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The “Righteous” Civilian-killing Drone Attack Triggered By A Suspicious Toyota White Corolla, Which Make Up 90 percent Of The Cars In Kabul
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — It was the white Toyota Corolla that caught the attention of Central Command, convincing them that was the vehicle carrying a terrorist bent on attacking Abbey Gate at Kabul airport. Perhaps their next clue was a man with a beard; both are beyond ubiquitous in Kabul specifically and Afghanistan generally, whereRead more
September 11 City Lights
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — Almost every night, the lucky few who walked astride LBJ Memorial Gardens on the Pentagon side of the Potomac River dance in a view that never got old: the city lights of the nation’s capital, washing in pride and honor the monuments and memorials to Lincoln, Washington, and Jefferson. ExceptRead more
Pentagon Adds Afghan Resistance to SOL List
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — The Pentagon made it clear Thursday that the remains of the once-recognized Afghan government — now battling the Taliban from the Panjshir Valley — is on its own and not to expect U.S. assistance. “The US military mission in Afghanistan is over,” Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said when asked whetherRead more
As Kabul Morphs to Saigon And Then Beirut, The Pentagon Works To Recreate Dunkirk. But There Will Be No Casablanca Endings
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON – The last frenzy days of the current chapter of America’s longest war are set to end after a few more sunsets over the Hindu Kush. Much will be left behind, beyond weapons, dashed dreams, and thousands whose lives now are in jeopardy. The rubble of relevancy and redundancy, two dancingRead more
Pentagon To Americans Beyond Kabul: You Are S.O.L.
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — The Pentagon made it crystal clear Wednesday that its mission in Afghanistan is to protect the airport and that Americans needing help to get to Kabul — especially those beyond the city limits — for possible evacuation are on their own. In military parlance, they are S.O.L. — the moreRead more
Out Of Despair Comes New Life
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON – Three babies have been born on US military aircraft flying them out of Afghanistan, Gen. Stephen Lyons, head of U.S, Transportation Command, told Pentagon reporters Monday. What nationality those babies will be remains to be determined. In Germany, where one of the Afghan woman’s baby was born, citizenship is notRead more
An Air Maneuver From Vietnam Resurfaces At Kabul As Threat is “Significant”
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — No one at the Pentagon wants to harken back to Vietnam regarding anything to do with Afghanistan but actions speak louder than silence at the Kabul airport. To avoid being downed by hostile fire at the airport — Gen. Stephen Lyons, head of U.S. Transportation Command said “The threat isRead more
While U.S. military leaders fret about its citizens in Kabul getting to airport, UK, French forces ferret out their citizens and escort them to safety
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — The mission in Kabul is set, the Pentagon’s top leaders said, and that seems to mean U.S. citizens are on their own to get to the airport and fly to safety. Asked during a press briefing if the burgeoning U.S. military assets at Kabul airport will include ways to escortRead more
It Started With People Jumping to End Their Lives; It Ends With People Clinging to Save Their Lives. Both Wound Up Falling to Deaths.
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON – Joe Biden had a clear vision what needed to do in Afghanistan when he spoke to reporters during his visit to Kabul in January 2002. “Let’s make it clear,” Biden said then. “I am not talking about peacekeepers. I’m not talking about blue helmets. I’m talking about people who shootRead more
BIDEN OVERSAW THE REOPENING OF U.S. EMBASSY IN KABUL IN 2002; TODAY HE AUTHORIZES TROOPS TO HELP EVACUATE EMBASSY PERSONNEL AND OTHERS.
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is mobilizing around 6,000 troops to help evacuate and protect U.S. diplomatic personnel and qualified Afghans from Kabul, with the operation to begin within 24 to 48 hours, Pentagon officials said Thursday. Following the Pentagon announcement, officials in the U.K. and Germany said their governments areRead more
Open Some More
By tom On Thursday, June 03 rd, 2021 · no Comments · In And more news stories ,News stories ,WritingBy Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON –The door opens and she enters the house, en route to see the President of the United States. A year after a door closed on her. Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, joined other members of her family to visit President Biden on the one-year anniversary of her father’s murderRead more
Serbia chooses Russia over NATO for military drills
By Tom Squitieri WASHINGTON — For the first time in history, a nation on the possible path to join NATO is cavorting with the enemy. Serbia, a member of the NATO Partnership for Peace program, has concluded a week of military drills with Russia while NATO members were already holding massive military maneuvers nearby inRead more
By Tom Squitieri
WASHINGTON — For the first time in history, a nation on the possible path to join NATO is cavorting with the enemy.
Serbia, a member of the NATO Partnership for Peace program, has concluded a week of military drills with Russia while NATO members were already holding massive military maneuvers nearby in the Balkans.
Serbia’s “Response 2021” exercise came just prior to a major exercise held in neighboring Albania as part of “Defender – Europe 21,” NATO’s exercise set to run from March until June.
“Response 2021” was plied by military supplies from Russia, including the Pantsir missile system, Mi-17 helicopters, and Mi-35M combat helicopters.
Serbia has received fighter jets, combat tanks, and other weapons from Russia, while also increasing ties with China. Russian seeks to open a Russian defense ministry office in Belgrade.
“By further modernization and strengthening of our army and police, we can act preventively to deter any aggressor. We will always act quickly and efficiently against possible terrorist acts,” Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at the end of the drills.
Just two years ago, Serbia hosted the “Platinum Wolf 2019” (“Platinasti vuk 19”) military exercises. Their troops joined 500 members of the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, Northern Macedonia, Romania, the United States, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom participating in the exercise.
The Partnership for Peace is a NATO program aimed at creating trust between NATO and other states in Europe and the former Soviet Union. It permits partners to build up an individual relationship with NATO, choosing their own priorities for cooperation.
The partnership was designed to get nations ready for membership as well as to establish links between NATO and those nations that did not want to join the alliance.
Under the Pentagon’s current guiding doctrine, called the National Defense Strategy, there is “a clear road map for the Department of Defense to meet the challenges posed by a re-emergence of long-term strategic competition with China and Russia,” identified as the primary adversaries of the U.S.
“Well, I mean, nobody’s labeled Russia the enemy,” John Kirby, the Pentagon spokesperson, said in a response to a question about the Serb-Russian drills. “We value Serbia as a member of the Partnership for Peace program and we certainly value our contributions to the alliance.”
“Defender-Europe 21” includes 30,000 soldiers from 27 countries. One of its goals is to move military units from stations in the US to a potential battlefield site in Europe. All of the countries in the region, except for Serbia, are taking part in the exercise. The Balkan countries are the main areas where the exercise is taking place, but military centers in Germany and the Baltic states are also being used.