Parents of kidnapped journalist weigh in on new U.S. hostage policy

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Faced with an upsurge in journalist kidnappings, President Barack Obama issued a new executive order in June that allows families to offer ransom money without fear of prosecution and establishes an interagency fusion cell to improve U.S. hostage recovery efforts. Continue reading

Corpsman recalls unit’s Iraq deployment 10 years later

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On Mother’s Day 2005, George Wentworth got a phone call that would change his life forever. Continue reading

U.S. reluctant to declare safe zone along Turkey-Syria border

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Turkey and the U.S. agreed to a deal in late July that might lead to an ISIS-free zone along the Syrian-Turkish border while and allow the U.S. to launch airstrikes against the marauding jihadist organization from Incirlik Air Base in Southern Turkey. Continue reading

Marine Reserve unit hit hard in Iraq holds 10-year reunion

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A Marine Reserve unit that suffered some of the heaviest casualties during the Iraq War reunited Aug. 15-16. Many of the vets still bore the physical and emotional scars left by the 2005 deployment. Continue reading

Freelancing in a hostile world, a cautionary tale

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Our group of journalists was separated into two units and positioned in different vehicles. The road to our destination is full of danger, we were told, but our drivers and fixers were experienced in handling hostile situations. Continue reading

Afghan-Americans to Pakistan: stop supporting terrorism

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On August 14, almost 50 Afghan-Americans gathered outside the Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C. to protest what they say is Pakistan’s ongoing support of terrorist organizations operating in Afghanistan. Continue reading

Protesters seek an end to U.S. financial support of Pakistan

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Roughly 50 demonstrators rallied in front of the Pakistani embassy Friday in Washington, D.C., many demanding that Congress stop U.S. financial support of Pakistan, a country that they and others accuse of supporting the Taliban. Continue reading

Odierno reviews Iraq, Islamic State in final briefing

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Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno holds a press briefing Aug. 12 at the Pentagon before he retires from service. Continue reading

The two faces of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

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The U.S. may have opened an embassy in Havana, Cuba, but 500 miles away at the Guantanamo Bay naval base you wouldn’t know that anything had changed. Continue reading

The first US women in combat will find US women already in combat

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On January 1, the US military will open all of its positions to women — including combat duty — unless the individual services prove they should be exempt from the edict. Many consider this a groundbreaking moment for female troops, but … Continue reading