The White House released the following statement:

“Today, America’s heart is heavy. Last night, three U.S. service members were killed—and many wounded—during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border.  While we are still gathering the facts of this attack, we know it was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.” (LINK)

A few more details are starting to emerge including the number of “many wounded.”  According to recent media reports 25 were wounded along with the 3 killed.

Yahoo – “Biden said the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing.”

There was no immediate reaction from Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

U.S. troops long have used Jordan as a basing point, and the attack took place in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. U.S. Central Command said 25 service members were injured the attack in addition to the three killed.

(more…)

Liz Cheney has come out in favor of Nikki Haley remaining in the race to represent the best foreign policy interests of those in DC who love using the military to kill people for profit.

(Via Daily Mail) – […] Cheney was asked about Haley’s bid during an interview with Pod Save America’s Daniel Pfeiffer and Jon Favreau, which was released Friday morning. 

‘I hope she stays in the race,’ Cheney said. ‘As long as she has to, certainly through Super Tuesday. I think that we’re in a situation where only two states have voted and you had something like 35 percent, I believe, of Republicans coming out of the voting in New Hampshire saying they would never vote for Donald Trump.’  (read more)

(more…)

The two Navy SEALS lost during operations near the coast of Yemen have not been found.  Centcom announces their status changed to deceased.

CENTCOM – TAMPA, Fla. – We regret to announce that after a 10-day exhaustive search, our two missing U.S. Navy SEALs have not been located and their status has been changed to deceased. The search and rescue operation for the two Navy SEALs reported missing during the boarding of an illicit dhow carrying Iranian advanced conventional weapons Jan. 11 concluded and we are now conducting recovery operations.

During this expansive search operation, airborne and naval platforms from the U.S., Japan, and Spain continuously searched more than 21,000 square miles to locate our missing teammates. Search assistance was also provided by Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center, the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command, University of San Diego – Scripts Institute of Oceanography, and the Office of Naval Research – Oceanographic Support. Out of respect for the families, no further information will be released at this time.

“We mourn the loss of our two Naval Special Warfare warriors, and we will forever honor their sacrifice and example. Our prayers are with the SEALs’ families, friends, the U.S. Navy, and the entire Special Operations community during this time,” said General Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander. (LINK)

The two Special Warfare Operators have been identified as Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram.

(more…)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is so committed to the retention of war in Ukraine he seemingly implies if President Trump negotiates with Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop fighting, then Zelenskyy will fight both sides of the conflict.  This guy is a little weird.

(VIA NEW YORK TIMES) – […] Zelensky used an expletive to describe a Trump claim about containing Vladimir Putin. At a Q. and A. with journalists that Andrew moderated, Zelensky dismissed the idea that Trump could stop the Russian president from going after other parts of Europe. Putin, he added, “will not stop — but the question is what will the U.S. and Trump do after this point, because in this case it will mean that Europe lost the most useful and most strong army in Europe because we lost Ukraine.”

Zelensky initially sought to tamp down worries about Trump, and whether his potential re-election would lead to a drop in support for Ukraine. But he also appeared somewhat fearful about the prospect. “One man cannot change the whole nation,” Zelensky said in the Q. and A., adding that deciding on the next president is “a choice for the American nation and only the American nation.”

(more…)

I hate to be captain obvious again, but maybe people have not noticed this story.  Something isn’t right and just doesn’t add up.  The events took place last Thursday, the comments by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby are today.

Look at the contrast between what U.S. Central Command put out -vs- the first AP report on the same incident.

[CentCom Source LINK]

Now look at the AP FIRST NOTICE reporting:

Two U.S. Navy SEALs are missing after conducting a nighttime boarding mission Thursday off the coast of Somalia, according to three U.S. officials.

The SEALs were on an interdiction mission, climbing up a vessel when one got knocked off by high waves. Under their protocol, when one SEAL is overtaken the next jumps in after them.

Both SEALs are still missing. A search and rescue mission is underway and the waters in the Gulf of Aden, where they were operating, are warm, two of the U.S. officials said. (read more)

(more…)

Trust me, I had to dumb down this headline to avoid the Google “reputation” block.   But let me start by reminding everyone [CHECK DATE]:

[SOURCE]

{GO DEEP} – And so, it begins:

White House – Today, at my direction, U.S. military forces—together with the United Kingdom and with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands—successfully conducted strikes against a number of targets in Yemen used by Houthi rebels to endanger freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most vital waterways.
 
These strikes are in direct response to unprecedented Houthi attacks against international maritime vessels in the Red Sea—including the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles for the first time in history. These attacks have endangered U.S. personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardized trade, and threatened freedom of navigation. More than 50 nations have been affected in 27 attacks on international commercial shipping. Crews from more than 20 countries have been threatened or taken hostage in acts of piracy.  More than 2,000 ships have been forced to divert thousands of miles to avoid the Red Sea—which can cause weeks of delays in product shipping times. And on January 9, Houthis launched their largest attack to date—directly targeting American ships.

(more…)

First things first, I pray for healing and his recovery; I am commanded to do so.

That said, what a bunch of fibbers they are.  You might remember the initial statements about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s surgery and hospitalization said it was for an “elective procedure.”

The removal of a prostate for cancer treatment is not an “elective procedure.”

With no reason to lie about such matters, it simply affirms the bigger question: WHAT ELSE are they lying about?

WASHINGTON DC – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is being treated for complications due to prostate cancer, an ailment that President Biden only learned about on Tuesday, eight days after the Pentagon chief was rushed to the hospital, officials said.

Under pressure from the administration and members of Congress, including from his own party, the Pentagon on Tuesday first released details on the nature of Austin’s medical condition and procedures.

(more…)

Remember, there was a time when the eagle’s gaze on the official seal for the Office of the United States President, did not point toward the olive branch. There was a long time in our nation’s history when the eagle’s gaze on the Presidential Seal pointed toward the arrows, and the State Dept. Seal pointed to the olive branch.

There were always two conflicting teams, by design.  There were always two different roles and responsibilities.  Those distinct purposes are now diluted by ideology, size of government and the silo process.

According to DC chatter, there is a strong possibility the “elective surgical procedure,” that resulted in complications ultimately requiring intensive care hospitalization for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, involved gastric bypass surgery or laparoscopic gastric banding.  Regardless of what the procedure was, the Pentagon is updating that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains in the hospital.  {Pentagon Link}

[Source Here]

This update follows the admission that Defense Secretary Austin was hospitalized in intensive care for four days beginning January 1st, and no one in the White House, National Security Council or State Department was aware.   Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed his lack of knowledge earlier today.

(more…)

The story of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recovering in the hospital broke Friday afternoon when the Pentagon first released a statement {SEE HERE}.   It was a bizarre first notification considering that Secretary Austin had been hospitalized since January 1st, and no official notification came until yesterday.   However, the story has grown even more bizarre.

Secretary Austin was in intensive care for four days following complications that stemmed from an elective procedure.

Today, it is discovered that the Pentagon never informed the White House that the Defense Secretary was not in command.  The National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and the National Security Council were unaware of Austin’s incapacity until January 4th.  This is very strange.  Politico has the update:

WASHINGTON DC – The Pentagon did not tell President Joe Biden and other top officials about Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization for three days, three U.S. officials said.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior White House aides didn’t know of Austin’s Jan. 1 hospitalization until the Defense Department sent over word Jan. 4, two other U.S. officials said. Sullivan informed Biden shortly after DOD’s Thursday notification.

The officials said it was highly unlikely that Austin conveyed word to Biden privately before Sullivan’s briefing. “If Jake didn’t know, no way the president knew,” one of them said. “Who would have told him of Austin’s condition if not Jake? And if someone did tell the president, Jake would’ve been his first call.”

(more…)

These guys keep providing me super timely and apropos fuel for my arguments about the structure of the next Trump administration.

Appearing on CNN, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper outlines his greatest concern that within our constitutionally provided civilian-led military structure, a President Trump Defense Secretary might actually be loyal to the Commander in Chief.

In his own words, Mark Esper views this possibility as a very serious problem.  I’m not kidding, WATCH (prompted):

.

Perhaps people might understand why I wrote:

[…] “Many people understandably freak out with a Def Sec with no experience in military.  However, the Def Sec is designed to be civilian led military; the President is the commander in chief.  The Def Sec executes military efforts to support the President.  This is the problem with having career military as Def Sec, they regard the institution as more important than the instructions they receive. [See Mark Milley and/or James Mattis and/or Alexander Vindman, they go rogue.]  The U.S. military needs to be managed now, brought to heel and Wokeism removed.” (MORE)

(more…)