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Ben Wolfgang

Ben Wolfgang

bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com

Ben Wolfgang is a National Security Correspondent for The Washington Times. His reporting is regularly featured in the daily Threat Status newsletter.
Previously, he covered energy and the environment, Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, and also spent two years as a White House correspondent during the Obama administration.
Before coming to The Times in 2011, Ben worked as political reporter at The Republican-Herald in Pottsville, Pa.
He can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Ben Wolfgang

President Barack Obama salutes as he arrives on the South Lawn of the White House, on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, in Washington. Obama traveled to the Fort McHenry historic site that is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Baltimore, and also attended a private Democratic fundraiser. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Congress demands Obama act to keep Islamic terrorists out of U.S.

While President Obama is focused on getting money to friendly-ish Syrian rebels, Congress is increasingly demanding he take more steps to stop militant fighters from coming to the U.S. by stripping Americans of their passports if they join the fight and by suspending countries that have large contingents of foreign fighters from the Visa Waiver Program.

September 15, 2014
This image made from video posted on the Internet by Islamic State militants and provided by the SITE Intelligence Group, a U.S. terrorism watchdog, on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, purports to show British aid worker David Haines before he was beheaded. (Associated Press)

Obama condemns ISIL’s ‘barbaric’ slaying of David Haines

President Obama late Saturday vowed once again to destroy the Islamic State after the terrorist group released a video purporting to show the beheading of British aid worker David Haines — the third such video in less than a month.

September 14, 2014
President Barack Obama speaks at a news conference at the NATO summit at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales, Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Obama vows to ‘hunt down’ and ‘dismantle’ Islamic State

Under fire for his lack of a strategy to deal with the Islamic State, President Obama on Friday struck a firm and determined note and vowed the U.S. will "hunt down" and "dismantle" the Islamist organization in the same way it went after al Qaeda in the days after Sept. 11, 2001.

September 5, 2014
President Barack Obama speaks at a news conference at the NATO summit at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales, Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Obama: We’ll impose more sanctions on Russia

President Obama said Friday the U.S. and its European allies will move ahead with more economic sanctions against Russia, regardless of whether this week's cease-fire agreement between Russia and Ukraine brings an immediate end to violence.

September 5, 2014
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 deploys flares during an air power demonstration over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). (U.S. Navy photo.)

NATO creates new ‘readiness force’ to counter Russia

NATO on Friday created a new "very high readiness force" of several thousand troops to deployed in eastern Europe, a clear signal by the international body that further Russian aggression in the region will not be tolerated.

September 5, 2014
President Obama spoke in Estonia about the need for NATO to defend its member states, many of whom are wary of Russian incursions similar to what has occurred in the Ukrainian theater. (Associated Press)

Obama: Ukrainian military needs NATO backing

Although he's resisted bipartisan calls to send arms to Ukraine, President Obama urged NATO Wednesday to help strengthen the Ukrainian military amid conflicting reports of a tentative cease-fire plan in Kiev's five-month-old fight against Russian forces.

September 3, 2014
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the Bank of Estonia in Tallinn, Estonia, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014. Obama is in Estonia for a one day visit where he will meet with Baltic State leaders before heading to the NATO Summit in Wales. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Obama vows to ‘degrade and destroy’ Islamic State after Sotloff beheading

A day after the Islamic State released a video showing the beheading of another American, President Obama vowed to destroy the organization, and Vice President Joseph R. Biden pledged to follow the terrorists "to the gates of hell" — but neither man offered a strategy or was willing to say the U.S. is at war.

September 3, 2014
Sacrificed: An image taken from a video released by the SITE Intelligence Group shows American journalist Steven Joel Sotloff, 31, just before his execution. (SITE Intelligence Group via Associated Press)

Islamic State beheading of second U.S. journalist accelerates calls for war

Islamist militants on Tuesday released a video purportedly showing the gruesome beheading of a U.S. journalist — the second such execution of an American in less than a month and one that has accelerated bipartisan calls for President Obama to declare war on the terrorist group known as the Islamic State.

September 2, 2014
White House press secretary Josh Earnest gestures during the daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, Aug. 25, 2014, where he took questions on ISIS, Iraq, and Syria. He also received congratulations for his newborn baby. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Obama sends another 350 troops to Iraq

On the same day Islamist militants apparently beheaded an American journalist, President Obama on Tuesday ordered another 350 troops to Iraq as the U.S. continues its fight against the terrorist group known as the Islamic State.

September 2, 2014