Oversight

Hillary Clinton's Formidable Strengths—and Greatest Weakness

The former senator has yet to publicly come to terms with her catastrophic decision on Iraq.

Defense

Commentary: The Government Isn't Very Good at Deciding What to Keep Secret

So why do so many Americans insist that the state, not the press, should call the shots?

Defense

Rand Paul Calls for Public Release of Extrajudicial-Killing Memo

Will President Obama refuse a demand that unites the Kentucky Republican and the ACLU?

Oversight

How to Fix Dysfunction in Washington

American politics suffers when Congress abdicates its proper role.

Defense

Nancy Pelosi: When Legislators Take on the CIA, 'They Come After You'

A powerful legislator on the costs of properly overseeing the intelligence community

Defense

How Can the U.S. Know Its Secrets Are Safe?

Edward Snowden's critics say uncertainty about what he took is forcing officials to presume the worst.

Defense

Crumbling Guantanamo Buildings Pose Risks to Troops, Detainees

General also warns base lacks capacity to provide detainees certain types of emergency medical care.

Defense

5 Ways the War on Drugs Makes Us Less Safe

The subtext of General Kelly's testimony to Congress.

Tech

UN Drone Investigator: U.S. Must Explain Civilian Deaths

States have a duty to protect civilians—and that requires transparency when they're hurt or killed, says report.

Oversight

Analysis: Why Does Congress Lack the Backbone to Oversee the CIA?

The spy agency should pay a price for its intransigence. But not enough legislators are willing to defend the oversight role of their colleagues.

Defense

Stray Dogs: How ATF Agents Lose Their Guns

They've done so at nearly double the rate of their FBI counterparts, often due to simple carelessness.

Defense

Analysis: Behold the Selective Outrage Over National-Security Leaks

Whistleblowers are hounded for exposing classified information, but national-security insiders are allowed to do so with impunity.

Oversight

Independent Federal Agency Says Shut Down Illegal Phone Dragnet

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board also noted that the program hasn't stopped any terrorist attacks.

Defense

Analysis: A Defense of Obama's Afghan-War Ambivalence

Why ordering a surge he wasn't totally confident in could have been a reasonable decision

Defense

Analysis: A Free Society Cannot Escape All Terrorism

An NSA official illustrates the totalitarian temptation in bureaucracies charged with stopping 100 percent of attacks.

Management

What TSA Left Out of the Cartoon It Made for Your Kids

It may upset them when they pass through the security checkpoint.

Management

It's Highly Likely the NSA Hoovered Up Mitt Romney's Emails in 2002

Prior to the 2002 Olympics, the NSA and FBI arranged to intercept all emails and texts in the Salt Lake City area.