Nimitz carrier group returns to Persian Gulf after drills, in ‘pre-planned’ move not related to Iranian scientist murder – report

A US aircraft carrier and other warships are headed to the Persian Gulf to bolster troop withdrawals in the region, a defense source told CNN, insisting the deployment is unrelated to the recent murder of a top Iranian scientist. … Read More >Nimitz carrier group returns to Persian Gulf after drills, in ‘pre-planned’ move not related to Iranian scientist murder – report

Top German Court Rules Berlin Can’t Force US Drones Using Ramstein Base to Refrain From War Crimes

Since 2002, the Pentagon and the CIA have waged much of their Middle Eastern drone warfare campaign using flight control data relayed via German soil, with local activists and opposition politicians criticizing successive governments’ passivity and calling for an immediate end to “illegal drone war” operations. … Read More >Top German Court Rules Berlin Can’t Force US Drones Using Ramstein Base to Refrain From War Crimes

US Reportedly Closed at Least 10 Bases in Afghanistan Since Signing Deal With Taliban

At least 10 US military bases in Afghanistan have been closed since the United States committed to decreasing military presence under the deal with the Taliban in February, the Washington Post newspaper reported on Friday, citing sources. … Read More >US Reportedly Closed at Least 10 Bases in Afghanistan Since Signing Deal With Taliban

Driving Russia further into China’s arms: Incidents like ‘John McCain’ warship incursion near Vladivostok counterproductive for US

The US continues to press Moscow from all sides. Rocket launches into the Black Sea, Baltic troop deployments and now Far East naval incursions. While these shows of strength may feel good now, they could yet prove foolhardy. … Read More >Driving Russia further into China’s arms: Incidents like ‘John McCain’ warship incursion near Vladivostok counterproductive for US

Afghanistan: Behind the rise of the Taliban & Al-Qaeda (Ex-US State Dept official Barnett Rubin) E952

On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to Barnett Rubin, ex-State Department official and author of ‘Afghanistan: What Everyone Needs To Know’. He discusses the rise of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda out of the Mujahideen after a brutal conflict with the Soviet Union, how the communist government fell to the Islamist forces following the collapse of the USSR … Read More >Afghanistan: Behind the rise of the Taliban & Al-Qaeda (Ex-US State Dept official Barnett Rubin) E952

American missiles capable of striking Crimea fired into Black Sea as risk of confrontation on Russia’s border continues to grow

The US military has conducted rocket-launch tests as part of NATO exercises, firing from Romania into the strategically vital Black Sea, amid rising tension on Russia’s borders. … Read More >American missiles capable of striking Crimea fired into Black Sea as risk of confrontation on Russia’s border continues to grow

‘Historic Allies, Not Vassals’: Debate Continues on Contentious Issue of European Army, US Reliance

European politicians have long been debating the contentious issue of creating their own army, independent of the United States and NATO, with Paris particularly enthusiastic about the idea, and Berlin expressing scepticism. Though the subject of heated discussion, the issue has yet to move beyond debate. … Read More >‘Historic Allies, Not Vassals’: Debate Continues on Contentious Issue of European Army, US Reliance

US Deploys B-52 Bombers to the Middle East After Announcing Further Troop Withdrawals

On Tuesday, the Trump administration announced troops cuts in Afghanistan and Iraq by January 15 as a result of Trump’s peace deal with Taliban earlier this year and his 2016 presidential campaign pledge to end any ongoing global warfighting by US troops. … Read More >US Deploys B-52 Bombers to the Middle East After Announcing Further Troop Withdrawals