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☆ I'm a sniper in the US Army, and Hollywood doesn't show you the hardest part of my job
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Phillip Cho, a US Army sniper in the 11th Airborne Division based in Alaska. At sniper training, we focus on things like range estimation, target detection, and precision marksmanship, the last of which is the most heavily portrayed aspect in Hollywood movies. For me, the easiest part is probably shooting because I was already a good shot before I became a sniper. AdvertisementIn Week 3 of U.S. Army Sniper School, 35 students participate in the ghillie wash, which is designed to test the strength and durability of the suits as well as weather them. The MK-22 Precision Sniper Rifle sights view a target on the range at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Oct. 22, 2023.

Persons: —, Phillip Cho, It's, Carrillo, you'd, Patrick A, Albright, Cho, Staff Sergeant Phillip Cho, I've, Michael Schwenk Organizations: Service, US Army, 11th Airborne Division, Business, Spc, U.S . Army Sniper School, Army, Maneuver, Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs, Staff, Winchester, Base McGuire, Dix, U.S . Army National Guard Locations: Alaska, Hohenfels, Germany, U.S, Lakehurst , New Jersey

☆ Secret Service says agent on Harris’ detail was removed from assignment after distressing behavior
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —A Secret Service agent assigned to Vice President Kamala Harris’ detail was removed from their assignment after displaying behavior that colleagues found “distressing,” the agency said. Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement that the agent began “displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing.” The statement did not clarify what that behavior entailed. “The agent was removed from their assignment while medical personnel were summoned,” Guglielmi said. Harris was at the Naval Observatory during the incident and there “was no impact on her departure” from the base. “The U.S. Secret Service takes the safety and health of our employees very seriously,” Guglielmi said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Joint Base Andrews, Anthony Guglielmi, ” Guglielmi, Harris, “, ” Harris Organizations: Washington CNN, Service, Joint Base, Secret, Naval Observatory, Washington Examiner Locations: Wisconsin

A U.S. Secret Service agent was removed from Vice President Kamala Harris’s security detail this week after the officer “began displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing,” an agency spokesman said on Thursday. The incident happened Monday morning at Joint Base Andrews outside of Washington, shortly before Ms. Harris left for a campaign event in Wisconsin. A New York Times reporter who was among the media members traveling with Ms. Harris heard medical personnel trying to calm a person down at the scene. “At approximately 9 a.m. April 22, a U.S. Secret Service special agent supporting the vice president’s departure from Joint Base Andrews began displaying behavior their colleagues found distressing,” the Secret Service spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi, said in a statement. “The agent was removed from their assignment while medical personnel were summoned,” Mr. Guglielmi said.

Persons: Kamala Harris’s, “, Base Andrews, Harris, Joint Base Andrews, Anthony Guglielmi, ” Mr, Guglielmi, ” Organizations: Secret Service, Base, New York Times, Joint Base, Naval Observatory Locations: Washington, Wisconsin, U.S

☆ US sends land-attack missile system to Philippines for exercises in apparent message to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The presence of the US Army’s Mid-Range Capability (MRC) ground-based missile system, increases the risks of “misjudgment and miscalculation” in a region already on edge over Chinese-Philippines face-offs in the South China Sea, Beijing says. It’s the first-ever deployment of the MRC missile system, also known as the Typhon system, to the Indo-Pacific theater, and it comes amid a series of US-Philippine military exercises, including the largest-ever edition of the bilateral Balikatan exercises beginning Monday. It also can fire the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile, a maneuverable cruise missile with a range of 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles), according to the CSIS. Those are the same rules Washington and Manila accuse Beijing of ignoring with aggressive Chinese actions that have injured Filipino sailors and damaged vessels around disputed features in the South China Sea. US Army PacificChina’s missile advantageAnalysts say the deployment of the Typhon missile battery is the first signal of US plans to address what has long been an advantage for Beijing in the region.

Persons: Lin Jian, ” Lin, Stephen Koehler, “, equalizes, ”, Collin Koh, Christopher Milhal, Koh, Rupert Schulenberg, Donald Trump “, Thomas, CNN’s Steven Jiang Organizations: South Korea CNN, US, MRC, US Army, Missile Defense, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Foreign, US Pacific Fleet, Sunday, Xinhua, CNN, US Air Force, US Army Pacific, Beijing, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, ”, don’t, International Institute for Strategic Studies, South, Lewis, McChord, Nuclear Forces Treaty, Russian, Philippine News Agency, CNN Philippine Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, United States, Philippines, South China Sea, Beijing, Philippine, South China, Taiwan Strait, Qingdao, Washington, Manila, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Taiwan, Guam, Singapore, South, Soviet Union, Palawan, Sulu, Spratly

☆ Balloon recovered off coast of Alaska had been in the ocean for ‘well over a year,’ Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A balloon recovered off the coast of Alaska had been in the ocean for “well over a year,” the Pentagon said Friday. The balloon was discovered floating in the ocean by commercial fisherman in late-February. Some of the balloon debris, which had been held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, has been transferred to other facilities for further evaluation and analysis, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough said in a statement. “Some material has been transferred to U.S. government facilities for further examination and analysis,” Gough said. The US assessed that the spy balloon shot down last year was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, as CNN reported at the time.

Persons: Richardson, Sue Gough, ” Gough, Gough Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Joint Base Elmendorf Locations: Alaska, United States, U.S, China, Taiwan, Beijing

There, at a yet-to-be-announced location along the Gaza shore, they will build and begin to operate a floating dock to receive the aid. Off shore, the Army will build a large floating platform where ships can unload large containers of aid. The brigade’s commander, Army Col. Sam Miller, said about 500 of his soldiers will participate in the mission. The last time the 7th Transportation Brigade did a similar mission to construct a large pier was in Haiti in 2010. Miller said a larger Maritime Sealift Command ship will also be leaving Virginia in the coming days, and will be carrying some of the bigger equipment and more of the steel pier segments.

Persons: James, Joe Biden, Sam Miller, Miller, “, ” Miller, Frank S, Besson, — Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Army, Base, Gaza Health Ministry, U.S, Army, Pentagon, Officials, 7th Transportation Brigade, Defense, Biden, Maritime Sealift Command Locations: Virginia, Gaza, U.S, Eustis, Israel, Matamoros, USAV Monterrey, Haiti, Saturday

☆ Israel Hamas War: Latest Updates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Distribution of humanitarian aid from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, or UNRWA, in Rafah, Gaza, earlier this week. But aid workers say that the maritime project is not ambitious enough to alleviate the humanitarian disaster unfolding as Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip. The floating pier, General Ryder said, would be built and assembled alongside an Army ship off the Gaza coast. Israeli officials have denied they are hampering the flow of aid, saying the United Nations and aid groups are responsible for any backlogs. “We want to see the amount of aid going via land increase significantly,” General Ryder said.

Persons: Biden, Biden’s, Pat Ryder, General Ryder, Sigrid Kaag, “, Israel, ” General Ryder, “ We’re, ” Organizations: United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Pentagon, U.S ., 7th Transportation Brigade, Base, Army, Defense, U.S . Army, . Security Council, Israel ., United Nations, ” Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Eustis, Va, Norfolk, Egypt, Kerem, Israel, United, U.S, ”

Ryder also said the construction of the pier and causeway will likely require as many as 1,000 US military personnel to complete. The initiative will aim to augment a maritime corridor that the US, the European Commission, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, and the UK, have been working to open to deliver assistance directly. The pier will allow ships to offload aid, which will then be transported across a causeway into Gaza that will also be constructed by the US military, officials said. “We are committed to supporting the maritime corridor which is planned by Fogbow,” the official said. The US president and vice president each said Israel had “no excuses” not to ramp up the aid allowed into Gaza.

Persons: Patrick Ryder, Ryder, Biden, Joe Biden, Sigrid Kaag, “ We’re, ” Ryder, Fogbow, “ I’m, ” Biden, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, ” Kaag, ” Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, European Commission, United Arab, US, United Nations, United States Air Force, UN, Navy, Army, military’s, 7th Transportation Brigade Expeditionary, Base Langley, USAID, CIA, Blue, Qatari, European Union, Administration, “ Locations: Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, United, Base Langley Eustis, Virginia, American, Qatar, Israel

☆ Wait, is America actually banning TikTok now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Washington CNN —House lawmakers are moving with dizzying speed with a plan that could ban TikTok from the United States. But could a TikTok ban really happen? A man walks past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing. They allege TikTok poses a national security threat because the Chinese government could use its intelligence laws against ByteDance, forcing it to hand over the data of US TikTok users. By that precedent, it would be unconstitutional for the government to ban TikTok even if it were blatantly a direct mouthpiece for the Chinese government, Jaffer said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Greg Baker, Biden, —, “, ” TikTok, Donald Trump, Trump, ByteDance, Mark Zuckerberg, TikTok, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, ” Biden, Joint Base Andrews, it’s, Washington Sen, Maria Cantwell, ” Cantwell, ”, Jenna Leventoff, Ken White, Brown White, Osborn, White, It’s, Jameel Jaffer, Jaffer Organizations: Washington CNN —, White, Biden —, Apple, Google, House Energy, Commerce, Trump, Facebook, Republican, Biden, Wisconsin Republican, Joint Base, Senate, CNN, American Civil Liberties Union, Columbia University Locations: United States, China, ByteDance, Beijing, AFP, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Washington

☆ This is what it's like for US Army paratroopers jumping out of giant C-17s for freezing Arctic airborne assaults
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

US Army paratroopers jumped into Arctic terrain at an exercise in Alaska last month. AdvertisementIn the skies above Alaska, US Army paratroopers, loaded with heavy gear, take the plunge out of a perfectly fine airplane into freezing air temperatures and whipping Arctic winds. The experience is quite intense, troops told Business Insider, an adrenaline rush only heightened by doing it in the Arctic environment. Abreanna GoodrichLast month, US Army Pacific hosted a Joint Pacific Multinational Rotation Center training event near Fairbanks, Alaska. Paratroopers with 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division, stage onboard a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III prior to conducting an airborne operation in Donnelly Training Area, Delta Junction, AK, Feb. 8, 2024.

Persons: —, Abreanna Goodrich, USARPAC, Molly Treece, Charles A, Flynn, Derek Dion, you've, Donte Smith, Natalie Doan Smith, Spc.Wyatt Moore, Smith, Natalie Doan, David Hanson, it's Organizations: Army, Service, US Army, Business, U.S . Army, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, Pacific Multinational Readiness, Donnelly Training, U.S, Spc, US Army Pacific, Multinational Rotation Center, Boeing, Delta Junction, U.S . Air Force, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Joint Base Elmendorf, . Air Force, Public Affairs, Paratroopers, U.S . Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Public, Public Affairs Detachment Paratroopers, 11th Airborne Locations: Alaska, Fairbanks , Alaska, Hawaii, Delta, AK, China, Russia, North Korea, Wainwright, U.S, Japan, Richardson , Alaska

CNN —The Defense Department is analyzing a balloon discovered by fishermen off the coast of Alaska last week to determine whether it was a spy balloon, a spokesperson told CNN. Upon reviewing photographs taken by the fishermen, officials became concerned it could be another spy balloon, and FBI agents went to meet the boat when it returned to port. But the FBI determined that it was similar enough in appearance to a foreign government-owned surveillance balloon that it warranted further investigation. The existence of high-altitude surveillance balloons burst into US consciousness last year, when a Chinese spy balloon appeared to blow off course and transited across the continental US. The US assessed that the spy balloon was part of an extensive surveillance program run by the Chinese military, as CNN reported at the time.

Persons: Sue Gough, “, ” Gough, Biden Organizations: CNN, The Defense Department, Joint Base Elmendorf, Defense Department, FBI Locations: Alaska, Richardson, China, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ US Army attack helicopters are making 150-mile deep strike runs in the Arctic, where pilots grapple with frozen equipment and whiteout landings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Helicopter pilots also have to be able to land in confined spaces, such as a small openings located in dense forests. AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters fly over a mountain range near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on June 3, 2019. Army via APTowards the end of the recent JPMRC rotation in Alaska, Eifler told reporters about a 150-mile deep strike conducted with attack helicopters. The opportunities, particularly for helicopter pilots, are limitless, Burke told BI. As soldiers told Business Insider during the training in Alaska, if you can master warfighting in the Arctic, you can wage war anywhere.

Persons: —, Thomas E, Burke, Charles Flynn, Brian S, Eifler, Alejandro Peña, Natalie Doan, Cameron Roxberry Organizations: Service, Army, 11th Airborne Division, Business, Pacific Multinational Readiness, Airborne, Readiness, Alaska Army National Guard UH, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Base Elmendorf, . Air Force, Blackhawks, Aircraft, Paratroopers, U.S . Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Helicopter, U.S . Army, AP, Apache Locations: Alaska, Brig, Gen, Wainwright , Alaska, China, Russia, North Korea, Richardson , Alaska, Wainwright, Japan, Fort Wainwright , Alaska

☆ Biden fundraising 'dream team' creates $140 million war chest to take on Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US President Biden arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on December 20, 2023, as he departs for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. President Joe Biden's $140 million campaign war chest has been bolstered by a group of loyal advisers and fundraisers that some party strategists call a "dream team" effort to defeat the likely Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump. "They have kind of put together a dream team in fundraising," said Jim Messina, who served as former President Barack Obama's campaign manager for his successful 2012 reelection campaign. Katzenberg has been speaking with donors to Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley and trying to recruit them to support Biden. But Katzenberg pointed to Haley's support in places like New Hampshire, where she won 43% of the Republican primary vote, saying that suggests there is a slice of the Republican party ready to move on from Trump.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Rufus Gifford, Michael Pratt, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Julie Chávez Rodriguez, Jim Messina, Barack Obama's, Katzenberg, Nikki Haley, Katzenberg Haley, Trump's, Karoline Leavitt Organizations: Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, Republican, State Department, CNBC, Trump, Biden, Democratic National Committee, Commission, White House Locations: Maryland, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, South Carolina, Trump, New Hampshire

☆ Biden has forgiven $136 billion in student debt. More relief is on the way
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty ImagesIt's never been a better time to get rid of your student debt. Paul Morigi | Getty ImagesThe Biden administration has tried to reverse the trend of borrowers being excluded from the relief on technicalities. Some 790,000 public servants have gotten their debt erased as a result, amounting to more than $56 billion in relief. Total and Permanent Disability DischargeThe Biden administration has also forgiven the student debt of more than 510,000 disabled borrowers. Borrower defenseAnother 1.3 million borrowers have walked away from their debt over the past few years thanks to the Borrower Defense Loan Discharge.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Joe Biden's, James Clyburn, he's, George W, Bush, Paul Morigi, Biden, Kantrowitz Organizations: Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, AFP, Getty, Supreme, CNBC, U.S . Department of Education, Public, Consumer Financial, Studentaid.gov, of Education, Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Education Department Locations: Maryland

☆ US starts retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria against Iran-linked targets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In Syria, the strikes killed 23 people who had been guarding the targeted locations, said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an organization that reports on war in Syria. The White House said the United States had informed Iraq ahead of strikes. Baghdad later accused the United States of deception, saying a U.S. claim of coordination with the Iraqi authorities was "unfounded". The Syrian foreign ministry said the United States was fueling conflict in the region in a "very dangerous way". Britain called the United States its "steadfast" ally and said it supports Washington's right to respond to attacks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Joe Biden's, Nasser Kanaani, Rami Abdulrahman, Douglas, Sims, Chip Somodevilla, General Douglas Sims, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Ebrahim Raisi, Radek Sikorski Organizations: Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, AFP, Getty, United, Revolutionary Guard, U.S, Syrian, Human Rights, Chiefs, Capitol Visitors Center, Joint Staff, Pentagon, U.S . Defense Locations: Maryland, United States, Iraq, Syria, U.S, Iran, Israel, Gen, Washington ,, Tehran, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraqi, Baghdad, Washington, Britain, Polish, Brussels

☆ US Air Force F-35s are training for threats even tougher than what jets in Ukraine are facing. Pilots say they're 'surviving' but 'not every day is a win.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

US Air Force fighter jets recently took part in the Red Flag air combat exercise. These scenarios are meant to prepare pilots for threats tougher even than what pilots are facing in Ukraine. AdvertisementThis year's event involved airmen from the 421st Fighter Squadron and 421st Fighter Generation Squadron, as well as over a dozen F-35A Lightning IIs from Utah's Hill Air Force Base. A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A lands at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 10, 2024 in preparation for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1. AdvertisementAn F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, South Carolina, taxis prior to take off for a for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1 mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 17.

Persons: —, William R, Lewis, Nathan Heguy, Heguy, we're, Lockheed Martin, haven't, Bryan Butler Organizations: US Air Force, Flag, Service, Nellis Air Force Base, 388th Fighter Wing, 421st Fighter Squadron, 421st Fighter Generation Squadron, Utah's Hill Air Force Base, 3rd, Joint Base Elmendorf, Nellis, Nevada, Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, NATO, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Lockheed Locations: Ukraine, Nevada, Utah , Nevada, California, Richardson , Alaska, Russian, Red Flag, Russia, Flag, China, Washington, South Carolina

☆ US special operations forces are searching for a new extreme long-range rifle for their next big fight as Ukraine shows the damage that snipers can do
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A New Sniper RifleIn December, US Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, released a solicitation for offers for a new sniper rifle. SOCOM also wants its new sniper rifle to be significantly lighter than the ones it will be replacing. The MK-22 Precision Sniper Rifle sights view a target on the range at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Oct. 22, 2023. As for its durability, SOCOM wants the new sniper rifle to have a barrel life of between 1,200 and 1,500 rounds. A view from the viewfinder of a Ukrainian sniper rifle at a shooting range amid Russia and Ukraine war in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on August 09, 2023.

Persons: —, Barret, MK15, SOCOM, Michael Schwenk, Norma Mangum, Ignacio Marin, wasn't, Vyacheslav Kovalskiy Organizations: Service, Army Rangers, Navy, Marine Raiders, Green Berets, Operations Command, Base McGuire, Dix, U.S . Army National Guard, Spc, Command, Department of Defense, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Army Green Beret, National Guard, Special Forces, British, South, Democratic Locations: Ukraine, Lakehurst , New Jersey, Ukrainian, Russia, Donetsk Oblast, Canadian, Iraq, Afghanistan, South African, Democratic Republic of Congo, China

☆ The US Marine Corps called 911 for help when it lost that F-35 jet over South Carolina in September
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Marine Corps lost an F-35 jet in September after the pilot accidentally ejected midflight. Newly released audio reveals that to find the jet, the US Marine Corps called 911. 911 was little help though since they also didn't know how to find the jet, according to the audio. AdvertisementThe US Marine Corps found themselves in an unusual emergency in September: They had lost an F-35 fighter jet somewhere over South Carolina. The US Marine Corps called 911 to report the missing F-35 after a 'mishap' caused the pilot to eject into a residential neighborhood, ABC reported.

Persons: midflight, —, they've, Jeremy Huggins, It's Organizations: US Marine Corps, Service, Marine Corps, ABC, Air Station Beaufort, Business, Dispatch, Joint Base Charleston, NBC News Locations: South Carolina, Williamsburg County, I'm, Charleston

☆ Biden to head to Michigan and Nevada to ramp up outreach to key base voters
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Mike Memoli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

US President Biden arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on December 20, 2023, as he departs for Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Biden could be courting Latino voters in Nevada while simultaneously negotiating a border funding bill that includes stricter immigration policies that are opposed by Hispanic leaders. The Biden campaign has argued that as important as immigration is, public polling and its own research show the economy as the top concern of Latino voters. In 2020, Biden carried both Nevada and Michigan, but by less than 3 percentage points. Only Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia were closer among states Biden carried.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, It's, Joe Biden, Quentin Fulks, Biden's, Fulks, Donald Trump's, we'll, Kamala Harris, Harris, — Organizations: Air Force, Joint Base Andrews, Democratic, Israel, Culinary Workers, United Auto Workers, Big Three, UAW Locations: Maryland, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Michigan, surrogates, Carolina, South Carolina . Michigan, Atlanta, Mandalay Bay, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia

☆ Blinken to meet with leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE with aim to avert larger Middle East war
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards an aircraft during his departure from Washington to travel to the Middle East, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., January 4, 2024. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and suffering," Blinken told reporters in Doha after meeting with Qatar's leadership on Sunday. The Middle East trip follows the assassination by drone of deputy Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri in Beirut, which Hamas has blamed on Israel. Many U.S. officials now fear that the fighting will draw Hezbollah and Lebanon into the war, a shift that could see Iran up its involvement as well. Hezbollah, the most powerful militant and political organization in Lebanon, has been described by analysts as having 10 times the power and military capabilities as Hamas.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Blinken, Saleh al Organizations: Joint Base Andrews, United Arab Emirates — U.S, United Arab, Sunday, Hamas, Palestinian, Many U.S Locations: Washington, Israel, Joint Base Andrews , Maryland, U.S, DUBAI, United Arab, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Doha, Arouri, Beirut, Iran, Lebanon, Many

A Boeing E-4B "Doomsday Plane" military aircraft takes off at Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, U.S., May 11, 2022. The Air Force, which plans to award a SAOC contract in 2024, declined to comment on whether other firms had submitted bids. "We cannot discuss an active source selection and detailed program information is classified," an Air Force spokesperson said. "Rest assured, we haven't signed any fixed-price development contracts nor (do we) intend to," Brian West, Boeing's chief financial officer, said in October. The Air Force currently operates four E-4B aircraft with at least one on alert at all times.

Persons: Tom Brenner, haven't, Brian West, Valerie Insinna, Mike Stone, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Boeing, Joint Base Andrews, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Air Force, Sierra Nevada Corp, Survivable Airborne Operations Center, The Air Force, Air Force, U.S, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Maryland, U.S, Washington

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AP) — Santa Claus’ sleigh took on new responsibilities in rural Alaska this week when delivering gifts to an Alaska Native village. Santa’s ride, an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, was shuttling Santa, Mrs. Claus, volunteer elves and gifts in shifts Wednesday to provide the children of Tuluksak some Christmas cheer. The flights originated about 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest, from the hub community of Bethel, the guard said in a release. The Alaska National Guard for decades has delivered gifts, supplies and sometimes Christmas itself to tiny rural communities dotting the nation’s largest and largely roadless state. The guard stepped up, taking donated gifts and supplies to the village.

Persons: ’, Claus, Colton Bell, David Berg, ” Bell Organizations: ELMENDORF, Alaska Army National Guard UH, Hawk, Helicopter, Alaska National Guard Locations: RICHARDSON , Alaska, Santa, Alaska, Bethel, Tuluksak, Napaskiak, Anchorage, St, Mary’s

☆ Biden's infrastructure law has begun 40,000 projects. Will it help him in 2024?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. President Joe Biden departs on travel to Chicago, Illinois, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., November 9, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Two years after President Joe Biden signed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law, his administration has launched 40,000 projects aimed at rebuilding America, according to his infrastructure czar, Mitch Landrieu. THE TAKELandrieu spent more than an hour with reporters on Thursday to talk up the benefits of the infrastructure law ahead of the Nov. 15 anniversary. The administration has put signs at construction projects across the country boasting about Biden's role in securing the funding. BY THE NUMBERSLandrieu said thus more than $400 billion in projects has been announced, covering 40,000 projects in more than 4,500 communities in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Native American tribal areas.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Mitch Landrieu, White, Biden, Landrieu, Brent Spence, Steve Holland Organizations: Joint Base Andrews, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, Amtrak, of, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, Joint Base Andrews , Maryland, U.S, America, New Orleans, Wilmington , Delaware, Ohio, Kentucky, of Columbia, American, Hudson, New York, New Jersey

Brown, Jr. attends the Armed Forces Farewell Tribute in honor of General Milley and an Armed Forces Hail in honor of General Brown, at Summerall Field at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia, U.S., September 29, 2023. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday the number of civilians killed in Gaza showed there was something "clearly wrong" with Israel's military operations. He also said there was room for Israel's military to improve in its public explanations about its conduct, and that he had raised this with his Israeli counterpart. ISRAEL BRACES FOR LONG, TOUGH WARIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Israelis the country is in a "tough war" that will also be long. Brown stopped short of advocating for a short campaign or offering his view of how long Israel's Gaza operation should last.

Persons: Charles Q, Brown, Jr, General Milley, General Brown, Evelyn Hockstein, General Charles Q, Tokyo Brown, Joe Biden's, Israel's, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, I've, we've, Timothy Organizations: Joint Chiefs, Armed Forces, Joint Base Myer, Henderson, REUTERS, Palestinian, U.S, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hamas, United Nations, Islamic, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Gaza, TOKYO, Japan, Israel, ISRAEL, Iraq

☆ US drone shot down near Yemen -officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A U.S. military MQ-9 drone was shot down on Wednesday by Yemen's Houthis, two U.S. officials and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement said. While U.S. drones have been shot down by Houthis in the past, this incident comes at a particularly tense time in the region. The U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the drone, made by General Atomics, had been brought down off the coast of Yemen. In a statement, a Houthi military spokesperson said they shot down the drone in airspace over Yemeni territorial waters. Last month, a U.S. Navy warship intercepted four cruise missiles and more than a dozen drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen headed toward Israel.

Persons: Yemen's Houthis, General Atomics, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Chris Reese, Rod Nickel Organizations: Houthis, U.S, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, Base Elmendorf, Thomson Locations: U.S, Iran, Washington, Israel, Yemen, Red, Richardson , Alaska

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