Is Washington missing the forest for the trees? As Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others testify about what they knew and who they talked to, is the basic issue being lost in the political drama? It's reported that Russian hackers gained access to the voting systems of 39 American states during last year's elections. There's no evidence they affected the outcome. But, as the fired FBI Director James Comey warned last week, "They'll be back." What's in store for America's democracy in the future? How does this compare to the long history of US involvement in other countries' elections?

Why President Trump keeps sticking by Mike Flynn Michael Flynn spent only 24 days as President Trump’s national security adviser. He seems to be at the center of the current investigation into the Trump campaign’s contacts with Russia. There are also a lot of questions about his work for Turkey. But President Trump keeps sticking by the general. He reportedly asked former FBI director James Comey to drop his investigation of Flynn.

Islamic State Ruling Justifies the Sexual Slavery of Women We've heard about the capture and enslavement of women and girls by the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, particularly with Yazidi women who have been able to escape and tell horrific stories of sexual violence they endured. Now a huge trove of documents captured by US Special Operations Forces is yielding insights into how the Islamic State applies its theology to regulate such sensitive issues as the abuse of women captives of war. Reuters New Agency has been sifting through these records, and today ran an exclusive on the ISIS fatwa or ruling on sex slavery. Jonathan Landay is the national security correspondent for Reuters . Photo: Voice of America

Marines Embellished Medal of Honor Story At a White House ceremony in September, former Marine corporal Dakota Meyer received America's highest award for valor, the first Medal of Honor for a living Marine since the Vietnam War. He deserved it, but never did all of what President Obama told the audience. The President said that Meyer drove into a savage ambush in Afghanistan against orders, killed insurgents at near point-blank range, leaped from his gun turret to rescue 24 Afghan soldiers and saved the lives of 13 comrades in arms. But Jonathan Landay, a reporter with McClatchy Newspapers , was embedded with Meyer's unit, and says records show it didn't happen that way.

The Afghan Election: Democracy in Wartime President Obama calls today's voting the most important event of the year in Afghanistan.  Ambassador Richard Holbrooke says holding an election in a time of war is “extraordinary.” Three thousand cars, three helicopters and 3000 donkeys are bringing ballot boxes back to the capital city for counting that won't be final for two weeks.

Violence Surrounds Afghanistan's Election With Afghans scheduled to go to the polls tomorrow for a presidential election, the Taliban says suicide bombers will create bloody havoc in Kabul, the capital city. The threat already has been made real. Jonathan Landay is senior national security correspondent for the McClatchy Newspapers .

Obama and Cheney Address the Politics of National Security The President and the former Vice President could hardly disagree more on the right and wrong policies for keeping America safe. In dueling speeches today, they advanced their views and repudiated each other on issues including interrogations, Guantánamo Bay and the Constitution. Speaking at the National Archives, Obama said he'll protect the nation while preserving the rule of law. Cheney spoke at the American Enterprise Institute, where he said critics of tough anti-terrorist measures "distort the truth." We talk to reporters and others about today's quasi-debate. Will it change perceptions of the past? Will it help shape the future?

Bush Defends Past Stance on Nuclear Threat from Iran In October President Bush talked about Iran's nuclear program in terms of "World War III" . But the latest National Intelligence Estimate says Iran stopped trying to build a bomb four years ago. Today, the President reiterated that Iran remains a threat to the world, one whose nuclear program, if restarted, could have "the ability to enrich uranium, the knowledge of which could be passed on to a hidden program." He called the latest NIE not an argument for change, but for more international pressure to make sure the program is not resumed and to "convince the Iranians that there is a better way forward." Will this reduce the possibility of military action? Will the US still have credibility with crucial allies? We hear from Europe and Israel.