Business
White House Refuses to Split NSA, CYBERCOM
The Obama administration decided to keep the spy agency head dual-hatted by a military commander. By Jordain Carney
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
Business
The General Who Opened Guantanamo's Prison Wants to Shut It Down
Retired Maj. Gen. Michael Lehnert writes in an op-ed that the U.S. had insufficient evidence on many prisoners of "little intelligence value" who "should never have been sent" to GTMO. By Marina Koren
Business
Hagel Backs Budget Deal
The agreement doesn't solve all of the Pentagon's budget woes, but the defense secretary says it helps address readiness and procurement challenges. By Jordain Carney
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
Business
Budget Agreement Eases Pentagon's Sequester Pain
The Pentagon's budget remains undecided, as Congress punts the sequester just two years down the road. By Sara Sorcher and Stacy Kaper
Threats
U.S. Military Intervenes With Airlifts In Central African Republic
Airlifts are intended to avert a "humanitarian" crisis in the tiny, landlocked country. By Jordain Carney
Policy
GOP Divide Could Stall Defense Bill
The annual authorization bill could be held up if lawmakers throw up procedural barriers to stall SASC leadership. By Stacy Kaper
Business
Hagel Softens on Troop Deal, Gives Karzai Until February - But Not April
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel now says Afghanistan has to sign a troop deal by February’s NATO meeting. It’s not the April elections that worries him; it’s the runoffs. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
Spared from Hagel’s Cuts: Cyber, Asia-Pacific, Homeland Policy Jobs
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is cutting 200 jobs from his front office – but he made sure to protect several key policy positions in homeland, cyber and the Asia-Pacific. By Stephanie Gaskell
Threats
Pentagon Lets Joe Biden Do the Talking With China
Hagel and Dempsey have not talked to their Chinese counterparts during the latest tensions. The Pentagon says that’s by design. By Kevin Baron
Threats
Dempsey Says ‘Zero Option’ on the Table for Afghanistan As Karzai Balks
While the Afghan president continues to play politics with a post-2014 troop deal, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey says the ‘zero option’ is on the table. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
Hagel to Cut Hundreds of Staff and Contractors for $1 Billion Savings
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says cutting 200 positions from his office -- and a lot of contractors -- will save about $1 billion by 2019. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
How the Government Is Handling 700,000 Jailed Veterans
Officials hope that specialized courts designed to treat and rehabilitate drug addicted veterans will reduce incarceration rates. By Bob Brewin
Business
Hagel Picks Christine Fox as His Acting Deputy
Christine Fox is named acting deputy defense secretary, temporarily replacing Ash Carter and making her the highest-ranking woman at the Pentagon. By Stephanie Gaskell
Science & Tech
Pentagon Forcing Many Workers Back to BlackBerry
Many employees who had switched to iPhone or Android devices will be reverting back to Blackberrys because of security concerns. By Aliya Sternstein
Policy
Military Justice Reform Is at a Make-or-Break Moment
With a stalled defense policy bill in the Senate, reform supporters fear that the moment to address the force's sexual assault crisis is slipping away. By Stacy Kaper
Science & Tech
Canadian Company Could Support Pentagon's Pivot to Arctic With Fiber Optic Connection
Magnetic and solar phenomena limit existing C4ISR assets near the pole. A hard communications line has the potential to change that. By Bob Brewin
Ideas