Sara Sorcher

Sara Sorcher

Staff Writer, National Security

Sara Sorcher is a national security staff writer for National Journal covering the business of war. Before joining the newsroom in September 2010 to cover foreign policy and national security, Sorcher worked as a freelance journalist in Israel and regularly contributed print and video to ABC News, GlobalPost, and Israel21c. Her video packages have also been featured with the New York Times, TIME and CNN World View. Sorcher graduated magna cum laude in Middle Eastern Studies from Tufts University and speaks Hebrew and Arabic.

Sara Sorcher's Latest Posts

Insiders: Boston Bombings Should Not Change Terror Policies for Soft Targets

By
Two-thirds of National Journal 's National Security Insiders said the U.S. government does not need to reassess its policies to prevent attacks at high-profile events in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings. But Insiders' opini...

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Immigration Debate May Grow More Complicated

By Billy House
With Congress focused on immigration reform this week, the national security aspects of the issue are moving to the forefront amid efforts by some conservatives to inject the Boston Marathon bombing suspects into that debate. Read More »

What is the Islamic Jihad Union?

By
The FBI is reportedly investigating whether Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the brothers of Chechen descent suspected of carrying out the deadly Boston Marathon bombings on Monday, have links with the Islamic Jihad Union r...

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The FBI's Big Job to Investigate the Boston Bombings

By
The FBI has a massive job to do. It must defuse the tense situation and reassure residents advised to stay inside their homes all day; gather forensic evidence and witness statements; determine if there’s an international connecti...

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Who Is Lisa Monaco, the White House's Counterterrorism Adviser?

By
President Obama's homeland-security point person deals with the Boston Marathon bombings in her first weeks on the job. Read More »

Insiders: North Korean Threat Serious, U.S. Response Appropriate

By
North Korea's saber rattling is a serious threat, National Journal 's National Security Insiders say, and they overwhelmingly approve of the Obama administration's response. Read More »
ECONOMY

What Drones Can Do for You

By
Prescription drugs, fast-food delivery, disaster relief—unmanned aerial vehicles can be handy in all sorts of ways.  Read More »

Agenda Is Stacked for Return of Congress; Obama Will Pile on More With His Budget

By Billy House
The prospects for renewed talks on a long-term deficit-reduction deal reach a pivotal point this week with the release Wednesday of President Obama’s budget plan, which offers cuts to Social Security and Medicare in the hope of so...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

The Paradox of Syria's Chemical Weapons

By
The surest way to keep the arsenal safe is to leave it in the hands of a murderous dictator. Read More »

No Shortage of Headlines for House Intelligence Chair

By
The Michigan Republican must toe a fine line between his role as a representative and communicator for the public and his advisory role on sensitive national-security issues. Read More »

Rogers on North Korea: 'This Is Serious'

By
The U.S. needs to be aggressive in its response to rhetoric coming from North Korea, which threatened to attack South Korea and the United States as its faces tougher international sanctions following its latest nuclear test, said H...

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6 Ways to Use Domestic Drones

By and Joey Carolino
The 30,000 drones expected to fly in United States airspace within the decade will look a great deal different from the Predator and Reaper drones you may be used to hearing about. Read More »

Drone Lobbyist: 'I Don't Use the Word Drone'

By
Drones are coming to U.S. skies. The Federal Aviation Administration is charged with finding a safe way for drones to fly for commercial purposes by 2015, but civil liberties advocates worry privacy rights might suffer. Read More »

Invasion of the Drones Has Senate Panel’s Attention

By
Like it or not, drones are coming to American skies. Now Congress must find a way to protect the right to privacy. Read More »

National Security Insiders: Obama Can't Bring Israelis and Palestinians to Negotiating Table

By
President Obama is headed to the Holy Land this week, but 72 percent of National Journal's National Security Insiders are not optimistic he can bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table anytime soon. Read More »

National Security Insiders: It's Possible for Congress to Oversee Drone Program

By
Plus: A narrow majority says Chuck Hagel will be a good Defense secretary. Read More »

Paul's Filibuster Draws Divisions Within GOP

By Stacy Kaper
It might not be a sign of an overnight upheaval in the leadership of Republican defense orthodoxy, but Sen. Rand Paul’s long filibuster questioning drone use in the U.S. struck a civil libertarian nerve that is illuminating divisi...

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TECHNOLOGY

The Wonderful World of Drones

By
Fighting fires, reducing crime, counting sea lions: the case for domestic UAVs. Read More »

What Was Behind Rand Paul's Filibuster of John Brennan

By
Angry about the Obama administration’s claim it may kill U.S. citizens on American soil in certain situations, the Kentucky Republican took to the Senate floor for hours to hold up the nomination of John Brennan to become CIA director. Read More »
Q&A

Rand Paul: 'We Shouldn't Be Crisscrossing the Skies With Drones'

By
The senator is concerned about the administration's use of drones for surveillance—and targeted killing—in the U.S. Read More »

Rand Paul Pledges to Hold Up Brennan’s CIA Nomination Until He Gets Answers on Drones

By
Sen. Rand Paul sees it as a very simple question, which could easily be answered with a “yes” or a “no”: Can the Obama administration authorize the use of lethal force—such as a drone strike—against a U.S. citizen on Ame...

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Insiders: Yes, Sequestration Will Really Hurt U.S. National Security

By
Insiders also support arming Syria's rebels. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

The Backlash Against Drones

By
Flying robots can improve policing and assist in search-and-rescues. But they're also good at domestic spying, and that raises privacy concerns. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Is Obama's Drone Policy Really Morally Superior to Torture?

By
Bush was condemned for waterboarding. But this administration kills from above. Read More »

The Most Important Policies In President Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address

By National Journal Staff
Everything you need to know from 2013's State of the Union address, from health care and the budget to immigration and guns. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Security Insiders: Sequestration Most Likely Scenario

By
Sequestration is now the most likely scenario, according to 78 percent of National Journal 's National Security Insiders, who are not optimistic that Congress and the White House will reach a deal to reduce the deficit by the Ma...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: White House Should Develop Rules for Drone Program

By
A strong 87 percent majority of  National Journal 's National Security Insiders say that the White House should develop formal rules for the drone program targeting terrorists overseas. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

When Can the U.S. Kill Americans? The White House Won't Say.

By
The administration refuses to say why it thinks it can kill American  terrorists abroad—even to the lawmakers entitled to know. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Sobering Lessons for the Afghan Pullout in Paris Peace Accord Anniversary

By James Kitfield and
Even as the Obama administration and the Afghan government are locked in intense negotiations over the terms of the withdrawal of U.S. troops after a decade of war, the United States is approaching a sobering milestone. January 27 w...

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Insiders: Go Ahead, Slash the Defense Budget

By
Defense cuts may be on the table in a new fiscal-cliff deal, as the deadline to avoid sequestration is just weeks away. National Journal's National Security Insiders say: Go for it. Read More »

Vast Majority of National Security Insiders Want Hagel, Brennan Confirmed

By
Washington is abuzz with speculation about whether hawks’ opposition will derail the confirmation of former Sen. Chuck Hagel as Defense secretary. But 82 percent of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders support it. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

5 Key National-Security Issues for 2013

By
It has been a turbulent year, with violence continuing in Syria, heated debates over the defense-budget topline, and the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya. National Journal looks at five key national-security issues that the U.S...

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POWER

Defense Authorization Bill Heads to President Obama

By
The sweeping defense policy bill is now headed to President Obama's desk, with the Senate passing the legislation authorizing about $633 billion in Pentagon programs by a wide 81-12 margin today. It came one day after the House p...

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Republicans Win With Secretary of State John Kerry

By
Ever since United Nations ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration, observers on Capitol Hill correctly assumed President Obama’s short list for secretary of State had narrowed to one person: Sen. John K...

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ANALYSIS

Benghazi-gate May Be Drawing Down

By
If you’ve been following the political fallout from the Benghazi, Libya, terrorist attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens, you’ll remember the last public hearing on Capitol Hill in mid-October. That House Oversight and Gov...

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POLITICS

White House: Obama Would Veto Republican 'Plan B'

By
The White House says that if the Republican ‘Plan B’ legislation were presented to President Obama for his signature, he would veto it. A vote is planned in the House on Thursday on the Plan B proposal, which would exten...

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How Conferees Resolved Differences on Defense Authorization Bill

By
Emerging from conference committee on Tuesday, leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services committees presented the final version of the defense bill authorizing about $633 billion for Pentagon programs. Read More »

Rice Withdraws from Secretary of State Consideration

By and
After months of criticism for her response to the terrorist attack in Benghazi, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice has withdrawn her name from consideration for secretary of state, the White House said on Thursday. Read More »
DEFENSE

Defense Companies Also Worried About Nondefense Budget Cuts

By
The defense industry’s loud campaign against sequestration has led many observers to believe those companies would be safe if steep cuts to the military budget under sequestration are avoided. That’s a misperception. Read More »
Q&A

Joe Lieberman Intends to Go Out Fighting

By
In his final votes, the long-tenured senator says he won't budge on defense cuts as the fiscal cliff nears. Read More »
POLITICS

Levin, McCain Appear Unperturbed By White House Veto Threat of Defense Bill

By
Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., and ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., appear unperturbed by a recent threat from the White House to veto the defense authorization bill, which is expected to pass within hours. Read More »

Who Will Lead U.S. National Security?

By , Dan Friedman and
A graphic roadmap for the Obama administration, from Boston to Benghazi. Read More »
ANALYSIS

Tough Questions May Signal Quicker, Quieter End to Afghanistan War

By
It’s no secret that Congress’s enthusiasm for the long war in Afghanistan has been waning—but you know support is low when even John McCain, one of the Senate’s staunchest defense hawks, is questioning whether the war is sti...

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ANALYSIS: HEALTH CARE

Think Our Troops Are Safe From Sequestration? They Aren't

By and Meghan McCarthy
Without a compromise by Congress, sequestration would cut health benefits for active-duty troops and veterans.  Read More »

Coburn on DOD Budget: Cut Beef Jerky, Microbrews, Star Trek Programs

By
Republican Sen.  Tom Coburn  of Oklahoma has a new report out Thursday outlining how the Pentagon could save about $68 billion over the next 10 years without cutting vital defense priorities—if only the military stopped ...

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Petraeus to Testify Before Congress on Libya Friday

By Lara Seligman and
Former CIA Director David Petraeus, who stepped down last week because of an extramarital affair, will testify before Congress this week on the terrorist attack in Libya that killed four Americans. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Even With Obama Win, Israel Won't Dial Back Rhetoric on Striking Iran

By
Even though President Obama has secured a second term, 70 percent of  National Journal 's National Security Insiders do not believe Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will dial back his rhetoric on the possibility of a m...

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POWER

Senate Moves to Defense Bill, Sort Of

By
The Senate took a babystep towards considering the defense authorization bill on Wednesday, but key lawmakers are aiming for the real work to begin on the bill after Thanksgiving. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

United States 'Not Prepared' to Recognize Syrian Opposition Yet

By Jim O'Sullivan
President Obama on Wednesday said the United States was not prepared to recognize the Syrian opposition umbrella group, citing concerns about providing arms to “extremist elements” within the fledgling coalition. Read More »
INFLUENCE

Thompson: Lockheed Emerges from CEO Shakeup in Good Shape

By
Some members of the defense community welcomed the announcement that  Marillyn Hewson  will become president  and CEO of  Lockheed Martin next year after  Christopher Kubasik  resigned after an ethics ...

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LEADERSHIP

Royce Makes Play for Foreign Affairs Committee Chair

By Sara Sorcher
One day after the election ensured Republicans will keep their majority in the next Congress, Rep. Ed Royce , R-Calif., made his first public play to secure the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Royce, who...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Iran Will Be Biggest Foreign-Policy Challenge of Next Four Years

By
National Journal 's National Security Insiders are deeply divided over which foreign-policy challenge will prove most pressing in the next administration, with a slight plurality believing that dealing with Iran will be the top ...

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BUDGET

White House Holds Back on Sequester Details

By Meghan McCarthy and
There’s a funny thing happening at federal agencies. When it comes to the details of the looming $1.2 trillion cut to their budgets, agency officials find themselves unable to explain just how those cuts would affect myriad progra...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Foreign-Policy Issues to Expect in Monday's Debate

By and
President Obama’s foreign-policy record has long been considered one of his strengths, but when Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney meet in Boca Raton, Fla., on Monday night, there will be plenty of overseas controversies for...

Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Security Insiders: Obama Administration Did Not Deliberately Mislead on Benghazi Attack

By
A strong majority of National Journal 's National Security Insiders disagreed with Republicans who claim the Obama administration deliberately misled others about the fatal attack at the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, with its ...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

What Questions Are in Store for the Candidates Tonight?

By Katy O'Donnell, and
The 90-minute town-hall debate at Hofstra University Tuesday night will feature questions from uncommitted Nassau County, N.Y., voters selected by Gallup. Moderator Candy Crowley is tasked with selecting which of the 80 voters' ques...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Fact Check: The Vice Presidential Debate Between Biden and Ryan

By Meghan McCarthy, Katy O'Donnell, Josh Smith and
The vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan on Thursday night covered a wide range of domestic and international issues. Here is a look at some of their statements and how firmly they are grounded in fact. Read More »
POLITICS

Get Ready for Fiscal Wonkery at the VP Debate

By Katy O'Donnell, and
The vice presidential debate on Thursday evening will feature candidates with very different policy portfolios. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Israel Will Attack Iran

By
Two-thirds of National Journal 's National Security Insiders believe Israel will attack Iran to try and derail its nuclear program, but are divided over whether military action would take place in the coming months or at a later date. Read More »
POWER

Dems Accuse Issa of 'Extremely Partisan' Libya Investigation

By Sara Sorcher
Republicans on the House Oversight for Government Reform Committee are virtually sure to grill Obama administration officials on Wednesday about the level of embassy security at the U.S. consulate in Libya before the Sept. 11 attac...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Congress Will Punt Sequestration for a Few Months

By
Seventy-nine percent of National Journal 's National Security Insiders believe that when Congress returns in mid-November, members will punt sequestration for a few months as hope wanes for a broader deal to avoid the sweeping $1.2...

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DEFENSE

White House Moves To Head Off Sequester Layoffs

By
The White House moved to prevent defense and other government contractors from issuing mass layoff notices in anticipation of sequestration, even going so far to say that the contracting agencies would cover any potential litigation...

Read More »
BUDGET

OMB: Hold Off On Sequester Layoff Plans

By Sara Sorcher
White House Urges Defense and Other Gov't Contractors Not To Issue Mass Layoff Notices In Anticipation of Sequestration. Guidance from Office of Management and Budget even goes so far as to say that the contracting agencies...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Panetta: Libya Attack the Work of Terrorists

By
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the deadly assault on the embassy compound in Benghazi was a "terrorist attack" -- but the ongoing FBI investigation must determine which group was responsible for the deaths of ambassador Chris...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Romney's Attacks on Obama Over Defense Cuts Won't Move Needle for Voters

By
Seventy percent of  National Journal ’s National Security Insiders say  Mitt Romney’s attacks on President Obama alleging his support of $1 trillion in cuts to the Pentagon’s budget will not have an impact on voters. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Post-Arab Spring States: Magnets for Extremism

By James Kitfield and
The anti-American protests that targeted U.S. embassies throughout the Middle East last week suggest that in the near term, the greatest peril in the wake of the Arab Spring may come from the model of Lebanon: a weak democracy with ...

Read More »
ANALYSIS

White House Cranks Up Pressure with Stark, But Vague, Sequester Report

By and
When the much-anticipated White House report landed in inboxes Friday afternoon, budget watchers were anxious to pore through the 400 pages detailing more than 1,200 budget accounts to understand just how painful sequestration might...

Read More »
BUDGET

White House Unveils Sequestration Plan

By Katy O'Donnell, and Meghan McCarthy
U.S. weapons purchases would be slashed, programs to protect food and water safety would take a hit and crime-prevention programs would would be scaled back if Congress fails to take action to prevent automatic cuts known as "seques...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Clinton Identifies Remaining American Casualties of Libya Attack

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the first time released the names of two Americans killed in the attack on the U.S. Embassy compound in Libya, recognizing military veterans Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, who died helpi...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Clinton: U.S. Government Had 'Nothing to Do' With Anti-Muslim Film

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton made clear the U.S. government had nothing to do with an anti-Muslim film she personally finds “disgusting and reprehensible” as protests over an anti-Muslim film spread to Yemen on Th...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Libya Attack a Reminder of Unfinished and Uneasy Arab Spring Transitions

By
Until now, Libya’s struggles had largely faded from the national headlines. Americans were shocked by Wednesday’s news that heavily armed Libyans assaulted the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, setting fire to the buildings ...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Hillary Clinton Condemns Libyan Attack That Killed Ambassador

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday condemned "in the strongest terms this senseless act of violence" that resulted in the killing of American Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Libya. Read More »
ELECTION ANALYSIS

GOP Ticket Makes Questionable Argument on Defense Cuts

By
Romney and Ryan are trying to persuade voters in defense-heavy battleground states that their jobs would be safer if the GOP ticket wins the White House. From a political standpoint, the tactic holds potential to affect the outcom...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

Final Night: Fact Checking the Democratic Speakers

By Katy O'Donnell, and
On the final night of their convention in Charlotte, Democrats, including President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, criticized Republican nominee Mitt Romney over his policies on taxes, Medicare,  and national security wh...

Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

Fact Checking the Democratic Speakers

By Meghan McCarthy, Katy O'Donnell and
Democrats hammered Republicans for blocking President Obama's jobs plan and proposing to give tax cuts to millionaires on the second day of their national convention in Charlotte. Here is a look at some of their statements and ...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

Fact-Checking the Democratic Speakers

By Katy O'Donnell, Meghan McCarthy and
Day One of the Democratic convention featured speakers including San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue, Rep. Charles Gonzalez of Texas, and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who covered topics from the econ...

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Iran, North Korea Sign Scientific and Technology Accord

By
In a move likely to inflame suspicions in the West, Iran and North Korea signed a scientific and technological agreement on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Read More »
HOMELAND SECURITY

Senior ICE Official Resigns After Discrimination Allegations

By
A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official resigned on Saturday, amid allegations in a discrimination lawsuit that she fostered a "frat-house-type atmosphere that is targeted to humiliate and intimidate male employees,...

Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

Some of the Things Democrats Will be Answering Next Week

By Meghan McCarthy, Katy O'Donnell and
By the end of the three-day Republican National Convention in Tampa, plenty of accusations and issues had been laid at President Obama’s feet. Here is a look at some of the main attack lines you will likely see addressed in Charlo...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

Fact-Checking the GOP Speakers

By Meghan McCarthy, , Katy O'Donnell and
Here is a look at some of the statements from Thursday night at the Republican National Convention and how firmly they are grounded in fact.   Read More »
CONVENTIONS 2012

Fact Checking the GOP Speakers

By , Meghan McCarthy and Katy O'Donnell
Day Two of the Republican convention focused heavily on national security, with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Sen.  John McCain , ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Many speakers, includ...

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CONVENTIONS 2012

Fact Checking the GOP Speakers

By Meghan McCarthy, Katy O'Donnell and
The economy and budget were top issues in many of the speeches at the Republican convention on Tuesday. Speakers from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who delivered the keynote address, to Democrat-turned-Republican Artur Davis ...

Read More »

On Katrina Anniversary, FEMA Now Seems Ready

By
It’s an unhappy anniversary as Tropical Storm Isaac appears to be following the path of Hurricane Katrina, threatening to hit Louisiana seven years after the 2005 devastation that killed nearly 2,000 people and caused tens of bill...

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WEATHER

FEMA on Isaac Evacuations: ‘The Time to Go is Now’

By
If you’ve been instructed to leave your home because of Tropical Storm Isaac, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate has a clear message for you: “The time to go is now.” Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

White House: Egypt's Military, Government Should Work Together

By
The White House on Monday urged Egypt's newly elected civilian government and powerful military to work together, a day after President Mohamed Morsi ordered the country's longtime defense minister to resign. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: U.S. Should Intervene if Necessary to Secure Syria's Chemical Weapons

By
As violence rages in Syria, a majority of  National Journal' s National Security Insiders say Washington should intervene to secure the country's massive arsenal of chemical weapons if the U.S. believes Damascus is beginning to...

Read More »

Security Insiders to Mitt Romney: Nuclear Iran Not World's Greatest Threat

By
Three-quarters of National Journal's National Security Insiders disagreed with a recent statement by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who said a nuclear Iran represents the greatest threat to the world.   Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

Obama Stops Short of Calling for Tougher Gun Control Laws

By
President Obama on Monday stopped short of calling for stricter gun control measures as he condemned the shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin that left six people dead. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Republicans on Romney's Trip: Any Damage Won't Be Fatal

By
Mitt Romney’s misadventures abroad are no doubt less important to many voters than the state of their pocketbooks or even how many medals American swimmer Michael Phelps ends up collecting at the Games. The bad news for Romney is ...

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INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders: Senate Should Ratify Law of the Sea Treaty

By
With Senate Republicans claiming that they can sink the Law of the Sea Treaty if it ever comes to the floor, nearly all of National Journal’s National Security Insiders believe that the chamber should ratify the accord governing...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Egypt Aid Should Continue with Muslim Brotherhood President

By
A wide majority of National Journal's pool of national-security and foreign-policy experts said that the $1.3 billion the United States provides in annual military aid to Egypt should not be slowed simply because Muslim Brotherhoo...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Attaching Strings to Foreign Aid Often Proves Ineffective

By
As the Arab Spring upended long-held assumptions about the Middle East, Congress has been trying to influence U.S. foreign policy by layering new conditions on traditional aid packages. Does it work? Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Designate Haqqani Network a Foreign Terrorist Organization

By
A wide majority of National Journal 's National Security Insiders said the State Department should designate as a foreign terrorist organization the Haqqani network, the extremist insurgent group under the Taliban umbrella that t...

Read More »
ANALYSIS

Syria's Chemical Weapons: A Perfect Storm?

By
It looks like a perfect storm. Syria is believed to harbor one of the world's largest chemical-weapons stockpiles—which, for the time being, appear to be protected by well-trained Syrian troops. As the violence rages in the coun...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Libyan Ambassador to America: Be Aggressive

By
As votes were tallied after Libya’s first democratic national elections in six decades, the country’s ambassador to Washington sat down to lunch with 20 members of different American companies. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Drone Strikes Right Approach in Current Phase of War on Terror

By
Two-thirds of National Journal 's National Security Insiders believe that the Obama administration's increasing use of drone strikes to kill terrorism suspects overseas is the right approach—but many cautioned that Washington mus...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Women in Washington: Janet Napolitano on Cyberthreats, Immigration, and Baseball

By
National Journal visited Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in the office she calls her “bat cave.” It’s decorated with mementos from her travels as secretary and former roles including Arizona governor. Ed...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Pakistan Reopens Supply Routes, Clinton Apologizes

By
Pakistan will re-open the supply routes that the U.S. its allies use to supply troops in neighboring Afghanistan after Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. was sorry for the deaths of Pakistani soldiers mistake...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Rogers: National-Security Leaks ‘Probably the Most Damaging’ in U.S. History

By
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers , R-Mich., called the recent slew of national-security leaks “probably the most damaging” in this country’s history, warning that people’s lives are in danger and families h...

Read More »

Iran, Oil, and the Politics of Sanctions

By Amy Harder and Sara Sorcher
The administration recently exempted certain countries from sanctions because they significantly reduced the volume of crude-oil imports from Iran. Do you see the exemptions as a demonstration of the sanctions' effectiveness? Or do ...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Say Defense Sequester Likely to Take Effect

By
With no sign of compromise on Capitol Hill for a deal on the budget deficit and the debt, National Journal 's National Security Insiders are hedging on whether the across-the-board defense cuts that Pentagon officials have warned...

Read More »

How Should the U.S. Respond to Egypt Elections?

By Sara Sorcher
President Obama congratulated the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi on winning the country's first democratic presidential elections. Are you optimistic for the future of U.S. relations with Morsi in charge? How can Washington pla...

Read More »
Q&A

Michael Posner on Democracy’s March

By
The State Department official discusses human rights in Bahrain and the challenges of reconciling U.S. security interests with support for democracy. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Say Leaks Will Affect U.S. Foreign Policy—But Only a Little

By
National Journal’s National Security Insiders said the recent and much-condemned national-security leaks to news organizations will damage U.S. foreign policy--but only a little. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Pessimistic About Relations With Egypt if Muslim Brotherhood Wins Presidency

By
A slim majority of National Journal ’s pool of national-security and foreign-policy experts are not optimistic about the future of U.S. relations with Egypt should Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi win the presidential e...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Failing to Find Pulse, Doctors Use Defibrillator on Mubarak in Prison Hospital

By
In the latest health scare for ailing former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, doctors in a prison hospital used a defibrillator twice after they could not find a pulse, the Associated Press reported. Read More »

How Should the U.S. Government Deal with the Leaks?

By Sara Sorcher
Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Senators Blast Publicity of Cyberattack on Iran

By
Many lawmakers were incensed—for differing reasons—by the recent New York Times report detailing how President Obama attempted to derail Iran’s nuclear program by secretly ordering cyberattacks on computer systems that run i...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Support Military’s Renewable-Energy Push

By
Nearly two-thirds of  National Journal ’s National Security Insiders agree with the military’s push for renewable energy, siding with the Obama administration over some Republicans in Congress who have charged that the Defe...

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PEOPLE

Sherif Mansour Returns to Egypt to Face NGO Trial

By
Sherif Mansour heads to the airport on Saturday. There is a cage in an Egyptian courtroom waiting for him in Cairo. Read More »
PEOPLE

Taking a Stand in Egypt

By
Sherif Mansour insists on buying coffee for guests who meet him at Yola yogurt bar in Dupont Circle, near the Washington office of Freedom House, where he worked for five years until this week. Swiping his card at the register to ...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S., Western Nations Expelling Syrian Diplomats After Massacre

By and
Diplomats from the U.S. and several Western nations, including Britain, Canada and France, are expelling Syrian diplomats after a massacre on Friday left more than 100 Syrians dead, including many children. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Appropriations Bill Docks Pakistan $1M for Every Year Doctor Jailed

By
If the Senate Appropriations Committee has its way, Pakistan’s military assistance package will be docked $33 million— $1 million for every year the doctor who assisted the U.S. in tracking down Osama bin Laden sits in a Pakista...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Obama Authorizes Sanctions on Members of Yemen Government

By
President Obama on Wednesday authorized sanctions on certain members of the government of Yemen and others whom the United States deems might pose a threat to Yemen’s peace, security, and stability. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: U.S. Should Take Tougher Tack With China Over Cyberattacks

By
Nearly 80 percent of  National Journal ’s National Security Insiders polled said Washington should take a tougher public stance and push Beijing over the growing wave of cyberattacks targeting the U.S. But they were more even...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. To Sell Some Defense Items to Bahrain Despite Human Rights Concerns

By
With Bahrain’s crown prince on a visit to Washington, the Obama administration said on Friday it is pressing ahead with the sale of some military equipment to the Sunni kingdom – a move sure to draw strong objections from ...

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Q&A

John Kerry: Egypt ‘At Risk’

By
Back from Afghanistan and Egypt, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman discusses the two countries' situations and his hopes and fears for the Muslim Brotherhood. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Kerry Hopes Indiana Voters Appreciate Lugar as Much as He Does

By
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry , D-Mass., hopes that Indiana voters in Tuesday’s hotly contested primary will sway in favor of his ranking member, Republican Richard Lugar , with whom he’s forged a clos...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Support Selling U.S. Jets to Taiwan to Counter China

By
Two-thirds of National Journal 's National Security Insiders support the sale of U.S.-made fighter jets to Taiwan in light of Chinese military expansion. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Obama in Afghanistan; To Address Nation

By
President Obama has arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, on a surprise trip to sign a strategic agreement with Afghanistan. He will address the nation at 7:30 p.m. EDT from Bagram Air Base on Tuesday evening.       Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Secret Service Able to Fully Protect Obama

By
Two-thirds of National Journal 's National Security Insiders say the Secret Service scandal in Colombia does not call into question the agency's ability to fully protect President Obama. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Believe Coast Guard Inadequately Stocked for National-Security Mission

By
A large majority of National Journal's National Security Insiders agreed with Coast Guard Commandant Robert Papp, who broke ranks with his fellow military chiefs to condemn President Obama's proposed budget restrictions, arguing t...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Interpol Denies Egypt's Request for Arrest of NGO Workers

By
Interpol’s headquarters on Monday refused a request by Egypt's authorities to issue worldwide notices for the arrest of 15 nongovernmental workers—12 of them Americans—accused of illegally operating pro-democracy programs...

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WHITE HOUSE

Obama Highlights Efforts to Prevent Genocide

By
President Obama, defending his administration's efforts to prevent genocide, said the Atrocities Prevention Board would begin meeting on Monday. “This is not an afterthought. This is not a sideline in our foreign policy,” ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

CNN: Blackhawk Helicopter Crashed in Afghanistan, 4 Presumed Dead

By
A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter has crashed in southern Afghanistan and all four crewmembers on board are thought to be killed, CNN reported on Thursday. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Recommends Relaxing Satellite Export Controls

By Sara Sorcher
The Defense and State departments on Wednesday released a joint report recommending Congress ease export controls on satellites that have become less militarily sensitive to allow American companies to better compete in the world ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Panetta: Graphic Photos 'Absolutely' Violate Military Regulations, Core Values

By
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday that the conduct of U.S. soldiers posing with the dismembered bodies of Afghan suicide bombers in photos published earlier that day "absolutely" violates the military's regulations an...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Oppose Scaling Back Missile-Defense Plans Amid Russian Objections

By
Three-quarters of National Journal 's National Security Insiders oppose dropping or scaling back the Obama administration's plans to deploy missile-defense systems in Europe amid Russia's objections -- even if Moscow offered to sha...

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What Happens Next for North Korea Policy?

By Sara Sorcher
Read More »
CONGRESS

Lawmakers Fire Warning Shot on Egyptian Aid Amid Interpol Push

By
Members of Congress are warning Egypt not to take U.S. funds for granted if it continues to escalate its plans to prosecute nongovernmental workers accused of illegally operating democracy programs and stirring unrest. Read More »
Q&A

Frank Ruggiero: Working With Kabul

By
The State Department's Ruggiero and Kabul have been crafting a long-term strategic-partnership agreement between the U.S. and Afghanistan. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Clinton Overrules Republican Lawmaker's Hold on Palestinian Aid

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is allowing U.S. funds to flow to the West Bank and Gaza despite a hold by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., a rare display of executive-branch auth...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Carney: 'Time is Not Infinite' For Iran to Give Up Nuclear Ambitions

By
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said "time is not infinite" for Iran to prove it will give up its nuclear weapons ambitions, as the U.S. and other world powers head to talks with Iran over its nuclear program later this week. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Carney: No Signs Yet Assad Abiding by International Commitments

By
The United States has seen "no signs yet" that the Syrian government is abiding by its international commitments, the White House said on Monday. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Fighter Jet Crashes in Virginia Beach

By
Two crewmembers ejected from a fighter jet before it crashed in Virginia Beach, a Navy official told National Journal , though the service cannot confirm where it crashed or if there are any casualties. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

U.S. Pressing Interpol to Deny Egypt's Request to Arrest NGO Workers

By
The Obama administration is petitioning Interpol to deny Egypt’s request for the arrest of American and other nongovernmental workers accused of illegally operating democracy programs and stirring unrest, in a push to prevent furt...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

UAE Closes U.S.-Funded Democracy Group's Dubai Office

By
Possibly emboldened by Washington's recent decision to approve military aid to Egypt without conditions on improving human rights, the government of the United Arab Emirates shut down the Dubai office of a prominent U.S. funded demo...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Military Justice System Capable of Fair Trial for Suspect of Afghan Shooting

By
Nearly all of National Journal’ s National Security Insiders agree that the military justice system can conduct a fair trial for Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, who is charged with murdering civilians in Afghanistan. Read More »
CONGRESS

Republican Appropriator Lifts Hold on Palestinian Aid, but Full Funding Unlikely

By
After an intense push from the Obama administration, influential Republican appropriator Rep.  Kay Granger , R - Texas, agreed to release her hold on the $147 million in assistance to the West Bank and Gaza, but  Re...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Leahy: Clinton Waives Restrictions on Military Aid to Egypt Despite Rights Concerns

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has waived the new congressional restrictions on $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt, a decision that has already drawn fire from lawmakers concerned about the message it will send to Cair...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Shooting Spree Should Not Accelerate Drawdown in Afghanistan

By
Two-thirds of National Journ a l’s National Security Insiders said the shooting spree allegedly carried out by an American soldier should not cause the Obama administration to speed up its ongoing troop withdrawals in Afgha...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Report: Clinton to Allow Egypt Aid Despite Human Rights Concerns

By
Just two weeks after Egypt allowed detained American nongovernmental workers to leave the country,  The New York Times reports  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to issue a waiver allowing the U.S. to r...

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Q&A

LaHood, on the Lam

By
Sam LaHood talks about his detainment in Egypt and the thrill of leaving the country to the tune of the Indiana Jones theme song.  Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Pew: Majority of Americans Don't Support Intervention in Syria

By
Despite some defense hawks' calls for military intervention in Syria, a new national survey shows a majority of Americans are opposed to bombing President Bashar al-Assad’s forces or arming the Syrian rebels in their figh...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Clooney Uses Star Power to Highlight Sudanese Crisis

By
A mob of women lined the Dirksen hallways on Wednesday hoping to catch a glimpse of actor George Clooney, who was visiting Capitol Hill to highlight the violence carried out by Sudan along the border with the nation that seceded fro...

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INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders Don't Support U.S. Military Intervention in Syria

By
Defense hawks are calling for U.S. military intervention to stop the violence in Syria, but 70 percent of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders aren't keen on getting involved. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Reports: Death Penalty Possible in Afghan Killings Case

By
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the death penalty could be possible as the military investigates a U.S. soldier suspected of shooting and killing at least 16 Afghans on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.  Read More »

How Should the U.S. Military Respond to the Afghanistan Killings?

By Sara Sorcher
A U.S. soldier, acting alone, allegedly went home to home opening fire on Afghan civilians, killing at least 16 on Sunday. The military is investigating the incident. What should the military do in the short-term to mitigate this pr...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Afghanistan War Commander: Killings Will Not Accelerate Drawdown

By
This Sunday's killings by a rogue soldier will not spark the U.S. to accelerate its planned drawdown in Afghanistan, according to the top U.S. commander there.  Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Afghanistan Killings: Not the First Time

By
The big question now: Is the military’s justice system equipped to determine whether the service member, Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, is guilty and dole out a fitting punishment? Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Libyan Acting PM on Polygamy: ‘Don’t Worry About It, OK?’

By
During a rousing speech at a prominent Washington think tank, Libya's interim prime minister's assurances about democracy and human rights certainly played well to American ears. Except for one thing: His defense of polygamy. Read More »
EGYPT

Back in Washington, Freed LaHood Thanks Lawmakers

By
A week ago, he was hiding out in the U.S. embassy in Cairo, fearing a court sentence that could land him in an Egyptian jail. This week, the International Republican Institute's Sam LaHood is meeting with lawmakers on Capitol ...

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ANALYSIS

Until Syrian Opposition Organizes, Washington Unlikely to Intervene

By
For a little-noticed but compelling case as to why the U.S. won’t intervene in Syria as it did in Libya, look no further than the evolution of their respective rebel movements. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Obama Is Right to Restrain Israel

By
President Obama said he would make the case to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone any plans Israel may have to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities. Polled in advance of Monday's summit between the two leaders, a wh...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

McCain Calls for Air Strikes on Syria

By
As the bloodshed intensifies in Syria, Senate Armed Services ranking member John McCain , R-Ariz., on Monday became the first senator to call publicly for Washington to launch air strikes on President Bashar al-Assad's forces to...

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What's the Best Strategy on Iran at This Week's Israel Meetings?

By Sara Sorcher
President Obama told the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC on Sunday that while containment of a nuclear Iran was not an option, there was "already too much loose talk of war." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehu...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Even With U.S. Activists Out, Debate Over Aid to Egypt Isn't Over

By
Congressional lawmakers gave a collective sigh of relief at the news that Egypt had lifted the travel ban on the American civil-society workers facing trial in Egypt. But the crisis isn't over yet. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

American NGO Workers Leave Egypt

By
The American civil society workers barred from leaving Egypt have departed the country, a State Department official said on Thursday. Read More »

Paul Asks Clinton about U.S. Apology for Koran Burning

By
Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul , R-Texas, used Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to ask her about the U.S. apology over the military's allege...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Clinton: Sanctions Possible for Pakistan Over Proposed Pipeline With Iran

By
As the United States seeks to tighten the financial noose around Iran, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned that Pakistan could face American sanctions if it continues with its proposed pipeline project with Tehran -- fo...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Egypt Reportedly Lifts Travel Ban On Detained Americans

By
Egypt reportedly lifted a travel ban on seven American civil society workers in what appears to be a breakthrough in the crisis that put the virtually sacrosanct package of military aid to Cairo at risk for the first time in t...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S.: North Korea Agrees To Curb Nuclear Operations

By and
North Korea has agreed to halt its nuclear tests and uranium enrichment program at its main facility, the State Department announced on Wednesday. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Clinton: U.S. Working to Implement Iran Sanctions 'As Aggressively As We Can'

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that the administration is working to implement the new Iran sanctions “as aggressively as we can” and is seeing more progress with European and Asian countries moving toward reduci...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Leahy: Funds for Massive Iraq Embassy 'Blinking Red Light' in Budget

By
Calling the American embassy in Iraq a “symbol of grandiose, unrealistic ambitions,” Sen. Patrick Leahy , D-Vt., said on Tuesday he’s finding it hard to justify spending billions of dollars in a country that remains volatile ...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Clinton: Labeling Assad a War Criminal Could Be Counterproductive

By
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton acknowledged the argument that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's punishing crackdown on his people could make him a war criminal – but warned this label could limit diplomatic options to end ...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: U.S. Should Hold Off on Cutting Aid to Egypt, Arming Syrian Rebels

By
Even though Congress is fuming over Egypt's decision to prosecute American civil-society workers in its courts, two-thirds of National Journal 's National Security Insiders said the United States should not yet cut off aid to the c...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Clinton Pledges $10 Million to 'Scale Up' Humanitarian Efforts in Syria

By
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $10 million to enhance humanitarian efforts in Syria, denouncing the escalating bloodshed at the hands of President Bashar al-Assad as an “appalling humanitarian disaster." Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

'Friends of Syria' to Discuss Humanitarian Access, Ways to Pressure Assad

By
Foreign ministers from Europe, the United States, and the Arab League meeting in Tunisia this week will focus on finding ways to get humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people as President Bashar al-Assad continues his bloody crackdown. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Fact Checking the 20th GOP Debate

By and
National Journal  fact-checks the four GOP presidential hopefuls in the 20th debate held in Mesa, Ariz. Editor Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

FACT CHECK: Romney Understates Obama's Moves Against Iran

By
Mitt Romney claims President Obama did not install stringent sanctions against Iran in an effort to derail its nuclear program, but top U.S. intelligence and defense officials disagree. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Yemen Elections Are Opportunity for Change, But True Reform Still Ahead

By
Don’t cheer for the triumph of democracy in Yemen just yet.  Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Insiders: Pentagon Should Not Offer Bailouts to Keep Defense Companies Afloat

By
National Journal ’s National Security Insiders say the Pentagon should not offer bailouts to keep defense companies or capabilities afloat despite looming defense-budget cuts and shrinking military markets. Read More »
BUDGET

STATE: Department Budget Request Only Slightly Higher Than 2012 Levels

By
President Obama requested $43.4 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development for fiscal year 2013, with an additional $8.2 billion in a separate “overseas contingencies operations” acco...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Human Rights Watch Calls on Iraq to Abolish Death Penalty

By
With 65 prisoners executed in Iraq since the beginning of this year, a prominent human-rights organization is calling on the government to abolish the death penalty. Read More »
IRAQ

State Department Pushes Back on Reports of Plans to Slash Iraq Staff

By
The State Department is vociferously pushing back against what it called “funky” reports that the U.S. plans to cut the size of its diplomatic presence in Baghdad by as much as half because of security concerns and ongoing tensi...

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AFGHANISTAN

Pentagon: Even 'Independent' Afghan Battalions Still Rely on NATO

By
The U.S.-led coalition’s day-to-day commander in Afghanistan said that “a very low number” of Afghan battalions are able to operate independently in the country--and even those still rely on coalition partners for logistical, ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

NGO Worker: Washington Must Use Its Leverage to Pressure Egypt

By
Sherif Mansour, one of the dozens of pro-democracy workers referred to trial in Egypt, says he stands unfairly accused of operating without a license in the country and of stirring up domestic unrest. Calling potential jail time a ...

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EGYPT

Congress: Threat to Withhold Egypt Aid Could Bolster U.S. Credibility

By
When Sen. Patrick Leahy , D-Vt., met with key Republicans and Democrats about the State Department budget bill, the Obama administration was vigorously pushing back against including restrictions on aid to Egypt. To persuade his co...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Pentagon's Budget Cuts Are Pragmatic for Changing Times

By
Three-quarters of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders say the Obama administration’s plan to cut the Pentagon budget was a smart decision driven by the end of the Iraq War and the nation’s current fiscal crisis. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Congress: Egypt's Harassment of NGOs Puts U.S. Aid at Risk

By
Dozens of lawmakers are warning that the $1.3 billion in military aid the U.S. gives Cairo each year is in jeopardy unless the Egyptian government lifts the travel ban on personnel from American nongovernmental organizations and sto...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Long Haul for U.S. to Secure Weapons Stockpiles in Libya

By
In a sobering update on the effort to secure loose weapons in Libya, a senior State Department official on Thursday said the U.S. still doesn’t know how many antiaircraft missiles are missing from deposed leader Muammar el-Qaddafi...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Insiders: New Sanctions on Iran Stave Off Need for Military Action

By
Now that the European Union has agreed to impose a ban on oil purchases from Iran and the U.S. has signed new sanctions against its central bank into law, 60 percent of National Journal’s National Security Insiders said the...

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Audit Could Fuel Iraqi Claim for Missing Money

By
A recent federal audit that found the Defense Department cannot account for nearly $2 billion in Iraqi funds is likely to fuel Baghdad's interest in pursuing a claim against Washington for failing to handle its money responsibly, th...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Debate Fact Check: Israel, Health, Romney Money, Colombia Trade

By , and Kelsey Snell
Romney Distorts Obama Position on Israel Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

FACT CHECK: Romney Distorts Obama Position on Israel

By
A Palestinian-American member of the audience at Thursday's CNN debate asked Republican presidential candidates how a GOP administration would help bring peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

FACT CHECK: Santorum Overstates Obama Lag on Colombia Trade

By and Kelsey Snell
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum unfairly accused President Obama for holding Colombia "out to dry for three years" on the free trade agreement. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Nongovernmental Groups Fear Their Egypt Personnel May Be Put on Trial

By
Key Washington-based nongovernmental groups are worried that their employees working in Egypt may be put on trial after several were told they couldn't leave the country. This development may sharply escalate the tensions between...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

In Run-Up to Somalia Raid, Secrecy and Business As Usual

By Yochi J. Dreazen
President Obama's business-as-usual demeanor as he delivered the State of the Union address on Tuesday evening masked a secret known only to him and a few others in the House chamber. Thousands of miles away, a strike team led by th...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

White House Gives Rundown Of U.S. Rescue Raid in Somalia

By Yochi J. Dreazen
The White House provided National Journal with some background about the U.S. rescue mission that freed two aid workers—American citizen Jessica Buchanan and Danish citizen Poul Hagen Thisted—who had been held hostage by Somal...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Promises More Fighting Words in Campaign

By
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney promised more fighting words in this campaign-- both against fellow GOP contenders and, if he's the nominee, President Obama-- after getting kudos from some pundits for going after ri...

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WHITE HOUSE

QUICK TAKE: Biden Defends Obama Address, Slams Congress

By
Vice President Joe Biden made the morning TV rounds on Wednesday defending Obama's State of the Union address and slamming Congress for standing in the way of economic progress. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Raid Frees Two Hostages in Somalia

By
American soldiers on Tuesday freed two aid workers—one of them American citizen Jessica Buchanan—who had been held hostage by Somali pirates since October. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Santorum Understates Obama Action Against Iran

By
Rick Santorum blasted President Obama’s Iran policy as a “colossal failure,” saying it would be “reckless” not do something to stop Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Read More »

Gingrich Wrong When Says Obama Canceled Military Drill with Israel

By
Newt Gingrich, blasting Obama for being “weak” on Iran, incorrectly said the president canceled a scheduled military exercise with Israel “so as not to be provocative” after Tehran’s threats to close the Strait of Hormuz. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Insiders: Peace Talks with Taliban a Good Step, But Unlikely to Pay Off

By
A whopping majority of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders support the Obama administration’s renewed push for peace talks with the Taliban—but just as many believe that negotiations are unlikely to pay dividends. Read More »

What is the State of the Union?

By Sara Sorcher
President Obama is expected to outline his national security and foreign policy achievements in Tuesday's State of the Union address. He recently told Time Magazine it's "pretty hard to argue" that his administration's strategy over...

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OUTLOOK

The Insider’s Guide to the New Session

By Dan Friedman and Billy House
Little is trendier in Washington than talking about how broken Congress is. This won’t be the year Congress does anything to change that. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

QUICK TAKE: U.S. May Close Embassy in Syria

By
The U.S. may be forced to close its embassy in Syria as the security situation in Damascus continues to erode—unless embattled President Bashar al-Assad agrees to requests to authorize more protection for American diplomats. Read More »
NEED TO KNOW: NATIONAL SECURITY

The Rationale for War With Iran

By James Kitfield
Military confrontation between Iran and the West is looking increasingly likely. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

QUICK TAKE: Clinton Denies US Role in Killing Iranian Nuclear Scientist

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday refuted Iranian accusations that the U.S. had a role in killing a top nuclear scientist, addressing the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran over its nuc...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Perry: Bain Attacks Will Help Romney Prepare

By and
Dismissing his sixth-place finish in the New Hampshire primary as a "long shot at best," Texas Gov. Rick Perry is optimistic his message of limited government and fiscal conservatism will play well in the South Carolina primary next...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

QUICK TAKE: Senators Press E.U. on Iran Sanctions

By
A bipartisan group of eight senators is pressing the European Union to impose sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran and implement an oil embargo against the Islamic republic "as rapidly as possible" in an effort to derail Tehra...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Huntsman Hopes to Exceed 'Market Expectations' in New Hampshire

By
Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman hopes to exceed "market expectatations" and prove he has what it takes to get elected. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Hopes to Finish in Third Place 'Zone'

By
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said on Monday that he hopes to end up "somewhere in [the] zone" of third place in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, but he acknowledged that GOP rival Jon Huntsman might give him a run...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Romney Victory Speech Anti-Obama, Long On Reasons

By
Mitt Romney, speaking as he was virtually neck and neck with opponent Rick Santorum for first place in the Iowa caucuses, focused much of his victory speech on attacking President Obama. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Bachmann Says She Can and Will Defeat Barack Obama

By
Despite a sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, Rep. Michele Bachmann says she is the conservative "who can and who will" defeat President Obama in the election.  Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Jabs at Paul, Romney, Reserves Right to 'Tell the Truth'

By
Coming before supporters after a fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses Tuesday night, Newt Gingrich jabbed at opponents Ron Paul and Mitt Romney -- saying he reserves the right to "tell the truth." Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Calls On Iowa Caucus-Goers to Vote for Someone 'Positive'

By
Newt Gingrich called on Iowa caucus-goers to vote for someone who has run a positive campaign -- and refuse to vote for anyone who has run negative ads. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Michele Bachmann Gives Closing Speech, Calls Obama a Socialist

By
In a speech before the doors closed at the Iowa caucuses, Rep. Michele Bachmann insisted she won't allow President Obama to "implement socialism" in the United States. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Obama Signs Defense Authorization Bill

By
President Obama signed on Saturday the defense authorization bill, a formal end to weeks of heated debate in Congress and intense lobbying by the administration to strip controversial provisions requiring the transfer of some terror...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

QUICK TAKE-- Egyptian Security Forces Raid Democracy-Building Groups

By
Authorities in Cairo raided the offices of three key civil society organizations, sharply escalating the conflict between Egypt's military council and human rights activists and U.S. support for democracy-building in the country fre...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

QUICK TAKE-- White House Announces Sale of $30B Worth of F-15s to Saudi Arabia

By
The White House announced the sale of almost $30 billion worth of F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, in the latest sign of U.S. concern about Iran's nuclear program. Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

QUICK TAKE: Obama: 'Deep Down ... There's a Laziness in Me'

By
The personality trait President Obama says he most deplores in himself and others is not exactly one you'd expect from, presumably, one of the busiest people in the world: laziness. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Admits 'Mistakes' in Pakistan Airstrike, But Report Unlikely to Ease Tensions

By
The U.S. admitted Thursday it made "mistakes" in the airstrike that mistakenly killed two dozen Pakistani troops in late November, but its finding that U.S. forces acted in "self defense and with appropriate force" is unlikely to...

Read More »

What's Next for Iraq?

By Sara Sorcher
Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

QUICK TAKE: Obama Campaign Touts End of Iraq War in New Video

By
In a new Web video, President Obama's reelection campaign is touting his follow-through on a campaign pledge to end the war in Iraq, a withdrawal formally marked in a ceremony this week. Read More »

Obama to GOP: It's Not Me, It's You

By
President Obama accused Republicans of instigating the recent cycle of Washington gridlock that once again threatens government shutdown--simply because of their personal animosity against him. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Senate Passes Defense Authorization Bill, Obama To Sign Into Law

By
The Senate passed the 2012 defense authorization bill 86 to 13 on Thursday, sending the mammoth $662 billion bill that contains controversial detainee provisions to President Obama’s desk.   Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

QUICK TAKE: House Passes Defense Authorization Bill, White House Drops Veto Threat

By
The House voted 283-136 to pass the 2012 defense authorization bill on Wednesday that contains controversial provisions requiring military detention for some terrorism suspects.  Read More »
CONGRESS

Protests Continue on Capitol Hill

By Ben Terris
Protesters continued flooding the Capitol on Thursday, chanting in the streets, holding signs in support of “the 99 percent,” and trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to get meetings with lawmakers. Read More »

What's Next for the Senate's Detainee Provisions?

By Sara Sorcher
Defying a White House veto threat, the Senate adopted controversial detainee provisions within the defense authorization bill last week that would require mandatory military detention for some terrorism suspects. Do you agree with t...

Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Side With White House on Senate's Detainee Provisions

By
National Journal 's National Security Insiders sided with the Obama administration and the Pentagon in their opposition to the controversial detainee provisions the Senate adopted as part of its massive defense authorization bill. Read More »
EMPLOYMENT

Romney: Despite Good Jobs News, Obama Will Have 'Hard Time Putting a Perfume on This Pig'

By
Republican presidental candidate Mitt Romney wasted no time denouncing what could be a potential boost for President Obama, saying that despite Friday morning's news that unemployment in November hit a 32-month low, the pr...

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Q&A

Bowen: Kick-Backs, Graft Abound in Iraq

By
Stuart Bowen, inspector general for reconstruction there, says the society remains "highly corrupt." Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich: Poor Kids Don’t Work ‘Unless It’s Illegal’

By Sarah Huisenga
The Republican presidential candidate says in Iowa that impoverished children need to develop positive work habits. Read More »
TECHNOLOGY

Bipartisan Cybersecurity Bill Aims to Spur Industry-Government Sharing

By
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers , R-Mich., and ranking member Dutch Ruppersberger , D-Md., introduced legislation on Wednesday that would provide a channel for the government to share classified intelligence with...

Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: U.S. Should Begin 'Pivot' to Asia Through Diplomacy, Not Military Steps

By
As the U.S. begins its strategic 'pivot' to Asia and the Pacific, a plurality of National Journal 's National Security Insiders said Washington should seek to improve diplomatic ties with Beijing while avoiding any military-relat...

Read More »

QUICK TAKE: Pakistani Prime Minister Says U.S. Ties Won't Be 'Business As Usual'

By
In the aftermath of NATO's cross-border airstrike that killed two dozen Pakistani troops, that country's prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that relations with the U.S. would not be "business as usual." Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

Obama to Send Clinton to Myanmar to Seize 'Historic Opportunity' for Progress

By
President Obama announced that, after observing "flickers of progress" within Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, he would send Hillary Rodham Clinton there next month, making her the first secretary of State to visit the nation in mo...

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QUICK TAKE: Suspect in White House Shooting Arrested in Pa.

By and
The man suspected of firing the bullet that hit a White House window last week was arrested on Wednesday in Pennsylvania, according to reports.  Read More »

QUICK TAKE: Coons, Rubio Hope AGREE Act Will Gain Support

By
Amid deep disagreements in Congress over jobs legislation, freshman Sens. Chris Coons , D-Del., and Marco Rubio , R-Fla. are offering a bipartisan jobs bill in the hopes of finding something both parties can agree on in the near f...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

QUICK TAKE: Obama to Deploy up to 250 Marines to Australia Next Year Under New Pact

By
President Obama unveiled a pact with Australia on Wednesday to build a military presence of up to 2,500 personnel there as part of the administration's pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain: Kissinger Declined to Join Administration

By
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain could probably use a foreign policy adviser after stumbling, in a much-publicized interview, over an answer on the Libya uprising, but it apparently won't be Nixon-era Secretary of State...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Gingrich Says Rise in Polls Due to Debates, Rivals' Drop-off

By
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich says his recent polling successes are the result of the strength of his performance in debates and the waning of other favorites "auditioning" for the limelight. Read More »
CONGRESS

Giffords 'Working Hard' to Get Better -- VIDEO

By
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona congresswoman who was shot in the head during a shooting spree last winter, told ABC's Diane Sawyer she is "working hard" to get better. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Obama to Announce Military Pact With Australia During Visit

By
President Obama is slated to unveil a pact with Australia to expand its military presence there as part of the administration's pivot to the Asia-Pacific region. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders: Don't Launch Iran Strike

By
A slight majority of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders say that a military strike on Iran should not be carried out under any circumstances, despite the recent release of a U.N. nuclear-watchdog report providing ev...

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WHITE HOUSE

QUICK TAKE: Obama Looking at Former H.W. Bush Official for Fed Spot -- WSJ

By
The White House is "seriously considering" Jerome Powell, a former Treasury official in the George H.W. Bush administration, to fill one of two vacancies on the seven-member Federal Reserve Board,  The Wall Street Journal  ...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Insiders: Romney, Gingrich Winners; Huntsman, Cain Losers in Saturday's Debate

By Taylor West and
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich were the winners of Saturday's  National Journal /CBS News debate, according to a survey of Republican and Democratic political operatives, cam...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

Fact Check: Gingrich Says Assad Got Soft Treatment

By
Newt Gingrich incorrectly said President Obama "dumped" U.S. ally Hosni Mubarak "overnight" amid mass protests demanding the end of his 30-year rule. And he said it's ironic that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had received "amazin...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

FACT CHECK: A Reality Check of Candidate Statements

By Yochi J. Dreazen, and Kevin Baron
National Journal staffers took a look at some of the candidate statements at the national security debate in South Carolina on Saturday Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

GOP Candidates' Foreign Policy Dossiers

By and Kevin Baron
As the candidates ready themselves for the National Journal/CBS News Foreign Policy Debate tonight, their records allow us to see what their talking points might be. Review their dossiers to prep for tonight's discussion Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

FOREIGN POLICY DOSSIER: Rick Santorum

By
The former Pennsylvania senator, having spent eight years on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been touting his foreign-policy and national-security experience on Capitol Hill in his presidential campaign. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

FOREIGN POLICY DOSSIER: Michele Bachmann

By
Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., often hints at her vast knowledge of classified information due to her position on the House Intelligence Committee, and has consistently referred to herself as the candidate “who understands p...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

FOREIGN POLICY DOSSIER: Rick Perry

By
Perry’s foreign-policy philosophy overall appears contradictory: He says he doesn't believe America "should fall subject to a foreign policy of military adventurism,” while in the same breath he insists "we must renew our com...

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CAMPAIGN 2012

FOREIGN POLICY DOSSIER: Herman Cain

By
GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain insists he'll be able to get smart on foreign policy issues the same way he learned about running a pizza franchise. "I had never made a pizza, but I learned," he told an audience at the Nat...

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QUICK TAKE: Odierno Repeats Pentagon Warnings Against Sequestration

By
Army chief of staff Gen. Ray Odierno on Friday reiterated the Pentagon's warnings against the so-called "sequestration" mechanism triggering hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to the defense budget,  telling Fox News it&nb...

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CONGRESS

QUICK TAKE: Rep. Giffords Says She Feels 'Pretty Good'

By
Rep.  Gabrielle Giffords , the Arizona Democrat shot at an event in Tucson in January, said she feels "pretty good" in a preview of a to-be-aired interview with ABC. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

What Insiders Want to Ask the Candidates for the Nov. 12 NJ/CBS Debate

By
National Journal and CBS News will host a Republican debate focusing on foreign policy and national security on Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. We asked our National Security Insiders, an elite pool of defense and foreign policy experts, to giv...

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What Should Be the Key Issues in GOP Debate on Foreign Policy?

By Sara Sorcher
On Nov. 12, National Journal and CBS News are hosting a Republican primary debate focusing on national security and foreign policy. What should the moderators ask the GOP presidential candidates? How would you rate the contenders' p...

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Ten Foreign Policy Challenges for the Next President

By and
Read More »
ECONOMY

Obama: Most Important Task at G-20 Summit to Resolve Europe's Financial Crisis

By and Julia Edwards
President Obama met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the start of the Group of 20 summit of the world’s most powerful economies Thursday. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Poll: Majority Back Obama's Decision to Withdraw Troops from Iraq

By
Three out of four Americans support President Obama's announcement to withdraw virtually all American troops from Iraq by the end of the year, according to a new Gallup poll. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Report: U.S. Discussing Shift to Advisory Role in Afghanistan

By
The Obama administration is discussing an accelerated plan to shift the U.S. military into an advisory role and begin to scale back U.S. combat duties as soon as next year, The Wall Street Journal reports. Read More »
DEFENSE

Panetta Expects Half of Defense Cuts to Come From Weapons Programs

By
During a classified briefing on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he expects about half of the $450 billion the Pentagon must slash from its budget over the next 10 years to come from weapons programs, House Armed...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Soldier Admits He Removed Fingers From Afghan Corpses

By
The suspected ringleader of a group of American soldiers accused of killing civilians in Afghanistan and snapping pictures of themselves with the corpses admits to taking fingers from the bodies as war trophies, his attorney told a ...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Hillary Rodham Clinton's Mother Dies at 92

By
Dorothy Howell Rodham, mother of Hillary Rodham Clinton, died on Tuesday in Washington at the age of 92. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Rice: U.S. Could Have 'Done Better' In Iraq Without Distrust Among Bush Officials

By
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended the American invasion of Iraq, but said that the U.S. could have “done better” without a cycle of distrust and dysfunction among Bush administration officials. Read More »

UNESCO Accepts Palestinian Bid

By
Palestinians were accepted on Monday as a full member of UNESCO--even though the agency risks losing about $80 million in funding from the United States for the decision. Read More »
LIBYA

Clinton Played Pivotal Role in Libya Mission

By
The Washington Post reports that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton played a critical behind-the-curtain role in every stage of the Libya operation. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Report: U.S. Officials Were Warned of Abuse at Afghan Prisons

By
Top U.S. officials were given warning of detainee abuse in Afghan prisons, but continued to transfer detainees to problematic facilities,  The Washington Post  reports. Read More »
EXPERT BLOG

Will North Korea's Nuclear Genie Go Back in the Bottle?

By Sara Sorcher
Two days of meetings between North Korean and U.S. official in Geneva this week did not produce an agreement to formally resume negotiations-- either bilaterally or in the so-called six party talks-- about possible steps toward Pyon...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Panetta: Defense Budget Likely to Include $250B in Cuts over 5 Years

By
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the department will release a five-year budget to Congress in February with about $250 billion in cuts. Read More »

Donilon Says NATO Still Relevant, Hails U.S. Burden-Sharing in Libya

By
National Security Adviser Tom Donilon hailed the relevance of NATO as it prepares to wind down its mission in Libya, touting the Obama administration's strategy to rely on its international partners to carry out the bulk of the air ...

Read More »
LIBYA

U.S. to Transport Wounded Libyan Fighters to U.S., Germany for Treatment

By
The U.S. is transporting 30 seriously wounded Libyans injured during their fight to overthrow Muammar el-Qaddafi to Boston, Mass., and Germany, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday in a...

Read More »
DEFENSE

Pentagon's Embattled Personnel Official Resigns

By
Clifford Stanley, the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness who was under investigation by the department's inspector general after allegations of gross mismanagement and abuse of power, is resigning, the Pentagon ...

Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

Obama, on Leno: Qaddafi's Death Sends 'Strong Message' to Dictators

By
President Obama said the death of Muammar el-Qaddafi sends a “strong message” to dictators around the world to respect human rights and their peoples’ desire for political reform. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: State Department Ill-Equipped to Lead Iraq Transition

By
Eighty percent of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders said the State Department would not be ready to assume control of the mission in Iraq with only a small number of U.S. troops remaining in the country.  Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Panetta: North Korea's Nukes, Chinese Military Expansion Concerns for Japan Visit

By
Leon Panetta, in Japan on Monday for his first visit as Defense secretary, slammed North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and criticized an increasingly assertive China that is rapidly modernizing its military with a "troubling" la...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

NATO Given Proof of Qaddafi Death: Allied Military Official

By Yochi J. Dreazen
Libya's interim government has sent NATO commanders still pictures and video imagery which "leave no doubt" of Muammar el-Qaddafi's death, a senior Western military official told National Journal .   Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Lieberman Calls for U.S. Engagement in Tunisia After Elections

By
Sen. Joe Lieberman , ID-Conn., is calling on the Obama administration to “redouble” its engagement with Tunisia after the country holds elections on Sunday.  Read More »
AFGHANISTAN

Clinton in Afghanistan to Push Reconciliation

By
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Afghanistan on Wednesday on an unannounced visit to urge leaders there to continue reconciliation efforts with the Taliban, the Associated Press reported. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Cain Plans to 'Go on the Attack' on Tax Plan Criticism

By
Herman Cain, fiercely criticized by his fellow GOP presidential candidates during Tuesday night's debate for his economic plan, said he plans to "throw it back" to his rivals in the next debate and ask for proof his 9-9-9 plan doesn...

Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Advisers Tell Ron Paul to 'Attack' Rivals in Debate, But He Doesn't Want To

By
Rep. Ron Paul ,   R-Texas, said his advisers are telling him to "attack" his Republican presidential rivals during the debate on Tuesday night in Las Vegas -- but he doesn’t want to. Read More »
LIBYA

Clinton Arrives in Libya, Pledges More Aid to Secure Weapons and Help Wounded

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Tripoli on Tuesday, pledging millions of dollars in new aid to provide medical care for Libyans wounded during the uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar el-Qaddafi and to ...

Read More »

What Should the Administration Do to Pressure Iran?

By Sara Sorcher
The Obama administration is looking to further isolate Iran after last week's announcement that the elite Quds Force was allegedly behind a plot to assassinate Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S. and bomb the Saudi and Israeli emb...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Officials Get Heat for Response to Alleged Iranian Plot

By
The Obama administration announced additional sanctions and ramped up its rhetoric against Iran last week. But that didn’t stop members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from slamming senior administration officials for what ...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Issues Worldwide Travel Alert After Thwarted Assassination Plot

By
The State Department issued a worldwide travel alert for U.S. citizens on Tuesday, the same day the government charged two men with alleged connections to Iran with conspiring both to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to ...

Read More »
TECHNOLOGY

Businesses, Republicans Aim For Cybersecurity Assistance, Not Regulation

By Josh Smith
Cyberattacks have business leaders concerned, but what may be equally worrisome to those leaders is the potential for sweeping new government regulations designed to counter cyberthreats. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Israel, Hamas Say Deal Reached to Free Gilad Shalit

By
After years of failed negotiations, Israel and Hamas officials said they've reached a deal to free a captured Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for about 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, the Associated Press reported. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Two Men Charged With Conspiring to Kill Saudi Ambassador

By
The government charged two men with alleged connections to Iran with conspiring to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S., Attorney General Eric Holder said on Tuesday. The plotters also intended to bomb the Saudi and Israeli em...

Read More »

What Happens After 2014?

By Sara Sorcher
The 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan passed quietly at the White House last week. With the U.S.-led coalition slated to hand over security responsibility to the Afghans by 2014, American military commanders have stressed t...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Sens. McCain, Graham, Kirk, Rubio Call for U.S. Help to Care for Libyan Wounded

By
The four Republican senators who visited Libya last week said the “most meaningful support” Washington can provide the war-torn country is medical care for its wounded citizens after their months-long battle to overthrow Muammar...

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Q&A

State Department Rethinks the Arab Spring

By
Andrew Shapiro, assistant secretary of State for political-military affairs, discusses relations with Egypt and Libya. Read More »
CONGRESS

Wasserman Schultz: Giffords Has a Long Way to Go Before Full Recovery

By
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , the Arizona Democrat who was shot at close range earlier this year, is now able to initiate conversation but still has "a long way to go," said her friend, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie ...

Read More »
AFGHANISTAN

Report: U.S. Officials Met with Haqqani Network

By
As the Haqqani network was stepping up attacks in and around Kabul, U.S. officials met secretly with the militant group with ties to al-Qaida and Pakistan, The Wall Street Journal reports. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

McCain: Obama Does Not Need to Apologize for Awlaki Killing

By
Sen. John McCain , R-Ariz., unequivocally praised President Obama on Monday for killing al-Qaida propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen -- distancing himself from former Vice President Dick Cheney’s contention that Obama should ap...

Read More »
POLITICS

Report: Conservative Koch Bros. Sidestepped U.S. Trade Ban on Iran

By
Koch Industries, a business run by billionaire brothers long known for funding a variety of conservative causes, sold millions of dollars of equipment to Iran, circumventing a U.S. trade ban with that country,  Bloomberg Mark...

Read More »

Was Obama's Order to Kill Awlaki Justified?

By Michael Hirsh and Sara Sorcher
Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders Support U.S. Decision to Upgrade Taiwan Jets

By
Two-thirds of National Journal’s National Security Insiders agreed with the Obama administration’s decision to upgrade Taiwan’s existing fleet of F-16 jets, rather than sell the island the new package of late model F-16 airc...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Hillary Clinton: Attack on Syrian Envoy 'Wholly Unjustified'

By
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton blasted the attack on the U.S. ambassador in Syria on Thursday, calling the assault by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's loyalists “wholly unjustified,” the Associated Press reported. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

House Appropriations Moves to Cut Off Funding for the Palestinian Authority

By
The House Appropriations Committee moved to cut off U.S. funding for the Palestinian Authority, totaling about $500 million a year, if it continues to seek recognition at the United Nations of a Palestinian state. Read More »

U.S. Spending More to Help Libyans Secure Weapons Stockpiles

By
The United States plans to spend an additional $10 million on its efforts to help Libya’s interim government destroy the shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles looted from Muammar el-Qaddafi’s weapons stockpiles and secure hi...

Read More »
AFGHANISTAN

Only Two Afghan Battalions Operating 'Independently' - Sort of

By
The commander of NATO’s training mission defended the ability of Afghan security forces to maintain stability in Afghanistan, insisting that they will be able to take the lead of security in the country by 2014. Even so, Lt. Ge...

Read More »

After Palestinian Statehood Bid, What's Next for the U.S.?

By Sara Sorcher
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas formally presented his bid for statehood at the United Nations on Friday. Will the request, and a promised U.S. veto, facilitate or impede a return to direct talks between Israelis and P...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Pakistan to U.S.: 'You Will Lose an Ally' if Accusations Continue

By
Pakistan’s foreign minister blasted comments made by the top U.S. military commander, who said that the militant Haqqani network is essentially a “strategic arm” of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, and warned that Washingto...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

U.S. Urges Recently-Returned Saleh to Initiate Transfer of Power

By
Now that Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh has unexpectedly returned to his country on Friday, the Obama administration is urging him to initiate a "full transfer of power" and arrange for elections to replace him before the ...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

American Flag Raised Over Embassy in Tripoli

By
The American flag was raised over the U.S. embassy in Tripoli on Thursday, a day after the U.S. ambassador returned to Libya. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Ron Paul Op-Ed Jabs at Romney's Massachusetts Health Care Law

By
Rep. Ron Paul , R-Texas, used a USA Today op-ed to once again slam President Obama’s health care law requiring individuals to have health insurance—and take a jab at fellow Republican presidential candidate Gov. Mitt Romney...

Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Palestinian Bid for Statehood at U.N. Will Damage U.S. Credibility

By
Seventy percent of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders said a Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations would damage U.S. credibility as a broker for Israeli-Palestinian direct talks. Separately, two-third...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Reviewing Obama’s Carefully Chosen Words at the U.N.

By and Julia Edwards
President Obama addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday morning, laying out America’s position on a multitude of international issues. He applauded the success of the Arab Spring, warned of turmoil t...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Report: U.S. Expanding Drone Bases in East Africa, Arabian Peninsula

By
The U.S. is ramping up its efforts to attack al-Qaida affiliates in Somalia and Yemen by establishing a “constellation of secret drone bases” in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the Washington Post reported. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

U.S. Planning for Post-Assad Syria

By
The Obama administration is exploring how to "deal with" the possibility of a civil war among Syria’s many factions once Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is toppled or steps down, The New York Times reports. Read More »
POLITICS

Mitch Daniels Doesn't Rule Out VP Slot

By
Months after saying he won’t run for president himself, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels,didn’t rule out answering the call to run in the No. 2 slot. Read More »
POLITICS

Carville Calls Obama's Tougher Stance a 'Pretty Good Start'

By
Democratic strategist James Carville, who said last week that President Obama should fire his staff and make a case for his own program to fix the economy, said Tuesday that he made a “pretty good start” by firing his “old neg...

Read More »
BUDGET

White House to Buy Office Supplies in Bulk to Cut Costs

By
The same week President Obama will unveil his proposal to cut the national deficit, his White House will begin its own efficiency efforts -- starting with its office supplies. Read More »
LIBYA

U.S. Dispatches Weapons-Disposal Experts to Libya

By
The U.S. is dispatching weapons experts to work with the Libyan rebels to secure and dispose of the thousands of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles remaining from embattled leader Muammar el-Qaddafi’s stockpiles. At the same...

Read More »
HOUSE

Rep. Turner's Family Asks for 'Thorough' Cleaning of Weiner's House Office Space

By
Newly sworn in Rep. Bob Turner , R-N.Y., will be getting a clean start in Congress—literally. Read More »

Report: Obama Decides Against Selling Taiwan New F-16 Jets

By
President Obama has made a decision to sell a new arms package to Taiwan—but it’s not the one Taipei or many in Congress were calling for, according to the Washington Times. Read More »
LIBYA

Shh ... U.S. Military on Ground in Libya, But Not Really

By
Even with the Obama administration's promise not to deploy American "boots on the ground” in Libya, a Pentagon spokesman acknowledges that four U.S. military personnel are in Tripoli as part of a State Department team assessing th...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

U.S. in Another Bind With U.N. Over Palestinians

By
No matter what the U.S. does at the United Nations next week, a diplomatic nightmare awaits.   Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders: Super Committee Will Cut Additional Billions in Defense

By
A whopping 83 percent of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders, many with budget-cutting or policy experience, said that the super committee will slash more from the Pentagon's budget than the $350 billion in defense cut...

Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

Carney Spars Over Obama's Jobs Speech on Fox News

By Sara Sorcher
It didn't take long for Fox & Friends host Gretchen Carlson and White House press secretary Jay Carney to begin bickering over the proposals expected from President Obama's major address on the economy and jobs creation. Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

Biden: Don't Fear China

By
Just weeks after his trip to China, Vice President Joe Biden is telling Americans: Don’t be afraid of China's growing economy or military. Read More »
9/11 ANNIVERSARY

Former, Current Officials Reflect on Bin Laden Hunt a Decade After 9/11 -- VIDEO

By
Michael Hayden, Michael Chertoff, and others reflect on 9/11 and the frustrations and triumphs of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. Read More »
9/11 ANNIVERSARY

With 9/11 Anniversary Comes al-Qaida 2.0

By James Kitfield and
When Atiyah Abd al-Rahman disappeared into the blast cloud of a Hellfire missile last month in Pakistan, the target of an apparent CIA drone strike, it confirmed what many counter-terrorism experts have long known: perhaps the least...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Petraeus Takes Up New Post as CIA Director

By
Vice President Joe Biden swore in now-retired Gen. David Petraeus as director of the CIA in a private ceremony on Tuesday, marking the four-star general's transition into a career with a far lower profile than his battlefield comm...

Read More »
9/11 ANNIVERSARY

After a Decade of Hunting Terrorists, the Challenges Still to Come -- VIDEO

By
It has been a decade since the U.S. launched its war on terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. National Journal caught up with key former and current officials, who said that even with the death of Osama bin Laden, the U.S. ...

Read More »
POLITICS

Wasserman Schultz Slams Romney's Economic Plan

By
Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz , D-Fla., slammed GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney's expected economic proposals on Tuesday, offering a possible preview of DNC talking points if the former Ma...

Read More »

Turkey Expels Israeli Ambassador, Announces Suspension of Military Ties

By
Turkey announced on Friday that it would expel the Israeli ambassador and suspend all military ties with the Jewish state, escalating the diplomatic fray between the onetime close allies over the Israeli raid on a Turkish flotill...

Read More »

Poll: Americans' Fear of Terrorist Attack Down Since Bin Laden Raid

By
Even with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaching, Americans’ fear of an imminent terrorist attack has dramatically decreased in the weeks since the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden in May, according to a n...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Reports: Qaddafi's Wife and Three Children In Algeria

By
Muammar el-Qaddafi’s wife and three of his children are said to be in Algeria after fleeing Libya, where rebels have taken over the streets of the capital Tripoli. Read More »

How Has the Obama Administration Handled the Crisis in Libya?

By Michael Hirsh and Sara Sorcher
Obama's strategy in Libya amounted to staying resolutely behind the scenes throughout the five-month NATO air operation. To wit: Don't say the United States is openly engaged in ousting Muammar el-Qaddafi. Don't even concede the Uni...

Read More »
LIBYA

Now to Secure Qaddafi's Weapons Stockpiles

By
After Muammar el-Qaddafi falls, a key challenge for Washington and its allies will be working with the rebels to secure Libya's arms depots to prevent smuggling and proliferation throughout the region—and to ensure that  th...

Read More »

What Can Be Done to Prepare for a Post-Assad Syria?

By Sara Sorcher
By calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down and imposing a raft of tough new sanctions, the Obama administration ramped up the diplomatic and economic pressure on Damascus. Still, it's unclear what leverage the U.S....

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

As Qaddafi's Government Comes Apart, New Concerns for U.S.

By Chris Strohm
While rebels in Libya took over the streets of Tripoli and declared an end to the rule of Muammar el-Qaddafi, major questions quickly need to be answered in the coming hours and days, including what kind of transitional government c...

Read More »
LIBYA

Libyan Ambassador: We Don't Want a Peacekeeping Force

By and David Beard
The Libyan people do not want an international peacekeeping force or any military boots on the ground, the rebels' ambassador to Washington said on Monday. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Calls for Syria's Assad to Step Down

By
President Obama  on Thursday called for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, a demand aimed to ratchet up the diplomatic pressure on the leader who has launched a bloody crackdown on his own people for months.   Read More »
BANKING AND FINANCE

NYT: S&P Target of Justice Department Investigation into Mortgage Ratings

By
Standard & Poor's is the target of a Justice Department investigation into whether it improperly inflated the ratings of dozens of mortgage securities. Read More »
LIBYA

Libya's Rebels Reopen Embassy in Washington

By
National Journal caught up with Ali Suleiman Aujali, who quit his job as Muammar el-Qaddafi’s ambassador to Washington in February. Months after the U.S. ordered the Libyan Embassy closed, the mission at the Watergate complex...

Read More »
ECONOMY

Trump: 'I'd Be Willing' to Pay More Taxes, But Many Business Leaders are 'Less Patriotic' -- with VIDEO

By
While billionaire Donald Trump says he might be willing to pay higher taxes, many of his other corporate colleagues are less “patriotic” and would take their business outside the U.S. Read More »
WHITE HOUSE

Report: Obama to Make Speech on Economy, Jobs in September

By
President Obama will roll out a plan with “fresh ideas” to accelerate job growth during a major address in September, a senior administration official told the Associated Press. The plan, likely to contain tax cuts and new infra...

Read More »
POLITICS

Former Bush Staffer: Tea Party Activist Not Respectful in Confrontation With Obama -- VIDEO

By
A former member George W. Bush’s senior staff said that the tea party activist who confronted President Obama in Iowa was acting inappropriately. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Gibbs Scolds Perry, Raises Issue of Texas Secession Comments -- with VIDEO

By
Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs lashed out against Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Dozens Killed in Attacks Across Iraq

By
In one of the deadliest days in Iraq so far this year, nearly 70 people were killed and dozens more wounded after a period of relative respite from violence there during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The heightened violence is s...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Report: Administration Conditioning Aid to Pakistan Based on 'Secret Scorecard'

By
The White House is tracking Pakistan's cooperation in four areas, The Wall Street Journal reports. Read More »
ECONOMY

Buffett: 'Stop Coddling the Super-Rich'

By
Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest men in the world, urged the government to raise his taxes, saying he and his “mega-rich friends” have been “coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress." Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Arab Youth Still Want Change, But Won't Be Politicians

By
Slim Amamou knew he would be arrested after a group of cyber activists shut down the Tunisian government’s official website. As protests against longtime autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali raged on the streets in January, security f...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.N. Security Council Condemns Syria for Violence

By
The United Nations Security Council condemned the Syrian government for the continuing violence and human-rights abuses during President Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on protesters, in which dozens have been killed in the last week...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Envoy: Libyan Rebels Debate Allowing Qaddafi to Stay in Country

By
Fresh off his stay in the eastern city of Benghazi, Chris Stevens, the U.S. envoy to Libya’s opposition, said that the recently recognized Transitional National Council is still weighing whether to allow Muammar el-Qaddafi to sta...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Eases Restrictions on al-Shabaab to Funnel Aid to Somalis

By
The Obama administration is relaxing its terrorism rules to enable humanitarian groups to distribute aid within southern Somalia--even if some of the assistance is diverted to al-Shabaab, the militant group controlling large swaths ...

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How Can the United States Address Radicalism Within the Military?

By Yochi J. Dreazen and Sara Sorcher
Last week's arrest of Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo thwarted an attempted terrorist attack at Fort Hood, the military base that was the site of a 2009 rampage that left 12 soldiers dead. Abdo is at least the third Muslim-American soldier su...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders Support Keeping Troops in Iraq Past Deadline

By
Three out of four National Journal’s National Security Insiders said it would be in the national interest to keep troops in Iraq past the end of the year. A similar majority said they expected the Defense Department's budget and...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Report: U.S., Afghanistan Struggle to Negotiate Terms of 'Strategic Partnership'

By
The Washington Post reports that talks to allow the U.S. military a long-term presence in Afghanistan after the scheduled end of combat operations are stalled, as the two countries struggle to reconcile their needs. Read More »
DEBT TALKS

The Morning After: Lawmakers React to Delayed Boehner Bill

By , Lindsey Boerma, and
National Journal rounds up lawmakers' reactions to an 11th-hour decision to delay a vote on House Speaker John Boehner 's deficit-reduction legislation. Read More »

Libya's Rebel Commander Killed

By
Younis resigned from his post as Qaddafi’s interior minister in February, decrying Qaddafi's plans to attack civilians on a wide scale. Amid a wave of defections of former Qaddafi loyalists, Younis's resignation had raised hopes t...

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DEBT TALKS

Plouffe Hints of Possible Presidential Veto for Boehner Bill

By
Senior White House adviser David Plouffe hinted that President Obama would veto the deficit-reduction bill by House Speaker John Boehner if it ever managed to get to his desk. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Caldwell Cleared of Allegations of Ordering Psy-Ops on Senators

By
The military investigation into Lt. Gen. William Caldwell, a three-star general in charge of training Afghan troops, cleared him of all allegations that he ordered an Army unit specializing in psychological operations to manipulate ...

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U.S., European Diplomats Convey Possible Plan For Qaddafi to Remain in Libya, Leave Power

By
U.S. and European diplomats offered Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi the opportunity to remain in Libya – as long as he steps down from power, and the recently-recognized opposition based in eastern Libya agrees. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Kandahar Mayor Killed in Latest High-Profile Assassination in Afghanistan

By
A suicide bomber killed the mayor of Kandahar by detonating explosives hidden in his turban, in the third high-profile assassination of a prominent government figure from Afghanistan’s restive south in just over two weeks. Read More »
BUDGET

Sen. DeMint Open to Busting August 2 Default Deadline

By Kathy Kiely
Sen. Jim DeMint , the South Carolina Republican who has made a reputation for giving leaders of his own party heartburn with his uncompromising conservatism, isn’t ruling out stretching the debate on the debt ceiling beyond the A...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Sworn In, Crocker Assures Careful Drawdown in Afghanistan

By
The new American ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, promises “no rush for the exits” as the U.S. begins the first stages of troop withdrawals. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Report: Military Investigation Finds U.S. Funds Reached Taliban

By
U.S. taxpayer money indirectly reached the Taliban under a transportation contract, according to an unreleased military report obtained by the Washington Post , the latest investigation to find that U.S. money may be reaching insurgents. Read More »

What Are the Implications of Recognizing Libya's Opposition?

By Sara Sorcher
U.S. recognition could clear the way for the administration to provide the cash-starved rebels access to some of the roughly $34 billion in Qaddafi-related funds frozen months. Should the U.S. unfreeze some of the funds? If so, shou...

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INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders Support Decision to Recognize Libya's Rebels

By
National Journal ’s National Security Insiders strongly support the Obama administration’s decision to formally recognize Libya’s opposition government as the legitimate representative of the Libyan people.  Most said th...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Obama Certifies 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' Repeal Won’t Harm Readiness

By
President Obama certified on Friday that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military won’t adversely affect military readiness, the last major step toward ending the controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” ...

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DEFENSE

Panetta Jokes About His Colorful Remarks During Swearing-In Ceremony

By
At his public swearing-in ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday, Leon Panetta joked about his emerging reputation as an outspoken Defense secretary—while sharing a stage with Vice President Joe Biden, who is also famous for his bl...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Officials Met Libyan Government Representatives

By
U.S. government officials met with representatives from Libya’s government to deliver the message that embattled Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi must step down, a State Department spokesperson said. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

What's The State of Play In Bahrain's Protests?

By
Maryam al-Khawaja, the 24-year-old director of foreign relations for the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, is one of the few Bahrani activists speaking about the uprising outside the borders of the tiny, oil-rich island nation. Many ...

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Should the U.S. Keep Troops In Iraq Past Deadline?

By Sara Sorcher
On his first trip overseas as Defense secretary, Leon Panetta expressed his frustration with the Iraqi leadership's failure to make a decision on whether or not to ask U.S. troops to remain in the country past the end of the year. I...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Report: Karzai Brother's Killer Was a Former U.S. Ally

By
The police commander who murdered Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother of Afghan president Hamid Karzai, in his home had for years helped the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan arrest "scores" of Taliban fighters, the Washington Post reports. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Bin Laden Planned Sept. 11 Anniversary Attack

By
Intelligence obtained from Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan revealed the al-Qaida mastermind, killed in a covert U.S. raid in May, was in the early stages of planning an attack on the U.S. on the 10th anniversary of the S...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Rifts in Muslim Brotherhood Mark Egypt's Political Disarray

By
Just six months ago, Islam Lotfy seemed like the new face of the Muslim Brotherhood. The 33-year-old human rights lawyer and other “young brothers” lobbied the sclerotic Islamist party to join the demonstrations that overthrew P...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

TSA Pilot Program to Expedite Screening for Frequent Fliers

By
The Transportation Security Administration is launching a pilot program for frequent fliers to reduce the hassle of air travel and free up TSA employees to focus on higher-risk passengers. Read More »
BUDGET

Toomey: Debt-Ceiling Negotiations Should Take Place in the Open

By
With lawmakers meeting for yet another round of debt-ceiling negotiations at the White House on Thursday, tea-party-backed Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said the process should take place with the doors open. Read More »
BUDGET

McCaskill: McConnell 'Has Lost His Mind' on Debt Limit

By
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., blasted Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Thursday, saying he has “lost his mind” by letting political ambitions take precedence over striking a deal over the debt ceiling. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Suicide Bombing at Service for Karzai's Brother Fuels Security Concerns

By
A suicide bomber with explosives hidden in his turban killed several people gathered to mourn the death of Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s younger brother at a Kandahar mosque on Thursday. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Defense Minister Says Pakistan May Withdraw Its Troops From Restive Border Areas

By
High-level talks between top U.S. and Pakistani military officials took place on Wednesday, after Pakistan's defense minister said the country may withdraw thousands of troops stationed within its lawless border areas—traditi...

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'What the Frick:' Panetta Aides Qualify Off-the-Cuff Remarks

By Sara Sorcher
Breaking out of his behind-the-scenes position as CIA director, Leon Panetta is already earning a reputation as a bold and outspoken Defense secretary. On his first overseas trip in his new post to Afghanistan and Iraq, Panetta made...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Afghan President Karzai's Half-Brother Killed in His Home

By
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's younger half-brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, was shot dead in his home on Tuesday, allegedly by one of his personal bodyguards.   Read More »
DEFENSE

'What the Frick:' Panetta Aides Seek to Qualify Off-the-Cuff Remarks

By
Breaking out of his behind-the-scenes position as CIA director, Leon Panetta is already earning a reputation as a bold and outspoken Defense secretary. On his first overseas trip in his new post to Afghanistan and Iraq, Panetta made...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Embassy in Syria Attacked as Tensions Mount

By
U.S. Marine Guards repelled a mob of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's supporters after they broke into the American embassy in Damascus on Monday, fueling already-inflamed tensions between the two countries. Read More »
DEFENSE

Panetta: U.S. Pushing Iraq to Crack Down on Tehran-Supplied Militants

By
The U.S. will push Iraq to go after Iranian-supplied armed factions responsible for a recent spate of violence against American troops in the country, newly minted Defense Secretary Leon  Panetta  said on Monday. Read More »
BUDGET

DCCC Chief: 'Absolute Unity' Within Democratic Party Over Entitlement Programs

By
Rep. Steve Israel, D-N.Y., said Monday there is "absolute unity" within the party over entitlement programs as congressional leaders head to the White House to resolve the partisan standoff over cutting the deficit and raisin...

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DEFENSE

Majority Support Afghan Withdrawal, But Diverge on Timing

By
As public support for the decade-long war in Afghanistan continues to wane, 72 percent of Americans generally endorse President Obama’s plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, according to a Gallup poll released Wednesday. ...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Karzai: Plans to Transfer Security in Afghanistan On Track Despite Attack

By
Afghan President Hamid Karzai pledged that the highly orchestrated and deadly militant attack on a luxury hotel in his country's capital would not delay the transfer of security control back to local forces. Read More »
ECONOMY

Report: IPO Filings Reach Four-Year High

By
Filings for initial public offerings have reached their fastest quarterly pace since 2007 at a rough time for global markets, Bloomberg reports. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Qaddafi, Son and Intel Chief

By
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Monday for Libyan leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, his son and his intelligence chief for the Libyan government's brutal crackdown on protesters. Read More »
DEFENSE

U.S. to Begin 'Thinning Out' Its Afghan Forces

By Yochi J. Dreazen and
Drawing on a model first used in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus and his top commanders are planning a gradual process of clearing out relatively stable areas of Afghanistan to free up troops who can then be shifted to dicier parts of the...

Read More »

Will President Obama's Afghanistan Strategy Prove Effective?

By Sara Sorcher
This week, President Obama announced a faster-than-expected drawdown in Afghanistan. Will withdrawing 10,000 troops by the end of the year give the military enough time to accomplish its goals during the spring fighting season? What...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Petraeus Acknowledges Differences With Obama Over Afghan Drawdown

By Yochi J. Dreazen and Sara Sorcher
Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, acknowledged on Thursday that President Obama had ordered a faster military withdrawal from the country than Petraeus had wanted, but he said he would nevertheless “salut...

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WHITE HOUSE

Senate Foreign Relations Approves Burns, Crocker, Locke

By
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to approve the nominations of Ryan Crocker as the next ambassador to Afghanistan and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as the next U.S. envoy to China. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Kerry: Pakistan Is Key to Reinforcing Withdrawal

By Olga Belogolova and
In the absence of a military solution in Afghanistan, it’s time to move on the diplomatic front, according to Sen. John Kerry. Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders Equally Divided Over Obama's New Afghanistan Strategy

By
N ational Journal ’s National Security Insiders are divided right down the middle over whether President Obama’s plan to withdraw 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year will give the military enough time to a...

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HOMELAND SECURITY

Authorities Link Man Detained Near Pentagon to Earlier Shootings at MIlitary Installations

By
Authorities have uncovered evidence linking the Marine Corps reservist detained on Friday near the Pentagon to several shootings at local military installations last year, the Associated Press reported. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Poll: Americans Who Favor Withdrawing Troops Quickly at All-Time High

By
Americans in record numbers favor withdrawing troops from Afghanistan "as quickly as possible," according to a Pew Research Center survey released one day before President Obama is slated to announce how many troops he'll begin ...

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INSIDERS POLL

Insiders: Despite Gates's Warnings, NATO Remains Relevant

By
Three out of four National Journal National Security Insiders say NATO has yet to outlive its usefulness, even as operations in Afghanistan and Libya exacerbate what Defense Secretary Robert Gates called “significant shortcom...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Case Closed: District Court Dismisses Bin Laden Charges After Nearly 13 Years

By
New York Southern District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed all criminal charges on Friday against Osama bin Laden, who was killed in Pakistan last month. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

NSA Partners with Internet Providers to Prevent Cyberattacks on Defense Companies

By
The National Security Agency is helping defense companies prevent cyberattacks by working with their Internet service providers to filter domestic Web sites and e-mail. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Police Monitor Suspicious Vehicle, Detain One Man Near Pentagon

By
Authorities said a "suspicious" vehicle found near the Pentagon Friday contained no explosive material. Police continue to conduct sweeps of the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetary and Iwo Jima memorial after detaining one man ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Radical Indonesian Cleric Gets 15 Years for Terrorism Charges

By
One of Indonesia’s most notorious Muslim clerics was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday for providing crucial support to a militant training camp uncovered last year. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Graham: Now Is the Time to "Pour it On" in Afghanistan

By
Nearly one-third of the Senate is calling for a “sizable and sustained reduction” of military personnel in Afghanistan as the Obama administration weighs how many troops to start bringing home next month. As the debate intensifi...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Gingrich: U.S. Needs to Rethink Its Relationship With Islamabad

By
Responding to reports that Pakistan’s intelligence agency arrested five informants who assisted the Osama bin Laden raid, Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich said the U.S. needs to drastically rethink its relationsh...

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LABOR

Report: Expect More Small-Business Downsizing Than Hiring This Summer

By
A new report suggests there may be a coming contraction as more small businesses plan to downsize their workforces than expand them. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Senate Panel Approves Panetta for Defense Secretary

By
The Senate Armed Services Committee approved CIA chief Leon Panetta to be the next Defense Secretary in a unanimous voice vote on Wednesday. Read More »
CAMPAIGN 2012

Pawlenty Defends Against Perception He Didn't Perform Well at Monday's Debate

By
Speaking on CNN's American Morning on Tuesday, Tim Pawlenty defended himself against the perception that he didn't perform well at Monday night's presidential debate. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Lebanon's Government Now Officially Dominated by Hezbollah

By
A new Lebanese government, dominated by the Shiite militia group Hezbollah and its allies, was announced today by Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The heavy presence of members loyal to Hezbollah may now jeopardize hundreds of millions ...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

National Archives Posts Declassified Pentagon Papers Online

By
Until now, there has never been a complete unredacted text of the Pentagon Papers, the massive report that showed the government lied about the state of the Vietnam War.  Read More »
INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders Prefer 'Modest' Withdrawal From Afghanistan

By
As the Obama administration debates how many U.S. troops to bring home from Afghanistan this summer, 57 percent of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders would prefer to see a more “modest” withdrawal of 5,000 or ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Clinton: 'Potential for Transition' in Libya; Promises More Aid to Opposition

By
There is “potential for a transition” of power in Libya as people close to Muammar el-Qaddafi continue negotiations for the embattled leader to step down, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday. At the same time,...

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LIBYA

Clinton Travels to UAE For Meetings on Libya

By
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took off for the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday for talks with international partners to ratchet up pressure on Libya’s Muammar el-Qaddafi, who refuses to step down despite NATO's intense b...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Saleh So Badly Injured It Is 'Unclear Whether He Can Survive,' U.S. Official Says

By and
Five days after he was severely wounded in a strike on his palace, Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh remains in critical condition and his chances of survival are “unclear,” a U.S. official said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Yemen h...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

The Latest in Yemen, Libya, Syria, Egypt, and Tunisia

By
The ultimate success of the Arab Spring will be measured by the daily gains made in key countries. In the list below, National Journal looks at recent developments and dynamics in countries in turmoil. Read More »

What's Next in the Yemen Crisis?

By Sara Sorcher
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh had a close call on Friday when opposition tribesmen shelled his presidential compound. Yemen's opposition is cheering his departure for Saudi Arabia for treatment, but confusion abounds over who'...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Yemeni President Saleh Wounded but Alive

By
Yemen’s embattled leader Ali Abdullah Saleh was lightly wounded when rockets struck his palace on Friday. Read More »
DEFENSE

What Robert Gates Is Saying on His Last International Trip as Defense Secretary

By
En route to Singapore for his last international trip as Defense secretary, Robert Gates was quite chatty. See his key comments. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Arab Spring Meets the Summer of Discontent

By Chris Strohm and
Less than six months ago, an unemployed street vendor in Tunisia set himself on fire to protest police harassment, setting off a historical wave of protests across North Africa and the Middle East against repressive government regimes. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

NATO: Karzai and Petraeus To Talk Air Strikes On Houses

By
Despite a fiery "last warning" to the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai did not ban all air strikes on houses, the senior Australian general in Afghanistan said on Wednesday. Instead, Karzai will bring...

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TECHNOLOGY

Space Shuttle Endeavour Makes Its Final Landing

By Maggie Fox and
The space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of six landed for the last time early Wednesday morning, completing their 16-day mission to outfit the International Space Station. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Two Iraqis Indicted in Kentucky on Federal Terrorism Charges

By
After an undercover FBI investigation, two former residents of Iraq were indicted in Kentucky on federal terrorism charges, which include allegations that they provided material support to al-Qaida in Iraq and conspired to transport...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Manning Supporters: Obama's Comments Have Already Prejudiced the Trial

By
It is “grossly improper” for the military’s commander in chief to allege that Pfc. Bradley Manning broke the law ahead of a trial, said Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg during a conference call on Wednesday. Read More »

President Obama's Mideast Speech: How Did He Do?

By Sara Sorcher
Last Thursday's address on the Middle East was President Obama's moment of opportunity to stake out his positions in the wake of the protest movements that swept through the region. Now that the so-called Arab Spring is fading into ...

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INSIDERS POLL

National Security Insiders Split Down Middle on Cutting Aid to Pakistan

By
National Journal ’s National Security Insiders are split right down the middle on whether or not the U.S. should slash funding to  often-difficult ally Pakistan — and equally divided on whether the success of the bin Lad...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Al-Qaida Had 'Interest' in Targeting Oil, Natural Gas Sector

By
Al-Qaida was interested in targeting oil and natural gas infrastructure last year, according to intelligence obtained from the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound. But, despite its interest, the terrorist group had no immediate ...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Libyan Regime Offers Conditional Withdrawal

By
As the U.S. military campaign in Libya reached its 60-day mark on Friday, Muammar el-Qaddafi's regime offered to withdraw its forces from various cities in the country if NATO stops its bombing campaign and the rebels there put d...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Top Officials Warn Against Leaks in Wake of Bin Laden Raid

By
In the frenzy of media coverage in the days after the covert U.S. operation that killed Osama bin Laden, top intelligence and military officials have been warning publicly and privately that leaks of operational details relating ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Gates, Mullen: Bin Laden Raid Humbled Pakistani Leaders

By
Taking a measured, sympathetic approach on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Mike Mullen said that Pakistani leaders view the embarrassment of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden as ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

For Syria's Assad, Will Playing the Israel Card Work?

By Yochi J. Dreazen and
For decades, Arab autocrats have had a cynical but effective strategy for silencing dissent within their countries: whenever the temperature gets too hot, change the topic to Israel and its ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Read More »

U.S. Officials Interviewed Bin Laden's Widows in Pakistan

By
American intelligence officials interviewed three of Osama bin Laden's widows left behind after the covert raid that killed the Qaida leader, after days of demanding access from Pakistani authorities. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Kerry Wants To Free Up Some of Qaddafi Regime's Frozen Funds

By
As members of the Libyan rebels’ interim government continue to press their case for U.S. assistance to fund their fight against Muammar el-Qaddafi, Sen. John Kerry , D-Mass., said he’s drafting legislation to enable the admini...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Navy Suspends Guidelines for Same-Sex Marriages on Bases

By
Following pressure from a group of Republican lawmakers, the Navy has abruptly suspended its guidelines for implementing the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” that would have allowed same-sex couples to get married on milita...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Hamas Signals It's Open to Palestinian State Within 1967 Borders

By
Zahar also said that while Hamas intends to honor a military truce with Israel, a lull in fighting is “not peace” and is “part of the resistance, not its rejection.” Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Reports: Bin Laden Son Missing after Last Week's Raid

By
In the swirl of information and speculation coming out of Pakistan following last week's U.S. raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, comes the report that one of the slain al-Qaida leader's sons is missing.  Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. General: Militants More Likely to Surrender After bin Laden's Death

By
The top American general in eastern Afghanistan hopes that Qaida leader’s death will revitalize the flagging effort to reintegrate militants into Afghan society, a key American priority that has so far failed to reduce the coun...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Bin Laden's Last Tape Threatens New Attacks if U.S. Continues to Support Israel

By
In what is reported to be his last missive, Osama bin Laden threatened President Obama with renewed attacks as long as the U.S. continues to support Israel. Just one week later, the al-Qaida leader was killed at the hands of a cover...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. to Press China on Human Rights Issues in Washington

By
As U.S. and Chinese officials meet in Washington, the Obama administration will continue to press China on human rights issues, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Monday amid concerns about a spate of recent arrests a...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Attempted Outing of Top CIA Spy in Pakistani Capital Underscores Diplomatic Tensions

By
As though tensions between Washington and Islamabad weren't already running high enough, Pakistan's media helped to ratchet up diplomatic pressure by throwing out the name of a man it claimed was the CIA's station chief in t...

Read More »

What Will Be the Impact of bin Laden's Death?

By Sara Sorcher
The raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is a great symbolic victory for the United States and its allies. His death also raises a myriad of new questions. For this week's question, National Journal asks the experts to w...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Photos Suggest Secret Helicopter Used in bin Laden Raid

By
Photographs of the U.S. helicopter that crashed during Sunday's raid on Osama bin Laden's compound shed new light on what may be a top-secret stealth helicopter program. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Latest Developments: Osama bin Laden's Death

By , and Katy O'Donnell
National Journal brings you the latest updates on Osama bin Laden's death throughout the day. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Senate Intel Leadership Split on Enhanced Interrogation's Role in Path to bin Laden

By
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday that enhanced interrogation techniques that had been used for years under the George W. Bush administration to glean information from d...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Holder: Don't Know If Waterboarding Led to bin Laden

By
Attorney General Eric Holder on Tuesday said that the U.S. can be proud of the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, but warned that the government and law-enforcement agencies cannot become “complacent” because of the possibil...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Attacks Thwarted, Information Examined in bin Laden Aftermath

By
Afghan security forces have killed or wounded two dozen fighters who crossed the border from Pakistan in what appears to be the first retaliatory attack for the killing of  Osama  bin Laden. Meanwhile, the U.S. is e...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Live Blog: Unfolding Details of Osama bin Laden's Death; The World Reacts

By , and Katy O'Donnell
National Journal will bring you the latest information about Osama bin Laden’s death and reactions from lawmakers and officials all day. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

In Death, Mythology of Bin Laden Falls Apart

By Yochi J. Dreazen and
Osama bin Laden is hiding in a cave in Pakistan’s lawless tribal regions, far from any major cities.  He is guarded by specially chosen bodyguards instructed to shoot the militant leader to ensure he isn’t captured or kille...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Pakistani Ambassador: 'Stop the Speculation' About Nation's Role

By
Pakistan's Taliban have responded to the news of Osama bin Laden’s death with threats of new attacks against that country's leaders, as well as the U.S. Read More »

President Obama's National Security Team Shuffle: How Will the Players Fare?

By Sara Sorcher
President Obama's national security team shuffle is the talk of the town. CIA Director Leon Panetta will replace outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates; Afghan war commander Gen. David Petraeus will run the CIA; and Marine Corps Lt...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Obama Orders Targeted Sanctions Against Syrian Officials

By and
As Syrian President Bashar al-Assad continues his violent crackdown on protesters, President Obama signed an executive order on Friday afternoon blocking transfer of the assets of high-level officials in Syria. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Eight U.S. Service Members Killed When Gunman Opens Fire in Kabul

By and Yochi J. Dreazen
Eight troops and a contractor were killed by a shooter wearing an Afghan Air Force uniform and were confirmed to be American, Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan said on Wednesday, making it the worst single-day U.S. death toll i...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S., U.K. Defense Chiefs United on Libya for Now

By
NATO is reportedly stepping up its airstrikes on Libyan government command and control centers, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates stuck to Washington's position that Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi was not the main target. He met ...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

WikiLeaks on Gitmo: How Much Has Changed, How Much Remains the Same

By Yochi J. Dreazen
The release of hundreds of once-secret intelligence assessments about Guantanamo Bay’s detainee population highlights how much conditions have changed at the controversial prison camp in recent years—and how the Obama adminis...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

McCain Arrives in Benghazi, Praises Rebels

By
A day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates reiterated President Obama's "No U.S. boots on the ground" stance in Libya, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., turned up in the eastern part of the country on Friday, lauding the rebels and pu...

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NEED TO KNOW: NATIONAL SECURITY

Why Israel's Iron Dome May Hurt Prospects for Peace

By
Israel’s new missile-defense system may protect its citizens from Hamas’s rockets, but it slows peace talks. Read More »
POLITICS

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson Enters GOP Presidential Race

By
“First time to say it. ‘I am running for President,’” former Republican Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson said via Twitter. He also launched a campaign website. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Senior Afghanistan General Won't Succeed Petraeus, in Sign Pentagon Seeks Media Savvy

By
When Gen. David Petraeus, the top commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan, steps down this fall, he will not be succeeded by his deputy, Lt. Gen. David Rodriguez, the Washington Post reports. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

National Security Insiders: To Arm or Not to Arm?

By
As the Obama administration continues to weigh the decision to provide the Libyan rebels with more than $33 billion in Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's frozen funds, National Journal 's insiders are divided. About two-thirds of the Inside...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Washington Post: U.S. Secretly Backed Syrian Opposition Projects

By
The U.S. has secretly funneled millions of dollars over several years to fund anti-government projects in Syria, according to newly disclosed diplomatic cables leaked to the Washington Post . Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Shutdown Would Halt National Guard Training

By Megan Scully and
Lt. Jonathan Bernstein was scheduled to drill with his Pennsylvania National Guard unit this weekend. But those plans will be scuttled if Republicans and Democrats, who continued sparring over federal funding levels throughout the d...

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Q&A

Margaret Woodward: 'This is My Destiny'

By
When the Air Force tapped her last month to establish the no-fly zone over Libya, Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward became the first American woman to lead a combat air operation. Read More »
POLITICS

With Shutdown Looming, GOP's McCarthy Talks Budgeting–and Charlie Sheen

By
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Wednesday on Fox that the government needs to tighten its belt just like “every household in America” -- except for, perhaps, Charlie Sheen’s? Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Former Rep. Curt Weldon: 'Face-to-Face' Meeting Key to Getting Qaddafi to Step Down

By
The only way to convince Libyan leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi to step down is through a face-to-face meeting, writes former Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Curt Weldon, who is leading a private delegation in Libya to do just that. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Rumsfeld: Obama Made Right Call in Allowing Military Trials for 9/11 Terror Suspects

By
Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on Wednesday hailed the Obama administration's decision to abandon efforts to try five Guantanamo Bay detainees accused of plotting the September 11, 2001 terrorist in civilian rather...

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LIBYA

Maj. Gen. Woodward's View of Democracy Movement Spans From Tunisia to Libya

By
As commander of U.S. Air Forces Africa, Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward saw the pro-democracy movement sweep across the region after its spark in Tunisia, one of the 53 countries under her area of responsibility. Months later, when Col....

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NATIONAL SECURITY

FBI Questioning Libyans in U.S. to Assess Terror Risk

By
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has started questioning Libyans in the U.S. to ferret out potential spies or terrorists and collect information useful to military operations in Libya, The Wall Street Journal reports. The...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Assad Faces Dictator's Dilemma on Syria's Day of Rage

By
It’s Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s turn to face the dilemma that other dictators swept up in the Middle East's wave of protests have already confronted. On Syria’s “Day of Rage,” for which thousands of protesters have...

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DEFENSE

Insiders: What U.S. Military Buys Just As Important As How Much It Costs

By
With two-thirds of National Journal ’s National Security Insiders saying they would support deeper defense cuts than what Defense Secretary Robert Gates proposed in January, a panel of them said on Tuesday that adapting weapon...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Two Out of Three National Security Insiders Support Deeper Defense Cuts

By
In a new survey of National Journal National Security insiders, two out of three respondents said they would support deeper spending cuts than those proposed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, with the most backing cuts in weapons...

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JAPAN

Officials Suspect Breach in Reactor at Fukushima Nuclear Plant

By
Exactly two weeks after a 9.0 earthquake and tsunami wreaked havoc on Japan’s infrastructure, a suspected breach in the core of a reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant threatens much more serious radioactive contamination...

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WHITE HOUSE

NATO Agrees to Take Over Libya Operation

By Marc Ambinder and
NATO has reached a tentative agreement with the United States to take over command and control of the operation in Libya, Obama administration officials said on Thursday, and is expected to have full operational details in place in ...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

WSJ: Administration Further Restricts Terror Suspects' Rights

By
Revised rules governing domestic terror suspects allow investigators to hold suspects longer and without advising them of their rights to remain silent or to have an attorney present for questioning, the Wall Street Journal reports. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Obama Condemns Jerusalem Attack

By
President Obama condemned “in the strongest possible terms” on Wednesday a bombing that killed a woman and injured more than 20 other people at a crowded bus stop in Jerusalem. He also expressed condolences for civilians ha...

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LIBYA

In Libya War, New–and Old–Fears of Terrorism

By Yochi J. Dreazen and
Well before then-President George W. Bush coined the term, Libya was the primary U.S. adversary in the war on terror. The government of Muammar el-Qaddafi had carried out a pair of high-profile strikes on American targets: the 1...

Read More »
EGYPT

Gates Arrives in Cairo to Discuss Elections

By
Defense Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Cairo on Wednesday to discuss Egypt's upcoming elections with top officials in his first visit since Hosni Mubarak stepped down. Read More »
LIBYA

U.S. Fighter Jet Crashes in Libya; Both Crew Members Safe

By
In the first known mishap for the U.S. military in the operation in Libya, an American fighter jet crashed during the third night of coalition airstrikes against Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s air defense systems and ground forces. Adm...

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LIBYA

During Gates's Visit, Russian Defense Minister Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire

By Yochi J. Dreazen
MOSCOW -- In a rebuke of U.S. policy in Libya, the Russian defense minister condemned civilian deaths from coalition airstrikes and called for immediate cease-fire on Tuesday as Defense Secretary Robert Gates sat ston...

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FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Obama Administration Calls Violence in Yemen 'Unacceptable'

By
The Obama administration denounced the recent spate of violence in Yemen as "unacceptable," as tanks and armored vehicles were deployed in Sanaa, where thousands of demonstrators are calling for President Ali Abdullah Sale...

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LIBYA

U.S. Commander: Qaddafi Not an Airstrike Target

By
The U.S. commander of the coalition operation in Libya said on Monday that the attack on Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's compound was intended to degrade his military capabilities, not target him specifically, even as Libyan government...

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LIBYA

After Days In Captivity, Four New York Times Journalists Released

By
The Libyan government released the four New York Times journalists who were held for nearly a week by Muammar el-Qaddafi's forces, the newspaper reported today. The journalists were released into the custody of Turkish diplomats. Read More »
JAPAN

Smoke Rises from Two Reactors at Japanese Nuclear Plant

By
Smoke emanated Monday from two reactors in Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the facility where workers are working to prevent further release of radioactive materials. Read More »
LIBYA

LIVEBLOG: Obama Says Terms Of UN Resolution Not Negotiable, Qaddafi's Attacks Must Stop

By Katy O'Donnell and
"Left unchecked we have every reason to believe Qaddafi would commit atrocities against his own people," Obama says. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Clinton Calls U.N. Libya Resolution an Important First Step

By
The U.S. and other nations will continue to consider appropriate action against Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi, the secretary of state says. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

What Do the Bahrain Protests Really Mean?

By
Bahrain, a postage stamp-sized kingdom roughly four times the size of Washington, D.C., has had protests for weeks calling for King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa to step down or transition to a constitutional monarchy. What does the...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Crucial Vote Looming in U.N. Security Council on Libya

By James Kitfield and Chris Strohm
With a critical showdown on the use of military force in Libya looming in the U.N. Security Council, friends and foes alike are baffled by the passive signals coming from the Obama administration. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Military Blocks High-Volume Websites as Precaution After Japan Quake

By
Fearing shortages of bandwidth might inhibit military operations after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, U.S. Cyber Command blocked some commercial websites that generally use “extraordinary bandwidth,” a spokesman said on Tuesday. Read More »
JAPAN EARTHQUAKE

Evacuations Ordered in Japan; U.S. Authorities Weigh In

By and Katy O'Donnell
Here are the latest developments from Japan and other affected areas (all times are Eastern): Read More »

Kerry Calls For Muslim Backing of No-Fly Zone, Intervention in Libya

By
Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., argued in a Washington Post op-ed Friday that the U.S. should prepare to implement a no-fly zone over Libya if Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi "starts using his airpower to kill large numbers of civilians." Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Clinton Heading to Egypt, Tunisia

By
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Egypt and Tunisia next week in a bid to buttress the leaders of the transitional governments there, she told U.S. lawmakers on Thursday. She will also be reaching out to oppos...

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NATIONAL SECURITY

Relative of Karzai Said to Be Killed in Coalition Attack

By
Reports say a relative of Afghan President Hamid  Karzai  was mistakenly killed by coalition forces in Afghanistan, as the problem of civilian casualties there continues to cloud the U.S. relationship. Read More »
LIBYA

McConnell: U.S. Should Look at Its Options, But Not Direct Involvement

By
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that he supports looking at all options besides direct military intervention in the unfolding civil war in Libya, including a no-fly zone, but that there's no tipping poin...

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LIBYA

BBC Team Subjected to Mock Executions by Qaddafi Forces

By
BBC Arabic correspondents were beaten and abused by Libyan leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's security forces as they made their way to the city of Zawiyeh, a rebel-held city Qaddafi supporters are waging a bloody battle to take back. Read More »
LIBYA

International Community Ramps Up Discussion of No-Fly Zone

By
As the international community weighs its options for responding to the escalating crisis in Libya, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said that imposing a no-fly zone should not be a U.S.-led endeavor. Read More »

WSJ: Sanctions Against Deals With Libya Fueling Price Hikes

By
Major oil companies and banks have stopped trading crude oil with Libya, posing a major risk to the country’s oil industry and fueling the rise in oil prices, the Wall Street Journal reports. Read More »
LIBYA

McCain: Ground Intervention in Libya Would Be 'Counterproductive'

By
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Tuesday morning urged against using ground forces in Libya should the U.S. get involved in the escalating crisis there, calling it “counterproductive.” Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

WSJ: Israel May Seek Another $20B in U.S. Assistance

By
Israel may seek another $20 billion in U.S. security assistance amid the unrest sweeping the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reports. Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

In Surprise Afghanistan Visit, Gates Says U.S. May Stay Past 2014 Deadline

By
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said from Afghanistan on Monday that the U.S. is well positioned to start withdrawing some troops in July, though he said a U.S. presence may remain in the country past the 2014 deadline to transf...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Post-Mubarak Instability in Egypt Sparks Israeli Fears

By
The instability following Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s ouster has raised fears that Palestinian prisoners who escaped from Egypt might launch new attacks on Israel, Bloomberg reports. Read More »

Navy to Discipline 40 in Video Scandal

By Yochi J. Dreazen
         The Navy said it would discipline 40 officers and senior enlisted personnel – including six admirals – for their roles in producing and broadcasting a series of homophobic and sex...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

Army Lodges 22 Additional Charges against Bradley Manning

By
The U.S. Army today charged Pfc. Bradley Manning with 22 additional offenses related to the release of classified documents to WikiLeaks, including "aiding the enemy," traditionally a capital offense. But in a release announcing the...

Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Qaddafi: Al-Qaida, West Responsible for Libyan Uprising

By Katy O'Donnell and
In a long, contradictory speech today, Libyan strongman Muammar el-Qaddafi blamed the uprising in his country on both al-Qaida seeking to create an Islamic state in Libya and a Western “colonial attempt." He denied that protests a...

Read More »
LIBYA

Libyan Activists Thwarted in Efforts to Raise 'Pre-Qaddafi' Flag at Embassy

By
A dozen anti-Qaddafi activists tried to symbolically lower his flag at the Libyan Embassy in Washington today by replacing it with the tricolored flag that represents an independent Libya but were rebuffed by security guards. Read More »
LIBYA

U.S. Orders Warships to Mediterranean

By Yochi J. Dreazen
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said today he has directed an array of U.S. Navy warships to the Mediterranean, significantly escalating American pressure on Libyan strongman Muammar el-Qaddafi as he resists mounting calls to step...

Read More »
NATIONAL SECURITY

U.S. Freezes $30 Billion in Libyan Assets, Making Contingency Plans

By
The U.S. Treasury Department on Monday froze at least $30 billion in Libyan government assets that are in the United States, administration officials announced. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Nelly Furtado Received $1 Million From Qaddafi Family for Performance, Says Will Donate Sum

By
Pop singer Nelly Furtado said she received $1 million to perform for guests of the Libyan leader’s family—and now she’s going to donate the money, she acknowledged on Monday. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Qaddafi's 'Voluptuous Blonde' Nurse Returns to Ukraine

By
Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's "voluptuous blonde" Ukrainian nurse, made famous by the latest WikiLeaks release of diplomatic cables, has defected from Qaddafi as the unrest continues in Libya. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Iraq Day of Rage Protests Widespread, Deadly

By
Security forces opened fire on the thousands of demonstrators on Iraq’s Day of Rage today, killing six people in the largest protests in a country that had seen mostly small-scale protests until now. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Evacuation Ferry for American Citizens Departs Libya for Malta

By
The evacuation ferry for American citizens fleeing the violence in Libya has finally departed for Malta after bad weather delayed its travel, the State Department says. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Iranian Warships Dock in Syria Despite Israeli Concerns

By
Two Iranian warships have docked in Syria after receiving permission from Egypt's caretaker government to pass through the Suez Canal, the first Iranian ships to do so since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolutions. Read More »
DEFENSE

Army to Probe Report That Psyops Were Used on Senators

By
The Army will investigate whether a special "psychological operations" unit in Afghanistan worked to manipulate U.S. senators into providing more troops and money for the war. Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Qaddafi Blames bin Laden for Libya Protests

By
Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi insisted in a phone speech broadcast today on Libyan state television that he will not step down, while claiming “it’s obvious now that this issue is run by al-Qaida.” Read More »
FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Rasmussen: NATO Will Not Intervene in Libya

By
As the Libyan government continues its deadly crackdown on protesters, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the organization will not intervene in the conflict. Read More »
SEE MORE
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