Archive for the ‘Military Roundup’ Category
Liberty and Security Roundup
National Security:
- Doomsday Memo: The House Armed Services Committee released a report stating that further budget cuts will return the military to “the post-Vietnam Carter era of the late 1970s” and that proposed cuts would “transform a Superpower into a Regional Power.”
- The Army will begin cutting 50,000 soldiers in March.
- Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer wants to become a New York City firefighter.
- The Justice Department has asked a court not to allow the release of photos showing Osama bin Laden after being killed in Pakistan.
- Authorities found a Michigan man with over 4000 pounds of explosives, but have not charged him with plotting to detonate the materials.
Islam/Sharia:
- Christian pastor in Iran faces execution for refusing to convert to Islam
- The FBI is investigating evidence that the Council on American-Islamic Relations has solicited funds from state sponsors of terror.
In: Military Roundup
Liberty and Security Roundup
National Security:
- According to testimony from the Director of National Intelligence, 161 former inmates at Guantanamo are either confirmed or suspected of rejoining the fight. Officials have the recidivism rate at 27 percent.
- The Senate Intelligence Committee is requiring the White House to release records on released Guantanamo detainees, but the White House is threatening to veto the action.
- Taliban gunmen opened fire on a school bus in Paksitan, killing four children and the driver to punish local tribesman for resisting the insurgent movement. At least 14 other children and a two female teachers were wounded.
- The top U.S. commander in Africa says there are three African terrorist groups that pose a threat to Americans.
- Good news: Iraq is interested in purchasing several F-16 fighters from the United States.
Islam/Sharia:
- The incoming leader of Libya states that sharia law will be the basis of Libya’s new government.
- Police arrest a Muslim who tried to drive his car into a car full of Marines on the interstate. The suspect allegedly used his phone to contact Muslims who were plotting to bomb a Seattle military processing station.
- Illinois governor Pat Quinn has invited Muslims with links to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood to join a council that “will help ensure Muslim American participation in state government.”
In: Military Roundup
Liberty and Security Roundup
National Security:
- The nation’s top intelligence officer says that al Qaeda has been degraded to the point that, if combat operations continue at their current pace, the terrorist group’s operational capabilities “could be degraded to the point that the group could fragment” within two years.
- The U.S. has endorsed plans for the Taliban to open up a political headquarters in Qatar by the end of the year in order to open negotiations with the terrorist group.
- Pentagon says the Haqqani Network is behind Saturday’s bombing at a combat outpost in Wardak province that injured 77 U.S. servicemembers and killed five Afghans. The terrorist group is tied to both the Taliban and al Qaeda.
- Former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps member warns of a possibly devastating Iranian electro-magnetic pulse bomb attack.
- While U.S. stealth fighter fleet is grounded, Russia debuted its new T-50 stealth fighter.
Islam/Sharia
- ACLU fights new Sharia ban in Oklahoma while Muslim group supports Michigan ban.
- Three suspects removed for disturbing Frontier Airlines Flight 623 on Sunday (9/11) were reportedly Arab.
Law/Constitution:
- Congress is currently considering a law that would require all states to recognize concealed carry permits, allowing gun owners to carry firearms across state lines. You can read and track the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 (H.R. 822) here.
Victory Institute analyst Casey Martin contributed to this report.
In: Military Roundup
Military Roundup 25 May 2010
Image of the Day: Run through the jungle
Korea: N.Korea cuts ties with S.Korea, raises war rhetoric
N.Korean leader to army: Prepare for war
Obama tells military to prepare for N.Korean military aggression
UN chief condemns torpedo attack, expects response
Afghanistan: McChrystal calls Marjah a ‘bleeding ulcer’ – apparently the “government in a box” isn’t working as planned
Military to adopt McChrystal’s counterinsurgency standards service-wide
Britain warns it wants to withdraw troops as soon as possible
Poland: First battery of Patriot missiles arrives in Poland
U.S.: White House backs delayed gay ban repeal
1200 guardsmen headed for Mexican border
U.S. authorizes covert operations in Middle East and Africa
Homeland Security delays funding for NYPD dirty bomb detectors
Candidate for S.C. Lt. Governor – and Afghanistan combat veteran – nets major endorsement
Republished with permission of the Victory Institute
Military Roundup 18 May 2010
Photo of the Day: Leaflet drop over scenic Afghanistan
North Korea: S.Korea finds “decisive evidence” that N.Korean torpedo sunk Cheonan
Afghanistan: Five Americans among 18 killed in Afghan suicide attack
Medic earns nation’s second-highest decoration for valor
Pakistan: Charting the data for US airstrikes in Pakistan, 2004 – 2010
Iraq: Security officials concerned that many prisoners released by U.S. are becoming al Qaeda leaders
U.S.: US Intel Agencies Could’ve Stopped the ‘Underwear Bomber,’ New Senate Report Says – Information Fell Through the Cracks and Mistakes Were Made
Appointment of admiral seen as key in 9/11 trial switch
Military History: From Arnold’s Prize to Cunningham’s Diary – from W. Thomas Smith, Jr.’s series at Human Events
Republished with permission of the Victory Institute
Military Roundup 13 May 2010
Photo of the Day: Mexican soldier stands guard as 46 tons of marijuana are burned
Israel: Retired General warns of preemptive strike on Israel by Hezbollah – Russian submarine flying Iranian flag recently docked in Lebanon, cargo unloaded by men with gas masks
U.S.: Petraeus: U.S. must share more info with allies
13 female sailors earmarked for submarine service
House subcommittee defies Pentagon’s calls to freeze military salaries, votes for 1.9% pay raise – only the first step in legislative process
Government Makes Payments to Mosque It Considers Radical
Republished with permission of the Victory Institute
Military Roundup 12 May 2010
Photo of the Day: Thunderbirds perform the “Calypso Pass”
Afghanistan / Pakistan: U.S. military could begin awarding troops for “courageous restraint” (not taking action)
Reports of Mullah Omar capture sweep US
Massive drone strike in North Waziristan – at least 24 enemy fighters killed
Gas attack targets third girls’ school in Kunduz – at least 30 school girls poisoned in the attack, which was similar to the one that had been used at Khodeja-ul-Kubra and Fatima-tu-Zahara girls’ schools in Kunduz last month.
NATO has only seven months to take Kandahar from the Taliban
Iraq: Military reconsidering troop withdrawal pace following violence
Lebanon: Hezbollah prepared for war – “Allah willing, you will see the end of Israel”
Somalia: Pirates released by Russia ‘probably died’ according to source
Taiwan: US government isn’t releasing much-needed F-16 fighters to Taiwan – While the threat from China increases, the Obama administration maintains a hold on the fighters. Taiwan’s F-5 fleet is set to retire in 2014, and its Mirage fighters have high maintenance and have chronically low availability rates.
Japan: Cabinet discusses moving US Marine base in Okinawa
U.S.: WWI memorial cross stolen from Mojave National Preserve
After attack, U.S. considering placing Pakistani Taliban on terror list
Republished with permission of the Victory Institute
Military Roundup 11 May 2010
Photo of the Day: Blue Angels packed like sardines
Afghanistan: Taliban threaten to launch fresh offensive this week
Limits of airstrikes frustrate pilots – ‘Keep fighting [coalition forces] won’t shoot’
Cheonan Incident: Defense official confirms explosive chemical found in wreckage
Iraq: 102 killed in bloodiest day this year
Pirates: Russia forced to released captured pirates
Obama admin seeks to loosen Miranda rules regarding terrorism cases
Defense undersecretary asks Congress to hold back pay increases for U.S. military
Former Army Captain accused of stolen valor
U.S. troops march in Russia’s Red Square
Soldier again recommended for Medal of Honor
Republished with permission of the Victory Institute
Military Roundup 3 May 2010
Image of the Day: Sgt. William Jasper retrieves South Carolina’s flag under heavy fire
AfPak: Surge strips UAVs from U.S. Forces in other theaters
British sniper kills two Taliban over 1.5 miles away
Hakeemullah Mehsud is still alive, threatens attacks in U.S.
Homeland Security: Pakistani Taliban claim credit for Times Square bombing attempt
Government treats attack as “amateurish” – minimizes lethal potential. Napolitano calls it “potential act of terror”
Bomb construction patterned after al Qaeda manual
Dr. Walid Phares: We’re Engaged in a Terror War – and New York Is the Prime Target (commentary)
U.S. drones deployed to Yemen to target al-Awlaki
Coast Guard Commandant defend gov’ts oil spill response
SEAL 3 Update: SEAL accused of hitting Iraqi faces trial today – two other defendants already fully exonerated
DADT Update: Gates, Mullen say gay ban works for now – warn Congress not to intervene in strongly-worded letter
Republished with permission of the Victory Institute
Military Roundup 30 Apr 2010
Photo of the Day: USS Green Bay visits Pearl Harbor
Women to serve on U.S. submarines
Communists celebrate 35th anniversary of end of Vietnam War
Iran: Iranian reconnaissance plane buzzes USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Navy downplays incident: “From our perspective, this is not something to get excited about – this is not out of the ordinary – this is within the bounds of what has happened in the past.”
How Iran and al-Qaeda made a deal
White House seeks to soften Iran sanctions
ISI says Taliban leader Hakeemullah Mehsud is not dead
Pakistan’s catch and release program frees top Taliban commanders
Army to Seek Death Penalty Against Fort Hood Shooter
Lawyers say Drone Pilots Could Be Tried for ‘War Crimes’
Military History: It’s official: Stalin ordered execution of 20,000 Polish military officers in Katyn and other places of Russia in 1940, according to a top secret Soviet Communist Party archives.
Republished with permission of the Victory Institute
In: Military Roundup
