Larry Abramson http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100140&ft=1&f=2100140 Larry Abramson is NPR's National Security Correspondent. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Thu, 16 May 2013 12:26:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Larry Abramson http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=2100140&ft=1&f=2100140 Women In Combat: Some Lessons From Israel's Military The U.S. will soon begin to open combat positions to women. That's already the case in Israel, where women say it is an important step but doesn't guarantee full equality. The military's upper echelons remain male-dominated. Thu, 16 May 2013 12:26:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/16/180045066/Women-In-Combat-Lessons-From-The-Israel-Defense-Forces?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/16/180045066/Women-In-Combat-Lessons-From-The-Israel-Defense-Forces?ft=1&f=2100140 The U.S. will soon begin to open combat positions to women. That's already the case in Israel, where women say it is an important step but doesn't guarantee full equality. The military's upper echelons remain male-dominated.

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]]> Military's Sexual Assault Problem Is A Cultural One On Tuesday, details were revealed about a second military officer accused of sexual offenses, even though he was supposed to be helping to educate people about the danger of sexual assault. The military has developed an elaborate system to deal with continuing waves of assault, and has a plan for dealing with the problem. But getting service members to report the crimes remains a huge challenge because of the unique workplace and chain of command issues. Melissa Block talks to Larry Abramson. Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184261885&ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=184261885&ft=1&f=2100140 On Tuesday, details were revealed about a second military officer accused of sexual offenses, even though he was supposed to be helping to educate people about the danger of sexual assault. The military has developed an elaborate system to deal with continuing waves of assault, and has a plan for dealing with the problem. But getting service members to report the crimes remains a huge challenge because of the unique workplace and chain of command issues. Melissa Block talks to Larry Abramson.

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]]> U.S. Military Faces More Accusations Of Sexual Improprieties In Texas, a sergeant at Fort Hood is accused of engaging in various offenses, at the same time he was in charge of an anti-sexual abuse office at the base. It's the second time an officer, who's supposed to help victims of assault, is facing accusations of sexual offenses himself. Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184132972/u-s-military-faces-more-accusations-of-sexual-improprieties?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184132972/u-s-military-faces-more-accusations-of-sexual-improprieties?ft=1&f=2100140 In Texas, a sergeant at Fort Hood is accused of engaging in various offenses, at the same time he was in charge of an anti-sexual abuse office at the base. It's the second time an officer, who's supposed to help victims of assault, is facing accusations of sexual offenses himself.

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]]> Women In Combat: Obstacles Remain As Exclusion Policy Ends The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines must submit plans Wednesday for ending the policy that keeps women from serving in ground combat positions. The move will open up more than 200,000 positions in the military to them, but the change won't end questions about the role of women in the armed forces. Wed, 15 May 2013 03:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184042652/women-in-combat-obstacles-remain-as-exclusion-policy-ends?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/15/184042652/women-in-combat-obstacles-remain-as-exclusion-policy-ends?ft=1&f=2100140 The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines must submit plans Wednesday for ending the policy that keeps women from serving in ground combat positions. The move will open up more than 200,000 positions in the military to them, but the change won't end questions about the role of women in the armed forces.

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]]> Gender Neutral: Armed Forces Submit Plans To End 'Exclusion' This week, all divisions of the U.S. armed forces are supposed to submit their plans for ending "combat exclusion," the rule that says women cannot serve in most combat positions. Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR's Larry Abramson about the implications of the change. Sun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=183315462&ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=183315462&ft=1&f=2100140 This week, all divisions of the U.S. armed forces are supposed to submit their plans for ending "combat exclusion," the rule that says women cannot serve in most combat positions. Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR's Larry Abramson about the implications of the change.

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]]> Sequester Has Air Force Clipping Its Wings Automatic budget cuts have pushed Air Force bases to slash their flying budgets even though it means grounding pilots and reducing readiness. The cancellations are boosting the arguments of those who want the military excepted from sequestration cuts. Sat, 11 May 2013 05:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/11/183014086/sequester-has-air-force-clipping-its-wings?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/11/183014086/sequester-has-air-force-clipping-its-wings?ft=1&f=2100140 Automatic budget cuts have pushed Air Force bases to slash their flying budgets even though it means grounding pilots and reducing readiness. The cancellations are boosting the arguments of those who want the military excepted from sequestration cuts.

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]]> Report: Sexual Assault On The Rise In The U.S. Military The Pentagon reported on Tuesday that reports of sexual assault increased significantly last year. That's despite intensive efforts to combat the problem. The numbers could indicate that victims are more comfortable coming forward. But sexual assault advocates say it's a sign that the military's approach is not working. Larry Abramson speaks with Robert Siegel about the new report. Tue, 07 May 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/182000634/report-sexual-assault-on-the-rise-in-the-u-s-military?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/182000634/report-sexual-assault-on-the-rise-in-the-u-s-military?ft=1&f=2100140 The Pentagon reported on Tuesday that reports of sexual assault increased significantly last year. That's despite intensive efforts to combat the problem. The numbers could indicate that victims are more comfortable coming forward. But sexual assault advocates say it's a sign that the military's approach is not working. Larry Abramson speaks with Robert Siegel about the new report.

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]]> Why Sustained Action Against Syria Is More Than Airstrikes Advocates for intervening in Syria say if Israel can get past Syria's air defenses, surely the U.S. can. But experts say Israel's limited strikes can't be compared with the huge resources needed for a sustained operation to establish a no-fly zone, for example. Tue, 07 May 2013 01:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/181787361/why-sustained-action-against-syria-is-more-than-air-strikes?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/07/181787361/why-sustained-action-against-syria-is-more-than-air-strikes?ft=1&f=2100140 Advocates for intervening in Syria say if Israel can get past Syria's air defenses, surely the U.S. can. But experts say Israel's limited strikes can't be compared with the huge resources needed for a sustained operation to establish a no-fly zone, for example.

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]]> Why Chemical Weapons Have Been A Red Line Since World War I The use of chemical weapons has been taboo since World War I, when poison gas inflicted a million casualties. Despite the destruction of large stockpiles, controlling or destroying remaining weapons remains tricky. Wed, 01 May 2013 16:24:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180348908/why-chemical-weapons-have-been-a-red-line-since-world-war-i?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/01/180348908/why-chemical-weapons-have-been-a-red-line-since-world-war-i?ft=1&f=2100140 The use of chemical weapons has been taboo since World War I, when poison gas inflicted a million casualties. Despite the destruction of large stockpiles, controlling or destroying remaining weapons remains tricky.

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]]> U.S. Wants More Proof Syria Has Used Chemical Weapons The White House says it has evidence that Syria's government used the chemical agent sarin on a small scale inside that country. There are, however, many questions about how reliable that intelligence assessment is. But the announcement has reignited the debate over whether Syria's regime has crossed a "red line," and what the U.S. should do in response. Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:49:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179155340/u-s-wants-more-proof-syria-has-used-chemical-weapons?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/26/179155340/u-s-wants-more-proof-syria-has-used-chemical-weapons?ft=1&f=2100140 The White House says it has evidence that Syria's government used the chemical agent sarin on a small scale inside that country. There are, however, many questions about how reliable that intelligence assessment is. But the announcement has reignited the debate over whether Syria's regime has crossed a "red line," and what the U.S. should do in response.

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]]> Evidence Of Syria's Chemical Weapons Use Questioned The White House has said that the U.S. intelligence community has concluded "with varying degrees of confidence" that Syria's regime used the nerve gas sarin. As that statement suggests, such judgments usually involve shades of gray. In this case, there are still many unknowns: how was the evidence obtained and under what conditions the chemicals were used. Larry Abramson talks to Robert Siegel about what the U.S. knows and what it does not. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/179067428/evidence-of-syrias-chemical-weapons-use-questioned?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/25/179067428/evidence-of-syrias-chemical-weapons-use-questioned?ft=1&f=2100140 The White House has said that the U.S. intelligence community has concluded "with varying degrees of confidence" that Syria's regime used the nerve gas sarin. As that statement suggests, such judgments usually involve shades of gray. In this case, there are still many unknowns: how was the evidence obtained and under what conditions the chemicals were used. Larry Abramson talks to Robert Siegel about what the U.S. knows and what it does not.

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]]> A Long Day In Boston As Authorities Hunt For Suspect The dramatic events began Thursday night in the Boston suburbs and spread throughout the day to encompass the entire city. Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/178005673/a-long-day-in-boston-as-authorities-hunt-for-suspect?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/04/19/178005673/a-long-day-in-boston-as-authorities-hunt-for-suspect?ft=1&f=2100140 The dramatic events began Thursday night in the Boston suburbs and spread throughout the day to encompass the entire city.

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]]> Obama Calls On Israeli Students To Push For Renewed Peace Talks With Palestinians President Obama wrapped up talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday before heading back to Jerusalem's convention center to deliver a speech to Israeli university students. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/21/174976080/obama-calls-on-israeli-students-to-push-for-renewed-peace-talks-with-palestinian?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/21/174976080/obama-calls-on-israeli-students-to-push-for-renewed-peace-talks-with-palestinian?ft=1&f=2100140 President Obama wrapped up talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday before heading back to Jerusalem's convention center to deliver a speech to Israeli university students.

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]]> With Obama In Ramallah, Palestinians Take To The Streets But one of the unanswered questions was who were they protesting against? Obama, Israel or their own government. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/21/174944899/with-obama-in-ramallah-palestinians-take-to-the-streets?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/03/21/174944899/with-obama-in-ramallah-palestinians-take-to-the-streets?ft=1&f=2100140 But one of the unanswered questions was who were they protesting against? Obama, Israel or their own government.

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]]> President Obama Makes First Official Trip To Israel President Obama's past relations with Israel's government have not always gone well. The two nations insist they've reached new levels of security cooperation. They have publicly debated issues ranging from Iran to the Mideast peace process. Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/20/174812886/obama-begins-middle-east-trip?ft=1&f=2100140 http://www.npr.org/2013/03/20/174812886/obama-begins-middle-east-trip?ft=1&f=2100140 President Obama's past relations with Israel's government have not always gone well. The two nations insist they've reached new levels of security cooperation. They have publicly debated issues ranging from Iran to the Mideast peace process.

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