Rowan Scarborough

Obama adviser Jones shifted Afghanistan views — a lot

National security adviser James L. Jones - the president's point man in a momentous debate on U.S. policy in Afghanistan - has repeatedly shifted his assessments of the war as he transformed himself from a top Marine general to a civilian adviser in recent years.

October 16, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: Taliban makes IEDs deadlier

The Taliban has been building simpler, cheaper anti-personnel bombs made of hard-to-detect nonmetal components, increasing the number of lethal attacks on NATO forces in Afghanistan, according to a confidential military report.

September 15, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: Lack of translators hurts U.S. war on terror

U.S. national security agencies remain woefully short of foreign-language speakers and translators nearly eight years after the Sept. 11 attacks resulted in a war on an enemy that often communicates in relatively obscure dialects, current and former officials say.

August 31, 2009

EXCLUSIVE: General mulls more fighters in Afghanistan

Afghanistan's top U.S. military commander is examining whether some support personnel could be replaced by combat forces to increase America's war fighting capacity without requesting a major addition of new troops.

August 14, 2009

ANALYSIS: Gates’ budget cuts sour conservatives

Some conservatives who welcomed President Obama's decision to keep Robert M. Gates as defense secretary are already having second thoughts.

May 11, 2009

Defense chief proposes weapons cuts

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Monday he plans to cut the F-22 fighter jet and other big-weapon systems as part of a "fundamental shift" in how the Pentagon buys weapons and fights wars, including the one in Afghanistan.

April 6, 2009

Rehabilitation never tried at Gitmo

The Pentagon never instituted an anti-extremism rehabilitation program for terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay, even as it released hundreds of detainees to their home countries and saw scores go back to practicing terrorism.

February 19, 2009

ANALYSIS: Timing of Israeli invasion limited Obama’s options

Israel invaded the Gaza Strip in a bid to destroy archenemy Hamas before President-elect Barack Obama takes office Tuesday, preventing the new president from negotiating with a militant group that would no longer exist, Middle East analysts say.

January 19, 2009

Obama eyes cuts in expensive weapons systems

President-elect Barack Obama's transition officials are in early talks about making significant cuts in some high-priced weapon systems, seeking savings to offset budget deficits and help pay for arms sought for conflicts in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

December 11, 2008

Obama transition eyes cuts in expensive arms systems

President-elect Barack Obama's transition officials are in early talks about making significant cuts in some high-priced weapon systems, seeking savings to offset budget deficits and help pay for arms sought for conflicts in places like Afghanistan and Iraq.

December 10, 2008

Obama to delay ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal

President-elect Barack Obama will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010, to ask Congress to end the military's decades-old ban on open homosexuals in the ranks, two people who have advised the Obama transition team on this issue say.

November 21, 2008

Obama may delay lifting ban on openly gay soldiers

President-elect Barack Obama will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010, to ask Congress to end the military's decades-old ban on open homosexuals in the ranks, two people who have advised the Obama transition team on this issue say.

November 20, 2008

Doubts mount on Afghan surge

While U.S. commanders and both presidential candidates are pressing the Pentagon to send more troops to Afghanistan, several military and Afghanistan analysts say a surge there could worsen the problems of the country.

July 29, 2008

Army search under way for enhanced body armor

The Army has begun a search for the next generation of bulletproof body armor.

July 28, 2008

Iraq’s security ‘remarkably better’

The nation's top military officer Wednesday declared the security situation in Iraq so good that he expects to recommend more U.S. troop reductions this fall if conditions hold.

July 17, 2008

Deal lets U.S. drones strike bin Laden

EXCLUSIVE -- The U.S. has an agreement with Pakistan that CIA-operated Predator drones may strike Osama bin Laden's hide-out without prior permission from Islamabad.

July 2, 2008

Pentagon Notebook: McPeak calls McCain too fat

Turns out the most senior retired general to back Sen. Barack Obama crossed paths with Sen. John McCain during their active-duty years.

June 26, 2008

Russian flights smack of Cold War

Russian bombers have stepped up provocative flight exercises off the Alaskan coast, reminiscent of Cold War incursions designed to rattle U.S. air defenses.

June 26, 2008

Hadley keeps peace during search for harmony

Stephen J. Hadley took on his biggest job in a long government career a few months after the Sept. 11 attacks.

June 22, 2008

New president will inherit Bush’s military leaders

Moves by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in the past year to abruptly end the careers of four top officers will leave the next president with some of the same senior military leaders who advised President Bush on the Iraq war.

June 19, 2008