Threats

Gen. Allen: Obama Should Strike Iraq Insurgents With ‘A Hard Blow’

In an exclusive interview, Gen. John Allen, a former top U.S. military commander in Iraq, urges President Obama to strike ISIS with ‘a hard blow.’ By Stephanie Gaskell

Ideas

Don’t Be Sucked Into War With Iraq, Again

We should not be bullied back to Baghdad by politics, ideology or short-term thinking that this wrong war never should have ended. By Joe Cirincione

Ideas

Turning the Asia Pivot Into a Real ‘Obama Doctrine’

Why the pivot to Asia is the wrong model for an 'Obama doctrine' and how the president can get it right. By Lawrence J. Korb

Threats

Pentagon Officials Cautious on Iraq, Point to Maliki

At the Pentagon where so many spent years fighting in Iraq, the sense is that this is Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki’s mess to clean up. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

McCain Calls for Obama’s National Security Team to Resign Over Iraq

Fuming Republican senators blast the administration for abandoning Iraq as Sen. John McCain says Obama’s national security team should resign. By Kevin Baron

Policy

Congress May Be Done Fixing the VA for the Year

After dealing with the VA reform bill, Congress will head home for summer and advocates fear they won't get to other veterans issues before elections roll around this fall. By Stacy Kaper

Policy

Iraq Vets in Congress Helplessly Watch Their Gains Lost

'What was the point of all that?' Rep. Scott Perry asks as Mosul and Tikrit fall to extremists in Iraq. By Clara Ritger

Ideas

It’s Time for Obama To Re-Engage with Iraq

Just because the U.S. pulled out of Iraq in 2011 doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a vested interest in the worsening violence there. By Aki Peritz

Defense Systems

Barking up the right tree: a dual-use approach to continuous monitoring

Configured the right way, continuous monitoring not only protects your network but enhances it.

Defense Systems

US cyber official: Treat IT architecture as a weapon

DOD also needs to take account of its infrastructure and develop the ability to respond quickly to attacks, Marine Lt. Gen. Jon M. Davis says.

Threats

Can Ukraine Win the Information War Against Russia?

Scrappy news outlets are emerging in Kiev to counter the Kremlin. By Peter Pomerantsev

Policy

Hagel Fires Back at Bergdahl Criticism in Congress

At a hearing Wednesday, Defense Secretary Hagel lectured House Armed Services Committee members about war, saying the Bergdahl deal was the right call. By Molly O’Toole

Science & Tech

How the Pentagon Can Track the Taliban 5

The Taliban 5 may disappear back into the fight, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t findable. By Patrick Tucker

Threats

What the Fall of Mosul Means for Iraq

An al-Qaeda splinter group has seized an Iraqi city the size of Philadelphia. What does it signify for the country and the region? By Carl Schreck

Threats

Here's a Helpful Guide to the Taliban

At a House Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday on the release of Sgt. Bergdahl, there was some confusion over who exactly is the Taliban. Here's everything you need to know. By Bernard Gwertzman

Business

FBI Joins Investigation Into VA Wait Times

The FBI is reviewing VA records to see if officials committed a crime by lying about wait times for medical care to receive a bonus. By Jordain Carney

Defense Systems

DISA mulls laser system for satellite communications

All-optical systems potentially offer increased data transfer rates and better security while avoiding the crowded electromagnetic spectrum.

Defense Systems

Army, Navy fund Northrop for electronic warfare system

The company will produce pre-production units of its advances radar warning receiver and electronic warfare management system for aircraft.

Defense Systems

Pentagon picks Bender to be new Air Force CIO

Currently serving in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. William Bender would replace Lt. Gen. Michael Basla.

Policy

There’s Little Congress Can Do About the Bergdahl Deal

As Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel heads to the Hill to defend the release of Sgt. Bergdahl, members of Congress realize there’s not much they can do about it now. By Molly O’Toole