Threats
Pentagon ‘Stands Ready’ for Military Action in Syria as U.S. Warships Move to Region
President Obama huddles with his national security team to decide whether to take military action in Syria amid reports of more chemical attacks. By Kevin Baron
Business
DoD Will Lay Off 6,000 Civilians if Sequestration Continues
Major cuts to civilian defense employees are imminent If Congress can't come up with a plan to reduce the debt and sequestration continues next fiscal year. By Eric Katz
Business
The Cost of Mental Health Care in the Military: $4.5 Billion Since 2007
Mental health care costs are on the rise in the military. The Pentagon spent nearly $1 billion on mental health treatment last year – roughly double the amount it spent in 2007. By Bob Brewin
Threats
With or Without U.S. Intervention, Syria Will Become Iraq
Old line in Washington: Syria will be another Iraq if the U.S. military gets involved. New line: Syria will become another Iraq if they don’t. By Kevin Baron
Science & Tech
Pentagon Wants To Expand Program That Detects Foreign Nuclear Tests
A new solicitation indicates that the DoD is considering an upgrade to a system used to track nuclear activity abroad. By Aliya Sternstein
Threats
Hagel Admits U.S. Influence in Egypt Is ‘Limited’
In his first public remarks about the violence in Egypt, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says “it will be their responsibility to sort this out.” By Kevin Baron
Business
Sexual Assault Reform or 'Slippery Slope' for Military Justice?
The all-or-nothing battle over removing sexual assault cases from command authority shouldn’t stop real reform from happening. By James Kitfield
Science & Tech
Killing Machines: How Far Can Obama's Drone Wars Go?
Behind every drone is a system that plans, operates and executes operations. This is one glimpse into that world. By Mark Bowden.
Business
Pentagon To Provide Same-Sex Benefits Starting Next Month
The military will also allow troops to take leave to get married if they are stationed more than 100 miles from a state where same-sex marriage is legal. By Amelia Gruber
Business
How To Reduce the Growing Number of Bid Protests
The number of bid protests has ballooned in the past several years. But for most contractors, protesting a bid is a ‘high-stakes game of poker’ they'd rather not play. By William Keating and Peter McDonald
Business
The Military's Graduate Programs Aren't Really Training the Nation's Future Cyberwarriors
A new report recommends that the Pentagon's graduate programs revise their curricula to include cyber-specific training. By Brittany Ballenstedt
Policy
Military Sexual Assault Victims Are Closely Watching Reform Efforts
Proposed legislation to take sexual assault reporting out of the chain of command is a start, but survivors say that more needs to be done to combat the ongoing crisis. By Stacy Kaper
Policy
Obama Should Scrap that Russian Helicopter Contract, Too
The U.S. government is buying arms from the same dealer that supplies Bashar Assad's regime in Syria. By Sonni Efron
Business
DoD's New Anti-Counterfeit Rules Are Confusing Defense Contractors
Many contractors say they can't comply with DoD's new anti-counterfeiting rules because they're too vague. By Aliya Sternstein
Business
How the Pentagon Found $1 Billion to Cut Civilian Furloughs to Just Six Days
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announces that civilian furlough days will be reduced from 11 to 6 days. Here's how he found $1 billion to pay for it. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
Pentagon Cuts Furlough Days Down to Six
Defense managers found savings to avert additional mandatory unpaid days for civilian workers. By Kellie Lunney
Science & Tech
How Bad Commercial GEOINT Helped Sink the USS Guardian
NGA says over-reliance on error ridden commercial satellite imagery, among other missteps, doomed the USS Guardian to strike a reef. By Bob Brewin
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
Policy
Military Aid Didn't Buy Pakistan and It Won't Buy Egypt
$1.3 billion in annual aid payments to Egypt won't buy the loyalty Washington is looking for. By David Rohde
Ideas