BattlelandTroops
The Afghan Massacre
A 38-year old U.S. Army staff sergeant allegedly left his forward operating base, by himself, in southern Afghanistan near Kandahar early Sunday. He reportedly knocked on several doors and entered at least two houses, where he …
BattlelandArms sales
War’s Strange Bedfellows
The Pentagon is buying helicopters for its Afghan allies from the same Russian-based company that’s also selling weapons to Syria that Damascus is using against its own people.
Rosoboronexport, Moscow’s official arms …
BattlelandMilitary Health
Wars’ Amputees: 4 of 5 Say “Life Is Full”
Nine of 10 have mental disorders. Two of every three suffer from PTSD, and 40% suffer from traumatic brain injury. Nine of 10 are on 100% disability. Four of five also suffer from diseases of the nervous system, and diseases of …
BattlelandAfghanistan
Battlefield Stress Could Have Triggered Afghan Massacre
The homeland of the Taliban, where Sunday’s apparent civilian massacre took place, is a “pressure cooker” for U.S. troops assigned there. Their nearly daily contact with bloodshed could push an unstable soldier to lash out by …
BattlelandClose-up
Battleland Diary, March 3-9
TIME’s photo editors bring you the best pictures from the front lines and home.
“If Afghanistan dissolves into a situation where the Taliban were able to take over a chaotic situation, it could easily return to an al Qaeda base for attacks on the United States of America.”
Sun. Sky. Sea. Sub. SEALs.
BattlelandIran
Key Point: Bunker-Busters Come In Both Small and Large Sizes
The reports from Israel that it is seeking 5,000-pound GBU-28 bunker-busters for possible use against Iran makes for exciting reading. One problem: they can’t even dent Iran’s most protected sites. The reports suggest war is …
$80,175
BattlelandSyria
Not So Syria-ess?
Amid all the reporting on the horrors happening inside Syria, former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst John McCreary has been taking a contrary view on his NightWatch blog. His analysis shows, he believes, that the violence is isolated and that a lack of any apparent threat in Damascus, the capital, means Syrian leader Bashar …
$72.8 million
BattlelandForeign Policy
NoKo & Syria: Family Businesses
Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s new leader, sent greetings Thursday to strongman Bashar al-Assad on the 49th anniversary of his family’s dictatorial rule of Syria:
Please accept my warm congratulations to you, the Baath Arab Socialist Party and the friendly government and people of Syria on the occasion of the 49th anniversary of
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