Situation Report

The cliff that could happen

How the election shook up committees on the Hill, The national security team that might have been, Billability versus vulnerability: law firms and the cyber threat, and more

BY GORDON LUBOLD | NOVEMBER 8, 2012

It’s back to work at the Pentagon

Michael Rhodes can put away the binders, The personnel changes that won’t happen right away, The budget battle really begins, and more.

NOVEMBER 7, 2012

News flash: the next president faces enormous challenges around the world, seriously

The other races to watch tonight; The general’s sex crimes in a war zone; Why no one cares about Yemen; Defense cuts won’t kill the economy; and more.

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

Obama or Romney: winners take all

Changes on the Hill; Regardless of who wins, the Pentagon sends more Guard to the northeast; and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | NOVEMBER 5, 2012

New documents from Benghazi show pointed concern

Marines are so littoral, The Navy tries its hand at motorboat drones, The “red herring” of the military vote, What would make Stan McChrystal cringe, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Watchdog SIGAR blasts the ANSF

What Karzai’s election announcement means, Did the F-35 father a new Chinese baby? and more.

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

The Battle for Resiliency in Asia: it’s the hardeners versus the dispersers

Dempsey returns from Israel; How many FSOs one Osprey could buy, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 31, 2012

Thousands of Guardsmen are activated for Sandy

Dempsey: rumors around Carter Ham’s departure from AFRICOM are “absolutely false;” At portrait unveiling, Gates explains what contributed to his departure, unleashes zingers, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 30, 2012

Big Army goes SF

AID sends William Hammink to Afghanistan, What $71 million to DynCorp paid for, Panetta: Benghazi was too risky for U.S. forces, The Brits are the bomb, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 26, 2012

Panetta: al Qaeda in Mali has to be stopped

The Army’s green movement, Dakota Meyer on being told “no,” and more.

OCTOBER 25, 2012

A final debate: did foreign policy win?

How to explain Iran sanctions to Iranians. No, cyber-warriors, there is no meeting on “the Hatch Act,” and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 23, 2012

The race tightens as Obama, Romney prepare for foreign policy debate tonight

AUSA begins, What Ishmael Jones’ experience tells us about “No Easy Day,” Thanks for the cowbells, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 22, 2012

Has the Libya story been milked?

Radio silence at the Pentagon, Two four-stars get the nod for AFRICOM and the Marines and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 19, 2012

Dunford in Afghanistan

JIEDDO positions itself for the long haul, another departure for another Pentagon personnel chief, Romney has 300 friends, and they’re all retired brass, Mattis for president and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 18, 2012

Libyan militant at site of attack

A peek into Gen. Odierno’s thinking before AUSA, How a Pakistani cab driver sees things, Are the U.S. and Russian militaries buds? And more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 17, 2012

HRC takes one for the team

Mark Bowden on vetting books (his comes out today), Could defense spending crunch mean a harder Afghan withdrawal? Best Defense: Six questions for Obama and Romney, and more.

OCTOBER 16, 2012

The pivot to Asia and the urgent fight against waterborne IEDs

What Bob Schieffer will ask, Is the Pentagon taking over cyber-security, Inside Dempsey’s CAG, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 15, 2012

Panetta says foreign actors attempting to slip into U.S

Veep debate, a contrast in foreign policy, Moving past Big Bird: the Early Bird to see big changes, and more.

OCTOBER 12, 2012

Panetta divulges secrets to make cyber-security come alive

Who will be the next Marine “Ack-Mack?” The scariest moment in history just got scarier, Good-bye to Old Iron Jaw, and more.

OCTOBER 11, 2012

The refugee problem in Jordan is worse than you think

Panetta announcing: Dunford to Kabul, Dempsey to talk relationships, Larry Korb on suicides and accountability, It wasn’t a “consulate,” and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 10, 2012

Romney to talk foreign policy

Afghanistan enters its 12th year, Do DHS and the Pentagon know how to share? Panetta delivers pumpkin pie and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 8, 2012

Panetta leaves for South America

DoD gets the FBI to Benghazi, where is Dempsey’s outrage, no Big Bird talk at the Pentagon, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 5, 2012

Ash says the pivot is real

Just how little do Americans care about foreign policy (poll), How plant DNA helps the Pentagon, The return of al Qaeda and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 4, 2012

McChrystal’s book to be delayed

Kip Ward’s fate soon to be determined, Why Benghazi was good for America, What was “TBD” doing in the Early Bird this morning? and more.

OCTOBER 3, 2012

AI report: Human rights violations in Egypt

The Iranian foreign minister and Syrian regime change, the trip Petraeus never took, What Americans really think about foreign policy and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 2, 2012

What George Flynn will tell you about cuts at NDU

Insider attacks are the new signature attack in Afghanistan, what Yemen’s Hadi fears, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | OCTOBER 1, 2012

Pentagon planners: Israel’s three options for an Iranian strike

FP gets sneak peek at Dempsey’s “Joint Force 2020” plan, Joint operations return to Afghanistan, and more.

BY GORDON LUBOLD | SEPTEMBER 28, 2012