Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
‘Keep on fighting’: Trump gets words of support from Hungary’s Orban, other foreign leaders
Some top officials in Europe raced to the defense of Donald Trump on Friday, a day after the former president was convicted by a New York jury on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records. Published May 31, 2024
From counterterrorism to Haiti, Biden and Ruto to enlist the other’s help during key meeting
President Biden and Kenyan President William Ruto need each other's help. The two men will meet at the White House on Thursday and hold a joint press conference ahead of a formal state dinner in the evening, the first such event for an African leader in more than 15 years. Published May 22, 2024
Russia launched counter-space weapon capable of attacking U.S. satellites in orbit, Pentagon says
Russia recently launched a counter-space weapon capable of attacking U.S. satellites in low-earth orbit, Defense Department officials said Tuesday, and they stressed that the American military is "ready to protect and defend the domain" of space if necessary. Published May 22, 2024
‘Dirty end of the stick’: Nuts and bolts of Special Forces missions on display at Tampa gathering
Guns, bombs, drones and artificial intelligence tend to steal today's headlines. But there's another side -- albeit a much less sexy one -- to the world of U.S. Special Forces, one that's central to accomplishing missions quickly, effectively and safely. Published May 17, 2024
Terrorist groups regain strength in Afghanistan; Critics question Biden ‘over the horizon’ strategy
The power vacuum that America left behind in Afghanistan is fueling a resurgence of Islamist terrorists who have the will, and perhaps the capability, to target the U.S. and its interests abroad, according to a major report by the United States Institute of Peace, which argues that the Biden administration should consider unleashing more military strikes against terrorist targets in the country. Published May 14, 2024
Joint Chiefs head eyes tough choices in unsettled threat environment: ‘I might p— some people off’
The U.S. faces an "incredibly complex" threat environment and a fast technological revolution at home. Under these conditions, the U.S. will need a tougher, unapologetic approach to identifying, buying and fielding military capabilities, said Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. Published May 9, 2024
U.S. warfare takes shape like nothing ever before; special units train for varied fronts
The U.S. faces a "decisive decade" as it stares down great power challenges from China and Russia, regional threats from Iran and North Korea, and the resurgence of extremist groups such as ISIS and al Qaeda -- and U.S. Special Forces will play a central role in confronting each, said Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command. Published May 8, 2024
For warriors, Israel-Hamas clash provides case study for 21st-century urban battles
Robotics will play a key role in 21st-century conflicts but face limitations in urban environments or underground operations. Real-time communication between field commanders and air support has been a game-changer, and social media narratives can have a greater influence on the trajectory of war than perhaps anyone expected. Published May 6, 2024
Biden administration stopped shipment of ammunition to Israel: Report
The Biden administration reportedly stopped a shipment of American ammunition to Israel, the latest development in a growing rift between the two allies over Jerusalem's war against the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip Published May 5, 2024
‘An exceptional meal’: Vladimir Putin cut out a deer’s heart, presented it to Silvio Berlusconi
Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013 shot and killed a deer, cut out the animal's heart, presented it to former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and said it would make an "exceptional meal." Published May 5, 2024
Israel to close Al Jazeera, confiscate news channel’s broadcast equipment, block website
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that his government will close the Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera's operations inside Israel, confiscate the network's broadcast equipment, and block access to its website. Published May 5, 2024
Trump suggests he may pull U.S. troops from South Korea without more cost-sharing
South Korea is "paying very little" for the U.S. troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula and the "very wealthy country" must pay more for continued American military presence there, former President Donald Trump said in an interview released this week. Published May 1, 2024
Amid growing threats from China and Russia, Biden signs new infrastructure security memo
President Biden on Tuesday signed a national security memorandum laying out an updated, government-wide plan to protect critical American infrastructure in the face of growing cyberthreats posed by China, Russia and other U.S. adversaries. Published April 30, 2024
‘Over the horizon’ too far to fight terrorists in Afghanistan; ISIS-K emerges as deadly threat
Critics say the rise of ISIS-K -- and America's limited ability to do anything about it -- illustrate the fundamental flaws of banking on an over-the-horizon strategy as an adequate replacement for boots on the ground. Published April 26, 2024
U.S. denies involvement in attack on Iran, emphasizes de-escalation priorities
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said the U.S. had no involvement in the apparent attack on Iran. Published April 19, 2024
Apparent Israeli strike targets Iranian military base in limited attack
Iranian media reported explosions near an airport in the Iranian city of Isfahan early Friday local time in what appears to have been direct military retaliation by Israel against the Islamic republic -- though the attack seems to have been limited in scope and perhaps a sign that both nations want to pull back from the brink of war. Published April 18, 2024
Israel’s war against Hamas posts lower civilian-to-combatant death ratio than other urban battles
It's been described as an unspeakably brutal "massacre," even a "genocide" perpetrated by Israel's powerful military machine against innocent civilians trapped in the Gaza Strip. In reality, data show, Israel's campaign to defeat Hamas in the densely populated Palestinian enclave is one of the most careful and surgical operations in recent human history. Published April 18, 2024
War-wary Iran keeps tensions stirring; proxies carry out most of death, unrest, destruction
Does Iran, beneath all of its tough talk and its anti-Israel, anti-U.S. bluster, actually want to go to war? Published April 16, 2024
Israel vows Iranian attack ‘will be met with a response’
Israeli leaders vowed Monday that the weekend's Iranian attack "will be met with a response" as Jerusalem appears poised to brush aside the Biden administration's call for diplomacy and de-escalation and instead opt for more aggressive retaliation against Tehran. Published April 15, 2024
Biden administration pushes for ‘diplomatic response’ after Iran’s attack on Israel
Top Biden administration officials on Monday doubled down on their calls for a measured, de-escalatory response from Israel to the massive Iranian attack on the Jewish state over the weekend. Published April 15, 2024
