Russia Ups Ante in Syria

Russia Ups Ante in Syria

By land and by sea, the Russians are coming to this war-torn country. Just offshore, the Kremlin recently deployed a huge flotilla of warships. Meanwhile, the Russian army declared that it would “liquidate” the rebels remaining in the stronghold of Idlib. There are already 10 surface warships and two submarines off the coast, and more vessels may be on the …

DIG to Examine Burn Pits

DIG to Examine Burn Pits

In response to growing evidence of serious harm, the Defense Inspector General said it will look into the legality of burn pits in Iraq, as well as contractor oversight in this area. For years, many advocates have called for increased oversight and investigation in this area. They charge that burn pits are illegal, and that the contractors who maintain them …

PTSD is on the Rise

Study: PTSD is on the Rise

Over the past several decades, the combat role of women has expanded exponentially, especially in places like Afghanistan. Some researchers are concerned that the incidents of female Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have increased even more quickly. A group of doctors looked at female Air Force veterans. Not surprisingly, PTSD incidents increased as the women had more combat experiences. Unit cohesiveness …

Blackwater Founder Repeats Clarion Call for Privatization

Blackwater Founder Repeats Clarion Call for Privatization

After his meeting with President Donald Trump apparently failed to gain traction, Eric Prince took his ideas for the Afghanistan War to YouTube. In a July video, Mr. Prince accused the DoD of “squandering” resources in the 12-year war. Private contractors could do a better job for “a fraction” of the cost, he claims. In fact, just 6,000 private contractors …

CENTCOM Releases 2Q 2018 Statistics

CENTCOM Releases 2Q 2018 Statistics

In the second quarter of 2018, the U.S. Central Command used significantly more contractors in places like Syria. Most of these contractors served in Afghanistan under the banner of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Some 26,000 contractors, including about 15,000 foreign nationals, served in this theater. About 5,500 contractors served in Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The report …