Officials in Moscow recently charged that American private military contractors are stockpiling chemical weapons near Ukrainian villages in violation of various treaties and laws. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that about 100 contractors near Avdeevka and Krasny Liman had deployed tanks with “unidentified chemical weapons.” Additionally, “for the completion of the provocations,” the American contractors were training Ukrainian soldiers. …

Officials in the West African nation and international battleground said Canada and about a dozen European nations wrongfully accused it of partnering with the shadowy Wagner Group. Government spokesman Abdoulaye Maiga acknowledged that the government had hired “Russian trainers.” However, “elements of a private security company” had not been deployed in Mali, he insisted. “[Mali] formally denies these baseless allegations …

In a largely symbolic move, the European Union stated that “the Wagner Group is responsible for serious human rights abuses in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and Mozambique.” Furthermore, the EU blacklisted eight individuals, including former Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) officer, and suspected Wagner Group founder, Dimitriy Utkin. France was the most outspoken nation. Officials labeled the …

The struggling Caribbean nation cannot seem to get off the ropes. In fact, one journalist said Haiti “is a place that could explode very easily and at any time, because the situation is so bad.” During the summer of 2021, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, thousands of Haitain migrants were deported, and a strong earthquake devastated much of the country. …

Based on a comprehensive, nine-month review, U.S. President Joe Biden has authorized significant upgrades to American military facilities throughout the Indo-Pacific region. In light of rising tensions, mostly over Taiwan, China has been Biden’s main foreign policy priority. As part of the Guam expansions, the U.S. will also upgrade military facilities in Australia. Additionally, a DoD official said the Americans …

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it would be “unfortunate” if mercenaries closely associated with the Kremlin took sides in an ongoing dispute as the country is poised to return to democracy. Mali “remains a linchpin for future stability in the Sahel [area between the Sahara and the Sudanese savannahs] and we have deep concerns about that stability and deep …

The White House announced that government contractors will have until January 2022 to comply with a mandatory coronavirus vaccine rule. Two federal agencies, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, had passed mandatory vaccination rules that had a December 8, 2021 compliance deadline. According to the White House, the delay “will make it …

YPG (People’s Defense Unit) fighters indiscriminately launched rockets into Afrin, a Syrian town near the Turkish border, killing at least three people and seriously wounding several others. During 2018, a large-scale offensive mostly cleared terrorist fighters from the region. Therefore, construction crews in Afrin were busy building bridges, hospitals, schools, and other infrastructure items in a bid to lure residents …

Not all war wounds are immediately visible. Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at a higher rate than veterans of any other conflict in American history. As outlined below, even if you receive other benefits, like Defense Base Act benefits, you could also be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits. These injuries are …

To counter the growing Chinese security threat and gain popular support in upcoming elections, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has pledged to double the country’s defense budget.  Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe said the increased defense budget would mean a “new level” of cooperation with allies and deterrence of potential adversaries. According to sources, current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida …

Wagner Group fighters are responsible for various incidents of “intimidation” and “violent harassment,” throughout the Central African Republic, according to a United Nations report. Russian “instructors” work with army and police units, so they are immune from civil liability. Since they operate with no oversight, civilians face reprisals if they complain, the report noted. Russian mercenaries routinely detain people without …

In the chaos of August 2021, departing contractors were forced to leave several hundred service dogs behind in Afghanistan. These animals, who are now technically under Taliban control, face an uncertain future. The U.S. military ensured that all its service animals made it home, largely due to a 2015 law on this subject. But contractor animals, who protected locations like …