National Security

Has Elite Interrogation Group Lived Up To Expectations?

The man the U.S. alleges is the top al-Qaida operative who orchestrated the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania has pleaded not guilty to the charges at a federal court in Manhattan. The case has brought the High Value Interrogation Group back into the spotlight. It was created by the Obama administration to extract valuable intelligence from terrorists, but national security experts say there have been too few cases to judge its promise.

Foundation To Pay Military Death Benefits During Shutdown

The partial government shutdown has forced the Pentagon to delay payments to the families of troops killed while serving in the U.S. military. Normally these families would receive a $100,000 payment three days after the death of member of the Armed Forces. More than 20 have died since the shutdown began. A private, non-profit group called the Fisher House Foundation will pay the death benefits during the shutdown.

Marine Generals Forced To Retire A Year After Taliban Attack

Two Marine Corps generals have been asked to resign over an incident in Afghanistan a year ago. Taliban insurgents made their way onto a sprawling base and attacked NATO forces. Two Americans died and six Marine fighter jets were destroyed. The two generals reprimanded in the matter were found to bear responsibility for underestimating the threat to base security.