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☆ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signals Putin's plan to seize Kharkiv and create a 'sanitary zone'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewForeign Minister Sergey Lavrov has strongly suggested that Russia intends to seize the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, making him the first senior Kremlin official to identify the city as a potential target outright. Moscow has already made it clear that it believes the only way to defend Russian territory is through such a buffer zone, which would put its settlements out of reach of Ukrainian fire. AdvertisementPutin has wanted to take Kharkiv since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The city has symbolic as well as strategic value for the Russian president, as it has a majority Russian-speaking population and was the first capital of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Persons: —, Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov, Ukraine's, Vladimir Putin's, Dmitry Peskov, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Kremlin, for, Business, Bloomberg, Kharkiv, Ukrainian Soviet, Komsomolskaya Pravda Locations: Russia, Kharkiv, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian, Russian, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Moskva

☆ Exclusive: State Department officials told House investigators they created Afghanistan withdrawal plans from scratch
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The State Department has continued to publicly defend its decision making around the NEO as well as the ending of the war. Milley and retired Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, who were in charge of the US military during the withdrawal, blamed the State Department for not ordering a NEO sooner. The State Department officials did not weigh in on whether calling a NEO sooner would have had a substantial impact, as this would have preceded their arrival in Afghanistan. Although the State Department has faced sharp criticism from the Defense Department – most recently in a congressional hearing with retired Gens. Coordination with the militaryAnd on the ground, as they grappled with the frenzied and fluid situation, State Department officials and service members at Hamid Karzai International Airport were regularly coordinating.

Persons: John Bass, Jim DeHart, Jayne Howell, Michael McCaul’s, McCaul, Biden, ”, Mark Milley, ” Howell, DeHart, ” Bass, Hamid, Bass, Wendy Sherman, Washington . Howell, I’m, Howell, “, Trump, Anna Moneymaker, Milley, Kenneth McKenzie, McKenzie, Vedant Patel, “ It’s, Defense Department –, Gens, Kenneth McKenzie –, ” DeHart, didn’t Organizations: CNN, State Department, House Foreign Affairs, Republican, Department, Foreign Affairs, Chiefs, House Foreign, ”, DC, State, Department of Defense, Airport, Foreign Service Institute, Pentagon, Biden, Joint Chiefs, Staff, US, US Central Command, ” State Department, Defense Department, Hamid Locations: Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghan, Ukraine, Kabul Afghanistan, Washington ., Turkey, Rayburn, Washington , DC, extremis

☆ Russian assault to capture Ukraine's 2nd-largest city can't be ruled out, commander says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The head of Ukraine's armed forces said a Russian offensive against Kharkiv could not be ruled out. AdvertisementThe commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces has said a Russian attack on Kharkiv could not be ruled out. Russian forces inflicted a strike on a residential area district using a modernized UMPB D-30 guided bomb, Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine, March 27, 2024. The bomb, also known as a "gliding bomb," has been adapted with a guidance system and wings, enabling Russian forces to employ "stand-off" tactics and strike targets from long range. AdvertisementSuch weapons help Russian forces supplement their "inadequate" stocks of air-launched missiles and allow them to avoid using free-fall bombs that put pilots closer to the firing line, the think tank says.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, —, Ukrinform, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Sergey Bolvinov, Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, Volodymyr Tymoshko Organizations: Kharkiv, Service, Ukrainian Soviet, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Associated Press, Publishing, Getty Images, Reuters, International Institute for Strategic Studies Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist, Getty Images Russia

☆ Ukraine says Russia in less than a week hit it with 700 glide bombs, weapons that can really only be beaten by killing the planes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewRussia has been hitting Ukraine with glide bombs, with one official reporting that Moscow's forces dropped 700 of the devastating explosives in just under a week. Shooting down the fighter-bombers means putting precious air defenses closer to the front, where they'll be at greater risk. Ukrainian air defenses also don't have enough ammo. Glide bombs began showing up last year but have seen increasing use since the start of this year. Russia has a variety of glide bombs in its arsenal, including some weighing more than 6,000 pounds.

Persons: —, Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, Kuleba, ISW, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Business, Foreign Affairs, Glide, Washington DC, Aircraft, Patriots Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian

☆ Opinion: We must help Ukraine now or fight costlier wars later
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Opinion Mark T. Esper | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Whether Congress chooses to provide the continued financial support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan desperately need will go a long way toward answering this question. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper testifies during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on July 9 in Washington, DC. Without renewed US support, the arms pipeline to Ukraine will continue to dwindle over the coming months, directly impacting what happens on the battlefield. Politics must be set aside, and politicians who spurn allies, coddle autocrats and argue for American retrenchment should be ignored. Leadership is a heavy cross to bear, indeed, but the benefits of doing so — especially in the face of clear threats — will always outweigh the costs and favor the United States.

Persons: Mark, Esper, Trump, Russia resurges, Defense Mark Esper, Greg Nash, Vladimir Putin’s, Israel dismantles, Joe Biden, Anatolii Stepanov, Putin, Xi Jinping, coddle autocrats Organizations: Times, The McCain Institute, CNN, Defense, Armed, Funds, Communist, NATO, Ukraine, Taiwan Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Israel, Taiwan, Washington , DC, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Communist China, Kyiv, Moscow, Russian, Kostyantynivka, Donetsk, AFP, China, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, Washington, Iran, Afghanistan, East

☆ Ukraine hit a company of Russian troops with HIMARS while they waited around for a visiting general
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Russian battalion congregated at a training area near the village of Trudovske in occupied eastern Ukraine when the two missiles struck, The BBC reported Wednesday. Sources familiar with the incident told the outlet that the soldiers were gathered to await the arrival of a senior commander. Ukraine has yet to comment on the strike, but the BBC reported a US-made HIMARS launch system was used to fire the two missiles. In August, Ukraine said it launched a HIMARS attack on five Russian units gathered on a beach that resulted in 200 casualties and destroyed equipment. Some accounts at the time suggested the troops had been gathered to await a general's pep talk before a dangerous mission.

Persons: —, Alexander Osipov, Osipov, Yaroslav Trofimov, Oleg Moiseyev, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Simon Miles, flack Organizations: Service, Russian, BBC, Business, Telegram, Wall Street, 29th Army of, Defense, Duke University's Sanford School of Public, Soviet Union Locations: Russia, Trudovske, Ukraine, Transbaikalia, Soviet, Russian

☆ Biden instructed aides to dial up attacks on Trump’s wild comments
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Mj Lee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —President Joe Biden personally directed his senior campaign aides in recent days to focus more aggressively on former President Donald Trump’s inflammatory comments, according to two sources familiar with the president’s edict. For weeks, his campaign has said they are fully prepared for Trump to emerge as the GOP nominee. “Freedom and democracy itself are on the ballot in November.”That marked only the second time, according to a campaign official, that a Biden campaign statement was attributed directly to the president. It’s un-American.”The next day, the campaign went after Trump again after the former president repeated his threat to NATO members. He’s gone,” Trump taunted at a campaign rally), Biden quickly slammed those comments on X.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Biden, “, ” Ammar Moussa, “ Donald Trump, ”, Robert Hur’s, Hur, “ Donald Trump’s, Putin, America’s, excoriated Trump, ” Biden, Nikki Haley’s, He’s, ” Trump, Major Haley Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, GOP, Biden, NATO, National Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Baltic States, Russian

☆ Putin is now going after people's money and property if they criticize the war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewVladimir Putin is doubling down on critics of Russia's war in Ukraine. The punishment applies only to assets gained via criminal means or "used for activities aimed against Russia's national security," per TASS. Multiple people in Russia have already been jailed for criticizing the war in Ukraine, the Associated Press reported in July 2022. Russia's new law comes as the war in Ukraine approaches its third year, and a month before Putin seeks a fifth presidential term in a presidential election slated for March.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Vyacheslav Volodin, Putin Organizations: Service, TASS, Business, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia

☆ Opinion | It’s Not Time for Our Troops to Leave the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Kenneth F. Mckenzie Jr. | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States base at Tower 22 in Jordan is in the middle of a seemingly unending desert, astride the ancient Damascus-Baghdad Highway near the border with Syria. Last month three U.S. service members at Tower 22 were killed by a drone launched by an Iranian-backed militia. The Tower 22 attack ended that state of play and sparked fresh questions about the safety of thousands of U.S. military personnel stationed in Jordan, Syria and Iraq as the Middle East conflict widens. Last month, the United States and Iraq started talks that could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. troops. It gives hope to Tehran that it is succeeding in its long-term goal of ejecting the United States from the region through its proxy militias.

Persons: Biden Organizations: United, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, U.S Locations: United States, Jordan, Damascus, Baghdad, Syria, Iranian, Iraq, Washington, U.S, Tehran

☆ Advocates call on Senate to approve amendment giving Afghan evacuees path to legal residency
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It is based on the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, which was reintroduced last year. The amendment was introduced Friday with a list of co-sponsors that included Republican Sens. Future conflicts that we go into will look back to how we handled the end of the Afghan war and what we did with our Afghan allies,” VanDiver said. While the amendment has bipartisan backing, at least one Republican is expected to object to it. Cotton supports helping our Afghan allies and partners, but this specific bill did little to address his concerns,” the person said.

Persons: Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Republican Sen, Jerry Moran, Republican Sens, Roger Wicker, Lindsey Graham, Thom Tillis, Democratic Sens, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Jeanne Shaheen, Klobuchar, “, ” Klobuchar, ” Shawn VanDiver, —, It’s, ” VanDiver, Sen, Tom Cotton, ”, “ Sen, Cotton, VanDiver, ” Moran, Patrick Murray Organizations: CNN, Senate, Democratic, Republican, intel, Army, Senate Armed Services Committee, Afghan, Veterans ’ Affairs, Veterans, Foreign, VFW Locations: Afghanistan, United States

☆ US forces hammered dozens of IRGC and Iran-backed militia targets with 125 bombs in retaliation for the drone attack that killed American troops
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The military action comes days after a drone attack killed US troops in Jordan. AdvertisementThe US military on Friday began strikes against Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, a US defense official told Business Insider. AdvertisementThe White House immediately blamed Iran-backed militias for the deadly incident and vowed revenge. The recent drone attack could have been an attempt to undermine the US hold in eastern Syria and to open arms smuggling routes through Jordan to the West Bank. AdvertisementSome US lawmakers have called for the Biden administration to take aggressive military action in retaliation for the Jan. 28 drone attack, including conducting strikes inside Iran itself.

Persons: —, CENTCOM, Joe Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin, Washington, John Kirby, they're, Biden Organizations: Service, Business, US Central Command, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Quds Force, US, Coalition, Pentagon, Defense, National Security, Institute for, West Bank Locations: Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, United States, Tehran, East, Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Hamas

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador immediately interpreted the reports as a U.S. attack on his government and his Morena party before Mexico’s June 2 presidential election. The stories described testimony by traffickers that they passed about $2 million to confidants of López Obrador in 2006, when he narrowly lost the race for president. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“It is completely false, it's slander,” López Obrador said Wednesday at his daily media briefing. López Obrador is notoriously touchy about anything that tarnishes his own moral authority or reputation, upon which his entire party rests. Campaign operators linked to López Obrador have been caught on video several times receiving large sums of cash, but with no proof he knew about it.

Persons: —, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Salvador, López Obrador, ” López Obrador, “, ” “ It's, Mike Vigil, “ It's, ” Vigil, Cienfuegos, Vigil, Claudia Sheinbaum, López Obrador's, Mexico's, Beltran Leyva, didn't, Guadalupe Correa, Cabrera, ”, Correa, “ That's, Manuel López Obrador, Mexico’s Organizations: MEXICO CITY, ., Mexico’s, . Drug, Administration, López, ProPublica, Deutsche Welle, George Mason University, U.S, Republicans, Republican, DEA, Cienfuegos ’, United Locations: MEXICO, U.S, Mexico, Mexican, Salvador Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos, United States, López Obrador's Morena, ‘ Mexico, Los Angeles

☆ Oil prices edge lower as Hamas considers truce proposal, market monitors U.S. response to attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A view of a gas station which ran out of fuel due to Israeli attacks in Rafah, Gaza on October 25, 2023. The West Texas Intermediate contract for March dropped 79 cents, or 1.03%, to trade at $75.99 a barrel. Oil prices edged lower on Tuesday as Hamas considers a temporary truce in Gaza and the market waits to see how the U.S. will respond to a deadly attack on its soldiers in the Middle East. Biden said the U.S. would hold those "responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing." "We're not looking to escalate the tensions any more than they already have been escalating."

Persons: Ismail Haniyeh, Brent, Joe Biden, Biden, Lloyd Austin, John Kirby, Kirby Organizations: New York Times, West Texas Intermediate, Traders, Security, White Locations: Rafah, Gaza, U.S, Jordan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, United States, Washington, Tehran

The enemy drone followed the American drone as it approached, but it is not clear whether the enemy drone intentionally followed the American one or if it was a coincidence, one of the officials said. US officials are also still assessing the enemy drone’s point of origin. The Wall Street Journal first reported the confusion over the enemy drone. A US official told CNN that there have been six attacks since Friday, including Sunday’s drone attack and a multi-rocket attack on Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria on Monday morning. The consensus is that an Iran-backed militia group is behind the deadly drone attack, though the US is still working to determine which group specifically is responsible.

Persons: Syria —, John Kirby, CNN’s Phil Mattingly, White, “, ” Kirby, weren’t, ”, Jens Stoltenberg, Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, ” Stoltenberg, Austin’s, Biden, Tehran . Sen, Roger Wicker, Sen, Tom Cotton Organizations: CNN, Army, Sunday, Street Journal, Regional Medical Center, Patrol Base Shaddadi, National Security, Kataib Hezbollah, Revolutionary Guard, Pentagon, NATO, Republicans, Republican, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Jordan, American, Germany, East, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Congress, Tehran .

Republicans in Congress are ramping up pressure on the Biden administration to strike Iran in retaliation after three U.S. troops were killed and dozens were injured in a drone attack that officials have linked to Tehran on Sunday in Jordan. The eventual U.S. response to the attack has raised concerns about escalating conflict in the region, which is already growing as the Israel-Hamas war continues. But GOP lawmakers are sure to be critical of the president as a rematch of Biden and former President Donald Trump appears more likely in the 2024 election. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas originally posted “Target Tehran” before clarifying that he was not calling on the Biden administration to bomb Iranian civilians. White House spokesman Andrew Bates dismissed the calls as “attempts by far right congressional Republicans to politicize our national security.”

Persons: Biden, Lloyd Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Steve Scalise, ”, ” Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Tom Cotton, Cotton, Sen, John Cornyn of, Andrew Bates Organizations: Defense, Pentagon, NATO, Congress, Biden Administration, Target, Republicans Locations: Iran, Tehran, Jordan, Israel, U.S, America, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Arkansas, John Cornyn of Texas, Target Tehran

☆ Drone that killed US troops in attack slipped past defenses because there was confusion on whether or not it was American: reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A drone attack on a US military base in Jordan killed three troops and injured dozens more. AdvertisementThe drone that struck a US military base in Jordan and killed several American troops managed to slip past defenses because it was confused at the time with another unmanned aircraft, according to multiple reports. Three US service members were killed and at least 34 more were injured after a one-way attack drone hit Tower 22, a small logistics outpost in northeastern Jordan, early Sunday local time. As the enemy drone approached the base, an American drone was also returning to the site, leading to confusion over whether the attacking system was a friendly aircraft or not, according to Monday reports from CNN and The Wall Street Journal, which cited unnamed US officials. There, American forces provide logistics support to the US-led coalition working to defeat the Islamic State.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Defense Lloyd Austin Organizations: Pentagon, Service, CNN, Street, Command, Army, Air Force, Islamic, US, Defense, The Washington Institute for Near, Policy, American, Institute for Locations: Jordan, Iran, American, Jordan's, Iraq, Syria, Islamic State, Tehran, Washington, United States, Israel

☆ Mix-Up Preceded Deadly Drone Strike in Jordan, U.S. Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Isabel Kershner | Julian E. Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Air defenses failed to stop a deadly attack on a U.S. military outpost in Jordan on Sunday because the hostile drone homed in on its target at the same time an American drone was returning to the base, two U.S. officials said Monday. The attack on Sunday killed three U.S. service members, the first known American military fatalities from hostile fire in the turmoil spilling over from Israel’s war with Hamas. At least 34 others were injured in the strike, which Biden administration officials say used a drone launched by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq. The one-way attack drone hit near the outpost’s living quarters, causing injuries that ranged from minor cuts to brain trauma, a U.S. military official said. It serves as a logistics and resupply hub for the Al Tanf garrison nearby in southeastern Syria, where American troops work with local Syrian partners to fight remnants of the Islamic State.

Persons: Biden, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mr, Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, “, Al Organizations: Sunday, Street, Hamas, Senior U.S, ., Defense, Pentagon, U.S, Army, Air Force Locations: Jordan, American, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Gaza, U.S, Germany, Al Tanf, Islamic State

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Mix-Up Preceded Deadly Drone Strike in Jordan, U.S. Officials Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

☆ Political Pressure Builds on Biden to Strike Iran After US Deaths
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

That allowed Biden the political space to mete out U.S. retaliation, inflicting costs on Iran-backed forces without risking a direct war with Tehran. Republicans accused Biden of letting American forces become sitting ducks, waiting for the day when a drone or missile would evade base defenses. In response, they say Biden must strike Iran. "The only answer to these attacks must be devastating military retaliation against Iran's terrorist forces, both in Iran and across the Middle East." "Unless the U.S. prepared for an all out war, what does attacking Iran get us," the official said.

Persons: Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, he's, Biden, Tom Cotton, Mike Rogers, they've, Rogers, Donald Trump, Joe Biden's, Barbara Lee, Seth Moulton, —, Moulton, Jonathan Lord, Lord, Charles Lister, Lister, Israel, Qassem Soleimani, Simon Lewis, Paul Thomasch, Diane Craft Organizations: Republican U.S, Republican, U.S, Representatives, Tehran, Biden, Democratic, Iranian, Center, New, East Institute, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, United, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Locations: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Israel, Jordan's, Tehran, United States, Gaza, New American, Washington, U.S, Damascus, Jan

☆ Pentagon says it is not seeking war with Iran after Jordan attack
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"We certainly don't seek a war and frankly we don't see Iran wanting to seek a war with the United States," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters. She added that the Pentagon believed Iran did not want a war either. Two officials said a U.S. drone was approaching the base around the same time the attack drone was incoming. One of the officials said the attack drone was also flying low, factors that may have contributed to it being missed by base defenses. "Iran continues to destabilize the region, this includes backing terrorists who attack our ships in the Red Sea," Stoltenberg said.

Persons: Jens Stoltenberg, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Joe Biden's, Austin, Biden, Sabrina Singh, John Kirby, Breonna Alexsondria, Stoltenberg Organizations: NATO, U.S, State Department, U.S . Defense, Monday, Sunday, Pentagon, House, Army Reserve, Austin Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Jordan, Iran, Israel, United States, Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Red

CNN —The three US soldiers killed in the drone attack on a US military outpost in Jordan were identified Monday as Sgt. US Army Reserve Command, APSingh said more than 40 were injured in the attack, a number that could possibly continue to increase. The enemy drone also flew low, which may have allowed it to evade the base’s air defenses, officials said. A US official told CNN that there have been six attacks since Friday, including Sunday’s drone attack and a multi-rocket attack on Patrol Base Shaddadi in Syria on Monday morning. The consensus is that an Iran-backed militia group is behind the deadly drone attack, though the US is still working to determine which group specifically is responsible.

Persons: William Rivers, Kennedy Sanders, Breonna Moffett, Sabrina Singh, William Jerome Rivers, Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, AP Singh, Singh, Syria —, John Kirby, CNN’s Phil Mattingly, White, “, ” Kirby, weren’t, ” Singh, ”, Jens Stoltenberg, Lloyd Austin, ” Austin Organizations: CNN, Defense Department, 718th Engineer Company, US Army Reserve, Pentagon, US Army Reserve Command, Spc, Breonna, AP, Baghdad Diplomatic Support, Regional Medical Center, US, Patrol Base Shaddadi, National Security, Kataib Hezbollah, Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah, NATO Locations: Jordan, Carrollton , Georgia, Waycross , Georgia, Savannah , Georgia, Fort Moore , Georgia, Baghdad, Landstuhl, American, East, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon

☆ Trump seizes on US troops killed and border crisis to sell general election message
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Donald Trump’s core general election argument is that President Joe Biden is weak and incapable as events spin out of control at home and abroad. Instead, we are on the brink of World War 3,” Trump said in a statement. So Trump’s picture of a world in disarray as Biden stands by helplessly may have some political potency. It remains to be seen whether voters will buy into the image Biden and his team are trying to paint of Trump. But his reemergence as the GOP’s likely nominee is also highlighting the extraordinary liabilities that he would carry into a general election.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, ”, Trump, Biden, ” Trump, Joe Biden’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, Joe Biden weren’t, ” Haley, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Trump’s, – Trump, It’s, …, Mike Johnson, I’d, “, Democratic Sen, Christopher Murphy of, CNN’s Dana, Mitch McConnell, Johnson, it’s, Donald Trump, ” Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Shawn Fain, Jean Carroll, – Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, New, Democratic, Baptist, United, Republican, Republican Party, Christopher Murphy of Connecticut, Union, United Auto Workers, UAW, Washington Locations: Nevada, United States, Jordan, New Hampshire, South Carolina, East, Iran, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Louisiana, “ State, Ukraine, France, Trump

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis U.S. Blames Iran-Backed Militia for Deaths of 3 Soldiers in Jordan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

The attack happened at a remote logistics outpost in northeast Jordan called Tower 22 where the borders of Syria, Iraq and Jordan converge. The Pentagon declined to identify the service members who died or their units pending notification of family members. Central Command said it expected the number of injured to “fluctuate” as additional service members sought treatment. It was the latest in at least 164 strikes by Iran-backed militias against U.S. troops in Syria, Iraq and Jordan since the Oct. 7 attacks. It turned out to be a dud, but several service members would most likely have been injured or killed had it exploded, a senior military official said.

Persons: Biden, —, Mr, “, ”, Lloyd J, Austin III, ” Mr, Austin, Yemen —, Gen, Charles Q, Brown Jr, General Brown, Al, Charles Lister, Jordan, Al Tanf, Syria’s, Roger Wicker of Organizations: U.S, Hamas, ”, Pentagon, Command, Central Command, Resistance, Hezbollah, Joint Chiefs of Staff, ABC, Navy, Sunday, Army, Air Force, United, Operations, Middle East Institute, American, Troops, The Defense Department, Al Asad, Al Asad Air Base, Congressional Republicans, Republican, Armed Services Committee Locations: Jordan, Iran, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Israel, Columbia, United States, Lebanese, Yemen, Aden, Gaza, Erbil, Red, Al Tanf, Islamic State, Azraq, Washington, Jordanian, Baghdad, Damascus, Tehran, Lebanon, Al, Al Asad Air, Roger Wicker of Mississippi

☆ Defense Secretary Returns to Pentagon a Month After Surgery Complications
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Helene Cooper | More About Helene Cooper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

He expressed “outrage and sorrow for the death of three brave U.S. troops in Jordan, and for the other troops who were wounded” and added that “we will take all necessary action to defend the U.S. and our troops.”Mr. Austin said he was “glad to be back at the Pentagon. I feel good and am recovering well, but still recovering.”The House Armed Services Committee has asked Mr. Austin to testify next month about why he and his aides kept his illness secret. Mr. Austin, 70, has long been known as an intensely private man who eschews the limelight and dislikes talking to the news media — qualities that Mr. Biden was fine with, his aides said, when he appointed the 40-year Army officer to be his defense secretary. But in keeping secret his hospitalization, Mr. Austin attracted more attention to himself than at any point in his long career. He also drew scrutiny and criticism of Mr. Biden’s national security team during a period when it was dealing with multiple crises around the world, including wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Persons: ”, Mr, Austin, Mike D, Rogers, ” Mr, Biden Organizations: U.S, Pentagon, House Armed, Republican, Army Locations: Jordan, Alabama, Gaza, Ukraine

The political branch of the powerful Koch network is facing scrutiny as operatives chafe against a decision to endorse Nikki Haley for president that many see as out of step with their values. A day later, Maidment was "terminated" from the organization, he said, and he told NBC News that he is not the only one within the Koch-backed group who is disappointed in the Haley endorsement. As the group started to see public criticism from those with ties to AFP, Seidel sent some AFP leaders an email about the overall response. "Some of you may have seen some recent public posts from some colleagues who disagree with AFP Action's endorsement," Seidel wrote in the email. If Trump feels Koch moved the needle for Haley, he'll have more interest in working with them.

Persons: Nikki Haley, Koch, —, Chris Maidment, Haley, Maidment, Mark Lucas, Donald Trump, Trump, Lucas, Ron DeSantis, Emily Seidel, Seidel, Mark Holden, Marc Short, Mike Pence, he'll, I'm, Jamie Dimon Organizations: U.S, United, Prosperity's, PAC, GOP, Prosperity, NBC News, Koch, AFP, Trump, White, NBC Locations: Hooksett , New Hampshire, U.S, New Hampshire, Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Florida, AFP

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