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Friday

American Taliban Sues For Religious Freedom

John Walker Lindh was captured in Afghanistan in 2002 after fighting with the Taliban. AP hide caption

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AP

Law

American Taliban Sues For Religious Freedom

John Walker Lindh's lawsuit says a prison ban on group prayer violates his right to practice his religion freely. But the government argues that group prayer would allow the prisoners to undermine safety and plot together.

American Taliban Sues For Religious Freedom

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Thursday

Drone-Tracking App Gets No Traction From Apple

An unmanned U.S. Predator drone flies over Kandahar Air Field in Afghanistan in 2010. Apple has rejected an app that tracks U.S. drone strikes around the world. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP hide caption

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Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

All Tech Considered

Drone-Tracking App Gets No Traction From Apple

For the third time in a month, Apple has rejected a proposed app that tracks American drone strikes. The company says the app is "objectionable and crude"; the developer says he wants to encourage more dialogue about drone attacks.

Drone-Tracking App Gets No Traction From Apple

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Review

World

'Manhunt' Author Reviews Navy SEAL's 'No Easy Day'

Matt Bissonnette wrote No Easy Day under the pseudonym Mark Owen. He has drawn criticism for publishing details of the Osama bin Laden mission without Pentagon approval. Peter Bergen, author of Manhunt, says this account of the raid fits almost exactly with his understanding of the operation.

'Manhunt' Author Reviews Navy SEAL's 'No Easy Day'

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Monday

John Walker Lindh Sues For Prison Prayer Group

John Walker Lindh was captured in Afghanistan in 2002 after fighting with the Taliban. File Photo/AP hide caption

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File Photo/AP

The Impact of War

John Walker Lindh Sues For Prison Prayer Group

John Walker Lindh was a middle-class kid in Northern California who converted to Islam, traveled the world, and was captured by U.S. authorities in Afghanistan after Sept. 11, allegedly fighting alongside the Taliban. Now, he's suing the government over religious rights at a secret prison facility.

John Walker Lindh Sues For Prison Prayer Group

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Sunday

Obama's Warfare: 'From Power To A Policy'

A boy watches a group of Afghan and U.S. commandos in their up armored Humvee in Shindand Afghanistan. The special forces have become more prominent in the U.S. war effort. David Gilkey/NPR hide caption

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David Gilkey/NPR

Obama's Warfare: 'From Power To A Policy'

The nature of war has changed, and so has the president's purview. The country increasingly relies on elite special forces, rather than armies, and drone technology to target its enemies. How those operations are authorized has also shifted — it's more covert and less defined.

Obama's Warfare: 'From Power To A Policy'

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Friday

Before Reaching War Zones, Troops Risk Concussions

A training session for instructors who teach hand-to-hand combat, or combatives, at the Fort Benning military base in Georgia. Pouya Dianat for NPR hide caption

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Pouya Dianat for NPR

Investigations

Before Reaching War Zones, Troops Risk Concussions

Thousands of U.S. troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan have suffered traumatic brain injuries. Now the military is trying to determine how many soldiers suffer concussions in exercises like hand-to-hand combat training before they ever reach a war zone.

Before Reaching War Zones, Troops Risk Concussions

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Thursday

U.S. Faces Growing 'Insider Attacks' In Afghanistan

Spc. Ben Purvis (center) helps train Afghan troops on how to use mortars in the eastern province of Kunar in June. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John Allen, points to several factors in the rise of "insider attacks" on American forces. He says relations between U.S. and Afghan troops are good overall. Lucas Jackson/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Lucas Jackson/Reuters/Landov

World

U.S. Faces Growing 'Insider Attacks' In Afghanistan

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan cites multiple reasons for the increase in attacks by men in Afghan uniforms. Taliban infiltrators, friction between NATO and Afghan troops, and even Ramadan are all seen as factors.

U.S. Faces Growing 'Insider Attacks' In Afghanistan

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Wednesday

Taliban Showing New Willingness On Prisoner Swap

This image provided by IntelCenter on Dec. 8, 2010, shows a frame grab from a video released by the Taliban containing footage of a man believed to be Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. The 26-year-old Army sergeant was captured by the Taliban more than three years ago. AP hide caption

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AP

Taliban Showing New Willingness On Prisoner Swap

At issue is the fate of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only known U.S. prisoner of war held captive in Afghanistan. The Taliban may be keen to trade him for some of its leaders held at Guantanamo Bay.

Taliban Showing New Willingness On Prisoner Swap

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Tuesday

National

Tammy Smith: First Openly Gay U.S. General

Army Reserve officer Tammy Smith was promoted to the position of Brigadier General last Friday. In doing so, she became the first gay general to serve openly in the U.S. military. Gen. Smith talks with NPR's Lynn Neary about her career in the military and the significance of her recent promotion.

Tammy Smith: First Openly Gay U.S. General

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Friday

Encoding Geopolitics: Virus Infects Banks In Lebanon

A common cybercriminal tactic appears to have been adopted by a nation-state for classic espionage purposes. The Kaspersky Lab in Moscow says the Gauss virus is targeting several large banks in Lebanon. Though the nation-state behind the virus hasn't been identified, analysts say it may be part of a U.S. effort.

Encoding Geopolitics: Virus Infects Banks In Lebanon

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Air Force Chief Leaves Legacy In The Sky: Drones

Gen. Norton Schwartz (shown here in October 2010) is stepping down as the top U.S. Air Force officer. Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images

Air Force Chief Leaves Legacy In The Sky: Drones

The U.S. Air Force's top officer, Gen. Norton Schwartz, is retiring after four years on the job. Schwartz was a champion of remotely piloted aircraft, or drones. But he says the Air Force will continue to need pilots for decades and more manned aircraft to ensure it can prevail with a minimum use of force.

Air Force Chief Leaves Legacy In The Sky: Drones

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Thursday

Report From The Drone Convention: Unmanned Vehicles Find New Uses

Brian Bills, a flight operations analyst for Lockheed Martin, demonstrates the Procerus VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) Flight System — a surveillance drone for commercial, civil and military customers — at the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International conference in Las Vegas. (Watch a demo video.) Kainaz Amaria/NPR hide caption

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Kainaz Amaria/NPR

All Tech Considered

Report From The Drone Convention: Unmanned Vehicles Find New Uses

Drone makers and robotics manufacturers gathered in Las Vegas are optimistic that they will overcome civil liberties concerns about these gadgets, and make the leap from wartime to peacetime markets. Products include "throwable" robots that police can use for remote surveillance, and small aircraft to watch volcanic eruptions.

The Media, National Security And Leaks

Bipartisan legislation approved in late July by the Senate Intelligence Committee includes anti-leak provisions designed to curb disclosure of national security information. This legislation, and an ongoing FBI inquiry into U.S. intelligence leaks, have raised questions about the relationship between reporters and sources.

The Media, National Security And Leaks

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Wednesday

National

Guns 101: What We Know And What We Don't

The recent shootings in Oak Creek, Wis., and Aurora, Colo., have reignited the debate about guns and gun control in America. But beyond the talking points and heated exchanges lie real questions about guns ownership, regulation and use.

Guns 101: What We Know And What We Don't

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