Threats
Afghanistan Drawdown Continues Despite Violence, Ghani Announcement
The Afghan president said that his side would be resuming “offensive” operations against the Taliban.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Task Force Turns to Data to Shape COVID-19 Response
The group aims to use models and information to judge risks to the Defense Department and its missions.
Threats
A ‘Mass Breakout’ of ISIS from Syrian Prisons Remains a Risk, Pentagon Watchdog Says
The coalition has had “little or no direct access” to the facilities since Turkey’s October invasion.
Threats
Afghanistan To Resume ‘Offensive’ Actions Against Taliban In Blow To Peace Deal
How that will affect U.S. plans is anybody’s guess.
Threats
Coronavirus Hits Top US Officials
Senior officials in the White House and the Pentagon are now sidelined by the virus.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Wants Help With Its Predictive Aircraft Maintenance AI
Among other things, the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center needs someone to format data about H-60 helicopters in a way that an AI can learn from it.
Business
US Defense Firms Hiring Thousands Amid Record Unemployment
Pentagon spending on missiles, satellites, and nuclear weapons fuels a production boom, as firms fight off commercial aerospace downturn.
Business
Amazon Files Another Protest Over JEDI Contract
In response, Microsoft blasts Amazon Web Services for trying to force a do-over for the multibillion-dollar cloud contract.
Ideas
The Post-Pandemic Military Will Need to Improvise
We don’t mean Pentagon-style “innovation.” We mean like the chefs on the reality show “Chopped.”
Policy
Prospective Navy Secretary Vows to 'Restore the Appropriate Culture'
Kenneth Braithwaite answered pointed questions from senators, but he and fellow nominees from DoD and the Air Force appear set for confirmation.
Ideas
Pull US Troops, not Diplomats and Development Experts, from Afghanistan
America’s interests are no longer furthered by military might in the country, but we can still help in other ways.
Threats
Esper Says Pentagon Is Bracing for a ‘New Normal’ That Lasts ‘An Extended Period of Time'
"What do we do over the next 6, 12, 18 months?” the defense secretary asked at a Monday virtual event.
Ideas
Propaganda, the President, and the ‘Reopen’ Protesters
The military’s nostalgic WWII-style posters urge face masks and national unity, but they’re not reaching Trump and his disbelieving followers.
Science & Tech
Artificial Intelligence Outperforms Human Intel Analysts In a Key Area
A Defense Intelligence Agency experiment shows AI and humans have different risk tolerances when data is scarce.
Policy
Pentagon’s ‘Willingness to Kiss the President’s Ass’ Worries Top Lawmaker
‘I am worried about a culture developing,’ says House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., after the latest delay in Navy captain’s fate.
Policy
Pentagon Blasts Lawmakers’ Critique Of COVID-19 Response
Democratic lawmakers accused SecDef of leading a “disjointed and slow” response to the pandemic.
Science & Tech
Zoom or Not? NSA Offers Guidance for Choosing a Videochat App
The crypto agency has a list of questions for federal employees and contractors to ask as they choose a collaboration tool.
Ideas
Do You Miss Baseball? Here’s How the Pentagon Might Have Predicted the Nationals’ World Series Upset
Red teaming can help spot flawed assumptions, root out dangerous biases—and explain how oddsmakers got the Nats-Astros matchup so wrong.
Policy
Reinstate Capt. Crozier to USS Roosevelt, Navy Tells Esper
The decision now rests with Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
Ideas