Ideas
If the Pentagon Buys Less, It Needs to Invest More
If the military is supposed to use the peace to prepare for the next war, it has to spend more on research & development. By Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Col. Tom Harrison
Ideas
What Stands in the Way of the Pentagon Keeping Its Best and Brightest?
The Defense Department's impending force drawdown could accelerate the departure of some of its best personnel. Here are a few ideas on how to keep that from happening. By Amy Schafer
Science & Tech
The Pentagon Won't Demolish Its Alaskan Research Facility Just Yet
Tin-foil theorists can keep their hats for one more year as the Air Force mulls a transfer of its 180-antenna Alaskan facility to university researchers. By Bob Brewin
Business
Competition Is Declining in Pentagon-Awarded Contracts
Three years after setting goals for competitively-bid contracts, the Defense Department has failed to meet even one of those goals. By Katherine McIntire Peters
Policy
Hagel Backs General on U.S. Border Threats
Defense Secretary Hagel supports his top general’s concern that Central American destabilization is fueling the migrant children crisis at the U.S. border. By Molly O’Toole
Threats
Dempsey Says Iraq Can’t Beat ISIL, Won’t Rule Out More U.S. Troops
Don’t call it ‘mission creep’ in Iraq, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dempsey says, call it ‘mission match.’ By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
Here’s How the Pentagon Could Save $108 Billion Over the Next Decade
Military retirees used to have their retirement pay reduced by the amount of any VA disability compensation they also received. That could save big bucks. By Eric Katz
Ideas
A Good Step Toward Ending Landmines
President Obama announced that the United States will no longer make or buy landmines. This is good, but he can do more to end this deadly scourge. By Joe Cirincione
Science & Tech
The Military Is About to Get New Spy Glasses
The Defense Department’s new smart spectacles go beyond Google Glass. By Patrick Tucker
Business
Army's Gen. Campbell Picked To Lead Afghanistan War
President Obama nominated Army Vice Chief Gen. John Campbell to take over in Kabul for the final stage of America’s 13-year Afghan war. By Ben Watson
Science & Tech
The Pentagon Wants To Buy 14 More Ground-Based Inceptor Missiles
The ground-based Midcourse Defense system broke a 6-year losing streak when it took out a simulated missile over the Pacific. Now the Pentagon wants $1 billion to buy 14 more of the interceptors. By Rachel Oswald
Threats
This Is Why Many of Iraq's Forces Dropped Their Weapons
Inside the rapid disintegration of a security force the U.S. spent more than $25 billion to build. By James Kitfield
Threats
Iraqi Forces Can Hold Baghdad, Pentagon Says
With ISIS members inching towards Baghdad, Pentagon officials say they believe the Iraqi forces can hold the nation’s capital. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
Pentagon Ranks Top 30 DOD Suppliers
The Defense Department’s acquisition chief released a ranking of the top 30 supplier units within the contracting industry to help spark competition. By Charles S. Clark
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
Threats
Where Will CENTCOM’s Post-War Funding Come From?
U.S. Central Command won’t be able to rely on the Pentagon’s war budget anymore to pay for counterterrorism operations around the world, a new report warns. By Stephanie Gaskell
Threats
Hagel Visits U.S. Warship in Black Sea at ‘Troubling Time’
Defense Secretary Hagel continues to flex American muscle at Russia, bringing the spotlight eastward to the USS Vella Gulf. By Kevin Baron
Threats
Taliban Tells Bergdahl ‘Don’t Come Back to Afghanistan’
The Taliban released a dramatic video Wednesday showing Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl being handed over to U.S. special forces. By Stephanie Gaskell
Threats
Sending Weapons to Ukraine Won’t Help
Ukraine needs help, but the kind of help it needs cannot be reduced to shipments of military hardware. By Eugene Rumer
Policy