Tom Bowman

From Battlefield To Boston: Marine Comforts Bombing Survivors

Tom Bowman — Fri, 03 May 2013 21:18:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy_LNYR-MiI

U.S. Faces Fight At Intersection Of Crime And Extremism

Tom Bowman — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:20:00 +0000

A suspected drug kingpin from the tiny West African nation of Guinea-Bissau was captured on the high seas by agents from the U.S.

As Qualified Men Dwindle, Military Looks For A Few Good Women

Tom Bowman — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:02:00 +0000

When the Pentagon said earlier this year that it would open ground combat jobs to women, it was cast in terms of giving women equal opportunities in the workplace — the military workplace.

But the move has practical considerations, too. The military needs qualified people to fill its ranks, and it's increasingly harder to find them among men.

"It's fairly common knowledge that our population of military-age young men, who qualify for the military, is declining," Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen.

U.S. To Boost Missile Defense Amid Threats From North Korea

Tom Bowman — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:39:00 +0000

The Pentagon announced plans on Friday to beef up missile defense along the West Coast, in part to defend against the threat from North Korea. The Pentagon plans on adding 14 interceptor missiles to a base in Alaska, supplementing the 30 that are already there.

U.S. Troops Train For Possible Mission To Secure Syrian Chemical Agents

Tom Bowman — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:03:00 +0000

Several weeks ago, Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, said the U.S. is planning what to do about Syria's vast chemical weapons program once Bashar Assad's regime falls. The Syrians are believed to have hundreds of tons of chemical agents, including sarin, one of the deadliest chemical agents.

Sexual Assault Victims: Military's Criminal Justice System Is Broken

Tom Bowman — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:35:00 +0000

Transcript

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A difficult conversation about the military occurred today at a Senate panel on Capitol Hill. Victims of sexual assault testified that the military's criminal justice system is broken. They spoke of commanders who brushed aside their claims, prosecutors who decided not to pursue charges, and a military culture that protects predators. The hearing comes after a general's decision to overturn an officer's conviction on sexual assault.

Pentagon Won't Feel Most Of Sequester's Effects Until Summer

Tom Bowman — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:01:00 +0000

Transcript

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This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.

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And I'm Audie Cornish.

$46 billion: That's the amount the Pentagon must cut from its budget by the end of September under the new regime of austerity that kicks in today.

As Sequestration Looms, Defense Civilians Face Furloughs

Tom Bowman — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:12:00 +0000

Pentagon officials notified Congress on Wednesday that they will furlough some 800,000 defense civilians for one day per week should automatic budget cuts, known as sequestration, kick in next month.

Gen. John Allen To Retire, Not Pursue NATO Commander Nomination

Tom Bowman — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:24:00 +0000

Transcript

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This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block. The Marine general poised to lead all NATO forces has decided to resign. General John Allen served 38 years in the military, including as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. But his long career will also be remembered for his peripheral role in a recent scandal. Here's NPR's Tom Bowman.

TOM BOWMAN, BYLINE: General Allen said in a statement his reasons for retiring were personal.

Obama To Announce Withdrawal Of 34,000 U.S. Troops From Afghanistan

Tom Bowman — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:28:00 +0000

Transcript

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The U.S. will bring home 34,000 troops from Afghanistan by this time next year. President Obama is expected to announce the news tonight in his State of the Union address. That will cut the force in half and set the stage for the pullout of most of the remaining U.S. troops by the end of 2014. The drawdown from Afghanistan is just one of several developments today on Capitol Hill that will have a big impact on the Pentagon.

And NPR's Tom Bowman joins me now to walk us through them. Tom, 34,000 troops out of Afghanistan in a year.