U.S. Department of Defense news and stories by mail.com

U.S. Department of Defense

Catchall spending bill advances in Senate
A bipartisan full-year funding bill took a big step forward in the Senate on Monday, despite opposition from Republicans who were denied chances to ...
Panel criticizes military on sexual assault cases
In a stinging rebuke of the military's efforts to curb sexual assault, members of a Senate panel hammered Defense Department officials on Wednesday ...
Victim calls decision in assault case shocking
An advocacy group says the victim in an Air Force sexual assault case is shocked and disappointed by a general's decision to dismiss the charges ...
Audio of GI's statement on WikiLeaks case released
Some supporters of an Army private charged with aiding the enemy released a leaked audio recording Tuesday of Pfc. Bradley Manning explaining why he ...
Hagel to review Air Force sexual assault case
A case involving an Air Force general who dismissed charges against a lieutenant colonel convicted of sexual assault will be reviewed at the top ...
Contractor killed in attack in eastern Afghanistan
Three men wearing Afghan army uniforms and driving an Afghan army vehicle forced their way onto a U.S. base in eastern Afghanistan on Friday and ...
GI's WikiLeaks admission energizes his supporters
While it may be a curious legal strategy, an Army private's decision to admit in court that he sent hundreds of thousands of classified documents to ...
APNewsBreak: Taliban attacks not down after all
The American-led military coalition in Afghanistan backed off Tuesday from its claim that Taliban attacks dropped off in 2012, tacitly acknowledging ...
F-35 fleet grounded after engine crack found
The Pentagon on Friday grounded its fleet of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a cracked engine blade in one plane. The problem was discovered ...
Up to 12,000 US, allied troops for Afghanistan
The U.S. and its NATO allies revealed Friday they may keep as many as 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends next year, largely ...
Panetta, NATO partner, differ on troop numbers
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his NATO counterparts are considering leaving 8,000 to 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after 2014, but it was unclear ...
German: US to leave 8,000-12,000 troops in Afghan
A German official said Friday that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has told NATO allies that the U.S. will leave between 8,000 and 12,000 American ...
NATO to consider maintaining larger Afghan force
NATO is strongly considering a proposal to continue funding a security force of 352,000 Afghan troops through 2018, as part of an effort to maintain ...
NATO chief urges countries to halt defense cuts
The head of NATO urged member countries Thursday to stop cutting their defense budgets in response to tough economic times, saying continued ...
UN: Drones killed more Afghan civilians in 2012
The number of U.S. drone strikes in Afghanistan rose sharply last year compared with 2011, the United Nations said Tuesday. The increase was a sign ...
Officials: US general reconsidering Europe command
U.S. officials say the Marine general who just left a 19-month command in Afghanistan is undecided about becoming the U.S. military's top soldier in ...
APNewsBreak: Flaws found in US missile shield
Secret Defense Department studies cast doubt on whether a multibillion-dollar missile defense system planned for Europe will ever be able to protect ...
Kerry says US weighing Syria options; mum on arms
Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday that the United States is evaluating new options to halt Syria's civil war, but he refused to weigh into ...
Hagel to be 5th Pentagon chief with enlisted time
When President Barack Obama declared that his defense secretary nominee, Chuck Hagel, would be the first former enlisted man to lead the Pentagon, he ...
NATO chief dismisses Russian missile defense worry
NATO's secretary general said Saturday the alliance has no intention of backing down on its plans for a European missile defense system, despite ...
Republicans hammer defense nominee Chuck Hagel
Republican senators hammered former GOP Sen. Chuck Hagel at his confirmation hearing Thursday on issues ranging from Israel and Iran to his support ...
Joint Chiefs: Looming cuts would 'hollow' military
The military's top leaders are warning Congress that automatic spending cuts looming in March would force the Pentagon to slash operating budgets, ...
US eyes drone base in Africa with al-Qaida in mind
Plans to base unarmed American surveillance drones in the African nation of Niger highlight the Obama administration's growing concern about extremist ...