Defense

Only two Afghan battalions operating 'independently' -- sort of

General expects costs of training, equipping to drop below projected number.

Defense

U.S. troops leaving Iraq, but U.S. presence there just ramping up

Some military personnel will be stationed within two expanding State Department consulates.

Defense

Attack on CIA office in Kabul kills one

Assailant was a lone Afghan employee, embassy spokesman says.

Defense

Proposed funding cuts will jeopardize DHS headquarters plans

Lawmakers denied spending requests for the move amid concerns about the general economic environment as well as the plan’s timeline.

Defense

Better oversight of contracts called key to repairing Pentagon ledgers

Defense has made progress toward 2017 deadline for auditability, but challenges remain, House panel is told.

Defense

American flag raised over embassy in Tripoli

President Obama this week praised the U.S. ambassador’s return to the embassy.

Defense

Report: U.S. expanding drone bases in East Africa, Arabian Peninsula

Additional bases would help in an effort to attack al-Qaida affiliates in Somalia and Yemen.

Defense

Washington and Baghdad divided over future U.S. presence

Debate over whether a few thousand U.S. troops should remain in Iraq past the end of the year is playing out differently in the two capitals.

Defense

Panetta urges lawmakers to protect Defense spending

Pentagon chief says Congress should focus on the mandatory spending that is largely to blame for the deficit, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Defense

GOP likely to prevail on limiting disaster aid; expect to avert shutdown

Failure of the amendment would likely clear a path for Senate passage of the House-passed continuing resolution.

Defense

'Don't ask, don't tell' comes to an official end

Memo asks troops to "treat one another with dignity and respect regardless of sexual orientation."

Defense

Senate appropriators take a dim view of Pentagon satellite lease plans

Panel says Defense Information Systems Agency did not factor troop drawdowns into its cost analysis.

Defense

Pentagon financial officers report modest progress toward clean books

New Defense chief could spur action on meeting Congress’ 2017 deadline for auditable statements, Senate panel told.

Defense

Army offering 33 buyouts for civilian employees

The Materiel Command also will be accepting early retirement applications and invoking reassignments and hiring freezes to cut 1,660 positions.

Defense

Disaster aid offsets still popular among congressional Republicans

Some 86 percent of Republicans surveyed said they believe aid allocated by Congress must be offset by spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.

Defense

Marine receives Medal of Honor at White House

Dakota L. Meyer braved a hail of enemy fire in Afghanistan to rescue trapped comrades and recover fallen ones.

Defense

U.S. will root out militants, Panetta says after Kabul embassy attack

Defense Secretary vows to put a stop to assaults on U.S. forces from Pakistan-based insurgents.

Defense

Bill would ensure military, law enforcement officer pay

Rep. Fitzpatrick’s new bill prioritizes pay and allowances for certain federal employees in the event of another budget crisis.

Defense

Appropriators cut $695 million from fighter jet, cancel tactical vehicle

Panel chairman assures colleagues that the bill covers the military’s most pressing needs despite belt-tightening measures.

Defense

Large attack launched on U.S. embassy in Kabul

The attack comes weeks after another Taliban attack on the British embassy and calls into question the security of the heavily guarded facility.