Mike Glenn

Truckmakers put off by Army red tape, contract rules, GAO says

America's leading truck manufacturers are passing on lucrative contracts with the U.S. Army because of burdensome regulations, the slow pace of the process and being stuck with the bill for a prototype if the contract is canceled at the last minute.

Trump launches broadside against Milley over ‘coup’ reports

Joint Chiefs of Staff head Gen. Mark A. Milley talked of NATO and new strains on the international order in a speech Thursday, but stayed far away from a new book's account of his reported concerns that former President Donald Trump and his followers might stage a military coup to remain in power after the 2020 election.

U.S. Afghan pullout weighs heavy on vets

Joe Chenelly, a former U.S. Marine who was there at the beginning as part of the U.S. invasion force into Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, is not happy with how the longest war in America's history is coming to a close.

‘Woke’ Navy brass not focused on fighting, winning wars, report says

Top Navy leaders are more interested in micromanaging subordinates than sinking enemy vessels, are increasingly risk-averse, can't maintain their own ships and overreact to any negative news story, no matter how ridiculous. Those are just some harsh findings from a newly released report conducted by a retired Navy flag officer and retired Marine general.

Top U.S. general in Afghanistan steps down as pullout nearly complete

The four-star Army general in charge of both U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan stepped down from command Monday, offering a symbolic cap to America's 20-year deployment that began following the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Rivalry with U.S. heats up with new Chinese supercarrier

Pentagon officials say they are confident the new Gerald R. Ford-class of Navy supercarriers will dominate in any conflict with an adversary, but China is rapidly constructing its own carrier and is eager to join the "supercarrier arms race" to project power well beyond its territorial waters.

Pentagon mulls options for Afghan interpreters fearing Taliban revenge

The Department of Defense said Thursday it is reviewing several overseas U.S. military installations that could be used to temporarily house Afghans whose lives would be in danger in the event of a Taliban takeover. In addition to the U.S. bases, officials are reaching out to third countries to host former interpreters waiting for visas who worked closely with American troops during 20 years of combat in Afghanistan.

Billions need to be cut from troubled F-35 fighter program, watchdog warns

The next-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter represents a growing portion of the Pentagon's tactical aviation fleet, but high costs needed to keep them flying may mean they're simply too expensive even for the U.S. military, the congressional watchdog Government Accountability Office said in a new report issued this week.

Iraqi militias suspected in rocket attack that injures two U.S. troops

Two U.S. servicemen were injured in the latest rocket attack on American forces stationed in Iraq, adding new fuel to a clash between the U.S. military and Iraqi Shiite militia groups with strong ties to Iran. A second attack Wednesday on U.S. and U.S.-allied Syrian forces operating in eastern Syria was foiled, officials said.

Gingrich says U.S. support for Taiwan hinges on maintaining status quo

Taiwan will likely end up without allies against China if it ever moves to unilaterally declare itself a sovereign nation as Beijing's aggressive foreign policy is casting a shadow over the entire Northeast Asia theater, former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich warned Tuesday.

N.Y. National Guard: Human error caused fatal helicopter crash

Lloyd Austin approves new command structure in Afghanistan as troop withdrawal continues

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday approved a new command structure to oversee the small contingent of U.S. forces who will remain in Afghanistan to protect American diplomatic interests there following the completion of the wider U.S. troop withdrawal over the coming weeks.

Biden approves removing military commanders from deciding sex-assault cases

President Biden has approved a seismic shift to the military justice system that would strip away legal authority over sexual assault and harassment cases from a unit's chain-of-command and give the proceedings to special prosecutors.

Army to upgrade combat awards for ‘Black Hawk Down’ vets

The Army is upgrading combat decorations for 60 special operations soldiers almost 30 years after they fought in Operation Gothic Serpent, a fierce firefight in Somalia more commonly known as "Black Hawk Down."

Dangerous COVID-19 strain could spark fresh restrictions on operations, Pentagon says

Even as infection and hospitalization rates from COVID-19 continue falling in many locations, Pentagon officials say the rise of the delta variant that has spread rapidly since it was first detected could mean new restrictions on military operations and base access.

Putin fumes over Black Sea drills, dubs U.S. and allies provocateurs

The Black Sea is emerging as a prime flashpoint in the West's standoff with Vladimir Putin's Russia. President Biden said he seeks stable, predictable relations with the Kremlin, but the U.S. and its allies aren't backing off on a major naval military exercise in the contested sea this week that has the Russian leader fuming.

New Air Force unit fights to dominate electromagnetic spectrum

The electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) may be invisible but it is as real a battlefield as the land, air and sea. The Air Force recently rolled out its first unit dedicated to providing the U.S. with a competitive edge over any potential adversaries in the future.

Biden vows to back Afghan leaders as U.S. pullout accelerates

President Biden hosted Afghanistan's president and top peace negotiator at the White House Friday, vowing to maintain U.S. support for the embattled Kabul government even as the last American and NATO troops leave and fears mount of a major Taliban offensive.

At Pentagon, Afghan President Ghani expresses confidence his country will survive U.S. pullout

On a visit to the Pentagon Friday ahead of a critical meeting with President Biden, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani rejected dire predictions that his government may collapse months after the last American combat troops leave the country.

Pentagon seeks to reassure Afghan leaders as pullout proceeds

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will try to reassure visiting Afghan government leaders of U.S. military support even as the Taliban insurgents score battlefield gains and the U.S. troop pullout picks up pace, the Pentagon said Thursday.