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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.”

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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'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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sen. Murray Keeps Hanford Nuclear Site Safe From Budget Cuts

Amy Harder | April 8, 2013

She may not attend Tuesday’s confirmation hearing for Ernest Moniz, President Obama’s nominee for Energy secretary, but you can bet Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., will make sure the department has all the money it needs to keep the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in her home state running safely.

New Era for Energy Department Expected Under a Secretary Moniz

Coral Davenport | April 8, 2013

With stimulus funding for clean energy at an end, climate-change policy dead in Congress, and harsh budget cuts looming over all agencies thanks to the sequestration, the days of President Obama’s vision of the Energy Department as a green juggernaut have probably come to an end.

Sen. Wyden to Grill Obama's Energy Nominee on Nuclear-Waste Site

Amy Harder | April 7, 2013

On Tuesday, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ernest Moniz, President Obama’s nominee for Energy secretary, are going to square off like it’s 1998.

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

Brian Resnick | April 5, 2013

A timeline of the latest escalations

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Now There's Proof: Washington May Have Violated Its Own Iran Sanctions

Brian Fung | February 27, 2013

The U.S. government learned this week that it might have run afoul of its own sanctions on Iran -- an awkward development, given that the economic penalties are at the heart of international efforts to pressure Tehran over its nuclear program. But here's why it might not be as embarrassing as it sounds:

You Call This an Army? The Terrifying Shortage of U.S. Cyberwarriors.

Brian Fung | February 25, 2013

When the Soviet Union launched the first satellite in 1957, it set off an intellectual arms race that led to more than $1 billion of federal investment in science education.

On the Move

Christopher Snow Hopkins and Mike Magner | February 21, 2013

Angela Rye launches a new lobby shop, Impact Strategies. Domingo Herraiz is Motorola's new VP of North American government affairs. Campaign insider Tharon Johnson joins McKenna Long & Aldridge.

Chuck Hagel, Strategic Thinker

Michael Hirsh | February 19, 2013

It looks awfully likely that Chuck Hagel will squeak through confirmation as President Obama's Defense secretary. But it is also likely that he'll enter the Pentagon a damaged figure, a nominee tainted by the lingering impression that he is not ready to handle the vast complexities of a defense budget slated for slashing.

Key Votes Used to Calculate the Ratings

February 19, 2013

The 116 Senate votes and 116 House votes on which National Journal’s 2012 vote ratings are based.

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.

Obama's Isolationist Turn

Elahe Izadi | February 13, 2013

The president spent most of his time avoiding foreign policy during his State of the Union address.

Cliffs Notes on Obama's 2013 State of the Union Address

Michael Catalini | February 12, 2013

The first State of the Union address since President Obama's second inauguration focused overwhelmingly on domestic policy. He devoted roughly one paragraph each to Afghanistan, North Korea--which reportedly tested a nuclear weapon on Monday--and Iran. For comparison's sake, that's the roughly the same amount of time he spent on cybersecurity in the address.

Obama Set to Affirm Nuclear-Arms Reductions

Chris Schneidmiller | February 12, 2013

Despite the taunting actions of North Korea, the president is expected to continue backing his committment to decrease the U.S. nuclear stockplie.

White House: North Korean Test Will Not Change SOTU

Michael Hirsh | February 12, 2013

Obama must confront an embarrassing failure of his nonproliferation policies on the eve of his big speech.

What Do We Know About the Apparent Nuclear Test in North Korea?

Adam Clark Estes and Alexander Abad-Santos and Matt Sullivan - The Atlantic Wire | February 12, 2013

Just hours after reports suggested that North Korea had abandoned its plan to detonate a nuclear device, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a 4.9-magnitude earthquake north of the 38th parallel on Tuesday.

Insiders: White House Should Develop Rules for Drone Program

Sara Sorcher | February 4, 2013

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.

Geraldo Rivera Considers Running for Senate

Elahe Izadi | January 31, 2013

The New Jersey Senate race just got a little more starpower.

Is Chuck Hagel Failing?

Michael Hirsh | January 31, 2013

Honest but slow to answer at his committee hearing, Obama's pick for Defense secretary fumbles badly on Iran, Israel.

How a Florida Doctor and Dominican Prostitutes Could Damage New Jersey Senator's Standing

Michael Catalini | January 30, 2013

Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., finds himself facing embarrassing questions after FBI agents raided the home of a South Florida eye doctor who is a frequent campaign contributor to Menendez and other politicians.

Why Doubts Are Growing About An Alleged Syrian Chemical Attack

Elaine M. Grossman | January 29, 2013

If recent media reports have left you with an impression that Bashar Assad might already have used chemical weapons against his own people, think again.

Why Obama Thanked Hillary

Michael Hirsh | January 28, 2013

The president's former political rival journeyed a long, hard road to loyalty.

Chuck Hagel Goes Door to Door to Seek Senate Support

Matt Vasilogambros | January 25, 2013

Chuck Hagel, President Obama's controversial pick for Defense secretary, is going door to door in Congress to make the case for his confirmation, banking on the personal touch to secure his nomination.

Robert Wexler, Going It Alone

Beth Reinhard | January 24, 2013

Former Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla., talks about advising President Obama in 2008, the fate of the House, and life as a freelance peacemaker.

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.

The Education of Steven Chu

Coral Davenport | January 17, 2013

The Nobel physicist was brought in to transform the energy economy, but faced political battles.

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.

Obama Reshapes Cabinet For a Second Term

Catherine Hollander | January 15, 2013

With Inauguration Day approaching, President Obama is reshaping his Cabinet and White House staff for his second term. In the latest change, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has said he will leave his job at the end of March, creating an opening at the helm of the agency that oversees public lands.

The Neocons vs. Chuck Hagel

Michael Hirsh | January 9, 2013

The attacks on the Defense nominee reflect an old struggle—and a philosophy that’s in eclipse.

Richard Nixon: One of Us

John Aloysius Farrell | January 9, 2013

On this, the 100th birthday of Richard Nixon, the slogan from his first campaign for Congress is the salient fact: "One of us." His dreams were ours -- and so, in the end, were his sins.

Hagel Pick Could Signal U.S. Policy Shift on Iran

Diane Barnes | January 8, 2013

President Obama might be signaling plans to shift his administration's approach to an entrenched dispute over Iran's nuclear program by nominating a noted critic of hard-line policies to lead the Defense Department, a former Iranian nuclear negotiator and other expert observers said on Tuesday.

Chuck Hagel's Biggest Problem: He's Like President Obama

Ron Fournier | January 7, 2013

By nominating Chuck Hagel to be his Defense secretary, President Obama is putting forward an aloof contrarian who doesn’t suffer fools--a characteristic that closely describes the president himself.

Who is Chuck Hagel and Why Is He Being Nominated as Defense Secretary?

Brian Resnick | January 6, 2013

Hagel is no easy choice for Obama.

What the Fiscal-Cliff Deal Means for Russian Nukes

Elaine M. Grossman | January 3, 2013

Buried inside legislation to avert the federal budget “fiscal cliff,” passed by the U.S. Senate and House on Tuesday, are two retroactive changes to wording on nuclear arms reductions found in a recently passed defense authorization conference bill.

In the 'War on Terror', Hagel Hasn't Gone with the Crowd

Michael Hirsh | December 27, 2012

The truth about Chuck Hagel is that he saw before most that America was embarking on an unparalleled strategic disaster.

Sneezing Monkey Sings Christmas Carols, Obama Meets Spiderman — VIDEO

Cory Bennett | December 21, 2012

Obama gets caught in Spiderman's web and we find out the silver lining of the apocalypse. It's been a good run, human race.

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

Sara Sorcher | June 11, 2012

A series of newspaper articles, including one detailing the Obama administration's use of drones and another outing Washington's cyber attack on Iran's nuclear sites, sparked an outcry on Capitol Hill. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are working to craft new laws to regulate access to and discl...

Reid on the Ropes With NRC Nominee

Olga Belogolova and Dan Friedman contributed | April 19, 2012

At odds with the president, senators in his own party, and Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is backpedaling on his strong opposition to granting a new four-year term to Republican Kristine Svinicki on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS - Collateral Damage

March 15, 2003

The first American war against Iraq, fought a dozen years ago, produced an overwhelming, if transitory, U.S. victory, while also popularizing several phrases that slipped almost lightheartedly into the world's lexicon. But if the U.S. military's new "smart bombs" helped make a mockery of Saddam Hussein's bluster about winning "the mother of all battles," there was nothing funny about "collateral damage," the Pentagon's time-honored euphemism for the killing and wounding of everyday Iraqi people with cruise missiles and airpower.

NJ Topics Weapons Of Mass Destruction

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