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A former Navy SEAL did not violate military secrecy agreements or break federal law by writing a book about the raid last year that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the author's lawyer said Friday.

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Navy SEAL writes book on Bin Laden raidupdated: Fri Aug 24 2012 07:56:00

CNN's Barbara Starr reports on the Navy SEAL who has written a book with details on the Bin Laden raid.

Obama to 'reach out' to Karzai over insider attacksupdated: Mon Aug 20 2012 20:26:00

President Obama is "deeply concerned" about the growing number of deadly attacks on U.S. forces by Afghan security forces, and plans to contact the Afghan president to discuss taking tougher actions, he said Monday.

Who's to blame for defense spending cut threat?updated: Tue Aug 07 2012 08:25:00

This past week, at "town hall" meetings in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New Hampshire, a group of Republican senators sounded alarms about disasters that will befall local economies should the threat of more than $500 billion in defense cuts over the next decade become a reality in January.

Graham: 'We do dumb things in Congress'updated: Tue Aug 07 2012 08:25:00

Sen. Lindsey Graham says politicians should lose their jobs if they can't reach an agreement over defense spending.

Iran improves its ballistic missilesupdated: Sat Aug 04 2012 22:44:00

Pentagon says Iran is improving the killing power of its ballistic missiles. Retired Gen. James "Spider" Marks OutFront.

U.S. military can wear uniform in San Diego gay pride parade: Defense Departmentupdated: Fri Jul 20 2012 05:27:00

The U.S. Department of Defense is giving the go-ahead to all active-duty military personnel to wear their uniform to march in a gay pride parade in San Diego on Saturday, the first time such approval has been given in the United States.

Pentagon to hold its first Gay Pride event updated: Fri Jun 15 2012 07:46:00

The Department of Defense announced Thursday that it will be commemorating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender pride later this month. The event will be the first of its kind for the Pentagon.

Decades after war, U.S. and Vietnam swap slain troops' papersupdated: Mon Jun 04 2012 11:29:00

U.S. Army Sgt. Steve Flaherty was in a tough spot and he knew it.

U.S. military's Asia strategyupdated: Mon Jun 04 2012 11:29:00

CNN's Athena Jones reports on Defense Secretary Panetta's visit to Asia and the U.S. military strategy in the region.

By the numbers: Defense spending updated: Fri May 18 2012 16:39:00

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives on Friday passed a nearly $643 billion military spending bill -- a measure at odds with prior defense spending agreements and President Barack Obama's Pentagon plans.

House passes $643 billion defense billupdated: Fri May 18 2012 16:36:00

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives on Friday passed a nearly $643 billion defense bill -- a measure at odds with prior military spending agreements and President Barack Obama's Pentagon plans.

U.S. continues support for Israel's Iron Domeupdated: Thu May 17 2012 17:46:00

The United States will provide an additional $70 million to support Israel's short-range missile defense system, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Thursday.

Congressman taking issue of automatic defense cuts on the roadupdated: Mon May 14 2012 13:34:00

A House Armed Services Committee member is taking the obscure concept of "sequestration" to the streets, kicking off a nationwide tour Monday to discuss the potential $1 trillion in automatic cuts looming over the defense budget.

State laws supersede Pentagon on gay marriages at U.S. basesupdated: Thu May 10 2012 19:10:00

Gay service members who want to marry often can't have the ceremony on military bases in the United States. It's not the Pentagon that has authority, but the states where the bases are located.

House Republican calls for Secret Service director resignation updated: Wed Apr 18 2012 18:16:00

Virginia GOP Rep. Randy Forbes on Wednesday became the first member of Congress to call for U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan to step down due to a prostitution scandal involving eleven agents that has raised questions about security at the agency.

Documents outline debate over disposal of material with possible 9/11 remainsupdated: Fri Mar 30 2012 17:58:00

U.S. Defense Department officials debated how to dispose of more than 1,000 fragments that could have included human remains from the September 11 attack on the Pentagon before they ended up in a Delaware landfill, according to newly released internal documents.

House passes GOP budget updated: Thu Mar 29 2012 17:41:00

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday passed the GOP leadership's 2013 budget plan -- a measure that has no chance of passing the Democratic-controlled Senate but creates a clear contrast between the two parties on a number of critical tax and spending issues ahead of the general election.

China boosts military spendingupdated: Wed Mar 21 2012 05:15:00

CNN's Stan Grant reports on concerns over China's growing military budget.

Mental illness more likely behind Afghan shooting than PTSD, psychiatrist saysupdated: Tue Mar 13 2012 11:31:00

While officials have provided few details about the U.S. Army soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan men, women and children in a house-to-house shooting rampage in two villages, one psychiatrist speculated the incident may have stemmed from mental illness, but not necessarily post-traumatic stress disorder.

How can troubled troops be helped?updated: Tue Mar 13 2012 11:31:00

A U.S. soldier is accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians. A clinical psychologist discusses how this could happen.

Afghans rail against U.S. troops after civilian killingsupdated: Mon Mar 12 2012 22:28:00

The "terrible" weekend killings of civilians won't knock the United States and its NATO allies off the course they've charted in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Monday.

U.S. soldier kills 16 Afghan civiliansupdated: Mon Mar 12 2012 22:28:00

Sara Sidner reports from Kabul on the U.S. soldier who apparently went rogue, killing 16 Afghan citizens.

Panetta: Pressure mounting on Syriaupdated: Thu Mar 08 2012 09:49:00

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the ongoing Syria crisis.

China's defence spending to rise 11.2%updated: Sun Mar 04 2012 08:03:00

China plans to boost its official defence budget by 11.2 per cent this year as Beijing is balancing the modernisation of its armed forces against the need to keep military spending in line with economic development.

Pentagon: 9/11 remains in landfillupdated: Tue Feb 28 2012 21:23:00

The Pentagon admits some 9/11 remains were cremated and improperly dumped in a landfill. CNN's Chris Lawrence reports.

Shooting in Afghanistan continues deadly trendupdated: Tue Feb 21 2012 07:06:00

A man in an Afghan police uniform opened fire on NATO troops in Afghanistan, killing one, NATO said, in what seems to be the latest of dozens of cases of Afghan security forces turning their weapons on international troops who are supposed to be their allies.

Senate committee debates defense budgetupdated: Tue Feb 14 2012 15:08:00

Some of the Senate's big guns opened fire Tuesday on the new defense budget request, calling it "unacceptable" and saying they were "seriously concerned."

Why does U.S. pay to protect prosperous allies?updated: Fri Feb 03 2012 11:18:00

For some time now, Republican hawks like Sen. John McCain and Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon have been saying that our military budget is inadequate for the threats we face. They like to gripe that President Barack Obama is orchestrating the decline of American power.

Panetta: Smaller military is preferableupdated: Fri Feb 03 2012 11:18:00

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta discusses plans for a leaner, less expensive military.

Senate Republicans propose alternative plan to required budget cutsupdated: Thu Feb 02 2012 16:06:00

Top Senate Republicans unveiled a proposal Thursday to replace looming across-the-board budget cuts, most notably to the Pentagon, with new restrictions on both the compensation to and size of the federal work force.

Experts divided on Pentagon's proposed cutsupdated: Fri Jan 27 2012 21:58:00

Some military experts Friday called Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's proposed budget cuts "much ado about nothing," but others expressed concern about the potential of a shrinking U.S. military in the strategic Mideast and Asia.

Pentagon targets military sex assaultsupdated: Wed Jan 18 2012 20:50:00

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta outlined new measures Wednesday targeting sexual assaults against U.S military personnel, saying he has "no higher responsibility than to protect those who are protecting America."

Blunt warnings from U.S. to Iranupdated: Wed Jan 18 2012 18:44:00

The United States is warning Iran of certain "red lines" they should not cross. CNN's Jill Dougherty reports.

Panetta: U.S. willing to pursue diplomacy with Iran but ready for 'any contingency' updated: Wed Jan 18 2012 18:44:00

A diplomatic solution with Iran is still possible, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Wednesday.

Defense cuts could be only the beginningupdated: Mon Jan 09 2012 12:08:00

President Obama unveiled the Pentagon's new defense strategy last week, calling it a moment to "turn the page" on the past decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The new strategy places a greater emphasis on Asia and reduces ground forces in favor of air and sea forces. It accepts greater risks in some areas -- most notably in abandoning the policy that the United States must be able to fight two major, protracted ground wars at once. The Pentagon argues that a two-war construct does not do justice to the complexity of the current threat environment. It has to be able to adapt to a wide, complex array of global threats rather than prepare for an arbitrary number of simultaneous wars.

Is China America's new enemy?updated: Fri Jan 06 2012 18:43:00

President Barack Obama unveiled Thursday a new military strategy. It calls for "pivoting" from the Middle East to the Far East, focusing partly on the military buildup of China.

Analysts denounce U.S. strategy to Chinaupdated: Fri Jan 06 2012 12:16:00

CNN's Stan Grant has reaction from Beijing to the new U.S. military strategy toward China.

Is a smaller military a wise strategy?updated: Fri Jan 06 2012 10:00:00

CNN's Erin Burnett talks to Joe Sestak and Spider Marks about President Obama's plans to reduce the size of the US military.

Obama's defense cuts are too timidupdated: Fri Jan 06 2012 10:00:00

The defense budget is going down. Thursday, President Obama personally announced a new strategy to align with the new limits created by the Budget Control Act of last fall. The announcement was light on the budget details to emphasize "strategy." But strategy documents come and go -- it's in budgets that we'll see actual change.

Joint chiefs "worried" about N. Koreaupdated: Mon Dec 19 2011 17:30:00

CNN's Barbara Starr interviews the Joint Chiefs chairman who says he is worried about the transition in North Korea.

Joint Chiefs head: U.S. vigilant, is seeing no unexpected moves by North Koreansupdated: Mon Dec 19 2011 17:30:00

The United States has seen no unexpected moves by the North Korean military since the announcement of Kim Jong Il's death, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.

Additional remains sent to landfill, Air Force acknowledgesupdated: Thu Dec 08 2011 18:07:00

The Air Force admitted Thursday that it sent more sets of military personnel remains to a Virginia landfill than it originally acknowledged.

Lieberman: Can't give up on cutting debtupdated: Fri Dec 02 2011 05:33:00

Sen. Joe Lieberman tells CNN's Erin Burnett that the country's fiscal problems are too serious to abandon.

Senate passes defense bill with detainee policy compromiseupdated: Fri Dec 02 2011 05:33:00

The Senate on Thursday passed a giant defense bill that includes a new policy for detaining and trying suspected al Qaeda terrorists -- a policy that attracted controversy during the debate and may draw a presidential veto.

Panetta to issue new guidance on dealing with sexual assaultupdated: Fri Nov 18 2011 17:24:00

Amid congressional and legal pressure on the Pentagon to fight harder against sexual assault in the ranks, the Defense Department signaled Friday that changes are on the way.

Dire warnings from Pentagon over potential defense cutsupdated: Mon Nov 14 2011 19:21:00

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta turned up the heat on Congress Monday, warning that looming automatic budget cuts would undermine national security and set off a financial chain reaction from the hallways of the Pentagon, to the battlefields of Afghanistan, to civilian assembly lines.

Hill presses for details on possible Pentagon cutsupdated: Fri Nov 04 2011 15:55:00

Calls for details about what budget cuts the Defense Department is considering are coming from both houses of Congress and both parties. And they are getting more urgent.

India remains strong customer for U.S. military equipment, Pentagon report saysupdated: Wed Nov 02 2011 21:07:00

The Pentagon is portraying India as a major customer for U.S. military equipment, worth an estimated $6 billion in the past decade, even as U.S. companies are shut out of a multibillion dollar bid for fighter jets that India is starting this week.

U.S. and South Korea see more North Korean provocations loomingupdated: Fri Oct 28 2011 06:50:00

South Korea's defense minister said Friday he expects more provocations from North Korea in 2012, during a session with his American counterpart.

Pentagon inspector general says DoD still vulnerable to fraud, wasteupdated: Thu Oct 27 2011 20:19:00

The Pentagon's own watchdog is warning that defense contracts are potential problems, just as the national political debate swirls around the possibility of shrinking the military and its high-priced weapons.

CNNMoney: Pentagon's nightmare: $1 trillion in cutsupdated: Thu Oct 20 2011 06:32:00

What's the easiest way to scare the biggest, baddest fighting force on the planet? Budget cuts.

Pentagon: Troop-numbers talks with Iraq 'are ongoing'updated: Tue Oct 18 2011 05:34:00

The Pentagon on Monday denied claims that the United States and Iraq have been unable to come to an agreement that would allow some U.S. troops to remain in Iraq after the end of 2011, telling reporters that talks are still going on.

When U.S. troops leave Iraqupdated: Tue Oct 18 2011 05:34:00

Is the end of the year really the end for the U.S. military in Iraq? Chris Lawrence reports.

U.S. combat brigade to leave Iraq well ahead of scheduleupdated: Sat Oct 15 2011 19:39:00

A brigade of U.S. troops originally scheduled to be among the very last to leave Iraq is being pulled out of the country months ahead of its planned departure, military officials said Saturday.

Panetta promises to speed up Pentagon audit updated: Thu Oct 13 2011 15:26:00

The Defense Department, considered by some a black hole of federal spending, is promising lawmakers it will open its books and show in detail how the billions are spent.

Secretary of defense addresses security amid economic turmoilupdated: Tue Oct 11 2011 20:11:00

The man charged with protecting America from threats is worried about one threat coming from Capitol Hill.

Virus infects program that controls U.S. dronesupdated: Mon Oct 10 2011 22:04:00

The systems that control U.S. military drones have been infected with a computer virus, a U.S. defense official confirmed to CNN on Monday.

Virus infects U.S. military dronesupdated: Mon Oct 10 2011 22:04:00

The "cockpits" of U.S. military drones are infected with a computer virus. Chris Lawrence reports.

Military going green to save lives, moneyupdated: Thu Sep 22 2011 13:16:00

In 2010 alone, there were roughly 1,100 attacks on U.S. fuel convoys. This has cost the men and women of our armed forces dearly.

Repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' seen as 'tipping point' in gay rights movementupdated: Tue Sep 20 2011 13:11:00

David Hall thought that he'd been careful, working diligently in his job as an Air Force sergeant, and staying quiet about his outside life, including his sexual orientation.

Repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' is on track for Tuesdayupdated: Fri Sep 16 2011 13:03:00

The Pentagon announced the repeal of the long-controversial ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military will happen Tuesday.

Remembering September 11, and a reminder of unfinished businessupdated: Fri Sep 09 2011 20:02:00

Every few moments another plane seemed to be bearing down on the Pentagon on Friday, but they were only on their final approach to nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Security level raised at U.S. bases through September 11updated: Wed Sep 07 2011 12:30:00

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has approved an order raising the force protection level at military bases in the United States through September 11, Pentagon spokesman George Little said Wednesday.

Pentagon warns of potential problems with militarily strong Chinaupdated: Wed Aug 24 2011 23:35:00

The Pentagon issued fresh warnings Wednesday that China's military expansion could stir up new tensions and provoke dangerous misunderstandings

Report: Private firms still selling unsuitable insurance to troopsupdated: Tue Aug 23 2011 19:58:00

Five years after a law to protect U.S. military personnel from salespeople selling life insurance, a new Pentagon report finds problems continue.

Lights! Camera! Controversy! Film on bin Laden raid raises questionsupdated: Wed Aug 10 2011 17:10:00

Kathryn Bigelow, who made the Oscar-winning movie "The Hurt Locker" on the Iraq war, is in the preliminary stages of making a movie about the killing of Osama bin Laden and has gotten access to top White House, Pentagon and CIA officials about the raid.

Obama attends transfer of service members' remains from downed copterupdated: Tue Aug 09 2011 20:10:00

President Barack Obama and top Pentagon officials including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen attended Tuesday's dignified transfer of the remains of 38 U.S. and Afghan personnel killed on board a helicopter shot down in Afghanistan over the weekend.

Troops' remains return homeupdated: Tue Aug 09 2011 20:10:00

Barbara Starr reports on the military's "dignified transfer" of the troops killed in a helicopter attack in Afghanistan.

Panetta slams 'doomsday' military cutsupdated: Thu Aug 04 2011 18:00:00

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Adm. Michael Mullen sound off on possible budget cuts for the U.S. military.

Panetta picks up where predecessor left off on Pentagon budget cutsupdated: Thu Aug 04 2011 18:00:00

Vowing that he "came into this job to fight," Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said he intends to make sure "some common sense prevails" as Congress works to find more ways to reduce the national debt.

Army prepares to cut thousands of civilian jobsupdated: Wed Aug 03 2011 17:56:00

The U.S. Army, already looking to shrink its force by 27,000 soldiers, is now also trying to cut more than 8,000 civilian jobs.

CNNMoney: Pentagon facing one-two budget punchupdated: Mon Aug 01 2011 14:55:00

The Pentagon budget is about to get whacked.

Dempsey confirmation hearing becomes venue for vents on defense cutsupdated: Tue Jul 26 2011 15:27:00

The Senate Armed Services Committee could be forgiven had Tuesday's confirmation hearing for Gen. Martin Dempsey gone very quickly. Dempsey is President Obama's nominee to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, but he just went through a confirmation hearing four and a half months ago when he was nominated to be the Army chief of staff.

In 60 days, gays will be allowed to serve openly in the militaryupdated: Fri Jul 22 2011 21:48:00

A 60-day countdown to the end of the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the U.S. military has begun, President Barack Obama announced Friday.

Official: Pentagon set to certify repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell'updated: Thu Jul 21 2011 22:45:00

The Pentagon is set to certify that the U.S. military is prepared to accept openly gay and lesbian service members, and doing so will not harm military readiness, a U.S. official told CNN on Thursday.

New Army report notes problems in acquiring new weaponsupdated: Thu Jul 21 2011 16:56:00

As congressional budget cutters sharpen their axes and size up the Pentagon, the Army released a report Thursday admitting major problems with the way it dreams up, orders and pays for major weapons systems.

Panetta's language not necessarily reflected in official transcriptupdated: Mon Jul 18 2011 17:58:00

New Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has the self-confidence and the long Washington experience to call 'em like he sees 'em.

Pentagon makes love, not cyber warupdated: Fri Jul 15 2011 08:07:00

For one day, at least, you can call off the cyberwar.

Appeals court suspends enforcement of 'don't ask, don't tell' policyupdated: Thu Jul 07 2011 05:40:00

A federal appeals court Wednesday issued an order blocking the U.S. military from enforcing its "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays and lesbians serving in the military. U.S. officials have been moving ahead with dismantling the policy but had objected to having the courts force the government to officially repeal it at this time.

April: 'Don't ask' repeal on trackupdated: Thu Jul 07 2011 05:40:00

Pentagon officials report "don't ask, don't tell" training for all servicemen is on track to be complete by this summer.

CNNMoney: Pentagon budget 'loaded with fat'updated: Fri Jul 01 2011 05:30:00

For lawmakers on the hunt for budget savings, the Pentagon's $500 billion budget is a great place to start.

Gates receives Presidential Medal of Freedom as he leaves postupdated: Thu Jun 30 2011 20:46:00

In his official farewell to outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates, U.S President Barack Obama honored the plainspoken Kansas native on Thursday with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor.

Official: U.S. cost for Afghan mission to drop, even without drawdownupdated: Sat Jun 25 2011 11:05:00

The U.S. military is requesting for operations in Afghanistan next year billions of dollars less than it has been authorized to spend there this year, a Pentagon spokesman said -- a drop that does not take into account the newly mandate troop drawdown in the embattled Asian nation.

Is Obama withdrawal plan realistic?updated: Fri Jun 24 2011 05:45:00

CNN looks at how possible President Obama's troop withdrawal plan really is.

Afghan withdrawal more 'aggressive' than military proposedupdated: Fri Jun 24 2011 05:45:00

Top military commanders told members of Congress on Thursday that President Barack Obama's scheduled withdrawal of 33,000 "surge" troops from Afghanistan by next summer is more "aggressive" than the Pentagon initially proposed.

Obama outlines troop withdrawal planupdated: Thu Jun 23 2011 06:08:00

President Obama outlines U.S. troop withdrawals in Afghanistan during a televised speech.

Afghan troop withdrawal to begin in Julyupdated: Thu Jun 23 2011 06:06:00

President Obama lays out plan to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Obama announces Afghanistan troop withdrawal planupdated: Thu Jun 23 2011 06:06:00

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday night that all the 33,000 additional U.S. forces he ordered to Afghanistan in December 2009 will be home within 15 months.

Panetta visits Pentagon day after confirmation voteupdated: Wed Jun 22 2011 11:27:00

Leon Panetta, the incoming defense secretary, visited the Pentagon Wednesday, a day after the Senate confirmed him by a rare 100-0 vote to replace Robert Gates.

Pentagon watching fate of Pakistani general helpful to U.S.updated: Thu Jun 16 2011 20:36:00

The United States is watching closely to the see the ultimate fate of the most powerful man in Pakistan, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the Pakistani army's chief of staff.

Gates makes good on promise to end controversial 'stop loss' policyupdated: Wed Jun 15 2011 14:46:00

From nearly the beginning of his tenure as secretary of defense, Robert Gates set his sights on ending a controversial practice in the U.S. Army known as "stop loss." Wednesday he announced he's done it.

Petraeus in Washington with Afghanistan troop drawdown recommendationupdated: Mon Jun 13 2011 23:07:00

Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the war in Afghanistan, has arrived in Washington for a one-two national security punch that is certain to leave ripples over the next several days.

Career of dependability marks Panetta's path to Pentagonupdated: Wed Jun 08 2011 16:33:00

Even by Washington's standards, Leon Panetta's resume portrays the ultimate insider -- a smooth navigator of Congress, the federal budget, the White House and the CIA. He's worked for both Republican and Democratic presidents. And the CIA's role in last month's raid and killing of Osama bin Laden gave his solid-gold credentials new luster.

Defense Department, Panetta prepare for confirmation, transitionupdated: Mon Jun 06 2011 18:32:00

CIA Director Leon Panetta, the president's pick to be the next secretary of defense, has been meeting with senior Department of Defense leaders to prepare for this week's confirmation hearing, the Pentagon said Monday.

Obama nominates Army head to serve as new Joint Chiefs chairmanupdated: Tue May 31 2011 07:24:00

President Barack Obama on Monday nominated Gen. Martin Dempsey, the relatively new Army chief of staff, to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Obama's new defense appointmentsupdated: Tue May 31 2011 07:24:00

President Obama announces key changes in defense personnel, nominating a new Joint Chiefs Chairman.

Obama to choose Army head as next Joint Chiefs chairman, officials sayupdated: Thu May 26 2011 17:56:00

President Barack Obama will nominate Gen. Martin Dempsey, the relatively new Army chief of staff, to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, several administration officials say.

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