400,000 Brain-Injured Veterans Due Home From Afghanistan and Iraq

Staff / Truthdig Jun 26, 2011 Independent experts suggest that more than 400,000 American service members will return from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with traumatic brain injuries that could lead to severe personality disorders, and little is being done to help them. (more) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

‘Left, Right & Center’: Afghanistan, ‘Newtiny’ and the Weiner Effect

Staff / Truthdig Jun 11, 2011 As Leon Panetta -- you might know him from his most recent appearance as head of the CIA -- took another step in his transition to the role of defense secretary, he had to deal with some pointed questions about America's role in Afghanistan. (more) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Spare Us the Propaganda on Afghanistan

Bill Boyarsky / Truthdig Jun 9, 2011 The White House account of President Barack Obama’s meeting with his Afghanistan team was insultingly vague for anyone wanting to know when—or if—the Afghanistan war will end.Nobody in this White House debate seems to be raising the central question: Why we are there? Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

On His Way Out, Gates Talks About ‘Access’ to Asia

William Pfaff / Truthdig Jun 8, 2011 U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was in Kabul at the start of June talking about withdrawal -- or non-withdrawal -- from Afghanistan, but before he went home he stopped in Singapore to talk about an enlarged American military engagement in Asia. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

‘Leave the Shooters Until Last,’ Gates Urges

Staff / Truthdig Jun 6, 2011 Ahead of policy deliberations in Washington, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates argued for a modest approach to the U troop drawdown in Afghanistan that will begin next month He favors the removal of support forces in a strategy that would leave as much "combat power" in place as possible until the war's end . Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

And Now, Your Obligatory Presidential Memorial Day Speech

Staff / Truthdig May 31, 2011 Here we have the commander in chief delivering solemn words at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day President Obama also took the opportunity to salute his outgoing defense secretary, Robert Gates (more) . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

General Passed Over for Giving Obama Advice

Staff / Truthdig May 31, 2011 President Obama nominated Gen Martin Dempsey on Monday to take over as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top military adviser to the president Obama's first choice for the job, according to The Washington Post, was Marine Gen James Cartwright, who was reportedly denied the promotion for (more). Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

SEALs, Grandma Obama Getting ‘Pumped Up’ Security

Staff / Truthdig May 13, 2011 Defense Secretary Robert Gates says, "We are looking at what measures can be taken to pump up the security" of the mysterious Navy SEAL team that shot Osama bin Laden, after said SEALs expressed concerns. Over in Kenya, the government says it will inspect all visitors to the Obama compound. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Attack of the Drones Begins in Libya

Staff / Truthdig Apr 22, 2011 On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates confirmed that President Obama has given the go-ahead for U.S. forces to send armed Predator drones to Libya. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney officially disapproves of Obama's strategy vis-a-vis the Libyan conflict. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Saudis Play Into Radical islam’s Hands

Barry Lando / Truthdig Apr 8, 2011 When the secret history of the current “Arab Spring” is written, we may learn that one of the many unintended consequences of U.S. attempts to keep up with -- and influence -- the historic events was to provide a flood of new recruits to radical Islam. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

With Libya, Sec. Gates Puts His Foot Down

Staff / Truthdig Apr 1, 2011 There's a lot of talk coming out of Washington, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates assured Congress on Thursday that the Pentagon's mission in Libya is "much more limited" than regime change and said American troops would not be sent to the country, even in a training capacity, "as long as I’m in this job." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Hillary and Gates

Taylor Jones, Cagle Cartoons, El Nuevo Dia, Puerto Rico Mar 27, 2011 Dig deeper