Jan 27 Obama to request hefty budget boost for the Pentagon By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press President Barack Obama will ask Congress for a hefty, almost 8 percent boost for the Pentagon, including $5.3 billion to equip and train Iraqi soldiers and moderate Syrian rebels to fight Islamic State militants in the Middle East. Continue reading
Dec 19 Obama signs massive defense spending bill By Darlene Superville, Associated Press President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a massive defense policy bill that endorses his plan to fight Islamic State militants, including air strikes and training Iraqis and moderate Syrian rebels. Continue reading
Dec 05 Obama picks Ashton Carter to be next Secretary of Defense By Robert Burns, Associated Press 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. Continue reading
Dec 02 Meet Ashton Carter, likely defense secretary nominee By News Desk Ashton Carter has emerged as President Obama's likely nominee for defense secretary to replace Chuck Hagel. In the past three years, the NewsHour interviewed the former deputy defense secretary several times, mostly about budget cuts imposed on defense spending. Continue reading
Sep 25 Watch News Wrap: Airstrikes damage key income source for Islamic State By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Thursday, the Pentagon reported that U.S. and Arab airstrikes blasted oil installations that help fund the Islamic State up to $2 million a day in black market sales. Also, Iraq’s prime minister said he has credible… Continue watching
Jun 16 Pentagon rules out U.S. military cooperation with Iran in Iraq crisis By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press The Pentagon's press secretary, Navy Rear Adm. John Kirby, told reporters Monday that while there may be discussions between U.S. and Iranian officials in Vienna about security in the region, it will not include any military coordination. Continue reading
Jun 13 Which federal agencies do lobbyists target most? By Elizabeth Shell Of the nearly 250 agencies tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics, it’s hardly surprising that the ones responsible for making the laws, the U.S. House and Senate, top the list at No. 1 and 2, respectively, of the 10… Continue reading
Apr 08 Watch News Wrap: Hagel, Chinese defense minister discuss disputed islands By PBS News Hour In our news wrap Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met with China’s defense minister, who warned that his government is ready to use force to defend their sovereignty over a group of islands under territorial dispute with Japan and… Continue watching
Apr 08 Airmen at odds with Air Force brass over future of beloved A-10 plane By Dan Sagalyn The Defense Department decision to retire an Air Force plane built specifically to support ground forces has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the airmen whose job is to embed with Army ground forces and spot enemy targets. Meanwhile, one… Continue reading
Apr 04 Cheating nuclear force described as 'thoroughly professional' in 2013 By Robert Burns, Associated Press A retired general chosen to explore flaws in U.S. nuclear forces signed off one year ago on a study describing the nuclear Air Force as "thoroughly professional, disciplined" and performing effectively - an assessment service leaders interpreted as an encouraging… Continue reading