Five years after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a new book shines light on one of the war’s most consequential local partnerships: the U.S. relationship with Abdul Raziq Achakzai, the powerful police chief who controlled security in Kandahar province. “America’s Favorite Warlord” by Jacob Hagstrom traces how Raziq became a central figure for coalition operations in southern Afghanistan. Hagstrom, a military veteran and historian, chose Raziq as a case study after his West Point roommate Thaddeus Fox (who deployed to Spin Boldak with the Second Cavalry Regiment in 2010) first introduced him to the story. Author Jacob Hagstrom with “America’s…
The Air Force presented the Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award to four airmen at the Pentagon on May 26, recognizing them as the service’s top leaders across its officer and enlisted ranks. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, the Air Force chief of staff, hosted the ceremony in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe also attended the event. The annual award, established in 1981, is named for Capt. Lance P. Sijan, the first and only Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. Each year, the service selects one senior officer, one junior…
SINGAPORE (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assured Pacific allies on Saturday that Washington remained committed to the region, but toned down previous comments calling China a threat. Speaking to a group of world leaders, diplomats and top security officials at the Shangri-La defense conference in Singapore, Hegseth said that the region “has profound implications for U.S. security and prosperity” and that Washington’s priority was to “achieve a lasting and favorable balance of power in the Pacific.” It was his second time addressing the forum, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Last year, he raised the ire…
I understand the allure of ballot initiatives for many people, especially those who believe their causes are popular enough to win with the public but controversial enough that no politician will touch them. A ballot initiative puts the matter before the people and lets them decide, and that’s had some interesting results in various places over the years. The problem I have with them is that they also allow moronic people to potentially screw everyone else in the state over.A prime example of this is a ballot initiative in Oregon that reportedly has enough signatures…
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli combat soldier saw his teammates yelling in celebration, congratulating one another. They had just struck a vehicle of Palestinians driving near the Israeli-controlled part of the Gaza Strip, killing everyone inside. The reservist said scenes like this had become common after a fragile ceasefire took effect in October. In the weeks he was stationed in Gaza, he said, he saw soldiers relishing the chance to go after those who crossed — or came close to crossing — the so-called yellow line that divides the strip into Israeli-controlled and Palestinian areas. “It was a…
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This article was originally published by Lance D. Johnson at Natural News. The United States and Israel have spent years assuming they can strike Iranian targets with impunity, violating ceasefire agreements and assassinating officials without consequence. That assumption just exploded along with a U.S. airbase near Bandar Abbas. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck back at 4:50 a.m. Thursday, targeting the American base it identified as the “origin of the aggression.” The IRGC’s warning was stark: Aggression will not go unanswered, and any repeat attack will draw a “more decisive” response. Key points: Iran struck a U.S. airbase in retaliation…
Nearly all of the artists announced for President Donald Trump’s “Freedom 250” concert series have pulled out of the upcoming festivities, turning a National Mall celebration built around America’s 250th birthday into a fight over patriotism, politics and the use of veterans in promoting the event. Bret Michaels, Martina McBride, Young MC, The Commodores, Morris Day and The Time, and C+C Music Factory are among the performers who have withdrawn from or distanced themselves from Freedom 250 Presents: The Great American State Fair, a 16-day event scheduled for June 25 through July 10 in Washington, D.C. The event was announced…
For whatever reason, most of this week’s best new gear comes in twos. We’ve got two top-notch bikes built for speed, two jackets aimed at improving breathability without sacrificing performance, and two German brands with new gear aimed at trail running. But we have a few more interesting pieces that have no clear analog, including backpacking meals just for your dog (yes, really), some cool new shades from the reliable armless brand Ombraz, and a Costco cooler that won’t empty your wallet. Get the details on these cool new offerings in this week’s Emerging Gear. Specialized Gravel Bike (Photo/Specialized) There’s…
The state of Connecticut had to know this was coming. The moment they even considered banning Glocks and similar firearms because someone can take an already illegal device and illegally convert it into an illegal firearm, they had to know they were going to get sued. They had to. Yes, the bill is stupid, and not just because criminals will keep getting guns to convert, no matter what laws they pass. It’s stupid because it has nothing to do with the Glock or similar striker-fired guns. It’s all about devices that are banned at the…
OS ANGELES (AP) — A former Southern California mayor pleaded guilty Friday to acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. Eileen Wang, who stepped down as the mayor of Arcadia earlier this month, was charged in April with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government. She pleaded guilty to doing the bidding of Chinese officials by sharing articles favorable to Beijing, without prior notification to the U.S. government as required by law. The 56-year-old was elected in November 2022 to a five-person city council, from which the mayor is…
As I burst across the finish line of my first race, I was feeling very grateful for my shoes. I’d trained in the On Cloudsoma and worn them almost every day since I took them out of the box. I’d grown attached to these shoes as if they were an extension of me. I consider myself an athlete, but an average runner. So I’m the perfect person to test Cloudsoma. I am the type of runner who, despite running all the time, has never made the leap to marathons or even halfs. This shoe aims to bridge the gap between…
In general, Toyota models tend to hold their value better than many other mainstream makes. However, the 4Runner, in particular, manages to stave off depreciation better than even other Toyotas. Does that mean it should actually double in value after thirty years of sitting in a garage? Well, in the case of one 1996 4Runner SR5, a buyer decided it should, since the old SUV sold for $52,800. Mecum Auctions recently hosted the sale of this 1996 SR5 with just 6,954 miles on the odometer. It was in remarkably good condition, not far from what you’d find on a showroom…
Tillamook County, Ore., is a popular outdoor recreation destination, and now it is also the source of a pending criminal trial. A man was recently arrested for allegedly attempting to kidnap and sexually assault two women in a local campground. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gene Arnold McLenithan, 58, of Salem, Oregon, was arrested on May 28. He has been charged by criminal complaint with kidnapping and attempted abusive sexual contact. Suspect Had History of Violence McLenithan “allegedly kidnapped the two victims around midnight on July 4, 2024, camping along a public hiking trail in…
The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit has officially assumed the mission as the premier tactical force-in-readiness within the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility. The Marine Corps announced Friday that the command, operating under the designation of Littoral Combat Force-24, offers tactical options through an agile Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) composed of more than 1,300 Marines and sailors to the area. SOUTHCOM’s Area of Responsibility oversees 31 countries and 12 dependencies/areas of special sovereignty, as part of a region representing roughly about one-sixth of the landmass of the world assigned to regional unified commands. That oversight encompasses the land…
With an elevation of 20,310 feet, Mt. McKinley (formerly known as Denali) is the highest peak in North America, and it’s a formidable objective. Over 130 people have lost their lives on the mountain, and it’s currently the site of an ongoing rescue attempt. Search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel are trying to reach four stranded climbers who became injured after a fall on May 28. The rescue is the second SAR incident on McKinley in less than 24 hours. What Happened Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park is no stranger to accidents or rescue operations. According to a National Park Service (NPS)…
Anti-gun organizations love to blame licensed gun dealers for criminals getting firearms, but the truth of the matter is that most of the time, it’s not the dealer’s fault. They can do everything right, only for guns the sold to end up in the bad guys’ hands. The thing is, though, a lot of times, the bad guys may get a gun from a gun store, but they aren’t spending money, if you catch my drift.That’s right, they break into the store and take what they want. What’s more, it doesn’t require a master thief…
At some points during the pandemic, it was easier to buy a Ford F-150 than it was to buy a roll of toilet paper– and for quite a while, pickup truck prices were just the craziest. Suddenly, folks were second-guessing public transit, trading older cars in for newer ones to help eliminate uncertainty in their lives, and (importantly) looking to spend more time outside and away from one another. The pandemic poured gas on an already-hot adventure-vehicle market that was expanding to include the first hybrid-powered Toyota Tundra, the first electric-powered F-150, and heavy-duty models that were churning out more…
