Science & Tech

House Wants Private Sector To Help Bolster U.S. Cyber Defense

House lawmakers think partnerships between the private sector and DHS will go a long way toward protecting America's vulnerable civil infrastructure. By Rebecca Carroll

Policy

Congress Clears the Way for VA to Fire Senior Executives

A new bi-partisan bill to kickstart reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs could find its way to the president's desk by the end of the week. By Eric Katz

Threats

How 'Game of Thrones' Will Predict the Next Bin Laden

Targeting the next terrorist mastermind is a lot like a close watch of 'Game of Thrones.' By Patrick Tucker

Defense Systems

DARPA chief: Military's focus on big systems 'is now killing us'

Prabhaker says Pentagon has to shed its expensive, slow-moving approach to technology and new weapons.

Defense Systems

US says China conducted secret anti-satellite weapons test

China is developing its ability to destroy satellites in orbit, which undermines stability in space, say State Department officials.

Defense Systems

Navy planning to put laser weapons on helicopters

Expected to complement traditional weapons, the HELWS laser could be used to attack low threat targets or incoming projectiles.

Threats

How China's Enormous Fishing Fleet Is Being Used As a Surrogate Navy

Beijing seems to be sending its fishermen to work in disputed waters for not only economic and commercial reasons, but geopolitical ones as well. By Adam Pasnick

Policy

Want to Be the Next Intelligence Whistleblower? You May Want to Wait

Even the director of national intelligence admits there are inadequate safeguards for officials who want to bring attention to wrongdoing. By Conor Friedersdorf

Threats

How The Army's Next Pistol Will End Up in a Gun Shop Near You

After more than 30 years, the Army will open its competition for a new standard-issue handgun. Here's how those old Beretta M9s could migrate to the streets. By Matt Valentine

Policy

Senate Thinks It May Have the NSA Reform Bill Everyone Can Agree On

Uniting the White House, tech companies, and privacy groups has proven nearly impossible so far. Will the Senate's latest attempt this week be any different? By Dustin Volz

Policy

Senate Panel's 1 Percent Troop, Civilian Pay Raise Now Faces House Hurdles

A more modest pay raise for troops and defense civilians looks safe in the Democratic-controlled Senate. But how will it fare in the Republican-controlled House? By Kellie Lunney

Threats

Why Benjamin Netanyahu Should Be Very, Very Worried

Israel's future looks more vulnerable than at any point in the 21st century as demographic and social trends are complicating perceptions of the Gaza offensive. By Ron Fournier

Policy

House, Senate Committee Reaches Compromise to Reform the VA

Just days before the August recess, a conference committee reached a deal to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs with a breakthrough $17 billion bill. By Molly O’Toole

Defense Systems

Air Force takes $495M step toward hosted payloads for satellites

The service awards a contract to 14 companies with a plan for fast, flexible satellite operations.

Defense Systems

DARPA moves ahead on protecting military wireless networks

The Wireless Network Defense program looks to lay the foundation for the next generation of wireless systems.

Policy

Why Is Israel Losing a War It's Winning?

Five reasons why Israel is losing the battle of perception over its Gaza offensive, even as it wins the battle against rockets and tunnels. By Jeffrey Goldberg

Threats

U.S. Evacuates Embassy in Libya

Ongoing violence between Libyan militias forced the State Department to evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli on Saturday. By Stephanie Gaskell

Threats

The Number of Foreign Fighters in Syria Now Exceeds 12,000 and Rising

Syria is now the ‘predominant battleground for extremists‘ plotting Western attacks as foreign fighters increase 50 percent since April, says U.S. counterterrorism director. By Kevin Baron

Threats

Why India and China Matter to America's Afghanistan Drawdown Plan

How New Delhi and Beijing plan to cope with an increasingly independent Afghanistan. By Daniel Markey

Ideas

Guantanamo's New Purgatory

If the Periodic Review Boards are to ever meaningfully review Guantanamo detainees' detention, they must address these issues of delay, transparency, and legitimacy. By Zak Newman