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What to know about a reported US airstrike that hit a wedding in Iran

What to know about a reported US airstrike that hit a wedding in Iran

During the latest American bombardment of southern Iran, a missile hit a home where a wedding was being celebrated

Lawmakers ask Army to explain why it told a military unit to stop specializing in drone warfare

Lawmakers ask Army to explain why it told a military unit to stop specializing in drone warfare

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing the U.S. Army to explain why it told a unit based in Europe to stop specializing in drone warfare

U.S. Foreign Policy Criticized for Post-WWII Actions and Cold War Escalation

U.S. Foreign Policy Criticized for Post-WWII Actions and Cold War Escalation

A 1968 article by Brigadier General Hugh Bryan Hester, a former U.S. Army officer and head of the U.S. Food and Agriculture Program for Germany (1945-1947), critiques Western foreign policy, particularly that of the United States, regarding post-World War II Germany and the origins of the Cold War. Hester argues that the U.S. deliberately sabotaged the Potsdam Agreement, which aimed for a demilitarized, denazified, and democratic Germany. He asserts that the U.S. airlifted useful war criminals to American soil even before the agreement was signed, betraying its spirit. Hester contends that the division of Germany and Europe was primarily the responsibility of the U.S. and Great Britain, not the Soviet Union. He points out that the Soviet government only established the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and its military forces after the Western powers created the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and began arming it. Similarly, the Warsaw Pact was formed only after NATO already existed. Hester also criticize...

War Department Established Modern Purple Heart in 1932, Expanding Eligibility and Benefits

War Department Established Modern Purple Heart in 1932, Expanding Eligibility and Benefits

The Purple Heart, the United States' oldest military decoration, honors service members wounded or killed in action. Originally established by General George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit, it was revived by General Douglas MacArthur in the early 1930s. On February 22, 1932, the War Department officially announced the creation of the modern Purple Heart, featuring a new design. Initially, the revived award recognized both meritorious service and combat injuries. However, during World War II in 1942, its criteria narrowed to specifically combat injuries with the creation of the Legion of Merit for meritorious service. President John F. Kennedy further expanded the rules in 1962. Eligibility for the Purple Heart requires a service member to be wounded or killed while serving in combat with the U.S. Armed Forces, with injuries severe enough to necessitate documented medical treatment. Qualifying injuries include those from bullets, shrapnel, chemical agents, friendly fire intended for the e...

Russian strikes kill 2 Ukrainian civilians as Moscow and Kyiv threaten to raise the stakes

Russian strikes kill 2 Ukrainian civilians as Moscow and Kyiv threaten to raise the stakes

Russian aerial attacks have killed two civilians and wounded six in central Ukraine, according to local officials

Explainer-What's behind the selloff in world bond markets?

Explainer-What's behind the selloff in world bond markets?

By Dhara Ranasinghe and Harry Robertson LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Government borrowing costs from the United States to Germany and Japan are at or near multi-decade peaks on heightened worries about inflation and rising interest rates, along with nagging anxiety about their debt loads.

NATO Grapples with AI Autonomy: Alliance Lacks Common Policy on Machine-Speed Lethal Actions

NATO Grapples with AI Autonomy: Alliance Lacks Common Policy on Machine-Speed Lethal Actions

NATO has made significant strides in developing the technical infrastructure for autonomous systems across its member states, achieving interoperability where allied machines can operate as one. However, a critical challenge remains unresolved: the lack of a common policy regarding the authority for lethal actions executed by autonomous systems at machine speed. When two allies, operating the same autonomous kill chain, possess different national thresholds for permitting a lethal action, it is unclear whose threshold governs and who is accountable in cases of disagreement. This issue is not hypothetical, as the divergence in policies is evident; for instance, Germany's 2021 coalition agreement rejects lethal autonomous weapon systems without full human control, while the United States' Department of Defense Directive 3000.09 permits such systems with 'appropriate levels of human judgment.' The alliance currently standardizes the machines but not the authority, meaning that while systems can exchange data,...

Katie S. Sanders Chronicles Peter J. Ortiz, WWII Marine Spy, in 'Ortiz’s War'

Katie S. Sanders Chronicles Peter J. Ortiz, WWII Marine Spy, in 'Ortiz’s War'

Katie S. Sanders has authored 'Ortiz’s War: The Allies' Secret Weapon Against the Nazis in France,' a book detailing the extraordinary life and wartime exploits of Peter J. Ortiz. Ortiz, a highly decorated member of America's first spy agency, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), and a Marine, had a diverse background that included stints as a merchant seaman, lion tamer, and Hollywood stuntman. His unique skills, including fluency in French and other languages, led him to undertake top-secret missions in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. He armed and trained the Maquis, sabotaged Nazi infrastructure, and aided downed Allied airmen, often operating deep behind enemy lines and evading the Gestapo.

General (Ret.) Glen VanHerck Advocates for 'Golden Dome' Missile Defense System for Homeland Security

General (Ret.) Glen VanHerck Advocates for 'Golden Dome' Missile Defense System for Homeland Security

General (Ret.) Glen VanHerck, former Commander of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD, has authored an article advocating for the 'Golden Dome' missile defense system as essential for homeland defense. He argues that this proposed multi-layered missile defense system is the optimal approach to restore strategic deterrence through denial. VanHerck contends that while the nuclear deterrent remains crucial for homeland defense, current U.S. military options are overly reliant on deterrence by massive nuclear retaliation. Golden Dome, he explains, would complement the existing nuclear deterrent by strengthening defense against first-wave conventional attacks. He refutes claims that the system would cost over $1 trillion or that its utility is questionable, stating that recent cost estimates do not reflect the actual planned architecture. VanHerck emphasizes that the U.S. faces a strategic missile gap due to modern offensive conventional systems capable of disrupting national command response systems and damaging c...

Germany Doubles Defense Budget, Commits to 3.5% GDP Spending by 2035

Germany Doubles Defense Budget, Commits to 3.5% GDP Spending by 2035

Germany is undergoing a significant strategic transformation in its defense policy, moving from a historically cautious approach to a more robust military commitment. Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on July 3 that Germany will double its defense budget within four years. This commitment is reflected in the projected increase of Berlin’s defense spending as a percentage of GDP, rising from 1.43% in 2021 to an estimated 2.69% for 2026. The German government has also pledged to increase the defense budget to €162 billion ($189 billion) by 2029, aiming to exceed 3% of GDP. This trajectory is set to achieve the minimum 3.5% of GDP on core defense requirements by 2035, a commitment formalized by NATO allies in the 2025 NATO Hague Summit Declaration. This shift was spurred by Russia's aggression in Ukraine and demands from the Trump administration for increased defense contributions from NATO members. In 2022, Germany established a €100 billion (approximately $113 billion) special defense fund, accelerating p...