Situation Continues Deteriorating in Afghanistan

And you thought it could not get any worse. Citing a lack of support from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Taliban is pulling up stakes in New Delhi. The Afghan embassy said in a statement that the decision to close the mission fell in line with the previous announcement of ceasing operations in October, when it had pointed out …

DOJ Limits Camp Lejeune Legal Fee Caps

The Department of Justice announced that attorneys could charge no more than a 25% contingency fee in the ongoing Camp Lejeune water contamination lawsuit. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), who pressed for limits during the debate over the measure, called the move long overdue. “For the past year, law firms across the country have unleashed a billion-dollar-plus ad campaign, with many …

Sahel Democracies On the Defensive

Several West African nations in the Sahel (sub-Sahara) region are fighting losing battles against Islamic insurgents, according to a recent report. A jihadist insurgency spread to Niger and Burkina Faso from neighboring Mali in 2015, notably in the “three borders” area. Twenty-nine soldiers were killed in western Niger in an attack by suspected jihadists on October 3, the deadliest of …

Promising New PTSD Drug Flops

Jazz Pharmaceuticals had high hopes for its new fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor, but the drug failed to outperform a placebo during a clinical trial. “We plan to fully evaluate this data. However, based on topline results, we do not anticipate moving forward with additional JZP150 development in PTSD,” Rob Iannone, M.D., Jazz’s global head of R&D, said. “We …

Mozambique Increases Draft Requirements

In an effort to fight an ongoing insurgency without depending on private military contractors, Mozambique’s parliament approved a measure raising compulsory military service requirements. The measure raises the standard draft requirement from two to five years for general service soldiers and six years for special forces. Proponents hope the measure will decrease dependence on foreign fighters and make the army …

The Magnificent Seven Contractor Responsibilities in Southwest Asia

Private military contractors have recovered from COVID-19 business setbacks. By 2028, the global market should exceed $3 trillion, according to the latest estimate. Such profitability, along with continued instability in so many parts of the world, means lots of job opportunities for private military contractors in the areas listed below. The Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are over. But fighting continues …

Syrian Civil War Drags On

Although government forces have asserted control over most of the war-torn country, fighting continues in Syria. Between October and December 2023, American troops repelled over 100 attacks. Most of the attacks either did not reach bases or were shot down by U.S. defenses, according to a DoD official. The small number that did, however, have resulted in 66 injuries to …

U.S. Backs U.K.’s Diego Garcia Sovereignty Claims

During a recent meeting, Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed that the airbase at Diego Garcia plays a vital role for the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region and for global security. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron did not give a specific response at a joint news conference with Blinken when asked about a report that said British Defence Minister Grant …

Lawmakers Urge Biden to Strong-Arm Qatar

Two senators asked President Biden to pressure Qatar into assisting with the release of American hostages held in Gaza. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst (Iowa) and Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen (Nev.) sent a letter to President Biden which stated, in part, “We appreciate Qatar’s efforts so far to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and their commitment to continue …

Understanding the Judges’ Scrutiny of Psychological Injury Records (Part 1 of 5)

In this series of articles, our Firm will shed light on the Courts’ thorough examination of injured workers’ medical records, which has led to the denial of Defense Base Act (DBA) claims due to what they deem as deficient and unreliable evidence. While the Courts have always shown great attention to a claimant’s treating providers’ medical records, recent years have …

Tensions Escalate Between Kuwait and Iraq

Tensions Escalate Between Kuwait and Iraq

In a desperate move to head off the armed conflict, representatives of the two Muslim nations will meet to discuss freedom-of-navigation issues in the Abdullah waterway between the two countries. The countries’ shared land border was demarcated by the United Nations in 1993 after Iraq’s invasion of the oil-producing nation, but it did not cover the length of their maritime …

China Begins Courting Japan

China Begins Courting Japan

In the wake of a major summit meeting between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, which strengthened ties between these nations, China is trying to cut in on the dance floor. Beijing viewed that meeting in Camp David as a means of raising an attempt by the U.S. to increase the pressure against China at a time of intensifying …