Defense Systems

2016 Defense budget calls for a big, but unlikely, boost in spending

The $585 billion proposal ignores a congressional spending cap while promoting a modernized military.

Science & Tech

Obama Wants More Money for Military Spy Satellites, Lasers, Space Fence

It could be a great year for lasers and spy satellites, but a bad one for drones on aircraft carriers.

Threats

Kenji Goto's Death Is Forcing Japan To Rethink Fighting Terrorism

Tokyo is quickly coming to a geopolitical crossroad. Will it become more assertive globally after this attack?

Ideas

A New Diagnosis for Combat Nightmares

Soldiers returning from duty often experience vivid dreams, night sweats and other symptoms commonly classified as PTSD, but a new condition may be more accurate.

Science & Tech

White House Wants More Reaper Drones To Fight ISIS

With the terrorism fight spreading the military wants more drones to fight ISIS.

Policy

Let Netanyahu Make His Case, Then Consider Why He's Wrong

The Israeli prime minister argues that 2015 is fundamentally similar to the world of 1938. Americans should hear him out, then pursue a more reasonable policy.

Business

White House Requests Modest Pay Increase for Troops and Civilians

The Obama administration's fiscal 2016 plan would give troops a slight increase in pay over last year's 1 percent bump while federal workers would receive their highest pay raise in six years.

Business

Pentagon Unveils $585 Billion Budget Request

While the Pentagon will enjoy a peace dividend of sorts, the latest proposal still keeps the military on a war footing.

Defense Systems

DOD engaging industry to help with cloud transition

The department wants to collaborate with commercial providers, establish common security standards and reassess which information needs to be treated as sensitive.

Defense Systems

Strategic Command adds Germany to its space surveillance network

The alliance of nations and international organizations will share data on objects orbiting the Earth.

Policy

Buying a New Air Force One Is Complicated

Buying a new jet to fly the American president around the world is more complicated that cutting Boeing a check for a new 747.

Threats

ISIS Appears To Have Executed Its Second Japanese Hostage

The Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, whom ISIS appears to have killed on Saturday, devoted his life to highlighting the plight of children in refugee zones.

Threats

Will Nigerians Elect a Military Dictator To Save Them from Boko Haram?

A man who once oversaw one of Nigeria’s least popular and repressive regimes is capturing the attention of citizens tired of Boko Haram and their elected officials.

Threats

What If I Was Able Stop the Afghanistan War?

The story of my last-ditch effort to talk the Taliban and Washington out of a war.

Business

Obama's Budget Would Cut Just 3,500 Pentagon Civilian Jobs

The leaked plan to cut 3,500 civilians from the Pentagon's headquarters staff is not seen as an enormous loss for a workforce totaling roughly 800,000.

Ideas

Obama’s Trillion Dollar Nuclear Weapons Gamble

Why is the president is proposing a multi-billion dollar nuclear arsenal overhaul that is expensive, dangerous, and does nothing to make the United States safer?

Threats

France Publishes 'How To Spot a Jihadist' Citizen's Guide

The French government releases new anti-jihadist literature Wednesday as part of a broader counterterrorism response to the Paris attacks.

Policy

Should Veterans With PTSD Be Exempt From the Death Penalty?

Some legal experts suggest the criminal justice system should treat convicted veterans suffering from war trauma differently than other criminals.

Science & Tech

Better Simulation Could Save the Military Millions

A new survey reveals how the military is using simulation and obstacles to wider implementation.