U.S. Exploring Talks with Taliban in Afghanistan

Staff / Truthdig Oct 15, 2010 Nothing is certain on this front yet, but the U.S. is reportedly considering opening up some channels of communication to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and between the Taliban and the Afghan government, in the interest of long-term peace goals. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Robert Gates Wants You … and Your Children

Staff / Truthdig Sep 30, 2010 The defense secretary warned Duke University, and anyone else who would listen, about a growing divide between the public and the military that has created a minority class of professional military workers and a detached, if vaguely supportive, civilian population. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Are Obama’s Hands Tied?

William Pfaff / Truthdig Sep 29, 2010 A splendid and courageous new book describes with lucidity the degree to which the power of the American presidency over war and peace has been weakened in our day, and, in important respects, superseded. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

There’s Nothing Surgical About Cluster Bombs

William Pfaff / Truthdig Aug 18, 2010 The globalist militarism that remains the dominant force among the American policy class in Washington (Democrats prominently involved) now has its members talking to the press about its new use of "the scalpel" rather than "the hammer." Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Gates Looks for an Out in 2011

Staff / Truthdig Aug 16, 2010 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has held his position through the transition from the Bush to the Obama administration, but it's looking like he won't hang on for yet another presidential term. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pentagon, WikiLeaks Clash Again

Staff / Truthdig Aug 13, 2010 It doesn't look like WikiLeaks is going to heed the Pentagon's request to "do the right thing" and refrain from releasing 15,000 documents about the war in Afghanistan that the site has yet to share with the world. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Despite New Cuts, Obama Will Spend More than Bush on Military

Staff / Truthdig Aug 10, 2010 The most important fact in the New York Times report on Defense Secretary Robert Gates' spending cuts comes 15 paragraphs in, when we learn that the U.S. will still spend more than ever on the military, more than all other countries combined, more than under President Bush. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The No-Win War

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Aug 3, 2010 In Afghanistan, momentum has become a substitute for logic. We're not fighting because we have a clear set of achievable goals. We're at war, apparently, because we're at war. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Gen. McChrystal’s Last Champion

Staff / Truthdig Jul 9, 2010 It might have been better for Gen. Stanley McChrystal if Defense Secretary Robert Gates had piped up a little earlier but, nonetheless, Gates comes to McChrystal's, uh, defense in this interview with The Associated Press. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gates Defends U.S. Soldiers’ Actions in Infamous Video

Staff / Truthdig Apr 11, 2010 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has defended the U.S. soldiers who were made infamous in a video released by the website Wikileaks last week, saying the critiques of those who fired upon and killed a group of reporters and civilians lack context. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Announcement Coming Thursday (Update: Video)

Staff / Truthdig Mar 24, 2010 The Pentagon is expected to announce on Thursday a softening of “don’t ask, don’t tell” rules, as promised, while a full review is under way. Only Congress can overturn the policy, but the military can make limited changes, like reforming the way it handles outings by a third party. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pentagon May Not Wait for Congress on Gays in Military

Staff / Truthdig Feb 2, 2010 Only Congress can overturn the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, but the military may unilaterally make it harder to enforce -- or at least hold up its end of the deal by actually not asking. The Pentagon will reportedly stop acting on accusations of homosexuality by third-party snitches and gay-baiters and will disempower anyone but generals and admirals to discharge people. Update Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )