Al Jazeera
"Iraq slams US strikes that killed eight pro-Iran fighters"
23 NOVEMBER 2023
The government in Baghdad has condemned the United States for a series of air raids which killed eight Iran-backed fighters, saying it violated Iraqi sovereignty.
The US did not coordinate the attacks on militia positions south of Baghdad on Tuesday and early Wednesday morning with Iraq, government spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said.
The strikes constitute an “unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty”, he added.
Pro-Iran militia Kataib Hezbollah, also known as Hezbollah Brigades, confirmed on Wednesday that eight of its fighters were killed in the US strikes.
It warned in a statement that the attacks “will not go unpunished”.
US Central Command said the strikes were retaliation for “attacks against US and coalition forces by Iran and Iran-backed groups”.
US positions under fire
The strikes are the first the US has announced against Iran-backed forces in Iraq since those groups launched a flurry of attacks against US targets in response to Washington’s support for Israel in the ongoing Gaza war.
Washington has, however, targeted Iran-backed groups in neighbouring Syria, where its positions have also been under fire.
Since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, US forces deployed in Iraq and Syria have been attacked at least 66 times, causing injuries to more than 60 personnel, the Pentagon says.
The most recent of these attacks occurred on Monday, with Iran-backed militias firing a “close-range ballistic missile against US and coalition forces at Al-Asad Airbase”, injuring eight people and prompting the US retaliation, Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement.
Iraqi spokesperson al-Awadi has denounced the Iran-backed groups whom Washington blames for repeatedly attacking its forces, saying they are engaging in “unlawful” activity and “jeopardising the national interest”.
The Ain al-Assad airbase in Anbar province, west of Baghdad, hosts forces of the US-led coalition fighting ISIL (ISIS) in Iraq.
There are roughly 2,500 US soldiers in Iraq and some 900 in Syria as part of efforts to prevent a resurgence of ISIL.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ir ... 4be8&ei=44
THE DOD
Re: THE DOD
The Washington Examiner
"Biden administration under fire after Pentagon requests $114 million for diversity, equity"
Story by Casey Harper | The Center Square
25 NOVEMBER 2023
(The Center Square) – The Biden administration is under fire after the Department of Defense requested $114 million for diversity and equity initiatives, an increasingly controversial topic that critics say is politicizing the armed forces.
The DOD fiscal year 2024 budget request shows the federal agency’s emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion, including “ensuring accountable leadership with continued emphasis and investments in sexual assault and harassment prevention, suicide prevention, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), and Insider Threat Programs.”
The DOD document shows that DEI is at the forefront of DOD policy.
“The Department will lead with our values – building diversity, equity, and inclusion into everything we do,” the report said.
From the report:
Leaders at all levels are responsible for fostering a climate of inclusion that supports diversity, is free from problematic behaviors, and does not tolerate retaliation or reprisal against those filing complaints.
Ultimately, recruiting and retaining a force with diverse backgrounds, thought, experience, expertise, and education enhances DoD’s global joint warfighter capabilities fundamental to all DoD activities.
The DoD has taken a number of actions to strengthen its antidiscrimination posture and advance diversity and inclusion throughout the Department.
Notably, DoD expanded endeavors historically known as diversity, equity, and inclusion to include a distinct focus on accessibility to highlight the importance of an accessible workplace and further ensure equal opportunity for all.
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).
That report took fire from House Republicans.
“Last week, the Pentagon failed its 6th consecutive audit,” the Republican-led House Oversight Committee wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“This week, they requested $114 million for DEI."
"The Biden Admin’s focus on progressivism over warfighting continues to exacerbate the military recruiting crisis and calls into question our level of military preparedness.”
The controversy over DEI funding in the DOD is not new.
Republicans have been highly critical of the Pentagon’s focus on equity, pointing out that reporting shows the U.S. is struggling to keep up ammunition stores and track how money is being spent.
“The Pentagon is asking for $114 million to spend on DEI programs next year,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., wrote on X.
“This is just days after they failed an audit for $1.6 trillion."
"If you’re waiting for the punchline, it’s not coming."
"This isn’t a joke.”
Rep. Dan Bishop, R-Texas, called on Congress to take a closer look at how they are authorizing the DOD to spend its funds.
“Fresh off the heels of failing its sixth consecutive audit, the Pentagon wants $144m for DEI nonsense?” said Bishop, R-N.C.
“We need our military laser-focused on defending the nation, not on woke training seminars."
"Congress can't continue to rubber-stamp this superfluous spending.”
A repeated critique of the Pentagon plan is that it distracts from the military’s mission.
“Americans are currently being held hostage – and global conflict surrounds us – yet the Pentagon has the gall to ask for $114 million for DEI,” said Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 9702&ei=15
"Biden administration under fire after Pentagon requests $114 million for diversity, equity"
Story by Casey Harper | The Center Square
25 NOVEMBER 2023
(The Center Square) – The Biden administration is under fire after the Department of Defense requested $114 million for diversity and equity initiatives, an increasingly controversial topic that critics say is politicizing the armed forces.
The DOD fiscal year 2024 budget request shows the federal agency’s emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion, including “ensuring accountable leadership with continued emphasis and investments in sexual assault and harassment prevention, suicide prevention, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), and Insider Threat Programs.”
The DOD document shows that DEI is at the forefront of DOD policy.
“The Department will lead with our values – building diversity, equity, and inclusion into everything we do,” the report said.
From the report:
Leaders at all levels are responsible for fostering a climate of inclusion that supports diversity, is free from problematic behaviors, and does not tolerate retaliation or reprisal against those filing complaints.
Ultimately, recruiting and retaining a force with diverse backgrounds, thought, experience, expertise, and education enhances DoD’s global joint warfighter capabilities fundamental to all DoD activities.
The DoD has taken a number of actions to strengthen its antidiscrimination posture and advance diversity and inclusion throughout the Department.
Notably, DoD expanded endeavors historically known as diversity, equity, and inclusion to include a distinct focus on accessibility to highlight the importance of an accessible workplace and further ensure equal opportunity for all.
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).
That report took fire from House Republicans.
“Last week, the Pentagon failed its 6th consecutive audit,” the Republican-led House Oversight Committee wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“This week, they requested $114 million for DEI."
"The Biden Admin’s focus on progressivism over warfighting continues to exacerbate the military recruiting crisis and calls into question our level of military preparedness.”
The controversy over DEI funding in the DOD is not new.
Republicans have been highly critical of the Pentagon’s focus on equity, pointing out that reporting shows the U.S. is struggling to keep up ammunition stores and track how money is being spent.
“The Pentagon is asking for $114 million to spend on DEI programs next year,” Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., wrote on X.
“This is just days after they failed an audit for $1.6 trillion."
"If you’re waiting for the punchline, it’s not coming."
"This isn’t a joke.”
Rep. Dan Bishop, R-Texas, called on Congress to take a closer look at how they are authorizing the DOD to spend its funds.
“Fresh off the heels of failing its sixth consecutive audit, the Pentagon wants $144m for DEI nonsense?” said Bishop, R-N.C.
“We need our military laser-focused on defending the nation, not on woke training seminars."
"Congress can't continue to rubber-stamp this superfluous spending.”
A repeated critique of the Pentagon plan is that it distracts from the military’s mission.
“Americans are currently being held hostage – and global conflict surrounds us – yet the Pentagon has the gall to ask for $114 million for DEI,” said Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 9702&ei=15
Re: THE DOD
REUTERS
"Wars raise profit outlook for US defense industry in 2024"
By Mike Stone
December 18, 2023
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - When the Pentagon pulled the world's biggest defense contractors into a meeting to tell them to ramp up production shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, one CEO hesitated, saying they did not want to be stuck with a warehouse full of rockets when the fighting stopped, according to three people familiar with the discussion.
Nearly two years later, big defense firms are singing a different tune, with several expecting strong demand in 2024 as the U.S. and its allies load up on expensive weaponry and munitions with an eye on what they perceive as more aggressive actions from Russia and China.
The math is simple.
For example, to meet demand for missile defenses, production of Patriot interceptors for the U.S. Army - a projectile fired at an incoming missile with the aim of knocking it down - will rise from 550 to 650 rockets per year.
At around $4 million each, that's a potential $400 million annual sales boost on one weapons system alone.
Since increasing production volumes of older systems is always more profitable than the high investment costs associated with ramping up production of new systems, stronger demand will flow quickly to the corporate bottom line.
Shares of the biggest defense companies, which have handily beat the benchmark S&P 500 stock index for the last two years, are expected to keep rising, according to Wall Street estimates.
Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman shares are forecast to rise between 5% and 7% over the next 12 months, while the S&P is seen making limited gains.
US weapons stockpiles were not "full" before Russia invaded Ukraine, said Eric Fanning, chief executive of the U.S. Aerospace Industries Association, and "adversaries are seeing our stockpiles starting thin and being depleted."
As a result, demand is being driven by Chinese aggression, fear about Russian aggression and to support allies in the Middle East, he said.
PATRIOTS AND ROCKET MOTORS
Patriot systems production can be broken down to show how sales of basic items will impact a range of companies.
To start, RTX manufactures the radars and ground systems, and Lockheed Martin manufactures the latest generation interceptor missiles.
RTX boosted launcher and control system production to 12 units a year.
A launcher and radar together cost around $400 million each.
Boeing has said over the next few years it will increase its Huntsville, Alabama, factory production capacity for sensors that are used to guide Patriot missiles by more than 30%.
Another strong demand signal can be seen in the backlog of solid rocket motors which are used by the vast array of arms in high demand since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The U.S. has two main rocket motor makers, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies, which both said they have seen demand increase.
Northrop said much of the increase is due to demand for its rocket motors and warheads in the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) which are heavily used in Ukraine.
GMLRS are GPS-guided rockets with 200-pound (90kg) warheads.
Lockheed Martin makes 10,000 of the missiles per year and is increasing production to 14,000.
They have an average cost of $148,000 each according to Army documents and more than 6,100 have been sent to Ukraine so far, according to a Reuters analysis.
"Each day the munitions are being fired reinforces the need for substantive stockpiles," Tim Cahill, who runs Lockheed's Missiles and Fire Control business - a prime contractor for Patriot interceptors and GMLRS - said in a Reuters interview.
"And I don't see that going down."
An executive at a rocket motor maker said the administration of President Joe Biden prioritized munitions in its 2024 Pentagon budget request.
He expected a boost to order backlogs once contracts came through following the passage of the $886 billion defense policy bill known as the NDAA, or National Defense Authorization Act.
It was approved by Congress last week and Biden is expected to sign it into law.
Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Chris Sanders and Grant McCool
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerosp ... 023-12-18/
"Wars raise profit outlook for US defense industry in 2024"
By Mike Stone
December 18, 2023
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - When the Pentagon pulled the world's biggest defense contractors into a meeting to tell them to ramp up production shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, one CEO hesitated, saying they did not want to be stuck with a warehouse full of rockets when the fighting stopped, according to three people familiar with the discussion.
Nearly two years later, big defense firms are singing a different tune, with several expecting strong demand in 2024 as the U.S. and its allies load up on expensive weaponry and munitions with an eye on what they perceive as more aggressive actions from Russia and China.
The math is simple.
For example, to meet demand for missile defenses, production of Patriot interceptors for the U.S. Army - a projectile fired at an incoming missile with the aim of knocking it down - will rise from 550 to 650 rockets per year.
At around $4 million each, that's a potential $400 million annual sales boost on one weapons system alone.
Since increasing production volumes of older systems is always more profitable than the high investment costs associated with ramping up production of new systems, stronger demand will flow quickly to the corporate bottom line.
Shares of the biggest defense companies, which have handily beat the benchmark S&P 500 stock index for the last two years, are expected to keep rising, according to Wall Street estimates.
Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman shares are forecast to rise between 5% and 7% over the next 12 months, while the S&P is seen making limited gains.
US weapons stockpiles were not "full" before Russia invaded Ukraine, said Eric Fanning, chief executive of the U.S. Aerospace Industries Association, and "adversaries are seeing our stockpiles starting thin and being depleted."
As a result, demand is being driven by Chinese aggression, fear about Russian aggression and to support allies in the Middle East, he said.
PATRIOTS AND ROCKET MOTORS
Patriot systems production can be broken down to show how sales of basic items will impact a range of companies.
To start, RTX manufactures the radars and ground systems, and Lockheed Martin manufactures the latest generation interceptor missiles.
RTX boosted launcher and control system production to 12 units a year.
A launcher and radar together cost around $400 million each.
Boeing has said over the next few years it will increase its Huntsville, Alabama, factory production capacity for sensors that are used to guide Patriot missiles by more than 30%.
Another strong demand signal can be seen in the backlog of solid rocket motors which are used by the vast array of arms in high demand since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The U.S. has two main rocket motor makers, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies, which both said they have seen demand increase.
Northrop said much of the increase is due to demand for its rocket motors and warheads in the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (GMLRS) which are heavily used in Ukraine.
GMLRS are GPS-guided rockets with 200-pound (90kg) warheads.
Lockheed Martin makes 10,000 of the missiles per year and is increasing production to 14,000.
They have an average cost of $148,000 each according to Army documents and more than 6,100 have been sent to Ukraine so far, according to a Reuters analysis.
"Each day the munitions are being fired reinforces the need for substantive stockpiles," Tim Cahill, who runs Lockheed's Missiles and Fire Control business - a prime contractor for Patriot interceptors and GMLRS - said in a Reuters interview.
"And I don't see that going down."
An executive at a rocket motor maker said the administration of President Joe Biden prioritized munitions in its 2024 Pentagon budget request.
He expected a boost to order backlogs once contracts came through following the passage of the $886 billion defense policy bill known as the NDAA, or National Defense Authorization Act.
It was approved by Congress last week and Biden is expected to sign it into law.
Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Chris Sanders and Grant McCool
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerosp ... 023-12-18/
Re: THE DOD
The Wall Street Journal
"Biden Endangers U.S. Troops"
Opinion by The Editorial Board
27 DECEMBER 2023
It was going to happen sooner or later: American service members would be seriously hurt as Iran-backed militias conduct lethal target practice against U.S. bases in the Middle East.
When will President Biden do his duty as Commander in Chief and protect Americans deployed abroad?
Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. forces in the Middle East about 100 times since October, and on Monday an explosive drone made it past U.S. defenses at a base in Iraq.
Two Americans were wounded and a third is in critical condition.
The Administration conducted retaliatory strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy group responsible for the attack.
Defense secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement saying his “prayers” are with the wounded.
Which is nice, but Mr. Austin isn’t a chaplain.
The U.S. defense chief’s job is to deter such attacks and defend his troops from being too-easy targets for Shiite militias.
The White House response was worse.
The National Security Council’s Adrienne Watson issued a statement announcing the reprisal and insisted that the “President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way.”
This is demonstrably false, and the bromide is insulting.
Mr. Biden’s highest priority, whispered by the White House every day, is avoiding escalation with Iran or its proxies.
Mr. Biden is afraid — we use that word advisedly — of being involved in a larger conflict, which might not be popular in an election year.
But that anxiety is now interfering with his core obligation to defend U.S. forces.
Iranian front groups have been trying to kill U.S. troops for months.
Yet Mr. Biden offered the military equivalent of a wrist slap after Americans suffered traumatic brain injuries in attacks this autumn.
The Administration may want the public to think the latest retaliatory strikes were more substantive than the previous pinpricks on weapons stores.
U.S. Central Command took the unusual step Monday night of saying that the strikes “likely killed” a number of militants.
But the Associated Press, citing Iraqi officials, says the U.S. killed all of one militant.
Some 18 were wounded.
Americans who sign up to serve in uniform know the risks, but serving as drone catchers because Washington refuses to deter the enemy isn’t supposed to be among the occupational hazards.
And Mr. Biden’s token strikes haven’t deterred Iran’s proxies in Iraq or anywhere else.
The Houthis, another Iran-backed military, are also unimpressed with the new U.S. coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The terrorists are escalating despite U.S. restraint in response.
The U.S. military said Tuesday afternoon that American ships and fighter jets had shot down no fewer than 12 drones, three antiship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles, ostensibly at multiple targets.
All were fired by the Houthis in a 10-hour period.
Does that sound like an organization worried about how America might respond?
The U.S. hasn’t punished the Houthis for taking the world economy hostage, though the U.S. knows the location of Houthi launch sites, radars, weapons and military leadership.
The Houthis are betting the U.S. and friends lack the political will to punish their piracy.
***
Behind all of this is Iran, though the White House refuses to speak this truth or do much about it.
Mr. Biden frets that Iran could accelerate its nuclear program, or further unleash its proxies and create trouble for Iraq’s government that hosts U.S. military trainers and anti-ISIS intelligence assets.
Tehran is exploiting the U.S. fear of escalation to its own benefit.
The irony is that the biggest tonic for disorder in the Middle East would be restoring American deterrence.
That would mean warning Tehran that its military and nuclear assets are at risk if it doesn’t call off the proxy dogs.
For all the Biden fears of Tehran, the recent empirical record — the U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, for instance — counsels that Iran backs down when it faces severe costs for its assaults.
Restoring deterrence in the Middle East would require the Biden Administration to admit that its approach to Iran hasn’t worked and demands a course correction.
The alternative is a continuing spiral of violence the Administration says it desperately wants to avoid.
And sooner or later more Americans will be in critical condition, or dead.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bi ... 9e62&ei=53
"Biden Endangers U.S. Troops"
Opinion by The Editorial Board
27 DECEMBER 2023
It was going to happen sooner or later: American service members would be seriously hurt as Iran-backed militias conduct lethal target practice against U.S. bases in the Middle East.
When will President Biden do his duty as Commander in Chief and protect Americans deployed abroad?
Iranian proxies have attacked U.S. forces in the Middle East about 100 times since October, and on Monday an explosive drone made it past U.S. defenses at a base in Iraq.
Two Americans were wounded and a third is in critical condition.
The Administration conducted retaliatory strikes on three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy group responsible for the attack.
Defense secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement saying his “prayers” are with the wounded.
Which is nice, but Mr. Austin isn’t a chaplain.
The U.S. defense chief’s job is to deter such attacks and defend his troops from being too-easy targets for Shiite militias.
The White House response was worse.
The National Security Council’s Adrienne Watson issued a statement announcing the reprisal and insisted that the “President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way.”
This is demonstrably false, and the bromide is insulting.
Mr. Biden’s highest priority, whispered by the White House every day, is avoiding escalation with Iran or its proxies.
Mr. Biden is afraid — we use that word advisedly — of being involved in a larger conflict, which might not be popular in an election year.
But that anxiety is now interfering with his core obligation to defend U.S. forces.
Iranian front groups have been trying to kill U.S. troops for months.
Yet Mr. Biden offered the military equivalent of a wrist slap after Americans suffered traumatic brain injuries in attacks this autumn.
The Administration may want the public to think the latest retaliatory strikes were more substantive than the previous pinpricks on weapons stores.
U.S. Central Command took the unusual step Monday night of saying that the strikes “likely killed” a number of militants.
But the Associated Press, citing Iraqi officials, says the U.S. killed all of one militant.
Some 18 were wounded.
Americans who sign up to serve in uniform know the risks, but serving as drone catchers because Washington refuses to deter the enemy isn’t supposed to be among the occupational hazards.
And Mr. Biden’s token strikes haven’t deterred Iran’s proxies in Iraq or anywhere else.
The Houthis, another Iran-backed military, are also unimpressed with the new U.S. coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
The terrorists are escalating despite U.S. restraint in response.
The U.S. military said Tuesday afternoon that American ships and fighter jets had shot down no fewer than 12 drones, three antiship ballistic missiles, and two land attack cruise missiles, ostensibly at multiple targets.
All were fired by the Houthis in a 10-hour period.
Does that sound like an organization worried about how America might respond?
The U.S. hasn’t punished the Houthis for taking the world economy hostage, though the U.S. knows the location of Houthi launch sites, radars, weapons and military leadership.
The Houthis are betting the U.S. and friends lack the political will to punish their piracy.
***
Behind all of this is Iran, though the White House refuses to speak this truth or do much about it.
Mr. Biden frets that Iran could accelerate its nuclear program, or further unleash its proxies and create trouble for Iraq’s government that hosts U.S. military trainers and anti-ISIS intelligence assets.
Tehran is exploiting the U.S. fear of escalation to its own benefit.
The irony is that the biggest tonic for disorder in the Middle East would be restoring American deterrence.
That would mean warning Tehran that its military and nuclear assets are at risk if it doesn’t call off the proxy dogs.
For all the Biden fears of Tehran, the recent empirical record — the U.S. strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, for instance — counsels that Iran backs down when it faces severe costs for its assaults.
Restoring deterrence in the Middle East would require the Biden Administration to admit that its approach to Iran hasn’t worked and demands a course correction.
The alternative is a continuing spiral of violence the Administration says it desperately wants to avoid.
And sooner or later more Americans will be in critical condition, or dead.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bi ... 9e62&ei=53
Re: THE DOD
ABC News
"US carries out airstrikes against militants in Iraq following attack on air base"
27 DECEMBER 2023
U.S. military forces carried out multiple airstrikes on facilities in Iraq used by Kataib Hezbollah -- an Iraqi paramilitary group also known as the Hezbollah Brigades -- and its affiliates on Christmas night, according to statements released by the Department of Defense.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the strikes were carried out at the direction of President Joe Biden and in response to attacks carried out by the groups against coalition forces in the region.
One of those attacks was on Erbil Air Base earlier on Dec. 25, which resulted in injuries to three U.S. personnel.
One service member was left in critical condition as a result of the air base attack, according to a statement from the Defense secretary.
"My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured," Austin said in his statement.
"And let me be clear – the President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests," his statement continued.
"There is no higher priority."
"While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities."
According to early assessments by CENTCOM, the targeted facilities were destroyed, and there are no signs that any civilians were impacted.
"These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks," General Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander, said in a statement.
"We will always protect our forces."
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the president was "immediately briefed on the attack this morning, and he ordered the Department of Defense to prepare response options against those responsible."
On a call later with Sec. Austin, Biden ordered the strikes against three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities, according to the statement.
"The President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way."
"The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue," Watson's statement read.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 8644&ei=43
"US carries out airstrikes against militants in Iraq following attack on air base"
27 DECEMBER 2023
U.S. military forces carried out multiple airstrikes on facilities in Iraq used by Kataib Hezbollah -- an Iraqi paramilitary group also known as the Hezbollah Brigades -- and its affiliates on Christmas night, according to statements released by the Department of Defense.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the strikes were carried out at the direction of President Joe Biden and in response to attacks carried out by the groups against coalition forces in the region.
One of those attacks was on Erbil Air Base earlier on Dec. 25, which resulted in injuries to three U.S. personnel.
One service member was left in critical condition as a result of the air base attack, according to a statement from the Defense secretary.
"My prayers are with the brave Americans who were injured," Austin said in his statement.
"And let me be clear – the President and I will not hesitate to take necessary action to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests," his statement continued.
"There is no higher priority."
"While we do not seek to escalate conflict in the region, we are committed and fully prepared to take further necessary measures to protect our people and our facilities."
According to early assessments by CENTCOM, the targeted facilities were destroyed, and there are no signs that any civilians were impacted.
"These strikes are intended to hold accountable those elements directly responsible for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq and Syria and degrade their ability to continue attacks," General Michael Erik Kurilla, U.S. Central Command Commander, said in a statement.
"We will always protect our forces."
National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the president was "immediately briefed on the attack this morning, and he ordered the Department of Defense to prepare response options against those responsible."
On a call later with Sec. Austin, Biden ordered the strikes against three locations utilized by Kataib Hezbollah and affiliated groups, focused specifically on unmanned aerial drone activities, according to the statement.
"The President places no higher priority than the protection of American personnel serving in harm’s way."
"The United States will act at a time and in a manner of our choosing should these attacks continue," Watson's statement read.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us ... 8644&ei=43
Re: THE DOD
Business Insider
"One of the most well-funded federal agencies has lost track of billions of dollars worth of military aid"
Story by nmusumeci@businessinsider.com (Natalie Musumeci)
13 JANUARY 2024
* The Pentagon hasn't kept proper tabs on $1 billion in weapons the US sent to Ukraine, a watchdog report found.
* More than $1 billion of a $1.69 billion worth of weapons sent to Ukraine remain "delinquent."
* It's not the first time the Department of Defense has lost tracks of weaponry sent to other countries.
The Pentagon hasn't been properly keeping track of $1 billion in missiles and other weapons the United States has sent to Ukraine in aid of the Eastern European country's defense against Russian forces, according to a new report by the Defense Department Inspector General.
And it's not the first time the Department of Defense, one of the most well-funded federal agencies, has lost tabs on weaponry and equipment sent to other countries like Iraq, Kuwait, and Yemen.
According to the newly released and partially redacted report from the Defense Department Inspector General, more than $1 billion of a $1.69 billion worth of weapons, including attack drones, night-vision devices, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, that were sent to Ukraine remain "delinquent."
The Department of Defense "did not maintain an accurate inventory" of the weapons designated for "enhanced end-use monitoring" (EEUM) that were delivered to Ukraine and "did not fully comply" with requirements, according to the Inspector General's report.
It is unclear exactly how many weapons were considered delinquent, but the report said that "high rates of delinquency may correlate with an inability to maintain complete accountability of the EEUM-designating defense articles, which, in turn, may increase the risk of theft or diversion."
"It was beyond the scope of our evaluation to determine whether there has been diversion of such assistance," the report added.
The report explained that getting a "complete picture" of the EEUM-designated weapons in Ukraine "will be difficult as the inventory continues to change, and accuracy and completeness will likely only become more difficult over time as the total number of EEUM-designated defense articles in Ukraine continues to change."
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his war against Ukraine in February 2022, the US has given more than $44 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.
The Defense Department inspector general's report comes as Republicans in Congress have been blocking new aid to Ukraine.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder commented on the Inspector General's report during a press briefing on Thursday, saying, "We've appreciated working with them to ensure that we do have full accountability of the process."
Ryder explained that at this time there remains "no credible evidence of illicit diversion of US-provided, advanced conventional weapons from Ukraine."
The Pentagon spokesman said "things have been implemented" to address the issues in the report, which include "the use of handheld equipment scanners, leveraging partner nation reporting, collecting of inventory."
Meanwhile, the US has lost track of a staggering amount of weaponry sent overseas in the past.
The US military failed to properly monitor more than $1 billion worth of arms transfers in Iraq and Kuwait, according to a previously declassified Defense Department audit that was obtained by Amnesty International in 2017.
Additionally, in 2009, a report by the US Government Accountability Office found that the Pentagon had failed to track the thousands of weapons provided to security forces in Afghanistan.
The Washington Post reported in 2015 that the Pentagon could not account for more than $500 million in military aid given to Yemen.
And this past November, the Pentagon flunked an annual audit of its accounting systems for the sixth year in a row.
"Things are showing progress, but it's not enough," Defense Department Comptroller Mike McCord told reporters at the time, according to Reuters.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/on ... 6606&ei=30
"One of the most well-funded federal agencies has lost track of billions of dollars worth of military aid"
Story by nmusumeci@businessinsider.com (Natalie Musumeci)
13 JANUARY 2024
* The Pentagon hasn't kept proper tabs on $1 billion in weapons the US sent to Ukraine, a watchdog report found.
* More than $1 billion of a $1.69 billion worth of weapons sent to Ukraine remain "delinquent."
* It's not the first time the Department of Defense has lost tracks of weaponry sent to other countries.
The Pentagon hasn't been properly keeping track of $1 billion in missiles and other weapons the United States has sent to Ukraine in aid of the Eastern European country's defense against Russian forces, according to a new report by the Defense Department Inspector General.
And it's not the first time the Department of Defense, one of the most well-funded federal agencies, has lost tabs on weaponry and equipment sent to other countries like Iraq, Kuwait, and Yemen.
According to the newly released and partially redacted report from the Defense Department Inspector General, more than $1 billion of a $1.69 billion worth of weapons, including attack drones, night-vision devices, and Javelin anti-tank missiles, that were sent to Ukraine remain "delinquent."
The Department of Defense "did not maintain an accurate inventory" of the weapons designated for "enhanced end-use monitoring" (EEUM) that were delivered to Ukraine and "did not fully comply" with requirements, according to the Inspector General's report.
It is unclear exactly how many weapons were considered delinquent, but the report said that "high rates of delinquency may correlate with an inability to maintain complete accountability of the EEUM-designating defense articles, which, in turn, may increase the risk of theft or diversion."
"It was beyond the scope of our evaluation to determine whether there has been diversion of such assistance," the report added.
The report explained that getting a "complete picture" of the EEUM-designated weapons in Ukraine "will be difficult as the inventory continues to change, and accuracy and completeness will likely only become more difficult over time as the total number of EEUM-designated defense articles in Ukraine continues to change."
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his war against Ukraine in February 2022, the US has given more than $44 billion in military assistance to Ukraine.
The Defense Department inspector general's report comes as Republicans in Congress have been blocking new aid to Ukraine.
Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder commented on the Inspector General's report during a press briefing on Thursday, saying, "We've appreciated working with them to ensure that we do have full accountability of the process."
Ryder explained that at this time there remains "no credible evidence of illicit diversion of US-provided, advanced conventional weapons from Ukraine."
The Pentagon spokesman said "things have been implemented" to address the issues in the report, which include "the use of handheld equipment scanners, leveraging partner nation reporting, collecting of inventory."
Meanwhile, the US has lost track of a staggering amount of weaponry sent overseas in the past.
The US military failed to properly monitor more than $1 billion worth of arms transfers in Iraq and Kuwait, according to a previously declassified Defense Department audit that was obtained by Amnesty International in 2017.
Additionally, in 2009, a report by the US Government Accountability Office found that the Pentagon had failed to track the thousands of weapons provided to security forces in Afghanistan.
The Washington Post reported in 2015 that the Pentagon could not account for more than $500 million in military aid given to Yemen.
And this past November, the Pentagon flunked an annual audit of its accounting systems for the sixth year in a row.
"Things are showing progress, but it's not enough," Defense Department Comptroller Mike McCord told reporters at the time, according to Reuters.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/on ... 6606&ei=30
Re: THE DOD
State Of The Union
"Army Staff ‘Baffled’ by Sharp Decline in White Recruits in Last Five Years"
Story by Joseph Ellis
14 JANUARY 2024
The Army’s recruitment of white soldiers dropped by almost half in the last five years, coinciding with efforts to increase diversity.
The decline led to the Army missing its 2023 recruitment target by 10,000.
While black and Hispanic recruitment remained relatively flat, their percentage increased due to the decline in white recruits.
An Army official reportedly told Military.com, “There’s a level of prestige in parts of conservative America with service that has degraded.”
“Now, you can say you don’t want to join, for whatever reason, or bad-mouth the service without any cultural guilt associated for the first time in those areas,” the officer continued.
A decrease in white recruitment has reportedly “baffled Army staff and isn’t easily explained by any one particular factor.”
Economist Nicholas Eberstadt said, “Men have been in trouble in the workforce for two generations.”
“The greatest risk of being a labor dropout is being a native-born, low education, unmarried guy,” he continued.
“Like with any other big historic change, it’s kind of hard to attribute to a single magic bullet,” added the economist.
Some Army officials attributed the drop in white recruitment to factors such as criticism of “wokeness” in the military, obesity, and public education.
The article noted that the decline in white recruitment has baffled Army staff and is not easily explained by a single factor.
Additionally, it mentioned wider statistics showing a decline in white men in the labor force and at civilian universities.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 805d&ei=58
"Army Staff ‘Baffled’ by Sharp Decline in White Recruits in Last Five Years"
Story by Joseph Ellis
14 JANUARY 2024
The Army’s recruitment of white soldiers dropped by almost half in the last five years, coinciding with efforts to increase diversity.
The decline led to the Army missing its 2023 recruitment target by 10,000.
While black and Hispanic recruitment remained relatively flat, their percentage increased due to the decline in white recruits.
An Army official reportedly told Military.com, “There’s a level of prestige in parts of conservative America with service that has degraded.”
“Now, you can say you don’t want to join, for whatever reason, or bad-mouth the service without any cultural guilt associated for the first time in those areas,” the officer continued.
A decrease in white recruitment has reportedly “baffled Army staff and isn’t easily explained by any one particular factor.”
Economist Nicholas Eberstadt said, “Men have been in trouble in the workforce for two generations.”
“The greatest risk of being a labor dropout is being a native-born, low education, unmarried guy,” he continued.
“Like with any other big historic change, it’s kind of hard to attribute to a single magic bullet,” added the economist.
Some Army officials attributed the drop in white recruitment to factors such as criticism of “wokeness” in the military, obesity, and public education.
The article noted that the decline in white recruitment has baffled Army staff and is not easily explained by a single factor.
Additionally, it mentioned wider statistics showing a decline in white men in the labor force and at civilian universities.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 805d&ei=58
Re: THE DOD
THE CAPE CHARLES MIRROR JANUARY 14, 2024 AT 11:36 PM
Paul Plante, RVN 1969 says:
Congresswoman Kiggans: At a time when our nation is facing countless global threats, this bipartisan legislation ensures a continuous chain of command among members of the National Security Council (NSC) to preserve America’s nation defense superiority.
ME: It seems to me that Ms. Kiggans has become another Washington politician who thinks that because she is inside the Washington beltway, she has mysteriously acquired lofty intelligence, while by comparison, in her estimation, anyway, we who are outside the beltway have become very stupid and uninformed, and thus, are ignorant as to what it takes to keep this nation secure, which in reality and actuality is people, common people by and large, like me who leave our hearths and homes to go out into some foreign land as the tip of diplomacy’s spear to fight, bleed and die in defense our loved ones in some war the FOOLS in Washington, D.C. have caused to happen, and then like Viet Nam, Afghanistam and Iraqinam, have lost control over, thus requiring our blood to be shed to pull their fat out of the fire for them.
And let’s be clear here – Lloyd Austin is no more essential or critical to OUR national security than is the Man in the Moon, and I suspect that the majority of us, certainly myself, didn’t even know he was gone, nor did we miss him.
And if he was gone, SO WHAT?
Did the world end?
Did our military cease functioning and mill around in a state of confusion because nobody knew where Lloyd Austin was, or wasn’t?
NOT HARDLY, because OUR military, people just like me, DOES NOT need some Biden appointment like Lloyd Austin to function and perform its missions, which it does 24/7/365 without the need for a Lloyd Austin to tell them, “now it’s time to inhale, now it’s time to exhale!”
Ms. Kiggans thinks because she flew helicopters for the Navy, she is now some kind of war fighter.
Well, I learned my war-fighting skills as a grunt near the Cambodian border in 1969 in the mud fighting close up and personal with people on the other side who quite frankly weren’t at all afraid of us or our superior technology, and were quite good at killing us, who they considered a form of vermin infesting THEIR homeland, this while people like Ms. Kiggans are enjoying a good hot meal served to them in the officer’s mess by white-jacketed mess stewards who are their servants, and so I’ll stack my knowledge of that subject, what it’s like to be left for dead with a headwound, for example, against hers on that subject any day.
But enough of that for now!
This is about Lloyd Austin and the so-called national security council, which I wouldn’t trust or depend on to walk somebody’s dog in Central Park in NYC, which takes us to exactly who it is that Ms. Kiggans is talking about when she talks about the national security council being vital to our national security, when in reality, as we shall clearly see by looking at it, is the GREATEST THREAT to OUR NATIONAL SECURITY that there is, to wit:
FROM JOE, “CREEPY JILL,” AND KARMELA’S WASHINGTON white house:
The National Security Council is the President’s principal forum for national security and foreign policy decision making with his or her senior national security advisors and cabinet officials, and the President’s principal arm for coordinating these policies across federal agencies.
Today’s challenges demand a new and broader understanding of national security – one that facilitates coordination between domestic and foreign policy as well as among traditional national security, economic security, health security, and environmental security.
The Biden-Harris NSC recognizes and reflects this reality.
The NSC is chaired by the President.
end quotes
THIS particular NSC Ms. Kiggans is on about as being VITAL to our national security, which raises serious questions about her judgment and mental capacity. making her another threat to OUR national security through gross ignorance, is chaired not by Lloyd Austin, but by Joseph Robinette Biden, Junior, a SKULKER during the Viet Nam war who never served even a mere second in harm’s way, instead becoming a CAREER POLITICIAN getting his palm greased and his pocket stuffed as a US senator in Washington, DC, living the GOOD LIFE back here, the life of ease and comfort due Joe in Joe’s own version of reality while people like me who weren’t senator’s sons or fortunate ones like Joe, were living in holes in the ground or out in the mud, fighting, bleeding and dying to protect the way of life Joe decided for himself at our expense.
Joe Biden is THE ONE who made us LOOK weak in the eyes of the world, including the Houthis and Hamas, and militia groups in Iraqinam and Syria.
Joe Biden is THE ONE who MADE us weak in the eyes of the world by imposing his WOKE BULL**** on our military who now spend their time on gender BULL**** and personal pronouns.
And I will be damned if I am going to think that Joe Biden can keep me and this nation and its peoples safe from anything!
In closing, Ms. Kiggans owes the people of America, VETERANS like me, an explanation as to why she is covering for this CAITIFF SKULKER Biden instead of calling for him to be gone on 25th Amendment grounds, which are now clearly warranted by the fact of Joe Biden publicly proclaiming in Pennsylvania on Friday that he “works” for the governor of Pennsylvania and some senator from down there, which is a clear sign to the nation and the watching world that Joe Biden has LOST HIS MIND and can no longer fulfill the duties of his office to KEEP THIS NATION SECURE, given he no longer has any idea what his office even is.
http://www.capecharlesmirror.com/kiggan ... ent-892942
Paul Plante, RVN 1969 says:
Congresswoman Kiggans: At a time when our nation is facing countless global threats, this bipartisan legislation ensures a continuous chain of command among members of the National Security Council (NSC) to preserve America’s nation defense superiority.
ME: It seems to me that Ms. Kiggans has become another Washington politician who thinks that because she is inside the Washington beltway, she has mysteriously acquired lofty intelligence, while by comparison, in her estimation, anyway, we who are outside the beltway have become very stupid and uninformed, and thus, are ignorant as to what it takes to keep this nation secure, which in reality and actuality is people, common people by and large, like me who leave our hearths and homes to go out into some foreign land as the tip of diplomacy’s spear to fight, bleed and die in defense our loved ones in some war the FOOLS in Washington, D.C. have caused to happen, and then like Viet Nam, Afghanistam and Iraqinam, have lost control over, thus requiring our blood to be shed to pull their fat out of the fire for them.
And let’s be clear here – Lloyd Austin is no more essential or critical to OUR national security than is the Man in the Moon, and I suspect that the majority of us, certainly myself, didn’t even know he was gone, nor did we miss him.
And if he was gone, SO WHAT?
Did the world end?
Did our military cease functioning and mill around in a state of confusion because nobody knew where Lloyd Austin was, or wasn’t?
NOT HARDLY, because OUR military, people just like me, DOES NOT need some Biden appointment like Lloyd Austin to function and perform its missions, which it does 24/7/365 without the need for a Lloyd Austin to tell them, “now it’s time to inhale, now it’s time to exhale!”
Ms. Kiggans thinks because she flew helicopters for the Navy, she is now some kind of war fighter.
Well, I learned my war-fighting skills as a grunt near the Cambodian border in 1969 in the mud fighting close up and personal with people on the other side who quite frankly weren’t at all afraid of us or our superior technology, and were quite good at killing us, who they considered a form of vermin infesting THEIR homeland, this while people like Ms. Kiggans are enjoying a good hot meal served to them in the officer’s mess by white-jacketed mess stewards who are their servants, and so I’ll stack my knowledge of that subject, what it’s like to be left for dead with a headwound, for example, against hers on that subject any day.
But enough of that for now!
This is about Lloyd Austin and the so-called national security council, which I wouldn’t trust or depend on to walk somebody’s dog in Central Park in NYC, which takes us to exactly who it is that Ms. Kiggans is talking about when she talks about the national security council being vital to our national security, when in reality, as we shall clearly see by looking at it, is the GREATEST THREAT to OUR NATIONAL SECURITY that there is, to wit:
FROM JOE, “CREEPY JILL,” AND KARMELA’S WASHINGTON white house:
The National Security Council is the President’s principal forum for national security and foreign policy decision making with his or her senior national security advisors and cabinet officials, and the President’s principal arm for coordinating these policies across federal agencies.
Today’s challenges demand a new and broader understanding of national security – one that facilitates coordination between domestic and foreign policy as well as among traditional national security, economic security, health security, and environmental security.
The Biden-Harris NSC recognizes and reflects this reality.
The NSC is chaired by the President.
end quotes
THIS particular NSC Ms. Kiggans is on about as being VITAL to our national security, which raises serious questions about her judgment and mental capacity. making her another threat to OUR national security through gross ignorance, is chaired not by Lloyd Austin, but by Joseph Robinette Biden, Junior, a SKULKER during the Viet Nam war who never served even a mere second in harm’s way, instead becoming a CAREER POLITICIAN getting his palm greased and his pocket stuffed as a US senator in Washington, DC, living the GOOD LIFE back here, the life of ease and comfort due Joe in Joe’s own version of reality while people like me who weren’t senator’s sons or fortunate ones like Joe, were living in holes in the ground or out in the mud, fighting, bleeding and dying to protect the way of life Joe decided for himself at our expense.
Joe Biden is THE ONE who made us LOOK weak in the eyes of the world, including the Houthis and Hamas, and militia groups in Iraqinam and Syria.
Joe Biden is THE ONE who MADE us weak in the eyes of the world by imposing his WOKE BULL**** on our military who now spend their time on gender BULL**** and personal pronouns.
And I will be damned if I am going to think that Joe Biden can keep me and this nation and its peoples safe from anything!
In closing, Ms. Kiggans owes the people of America, VETERANS like me, an explanation as to why she is covering for this CAITIFF SKULKER Biden instead of calling for him to be gone on 25th Amendment grounds, which are now clearly warranted by the fact of Joe Biden publicly proclaiming in Pennsylvania on Friday that he “works” for the governor of Pennsylvania and some senator from down there, which is a clear sign to the nation and the watching world that Joe Biden has LOST HIS MIND and can no longer fulfill the duties of his office to KEEP THIS NATION SECURE, given he no longer has any idea what his office even is.
http://www.capecharlesmirror.com/kiggan ... ent-892942
Re: THE DOD
THE CAPE CHARLES MIRROR JANUARY 15, 2024 AT 11:20 AM
Paul Plante, RVN 1969 says:
So, Congresswoman Kiggans, WHY are we now at a time when our nation is facing countless global threats?
And that answer is because Joe Biden is president.
Before he came into office, I don’t recall our nation facing countless global threats.
That all began when Joe Biden came into office, opened up our southern border, and then before the eyes of the world, RAN out of Afghanistnam like a scared rabbit, leaving all of our military equipment behind for the benefit of the poorly armed tenth-century tribesmen who ran Joe out of Afghanistnam, so, so much for our supposed “military superiority.”
And that thought about our supposed military superiority over somebody out there takes us to a State Of The Union article titled “Army Staff ‘Baffled’ by Sharp Decline in White Recruits in Last Five Years” by Joseph Ellis on 14 January 2024, where we have as follows:
The Army’s recruitment of white soldiers dropped by almost half in the last five years, coinciding with efforts to increase diversity.
The decline led to the Army missing its 2023 recruitment target by 10,000.
Some Army officials attributed the drop in white recruitment to factors such as criticism of “wokeness” in the military, obesity, and public education.
end quotes
Yes, indeed, “WOKE” BULL**** thanks to Joe Biden!
And if you were a straight white male, why on earth would you want to get yourself TRAPPED in a situation, because once in, you can’t then leave, where everyone around you who is not a straight white male has been INDOCTRINATED by WOKENESS to believe that YOU are the CAUSE of all their problems, so you find yourself hated by everyone around you, while being subjected to endless Soviet-style struggle sessions where you are forced to continually have to apologize and beg forgiveness from everybody who is not a straight white male for being a straight white male?
And then we have a Business Insider article titled “One of the most well-funded federal agencies has lost track of billions of dollars worth of military aid” by Natalie Musumeci on 13 January 2024, where we see the GROSS INCOMPETENCE of the Pentagon under Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin and Joe’s NSC, exposed for ALL the world to see as follows:
The Pentagon hasn’t been properly keeping track of $1 billion in missiles and other weapons the United States has sent to Ukraine in aid of the Eastern European country’s defense against Russian forces, according to a new report by the Defense Department Inspector General.
And it’s not the first time the Department of Defense, one of the most well-funded federal agencies, has lost tabs on weaponry and equipment sent to other countries like Iraq, Kuwait, and Yemen.
And this past November, the Pentagon flunked an annual audit of its accounting systems for the sixth year in a row.
end quotes
And we are to depend on that pack of fools and bunch of clowns to keep OUR nation secure?
Like hell, which brings us back to Joe Biden’s NSC and who is on it besides Joe, to wit:
Its regular attendees are the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Chief of Staff to the President, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the military advisor to the Council, and the Director of National Intelligence is the intelligence advisor.
Counsel to the President and the Legal Advisor to the NSC are invited to attend every NSC meeting.
The heads of other executive departments and agencies, as well as other senior officials, including the COVID-19 Response Coordinator and the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, are invited to attend meetings of the NSC when appropriate to address the cross-cutting nature of many critical national security issues, such as homeland security, global public health, international economics, climate, science and technology, cybersecurity, migration, and others.
end quotes
So, people, according to the version of reality put forth by Ms. Kiggans, we are to feel safe and secure because Karmela Harris, Tony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Janet “TOODLES” Yellen, Jennifer Granholm, Merrick “THE GUTLESS” Garland and Alejandro Mayorkas are the members of the National Security Council (NSC) that she wants us to believe are “preserving” America’s national defense superiority.
And what a sick joke that is, people, which makes it crystal clear that Ms. Kiggans needs her head examined to determine her fitness to hold public office in OUR REPUBLIC, the biggest threat to which is Joe Biden and his NSC, followed closely by the US congress of which Ms. Kiggans is a member!
http://www.capecharlesmirror.com/kiggan ... ent-893033
Paul Plante, RVN 1969 says:
So, Congresswoman Kiggans, WHY are we now at a time when our nation is facing countless global threats?
And that answer is because Joe Biden is president.
Before he came into office, I don’t recall our nation facing countless global threats.
That all began when Joe Biden came into office, opened up our southern border, and then before the eyes of the world, RAN out of Afghanistnam like a scared rabbit, leaving all of our military equipment behind for the benefit of the poorly armed tenth-century tribesmen who ran Joe out of Afghanistnam, so, so much for our supposed “military superiority.”
And that thought about our supposed military superiority over somebody out there takes us to a State Of The Union article titled “Army Staff ‘Baffled’ by Sharp Decline in White Recruits in Last Five Years” by Joseph Ellis on 14 January 2024, where we have as follows:
The Army’s recruitment of white soldiers dropped by almost half in the last five years, coinciding with efforts to increase diversity.
The decline led to the Army missing its 2023 recruitment target by 10,000.
Some Army officials attributed the drop in white recruitment to factors such as criticism of “wokeness” in the military, obesity, and public education.
end quotes
Yes, indeed, “WOKE” BULL**** thanks to Joe Biden!
And if you were a straight white male, why on earth would you want to get yourself TRAPPED in a situation, because once in, you can’t then leave, where everyone around you who is not a straight white male has been INDOCTRINATED by WOKENESS to believe that YOU are the CAUSE of all their problems, so you find yourself hated by everyone around you, while being subjected to endless Soviet-style struggle sessions where you are forced to continually have to apologize and beg forgiveness from everybody who is not a straight white male for being a straight white male?
And then we have a Business Insider article titled “One of the most well-funded federal agencies has lost track of billions of dollars worth of military aid” by Natalie Musumeci on 13 January 2024, where we see the GROSS INCOMPETENCE of the Pentagon under Joe Biden, Lloyd Austin and Joe’s NSC, exposed for ALL the world to see as follows:
The Pentagon hasn’t been properly keeping track of $1 billion in missiles and other weapons the United States has sent to Ukraine in aid of the Eastern European country’s defense against Russian forces, according to a new report by the Defense Department Inspector General.
And it’s not the first time the Department of Defense, one of the most well-funded federal agencies, has lost tabs on weaponry and equipment sent to other countries like Iraq, Kuwait, and Yemen.
And this past November, the Pentagon flunked an annual audit of its accounting systems for the sixth year in a row.
end quotes
And we are to depend on that pack of fools and bunch of clowns to keep OUR nation secure?
Like hell, which brings us back to Joe Biden’s NSC and who is on it besides Joe, to wit:
Its regular attendees are the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Energy, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Chief of Staff to the President, and the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the military advisor to the Council, and the Director of National Intelligence is the intelligence advisor.
Counsel to the President and the Legal Advisor to the NSC are invited to attend every NSC meeting.
The heads of other executive departments and agencies, as well as other senior officials, including the COVID-19 Response Coordinator and the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, are invited to attend meetings of the NSC when appropriate to address the cross-cutting nature of many critical national security issues, such as homeland security, global public health, international economics, climate, science and technology, cybersecurity, migration, and others.
end quotes
So, people, according to the version of reality put forth by Ms. Kiggans, we are to feel safe and secure because Karmela Harris, Tony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Janet “TOODLES” Yellen, Jennifer Granholm, Merrick “THE GUTLESS” Garland and Alejandro Mayorkas are the members of the National Security Council (NSC) that she wants us to believe are “preserving” America’s national defense superiority.
And what a sick joke that is, people, which makes it crystal clear that Ms. Kiggans needs her head examined to determine her fitness to hold public office in OUR REPUBLIC, the biggest threat to which is Joe Biden and his NSC, followed closely by the US congress of which Ms. Kiggans is a member!
http://www.capecharlesmirror.com/kiggan ... ent-893033
Re: THE DOD
The Daily Mail
"Biden Cabinet secretaries facing audit for going 'AWOL' and abusing work from home policies: Top Republican Joni Ernst demands answers after Lloyd Austin 'disappeared' for a week"
Story by Kelly Laco, Executive Editor Of Politics For Dailymail.Com
25 JANUARY 2024
* Ernst is raising questions about the frequency of Cabinet heads working from home following Austin's secret hospitalization
* 'When department secretaries do work from home, are they as nonresponsive as someone under general anesthesia?' Ernst questioned
* Sec. Austin was seen publicly today on Zoom for the first time since being released from the hospital
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is demanding an audit into every Cabinet secretary's work from home schedule after Biden's Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization raised questions about the administration's work from home policies.
The defense secretary was released from the hospital on Monday after 15 days of recovery after a surgery for prostate cancer on December 22.
After he was admitted to the hospital due to complications on January 1, he didn't tell President Biden of his whereabouts until three days later.
It also came to light that the president wasn't aware that Austin was under general anesthesia during the initial surgery and Austin's staff believed he was simply working from home the week of the procedure.
Now, Ernst is raising questions about the frequency of Cabinet heads working from home after Austin went 'AWOL' for days.
She wrote a letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young on Tuesday first obtained by DailyMail.com asking about the 'frequency' of Austin's work from home schedule.
'Is Secretary Austin working from home so frequently that he can disappear into the hospital for an entire week to undergo invasive surgery, and folks simply just think he's working from home again?' she inquired.
'When department secretaries do work from home, are they as nonresponsive as someone under general anesthesia?' Ernst continued.
The senator is demanding that 'every agency and department head' publish their schedule online.
She also says the administration should 'redouble' efforts to get federal workers back in the office.
'That should include agency leadership as well,' Ernst adds in the letter to Young.
OMB wrote to all agencies in April 2023 stating that the 'expectation' is that they would increase in-person work at federal offices.
'Now, nine months later, most agencies still haven't listened,' accused Ernst.
Last week, Biden's Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients ordered Cabinet heads to ensure that their workforce returns to the office this year.
According to a memo obtained by DailyMail.com, he wrote that federal employees should be in the office at least 50 percent of their work time in order to achieve the goals of the administration.
He highlighted the State Department's 'expectation' that all employees are in the office at least 3-4 times per week because there's 'no substitute' for 'engaging face-to-face' when it comes to diplomacy.
But he also acknowledged that 'some of your agencies are not where they need to be.'
The memo comes weeks after a bombshell report revealed that all federal agencies are less than 50 percent occupied - wasting billions in taxpayer dollars - over a year after President Biden declared the COVID-19 pandemic over.
According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) memo obtained by DailyMail.com, not a single federal agency has over half of its workforce in the office.
That's a staggering statistic since federal agencies spend about $2 billion taxpayer dollars per year to operate and maintain federal office buildings - and over $5 billion annually in leases.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was seen for the first time on Tuesday since his secret hospitalization due to complications from his prostate cancer surgery.
Austin, 70, appeared virtually and from home during a meeting on Ukraine's military needs, appearing on a zoom call with stakeholders.
He appeared gaunt as he sat in front of a white wall with what appeared to be a security system keypad on his left and a Department of Defense seal on the right.
Small U.S. and Ukraine flags were visible.
The defense secretary skipped over prepared remarks that would have addressed his health, according to Reuters.
'I urge this group to dig deep to provide Ukraine with more lifesaving ground-based air defense systems and interceptors,' Austin said in his opening remarks.
Austin's appeal to 50 other countries on the call to give money to the Ukraine came as the administration is waiting for Congress to pass a budget and potentially approve more money for Ukraine´s fight.
Until then the U.S. is looking to its allies to continue the funding fight.
Austin's complications included 'nausea with severe abdominal, leg and hip pain.'
The early diagnosis was a urinary tract infection but further examination showed Austin had a fluid build up in his abdomen that was impairing the function of his small intestines.
Democrats and Republicans alike blasted Austin for the secrecy.
Some called for his resignation.
Biden stood by his defense secretary but did admonish him for a lapse in judgement.
The White House is conducting a review of the matter.
Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients sent a memo to Cabinet secretaries, ordering them to keep the White House informed when they may not be able to perform their duties.
The Pentagon's inspector general also is investigating the mishandling of Austin's secret hospitalization.
Eight in ten men and six in ten black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year.
The risk grows for men as they age.
It is the most common cancer among men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer in the United States is 97%.
Austin will work from home as his recovery continues.
He will have to do physical therapy and regular follow ups but is expected to make a full recovery, his doctors said.
He needs no further treatment for his cancer.
'I'm grateful for the excellent care I received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and want to thank the outstanding doctors and nursing staff for their professionalism and superb support,' Austin said in a statement.
'Now, as I continue to recuperate and perform my duties from home, I'm eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon,' he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 173d&ei=28
"Biden Cabinet secretaries facing audit for going 'AWOL' and abusing work from home policies: Top Republican Joni Ernst demands answers after Lloyd Austin 'disappeared' for a week"
Story by Kelly Laco, Executive Editor Of Politics For Dailymail.Com
25 JANUARY 2024
* Ernst is raising questions about the frequency of Cabinet heads working from home following Austin's secret hospitalization
* 'When department secretaries do work from home, are they as nonresponsive as someone under general anesthesia?' Ernst questioned
* Sec. Austin was seen publicly today on Zoom for the first time since being released from the hospital
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst is demanding an audit into every Cabinet secretary's work from home schedule after Biden's Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin's secret hospitalization raised questions about the administration's work from home policies.
The defense secretary was released from the hospital on Monday after 15 days of recovery after a surgery for prostate cancer on December 22.
After he was admitted to the hospital due to complications on January 1, he didn't tell President Biden of his whereabouts until three days later.
It also came to light that the president wasn't aware that Austin was under general anesthesia during the initial surgery and Austin's staff believed he was simply working from home the week of the procedure.
Now, Ernst is raising questions about the frequency of Cabinet heads working from home after Austin went 'AWOL' for days.
She wrote a letter to OMB Director Shalanda Young on Tuesday first obtained by DailyMail.com asking about the 'frequency' of Austin's work from home schedule.
'Is Secretary Austin working from home so frequently that he can disappear into the hospital for an entire week to undergo invasive surgery, and folks simply just think he's working from home again?' she inquired.
'When department secretaries do work from home, are they as nonresponsive as someone under general anesthesia?' Ernst continued.
The senator is demanding that 'every agency and department head' publish their schedule online.
She also says the administration should 'redouble' efforts to get federal workers back in the office.
'That should include agency leadership as well,' Ernst adds in the letter to Young.
OMB wrote to all agencies in April 2023 stating that the 'expectation' is that they would increase in-person work at federal offices.
'Now, nine months later, most agencies still haven't listened,' accused Ernst.
Last week, Biden's Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients ordered Cabinet heads to ensure that their workforce returns to the office this year.
According to a memo obtained by DailyMail.com, he wrote that federal employees should be in the office at least 50 percent of their work time in order to achieve the goals of the administration.
He highlighted the State Department's 'expectation' that all employees are in the office at least 3-4 times per week because there's 'no substitute' for 'engaging face-to-face' when it comes to diplomacy.
But he also acknowledged that 'some of your agencies are not where they need to be.'
The memo comes weeks after a bombshell report revealed that all federal agencies are less than 50 percent occupied - wasting billions in taxpayer dollars - over a year after President Biden declared the COVID-19 pandemic over.
According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) memo obtained by DailyMail.com, not a single federal agency has over half of its workforce in the office.
That's a staggering statistic since federal agencies spend about $2 billion taxpayer dollars per year to operate and maintain federal office buildings - and over $5 billion annually in leases.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was seen for the first time on Tuesday since his secret hospitalization due to complications from his prostate cancer surgery.
Austin, 70, appeared virtually and from home during a meeting on Ukraine's military needs, appearing on a zoom call with stakeholders.
He appeared gaunt as he sat in front of a white wall with what appeared to be a security system keypad on his left and a Department of Defense seal on the right.
Small U.S. and Ukraine flags were visible.
The defense secretary skipped over prepared remarks that would have addressed his health, according to Reuters.
'I urge this group to dig deep to provide Ukraine with more lifesaving ground-based air defense systems and interceptors,' Austin said in his opening remarks.
Austin's appeal to 50 other countries on the call to give money to the Ukraine came as the administration is waiting for Congress to pass a budget and potentially approve more money for Ukraine´s fight.
Until then the U.S. is looking to its allies to continue the funding fight.
Austin's complications included 'nausea with severe abdominal, leg and hip pain.'
The early diagnosis was a urinary tract infection but further examination showed Austin had a fluid build up in his abdomen that was impairing the function of his small intestines.
Democrats and Republicans alike blasted Austin for the secrecy.
Some called for his resignation.
Biden stood by his defense secretary but did admonish him for a lapse in judgement.
The White House is conducting a review of the matter.
Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients sent a memo to Cabinet secretaries, ordering them to keep the White House informed when they may not be able to perform their duties.
The Pentagon's inspector general also is investigating the mishandling of Austin's secret hospitalization.
Eight in ten men and six in ten black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year.
The risk grows for men as they age.
It is the most common cancer among men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer in the United States is 97%.
Austin will work from home as his recovery continues.
He will have to do physical therapy and regular follow ups but is expected to make a full recovery, his doctors said.
He needs no further treatment for his cancer.
'I'm grateful for the excellent care I received at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and want to thank the outstanding doctors and nursing staff for their professionalism and superb support,' Austin said in a statement.
'Now, as I continue to recuperate and perform my duties from home, I'm eager to fully recover and return as quickly as possible to the Pentagon,' he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics ... 173d&ei=28