December 2, 2016 James 'Mad Dog' Mattis: A cerebral warrior James “Mad Dog” Mattis, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Secretary of Defense, has been described as “straight talking,” “cerebral,” and above all a military commander who would prefer to “win without fighting.”
December 2, 2016 Ralph Peters: What our nation would get with Gen. Mattis as Defense Secretary I’m lucky enough to know General James Mattis slightly. Just well enough to trust him unreservedly with our military and our nation’s security. The president-elect could not choose a better man to be our next Secretary of Defense. Not just because Mattis is a battle-hardened Marine with a remarkable combat record. And not just because he has a mind of remarkable clarity and is, without question, the best-read general of his generation.
November 16, 2016 Former defense secretary Melvin Laird dead at 94 Melvin Laird, a former Wisconsin congressman and U.S. defense secretary during years when President Nixon struggled to find a way to withdraw troops from an unpopular war in Vietnam, died on Wednesday, his family said.
October 22, 2016 Defense Secretary Carter visits Iraq to assess operation to retake Mosul U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter arrived in Iraq Saturday to meet with his commanders and assess the progress in the opening days of the operation to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) militants.
October 19, 2016 US warns of 'overwhelming' response to North Korean nuke use The United States warned Wednesday that any attack on American allies or use of nuclear weapons by North Korea would be met with an "overwhelming" U.S. response as it sought to reassure close ally South Korea that the U.S. has its back.
October 6, 2016 IG: Top Pentagon aide used gov't credit card at strip club Defense Secretary Ash Carter's former senior military aide used his government credit card at strip clubs or gentlemen's clubs in Rome and Seoul, drank in excess and had "improper interactions" with women during business travel with Carter, according to a report released Thursday by the Defense Department inspector general.
September 30, 2016 Carter: Philippine president's 'Hitler' comments 'deeply troubling' Defense Secretary Ash Carter hinted Friday at U.S. impatience with the Philippine government over inflammatory comments by President Rodrigo Duterte.
August 29, 2016 Defense Secretary Ash Carter calls on US-backed forces to 'not fight one another' Defense Secretary Ash Carter called on U.S.-supported allies Turkey and Syrian Kurdish forces Monday to “not fight one another," after a series of clashes erupted in northern Syria over the weekend.
June 25, 2016 Pentagon ban on transgender troops 'likely' to be lifted next month The Pentagon is "likely" to repeal its ban on transgender service members next month, defense officials told ӣƵ Friday, even as one report claimed an announcement could happen as soon as next week.
May 16, 2016 Defense Secretary Hagel works to improve POW-MIA accounting effort In a bid to improve the government's accounting for missing U.S. war dead, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Monday he is establishing a new Pentagon agency with more focused authority and innovative approaches.