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In a touching moment on Monday, Donald Trump embraced a wounded and wheel-chair bound veteran from Afghanistan who sang 'God Bless America' at a ceremony to honor the new incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The rare display of affection from the president came after U.S. Army Captain Luis Avila sang the patriotic hymn in a ceremony filled with a 21-gun salute, a fife and drum corp, military bands, and other pomp and circumstance. It was an emotional moment for those present, which included Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Mark Esper, incoming Chairman of the Joint Chiefs...

Dan Coats to leave post as director of national intelligence as Trump selects Rep. John Ratcliffe as replacement President Trump on Sunday announced that Texas GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe, a staunch White House ally, will replace Dan Coats as director of national intelligence (DNI), following months of speculation and public spats between the president and the intelligence community. "I am pleased to announce that highly respected Congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas will be nominated by me to be the Director of National Intelligence," Trump wrote. "A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves,"...

No official word from Washington in response to British citizen journalist and activist Tommy Robinson video asylum plea released Monday.... Cyber activist Paul Joseph Watson, voted as most likely to be targeted by British authorities next, says Facebook has updated its policy to allow death threats and incitement of violence against him..... British Ambassador Sir Kim Darroch's Tuesday visit to the White House for a meeting with the President's daughter Ivanka Trump called off.... The British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt taking aim at President Trump describing the President as "disrespectful"..... Additional British and French troops are on their way to...

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told reporters Sunday that "I feel pretty good about where we're headed" in Syria after suggesting that President Trump is "reconsidering" the planned pullout which had drawn bipartisan criticism and forced the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis. Graham emerged from the White House after a two-hour lunch with Trump and said the president "told me some things I didn't know that make me feel a lot better about where we're headed in Syria." "He promised to destroy ISIS. He's going to keep that promise," Graham said of Trump. "We're not there yet. But as I...

President Donald Trump signed a military spending bill on Tuesday, promising a “strong military” with the best equipment during his presidency. “We need our military, its got to be ‘perfecto,’” Trump said, urging Congress to remove military sequester caps and pass a clean funding bill for the government next year. Trump called the military funding bill a “momentous“ occasion and a great step in funding the “greatest fighting force in the history of the world.” He said that the bill increased the size of the armed forces budget for the first time in seven years, and included the largest military...

Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford urged to back off plans to cut funding ($550 million contract for Rosoboronexport, Russian supplier of the Mi-17), claiming it would have a “catastrophic” effect on Afghanistan’s ability to conduct operations. By the end this year, U.S. will abandon its position in Afghanistan. Russian forces who will replace US are flight ready with the Mi-17, though many would prefer American class equipment.

President Barack Obama’s nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday at his confirmation hearing before the Senate that Russia presents the greatest threat to the United States. Gen. Joseph Dunford’s comments closely match the foreign policy platform of Mitt Romney, who unsuccessfully challenged Obama for the presidency in 2012, The Guardian reports. “If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I’d have to point to Russia,” Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee Thursday. “If you look at their behavior, it’s nothing short of alarming.” During...

Washington (CNN)Russia currently poses the greatest global threat to the United States, according to the man slated to be President Barack Obama's top military adviser. "Russia presents the greatest threat to our national security," Gen. Joseph Dunford told the Senate Armed Services committee during his confirmation hearing to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. With its large nuclear arsenal, destabilizing role in Ukraine and threat to NATO nations on its borders, Russia presents a significant challenge to the U.S., even as it faces threats like that of ISIS. "If you want to talk about a nation...

President Obama plans to overhaul the Joint Chiefs of Staff this year as he seeks to replace a handful of longtime members whose terms are coming to a close. Obama on Tuesday nominated Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, commandant of the Marine Corps, to succeed Army Gen. Martin Dempsey as chairman this fall. He also tapped Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, head of U.S. Transportation Command, to replace Navy Adm. James “Sandy” Winnefeld as vice chairman. In the roles since 2011, Dempsey and Winnefeld are expected to retire after their current two-year terms end in October and August, respectively. What’s more,...

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will nominate Army Gen. David Rodriguez to succeed Gen. Carter Ham as commander of U.S. Africa Command and Marine Lt. Gen. John Paxton to succeed Gen. Joseph Dunford as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Thursday. Both appointments must be confirmed by the Senate. Rodriguez is the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command and has served in a “variety of key leadership roles on the battlefield,” Panetta said. He’s “a proven leader” who oversaw coalition and Afghan forces during the surge in Afghanistan, and “was the key architect of the...