National Security

Trump's Pick For Defense Secretary Known For Independent Thinking

6:39pm December 02, 2016

by David Welna

Gen. James Mattis broke ranks with the Obama administration and left his post in charge of U.S. Central Command over his fixation on Iran as a threat to the U.S. Mattis is known as an independent thinker in the military. His past statements put him at odds with some of Donald Trump's views as well.

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Former Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, now President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department, at a 2011 congressional hearing.

Trump's Defense Pick Challenges Rules Regarding Civilian Control Of The Military

5:12pm December 02, 2016

by Brian Naylor

Legally, recently retired generals aren't eligible to serve as secretary of defense. While praising James Mattis' service, some Democrats question whether he should lead the Defense Department.

National

Gen. James 'Mad Dog' Mattis Picked By Trump To Be Defense Secretary

9:28am December 02, 2016

Steve Inskeep talks to retired Army Colonel Peter Mansoor about Donald Trump's pick of retired Marine Gen. James Mattis to head Defense. Mansoor says Mattis is a "Marines' Marine."

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National

State Department Keeps Up Effort To Win Information War Against ISIS

9:28am December 02, 2016

Steve Inskeep talks to Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Richard Stengel about the State Department's efforts to counter ISIS messaging and future challenges.

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Trump Picks Retired Marine Corps Gen. Mattis As Defense Secretary

9:28am December 02, 2016

by Tom Bowman

At a rally in Cincinnati on Thursday night, Donald Trump said he would select retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis to lead the Defense Department, filling a key role in the incoming administration.

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The Pentagon building complex is seen from Air Force One on June 29. An Army review concludes that commanders did nothing wrong when they kicked out more than 22,000 soldiers for misconduct after they came back from Iraq or Afghanistan – even though all

Senators, Military Specialists Say Army Report On Dismissed Soldiers Is Troubling

12:25pm December 01, 2016

by Daniel Zwerdling

The review was ordered after NPR found that 22,000 soldiers diagnosed with mental health problems or brain injuries were dismissed for misconduct. The Army concluded it fairly dismissed them.

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An Estonian soldier takes aim during a training exercise at Tapa Army Base, Estonia, on Nov. 17. U.S. troops were also taking part in the training, about 70 miles from the border with Russia. NATO countries are stepping up their presence in Eastern Europe

Near The Russian Border, U.S. And NATO Beef Up Their Presence

7:59am November 30, 2016

by Lucian Kim

U.S. troops are training in Estonia, just 70 miles from the Russian border. It points to NATO's increased activity in the Baltic states and Poland amid the growing tensions with Moscow.

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Former North Charleston, S.C., police Officer Michael Slager testifies Tuesday during his murder trial.

National

Former South Carolina Police Officer Takes The Stand At His Murder Trial

5:38pm November 29, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

Former North Charleston Officer Michael Slager is on trial for shooting a black man named Walter Scott in the back. Slager testified he "fired until the threat was stopped, like I'm trained to do."

Trump Presidency Casts Doubt Over Declassification Of CIA Torture Report

6:28pm November 28, 2016

by David Welna

Only a few copies exist of the infamous CIA torture report, and the Senate committee that created them has called for the agencies that received them to return them. Activists and journalists are hoping to keep those copies at least extant, so they might one day be declassified and released. They fear that if all the copies are returned, they will be destroyed and the information lost forever.

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National

TSA Takes To Twitter For AMA

9:28am November 26, 2016

The Transportation Security Administration has been using social media to answer travelers' questions about what they can bring on commercial planes. Questions like, "Are meatballs allowed in carry-on bags?"