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
Jan 16 U.S. to send 400 troops to train Syrian rebels By Associated Press WASHINGTON — The United States will send 400 troops to train moderate Syrian rebels this spring. Continue reading
Jan 08 U.S. to reduce troops at European bases to save $500 million By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Pentagon Thursday unveiled sweeping plans to consolidate its forces in Europe, taking thousands of U.S. military and civilian personnel out of bases mostly in the United Kingdom and Portugal, in an effort that will save about $500… Continue reading
Dec 05 Watch 8:34 How Ashton Carter differs from Obama’s past defense secretaries By PBS News Hour Continue watching
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 Ashton Carter tops Obama’s short list for Pentagon chief By Julie Pace, Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is weighing a slimmed-down list of candidates to become his next defense secretary, as top contenders pull their names from consideration for what is typically a highly sought-after Cabinet spot. Continue reading
Nov 14 Watch How should the U.S. deal with decaying nuclear arms infrastructure? By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Nov 14 ‘Systematic problems’ with management of U.S. nuclear forces, Hagel says By Robert Burns, Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the military’s failure to maintain its focus on the nation’s nuclear forces led them to be mismanaged and to “slowly back down the hill.” He vowed to invest in and bolster the force,… Continue reading
Nov 13 Watch Should the U.S. change its Islamic State strategy in Syria? – Part 2 By PBS News Hour Continue watching
Nov 13 Watch Islamic State releases defiant message as U.S. lawmakers criticize strategy to defeat the group – Part 1 By PBS News Hour Continue watching