secretary of defense

Lloyd Austin Missing

Rick McKee Jan 15, 2024 Dig deeper

Esper Says Taliban Deal Is Promising but Not Without Risk

ROBERT BURNS and MATTHEW LEE / The Associated Press Feb 15, 2020 The U.S. defense secretary says a "political agreement' may be the only way forward as details of 7-day "reduction in violence" deal emerge. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

U.S. to Send Troops to Saudi Arabia, Hold Off on Striking Iran

LOLITA C. BALDOR and ROBERT BURNS / The Associated Press Sep 21, 2019 The move is a show of restraint after talk of all-out war amid major tensions over drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

The Madness of James Mattis

Maj. Danny Sjursen / Truthdig Sep 8, 2019 The former secretary of defense is a military and moral failure, yet our mainstream media continues to hold him up as a model of virtue. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Amazon, Microsoft Battle Over Pentagon’s ‘War Cloud’

MATT O'BRIEN / The Associated Press Jul 10, 2019 The project would process vast amounts of classified data, allowing the use of artificial intelligence to speed up war capabilities. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Shanahan Steps Down Amid Reports of Violent Domestic Incidents

LOLITA C. BALDOR / The Associated Press Jun 18, 2019 The acting defense secretary's departure comes at a critical time of troop buildup in Mideast; Army Secretary Mark Esper will take over. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

The Arms Industry Is Taking Over Trump’s Pentagon

MANDY SMITHBERGER and WILLIAM D. HARTUNG / TomDispatch Jan 31, 2019 Rather than curbing the blatant conflicts inherent in the revolving door he previously criticized, the president is accelerating them. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

Mattis Leaving as Pentagon Chief After Clashes With Trump

ZEKE MILLER and LOLITA BALDOR / The Associated Press Dec 20, 2018 Jim Mattis, perhaps the most respected foreign policy official in Trump's administration, will leave by the end of February. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Military Parade Won’t Happen in 2018, Government Announces

LOLITA C. BALDOR / The Associated Press Aug 16, 2018 The statement comes in the wake of reports that the cost of the proposed display had exploded to $92 million. In a related development, Defense Secretary Mattis is ridiculing that cost estimate. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Mattis in China to Discuss North Korea

The Associated Press Jun 27, 2018 The U.S. defense secretary and his Chinese counterpart strike a positive note as they tackle the thorny issue of how to get North Korea to fulfill a pledge to abandon its nuclear program. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Is a War With China on the Horizon?

Michael T. Klare / TomDispatch Jun 21, 2018 The recent name change of the U.S. Pacific Command is a signal that the military is already setting the stage for an eventual confrontation with China. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

At Odds With Bolton on North Korea, Mattis Appears Isolated

ROBERT BURNS / The Associated Press Mar 27, 2018 Disagreements between incoming national security adviser John Bolton and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis over using force versus diplomacy in North Korea will test the latter's influence with the president. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )