Pentagon Puts a Hold on Troop Increase Request

Staff / Truthdig Sep 22, 2009 Although the word is already out that Gen. Stanley McChrystal is about to submit a formal request to the White House to send more American troops to Afghanistan, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the Pentagon has told McChrystal to wait, perhaps to let the Obama administration reconsider its next move. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

McChrystal’s Report Could Change Obama’s Afghanistan Plan

Staff / Truthdig Sep 21, 2009 The situation has changed significantly since President Obama took office last winter and fixed his focus on Afghanistan, and these changes -- including a disputed Afghan presidential election and deadly spikes in insurgent violence -- may spell trouble for Obama's initial strategy in that country, according to an assessment issued by Gen. Stanley McChrystal. Updated Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Top U.S. General Calls for Strategy Change in Afghanistan

Staff / Truthdig Aug 31, 2009 General Stanley McChrystal, the top-ranking U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, on Monday issued his highly anticipated report about the status of the conflict on that troubled front, and his assessment of the situation doesn't fully help President Obama's cause in ramping up America's Afghan war effort since he took office. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Afghanistan Surge Limited by ‘Dwell Time’

Staff / Truthdig Aug 17, 2009 Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, may ask for more troops, but whether he'll get any is in doubt. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has already moved to expand the Army, but getting troops the downtime they need between deployments will limit how many can be sent to the escalating war in South Asia. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

House Grounds Fancy Plane Plan

Staff / Truthdig Aug 11, 2009 During a time when the term government spending (not to mention recession) gets quite a few hackles up, House Democratic bigwigs' choice to scrap plans to purchase four posh planes to shuttle congressional leaders around is clearly wise, although the Senate vote may still pose a problem. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

UAVs: The Future of Warfare in America

Staff / Truthdig Jul 24, 2009 Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said it, and judging by this three-part series from CNN, the age of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is upon us. It's warfare by joystick -- and the Predator drone is only the beginning. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Deep-Sixing the F-22

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jul 22, 2009 I'll believe it when it finally happens. But the news that Congress might actually stop production of a high-tech, job-generating and, most of all, high-profit weapons system because it fills no legitimate national security function is a considerable victory for President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, as well as for logic.The end of the F-22 is a considerable victory for President Obama, Robert Gates and logic. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama’s Coalition of the Unwilling

Stanley Kutler / Truthdig May 15, 2009 President Barack Obama dramatically changed course twice on May 13 when he announced he would not release photos of American military personnel “abusing” detainees, reversing the Pentagon’s statement on April 26 that it would comply with a court order -- with the president’s own prompt and emphatic support for release. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Gates Orders a Change of Command in Afghanistan

Staff / Truthdig May 11, 2009 The Pentagon will be replacing the current top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David McKiernan, who has served in the position a mere 11 months. The decision comes on the heels of President Obama's new plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan and marks a clear change in strategy in an increasingly complex war. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Taking a Page From the Bush Playbook

Elliot D. Cohen / Truthdig May 6, 2009 The Obama administration is now considering reinstating the Military Commissions Act after a four-month suspension, in contradiction to the president’s promise to end military tribunals for detainees and to close down Gitmo. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Gates: ‘Everybody Knows We Still Have the Big Stick’

Staff / Truthdig May 4, 2009 Having moved from the Bush administration to Obama's camp, Defense Secretary Robert Gates takes stock of the White House's new occupant on Sunday's episode of "Fareed Zakaria GPS" and defends Obama's recent diplomatic outreach during his international debut: "I have not seen it as an apology tour," says Gates. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Backlash Over Defense Budget Cuts Begins

Staff / Truthdig Apr 8, 2009 Although some in Congress applauded Defense Secretary Robert Gates' announcement that the Obama administration would be whittling down the defense budget for 2010, suffice it to say that not everyone is thrilled by this development -- especially those whose districts will be directly impacted by the cuts. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )