http://www.govexec.comen-usThu, 18 Apr 2013 09:17:24 -0400http://www.govexec.com/technology/2013/04/how-government-searches-boston-marathon-bomber/62613/The FBI may have been most transformed by post-9/11 reforms.James Kitfield, National JournalThu, 18 Apr 2013 09:17:24 -0400http://www.govexec.com/technology/2013/04/how-government-searches-boston-marathon-bomber/62613/TechnologyKenshin Okubo/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/04/plenty-clues-few-leads-motive-bomber/62577/Bombings could be the work of al-Qaida affiliates, domestic right-wing extremists, or lone-wolf terrorists.James Kitfield, National JournalWed, 17 Apr 2013 08:14:56 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/04/plenty-clues-few-leads-motive-bomber/62577/DefenseThe remains of a black backpack sit on a Boston street that the FBI says contained one of the bombs that exploded during the Boston Marathon Tuesday. FBIhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/03/outsourcing-fight-against-terrorism/61781/The United States is using local soldiers to fight al-Qaida allies in East Africa.James Kitfield, National JournalMon, 11 Mar 2013 09:29:25 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/03/outsourcing-fight-against-terrorism/61781/DefenseA U.S. Marine team trains Ugandan forces to face groups like al-Shabaab.Defense Departmenthttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/01/obama-and-karzai-iraq-redux/60599/Leaders will try to agree on terms of separation.James Kitfield, National JournalThu, 10 Jan 2013 15:26:14 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/01/obama-and-karzai-iraq-redux/60599/DefenseObama met with Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Palace in Kabul.White House photohttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/analysis-military-knows-it-has-morality-problem/60012/Sexual abuse. Adultery. Misconduct. Suicide. Has the U.S. military lost its way?James Kitfield, National JournalFri, 07 Dec 2012 09:35:30 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/analysis-military-knows-it-has-morality-problem/60012/DefenseTomas van Houtryve/AP file photohttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/09/analysis-path-war-iran/58317/The United States and Iran are on a collision course, and neither side is blinking.James Kitfield, National JournalMon, 24 Sep 2012 14:09:46 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/09/analysis-path-war-iran/58317/DefenseThe Strait of HormuzKamran Jebreili/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/09/defense-department-struggles-deal-sexual-assaults/58190/Nearly 20,000 service members are raped or sexually assaulted each year by predators who often evade punishment.James KitfieldTue, 18 Sep 2012 15:39:23 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/09/defense-department-struggles-deal-sexual-assaults/58190/DefenseFormer Marine Corps officer Ariana Klay is one of eight current and former U.S. military members who were raped or assaulted, and filed a federal lawsuit against the Defense Department. Carolyn Kaster/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/08/afghanistan-eyeing-exits/57205/Neither Obama nor Romney has made clear how fast the remaining force of 68,000 U.S. troops should be pulled out before the deadline.James Kitfield, National JournalFri, 03 Aug 2012 09:57:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/08/afghanistan-eyeing-exits/57205/DefenseHeidi Vogt/AP http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/12/wikileaks-collateral-damage/35661/Almost no player in the episode has escaped unscathed.James KitfieldFri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2011/12/wikileaks-collateral-damage/35661/Oversighthttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/12/senate-minority-leader-accuses-justice-of-misleading-congress/35604/Republican lawmakers say Attorney General Eric Holder withheld key evidence about a sting operation that ended in the murder of a Border Patrol agent.James KitfieldMon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/12/senate-minority-leader-accuses-justice-of-misleading-congress/35604/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/10/iran-containment-strategy-cast-in-doubt/35139/A country willing to attempt an assassination on U.S. soil defies the “rational actor” presumption that lies at the heart of nuclear deterrence.James KitfieldWed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/10/iran-containment-strategy-cast-in-doubt/35139/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/09/domestic-policy-in-washington-baghdad-at-play-in-troop-level-decision/34849/Reports that the Pentagon may leave only a token U.S. force in Iraq by year’s end suggest strategic calculations have been trumped by national concerns.James KitfieldWed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/09/domestic-policy-in-washington-baghdad-at-play-in-troop-level-decision/34849/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/08/deficit-debate-drags-military-into-political-fray/34671/The Pentagon is understandably nervous that the congressional deficit-reduction super committee will fail, automatically triggering as much as $1 trillion in cuts to defense spending.James KitfieldTue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2011/08/deficit-debate-drags-military-into-political-fray/34671/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2010/12/general-gives-upbeat-assessment-of-progress-in-afghanistan/32891/Gen. David Petraeus says U.S. and allied forces have arrested the Taliban's momentum in many parts of the country, and reversed it in important areas.James KitfieldTue, 07 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2010/12/general-gives-upbeat-assessment-of-progress-in-afghanistan/32891/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2010/08/master-of-disaster-reflects-on-deepwater-horizons-enduring-lessons/32178/Retired Adm. Thad Allen, who also led the government response to Hurricane Katrina, talks about how the oil spill could affect public policy.James KitfieldWed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2010/08/master-of-disaster-reflects-on-deepwater-horizons-enduring-lessons/32178/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/federal-news/2010/02/haiti-response-effort-brings-lessons-from-katrina/30827/An interview with Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen on the similarities and differences between the two relief operations.James KitfieldTue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/federal-news/2010/02/haiti-response-effort-brings-lessons-from-katrina/30827/NewsAlexis C. Glenn/Landovhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2009/10/afghanistan-is-obamas-war-now/30147/Facing a host of bad options, Barack Obama is poised to take ownership of a war that will inevitably shadow his presidency.James KitfieldFri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2009/10/afghanistan-is-obamas-war-now/30147/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2008/10/expert-says-nuclear-terrorism-is-not-a-major-threat/27888/The Rand Corp.'s Brian Michael Jenkins says fears of a nuclear attack are overblown.James KitfieldMon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2008/10/expert-says-nuclear-terrorism-is-not-a-major-threat/27888/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2008/09/progress-in-afghanistan-gets-rockier/27668/If Iraq is the model for how to defeat an insurgency, NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan have a very long road ahead.James KitfieldMon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2008/09/progress-in-afghanistan-gets-rockier/27668/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2008/06/coast-guard-reaches-milestone-in-massive-equipment-modernization-project/26990/Commandant Thad Allen talks about the troubled "Deepwater" program now that the service has received its first new long-range cutter in 36 years.James KitfieldMon, 02 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2008/06/coast-guard-reaches-milestone-in-massive-equipment-modernization-project/26990/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2007/07/success-of-iraq-surge-rests-on-ability-to-suspend-cycle-of-violence/24886/Determining whether U.S. forces are buying enough time and security to allow for longer-term stability is more an art than a science.James KitfieldTue, 17 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2007/07/success-of-iraq-surge-rests-on-ability-to-suspend-cycle-of-violence/24886/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2007/04/withdrawal-from-iraq-would-prompt-new-challenges/24258/Pullout would require careful planning for a contingency the commander-in-chief won't even discuss.James Kitfield and Brian FrielMon, 23 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2007/04/withdrawal-from-iraq-would-prompt-new-challenges/24258/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2007/04/army-strained-to-near-its-breaking-point/24130/Short breaks between combat tours and limited resources to respond to wartime mission are taking a toll.James KitfieldFri, 06 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2007/04/army-strained-to-near-its-breaking-point/24130/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2006/12/rumsfeld-leaves-his-successor-in-a-difficult-position/23358/Outgoing Defense secretary was determined to make his mark by transforming the military, but the Iraq war overshadowed that goal.James KitfieldMon, 18 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2006/12/rumsfeld-leaves-his-successor-in-a-difficult-position/23358/Defensehttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2006/10/us-options-to-control-violence-in-iraq-narrowing/22978/Country lacks the support and resources for all-out war effort, leaving few palatable choices.James KitfieldFri, 20 Oct 2006 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2006/10/us-options-to-control-violence-in-iraq-narrowing/22978/Defense