WASHINGTON — The decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats' impeachment case against President Donald Trump was escorted out of the White House complex on Friday, according to his lawyer, who said he was asked to leave in retaliation for “telling the truth.”...
White House Welcomes Court Ruling on Border Wall Spending
WASHINGTON — The White House says construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall will move forward after a federal appeals court ruling that frees up construction money. The 2-1 ruling on Wednesday halted a federal judge’s ruling in December that had prevented the government from spending $3.6 billion diverted from 127 military...
Democrats Call US Killing of Iranian General 'Reckless'
WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said Thursday that President Donald Trump has “tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox" with the targeted killing of Iran's top general in an airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport. The former vice president joined other Democratic White House hopefuls in criticizing Trump's...
Esper Says Iran May Be Planning More Attacks on US Interests
WASHINGTON — Iran or its proxy forces may be planning further strikes on American interests in the Middle East, and the U.S. is prepared to take preemptive military action if it gets sufficient warning, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Thursday. “The game has changed,” Esper said, citing a series of...
US Role in Syria Grows More Complex With Trump Claim to Oil
WASHINGTON — By claiming a right to Syria's oil, President Donald Trump has added more complexity — as well as additional U.S. forces and time — to an American military mission he has twice declared he was ending so the troops could come home. Extending the mission to secure eastern...
US May Now Keep Some Troops in Syria to Guard Oilfields
KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.S. may leave some forces in Syria to secure oilfields and make sure they don't fall into the hands of a resurgent Islamic State, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Monday, even though President Donald Trump has insisted he is pulling troops out of the country and...
Military Base Cuts Affect Schools, Target Ranges, More
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon will cut funding from military projects like schools, target ranges and maintenance facilities to pay for the construction of 175 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, diverting a total $3.6 billion to President Donald Trump's long-promised barrier. Projects in 23 states, 19 countries and three...
Pentagon Nominee Regrets Turkey's 'Drift' From West
WASHINGTON — Army Secretary Mark Esper, President Donald Trump's nominee to become secretary of defense, told his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday he is troubled by Turkey's decision to defy the United States by acquiring Russian-made air defenses. "It is very disheartening to see how they have drifted over the past...
Pentagon in Its Longest-Ever Stretch of Leadership Limbo
WASHINGTON — When he resigned as defense secretary last December, Jim Mattis thought it might take two months to install a successor. That seemed terribly long at the time. Seven months later, the U.S. still has no confirmed defense chief even with the nation facing potential armed conflict with Iran. That's the...
Military Hardware at Lincoln Memorial for Trump's Big July 4
WASHINGTON — The military hardware is moving into place. So are the protesters. And, ever the showman, President Donald Trump is promising the "show of a lifetime" on the National Mall for the Fourth of July. Trump is marshalling tanks, bombers and other machinery of war for this year's Independence...