Rowan Scarborough
Articles by Rowan Scarborough
Gen. Dempsey is a failed leader, scathing Senate review found
Members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, led by Vice Chairman Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, have issued a blistering criticism of Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, who as Joint Chiefs chairman is the nation’s highest-ranking officer and chief military adviser to President Obama. Published January 23, 2014
Olympics host Sochi remains a volatile region
Russia has erected a "ring of steel" and the U.S. military is planning for evacuations, but the fact remains that Sochi, the site of next month's Winter Olympics, is within striking distance of Dagestan and Chechnya — volatile regions that form a caldron for Islamic militants. Published January 20, 2014
NY TIMES WRONG: Jihadists from at least four Al Qaeda groups in on Benghazi attack
The militants who gathered on the night of Sept. 11, 2012, to torch and kill inside the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, were a who's who of the modern al Qaeda movement, newly declassified documents show. Published January 19, 2014
China encroaching on U.S. military dominance in Pacific, says top admiral
While Adm. Sam Locklear said it was obvious Chinese military power is growing, he suggested it remains unclear whether China will seek in the long-term to be a hard adversary to the U.S. — so Washington should be working overtime on steering Beijing toward a cooperative security posture. Published January 16, 2014
State Department chose flight over fight in Benghazi, Senate report says
Armed State Department security agents retreated rather than fire on terrorists who were invading the U.S. mission in Benghazi, says a Senate Intelligence Committee report. Published January 15, 2014
Chaos in Iraq could be omen for Afghanistan without U.S. troops
Afghanistan's war planners trying to picture their country without U.S. troops next year might want to cast an eye toward Iraq. Published January 12, 2014
In new poll defense leaders see China rising, U.S. declining
Most defense leaders believe the United States is weaker today than five years ago, according to a poll by Gannett's Defense News. Published January 8, 2014
U.S. troops prevented from helping even as al Qaeda overruns Iraqi cities
The U.S. has inserted 200 troops in Iraq since 2012, but they cannot directly help the Iraqi military repel a surge of al Qaeda fighters, even as the country succumbs to sectarian violence and insurgents claim control of two key cities. Published January 5, 2014
Pentagon pivots to social issues; providing for common defense a lower priority
As the armed forces shrink and withdraw from some global hot spots, their agenda for the battle of the sexes grows. Published January 1, 2014
With demise of Pentagon’s ‘Early Bird,’ military readers hunt bootleg copies of ‘Morning News’
The Pentagon has killed its "Early Bird" compilation of news and opinion stories, and now provides "Morning News" only for the top brass. Published December 24, 2013
Pentagon to review case of Marine who defied general in Taliban defilement case
A Marine Corps whistleblower says the Pentagon is investigating whether higher-ups retaliated against him for filing complaints against the Marine commandant. Published December 22, 2013
Robert O. Work to be named Pentagon’s No. 2 official
A former top Navy official is the leading candidate to become the next deputy defense secretary. Published December 20, 2013
Medal of Honor: General orders review of tracking battlefield awards
The top U.S. commander for the Persian Gulf has ordered a review of how recommendations for battlefield awards are tracked by the Afghanistan command, which lost the paperwork for a Medal of Honor nominee and for other heroes. Published December 18, 2013
U.S. Army mulls wiping out memory of Robert E. Lee, ‘Stonewall’ Jackson
The U.S. Army War College, which molds future field generals, has begun discussing whether it should remove the portraits of Confederate generals, including Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Published December 17, 2013
Administration can’t answer basic queries costs of war in Afghanistan
President Obama's brain trust on Afghanistan does not know much the U.S. spends on the war each year or the American cost in lost lives on the battlefield. Published December 12, 2013
Obama’s Afghanistan experts stumped on U.S. death toll, war costs during hearing
President Obama's brain trust on Afghanistan does not know how much the U.S. spends on the war each year or the American cost in lost lives on the battlefield. Published December 12, 2013
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in Kabul, gets no invitation from Afghan President Hamid Karzai
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel traveled halfway around the world for a rare visit to the Afghanistan war zone, but he did not meet with the man holding up an agreement to keep U.S. troops there after 2014. Published December 8, 2013
Spike in battlefield deaths linked to restrictive rules of engagement
The number of U.S. battlefield fatalities in Afghanistan exceeded the rate at which troop strength surged in 2009 and 2010, prompting national security analysts to assert that coinciding stricter rules of engagement led to more deaths. Published December 5, 2013
Rules of engagement bind U.S. troops’ actions in Afghanistan
The new U.S.-Afghanistan security agreement adds restrictions on already bureaucratic rules of engagement for American troops by making Afghan dwellings virtual safe havens for the enemy, combat veterans say. Published November 26, 2013
Navy SEALs cite shabby treatment as Obama administration helps Hollywood instead
Navy SEALs are the toast of America, but revelations show that the top brass has not always watched their backs during the Obama administration. Published November 17, 2013
