Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
EXCLUSIVE: China’s military consistently beats U.S. estimates
The capabilities of the Chinese military continue to beat U.S. estimates, and neither the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War nor any other country in recent history has consistently exceeded Pentagon and intelligence community projections to this extent, a top Air Force general said Wednesday. Published November 3, 2021
‘Korean identity’: Growing North-South ties crucial in U.S.-led diplomacy, analysts say
A deep sense of shared identity between citizens of North and South Korea remains alive and well, and the potential for at least some reconciliation should be at the center of America's diplomatic efforts, former top U.S. officials and regional experts said Tuesday. Published November 2, 2021
‘Starting to be a problem’: Biden scrambles to stop Iran’s ‘increasingly dangerous’ nuclear program
Top Biden administration officials warned that Iran's nuclear program is "starting to be a problem." Published October 31, 2021
‘Weakness arouses evil’: Pence slams Biden’s Iran policy, says America’s enemies emboldened
The Biden administration's decision to pursue a new round of nuclear negotiations with Iran is the latest in a string of foreign policy missteps that could embolden America's enemies "to test our resolve" around the world, former Vice President Mike Pence said at the "Free Iran Summit" event in Washington on Thursday. Published October 29, 2021
F-35 crossroads: Critics, supporters clash on future of cutting-edge fighter jet
The F-35 fighter jet has reached a pivotal moment. Published October 28, 2021
‘Very close’ to a ‘Sputnik moment’: Top general sounds alarm over China’s hypersonic weapons test
China's recent test of a major hypersonic weapon system is "very close" to a "Sputnik moment" in the standoff between the U.S. and its global rival, America's top general said in an interview that aired Wednesday, conceding that Beijing's rapidly expanding military capabilities are of deep concern at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Published October 27, 2021
ISIS-K could be able to strike U.S. within 6 months, Pentagon official says
The terrorist group ISIS-K wants to use its home base in Afghanistan to launch attacks against the U.S. and could have the ability to do so within six months, a senior Pentagon official told Congress on Tuesday. Published October 27, 2021
Chaos in Sudan after military coup, prime minister arrested
Sudanese troops arrested their nation's prime minister and other political leaders in a military coup Monday, derailing Sudan's move toward a civilian, democratic government and sparking fears of even more chaos on the already unstable, terror-plagued Horn of Africa. Published October 25, 2021
‘Plan Z’: With Afghanistan lost, U.S. weighs help from Taliban, adversaries in terror fight
America's top generals say a counterterrorism partnership with the Taliban is a possibility. They've even explored a potential deal with Vladimir Putin to use Russian military bases as a launchpad for U.S. strikes on extremist targets. Published October 21, 2021
‘We are all witnesses’: Retired Air Force officers call for congressional hearings on UFOs
A steady stream of high-profile UFO sightings by U.S. military personnel over the past 75 years warrants more scrutiny and should immediately spur serious congressional hearings, a group of retired Air Force officers said Tuesday as they recounted their personal experiences with unidentified craft. Published October 19, 2021
‘No fuel, no schools, no life’: Haiti at breaking point amid rampant poverty, violence, instability
Haiti has reached the breaking point. Published October 18, 2021
Russia suspends NATO liaison office, expels diplomats amid escalating dispute
The Kremlin on Monday said it will suspend operations of a key NATO military liaison mission and will revoke the credentials of NATO officers working in Moscow, marking the latest sign of a rapidly deteriorating relationship between Russia and the West. Published October 18, 2021
‘Open door to NATO’ for Georgia, Ukraine as Pentagon chief Austin visits eastern Europe
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will stress that there is an "open door to NATO" for Ukraine and Georgia, Pentagon officials said. Published October 17, 2021
Haitian gang kidnaps 17 U.S.-based Christian missionaries, including a toddler
A dangerous Haitian gang with a history of targeting Christians kidnapped at least 17 missionaries from a U.S.-based religious organization over the weekend, authorities said, and a 2-year-old child is among those being held as American authorities race to secure their release. Published October 17, 2021
Biden ‘painted into a corner’ as get-tough policy on Russia falls flat
A bipartisan push on Capitol Hill to force the White House to expel hundreds of Russian diplomats has backed President Biden into a corner, fueling doubts about his promise to get tough on the Kremlin and raising questions about whether the U.S. has squandered leverage to Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Published October 7, 2021
‘Continuous vetting’: Pentagon to keep closer eye on troops, civilians, contractors
The Defense Department this week officially launched its new and expanded "continuous vetting" program for all troops, civilian employees and defense contractors, replacing the traditional system of periodic background checks with more in-depth monitoring that relies heavily on technology to flag suspicious behavior. Published October 6, 2021
Damage control: U.S., NATO officials scramble to patch up trans-Atlantic rifts
U.S. and NATO officials worked overtime on both sides of the Atlantic on Tuesday to patch up rifts in the alliance and to tamp down tensions between key members on Afghanistan, a controversial submarine deal, China and other fronts. Published October 5, 2021
‘Unease’: NATO faces uncertainty amid Afghanistan withdrawal, China’s rise
The West's inglorious exit from Afghanistan has sparked a long-awaited reckoning for NATO and has fueled major questions about the role the alliance is capable of playing in the 21st century -- and to what degree it can rely so heavily on U.S. leadership and U.S. military assets. Published October 4, 2021
Military brass dodge blowback, consequences from Afghanistan withdrawal debacle
Britain's foreign secretary faced a severe demotion. The Dutch defense minister resigned. But the Pentagon has seen no firings or high-level resignations in the wake of the hasty and deadly withdrawal from Afghanistan. Published September 29, 2021
House panel grills Pentagon brass a day after Afghanistan testimony contradicted Biden’s comments
The Pentagon's top leadership returned to Capitol Hill Wednesday for a second consecutive day of hearings before Congress on the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan following more than six hours of grueling testimony on Tuesday. Published September 29, 2021