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WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s failure to detect the extramarital affair and “swinger lifestyle” of a top general despite background checks that likely included polygraph tests exposes flaws in vetting those entrusted with the nation’s most sensitive national security secrets, according to experts and a top senator. The Army fired Maj. Gen. David Haight from his job overseeing operations at European Command earlier this year after investigators uncovered his double life. Haight’s post required him to have access to the military’s classified capabilities to thwart Russian aggression, and his double life would have put him at risk of being blackmailed, several senior officials have said. But Haight’s dark secret came to light only after the military received anonymous tips about his 11-year extramarital affair and other sexual escapades and began investigating in December. Officials entrusted with the most sensitive information undergo background checks and lie-detec...

The White House will reach its goal, articulated a year ago, of taking in 10,000 Syrian refugees into the U.S.  on Monday afternoon. A plane carrying the refugees has departed Jordan and will soon land in the U.S., CBS News’ Margaret Brennan reports. “Today, I am pleased to announce that we will meet this goal more than a month ahead of schedule. Our 10,000th Syrian refugee will arrive this afternoon,” National Security Adviser Susan Rice said in a statement. Between last October and the end of this September, the U.S. is expected to admit a total of at least 85,000 refugees, Rice said, including from countries like Burma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Iraq, Somalia, Ukraine, among many others. President Obama  said last year that would admit 10,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the fiscal year . Monday’s announcement means the White House attained its goal a month ahead of schedule, an achievement due at least ...

Firefighters are continuing to tackle a huge blaze in southern California, with several of them describing it as the most ferocious they have ever seen.  An evacuation order has been issued for an area home to more than 82,000 people, just east of Los Angeles. The Blue Cut fire, as it has been named, has destroyed homes and disrupted transport links between California and Nevada. Some people have been running for their lives just ahead of the flames. The blaze first ignited on Tuesday in a drought-ravaged mountain pass and a day later it had spread across nearly 47 square miles (12,200 hectares). The flames have advanced, out of control, despite the efforts of 1,300 firefighters. Commander Mike Wakoski said he had never seen such extreme conditions in 40 years of service.