http://news.linktv.org Link TV News Videos (Filtered by topics: Pentagon) en-us Fri, 10 May 2013 19:14:00 -0700 Copyright 2011 Link Media, Inc. http://news.linktv.org/videos/chinas-defense-budget-raises-eyebrows-in-us?start=0 The Pentagon released an estimate that China spends 200 billion dollars a year on defense spending, 80 billion dollars more than China admits. US officials are keeping a wary eye on China's efforts to expand its reach in the Pacific. Chinese state-controlled broadcaster CCTV examines how the accusations are playing out between the two countries. Fri, 10 May 2013 19:14:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/chinas-defense-budget-raises-eyebrows-in-us Hacker (computer security), Pentagon, Cyber espionage, Government of the People's Republic of China, US-China relations, Military budget, Mandiant, China, United States, CCTV News The Pentagon released an estimate that China spends 200 billion dollars a year on defense spending, 80 billion dollars more than China admits. US officials are keeping a wary eye on China's efforts to expand its reach in the Pacific. Chinese state-controlled broadcaster CCTV examines how the accusations are playing out between the two countries. http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-calls-out-chinese-cyber-espionage-tactics?start=0 Chinese hackers have taken the international spotlight again after the Pentagon directly accused China of state-sponsored cyber espionage. LinkAsia spoke with Jeffrey Carr, CEO of Taia Global, about what the charges could mean to the future of cyber-security between the two countries. Fri, 10 May 2013 19:05:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-calls-out-chinese-cyber-espionage-tactics Cyber espionage, Computer security, Hacker (computer security), Mandiant, Pentagon, People's Liberation Army, Jeffrey Carr, US-China relations, China, United States Chinese hackers have taken the international spotlight again after the Pentagon directly accused China of state-sponsored cyber espionage. LinkAsia spoke with Jeffrey Carr, CEO of Taia Global, about what the charges could mean to the future of cyber-security between the two countries. http://news.linktv.org/videos/cnn-pentagon-prepping-syria-military-options?start=0 The Pentagon is fine-tuning military options in Syria in the wake of reports of suspected use of chemical weapons, according to CNN. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wants specific plans to present to President Obama should he decide to move against Syria, a senior official tells the network. One option reportedly involves firing cruise missles from Navy warships. Obama said yesterday he needs proof that chemical weapons have been used before any action is taken. Wed, 01 May 2013 08:02:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/cnn-pentagon-prepping-syria-military-options Pentagon, Syria, Chemical weapon, Military operation, US Secretary of Defense, US Navy, Barack Obama, Fine-tuning, CNN The Pentagon is fine-tuning military options in Syria in the wake of reports of suspected use of chemical weapons, according to CNN. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel wants specific plans to present to President Obama should he decide to move against Syria, a senior official tells the network. One option reportedly involves firing cruise missles from Navy warships. Obama said yesterday he needs proof that chemical weapons have been used before any action is taken. http://news.linktv.org/videos/north-koreans-use-us-soldier-for-target-practice?start=0 North Korean soldiers have been filmed on state TV in target practice firing on an image of a soldier's face wearing a helmet that says "USA." It's the latest in an increasingly provocative series of films and rhetoric presenting the nation as positively bristling for war. But the US doesn't seem very concerned. For all the talk, there appears to be little or no troop or weapons mobilization that indicates North Korea is preparing for military action, said the Pentagon.&nbsp; Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:16:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/north-koreans-use-us-soldier-for-target-practice North Korea, Politics of North Korea, Propaganda in North Korea, Pentagon, United States, Military exercise, CNN North Korean soldiers have been filmed on state TV in target practice firing on an image of a soldier's face wearing a helmet that says "USA." It's the latest in an increasingly provocative series of films and rhetoric presenting the nation as positively bristling for war. But the US doesn't seem very concerned. For all the talk, there appears to be little or no troop or weapons mobilization that indicates North Korea is preparing for military action, said the Pentagon. http://news.linktv.org/videos/cia-set-to-surrender-drone-control?start=0 The CIA appears ready to get out of the targeted killing business and hand control of its controversial drone program to the Pentagon. The move may make the program -- blamed for the deaths of hundreds of civilians -- less secretive, CNN reports.<br /> Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:52:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/cia-set-to-surrender-drone-control Drone, CIA, Pentagon, Drone attacks in Pakistan, Predator drone, Civilian casualties, Anwar al-Awlaki, United States, CNN The CIA appears ready to get out of the targeted killing business and hand control of its controversial drone program to the Pentagon. The move may make the program -- blamed for the deaths of hundreds of civilians -- less secretive, CNN reports. http://news.linktv.org/videos/seven-marines-killed-in-nevada-mortar-snafu?start=0 A mortar shell explosion killed seven Marines and injured a half-dozen more during mountain warfare training in Nevada's high desert. The mortar round exploded prematurely in the firing tube. The blast was the deadliest training accident in the US in several years. The Pentagon has halted use of the weapons until an investigation is completed. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:10:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/seven-marines-killed-in-nevada-mortar-snafu Mortar (weapon), US Marines, Pentagon, Nevada, Mountain warfare, Associated Press A mortar shell explosion killed seven Marines and injured a half-dozen more during mountain warfare training in Nevada's high desert. The mortar round exploded prematurely in the firing tube. The blast was the deadliest training accident in the US in several years. The Pentagon has halted use of the weapons until an investigation is completed. http://news.linktv.org/videos/the-right-to-fight-pentagon-lifts-women-combat-ban?start=0 The Pentagon is set to lift its ban on women serving in combat roles, a landmark decision that could open up 230,000 frontline positions to servicewomen. The shift came after the Afghanistan and Iraq wars showed that the old concept of a frontline no longer applies, Al Jazeera finds.<br /> Thu, 24 Jan 2013 00:30:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/the-right-to-fight-pentagon-lifts-women-combat-ban US Department of Defense, Pentagon, Women in the military, Leon Panetta, Women, US Army, Martin Dempsey, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Al Jazeera English The Pentagon is set to lift its ban on women serving in combat roles, a landmark decision that could open up 230,000 frontline positions to servicewomen. The shift came after the Afghanistan and Iraq wars showed that the old concept of a frontline no longer applies, Al Jazeera finds. http://news.linktv.org/videos/exclusive-julian-assange-on-wikileaks-bradley-manning-surveillance-state?start=0 In his most extended interview in months, Julian Assange speaks to Democracy Now! from inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has been holed up for nearly six months. Assange vowed WikiLeaks would persevere despite attacks against it. On Tuesday, the European Commission announced that the credit card company Visa did not break the European Union's anti-trust rules by blocking donations to WikiLeaks.<br /> Thu, 29 Nov 2012 09:09:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/exclusive-julian-assange-on-wikileaks-bradley-manning-surveillance-state Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, Bradley Manning, United States v. Bradley Manning, European Commission, United States, Cypherpunk, Whistleblower, European Union, Pentagon In his most extended interview in months, Julian Assange speaks to Democracy Now! from inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London where he has been holed up for nearly six months. Assange vowed WikiLeaks would persevere despite attacks against it. On Tuesday, the European Commission announced that the credit card company Visa did not break the European Union's anti-trust rules by blocking donations to WikiLeaks. "Since the blockade was erected in December 2010, WikiLeaks has lost 95 percent of donations that were attempted to be transferred to us over that period ... our rightful and natural growth, our ability to publish as much as we would like, our ability to defend ourselves and our sources has been diminished by that blockade." Assange also speaks about his new book, "Cypherpunks: Freedom and the Future of the Internet." "The mass surveillance and mass interception that is occurring to all of us now who use the Internet is also a mass transfer of power from individuals into extremely sophisticated state and private intelligence organizations and their cronies," he says. Assange also discusses the United States' targeting of WikiLeaks. "The Pentagon is maintaining a line that WikiLeaks inherently as an institution, that tells military and governmental whistleblowers to step forward with information, is a crime. They allege that we are criminal moving forward," Assange says. "Now the new interpretation of the Espionage Act that the government is trying to hammer into the legal system, and which the department of justice is complicit in, would mean the end of national security journalism in the United States." http://news.linktv.org/videos/inside-story-americas-is-david-patraeus-really-a-us-war-hero?start=0 A scandalous affair has brought down a man referred to by many as one of the greatest generals in US history. But how successful have David Petraeus's strategies really been in Iraq and Afghanistan? Until a few years ago, few people had heard of Petraeus. But in Washington DC, he has been long revered. His counter-insurgency strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan have been hailed as great successes. But his critics say, the legacy of his career is not that stellar and deserves far more scrutiny than the US media and politicians are willing to give it. Inside Story Americas reassesses his record.<br /> Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:07:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/inside-story-americas-is-david-patraeus-really-a-us-war-hero David Petraeus, Iraq War troop surge of 2007, Afghanistan troop surge, Counter-insurgency, Afghanistan War, Iraq War, Iraq, Afghanistan, US Armed Forces, Director of the CIA A scandalous affair has brought down a man referred to by many as one of the greatest generals in US history. But how successful have David Petraeus's strategies really been in Iraq and Afghanistan? Until a few years ago, few people had heard of Petraeus. But in Washington DC, he has been long revered. His counter-insurgency strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan have been hailed as great successes. But his critics say, the legacy of his career is not that stellar and deserves far more scrutiny than the US media and politicians are willing to give it. Inside Story Americas reassesses his record. http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-iran-fired-on-drone-over-gulf?start=0 Iranian warplanes fired multiple rounds at an American surveillance drone over international waters in the Persian Gulf, the Pentagon has confirmed. Officials say that while the drone was not hit in the November 1 incident, a strong protest has been made to Tehran.<br /> Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:37:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-iran-fired-on-drone-over-gulf Iran, Predator drone, Pentagon, US-Iran relations, Fighter aircraft, Persian Gulf, Drone, Telegraph.co.uk Iranian warplanes fired multiple rounds at an American surveillance drone over international waters in the Persian Gulf, the Pentagon has confirmed. Officials say that while the drone was not hit in the November 1 incident, a strong protest has been made to Tehran. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-101712?start=33 <p>NATO's immunity at stake over bombing of civilians in Libya, Bahraini man dies after regime forces fire toxic tear gas into his home, Palestinians shut down Israeli-only road in the West Bank, and more.</p> Wed, 17 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-101712 Israel, Palestinians, Jerusalem, Israel Defense Forces, Khaled K. El-Hamedi, Bahrain Uprising, Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel, Levy Report, Egypt–Israel relations, Israeli-occupied territories Presenter, Male #1 The US Department of Defense and the State Department are expediting their efforts to help the Libyan government form a special force to combat those they described as "Islamist extremists" in Libya. The New York Times, which published the article, said the Obama administration secretly received approval from Congress last month to divert nearly eight million dollars from the Pentagon's operations, as well as provide aid appropriated for Pakistan to combat terrorism, to begin establishing a special Libyan force within the next six months that may reach about 500 people. The American special operations could begin a training session, as it did with anti-terrorism forces in Pakistan and Yemen. Presenter, Male #1 He went out to help the victims in Libya, and when he returned home, he found that his wife and children were victims of one of NATO's raids. Khaled el-Hamedi is a Libyan who decided to sue NATO in the international court. The fifth session of the case will be held in Brussels tomorrow. He is supported by some of the most notable lawyers in the fields of war crimes and international criminal law, as well as human rights. Their demands include lifting the diplomatic immunity the Belgian government has granted NATO since the organization's headquarters are located in Brussels. Luay Ghabra has more details. Reporter, Male #2 This Libyan decided to strike NATO in its own headquarters. It is not a military hit; it is a judicial and humanitarian one. NATO's missiles claimed the lives of 13 people from the plaintiff's family, and turned his home into rubble. This came as he was helping the displaced, as he is the founder of the International Organization for Peace, Care, and Relief in his country. Guest, Male #3 (Khaled el-Hamedi, Plaintiff) The longest hours of my life were during that night. I will never forget that day. It will never be erased from my memory. Reporter, Male #2 What we're showing here are exclusive images. They are parts of a documentary that was produced by Khaled, and provided to the international court. He says these images contain proof for a conviction, considering that the victims of the shelling were children whose lives were taken. However, NATO asserted in front of the Belgian court that it only targeted military sites. In a recorded statement, which Khaled had taken to court as evidence, NATO admits that it made mistakes. Guest, Male #4 (Commander Mike Bracken, NATO Spokesman) From our initial assessment of the facts, it appears that one weapon did not strike the intended target due to a weapons system failure. Reporter, Male #2 The case has been ongoing for over a year. A group of notable international lawyers took on the case. At the forefront is Nelson Mandela's lawyer. Guest, Male #3 The positive part is that they accepted the case. This is a positive thing. But their delay in issuing a ruling is a bit scary. This also confirms the presence of external political pressure. Reporter, Male #2 At the awaited fifth session, the Belgian judiciary will decide whether to lift NATO's political immunity in a country that provides NATO with its headquarters and podium. However, regardless of the decision, everyone reserves the right to an appeal. Guest, Female #1 I have a request, only one request, for the judge. I wish that he would grant us justice, avenge us, and be fair. http://news.linktv.org/videos/biggest-pentagon-hacker-dodges-extradition?start=0 The British government won't ship computer geek Gary McKinnon to the US to face charges that he broke into nearly 100 Pentagon and NASA computers seeking information on UFOs. They believe extradition would place the 46-year-old hacker, who has Asperger syndrome, at an increased risk of suicide. US officials have called his stunt the biggest military hack in history. Tue, 16 Oct 2012 23:45:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/biggest-pentagon-hacker-dodges-extradition Gary McKinnon, Extradition, Asperger syndrome, NASA, Pentagon, Unidentified flying object, Geek, Theresa May, United States, London The British government won't ship computer geek Gary McKinnon to the US to face charges that he broke into nearly 100 Pentagon and NASA computers seeking information on UFOs. They believe extradition would place the 46-year-old hacker, who has Asperger syndrome, at an increased risk of suicide. US officials have called his stunt the biggest military hack in history. http://news.linktv.org/videos/uk-hacker-may-dodge-extradition-in-pentagon-charges?start=0 A British hacker fighting a ten-year battle against extradition to the US to face charges that he cracked into Pentagon computers is about to learn his fate. Government officials decide this week whether to block extradition after considering medical reports that Gary McKinnon, who has Asperger syndrome and suffers from depression, would likely face an increased risk of suicide if he's sent to America. Sun, 14 Oct 2012 22:44:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/uk-hacker-may-dodge-extradition-in-pentagon-charges Gary McKinnon, Hacker (computer security), US-United Kingdom relations, Extradition, Asperger syndrome, Pentagon, Computer security, United States, United Kingdom, Al Jazeera English A British hacker fighting a ten-year battle against extradition to the US to face charges that he cracked into Pentagon computers is about to learn his fate. Government officials decide this week whether to block extradition after considering medical reports that Gary McKinnon, who has Asperger syndrome and suffers from depression, would likely face an increased risk of suicide if he's sent to America. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-101012?start=1370 <p>Thousands march to demand justice for massacre of Copts in Cairo, Israel gears up for early elections amid Palestinian fears of renewed violence, Pakistani girl shot in head by Taliban remains in critical condition, and more.</p> Wed, 10 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-101012 Syrian Civil War, Syria, Gaza, NATO, Benjamin Netanyahu, Afghanistan War, Israel Defense Forces, Afghanistan, Palestinians, United Nations NATO says that it is concerned about a surge in the so-called "green-on-blue" attacks in Afghanistan, when Afghan security forces turn their weapons on foreign troops. German Defense Minister Thomas de Maiziere called the attacks "shocking," and says that commanders need to determine the cause of the attacks on foreign forces, which have left more than 50 foreign troops dead this year. NATO defense ministers were in Brussels to attend a meeting for the alliance's future strategy. Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen says the alliance will draw down and redeploy forces as part of its plan. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has named General John Allen, currently the head of NATO forces in Afghanistan, as NATO's next supreme commander, a post traditionally held by an American. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-091112?start=1494 <p>Yemeni defense minister survives devastating car bombing, thousands of Kuwaitis rally against government and electoral law, Somalia elects a new president as Islamists slam vote as "enemy project," and more.</p> Tue, 11 Sep 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-091112 Free Syrian Army, Palestinian National Authority, West Bank, Israel, Palestinians, United States, Nuclear program of Iran, Syrian people, Iran, Syria Across the United States, Americans are marking the eleventh anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks. Thousands are expected to gather at the World Trade Center site in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where nearly 3,000 victims lost their lives in the worst terror attack in US history. Security is on high alert in New York City; while there are no specific threats, federal authorities say they are concerned about potential extremist activity. ** Contact Mosaic News: mosaicnews{at}linktv{dot}org http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-072712?start=766 The Pentagon reportedly reached an agreement with the Lockheed-Martin Corporation on a USD 450 million program to enhance weapons systems on F-35 fighter jets by integrating Israeli technology, IBA reports. Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-072712 West Bank, Ramadan, Palestinians, Israel, Muslim, Qatif, 2011-2012 Saudi Arabia protests, Srinagar, Syrian Civil War, Al-Khader The Pentagon reportedly reached an agreement with the Lockheed-Martin Corporation on a USD 450 million program to enhance weapons systems on F-35 fighter jets by integrating Israeli technology. The deal, which is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks and to begin in 2016, is considered a major step for Israel's USD 2.7 billion agreement to purchase 19 F-35 jets that was signed two years ago. The announcement comes ahead of US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's visit to Israel. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-072012?start=622 <p>International community remains silent on ethnic cleansing in Myanmar, Egypt's striking workers to occupy Mahalla factory until their demands are met, Protestors defy government ban on rallies with 25 marches across Bahrain, and more.</p> Fri, 20 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-072012 Israel, Burgas, 2011-2012 Saudi Arabia protests, Hezbollah, Foreign relations of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bulgaria, Muslim, Rohingya, El-Mahalla El-Kubra Presenter, Male #1 Israel has interrupted the chapter of settling its accounts with Syria, and has turned its attention to Lebanon. Since the tourist bus bombing in Bulgaria, Tel Aviv has not hesitated for one moment to accuse Hezbollah for the operation, be it Ehud Barak or Benjamin Netanyahu. And today, the accusation came from the American Pentagon, as part of the coordination between Washington and Tel Aviv to wage another campaign against the weapons of the resistance, as Israel has threatened to continue the war of terror. Presenter, Male #1 The Pentagon believes the bombing in Bulgaria is marked by Hezbollah's fingerprints; an accusation that comes without any imprints, and its evidence resembles Colin Powell's documents and maps, with which he deceived the world to believe Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. The accusation also resembles George Bush's random documents, and his war on two countries without any evidence. http://news.linktv.org/videos/international-leaders-call-for-al-assad-to-resign?start=0 Britain and the United States have called for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down and UN chief Ban Ki-moon has urged the Security Council to take strong action. Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:07:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/international-leaders-call-for-al-assad-to-resign Bashar al-Assad, Syrian Civil War, Syria, UN Security Council, Battle of Damascus, UN Security Council Resolution, Dawoud Rajiha, Assef Shawkat, Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Britain and the United States have called for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down and UN chief Ban Ki-moon has urged the Security Council to take strong action. http://news.linktv.org/videos/what-proportion-of-us-tax-dollars-pay-for-war?start=0 US radio host Dennis Bernstein and investigative reporter Dave Lindorff illustrate just how much US tax money goes towards the country's war chest: "People have to realize that 53 cents of every dollar that they are paying into taxes is going to the military." Mon, 18 Jun 2012 15:45:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/what-proportion-of-us-tax-dollars-pay-for-war Military budget, Military budget of the United States, US Budget, US economy, Tax, Pentagon, US debt, US Department of Defense, US Armed Forces, US Department of Veterans Affairs US radio host Dennis Bernstein and investigative reporter Dave Lindorff illustrate just how much US tax money goes towards the country's war chest. "People have to realize that 53 cents of every dollar that they are paying into taxes is going to the military to an astonishing figure there is an enormous, enormous amount of money being blown on war an killing and destruction." http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-june-13-2012?start=2533 More US soldiers have died this year by taking their own lives than on the battlefield. The Pentagon says there have been at least 154 suicides among active-duty troops in 2012, a rate of nearly one each day. Wed, 13 Jun 2012 11:21:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-june-13-2012 Syria, Syrian Civil War, Civil war, United Nations, Iraq, US Armed Forces, Iraq War, Baghdad, Afghanistan War, Hervé Ladsous More US soldiers have died this year by taking their own lives than on the battlefield. The Pentagon says there have been at least 154 suicides among active-duty troops in 2012, a rate of nearly one each day. We're joined by three guests: Kevin Hines, who survived a jump off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and now counsels suicidal soldiers; Bonnie Carroll, co-chair of the Pentagon's Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide in the Armed Forces and president of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors; and journalist Aaron Glantz, author of the book "The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle Against America's Veterans." New figures show this year's military suicide rate is on pace to reach a record high. The Pentagon says there have been at least 154 suicides among active-duty troops through last Thursday, a rate of nearly one each day. The figure marks an 18 percent increase over the same period a year ago. More U.S. soldiers have died by taking their own lives than on the battlefield. The reasons for the increase in suicides are not fully understood. Among explanations, studies have pointed to combat exposure, post-traumatic stress, misuse of prescription medications, and personal financial problems. Army data suggest soldiers with multiple combat tours are at greater risk of committing suicide, although a substantial proportion of Army suicides are committed by soldiers who never deployed. Democracy Now! recently spoke to Iraq War veteran Aaron Hughes about suicides in the military community. AARON HUGHES: Every day in this country 18 veterans are committing suicide. Seventeen percent of the individuals that are in combat in Afghanistan, my brothers and sisters, are on psychotropic medication. Twenty to 50 percent of the individuals that are getting deployed to Afghanistan are already diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma or a traumatic brain injury. Currently one-third of the women in the military are sexually assaulted. It's clear that these policies of the global war on terror has had a profound effect on the military, my brothers and sisters, while simultaneously perpetuating a failed policy. And unfortunately, we have to live with that failed policy on a daily basis, and we don't want to be a part of that failed policy anymore. That was Aaron Hughes, field organizer for Iraq Veterans Against the War, who helped plan the NATO protests in Chicago last month. For more, we're joined by three guests. In San Francisco, Aaron Glantz is with us, reporter for The Bay Citizen, a part of the non-profit Center for Investigative Reporting, author of three books, most recently, The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle Against America's Veterans. We're also joined by Kevin Hines. As a teenager, he attempted suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, went on to become a mental health advocate and is author of the forthcoming book, Cracked...Not Broken: The Kevin Hines Story. He is a peer counselor to many soldiers and veterans who suffer from suicidal thoughts. And in Washington, D.C., we're joined by Bonnie Carroll, president and founder of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS. She recently co-chaired the Pentagon's Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide in the Armed Forces. Carroll, let's begin—Bonnie Carroll, let's begin with you. Can you talk about the figures? Astounding, more soldiers are committing suicide than die on the battlefield. Yes. TAPS is the national organization for all those who have lost a loved one serving in the armed forces, and we actually see even a greater number, because we're working with families who have lost a loved one to suicide, possibly not in a duty status, Guard and Reserve members who have come back and died by suicide during the week or in an off period. We also see those families who have lost a loved one to suicide after their loved one recently got out of the military. So, every death is absolutely tragic. And what we've been able to do is gain insight for the families to help with prevention efforts. I want to turn to Mary Kirkland. She is the [mother] of Derrick Kirkland. Derrick joined the Army in 2007, since he wasn't earning enough money to support his wife and child. During his second deployment to Iraq, he attempted suicide for the first time. I met Mary Kirkland in Chicago at the NATO protest where U.S. soldiers, veterans, threw their medals, their war and service medals, back at the NATO generals, towards the gate of the NATO summit and handed Mary Kirkland a flag, a U.S. flag, in honor of her dead son. Here she describes what happened to Derrick when he returned from Iraq. He met with a psychiatrist the next day who deemed him to be low to moderate risk for suicide, his only restriction being that he was not to be around any weapons, and cleared him for him to go basically in the barracks room by himself, which I found, after talking to the veterans, was illegal. He tried to kill hisself again on Thursday night. He got back on the 15th and killed himself on the 19th. On the Thursday, on the 18th, he had bought some rum, so was drinking rum with his medications that they did just gave him, his antidepressants and sleep medicine, and cut hisself, had bloodstains all over his room. It wasn't successful, so he got up Friday morning and bandaged hisself. One of his things that he wrote before he went and hung hisself was "I feel invisible. I feel like I'm transparent." And nobody walked into the room on Friday to see the bloodstains. Derrick didn't hang hisself until—the last time they had seen him was Friday night at 10:00, and they found him Saturday morning at 1:30. If anybody would have walked in that room on that Friday—but they didn't even—the leadership wasn't even checking on him. So this mother got woke up Sunday morning at 6:30 to tell me that my son was dead, that I had let my guard down, 'cause he got back on Monday, he's back in the United States, he's safe, he's—and the Army called it a "miscommunication," is why my son is dead. That's Mary Kirkland describing the suicide of her son, Derrick Kirkland, who had put a gun in his mouth in Iraq. He was sent to a hospital in Germany, then sent home to Fort Lewis-McChord, where he was put into the hospital and, as she described, let out, saying that he had low risk of suicide. He committed suicide the next day, on March 19, 2010, after two tours of duty in Iraq. Aaron Glantz, you have done a lot of research on soldier suicides. Can you respond to what happened to Derrick and put it in the broader context not only of soldiers, but of veterans, as well? Yeah, I mean, unfortunately, there's many, many stories like that. I wrote a few years ago about a Specialist John Fish of San Luis Obispo out here in California. He served a tour in Iraq. He was suicidal. He told his commanders he was suicidal when he was in Iraq. He came back to the United States, and they told him to just start training to go to Afghanistan. And during the training exercises, he walked out into the desert outside El Paso, and he shot himself in the head with a military-issued weapon. We've been at war for 10 years. We have 2.5 million Americans who have served in these wars. About a million of them are still in the military, and a million and a half of them are out of the military and are now veterans. We have 18 veterans who commit suicide every day in this country. We haven't asked people to go through war in this kind of way, you know, probably since World War II. In Vietnam, people served one tour, and then they came home. We had a draft. Now we ask people to go again and again. And so, you have a million people who have been through the wars who are still in the military. You have 90,000 people who are still in Afghanistan fighting this war. It's not surprising that the suicides would be higher than the battlefield deaths at this point. Kevin Hines, can you talk a little bit about your work with the military and your own experience of attempted suicide? Absolutely. I attempted suicide on September 25th of the year 2000 by way of jumping off of the Golden Gate Bridge, the single-worst decision of my entire life. But I made it because I was not of my right mind. I was very sick and ill with bipolar disorder, which was plaguing me and causing me great self-destruction. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-may-24-2012?start=743 President Obama's counterterrorism chief John Brennan is heading up a new team to determine who should be targeted by US drone strikes overseas. But there is growing concern over how easy it has become to kill someone under the administration's policy. Thu, 24 May 2012 10:07:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-may-24-2012 John Brennan, Egyptian presidential election, 2012, Egypt, Ahmed Shafiq, Politics of Egypt, Predator drone, Egyptian Revolution, United States, Drone, Obama administration foreign policy President Obama's counterterrorism chief John Brennan is heading up a new team to determine who should be targeted by armed U.S. drones overseas. The newly revealed procedure for drone attacks means Brennan's staff consults the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies before ultimately deciding who will be targeted. One official said there is growing concern over "how easy it has become to kill someone" under the administration's drone strike policy. We speak with investigative blogger Marcy Wheeler of the website, "Empty Wheel." "I think we're now calling Brennan the 'assassination czar,'" she says. Wheeler disputes the government's assertion the drone attacks are finely targeted, noting that it is unclear who the targets really are and that civilians have been killed. As President Obama expands the use of armed drones to assassinate suspects overseas, the White House is reportedly taking up a key role in determining who should be targeted. Since Obama has taken office, deadly drone strikes have been carried out in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia. According to the Associated Press, a small team at the White House led by counterterror chief John Brennan has taken the lead for drafting lists of individuals to target. One official said there is a growing concern over, quote, "how easy it has become to kill someone" under the administration's drone strike policy. Late last month, Brennan publicly confirmed that the United States has used drones to conduct targeted killings overseas. President Obama believes that, done carefully, deliberately and responsibly, we can be more transparent and still ensure our nation's security. So let me say it as simply as I can. Yes, in full accordance with the law, and in order to prevent terrorist attacks on the United States and to save American lives, the United States government conducts targeted strikes against specific al-Qaeda terrorists, sometimes using remotely piloted aircraft often referred to publicly as drones. And I'm here today because President Obama has instructed us to be more open with the American people about these efforts. That was John Brennan, President Obama's top counterterrorism adviser. The newly revealed procedure for drone attacks means Brennan's staff consults the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies in deciding who will be targeted. According to the Associated Press, this makes a military-run review process in place since 2009 less relevant. Pentagon spokesperson George Little has defended the program, saying the department was, quote, "entirely comfortable with the process by which American counterterrorism operations are managed." For more, we turn to Marcy Wheeler, an investigative blogger who runs the website EmptyWheel.net. Marcy, welcome to Democracy Now! Talk about the significance of John Brennan being at the hub, being in charge of—well, what would you call this? A White House assassination team? Yeah, right. I think we're now calling Brennan the "assassination czar." There are a couple of factors to this, Amy. I think one is, the suggestion that the recommendation of who to have on the assassination list is going to come from other entities. The AP describes it as coming from other agencies, possibly the State Department. But that means it's coming from people that aren't the special forces guys on the ground in Yemen. It may mean—and we'll get back to this, but it may mean that it's coming from Saudi Arabia. The other thing is, it's unclear whether these assassination strikes are going to be overseen by the Senate intelligence community or by the armed services committees. In other words, it doesn't—it's unclear whether—what kind of oversight there will be. And since the Congress has a very difficult time subpoenaing or getting testimony from the National Security Council, it may mean that there is much less oversight for what's going on. And then, finally, the clip you had with John Brennan, he kept emphasizing that these are targeted strikes. But the decision, as the AP—as the AP reported it, the decision of this happened not yesterday but actually in April, around April 22nd. And that means it coincides with the decision that the White House made to embrace not just personality strikes, but signature strikes, which means we're shooting drones at people whose identity we don't actually know. We're shooting at them because they look like terrorists from the sky, because they seem to have certain levels of security. In other words, Brennan was not telling the full truth when he said that these are targeted killings. What they are, in fact, are not targeted. We don't know who we're shooting at. And the fact that that's all brought into the White House all at the same time, I think, really means we've lowered the level at which we're targeting people in Yemen, and probably means it's going to be a lot easier for us to target not al-Qaeda members in Yemen, but insurgents who really aren't trying to target the United States but are instead fighting the government of Yemen. Marcy Wheeler, you mentioned Saudi Arabia as possibly being involved in helping to identify targets. Now, Brennan used to be a station chief for the CIA in Saudi Arabia and is supposedly close to Saudi intelligence—the intelligence machinery of the Saudi state. Could you talk about Saudi Arabia's role in this, from what we know? Right, yeah. Well, we don't know, I mean, for sure about the drone strikes, but if you recall after the undie bomb plot was revealed a couple weeks ago—and that actually was delivered up to us in the same week where the White House embraced signature strikes, when John Brennan started managing the targeting of these things, so that all happened around April 20th, April 22nd. Around that time— And explain—remind us of what the undie bomb plot was. Right. It was a Saudi infiltrator into al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and he brought out a similar bomb to the one that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab used in the Christmas Day bombing in Detroit. He was under Saudi—you know, he was being managed by the Saudis the entire time. He was able to bring the bomb out. The FBI has it. They're doing analysis. But that plot was revealed to John Brennan, at least, to the U.S., at least, back in April, probably around April 20th. So this is all happening around the same time. The Saudis, you know, deliver us this alleged terrorist plot, and then, around the same time, we decide we're going to change the way we're targeting people in Yemen. And at the same time, in the discussions of this undie bomb plot, there were Saudi sources who were saying, "We're the ones who pinpoint. We're the ones who provide the HUMINT, the human intelligence on the ground, for what you're doing in Yemen." And that's particularly concerning, because the Saudis not only have very different interests in Yemen than we do, they're—you know, this is their backyard. They're worried about the instability in the Middle East generally. They have a big push against the Arab Spring. Their installment of the current president, Hadi, in Yemen is part of that. In addition, they've struck at Houthi rebels in the north of Yemen as recently as 2010. And when they were doing that, they actually asked us, "Well, you know, if we had drone strikes, our targeting against these Houthi rebels would be more accurate." So they've got far different interests in Yemen than we do, and they're running around saying, "We're the ones providing human intelligence for the targeting that you guys are doing in Yemen." Marcy, I want to turn to a comment Attorney General Eric Holder made in March, when he outlined what the White House billed as the legal rationale for its claimed right to kill U.S. citizens who belong to al-Qaeda or associated forces. ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER: It is and unfortunate but undeniable fact that some of the threats that we face come from a small number of United States citizens who have decided to commit violent attacks against their own country from abroad. Based on generations-old legal principles and Supreme Court decisions handed down during World War II, as well as during this current conflict, it's clear that United States citizenship alone does not make—does not make—such individuals immune from being targeted. Marcy Wheeler, your response? Well, what he was talking about, ostensibly, was the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, Anwar al-Awlaki's 16-year-old American citizen son, Abdulrahman, and also Samir Khan, also an American citizen. So he was trying to say, "Well, we OK using drone strikes against American citizens if they reach a certain level of being involved with al-Qaeda." Now, Abdulrahman, the 16-year-old, there's no evidence that he had any active—I mean, he was a 16-year-old kid, playing soccer like everybody else. But as the government moves drones to the U.S., and they're rolling out drones in civilian airspace, you've got to really wonder what the legal basis for using drones is and whether—after he made those comments, a number of people in Congress asked him or asked Robert Mueller, the FBI director, whether the U.S. could use drone strikes in the United States, and they really didn't answer that. They kind of said, "Well, you've got to ask the—you've got to ask DOJ." And we still don't have any answer to that. Ron Wyden, the senator from Oregon, has said he doesn't know, and he's actually on the Intelligence Committee. So, we don't know even whether the government claims they could use drones against American citizens in the United States. Marcy Wheeler, the people you're all talking about were killed by drone strikes in Yemen, the poorest country in the Arab world despite receiving over $300 million in military and security aid from the United States over the last five years. Much of that money has gone into an aggressive and controversial counterterrorism campaign rather than programs of humanitarian relief. We recently spoke to Democracy Now! correspondent Jeremy Scahill, who had just returned from Yemen. He said U.S. counterterrorism operations have ignited an Islamist uprising in the country. JEREMY SCAHILL: The Obama administration began an air war in Yemen. Sometimes the strikes hit the people that were the intended targets, but oftentimes civilians were killed. And so, what happened is that the prophecy envisioned by the leaders of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and envisioned by Anwar al-Awlaki, came true. And that was that the United States intended to turn Yemen into its next Afghanistan, its next Iraq, its next Pakistan. So you had the one-two punch—or actually, there were three punches. The first one is the air strikes. The second one is supporting Saleh family military units. And then the third is not funding any humanitarian programs and allowing the vast majority of the U.S. money to go toward units which were then used as agents of domestic repression. Independent journalist Jeremy Scahill. Marcy Wheeler, can you continue to respond to that? Yeah, I mean, two more things to add to that. One is, the State Department just released a kind of talk sheet of aid that goes to Yemen. And what it actually shows is for things like humanitarian aid, it's going down, whereas military aid is going up. And so, I really think we need to be asking how much we're sucking dry what little humanitarian aid we're giving to Yemen and instead putting it in drone strikes. But the other thing is—and Jeremy, I think, mentioned this on the program when he was there—is that one of the reasons why al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is having some success is because they're kind of taking the same approach that the Taliban or Hezbollah did, which is they're providing services. They're trying to turn the electricity on. And if we're bombing them, and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is turning on the electricity, we're going to have a really hard time winning that battle for hearts and minds, because we're not providing the really basic things that people need. And instead, since this new drone targeting procedure rolled out on the 15th, I think, we've already killed a number of civilians. So, you know, we're still killing civilians at the same time as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is trying to turn the electricity on. Marcy, John Brennan spoke late last month at the Woodrow Wilson Center for—International Center for Scholars, and he was disrupted by Medea Benjamin of CodePink. Let's go to a clip of that incident. How many people are you willing to sacrifice? Why are you lying to the American people and not saying how many innocents have been killed? MODERATOR: Thank you, ma'am, for expressing your views. There will be time for questions and answers after the presentation. MEDEA BENJAMIN: I speak out on behalf of Tariq Aziz, a 16-year-old in Pakistan, who was killed because he wanted to document the drone strikes. I speak out on behalf of Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, a 16-year-old born in Denver, killed in Yemen, just because his father was someone we don't like. I speak out on behalf of the Constitution, on behalf of the rule of law. I love the rule of law. I love my country. You are making us less safe by killing so many innocent people. For our radio listeners, as Medea Benjamin was speaking for those last 30 seconds, she was being actually dragged and lifted up in the air by a security guard and removed from the offices of the Woodrow Wilson Center—from the auditorium. Marcy, your response? And also, could you talk a little bit about Brennan's role prior to becoming counterterrorism chief? Under the Bush administration, he had been in the CIA, been a supporter of enhanced interrogation techniques? Right. Medea Benjamin's interruption, right after she was pulled away, John Brennan picked up his speech again. And if I recall, it was something like, "Oh, and al-Qaeda keeps killing other people." And it was this wonderful contrast, because she had just listed all these people that we've killed, including citizens. And Brennan just kept going, suggesting that it was al-Qaeda who was killing citizens, after she had just made it clear that that's not all that was going on. Brennan, yeah, right, and in—he was at the CIA until, I want to say, 2004, 2005, went—he was a contractor after that. In addition to being a supporter of enhanced interrogation, he also was involved in the targeting for Cheney's illegal wiretapping program. So he's got a lot of complicity with some of the things that were done in the Bush administration. And as you already pointed out, he was the Riyadh station chief going back into the '90s. So he's got ties to the CIA in the region going back some time and to a lot of the illegal things that were started under the Bush administration. And as Glenn Greenwald pointed out, Brennan's support of enhanced interrogation techniques forced him to withdraw from consideration as President Obama's CIA director, because of the controversy that swirled around that. And so, one of the things we've got now is that, had he been CIA director, he would have been running these targeted strikes, or these not-targeted strikes, with oversight from Congress. But now that he's running the Yemen war from inside the NSC, it's not entirely clear whether he'll have any oversight. Same guy running the war as we otherwise would have had, except that it's buried in the White House, so it's going to be less accessible to oversight. Marcy Wheeler, we want to thank you for being with us, investigative blogger who runs EmptyWheel.net, speaking to us from Chicago. This is Democracy Now! Back in a minute. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-051712?start=702 <p>Renewed clashes erupt in Lebanon's Tripoli as Hezbollah is blamed, Israel and Iran beat the drums of war ahead of nuclear talks in Baghdad, the White House threatens to target anyone 'obstructing' transition in Yemen, and more.</p> Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-051712 Israel, Syrian Civil War, Tel Aviv, Tripoli, Lebanon, Iran-Israel relations, US-Yemen relations, US-Israel relations, Al Wefaq, Egyptian presidential election, 2012, Eli Yishai The Pentagon says that it plans to give Israel an extra USD 70 million for its Iron Dome missile system. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta made the announcement after talks with Israel's Minister of Military Affairs Ehud Barak in Washington. Israel says the Iron Dome is meant to protect it from missile bombardment. Washington has already provided USD 205 million to help fund the project. It gives an additional USD 3 billion to Tel Aviv every year in the name of security assistance, while the US government has made major cuts in its own military budget because of financial problems. Press TV speaks with Mr. Ralph Schoenman, author of The Hidden History of Zionism, on this development. http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-040512?start=176 In a broadcast exclusive, Democracy Now! reveals the name of the police officer who allegedly killed 68-year-old Kenneth Chamberlain, a retired African-American Marine who was shot dead in his own home in White Plains, New York, after he inadvertently triggered his medical alert pendant. Plus headlines, and more. Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/democracy-now-040512 United States, US Congress, Shooting, Civilian casualties, Barack Obama, Politics of the United States, Suicide attack, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Athens, World Trade Organization The Pentagon has ordered accused September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four suspected co-conspirators to stand trial before a Guantánamo war crimes tribunal. All five of the men were once held in secret CIA prisons before being sent to Guantánamo in 2006. The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the decision not to try the men in a civilian court. The ACLU’s Anthony Romero said the tribunals violate due process by allowing the use of hearsay and coerced or secret evidence. On Wednesday White House Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked about the decision to proceed to trial. Jay Carney: "Well, it has been more than 10 years since 9/11, first of all, and the President is committed to ensuring that those who are accused of perpetrating the 9/11 attacks against the United States be brought to justice. The President remains committed to shutting down Guantánamo Bay. In that commitment, he is of the same opinion as his predecessor, as his opponent in the 2008 presidential election, as the senior leadership of the United States military and many, many others who believe that Gitmo ought to be closed." http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-031312?start=662 <p>Bahraini opposition ignites week of resistance against Saudi occupation, post-Saleh Yemen looks to heal from psychological trauma, sixteen killed in new US drone strike on northwest Pakistan, and more.</p> Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-031312 Syrian Civil War, Syria, United States, Afghanistan War, Gaza–Israel conflict, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Bashar al-Assad, Taliban, Iron Dome, US-Afghanistan relations According to a news poll, overall views of the war in Afghanistan are at an all-time low. 60 percent of Americans see the war as not worth its costs. And while the Pentagon said in a media briefing that the killings were "tragic," it insisted it was an isolated incident. Many believe that's simply not the case. While the Taliban has vowed revenge in the aftermath of the rampage, the White House announced the shootings would not affect the schedule for US troop withdrawal. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-030112?start=1186 <p>Iran's Guardian Council disqualifies more parliamentary election candidates, Egypt's presidential election date draws mixed reactions, Yemeni troops demand the ouster of Saleh's army chief, and more.</p> Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-030112 United States, Anti-Americanism, Iran, United Nations, Pentagon, Iranian legislative election, 2012, Egyptian presidential election, 2012, Yemen Uprising, US-Afghanistan relations, Kashmir Presenter, Female #1 The United States military has prepared options to strike Iranian nuclear sites in the event of a conflict. That's the word from the US Air Force chief, who was speaking as Defense Minister Ehud Barak was holding talks on Iran with his counterpart, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Those discussions come on the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House meeting on Monday with President Barack Obama. IBA's Elli Wohlgerlenter has more. Reporter, Male #1 In a run-up to the meeting on Monday between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US administration officials are talking tough on Iran. The head of the US Air Force told reporters that the US has prepared strike plans of its own in the event that sanctions fail to persuade Tehran to halt its nuclear development. Pentagon officials said military options being prepared start with providing aerial refueling for Israeli planes, and also involve attacking pillars of the clerical regime. These include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, regular Iranian military bases, and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the House of Appropriations Subcommittee yesterday that so far, sanctions are working. Guest, Female #2 (Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State) We think that the sanctions are affecting the thinking of the Iranians in the leadership, but we have to remain vigilant, we have to keep the pressure on. Reporter, Male #1 Clinton also said that the United States has unprecedented levels of cooperation with its ally, Israel. Guest, Female #2 Prime Minister Netanyahu has called the bilateral security cooperation "unprecedented," particularly with respect to cooperative missile defense developments and realistic military exercises. So there is an ongoing consultation at the very highest levels between our two governments, and we share our assessments with the Israelis, we listen to their assessments, and I think that the Prime Minister's words really speak for themselves, it's unprecedented. Reporter, Male #1 Also in Washington, Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to discuss Iran, Syria, and developments in the Middle East, a meeting Barak called "important and useful." The meeting took place at the Pentagon, with Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also participating. The Pentagon press secretary did not address whether Panetta urged Israel not to strike Iran, saying only that the ongoing meetings between Panetta and Barak, their fourth since Panetta took over the Pentagon, provide them with opportunity to coordinate very closely with the Israelis on security issues, and will continue to do so. Reporter, Male #1 Meanwhile, Netanyahu departs tonight for North America. He will meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper tomorrow morning, and spend the Sabbath in Ottawa before flying to Washington on Sunday. Elli Wohlgerlenter, IBA News. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-030112?start=1368 <p>Iran's Guardian Council disqualifies more parliamentary election candidates, Egypt's presidential election date draws mixed reactions, Yemeni troops demand the ouster of Saleh's army chief, and more.</p> Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-030112 United States, Anti-Americanism, Iran, United Nations, Pentagon, Iranian legislative election, 2012, Egyptian presidential election, 2012, Yemen Uprising, US-Afghanistan relations, Kashmir Presenter, Female #1 Iraq is seeking to reinforce its army with advanced defense and military systems, in addition to supplying Iraqi forces with the latest equipment and weapons. This issue dominated talks between Iraq's army chief of staff, General Babakir Zebari, and his US counterpart, Martin Dempsey, at the Pentagon. Presenter, Male #1 The two also discussed the capabilities of Iraq's air defense, and the means to strengthen them. Reporter, Female #2 After the withdrawal of the US from Iraq, and in light of the security challenges the region is facing, Iraq is in real need of reinforcing its army, and supplying it with modern and advanced equipment and weapons. Iraq's army chief of staff, General Babakir Zebari, discussed the issue during his meeting with senior US military leaders in the Pentagon, including the US chief of staff, General Martin Dempsey. Zebari said he felt the Americans wish to contribute to rehabilitating the Iraqi army and providing it with the latest equipment. Guest, Male #2 (General Babakir Zebari, Iraqi Army Chief of Staff) Iraq needs an army that can protect the border, the people, and its security. This protection is part of the defense system in the Gulf region. They feel the region is in imminent need for this protection, and it is very important especially for our country. Reporter, Female #2 Security and defense committee member, parliamentarian Shawn Mohamed Taha, asserted that Iraq needs the cooperation of powerful countries to rebuild a military that is superior or equal to the armies of the region. Guest, Male #3 (Shawn Mohamed Taha, Parliament Member) In Iraq, we are in imminent need to rebuild a defense system, specifically the air defense. We have a major disadvantage in the air force. We need to protect the airspace of Iraq in general. If we look at Iraq's ground troops, we only have traditional forces in comparison with neighboring countries. Reporter, Female #2 The army chief of staff's visit to Washington will include attendance at the sixth conference of aviation and defense, aimed at improving the Iraqi army's capabilities and its combat systems, relying on modern defense techniques. Zina Ibrahim, al-Iraqiya, Washington. Presenter, Female #1 NATO's Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security, James Appathurai, stressed that NATO is seeking to enhance Iraq's military capabilities. Presenter, Male #1 Appathurai indicated that Iraq has become an important example for the region, and NATO will support the Iraqi forces in different aspects. Guest, Male #4 (James Appathurai, NATO Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security) Iraq is a very old country with a very rich tradition, but a new democracy. Iraqi media is moving forward under the democratic system. We are here to introduce the Iraqi people to our principles and commitment to help the Iraqi parliament and democracy. ** Contact Mosaic News: mosaicnews{at}linktv{dot}org http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-022912?start=851 <p>Iraqi government places death toll at nearly 70,000 since 2004, support grows for Palestinian Hana Shalabi's prison hunger strike, another Bahraini dies from inhaling tear gas fired by regime forces, and more.</p> Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-022912 Syrian Civil War, Syria, United States, United Nations, Casualties of the Iraq War, Hana Shalabi, Bahrain Uprising, Ramallah, South Sudan, Sudan The United States and its Western allies are continuing efforts to draft a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians who have been most affected by the violence. Washington is hoping that Moscow and Beijing will not veto the bill as they have done on two previous occasions. CNN is reporting that the Pentagon is now preparing contingency plans to protect chemical weapons sites in Syria in the event that the entire Assad regime would collapse, including possible military action. American officials revealed that they are intercepting communications by Syrian security apparatus on its attacks against civilians, which may serve as evidence in the future prosecution of war crimes. http://news.linktv.org/videos/us-expands-asia-pacific-military-presence?start=0 China's state broadcaster CCTV reacts to US President Barack Obama's unveiling of a new defense strategy that increases the US presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Although the president didn't mention China specifically, Chinese observers believe it evokes a Cold War-era containment strategy. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:13:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/us-expands-asia-pacific-military-presence Barack Obama, China, Pentagon, Asia-Pacific, US-China relations, Cold War, Leon Panetta, Containment, Chinese language, Communist Party of China China's state broadcaster CCTV reacts to US President Barack Obama's unveiling of a new defense strategy that increases the US presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Although the president didn't mention China specifically, Chinese observers believe it evokes a Cold War-era containment strategy. http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-statement-us-regrets-pakistani-military-deaths?start=0 The Pentagon's top spokesman says US forces had "misunderstandings" in connection with a NATO attack last month that killed two-dozen Pakistani troops and further strained relations between Washington and Islamabad.<br /> Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:11:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-statement-us-regrets-pakistani-military-deaths 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan, US Armed Forces, Pentagon, Pakistani Armed Forces, Pakistan, NATO, US-Pakistan relations, Air strike, Afghanistan-Pakistan border, George Little The Pentagon's top spokesman says US forces had "misunderstandings" in connection with a NATO attack last month that killed two-dozen Pakistani troops and further strained relations between Washington and Islamabad. http://news.linktv.org/videos/us-admits-fault-in-fatal-bombing-that-killed-24-pakistani-troops?start=0 The Pentagon has admitted significant responsibility for an attack on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in November, 2011 that left 24 Pakistani solders dead. A military investigation found US and Afghan commandos incorrectly determined there were no Pakistani forces in the area before the air strike. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:54:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/us-admits-fault-in-fatal-bombing-that-killed-24-pakistani-troops 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan, Pentagon, Pakistan, Pakistani Armed Forces, Air strike, Afghanistan-Pakistan border, US-Pakistan relations, NATO, Taliban, Afghanistan The Pentagon has admitted significant responsibility for an attack on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border last month that left 24 Pakistani solders dead. A military investigation found US and Afghan commandos incorrectly determined there were no Pakistani forces in the area before the airstrike. US officials then provided inaccurate data to a Pakistani military representative and missed an opportunity to stop the fighting. Pakistan closed its border after the attack, shutting off a supply line to troops in Afghanistan. New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt, who has just returned from Pakistan, says the report details just the latest in a string of incidents that could hurt Pakistani-US ties. "It's going to be very difficult to see how they're going to work their way out of this now despite the important relationship that the US and Pakistan has, not only over counter-terrorism priorities, but also given that Pakistan is a nuclear state and there's a lot of concern if those nuclear weapons or any nuclear material were ever to fall into militant hands." http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-120811?start=334 Iran's military has released images of a top-secret US spy drone that was brought down almost intact several days ago by Iranian air defense electronic wafer units, reports Press TV. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-120811 Israel, Protest, Iran, Air strike, Israel Defense Forces, Drone, Syria, US-Iran relations, Yemen Uprising, Pakistan The lead story, Iran's military has for the first time released images of a top secret US spy drone. The unmanned aircraft was brought down almost intact several days ago by Iranian air defense electronic wafer units. After the initial ambiguities and denials by the Pentagon, Washington finally decided to come clean on the loss of one of its most advanced and secret unmanned aircraft over Iran. The RQ-170 sentinel, built by Lockheed Martin Cooperation has been designed for top secret spying missions. Its radar-absorbent skin has been designed to make it literally invisible to even the most sophisticated radars in operation today. They spy drone was used to eavesdrop on Osama bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan before the much publicized US raid on his compound. http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-100311?start=1248 Yemeni protestors, scholars denounce state clerics' Fatwa, Bahraini court sentences 36 additional protestors to prison, Libya revolutionaries launch fresh assault on Sirte as post-Gaddafi Cabinet takes shape, and more.<br /> Mon, 03 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/mosaic-news-100311 Israel, Protest, Middle East Peace Process, Jerusalem, Yemen Uprising, Yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Syrian Civil War, Bahrain Uprising, 2011 Libyan Uprising US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Israel this morning for a series of meetings related to major security issues as well as bilateral defense relations. On his way to Israel, Panetta warned that Israel is becoming increasingly isolated in the Middle East. The defense secretary encouraged Israel to make concessions by explaining that Jerusalem has a commitment from Washington to guarantee its security needs. Therefore, Israel should be willing to take risks for peace. This is Panetta's first Middle East trip since becoming Pentagon boss. http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-calls-for-limited-libya-rebel-aid?start=0 The Pentagon's top officials say nations other than the US need to step up if Libya's rebels want equipment and training, vowing that US troops won't get involved on the ground.<br /> Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:31:00 -0700 http://news.linktv.org/videos/pentagon-calls-for-limited-libya-rebel-aid Libya, Pentagon, Robert Gates, NATO, Michael Mullen, Jay Carney, United States, 2011 Libyan Uprising, CIA, Associated Press The Pentagon's top officials say nations other than the US need to step up if Libya's rebels want equipment and training, vowing that US troops won't get involved on the ground.