Special Operations
NASA and the Navy Team up to Test Recovery of Astronauts
August 16 by Mike O'BrienFor the first time in 40 years, the Navy and NASA joined forces this week to test how they will recover astronauts after they have splashed down in the ocean. The crew of the USS Arlington and a t...
Majority of Americans Say Afghan War is Not Worth Fighting
July 26 by Mike O'BrienSixty-seven percent of Americans believe the war in Afghanistan is a complete waste of time, according to a new poll. A mere 28 percent of Americans say the prolonged battle, which has claimed 2,2...
3 NATO Soldiers Killed by Suicide Bomber Riding a Donkey
July 23 by Mike O'BrienThree NATO soldiers and their Afghan interpreter were killed on Tuesday when a suicide bomber riding a donkey detonated his explosives in eastern Afghanistan. Four Afghan soldiers were also wounde...
Actionable Intelligence: How U.S. Forces can Stay One Step Ahead
July 19 by Mike O'BrienThe scaling back of operations in Afghanistan continues at a steady pace, but the risk of life-threatening attacks on U.S. forces remains a very real one. Reducing the number of surprise encounter...
Mexican Drug Lord’s Capture the Result of Cross-Border Cooperation
July 17 by Mike O'BrienThe capture of a brutal drug kingpin by Mexico's marines represents a significant victory for authorities in both the U.S. and south of the border. The Marines swooped on Miguel Angel Treviòo Mora...
U.S. Drone Strike Kills 16 People in Pakistan
July 03 by Mike O'BrienAt least 16 people were killed and five wounded in a U.S. drone strike on a suspected militant compound in Pakistan late on Tuesday night. The strike was the deadliest since Pakistan’s new P...
Night Shift: With Game-Changing Night-Vision Systems U.S. 'Owns the Night'
June 24 by John M. DoyleWhen Navy SEAL snipers killed three pirates off the coast of Somalia during the April 2009 rescue of a kidnapped American cargo ship captain, they took aim with night-vision scopes on their rifles....
Taliban Offers to Free Captured U.S. Soldier in Exchange for 5 Members in Gitmo
June 21 by Mike O'BrienThe Taliban in Afghanistan say they will free a U.S. soldier in exchange for the release of five of their senior figures being held at Guantanamo Bay. It is believed the group is referring to U.S....
The Changing Nature of the Facets of Mission Command
June 19 by Prof. Dan McCauleyWith mission command serving as the Joint command philosophy that underpins globally integrated operations, it is vital that leaders, staffs, and organizations at the operational and strategic level...
IDGA's Most Memorable Military Heroes
June 17 by Mike O'BrienEveryone loves a hero – those courageous men and women who make extraordinary sacrifices for the benefit of others. In honor of IDGA's grand tradition of staging leading defense industry eve...
Targeted Killings and Drones: The Link Between Warfare Form and Ethos
June 10 by Robert C. RubelThe confirmation hearings of President Obama’s nominee for CIA director, Mr. John O. Brennan, quickly focused in on the matter of targeted killings of American citizens via drone strikes. I...
D-Day Commemorations Begin with the Raising of Stars and Stripes
June 06 by Mike O'BrienCommemorations of the 69th anniversary of D-Day began on Thursday in France with the stars-and-stripes being raised in a quiet ceremony at the American cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Under a br...