World Apr 10 Carter chides China over approach to territorial disputes SEOUL, South Korea — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter gently chided China on Friday for its approach to territorial disputes in the South China Sea, suggesting Beijing has been isolated by its strong-arm tactics.
Nation Apr 06 Ash Carter says U.S. is opening new phase of Asia pivot The Obama administration is opening a new phase of its strategic "rebalance" toward Asia and the Pacific by investing in high-end weapons such as a new long-range stealth bomber, refreshing its defense alliance with Japan and expanding trade partnerships, Defense…
World Mar 25 U.S. airstrikes against Islamic State group begin in Iraq WASHINGTON — The Iraqi government has asked the U.S. to provide airstrikes in support of a stalled Iraqi ground offensive against a dug-in Islamic State force in the northern city of Tikrit, a U.S. official said Wednesday.
World Mar 03 Pentagon calls Mosul briefing a mistake by CentCom Top Pentagon officials say U.S. Central Command was wrong to have briefed reporters on plans for an Iraqi-led ground offensive in Mosul.
World Feb 23 Defense secretary Carter gathers war council on Islamic State group CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait — U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter convened an extraordinary war council Monday on Iraq's doorstep, six days after taking office, to discuss the nitty-gritty of the administration's oft-criticized strategy for countering the Islamic State militant group and…
World Feb 22 US defense secretary calls Afghan army ‘powerful force’ U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Sunday called Afghanistan's army "a powerful force in their own right" but declined to say whether he thinks the U.S. can scale back military training and advising this year as planned.
World Feb 21 US may slow military exit from Afghanistan The United States is considering slowing its military exit from Afghanistan by keeping a larger-than-planned troop presence this year and next because the new Afghan government is proving to be a more reliable partner, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said…
Politics Jan 31 Host of challenges ahead for new defense secretary As defense secretary, Ashton Carter would face a daunting pile of problems at home and abroad. And then there are the unforeseen crises, the ones that explode onto a Pentagon chief's agenda without warning.
World Dec 06 U.S. to keep more troops than planned in Afghanistan U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Saturday the United States will keep as many as 1,000 more troops in Afghanistan than planned for the first part of 2015.
Nation Dec 05 Obama picks Ashton Carter to be next Secretary of Defense The experiences that Ashton Carter would bring to the job of defense secretary are vastly different from Chuck Hagel's in several important ways, starting with the fact that Carter is an academic and a policy wonk.