Tensions have been escalating in Ukraine as the country remains on the brink of war. According to the US, the war is just hours away. Pentagon has said that 'Russia could attack Ukraine today'.

Pentagon says Russia could attack on Ukraine today

A security breach has been reported near Pentagon in the US. Well, there is nothing to worry about as it was a hen. &nbsp;

It was actually caught ‘snooping’ around a security area at the Pentagon this week. &nbsp;

The chicken, which has brown feathers and a red comb and wattles, was found running loose near the US Department of Defense headquarters on the outskirts of Washington DC early on Monday morning, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Virginia told on social media. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-will-produce-graphic-propaganda-video-as-pretext-for-an-invasion-against-ukraine-us-450298" hreflang="en">Russia will produce graphic propaganda video as pretext for an invasion: US</a>

“Apparently, the answer to ‘why did the chicken cross the road’ is to get to the Pentagon,” the local animal welfare organisation said. &nbsp;

It was taken into custody by one of the organisation’s employees. &nbsp;

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Apparently, the answer to "why did the chicken cross the road" is to get to the Pentagon?! This chicken was caught sneaking around the security area at the Pentagon (we're not kidding) and our officers picked her up. Now we need a name for her - suggestions welcomed! <a href="https://t.co/6RmMSjNKnU">pic.twitter.com/6RmMSjNKnU</a>
— AWLArlington, VA (@AWLAArlington) <a href="https://twitter.com/AWLAArlington/status/1488262827886395392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2022</a></blockquote>
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In an email, Chelsea Jones, spokesperson for the organisation, said that she can’t reveal the location where the bird was spotted. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/top-pics-how-us-raided-isis-leaders-compound-in-northern-syria-450323">Top pics: How US raided ISIS leader's compound in northern Syria</a>

“We are not allowed to disclose exactly where she was found. We can only say it was at a security checkpoint,” Jones said. &nbsp;

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Our officers have chosen the name Henny Penny for our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pentagonchicken?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pentagonchicken</a>, and she will be going to live at a local animal sanctuary very soon! <a href="https://t.co/qQ7kfYkocM">https://t.co/qQ7kfYkocM</a> <a href="https://t.co/31gugYE4tR">pic.twitter.com/31gugYE4tR</a>
— AWLArlington, VA (@AWLAArlington) <a href="https://twitter.com/AWLAArlington/status/1488567242077970441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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It’s still unclear where the Rhode Island red chicken came from or how it got to the Pentagon. &nbsp;

The bird was “sweet” and “nervous”, Jones described. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A security breach has been reported near Pentagon in the US. Well, there is nothing to worry about as it was a hen. It was actually caught ‘snooping’ around a security area at the Pentagon this week.

A security breach has been reported near Pentagon in the US. Well, there is nothing to worry about as it was a hen. It was actually caught ‘snooping’ around a security area at the Pentagon this week. The chicken, which has brown feathers and a red comb and wattles, was found running loose near the US Department of Defense headquarters on the outskirts of Washington DC early on Monday morning, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, Virginia told on social media. Also Read | Russia will produce graphic propaganda video as pretext for an invasion: US “Apparently, the answer to ‘why did the chicken cross the road’ is to get to the Pentagon,” the local animal welfare organisation said. It was taken into custody by one of the organisation’s employees. Apparently, the answer to "why did the chicken cross the road" is to get to the Pentagon?! This chicken was caught sneaking around the security area at the Pentagon (we're not kidding) and our officers picked her up. Now we need a name for her - suggestions welcomed! pic.twitter.com/6RmMSjNKnU — AWLArlington, VA (@AWLAArlington) January 31, 2022 × In an email, Chelsea Jones, spokesperson for the organisation, said that she can’t reveal the location where the bird was spotted. Also Read | Top pics: How US raided ISIS leader's compound in northern Syria “We are not allowed to disclose exactly where she was found. We can only say it was at a security checkpoint,” Jones said. Our officers have chosen the name Henny Penny for our #pentagonchicken, and she will be going to live at a local animal sanctuary very soon! https://t.co/qQ7kfYkocM pic.twitter.com/31gugYE4tR — AWLArlington, VA (@AWLAArlington) February 1, 2022 × It’s still unclear where the Rhode Island red chicken came from or how it got to the Pentagon. The bird was “sweet” and “nervous”, Jones described. (With inputs from agencies)

Security breach reported near Pentagon in US. But no need to worry  

US special forces carried out a counter-terrorism mission in Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon said that the raid, carried out in northwest Syria was successful. Syrian sources were quoted by Reuters to say that the raid was aimed at an Al Queada-linked jihadist.

At least 13 people, including six children and four women were killed in the clashes, said Syrian rescue workers. The raid targetted a house in the Atmeh area near the Turkish border

"US&nbsp;Special Operations forces under the control of U.S. Central Command conducted a counter-terrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement.

"There were no U.S. casualties. More information will be provided as it becomes available."

He did not identify the target.

A number of jihadist groups with links to al Qaeda operate in northwestern Syria, the last major bastion of rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad in the decade-long Syrian war. Leaders of the Islamic State group have also hidden out in the area.

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Several rebel sources said they were almost certain the target was a leading jihadist, but could not be sure who.

Residents said helicopters landed and heavy gunfire and explosions were heard during the raid that began around midnight. U.S. forces used loud speakers to warn women and children to leave the area, they said.

A video taken by a resident and seen by Reuters showed the bodies of two apparently lifeless children and a man in the rubble of a building at the location.

A witness who lives nearby said he saw several bodies at the scene. "There was blood everywhere," he told Reuters. He added that one of the U.S. helicopters appeared to suffer a mechanical failure and was blown up by the U.S. forces.

A rebel official who declined to be named said the jihadist who was the apparent target of the raid was with his family at the time.

Witnesses said the raid ended with aircraft, believed to be helicopters, leaving the site but unidentified reconnaissance planes were still hovering in the area.

(With inputs from agencies)

US special forces carried out a counter-terrorism mission in Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon said that the raid, carried out in northwest Syria was successful. Syrian sources were quoted by Reuters to say that the raid was aimed at an Al Queada-linked jihadist.

US special forces carried out a counter-terrorism mission in Syria on Thursday. The Pentagon said that the raid, carried out in northwest Syria was successful. Syrian sources were quoted by Reuters to say that the raid was aimed at an Al Queada-linked jihadist. At least 13 people, including six children and four women were killed in the clashes, said Syrian rescue workers. The raid targetted a house in the Atmeh area near the Turkish border "US Special Operations forces under the control of U.S. Central Command conducted a counter-terrorism mission this evening in northwest Syria. The mission was successful," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement. "There were no U.S. casualties. More information will be provided as it becomes available." He did not identify the target. A number of jihadist groups with links to al Qaeda operate in northwestern Syria, the last major bastion of rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad in the decade-long Syrian war. Leaders of the Islamic State group have also hidden out in the area. Also Read | More than 3000 personnel face getting discharged as US Army tightens vaccine mandate rules Several rebel sources said they were almost certain the target was a leading jihadist, but could not be sure who. Residents said helicopters landed and heavy gunfire and explosions were heard during the raid that began around midnight. U.S. forces used loud speakers to warn women and children to leave the area, they said. A video taken by a resident and seen by Reuters showed the bodies of two apparently lifeless children and a man in the rubble of a building at the location. A witness who lives nearby said he saw several bodies at the scene. "There was blood everywhere," he told Reuters. He added that one of the U.S. helicopters appeared to suffer a mechanical failure and was blown up by the U.S. forces. A rebel official who declined to be named said the jihadist who was the apparent target of the raid was with his family at the time. Witnesses said the raid ended with aircraft, believed to be helicopters, leaving the site but unidentified reconnaissance planes were still hovering in the area. (With inputs from agencies)

US forces target Al-Qaeda jihadist in Syria raid, civillians killed in clashes

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US is aware of allegations of "unusual" Russian military activities near the Ukrainian border and will continue to speak with partners and closely monitor the region.&nbsp;

"We are aware of public reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine and we're going to continue to consult with allies and partners on this issue. I can't speak for Russian intentions, but we are certainly monitoring the region closely as we always do, " Kirby said during a press briefing. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whats-happening-between-russia-and-ukraine-heres-a-cheat-sheet-377164">Also read | What's happening between Russia and Ukraine? Here's a cheat-sheet</a>

The Washington Post reports that US officials are concerned about unexplained Russian military activity in the region.

Military Trains and truck convoys move tanks and missiles in Russia's southwest near Ukraine, according to videos uploaded on social media.

On the condition of anonymity, a US source confirmed that there had been some movement, albeit it was not as significant as the rise in Moscow's forces earlier this year.&nbsp;

Watch | Ukraine uses Turkish drone against Russia-backed separatists

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-uses-turkish-drone-against-russia-backed-separatists-424726/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The increase follows US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's trip to the Black Sea region, which included stops in NATO partner Ukraine and Georgia, as well as alliance full member Romania, to express solidarity and rally support for fighting Russia in the region.

Since 2014, rebels allied with Russia have fought Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine.

In 2014, Russian soldiers annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, prompting harsh Western sanctions on the country.&nbsp;

Russia massed thousands of troops, heavy military equipment, naval boats, and aircraft on the Ukraine-Crimea border and in Crimea in March, only weeks after President Joe Biden's inauguration, stoking concerns of an invasion.

The manoeuvres were described by Moscow as a drill, but many of the military equipment stayed for weeks, prompting observers to interpret them as a message to Biden.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US is aware of allegations of "unusual" Russian military activities near the Ukrainian border and will continue to speak with partners and closely monitor the region.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby has said that the US is aware of allegations of "unusual" Russian military activities near the Ukrainian border and will continue to speak with partners and closely monitor the region. "We are aware of public reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine and we're going to continue to consult with allies and partners on this issue. I can't speak for Russian intentions, but we are certainly monitoring the region closely as we always do, " Kirby said during a press briefing. Also read | What's happening between Russia and Ukraine? Here's a cheat-sheet The Washington Post reports that US officials are concerned about unexplained Russian military activity in the region. Military Trains and truck convoys move tanks and missiles in Russia's southwest near Ukraine, according to videos uploaded on social media. On the condition of anonymity, a US source confirmed that there had been some movement, albeit it was not as significant as the rise in Moscow's forces earlier this year. Watch | Ukraine uses Turkish drone against Russia-backed separatists The increase follows US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's trip to the Black Sea region, which included stops in NATO partner Ukraine and Georgia, as well as alliance full member Romania, to express solidarity and rally support for fighting Russia in the region. Since 2014, rebels allied with Russia have fought Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine. In 2014, Russian soldiers annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, prompting harsh Western sanctions on the country. Russia massed thousands of troops, heavy military equipment, naval boats, and aircraft on the Ukraine-Crimea border and in Crimea in March, only weeks after President Joe Biden's inauguration, stoking concerns of an invasion. The manoeuvres were described by Moscow as a drill, but many of the military equipment stayed for weeks, prompting observers to interpret them as a message to Biden. (With inputs from agencies)

US monitoring reports of ‘unusual’ Russian troop activity near Ukraine: Pentagon

The Pentagon has announced that nearly 8,500 American troops have been put on “heightened alert” for a possible deployment due to escalating tensions on the Russia-Ukraine border.

US puts 8,500 troops on heightened alert amid growing tensions with Russia over Ukraine

A new review of the US’ Defence Department has revealed that nearly 100 service members actively took part in the Capitol attack that was carried out by Trump supporters on January 6.<o:p></o:p>

In February 2021, the Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin had ordered a review of the department’s policies on countering extremism within the ranks. This review was initiated after doubts that some members may have had a role in the horrifying Capitol riot that took place in Washington.

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As per the review, in the past year, nearly 100 active duty or reserve members of the US military took part in extremist activities which are prohibited to a service member, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby revealed.<o:p></o:p>

"The overwhelming majority of the men and women of the Department of Defense serve this country with honor and integrity," Austin said in a statement.<o:p></o:p>

However, he also added that it is only a few members of the institution who have violated these regulations. "They respect the oath they took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Austin said. "We believe only a very few violate this oath by participating in extremist activities."

<o:p>Have a look |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-here-is-a-look-at-the-important-events-of-2021-437920">In Pics | Here is a look at the important events of 2021</a></o:p>

The authorities have not revealed what kind of activities were the defence personnel involved in, but clarified that ‘domestic terrorism’ or favouring overthrowing the ruling government were examples of prohibited activities for US military service personnel.<o:p></o:p>

Authorities will also start educating and training service members about what constitutes prohibited extremist activity, which acts are not allowed for service members and more. "That includes very specifically, the guidelines for social media, what's permissible and what's not, with respect to extremist prohibited activities," Kirby said.<o:p></o:p>

Oddly, this time, the recommendations and guidelines do not list specific extremist groups.

<o:p>(With inputs from agencies)</o:p>

A new review of the US’ Defence Department has revealed that nearly 100 service members actively took part in the Capitol attack that was carried out by Trump supporters on January 6.

A new review of the US’ Defence Department has revealed that nearly 100 service members actively took part in the Capitol attack that was carried out by Trump supporters on January 6. In February 2021, the Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin had ordered a review of the department’s policies on countering extremism within the ranks. This review was initiated after doubts that some members may have had a role in the horrifying Capitol riot that took place in Washington. Also read | Is United States on the cusp of a civil war? A new book analyses political events in the country As per the review, in the past year, nearly 100 active duty or reserve members of the US military took part in extremist activities which are prohibited to a service member, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby revealed. "The overwhelming majority of the men and women of the Department of Defense serve this country with honor and integrity," Austin said in a statement. However, he also added that it is only a few members of the institution who have violated these regulations. "They respect the oath they took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," Austin said. "We believe only a very few violate this oath by participating in extremist activities." Have a look | In Pics | Here is a look at the important events of 2021 The authorities have not revealed what kind of activities were the defence personnel involved in, but clarified that ‘domestic terrorism’ or favouring overthrowing the ruling government were examples of prohibited activities for US military service personnel. Authorities will also start educating and training service members about what constitutes prohibited extremist activity, which acts are not allowed for service members and more. "That includes very specifically, the guidelines for social media, what's permissible and what's not, with respect to extremist prohibited activities," Kirby said. Oddly, this time, the recommendations and guidelines do not list specific extremist groups. (With inputs from agencies)

Nearly 100 people in US military took part in extremist activity, Pentagon reveals

Pentagon documents show that the US air wars in the Middle East have been marked by "deeply flawed intelligence" and resulted in thousands of civilian deaths, including children.

Pentagon report: Civilian deaths undercounted | US Air Drone Strikes

'Deeply Flawed' US Air Wars In Middle East, reads Pentagon Documents

A controversial revelation by the Pentagon documents has shown that the US air wars in the Middle East, which have taken several civilian lives, was marked by “deeply flawed intelligence”.<o:p></o:p>

A report by the New York Times has revealed that a heap of confidential documents have reported that the US government has time and again failed to fulfil their pledge of transparency and accountability.<o:p></o:p>

"Not a single record provided includes a finding of wrongdoing or disciplinary action," the report stated.

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As per the New York Times newspaper, several confidential documents that highlighted more than 1,300 reports of civilian casualties during air wars in Middle East. This was justified by the government as a part of the wars fought with ‘precision bombs’.<o:p></o:p>

The newspaper has also claimed that the number of civilian deaths has been largely underreported by the US authorities and at least several hundreds of innocent civilians had lost their lives during these air wars.<o:p></o:p>

One such incident cited was bombing by US forces in northern Syria on July 19, 2016 during which it was reported that 85 fighters had been killed by the authorities. However, reports are now stating that 120 farmers and villagers were the ones who were killed during this strike.<o:p></o:p>

Similarly, during a November 2015 attack in Iraq’s Ramadi, the US forces had targeted a man carrying an ‘unidentified object’ into an Islamic State position. That ‘unidentified object’ was actually a small child, the report claimed.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/all-you-need-to-know-about-pentagons-newly-discovered-secret-army-385910">All you need to know about Pentagon's newly discovered 'secret army'</a></o:p>

Similarly, the Times stated that sometimes "men on motorcycles moving 'in formation,' displaying the 'signature' of an imminent attack, were just men on motorcycles."<o:p></o:p>

Poor or inadequate surveillance footage has been given as a plausible reason behind such gruesome errors in these air wars.<o:p></o:p>

This report comes at a time when the world had already been questioning the US forces for its attack on an ‘unidentified vehicle’ and house in Kabul (a few days after Taliban took control of Afghanistan). What was described as an attack on possible IS militants actually turned out to be an error-filled attack on 10 members of a family, including minors.<o:p></o:p>

Many of these victims of US air strikes have also been left critically injured for life. However, the condolence payments have staggered.<o:p></o:p>

“Even with the best technology in the world, mistakes do happen, whether based on incomplete information or misinterpretation of the information available. And we try to learn from those mistakes,” Captain Bill Urban, spokesman for the US Central Command told the Times. “We work diligently to avoid such harm. We investigate each credible instance. And we regret each loss of innocent life."<o:p></o:p>

A controversial revelation by the Pentagon documents has shown that the US air wars in the Middle East, which have taken several civilian lives, was marked by “deeply flawed intelligence”.

A controversial revelation by the Pentagon documents has shown that the US air wars in the Middle East, which have taken several civilian lives, was marked by “deeply flawed intelligence”. A report by the New York Times has revealed that a heap of confidential documents have reported that the US government has time and again failed to fulfil their pledge of transparency and accountability. "Not a single record provided includes a finding of wrongdoing or disciplinary action," the report stated. Also read | Roswell crash: Pentagon admits 'testing' wreckage from UFO crashes As per the New York Times newspaper, several confidential documents that highlighted more than 1,300 reports of civilian casualties during air wars in Middle East. This was justified by the government as a part of the wars fought with ‘precision bombs’. The newspaper has also claimed that the number of civilian deaths has been largely underreported by the US authorities and at least several hundreds of innocent civilians had lost their lives during these air wars. One such incident cited was bombing by US forces in northern Syria on July 19, 2016 during which it was reported that 85 fighters had been killed by the authorities. However, reports are now stating that 120 farmers and villagers were the ones who were killed during this strike. Similarly, during a November 2015 attack in Iraq’s Ramadi, the US forces had targeted a man carrying an ‘unidentified object’ into an Islamic State position. That ‘unidentified object’ was actually a small child, the report claimed. Also read | All you need to know about Pentagon's newly discovered 'secret army' Similarly, the Times stated that sometimes "men on motorcycles moving 'in formation,' displaying the 'signature' of an imminent attack, were just men on motorcycles." Poor or inadequate surveillance footage has been given as a plausible reason behind such gruesome errors in these air wars. This report comes at a time when the world had already been questioning the US forces for its attack on an ‘unidentified vehicle’ and house in Kabul (a few days after Taliban took control of Afghanistan). What was described as an attack on possible IS militants actually turned out to be an error-filled attack on 10 members of a family, including minors. Many of these victims of US air strikes have also been left critically injured for life. However, the condolence payments have staggered. “Even with the best technology in the world, mistakes do happen, whether based on incomplete information or misinterpretation of the information available. And we try to learn from those mistakes,” Captain Bill Urban, spokesman for the US Central Command told the Times. “We work diligently to avoid such harm. We investigate each credible instance. And we regret each loss of innocent life."

Unidentified objects? US air wars were 'deeply flawed' , Pentagon documents reveal: Report

The US' Pentagon has said that no American troops or officials will be held accountable for a drone strike that killed 10 people in Afghanistan in August.

No US troops to be held accountable for Kabul drone strike, says Pentagon

Pentagon makes it clear that none of their military personnel will be held accountable for the last US drone strike in war-torn Afghanistan.

Pentagon: No military personnel to be held accountable for last US drone strike in Afghanistan

A new report has revealed that hundreds of weapons have been stolen from the US armed forces in the last 10 years.

The investigation, being conducted by the Associated Press, claims US troops faked records to cover up thefts.

Several explosives stolen from military shipments or bases were found at a US-Mexico border checkpoint.

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Some of the stolen weapons were used in civilian crimes because they were sold to a street gang.

Artillery shells that disappeared from Camp Shelby were found at a Mississippi recycling yard in August.

An ammunition technician stationed at Quantico, Virginia stole four fragmentation grenades by falsely recording that they were exploded during training.

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The report states that in 2018, armour-piercing grenades, hundreds of pounds of plastic explosives, as well as land mines and rockets were stolen from Camp Lejeune, the massive base on coastal North Carolina.

They ended up in the hands of some high school kids who found them inside a vacant house they broke in during a prank

In response, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Uriah Orland said, “We want to get the number to zero, so there is no loss, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t take seriously losses that happened.”

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/arms-deal-in-2021-how-major-powers-realigned-the-military-landscape-434045" hreflang="en">Arms deal in 2021: How major powers realigned the military landscape</a>

From 2010 to 2020, 1,900 entries explosives went missing. While half of these have been recovered, the other half still remains missing.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, &nbsp;Capt. Andrew Wood said in a written statement “Some of it was later recovered and often these reports are attributed to human error, such as miscounting&nbsp;or improper documentation.”&nbsp;

Now, Congress is all set to require that the military give lawmakers detailed loss and theft reports every year.

“We are committed to transparency and following proper procedures and take accountability of explosives seriously,” said Navy spokesman Lt. Lewis Aldridge.

(With inputs from agencies)

A new report has revealed that hundreds of weapons have been stolen from the US armed forces in the last 10 years. The investigation, being conducted by the Associated Press, claims US troops faked records to cover up thefts.

A new report has revealed that hundreds of weapons have been stolen from the US armed forces in the last 10 years. The investigation, being conducted by the Associated Press, claims US troops faked records to cover up thefts. Several explosives stolen from military shipments or bases were found at a US-Mexico border checkpoint. Some of the stolen weapons were used in civilian crimes because they were sold to a street gang. Artillery shells that disappeared from Camp Shelby were found at a Mississippi recycling yard in August. An ammunition technician stationed at Quantico, Virginia stole four fragmentation grenades by falsely recording that they were exploded during training. Also read | Blinken warns China over increasing incursions in Taiwan The report states that in 2018, armour-piercing grenades, hundreds of pounds of plastic explosives, as well as land mines and rockets were stolen from Camp Lejeune, the massive base on coastal North Carolina. They ended up in the hands of some high school kids who found them inside a vacant house they broke in during a prank In response, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Uriah Orland said, “We want to get the number to zero, so there is no loss, but it doesn’t mean that we don’t take seriously losses that happened.” Also see| Arms deal in 2021: How major powers realigned the military landscape From 2010 to 2020, 1,900 entries explosives went missing. While half of these have been recovered, the other half still remains missing. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Capt. Andrew Wood said in a written statement “Some of it was later recovered and often these reports are attributed to human error, such as miscounting or improper documentation.” Now, Congress is all set to require that the military give lawmakers detailed loss and theft reports every year. “We are committed to transparency and following proper procedures and take accountability of explosives seriously,” said Navy spokesman Lt. Lewis Aldridge. (With inputs from agencies)

Hundreds of weapons stolen from US Air Force over past decade: Report

The Pentagon on Tuesday night announced a new group to investigate reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in sensitive areas, work that will be overseen by both the military and the intelligence agencies.

The group will lead an effort to “detect, identify and attribute objects” in restricted airspace, as well as mitigate any threats to military flights.

The announcement follows the release of a report in June that failed to provide explanations of 143 sightings of strange phenomena by military pilots and others over the past two decades.

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The report frustrated some inside the intelligence community who believed more analysis and research should have been done to try to categorize and explain the phenomena. Releasing a report that said the sightings were unexplained further drove theories that the videos or pictures could be visitors from space, a theory that few in the US&nbsp;government take seriously.

Kathleen H. Hicks, the deputy defence secretary, said the new group would be called the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group. It will be overseen by an executive council made up of the undersecretary of defence for intelligence, the director of the Joint Staff and senior officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The group will focus on special-use airspace, which includes military operations areas, firing ranges and places restricted for national security and other uses. In a memo, Hicks said unidentified aerial phenomena in special-use areas represented a potential safety issue for military pilots and raised “potential national security concerns.”

In June, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report that reviewed unidentified aerial phenomena seen since 2004, noting that 143 remained unexplained. Of those, 21 reports, involving 18 episodes, possibly demonstrated technological know-how unknown to the United States, such as objects moving without observable propulsion or with rapid acceleration that is believed to be beyond the capabilities of Russia, China or other terrestrial nations.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ufo-sightings-in-us-rose-sharply-during-the-pandemic-data-reveals-377203">UFO sightings in US rose sharply during the pandemic, data reveals</a>

Government officials said privately that there were no evidence of Russian or Chinese advance technology in use, much less space-travelling aliens, in the information collected. But the officials acknowledged that the government’s failure to provide much explanation would fuel a wide range of theories, some more conspiratorial than others.

While the unexplained sightings were mostly around military installations or operations, the report said that could be the result of collection bias or the presence of cutting-edge sensors.

Some people believe any phenomenon exhibiting technology beyond the abilities of the United States needs deep study. Sceptics believe most or all of the sightings, including videos recorded by cameras on military fighter jets, can be explained by tricks of optics or naturally occurring phenomena.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/world-ufo-day-2021-all-you-need-to-know-about-extraterrestrial-origin-395290">World UFO Day 2021: All you need to know about extraterrestrial origin</a>

But the military research that underpinned the intelligence report did little to address those theories or provide specific explanations for various sightings that have captured the public’s imagination.

For years a military intelligence official, Luis Elizondo, ran a little-noticed group within the Pentagon called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. The Pentagon has said the program was shut down in 2012, but backers of the program said its work continued. In 2020, the Pentagon announced it had a new group, the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force.

The memo released by Hicks said the task force would immediately transition to the new synchronization group. The oversight council will choose an acting director for the new group and issue guidance, subject to Hicks’ approval, she said.

The new director will have the power to standardize incident reporting of unidentified arial phenomena, ask to oversee the analysis of data on the unexplained sightings and identify shortfalls in detection capabilities.

The Pentagon on Tuesday night announced a new group to investigate reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in sensitive areas, work that will be overseen by both the military and the intelligence agencies.

The Pentagon on Tuesday night announced a new group to investigate reports of unidentified aerial phenomena in sensitive areas, work that will be overseen by both the military and the intelligence agencies. The group will lead an effort to “detect, identify and attribute objects” in restricted airspace, as well as mitigate any threats to military flights. The announcement follows the release of a report in June that failed to provide explanations of 143 sightings of strange phenomena by military pilots and others over the past two decades. Also read | I'm not saying there are UFOs but there are UFOs, Musk's latest triggers meme fest on Twitter The report frustrated some inside the intelligence community who believed more analysis and research should have been done to try to categorize and explain the phenomena. Releasing a report that said the sightings were unexplained further drove theories that the videos or pictures could be visitors from space, a theory that few in the US government take seriously. Kathleen H. Hicks, the deputy defence secretary, said the new group would be called the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group. It will be overseen by an executive council made up of the undersecretary of defence for intelligence, the director of the Joint Staff and senior officials from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The group will focus on special-use airspace, which includes military operations areas, firing ranges and places restricted for national security and other uses. In a memo, Hicks said unidentified aerial phenomena in special-use areas represented a potential safety issue for military pilots and raised “potential national security concerns.” In June, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report that reviewed unidentified aerial phenomena seen since 2004, noting that 143 remained unexplained. Of those, 21 reports, involving 18 episodes, possibly demonstrated technological know-how unknown to the United States, such as objects moving without observable propulsion or with rapid acceleration that is believed to be beyond the capabilities of Russia, China or other terrestrial nations. Also read | UFO sightings in US rose sharply during the pandemic, data reveals Government officials said privately that there were no evidence of Russian or Chinese advance technology in use, much less space-travelling aliens, in the information collected. But the officials acknowledged that the government’s failure to provide much explanation would fuel a wide range of theories, some more conspiratorial than others. While the unexplained sightings were mostly around military installations or operations, the report said that could be the result of collection bias or the presence of cutting-edge sensors. Some people believe any phenomenon exhibiting technology beyond the abilities of the United States needs deep study. Sceptics believe most or all of the sightings, including videos recorded by cameras on military fighter jets, can be explained by tricks of optics or naturally occurring phenomena. Also read | World UFO Day 2021: All you need to know about extraterrestrial origin But the military research that underpinned the intelligence report did little to address those theories or provide specific explanations for various sightings that have captured the public’s imagination. For years a military intelligence official, Luis Elizondo, ran a little-noticed group within the Pentagon called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. The Pentagon has said the program was shut down in 2012, but backers of the program said its work continued. In 2020, the Pentagon announced it had a new group, the Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force. The memo released by Hicks said the task force would immediately transition to the new synchronization group. The oversight council will choose an acting director for the new group and issue guidance, subject to Hicks’ approval, she said. The new director will have the power to standardize incident reporting of unidentified arial phenomena, ask to oversee the analysis of data on the unexplained sightings and identify shortfalls in detection capabilities.

Pentagon forms a group to examine unexplained aerial sightings

A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, as President Joe Biden moves to require vaccinations for a broad swath of the American workforce.

Last week, Oklahoma’s newly appointed adjutant general for the National Guard, Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, announced on behalf of the governor, Kevin Stitt, that guardsmen in the state would not be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, defying a Pentagon directive issued in August that makes vaccinations mandatory for all troops, including the National Guard, by deadlines set by each service branch.

“The order I issued came directly from the governor. That is the lawful order to the men and women of the Oklahoma National Guard,” Mancino said in an interview, adding that he had been vaccinated.

Pentagon officials said Wednesday that a failure to follow “valid medical readiness requirements” could “jeopardize” the status of troops.

The officials insist that Stitt has no legal standing to obviate the mandate, although experts on the obscure laws governing the Guard disagree. They note that unless federally deployed, National Guard members are under the jurisdiction of the governor of their state and therefore not subject to federal mandates. “Guard members can only serve one boss at a time,” said John Goheen, a spokesperson for the National Guard Association of the United States.

The Pentagon is not without redress. It could deny funding to state units or impede the promotions of Guard members who refuse to get vaccinated. Officials said Wednesday that Guard members who refused to be vaccinated also could face dismissal, just as with active duty troops.

“Oklahoma may be able to take this step as a legal matter, but there are definitely things the federal government can do in response that might make it a painful Pyrrhic victory,” said Eugene Fidell, an adjunct professor of law at the New York University Law School. “The governor and state adjutant general thus might find themselves commanding some very unhappy personnel.”

The Pentagon is bracing for other states to follow Oklahoma’s lead. So far none have, but many are believed to be closely watching the situation, which could become the subject of lawsuits. “This could be contagious,” Fidell said.

National Guard troops have been caught in the political cross hairs over the years, including in 2018, when several governors said they would withhold or recall their troops from the border with Mexico as the Trump administration separated adults who illegally crossed into the United States from their children. In 1986, several governors balked at sending Guard troops for maneuvers in Honduras ordered by President Ronald Reagan.

But these rare conflicts in the military have never centered on vaccine mandates, which have existed for decades.

The standoff, while so far limited in scope, demonstrates the headaches Biden faces as he pushes the Jan. 4 deadline for large companies to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or start weekly testing of their workers. The new rule, applying to companies with 100 or more employees, would cover roughly 84 million workers, and is already meeting fierce resistance.

Stitt is one of several Republican state officials who have been resisting Biden’s vaccine mandates covering federal employees and contractors.

Some governors who have been more resistant to mandates have so far declined to join Stitt.

“I took an oath, and I intend to do what I promised the country I would do,” Gen. Thomas Carden, the head of the Georgia National Guard, told a local reporter last week. “It’s cut and dry for us.”

Spokesmen for the Guards in North Dakota and Florida — two other states whose governors oppose vaccine mandates — said they were following the Pentagon order, while Texas officials were more vague.

“The decision whether or not to receive a vaccination is a personal matter each Soldier and Airman must weigh. The Texas National Guard provides the resources necessary for each Service member to make informed decisions,” an unidentified spokesperson said in response to an email query.

While the vast majority of active duty troops have been vaccinated, the percentage of those in the Guard has dragged below the averages for the civilian population. In Oklahoma, 89% of airmen in the Guard have been vaccinated, while only 40% of Army guardsmen have had shots.

Mancino issued his memo a day after Stitt dismissed his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Michael C. Thompson, a proponent for vaccines.

A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, as President Joe Biden moves to require vaccinations for a broad swath of the American workforce.

A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, as President Joe Biden moves to require vaccinations for a broad swath of the American workforce. Last week, Oklahoma’s newly appointed adjutant general for the National Guard, Brig. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, announced on behalf of the governor, Kevin Stitt, that guardsmen in the state would not be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine, defying a Pentagon directive issued in August that makes vaccinations mandatory for all troops, including the National Guard, by deadlines set by each service branch. “The order I issued came directly from the governor. That is the lawful order to the men and women of the Oklahoma National Guard,” Mancino said in an interview, adding that he had been vaccinated. Pentagon officials said Wednesday that a failure to follow “valid medical readiness requirements” could “jeopardize” the status of troops. The officials insist that Stitt has no legal standing to obviate the mandate, although experts on the obscure laws governing the Guard disagree. They note that unless federally deployed, National Guard members are under the jurisdiction of the governor of their state and therefore not subject to federal mandates. “Guard members can only serve one boss at a time,” said John Goheen, a spokesperson for the National Guard Association of the United States. The Pentagon is not without redress. It could deny funding to state units or impede the promotions of Guard members who refuse to get vaccinated. Officials said Wednesday that Guard members who refused to be vaccinated also could face dismissal, just as with active duty troops. “Oklahoma may be able to take this step as a legal matter, but there are definitely things the federal government can do in response that might make it a painful Pyrrhic victory,” said Eugene Fidell, an adjunct professor of law at the New York University Law School. “The governor and state adjutant general thus might find themselves commanding some very unhappy personnel.” The Pentagon is bracing for other states to follow Oklahoma’s lead. So far none have, but many are believed to be closely watching the situation, which could become the subject of lawsuits. “This could be contagious,” Fidell said. National Guard troops have been caught in the political cross hairs over the years, including in 2018, when several governors said they would withhold or recall their troops from the border with Mexico as the Trump administration separated adults who illegally crossed into the United States from their children. In 1986, several governors balked at sending Guard troops for maneuvers in Honduras ordered by President Ronald Reagan. But these rare conflicts in the military have never centered on vaccine mandates, which have existed for decades. The standoff, while so far limited in scope, demonstrates the headaches Biden faces as he pushes the Jan. 4 deadline for large companies to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or start weekly testing of their workers. The new rule, applying to companies with 100 or more employees, would cover roughly 84 million workers, and is already meeting fierce resistance. Stitt is one of several Republican state officials who have been resisting Biden’s vaccine mandates covering federal employees and contractors. Some governors who have been more resistant to mandates have so far declined to join Stitt. “I took an oath, and I intend to do what I promised the country I would do,” Gen. Thomas Carden, the head of the Georgia National Guard, told a local reporter last week. “It’s cut and dry for us.” Spokesmen for the Guards in North Dakota and Florida — two other states whose governors oppose vaccine mandates — said they were following the Pentagon order, while Texas officials were more vague. “The decision whether or not to receive a vaccination is a personal matter each Soldier and Airman must weigh. The Texas National Guard provides the resources necessary for each Service member to make informed decisions,” an unidentified spokesperson said in response to an email query. While the vast majority of active duty troops have been vaccinated, the percentage of those in the Guard has dragged below the averages for the civilian population. In Oklahoma, 89% of airmen in the Guard have been vaccinated, while only 40% of Army guardsmen have had shots. Mancino issued his memo a day after Stitt dismissed his predecessor, Maj. Gen. Michael C. Thompson, a proponent for vaccines.

Oklahoma governor and Pentagon standoff over vaccines intensifies

Three years after an employee revolt forced Google to abandon work on a Pentagon program that used artificial intelligence, the company is aggressively pursuing a major contract to provide its technology to the military.

The company’s plan to land the potentially lucrative contract, known as the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability, could raise a furor among its outspoken workforce and test the resolve of management to resist employee demands.

In 2018, thousands of Google employees signed a letter protesting the company’s involvement in Project Maven, a military program that uses artificial intelligence to interpret video images and could be used to refine the targeting of drone strikes. Google management caved and agreed to not renew the contract once it expired.

The outcry led Google to create guidelines for the ethical use of artificial intelligence, which prohibit the use of its technology for weapons or surveillance, and hastened a shake-up of its cloud computing business. Now, as Google positions cloud computing as a key part of its future, the bid for the new Pentagon contract could test the boundaries of those AI principles, which have set it apart from other tech giants that routinely seek military and intelligence work.

The military’s initiative, which aims to modernize the Pentagon’s cloud technology and support the use of artificial intelligence to gain an advantage on the battlefield, is a replacement for a contract with Microsoft that was canceled this summer amid a lengthy legal battle with Amazon. Google did not compete against Microsoft for that contract after the uproar over Project Maven.

The Pentagon’s restart of its cloud computing project has given Google a chance to jump back into the bidding, and the company has raced to prepare a proposal to present to Defense officials, according to four people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly. In September, Google’s cloud unit made it a priority, declaring an emergency “Code Yellow,” an internal designation of importance that allowed the company to pull engineers off other assignments and focus them on the military project, two of those people said.

On Tuesday, the Google cloud unit’s chief executive, Thomas Kurian, met with Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., the chief of staff of the Air Force, and other top Pentagon officials to make the case for his company, two people said.

Google, in a written statement, said it is “firmly committed to serving our public sector customers,” including the Defense Department, and that it “will evaluate any future bid opportunities accordingly.”

The contract replaces the now-scrapped Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI, the Pentagon cloud computing contract that was estimated to be worth $10 billion over 10 years. The exact size of the new contract is unknown, although it is half the duration and will be awarded to more than one company, not to a single provider like JEDI.

It is unclear whether the work, which would provide the Defense Department access to Google’s cloud products, would violate Google’s AI principles, although the Defense Department has said the technology is expected to support the military in combat. But Pentagon rules about outside access to sensitive or classified data could prevent Google from seeing exactly how its technology is being used.

The Defense Department said it would seek proposals from a limited set of companies that could meet its requirements. “As this is an active acquisition, we cannot provide any additional information related to this effort,” said Russell Goemaere, a spokesperson for the department.

After a late start in selling its cloud computing technology to other organizations, Google has struggled to close the gap with Amazon and Microsoft, which have the two biggest cloud computing businesses. To bring in more big customers, Google hired Kurian, a longtime executive at the software company Oracle, to take over the business in 2018. He has beefed up the size of Google’s sales staff and pushed the company to compete aggressively for new contracts, including military deals.

But Google employees have continued to resist some work pursued by the cloud unit. In 2019, they protested the use of artificial intelligence tools for the oil and gas industry. A year later, the company said it would not build custom AI software for the extraction of fossil fuels.

Google started working on Project Maven in 2017 and prepared to bid for JEDI. Many Google employees believed Project Maven represented a potentially lethal use of artificial intelligence, and more than 4,000 workers signed a letter demanding that Google withdraw from the project.

Soon after, Google announced a set of ethical principles that would govern its use of artificial intelligence. Google would not allow its AI to be used for weapons or surveillance, said Sundar Pichai, its chief executive, but would continue to accept military contracts for cybersecurity and search and rescue.

Several months later, Google said it would not bid on the JEDI contract, although it was unlikely that the company had a shot at landing the deal; the Maven experience had soured the relationship between Google and the military, and Google lacked some of the security certifications needed to handle classified data.

Google’s cloud business recently has done other work with the military. Since last year, Google has signed contracts with the U.S. Air Force for using cloud computing for aircraft maintenance and pilot training, as well as a U.S. Navy contract for using artificial intelligence to detect and predict the maintenance needs of facilities and vessels.

Some Google workers believed the new contract would not violate the principles, a person familiar with the decision said, because the contract would enable generic uses of its cloud technology and artificial intelligence. The principles specifically state Google will not pursue AI that can be applied in “weapons or those that direct injury.”

Lucy Suchman, a professor of anthropology of science and technology at Lancaster University whose research focuses on the use of technology in war, said that with so much money at stake, it is no surprise Google might waver on its commitment.

“It demonstrates the fragility of Google’s commitment to staying outside the major merger that’s happening between the DOD and Silicon Valley,” Suchman said.

Google’s efforts come as its employees are already pushing the company to cancel a cloud computing contract with the Israeli military, called Project Nimbus, that provides Google’s services to government entities throughout Israel. In an open letter published last month by The Guardian, Google employees called on their employer to cancel the contract.

The Defense Department’s effort to transition to cloud technology has been mired in legal battles. The military operates on outdated computer systems and has spent billions of dollars on modernization. It turned to U.S. internet giants in the hope that the companies could quickly and securely move the Defense Department to the cloud.

In 2019, the Defense Department awarded the JEDI contract to Microsoft. Amazon sued to block the contract, claiming that Microsoft did not have the technical capabilities to fulfill the military’s needs and that former President Donald Trump had improperly influenced the decision because of animosity toward Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s executive chair and the owner of The Washington Post.

In July, the Defense Department announced that it could no longer wait for the legal fight with Amazon to resolve. It scrapped the JEDI contract and said it would be replaced with the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability.

The Pentagon also noted that Amazon and Microsoft were the only companies that likely had the technology to meet its needs but said it would conduct market research before ruling out other competitors. The Defense Department said it planned to reach out to Google, Oracle and IBM.

But Google executives believe they have the capability to compete for the new contract, and the company expects the Defense Department to tell it whether it will qualify to make a bid in the coming weeks, two people familiar with the matter said.

The Defense Department has previously said it hopes to award a contract by April.

Three years after an employee revolt forced Google to abandon work on a Pentagon program that used artificial intelligence, the company is aggressively pursuing a major contract to provide its technology to the military.

Three years after an employee revolt forced Google to abandon work on a Pentagon program that used artificial intelligence, the company is aggressively pursuing a major contract to provide its technology to the military. The company’s plan to land the potentially lucrative contract, known as the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability, could raise a furor among its outspoken workforce and test the resolve of management to resist employee demands. In 2018, thousands of Google employees signed a letter protesting the company’s involvement in Project Maven, a military program that uses artificial intelligence to interpret video images and could be used to refine the targeting of drone strikes. Google management caved and agreed to not renew the contract once it expired. The outcry led Google to create guidelines for the ethical use of artificial intelligence, which prohibit the use of its technology for weapons or surveillance, and hastened a shake-up of its cloud computing business. Now, as Google positions cloud computing as a key part of its future, the bid for the new Pentagon contract could test the boundaries of those AI principles, which have set it apart from other tech giants that routinely seek military and intelligence work. The military’s initiative, which aims to modernize the Pentagon’s cloud technology and support the use of artificial intelligence to gain an advantage on the battlefield, is a replacement for a contract with Microsoft that was canceled this summer amid a lengthy legal battle with Amazon. Google did not compete against Microsoft for that contract after the uproar over Project Maven. The Pentagon’s restart of its cloud computing project has given Google a chance to jump back into the bidding, and the company has raced to prepare a proposal to present to Defense officials, according to four people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly. In September, Google’s cloud unit made it a priority, declaring an emergency “Code Yellow,” an internal designation of importance that allowed the company to pull engineers off other assignments and focus them on the military project, two of those people said. On Tuesday, the Google cloud unit’s chief executive, Thomas Kurian, met with Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., the chief of staff of the Air Force, and other top Pentagon officials to make the case for his company, two people said. Google, in a written statement, said it is “firmly committed to serving our public sector customers,” including the Defense Department, and that it “will evaluate any future bid opportunities accordingly.” The contract replaces the now-scrapped Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure, or JEDI, the Pentagon cloud computing contract that was estimated to be worth $10 billion over 10 years. The exact size of the new contract is unknown, although it is half the duration and will be awarded to more than one company, not to a single provider like JEDI. It is unclear whether the work, which would provide the Defense Department access to Google’s cloud products, would violate Google’s AI principles, although the Defense Department has said the technology is expected to support the military in combat. But Pentagon rules about outside access to sensitive or classified data could prevent Google from seeing exactly how its technology is being used. The Defense Department said it would seek proposals from a limited set of companies that could meet its requirements. “As this is an active acquisition, we cannot provide any additional information related to this effort,” said Russell Goemaere, a spokesperson for the department. After a late start in selling its cloud computing technology to other organizations, Google has struggled to close the gap with Amazon and Microsoft, which have the two biggest cloud computing businesses. To bring in more big customers, Google hired Kurian, a longtime executive at the software company Oracle, to take over the business in 2018. He has beefed up the size of Google’s sales staff and pushed the company to compete aggressively for new contracts, including military deals. But Google employees have continued to resist some work pursued by the cloud unit. In 2019, they protested the use of artificial intelligence tools for the oil and gas industry. A year later, the company said it would not build custom AI software for the extraction of fossil fuels. Google started working on Project Maven in 2017 and prepared to bid for JEDI. Many Google employees believed Project Maven represented a potentially lethal use of artificial intelligence, and more than 4,000 workers signed a letter demanding that Google withdraw from the project. Soon after, Google announced a set of ethical principles that would govern its use of artificial intelligence. Google would not allow its AI to be used for weapons or surveillance, said Sundar Pichai, its chief executive, but would continue to accept military contracts for cybersecurity and search and rescue. Several months later, Google said it would not bid on the JEDI contract, although it was unlikely that the company had a shot at landing the deal; the Maven experience had soured the relationship between Google and the military, and Google lacked some of the security certifications needed to handle classified data. Google’s cloud business recently has done other work with the military. Since last year, Google has signed contracts with the U.S. Air Force for using cloud computing for aircraft maintenance and pilot training, as well as a U.S. Navy contract for using artificial intelligence to detect and predict the maintenance needs of facilities and vessels. Some Google workers believed the new contract would not violate the principles, a person familiar with the decision said, because the contract would enable generic uses of its cloud technology and artificial intelligence. The principles specifically state Google will not pursue AI that can be applied in “weapons or those that direct injury.” Lucy Suchman, a professor of anthropology of science and technology at Lancaster University whose research focuses on the use of technology in war, said that with so much money at stake, it is no surprise Google might waver on its commitment. “It demonstrates the fragility of Google’s commitment to staying outside the major merger that’s happening between the DOD and Silicon Valley,” Suchman said. Google’s efforts come as its employees are already pushing the company to cancel a cloud computing contract with the Israeli military, called Project Nimbus, that provides Google’s services to government entities throughout Israel. In an open letter published last month by The Guardian, Google employees called on their employer to cancel the contract. The Defense Department’s effort to transition to cloud technology has been mired in legal battles. The military operates on outdated computer systems and has spent billions of dollars on modernization. It turned to U.S. internet giants in the hope that the companies could quickly and securely move the Defense Department to the cloud. In 2019, the Defense Department awarded the JEDI contract to Microsoft. Amazon sued to block the contract, claiming that Microsoft did not have the technical capabilities to fulfill the military’s needs and that former President Donald Trump had improperly influenced the decision because of animosity toward Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s executive chair and the owner of The Washington Post. In July, the Defense Department announced that it could no longer wait for the legal fight with Amazon to resolve. It scrapped the JEDI contract and said it would be replaced with the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability. The Pentagon also noted that Amazon and Microsoft were the only companies that likely had the technology to meet its needs but said it would conduct market research before ruling out other competitors. The Defense Department said it planned to reach out to Google, Oracle and IBM. But Google executives believe they have the capability to compete for the new contract, and the company expects the Defense Department to tell it whether it will qualify to make a bid in the coming weeks, two people familiar with the matter said. The Defense Department has previously said it hopes to award a contract by April.

Google wants to work with the Pentagon again, despite employee concerns

Pentagon's latest report reveals alarming information that China is now rapidly closing the nuclear weapons gap with the US. The country is increasing its nuclear arsenal at a much faster rate than expected earlier, according to the report.

Contrary to what the Pentagon had predicted earlier, the latest report&nbsp;published on Wednesday says that China might possess 700 nuclear warheads by 2027, and over 1,000 by 2030.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/absolutely-says-top-pentagon-general-about-us-ability-to-defend-taiwan-426492">'Absolutely', says top Pentagon general about US ability to defend Taiwan</a>

Only a year ago, the Pentagon said that the country had about 200 deliverable warheads and would double that by 2030. the difference between the two predicted quantities is about two-and-a-half times.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) "is investing in, and expanding, the number of its land-based, sea-based, and air-based nuclear delivery platforms and constructing the infrastructure necessary to support this major expansion of its nuclear forces," said the US Department of Defense's annual report to Congress on Chinese military developments.

It said that like the United States and Russia, China is also building a "nuclear triad," which will be capable of delivering nuclear weapons from land-based missiles, from air-launched missiles, and from submarines.

The report states that China most likely just seeks to deter attacks from other nations by maintaining a nuclear retaliation threat, and not launch an 'unprovoked' nuclear attack on nuclear-armed adversaries such as the US.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Why Xi Jinping is missing from the world stage

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-xi-jinping-is-missing-from-the-world-stage-426248/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, a US defence official&nbsp;said&nbsp;that the acceleration "is very concerning to us."

It "raises questions about their intentions," the official said, calling for more transparency from Beijing over its nuclear force development.

Independent researchers have in recent months published satellite photographs of new nuclear missile silos in western China.

Due to Beijing's plans to transform its People's Liberation Army into "world-class forces" by 2049, Pentagon officials have declared China their top security concern for the future.

As the US military has done for decades, China is expanding its air, space and sea forces to project its power globally.

There have been increased concerns about a possible US-China clash, especially over Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, but Taiwan denies, backed by the United States.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-china-russia-parries-biden-jibe-criticise-us-on-climate-policies-426466">COP26: China-Russia parries Biden jibe, criticise US on climate policies</a>

China's rapid military modernization, according to the US report, aims to have by 2027 the capability to retake Taiwan despite any pushback by military force or diplomatic pressure.

By 2027, the report says, China aims to have "the capabilities to counter the US military in the Indo-Pacific region, and compel Taiwan’s leadership to the negotiation table on Beijing’s terms."

Pentagon's latest report reveals alarming information that China is now rapidly closing the nuclear weapons gap with the US. The country is increasing its nuclear arsenal at a much faster rate than expected earlier, according to the report.

Pentagon's latest report reveals alarming information that China is now rapidly closing the nuclear weapons gap with the US. The country is increasing its nuclear arsenal at a much faster rate than expected earlier, according to the report. Contrary to what the Pentagon had predicted earlier, the latest report published on Wednesday says that China might possess 700 nuclear warheads by 2027, and over 1,000 by 2030. Also read | 'Absolutely', says top Pentagon general about US ability to defend Taiwan Only a year ago, the Pentagon said that the country had about 200 deliverable warheads and would double that by 2030. the difference between the two predicted quantities is about two-and-a-half times. The People's Republic of China (PRC) "is investing in, and expanding, the number of its land-based, sea-based, and air-based nuclear delivery platforms and constructing the infrastructure necessary to support this major expansion of its nuclear forces," said the US Department of Defense's annual report to Congress on Chinese military developments. It said that like the United States and Russia, China is also building a "nuclear triad," which will be capable of delivering nuclear weapons from land-based missiles, from air-launched missiles, and from submarines. The report states that China most likely just seeks to deter attacks from other nations by maintaining a nuclear retaliation threat, and not launch an 'unprovoked' nuclear attack on nuclear-armed adversaries such as the US. Watch | Gravitas: Why Xi Jinping is missing from the world stage However, a US defence official said that the acceleration "is very concerning to us." It "raises questions about their intentions," the official said, calling for more transparency from Beijing over its nuclear force development. Independent researchers have in recent months published satellite photographs of new nuclear missile silos in western China. Due to Beijing's plans to transform its People's Liberation Army into "world-class forces" by 2049, Pentagon officials have declared China their top security concern for the future. As the US military has done for decades, China is expanding its air, space and sea forces to project its power globally. There have been increased concerns about a possible US-China clash, especially over Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, but Taiwan denies, backed by the United States. Also read | COP26: China-Russia parries Biden jibe, criticise US on climate policies China's rapid military modernization, according to the US report, aims to have by 2027 the capability to retake Taiwan despite any pushback by military force or diplomatic pressure. By 2027, the report says, China aims to have "the capabilities to counter the US military in the Indo-Pacific region, and compel Taiwan’s leadership to the negotiation table on Beijing’s terms."

'Very concerning': Pentagon report says China could have 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030

US Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Milley emphatically said on Wednesday that US 'absolutely' had the ability to defend Taiwan if it is attacked by China and is called on to do so.

However, the top Pentagon general also warned that Chinese military had made stunning technological advances in a short time signified by its recent globe-circling hypersonic missile test, leaving the world poised to enter an era of increased strategic instability.&nbsp;

Milley told the Aspen Security Forum he did not expect China would take military action against Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province, in the next 24 months.

"Having said that, though, the Chinese are clearly and unambiguously building the capability to provide those options to the national leadership if they so choose at some point in the future," he said.

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When asked if the Pentagon would be capable of defending the island, he replied there was no question it could.

"We absolutely have the capability to do all kinds of things around the world, to include that if required," Milley said.&nbsp;

"We absolutely have the capability. There's no question about that."

He said the United States rightly maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity" about what it would do if the Chinese military sought to seize control of the island.&nbsp;

He added the United States believes the differences between China and Taiwan should be resolved peacefully based on the will of the people on both sides.

"We are just interested in a peaceful outcome," Milley said.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Milley emphatically said on Wednesday that US 'absolutely' had the ability to defend Taiwan if it is attacked by China and is called on to do so.

US Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Milley emphatically said on Wednesday that US 'absolutely' had the ability to defend Taiwan if it is attacked by China and is called on to do so. However, the top Pentagon general also warned that Chinese military had made stunning technological advances in a short time signified by its recent globe-circling hypersonic missile test, leaving the world poised to enter an era of increased strategic instability. Milley told the Aspen Security Forum he did not expect China would take military action against Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province, in the next 24 months. "Having said that, though, the Chinese are clearly and unambiguously building the capability to provide those options to the national leadership if they so choose at some point in the future," he said. Also Read | Iran warns nuclear talks would fail unless Biden provides guarantees When asked if the Pentagon would be capable of defending the island, he replied there was no question it could. "We absolutely have the capability to do all kinds of things around the world, to include that if required," Milley said. "We absolutely have the capability. There's no question about that." He said the United States rightly maintains a policy of "strategic ambiguity" about what it would do if the Chinese military sought to seize control of the island. He added the United States believes the differences between China and Taiwan should be resolved peacefully based on the will of the people on both sides. "We are just interested in a peaceful outcome," Milley said. (With inputs from agencies)

'Absolutely', says top Pentagon general about US ability to defend Taiwan

Nearly 12,000 United States Air Force personnel have rejected to get fully vaccinated against the coronavirus despite a Pentagon mandate.

12,000 USAF personnel reject Penatgon's vaccine mandate

A US&nbsp;government watchdog on Friday accused the State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan's former government and military and the chaotic US troop pullout.

"The full picture of what happened in August - and all the warning signs that could have predicted the outcome - will only be revealed if the information that the departments of Defense and State have already restricted from public release is made available," said John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR).

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A State Department spokesperson said the department had requested "some reports be temporarily removed to redact identifying information from public records and protect the identities of Afghans and Afghan partner organizations" due to security concerns about the evacuation effort.

"The identifying information are the only details intended to be shielded," the spokesperson said, adding that SIGAR has the authority to restore the reports.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Addressing reporters, Sopko said that after the Taliban seized Kabul, the State Department asked him to temporarily suspend online access to certain reports he issued to ensure the safety of US-affiliated Afghans.

The department "was never able to describe any specific threats to individuals that were supposedly contained in our reports," said Sopko, who added he "reluctantly" barred access to the documents.

The State Department, he continued, recently sought redactions of some 2,400 items remaining on SIGAR's website.

Some requests were "bizarre," such as excising former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's name from reports, Sopko said.

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After a review, his agency found only four items meriting redaction, and left the remainder accessible.

Noting that Congress tasked him with investigating the collapse of the US-backed Afghan government and military, he said the Pentagon has since 2015 barred from public release a range of data purportedly at the former Ghani government's request.

Most of that information, including casualty data and unit strengths, was "all you needed to know to determine whether the Afghan security forces were a real fighting force or a house of cards," he said.

A US government watchdog on Friday accused the State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan's former government and military and the chaotic US troop pullout.

A US government watchdog on Friday accused the State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan's former government and military and the chaotic US troop pullout. "The full picture of what happened in August - and all the warning signs that could have predicted the outcome - will only be revealed if the information that the departments of Defense and State have already restricted from public release is made available," said John Sopko, the special inspector general for Afghanistan reconstruction (SIGAR). Also Read | 'Just give us our money': Taliban push to unlock Afghan billions abroad A State Department spokesperson said the department had requested "some reports be temporarily removed to redact identifying information from public records and protect the identities of Afghans and Afghan partner organizations" due to security concerns about the evacuation effort. "The identifying information are the only details intended to be shielded," the spokesperson said, adding that SIGAR has the authority to restore the reports. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Addressing reporters, Sopko said that after the Taliban seized Kabul, the State Department asked him to temporarily suspend online access to certain reports he issued to ensure the safety of US-affiliated Afghans. The department "was never able to describe any specific threats to individuals that were supposedly contained in our reports," said Sopko, who added he "reluctantly" barred access to the documents. The State Department, he continued, recently sought redactions of some 2,400 items remaining on SIGAR's website. Some requests were "bizarre," such as excising former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's name from reports, Sopko said. Also Read | Afghan girls learn, code 'underground' to bypass Taliban curbs After a review, his agency found only four items meriting redaction, and left the remainder accessible. Noting that Congress tasked him with investigating the collapse of the US-backed Afghan government and military, he said the Pentagon has since 2015 barred from public release a range of data purportedly at the former Ghani government's request. Most of that information, including casualty data and unit strengths, was "all you needed to know to determine whether the Afghan security forces were a real fighting force or a house of cards," he said.

State Department, Pentagon are concealing Afghanistan data: US watchdog

ISIS-K, the Islamic State's Afghanistan offshoot, might strike American targets in as little as six months, while al-Qaeda can also improve its capabilities, according to a US Department of Defence official.

On Tuesday, Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, said before the Senate Armed Services Committee that neither terror organisation poses an immediate danger, but that they must be treated seriously since that might change in a short period.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | ISIS bride convicted in German court for letting 5-year-old Yazidi girl die of thirst

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/isis-bride-convicted-in-german-court-for-letting-5-year-old-yazidi-girl-die-of-thirst-424049/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I think the intelligence community currently assesses that both ISIS-K and al Qaeda have the intent to conduct external operations, including against the United States. But neither currently can do so, " Kahl said.&nbsp;

"We could see ISIS-K generate that capability in somewhere between six or 12 months. I think the current assessment by the intelligence community is that al Qaeda would take a year or two to reconstitute that capability. " 
 
Watch | Gravitas: The Islamic State has China on its hit list

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-the-islamic-state-has-china-on-its-hit-list-423131/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Following the Taliban's accession to power and the US military's exit from Afghanistan, Kahl is the latest intelligence or military figure to offer insight into the potential development of Afghan terror threats. 
Many of these evaluations disclose a timeframe that runs for roughly a year.&nbsp;

Despite the terror organisations' alleged intents, Kahl stated that the risk of an assault on American territory "is at its lowest point since September 11, 2001."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

ISIS-K, the Islamic State's Afghanistan offshoot, might strike American targets in as little as six months, while al-Qaeda can also improve its capabilities, according to a US Department of Defence official.

ISIS-K, the Islamic State's Afghanistan offshoot, might strike American targets in as little as six months, while al-Qaeda can also improve its capabilities, according to a US Department of Defence official. On Tuesday, Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of Defense for policy, said before the Senate Armed Services Committee that neither terror organisation poses an immediate danger, but that they must be treated seriously since that might change in a short period. Watch | ISIS bride convicted in German court for letting 5-year-old Yazidi girl die of thirst "I think the intelligence community currently assesses that both ISIS-K and al Qaeda have the intent to conduct external operations, including against the United States. But neither currently can do so, " Kahl said. "We could see ISIS-K generate that capability in somewhere between six or 12 months. I think the current assessment by the intelligence community is that al Qaeda would take a year or two to reconstitute that capability. " Watch | Gravitas: The Islamic State has China on its hit list Following the Taliban's accession to power and the US military's exit from Afghanistan, Kahl is the latest intelligence or military figure to offer insight into the potential development of Afghan terror threats. Many of these evaluations disclose a timeframe that runs for roughly a year. Despite the terror organisations' alleged intents, Kahl stated that the risk of an assault on American territory "is at its lowest point since September 11, 2001." (With inputs from agencies)

ISIS-K could have the capability to attack the US within '6-12 months': Pentagon

China continues to bully its neighbours to try to coerce them into behaviour that is more in keeping with its national security or economic interests, the Pentagon said on Monday.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby was speaking to reporters at a news conference.

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"China continues to bully its neighbours to try to coerce them into behaviour that is more in keeping with China's national security or economic interests. And we don't believe that that is conducive to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kirby said.

The Biden administration, he said, has put a real premium on bolstering and reinforcing its alliances and partnerships in that area and making sure they have proper defensive capabilities in place to deal with the security challenges that exist out there.

"So, we're going to continue to work as hard as we can," he said.

Responding to a question, Kirby said the United States is certainly mindful of the tensions along the India-China border.

"Obviously, nobody wants to see the situation become more tense or certainly more violent than it has in the past but I think I'd let Indian authorities speak to the conversations and in how they're dealing with the tensions," he said

China continues to bully its neighbours to try to coerce them into behaviour that is more in keeping with its national security or economic interests, the Pentagon said on Monday.

China continues to bully its neighbours to try to coerce them into behaviour that is more in keeping with its national security or economic interests, the Pentagon said on Monday. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby was speaking to reporters at a news conference. Also Read | China removes domes, minarets from mosques, pushes 'sinicisation' "China continues to bully its neighbours to try to coerce them into behaviour that is more in keeping with China's national security or economic interests. And we don't believe that that is conducive to a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kirby said. The Biden administration, he said, has put a real premium on bolstering and reinforcing its alliances and partnerships in that area and making sure they have proper defensive capabilities in place to deal with the security challenges that exist out there. "So, we're going to continue to work as hard as we can," he said. Responding to a question, Kirby said the United States is certainly mindful of the tensions along the India-China border. "Obviously, nobody wants to see the situation become more tense or certainly more violent than it has in the past but I think I'd let Indian authorities speak to the conversations and in how they're dealing with the tensions," he said

China continues to bully its neighbours: Pentagon

A senior al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday.

The strike comes two days after a base in southern Syria, used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, was assaulted.

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"A US airstrike today in northwest Syria killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar," said Central Command spokesman Army Major John Rigsbee in a statement.

There were no known casualties from the strike, he said, adding it was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft.

"The removal of this al-Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks," he said.

At the end of September the Pentagon killed Salim Abu-Ahmad, another senior Al-Qaeda commander in Syria, in an airstrike near Idlib in the country's northwest.

He had been responsible for "planning, funding, and approving trans-regional Al-Qaeda attacks," according to Centcom.

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"Al-Qaeda continues to present a threat to America and our allies. Al-Qaeda uses Syria as a safe haven to rebuild, coordinate with external affiliates, and plan external operations," Rigsbee said.

The ongoing war in Syria has created a complex battlefield involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists.&nbsp;

The war has killed around half a million people since starting in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

A senior al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday. The strike comes two days after a base in southern Syria, used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, was assaulted.

A senior al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said Friday. The strike comes two days after a base in southern Syria, used by the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group, was assaulted. Also Read | Turkey sours on Syrians, but not in this sleepy town, jolted awake "A US airstrike today in northwest Syria killed senior al-Qaeda leader Abdul Hamid al-Matar," said Central Command spokesman Army Major John Rigsbee in a statement. There were no known casualties from the strike, he said, adding it was conducted using an MQ-9 aircraft. "The removal of this al-Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization's ability to further plot and carry out global attacks," he said. At the end of September the Pentagon killed Salim Abu-Ahmad, another senior Al-Qaeda commander in Syria, in an airstrike near Idlib in the country's northwest. He had been responsible for "planning, funding, and approving trans-regional Al-Qaeda attacks," according to Centcom. Also Read | Car bomb kills six in Syria's Afrin: Monitor "Al-Qaeda continues to present a threat to America and our allies. Al-Qaeda uses Syria as a safe haven to rebuild, coordinate with external affiliates, and plan external operations," Rigsbee said. The ongoing war in Syria has created a complex battlefield involving foreign armies, militias and jihadists. The war has killed around half a million people since starting in 2011 with a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests.

Senior al-Qaeda leader killed in US drone strike in Syria: Pentagon

USA's hypersonic weapons program suffered a setback as a booster rocket carrying a hypersonic weapon failed during the test. US was testing its hypersonic weapons just days after a similar test by China.

USA's test The test was intended to validate aspects of one of the Pentagon's hypersonic glide vehicles in development, two of the people said.

Hypersonic glide vehicles are launched from a rocket in the upper atmosphere before gliding to a target at speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, or about 3,853 miles (6,200 kilometers) per hour.

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The United States and its global rivals have quickened their pace to build hypersonic weapons - the next generation of arms that rob adversaries of reaction time and traditional defeat mechanisms.

US President Joe Biden has already expressed concern over Chinese hypersonic missiles.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-compromise-on-sovereignty-act-with-caution-over-taiwan-china-warns-us-422916">'No compromise on sovereignty, act with caution over Taiwan': China warns US</a>

Glide bodies are different from their air-breathing hypersonic weapon cousins which use scramjet engine technology and the vehicle's high speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion to enable sustained flight at hypersonic speeds. An air-breathing hypersonic weapon was successfully tested in September.

Companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies are working to develop the hypersonic weapon capability for the United States.

(With inputs from agencies)

USA's hypersonic weapons program suffered a setback as a booster rocket carrying a hypersonic weapon failed during the test. US was testing its hypersonic weapons just days after a similar test by China.

USA's hypersonic weapons program suffered a setback as a booster rocket carrying a hypersonic weapon failed during the test. US was testing its hypersonic weapons just days after a similar test by China. USA's test The test was intended to validate aspects of one of the Pentagon's hypersonic glide vehicles in development, two of the people said. Hypersonic glide vehicles are launched from a rocket in the upper atmosphere before gliding to a target at speeds of more than five times the speed of sound, or about 3,853 miles (6,200 kilometers) per hour. Also Read | Boyfriend wanted in murder of US blogger Gabby Petito found dead The United States and its global rivals have quickened their pace to build hypersonic weapons - the next generation of arms that rob adversaries of reaction time and traditional defeat mechanisms. US President Joe Biden has already expressed concern over Chinese hypersonic missiles. Also Read | 'No compromise on sovereignty, act with caution over Taiwan': China warns US Glide bodies are different from their air-breathing hypersonic weapon cousins which use scramjet engine technology and the vehicle's high speed to forcibly compress incoming air before combustion to enable sustained flight at hypersonic speeds. An air-breathing hypersonic weapon was successfully tested in September. Companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies are working to develop the hypersonic weapon capability for the United States. (With inputs from agencies)

US hypersonic weapons test suffers setback due to rocket failure

The pentagon says US commitment to Taiwan is" rock solid" against the threat posed by China. U.S. commitment to the island nation comes after a recent spate of Chinese military flights, off the coast of Taiwan. Chinese jets & Xi Jinping's push for re-unification have raised tensions in the region.

US commitment to Taiwan is" rock solid" against threat posed by China

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