Defense

As wars wind down, some forces face wearying future

The strain on the highly trained forces will only increase as a shadow war ramps up against high-ranking militants in countries like Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.

Defense

NATO given proof of Qaddafi death, allied military official says

Still pictures and video imagery 'leave no doubt' of the death of the former Libyan leader.

Defense

U.S. drone struck Qaddafi's convoy, Pentagon says

French warplane also struck the convoy, before the longtime Libyan leader was reportedly captured and killed.

Defense

Iraq war ends with a whimper, not a bang

Failure to agree on troop extension brings a quiet end to the conflict.

Defense

As wars wind down, Army general worries about troop discipline

Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling warns that the military has allowed problems like drunk driving to fester for so long that the situation risks becoming 'cancerous.'

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

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

Afghanistan's civilian surge comes with enormous price tag and uncertain results

It costs $500,000 to deploy a single civilian to the war zone for one year.

Defense

State to name head of aid efforts in Libya and Egypt

William Taylor previously managed reconstruction efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Europe.

Defense

Legislation would mandate military custody of all terror suspects

The controversial change would have significant legal repercussions for the ongoing war on terror.

Defense

In Petraeus’s retirement, the twilight of the celebrity general

Staunchly pro-military sentiment of the past 10 years has been replaced by a willingness to cut the Pentagon's budget.

Defense

Powell says Cheney book full of 'cheap shots'

Memoir accuses the former secretary of State of undermining President George W. Bush before the Iraq War and allowing the name of a covert CIA agent to be leaked.

Defense

Ron Paul: Abolish FEMA

The Republican presidential candidate stops short of criticizing the disaster management agency’s response to Irene.

Defense

Panetta and Clinton wade into domestic politics

The secretaries of Defense and State are pushing for a 'balanced' debt-reduction deal that doesn't fall disproportionately on their two departments.

Defense

Army suicides rise to record level in July

Last month's 32 Army suicides underscore the military’s continuing inability to prevent troubled soldiers from taking their own lives.

Defense

Growing indications SEALs were sent on low-level mission

While the military initially said troops who died Saturday were rescuing Army Rangers, it now says they were sent to apprehend fleeing militants.

Defense

Shadow war unlikely to slow down after SEAL deaths

A close look at an earlier incident suggests the pace of operations by SEALs in Afghanistan is likely to intensify, not decrease, in the months ahead.

Defense

Pentagon appoints Army general to investigate fatal crash in Afghanistan

Helicopter downing caused the biggest single-day loss of life for American forces in the war.

Defense

Obama clears schedule to meet returned bodies of fallen troops

President honors the 22 Navy SEALs and eight other American troops killed in Afghanistan on Saturday when an insurgent shot down their helicopter.

Defense

Crash adds to growing doubts about Afghan war

More American troops died in the crash than have typically been killed in entire months of the grueling conflict.