Ben Wolfgang
Articles by Ben Wolfgang
Biden stands up ‘China Task Force’ at the Pentagon
President Biden on Wednesday issued an urgent call for a governmentwide effort to reevaluate and confront the threat posed by China, making his first trip to the Pentagon as president to announce a high-level task force that could overhaul American military policy toward its chief 21st-century rival. Published February 10, 2021
Joe Biden to visit Pentagon amid force posture review, anti-extremism push
President Biden will visit the Pentagon on Wednesday for the first time since becoming commander in chief on Jan. 20 and will address a Defense Department in the midst of a major review of U.S. troop presence abroad, an anti-extremism push across all branches of the armed forces and other key changes in all corners of the military. Published February 10, 2021
Iran, U.S. demand other move first to rejoining nuclear deal
The United States and Iran are at a diplomatic stalemate as both sides dig in and refuse to make the first move toward the resurrection of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers, including the U.S. Published February 7, 2021
Iran demands U.S. move first to salvage 2015 nuclear deal
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Sunday the U.S. must make the first move to salvage the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers. Published February 7, 2021
Lloyd Austin, Biden Pentagon chief,: Climate change front and center
Across the armed forces, climate change and its ripple effects are taking center stage in the Biden administration's Pentagon. Published February 3, 2021
Arctic buildup: U.S. Air Force deploys B-1 bomber squadron to Norway for first time
The Pentagon this week dispatched a B-1 Lancer bomber squadron to Norway, military officials said Tuesday, with the first-ever deployment serving as the latest example of how the U.S. is ramping up its presence in the Arctic region amid growing competition with Russia. Published February 3, 2021
COVID-19 woes add to defense industry’s burdens, survey says
In its second annual "Vital Signs" industry report card, the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) -- the leading trade group for American defense contractors -- gave the sector a "C" grade, a barely passing mark that points to troubling trends that have direct effects on U.S. national security at home and military superiority abroad. Published February 2, 2021
Pentagon to purge advisory boards; last-minute Trump administration appointees to resign or be fired
Hundreds of members serving on more than three dozen Pentagon advisory boards must resign in the next two weeks or be fired, Defense Department officials said Tuesday, revealing a sweeping, "zero-based" review of the panels that help guide military policy on education, business, science, and even the renaming of Army bases. Published February 2, 2021
‘Deterioration’: U.S. defense industry falling behind in key areas, study warns
There is clear deterioration in key corners of the U.S. defense-industrial base, a new report warns, with major holes in cybersecurity and a lack of skilled workers across the sector threatening to undermine America's advantage over global competitors such as China. Published February 2, 2021
Navy to conduct special operations training at Washington state parks
Navy special operations forces soon will have a new training ground: state parks in Washington. Published February 1, 2021
Russian fighter jet conducts dangerous ‘low pass’ of U.S. ship in Black Sea
A Russian fighter jet on Sunday buzzed past an American warship operating in the Black Sea, officials said, describing the incident as a dangerous, unjustified "low pass." Published February 1, 2021
On Russia’s doorstep: Two U.S. destroyers now in Black Sea
The U.S. Navy this week dispatched a second guided-missile destroyer to Russia's doorstep in the Black Sea, sending an unmistakable message to the Kremlin and beefing up NATO defenses in the strategically vital region. Published January 29, 2021
Pentagon memo: Amazon court win, Trump deposition could doom $10 billion war cloud
A legal victory for Amazon could effectively doom the Pentagon's $10 billion "war cloud" initiative, defense officials told Congress in a stark memo Thursday that warned of a potentially bleak outcome in the bitter battle over one of the military's most ambitious technology projects in decades. Published January 28, 2021
Marine Corps moves ahead with ‘kamikaze drone’ project
The Marine Corps this week took a major step forward in developing an unmanned ship capable of carrying and deploying swarms of killer "kamikaze drones" able to attack targets at sea or on land. Published January 27, 2021
U.S. B-52 bomber completes mission over Persian Gulf in warning to Iran
An American B-52 bomber completed a round-trip mission from the U.S. to the Persian Gulf and back on Wednesday, military officials said, the first such flight since President Biden took office Jan. 20 and one designed to deliver a clear warning to Iran. Published January 27, 2021
U.S. eyes Saudi bases in ‘contingency’ planning for clash with Iran
The Pentagon is eyeing the possibility of using three sites in Saudi Arabia as key staging areas in the event of war in the Middle East, officials said Tuesday in another sign that the U.S. military expects tensions with Iran to remain high for the foreseeable future. Published January 26, 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping warns U.S. of ‘new Cold War’
The U.S. effort to rally the world against China risks sparking a "new Cold War," Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Monday in his most striking comments to date on the increasingly bitter power struggle unfolding between Washington and Beijing. Published January 25, 2021
Biden signs order reversing military transgender ban
President Biden on Monday signed an executive order to remove restrictions on transgender Americans joining the military, reversing a controversial Trump-era Pentagon policy. Published January 25, 2021
U.S. drone malfunctions, makes emergency landing in Niger
A U.S. military drone malfunctioned and was forced to make an emergency landing in Niger over the weekend, Pentagon officials said after images emerged on social media that seem to show the MQ-1C Gray Eagle sitting in an abandoned field near the city of Agadez. Published January 25, 2021
National Guard troops vetted amid insider attack fears
The Pentagon and federal law enforcement are leaving "no stone unturned" as they mount an unprecedented vetting process for the 25,000 National Guard troops charged with securing Washington this week. Published January 18, 2021
