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The Ukrainian pilots are expected to arrive at Morris Air National Guard Base in Tucson, Arizona, by October. Ukraine’s leaders have asked for fighter jets from the West since the earliest days of the war. Loh said the Air National Guard assessed the three-month timeline based on training Ukrainian pilots received on Fresno, California-based F-15Cs, another advanced Air National Guard fighter jet. That exposure allowed the Air National Guard to assess that Ukraine’s aviators were already using more Western tactics in flying and that it would not take long to bring them up to speed, Loh said. The nine-month timeframe is the estimate to get pilots with no previous fighter jet experience flying the F-16s, Loh said.

Persons: Michael Loh, they’ll, ” Loh, Loh, “, David Allvin, Sen, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, Allvin, Bradley, ” Allvin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: U.S . Air National Guard, Morris Air National Guard Base, Air Force Association, “, NATO, Air Force, Senate Armed Services Committee, Kyiv, Air National Guard Locations: Md, U.S, Tucson , Arizona, National Harbor , Maryland, Tucson, Ukraine, Europe, Russia, Ukrainian, “, Fresno , California

☆ Sen. Tommy Tuberville argues the Navy is 'too woke' because 'people are doing poems on aircraft carriers'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville says the US Navy is too woke, citing a poetry night on an aircraft carrier. "It is absolutely insane the direction we're headed in our military," Tuberville told Fox News. "Secretary [Carlos] Del Toro of Navy, he needs to get to building ships, get to recruiting, and he needs to get wokeness out of our Navy," Tuberville said Wednesday evening on Fox News. AdvertisementAdvertisementSecretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and Sen. Jack Reed at an industry conference in Newport, Rhode Island on August 28, 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The service chief of any service has two full-time jobs already.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Carlos, Del Toro, We've, he's, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Jack Reed, Theodore C, Lee Tuberville, Gerald R, Ford, Mike Gilday, Gilday, Ted Lieu, George Patton, Richard, MCS3 Jeanette Mullinax, Chuck Schumer, Tuberville's, They've, Adam Smith of, Abraham Lincoln, Jeff Sherman Tuberville's, Lisa Franchetti, Joe Biden, Franchetti, Eric Smith, Smith, I've Organizations: US Navy, Fox News, Navy, Service, Alabama Republican, CNN, Army and Air Force, The Washington Post, Ford, Senate Armed Services Committee, House Armed Services Committee, Defense, Conference, Navy Reserve, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Marine, Chiefs Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, The, Newport , Rhode Island, Alabama, California, Flanders, Canadian, Adam Smith of Washington

Let’s go to work.”Tuberville’s blockade is unique because it affects hundreds of military nominations and promotions. But, while unusual, Tuberville's office notes that lawmakers from both parties have threatened holds on military promotions over the years. But if Republican leaders are pressuring Tuberville to end his holds, they are not doing so publicly. Some Republicans have suggested that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., could hold votes on some of the most critical nominations. “I'd like to vote to rescind the policy, but I'm not going to hold the military up in perpetuity,” Graham said.

Persons: Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, “ We're, ”, servicemembers, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Tuberville, ” “, “, ” Tuberville, Lloyd Austin, Let’s, It’s, What's, Austin, Court’s Dobbs, “ I'm, Sen, John Thune, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, ” Schumer, Lindsey Graham, it's, I'm, ” Graham, Roger Wicker, ” Wicker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Alabama, Pentagon, Navy, Air Force, Army, Washington Post, Marine Corps, CNN, ‘, Democratic, Senate, Defense Department, Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican, Marines, Space Force, Senate Armed Services Locations: Washington, Russia, Tuberville

☆ Sen. Tommy Tuberville is worth at least $4.5 million, according to his financial disclosures
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

After a 36-year college football coaching career, Sen. Tommy Tuberville joined the Senate in 2021. According to his latest financial disclosure, his wealth is estimated to be at least $4.5 million. AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to a recent Washington Post report, Tuberville has sold his land in Alabama for close to $1.1 million and the condo for $850,000. When asked about his reported investments, Tuberville's press secretary told Insider that he has financial advisors do his day-to-day trading for him. While it's not listed on his financial disclosure, Tuberville earns $174,000 each year from the government as a current US Senator.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tommy Tuberville's, he's, Suzanne, Tuberville, Johnson, it's, trouncing, Jeff Sessions, Doug Jones, Tuberville's Organizations: Senate, Service, United States Steel Corporation, Apple, Agriculture, Nutrition, Pfizer, Johnson, Alabama —, University of Miami, Warner Bros, American Express, GOP, Senate Armed Services Committee, Pentagon Locations: Wall, Silicon, Dadeville , Alabama, Florida, Washington, Alabama, Forestry

☆ A massive Iranian missile attack on a US base offered a glimpse of the long-lasting injuries US troops will face in a war with Russia or China
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In January 2020, Iran fired nearly a dozen ballistic missiles at an Iraqi base housing US troops. The hundreds of US troops at the base experienced what has been described as "the largest ballistic attack against Americans in history." The troops only received a few hours of warning, and the base had no air defenses capable of intercepting the missiles. US soldiers inspect damage from Iranian missiles at Al Asad air base on January 13, 2020. The Al Asad attack was a relatively small-scale demonstration of the lethal dangers that US troops will face on the battlefields of the future.

Persons: Qassem, Al Asad, Saddam Hussein, John Davison, Robert Hales, TBIs, Sarah Mattison, Kenneth McKenzie, McKenzie, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Reuters, US, American College of Surgeons, Iranian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Air National Guard / Tech, Marine Corps, Senate Armed Services Committee, US Central Command Locations: Iran, Wall, Silicon, Iranian, Iraq, Baghdad, Erbil, Al, Handout, Ukraine, Vermont

☆ The US is quietly warning its Middle East partners about the cost of stocking up on Chinese-made weapons
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese arms sales in the Middle East have increased by 80% over the past decade, a result of Beijing's expanding relationships there and its willingness to deliver arms faster and with fewer stipulations than Washington. FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty ImagesMiddle Eastern countries, led by the Arab Gulf states, have for decades been major buyers of US-made weapons. Chinese arms sales to the region are "substantial and expected to continue to increase," said Ahmed Aboudouh, an associate fellow at Chatham House. "But it's just one factor among many, including varying threat perceptions of Iran among the Arab Gulf states as well as varying levels of trust between the Arab Gulf governments themselves." Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: Michael Kurilla, Kurilla, Loong, KARIM SAHIB, Colin Kahl, Biden, Kahl, We're, FAYEZ NURELDINE, Ahmed Aboudouh, Aboudouh, James Hodgman, Russia's, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, that's, Hawthorne, Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, Xi, ANDY WONG, Kahl's, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, US Central Command, Senate Armed Services Committee, Dubai Airshow, Getty, Chatham House, Pentagon, Getty Images, United Arab Emirates, Patriot, Al Udeid, Base, US Air Force, Tech, Air Defense, Turkey, NATO, East, Khalifa, UAE, US, Abu Dhabi Crown, Gulf Cooperation Council Locations: China, Washington, Wall, Silicon, Beijing, AFP, British, Saudi, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, East, North Africa, Qatar, Russia, Europe, Gulf, UAE, Yemen, Ankara, Turkey, Prince, Xinhua, Khalifa, Abu, Arab Gulf, Iran

☆ Dianne Feinstein has surrendered decision-making on legal matters to her daughter, but the 90-year-old is still one of the most powerful lawmakers in the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dianne Feinstein has reportedly granted her daughter power of attorney over her legal affairs. It's unclear the extent to which Feinstein's agreement extends. The New York Times reported Thursday that Feinstein has granted power of attorney to Katherine Feinstein, a former San Francisco judge, over her legal affairs. During a recent Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Feinstein appeared confused during a roll call vote. Feinstein also serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

Persons: Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Sen, Katherine, Feinstein, Katherine Feinstein, It's, Bryan Metzger, Sen, Patty Murray, Amy Coney Barrett's Organizations: Senate, Service, Privacy, Democratic, New York Times, GOP, Committee, Intelligence, CIA, NSA, Senate Armed Services Committee, panel's, Water, Army Corps of Engineers Locations: Wall, Silicon, San Francisco

CNN —President Joe Biden said Thursday that Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is being “irresponsible” and jeopardizing national security by blocking military promotions over his objections to the Defense Department’s reproductive health policies. He’s jeopardizing US security with what he’s doing,” Biden said during a news conference in Helsinki, Finland, when asked by CNN about Tuberville’s position. A defense official told CNN Austin and Tuberville eventually spoke at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. I’m doing it for Republicans and Democrats and citizens of this country. I’m doing it for the Constitution.”CNN reported in June that some of Tuberville’s colleagues have tried to talk with him behind the scenes about alternatives.

Persons: Joe Biden, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, “ I’d, ” Biden, Lloyd Austin’s, Tuberville, Austin, Brig, Pat Ryder, ” Tuberville, CNN’s Manu Raju, Biden’s, I’m, We’ll, “, Republican Party …, they’ve, ”, Raju, I’ve, that’s, Republican Roger Wicker, Texas Sen, John Cornyn, Sen, Joni Ernst, CNN’s Wolf, ” Austin, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Organizations: CNN, Republican, Defense, Alabama, CNN Austin, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Marine Corps, Republican Party, Republicans, Democrats, ” CNN, Armed Services Committee, Iowa, Senate Armed Services Committee, NATO Locations: Helsinki, Finland, Texas, Vilnius, Lithuania, “

☆ Biden's pick for top U.S. general warns on Republican's hold on promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] U.S. Air Force General Charles Brown Jr. attends a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 11, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm/File PhotoWASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's nominee to become the top U.S. general warned on Tuesday that a Republican senator's blockade of military promotions could have far-reaching impact across the U.S. armed forces, affecting troops and their families. General Charles "C.Q." Brown, the outgoing Air Force chief of staff, made the remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Reporting by Phil Stewart and Patricia ZengerleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Charles Brown Jr, Kevin Wurm, Joe Biden's, General Charles " C.Q, Brown, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, Phil Stewart, Patricia Zengerle Organizations: U.S . Air Force, U.S . Senate Armed Services, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Capitol, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Republican, Air Force, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Pentagon, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Alabama

☆ A showdown with one senator over hundreds of generals and admirals is set to ripple through the US military
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Waiting to replacing him is Gen. Eric Smith, and he will continue waiting until one senator lifts holds on the promotions of more than 250 generals and admirals. Tuberville's hold targets uniformed military officers over a policy set by the US military's civilian leadership, diverging from the longstanding manner in which members of Congress have expressed displeasure with such policies. Kelsey Dornfeld"Uniformed military officers do not set policy. 'We will lose talent'Maj. Gen. Eric Smith receives his three-star rank insignia during a ceremony in Okinawa in August 2018. "It is the personal development, it is the family understanding and predictability" that will be affected, Adm. John Aquilino, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, told senators in April.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, David Berger, Eric Smith, Biden, —, Katherine Kuzminski, Sergeant, Marine Corps Troy Black, Kelsey Dornfeld, They're, Kuzminski, Berger, It's, Defense Lloyd Austin III, Austin, that's, Smith, Olivia G, Ortiz, Benjamin Northcutt, Christopher Cavoli, Michael Gilday, Lisa Franchetti, MCS2 La’Cordrick Wilson, John Aquilino, James McConville, McConville, Frank Kendall, Charles Brown Jr, Kendall, Brown, Drew Angerer, Mitch McConnell, Jack Reed's, Defense Lloyd Austin, Mark Milley, Alex Wong, Reed, Elizabeth Warren Organizations: Service, US Marine Corps, Pentagon, Department, US, Military, Veterans, Center, New, New American Security, Marine Corps, Staff, Uniformed, Defense, United States, Washington DC, Senate Armed Services Committee, US Army Europe, US Army, US European Command, NATO's Military, Naval Reactors, US Navy, Pacific Command, " Air Force, Savannah, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Capitol, Republican, CNN, Joint Chiefs Locations: Wall, Silicon, New American, Okinawa, Germany, Cavoli, Pacific, California, South Korea, Alabama

☆ Marines without Senate-confirmed leader for first time since 1859 after GOP senator blocks nominee
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Zoë Richards | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

For the first time in more than 150 years, the Marine Corps is operating without a Senate-confirmed commandant. The delay marks the first time the Marine Corps will have been without a Senate-confirmed commandant in 164 years. At a ceremony Monday for Berger — the Marine Corps' 38th commandant — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged the Senate to act. "You know, it's been more than a century since the U.S. Marine Corps has operated without a Senate-confirmed commandant," Austin said. Tuberville, who for months has been using a procedural tactic to slow promotions that are typically approved through unanimous consent, objected to Reed's move, citing the Pentagon's abortion policy.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Vivek Murthy, David H, Berger, GOP Sen, Eric Smith, Lloyd Austin, it's, Austin, that's, Jack Reed, Reed, Tuberville, Reed's, Sabrina Singh, Roe, Wade Organizations: Health, Education, Labor, Marine Corps, GOP, —, Senate, U.S . Marine Corps, United States, Senate Armed, Pentagon, Supreme Locations: Alabama

☆ US Marine Corps in historic leadership limbo due to Republican block
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - The Marine Corps is now without a Senate-confirmed leader for the first time in over a century thanks to a Republican senator's block on military nominations. Retiring Gen. David Berger formally relinquished command on Monday as the Marine Corps' commandant, creating the first of several possible vacancies of Senate confirmed leaders on the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff in the coming months. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said last time the Marine Corps had an acting Commandant was from December 1, 1910 to February 2, 1911. Berger's retirement leaves General Eric Smith, the Marine Corps' No. He is President Joe Biden's nominee to become the next commandant but is expected to avoid major decisions without Senate confirmation.

Persons: David Berger, Tommy Tuberville, Lloyd Austin, Austin, Sabrina Singh, Singh, Roe, Wade, Charles " C.Q, Brown, Eric Smith, Joe Biden's, Phil Stewart, Patricia Zengerle, Stephen Coates Organizations: Corps, Republican, Marine Corps, military's, Chiefs, Staff, Pentagon, . Defense, Department, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Army, Navy, Joint Chiefs, Air Force, Senate Armed Services Committee, Thomson Locations: Alabama, United States

☆ US Air Force suspends personnel moves and bonuses due to funding shortfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US Air Force has suspended personnel moves and bonuses through the end of the fiscal year as the service faces a funding shortfall driven by higher-than-expected costs, according to a statement from the service Monday. The Air Force said it needed to take these steps now “to avoid exhausting funds” dedicated to personnel. The suspensions could affect tens of thousands of service members, according to an Air Force official, though it’s unclear how large the shortfall is. The Air Force is also pausing certain bonus payments for service members, including reenlistment bonuses and extra incentive pay for difficult or extended assignments. The hold affects more than 200 general and flag officers, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Charles Q, Brown, Tuberville Organizations: CNN, US Air Force, Air Force, The Air Force, Alabama Republican, Defense, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: United States

Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Barbara Lee raised concerns on Sunday over the decision by President Joe Biden's administration to send cluster bombs to Ukraine to combat the Russian invasion. "Cluster bombs should never be used. That's crossing a line," she told CNN on Sunday, adding the United States risked losing its "moral leadership" by sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. He added that Russia is using cluster munitions in Ukraine and "indiscriminately killing civilians," while the Ukrainians will be using them to defend their own territory. U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said Ukraine's counteroffensive was going slowly and that the cluster bombs could be a "game changer" for the Ukrainians.

Persons: Gabriel Jenko, Tim Kaine, Barbara Lee, Joe Biden's, Antonio Guterres, Kaine, Biden, Lee, John Kirby, Kirby, Michael McCaul, McCaul, Kanishka Singh, Joey Roulette, Doina Chiacu, Scott Malone, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Munitions, U.S . Army, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Democratic U.S, United, United Nations, Fox News, Senate Armed Services Committee, White, Cluster Munitions, CNN, White House, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Representatives Foreign, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Hovey, South Korea, Handout, Ukraine, Russian, United States, Russia, United

☆ Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military nominees in protest of the Pentagon's abortion policy is disrupting the succession of top military leadership as the US confronts multiple threats abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military nominees is rippling throughout the Pentagon. But Tuberville continues to stand by his position, a protest against the Pentagon's new abortion policy. If the senator's hold on nominees stands in the coming weeks, though, the leaders of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps — along with the chairman — won't have respective successors installed. The hold on nominees also comes as the US continues to navigate its diplomatic relationship with China. Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Corps major general and former staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Politico that Tuberville is "taking the military nominees as political hostages."

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville's, Staff Mark Milley, Tuberville, —, GOP Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Roe, Wade, Biden, Arnold Punaro Organizations: Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Service, GOP, of Defense, Chiefs, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Senate Armed Services Committee, Politico Locations: Alabama, Ukraine, Russian, China

☆ The Marine Corps might not get a confirmed leader for first time in 164 years due to standoff with Republican senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Rebecca Kheel | Konstantin Toropin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

On July 10, the Marine Corps may be led an acting commandant for the first time in 164 years. A GOP senator is blocking the next commandant's confirmation over the Pentagon's abortion leave policy. The Justice Department has already conducted a legal analysis of the Pentagon policy. Smith, then commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force, at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in September 2018. "It was a spirited discussion, and it took a long time," Kaine said about the committee's closed-door debate on the abortion policy.

Persons: —, David Berger, Jim Stenger, Military.com, Berger's, Eric Smith, Smith, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Read, Stenger, Berger, Chip Somodevilla, Archibald Henderson, Tuberville, Andrew Jones, Joe Manchin, Joni Ernst, Tim Kaine, Kaine, Charles " C.Q, Brown, Mark Milley, James McConville, Mike Gilday, — Rebecca Kheel, — Konstantin Toropin Organizations: Marine Corps, GOP, Service, Corps, Defense Department, Senate, Senate Armed Services, Capitol, Armed Services Committee, stonewall, National Defense, Pentagon, Justice Department, Peace Corps, Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air, Iwakuni, US Marine Corps, Andrew Jones Senators, Marines, Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Twitter Locations: Iowa, Smith

☆ US nuclear-powered submarine that ran into an underwater mountain in the South China Sea is going to be stuck in repairs for years
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A US Navy nuclear-powered submarine ran into an underwater mountain in 2021. The Bloomberg report cited a Navy statement saying that submarine repair delays are caused by "planning, material availability, and shipyard execution." An HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter from the Chargers of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 flies over the Seawolf-class attack submarine USS Connecticut. An April 2022 declassified Navy report found that the accident was the result of a number of failings, and was entirely preventable. The vessel actually struck a pier in San Diego a few months prior to the South China Sea accident.

Persons: —, Sen, Roger Wicker, Petty, John Hageman Organizations: US Navy, Bloomberg, Service, Navy, Office, USS, Republican, Senate Armed Services Committee, Chargers, Helicopter, Submarine Squadron, Washington's Naval Base Kitsap, Connecticut, South China, Pentagon Locations: USS Connecticut, Washington, Connecticut, South, China, San Diego, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ NRO director says commercial space industry helps fuel the spy satellite agency’s ambitious goals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Morgan Brennan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office plans to quadruple the number of satellites on orbit over the next decade. It will need commercial space companies to help do it. "It's helped us improve our reliability so that we can achieve more with more capability at a lower cost," he said. The ambitious game plan speaks to the growing role of commercial space companies in national security work. NRO partners closely with both the U.S. Space Command and the Space Force.

☆ Biden says Zelenskyy gave a 'flat assurance' that F-16s fighter jets wouldn't attack Russian territory as drastic policy shift takes shape
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

President Biden said he received "flat assurance" that Ukraine would not use F-16s to enter Russia. "Vladimir Putin will not break our resolve," Biden said at the G7 summit press conference on Sunday. It's the latest development marking a drastic shift by US President Joe Biden and US officials, who have long rejected authorizing F-16s in Ukraine. In February, Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, portrayed supplying F-16s to Ukraine as unfeasible. Earlier this week, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK and the Netherlands would build an "international coalition" to help the country procure the fighter jets.

☆ Opinion: Fentanyl is killing a shocking number of young Americans. What the US can do to respond
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Opinion Joni Ernst | Tim Kaine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Illicit fentanyl that originates abroad is one of the most damaging weapons employed against our homeland, destroying lives and families across our country. Cartels’ fentanyl trafficking far surpasses the US government’s response. Between 2017 and 2021, the number of fentanyl trafficking offenders increased 950%, from 146 to 1,533 in the US. Curbing fentanyl trafficking and breaking up cartel networks demands an aggressive and clear approach. Mexico and the US need to be active partners in combating criminal organizations and curtailing illicit drug trafficking.

☆ The Pentagon made a $3 billion accounting blunder that could mean the US can send more arms to Ukraine, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Pentagon overvalued the cost of weapons sent to Ukraine by $3 billion, Reuters reported. Biden's administration could now send more weapons without having to get budget approval from Congress. The error was caused by the Pentagon using replacement costs to value the arms. The accounting error could enable the Department of Defense to send more weapons to Ukraine without the Biden administration needing to get budget approval from Congress, Reuters reported. Of this, just over 43 billion euros, or around $46.5 billion, was for military support.

☆ The US has a new friend in the Mediterranean that could help it isolate Russia, but not everybody in NATO is happy about it
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Cyprus long had close ties with Russia, but it has turned to the West in recent years. John YountzHowever, Nicosia has been moving away from Russia and pursuing a closer relationship with the US. "We keep a strong military-to-military relationship with Cyprus," Cavoli said. Unhappy neighborsA UN peacekeeper looks at a map of the buffer zone between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Nicosia in April 2021. ROY ISSA/AFP via Getty ImagesBurgeoning US-Cyprus ties would appear to benefit NATO, but not all of the alliance's members are happy about it.

WASHINGTON, May 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats released a letter from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Wednesday saying a Republican's decision to hold military nominations harms national security, intensifying a dispute over the military's abortion policy. "Delays in confirming our general and flag officers pose a clear risk to U.S. military readiness, especially at this critical time." "This indefinite hold harms America's national security and hinders the Pentagon's normal operations," Austin wrote. Senior military nominations are approved by the committee and eventually the Senate. He said he would continue to hold the nominees until the Pentagon changes its policy or Congress changes the law.

☆ The U.S. Navy’s Bud Light Moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Tommy Tuberville | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

With recruitment rates to the U.S. military falling, attention is turning to the rise of woke politics, which is undermining public confidence in America's military leaders. Images: Department of Defense/YouTube/Go Army Composite: Mark KellyThe Senate Armed Services Committee heard chilling testimony Tuesday from the Government Accountability Office: The Navy’s ship-maintenance backlog tops $1.8 billion; its aircraft are aging; American shipyards are in poor condition. Contrast that with China’s military surge. The Pentagon’s most recent China Military Power report shows that China’s army, navy and space assets are accelerating at a pace one American four-star admiral called “breathtaking.” China already has the largest navy in the world and it’s getting larger. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ’s office reports that China’s air force is “rapidly catching up to Western air forces.”

☆ Putin has given up on his ambition to conquer Ukraine after military losses that may take a decade to repair, US intel claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin has scaled back his ambitions in Ukraine, US intel says. Russia has suffered serious setbacks in its bid to seize control of Ukraine. But Ukrainian forces repelled the Russian military in the Kyiv region, then pushed them back along a broad front of territory they had seized in southern and eastern Ukraine. Despite the setbacks, last June Haines said Putin still believed that seizing control of most of Ukraine was possible. Putin may believe that a ceasefire would be to his advantage as a way of prolonging the conflict, and eroding Western support for Ukraine, said Haines.

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