Ideas
Get the Message: Military Compensation Reform Is Sacred No More
That Congress was willing to touch the third rail of military retirement pay shows times are changing, as they should. By Maren Leed
Policy
Feinstein’s NSA Bill Is Officially on Life Support
Civil liberties groups have strongly pushed back against the bill, claiming that it "entrenches" the agency's surveillance programs. By Dustin Volz
Policy
Senate Passes Budget Bill Cutting Pension Benefits for New Feds and Military Retirees
The $85 billion savings package would fund the government well past mid-January 2014, and sets spending levels through fiscal 2015. By Kellie Lunney
Policy
NDAA Clears Key Hurdle, Final Passage Expected This Week
Wednesday's vote ran over Republican objections that prohibited additional amendments to the defense authorization bill. By Stacy Kaper
Policy
Senators Eyeing Changes to Military Retiree Pensions
The budget looks like it will pass on Wednesday, but lawmakers are already gearing up to make plenty of fixes in the coming months. By Sarah Mimms and Michael Catalini
Policy
Assad Could Stay in Power After End of Syria’s Civil War
Officials are afraid that toppling the authoritarian could lead to a takeover by al-Qaeda backed Islamists. By Jordain Carney
Policy
Top GOP Senator: Iran Sanctions Bill Coming
The rollout of the bipartisan measure is dependent on a timetable set by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Sen. Bob Menendez, R-N.J. By Stacy Kaper
Policy
Feinstein: Let Supreme Court Decide the Fate of NSA's Surveillance Programs
The California Democrat's statement comes in the wake of a monumental ruling by a federal judge on the intelligence agency's surveillance techniques. By Sara Sorcher and Dustin Volz
Policy
Why the White House Can't Defend Against the NSA Court Ruling
The intelligence agency's massive surveillance program was dealt a deep blow by a federal judge. By James Oliphant
Business
Here’s Why the Proposed Military Retiree Benefit Cuts Are No Big Deal
Here are six reasons why it is hard to make an argument that the U.S. government is not acting in good faith for the men and women in uniform. By Lawrence Korb and Katherine Blakeley
Policy
The Iran Deal Hasn't Collapsed
The Obama administration announced a series of new sanctions on companies linked with Tehran, while simultaneously launching a charm offensive to convince skeptical lawmakers. By Sara Sorcher
Policy
Republican Senators Split Over Military Retiree COLA Cuts
Several key lawmakers want to halt the COLA adjustment to protect military retirees. By Jordain Carney
Ideas
Power or Persuasion: More Sanctions or Bombs for Iran?
In the art of coercive diplomacy, sanctions and military pressure go hand-in-hand and must be feared, but they still have limits. By James Kitfield
Ideas
Obama’s Syria Policy in Disarray, Is Counterterrorism Next?
Syria’s opposition imploding “is a big problem,” warns Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. Are U.S. counterterrorism operations inevitable? By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Policy
So When Does the U.S. Really Need Afghanistan to Sign the Troop Deal?
Obama administration officials still want a troop deal in Afghanistan in place by the end of the year, but want and need are two different things. By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
Graham Threatens to Block Defense Bill Over Iran Sanctions Vote
With Congress running out of time, Graham threatens to halt the NDAA unless more sanctions are placed on Iran. By Stacy Kaper
Policy
Why Congress Should Fully Fund the VA in Advance
Congress is about to fail America’s veterans if they don’t tackle these bills this year, and fund the full VA in advance. By Alexander Nicholson
Policy
Gillibrand’s Sexual Assault Bill Facing Long Odds
A tight congressional calendar and continued opposition from lawmakers does not bode well for the measure. By Jordain Carney
Policy
Karzai: There is ‘No Deadline’ to Sign Troop Deal
Afghan President Hamid Karzai says the Dec. 31 deadline to sign a post-2014 troop deal is just ‘pressure’ from the U.S. But visiting Gen. Martin Dempsey said negotiations are ‘closed.’ By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy