Government-provided housing is one of the many incentives young men and women receive for joining the U.S. military. I've seen base housing at Fort Benning which looked pretty similar to my old college dorm room, and I've observed exquisitely-manicured lawns and historically-preserved… [Read more…]
Black mold, gas leaks, and vermin: The tragedy of military housing
Government-provided housing is one of the many incentives young men and women receive for joining the U.S. military. I've seen base housing at Fort Benning which looked pretty similar to my old college dorm room, and I've observed exquisitely-manicured lawns and historically-preserved homes at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward. Where military personnel and … [Read more…]
Trump and Jong-un talks collapse in Hanoi with no new deal
The recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong-un, which took place in Hanoi, Vietnam, has reportedly resulted in no deals or agreements regarding denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. According to Reuters, President Trump blamed the dissolution of talks on North Korea's unrealistic demand to lift all U.S.-implemented sanctions … [Read more…]
Civil nuclear power might vanish under the ‘Green New Deal,’ but it’s here to stay in the Navy
Under the recently proposed "Green New Deal," civil nuclear power plants may be closed in ten years. That is, if alternative energy sources can close the gap and replace the approximately one-fifth of the nation's power they now generate. The Green New Deal is a set of proposed economic policy changes geared toward drastically reducing the amount of greenhouse gases the U.S. … [Read more…]
Venezuela assembles neo-Axis of Evil to oppose US intervention
The ongoing rift between Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido was brought to the international stage at the United Nations earlier this week. The Venezuelan foreign minister, Jorge Arreaza, took the stage with representatives from Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Syria, China, and Russia to deliver a speech asking the General Assembly to prevent the United States and allied countries from … [Read more…]
The Coast Guard’s mission in the Pacific underscores the service’s importance
With a mission to support U.S. allies in the Pacific, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) cutter Mellon has set off to protect fisheries near Fiji. Onboard the Mellon, officers from Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) assisted USCG personnel in enforcing the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of "Fiji and the island nations of Kiribati, Tokelau, Vanuatu, and Tuvalu" … [Read more…]
New op-ed from former Veterans Affairs secretaries lauds changes at the troubled department
With the passage of the Maintain Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act in 2018, veterans receiving care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will have more options when it comes to seeking treatment outside of a VA facility. The passage of the act raised fears the U.S. government is attempting to "privatize" the VA. … [Read more…]
US envoy to Venezuela says ‘security of interim President Guaido is a concern’
As confusion continues over who is the legitimate leader of Venezuela, U.S. envoy to the country Elliot Abrams told reporters on Wednesday he is concerned for the safety of Juan Guaido, the country's "self-proclaimed interim president." The Trump White House has been a vocal supporter of Guaido ever since he announced his claim to the interim-presidency, and several other … [Read more…]
A China-US space race could mean more cyberattacks targeting the US defense industry
China's space program has been making news lately after the country managed to land a probe on the dark side of the moon—a first for humanity. The lander, named "Chang’e 4," contains a self-contained biosphere and plant seeds, which sprouted earlier this month. This is the first time in history humankind has grown any biological organism on the surface of the moon. The plant, … [Read more…]
Trump and Pelosi continue squabbling over State of the Union and border wall
As the longest government shutdown in history continues to trudge on, President Trump and Congressional Democrats are trading blows back and forth, hoping to convince the other side to budge. Last week, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked the president to either postpone his scheduled State of the Union address or submit the address in writing until full government funding … [Read more…]
France tries to quell unrest as violence surrounding ‘Yellow Vest’ protests ramps up
The Yellow Vest protests occurring throughout France don't appear to be ending any time soon. The protests began more than nine weeks ago, originally as a rebuttal to a new tax on gasoline. However, the protests have spiraled into a general anti-government movement aimed at French President Emmanuel Macron and his administration, as well as other French politicians. This … [Read more…]
No pay? No problem. US Coast Guard still kicking ass despite shutdown
As a result of the partial government shutdown, members of the U.S. Coast Guard are now working without paychecks. According to a recent Facebook post from current Coast Guard commandant Admiral Karl Schultz, the Coasties "have not, and will not, be forgotten." Still, no one can say for sure when the debate around government funding will be resolved. "While our Coast Guard … [Read more…]
Recent battle between rival drug cartels in Mexico resulted in more than 20 dead on the border
Earlier this week, both President Trump and Democratic congressional leaders addressed the nation regarding the government shutdown, border security, and the proposed border wall. The president referred to the situation at the border as a crisis. However, his opposition stated the President Trump's claims are false or exaggerated. Recently, CNN correspondent Jim Acosta tweeted … [Read more…]