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☆ The red flags that will tell us when China's actually ready to invade Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"I don't think they lack for anything that they need," Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia engagement at Defense Priorities, said of China's forces. Military forces are being deployed nearer to Taiwan than ever, effectively shortening Taiwan's reaction time. Stockpiling of China's rocket force, too, suggests it would have more than enough missiles and rockets to target Taiwan. One common concern is that as China's military exercises around Taiwan have grown in frequency and size, the line between exercise and potential attack is becoming blurred. Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty ImagesExperts, as well as US and Taiwan lawmakers and military officials, have long debated about the readiness of the People's Liberation Army as China's military is known.

Persons: —, Lyle Goldstein, Stringer China, Xi, Thomas Shugart, who's, Shugart, Goldstein, Mike Studeman, Xi Jinping, Dean Cheng, haven't, Cheng, Xie Huanchi, There's, Kyle Amonson, Dane Egli, Annabelle Chih, Getty Images Goldstein, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Business, Defense, REUTERS, Taiwan's, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense, US Department of Defense, China Economic, Security, PLA, Patriot, US, Center, New, New American Security, Marine Corps, China Coast Guard, Scarborough, ROSA, Military, of Naval Intelligence, Pacific Command, US Institute of Peace, of, People, Getty Images, People's Liberation Army, CCP, Soviet, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Japan, US Coast Guard, Chinese Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, Kyodo, Stills Locations: China, Taiwan, Asia, Liaoning, Beijing, New American, AFP, Hong Kong, Xinhua, DoD's China, Cuba, US, Tainan, Japan, Philippines

☆ US considers deploying extra military advisors to Ukraine as Russia looks set to ramp up offensives
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe US is considering sending additional military advisors to its Kyiv embassy as Russia continues its offensive operations in Ukraine, Politico reported. They would also assist the Ukrainian military with weapons maintenance, one of the officials and the person familiar with the plans said. Currently, we are considering sending several additional advisors to augment the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) at the Embassy." Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West against sending troops to Ukraine. "The Russian military command will likely intensify offensive operations and missile and drone strikes to pursue operationally significant effects that will certainly become harder to achieve against well-provisioned Ukrainian forces."

Persons: —, Patrick Ryder, Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Putin, Chasiv Yar — Organizations: Service, Politico, US, Business, Pentagon, DOD, of Defense Cooperation, Embassy, DoD, U.S . Embassy, NATO, for, Anadolu Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Getty, Chasiv, Donetsk

☆ U.S. lawmakers want the DoD to delist blacklist Chinese firms on the Nasdaq
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailU.S. lawmakers want the DoD to delist blacklist Chinese firms on the NasdaqCNBC's Eunice Yoon and Emily Wilkins join 'Power Lunch' to report on China's retail earnings and U.S. lawmakers wanting to delist some blacklisted Chinese firms.

Persons: Eunice Yoon, Emily Wilkins Organizations: U.S, Nasdaq

☆ Here's what Mark Cuban's $275.9 million in taxes would cover for the US government
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

And yes, we know Cuban's tax bill won't go directly to paying for these programs, but for the sake of context, here's what his taxes could have funded. Cuban's $275.9 million contribution to the US government could fully back the department with nearly half still left over. Cuban's million could easily cover congressional paychecks and even account for President Joe Biden's $400,000 salary and Vice President Kamala Harris' $235,100 salary. So, Cuban's $275.9 million wouldn't quite be able to cover the potential three-hour DOD cost at $291,095,890.41. While $275.9 million might not seem like it would make a dent in that astronomical number, every little bit helps!

Persons: Mark Cuban, Donald Trump, —, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Joe Biden's, Kamala Harris, It's Organizations: Service, Trump, Business, Government, Fund, NTSB, Transportation Safety Board, Transportation, DOD, Department of Defense, CNBC

☆ The US Navy's grappling with another Ford-class supercarrier delay that could run into the next decade
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewThe US Navy's third Ford-class aircraft carrier is facing delays that might push its delivery to 2030. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford transits the Strait of Gibraltar, Jan. 5, 2024. Nick Guertin, the Navy's acquisition executive, attributed the shipbuilding delays to "common issues from lingering COVID impacts across the national workforce and supply chain landscape with industry reticent to invest." Related storiesThe following Ford-class carrier, USS Doris Miller (CVN-81), is currently on schedule thanks to the Navy buying both the Enterprise and Miller at the same time. AdvertisementA T-45C Goshawk training aircraft attached to Training Air Wing (TAW) 1, lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during flight operations, Sept. 12, 2020.

Persons: —, Carlos Del Toro, Gerald R, Navy Petty, Jacob Mattingly, Nick Guertin, Doris Miller, Miller, Adm, Downey, Seaman Anton Wendler, Ford, Michael Gilday, Brian Glunt Organizations: Service, Ford, USS Enterprise, Business, Enterprise, Navy, BI, Newport News, Training Air, US Navy, Communication, Department of Defense, Army's, Force Locations: Virginia, Gibraltar, Jan, Oslo, China, Washington ,, Pacific

☆ How much can you make in the military? US officers can earn a $220K salary plus some pretty generous benefits
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But the full compensation package of active military personnel goes beyond annual salary. Officers can earn a $220k salaryAll active duty military personnel adhere to the same pay scale and ranking system for base pay, regardless of which branch they serve in. An enlisted service member with an E-1 ranking receives $2,017.20 per month in basic pay, according to the DoD 2024 basic pay table. Service members outside the US may also receive an additional overseas housing allowance to incentivize military members to serve internationally. With Tricare, military members have no premium charges for coverage, and no out-of-pocket costs for medical care or prescriptions.

Persons: —, Paychecks, you've, you'll Organizations: Service, Military, Department of Defense, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, National Guard, Air Force, Business, O1, Space Force, Housing, Subsistence, Department of Defense's Finance, Accounting Service, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Savings Locations: San Diego, Bahrain, Tricare

☆ Oracle's Larry Ellison thinks every government will want to build a 'sovereign' AI cloud in the future
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Michelle Castillo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Oracle, which works with Nvidia and Microsoft on generative AI capabilities, has already helped use cloud tech to cut red tape for countries. For the first time, we're beginning to win business for countries," Ellison said. Countries including Serbia are standardizing on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and using generative AI for processes like automating health care. Cloud and generative AI applications allowing countries to give rural areas internet access could increase educational opportunities and create more economic value. "There's the 'Black Mirror' bad side of it: Big Brother, data wars, AI warfare and all that stuff," Garder said.

Persons: Raimo Lenschow, Ellison, Oracle's Larry Ellison, it's, Elon Musk's, you've, we've, Dan Gardner, Tapan Parikh, Parikh, Garder, Gardner, Simone Bohnenberger, It's, Bohnenberger, there's Organizations: Oracle, Barclays, EU, Nvidia, Microsoft, European, Amazon, Department of Defense, Google, Infrastructure, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Cornell University, U.S Locations: Serbia, Albania, European Union, Kenya, Rwanda, U.S, China, TikTok

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Persons: Federal nRewards, cardholders, Read, Cardholders, — Organizations: Business Insider, Navy Federal Credit, Card, Navy Federal Credit Union, Citi, Federal Credit, Credit, National Guard, Department of Defense, DOD, The Navy Federal Credit, Federal Credit Union, Emergency Assistance Navy Federal Credit, Federal, American, Walmart, Wells, Citi Diamond Preferred, Navy, Navy Federal, of Defense, Business Locations: Wells

☆ As it looks to keep its edge over rivals, the US Navy's biggest shipbuilding projects are delayed by years, new review finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewThe US Navy's biggest shipbuilding projects, from new submarines to a first-in-class guided-missile frigate, are delayed by one to three years, according to a new Navy report. A chart from the Secretary of the Navy's 45-day shipbuilding review. AdvertisementThat growing concern comes as China's shipbuilding turns out not only more warships, but also increasingly capable ones. The Navy review, Guertin said, "identified major initiatives to drive improvement that we plan to pursue." "Our Navy ships exist to strengthen American dominance and deliver warfighting capability by providing the tools our warfighters need to operate the world's strongest navy.

Persons: —, Nick Guertin, There's, COVID, George Washington, Jonathon Gruenke, Carlos Del Toro, Del Toro, James Stavridis, Fang Sihang, Guertin Organizations: Service, Navy, Business, BI, Navy Public Affairs, Department of Defense, USS Enterprise, Enterprise, Ford, Newport News Shipbuilding, Virginian, Tribune, Getty, Virginia, Columbia, DoD, US Locations: China, Virginia, Columbia, Xinhua

☆ F-35 Lightning II fighter jets can finally fly in lightning after years of dodging storms
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A variant of the F-35 fighter jet can now fly in lightning after years of restrictions. Lightning has long been a major — and ironic — issue for the F-35, nicknamed the Lightning II. The 2012 report said "tests of the fuel tank inerting system in 2009 identified deficiencies in maintaining the required lower fuel tank oxygen levels to prevent fuel tank explosions." Advertisement"The system, " according to the report, "is not able to maintain fuel tank inerting through some critical portions of a simulated mission profile. The program is redesigning the On-Board Inert Gas Generating System (OBIGGS) to provide the required levels of protection from threat and from fuel tank explosions induced by lightning."

Persons: —, Russell Goemaere, Goemaere, Theodore Bergan, haven't Organizations: DoD, Service, Department of Defense, Business, Breaking Defense, Board, Marine Fighter Attack, Marine Fighter Attack Training, Marine Corps Air, US Marine Corps, Staff Locations: Point , North Carolina

☆ The cost of key US weapons like artillery shells for Ukraine is soaring
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The cost to maintain a weapon is more than twice the cost to build it, a GAO official said. Related storiesThe Army estimated that O&S costs for the Excalibur — first deployed in 2007 — had soared 183% since a baseline estimate in 2011. Still, all this does raise the question of whether higher maintenance costs for US military equipment at least partially result from problems with design and manufacturing. "We don't know the specific extent of O&S cost growth due to design problems or poor sustainment management," Maurer said. "In some respects, those problems could lower O&S costs because systems cannot fly, operate, or sail as often as planned.

Persons: —, Ukraine —, Diana Maurer, Maurer, Michael Peck Organizations: US Army, Service, GAO, DOD, Department of Defense, Army, Navy, Air Force, US Navy, Raytheon, YouTube, US, EA, Hornet, Navy Multiband, Tactical Mission, Warfighter, Pentagon, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, China, Forbes

☆ Air defense for $13 a shot? How lasers could revolutionize the way militaries counter enemy missiles and drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And it is claimed it also take out its targets for a tiny fraction of what current air defense missiles cost. In contrast, the Standard Missile-2 used by the United States Navy for air defense costs more than $2 million per shot. The DragonFire laser weapon is tested in January on a British firing range. UK Defense Ministry“It has the potential to be a long-term low-cost alternative to certain tasks missiles currently carry out,” a January statement from the UK Defense Ministry said. Meanwhile expensive air defense systems from Western allies have been crucial to Ukraine’s ability to defend itself from attacks by Russian missiles and drones.

Persons: “, ”, Houthi, Leon Neal, ” James Black, DragonFire, Black, Grant Shapp, Iain Boyd, Boyd, Fred Pyle, ” Shimon Fhima Organizations: CNN, United Kingdom’s Defense Ministry, Defense Ministry, UK Defense Ministry, The Defense Ministry, United States Navy, ExCel, Getty, RAND, ”, Center for National Security, University of Colorado, Navy, Warfare, Breaking Defense, US Navy, Office, DOD Locations: Britain, Scotland, Ukraine, Gulf of Aden, Russian, London, England, RAND Europe, Ponce, Persian, USS Portland

But the Pentagon was reluctant to use that funding, because there was no replenishment money left to refill the US inventories. The second official gave one example of being able to buy 25mm ammunition at a cheaper cost than originally expected after contract negotiations with the vendor. And we certainly can’t count on this as a way of doing business.”“We weren’t broke at the time, but now we are.”The last Ukraine aid package from the US was announced in late December. Last year, the Defense Department announced that it had discovered an accounting error that led to DoD overvaluing the amount of aid it was providing to Ukraine by $6.2 billion. “We believe that the support is still there if the House is allowed to vote,” said the second defense official.

Persons: CNN —, “, ”, Defense Department “, Biden, “ You’ve Organizations: CNN, Biden, Defense Department, Pentagon, Ukraine, DoD, Republican Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Avdiivka

☆ A signal linked to aliens by a Harvard professor may have been caused by a passing truck
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewYet another study is calling into question a Harvard professor's claims that metallic balls discovered under the ocean may have been made by aliens . Johns Hopkins University-led (JHU-led) research said a blip on the seismometer that Loeb used to pinpoint the crash site may simply have been caused by the vibrations of a passing truck. AdvertisementPinpointing the crash siteIn 2019, Loeb and his team searched databases for unusual meteors that were moving rapidly. The meteor, dubbed by Loeb's team IM1, was first spotted by the Department of Defense's (DoD) sensors. Loeb's team recovered 805 spherules.

Persons: —, Avi Loeb, Loeb, Ben Fernando, It's, Fernando, it's, Charles Hoskinson, Undeterred Organizations: Service, Harvard, Business, Johns Hopkins University, JHU, Department of Defense's, DoD, Planetary Science Conference, Galileo, Space Force Locations: Papua, Guinea, 2401.09882, Papua New Guinea, Houston

“What we are in now is a production war,” a senior NATO official told CNN. “The number one issue that we’re watching right now is the munitions,” the NATO official said. There is also a limit to Russian production capacity, officials say: Russian factories will likely hit a peak sometime in the next year. “If we were talking about this last fall, we would have talked about how they were targeting critical infrastructure,” the NATO official said. “In the short term — say, the next 18 months or so — it may be unsophisticated, but it’s a durable economy,” the NATO official said.

Persons: ”, Abrams, “, — “, Joe Biden, Inna Varenytsia, it’s, Putin’s, Steven Basham, “ It’s, Maxym, Russia’s ‘, Basham Organizations: CNN, Army, NATO, ”, Reuters, Ukraine, European Command, US Army, ” Intelligence, US European Command, Pentagon Locations: Russia, Europe, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, that’s, Iran, North Korea, Kreminna, Germany, Pennsylvania , Iowa, Texas, Moscow, Tehran, Bohorodychne, Donetsk, Russian

☆ Pentagon considering tapping last source of Ukraine military funding as Congress stalls on additional aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Defense Department still has around $4 billion in presidential drawdown authority funds available for Ukraine, which allows the Pentagon to draw from its own stockpiles to send military equipment to Kyiv. But it would not be unprecedented for the Pentagon to find additional, unexpected sources of funding. Last year, the Defense Department announced that it had discovered an accounting error that led to DoD overvaluing the amount of aid it was providing to Ukraine by $6.2 billion. Asked on Tuesday whether the department was considering spending some of the remaining money, Pentagon press secretary Gen. Patrick Ryder said he had nothing to announce but that the Pentagon was continuing to explore ways to keep supporting Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN this week that Ukraine will not win the war without continued US support.

Persons: Garron Garn, Patrick Ryder, “ We’re, ” Ryder, Ryder, ”, “, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: CNN, The Defense Department, Pentagon, Defense, ”, Defense Department, DoD, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, “ Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Avdiivka

☆ AI could influence 'the whole future of war,' starting with gaming out the next fight, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

It's something that has appeared in fiction writing on imagined future wars but is also being looked at right now. AI "can shape the wargames and actually the whole future of war," Yasir Atalan, an associate data fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Business Insider. In February 2023, for instance, the US military let AI successfully pilot a fighter jet and engage in simulated air-to-air combat. Wargaming expert Ivanka Barzashka has also raised concerns that AI may obscure explanations for actions, potentially leading to faulty conclusions. "When people are using these LLMs in their approach, they need to be transparent, they need to show their prompting," Atalan said.

Persons: —, Yasir Atalan, Thomas Mort, CSIS's Benjamin Jensen, Dan Tadross, Atalan, Cpl, Yvonna, Alan Turing, Barzashka, Javier Chagoya, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Naval Postgraduate School, Mobile Education Team, US, CSIS, US Marine Corps, 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, RAND, The, Atomic Scientists Locations: Wiesbaden, Germany, London, warfighting

☆ Here's why it's an aircraft carrier tradition to catapult a pair of boots
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Lauren Frias | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Signal for takeoffLt. Nicholas Woodworth and Robert Wilkerson prepare to shoot their boots off the flight deck of USS Carl Vinson using the ship's catapult. Beyond conducting an aircraft launch through a series of hand gestures and poses, shooters have a number of other responsibilities to ensure a safe takeoff. "The catapult officer is responsible to ensure the catapult is prepared and ready to launch aircraft, the aircraft is properly configured to launch, all personnel are in their proper position, and any observers are behind the foul lines," Lt. Cmdr. Robert Neff, a shooter aboard George Washington, told DoD News. "We inspect the entire catapult system, the jet-blast deflector, and input our calculations for wind to determine how much steam is needed to launch aircraft," Neff added.

Persons: Nicholas Woodworth, Robert Wilkerson, Carl Vinson, Adrian White, Cmdr, Robert Neff, George Washington, Neff Organizations: US Navy, DoD

☆ Congressman presses Elon Musk to provide SpaceX satellite services for US defense forces in Taiwan, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( John L. Dorman | Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Congressman is urging Elon Musk to give SpaceX Starshield access to US forces in Taiwan. AdvertisementElon Musk is facing pressure to provide SpaceX's Starshield satellite network to US defense personnel in Taiwan, according to Forbes. However, the outlet described a "group of US lawmakers" were involved in the calls for Musk to provide satellite access to US defense forces in Taiwan. The letter then called on Musk to brief the select panel regarding Starshield's capabilities in Taiwan by March 8, Forbes reported. The request could present challenges for Musk, who has considerable business ties in China, where Tesla has a significant manufacturing presence.

Persons: Elon Musk, Forbes, —, Elon, Mike Gallagher, Musk, Gallagher, Taiwan's, Lai Ching, Tesla, hasn't, Joseph Wu Organizations: SpaceX, Service, Forbes ., Forbes . Wisconsin GOP, US Defense Department, Forbes, Street, Chinese Communist Party, New York Times, United States Congress, Times, Business Locations: Taiwan, China, Forbes, Forbes . Wisconsin, Russian, Starshield, Hong Kong

☆ US Army under increasing pressure as it foots bill for Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Haley Britzky | Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“We’re basically taking it out of hide in the Army,” a senior Army official told CNN. That includes not only the operations related to Ukraine support — training and ferrying weapons and equipment to Poland and Ukraine — but other operations for the US command throughout Europe and Africa. Those operations include training exercises for Army forces in Europe and Africa and equipment moving into the theater. Last week, the Senate voted to advance a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, including $60 billion in support for Ukraine. So far in fiscal year 2024, the Army has spent $39.7 million on ground transportation, the first senior Army official told CNN.

Persons: “ We’re, ”, hasn’t, Christine Wormuth —, —, Peter, Paul, I’m, ” Wormuth, Martin O’Donnell, Mike Johnson, it’s, Daniel Hokanson, that’s, ” Hokanson, Sabrina Singh, ” Singh, “ Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, US Army, Army, Africa Command, Congress, ”, Morris Air National Guard Base, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, US, Lawmakers, Capitol, National Guard Bureau, Pentagon, DOD Locations: Russia, Europe, Ukraine, Poland, Africa, Army Europe, US Army Europe, Germany, Arizona

☆ The Houthis have deployed underwater drones in the Red Sea, Defense Department says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Houthi fighters have deployed underwater drones in the Red Sea, the Defense Department said. Underwater drones are an "extremely lethal" threat to the US Navy, an admiral told the AP. The US launched five "self-defense" strikes on Houthi positions on Saturday, the DoD said. AdvertisementThe US Defense Department said American forces in the Red Sea for the first time spotted and struck an underwater drone deployed by Houthi fighters on Saturday. CENTCOM, the central command for the US Department of Defense, said the United States launched "self-defense" strikes on Saturday against "three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV), and one unmanned surface vessel (USV)" in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and the Red Sea.

Persons: — Organizations: Defense Department, US Navy, AP, US, DoD, Service, US Defense Department, Houthi, US Department of Defense, Business Locations: Red, United States, Houthi, Yemen

☆ Close US partners in the Middle East demand air defenses after Iranian drone attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US Congress has already asked DoD to develop a plan to equip the Peshmerga with air defenses. Iraqi Kurdistan expects the US to appreciate such stances and provide air defenses, given the high stakes for the autonomous region. Ceng Sagnic, chief of analysis of the geopolitical consultancy firm TAM-C Solutions, said “several considerations” are involved in supplying the Peshmerga air defenses. Turkey may not object to an American air defense provision to Iraqi Kurdistan under certain conditions. Advertisement“Using recent clashes as a reason to request additional US air defenses is likely to be viewed negatively in Ankara,” Ali Bakir, a Turkey expert and non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East program, told BI.

Persons: —, America’s, Masrour Barzani, ” Mohammed Salih, ” Salih, Ceng Sagnic, ” Sagnic, Mazlum Kobane, ” Ali Bakir Organizations: DoD, Service, Kurdistan’s, NBC News, Foreign Policy Research Institute, TAM, C, ISIS, ”, Kurdistan Democratic Party, Patriotic Union of, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party, Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, Reuters, US Locations: Kurdish, Syria, Turkey, Iraq’s Iran, United States, Iraqi Kurdistan, Jordan, Iran, Iraqi, Erbil, Jan, Washington, Iraq, American, Baghdad, Ankara, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdistan

☆ The White House Medical Unit operated a pharmacy that gave out controlled substances to ineligible Trump staffers, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The White House Medical Unit operated a pharmacy that distributed controlled substances, a new report says. AdvertisementThe White House Medical Unit gave out controlled substances to ineligible Trump staffers, according to a new report from the US Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. "The White House Medical Unit dispensed prescription medications, including controlled substances, to ineligible White House staff," the report says. Sample of the White House Medical Unit Controlled Substance Receipt Tracking Form. White House Medical Unit.

Persons: —, Trump, Walter Reed, General Organizations: White, Medical Unit, Service, Trump, US Department of Defense, White House, Medical, DoD

☆ Trump White House Pharmacy Improperly Provided Drugs and Misused Funds, Pentagon Report Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Ahmed AbouleneinWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House Medical Unit during the Trump administration provided prescription drugs, including controlled substances, to ineligible staff and spent tens of thousands of dollars more on brand-name drugs than what generic equivalents would have cost, a Pentagon report shows. The unit, part of the White House Military Office, did not comply with federal government and Department of Defense guidelines, the report, which was released on Jan. 8, found. Ineligible staffers received free specialty care and surgery at military medical facilities and were provided with prescription drugs including controlled substances, in violation of federal law, the report also found. "The White House Medical Unit's pharmaceutical management practices ineffectively used DoD funds by obtaining brand‑name medications instead of generic equivalents and increased the risk for the diversion of controlled substances," it said. Opioids and sleeping medications were not properly accounted for and were tracked using error-filled or unreadable handwritten records, the report said.

Persons: Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, Trump, ineffectively, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Lester Martinez, Lopez, Ahmed Aboulenein, Leslie Adler Organizations: White, Medical Unit, Pentagon, Military Office, Department of Defense, Medical, Military Health

☆ Pentagon says it created more hoops to jump through on AI weapons to calm fears it was 'building killer robots in the basement'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The update was partially to assure people that DoD wasn't "building killer robots in the basement," a senior official said. The US and some of its adversaries are making rapid progress on AI weapons, with lots of controversy in the mix. Last year, DoD updated its directive on autonomy in weapons systems, which was originally published back in 2012. AdvertisementThe move reflects the US' growing interest and progress in developing AI weapons systems. Other nations, however, had hoped to use the UN as a platform to propose restrictions and limit how autonomous weapons operate.

Persons: —, Kathleen Kicks, Dominic Garcia, William Pugh, Michael C, Horowitz, isn't, Henry M, Jackson, Devin M, Langer, Tiffany Price, Khalil Hashmi, Hicks Organizations: Defense Department, DoD, Service, Pentagon, of Defense, Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Defense for Force Development, Center for Strategic, International Studies, AI, Technologies, Strategic, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Tyndall Air Force Base, United Nations, New York Times, UN, The Times Locations: China, La, Ukraine, Fla, United, Russia, Australia, Israel, Pakistan

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