Science & Tech

About Those Chinese Aircraft Carrier Pics: What We Know and What We Can Guess

There’s a lot to glean from the Google Earth pictures of China’s first homegrown aircraft. Assuming that’s what this is. By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer

Threats

Dempsey Warns of 'Significant Threat Stream'

Western interests are a target, according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. By Matt Berman

Threats

Close to a Deal: U.S., Afghans Agree on Single Text

A bilateral security agreement is reachable by October, insiders say. But then what? By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Threats

Worldwide Travel Alert Issued for Al Qaeda Threat

State Department issues advisories, plans to close embassies on Sunday in response to unspecified threat. By Sara Sorcher

Ideas

Wanted: A Post-War Watchdog for Nation-Building

The U.S. may be ending big wars, but military 'stability operations' and expensive nation-building projects will continue. The U.S. inspector general in Iraq argues the Pentagon needs someone to oversee contingency spending. By Stuart Bowen

Threats

Dunford Says 8,000 to 12,000 Troops May Be Needed Through 2017 in Afghanistan

The top ISAF commander says US. troops will be needed for many functions in Afghanistan past 2014, but it will be the Afghans doing the fighting – and dying. By Defense One Staff

Threats

Iraq’s Descent Into Madness, With No Americans in Sight

Prison breaks, car bombs and cozying up to Iran? This is not what was supposed to happen. By Joshua Foust

Threats

U.S. Envoy Questions Middle East Verve for WMD-Free Zone

In interview, State Department's Thomas Countryman says that Egypt's work on the issue is "theatrics." By Elaine Grossman

Science & Tech

When Would Cyber War Lead to Real War?

The method of an attack does not dictate the means of reprisal. By Vincent Manzo

Science & Tech

Pentagon Says Asian Spies Are Targeting Radiation-Hardened Electronics

Official review finds increased espionage in electronics that can withstand radiation events. By Rachel Oswald

Threats

Dispatch from Afghanistan: They Don't Want to Fight, Neither Do We

In Nangarhar Province, with the war clock ticking, commanders know the Afghans cannot fight on their own -- or simply will not. “There is no commitment to victory.” By Carmen Gentile

Threats

Seizing Chemical Weapons in Syria Is Really Hard To Do

There’s a reason why President Obama and his military advisors are cautious about going in to Syria to seize chemical weapons: It’s not easy. By Lee Michael Katz

Policy

Congress: We're Still at War and We're Not Closing Gitmo

A House amendment to end the legal authorization for war fails as Republicans insist “terrorism is not going away.” By Stephanie Gaskell

Threats

The Rise of Al-Qaeda 2.0

The terrorism network is now diffuse and lacks a coherent center, but it is still just as deadly. By Frud Bezhan

Policy

But Is It a Coup? Obama Reconsiders Military Aid to Egypt

The Pentagon delays the shipment of F-16s to Egypt as Obama decides whether Morsi’s ouster was a military coup or not. By Stephanie Gaskell

Threats

Cities Might Not Be as Prepared as They Think for a Bioterrorism Attack

New computer models are showing the deadly impact of viruses and airborne weapons. By John Metcalfe

Threats

Pentagon Equips Kenya, Uganda Against WMD Threats

Move is to help build response capacity of east African countries in the event of a WMD attack. By Diane Barnes

Policy

Obama Needs to Explain Why We're Breaking Up with Afghanistan

President Obama has switched from a message of 'we have to win' to 'we have to exit,' with little conversation in between. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon