Ideas
How Badly Did Manning Hurt the United States?
Manning said he was sorry for leaking troves of classified information from Iraq and Afghanistan. But just how much damage did he do? By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
The Cost of Mental Health Care in the Military: $4.5 Billion Since 2007
Mental health care costs are on the rise in the military. The Pentagon spent nearly $1 billion on mental health treatment last year – roughly double the amount it spent in 2007. By Bob Brewin
Policy
What the NSA's Compliance Data Tells Us
One piece of data, left unredacted in its report to Congress, appears to give more information on the surveillence program than the NSA has ever released publicly. By Philip Bump
Business
Stop Shrouding the U.S. Drone Program in Secrecy
What if Obama was forced by Congress to share, after every lethal drone strike, a detailed summary of the evidence against the people killed? By Conor Friedersdorf
Policy
How Egypt Helps Assad
The U.S. is reluctant to get involved in Egypt - and Syrian President Bashir Assad knows it. By Michael Hirsh
Business
Sequestration Hits Army and Navy’s Senior Ranks
Sequestration is forcing the Army and Navy to reduce the number of senior officers. By Mark Micheli
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