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Monday

Law

Despite Hurricane, Justices Hear Surveillance Case

The rest of the government was shut down, but the Supreme Court justices were in court Monday to consider a challenge to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA. At issue was whether the case could be brought at all.

Despite Hurricane, Justices Hear Surveillance Case

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Law

Surveillance Act Criticized, But Can It Be Fought?

The Supreme Court will consider whether to allow a challenge to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act on Monday. Opponents of the law call it unnecessarily intrusive, but that's not actually what's at stake. Rather, the court will examine whether a challenge can be made in the first place.

Surveillance Act Criticized, But Can It Be Fought?

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Friday

As Jihadists Spread, Connecting The Dots Proves Hard

The Ansar Dine group in northeastern Mali is among the Islamist factions proliferating in North Africa and the Middle East. Officials have focused on possible links between these groups and al-Qaida, but counterterrorism experts say understanding the differences is just as important. Adama Diarra/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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Adama Diarra/Reuters /Landov

As Jihadists Spread, Connecting The Dots Proves Hard

Over the past decades, officials have been quick to look for an al-Qaida link in terror attacks. But as Islamist groups spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, their relationships with — and differences from — al-Qaida are growing increasingly complex.

As Jihadists Spread, Connecting The Dots Proves Hard

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Thursday

Energy Independence For U.S.? Try Energy Security

A drilling rig near Kennedy, Texas, on May 9. U.S. oil output is surging so fast that the United States could soon overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest producer. Eric Gay/AP hide caption

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Eric Gay/AP

Energy Independence For U.S.? Try Energy Security

It would be virtually impossible for any country to be energy independent. Energy security is a more realistic goal, however. U.S. oil production is on track to surpass Saudi Arabia's, and imports are falling. Also, increased regional production could mean the U.S. buys more oil from places like Brazil and Canada and less from producers in the Middle East.

Energy Independence For U.S.? Try Energy Security

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Monday

How Big Should The U.S. Navy Be?

Navy mine countermeasure ships line up in August to conduct a replenishment-at-sea during Middle East Gulf naval exercises in this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, 5th Fleet. Toni Burton/AP hide caption

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Toni Burton/AP

Presidential Race

How Big Should The U.S. Navy Be?

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wants the U.S. Navy to have 350 ships, up from the current fleet of 287. Analysts are divided on whether the U.S. needs a fleet this large.

How Big Should The U.S. Navy Be?

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Can U.S. Still Lead In Economic And 'Soft' Power?

A Ford Focus on the assembly line in Wayne, Mich. "We have a lot going for us; we've got our problems, but others have problems that are as bad or worse," says Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at IHS Global Insight. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images hide caption

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Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Business

Can U.S. Still Lead In Economic And 'Soft' Power?

When the presidential candidates hold their final debate Monday night, this one on foreign policy, they'll likely be asked to define their vision of America's role in the world. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down, that role may shift back to economic and cultural leadership, scholars say.

The Foreign Policy Debate: What To Expect

The flag of Libya's National Transitional Council (second from right) flies outside the United Nations headquarters building in New York. Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

It's All Politics

The Foreign Policy Debate: What To Expect

Neither President Obama nor Mitt Romney spends much time talking about international affairs on the campaign trail. Yet foreign policy, the subject of tonight's debate, can often define a presidency.

Friday

Wondering About The Cost Of War? We Have Answers

Sgt. Ben Roberts (center), recently returned from Afghanistan, speaks with Chick-fil-A manager Michael Sims at a military job fair in Columbia, S.C., in January. John Moore/Getty Images hide caption

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John Moore/Getty Images

Wondering About The Cost Of War? We Have Answers

How can we balance the budget with increases in military spending? What would the candidates do to support disabled veterans? NPR reporters tackle your questions about defense spending and veterans affairs.

Wondering About The Cost Of War? We Have Answers

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Minnesota Case Re-Opens Wounds Among Somalis

Burhan Hassan of Minnesota was recruited to fight in Somalia for al-Shabab, which the U.S. calls a terrorist group. He was killed there in 2009. This undated file photo released by his family in 2008. Anonymous/AP hide caption

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Anonymous/AP

Minnesota Case Re-Opens Wounds Among Somalis

A Minneapolis jury convicted Mahamud Said Omar, a 46-year-old janitor at a local mosque, of conspiring to help recruit two dozen Somali-American men to fight in Somalia. One man, whose nephew died in Somalia, said the case was particularly painful because he knew the man who did the recruiting.

Minnesota Case Re-Opens Wounds Among Somalis

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Thursday

Romney's Defense Plans Call For Higher Spending

U.S. Marines drive amphibious armored personnel carriers in the Philippines on Oct. 9, as part of the annual joint exercises with Philippine counterparts. Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Jay Directo/AFP/Getty Images

Solve This

Romney's Defense Plans Call For Higher Spending

President Obama says he will slow the growth in defense spending. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wants to spend more. Romney says that "peace through strength" will make the U.S. safer. The question, though, is how much more Romney's plan would cost.

Romney's Defense Plans Call For Higher Spending

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Wednesday

Tuesday

Court Overturns Conviction Of Bin Laden Driver

It said Salim Ahmed Hamdan's conviction for providing material support for terrorism had to be overturned because his actions — driving the al-Qaida leader around — were not a war crime at the time. The ruling does not directly affect Hamdan, who was released in 2009, but may have a big impact on cases at Guantanamo Bay that have yet to be litigated.

Court Overturns Conviction Of Bin Laden Driver

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Op-Ed: Maybe We Don't Need Military Academies

Bruce Fleming, English professor at the U.S. Naval Academy, thinks military academies like the USNA and West Point infantilize students, and can't be relied upon to produce the best leaders. In The Chronicle of Higher Education, he questions whether they should even exist anymore.

Op-Ed: Maybe We Don't Need Military Academies

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Cyberattacks Escalate Around The Globe

U.S. officials now believe Iran was responsible for a series of cyberattacks on American banks in September and on major energy firms in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks about the escalating tactics of cyberwarfare.

Cyberattacks Escalate Around The Globe

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