Defense

Factbox: What happens in a U.S. government shutdown?

By Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker, Reuters

In shutdowns, nonessential government employees are furloughed, or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety and national security, keep...
The Mysterious Threat to Pilots That the Pentagon Can’t Solve

By Ciro Scotti

Episodes of oxygen deprivation affecting the pilots of F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet — and other military aircraft including the F-35 — are on the rise and remain an unsolved mystery.
What Game Theory Tells Us About Trump’s ‘Madman’ Approach to North Korea

By Rob Garver

Is Donald Trump out of his mind? Maybe he wants North Korea to think so.
Does the Army’s $580 Million Handgun Have a Fatal Flaw?

By Ciro Scotti

Last January, the Army made a $580 million decision: It would replace its longstanding sidearm, the M9 Beretta, with a new modular handgun made by the U.S. arm of the German-controlled gunsmith Sig...
Why the Escalating Threats Between Trump and Kim Won’t End in War

By Patrick Smith

The supercharged threats volleyed between President Trump and Kim Jong Un this week bring us closer to war with the North Korea than at any time since Pyongyang tested its first nuclear device in...

Here’s the Real State of the $1 Trillion U.S. Nuclear Upgrade

By David Francis

The American nuclear arsenal is just about the same as it was when Trump took office.
Here’s Why North Korea Put Guam in Its Crosshairs

By David Francis

Hours after President Donald Trump threatened North Korea with fire and fury like the world has never known, Pyongyang announced it is "examining the operational plan" to attack Guam, a tiny U.S...
Why the Price of the F-35 Keeps Soaring

By Ciro Scotti

The most costly fighter ever built is getting even more expensive. A new General Accounting Office report says the Pentagon will spend an additional $3.9 billion over the next five years on “...
The Media Has to Stop Provoking Trump’s Worst Instincts

By Rob Garver

For a man constantly boasting about his extraordinary negotiating prowess, President Trump made a pretty obvious rookie mistake on Tuesday, with his apocalyptic-sounding promise to deliver “fire and...
Five Things You Need to Know About Plans to Privatize the Afghan War

By David Francis

The White House is actively considering a plan to turn a big chunk of the war in Afghanistan over to private contractors. That’s according to Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater security firm, who...

Who Needs High-Tech Weapons? Angry Pigs Kill 3 ISIS Fighters

By Ciro Scotti

America’s new aircraft carrier the USS Gerald Ford cost $13 billion. The lowest-cost version to date of the F-35 Lightning II, a next-generation stealth fighter, has a price tag of about $95 million...
U.S. Military Once Again Pollutes Drinking Water and Won’t Clean It Up

By Eric Pianin

For years, notorious environmental disregard at U.S. military bases has resulted in poisoned drinking water and placed military personnel and their families at serious health risks because of...
Trump Claims He Saved Millions on the F-35, but Repairs Could Cost Billions

By Ciro Scotti

In taking sole credit for a reduction in price in the F-35, Politifact said “Trump ignores that projected costs for the F-35 had been dropping for years.” Perhaps more important is the dire tone of a...
Why the Navy’s $9 Billion Plan for New Frigates Is Raising Red Flags

By Ciro Scotti

The Navy’s new frigates are based on the troubled design of the Littoral Combat Ship, and the General Accounting Office has some serious questions about design and funding.
What Erdoğan’s Sweeping New Powers Mean for Turkey, the EU and US

By Robert L. Dilenschneider

With a turnout that exceeded 85 percent, Turkish voters have approved 18 constitutional amendments that will shift the nation from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system, although...

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