Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
‘Avangard,’ Russia’s hypersonic nuclear-capable missile system, to evade U.S. defenses, Putin boasts
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the impending deployment Wednesday of a new hypersonic nuclear-capable missile system that he claims will evade American defenses worldwide, dramatically upping the ante of a growing high-tech arms race with Washington. Published December 26, 2018
Donald Trump’s Patrick Shanahan announcement comes with defense of decisions
President Trump on Sunday dismissed scathing criticism over his move to pull U.S. forces from Syria, doubling down on the decision while naming Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan as acting Pentagon chief. Published December 23, 2018
Patrick Shanahan to serve as acting defense secretary after James Mattis exit
President Trump said Sunday that Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan will become acting Pentagon chief on Jan. 1, greatly accelerating the exit of current Defense Secretary James Mattis who had promised to stay on the job until the end of February. Published December 23, 2018
Mick Mulvaney ‘never heard of’ Brett McGurk before resignation
Neither President Trump nor his incoming chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, knew who Brett McGurk was until Mr. McGurk abruptly quit over the weekend. Published December 23, 2018
Donald Trump rips James Mattis, Brett McGurk after resignations
Facing a near-universal backlash over his decisions to pull U.S. troops from Syria and cut in half the number of forces in Afghanistan, President Trump unloaded on two outgoing officials who resigned over those decisions. Published December 23, 2018
With James Mattis out, Patrick Shanahan or Tom Cotton rumored to be potential replacements
With Defense Secretary James Mattis leaving the administration amid deep policy rifts with the commander in chief, President Trump is rumored to be looking inside the Pentagon and to Capitol Hill for a potential replacement. Published December 21, 2018
Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel will fill U.S. void in Syria
Israel moved quickly Thursday to fill the coming power vacuum after President Trump said U.S. troops were being withdrawn from Syria, vowing to ramp up its own military campaign against Iranian-backed proxy groups in the country -- a clear sign that the war between Jerusalem and Tehran will continue with or without U.S. involvement. Published December 20, 2018
James Mattis resigning as Trump’s defense secretary, citing differences
President Trump says Defense Secretary James Mattis will be retiring at the end of February and a new chief will be named shortly. Published December 20, 2018
Donald Trump signals full U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria: ‘We have defeated ISIS’
President Trump on Wednesday morning signaled that U.S. forces will soon fully withdraw from Syria, having completed their mission to defeat the Islamic State. Published December 19, 2018
VA suicide prevention media campaign declines dramatically, millions of dollars unspent: GAO report
Suicide prevention outreach at the Department of Veterans Affairs has declined dramatically over the past two years and millions of dollars budgeted for media campaigns aimed at veterans remains unspent, a government watchdog said this week in a scathing report that suggests a lack of leadership on a key issue facing veterans. Published December 18, 2018
Al-Shabab threat grows, prompts U.S. military bombing campaign in Somalia
The U.S. military's massive aerial assault on al-Shabab enclaves in Somalia over the weekend killed dozens of terrorist fighters and signaled that the Trump administration could take an even more aggressive tack in 2019. Published December 17, 2018
U.S. kills 62 al-Shabaab militants with massive air assault in Somalia
The U.S. military over the weekend unleashed an intense air assault targeting al-Shabab militants in Somalia, killing at least 62 in a series of strikes aimed at denying the terrorist group a safe haven from which to launch attacks. Published December 17, 2018
Senate bucks Trump, passes measure pulling U.S. support from Yemen war
The Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday rebuked Saudi Arabia and dealt an embarrassing blow to President Trump, brushing off appeals from the administration and voting with a strong bipartisan majority to withdraw all U.S. support from Riyadh's ongoing war in Yemen. Published December 13, 2018
U.N. brokers partial ceasefire in Yemen’s civil war
Just hours before a key Senate vote that would essentially end any American involvement in the conflict, United Nations officials say they've brokered a ceasefire between the two factions in Yemen's civil war. Published December 13, 2018
Senate set to vote on competing Saudi Arabia measures; McConnell urges restraint
The Republican-controlled Senate is on the verge of handing President Trump a symbolic but pointed rebuke on foreign policy, with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers poised to buck the White House and approve a resolution demanding an end to any further U.S. military assistance to Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. Published December 12, 2018
James Mattis last Donald Trump general standing
He's the last man standing among the band of retired military officers President Trump once called "my generals," but Defense Secretary James N. Mattis just scored arguably the biggest win of his tenure, staving off a steep budget cut and highlighting the political muscle he still wields inside the administration. Published December 10, 2018
Russia overtakes U.K., is now No. 2 in global arms industry
While the U.S. remains the world's clear leader, Russia is making major strides in arms sales and last year passed the U.K. to become the world's second-largest weapons producer, according to a comprehensive new study examining top international arms companies. Published December 10, 2018
Donald Trump to tap Gen. Mark Milley to be next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has 10 months left on his term, but President Trump over the weekend laid out an early succession plan and said he'll tap Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley as the Pentagon's next top officer. Published December 9, 2018
Air Force had 4 chances to stop Texas church shooter from buying guns, missed each one: IG report
The Air Force missed at least four chances to stop Devin Kelley from buying guns, the Pentagon's inspector general said Friday in a shocking report that shed new light on how the shooter was able to get firearms and carry out a massacre at a Texas Baptist church last year. Published December 7, 2018
Freedom Alliance honors Battle of Mogadishu heroes with Defender of Freedom award
Stephanie Shughart and Carmen Gordon on Thursday night accepted on behalf of their late husbands the Defender of Freedom award from the Freedom Alliance, a Washington-area group that offers financial aid and support to students whose fathers have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. Published December 6, 2018