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In December 2002, as America entered the second year of what would become its longest war, Donald Rumsfeld was riding high as the wartime secretary in charge of responding to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
His preferred strategy of deploying a relatively small number of U.S. special operations commandos partnered with local Afghan fighters had succeeded brilliantly in toppling the Taliban in just two months, and his subsequent Pentagon briefings had become “must-see TV” as he masterfully manhandled the press.
As Rumsfeld arrived for work one early December morning, my producer and I buttonholed him as he ascended an ornate Pentagon staircase to reach his third-floor office, informing him he had received yet another accolade.
9 & 10 News
June 3, 2021
An oil pipeline, meat packing company and ferry service all fell victim recently to a ransomware attack.
The latest major ransomware attack in the United States took aim at the meat supply.
Ransomware involves hackers taking over a computer system and then holding it for some kind of ransom, typically internet currency.
“They don’t necessarily want to do damage to the infrastructure, but they know when the infrastructure is critical, you don’t have the option to just ignore these people. You either have to deal with them or turn over to some backup system,” said Dr. Steve Bucci, a former top Pentagon Official.
SOFWERX Exploring New Arctic Tech for Commandos SPECIAL OPERATIONS
5/17/2021
Air Force photo
SOFWERX, a Tampa, Florida-based innovation hub, recently hosted a “Tech Tuesday” session in concert with U.S. Special Operations Command, which focused on current transformational technologies that could facilitate ops in Arctic climates. Selected organizations had the opportunity to virtually pitch their cutting-edge technology to interested government partners.
“Broadly, we looked at human performance,” SOFWERX Director Leslie Babich said during a presentation in March. “Things that will keep you warm, things that will support your body structure and allow your energy [to be conserved]. … You can do the mission a little bit longer, a little bit farther with the support of these technologies.”
Special Operations Forces Bracing for Arctic Missions SPECIAL OPERATIONS
5/14/2021
Navy Photo by Visual Information Specialist Chris Desmond
For the past two decades, U.S. Special Operations Forces have deployed to some of the most dangerous and inhospitable places on the planet to combat terrorist networks. With the Pentagon increasingly focused on great power competition, they may soon find themselves spending more time in a region that presents a unique set of challenges the Arctic.
In 2019, the Defense Department released its latest Arctic Strategy, which noted the important role for special operators.
“DoD’s desired end-state for the Arctic is a secure and stable region in which U.S. national security interests are safeguarded, the U.S. homeland is defended, and nations work cooperatively to address shared challenges,” the document said. “The agile and expeditionary nature of SOF, combined with established allied and partner
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Political theater ran high when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley to contain President Trump’s ability to launch a nuclear strike in his final days, but a military legal expert and the nuclear commander said the military is under no obligation to follow an illegal, immoral, or unethical order.
“[There is] some fuzzy ground,” Steve Bucci, a Heritage Foundation military law expert and former adviser to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, told the
Washington Examiner when asked about the possibility that Trump may launch a strike against Iran in his final days.
“We re not martinets. The American military doesn t just salute blindly and execute,” he said. “You never have to obey an illegal order or one that you feel is morally or ethically incorrect.”