Ben Wolfgang

U.S. admits airstrikes killed Somali civilians

The U.S. military acknowledged Friday that its bombing campaign in Somalia has resulted in civilian deaths.

U.S. arms sales hit $78.8 billion last year, including $4.5 billion to Saudi Arabia: Report

The Trump administration made international arms deals worth a whopping $78.8 billion last year, a new study shows, with a dramatic increase in the number of licenses granted other nations to manufacture American weapons.

Mike Pompeo crafts new ‘ethos’ for U.S. diplomacy, outlines vision in internal letter to State Dept.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an internal letter circulated to thousands of rank-and-file U.S. diplomats Thursday that he remains determined to get the State Department "its swagger back" as he approaches the one-year anniversary of his appointment atop the department later this month.

Donald Trump praises NATO chief for members’ increased defense spending

President Trump hosted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House Tuesday and hailed "tremendous progress" on the president's relentless push for members to pay more for the defense alliance.

Patrick Shanahan Boeing history threatens defense secretary prospects

Patrick M. Shanahan's success in the corporate world may soon cost him in the political one.

Al-Shabab spurs U.S. military action in terror fight

Despite reports the Pentagon will pull back its presence in Africa, the Trump administration's military campaign against a radical Islamist group in Somalia is accelerating to a record level amid allegations from leading human rights groups that the U.S. is killing civilians and perpetrating war crimes.

Nicolas Maduro used Venezuela oil to buy political loyalty as citizens left to starve

Venezuela's socialist regime used the nation's state-run oil industry as a protection racket in a yearslong, systematic scheme to buy political loyalty across the hemisphere while shortchanging its own citizens, according to a major study that shines a fresh light on corrupt dealings in Caracas.

Russia ‘hybrid warfare’ plan employs cyberattacks, military action

Russia will use high-tech disinformation campaigns combined with "limited" military actions as the cornerstones of a grand plan to divide the West and re-establish itself as a global force -- a broad geopolitical strategy that analysts and insiders fear has caught the U.S. and its allies flat-footed.

Afghan security forces held contractors ‘at gunpoint,’ stole $780,000: Watchdog

Afghan security forces held contractors "at gunpoint", locked them in containers, and confiscated nearly $800,000 worth of equipment from August 2011 to November 2013, according to a shocking new report from the Pentagon's Afghanistan watchdog.

‘Factually incorrect’: Joint Chiefs chairman blasts report claiming 1,000 troops will stay in Syria

The Pentagon on Sunday night denied reports the U.S. will keep about 1,000 troops in Syria and said President Trump's plan to withdraw forces will proceed.

Patrick Shanahan, Joseph Dunford deny Trump ‘slush fund’

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan on Thursday defended the Pentagon's $718 billion fiscal 2020 budget request in the face of Democratic complaints that the Trump administration is setting up a slush fund to finance the president's priorities.

Acting defense secretary Shanahan backs investigation into former employer Boeing over 737 MAX 8s

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan told lawmakers Thursday that he supports a full federal investigation into the Boeing 737 Max 8 jetliners, two of which have crashed in recent months and have been temporarily grounded in virtually every nation's airspace.

Afghan leaders complain of exclusion from U.S., Taliban talks

Current and former high-level Afghan officials on Wednesday slammed the Trump administration's push to reach a peace deal with the Taliban, saying the escalating talks were tantamount to a "back-door deal" between Washington and the terror group at the expense of an elected government in Kabul.

Ethics group lodges complaint against Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan

A leading Washington watchdog on Wednesday filed a formal complaint and asked the Defense Department inspector general to investigate whether acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan violated ethics rules by lobbying for major military contractor Boeing, where Mr. Shanahan worked for three decades.

U.S. ramps up Venezuela sanctions, targets Russia-based bank

The Trump administration on Monday ramped up its economic sanctions on Venezuela, targeting a Russian bank that officials say has provided illicit financing to Venezuela's embattled socialist president, Nicolas Maduro.

Heather Wilson, Air Force secretary, resigns

Patrick Shanahan overshadowed by James Mattis in defense secretary audition

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan's bid to win confirmation as long-term Pentagon chief is suffering on Capitol Hill because of a simple fact: He's not James Mattis.

Juan Guaido defiantly returns to Caracas

With thousands of supporters gathered in the streets of Venezuela, Juan Guaido defied government threats and returned home Monday, in a spectacle that analysts say could mark a major turning point in the global push to install the young opposition leader as his country's rightful president and oust incumbent socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Pentagon cancels South Korea military drills

The U.S. and South Korea will end an annual series of key military drills, both nations said Saturday night in a major announcement aimed at boosting diplomatic outreach to North Korea and saving a potential denuclearization deal.

North Korea summit failure called win for Donald Trump

In sticking to that blueprint under a hot international spotlight in Hanoi, the real estate tycoon-turned-president may have emerged from this week's failed summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un as a winner.