More Troops to Stay in Afghanistan

By Amy McCullough
President Obama on Wednesday said the United States will keep about 8,400 troops in Afghanistan through the end of his second term in office, a change from the planned drawdown to 5,500 troops by the end of this year. Speaking...

Armed Services Leaders Split on Afghanistan Decision

By Amy McCullough
Republican leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees pushed out conflicting statements on Wednesday following President Obama’s announcement that the United States will maintain some 8,400 troops in Afghanistan through the end of his term in office. SASC...

Readiness Shortfalls

By Will Skowronski
Shortfalls in manpower, training, and equipment limit the conventional Air Force’s ability to conduct full-spectrum combat, Maj. Gen. Scott West, director of current operations on the Air Staff, told lawmakers Wednesday. “If called upon to fight state-to-state, an associated training...

Air Force Refutes ISIS’ Reaper Claim

By Will Skowronski
The Air Force believes an electrical issue, not enemy fire, caused its MQ-9 Reaper to crash in northern Syria on Tuesday, a spokesman told Air Force Magazine by email. Following the crash, ISIS-affiliated fighters posted video of the wreckage and...

Coalition to Strike ISIS Despite Syrian Ceasefire

By Will Skowronski
The US-led coalition will continue to strike ISIS despite the Syrian government declaring a temporary, nationwide ceasefire, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Christopher Garver said Wednesday. The Syrian military declared a unilateral, 72-hour ceasefire Wednesday to coincide with the...

Smith Supports Triad, But Wants Fewer ICBMs

By Otto Kreisher
The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee agrees there is a need for a nuclear deterrent force and believes the strategic triad “still makes sense,” though he said the nation cannot afford the $1 trillion estimated cost for...

Key Defense Lawmaker Predicts Budget Stalemate

By Otto Kreisher
The House’s top Democrat on defense said he is “very optimistic” Congress will pass a national defense authorization bill this year, but admits that the election-year reduced congressional calendar and major disputes over how to fund defense likely will prevent...

Most NATO Members Increased Defense Spending

By Otto Kreisher
Seventeen of the 27 NATO members showed some increase in defense spending in 2016 over the previous year, but only five member nations are meeting the goal of two percent of gross national product, the alliance reported. The most significant...

Clarification

Coalition strikes against ISIS’ oil trade have halved the group’s oil revenue from an estimated $30 million a month to $15 million a month—not the $300 million and $150 million amounts reported by the coalition last week—Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman...