‘Disconnect’: Obama spent $500 million to train ‘4 or 5’ anti-ISIL fighters

‘Disconnect’: Obama spent $500 million to train ‘4 or 5’ anti-ISIL fighters

Special to WorldTribune.com The Obama administration pledged $500 million to train over 5,000 moderate Syrian fighters to battle Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). How’s that working out? According to the commander of U.S. Central Command, only “four or five” are currently on the battlefield. Not four or five thousand, or even four or […]

Centcom chief boosts military ties with Qatar despite its split with Gulf allies over Iran

Centcom chief boosts military ties with Qatar despite its split with Gulf allies over Iran

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States does not expect Qatar’s crisis with the Gulf Cooperation Council to hamper military relations. Officials said the GCC’s unofficial boycott of Qatar would not harm U.S. efforts to bolster the six-member Gulf Arab alliance. The officials said Qatar, despite its confrontation with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the […]

Centcom cites Kuwait as ‘strong ally’ to U.S. in Afghanistan

Centcom cites Kuwait as ‘strong ally’ to U.S. in Afghanistan

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Kuwait has played a major role in the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. The U.S. military’s Central Command reported that Kuwait served as a hub for logistics for the war in Afghanistan. Centcom said Kuwait was expanding its military cooperation with the United States. “A long-time partner and strong ally […]

Centcom, unlike administration, sees Palestinian issue as secondary

Centcom, unlike administration, sees Palestinian issue as secondary

Special to WorldTribune.com Geostrategy-Direct.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military no longer sees the Arab-Israeli conflict as a priority. The military’s Central Command, in contrast to that of the administration of President Barack Obama, has not designated either the Arab-Israeli or Israeli-Palestinian dispute as a key threat to U.S. interests or regional stability. In a briefing […]

Centcom chief salutes Egyptian military’s professionalism in ‘tumultuous period’

Centcom chief salutes Egyptian military’s professionalism in ‘tumultuous period’

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. military remains encouraged by its relationship with Egypt. U.S. Central Command has determined that Egypt’s military remained a professional force amid nationwide unrest against the new Islamist regime of President Mohammed Morsi. Centcom said the Egyptian military, which receives $1.3 billion in annual U.S. aid, retained support of […]

U.S. general sees 2012 trouble in Iraq from Al Qaida, ‘Hizbullah-type’ Iran proxy

U.S. general sees 2012 trouble in Iraq from Al Qaida, ‘Hizbullah-type’ Iran proxy

Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — The U.S. military is projecting that Al Qaida will gain strength in 2012. The U.S. commander in Iraq said that Al Qaida was expected to benefit from the American troop withdrawal by the end of the year. Gen. Lloyd Austin said the absence of U.S. combat troops would bolster Al […]