Defense

Factbox: What happens in a U.S. government shutdown?

By Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker and Richard Cowan and Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker, Reuters

In shutdowns, nonessential government employees are furloughed, or placed on temporary unpaid leave. Workers deemed essential, including those dealing with public safety and national security, keep...
The Mysterious Threat to Pilots That the Pentagon Can’t Solve

By Ciro Scotti

Episodes of oxygen deprivation affecting the pilots of F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet — and other military aircraft including the F-35 — are on the rise and remain an unsolved mystery.
What Game Theory Tells Us About Trump’s ‘Madman’ Approach to North Korea

By Rob Garver

Is Donald Trump out of his mind? Maybe he wants North Korea to think so.
Does the Army’s $580 Million Handgun Have a Fatal Flaw?

By Ciro Scotti

Last January, the Army made a $580 million decision: It would replace its longstanding sidearm, the M9 Beretta, with a new modular handgun made by the U.S. arm of the German-controlled gunsmith Sig...
Why the Escalating Threats Between Trump and Kim Won’t End in War

By Patrick Smith

The supercharged threats volleyed between President Trump and Kim Jong Un this week bring us closer to war with the North Korea than at any time since Pyongyang tested its first nuclear device in...

Here’s the Real State of the $1 Trillion U.S. Nuclear Upgrade

By David Francis

The American nuclear arsenal is just about the same as it was when Trump took office.
Here’s Why North Korea Put Guam in Its Crosshairs

By David Francis

Hours after President Donald Trump threatened North Korea with fire and fury like the world has never known, Pyongyang announced it is "examining the operational plan" to attack Guam, a tiny U.S...
Why the Price of the F-35 Keeps Soaring

By Ciro Scotti

The most costly fighter ever built is getting even more expensive. A new General Accounting Office report says the Pentagon will spend an additional $3.9 billion over the next five years on “...
The Media Has to Stop Provoking Trump’s Worst Instincts

By Rob Garver

For a man constantly boasting about his extraordinary negotiating prowess, President Trump made a pretty obvious rookie mistake on Tuesday, with his apocalyptic-sounding promise to deliver “fire and...
Five Things You Need to Know About Plans to Privatize the Afghan War

By David Francis

The White House is actively considering a plan to turn a big chunk of the war in Afghanistan over to private contractors. That’s according to Erik Prince, founder of the Blackwater security firm, who...

9 Ways the White House Plans to Defeat ISIS

By The Fiscal Times Staff

The White House has released the following fact sheet outlining plans to counter the terrorist group ISIS: The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) poses a clear threat to the people of Iraq...
Full Text: President Obama’s Speech Outlining ISIS Strategy

By President Barack Obama

My fellow Americans – tonight, I want to speak to you about what the United States will do with our friends and allies to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL. As...
Obama’s ISIS Strategy Risks Global Backlash

By Clarke Jones, The Conversation

In a primetime televised address this evening, U.S. President Barack Obama will announce a ramp-up of allied military efforts to target Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria. As Obama knows...
Obama Wants OK from Congress on ISIS After All

By Eric Pianin

President Obama told lawmakers Tuesday evening he doesn’t need special authority from Congress to step up airstrikes against ISIS in northern Iraq and parts of Syria – but now he is seeking...
GOP Dilemma: Support Obama on ISIS or Blame Him for Mideast Mistakes

By Eric Pianin

As President Obama prepares to rally the nation behind his plan for battling the ISIS threat Wednesday night, Republicans are walking a fine line between having to back up their commander-in-chief...

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