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☆ Intelligence leak: NYT: Leader of online group where leak documents were posted is a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Kevin Liptak Jeremy Herb Natasha Bertrand Evan Perez | Kevin Liptak | Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman has been identified by The New York Times as the leader of an online gaming chat group where a trove of classified documents was posted. CNN has not independently verified the identity of the chat leader or the FBI’s interest in talking with him. While there’s a large number of people who had access to the documents, investigators have been able to home in on a small number for closer scrutiny thanks to the forensic trail left by the person who posted the documents. On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that the person behind the leak worked on a military base and posted sensitive national security secrets in an online group of acquaintances. The Pentagon has begun to limit who across the government receives its highly classified daily intelligence briefs following a major leak of classified information discovered last week.

☆ Pentagon document leak suspect taken into custody, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The suspected Pentagon leaker was reportedly arrested Tuesday by federal agents in Dighton, Massachusetts. Investigators believe the leaker is Jack Teixeira, 21, a guardsman specializing in intelligence. The leaker shared highly classified documents about the Ukraine war online. Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. FBI agents converged Thursday at Teixeira's Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took a man wearing a T-shirt and shorts into custody outside the property.

☆ A 21-year-old Air National Guardsman in the intel wing led the online gaming chat group where hundreds of top secret documents leaked: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US officials are investigating how secret Pentagon documents were leaked online. The search seems to be focusing on Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National guard. According to the New York Times, the 21-year-old lead the online group where the intel was leaked. The leak of highly sensitive Pentagon documents has been traced back to a private Discord server. The Pentagon, Department of Justice, and Massachusetts National Guard did not immediately respond to Insider's request seeking comment on the reports.

☆ U.S. Air National Guardsman suspected of leaking intel to be arrested Thursday -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - An Air National Guardsman suspected of leaking highly classified U.S. documents will be arrested on Thursday in Massachusetts, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters. The New York Times reported that the leader of an online group where the secret documents were posted is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Named Jack Teixeira, the national guardsman led Thug Shaker Central, an online group where about 20 to 30 people shared their love of guns, racist memes and video games, the Times said, citing interviews and documents it reviewed. U.S. President Joe Biden earlier on Thursday said investigators were closing in on the source of the leak. Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Jasper Ward; editing by Susan HeaveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ukraine's getting depleted-uranium tank rounds that can punch holes in Russian armor, and Moscow's not happy about it
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The UK has indicated that it'll provide Ukraine with tank shells consisting of depleted uranium. When used in tank shells, the material is particularly effective because its bulk allows the munitions to penetrate through enemy armor. Cody Bialcak, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians, safely remove over 500 depleted uranium rounds on June 23, 2022 at Tooele Army Depot, UT. US officials have said repeatedly that Russia has likely lost half its tank force in Ukraine, if not more. And depleted uranium shells in the hands of Ukrainian tank operators may make life harder for Russia's armor forces.

☆ Even with F-16s, Ukraine's pilots still wouldn't be 'out of the woods' against Russia's air force, US officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Polish and Slovakian MiG-29s would add to Ukraine's fleet and be familiar to Ukrainian pilots but won't bring much more capability than Ukraine's current MiG-29s. 'The hard work'A pilot exits a Polish Air Force F-16 at an airbase in Poznan in November 2006. If the US or another NATO country elected to supply Ukraine with F-16s, Kelly said his first question would be "what sustainment depot are they going to use? "Again, that's just for the short-term of being able to launch or recover aircraft," Baum said. Ukraine's new jets would also be flying against Russian air-defense weapons that have claimed dozens of Ukrainian aircraft and continue to contest the airspace around the front lines.

☆ Fighter jets are 'worthless' over Ukraine, and it's a sign of what US pilots and troops may face in future battles
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

As a result, neither side is able to provide close air support to its troops on the front line. US pilots and ground troops may face a similar situation in future wars, US Air Force leaders say. They're not doing a whole lot because they can't go over and do close air support," Hecker said. "Close air support in a contested environment, that's not what we do, no matter who you are," Brown added. William GreerSince taking over as the top Air Force officer in August 2020, Brown has stressed that future battlefields will be more complex and deadly for the Air Force.

☆ Ukrainian pilots are calling the US Air Force for tips on using US-made missiles and bombs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Members of the US Air National Guard have been providing advice for using US-made weaponry. Despite US support, Ukraine's air force is still at a disadvantage against Russia's larger force. Ukraine's air force still faces a tough operating environment. A California Air National Guard officer discusses exercise Safe Skies with his Ukrainian counterparts in July 2011. Ukrainian Air Force via Twitter"We've just got them some precision munitions that have some extended range and go a little bit further than a gravity-dropped bomb," Hecker added.

☆ Biden to deliver State of the Union address amid high inflation and divided Congress that threaten to derail economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"Put simply, I would argue the Biden economic plan is working. The White House is already seeing challenges under House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the new Republican majority. House Republicans have been in a fraught standoff with the White House over raising the debt ceiling, a topic the White House has said is not up for negotiation. The White House on Friday announced that National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, Biden's top economic aide, is departing. Jeff Zients, former White House Covid-19 response coordinator under Biden and an economic advisor to former President Barack Obama, will replace Ron Klain as White House chief of staff.

☆ A Swedish-made fighter jet could tip the scales against Russia in Ukraine, but it might not get there any time soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Sebastien Roblin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Ukraine's air force remains in the fight almost a year after Russia's shambolic invasion. Sooner or later, Ukraine must induct new jet fighters into service — and they sure aren't buying them from Russia. JAS-39 Gripen: background and capabilitiesA Swedish JAS 39 Gripen at Bobo, Norway in October 2018. A Hungarian Air Force JAS-39 Gripen in August 2010. JAS-39 Gripen vs. F-16A US Air Force F-16 takes off from Aviano Air Base in Italy in June 2020.

☆ The stealth F-22, the top US air superiority fighter, just got its first known air-to-air kill taking out a Chinese balloon.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The F-22 secured its first air-to-air kill by downing the Chinese surveillance balloon on Saturday. The Raptor fired "one AIM-9X Sidewinder missile," bringing the balloon down off the South Carolina coast. "This was a PRC surveillance balloon. The F-22 fired the missile at an altitude of 58,000 feet while the surveillance balloon was between 60,000 and 65,000 feet, per the DOD. "F-15 Eagles flying from Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, supported the F-22, as did tankers from multiple states," the Defense Department stated in its release.

Asked if the United States would provide the jets, Biden told reporters at the White House on Monday, "No." The Russian state news agency TASS quoted him as saying Russian forces were making advances there, but "not clear-cut, that is, here there is a battle for literally every meter." Ukraine still controls Maryinka and Vuhledar, where Russian attacks were less intense on Monday, according to Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In central Zaporizhzhia region and in southern Kherson region, Russian forces shelled more than 40 settlements. Zelenskiy is urging the West to hasten delivery of its promised weapons so Ukraine can go on the offensive.

WASHINGTON — One of the men charged with assaulting Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick on Jan. 6 was sentenced to over 6 years in prison on Friday. His co-defendant, George Tanios, who bought the spray and handed it to Khater, was also sentenced, to time served. Sicknick died a day after being assaulted, but prosecutors declined to charge the two men with his death. As part of his sentencing, Tanios will be on probation for one year and will be required to participate in 100 hours of community service. Garza filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tanios, Khater and former President Donald Trump earlier this month.

The Department of Justice, which conducted a search that lasted over 12 hours, also took some notes that Biden had personally handwritten as vice president, according to the lawyer. The previous classified documents were found in the home's garage and in a nearby storage space. REUTERS/Al Drago 1 2 3 4The search shows federal investigators are swiftly moving forward with the probe into classified documents found in Biden's possession. Republicans have compared the investigation to the ongoing probe into how former President Donald Trump handled classified documents after his presidency. Since the discovery of Biden's documents, Trump has complained that Justice Department investigators were treating his successor differently.

☆ Trump and 2 others sued over death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick after Jan. 6 riot
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( Daniel Barnes | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Phil-Helsel-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The longtime partner of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after the Jan. 6 riot, filed a wrongful death lawsuit Thursday against former President Donald Trump and two men involved in assaulting Sicknick. Sicknick, 42, died a day after the attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. The lawsuit, filed by Sicknick’s partner, Sandra Garza, cites comments from the medical examiner that “all that transpired” on Jan. 6 “played a role in his condition.”Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. Jan. 6, 2021, was the day that Congress was meeting to formally count the electoral votes affirming that Trump lost the election. Capitol Police has said that despite the natural causes ruling, "Sicknick died in the line of duty, courageously defending Congress and the Capitol."

☆ 15 years after 'officially' retiring its first stealth jet, the US Air Force is looking for help to keep the F-117 flying for another decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The B-21 is expected to arrive 40 years after the US's first stealth aircraft, the F-117 Nighthawk. The F-117 was officially retired in 2008, but the Air Force is still putting the stealth jet to use. The US Air Force is now making plans to keep some of its Nighthawks flying until at least 2034. The Air Force currently has about 45 F-117s, more than 10 of which have been approved for transfer to museums, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Insider. A woman dances on a US Air Force F-117 downed west of Belgrade on March 28, 1999.

☆ 3 times the US military brought back 'obsolete' weapons to take on new enemies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Miguel Ortiz | We Are The Mighty | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Most military enthusiasts are familiar with the Reagan administration's 600-ship Navy and the reactivation of the battleships USS Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey and Wisconsin. However, USS New Jersey was brought back into active service once before. US ArmyAn evolution of the famed M1 Garand of WWII and Korea, the M14 battle rifle became the standard-issue rifle for the US military in 1959. It served as the basis of the M21 Sniper Weapon System introduced in 1968 and M25 Sniper Weapon System introduced in 1991. Though both weapon systems have been largely replaced by the M24 Sniper Weapon System, the M14 lives on as the Mk14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.

☆ The F-22 is headed for retirement, but it's getting some major upgrades first
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

That means the Raptor will be need some upgrades in order to maintain its aerial advantage. Among them were new stealthy underwing fuel tanks and associated pylons, missiles, and what could be new electronic warfare or infrared search-and-track (IRST) pods. Today, the Raptor has 600-gallon fuel tanks it can carry underwing, but these tanks reduce its observability to a degree. The new fuel tanks intended for the F-22 are meant to offset some of that reduction. An F-22 Raptor over McEntire Joint National Guard Base in November 2017.

Since the early days of the invasion, Mr. Putin has conceded, privately, that the war has not gone as planned. “I think he is sincerely willing” to compromise with Russia, Mr. Putin said of Mr. Zelensky in 2019. To join in Mr. Putin’s war, he has recruited prisoners, trashed the Russian military and competed with it for weapons. To join in Mr. Putin’s war, he has recruited prisoners, trashed the Russian military and competed with it for weapons. “I think this war is Putin’s grave.” Yevgeny Nuzhin, 55, a Russian prisoner of war held by Ukraine, in October.

☆ US pilots are testing the aging A-10 Warthog for a new kind of mission against more advanced enemies
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A US Air Force crew chief prepares to launch an A-10 for Green Flag-West in California on November 9. Samara TaylorFor years, the Air Force has sought to scrap the Warthog, believing the aging plane might not survive against modern Russian and Chinese air defenses. (Congress finally relented this month, allowing the Air Force to begin retiring A-10s in the coming year.) Since 1981, the Air Force has used the exercise to train to provide air support to Army units. US Air Force Capt.

☆ After years of arguing, Congress is finally letting the US Air Force send some A-10 Warthogs to the boneyard
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Thomas Novelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The defense policy bill for 2023 will allow the US Air Force to retire 21 A-10 Warthogs. The Air Force has wanted to get rid A-10s for years, but Congress has blocked it from doing so. The Air Force has another 260 A-10s in service, but lawmakers may be more open to scrapping them. That Air National Guard wing previously flew earlier models of the F-16 until they were replaced — to much fanfare — with the Warthog back in 2010. Airmen reconfigure weapons on an A-10 during an exercise at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida in November 2019.

☆ A US plan to drop bombs from cargo planes hit another milestone, but the Air Force is still figuring out how it would use it in a war
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

US Air Force special operators launched a cruise missile from a cargo plane over Norway this month. The Air Force wants to have more planes that can launch long-range strikes, but there are logistical hurdles. US Air Force personnel load a Rapid Dragon deployment system on an MC-130J before a test in November 2021. Air Force Research Laboratory"The beauty of that capability is it doesn't require any aircraft modifications. We are intentionally trying to be provocative without being escalatory," said Melnicoff, Special Operations Command Europe's lead officer for Operation Atreus.

Rep. Frank Mrvan is running against Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green in Indiana's 1st Congressional District. If Green is elected, she will put a stop to Democrats' 92-year winning streak in Indiana's 1st Congressional District. Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan faces off against Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green in Indiana's 1st Congressional District. Indiana's 1st Congressional District candidatesMrvan, first elected to the US House in 2020, is no stranger to politics. Voting history for Indiana's 1st Congressional DistrictIndiana's 1st Congressional District covers Gary, Hammond, and other steel-belt cities immediately east of Chicago's metropolitan area.

☆ Rep. Sanford Bishop faces off against Republican Chris West in Georgia's 2nd Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Sanford Bishop is running against Republican Chris West in Georgia's 2nd Congressional District. The 2nd District encompasses Georgia's southwestern corner, including Albany. Georgia's longest serving congressman, Rep. Sanford Bishop, looks to fend off Republican Chris West in Georgia's 2nd Congressional District. Georgia's 2nd Congressional District candidatesBishop, first elected to Congress in 1992, hasn't faced much competition in the past. Voting history for Georgia's 2nd Congressional DistrictGeorgia's 2nd Congressional District encompasses Georgia's southwestern corner, including Albany and parts of Macon, Columbus, and Warner Robins.

☆ Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan faces off against Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green in Indiana's 1st Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Frank Mrvan is running against Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green in Indiana's 1st Congressional District. Once reliably blue, the 1st District may join the majority of congressional districts in the state controlled by Republicans. If Green is elected, she will put a stop to Democrats' 92-year winning streak in Indiana's 1st Congressional District. Indiana's 1st Congressional District candidatesMrvan, first elected to the US House in 2020, is no stranger to politics. Voting history for Indiana's 1st Congressional DistrictIndiana's 1st Congressional District covers Gary, Hammond, and other steel-belt cities immediately east of Chicago's metropolitan area.

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