Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
One for the road: German troops bringing back 65,000 beers, 340 bottles of wine from Afghanistan
German troops won't let a single drop of booze go to waste as they withdraw from Afghanistan. Published June 9, 2021
U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan more than 50% complete, Pentagon says
America's military withdrawal from Afghanistan is more than 50% complete, officials said Tuesday, putting the U.S. on pace to complete its exit well ahead of President Biden's Sept. 11 deadline. Published June 8, 2021
‘Forbidden subject’: Air Force officers recount ridicule after sharing UFO experiences
Public attitudes toward UFOs were much different when retired Air Force Capt. Robert Salas took the stage at the National Press Club in Washington nearly 11 years ago. Published June 7, 2021
Army admits soldiers mistakenly raided Bulgarian olive oil factory during training drill
Army officials late Tuesday admitted that U.S. soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade mistakenly raided a private business in Bulgaria last month during a training exercise. Published June 2, 2021
U.S. losing leverage to stop North Korea nuclear programs, experts say
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is prepared to wait out the Biden administration and is betting that the U.S. and its allies eventually will be forced to accept his nation as a nuclear power, former top U.S. officials and regional experts said Tuesday. Published June 1, 2021
Showdown: U.S., NATO wage war games in Europe; Russia to send troops west
The U.S. and its NATO allies on Monday conducted a set of major war games across Europe, while Russia responded by announcing plans to send at least 20 new military units to its western border. Published May 31, 2021
Lloyd Austin, Pentagon chief, fires back at Ted Cruz, says U.S. military will never be ‘soft’
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday fired back at Sen. Ted Cruz and other critics who have warned that an increasingly woke military is losing its edge, dismissing such accusations as welcome gifts to U.S. foes such as China and Russia. Published May 31, 2021
Sexual assault in military Democrats civil war
A civil war between top Democrats deepened Sunday amid differences over how sexual assault and other major crimes should be treated inside the U.S. military. Published May 30, 2021
‘More likely than not’ COVID-19 originated in Wuhan lab, key GOP lawmaker says
It is "more likely than not" that COVID-19 originated at a lab in Wuhan, China, and did not develop naturally, a key GOP lawmaker said Sunday. Published May 30, 2021
U.S. warship twice fails to intercept ballistic missile in Pacific
A Navy warship and the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency on Saturday failed twice in a key test to shoot down a medium-range ballistic missile, raising questions about America's readiness to intercept potential enemy attacks. Published May 30, 2021
‘Devastating:’ Critics pan Biden’s proposed $3.6 billion budget cut for U.S. Army
The Biden administration is proposing a $3.6 billion budget cut for the U.S. Army in fiscal 2022, a reduction that some defense analysts say is "devastating" and could compromise readiness and training, and force soldiers to go without some of the equipment they need to defend the nation. Published May 28, 2021
New budget would kill Pentagon contingency ‘slush fund’
President Biden's fiscal 2022 budget proposal released Friday would eliminate the Pentagon's long-standing and highly controversial "overseas contingency operations" account, which critics have blasted as a secretive slush fund that allows the military to hide some of its spending. Published May 28, 2021
Pentagon budget pours billions into AI, hypersonics, next-gen weapons: ‘Down payment’ for future war
The Pentagon's fiscal year 2022 budget request is a "down payment" on the technology and equipment the U.S. will need to win 21st-century wars, with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley saying that the military has made a conscious choice to focus on future conflicts ahead of current needs. Published May 28, 2021
As U.S. packs up, concern for allies left behind in Afghanistan grows
The Pentagon is scrambling to evacuate thousands of Afghans who are in danger of becoming targets in a looming Taliban offensive, adding more pressure to the U.S. military as it exits Afghanistan after two decades of war. Published May 27, 2021
Number of extremists serving in military unknown, Joint Chiefs chairman Mark Milley says
The Pentagon doesn't know how many extremists are in the armed forces and has yet to compile reliable data on the subject, the military's top commander said Thursday as he warned that extreme ideologies threaten to "infect our organizations and tear them apart." Published May 27, 2021
U.S. military to ‘rapidly’ evacuate Afghan allies targeted by Taliban
The Defense Department is "very, very rapidly" developing an ambitious plan to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked with the U.S. over the past two decades but will soon be Taliban targets as American troops depart, the Pentagon's top general said Wednesday. Published May 27, 2021
Push to erase Confederacy from U.S. military history expands dramatically
The push to sever all ties between the U.S. armed forces and the legacy of the Confederacy has reached new heights, with critics this week demanding that military facilities across the nation rename streets and dorms, take down plaques, and make other necessary changes to erase the Confederate legacy from the modern military. Published May 27, 2021
Sharply critical, Biden now tracks Trump on Russia policy
In style and rhetoric, the change is clear. But on policy, analysts say the "continuity" between the Trump and Biden administrations on Russia policy is undeniable. Published May 26, 2021
Air Force secretary nominee backs troubled F-35 program despite growing backlash
President Biden's nominee to lead the Air Force said Tuesday that the best way to combat cost overruns with the troubled F-35 fighter jet program is to "continue to buy" more of them, setting up a potential clash with lawmakers who are deeply frustrated with the aircraft and its rising price tag. Published May 26, 2021
Democrats mock Marco Rubio’s interest in UFOs: ‘Send this space cadet home’
A Democratic super PAC on Saturday openly mocked Sen. Marco Rubio over his interest in UFOs, taunting the Florida Republican and dubbing him "a space cadet" and "rocket man." Published May 22, 2021
