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

U.S. Department of Defense

Games likely to follow Pentagon on women in combat
Lara Croft. Samus Aran. Jill Valentine. Chell. In the realm of video games, it's not difficult to identify tough-as-nails women who uncover ancient ...
US weighs tougher action over China cyberattacks
High-level talks with the Chinese government to address persistent cyberattacks against U.S. companies and government agencies haven't worked, so ...
Marine leader: skepticism in infantry about women
The head of the Marine Corps — the most male of all military branches — said Thursday the infantry side is skeptical about how women will perform in ...
US looking at action against China cyberattacks
The Obama administration is considering more assertive action against Beijing to combat a persistent cyber-espionage campaign it believes Chinese ...
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 ...
Congress grapples with gap on scofflaw contractors
With thousands of civilian contractors remaining in Iraq and Afghanistan, Justice Department officials want Congress to resolve a legal issue they say ...
American deaths in Afghan war drop to 4-year low
U.S. troop deaths in Afghanistan have plunged to the lowest level in four years, reflecting a pullback from direct combat into the less deadly role ...
THE RESET: Pentagon nominee Hagel fights for job
The odds should favor Senate confirmation of Chuck Hagel as President Barack Obama's next defense secretary despite strong Republican criticism at ...
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, ...
Economic jitters compete with Obama agenda
Just as President Barack Obama is pushing new initiatives on gun control and immigration, the gloomy old problem of a sluggish economy is elbowing its ...
GOP lawmakers see automatic cuts as leverage
There's a growing sense of resignation that the country's political leaders will be unable or unwilling to find a way around looming automatic ...
High-tech cargo airship being built in California
The massive blimp-like aircraft flies but just barely, hovering only a dozen feet off a military hangar floor during flight testing south of Los ...
Hagel says military view shaped by Vietnam
Chuck Hagel says his experience fighting in Vietnam alongside his younger brother will shape any decision he makes to unleash military force if the ...
Senate confirms Kerry nomination for State Dept.
The Senate overwhelmingly confirmed President Barack Obama's choice of five-term Sen. John Kerry to be secretary of state, with Republicans and ...
Hagel supports nuclear arms cuts, then elimination
Chuck Hagel, the likely next secretary of defense, would be the first to enter the Pentagon having publicly advocated for sharply reducing the number ...
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 ...
US military deaths in Afghanistan at 2,045
As of Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at least 2,045 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan ...
Reid: Replace automatic cuts in short increments
The top Democrat in the Senate said Tuesday that lawmakers should redouble their efforts to replace looming across-the-board cuts to the Pentagon and ...
Official: US may set up drone base in Niger
The Pentagon is moving toward setting up a military base in northwest Africa from which to operate surveillance drones to collect intelligence on ...
Graham threatens to block Hagel pick over Libya
A Republican senator is threatening to block the nomination of Chuck Hagel to lead the Pentagon unless Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies about ...
FACT CHECK: The stretched case against Chuck Hagel
Republican-leaning groups opposing President Barack Obama's choice of Chuck Hagel to head the Defense Department have let loose a barrage of claims ...
French, Mali forces head toward Timbuktu
French and Malian forces pushed toward the fabled desert town of Timbuktu on Sunday, as the two-week-long French mission gathered momentum against the ...
US to support French in Mali with aerial refueling
The United States has decided to provide additional support to the French military in its war against Islamic militants in Mali by conducting aerial ...
Health answers sought about burned-off war garbage
J.D. Williams didn't think much about the smoke cloud that often shrouded his air base in Iraq. Not when it covered everything he owned with black ...