Threats

Hagel Warns Afghanistan: Sign Troop Pact Now or Post-War Plans Halt

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says if a troop deal isn’t signed by the end of the year, the Pentagon will have to put its post-2014 planning on hold. By Kevin Baron

Policy

Karzai: No U.S. Troop Deal Before April Elections

After reaching an agreement to keep U.S. troops past 2014, Afghan President Hamid Karzai now wants to wait until April’s presidential election to sign it. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

U.S., Afghanistan Negotiators Reach a Deal on Post-2014 Security Agreement

The U.S. and Afghanistan have agreed on a deal to keep coalition troops past 2014. Now comes the hard part -- a group of Afghan elders must approve it. By Defense One Staff

Business

Pentagon Wants Contractors to Protect Industry Secrets From Hackers

Newly finalized regulations would force contractors to take measures to secure unclassified networks while also notifying authorities of any breaches. By Aliya Sternstein

Business

Pentagon Electronic Health Records Not Ready Until 2017... At Least

A Navy SPAWAR official said a single contract award will restart the DOD effort, but it's anyone's guess when it will become fully operational. By Bob Brewin

Business

Pentagon Asks MIT Lab to Study Controversial Power Line

Study aims to find out whether weapons testing at White Sands Missile Range can "adapt to the presence" of the New Mexico based green-energy project. By Bob Brewin

Threats

Have U.S. Troops Overstayed Their Welcome in Afghanistan?

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has hosted U.S. troops for more than a decade, but now his hospitality is running out, putting a post-2014 deal at risk. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

Chinese Military Mimics U.S., Looks to Disaster Relief to Change Perceptions

China is stepping up aid to the Philippines, mindful of something the U.S. military has long known: perceptions matter. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

Operators Are Standing By at Pentagon Whistleblower Hotline

Since 2009, the small office has seen a 125 percent increase in the use of the hotline, alerting federal investigators of thousands of possible cases of waste, fraud and abuse. By Charles S. Clark

Policy

Congressmen Criticize Pentagon 'Wall' of Silence

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and other senior leaders reject Rep. Duncan Hunter’s assertion that there’s an information barrier between Capitol Hill and DOD. By Kevin Baron

Policy

McCaskill Makes It Personal in Battle Over Military Assaults

Sen. McCaskill says her more moderate bill is better, but she's losing the public battle to Gillibrand. "I'll give that to her." By Stacy Kaper

Ideas

Defense One Summit: Video On Demand

Watch Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Under Secretary Bob Hale, Air Force Secretary Eric Fanning, and more conversations and talks from Defense One Summit at this portal. By Defense One Staff

Business

Hagel Defends Kerry’s Engagement with Iran

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says “engagement” with Iran isn’t “negotiation” and defends the Secretary of State for reaching out. By Stephanie Gaskell

Ideas

Manage Defense Spending Through ‘Better Buying Power,’ Not Sequestration

If sequestration holds, the Pentagon will face inefficient funding choices that will reduce our buying power. By Ashton B. Carter

Business

Military Suicides Drop Significantly in 2013

Suicides by military personnel are down 22 percent so far in 2013, just one year after a record number of service members took their own lives. By Eric Katz

Science & Tech

Navy, Marines to Analyze Pentagon's Cloud Email System

The service's top tech official says that his office plans to undertake an analysis before moving Navy and Marine Corps emails to the cloud. By Bob Brewin

Science & Tech

Pentagon Preparing for the End of the Blackberry Era

DOD's once-favorite mobile device is in dire financial straits. Here's what happens if Blackberry goes the way of Betamax. By Aliya Sternstein

Ideas

Why Taking Sexual Assault Cases Out of the Chain of Command Protects Our Troops

The Military Justice Improvement Act will help victims of sexual assault get a fair chance at justice. By Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Business

How to Cut Defense Spending Without Hurting the Military

There is billions of dollars worth of bloat in the DOD's back offices. Trimming that would be a great start. By Eric Schnurer

Business

Policy Chief Miller Resigns, Latest Senior DOD Official to Depart

Under Secretary Jim Miller’s resignation, effective the end of January is no surprise but the timing adds to an exodus of talent leaving Chuck Hagel. By Kevin Baron