Defense Systems

Air Force weather satellite explodes in orbit

The 20-year-old satellite was no longer being used for forecasts but leaves more than a ton of space junk behind.

Policy

Congress Delays Homeland Security Shutdown Through Friday

The House and Senate is set to tackle funding once more for the Department of Homeland Security as well as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's visit this week.

Threats

Russian Opposition Leader Shot Dead in Moscow

The killing of a liberal former deputy prime minister leaves very few remaining Russian politicians to stand in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Science & Tech

NSA Spying Continues With Another Rubber Stamp

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court late last week extended the NSA's mass surveillance of U.S. phone metadata through May unless Congress acts.

Threats

Will Netanyahu's Washington Moment Ruin a Breakthrough on Iran?

The politics of Netanyahu's speech to Congress this week masks another issue: Obama's responsibility to avoid making a bad nuclear deal with Tehran.

Policy

Rand Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll for 2016, But No National Security Frontrunner Emerges

When libertarian-leaning conservative Republican voters beat the drums of more mainstream hawkishness, what’s a potential GOP candidate for 2016 to do?

Threats

An Anti-ISIS Summit in Mecca

A little-noticed conference in Mecca on 'Islam and Counterterrorism' offers a counterpoint to the Obama administration's narrative on how to defeat ISIS.

Policy

Scott Walker Walks Back Protesters and ISIS Stumble

The Wisconsin governor tries to limit the fallout for 2016 from comparing a fight with Wisconsin protesters to combatting the Islamic State.

Threats

The Damage Netanyahu Is Doing to the US-Israel Relationship

The Israeli prime minister seems willing set relations with Washington on fire in order to save his political career.

Science & Tech

‘Jihadi John’ and the Future of the Biometrics Terror Hunt

The future of the biometrics dragnets that identified an Islamic State executioner is on a hilltop in West Virginia.

Defense Systems

Can Ash Carter change DOD's PowerPoint culture?

The new Defense secretary bans slideshows from a meeting with top commanders, but whether that approach trickles down is a big question.

Defense Systems

DISA CIO targets cloud automation

Bennett says automation is critical for network configuration, big data and responding to cyber threats faster than "a pregnant turtle."

Threats

Clapper Says People in Mosul May Be Getting Sick of ISIS

The nation’s top spy offered a bleak assessment of the nation’s threats.

Policy

2016 Hopeful Gov. Scott Walker Equates Wisconsin Protesters With ISIS

The governor said as commander in chief, he’d handle militant terrorists as he faced protesters back in Wisconsin.

Science & Tech

Inside the Glitz of a Middle East Arms Show

IDEX has become a must-attend event for defense firms and consultants alike as conversation with a powerful decision maker could translate into billions of dollars in weapon sales.

Policy

Azerbaijan Is Behaving Like a Mini Russia

Azerbaijan's geography and natural resources make it a convenient US and EU ally. But the mercurial behavior of this pint-sized petrostate is creating some geopolitical problems.

Science & Tech

Cyber Teamwork Between Federal Agencies Still Too Hard, Says Army Cyber Commander

It's still difficult for the military to work with civilian agencies and the private sector on cybersecurity.