Iran's foreign minister. By Michael Hirsh

Threats

Obama Was Wrong When He Said the U.S. Doesn't Do Pinpricks

Ever since Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. has mainly only intervened militarily in small, strategic ways. By Lionel Beehner

Business

How Does the Government Decide Which Workers Are Essential?

Pentagon officials don't like using the word 'essential' when it comes to furloughing employees. So how do they decide who's exempt from the shutdown? By Brittany Ballenstedt

Policy

Will There Be a Debt Ceiling Deal?

With thousands of civilian defense workers on furlough and warnings that readiness is eroding, time is running out to reach to a deal on the debt limit. By National Journal Staff

Business

Got a Security Clearance? Now the Feds Want to Spy on You, Too

Are you cleared? The Snowden case has sparked a new debate over how much the government should spy on its own workers with security clearance. By Aliya Sternstein

Defense Systems

Military looks to reuse IT equipment

Army command leading effort to repurpose computer hardware, achieve savings.

Ideas

To Save the Submarines, Eliminate ICBMs and Bombers

If the Pentagon is serious about new Ohio-class SSBNs, then it should end the “nuclear triad” of missiles and bombers (freeing $20 billion a year). By Christopher Preble and Matt Fay

Ideas

Give and Take: Time to Get Real In U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks

Iran and the U.S. have the best shot in years at a nuclear deal, if each is willing to give up some of what it wants to get what it really needs. By Greg Thielmann

Business

The Atlantic's Interview With Defense Secretary Hagel

The sergeant-turned-secretary talks about his job, and why he sent Egypt's top general a book about George Washington. By Steve Clemons

Policy

Congress Urges Hagel, U.S. to Block Turkey-China Anti-Missile Deal

Republicans in Congress are raising red flags over a possible deal to place Chinese anti-missile technology in Turkey, a NATO ally. By Rachel Oswald