This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareOn Sunday, President Trump’s most senior national security advisers joined him at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where Trump was beginning the second week of his holiday vacation. The officials told reporters that U.S. F-15 Strike Eagles had just at their bases in Iraq and Syria, in response to a series of rocket attacks that had culminated in the death of an American contractor two days earlier.But privately, a different topic had come up with an agitated president: whether to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani,...…This article was published more than 3 years agoCommentGift ShareOn Sunday, President Trump’s most senior national security advisers joined him at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where Trump was beginning the second week of his holiday vacation. The officials told reporters that U.S. F-15 Strike Eagles had just at their bases in Iraq and Syria, in response to a series of rocket attacks that had culminated in the death of an American contractor two days earlier.But privately, a different topic had come up with an agitated president: whether to kill Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani,...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareSpeaker Nancy Pelosi told her House colleagues Friday that she had spoken to the Pentagon’s top general about keeping an “unstable president” from accessing the nuclear codes, as Democrats openly considered impeaching the commander in chief for the second time in just over a year.The discussion with Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, came after President Trump directed thousands of angry supporters to the Capitol on Wednesday as he refused to concede his election defeat. The crowds in an...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareSpeaker Nancy Pelosi told her House colleagues Friday that she had spoken to the Pentagon’s top general about keeping an “unstable president” from accessing the nuclear codes, as Democrats openly considered impeaching the commander in chief for the second time in just over a year.The discussion with Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, came after President Trump directed thousands of angry supporters to the Capitol on Wednesday as he refused to concede his election defeat. The crowds in an...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift SharePresident-elect Joe Biden on Monday accused President Trump and his political appointees of obstructing the transition of power to his incoming administration, particularly in the national security sphere, an escalation in tone after reports of isolated difficulties in the transition process last week.Biden specifically called out the Office of Management and Budget and the Defense Department as agencies where his transition team had encountered “roadblocks” from political leadership.“Right now, we just aren’t getting all...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift SharePresident-elect Joe Biden on Monday accused President Trump and his political appointees of obstructing the transition of power to his incoming administration, particularly in the national security sphere, an escalation in tone after reports of isolated difficulties in the transition process last week.Biden specifically called out the Office of Management and Budget and the Defense Department as agencies where his transition team had encountered “roadblocks” from political leadership.“Right now, we just aren’t getting all...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareA week after the killing of George Floyd, the Air Force’s top enlisted member took to Twitter to say that he too is a black man, “who happens to be Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force,” and could die the same way.“I am George Floyd . . . I am Philando Castile, I am Michael Brown, I am Alton Sterling, I am Tamir Rice,” , naming other black Americans killed by police. “Just like most of the Black Airmen and so many others in our ranks . . . I am outraged at watching another Black man die on television before our very...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareA week after the killing of George Floyd, the Air Force’s top enlisted member took to Twitter to say that he too is a black man, “who happens to be Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force,” and could die the same way.“I am George Floyd . . . I am Philando Castile, I am Michael Brown, I am Alton Sterling, I am Tamir Rice,” , naming other black Americans killed by police. “Just like most of the Black Airmen and so many others in our ranks . . . I am outraged at watching another Black man die on television before our very...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe Trump administration has offered the use of active-duty soldiers and intelligence to assist in quelling unrest in Minnesota, including some forces who were put on alert to deploy, national and state officials said Saturday.Gov. Tim Walz (D) acknowledged the offer as he announced that he was mobilizing the entire Minnesota National Guard. He did so after several nights of rioting in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody this week in Minneapolis while handcuffed and on...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe Trump administration has offered the use of active-duty soldiers and intelligence to assist in quelling unrest in Minnesota, including some forces who were put on alert to deploy, national and state officials said Saturday.Gov. Tim Walz (D) acknowledged the offer as he announced that he was mobilizing the entire Minnesota National Guard. He did so after several nights of rioting in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody this week in Minneapolis while handcuffed and on...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe Pentagon’s top general apologized on Thursday for appearing alongside President Trump near the White House after authorities forcibly removed peaceful protesters from the area, saying that it “was a mistake that I have learned from."Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the remarks in a prerecorded graduation speech to students at the National Defense University. He has been roundly criticized for thrusting the military into politics by walking alongside the president on June 1 as Trump...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe Pentagon’s top general apologized on Thursday for appearing alongside President Trump near the White House after authorities forcibly removed peaceful protesters from the area, saying that it “was a mistake that I have learned from."Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the remarks in a prerecorded graduation speech to students at the National Defense University. He has been roundly criticized for thrusting the military into politics by walking alongside the president on June 1 as Trump...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThree sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the coronavirus, Navy officials said Monday, marking the second outbreak at sea on the ship within a year.The sailors were not experiencing any symptoms and are isolated aboard the ship along with people they have been in close contact with, the Navy said in a statement. None of the people in close contact had tested positive, the service said.“The ship is following an aggressive mitigation strategy in accordance with Navy and CDC...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThree sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the coronavirus, Navy officials said Monday, marking the second outbreak at sea on the ship within a year.The sailors were not experiencing any symptoms and are isolated aboard the ship along with people they have been in close contact with, the Navy said in a statement. None of the people in close contact had tested positive, the service said.“The ship is following an aggressive mitigation strategy in accordance with Navy and CDC...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe time to question election results has passed, and there is no role for the military in changing them, all 10 of the living former defense secretaries said in an extraordinary rebuke to President Trump and other Republicans who are backing unfounded claims of widespread fraud at the ballot box.The former Pentagon chiefs issued their warning Sunday evening in an opinion piece that they co-wrote and published in The Washington Post. Its authors include Trump’s two former defense secretaries, Jim Mattis and Mark T. Esper,...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareThe time to question election results has passed, and there is no role for the military in changing them, all 10 of the living former defense secretaries said in an extraordinary rebuke to President Trump and other Republicans who are backing unfounded claims of widespread fraud at the ballot box.The former Pentagon chiefs issued their warning Sunday evening in an opinion piece that they co-wrote and published in The Washington Post. Its authors include Trump’s two former defense secretaries, Jim Mattis and Mark T. Esper,...WW…

The president has raised the idea of radical measures in recent days, including military intervention, seizing voting machines and a 13th-hour appeal to the Supreme Court.WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to overturn the election, raising the idea of radical measures in recent days, including military intervention, seizing voting machines and a 13th-hour appeal to the Supreme Court.On Sunday, Trump said in a radio interview that he had spoken with Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., about challenging the electoral vote count when the House and Senate convene on...…The president has raised the idea of radical measures in recent days, including military intervention, seizing voting machines and a 13th-hour appeal to the Supreme Court.WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has intensified efforts to overturn the election, raising the idea of radical measures in recent days, including military intervention, seizing voting machines and a 13th-hour appeal to the Supreme Court.On Sunday, Trump said in a radio interview that he had spoken with Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., about challenging the electoral vote count when the House and Senate convene on...WW…

This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAs Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III retired from the Army four years ago, he reflected on a career that included years in Iraq. The toughest days, he said, came when troops whom he oversaw were killed in action.“When you lose them, their loss affects you profoundly,” Austin said somberly. “Indeed, it stays with you forever.”Austin, 67, was speaking in the language of loss that President-elect Joe Biden, whose son Beau died of cancer in 2015, often uses. The two men have known each other for years, with Austin deploying repeatedly...…This article was published more than 2 years agoCommentGift ShareAs Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III retired from the Army four years ago, he reflected on a career that included years in Iraq. The toughest days, he said, came when troops whom he oversaw were killed in action.“When you lose them, their loss affects you profoundly,” Austin said somberly. “Indeed, it stays with you forever.”Austin, 67, was speaking in the language of loss that President-elect Joe Biden, whose son Beau died of cancer in 2015, often uses. The two men have known each other for years, with Austin deploying repeatedly...WW…