National Security

AeroVironment's Raven drone is used for military surveillance and can be launched by hand.

This Defense Contractor Has A Green Side

10:06am January 22, 2013

by Amy Walters

AeroVironment has an unusual combination of products — military drones and electric vehicle chargers. The company's president acknowledges that some workers are uncomfortable with the company's dual interests, but he doesn't see a conflict.

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Obama's Foreign Policy: The Way Forward With Iran

8:44am January 20, 2013

As President Obama prepares for a second term, a host of international challenges await. In a piece in the Washington Post, former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski suggests that as Obama prioritizes his foreign policy goals, "It is essential that the issue of war or peace with Iran be fully vented."

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National

Uncertainty Looms For Pentagon In Obama's Second Term

7:25pm January 13, 2013

Facing sequestration cuts, a troop drawdown in Afghanistan and what's expected to be a contentious fight over the next defense secretary, it's hard to avoid the conclusion that some of the biggest challenges for the Department of Defense come from inside U.S. borders. Still, the Pentagon's job is to anticipate future threats — and prepare.

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Obama To Pick New Pentagon, CIA Leaders

9:01am January 13, 2013

Counterterrorism adviser John Brennan is expected to be chosen as CIA director. And it's expected that Chuck Hagel will be announced to replace retiring Defense secretary Leon Panetta at the Pentagon.

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Future Of U.S. Troops Looms Over Afghan Leader's Visit

8:06am January 08, 2013

by Jackie Northam

President Hamid Karzai is in Washington this week for meetings with President Obama and other officials. One of the key issues to be discussed is the number of American troops to remain in Afghanistan after 2014, when the bulk of U.S. and NATO forces leave.

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National

Chicago's Gun Ban Fails To Prevent Murders

7:28am January 08, 2013

On Monday, Morning Edition explored crime rates in Chicago and how the murder rate went up in 2012. That was against national trends and even against Chicago's long-range decline in crime. We discussed police focus on "hot spots," and the dissolution of gangs. But listeners asked: What about gun bans?

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John Brennan speaks in the East Room of the White House on Monday, after President Obama announced his nomination of Brennan to run the CIA. Obama also announced his choice of former Sen. Chuck Hagel (left) to head the Department of Defense.

CIA Nominee Brennan Has Obama's 'Complete Trust'

6:19pm January 07, 2013

by Tom Gjelten

President Obama has nominated his counterterrorism adviser, John Brennan, to lead the CIA. Brennan's work with the agency under George W. Bush has been controversial, and he's also drawn criticism for his lead role in the Obama administration's use of unmanned drones.

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The F-35 Fighter Jet: The Cost And Controversy

12:13pm January 04, 2013

The sleek and efficient F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is scheduled to replace as many as ten planes currently in service. As Congress looks to make budget cuts, some question the value of the world's most expensive fighter jet.

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Visitors look at a Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet at the Singapore Airshow in 2010. The cost of the plane keeps on rising and is now $130 million or more per plane, depending on the model.

National

At $130 Million A Plane, Critics Question The Cost Of The F-35

7:51pm January 02, 2013

by Larry Abramson

The aircraft is intended to serve the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines for decades to come. But delays and cost overruns keep pushing up the price. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer, says the cost will come down as production ramps up.

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The U.S. Navy version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter conducts a test flight on Feb. 11, 2011, over the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The F-35 is the fighter jet of the future for the U.S. military, but its high cost and many delays have raised questions.

National

How Good Is The World's Most Expensive Fighter Jet?

3:34pm January 02, 2013

by Larry Abramson

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the newest fighter plane set to enter the U.S. arsenal. The versatile, high-tech jet is supposed to help three military branches modernize their aging fleet of aircraft. It's in the skies now, but is still dogged with technical problems and questions about its high price tag.

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