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Friday

Explaining the U.S. military presence in Europe as 2,000 more troops deploy

U.S. troops deploy for Europe from Pope Army Airfield at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Feb. 3. Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images

National Security

Explaining the U.S. military presence in Europe as 2,000 more troops deploy

The number of U.S. troops in Europe has shrunk dramatically since the end of the Cold War — but tensions with Russia since 2014 have prompted U.S. leaders to beef up numbers and move troops eastward.

Explaining the U.S. military presence in Europe as 2,000 more troops deploy

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Wednesday

The Army is increasing its largest signing bonus to $50,000 for some new recruits

This March 27, 2008, file photo, shows the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. The U.S. Army, for the first time, is offering a maximum enlistment bonus of $50,000 to highly skilled recruits who sign up for six years. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption

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Charles Dharapak/AP

National

The Army is increasing its largest signing bonus to $50,000 for some new recruits

Until now, the Army has offered a maximum bonus of $40,000. The head of Recruiting Command said the pandemic has made attracting new talent much more of a challenge.

Saturday

A South Korean village is protesting U.S. plans for THAAD missile defense upgrades

Activists demonstrate against a U.S. missile defense system installed in Seongju county, South Korea, since 2017. Protesters stand near the entrance of the base, the site of a former golf course. Anthony Kuhn/NPR hide caption

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Anthony Kuhn/NPR

Analysis

World

A South Korean village is protesting U.S. plans for THAAD missile defense upgrades

The potential upgrade at a U.S. air defense base, within range of missiles in North Korea and China, has residents concerned as Seoul walks a delicate balancing act between the rival powers.

Saturday

NPR sues the Pentagon for info on possible civilian deaths during the Baghdadi raid

Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, commander of U.S. Central Command, speaks as a picture of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is displayed during a news briefing on Oct. 30, 2019, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. McKenzie spoke to reporters to provide an update on the special operations raid that targeted the Islamic State leader in Idlib province, Syria. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

NPR investigation: The Baghdadi raid files

NPR sues the Pentagon for info on possible civilian deaths during the Baghdadi raid

NPR has sued the Defense Department to get it to release files regarding possible civilian casualties during the 2019 raid in Syria that resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Friday

Is China a threat or an opportunity? Depends which Americans you ask

In this 2011 photo, then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden walks with then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in southwestern China. Both are now presidents of their countries at a time when U.S.-China relations have been growing increasingly tense. Ng Han Guan/AP hide caption

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Ng Han Guan/AP

National Security

Is China a threat or an opportunity? Depends which Americans you ask

Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Midwestern farmers and Wall Street investors all see China as a business opportunity. Yet in Washington, China is first and foremost a security threat.

Is China a threat or an opportunity? Depends which Americans you ask

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Wednesday

U.S. Top Military Officer Talks Counterterrorism Support With Russian Counterpart

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley speaks during a briefing with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in September at the Pentagon in Washington. The top U.S. military officer met with his Russian counterpart Wednesday Sept. 22, 2021 in Helsinki, Finland. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

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Susan Walsh/AP

World

U.S. Top Military Officer Talks Counterterrorism Support With Russian Counterpart

The meeting between Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his Russian counterpart in Finland comes at a crucial time in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Tuesday

LGBTQ Vets Discharged Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Have New Chance For Full Benefits

A pamphlet from a Pride Month event at the Pentagon in 2015. Monday marked the 10th anniversary of the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the U.S. military. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images hide caption

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Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

National

LGBTQ Vets Discharged Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Have New Chance For Full Benefits

The new guidance will apply to veterans who were forced from service under the policy and given "other than honorable discharges" due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.

LGBTQ Vets Discharged Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Have New Chance For Full Benefits

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Friday

He Was An Interpreter For U.S. Forces In Afghanistan And Now He's Driving For Uber

Ahmad Zai Ahmadi began interpreting for U.S. forces in Afghanistan when he was a teenager. Since coming to the U.S. as a recipient of a special immigrant visa, he has mainly relied on gig work to support his family. Andrea Hsu/NPR hide caption

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Andrea Hsu/NPR

Business

He Was An Interpreter For U.S. Forces In Afghanistan And Now He's Driving For Uber

Many Afghans who worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan end up doing gig work or other low-wage jobs in America, even when they come with language and professional skills.

He Was An Interpreter For U.S. Forces In Afghanistan And Now He's Driving For Uber

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Saturday

Taliban fighters patrol through Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday. Pictures of such fighters posing with captured aircraft, weapons and vehicles have been showing upon social media.

Taliban fighters patrol through Kabul, Afghanistan, on Thursday. Pictures of such fighters posing with captured aircraft, weapons and vehicles have been showing upon social media. Rahmat Gul/AP hide caption

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Rahmat Gul/AP

World

How Valuable Are The U.S. Weapons The Taliban Just Captured?

In a scene repeated across Afghanistan, retreating government forces ditched billions of dollars' worth of U.S.-supplied military hardware, from assault rifles to Black Hawk helicopters.

How Valuable Are The U.S. Weapons The Taliban Just Captured?

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Monday

Biden's Choices In Afghanistan Were Complicated. So Is The Fallout He Faces

President Biden departs after speaking from the White House Treaty Room on April 14 to announce the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images hide caption

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Andrew Harnik/Pool/Getty Images

Analysis

Analysis

Biden's Choices In Afghanistan Were Complicated. So Is The Fallout He Faces

The simple question of whether the U.S. should stay or go was not simple at all. Now Biden's determination to leave Afghanistan has resulted in a bigger mess than he bargained for.

Friday

4 Things To Know After The Philippines Kept Its Pact With The U.S. Military

A U.S. Navy hovercraft prepares to hit the beach during amphibious-landing exercises as part of an annual joint U.S.-Philippine military exercise on the shores of San Antonio, facing the South China Sea, in Zambales province, Philippines, on April 11, 2019. Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

World

4 Things To Know After The Philippines Kept Its Pact With The U.S. Military

After threatening since last year to cancel it, President Rodrigo Duterte decided to restore the agreement that enables U.S. forces to operate in the Philippines. Here's why that matters.

Thursday

Friday

What Happens To The Afghan Army Once American Forces Leave?

Afghan army commandos train at the Shorab military camp in Helmand province, in southern Afghanistan, in 2017. With U.S. and NATO forces leaving in the coming months, the Afghan forces will have to confront the Taliban without support from Western countries. Massoud Hossaini/AP hide caption

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Massoud Hossaini/AP

Home Page Top Stories

What Happens To The Afghan Army Once American Forces Leave?

An Afghan general is confident that his soldiers can defeat Taliban fighters. But the imminent withdrawal of U.S. troops, allied forces and contractors worries many observers of the war.

Wednesday

New Chinese Space Plane Landed At Mysterious Air Base, Evidence Suggests

China may have landed a new space plane on Sept. 6 at this secretive air base, located in China in the desert near an old nuclear testing ground. Planet Labs Inc. hide caption

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Planet Labs Inc.

Science

New Chinese Space Plane Landed At Mysterious Air Base, Evidence Suggests

The mission took place this past weekend, shrouded in secrecy, but some clues are emerging about what China sent into space, and why.

New Chinese Space Plane Landed At Mysterious Air Base, Evidence Suggests

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Wednesday

Defense Secretary Esper Announces Actions To Address Discrimination In U.S. Military

The Pentagon will take immediate steps to begin addressing discrimination in the armed forces, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday. U.S. Army troops are seen here in Texas along the U.S.-Mexico border in November 2018. Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images hide caption

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Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images

Updates: The Fight Against Racial Injustice

Defense Secretary Esper Announces Actions To Address Discrimination In U.S. Military

Esper calls the actions "a necessary first step" but says he has "no illusions" that these initial changes will fully address the concerns he has heard from many service members.