Author: Mike Brest
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Former defense chief Gates said Afghan withdrawal sickened him
WASHINGTON • Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said he was sickened by how the Afghan withdrawal occurred. Gates, who served as the chief of the Department of Defense from 2006-2011 during parts of the Afghan and Iraq wars, characterized the withdrawal as “really tough,” in an interview with 60 Minutes that has yet to…
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Defense budget includes amendment that would require women to register for draft
The House Armed Services Committee passed the National Defense Authorization Act, and one of its amendments would require women to register for the draft. Lawmakers on the committee voted 35-24 in favor of Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan’s amendment to expand the draft during Wednesday’s 16-hour markup session. “It’s past time,” Houlahan, an Air Force…
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‘Ruthless group’: Pentagon wary of working with the Taliban moving forward
The highest officials within the Department of Defense expressed wariness about a continued relationship with the Taliban following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Both Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said during a Wednesday press conference at the Pentagon that although the two sides worked together to secure Hamid Karzai International…
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Marine corporal discharged over military mask mandate
A Marine was discharged from the military after refusing to comply with its newly enforced mask mandate. Cpl. Whitney McHaffie was “administratively separated” from the Marine Corps on July 29, a spokesperson from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday. HOUSE DEMOCRATS JOIN REPUBLICANS TO INCREASE DEFENSE BUDGET Her dismissal was…
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Veterans Affairs suicide hotline received more than 35,000 calls during Afghanistan evacuation
The Veterans Affairs suicide hotline received an increase in calls during the final two weeks of the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Veterans placed more than 35,000 calls to the Veterans Crisis Line between Aug. 13 and 29, according to VA data provided to the Washington Examiner, which coincides with the time period in which…
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US military ‘still assessing’ latest airstrike after reports of civilian casualties
The U.S. military said it was “still assessing the results” of the latest airstrike amid reports of civilian casualties. Officials launched a “self-defense unmanned over-the-horizon” strike on Sunday, according to CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Bill Urban, who also said the military “eliminat[ed] an imminent ISIS-K threat to Hamid Karzai International Airport.” They were “confident we successfully…
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Biden will pay respects to soldiers killed in Kabul attack
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are traveling to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to honor and mourn service members who lost their lives as their bodies return home. On Sunday the president and first lady will participate in the “dignified transfer,” a military ritual whereby the remains of fallen soldiers killed…
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9/11 families tell Biden to avoid memorials on anniversary unless Saudi Arabia documents are released
Nearly 1,800 friends and family members of 9/11 victims, first responders, and survivors released a statement Friday calling on President Joe Biden to skip tributes on the 20th anniversary of the attacks unless he releases documents that they believe could shed light on Saudi Arabia’s alleged complicity. While Biden is likely to commemorate the solemn…
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Portland police struggling to fill patrol aimed at combating rising murder rate
The Portland, Oregon, police department is struggling to fill a patrol designed to combat the rising murder rate. Only four police officers have applied to fill the 14 spots on the Focused Initiative Team, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. Lt. Greg Pashley did not confirm an exact number of applicants but told the…
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Alaska experiences 8.2 magnitude earthquake, largest in decades
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Alaska experienced one of its largest earthquakes in decades on Wednesday night. The 8.2 magnitude earthquake, which also sparked fears of a possible tsunami, hit at 10:15 p.m. local time, and its epicenter was 65 miles off the…