by David Uberti | Feb 28, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – The September attack in Yemen that used Predator drones to kill al-Qaida leader Anwar al-Awlaki was the latest high-profile strike showing that future wars could be remote-controlled. The key to the airstrike wasn’t the Hellfire missiles that took out...
by Edwin Rios | Feb 28, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – The best course of action for tomorrow’s Air Force under President Obama’s new budget is to trade size for quality, top brass told a key House committee Tuesday. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz testified...
by Edwin Rios | Feb 22, 2012 | Health & Science, National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON – Cyber security legislation needs smarter regulation with room for technological innovation in the private sector, a former Homeland Security secretary said Wednesday. The bill should raise the bar on private security capability and serve both...
by David Uberti | Feb 22, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – Experts Wednesday called the situation in Iran a “budding crisis,” but they warned against military action to stop the country’s fledgling nuclear programs. A strike against Iranian nuclear facilities could not only increase regional sympathy for the...
by Kit Fox | Feb 15, 2012 | Business, National Security
Photo by STS-122 Shuttle Crew / NASA WASHINGTON — The Star Wars soundtrack blasted out of the speaker system as yellow words faded into a starry landscape on the projector. “Commercial: the new future of space” rolled across the screen. At the 15th annual Federal...
by Edwin Rios | Feb 15, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — There is a growing need for improved relations between the federal government and private companies to protect the nation’s cyber networks, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told a House committee Wednesday. Napolitano called for more...
by Ben Kamisar | Feb 14, 2012 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Senators Tuesday that a failure to compromise on deficit reduction plans could jeopardize national security, leaving a “hollow” military in its wake. Panetta defended a Pentagon budget that requires $487 billion in...
by Patrick Svitek | Feb 8, 2012 | National Security, Politics
WASHINGTON — As lawmakers quarreled over whether airports should hire more private baggage screeners, a bill sat on President Barack Obama’s desk this week that would answer that overarching question. The legislators’ inquiry: How should the Transportation...
by David Uberti | Feb 8, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – A top U.S. general highlighted Wednesday the NATO-led coalition’s successes in Afghanistan, but he didn’t directly refute claims made in a high-profile military journal article that openly criticized the current strategy. Lt. Gen. Curtis...
by Patrick Svitek | Feb 7, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON — Transportation Safety Administration head John Pistole told a House subcommittee Tuesday that he will continue a controversial program that replaces federal employees with private workers at airport security checkpoints, although he is unlikely to expand...
by Edwin Rios | Feb 7, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – The shift of military resources toward the Asia-Pacific region signals a need for new stealth bombers able to combat potential threats, deal with growing demands, and offset attrition of older aircraft, the president of a public policy research...
by David Uberti | Feb 1, 2012 | National Security
WASHINGTON – The March 2011 attack in Afghanistan’s Kandahar Province that left two American soldiers dead and four wounded was carried out by an Afghan security contractor – a hired gun paid for by the U.S.-led coalition. The deadly attack at Forward Operating Base...