Rowan Scarborough
Articles by Rowan Scarborough
Pentagon may trim IED detector budget
The Pentagon is considering cuts in a war office thought to be untouchable: the organization that devises ways to foil the No. 1 killer of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Published September 7, 2010
No letup in Iraq for some military forces
As U.S. military forces continue to stream out of Iraq, formally ending combat operations on Tuesday, one of the most effective elements of those forces missed the drawdown completely. Published August 29, 2010
Survey counters backing of gays in military
A group opposed to ending the ban on openly gay troops in the military has released a national survey that challenges earlier independent polls asserting that a wide percentage of Americans favor repealing the ban. Published August 22, 2010
Low al Qaeda count stirs new war debate
With the American public growing more pessimistic about Afghanistan, war proponents are renewing their case in the face of new estimates that say no more than 100 al Qaeda operatives remain in the country. Published August 15, 2010
Military ordered to stay off WikiLeaks
The U.S. armed services are issuing internal messages to all personnel barring them from visiting the WikiLeaks website, which recently posted 77,000 classified diplomatic and military messages on the long war in Afghanistan. Published August 6, 2010
Pentagon bars staff from visiting WikiLeaks
The U.S. armed services are issuing internal messages to all personnel barring them from visiting the WikiLeaks website, which recently posted 77,000 classified diplomatic and military messages on the long war in Afghanistan. Published August 5, 2010
Pentagon to cut out big-war funds
The Pentagon has begun a new hunt for cost savings that likely will lead to scaling back big-war weapons systems in favor of funding smaller conflicts typified by Iraq and Afghanistan. Published August 3, 2010
Bombers, missiles could end Iran nukes
A Pentagon strike against Iran would rely heavily on the B-2 bomber and cruise missiles to try to destroy the regime's ability to make nuclear weapons, analysts say, after the top U.S. military officer said a war plan is in place. Published August 2, 2010
Safety burden shifts to State Department after Iraq war
The Obama administration has not settled on a plan to protect and supply thousands of State Department diplomats and employees left behind in Iraq once all but a relatively few U.S. troops leave the county in a little more than a year. Published July 25, 2010
Obama at odds with Petraeus doctrine on ‘Islam’
The White House's official policy of banning the word "Islam" in describing America's terrorist enemies is in direct conflict with the U.S. military's war-fighting doctrine now guiding commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan. Published July 11, 2010
3 years later, Democrats cast Petraeus in new light
In less than three years, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus has risen from the brunt of ridicule by Democrats to President Obama's most valuable field general. Published July 5, 2010
War plan relations soured early on
The inappropriate comments by Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and his staff about civilian leaders reflected a widespread frustration with White House infighting over the general's one-year-old war plan. Published June 27, 2010
Troops ‘weary’ of Afghanistan fighting
Within the U.S. military's rank and file, there are growing doubts about winning in Afghanistan, a mood that contradicts upbeat war reports delivered to Congress last week by the top commander and officials. Published June 20, 2010
Turkey’s shift spurs concern on Capitol Hill
The deadly May 31 flotilla clash off Gaza has prompted some in Congress to condemn Turkey, not Israel, and to note with concern Ankara's steady shift in favor of U.S. adversaries Iran and Hamas. Published June 13, 2010
Military chiefs split with Mullen on gays
The debate over gays in the military has driven an extraordinary public wedge between the nation's highest-ranking military officer and the four service chiefs who collectively make up the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Published June 1, 2010
Israel arms may not be enough to stop nukes
As the Obama administration continues to pursue a diplomatic solution for Iran's nuclear weapons program, Israel in recent years has extended the range of its bombers, launched sophisticated spy satellites and developed a more accurate ordnance-dropping system. Published May 24, 2010
Israel arms may not be enough to stop nukes
As the Obama administration continues to pursue a diplomatic solution for Iran's nuclear weapons program, Israel in recent years has extended the range of its bombers, launched sophisticated spy satellites and developed a more accurate ordnance-dropping system. Published May 23, 2010
Appointment of admiral seen as key in 9/11 trial switch
The appointment of a well-respected ex-Navy lawyer to oversee war-crime trials is being seen in military legal circles as a sign the Obama administration might reverse its decision to bring Khalid Shaikh Mohammed to New York. Published May 18, 2010
Appointment of admiral seen as key in 9/11 trial switch
The appointment of a well-respected ex-Navy lawyer to oversee war-crime trials is being seen in military legal circles as a sign the Obama administration might reverse its decision to bring Khalid Shaikh Mohammed to New York for a civilian trial. Published May 18, 2010
Report details depravity of SEALs’ accuser
The just-concluded military trials of three exonerated Navy SEALs showed the terrorism suspect at the center of the case to be one of the most dangerous men in Iraq. Published May 10, 2010