Feb 23 Defense secretary Carter gathers war council on Islamic State group By Robert Burns, Associated Press 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… Continue reading
Jan 31 Host of challenges ahead for new defense secretary By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press 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. 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
Feb 26 Watch Did Embattled Confirmation Process Weaken New Defense Secretary Hagel? Did Embattled Confirmation Process Weaken New Defense Secretary Hagel?… Continue watching
Feb 20 Watch Defense Secretary Panetta Warns Automatic Spending Cuts Could Mean Furlough Defense Secretary Panetta Warns Automatic Spending Cuts Could Mean Furlough… Continue watching
Feb 08 Panetta’s Tenure as Secretary of Defense By Larisa Epatko Defense Secretary Leon Panetta oversaw changes in policy on women in combat and gays in the military. He traveled to Europe, Asia and the battlefield of Afghanistan, among other places. See some highlights of his tenure here. Continue reading
Jan 31 Live Blog: Hagel Confirmation Hearing as Secretary of Defense By Larisa Epatko Former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., faced questions on possible looming spending cuts at the Pentagon and his support for U.S. ally Israel at his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday to become secretary of defense. Continue reading
Apr 18 Watch Troop Photos With Dead Afghans: How Embarrassing Episodes Affect U.S. Mission Troop Photos With Dead Afghans: How Embarrassing Episodes Affect U.S. Mission… Continue watching
Feb 02 Watch 8:31 Could and Should U.S. End Combat Role in Afghanistan Early? Could and Should U.S. End Combat Role in Afghanistan Early?… Continue watching
Jun 23 Gates: Chances of Negotiated Settlement With Taliban ‘Probably Good’ By Larisa Epatko Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the realistic chances of a negotiated settlement with the Taliban to end the Afghan war "are probably good," he told Jim Lehrer in an interview airing on Thursday's NewsHour. Continue reading