Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Israel thwarts Iranian ‘killer drone’ attack
Israel said Sunday it thwarted a major attack by Iranian "killer drones" operating from an air base in Syria, and officials warned Tehran that its forces are not safe anywhere in the region. Published August 25, 2019
China ‘academic espionage’ deploys students to U.S. to access sensitive programs
America's plan to catch China in the race to deploy super-fast hypersonic weapons may begin in college classrooms. Published August 22, 2019
U.S. drone shot down in Yemen: Report
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels claimed Wednesday to have shot down a U.S. drone in Yemen earlier this week in what would be the third downing of an American aircraft at the hands of Tehran and its Middle East allies in less than three months. Published August 21, 2019
China could crush U.S. military in Pacific: Report
The era of U.S. dominance in the Pacific is over, a study claims, with China now capable of launching devastating military attacks that could crush American forces in the region in a matter of hours. Published August 20, 2019
France ‘digital services tax’ unites Donald Trump, tech giants
An unlikely alliance of President Trump, Amazon and Silicon Valley teamed up Monday to battle a common enemy, France, in a high-stakes fight that carries major consequences for cutting-edge commerce on both sides of the Atlantic. Published August 19, 2019
With INF treaty dead, U.S. tests mid-range cruise missile in California
The U.S. military on Sunday tested an "intermediate-range" cruise missile in California -- a launch that would've been illegal just three weeks ago. Published August 19, 2019
U.S. hypersonic weapons gap seen years ago
The end of American dominance in the class of hypersonic weaponry can be traced back to a steady decline in research and experimentation that began more than a decade ago, scholars and military insiders say, and the U.S. is only now beginning to fully reinvest in the cutting-edge work necessary to keep pace with its highly motivated, well-financed adversaries. Published August 11, 2019
Mark Esper referees Pentagon JEDI war cloud deal after Trump Amazon attack
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper took office last month with a land mine waiting on his desk: the massive Pentagon "war cloud" computing contract that has left him in a no-win situation. Published August 6, 2019
INF missile treaty demise, hypersonic technology increase sparks arms race fears
The U.S. and Russia entered into uncharted territory Friday with the official demise of a landmark Reagan-era missile pact as the Trump administration wagers it can craft a new, more sweeping 21st-century weapons deal that also will also place unprecedented limits on China. Published August 1, 2019
Hypersonic weapons threaten to render American military power useless
The U.S. isn't used to losing arms races, but defense insiders here warn that the Pentagon is dangerously behind some of its top rivals in the race to build a new generation of game-changing weapons. Published July 30, 2019
David Berger, Marine commandant, envisions changes
The new commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps is demanding sweeping changes in how the elite military branch conducts operations, warning that the decades-old approach of Marines being "passive passengers" dropped on shore by large amphibious ships has become "impractical and unreasonable" in the 21st century. Published July 29, 2019
North Korea seen seeking leverage with new missile tests
North Korea carried out a fresh round of short-range ballistic missile tests Thursday in what analysts called a pressure tactic from Pyongyang as it seeks to bully the Trump administration back to the negotiating table. Published July 25, 2019
16 Marines arrested on drug, human smuggling offenses
Authorities arrested 16 Marines Thursday at Camp Pendleton in Southern California and charged them with drug-related offenses and human smuggling, military officials said in a statement. Published July 25, 2019
Donald Trump praises Defense Secretary Mark Esper at Pentagon welcome ceremony
President Trump officially welcomed new Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper to the Pentagon on Thursday and expressed "absolute confidence" that the U.S. military will grow more dominant under his leadership. Published July 25, 2019
Navy SEAL team sent home from Iraq
A Navy SEAL team is being sent home from Iraq following a "perceived deterioration of good order and discipline," military officials said, with an alcohol-fueled July 4 party reportedly leading to the early redeployment. Published July 25, 2019
South Korea confrontation highlights Russia-China alliance, growing threat to U.S.
South Korea's military fired hundreds of warning shots to ward off Russian warplanes that Seoul says violated the country's airspace Monday night, but the unprecedented confrontation highlights a much more serious geopolitical challenge for the U.S. as Moscow and Beijing deepen their game-changing military alliance. Published July 23, 2019
Donald Trump: Iran making it ‘harder for me to want to make a deal’
President Trump stiffened his posture anew toward Iran on Monday after Tehran showed no sign of releasing a British oil tanker that its forces seized in the Persian Gulf and claimed to have arrested 17 CIA spies. Published July 22, 2019
Iran eyes ‘toll’ on Strait of Hormuz ships
Iran reiterated Sunday that it will pursue a "toll" on all ships traveling in the Strait of Hormuz -- the latest escalation of a global crisis that threatens the movement of oil through the Middle East and may force a reluctant Britain to impose fresh economic sanctions on Tehran. Published July 21, 2019
Iran seizes British tanker in Strait of Hormuz
Iran claimed Friday that it seized a British oil tanker traveling through the vital Strait of Hormuz. Published July 19, 2019
Military recruiting woes spur debate over enlistment age
The best way to fix the U.S. armed forces' recruiting challenges may involve dipping further into the nation's high schools. Published July 18, 2019