Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
‘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
Top generals dispute Biden’s claims on Afghan withdrawal
Top military leaders on Tuesday confirmed they advised the White House to keep at least 2,500 troops in Afghanistan and to reject an arbitrary timeline for withdrawal, seemingly contradicting President Biden who said that the Pentagon brass was on board with his Aug. 31 exit date regardless of conditions on the ground and amid warning signs of a likely Taliban takeover. Published September 28, 2021
U.S. wants ‘clarification’ on Russia’s offer of military bases to launch Afghan strikes, Austin says
Top U.S. military leaders have sought clarification from Moscow about an offer to use Russian military bases in Central Asia as a launching pad for counterterrorism missions in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday. Published September 28, 2021
Gen. Milley defends calls to Chinese: ‘I was certain’ Trump wouldn’t order attack
America's top general on Tuesday vehemently defended his Jan. 8 phone call with Chinese military leaders, telling lawmakers that he was "certain" then-President Donald Trump wouldn't order an attack on Beijing and wanted to convey that reassuring message to his Chinese counterparts. Published September 28, 2021
Pentagon leaders Austin, Milley to face Capitol Hill grilling on Afghanistan
Lawmakers will get their long-awaited chance Tuesday to grill Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark A. Milley for the first time since the disastrous U.S. exit from Afghanistan, with key senators in both parties signaling that the two men will face a steady stream of tough questions. Published September 27, 2021
Taliban resume brutal reign in Afghanistan with public executions, amputations for criminals
Hope that a softer Taliban would rule in Afghanistan faded Sunday amid images of bloody bodies hanging from cranes in the city of Herat. Published September 26, 2021
Turkish president to defy U.S., buy more Russian-made missile defense systems
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country will ignore U.S. warnings and buy a Russian-made missile defense system. Published September 26, 2021
Emboldened Iran mocks U.S. as Biden’s hopes for nuclear deal fade
President Biden promised to thaw diplomatic relations with Iran and to resurrect a global nuclear deal shunned by his predecessor, but nine months into his term Mr. Biden has little to show for that effort amid growing signs the administration may have misplayed its hand and created an even bolder, more belligerent regime in Tehran. Published September 21, 2021
‘Out of time’: Air Force confronts rising China, battles Congress over outdated aircraft
Top Air Force officials sounded the alarm Monday that the U.S. is rapidly falling behind China in the race to dominate the 21st century -- and they suggested that Congress's refusal to let go of aging weaponry and planes is a military luxury the country can no longer afford. Published September 20, 2021
