Corey Dickstein Stars and Stripes Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan said Thursday that the United States is considering a deployment of new troops to the Middle East to shore up force protection amid recent heightened tensions with Iran. But he also denied news reports such orders could include 5,000... Read more
Presidential pardons of war criminals could complicate relationship with allies, harm commanders
WIB landWIB politics May 23, 2019 0
Corey Dickstein Stars and Stripes Presidential pardons for American servicemembers convicted or accused of war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, including the killing of unarmed enemy fighters, could undermine military leadership and might complicate the U.S. relationship with key allies, several military law experts said. Retired top military officers... Read more
Wyatt Olson Stars and Stripes Combined training and readiness have not flagged in South Korea despite suspension of large-scale exercises last year, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea said Wednesday. “I want to be crystal clear about it,” Gen. Robert Abrams said at the three-day Land Forces Pacific Symposium... Read more
Army developing modified fitness test for injured soldiers
WIB cultureWIB frontWIB land May 22, 2019 0
J.P. Lawrence Stars and Stripes The Army is developing alternative aerobic events for soldiers whose injuries prevent them from fully participating in its new combat fitness test, the service said in a statement on Monday. By the fall of 2020, the Army Combat Fitness Test will be required Armywide... Read more
Matthew M. Burke Stars and Stripes The transfer of Marines from Okinawa to Guam could begin as early as October 2024 and take 18 months to complete, according to a report by Japan’s Kyodo News service that cites a Marine Corps official on the U.S. Pacific island territory. The... Read more
John Vandiver Stars and Stripes The Pentagon has drafted plans to send up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East in the event Iran launches an attack on U.S. forces in the region or restarts its nuclear weapons program, the New York Times reported. President Donald Trump dismissed the... Read more
J.P. Lawrence Stars and Stripes Taliban raids like the one on a small outpost in Wardak province that killed 11 of his soldiers earlier this month are a vexing problem for Brig. Gen. Abdul Raziq Safi. But soon the remote, often undermanned checkpoints will be shuttered in favor of... Read more
Former solider convicted of murdering Iraqi prisoner says ‘it feels great’ after President pardons him
WIB frontWIB landWIB politics May 7, 2019 0
Josh Dulaney The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City Michael Behenna won’t ignore phone calls from the President of the United States anymore. The 35-year-old Guthrie man and former soldier, who was convicted by a military court of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone after killing a suspected al-Qaida terrorist in Iraq,... Read more
Afghan convention calls for withdrawal of foreign troops, cease-fire with Taliban
WIB landWIB politics May 6, 2019 0
J.P. Lawrence Stars and Stripes A convention of regional Afghan leaders adopted a road-map on Friday for peace talks with the Taliban that includes a call for the withdrawal of foreign troops and a cease-fire during the holy month of Ramadan. The traditional gathering of elders — known as... Read more
Death toll climbs after more than 600 rockets fly between Gaza and Israel, both agree to another ceasefire
WIB landWIB politics May 6, 2019 0
By Tamara Zieve and Saud Abu Ramadan dpa A Palestinian man was killed on Saturday night as medics said the death toll rose to four from ongoing Israeli army airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in retaliation for some 200 rockets fired by Palestinian militants at Israel. Gaza Health Ministry... Read more
