Special to WorldTribune.com Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has arrived in Baghdad for a previously unannounced visit focusing on the effort to defeat Islamic State (ISIS) militants. Mattis’s arrival on Feb. 20 comes a day after Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced a new phase in the operation […]
by WorldTribune Staff, February 19, 2017 The U.S. deployed an aircraft carrier group to the South China Sea on Feb. 18, one day after China completed naval exercises in the disputed waters. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson along with guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer were sent as part of “routine operations,” the U.S. […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — As a North Korean medium range Pukguksong missile arched across the sky landing menacingly in the Sea of Japan, the intended political target of the nuclear capable rocket was the visit of Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the United States. The rash gambit by […]
by WorldTribune Staff, February 17, 2017 In the wake of North Korea’s latest test of a nuclear-capable missile, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Feb. 16 vowed that Washington would defend Japan and South Korea with its full arsenal, including nuclear weapons. “The United States remains steadfast in its defense commitments to its allies, […]
by WorldTribune Staff, February 17, 2017 Military collaboration between the United States and Russia against Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria is unlikely anytime soon, U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis said. “We are not in a position right now to collaborate on a military level. But our political leaders will engage and try to find […]
by WorldTribune Staff, February 16, 2017 The Pentagon is conducting a “30-day review” of its strategy in Syria and is floating the idea of sending in ground troops. U.S. commanders have said there is an urgent need to liberate Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State (ISIS). Intelligence has indicated ISIS jihadists in Raqqa […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Geostrategy-Direct Chinese officials and analysts said Beijing remains “uncertain” about the Trump administration and its strategy on the two Koreas. “The prolonged silence” from the Trump administration “is making Beijing increasingly uncertain and uncomfortable, and complicating its plans to reduce the threat that the United States and its network of alliances […]
by WorldTribune Staff, February 13, 2017 As Senate Democrats continue to stonewall President Donald Trump’s nominees to key Defense Department positions, analysts said the president can take heart that his No. 1 man is already in place at the Pentagon – James “Mad Dog” Mattis. “Loyalty to the president, especially one who was as courageous […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By Geostrategy-Direct James Mattis chose Seoul and Tokyo as his first ever overseas visits days after he was sworn in as the new U.S. Secretary of Defense. He arrived in Seoul on Feb. 2 for a two-day visit and went on to Tokyo afterwards and held meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe […]
Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS — Afghanistan’s seemingly endless conflict continues as civilian causalities in the protracted war are nearly double what they were a decade ago. According to a UN report there were 11,418 conflict related causalities documented, which includes 3,500 killed. Over 900 children died and another 2,600 were […]