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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

FILE - In this July 19, 2020, file photo, Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, speaks during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart, Fouad Hussein during his visit to Baghdad, Iraq. China says Iran's foreign minister will visit the country from Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 to Saturday, a day after the Trump administration blacklisted virtually all of Iran’s financial sector in the latest step aimed at the oil-rich country’s economy. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)

U.N. arms embargo on Iran expires

An international arms embargo on Iran expired Sunday, marking a defeat for the Trump administration and opening the door for Tehran to potentially buy foreign weapons.

October 18, 2020
An M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank with 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires its 120 mm smoothbore cannon during a live-fire event as part of Exercise Eager Lion 2015 in Jordan, May 9, 2015. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Devin Nichols/Released)

Tanks future on battlefields in doubt due to drones, rockets

Specialists argue that the changing nature of war could limit tanks' effectiveness and mean a major demotion in how they are fielded in the face of more effective rocket fire, advanced radar systems that make it easier to spot and target the vehicles, and the proliferation of small, deadly drones that can rain destruction on armored columns.

October 14, 2020
In this Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 photo released by the U.S. Air Force, a formation of U.S. Navy F-18E Super Hornets leaves after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker over northern Iraq as part of U.S. led coalition airstrikes on the Islamic State group and other targets in Syria. U.S.-led airstrikes targeted Syrian oil installations held by the militant Islamic State group overnight and early Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, killing nearly 20 people as the militants released dozens of detainees in their de facto capital, fearing further raids, activists said. (AP Photo/U.S. Air Force, Staff Sgt. Shawn Nickel)

U.S. forces conduct ‘targeted strikes’ to slow Taliban advance

U.S. forces over the past two days have conducted "targeted strikes" to slow a Taliban advance on Afghanistan's Helmand Province, Pentagon officials said Monday in the latest sign that violence continues despite a peace deal struck earlier this year.

October 12, 2020
(Screengrab from video on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/1313778179270737921?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet)

On Putin’s birthday, Russia tests new hypersonic weapon

The Russian military on Wednesday delivered a birthday present to President Vladimir Putin: a cutting-edge hypersonic missile that the Kremlin claims can travel at nine times the speed of sound and strike enemies more than 600 miles away.

October 7, 2020
In this photo taken from a footage released on Sept. 22, 2020 by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Paratroopers attend a military exercises at the Ashuluk military base in Southern Russia. Russian Air Defense systems successfully repelled aerial strike during joined military drills in the south of Russia. The drills, expected to be held in Black Sea and Caspian sea waters, will take place until September 26th. Belarus, Armenia, China, Pakistan and Myanmar take part in the exercises. (Vadim Grishankin/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Vladimir Putin funds Russia military modernization at record post-Cold War levels

Although a decade of heavy, targeted investment has put the Russian force on perhaps its strongest footing since the days of the Soviet Union, specialists argue that measuring it against the U.S. military in traditional terms is a waste of time and fundamentally misreads Russian President Vladimir Putin's 21st-century strategy.

October 6, 2020
In this Nov. 28, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump, center, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, behind him at right, addresses members of the military during a surprise Thanksgiving Day visit at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. During his election campaign four years ago, Trump vowed to bring all troops home from endless wars." In recent months, he's only increased the pressure, working to fulfill his campaign promise and get forces home before Election Day. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump fights for military vote despite early missteps

The Trump campaign is counting on an aggressive ground game to help win over active-duty troops and veterans during the home stretch of the White House race, but with little room for error, Republican insiders fear a series of missteps and miscalculations may swing the highly coveted and Republican-leaning demographic toward Democratic rival Joseph R. Biden.

September 24, 2020
An armed member of the militant group al-Shabaab attends a rally on the outskirts of Mogadishu, Somalia, in this Monday, Feb. 13, 2012, photo. (AP Photo) **FILE**

Al-Shabab negotiations eyed as way to end Somalia fighting

Unprecedented diplomacy gave the Trump administration a path out of Afghanistan, and questions have been raised about whether a similar playbook could work for the seemingly endless U.S. military mission in Somalia.

September 22, 2020
President Donald Trump listens as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) ** FILE **

U.S. bid to reimpose Iran sanctions opposed by allies, foes

Allies and foes alike rejected the Trump administration's effort over the weekend to reimpose global economic sanctions on Iran, setting up a high-stakes showdown at the United Nations that could again leave Washington abandoned on the world stage.

September 20, 2020