Rappler's latest stories on Department of Defense
U.S. extends troop deployment at Mexico border
The unusual deployment was supposed to end in mid-December, but the Department of Homeland Security asked that it be extended until January, a date which is now further prolonged
U.S. starts process to return Balangiga Bells to PH
(UPDATED) The United States confirms a November 14 ceremony in Wyoming 'marking the beginning of the process to return the Balangiga Bells' to the Philippines
U.S. won't allow China to 'rewrite rules' in South China Sea
'We'll fly, sail, and operate where international law allows.... Our guidance will be if we are operating legally, we will continue to operate legally,' says US Defense Assistant Secretary Randall Schriver
Junta after Duterte? Democracy should remain, says U.S. defense exec
'I hope that the future of the Philippines remains at the hands of the people here,' says US Defense Assistant Secretary Randall Schriver
U.S. official warns PH vs buying Russian equipment
The Philippines 'should think very carefully' about dealing with Russia, says US Defense Assistant Secretary Randall Schriver
After a century, U.S. to return Balangiga Bells
Malacañang hails the United States' plan to return the Balangiga Bells to the Philippines
Mattis visits China amid Korea talks, strategic tensions
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis says he wants to 'take measure' of China's strategic ambitions after it positioned weaponry on disputed islets in the South China Sea and is seeking to project its military power deep into the Pacific
Trump wants to dominate space, Moon and Mars
'America will always be the first in space,' Trump says during a speech at the White House. 'We don't want China and Russia and other countries leading us. We've always led,' he adds.
Google retreating from military AI project: reports
The collaboration with the US Department of Defense was said to have sparked rebellion inside the California-based company.
Pentagon chief lets transgender troops remain in service
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says transgender troops will continue to serve in the military while he studies an order by President Donald Trump banning them from US forces
Trump warns North Korea of 'fire and fury'
UPDATED Trump: North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen
Mattis 'shocked' by U.S. military readiness, warns on North Korea
UPDATED The US defense secretary also warns of a return to Great Power competition where countries like Russia and China are gaining military assertiveness and placing long held global security protocol at risk
U.S. successfully tests ICBM defense system
The first of its kind test comes amid concerns over North Korea s weapons program
Trump hits State Department in 'hard power' budget blueprint
3rd UPDATE An alarmed United Nations warn against abrupt funding cuts that would undermine its longer term reform efforts
Civilians 'likely' killed in U.S. raid in Yemen – Pentagon
The January 29 raid against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has garnered wide attention because a Navy SEAL was also killed and several more wounded in what marked the first operation of its kind authorized by President Donald Trump
Trump stacks top government posts with retired generals
Trump s naming of at least 3 retired generals to top posts raises questions as to why there will be so much military brass in cabinet level jobs
South Korea's Hyundai to build 2 brand new warships for PH Navy
The deal for the frigates was initiated during the Aquino administration and is the first military contract signed under the Duterte administration
Trump says Putin is 'far more' of a leader than Obama
Vladimir Putin is very much of a leader Donald Trump says in a televised interview where he and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton are separately grilled over their national security and military credentials
US military lifts ban on transgender personnel
US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says lifting the ban is the right thing to do but Republican lawmakers criticize the move
China tensions top agenda as Pentagon chief heads to Asia
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter however chooses to skip China during his Asian tour even though he had earlier accepted an invitation to visit
Pentagon invites hackers to attack its websites
Vetted hackers will get cash awards if they spot weaknesses in the US Defense Department s web pages
MSF demands international probe into Kunduz air strike
UPDATED MSF chief: This was not just an attack on our hospital it was an attack on the Geneva conventions This cannot be tolerated
Afghan forces called for hospital air strike, US general says
General John Campbell s statement marks the first US military acknowledgement it was behind Saturday s October 3 devastating raid in the northern Afghan city which triggered international outrage
Obama vows full probe into Afghan hospital airstrike
UPDATED Doctors Without Borders MSF says patients burned to death in their beds during a raid that continued for more than an hour early Saturday October 3 even after US and Afghan authorities were informed the hospital had been hit
US eyes top equipment for PH amid China row
Courting US support Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario will visit key US officials in Washington DC
Pentagon asks for more funds for high-tech weapons
Barack Obama s 585 billion budget request for the Pentagon would devote 107 7 billion to big ticket weapons – an increase of 14 1 billion over the previous budget
US-led coalition hits ISIS jihadists with 39 air strikes
The hits include more than a dozen near the flashpoint Syrian town of Kobane
Obama nominates Ashton Carter as Pentagon chief
Carter who is expected to be confirmed by the Senate is named to replace Chuck Hagel who resigned under pressure last week
'Abu Sayyaf taking advantage of int'l attention on ISIS'
The Abu Sayyaf Group s threat to behead its two German captives will not intimidate the Philippines which vowed to continue its military offensive against the local terrorist group
Obama vows US will not be intimidated by new beheading
Obama pledged that justice would be done to the Islamic State ISIS killers of 31 year old reporter Steven Sotloff wherever they hid and however long it took
Obama orders 350 more US troops to Baghdad: White House
UPDATED White House: The president authorized the Department of Defense to fulfill a Department of State request for approximately 350 additional US military personnel to protect our diplomatic facilities and personnel in Baghdad Iraq
No US legal status for new migrant children – official
Three out of four minors who illegally cross the US border come from El Salvador Honduras and Guatemala
#TalkThursday: What does PH gain from defense deal?
Rappler talks to Defense Undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino on what the country gains in the EDCA deal
Rappler Newscast | May 1, 2014
Former Senator Saguisag hits lack of transparency in the defense deal | President Aquino warns Filipinos choose your next leader well | Families fear bodies in the ferry may never be recovered
US says hopeful on Ukraine crisis after Russia talks
UPDATED Although fears of outright war have eased tensions remain disconcertingly high in Ukraine
US pledges $1B to Ukraine as Kerry visits
UPDATED Kerry accuses Moscow of looking for a pretext to invade Ukraine and condemns Russia s intervention on the flashpoint Crimean peninsula as an act of aggression
US suspends military cooperation with Russia; Kerry to Ukraine
UPDATED World markets plunged and oil prices spiked on fears of an all out offensive that would pit nuclear armed Russia against its Western backed neighbor
Pentagon proposes to shrink US Army to pre-WWII level
The spending plan is the first to fully reflect a transition away from a war footing that has been in place for 13 years says US Defense Sec Hagel
US, EU 'stand with Ukraine people' in their fight: Kerry
Kerry addressed the Munich Security Conference in Germany before meeting Ukrainian opposition leaders
US suspends 34 nuclear missile officers over exam cheating
The scandal at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana marked the latest in a series of damaging revelations dogging the US s nuclear force
Drones, Taliban on agenda as Hagel heads to Pakistan
Ties between Washington and Islamabad have been seriously strained over US drone strikes in Pakistan s tribal belt as well as Afghan Taliban sanctuaries inside Pakistan s borders
PH to press 'equal access' to US facilities in bases deal
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin says he is confident that the US will agree to the condition of the Philippines
PH, US resume bases access talks after impasse
The negotiations resume after the US military s impressive response to the Philippines call for help after monster typhoon Yolanda
Rappler Newscast | November 29, 2013
Customs chief 33 others face pork barrel scam charges PH will work with allies as China stirs up tensions Protesters storm public buildings in Thailand
US, British warships sent to typhoon-hit PH
UPDATED The magnitude of the disaster continued to build with almost unimaginable horror
US military sending troops to Yolanda-hit areas
UPDATED US Defense Secretary Hagel directs naval and aviation resources to storm ravaged Philippines
Insurgent attacks down, Afghan army casualties up – US
The Pentagon says the Taliban have also strengthened their grip in some rural areas
Doctors complicit in torture at CIA, military prisons – study
Report: Medical professionals helped design enable and participated in torture and cruel inhumane and degrading treatment of detainees
Rappler Newscast | October 9, 2013
President Aquino jabs China: Follow the law Defense Department also got P666 M from DAP Fortun: Congress will do job if pork barrel system is scrapped
US shutdown hurts military credibility with allies – Hagel
While the shutdown will have no actual impact on US military treaty obligations Hagel says it does cast a very significant pall over America s credibility to our allies
