Douglas Ernst
Articles by Douglas Ernst
Military bans troops from Baptist church event honoring ‘God’s Rescue Squad’
The Bible Baptist Church in Carthage, Missouri, invited National Guard personnel to be honored at its annual Vacation Bible School as part of "God's Rescue Squad" — but the troops never showed because the military forbids them from attending such an event. Published July 25, 2014
‘Pocket drones’: U.S. Army developing tiny spies for the next big war
Future U.S. Army soldiers sent into combat may have a brand new tool at their disposal: the pocket drone. Published July 25, 2014
Gen. Martin Dempsey: U.S. viewing decades-old Russian readiness plan
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told participants Thursday at the Aspen Security Forum that Russia is forcing the Pentagon to re-examine readiness plans that have been collecting dust for decades. Published July 25, 2014
Pentagon official: Syrian terrorism ‘probably the number one threat’ to U.S.
The concentration of radical Islamic fighters in Syria, coupled with the length of time they've been training and fighting, has led U.S. officials to put the terrorism threat they pose to the U.S. on par with organizations operating out of Yemen. Published July 24, 2014
Russia sends Iraq fighter jets, helicopter gunships for ISIL fight after meeting in Moscow
Russian fighter jets and helicopter gunships are on their way to Iraq as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki tries to reverse gains made by Sunni radicals with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Published July 24, 2014
Kim Jong-un builds bond with Putin: $250M Russia-backed addition to North Korean port opens
Kim Jong-un and Russian Vladimir Putin strengthened economic ties Friday by opening a $250 million Russian-funded addition to the port of Rajin in northeast North Korean. Published July 24, 2014
Social Security Administration spent nearly $300M for failing IT system: report
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee demanded answers from the Social Security Administration over the implementation of a $300 million IT system that appears to be perpetually locked in the initial stages of development. Published July 23, 2014
Astronaut shares ‘saddest photo’ from space: Bombs bursting over Israel, Gaza
There are a lot of different perspectives on the military conflict between Israel and Hamas, but Alexander Gerst has one that is truly unique: He's watching it all unfold from the International Space Station. Published July 23, 2014
‘We’re coming for you, Barack Obama’: Top U.S. official discloses threat from ISIL terrorists
High-ranking U.S. official said Wednesday that not only are Sunni radicals with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant "worse than al Qaeda," but that the group has a message for the president: "We're coming for you, Barack Obama." Published July 23, 2014
30K Israelis mourn American who died fighting Hamas in Gaza
More than 30,000 Israelis came out Wednesday to pay respects to an American-Israeli dual national who died fighting Hamas militants in Gaza over the weekend. Published July 23, 2014
VA apologizes to forgotten Marine veteran locked in Fla. clinic, forced to call 911
A Marine veteran has received an apology from the Veterans Administration after he was forgotten by staff at an Orange City, Fla., clinic and locked inside. Published July 23, 2014
Fed’s polygraph experts expect future security clearance interviews to be conducted by robots
American citizens vying for national security clearances in the future can expect a barrage of questions, but not from humans. Instead, it's likely that they'll be going face-to-face with an on-screen avatar during the initial stages of the selection process. Published July 22, 2014
Snipers exposed: ‘Boomerang’ technology tells troops where first shot was fired
Visitors to the Farnborough International Airshow in the United Kingdom over the weekend got to test a safe version of a new technology can identify small-arms fire and tell users the exact origin of the shots. Published July 22, 2014
ISIL now forcing Iraqi shopkeepers to veil mannequins in Mosul
Sunni radicals with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have a new rule of shopkeepers in the Iraqi city of Mosul: Mannequins must have veiled faces. Published July 22, 2014
Turkey gives White House cold shoulder: Prime Minister Erdogan says he no longer talks to Obama
President Obama is getting the cold shoulder from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Published July 22, 2014
Chinese spy ship arrives at giant U.S.-led naval exercise off the coast of Hawaii
A giant U.S.-led naval exercise with 22 nations from around the world got an unexpected visitor on Sunday — a Chinese spy ship perched in international waters. Published July 20, 2014
Obey: Pentagon research indicates social media can be used to control people like robots
Millions of Americans use social media every day, and the Pentagon wants to know how to how the information they see might be used to control their behavior as if they were robots. Published July 18, 2014
NATO troop commander questions Obama’s Afghan war strategy at Senate hearing
Gen. Joe Dunford, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, questioned President Obama's decision to telegraph an end-date for U.S. service members in Afghanistan while speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. Published July 17, 2014
Clash of the terrorists: Hezbollah and al Qaeda in five-day battle on Syria-Lebanon border
Shiite and Sunni Muslim terrorist groups Hezbollah and al Qaeda have been fighting a five-day battle on Syria's border with Lebanon. Published July 17, 2014
American Spartan: Man served in Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines
Staff Sgt. Jesus Yanez could arguably be called an American Spartan for the depth and breadth of his military service. It's a rarity, but Sgt. Yanez has served honorably in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Published July 17, 2014
