Posts

Pentagon Reportedly Escalates Hunt For Leakers By Ordering Polygraph Exams

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Department of War is reportedly taking further actions to address sensitive operational leaks.

Federal investigators are requiring around 50 of roughly 2,000 members of the U.S. military’s Joint Staff to undergo polygraph exams following recent leaks to the press, The New York Times reported Friday.

“The Department does not comment on internal personnel or investigative matters but takes all leaks of classified national security information extremely seriously and investigates accordingly,” chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “Securing classified information is critical to ensuring the security of the United States and of our troops deployed around the world.”

Among the recent leaks were allegations that the U.S. ran out of crucial munitions during the early months of the Iran War.

The Pentagon announced plans to buy almost 14,000 more Patriot Advanced Capability-3 and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) components. The move followed the Center for Strategic and International Studies estimating in July that the U.S. depleted approximately two-thirds of its pre-war Patriot and THAAD inventories during the Iran War. (Read more from “Pentagon Reportedly Escalates Hunt For Leakers By Ordering Polygraph Exams” HERE)

Longtime Stars and Stripes Leaders Suing Hegseth, Pentagon to Challenge their Firings from Military Newspaper

/1 Comment/in , /by

Three staff members from the Stars and Stripes military news outlet are suing to challenge their recent firings by the Pentagon, accusing the Trump administration of violating their First Amendment free speech rights to speak out against government interference in their work.

Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and Middle East reporter Lara Korte are named as plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit filed Thursday in Washington, D.C.

The Pentagon, which partially funds the news outlet, fired them last week. A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the suit’s allegations.

Slavin says he was dismissed for insubordination after giving an interview to CBS News in which he objected to potential censorship by the U.S. military.

Korte participated in the same interview. Their lawsuit says they were punished in retaliation for publishing a report on deteriorating conditions aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. (Read more from “Longtime Stars and Stripes Leaders Suing Hegseth, Pentagon to Challenge their Firings from Military Newspaper” HERE)

Pentagon Makes Major Move Against Military News Outlet

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Pentagon fired three key figures at a prominent military news outlet following a dispute over how it handled providing “independent news” to readers.

The U.S. Department of War (DOW) fired Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin and Middle East reporter Lara Korte on Friday, The Associated Press (AP) reported. In addition, publisher Max Lederer, who announced his retirement Tuesday, was also dismissed. The firings came after each of them reportedly expressed opposition to letting the Pentagon — which partially funds it — influence what the outlet covers.

While the DOW declined to comment, a Pentagon official confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that “the separation notices are real.”

“Today, I was informed that the Department of Defense is firing me for insubordination after I told a CBS reporter that I work for Stars and Stripes – not the Pentagon, not any administration, and not any policy maker,” Korte said in an X post Friday.

She and Slavin had previously spoken out against the idea of the Pentagon interfering with the outlet’s coverage during a “CBS Sunday Morning” interview in July.

“We need to be able to provide independent news to service members. If we can’t do that, if we were turned into something other than that, if we were public relations, that’s … the foxhole,” Slavin said when asked what “foxholes” — or conflicts between the outlet and the Pentagon — he was “willing to die in.” (Read more from “Pentagon Makes Major Move Against Military News Outlet” HERE)

Could AI Hallucinations Be The Downfall Of The Pentagon?

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Pentagon is moving to revolutionize its wargaming capabilities with artificial intelligence, opening vulnerabilities to what is being dubbed “AI hallucinations.”

Code Metal, a Boston-based AI firm, received an $80 million contract to implement AI into WarMatrix, the Department of War’s wargaming program, Fortune reported on Friday. Experts warned the Daily Caller News Foundation that implementing AI into military technologies such as wargaming could make the U.S. military a victim of “AI hallucinations,” or falsely generated information.

“Hallucinations are associated with large language models [such as ChatGPT] and refer to outputs that seem plausible, or coherent, but are factually incorrect, inconsistent or outright non-sensical,” professor of political theory at Queen Mary University London Elke Schwarz told the DCNF. “Hallucinations are inevitable, they can perhaps be minimised but never be eradicated.”

As AI hallucinations are “inevitable,” the use of this technology in military applications could have serious consequences. Some analysts have speculated that AI could have been involved in the bombing of an Iranian girls’ school at the onset of the Iran War, which killed 168 children, mostly girls, according to Iranian officials cited by Reuters.

The strike was still under investigation as of March 11, but the U.S. does not deliberately target civilians, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told CBS News’ “60 Minutes” in an interview that aired March 8. (Read more from “Could AI Hallucinations Be The Downfall Of The Pentagon?” HERE)

Missing UFO Scientist Tried to Escape Secret Pentagon Program Days Before Vanishing Without a Trace, Bombshell Memo Claims

/3 Comments/in , /by

A missing U.S. Air Force general linked to the military’s alleged research on UFOs was reportedly trying to quit his job at a government research lab before he mysteriously vanished, RadarOnline.com has learned.

Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland vanished from a hiking trail in Albuquerque on February 27, which experts say could be a “grave national security crisis.”

According to documents first uncovered by historian Sara Bondink, the general’s wife, Susan Wilkerson, told authorities before disappearing, the 68-year-old was suffering from a severe mental decline and was trying to resign from several of the secret projects he was working on.

At the time, McCasland was involved in high-level research for the Department of War, focusing on national security and advanced technology.

Just days before he vanished, according to a police report, McCasland flew by himself to Washington DC to officially resign from the Riverside Research facility, a nonprofit that provides scientific research, engineering, and advisory services on advanced technology projects. . .

Sources told Radar there are fears he may have been silenced to protect secrets the government is keeping – or that he was made to disappear by the very extraterrestrials he has spent a career documenting. (Read more from “Missing UFO Scientist Tried to Escape Secret Pentagon Program Days Before Vanishing Without a Trace, Bombshell Memo Claims” HERE)

Photo credit: BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Iran War Is Reportedly Bleeding The Pentagon Dry

/0 Comments/in , /by

If the expenses from the Iran War continue to grow, the Pentagon could run out of operational funds during the summer unless Congress passes an emergency wartime spending bill.

The Pentagon needs $80 billion to cover expenses from the Iran War and other expenses, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the discussions. The details of the funding constraints were reportedly unveiled by Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg during phone calls with lawmakers.

The $80 billion figure is not yet a formal supplemental request under Congressional consideration. Any such request would first need approval from the White House Office of Management and Budget before being sent to Capitol Hill.

“… we think it [spending on the Iran War] is closer to 29 [billion dollars],” Jules W. Hurst III, who formerly performed the duties of under secretary of war (comptroller) and chief financial officer, said during a May 12 House Appropriations Subcommittee hearing. That estimate, however, has not been publicly updated, and the real cost is likely much higher.

The White House, the Office of Management and Budget, the Senate Appropriations Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee, the House GOP press office, and the House Armed Services Committee Majority Staff did not immediately respond to a Daily Caller News Foundation request for comment. The Department of War declined to comment. (Read more from “The Iran War Is Reportedly Bleeding The Pentagon Dry” HERE)

Pentagon Considering Sending 10K Troops to the Middle East: Report

/10 Comments/in , /by

By New York Post. The Pentagon is reportedly considering a plan to send an additional 10,000 troops to the Middle East amid the war with Iran.

The potential deployment would likely include infantry and armored vehicles and would be on top of the 5,000 Marines and sailors and roughly 2,000 members of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division who have already been dispatched to the region, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“All announcements regarding troop deployments will come from the Department of War,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the outlet. “

As we have said, President Trump always has all military options at his disposal.”

The reinforcements would provide President Trump with an even wider range of military operations, including potentially putting troops on the ground, as his administration pushes for a peace deal with Iran. (Read more from “Pentagon Considering Sending 10K Troops to the Middle East: Report” HERE)

__________________________________________________

Additional 10,000 US Ground Troops Could Be Sent to Middle East: Report

By Newsweek. The Pentagon is considering the deployment of an additional 10,000 U.S. ground troops to the Middle East amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, The Wall Street Journal reports on Thursday, citing Defense Department officials with knowledge of the planning. . .

Those previously reported plans include potentially sending up to 3,000 paratroopers to join thousands of Marines moving toward the Middle East, augmenting an estimated 50,000 U.S. personnel already in the region.

The force would likely include armored vehicles and infantry, according to the Journal report. It is immediately unclear where the forces would be deployed, but would likely be within striking distance of Iran and Kharg Island, the report says.

The reported planning comes as the White House allegedly pushed a 15-point peace proposal, while regional attacks and counterstrikes continue, underscoring the risk of a broader escalation. (Read more from “Additional 10,000 US Ground Troops Could Be Sent to Middle East: Report” HERE)

Report: 3,000 Troops from Army’s Elite 82nd Airborne Set for Rapid Mideast Deployment

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Pentagon is expected to order roughly 3,000 troops from the Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division to the Middle East “in the coming hours,” according to a Wall Street Journal report outlining an imminent deployment of a rapid-response brigade combat team to support operations against Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing two U.S. officials, that a written deployment order is expected shortly for the unit, along with the division’s headquarters element responsible for planning and coordination.

The move would mark a significant expansion of U.S. force posture in the region, positioning a high-readiness ground force capable of executing a range of missions if directed.

The 82nd Airborne serves as the Army’s emergency response force and can deploy anywhere in the world within 24 hours. Its brigade combat teams are trained to parachute into hostile or contested territory to secure airfields and establish footholds for follow-on operations.

Officials cautioned that no decision has been made to put American boots on the ground inside Iran. (Read more from “Report: 3,000 Troops from Army’s Elite 82nd Airborne Set for Rapid Mideast Deployment” HERE)

Pentagon Reportedly Activates 1,500 Troops For Potential Deployment Amid ICE Protests

/17 Comments/in , /by

The Pentagon reportedly ordered roughly 1,500 active-duty soldiers to prepare for possible deployment to Minnesota as protests against federal immigration enforcement continue in Minneapolis.

Two U.S. defense officials told Reuters the Army placed two infantry battalions from the Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division on standby. The troops specialize in cold-weather operations. Officials said the soldiers would deploy if violence in the state worsens, though it remains unclear whether any will actually be sent.

The White House said in a statement to The Washington Post that it is typical for the Pentagon “to be prepared for any decision the President may or may not make.” Defense officials characterized the move as “prudent planning,” the Post reported.

Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell addressed the preparations in an emailed statement to the Associated Press (AP). He did not deny the orders were issued.

“The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the Commander-in-Chief if called upon,” Parnell said. (Read more from “Pentagon Reportedly Activates 1,500 Troops For Potential Deployment Amid ICE Protests” HERE)

Pentagon Accepts Mystery $130 Million Donation As Democrats Withhold Troop Pay

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Pentagon has accepted a $130 million donation to partially pay for troops while the government is shut down, the agency said Friday.

President Donald Trump announced the donation on Thursday, saying that a “friend” made the donation but did not elaborate on the benefactor’s identity. The Pentagon has shifted unused funds intended for research to pay out mid-month paychecks to troops, but it remains unclear if the shutdown will cause troops to miss their next paycheck at the end of the month.

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”

The shutdown started on Oct. 1 after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led nearly all Senate Democrats to block a bipartisan clean continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government. Nearly all Senate Democrats have voted down funding measures. while only a handful of Democratic caucus members have crossed party lines to vote for the stopgap bill. (Read more from “Pentagon Accepts Mystery $130 Million Donation As Democrats Withhold Troop Pay” HERE)