Threats

The US Is Helping the Taliban Fight ISIS, CENTCOM's Top General Says

Gen. McKenzie turned heads with testimony about “very limited support” for an enemy who is also an enemy of an enemy.

Ideas

Barred from Combat, These Women Rose to the Top of Military Intelligence

In candid interviews, five senior officers reveal the challenges and opportunities they've faced, from sexism to mentoring today's rising leaders.

Ideas

Q&A with Senior Women in Military Intelligence

Excerpts from our interviews with the women who hold five of the U.S. military's top intelligence jobs.

Policy

As Taliban Attack, Esper and Milley Downplay 'Mixed' Results of Peace Deal

Joint Chiefs chairman argued before Congress that the Taliban’s “small low-level” attacks on Afghan forces don't violate their four-day-old agreement with the United States.

Policy

Exclusive: House Bill Tries To Force Trump To Keep Troops In Africa

The legislation from Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., raises constitutional concerns but might still be a useful messaging tool for lawmakers.

Policy

The Biggest Change In a Sanders Administration Might Be a New Definition For ‘Hostilities’

If Sanders sticks with his own precedent in the Senate, he could reshape American military engagement.

Threats

US' Afghanistan Drawdown Will Continue Amid Taliban Violence, Pentagon Says

“I would caution everybody to think that there’s going to be an absolute cessation of violence in Afghanistan — that is probably not going to happen,” Milley said.

Policy

Lawmakers Fire Back at Trump’s Plan to Divert Military Funds to Border Wall

But the bipartisan team of Smith and Thornberry have attracted few other GOPers to the effort.

Policy

2020 Dems Reject Military Use In Idlib

On paper, Democrats have remained open to the use of military force for humanitarian purposes.

Policy

Defense Policy Chief Ousted By White House

A Pentagon spokesman said he had “no information” that John Rood was fired for his role in Trump’s Ukraine scandal.

Policy

Will Trump’s Afghanistan Peace Deal Win Him Votes?

"I would not say that Afghanistan looms over American politics now the way that Iraq did,” said one analyst.

Threats

Graham Denies Threatening To Make Esper’s Life ‘Hell’ If He Cuts AFRICOM Troops

“No, I never said that,” Graham said in a brief phone call with Defense One. “It was a good conversation.”

Policy

Trump Targets Major Weapons Projects To Fund Wall

The funds will be drawn mainly from procurement for major programs like the F-35 fighter jet. $1.3 billion will come from the National Guard alone.

Policy

DOD Nominee Who Questioned Ukraine Aid Holdup Denies Report About Her Ouster

A story from the New York Post ignited speculation that Elaine McCusker’s nomination could be withdrawn. It’s not clear that’s the case.

Policy

Stunts, Stagecraft and National Security in Trump’s State of the Union

Sounding like a campaign kick-off, the president leaned into one of his as-yet unfulfilled promises from the 2016 election: ending America’s “endless wars.”

Policy

What We Learned from the House Vote to Limit Trump’s Power to Fight Iran

Democrats, and some Trump allies, challenged the White House’s latest interpretation of presidential warmaking powers.

Threats

Kenya Base ‘Surprisingly’ Undefended During Attack, US Officials Say

The Jan. 5. attack by al-Shabaab killed three Americans came as the Pentagon considers a further drawdown of its African presence.

Threats

34 Injured in Iran Attack, Pentagon Now Says; Launches a Review of Reporting Procedures

SecDef Mark Esper ordered a review of “processes for tracking and reporting injuries” after criticism in the wake of the Iranian missile attack.