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

U.S. Department of Defense

Hagel pick test of Senate on presidential choices
In the middle of a bitter fight over a Republican president's nominee for defense secretary, a former White House occupant pleaded with senators to ...
US slams hostage-taking; Clinton to call Algeria
The Obama administration appeared to be in the dark Thursday about a hostage situation at a natural gas plant in Algeria, where Algerian forces ...
Troops worry about defense, job cuts
The soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team have gone to war five times since 9/11, and 84 have been killed — including 13 during their ...
US commandos boost numbers to train Mexican forces
The Pentagon is stepping up aid for Mexico's bloody drug war with a new U.S.-based special operations headquarters to teach Mexican security forces ...
Maine Sen. King: No strong reason to oppose Hagel
Maine Sen. Angus King said Thursday that he sees no strong reason to oppose President Barack Obama's pick for secretary of defense. The newly elected ...
Military leaders warn Congress of 'hollow' force
The nation's top military leaders warned Congress in unusually stark terms that its failure to pass a 2013 defense budget — coupled with the threat ...
Army's largest solar array dedicated in New Mexico
The U.S. Army dedicated its largest solar energy-producing system on Wednesday at White Sands Missile Range in southern New Mexico. The $16.8 million ...
Senate panel sets Hagel hearing for Jan. 31
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be the next defense secretary on Jan. 31.
Pentagon chief Panetta meets Pope Benedict
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the leader of the world's largest military, met Pope Benedict XVI, the world's best known advocate for peace, at ...
Schumer, Boxer to back Hagel for Pentagon's job
Chuck Hagel secured the backing of two of the staunchest pro-Israel Senate Democrats in a clear boost to the Republican's prospects of becoming ...
Panetta: No US troops on the ground in Mali
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday that the U.S. has ruled out putting any American troops on the ground in Mali, but officials are hoping ...
Suicides in military rise, even as combat lessens
For U.S. troops, less combat is not translating to less stress. Members of the military committed suicide at a record pace in 2012 — almost one per ...
Ill. man, sons die in freezing rain on Mo. trail
On a weekend trip that was a surprise anniversary gift for his wife, an outdoors-loving Air Force veteran ventured out with two of his sons for a hike ...
Panetta: US helping French forces with intel
The U.S. is already providing intelligence-gathering assistance to the French in their assault on Islamist extremists in Mali, Defense Secretary Leon ...
Questions and answers about upcoming inauguration
With his wife and two daughters at his side, President Barack Obama will raise his right hand and place his left on two stacked Bibles as he takes the ...
Sen. Corker raises issue of Hagel's 'temperament'
A Republican senator says he thinks the issue of "overall temperament" will come up during former Sen. Chuck Hagel's confirmation hearing to be ...
Obama's fitness put to test at Pentagon clinic
President Barack Obama underwent a fitness test at a Pentagon health clinic on Saturday as part of a periodic medical exam coordinated by his doctor.
Air Force memo outlines sweeping budget cuts
Air Force leaders will cut flying hours by nearly 20 percent and prepare for a possible end to all noncombat or noncritical flights from late July ...
Va. ex-Marine who shot at Pentagon gets 25 years
An ex-Marine convicted of firing shots at the Pentagon and other military targets in 2010 was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison, despite a recent ...
Pentagon moving to freeze hiring, delay contracts
The Pentagon will begin taking steps to freeze civilian hiring, delay some contract awards and curtail some maintenance to prepare for drastic budget ...
Panetta says US in 'last chapter' of Afghan war
In a notably upbeat assessment of war progress, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday that the U.S.-led coalition has advanced to the "last ...
US urges allies Japan, SKorea to mend ties
A high-level U.S. delegation will urge key allies Japan and South Korea to mend strained ties that have hurt security cooperation. It will also likely ...
Santorum takes up fight against Hagel nomination
Republican opposition to Chuck Hagel as the next defense secretary swelled from inside and outside the Senate Thursday as a former Senate colleague ...
Judges seem wary of release of bin Laden photos
Federal appeals court judges seemed skeptical Thursday about forcing the government to release photos and video taken of Osama bin Laden during and ...