Pentagon

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Branches Pressure Esper for Confederate Flag Ban

It's the US flag that's placed on coffins, draft policy says

(Newser) - A draft policy circulated by Pentagon leaders would ban the display of the Confederate flag in Defense Department workplaces or public areas by service members and civilian personnel. If approved, the policy would bring the other military services in line with the Marine Corps, which banned Confederate displays on its...

Pentagon Takes Steps Toward Racial Equity in the Services

Esper wants military to recapture leadership on diversity

(Newser) - Recognizing the harm of systemic racism to individuals and the military, Defense Secretary Mark Esper has announced an effort to ensure equity for US service members. Esper made the announcement Thursday in a video, the Washington Post reports, saying the military is "not immune to the forces of bias...

Trump to Germany: We're Pulling Out

The president is reducing US military presence in Germany

(Newser) - President Trump is ordering the Pentagon to pull thousands of troops from Germany—a move that drew criticism and some speculation that it's just a tit-for-tat with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Guardian reports. The order will remove almost 9,500 troops and reduce the US troop presence there...

Pentagon Takes 'Rare Step' After Latest Protests

And Minnesota's governor calls in more National Guard

(Newser) - Minnesota's governor is "fully mobilizing" the National Guard to quell violence that has erupted in Minneapolis and to some extent in St. Paul, USA Today reports. Numbers vary, but CBS Minnesota notes that up to 13,000 soldiers and airmen might be serving in Minnesota and CNN reports...

COVID-19 Hospitalization Means No Military Service

Pentagon memo allows for accepting recruits who had a mild case

(Newser) - Anyone who's survived hospitalization for a case of COVID-19 will not be welcome in the US military. A mild case wouldn't keep a recruit out of service, NPR reports, but a hospital stay would be "permanently disqualifying," according to a Pentagon memo. Recruits can apply for...

Pentagon Releases Videos of UFOs
Pentagon Releases
Videos of UFOs
Apr 28, 2020 6:03 AM CDT

Pentagon Releases Videos of UFOs

Objects in widely-seen footage from 2004, 2015 remain unidentified

(Newser) - The Pentagon has formally released three videos of UFOs taken by Navy pilots which circulated for years following "unauthorized releases." The footage "does not impinge on any subsequent investigations of military air space incursions by unidentified aerial phenomena" and was therefore released "in order to clear...

Report: Pentagon Asked to Provide 100K Body Bags

FEMA request was sent to Defense Department

(Newser) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency has reportedly asked for 100,000 body bags—enough to deal with fatalities at the lower end of the estimate under the White House's most optimistic coronavirus scenario . Sources tell Bloomberg that FEMA requested the "Human Remains Pouches" as civilian COVID-19 deaths continue...

Trump Gives Order to Bring Back Retired Troops

Return to active duty could last 24 months during pandemic fight

(Newser) - The Pentagon will call back a number of retired and reserve troops to help fight the pandemic, after President Trump issued an executive order Friday night. He did not say if anyone would be returned to service who didn't agree to it, the Washington Post reports. The order covers...

Women Soon May Have to Register for the Draft

Commission makes formal recommendation to Pentagon

(Newser) - If a commission's recommendation is accepted, young women will have to register for the draft when they turn 18, just like their male counterparts. After a three-year study into whether women should be eligible for the draft, the panel has decided they should, reports Politico . The outlet got the...

Disney Gives the World Good Coronavirus News
Disney Gives the World
Good Coronavirus News
the rundown
Mar 14, 2020 11:20 AM CDT

Disney Gives the World Good Coronavirus News

But sadly the world has its youngest coronavirus case: a newborn

(Newser) - Amid all the negative COVID-19 stories, a good one from Disney: Frozen 2 will be available for streaming three months earlier than expected, CNN reports. New Disney CEO Bob Chapek says the movie's "powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family" are "incredibly relevant during this...

Pentagon Will Rethink Giant Contract After Amazon Suit

Bezos says Trump gave huge deal to Microsoft because of personal vendetta

(Newser) - Amazon has gotten another indication that something might come of its lawsuit against the Defense Department over its handling of a cloud contract worth billions. The Pentagon told a court in a filing Thursday that it "wishes to reconsider its award decision." The Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract...

Man With One of Pentagon's 'Most Important' Jobs Is Out

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood resigns at Trump's request

(Newser) - The Pentagon's top policy official is out, and his resignation comes at the president's request. In a letter penned by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood on Wednesday and obtained by CNN , Rood writes, "Senior administration officials appointed by the President serve at the pleasure...

Pentagon Diverts Military Aircraft Funds to Border Wall

Lawmakers from both parties slam move to shift $3.8B in military spending

(Newser) - "I'm going to build a wall and divert funds from military aircraft to pay for it" isn't exactly what President Trump promised in 2016—but he is likely to at least have some progress in wall construction to point to during this year's election. The Pentagon...

Number of Troops With Brain Injuries Climbs Again

Trump now is 'very concerned,' defense secretary says

(Newser) - About 200 US military personnel who were in the blast zone when Iranian missiles hit an Iraqi base early this month have now been screened. Of those, 64 have been diagnosed as having mild traumatic brain injury— up from 50 earlier this week, CNN reports. That number could increase again;...

Pentagon Raises Number of Troops Hurt in Iran Strike

50 service members suffered traumatic brain injuries

(Newser) - The Pentagon has raised to 50 the number of US service members who suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iran's missile strike earlier this month on an Iraqi air base, the third time the number of injuries has been increased. The new total released belies President Trump's initial claim...

More Troops Than Thought Had Brain Injuries After Iran Strike

Pentagon says 34 in all, and half are still being evaluated

(Newser) - Iran's retaliatory strike on US troops injured more Americans than thought. The Pentagon on Friday said that 34 service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, reports the AP . Of those, 17 are still under medical observation. Eight of that group were shipped back to the Walter Reed Medical...

'Dopes and Babies': Book Quotes Trump on His Generals

President allegedly lit into them during a meeting early in his presidency

(Newser) - A new book about President Trump written by two Washington Post reporters details an incident early in his presidency that might make Trump's critics dislike him even more while simultaneously making his supporters admire him even more. It's from an excerpt of A Very Stable Genius: Donald J....

As It Turns Out, 11 Troops Were Hurt in Iran's Strike

American service members are being treated for concussions

(Newser) - After Iran fired missiles at two Iraqi bases with American troops, President Trump and Pentagon officials said the US had no casualties. As it turns out, 11 US service members are being treated for concussions, reports the New York Times . All have been transferred to military facilities in Kuwait and...

Amazon to File for Restraining Order in Microsoft-DOD Deal

Former says latter was only awarded $10B contract after 'behind-the-scenes attacks' from Trump

(Newser) - Amazon has long been suspicious that it lost out to Microsoft on a lucrative $10 billion cloud computing deal with the US military only because of President Trump's intervention, and now Jeff Bezos' behemoth has taken its latest step to stymie the latter from proceeding with that project. CNN...

Pentagon Will Fund US Production of Rare Minerals

China has threatened to cut off supply of rare earths

(Newser) - Rare earth minerals are essential components of many high-tech products, including weapons systems and fighter jets—and the US military wants to stop relying on China for them. According to government documents seen by Reuters , the Pentagon is planning to fund processing of the 17 elements for the first time...

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