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6 February 2024

Military Times | Iran-backed attacks in Middle East continue after dozens of US strikes
The U.S. is still working on an assessment of infrastructure destroyed and people killed or injured after striking more than 100 targets across the Middle East over the weekend, but Iran-funded groups that have regularly attacked U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Navy ships in the region’s waters have not relented in the aftermath.

Politico | Senators unveil long-awaited border deal
The $118 billion agreement, which was released Sunday afternoon and negotiated for months, would tighten the standard for migrants to receive asylum, automatically shut down the southern border to illegal crossings if migrant encounters hit certain daily benchmarks and send billions of dollars to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan as well as the border.

Stars and Stripes | ‘I did not handle this right’: Austin takes blame for undisclosed hospital stay
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday apologized for his failure to disclose his prostate cancer diagnosis, the surgery that followed, and complications that led to an extended hospital stay.

Washington Post | E.U. throws Ukraine $54 billion lifeline after Hungary drops opposition
The E.U. is also trying to surge desperately needed ammunition to Ukraine, but will not meet the goal it set last year of sending a million rounds to Ukraine by March.

New York Times | Iran slows production of enriched uranium, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog says
In another indication that Iran may be seeking to de-escalate its confrontation with the United States, United Nations nuclear inspectors are seeing some signs that Tehran is lifting its foot, if just a bit, on the acceleration of its nuclear program.

Military Times | Lawmakers to vets: ‘You’re justified in your rage’ about Afghans’ plight
As thousands of former U.S. interpreters and allies in Afghanistan await adjudication on a visa process now taking nearly two years on average to complete, nearly 250 have been reported killed by the Taliban in retribution for their service.

National Review | Our indefensible Mideast military outpost
The United States must strike back at those who attacked us. But we must do so aware that we have other soldiers sitting deep and poorly defended among hostiles. There is no virtue in stubbornly sticking around. If their missions are unauthorized, and unproductive, these troops should be evacuated rather than left to sit out as local targets or to be used as easy steps up the escalation ladder for our enemies.

Washington Post | Deadly attack on U.S. troops highlights an open-ended military mission
For U.S. troops under fire from Iran-linked groups in Iraq and Syria, the military mission that brought them to the Middle East is largely complete, experts say. Whether and when to withdraw them is more complicated — an issue that has taken on greater urgency after three U.S. service members were killed in a drone attack in Jordan on Sunday.

Stand Together | What are the right questions to be asking about U.S.-Ukraine relations right now?
Reid Smith, vice president of foreign policy at Stand Together, offers a lens and framework through which one might better consider the ongoing war in Ukraine.

CVA | Statement from Russ Duerstine on strikes in Iraq and Syria
Congress must swiftly invoke its war powers, prioritizing our service members’ safety and ending these unauthorized, dangerous deployments that are disconnected from our core security interests.

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Newsmax | CVA addresses recent attack on U.S. soldiers in Jordan
Senior Advisors John Byrnes and Jason Beardsley delve into the crucial discussion on formulating effective response strategies following the recent tragic attack on U.S. soldiers in Jordan on Newsmax American Agenda with Bob Brooks and Katrina Szish.

Stars and Stripes | ‘France has not forgotten’: Consul general awards Legion of Honor to 103-year-old D-Day veteran
His children and their spouses by his side, Grout looked out at the dozens of people who gathered Tuesday in Kirkbride Hall to see Yannick Tagand, France’s general counsel to the Midwest, bestow upon him the French Legion of Honor for his part in France’s liberation in World War II.

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