Dec 02 Watch 3:05 At Ohio rally, Trump ‘unofficially’ announces defense pick Mattis By PBS News Hour President-elect Donald Trump used a rally in Cincinnati on Thursday night to “unofficially” announce retired Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis as his secretary of defense, telling the audience to keep the news hushed. Meanwhile, at Harvard University's traditionally civil post-election… Continue watching
Dec 02 Watch 8:10 Why James Mattis could be an ‘awkward fit’ for the Trump administration By PBS News Hour Who is James “Mad Dog” Mattis, the president-elect’s choice for secretary of defense? Judy Woodruff sits down with two who know the retired general well: Michael Gordon of The New York Times and Steve Simon, a former national security council… Continue watching
Feb 17 Ash Carter pledges ‘candid advice’ after taking oath of office By Nedra Pickler, Associated Press Ash Carter, sworn in Tuesday as President Barack Obama's fourth secretary of defense amid multiple global threats, pledged to offer his most candid strategic advice and carefully consider decisions about sending troops into harm's way. Continue reading
Feb 12 Senate confirms Carter as next defense secretary By Donna Cassata, Associated Press The vote Thursday was 93-5 for Ash Carter. He'll replace Chuck Hagel and be Obama's fourth defense secretary in six years. 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
Apr 06 Hagel delivers destroyers to Japan and a strong warning to North Korea and China By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press TOKYO -- U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel delivered a two-pronged warning to Asia Pacific nations Sunday, announcing that the U.S. will send two additional ballistic missile destroyers to Japan to counter the North Korean threat, and saying China must better… Continue reading
Jan 08 Watch Former Defense Secretary Gates critiques Obama, Congress in new war memoir Former Defense Secretary Gates critiques Obama, Congress in new war memoir… Continue watching
Aug 27 Watch U.S. Military ‘Ready to Go’ for Syria, Assad Warns Strike Would Be ‘Failure’ While the White House worked to lay out the legal groundwork for a possible military strike in Syria, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that U.S. forces are "ready to go" when a decision is made. Meanwhile, Syrian officials countered saying… Continue watching
Aug 06 Watch Deputy Defense Secretary: Spending Must Be ‘Driven by Strategy’ Deputy Secretary Carter: Future Defense Spending Must be "Driven By Strategy"… Continue watching
Aug 06 Watch Deputy Defense Secretary: Spending Must Be ‘Driven by Strategy’ Deputy Defense Secretary on Budget Cuts, Sexual Assaults… Continue watching