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The article reports on the spread of terror in West Africa, reflecting the failure of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in the region. Topics discussed military coups in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea, some groups' declaration of allegiance to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State and their order to U.S. and French troops to withdraw from the region, and the modified approach of the U.S. to combat insurgency in the region by focusing on initiatives that include security, governance and development.

The article focuses on the U.S. military's withdrawal from its last base in Niger, marking the end of a years-long counterterrorism mission in the West African country, as the Pentagon turns over control to local forces.

The article reports on increasing discontent in the U.S.-Ukraine alliance. Topics discussed include reason for the U.S. Defense Department's exasperation, promise of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine's military renewal in its campaign against Russia, and impact of Russia's victory in Avdiivka on both Ukraine and the U.S.

The article reports that Iranian-backed militias have curtailed their attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria. Topics discussed include air strikes launched by the U.S. in retaliation to Iranian-backed militias' attack which killed American soldiers in Jordan, the U.S. government's statement that Iran will be held accountable for operations by proxy forces, and speculation that Iran has some control over the militias including the Hezbollah, Houthis and Hashd al-Shaabi.

The article focuses on the withdrawal of 1,000 U.S. military personnel from Niger, scheduled to be completed by September 15, marking the end of a longstanding counterterrorism partnership between the U.S. and Niger in the Sahel region of Africa.

The article calls for U.S. exit from Niger as Russia steps in, amidst protests against U.S. military presence, reflecting a shift towards Russia in some countries in the region.

The article discusses U.S. officials' efforts to address Niger's decision to terminate military cooperation, impacting Biden administration's security plans in Africa.

The article focuses on Niger's decision to revoke its military cooperation deal with the U.S. and order 1,000 American armed forces personnel to leave the country, including Niger's move aligning with a trend of Sahel region countries partnering with Russia.

The article focuses on the Biden administration's contemplation of providing Ukraine with urgently needed arms and ammunition from Pentagon stockpiles, despite the government's lack of funds for replacement, as a short-term measure until Congress approves a larger military aid package.

The article focuses on the legal and policy dilemmas faced by the Biden administration in its military strikes against the Houthi group in Yemen, including the interpretation of the War Powers Resolution, capturing detainees, and navigating the conflict without congressional approval.

The article focuses on the memorial held in Tehran for the "martyrs" killed in U.S. strikes in Syria, revealing that the deceased were Afghan members of the largely overlooked Fatemiyoun Brigade, a force formed during the Syrian civil war with Afghan refugees recruited by Iran.

The article focuses on the intensifying conflict in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the city of Avdiivka, as Russian forces engage in brutal fighting, threatening to cut off a crucial supply line, prompting the newly appointed top military commander, Gen.

The article focuses on the recent U.S.-led airstrikes in Yemen against Houthi-controlled sites, revealing that despite causing damage to about 90 present of the targets, the Houthi militia retained around three-quarters of its capability to launch missiles and drones in the Red Sea.

The article focuses on the challenges faced by the Biden administration in resuming operations at U.S. Air Base 201 in Agadez, Niger, after a military coup in the country led to the suspension of cooperation with the United States and its European partners.

The article discusses on whether the U.S. federal government will continue providing military and economic assistance to Ukraine amidst its defense against the Russian invasion and the potential effects to Ukraine's efforts if the U.S. decides to stop its support.

The article focuses on the arrival of American-made cluster munitions in Ukraine and the doubts surrounding their immediate effectiveness in Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian defenses, with military analysts suggesting that the impact will be more significant later in the year.

Reports that the United States Marine Corps has missed its recruiting goal for January 2005. Indicator of the Iraq war's impact on the armed services; Soldier retention; Publicity on the risks in Iraq.

Reports that insurgents in Iraq are using roadside bombs with increasing effectiveness to disrupt American military operations in the country. Insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi orchestrated operations from Baghdad after he was driven out of Fallujah; Al-Zarqawi's organization claimed responsibility for two bombings near the entrance to the international zone.

Reports on the start of long-range planning by the U.S. Department of Defense on how to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq. Number of troops to be stationed in Iraq through 2005; Work on detailed plans to reduce troop number by 2006; Timetable for planning.

Reports on study findings which indicate the lack of training and preparation for American soldiers assigned to the prisons maintained by the United States Armed Forces in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Significance of the findings to the prisoner abuse scandal involving American soldiers in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq; Recommendations made to overhaul Army policies to deal with detainee operations in counter-insurgencies.

The article reports on the death of four Americans in Syria after a suicide bombing that was claimed by the Islamic State after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces and declared that the extremist group had been defeated. Topics discussed include criticism on President Trump's plan to end the American ground war in Syria, remarks from Vice President Mike Pence, and reaction of legislators to President Trump's proposal.

The article reports that American Special Operations forces used specially designed secret missile to kill the head of a Qaeda affiliate, Khaled al-Aruri, in Syria. Topics include Khaled al-Aruri, the de facto leader of the Qaeda branch, called Hurras al Din, perished in a drone strike in Idlib in northwest Syria; and he was a Qaeda veteran whose jihadist career dates to the 1990s.

The article reports on detention of Islamic state (IS) fighters by American backed Kurdish militias in northern Syria that led to raise security risk of U.S. military officials. Topics discussed include partnership of the U.S. with Syrian Kurds in detention of IS fighters; the U.S. help in temping down the tensions in Syria between Kurdish militias and Turkey; and the U.S. Special Operations troops advise to Syrian Democratic Forces to catalogue biometrics of the detainees.

The article focuses on the two deadly collisions cargo ships which have left the Navy and top leaders scrambling for answers in the U.S. It provides brief overview of the incident and the factors which could serve as the cause of the collision. It also offers insight from several shipboard veterans regarding the importance of proper training among sailors prior to their deployment to prevent such accidents.

The article reports that the U.S. armed forces have evacuated their troops from Tripoli, Libya, as rival forces of General Khalifa Hifter are clashing with the U.S. forces to take control of the city.

The article discusses a report from the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States, a 12-member panel led by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, which suggests that the country's military advantage was diminishing after President Donald Trump ordered to cut the agency's budget.

The article discusses how several of U.S. President Barack Obama's national security aides and military advisers are urging him to approve the use of American military forces in Libya as a means of opening an additional front against the Islamic State terrorist group. According to the article, Obama wants to redouble the American government's efforts to help form a unity government in Libya. Military airstrikes and U.S. Central Intelligence Agency paramilitary missions are assessed.

The article reports on the move by the U.S. to increase its attacks against Qaeda-backed Shabab militants in Somalia beginning November 9, 2017 by conducting a series of airstrikes following a deadly terrorist assault in the country in October.

The article discusses United States attack on Raqqa including desert regions, border crossings, the highway connecting Damascus and Baghdad. It mentions that the Islamic State or the ISIS gets air support from the United States led forces as the state fighters surround Syrian government forces while Russia is ready to support Iran.

The article discusses the terrorists sponsored by Islamic State in Syria killed by United States Special Operations forces in Syria which include Abdurakhmon Uzbeki, a close associate of Islamic State leader, on April 6, 2017, a midlevel Islamic State leader, and Abu Muhammad al-Adnani.

The article reports that U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has urged that the approximately 10,000 armed security contract personnel employed by the U.S. in Iraq should be brought under the supervision of a single authority, preferably the armed forces. Gates believes this will eliminate abuses such as the shooting deaths of 11 Iraqis by employees of Blackwater USA. The State Department, which employs Blackwater to guard its employees, opposes Gates' proposal.

The article reports that Lt. Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, who investigated civilian murders in Iraq, concluded that Marine officers were negligent because they did not aggressively investigate the killings in Haditha. General Chiarelli recommended disciplinary action for some of the senior staff officers of the Second Marine Division, which was under the command of Maj. Gen. Richard A. Huck, and the Second Regimental Combat Team, which was headed by Col. Stephen W. Davis, for being derelict in their duties. INSET: Chain of Command.

The author reports on new evidence involving the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, which U.S. Marines had initially reported were the result of a roadside bomb. According to the author, a military investigation headed by Col. Gregory Watt has uncovered evidence that the civilians were killed by gunshot wounds. The author states that it now appears the civilians were killed as a result of an unprovoked attack by U.S. forces.

This article reports on the worsened situation in Afghanistan in May 2006. A resurgent Taliban has started its spring offensive, raising fears that the central government may be losing control. The renewed fighting has disrupted plans for American troops to be reduced in southern Afghanistan and replaced by troops from Britain, the Netherlands, Canada and Australia. INSET: A Difficult Month.

The article looks at the growing number of retired generals from the U.S. Armed Forces, including Paul D. Eaton, Anthony C. Zinni, Gregory Newbold, John Batiste, John Riggs, and Charles H. Swannack Jr., who are calling for the resignation of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. There is growing criticism of Rumsfeld's handling of the Iraq War and many of the generals believe that Rumsfeld too often disregarded the advice of military commanders.

The article reports on U.S. abuse against detainees in Iraq. As the insurgency intensified in 2004, American soldiers belonging to an elite Special Operations forces unit converted a former Iraqi torture chamber into an interrogation cell at Camp Nama. The intention was to extract information to hunt down terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to Defense Department personnel who served there. Campe Nama, secret headquarters of Task Force 6-26, was the first stop for insurgents enroute to Abu Ghraib prison. Documents and interviews offer a detailed description of how the counterterrorism unit committed serious abuses.

The article reports that the U.S. Defense Department inspector general has directed the Army to open a criminal inquiry into the shooting death of Cpl. Pat Tillman. The author reviews how Tillman's enlistment as an Army Ranger and his subsequent death in the field of combat drew national attention because he joined the Army after leaving his career as a professional football player. According to the author, the investigation will be conducted by the Army Criminal Investigation Command. The army initially reported that Tillman died as a hero in a blaze of enemy fire but then reported he was killed by an accidental shooting by fellow Rangers.

The article reports that the U.S. military has quietly expanded its prisons in Afghanistan, where it is indefinitely holding 500 terror suspects without charges. The author reviews how an international debate has taken place over the future of the American detention center at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. According to the author, the prison in Afghanistan holds mostly Afghan detainees who might eventually be released under an amnesty program or be transferred to a newly build prison. Details of the conditions and operations at the U.S. facility in Bagram are reviewed.

The article reports that American commanders are assigning more than 2,000 U.S. Army military police advisers to work side by side with Iraqi police officers. It is suggested that the plan is one of the most extensive efforts yet to team Americans with uniformed Iraqis. The author reviews how the mission will begin in Baghdad and then expand to local stations and provincial and district headquarters in all 18 provinces by the end of January. Issues of corruption and ineptitude on the part of the Iraqi police are discussed.

The article focuses on the Fourth Infantry Division, which returns to Iraq in January 2006 for a year-long tour. The division's troops will be responsible for security across central and south-central Iraq. The expanded mission includes a requirement that Iraqi security forces take over the security mission in larger areas. Many of the allied troops are likely to leave Iraq in the coming months. The Fourth Infantry Division will have to rely on increasing numbers of Iraqi troops. The Americans will turn over bases as well as a larger share of the battle space to the Iraqis, with a goal of minimizing a visible American presence.

The article reports on a rapidly escalating conflict between Republicans and Democrats in the United States Congress over Presidents George W. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and whether to withdraw U.S. troops there. A controversial measure calling for complete withdrawal was put forward by Democratic Representative John P. Murtha, a Vietnam veteran respected on military matters. The measure did not pass when voted on. Some members of Congress felt that the angry debate that ensued showed the need for greater bipartisanship in dealing with the war.The article includes excerpts from Rep. Murtha's remarks.

The article reports that Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania has called for the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. The author suggests that Murtha's announcement ratcheted up the partisan furor of the Iraq was on Capitol Hill and forced Republicans to escalate their attacks against critics of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. Murtha is a Vietnam combat veteran who voted in favor of the war, but has apparently grown increasingly frustrated with the Bush administration's post-invasion handling of the battles against insurgents. Comments made regarding the issue by Murtha and Republican Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert are included.

Reports that the Pentagon announced that the Army had started a criminal investigation into allegations that American soldiers in Afghanistan had burned the bodies of two dead Taliban fighters and the used the charred and smoking corpses in a propaganda campaign against the insurgents. Review of events depicted on Australian television, depicting what is described as an American psychological operations team broadcasting taunts over a loudspeaker toward a village thought to be harboring Taliban fighters; Comments on the case from senior defense officials.

Discusses allegations, stemming from a report by Human Rights Watch, that members of the United States Army's 82nd Airborne Division routinely beat Iraqi prisoners of war in 2003 and 2004 to help gather intelligence and also for amusement. Revelation that these alledged abuses have also been reported, by a decorated Army captain, to top aides for two senior Republicans on the Senate Armed Forces Committee; Detailes of the alledged abuse at Camp Mercury, including allegations that prisoners were beaten, exposed to extreme temperatures, stacked in human pyramids and deprived of sleep; Comments from one sergeant on how the Abu Gharib prisoner abuse scandal impacted the abuse of prisoners at Camp Mercury.

Reports that a proposed overhaul of more than two dozen U.S. Air National Guard units has emerged as the most contentious issue in the Defense Department's larger plan to close, consolidate or realign hundreds of military sites nationwide. Review of how the Air Force wants to retire aging aircraft, close or consolidate bases, and give some units new missions, such as flying remotely piloted aircraft; Argument by officials in New England and in the Pacific Northwest that the plan would leave them vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Reports that the U.S. Pentagon plans to gradually reduce American forces in Iraq by next spring, according to senior military officers and Defense Department officials. Highlights of an assessment by General John P. Abizaid, head of the military's central command; Statement by General George W. Casey Jr., the top U.S. general in Iraq; Indications that the Pentagon is moving toward reducing forces in Iraq; Growing concerns of the President George W. Bush administration over how the country's involvement in Iraq is influencing domestic considerations; Anxiety over the cost of the war, dwindling public support, and a growing number of casualties; Comments of former speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, a Republican; Insistence of Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld that U.S. troops will remain in Iraq as long as necessary; Shift of thinking in Baghdad; Issue of future requirements for troops; The uneven quality of Iraqi security forces.

Reports on how the number of United States Reserve and National Guard on domestic and overseas missions has fallen. Decrease in the number of part-time forces on active duty since the U.S. invasion of Iraq two years ago; Review of how the decrease comes as welcome relief to tens of thousands of formerly part-time soldiers who, with their families, employers and communities, have been badly stressed by their long call-ups for duty in Afghanistan and Iraq; Suggestion that U.S. Armed Forces are running perilously low on Reserve and National Guard soldiers who largely fill certain support jobs because most are nearing their twenty-four month maximum call-up limit.

Reports that Pentagon senior planners are challenging the longstanding strategy that requires the United States Armed Forces to be prepared to fight two major wars at the same time. Question being considered by US military planners regarding whether or not the military should be structured to mount one conventional campaign while devoting more resources to defending American territory and anti-terrorism efforts; Suggestion that the current burden of maintaining forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, along with other demands of the global campaign against terrorism may force a change in the assumption that have been the foundation of all military planning.

Discusses how American casualties from bomb attacks in Iraq have reached new heights as insurgents have begun to deploy devices that leave armored vehicles increasingly vulnerable, according to military records. Information on attacks against U.S. forces using so-called improvised explosive devices (IEDs); How the surge in attacks has coincided with the appearance of significance advancements in bomb design; Mention of the detonation of explosives by infrared lasers; Heightened American concern; How engineers, contractors and senior officers are grappling with the problems posed by the new bombs; Challenges faced by the Pentagon, including the insurgents' adaptability; Comments of military officers.

Focuses on a new assessment by military commanders of the war in Iraq. The slow progress by the U.S. in training local forces in Iraq; Mood of anxiety; Suggestion that American military involvement could last many years; Views of General John P. Abizaid, top U.S. officer in the Middle East, and senior officers in Baghdad; Reference to U.S. successes in disrupting insurgent cells; Efforts of the Iraqi government to raise the level of public confidence among Iraqis; How the buildup of Iraqi forces has been more disappointing than previously acknowledged; The sharp shift away from the optimism that has marked most recent assessments.