Government forces and their Russian allies recently dislodged U.S.-backed rebels from a strategic town they have held since 2012. The victory is just the latest one in a series of triumphs for Bashar Assad. The northwestern town of Maaret al-Numan sits on the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo. While rebels occupied Maaret al-Numan, they could significantly inhibit the movement …
The last time the comedian/activist Jon Stewart was on Capitol Hill, Congress authorized additional compensation for 9/11 survivors. Will his latest efforts yield the same results? Stewart’s advocacy began with a burn pit public service announcement in September 2019. “You deserve more than the country’s gratitude for your service,” he intoned into the camera. “You deserve full medical benefits to …
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved extended clinical trials for 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder treatments. MDMA, which is also known as Molly or Ecstasy, is a common party drug. Could this treatment, if successful, be available for contractors who were injured in Afghanistan? MDMA is still not legal for medicinal purposes, but the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic …
A year ago, the federal government made some big changes to the Veterans Administration appeals process. For the most part, veterans must navigate this complex system on their own. Fortunately, contractors who were injured in Haiti and elsewhere have a better option. The 2017 Appeals Modernization Act gave disabled veterans three new options when pursuing their claims. Higher-Level Review allows …
Two major Taliban attacks near the Tajikistan border in late January 2020 illustrate the ongoing problems in this war-torn country. Taliban fighters simultaneously attacked several security checkpoints around Dasht-e Archi in the northern province of Kunduz. Afghan casualties numbered 13 KIAs, 12m WIAs, and three MIAs. Taliban warriors stormed the checkpoints at midnight, and fighting continued for several hours. After …
Escalating violence has claimed the lives of seven Russian mercenaries. It may be only a matter of time before America’s war against ISIS, which began in Iraq, spreads to southeast Africa. Some Wagner fighters were reportedly beheaded after an ambush killed two Russians in the northern Cabo Delgado state. Earlier, five Russians were killed after ISIS-affiliated militants set up a …
In a new book, author and former 82nd Airborne trooper Sean McFate says America’s military is ill-suited to fight in places like Africa and Syria. The former trooper and private military contractor now teaches at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service as well as the National Defense University. The New Rules of War argues against large allocations for aircraft carriers …
A real estate management company is taking heat over alleged “appalling housing conditions and cavalier treatment” at one of the world’s largest military installations. Specifically, Corvias and Meade Communities ignored problems like mold in the walls, according to court documents. Firms like these provide over 99%t of military personnel housing, because a 1996 law encouraged privatization. Like many other providers, …
Officials who reviewed a Wounded Warrior Project study acknowledged some “alarming” trends regarding burn pit illnesses. At a seminar about the WWP study, VA deputy under secretary for Discovery, Education and Affiliate Networks D. Carolyn Clancy vowed “We won’t stop until we get some. . .answers.” The study, which looked at over 300,000 Southwest Asia veterans, concluded that some 70% …
One of the oldest freshmen at Yale University is a 25-year veteran with a service animal and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 52-year-old James Hatch sustained a brain injury during a 2009 rescue mission in Afghanistan. The incident left Hatch with permanent PTSD. At one point, Hatch put a gun in his mouth and threatened to take his own life. His …
Since the government is hesitant to send regular servicemembers to the war-torn county, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab may tap contractors to rescue British children. The current crisis involves several children of a deceased ISIS fighter. According to the BBC and other reports, the three children, all of whom are age 10 or younger, arrived in Syria around 2014. Both …
The shadowy Russian mercenary group has already been involved in Syria, the Central African Republic, and several other global hotspots. Now, add Libya to that list. In Syria, according to one observer, the Wagner Group was a “shockforce” and “an unofficial arm of the Defense Ministry.” In the CAR and Sudan, Wagner mercenaries train militias and bolster would-be strongmen in …
