NJ Topics National Security

National Journal Coverage
Obama

Obama Distances Himself From Bush Foreign Policy Legacy

George E. Condon Jr. | 12:51 p.m.
Even though he followed many of his predecessor's counterterrorism policies, Obama wants to move on.
Medea Benjamin

Who Is Medea Benjamin, and Why Is She So Good at Heckling Public Officials?

Brian Resnick | 12:44 p.m.
The cofounder of CODEPINK also has interrupted NRA speeches. 
Guantanamo detention facility at dawn

Obama’s 20 Steps to Counterterrorism

Matt Vasilogambros | 12:04 p.m.
Unpacking the president's hour-long (with heckling) speech on drones, Gitmo, and everything in between. 
John McCain

Republican Trio Wants More Questions Answered on Benghazi

Kristin Roberts | 10:57 a.m.
Sens. John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Kelly Ayotte won’t drop it. Despite the White House’s release of Benghazi e-mails, the Republican trio has a long list of additional questions, all carrying serious political implications.
John Kerry

John Kerry in the Middle East: Eclipse of a Superpower?

James Kitfield | 5:40 a.m.
Doha, Qatar – Secretary of State John Kerry arrives in the Middle East on Thursday
Iraq

Can Obama End the 'Forever War'?

Michael Hirsh | May 22, 2013
Ahead of Thursday's speech, the president is trying to narrow the use of drones.
Off to the Races_Barack Obama

Play of the Day: Obama’s Face and Race

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | May 22, 2013
Fast forward to 2:50 to see why Rush Limbaugh thinks Barack Obama's race has really benefitted him.
Obama School

President Obama: Mourner-in-Chief

George E. Condon Jr. | May 22, 2013
The president's most memorable speeches have come in the wake of tragedy.
Obama talks about Oklahoma tornado

Don't Hold Your Breath Waiting for Public Opinion to Turn Against Obama

Jill Lawrence | May 21, 2013
The president has a base of loyalists that won't quit and, at least for now, there's no evidence he was involved in any scandals.
President Barack Obama chats with Afghan President Hamid Karzai during the start of a dinner at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 28, 2010.

Which Is More Corrupt: Afghanistan or America?

Michael Hirsh | May 21, 2013
Karzai cash payments highlight a growing friction as Afghans blame NATO for their poor reputation.

Insiders Split on Edits of Benghazi Talking Points

Sara Sorcher | May 20, 2013
National Journal's National Security Insiders were split on whether the Obama administration's edits to remove any mention of terrorism from the original public statements on the Benghazi, Libya, attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens showed it deliberately tried to mislead the American public.
Mac Collins

Congress: The Next Generation

Sarah Mimms | May 20, 2013
Former lawmakers are helping their children in so many races this year that we might as well dub next Election Day “Take Your Kid to Congress Day.”
Ed Markey Ad

Watch the First Campaign Ad to Invoke the Newtown Shootings

Alex Roarty | May 17, 2013
Locked in a close Massachusetts Senate race, Ed Markey goes negative against Gabriel Gomez.
Eric Holder

You Know What Really Risks National Security? Leak Investigations.

Ron Fournier | May 17, 2013
What happens if national security journalists stop trusting government warnings?
irs

How Republicans Will Try to Pin the IRS Scandal on Obama

Shane Goldmacher | May 17, 2013
They plan to connect the dots between the agency's chief counsel and the White House.
Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, I-64

Why You Won’t Own Your Road

Fawn Johnson | May 16, 2013
Cash-strapped states such as Virginia are turning to the private sector to help finance large infrastructure projects.
John Hamre

Former U.S. National Security Leaders Object to ‘More Restrictive’ Nuclear Trade Policies

Elaine M. Grossman | May 16, 2013
A half-dozen former U.S. national security leaders last month implored President Obama to avoid tightening restrictions on foreign nuclear cooperation in the interest of nonproliferation.
U.S. Marine in Afghanistan

How the Afghan Conflict Will Be Decided

Michael Hirsh | May 16, 2013
A horrific week for U.S. casualties reaffirms President Obama’s rush to rely on the Afghan army. But can they handle it?
Obama Holder

Scandals Tailor-Made For GOP Base

Reid Wilson | May 16, 2013
George W. Bush lost control of Congress when voters lost trust of his ability to manage government. Obama faces the same threat in 2014.
U.S. Consulate in Benghazi

Under Pressure, the White House Releases More Than 100 Pages of Benghazi E-Mails

George E. Condon Jr. | May 15, 2013
The White House, in an effort to calm the swirl of controversy about the reaction to last year’s attacks on U.S. diplomats in Benghazi, Libya, late Wednesday released more than 100 pages of e-mails leading to the development of talking points that attempted to explain the violence that left four Americans dead. The e-mails had earlier been shown to members of Congress but the White House had resisted releasing them, citing the precedent of protecting internal discussions within an administration.
Mike Rogers

Feinstein: Rogers a 'Respected' Contender for FBI

Stacy Kaper | May 15, 2013
The Obama administration is considering House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., for the top job at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Eric Holder

Eric Holder in the Hot Seat as Congress Probes Scandals

Rebecca Kaplan and Kristin Roberts | May 15, 2013
The Attorney General is on Capitol Hill on today for a show of fireworks that could be unlike any seen in this Congress so far.
Russia

What Moscow's Arrest Says About U.S.-Russia Relationship

James Kitfield | May 14, 2013
As the U.S. and Russia go through the motions of expelling each other’s “diplomats” in the coming days, it’s likely they will only be pawns in a much bigger game.
COP Foreclosure Hearing

How Many House Committees Are Currently Probing the Obama Administration?

Chris Frates | May 14, 2013
A look at which House committees have inquiries into Obama Administration issues
GREG HICKS

Insiders Split on Whether White House Covered Up Benghazi Response

Sara Sorcher | May 13, 2013
National Security Insiders say the U.S. has made missions more secure in the wake of the attack.
obama cameron

Obama's Outrage Focused on Republicans More Than IRS

George E. Condon Jr. | May 13, 2013
At press briefing with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Obama slams Benghazi investigation as partisan.
afghan

NATO’s Plan for Afghanistan Post-2014: A ‘Stable Instability’

Michael Hirsh | May 13, 2013
U.S., allies are talking about commitments through 2018 and beyond, says top commander.
Michele Bachmann

'Obamacare' Repeal: Will the 37th Time Be the Charm?

Billy House and Nancy Cook and Coral Davenport and Fawn Johnson and Sara Sorcher and and George E. Condon Jr. contributed | May 12, 2013
With tensions over fiscal issues building, and the three-month suspension of the nation’s debt limit set to expire Sunday, lawmakers this week will be rehashing on the House floor their messaging war over repealing President Obama’s three-year-old health care law.
Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton's Allies Come to Her Rescue Over Benghazi

Michael Catalini | May 10, 2013
Paul Begala says Republican critics are wearing 'tin foil hats'. Ann Lewis blames the right-wing.  Welcome to the 1990s.
US Mexico Border

The Border Hawks Have Already Won

Fawn Johnson | May 9, 2013
The Senate immigration bill already addresses hard-liner concerns, which means they’ll have less reason to oppose the final product. 
Barack Obama, Laura Chinchilla

Why Mexico Will Always Play Second Fiddle

George E. Condon Jr. | May 9, 2013
Like all presidents, Barack Obama says he wants a better relationship with his neighbors to the south. Then events get in the way. 
Joe Lieberman

GOP Leans on Lieberman in Boston Probe

Stacy Kaper | May 9, 2013
Putting the former independent senator in an attack-dog role gives Republicans political cover to keep pressing for answers on intelligence and law enforcement failures ahead of the Boston bombings.  
dollar bill

Heading Off the Coming Retirement Disaster

Sophie Quinton | May 9, 2013
Half of Californians are on track to retire in or near poverty. The state's new retirement plan model could change that.
Joe Lieberman

Lieberman Backs GOP Line on Security Failures in Boston Marathon Attack

Stacy Kaper | May 9, 2013
Joe Lieberman gave a boost to a Republican line of attack against the Obama administration for failing to fully investigate and share information that might have prevented the Boston bombings.
Obama and Clinton

Why Benghazi is a Blow to Obama and Clinton

Ron Fournier | May 9, 2013
Both parties are wrong about the scandal: It’s not Watergate and it’s not nothing.
Benghazi

Benghazi: Incompetence, But No Cover-up

Michael Hirsh | May 8, 2013
The hearings deepen the tragedy, but not the scandal.
Gregory Hicks

Deputy Mission Chief Says He Was 'Stunned' by Rice's Early Depiction of Benghazi Attacks

Billy House | May 8, 2013
The top deputy to the U.S. ambassador killed during the attacks last September in Benghazi, Libya, said Wednesday he was “stunned” when U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice said on talk shows days later that the incident stemmed from “demonstrations” sparked by protests over an anti-Islamic video.
President Barack Obama waves to U.S. troops at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, March 28, 2010.

Why It's So Hard to Trust the Chain of Command in Military Sexual-Assault Cases

Ben Terris | May 7, 2013
A day after a high-profile arrest, a new Pentagon report shows sexual assaults have jumped by a third since 2010.
John Kerry in Russia

Mitt Romney Was Right: Russia Is Our Biggest Geopolitical Foe

Michael Hirsh | May 7, 2013
Obama meets with South Korea’s president, but it’s Kerry’s sit-down with Putin that matters.   
Hillary Clinton

Play of the Day: A Look at 2016

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | May 7, 2013
Fast forward to 3:10 to see Fallon compare the two on important issues.
Drone

How One Jihadist Magazine Is Trying to Fight U.S. Drone Strikes

Matt Vasilogambros | May 7, 2013
Help wanted: U.S. drone strikes have crippled our war effort—in need of expertise on how to disable or manipulate unmanned aircraft.
Barack Obama

Insiders: Syrian Chemical Weapons Use Does Not Yet Justify U.S. Military Intervention

Sara Sorcher | May 6, 2013
Even though President Obama acknowledged chemical weapons use in Syria, nearly two-thirds of National Journal's National Security Insiders believe the American military should not yet intervene in the bloody fight against Bashar al-Assad.
Benghazi

What to Expect at Wednesday’s Benghazi Hearing

Elahe Izadi | May 6, 2013
The White House's accounting of what transpired in Libya is expected to be contradicted by three self-described whistle-blowers.
Syria civil war

5 Charts Showing Why Americans Aren't Eager for Intervention in Syria

Elahe Izadi | May 3, 2013
President Obama is acting cautiously on Syria -- and Americans aren't feeling so hawkish, either.

Inside the Cover: Stopping Terrorism at the Source

National Journal Staff | May 3, 2013
In this week's National Journal cover story, Michael Hirsh looks at why the Obama administration's plan to use American Muslims as an early-detection system to spot radicals hasn't worked. In this video, go inside the story with the author himself.
Islamic Center of Murfreesboro

Stopping Terrorism at the Source

Michael Hirsh | May 2, 2013
Two years ago, the Obama administration launched a plan to use American Muslims as an early-detection system to spot radicals. So why hasn’t it worked?
Barack Obama

What Is a ‘Red Line’ Worth?

James Kitfield | May 2, 2013
Syria is testing the idea that nations can’t cross the United States. What happens if other countries copy it?
Oklahoma City Bombing

Should Prosecutors Insist on Death for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev?

James Oliphant | May 2, 2013
Cutting a deal with the alleged Boston bomber might prevent future attacks and ensure a conviction. But it could enrage victims and disappoint the public. 

Poll: What Impact Will the Boston Bombings Have on Immigration Reform?

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | May 2, 2013
Neither party’s Insiders expect much of an effect.
Syria

Iraq and Libya Haunt Obama's Syria Policy

Michael Hirsh | May 2, 2013
Weighed down by memories of Iraq and Libya, the president stands his ground.
Tim Holden, Vice President Biden

Play of the Day: Joe Biden's Plane

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | May 2, 2013
Fast forward to 4:25 to see the reaction after Vice President Joe Biden got home after Air Force Two broke down in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Accompanied by health care professionals, President Obama speaks about health care

Obama's Legacy: A Health Care Law That Hurts His Party

Josh Kraushaar | May 2, 2013
Like the Iraq war tarnished the Republican brand, ObamaCare could be a long-term political millstone for Democrats.
Boston Inquiry

House Homeland Security Committee Plans Hearing on Boston Attack for Next Week

Stacy Kaper | April 30, 2013
The House Homeland Security Committee plans to hold the first congressional hearing next week examining the Boston Marathon terrorist attack and what it says about the state of the nation’s post-Sept. 11 security infrastructure.
Obama

Obama Appears at a Loss to Define the Way Forward in Syria

Major Garrett | April 30, 2013
The fuzzy red lines and rhetoric blur what comes next.
Tense Obama

Obama Channels Clinton’s Worst Day in Office, Raises Doubts About Relevancy

Ron Fournier | April 30, 2013
Like Clinton in April 1995, Obama struggles against forces out of his control.
President Barack Obama

Obama Is Still Fighting Bush's National Security Legacy

George E. Condon Jr. | April 30, 2013
The president's hesitance to intervene in Syria and eagerness to close Guantanamo Bay underscore how different he is from his predecessor.
Obama WHCA

Obama's Amazing Speech (and Why You Probably Missed It)

Ron Fournier | April 29, 2013
Lost amid the laughter, Obama's closing remarks at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner indict failed elites.
Senate Immigration

Asylum and Entry/Exit Systems Get Another Look in Congress After Boston

Fawn Johnson | April 28, 2013
The impact of the bombings on the immigration debate has narrowed in on just two isolated policy arenas.
Syria

Obama's Chemical Weapons ‘Red Line’ for Syria Keeps Shifting: Former WMD Hunter

Rachel Oswald | April 26, 2013
President Obama’s "red line" for U.S. intervention in Syria is actually more of a fuzzy zone whose goalposts keep shifting, said the former top WMD hunter in Iraq.
Oregon execution room

Will Prosecutors in the Boston Marathon Bombing Case Seek the Death Penalty?

Matt Vasilogambros | April 26, 2013
Former prosecutors weigh in on the legal strategy for taking on bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Bomb in Damascus

Doing Nothing in Syria Is Riskier Than Getting Involved

James Kitfield | April 26, 2013
One allied ambassador: "If you continue to hesitate, the costs will be much higher when you finally act."
American dream

The American Dream, Downsized

Amy Sullivan and Sophie Quinton contributed | April 25, 2013
The middle class now worries more about holding on for dear life than about climbing the ladder to riches. 
Syria

Obama Is Looking for Reasons to Delay Response to Syria's Chemical-Weapons Use

Michael Hirsh | April 25, 2013
The White House is not eager to engage militarily in the Middle East again.
Dianne Feinstein

Senators Say Chemical Weapons in Syria Cross Obama's 'Red Line'

Stacy Kaper | April 25, 2013
Senior senators -- now including Senate Intelligence Chairman Dianne Feinstein -- say Syria has used chemical weapons on its citizens, crossing the 'red line' President Obama put down as trigger for U.S. intervention.  
Shoes

America's Next National Security Risk: Footwear?

Matt Vasilogambros | April 25, 2013
The keys to a strong military are coordinated intelligence efforts, high-tech weaponry, and good shoes – American-made shoes, that is, according to certain members of the sneaker lobby.

What Congress Learned Thursday About the Accused Boston Bombers

Stacy Kaper | April 25, 2013
The FBI was not just concerned with Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011 but other family members too, according to information that U.S. security officials gave some senators during a closed-door briefing on Thursday. Here is what the senators learned, according to one lawmaker, who would not speak on the record.
Boston bombing memorial

5 Ways the Boston Bombings Altered the Political Debate

Michael Catalini | April 25, 2013
From immigration to drones, the attacks had an impact on the presidential agenda.
McCain and Graham

Senators Focus on Information Breakdown in Boston Attack

Stacy Kaper | April 24, 2013
In the wake of the Boston Marathon attack, lawmakers are focusing on whether federal law enforcement botched information it had about the deceased suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011 and whether post-Sept. 11 information-sharing security measures broke down.
Evidence

Is There Such Thing as Too Much Evidence?

Brian Resnick | April 24, 2013
Assembling the case against Dzhokhar Tsarnaev won't be as simple as it appears from the news.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Was the Ball Dropped in the Tsarnaev Questioning?

Major Garrett | April 23, 2013
To paraphrase Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz: This is our @#$&%! Constitution.
West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion

How Will Texas Explosion Impact Chemical Security Laws?

Douglas P. Guarino | April 23, 2013
Industry officials 'appalled' by those who say the incident suggests a need for tougher chemical security laws.
Pressure cooker used in Boston bombings

How Pressure Cookers Get Classified as a WMD

Diane Barnes | April 23, 2013
WASHINGTON -- Accusing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev of carrying out a WMD strike at the Boston Marathon could offer prosecutors a clear route to a conviction, even though the two pressure-cooker devices used in last week's attack do not fit the accepted definition of a "weapon of mass destruction," academics and former federal prosecutors said on Tuesday.
Boston bombing memorial

The White House Is Right: Tsarnaev Should Be Tried As a Civilian

James Oliphant | April 23, 2013
The only surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bomb case will be represented by counsel and arraigned, just like any other criminal defendant.
stuxnet flame

Governments' Favorite Cyberweapons Don't Look Anything Like Stuxnet

Brian Fung | April 23, 2013
Think more along the lines of "criminal enterprise."
Boston aftermath

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

Sara Sorcher | April 22, 2013
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' opinions are more evenly divided on U.S. intervention in Syria.
bush

Go Ahead, Admit It: George W. Bush Is a Good Man

Ron Fournier | April 22, 2013
In the rush to mythologize and demonize our presidents, we forget they're human.
Sen. Bob Corker

Bob Corker Charts Leadership Course

Stacy Kaper | April 22, 2013
Sen. Bob Corker's independent voice on high-profile issues and scholarly devotion to studying policies he is interested in have made GOP leaders take notice of him and want to keep the Tennessee Republican close at hand — both to capitalize on his expertise and to watch his moves.
Somalian immigrant becomes a U.S. citizen

How Immigration Opponents Are Trying to Use the Boston Bombings to Delay Reform

Rebecca Kaplan | April 22, 2013
Democrats, Gang of Eight members, are playing offense to prevent delays.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev

How Tamerlan Tsarnaev Might Have Been Stopped

Michael Hirsh | April 22, 2013
Did the Obama administration fail to follow up on Muslim community outreach programs?
George W. Bush at National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast

George W. Bush's Reluctant Re-Emergence on the Political Scene

Tom DeFrank | April 22, 2013
The ex-president is preparing to dedicate his library this week, but these days he's more interested in painting, golfing, and enjoying a life away from politics.
Boston Bombing Sustpects

Boston Suspect's Legal Status A Test Case

Michael Hirsh | April 20, 2013
Nearly 12 years after 9/11, authorities still have not figured out how to try terrorists.
Matthew McCord

This Is What Relief Looks Like: Boston Celebrates After Bombing Suspect Arrested

Brian Resnick | April 20, 2013
Statue of Liberty

How Refugees Come Into the United States

Fawn Johnson | April 19, 2013
The United States has a fairly generous policy in admitting foreigners to the country as refugees, harkening back to the 1950s when several laws were passed to provide for people who escaped communist regimes.
Mall of America

'Soft Targets' Remain Vulnerable to Terrorist Attacks

Matt Vasilogambros | April 19, 2013
While authorities continue to focus on finding one of the suspects sought in the deadly Boston bombings, attention will soon turn to how to prevent another terrorist attack on an event with limited security.
Boston suspect

The Psychology of a Boston Marathon Terrorist: 10 Questions for a Retired Marine

Elaine M. Grossman | April 19, 2013
“Terrorists are not psychotics or mentally disordered,” retired Marine Corps Reserve officer and criminal behavior expert G.I. Wilson said.
Boston marathon explosion

There Aren't Easy Policy Prescriptions After Boston Bombing

Naureen Khan | April 19, 2013
How do you prevent self-styled terrorists who appear to be acting alone? 
Boston bomber search

Boston Lockdown Reflected WMD Response Plans

Rachel Oswald | April 19, 2013
The Friday lockdown of Boston and surrounding communities was a highly rare response in the United States to a terrorism threat, reminiscent of security plans typically contemplated in response to attacks involving weapons of mass destruction.
Obama

Pray for Our President

Ron Fournier | April 19, 2013
Terrible moments like this past week tested Obama and his predecessor. 
Boston house crime scene

Were Boston Bombers Lone Wolves or Long Arm of al-Qaida?

James Kitfield | April 19, 2013
What pushed two seemingly normal young immigrants past the tipping point of youthful anger and into wanton terrorism?
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in ambulance

Why Law Enforcement Worked So Hard to Take Boston Bombings Suspect No. 2 Alive

Jill Lawrence | April 19, 2013
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev can help authorities clear up many mysteries -- now that he's in custody and alive.
Boston suspect search

Boston Suspects Demonstrate the Thin Line Between Amateurism and Terrorism

Michael Hirsh | April 19, 2013
U.S. Muslims fear a backlash. ‘It can’t get worse than this,’ says one community organizer.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)

After Boston Marathon Bombings, What Next For Immigration Reform?

Fawn Johnson | April 19, 2013
“We screwed up. We can’t afford to screw up again,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said on Friday. 
Grozny

What You Need to Know About Chechnya

Matt Vasilogambros and Cory Bennett and Niraj Chokshi | April 19, 2013
With the troubled Russian region in the news, here's a primer on a violent region that has long struggled against Russian hegemony.
Steve Israel

DCCC Outraises NRCC in March

Scott Bland | April 19, 2013
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised its Republican counterpart for a third straight month to start 2013, according to reports. Roll Call reported Thursday that the National Republican Congressional Committee raised $8.1 million in March, trailing the $10.2 million the DCCC gath...
Boston suspect search

1 Boston Marathon Bombing Suspect Is Dead, 1 On the Loose in Watertown

Dashiell Bennett and Philip Bump - The Atlantic Wire | April 19, 2013
Following a chaotic night of mayhem and a police shootout, one of the two suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings was shot and killed by police. The second suspect is on the loose and police are actively searching the area of Watertown, Mass.
Boston Marathon bomings

The Boston Bombs Remind Us That We’re Not Safe

Michael Hirsh | April 18, 2013
Just because law enforcement officials learned how to track terrorists doesn’t mean we’re not at risk. 
Amy Smith

Saved From Boston's Bombs by a Text Message

Christopher Snow Hopkins | April 18, 2013
Veteran Capitol Hill staffer Amy Smith starts a new job on Friday, feeling lucky to be alive after narrowly escaping Monday's devastation near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
Lizzie Lee

The Way to Combat Terrorism

Ronald Brownstein | April 18, 2013
America can persevere by embracing diversity.
Gregory Jaczko

Reid Appoints Besieged Regulator to Nuclear-Weapons Panel

Amy Harder | April 18, 2013
Late in the evening on Wednesday, one of the busiest and most unnerving times Washington has seen in a long while, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid quietly appointed Gregory Jaczko, a controversial former nuclear-energy regulator to a key but obscure panel.
Harry Potter

What Books Do Gitmo Detainees Read?

Matt Vasilogambros | April 18, 2013
What do a suspected terrorist and a 10-year-old child have in common? They might be reading the Harry Potter books.
Barack Obama

In Boston, Obama Finds His Voice and the Nation's: 'We Will Run Again'

Matthew Cooper | April 18, 2013
Standing ovations greet Obama at interfaith service where he vows: "We will run again."
Boston aftermath

In Boston as in Baghdad, Tragedy Cannot Be Ignored

Lara Jakes | April 18, 2013
Friends and colleagues ask why, and how, this was possible. Perhaps this is the way the world already is, and has been for some time.
Person uses computer screen

How the Government Searches for the Boston Marathon Bomber

James Kitfield | April 17, 2013
The post-9/11 record strongly suggests that the U.S. authorities will indeed get their man.
Dirty Bomb Drill, Seattle

Despite WMD Fears, Terrorists Are Focused on Conventional Attacks

Rachel Oswald | April 17, 2013
WASHINGTON – The United States has spent billions of dollars to prevent terrorists from obtaining a weapon of mass destruction even as this week’s bombings in Boston further show that a nuclear weapon or lethal bioagent is not necessary for causing significant harm.
Boston marathon explosion

6 Tragedies That Sparked Legislation

Matt Vasilogambros | April 17, 2013
When tragedy strikes this country, Americans react with grief, anger, hope, and sometimes legislation.
Capitol Police

Ricin Letter Adds To Anxiety on the Hill

Billy House and Stacy Kaper | April 16, 2013
Amid an already edgy state of alert in Washington following Monday’s bombings at the Boston Marathon, law enforcement officials confirmed on Tuesday that they were also investigating whether an envelope containing the poison ricin was intended to harm Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss.
Boston aftermath

Plenty of Clues, Few Leads on Motive of Boston Marathon Bomber

James Kitfield | April 16, 2013
The bombings could be the work of al-Qaida affiliates, domestic right-wing extremists, or lone-wolf terrorists inspired by an indeterminate ideology.
Boston aftermath

Experts Skeptical Homegrown Terrorists Were Behind Boston Bombings

Matt Vasilogambros | April 16, 2013
While officials are still investigating who was behind the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon, President Obama made it clear on Tuesday that authorities are still unclear whether domestic or foreign actors are responsible for the attack.
Boston marathon

Defense Department Saves National Guard WMD Unit That Helped in Boston

Diane Barnes | April 16, 2013
The U.S. Defense Department was poised as recently as last month to dismantle a National Guard crisis team that assisted in the emergency response to the bombings at Monday's Boston Marathon. 
Obama Boston Marathon Bombing Briefing Photo

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

Sara Sorcher | April 16, 2013
President Obama's homeland-security point person deals with the Boston Marathon bombings in her first weeks on the job.
Obama

Obama: Boston Marathon Bombings Are Acts of Terrorism

George E. Condon Jr. | April 16, 2013
President adds little is known about the perpetrators of the attack.
President Barack Obama, Boston Marathon

For Obama, a Rising Tide of Rage

Michael Hirsh | April 16, 2013
The Boston bombing is the first since 9/11, but only because of effective interdiction.
White House after Boston

Without a Suspect in Boston Marathon Bombing, Obama Has a Heavy Burden

Matthew Cooper | April 16, 2013
We knew who bombed Oklahoma City and who killed Kennedy within hours. What a president goes through when there is no culprit.
Dianne Feinstein

Lawmakers Seek Answers on Boston Attacks

Stacy Kaper and Billy House and Rebecca Kaplan contributed. | April 16, 2013
Congress is asking lots of questions and getting few answers so far about the Boston attack.  
Martin Richard

Why Boston Bombings Might Be Scarier Than 9/11

Ron Fournier | April 16, 2013
Killing Americans at play resonates differently than attacks on economic and military targets.
Capitol Police

Boston Blasts Bring a Chill to Washington

Billy House | April 15, 2013
Tax day in Washington turned into a tension-filled reminder that there are far worse problems to deal with than the federal budget, immigration reform, or even gun control, as bombings at the Boston Marathon brought the horrors of terrorism front and center into the national consciousness.
Boston marathon explosion

In Boston, a Rare Tragedy

Michael Hirsh | April 15, 2013
Because of the FBI's police work, attacks like Monday's Boston Marathon bombing have been uncommon since 9/11.
Boston marathon explosion

Don't Jump to Conclusions About Boston Marathon Explosions

Matthew Cooper | April 15, 2013
We don't know what happened. We don't know if they were bombs. We don't know if someone was angry at Boston in particular or at tax day or at anything else. 

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

Sara Sorcher | April 15, 2013
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.
Patty Murray

Slow-Motion Gun Battle Plays Out in Senate

Billy House | April 14, 2013
Lawmakers will stage some slow-going drama this week as the Senate proceeds in its deliberations on gun-control legislation with a series of votes on amendments—many of them likely to usher in their own mini-floor fights, or even filibusters.
Kim Jong-Un

Why Is North Korea Acting Out?

Matthew Cooper | April 12, 2013
Two members of Congress discuss John Kerry's trip to the Korean Peninsula, what China can do to help, and the Kim Jong Un relatives who seem to be guiding the rogue leader.
Kim Jong Un

North Korea: The Family Business Is Failing

Michael Hirsh | April 12, 2013
Kim Jong Un is a third-generation heir to a business his grandpa started. Like most heirs, he may be driving the firm into the ground.
Asteroid Vesta

Play of the Day: Lassoing an Asteroid

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | April 12, 2013
Fast forward to 2:35 to see why Colbert loves the lasso plan.
Korea soldiers

Amid Deep Cuts, the Pentagon Labors to Keep Its Forces Ready for Korea

Elaine M. Grossman | April 11, 2013
{"2031674":"4682"}...
Obama Budget

7 Things to Know About Obama's Budget

Matthew Cooper | April 10, 2013
You’ll see a lot about the aggregate budget size of $3.8 trillion. But here are the things that are really worth knowing.
Obama

Newly Engaged Obama Makes Slow, Uncertain Progress on Agenda

Ron Fournier | April 10, 2013
Deals are within reach on guns, immigration, and even deficit reduction.
Berlin Wall

The Lives of Thatcher, Reagan, and Pope John Paul II Prove Presence Counts, Remembering Doesn’t

Major Garrett | April 9, 2013
It is both cruel and instructive that the three pivotal and decisive foes of communism—Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Pope John Paul II—had, in all likelihood, no memory of their world-transforming triumph when each stepped into the great beyond.
McConnell Boehner

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

Billy House and George E. Condon Jr. and Nancy Cook and Coral Davenport and Fawn Johnson and Margot Sanger-Katz and and Sara Sorcher contributed | April 7, 2013
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 softening Republican opposition to tax hikes.
DPRK

Wondering What Is Happening in North Korea? Here's Your Cheat Sheet.

Brian Resnick | April 5, 2013
A timeline of the latest escalations
Belogolova family

Why Washington and Moscow Still Don't Trust Each Other

Olga Belogolova | April 4, 2013
I left the USSR in 1991. Going back showed that Cold War stereotypes don’t fade—even with time.
Drone

Vetting the Kill List

James Oliphant and Kristin Roberts contributed | April 4, 2013
Civil libertarians want a judge to oversee the administration’s targeted-killing program. It sounds appealing, but it could do more harm than good.
Syria civil war

The Paradox of Syria's Chemical Weapons

Sara Sorcher | April 4, 2013
The surest way to keep the arsenal safe is to leave it in the hands of a murderous dictator.
Mike Rogers

No Shortage of Headlines for House Intelligence Chair

Sara Sorcher | April 4, 2013
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.
Bush

Play of the Day: Remember George W. Bush?

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | April 4, 2013
Fast forward to 3:40 to see Letterman challenge Kim on camera.
Northrop Grumman

This Defense Contractor Is Repeatedly Spear-Phishing 68,000 Innocent People

Brian Fung | April 3, 2013
One company with deep Washington connections is running a huge online scam. It involves tens of thousands of victims. And it's completely legal.
Mike Rogers

Rogers on North Korea: 'This Is Serious'

Sara Sorcher | April 2, 2013
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 House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers.
North Korea, Rally in Pyongyang

How the U.S. Could Cool Tensions With North Korea

Rachel Oswald | April 2, 2013
It's not too late. Regional experts say that the United States should seek to engage the DPRK.
potd327

Play of the Day: Sequestration Comes to Late Night

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | March 27, 2013
Fast forward to 3:35 to see the effects of the sequester at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York.
Obama Jordan

Public Show Over, Obama Turns to Private Diplomacy in Middle East

George E. Condon Jr. | March 25, 2013
President Obama’s highly visible trip to the Middle East was seen as a timely and badly needed shot of public diplomacy in the world’s most volatile region. But what happens behind the scenes and out of public view now that the president is back in the United States may be even more critical to the decades-old American quest to forge stable peace between Israel and her neighbors.
Drone counter

Relive President Obama's Drone War, in Under 10 Seconds

Brian Fung | March 25, 2013
The drone war may have begun during the Bush administration, but as this graphic makes clear, it's President Obama who has taken ownership of it.
Blue Angels

Armed With Excuses, Lawmakers Head Home to Sequester Complaints

Stacy Kaper and Rebecca Kaplan and Amy Harder contributed | March 24, 2013
As lawmakers were preparing to go back home to their districts for a two-week recess, many were already getting an earful of grievances from constituents about the sequester’s impact and were bracing to hear far more in meetings and town halls.
Pakistan missile test

Pakistan's 'Strategic Pivot' May Not Include Reforming Its Nuclear Policies

Elaine M. Grossman. | March 22, 2013
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The Pakistani military and the nation’s recently dissolved government have been touting a “strategic pivot” toward increased cooperation and transparency with regional neighbors, but it is far from clear whether these major shifts would affect Islamabad’s nuclear weapons. 
first days iraq

A Decade of War: What the U.S. Military Learned

James Kitfield | March 22, 2013
The 10-year anniversary of the Iraq war has rightfully prompted extended soul-searching about a conflict that cost the nation dearly in blood, treasure, and international prestige. 
stealth combat drone demonstrator Neuron

When the Whole World Has Drones

Kristin Roberts | March 21, 2013
The precedents the U.S. has set for robotic warfare may have fearsome consequences as other countries catch up.
Hillary Clinton in Malawi

Hillary Clinton's Global Feminist Legacy

Jill Lawrence | March 21, 2013
Her tenure at State may have lacked a bold diplomatic achievement. But posterity will remember her efforts to help women.
Iraq invasion

My Iraq War

James Kitfield | March 21, 2013
Fear, death, and even elegy—one witness’s recollections from a decade of war.
Barack Obama

Obama to Israelis: Don’t Listen to Bibi

Michael Hirsh | March 21, 2013
The president goes over Netanyahu’s head abroad, just as he has with the GOP at home.
terror trio

Who Are the American Terrorists?

Ben Terris | March 20, 2013
There are no Americans currently on the "kill list," but there are a few citizens deemed "most-wanted" for terrorism.
Predator Drone

How Many Americans Are on the Kill List? Zero.

Kristin Roberts and Ben Terris contributed | March 20, 2013
No Americans are currently marked for death on the U.S. government’s terrorist strike list, according to the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.  
Drones

Invasion of the Drones Has Senate Panel’s Attention

Sara Sorcher | March 20, 2013
Like it or not, drones are coming to American skies. Now Congress must find a way to protect the right to privacy.
Syria

Behind Obama’s Big 'No!' on Syria

Michael Hirsh | March 20, 2013
Despite terrible bloodshed and the risks of a wider war, the president is barely moving. Here’s why.
Capitol Sunrise

Tiny Think Tank a Major Player on Energy Policy

Coral Davenport | March 19, 2013
Robbie Diamond has the name of a used-car salesman—and with his slick, shiny coif, ever-present white-toothed smile, and knack for self-promotion—he might even pass for one.
Obama in Israel

Empty-Handed Tourist?

Major Garrett | March 19, 2013
JERUSALEM — President Obama arrives in Israel less burdened than any previous U.S. president by the diplomatic malignancy known as the peace process.
McCain and Graham

On the Anniversary of War in Iraq, Who's Rooting for War in Syria?

Ron Fournier | March 19, 2013
McCain, Graham are pushing president Obama down a bloody slope.
first days iraq

The First Days of the Iraq War, as Seen Through National Journal Correspondents

Brian Resnick | March 19, 2013
Journalists were getting a sense of how this invasion would (for better or worse) begin to define the decade and the Bush presidency.
Carter in Israel

Past U.S. Presidential Visits to Israel

Matt Vasilogambros | March 19, 2013

Berman Joins Covington; Ambassador Returns

Mike Magner | March 18, 2013
Four new members have been appointed to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, which provides grants to projects that increase public access to historical records.
Michele Bachmann

What Happened to Michele Bachmann?

Tim Alberta | March 18, 2013
In the first two months of the 113th Congress Michele Bachmann has been practically invisible. What happened?
Obama in Israel

Mapping Out Obama's Middle East Trip

Matt Vasilogambros | March 18, 2013
From the museum that holds the Dead Sea Scrolls to the ancient city of Petra, here are the stops President Obama will visit on his Middle East trip.
U.S. servicemen queue to board a bus

The Legacy of the Iraq War? Anti-War Democrats and Rand Paul

Michael Hirsh | March 18, 2013
The most enduring impact of the invasion is a neo-isolationism that will be with us for a long time.
Hillary Rodham Clinton

Why Hillary Clinton Now Supports Gay Marriage

Elahe Izadi | March 18, 2013
Former first lady wanted to make her views known before the Supreme Court rules on the subject.
Romney

Mitt Romney's CPAC Speech Was As Lackluster As His Campaign

Beth Reinhard | March 15, 2013
But the former presidential nominee's speech was a reminder of his political mistakes during the 2012 presidential campaign. 
Cover 315

VIDEO: Inside This Week's Cover Story

National Journal Staff | March 15, 2013
In this week's National Journal cover story, Michael Hirsh discusses how the United States could contain Islamism in the Middle East. In this video, go inside the story with the author himself.
Arab Spring in Egypt

The Next Arab Challenge

Michael Hirsh | March 14, 2013
Two years after the Middle East revolts, the Obama administration has mounted no real effort to understand the dynamics of political Islam.
Rand Paul

Why John McCain Doesn't Matter Anymore

James Kitfield | March 14, 2013
The GOP is now more open to isolationists and deficit hawks like Rand Paul than to traditional pro-defense Republicans.
Cheney

Dick Cheney at War With His Documentary Filmmakers

Tom DeFrank | March 14, 2013
Former vice president is angry that a new movie portrays him as manipulative operator--even though he cooperated with the project.
POTD314

Play of the Day: International Leader Edition

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | March 14, 2013
What do Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, Pope Francis and Hugo Chávez have in common? Of course, they are all former or current leaders of sovereign states and they were all major players in jokes on last night's late-night shows. The man formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio took center stage on most of the shows, with Conan O’Brien and Craig Ferguson using the South American angle to comment on race in the United States. On NBC, Jimmy Fallon explained how armies work in regards to North Korea’s recent war talk and Jay Leno had to explain Venezuelan socialism to his crowd.
Joe Lieberman

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman Back in Washington for ‘Internationalism’ Project

Christopher Snow Hopkins | March 12, 2013
In recent years, a number of prominent lawmakers have either renounced their party or been excommunicated.
Lean In Women

The Washington Women Who Leaned In When Sheryl Sandberg Didn't

Michael Hirsh | March 12, 2013
They may not get the publicity, but these women have been ahead of Sandberg in leaning in against the most chauvinistic industry in America: Wall Street.
Jay Carney

The Art of Denying Cabinet Rumors

Matt Vasilogambros | March 11, 2013
White House press secretary Jay Carney leaves Cabinet announcements to the man who actually makes the nominations: President Obama. Reporters know this, but it doesn’t stop them from asking about rumored candidates anyway.

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

Sara Sorcher | March 11, 2013
Plus: A narrow majority says Chuck Hagel will be a good Defense secretary.
Trent Franks

Electromagnetic Pulse Caucus Battles Skeptics in Push to Protect the Planet

Billy House | March 10, 2013
A small but growing cadre of House members is set to relaunch efforts to protect the nation against what they say is a very real threat: the unleashing of an electromagnetic pulse either by a solar storm or a nuclear-armed foe that could cripple much of the nation’s electrical infrastructure.  
Temporary Office

Budget Cuts Keep Freshman Senators in the 'Swing Suites'

Amy Harder and Rebecca Kaplan and Stacy Kaper contributed | March 9, 2013
The across-the-board cuts to the federal government’s budget are exacerbating an already convoluted process for new senators moving from cramped temporary digs to their permanent offices. 
Pakistan missile test

Why Almost Nobody Likes News About Pakistani Nuclear Security

Elaine M. Grossman | March 8, 2013
There’s an old adage about blaming the messenger who bears bad news – a practice often applied to journalists -- but when it comes to disturbing media revelations about the potential theft or unauthorized use of Pakistani nuclear weapons, fingers point in all directions.
Busboys and Poets

Citizenship Isn't Always Foremost What Undocumented Workers Want

Fawn Johnson | March 8, 2013
They just want to do their jobs, cash their paychecks, and be left alone. Here's a view of the immigration debate from the kitchen of your favorite restaurant.  
Rand Paul

Rand Paul's Very Long Stand

Ross Gianfortune and Government Executive | March 8, 2013
Fast forward to 2:55 to see Colbert thank Paul for taking his stance, while disagreeing with the stance.
MANDA BAY

Outsourcing the Fight Against Terrorism

James Kitfield | March 7, 2013
The United States is using local soldiers to fight al-Qaida allies in East Africa.
Netanyahu

How Bibi Beat Barack

Adam B. Kushner | March 7, 2013
Obama desperately wants peace in Israel. Too bad there’s nothing he can do to force it.

Paul's Filibuster Draws Divisions Within GOP

Stacy Kaper and Sara Sorcher | March 7, 2013
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 divisions within GOP ranks.
Rand Paul

Inside the Rand Paul Filibuster

Shane Goldmacher and Beth Reinhard and Stacy Kaper and Rebecca Kaplan contributed | March 7, 2013
For a politician who earned his stripes as a political outsider, Sen. Rand Paul’s filibuster performance and planning demonstrated his aptitude at the inside D.C. game.
Anna Galland of MoveOn.org

Anna Galland, 33, Leads MoveOn.org From Michigan

Christopher Snow Hopkins | March 7, 2013
Anna Galland, the new executive director of MoveOn.org, likes to keep her feet firmly planted outside the Beltway.
Rand Paul

Why Rand Paul's Case Against the White House Matters

Ron Fournier | March 7, 2013
The Kentucky Republican's filibuster reflects the pace of politics and the power of social media.
Army Suicide

325 Members of the Army Killed Themselves Last Year. Sorting Out Why Is No Easy Task.

Brian Resnick | March 7, 2013
Combat experience is not strongly associated with suicide. So how can we account for the Army's "epidemic"?
Draganflyer X6

The Wonderful World of Drones

Sara Sorcher | March 7, 2013
Fighting fires, reducing crime, counting sea lions: the case for domestic UAVs.
Rand Paul at the Capitol

Rand Paul and Washington's Night of Hypocrisy

Matthew Cooper | March 7, 2013
Rand Paul’s filibuster was surprising, compelling, and a perfect window into Washington’s hypocrisy.
Rand Paul

What Was Behind Rand Paul's Filibuster of John Brennan

Sara Sorcher | March 6, 2013
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.
Shawn Bray of INTERPOL Washington

A Look Inside Interpol in Washington

Christopher Snow Hopkins | March 6, 2013
Shawn Bray, the new head of Interpol in Washington, unlocks some of the mystery surrounding the global intelligence agency.
Rand Paul filibustering

Why Rand Paul Wouldn't Stop Talking

Kristin Roberts | March 6, 2013
Rand Paul took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to (so far successfully) filibuster President Obama’s nomination of John Brennan for CIA director. Why? He wants the White House to rule out killing Americans on U.S. soil without first providing them the due process promised by the Constitution.
RAUL LABRADOR

Labrador Says Reform More Important Than Political Gain

Fawn Johnson | March 5, 2013
At least one Republican leader on immigration in the House is ready to allow President Obama and Democrats to take credit for any reform efforts that might pass this year.
Afghanistan

How Obama Fumbled Afghanistan

Michael Hirsh | March 5, 2013
How Obama stymied his own special envoy, Richard Holbrooke, and fumbled the administration's Afghanistan policy.
Obama Cabinet Meeting

The 6 Species of Secretaries That Will Define Obama's Term

Matthew Cooper | March 5, 2013
The president has made most of his top administration picks. Here's how they all fit into his second term.
Rodman

Why We Should Take Dennis Rodman More Seriously

Michael Hirsh | March 4, 2013
If the only way to begin the drama between the U.S. and North Korea is with a clown show, then a weird, unemployed basketball star surely works as well as anyone else.
gutted thumb

What the White House Looks Like Completely Gutted

Brian Resnick | February 26, 2013
In the late '40s, the executive mansion was in a condemnable state. To save it, everything had to go.
anti-nuclear power rally

Why Japan Can't Quit Nuclear Power

Olga Belogolova | February 14, 2013
Since the Fukushima meltdown, the country has tried to reduce its reliance on nuclear reactors. But with nearly a third of its energy needs powered by the atom, change is difficult.
Aerial of the Pentagon

Insiders: Go Ahead, Slash the Defense Budget

Sara Sorcher | January 21, 2013
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.
Morsi

Why Morsi’s Comments Are Irrelevant to Mideast Peace

Michael Hirsh | January 16, 2013
The reflexive response of many in the pro-Israel community to anti-Semitic comments from Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was predictable: See? Didn’t we tell you? This just shows how impossible it is to deal with these people. Whatever hopes that Secretary of State-to-be John Kerry had for restarting peace talks in a region he has long had a passion for—the Mideast—will not likely be realized, at least with Morsi playing the broker. But that may be an overreaction.  
Lighthouse

The People, Not Washington, Will Solve America's Everyday Problems

James Oliphant and Stacy Kaper and Catherine Hollander and Adam Mazmanian and James Kitfield and Ben Terris and Fawn Johnson | December 6, 2012
Beyond the fiscal cliff, entitlement reform, and a tax overhaul, a host of other issues continue to vex Americans. They include burgeoning traffic, the shrinking pool of affordable housing, escalating gun violence, and the rising invasion of online privacy.
Female Marine Corps recruits

The Enemy Within

James Kitfield | September 13, 2012
The military-justice system has failed to check the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in the armed forces.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - The Army's Gamble

March 29, 2003
V CORPS FORWARD TACTICAL COMMAND, Central Iraq-The sound came with such suddenness and ferocity that all heads craned skyward as if in supplication: An Iraqi Scud missile was boring back through the atmosphere at terminal velocity. Just to the right of the 110-vehicle convoy, a Patriot anti-missile battery answered, with the sparkling contrails of two missiles clearly visible as they soared toward an impact point nearly six miles overhead. Along the shoulder of the road, hundreds of soldiers scrambled to don chemical protection suits as a multiwheeled Fox detection vehicle ran down the column "sniffing" for lethal chemical agents. Within minutes, the Patriot battery reported a successful intercept and confirmed that the Scud would have hit the ground less than a third of a mile in front of the convoy.

MEDIA - The Fog of Journalism

March 29, 2003
Is there too much war news? When the cruise missiles had just started flying and every shred of news seemed meaningful, the question would have seemed ridiculous. On a story this big, it goes without saying that information is good, and the more information the better. Right?
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