In Vietnam, the Pentagon Papers Are History Written by the Defeated

The Vietnamese have released no equivalent to the papers, but they have relied heavily on the originals.

Leaning on Journalists and Targeting Sources, for 50 Years

The Pentagon Papers created a delicate balance of power between the press and the government. Lately, it’s being threatened.

Washington’s Daily Secret Machine

A White House correspondent examines a predecessor’s candid memo about how classified information is traded in the Beltway.

The Secrets and Lies of the Vietnam War, Exposed in One Epic Document

With the Pentagon Papers revelations, the U.S. public’s trust in the government was forever diminished.

Opinion | Secrets That Were No Secret, Lessons That Were Not Learned

As a soldier in Vietnam, I already knew what the Pentagon Papers revealed. In the years since, America's leaders have repeated the same mistakes.

Opinion | Leaking the Pentagon Papers Was an Assault on Democracy

The way we control secrets has been established by Congress and the executive branch, both accountable to the public and the courts. Daniel Ellsberg, accountable to no one, took it upon himself to steer the ship of state.

As U.S. Withdraws, Afghan Interpreters Fear Being Left Behind

A program to bring people employed by the American military to the United States is backlogged, with thousands of applicants denied.

As Military Addresses Diversity, Republicans See Culture War Target

The Pentagon’s leadership is taking steps to promote inclusion in the military, prompting a political backlash.

U.S. Weighs Possibility of Airstrikes if Afghan Forces Face Crisis

The Pentagon is considering whether to intervene with warplanes or drones in the event that Kabul is in danger of falling to the Taliban, though no decisions have been made.

C.I.A. Scrambles for New Approach in Afghanistan

The rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops has left the agency seeking ways to maintain its intelligence-gathering, war-fighting and counterterrorism operations in the country.

Iran’s Proxies in Iraq Threaten U.S. With More Sophisticated Weapons

Iran-backed militias in Iraq are suspected of carrying out recent drone strikes on sensitive American targets in Iraq, evading U.S. defenses.

U.S. Finds No Evidence of Alien Technology in Flying Objects, but Can’t Rule It Out, Either

A new report concedes that much about the observed phenomena remains difficult to explain, including their acceleration, as well as ability to change direction and submerge.

Why Are We All Talking About U.F.O.s Right Now?

U.F.O.s were once a taboo topic for the U.S. government, but not anymore. A long anticipated report was released.

Old-Guard Senators Defy Changes in How Military Treats Sex Assault Cases

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has won broad backing for legislation that would cut out the military chain of command in such cases. Now she faces another big hurdle.

To Stem Suicide and Sexual Assault, the Air Force Dons Headsets

Officials are hoping that an immersive virtual reality experience aimed at getting airmen to intervene will succeed where years of traditional training have failed.

Pentagon Accelerates Withdrawal From Afghanistan

American troops are set to be out by early to mid-July, well ahead of President Biden’s Sept. 11 deadline, even as big issues remain unresolved.

Risk of Nuclear War Over Taiwan in 1958 Said to Be Greater Than Publicly Known

The famed source of the Pentagon Papers, Daniel Ellsberg, has made another unauthorized disclosure — and wants to be prosecuted for it.

Once in Thrall of ‘the Generals,’ Congress Now Gives the Orders on Military Issues

The shift mirrors broader societal frustrations after two decades of wars, a pervasive problem of sexual assault and harassment of female troops and the exposure of political extremism in the ranks.

Harry Reid: What We Believe About U.F.O.s

We still don’t know what they are — but we may be close to finding out.