Secretary of Defense, Incorporated

Maj. Danny Sjursen / Truthdig Oct 7, 2019 The appointment of lobbyist Mark Esper to lead the department should be a huge scandal. That it isn't speaks volumes about our priorities. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Ashton Carter Succeeds Chuck Hagel as U.S. Defense Secretary

Kasia Anderson / Truthdig Feb 13, 2015 Just shy of three months since Chuck Hagel was obliged to vacate the position, the Obama administration has a new secretary of defense -- and Ashton Carter has his work cut out for him. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Party On!

By Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch Dec 4, 2014 Unbelievably enough, a bankrupt 13-year-old policy of war to the horizon remains ascendant in Washington, and “war fever” seems to be breaking out yet again. In this context, it's curious that four crucial aspects of war, American-style, were missing from the blitz of Hagel reportage. Dig deeper ( 12 Min. Read )

Defense Secretary

Nick Anderson / Truthdig Dec 3, 2014 Dig deeper

Obama Strategy

Signe Wilkinson / Truthdig Nov 27, 2014 Dig deeper

A Soldier Among Chickenhawks

William Pfaff / Truthdig Nov 26, 2014 Chuck Hagel's departure from his post as defense secretary has been attributed to his failure to fit in with the Obama cabinet's crowd. Among his other reported deficiencies was that he was only a sergeant in Vietnam, twice wounded. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Does Hagel’s Departure Pave the Way for Combat Troops to Iraq?

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Nov 26, 2014 It's a surprise to see President Obama actually fire someone. But I have to worry that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's forced departure may signal further expansion of U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Syria. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

As Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel Exits, Let’s Take a Look at an Islamic State Scorecard

Juan Cole / Truthdig Nov 25, 2014 I don’t see anyone talking about how the Defense Department's response to Islamic State has gone. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

White House Seeks Next Generation of High-Tech Weapons

Alexander Reed Kelly / Truthdig Nov 16, 2014 Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that the U.S. military will research and develop new weapons systems based on cutting-edge technologies in attempt to maintain its military dominance. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Sistani and Chuck Hagel Call for the Arming of the Sunni Tribes of al-Anbar

Juan Cole / Truthdig Nov 1, 2014 Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani is calling, just as is U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, for the arming of Sunni tribes in al-Anbar Province to fight Islamic State in Iraq. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Climate Change Threatens National Security, Pentagon Says

Donald Kaufman / Truthdig Oct 17, 2014 The Pentagon released a report earlier this week detailing the threats that climate change poses in the near future. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

The U.S. Military’s Denying Chelsea Manning Treatment for Gender Dysphoria, So She’s Suing

Natasha Hakimi Zapata / Truthdig Sep 24, 2014 The valiant WikiLeaks whistle-blower is serving a 35-year prison sentence in Fort Leavenworth, Kan., and though Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel "greenlit ‘rudimentary’ treatment" for the private's gender identity disorder, the military has continually denied Manning hormone therapy and surgery, according to her legal complaint. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )