Policy
Government Shutdown Whispers Begin Again
The same Republican faction that brought last year's furloughs and closings may be ready to have at it again. By Molly Ball
Threats
Mother of Kidnapped Journalist Sotloff Pleads to Baghdadi for Son’s Life
As the fate of kidnapped Americans complicates the U.S. fight against the Islamic State, Shirley Sotloff tells its leader her son is an innocent. By Kevin Baron
Defense Systems
Defense spending cuts hitting contractor workforces
The top five defense contractors have lost a cumulative 70,000 jobs since 2008, according to a Politico analysis.
Defense Systems
MDA awards $25 million for missile interception modeling
Modern Technology Solutions Inc. will provide algorithms and models to be incorporated into simulations of thee Ballistic Missile Defense System.
Science & Tech
Three Companies Want to Send NASA's Astronauts Into Space
A different kind of space race is seeking to break America's reliance on Russia to get U.S. astronauts into orbit. By Marina Koren
Business
How Obama Plans to Fix Veterans’ Mental Health Care
On Tuesday, the White House unveiled more steps to improve wounded veterans care. By Eric Katz
Threats
Here's One American-Russian 24-Point Plan to Solve Ukraine
A group of Americans and Russians met in Finland and developed a 24-point agenda for peace in Ukraine. That's right: a 24-point plan. Think it'll work? By Uri Friedman
Science & Tech
Pentagon Satellite Maker Ignoring 'Thousands' of Major Cyber Vulnerabilities
Raytheon blasted for ignoring 'high-risk' vulnerabilities to weather satellites shared by government agencies. By Aliya Sternstein
Business
VA Finally Seeking a Replacement for Its Outdated Scheduling System
The VA would love to put its wait list problems far behind it, and a new scheduling system expected to be announced by the end of the year could be a big step forward. By Jack Moore
Threats
Why the Bombing of Tripoli Is a Game-Changer
For Washington, airstrikes by Egyptian and U.A.E. jets on Tripoli fighters signal a promising turn for regional players coordinating their own security. By Bobby Ghosh
Defense Systems
DOD, at last, invites bids for electronic health records system
The project, which could be worth up to $11 billion, seeks a commercial system that will be interoperable with VA’s records.
Defense Systems
Efforts to track space junk continue to expand
DOD’s tracking website will release new positional information, while private companies partner up to build a new ground site.
Policy
Republicans Recycle ‘Containment’ Line for Obama’s Iraq Strategy
Republicans once again hit Obama for ‘containment’ – painting the president as weak for not doing more to attack the Islamic State. By Molly O’Toole
Business
Is the Pentagon's Personnel Reform Turning a Corner at Long Last?
From one union's perspective, the Defense Department's negotiations with labor groups are progressing at a surprisingly positive pace. By Eric Katz
Ideas
It’s Time to Sink the Littoral Combat Ship
Things that seem too good to be true usually are, and so it is with the LCS. By Jacob Marx and William D. Hartung
Threats
The Problem With Bombing the Islamic State in Syria
For all the problems with intervening militarily in Iraq, every one of them pale next to the problems of doing so in Syria. By Peter Beinart
Threats
Fort Lee Incident Now the Third Active Shooting This Year on U.S. Military Bases
The shooting incident at Fort Lee, Va., marked the third active shooter this year on a U.S. military base, and turns the spotlight back briefly on military suicides. By Ben Watson
Defense Systems
Army awards contracts for helicopters’ anti-missile defense
Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems will continue developing their demonstrators for the CIRCM program.
Defense Systems
NGA's map to put a world of geospatial intell in one place
The digital Map of the World will be the bedrock of the intelligence community’s information sharing.
Defense Systems