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Rowan Scarborough

Rowan Scarborough

Articles by Rowan Scarborough

** FILE ** Members of the Afghan Local Police (ALP) listen to a speech during a ceremony presenting new uniforms for the ALP at Gizab village of Uruzgan province, southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sunday, April 24, 2011. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

U.S. seeks more scrutiny to stop Afghan insider attacks

The U.S. military command in Afghanistan is hoping that intrusive scrutiny of applicants for the country's security forces will curb a streak of insider attacks that have killed a dozen U.S. service members last month alone. Published September 2, 2012

Afghan Police officers inspect the scene after a bomb explosion in the city of Jalalabad east of Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 13, 2012. At least five civilians were injured as a bomb targeting a government employees' bus went off Monday morning, a police source said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

General reassures Marines after Afghan attacks

The Marine Corps' top officer is trying to soothe the rattled nerves of his troops in Afghanistan, who saw six of their comrades gunned down by Afghan security forces Friday. Published August 15, 2012

**FILE** A U.S. soldier patrols a police station after it was attacked June 19, 2012, by militants in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (Associated Press)

Confidential memo: Army intelligence software has ‘poor reliability’

The Army's intelligence processing software that was developed to help soldiers in Afghanistan understand the enemy and predict future actions suffers from "poor reliability" and is "not survivable" against cyber attacks, the service's top tester said in a confidential memo to the Army chief of staff. Published August 7, 2012

**FILE ** U.S. military vehicles in Kuwait being returned to the U.S. (Army photograph)

Army’s vehicles not tough enough for bombs

The July 8 roadside explosion that killed six Army soldiers in Afghanistan has analysts worried that the Taliban are turning to bigger homemade bombs to take down the best armored U.S. vehicles. Published August 5, 2012

House panel to probe Army’s IED software report

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced Wednesday it has opened an investigation into why the Army destroyed a test report that favored an off-the-shelf software program that troops say has helped them find deadly explosives in Afghanistan. Published August 1, 2012

A U.S. Army recruit negotiates the confidence course during the white phase of basic combat training at Fort Jackson, S.C., on June 14, 2006. The training lasts nine weeks and is divided into red, white and blue phases. Soldiers in the white phase are in their final three weeks. (Department of Defense/Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall, U.S. Air Force)

Army may train women for rigor of front lines

To graduate from boot camp, soldiers must perform 35 pushups and 47 situps and run two miles in at least 16 minutes and 36 seconds — but that's only for male soldiers. Published July 30, 2012

In this October, 2001 file photo the Pyotr Velikiy, Peter the Great, Russian nuclear-powered missile cruiser seen near Severomorsk, Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky, File)

Russia seeks sea power with decrepit fleet

Russia's boast that it plans to extend its naval forces to bases in Cuba, the Seychelles and Vietnam poses little strategic threat to U.S. interests in Latin America, the Indian Ocean or the Pacific, analysts say. Published July 29, 2012

Probe sought of military software scandal

A member of the House Armed Services Committee is calling for a congressional investigation into the Army's handling of a software program the Pentagon opposes but U.S. combat troops in Afghanistan say saves their lives by detecting roadside bombs. Published July 25, 2012

**FILE** Rep. Duncan Hunter, California Republican (Associated Press)

Soldier battling bombs irked by software switch

The Army ordered the destruction of a report that praised the performance of an off-the-shelf software program that finds buried explosives in Afghanistan and replaced it with a revised less-favorable assessment, according to internal Pentagon documents. Published July 22, 2012

The Navy has planned to buy about 480 of the aircraft-carrier version of the F-35, even as the stealth fighter's costs have skyrocketed and the Navy prepares to shrink its fleet of ships for lack of money. A magazine column by Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the chief of naval operations, suggests they may not be needed. (U.S. Air Force via Associated Press)

Navy admiral hints at jettisoning F-35 fighter

The chief of naval operations has penned an opinion column that has military analysts buzzing over whether it signals the Navy may be the first military branch to jettison the costly F-35 stealth fighter jet. Published July 10, 2012

** FILE ** Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies June 13, 2012, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Associated Press)

Pentagon holds first gay pride event

The Pentagon on Tuesday saluted open gays in the ranks, with a civilian lawyer calling on fellow homosexuals to "stretch a little" and become more visible inside the military in the drive for benefits for same-sex couples. Published June 26, 2012

** FILE ** Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

Panetta not ordering gay pride events

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is not requiring commands and agencies to hold gay pride events this month, even as the Pentagon prepares for its first celebration on Tuesday of gays serving openly in the ranks. Published June 24, 2012

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta testifies June 13, 2012, on Capitol Hill before the Senate Defense subcommittee during a hearing on the the Defense Department's fiscal 2013 budget. (Associated Press)

Congress won’t let Panetta close bases

Congress is poised to deliver a defeat to the Obama administration on one of its main defense policies in the new budget — base closings. Published June 20, 2012