The FBI interrogated Faisal Shazhad for over three hours before reading him his Miranda rights. Agents secured his cooperation, gained some unspecified information that allowed the FBI to establish a TTP connection — establishing, for the first time, the Pakistani Taliban’s ability to project power (however unsuccessfully) to the United States — and, it’s safe [...]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 373-10 May 08, 2010 DOD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Staff Sgt. Esau S.A. Gonzales, 30, of White Deer, Texas, died May 3 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned [...]

I remember the day when an editor would have read this sentence – Few critics suggest that those differences have harmed U.S. interests in Afghanistan. – and then emailed back, “So then why are we running a gossipy story about how McChrystal and Eikenberry have merely a productive relationship but aren’t bosom buddies? Or why [...]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 372-10 May 07, 2010 DOD Identifies Marine Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Lance Cpl. Richard R. Penny, 21, of Fayetteville, Ark., died May 6 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd [...]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 371-10 May 07, 2010 DOD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Wade A. Slack, 21, of Waterville, Maine, died May 6 at Jaghatu, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit using indirect fire. He was [...]

It’s really hard to figure out just what section of Robert Gates’ speech this afternoon to the Eisenhower library about “political will and the Defense budget” to quote. Gates is taking on a lot of opponents. Legislators who never met a defense platform they wouldn’t throw money at. Pentagon bureaucrats and staff officers who never [...]

Of course I loved it, but I went into it with a very comic-book frame of mind. And if Shellhead One was mostly an accessible introduction to the character and his world for a general audience, IM 2 is… still pretty accessible, but there’s a lot more in there for the die-hards: a weird-but-cool sort [...]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 370-10 May 07, 2010 DOD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Eric M. Finniginam, 26, of Colonia, Federated States of Micronesia, died May 1 at Forward Operating Base Blessing, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his [...]

IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 366-10 May 06, 2010 DOD Identifies Marine Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 1st Lt. Brandon A. Barrett, 27, of Marion, Ind., died May 5 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 1st Battalion, 6th [...]

Seeing as how Spencer is returning very soon — if not already — this will be my final post of the week. Thanks to Spencer for letting me and Dara take over his space for a bit, and thanks to everyone for tolerating our punditry! If you’re so inclined, you can find me over at [...]