Kristina Wong

U.S. sending troops, missiles to Turkey to guard against Syria

The U.S. is sending two Patriot missile batteries and 400 U.S. soldiers to Turkey as part of a NATO force to protect Turkey from a possible Syrian attack, defense officials said Friday.

December 14, 2012

Pentagon’s caginess over N. Korean launch puzzles experts

U.S. missile experts have noted the success of North Korea's satellite launch late Tuesday, but the Pentagon has said it is still assessing the event to determine whether it was indeed a success.

December 13, 2012

North Korea launch increases threat of weapons

North Korea's successful launch of a long-range rocket early Wednesday, despite later difficulties controlling the weather satellite it was carrying, demonstrates significant technological development by the secretive communist state, analysts said.

December 12, 2012

Graham: Defense cuts would hurt Middle East operations

A key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee warned Tuesday that the United States will not be able to confront threats in the Middle East, including Iran's nuclear program, if the Pentagon must cut an additional $500 billion from its budget over the next decade.

December 11, 2012

U.S. report: Afghans still funneling cash out of country

U.S. efforts to stop money laundering in Afghanistan are failing, according to a new report by the special inspector general for U.S. reconstruction in Afghanistan.

December 11, 2012

Report: Taliban plan to move in as U.S. withdraws

A Pentagon report on Afghanistan says enemy attacks have increased slightly since last year and the Taliban will try to reclaim lost territory as coalition forces withdraw combat troops by the end of 2014.

December 10, 2012

North Korea mulling a delay in rocket launch

A North Korean agency has announced it is considering delaying the launch of a long-range rocket this month that would commemorate the first anniversary of the death of longtime leader Kim Jung-il and violate international law.

December 9, 2012

Navy sends 2 more warships for N. Korean missile launch

The Navy has positioned two more warships in the Pacific to monitor North Korea's upcoming long-range missile launch.

December 8, 2012

Pentagon review finds generals need ethics training more often

An initial review by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff found that current ethics training is "appropriate," but it needs to start earlier in a flag officer's career and be reinforced more frequently.

December 7, 2012

Pacific admiral cautions N. Korea

The chief of U.S. Pacific Command warned North Korea on Thursday not to launch a long-range missile this month in violation of international law, saying it would be destabilizing for the region.

December 6, 2012

Three women become first to qualify as sub officers

Three of the U.S. military's first female submariners have earned their dolphin pins, signifying that they have met all of the requirements to serve on subs, one year after the Navy began allowing women to do so.

December 6, 2012

Contractors say sequester will ‘shatter’ security plans

Tens of thousands of defense industry workers risk suddenly losing their jobs if automatic federal spending cuts are not averted in the next few weeks, the chief executive officer of the defense contracting firm Northrop Grumman said Monday.

December 3, 2012

Pentagon, Lockheed reach deal on fighter jet

The Pentagon announced Friday it has reached an agreement with Lockheed Martin to purchase 22 more F-35 "Lightning II" Joint Strike Fighters.

November 30, 2012

Pentagon: Panetta has received ethics suggestions

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has received a memo from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff offering recommendations on ethics training for senior general and flag officers, Pentagon press secretary George Little said Friday.

November 30, 2012

Panetta set to brief Obama on ethics rules

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is to deliver to the president by Saturday a review of the Pentagon's ethics policies for senior officers in the wake of several recent scandals involving high-ranking military officials.

November 29, 2012

Women press to end combat ban

Four female members of the armed services have filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department, saying its "outdated" ban on women serving in combat is unconstitutional and hurts their military careers.

November 29, 2012

Pricey F-35B warplanes to go to Corps in Yuma, Ariz.

The Pentagon's most expensive weapons system program ever has taken a key step toward becoming operational, despite cost overruns and scheduling delays that have hampered its production and looming budget cuts that imperil its deployment.

November 28, 2012

Pentagon soon to determine post-2014 troop levels in Afghanistan

Pentagon officials aim to determine in the next few weeks how many U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan after 2014, Defense Department press secretary George Little said Monday.

November 26, 2012

Few female Marines step forward for infantry

Female Marine officers are unlikely to join the infantry anytime soon, in part because of a lack of volunteers for the Marine Corps' Infantry Officer Course, which was opened to women in September.

November 25, 2012

U.S. helps shield Israel with financial aid for Iron Dome defense system

Israel has intercepted hundreds of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip over the past seven days thanks to a U.S.-funded defense system that intercepts short-range missiles and knocks them out of the sky.

November 20, 2012