China’s contribution of ships and planes to the Indian Ocean search for the missing Malaysian airliner showed the trust and familiarity that had developed between the Chinese and Australian militaries, Australia’s Defense Chief Gen. David Hurley said on Monday. Hurley and Defense Secretary Dennis Richardson told a Senate committee that relations between the two militaries […] Continue reading → 
THOMAS JOSCELYN The Obama administration announced today that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held by the Taliban for several years, has been freed from his captors. Reading the stories of his newfound freedom it is impossible not to feel joy for Bergdahl and his family. NBC News reports that Bergdahl held up a sign once he was […] Continue reading → 
When U.S. President Barack Obama accepted the resignation on Friday of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, he said his priority now was fixing the troubled agency whose officials are accused of covering up delays in providing healthcare for U.S. veterans. That task is monumental. As Obama himself said, the sprawling Veterans Affairs department “has had […] Continue reading → 
U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, held for nearly five years by the Taliban after being captured in Afghanistan, has been released and is now in U.S. custody, President Barack Obama said on Saturday. As part of Bergdahl’s release, the United States has turned over five Taliban detainees at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, […] Continue reading → 
Peter Morici In a major address at West Point, President Obama once again sought to articulate a foreign policy that places greater emphasis on diplomacy, economic leverage and recourse to international law. Facing crises, “U.S. military action cannot be the only – or even primary – component of our leadership.” All this assumes that the […] Continue reading → 
Kris Zane Why would Obama’s Department of Homeland Security need two billion rounds of ammunition? Or why would the Department of Agriculture need submachine guns and ballistic body armor? Or why is Obama supplying 13,000 MRAPs—Armored mine resistant vehicles, valued at $500,000 each—to police departments coast to coast, free of charge? In a word: Veterans. […] Continue reading → 
Some of the key findings and other highlights of an interim report from the Department of Veterans Affairs inspector general , looking into delays in health care in Phoenix and other areas: —About 1,400 veterans were on an electronic waiting list and had appointments for care; another 1,700 veterans were waiting for an appointment but […] Continue reading → 
The U.S. Air Force has deployed two of its most advanced long-distance surveillance drones to a base in northern Japan over the past week, enhancing its ability to monitor nuclear activities in North Korea and Chinese naval operations. The deployment of the two unarmed Global Hawk drones to Japan, a key U.S. ally, is intended […] Continue reading → 
Militarization of federal agencies across the board puts everyday Americans square in the crosshairs Despite President Obama going to great lengths to assuage the American people’s concerns with the increased militarization of federal agencies, a recently disclosed military directive suggests those fears could be legitimate. Yesterday, The Washington Times disclosed a disturbing Department of Defense […] Continue reading → 
Pentagon directive authorizes use of federal troops and drones in violation of Posse Comitatus Bill Gertz, writing for The Washington Times, reports the Obama administration had considered using the military during a standoff between Cliven Bundy and the BLM in Nevada in April. A 2010 Pentagon authorization, Directive No. 3025.18, “Defense Support of Civil Authorities,” […] Continue reading → 
Navy veteran Ken Senft turned to the Department of Veterans Affairs for medical care in 2011 after his private insurance grew too costly. It could have been a fatal mistake, he now says. A few years ago, the 65-year-old had a lesion on his head. He went to a VA clinic near his home outside […] Continue reading → 
Bill Gertz | Washington Times A 2010 Pentagon directive on military support to civilian authorities details what critics say is a troubling policy that envisions the Obama administration’s potential use of military force against Americans. The directive contains noncontroversial provisions on support to civilian fire and emergency services, special events and the domestic use of the […] Continue reading → 
Senior officer was ‘premature’ in claiming pings probably came from a search ship or pinger locator itself, says US military. A US pinger locator is fitted to the Australian search ship Ocean Shield. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters The United States Navy has backtracked from comments made by a senior officer that it no longer believed four […] Continue reading → 
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Wednesday he will make decisions fairly soon about detainees at Guantanamo Bay detention center who Uruguay has offered to accept. U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration wants to close the center in Cuba used to imprison people captured after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and has […] Continue reading → 
A U.S. Navy official said four acoustic pings at the center of the search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared in March, are no longer believed to be from the aircraft’s black boxes, according to a report by CNN. Australian search authorities narrowed the search for the missing jet last month after picking […] Continue reading →