Al Qaida gaining strength in Afghanistan (and in Yemen)

Al Qaida gaining strength in Afghanistan (and in Yemen)

Special to WorldTribune.com Al Qaida has a larger presence in Afghanistan than U.S. defense officials had previously thought and its ties to the Taliban make the terror group a “big threat” in the country. Maj. Gen. Jeff Buchanan, Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. military force in Afghanistan, said the recent discovery and destruction […]

‘By the way, go to hell’: Former Obama defense secretaries tell how they coped

‘By the way, go to hell’: Former Obama defense secretaries tell how they coped

Special to WorldTribune.com Three former defense secretaries were blunt in their criticism of President Barack Obama and his “inexperienced advisers” for their distrust, micromanaging and second guessing of senior military commanders. A report by Fox News anchor Bret Baier revealed that low-level White House staffers went so far as to place phone calls to the […]

One year after premature U.S. withdrawal, Afghans again struggle for ‘survival’

One year after premature U.S. withdrawal, Afghans again struggle for ‘survival’

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — It came as a stunning reality check which many diplomats knew but did not expect to hear. In 2016, “survival will be an achievement for the National Unity Government” in war torn Afghanistan. The words came as a blunt assessment by the UN’s new political […]

U.S. airstrikes destroy ISIL’s ‘Voice of the Caliphate’ radio station

U.S. airstrikes destroy ISIL’s ‘Voice of the Caliphate’ radio station

Special to WorldTribune.com A radio station in Afghanistan that was operated by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) was destroyed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes. “Voice of the Caliphate” radio, operated out of a remote part of eastern Afghanistan, was destroyed by two “counter-terrorism airstrikes” on Feb. 1, according to a U.S. military official. Afghan […]

‘American Sniper’: God, country, family

‘American Sniper’: God, country, family

Special to WorldTribune.com By Loredana Vuoto Chris Kyle is a hero. American Sniper, the blockbuster movie about this patriot, has captured the heart of many Americans. The movie has already grossed $250 million worldwide and has received six Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor. Bradley Cooper delivered a stellar performance as the deadly […]

The unexplained ambush of Navy SEAL Team Six

The unexplained ambush of Navy SEAL Team Six

Jeffrey T. Kuhner What really happened to Navy SEAL Team Six? In August 2011, the elite special forces unit suffered the worst battlefield calamity in its history. A Taliban fighter shot down a Chinook helicopter carrying 22 Navy SEAL Team Six members in Afghanistan. All 38 persons on board — the Navy SEAL warriors, other […]

Two years later, Congress to investigate the crash that killed members of SEAL Team Six

Two years later, Congress to investigate the crash that killed members of SEAL Team Six

Special to WorldTribune.com By Grace Vuoto At last, there will be a congressional inquiry into the strange circumstances surrounding the fatal helicopter crash in Afghanistan in August 2011, which resulted in the deaths of 30 American service members and 8 Afghans, including elite troops from Navy SEAL Team Six, the contingent who killed Osama bin […]

Pentagon buys M-17 Russian military helicopters for Afghan Army

Pentagon buys M-17 Russian military helicopters for Afghan Army

Special to WorldTribune.com Compiled by Miles Yu, Geostrategy-Direct.com On June 16, the U.S. Army and Russia’s state-owned defense company Rosoboronexport signed a contract in Paris to buy 30 Mi-17V5 helicopters. The 30 Mi-17V5 helicopters will be used primarily for the U.S.-trained Afghan Army. They will remain in the country after U.S. forces are scheduled to […]

When the U.S. loses resolve: The Afghanistan-Vietnam parallels

When the U.S. loses resolve: The Afghanistan-Vietnam parallels

Sol W. Sanders   For those of us who lived through it, current negotiations for the American exit from Afghanistan smells much too much like the end of the U.S. commitment in Vietnam. Washington, after a decade of enormous sacrifice of life and treasure, has chosen to negotiate with the enemy following diplomatic “modalities” pretty […]

What happened to SEAL Team Six? The most serious scandal of all

What happened to SEAL Team Six? The most serious scandal of all

Special to WorldTribune.com By Grace Vuoto The media is now consistently referring to three scandals engulfing the Obama presidency, even using a shorthand expression such as a “trifecta” of troubling incidents. Yet, there is a scandal brewing that is worse than the Department of Justice violating freedom of the press, the Internal Revenue Service abusing […]