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Sunday

Overseas Trip A Road Test For Secretary Of State Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to the press prior to talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at the State Department in Washington on Friday. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Overseas Trip A Road Test For Secretary Of State Kerry

One dominant theme of the trip will be how to resolve the crisis in Syria, where an estimated 70,000 people have been killed over the past two years. Kerry is portraying his first trip as secretary of state as a listening tour, and he certainly expects to hear a lot about Syria.

Overseas Trip A Road Test For Secretary Of State Kerry

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Saturday

Fighting Stream Of Terrorist Capital, Kenya Cracks Down On Somali Businesses

People walk down a market street in Eastleigh, a predominantly Muslim Somali neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2009. The neighborhood has come under scrutiny as the U.S. cracks down on terrorism financing. Spencer Platt/Getty Images hide caption

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Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Africa

Fighting Stream Of Terrorist Capital, Kenya Cracks Down On Somali Businesses

U.S. counterterrorism efforts include choking off the flow of cash to extremists and urging friendly countries to help. But in places like the Nairobi neighborhood of Eastleigh, where Somali refugees have flocked, it's hard to distinguish between tainted money and honest cash.

Fighting Stream Of Terrorist Capital, Kenya Cracks Down On Somali Businesses

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Thursday

It's All Politics

Defense Cuts May No Longer Be Political Sacred Cow

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said the looming automatic spending cuts will damage U.S. national security. But the warnings don't appear to be moving the needle with lawmakers or the American public.

Defense Cuts May No Longer Be Political Sacred Cow

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Wednesday

Republicans Make 'Benghazi' A Frequent Refrain

Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., confer at the start of a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week on the appointments of military leaders. McCain and Graham have been among the Republicans pushing the Obama administration for answers about the Benghazi attack. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

It's All Politics

Republicans Make 'Benghazi' A Frequent Refrain

Republicans delayed a vote on President Obama's defense nominee, saying they wanted more answers about the attack in Benghazi, Libya, last year. In recent months, Benghazi has become a sort of catchword. To Republicans, it symbolizes everything bad about the Obama administration.

Republicans Make 'Benghazi' A Frequent Refrain

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How Could The U.S. Respond To Chinese Hacking?

A Chinese soldier stands guard Tuesday in front of the Shanghai building that houses military Unit 61398. A U.S. cybersecurity company says the unit is behind nearly 150 computer attacks on U.S. and other Western companies and organizations in recent years. China denies the allegation. Carlos Barria/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Carlos Barria/Reuters/Landov

How Could The U.S. Respond To Chinese Hacking?

President Obama and the Pentagon have recently raised concerns about the threats posed from cyber attacks. But there's no clear consensus on how best to address the problem.

Tuesday

Cold War Bunker Network Repurposed For 21st Century Threats

WBT radio's bomb shelter in Charlotte, N.C., part of a government-funded emergency communications network, as it looked in 1963. Courtesy of Jerry Dowd hide caption

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Courtesy of Jerry Dowd

National

Cold War Bunker Network Repurposed For 21st Century Threats

WFAE

In Charlotte, N.C., a secret bunker rests quietly below a radio station. Built in 1963, it was part of a federal network designed to provide emergency communications in case of a nuclear attack. With a new slew of potential threats to contend with, FEMA has revived the idea.

Cold War Bunker Network Repurposed For 21st Century Threats

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A Wounded Soldier Stands Tall At Reunion With His Platoon

As part of homecoming ceremonies at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state in January, Army Spc. Tyler Jeffries — with crutches and prosthetic legs — joins his unit in formation as the national anthem is played. The homecoming marked the first time Jeffries had seen his platoon since he lost both his legs in a roadside bombing in Afghanistan last October. Florangela Davila for NPR hide caption

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Florangela Davila for NPR

Life After War

A Wounded Soldier Stands Tall At Reunion With His Platoon

U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Jeffries lost both legs in a roadside bombing last October in Afghanistan, and he has been learning to walk on prosthetic legs. But Jeffries was determined to meet his buddies when they returned from duty in January.

A Wounded Soldier Stands Tall At Reunion With His Platoon

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A Chinese Army Outpost That's Tucked Into Modern Shanghai

This 12-story building houses a Chinese military unit allegedly behind dozens of cyberattacks on U.S. and other Western companies. It's in a modern, if bland, part of Shanghai. Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

A Chinese Army Outpost That's Tucked Into Modern Shanghai

The Chinese military unit allegedly behind cyberattacks on U.S. firms works out of a nondescript office tower in a Shanghai neighborhood that's modern, but considered a little bland.

Opinion

The Opinion Page

Op-Ed: It's Time To Recognize The Valor Of Cyber Warriors

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the military will award a new medal to recognize exceptional accomplishments in areas including drone and cyber warfare. Brookings Institution senior fellow Peter Singer argues that this is an important step in recognizing the changing nature of war.

Op-Ed: It's Time To Recognize The Valor Of Cyber Warriors

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Monday

Hints Of Progress After Investigation At Guantanamo Court

A pretrial hearing in the Sept. 11 case was suspended briefly last week to investigate allegations of eavesdropping. The commissions' chief prosecutor launched an investigation, and said no one was "listening, monitoring, recording" the proceedings. Defense attorneys seemed to take his word, which given the history of the commissions, is a baby step toward progress.

Hints Of Progress After Investigation At Guantanamo Court

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Sunday

Winning The Battle Remotely: New Medal Awards Evolving Warfare

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announces a new medal that recognizes combat contributions made far from the battlefield. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Winning The Battle Remotely: New Medal Awards Evolving Warfare

To get the Distinguished Warfare Medal, no valor or bodily harm is necessary. But even safely away from combat, drone operators and cyber hackers can have a major impact on military operations. Until now, there hasn't been an award for those contributions.

Winning The Battle Remotely: New Medal Awards Evolving Warfare

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Thursday

Oscars 2013: The 85th Annual Academy Awards

'Zero Dark Thirty' Renews Torture Debate

The critically acclaimed film Zero Dark Thirty has reinvigorated the debate around the interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration's war on terror. Host Neal Conan discusses the film's depiction of interrogations and what U.S. and international law says about the techniques used during the Bush era.

'Zero Dark Thirty' Renews Torture Debate

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Wednesday

Hagel's Nomination Sidelined In Senate Stalling Action

Chuck Hagel, President Obama's nominee for defense secretary, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing on Jan. 31. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

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Susan Walsh/AP

It's All Politics

Hagel's Nomination Sidelined In Senate Stalling Action

Chuck Hagel's nomination to become defense secretary came just short of the required 60 that would have allowed it to proceed to a final vote. The vote, largely along party lines, was 58 to 40, with one senator voting present. Further action is expected later in February.

Victims Of Cyberattacks Get Proactive Against Intruders

Some companies, frustrated with intrusions into their networks by cyberattackers, are now trying to turn the tables in the ongoing and complicated cyberwar. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

Victims Of Cyberattacks Get Proactive Against Intruders

Some affected private companies are so frustrated by their inability to defend against attacks that they have opted to go on the offense themselves. Some cybersecurity firms are now marketing cyberweapons and attack strategies to companies that want to go after their adversaries.

Victims Of Cyberattacks Get Proactive Against Intruders

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