Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Trump relaxes rules on armed drone sales abroad
The Trump administration on Friday relaxed rules governing the export of armed drones, making it easier for American companies to sell the deadly unmanned aerial systems in a bid to compete with China's growing foothold in the market. Published July 24, 2020
House panel to examine sexual assault, harassment at Fort Hood
A key House committee next week will examine whether Fort Hood is in a full-blown "crisis" of sexual harassment and retaliation following the recent death of Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen. Published July 22, 2020
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Qassem Soleimani deaths absent from Donald Trump campaign pitch
President Trump's two highest-profile counterterrorism victories have been largely absent from his reelection pitch, a departure from recent elections in which the winning candidate made a prominent case for fortitude in battling jihadis. Published July 20, 2020
War footing: Trump takes on Putin, China in international power battle
Two recent standoffs with China and Russia have offered a sobering view of the coming great power competition between the U.S. and its two biggest rivals and just how dangerous it may become. Published July 19, 2020
Iranian dissidents rally for regime change in Tehran
Iran's theocracy is at the weakest point of its four-decade history and facing unprecedented challenges from a courageous citizenry hungry for freedom, Iranian dissidents and prominent U.S. and European politicians said Friday at a major international rally calling for the downfall of the dictatorship in Tehran. Published July 17, 2020
U.S. meets deadline to cut number of troops in Afghanistan
The U.S. has officially met its deadline to cut the number of troops stationed in Afghanistan, the Pentagon said late Tuesday, complying with a key requirement laid out in the Trump administration's landmark peace deal with the Taliban. Published July 15, 2020
Pentagon: Russian mercenaries laying landmines, IEDs in Libya
The Pentagon on Wednesday said it has "clear evidence" that Russian-backed mercenaries in Libya have used landmines, IEDs and other booby traps in and around the country's capital of Tripoli, violating international law and putting innocent civilian lives in danger. Published July 15, 2020
China, Russia military moves test U.S. resolve
Two recent standoffs with China and Russia have offered a sobering view of the coming great power competition between the U.S. and its two biggest rivals and just how dangerous it may become. Published July 14, 2020
Gen. Mark Milley signals support for nixing treasonous Confederate flags, Army base names
The Confederacy and its leaders were guilty of "treason" against the United States and honoring them in today's military can be deeply troubling to minority service members, America's top general said Thursday in blunt comments that highlight the Pentagon's growing rift with President Trump. Published July 10, 2020
Mark Esper, Defense Secretary, battles Pentagon vacancies
A rash of resignations has left U.S. military leaders scrambling to fill vacancies in key positions throughout the Pentagon and has sparked a standoff with lawmakers who are convinced that President Trump's personal politics drive hirings, firings and promotions inside the Defense Department. Published July 8, 2020
TikTok ban floated by Donald Trump administration amid China crackdown
The long twilight struggle for global supremacy between the U.S. and China may soon be fought out in 15-second increments. Published July 7, 2020
Taliban working with al Qaeda, other terrorists groups, Pentagon warns
Remote areas of Afghanistan remain home to "terrorist sanctuaries" and some Taliban members routinely cooperate with extremist groups such as al Qaeda, the Pentagon warned Wednesday in a sobering new report to Congress that paints a bleak picture of the security situation inside the country. Published July 1, 2020
Army tests groundbreaking ‘augmented reality’ goggles
The Army this month tested groundbreaking new enhanced night-vision goggles complete with an "augmented reality" feature that military leaders say will prove invaluable in combat. Published June 30, 2020
Iran issues arrest warrant for Donald Trump
An increasingly restive Iran vowed Monday to arrest and prosecute President Trump for taking out one of the country's top generals, even as the beleaguered regime in Tehran battled economic and health woes. Published June 29, 2020
Tom Cotton nuclear testing amendment a reaction to China, Russia
It's been nearly 30 years since the U.S. last tested a nuclear bomb, but the Trump administration and its allies on Capitol Hill are teasing their return amid Russia's own secretive, underground experiments and deep fears in the national security community that China may be following Moscow's lead. Published June 28, 2020
U.S. F-22 fighter jets intercept Russian Tu-142 planes near Alaska
U.S. fighter jets on Saturday again intercepted Russian planes that entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone and stayed there for eight hours, Pentagon officials said, with the Russian reconnaissance aircraft coming within 65 miles of Alaska. Published June 28, 2020
Donald Trump denies being told of Russian bounties to kill U.S. troops
President Trump said Sunday he wasn't briefed by U.S. intelligence on a report that Russian agents offered bounties to Afghan militants to kill U.S. soldiers. Published June 28, 2020
Gen. Robert B. Abrams, U.S. Forces Korea lead fight against racism in the ranks
U.S. military leaders have pledged major reforms and an aggressive new efforts to tackle the legacy and the reality of racism in the ranks. Perhaps the strongest leadership on the issue so far has come from officials nearly 7,000 miles from the Pentagon. Published June 23, 2020
Joe BIden bets on familiar policies after Trump disruption
Joe Biden is crafting something of a hybrid approach that is open to new ideas but is largely reliant on a return to many of the policies and principles in place during his time in power. Published June 21, 2020
Mark Esper rolls out plan to increase diversity in military
The Defense Department on Thursday rolled out a new initiative to end discrimination and promote equality in the military, pledging to take tangible steps to ensure all men and women in the armed forces are given a fair shot to succeed and climb the ranks Published June 18, 2020