The widow of a U.S. Army soldier killed while serving in Iraq said she will &#8220;never recover&#8221; after losing her husband, who leaves behind a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter.  
Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton, 30, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was killed on July 19 at Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone, according to the Department of War. The department identified him publicly on Tuesday, and the incident remains under investigation.
Shortly after military officials informed her of his death, Swinton&#8217;s wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, shared the news in a series of emotional Facebook posts.
&#8220;I didn&#8217;t think this would be the last time I ever saw you. I have no words,&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;I was informed this morning that my husband, Michael, was killed while serving in Iraq. I&#8217;m navigating how to process this so please bear with me.&#8221;
Later in the day, she added, &#8220;I see all the love and messages. I appreciate everyone reaching out but I don&#8217;t have it in me to respond to everyone. My husband, my best friend, my daughter&#8217;s father, he&#8217;s gone and I don&#8217;t have the words right now.&#8221;
In another post, she wrote, &#8220;I will never recover from this, you should be home. We had so many plans for when you got back. I&#8217;m sick to my stomach.&#8221;
She also shared a touching <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19ATpJs8BQ/">video</a> showing Swinton in various photos with his children.
Swinton, an active-duty soldier assigned to D Battery, 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade at Fort Bragg, had served in the Army since enlisting in 2017. He lived in nearby Spring Lake, North Carolina.
His mother, Christel Swinton Andujar, told <a href="https://abc7ny.com/amp/post/us-soldier-killed-iraq-was-30-year-old-father-north-carolina/19551017/">The Associated Press</a> that his wife and children &#8220;were the center of his world.&#8221;
&#8220;His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the laughter he shared, the strength he gave others, and the unconditional love he poured into his family,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He will forever be missed, forever honored, and forever our hero.&#8221;
She described her son as someone who could light up a room with his humor and contagious laugh.
&#8220;Michael had a remarkable ability to excel at whatever he set his mind to,&#8221; she said. &#8220;He knew when it was time to laugh and when it was time to be serious. Whether serving his country, supporting his family, or helping a friend, he gave his whole heart and expected nothing in return.&#8221;
Swinton will be posthumously promoted to staff sergeant and awarded the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge. He had previously received several other military decorations during his service. 
Military leaders remembered Swinton as a dedicated noncommissioned officer who put others before himself.
&#8220;USASMDC is saddened by the loss of Sgt. Swinton, whose death occurred during an operation to safeguard fellow Soldiers,&#8221; Lt. Gen. John L. Rafferty, commanding general of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, <a href="https://www.army.mil/article-amp/294025/dow_announces_death_of_usasmdc_soldier_in_iraq">said in a statement</a>. &#8220;His service will not be forgotten, and his sacrifice is not in vain. We will support Sgt. Swinton&#8217;s family and his unit during this difficult period.&#8221;
Brig. Gen. John L. Dawber, commanding general of the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, described Swinton as &#8220;an experienced noncommissioned officer who took great pride in his work and the people around him.&#8221;
&#8220;He answered the call to duty with courage, honor, and selfless dedication,&#8221; Dawber said.
Swinton is at least the 17th U.S. service member publicly identified as having died during the conflict with Iran since March. The Department of War has announced multiple fatalities in recent weeks, including two soldiers killed in Jordan, six soldiers killed in Kuwait, and six airmen killed in a KC-135 crash supporting operations against Iran. 
Following the recent deaths of American service members, President Donald Trump vowed retaliation on Monday, writing, &#8220;Every time Iran kills an American Soldier they will pay for that killing many times over!&#8221;

Sgt. Michael Emmanuel Swinton

‘I Will Never Recover’: Widow Of U.S. Soldier Killed In Middle East Shares Heartbreaking Tribute

Iran

Trump Administration

U.S. Army

The Department of War on Monday released the names of two U.S. Army soldiers killed during an Iranian attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan last week.
Those killed were 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, according to the Pentagon.
Feehan was killed in action on July 18, while Gonzales was killed in action on July 17 during an enemy attack on the base. The Department of War said the incident remains under investigation.
Feehan was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 55th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 32nd Army Air Missile Defense Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Gonzales was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany.
On Sunday, U.S. Central Command said it had recovered unidentified remains in Jordan while searching for a service member who had been reported missing following the July 17 Iranian attack. Officials said the identification process is ongoing.
CENTCOM also announced that another U.S. service member was killed in northern Iraq on July 18 during the controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. A second service member was wounded and is receiving treatment for minor injuries. Officials have not yet released the identities of those troops.
Speaking to reporters Sunday night, President Donald Trump said the United States launched another wave of strikes against Iran &#8220;in honor&#8221; of the American troops killed in Jordan after an Iranian ballistic missile attack.
&#8220;Well, we feel very badly, but you know those great people, those great patriots, were out there fighting that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Iran has been very, very badly damaged. They&#8217;ve lost everything, almost, militarily. They&#8217;ve got very little left. They&#8217;ve got some missiles. They&#8217;ve got some drones. They&#8217;ve got some manufacturing ability, not much.&#8221;
&#8220;We control the strait; they don&#8217;t control anything,&#8221; Trump continued. &#8220;So we&#8217;ll see what happens. But we hit them very hard again tonight, and we did that in honor of the probably three. It&#8217;s probably three as opposed to two great patriots.&#8221;
After Trump&#8217;s remarks, U.S. Central Command announced it had completed its ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran.
According to CENTCOM, U.S. forces targeted Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and communications networks to further diminish Iran&#8217;s ability to attack commercial vessels and civilian mariners transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
&#8220;The U.S. military is holding Iran accountable at the Commander in Chief&#8217;s direction,&#8221; CENTCOM said. &#8220;CENTCOM forces remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.&#8221;
On March 1, an Iranian <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pentagon-identifies-four-army-reserve-soldiers-killed-in-iranian-attack-served-fearlessly-and-selflessly">drone attack</a> on a U.S. base in Kuwait killed Maj. Jeffrey R. O&#8217;Brien, Capt. Cody Khork, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, and Sgt. Declan Coady, 
Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, <a href="https://www.army.mil/article/290942/dow_announces_death_of_usasmdc_soldier">died</a> on March 8 from wounds sustained in an Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia several days earlier.
Days later, on March 12, six more service members <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-military-names-6-crew-members-killed-on-refueling-plane-that-crashed-in-iraq/">were killed</a> when a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting U.S. military operations against Iran crashed in Iraq. Those killed were John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky; Seth Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio.
Then on July 1, Cmdr. Gabriel Edwards was killed in a helicopter crash in the Arabian Sea. While his four fellow crew members were rescued, Edwards went missing after the crash.
With Monday&#8217;s identification of Feehan and Gonzales, at least 16 U.S. service members have now been publicly identified as having died during the conflict with Iran since March.

American flag over casket at military funeral

Two American Heroes Killed In Iran Attack Identified

Donald Trump

Iran war

The remains of one of two U.S. Army soldiers who disappeared during “African Lion” military exercises in Morocco have been recovered after an intensive week-long multinational search operation, military officials confirmed Sunday.
The soldier was identified as Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 27-year-old 1st Lieutenant from Richmond, Virginia, who served as an Air Defense Artillery officer assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command.
<a href="https://nypost.com/2026/05/03/world-news/2-us-troops-missing-during-africa-lion-training-exercises-in-morocco/">According</a> to The New York Post, Key and another unidentified soldier vanished on May 2 during a recreational hike near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, Morocco, hours after participating in the annual African Lion multinational war games exercise.
Officials said the two soldiers were seen near ocean cliffs before they reportedly plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. “A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa said in a <a href="https://www.europeafrica.army.mil/ArticleViewPressRelease/Article/4482802/press-release-us-army-recovers-identifies-one-soldier-near-cap-draa-morocco-sea/">statement</a>.
The second soldier remains missing as search efforts continue.
The disappearance triggered a massive international rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco, and allied partner nations participating in the exercises. The operation included helicopters, drones, frigates, maritime vessels, and ground search teams combing more than 12,000 square kilometers of shoreline and ocean over eight days.
African Lion 2026 is the largest annual U.S.-led military exercise on the African continent, involving more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations across Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, and Senegal. The exercise is designed to strengthen military coordination and readiness between the United States and allied African and NATO partner nations.
Military officials said a U.S. contingent remains in Morocco even after the formal conclusion of the exercises Friday in order to continue search-and-rescue operations for the second missing soldier.
Before joining the military, Key earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Methodist University in North Carolina, with additional studies in international business, entrepreneurship, and business administration. He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate before receiving his commission as an Air Defense Artillery officer in 2024 after completing Officer Candidate School and the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
His military decorations include the Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.
“On behalf of U.S. Africa Command, we extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of 1st Lt. Key and to the entire 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command family,” AFRICOM commander General Dagvin Anderson and Command Sergeant Major Garric Banfield said in a joint statement.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
“On behalf of U.S. Africa Command, we extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of 1st Lt. Key and to the entire 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command family.”
&#8211; General Dagvin Anderson and Command Sergeant Major Garric Banfield<a href="https://t.co/f1ZxHptZAC">https://t.co/f1ZxHptZAC</a>
— U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) (@USAfricaCommand) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAfricaCommand/status/2053546300122001826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2026</a></blockquote>
The tragedy marks another deadly incident connected to the African Lion exercises, which began in 2004. In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured after a helicopter crash during the drills in Morocco.

Kendrick-Lamont-Key-c8396e

Body Of One Soldier Recovered After War Games Accident, One Still Missing

Africa

Military

NATO

War Secretary Pete Hegseth shook things up at the Pentagon during Holy Week when he fired several top generals — including Major General William Green Jr. the U.S. Army chief of chaplains.
Green&#8217;s job as the Army chief of chaplains is to advise the Army Chief of Staff on issues of religion and morality, as well as to oversee the Army Chaplain Corps — and he was three years into what would normally be a four-year term when Hegseth removed him from the role.
Green served as an enlisted soldier prior to becoming an ordained minister, and has served as a chaplain in the Army since the 1990s. His promotion to Major General was recent, according to <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/headlines/2026/04/02/army-chief-forced-out-iran-war-hits-new-phase.html">Military.com</a>, and he had become the Army chief of chaplains in 2023.
While no official reason has been given for Green&#8217;s termination — marking the first time that an Army chief of chaplains has been fired since the position was created under the National Defense Act of 1920 — Hegseth had previously voiced his displeasure with Green&#8217;s Army Spiritual Fitness Guide, published in 2025.
The <a href="https://www.militaryatheists.org/regs/ArmyFM7-22_subv202507-SF-Guide.pdf">112-page guide</a> — and accompanying Battle Book — featured &#8220;secular-inclusive&#8221; principles aimed at encouraging resilience and strength. It was written to be a part of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program (H2F), for which development began in 2024 during former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&#8217;s tenure.
The guide was published in August of 2025, and Hegseth disliked it so much that he ordered the War Department to scrap it entirely by December, less than six months after it was implemented.
&#8220;It mentions God one time. That’s it. It mentions feelings 11 times. It even mentions playfulness, whatever that is, nine times,&#8221; Hegseth said at the time, complaining that in the military, &#8220;chaplains have been minimized, viewed by many as therapists instead of ministers.&#8221;
The guide was summarily <a href="https://www.army.mil/article/287513/spiritual_fitness_battlebook_equips_soldiers_with_tools_for_inner_resilience">scrubbed</a> from the Army&#8217;s website.
Two other top generals were removed the same week: Gen. David Hodne, a former Army Ranger in charge of the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Army Chief of Staff Gen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hegseth-removes-armys-top-general-asks-him-to-retire-immediately">Randy A. George</a>.

US-POLITICS-SECURITY-HEGSETH

Hegseth Fires Army Chief Of Chaplains During Holy Week

Easter

Holy Week

Pete Hegseth

Politics

Religion

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down and retire immediately, marking the latest shakeup at the Pentagon as the Trump administration moves to reshape military leadership.
According to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hegseth-ousts-army-chief-of-staff-gen-randy-george/">CBS News</a>, a senior War Department official said the move reflects a desire for new leadership aligned with the administration’s priorities. “We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army,” the official said.
George, a career infantry officer and West Point graduate, was nominated by former President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023. The position typically carries a four-year term, meaning George would ordinarily have served until 2027. He previously served as vice chief of staff of the Army and as senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell <a href="https://x.com/SeanParnellASW/status/2039812664902271107">confirmed</a> George’s retirement, thanking him for his decades of service. George’s career included deployments during Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s current vice chief of staff and a former military aide to Hegseth, will serve as acting chief of staff. Parnell described LaNeve as “a battle-tested leader” trusted to carry out the administration’s vision for the Army.
The decision comes as Hegseth has removed more than a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hegseth-orders-chief-of-army-public-affairs-and-top-advisor-out-of-pentagon-staff?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Hegseth+Just+Canned+Top+Pentagon+Official">dozen senior military officers</a> in recent months, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-fires-joint-chiefs-chair-taps-air-force-lt-gen-dan-razin-caine-as-replacement">C.Q. Brown</a>, U.S. representative to NATO’s military council Vice Admiral <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pete-hegseth-axes-navy-official-who-promoted-gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment">Shoshana Chatfield</a>, and Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-dia-iran-intelligence-trump-kruse-5cb1fb89b8f12c3b517f139f6d840b48">Jeffrey Kruse</a>.
While the move follows a recent dispute over an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kid-rock-sparks-military-investigation-after-wild-stunt-at-southern-white-house">Army helicopter flyover</a> near musician Kid Rock’s Nashville home, where Hegseth overruled the Army and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/army-takes-action-against-air-crews-flying-by-kid-rocks-southern-white-house-over-weekend">halted an investigation</a>, the decision to ask George to retire was not related to that incident.
George’s departure also comes amid a broader stretch of rapid developments inside the administration. On Wednesday, before the Pentagon shakeup came to light, President Donald Trump delivered a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-biggest-takeaways-from-trumps-iran-address-as-he-signals-next-moves">prime-time address</a> touting progress in ongoing operations against Iran, describing significant degradation of Iranian military capabilities while signaling the potential for further escalation, which may include Army operations.
At nearly the same time, Trump moved to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pam-bondi-out-as-ag-following-months-of-epstein-controversy-criticism-over-lack-of-prosecutions">dismiss Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>, another high-profile personnel change that underscores the fast-moving nature of the administration’s second-term agenda. Reports indicate Bondi was informed of her removal shortly before the president’s address on progress in Iran, highlighting the compressed timeline of major decisions unfolding across both national security and domestic fronts.
Taken together, the developments point to an administration operating at an accelerated pace, reshaping leadership across the military and federal government while prosecuting an increasingly assertive foreign policy. George’s ouster, in that context, is not an isolated personnel move, but part of a broader effort to align key institutions with the administration’s strategic vision.
George’s departure underscores ongoing efforts by Pentagon leadership to install officials who will implement the administration’s broader vision for the military, as tensions between civilian leadership and uniformed officials continue to surface.

President Trump Meets With His Cabinet At The White House

Hegseth Removes Army’s Top General, Asks Him To Retire Immediately

Department of War

Executive

Pentagon

The following is an edited transcript excerpt of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mks-ep-1939-sub?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel">The Michael Knowles Show</a>.
* * *
The war in Iran is in its third week, and the U.S. Army is raising the enlistment age to 42. 
Hearing that news makes me want to pull out the banjo and start playing that old Arlo Guthrie song, &#8220;The Draft Dodger Rag.&#8221; Have you ever heard that song? I actually played it in my little high school band. 
It goes like this:
<blockquote>&#8220;Sarge, I&#8217;m only eighteen, I got a ruptured spleen
And I always carry a purse
I&#8217;ve got eyes like a bat and my feet are flat
My asthma&#8217;s getting worse&#8221;</blockquote>
The whole song is about this guy who doesn’t want to be drafted and is making all these excuses.
How quaint it is now, too. “I’m only 18, I’ve got a ruptured spleen, and I always carry a purse.” The excuse is — “I’m a gay guy.” Under Obama and Biden they were only recruiting gay people. The CIA and the military were putting out commercials about going with your lesbian moms to the pride parade and how that would prepare you for the Army or whatever.
Now the commercials are getting a little tougher. Now they’re going back to just regular old guys — disproportionately white guys, actually — but, you know, just real tough guys.
In any case, they’re raising the age. Why? Does this mean the Iran war will go on for years? Does this mean there’s going to be a draft?
I don’t think that’s what it means. I think it means the world is getting more dangerous.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mks-ep-1939-sub?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowHeadline=Recent+Episodes&amp;rowType=Horizontal+Show+Episodes+Carousel"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-1054531 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-1024x171.jpg" alt="DailyWire+" width="1024" height="171" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-1024x171.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-300x50.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-768x128.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1-1536x256.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/MK-watch-now-1.jpg 1800w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
From the fall of the Berlin Wall up until September 11, 2001, we had a vacation from history. And even during the global war on terror, only a very small percentage of Americans actually served in the military. The war dragged on forever, but there was no real intense national focus on winning. It wasn’t even clear what the objectives were. They became vague — kind of imperial wars with humanitarian justifications: We need to protect women’s education in Afghanistan.
Now the world is starting to feel a little more real. There’s growing talk of multipolarity, and even the current war in Iran — which has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz — could threaten the petrodollar. The fact that oil is priced and purchased in U.S. dollars gives the United States a massive advantage on the global stage.
You could envision a world — though I’m not betting on it, as Trump still has my full trust — where, if things went south, China steps in, demands that oil be purchased in yuan, and triggers a major shift in global power: multipolarity, or even a China-led order.
All of that means things are going to get more dangerous.
And when things get more dangerous, we raise the enlistment age to 42 — which is a little scary for me. I mean, I barely made the T-ball team — I’m not the most athletic guy in the world. But I just turned 36 — I’m still well within range.
Also, they’re lifting a restriction. Previously, if you had a minor marijuana offense, you weren’t eligible to enlist. Now they’re lifting that restriction. And coincidentally, they’re doing it on April 20th — 4/20 — so clearly someone in the Pentagon is having a little fun with that.
But regardless of whether you can puff a little devil’s lettuce now, what this is telling you — once you sober up — is that the world is getting more dangerous.
The Pentagon is declaring it and we should be listening.

Army Hosts Air Assault Operations Training Exercises At Fort Carson In Colorado

The Army Just Made A Few Changes That Make Me Think One Thing

Marijuana

Michael Knowles

Opinion

Soldiers

U.S. Military

U.S. Navy

American diplomats descend on Munich for a high-stakes security conference, agreements between ICE and local law enforcement surged in the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, and the U.S. Army paid nearly $2 million to a company with links to the Muslim Brotherhood.
It’s Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Rubio Rocks Munich</h2>
American diplomats descended on Munich this weekend for a high-stakes security conference, amid growing tension between the United States and Europe. 
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the stage for his keynote address, he started by taking aim at “a dogmatic vision of free and unfettered trade,” which he says has hollowed out American manufacturing. He slammed the West’s “appeasing of a climate cult” which has “impoverished our people,” and pushed back on mass migration, which he said “threatens the cohesion of our societies and continuity of our culture.” But then, he extended an olive branch of sorts, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlL3pwlO2rE">saying</a> that in the effort to save Western civilization, “While we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference and it is our hope to do this together with you, our friends here in Europe.” And then, in a remarkable scene, he explained why President Trump has been so hard on Europe. 
At times, it sounded like an intervention from a concerned family member, with Rubio <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlL3pwlO2rE">saying</a> Europe is heading for destruction and that the United States cares too much about it to let that happen. 
<h2 style="text-align: center;">ICE Partners With Hundreds Of Local Law Enforcement Agencies</h2>
Agreements between ICE and local law enforcement have surged in the first year of President Trump’s second term. 
The agreements are a pillar of Trump’s promise to deport dangerous criminals from the United States. It’s not a new system, but it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/local-police-agreements-with-ice-surge-950-in-first-year-of-trumps-second-term">invites</a> local law enforcement from across the country to have their officers deputized into ICE. Police officers and sheriff’s deputies can then stop people whom they suspect are illegal aliens and start the process of deportation. 
The program operated for years until 2012. Former President Barack Obama curbed it after officers in North Carolina and Arizona were accused of racial profiling. Trump brought it back last year with funding in the &#8220;One Big Beautiful Bill,&#8221; and the number of participating law enforcement agencies has exploded from 135 under Biden to nearly 1,200 today, according to a new report by the advocacy group FWD.US.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">U.S. Army Spends Big With Group Founded By Director Of Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Org</h2>
Few organizations know more about leadership than the U.S. Army. But it <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/army-paid-for-leadership-training-from-company-founded-by-director-of-muslim-brotherhood-linked-group">paid</a> nearly $2 million to a company called the “Nonprofit Empowerment Group” to train its staff to lead. 
The Army Corps of Engineers paid the group $1.7 million between 2021 and 2025 for “leadership” training, and the military also paid it for “writing courses.” The contract sought the “professional services of an academic institution” to provide “graduate level instruction.” 
The reason the government was able to choose this firm was that it was, as its website advertised, a “Disadvantaged Women Small Owned Business.” Despite its name, it’s not a non-profit. It’s a for-profit company operating out of the same office as, and sharing the same officers as, a group called the World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists, which reported being deeply in debt.

MW_260217

Morning Brief: Rubio Rocks Munich & A Shocking Army Contract Exposed

Morning Brief: Rubio Rocks Munich, ICE Deputizes Local LEs, And Army Spends Millions On ‘Leadership’

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Marco Rubio

Morning Wire

Munich

Editor’s Note: This article was previously published on December 24, 2022. We’re bringing it back.
 * * *
American service members have often spent their holidays away from loved ones — and in harm&#8217;s way — and the men who found themselves in the besieged Belgian city of Bastogne just before Christmas of 1944 were no exception.
Bastogne, which sits just a few miles from the border of Luxembourg, had been under German control since <a href="https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/german-invasion-of-western-europe-may-1940" target="_blank" rel="noopener">May of 1940</a> and had only been liberated by Allied troops a few months earlier in September — and much of the 101st Airborne Division remained in and around the city.
Other divisions were scattered throughout the surrounding area, many composed of replacement troops who had only recently arrived in Europe: among them were elements of the 106th Infantry &#8220;The Golden Lions,&#8221; the 9th Armored &#8220;Phantom&#8221; Division, and the 28th Infantry &#8220;The Bloody Bucket.&#8221; Some were still waiting for supply drops, ammunition, and even winter uniforms.
The surprise attack began on December 16th when German Panzer divisions pushed back towards Bastogne, catching the mostly-green American troops in the frozen Ardennes Forest off guard and breaking through roadblock after roadblock. Some put up a good fight, but many were driven back into Bastogne and forced to regroup.
On December 17th, just outside of a nearby town called <a href="https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-malmedy-massacre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malmedy</a>, a Hitler Youth graduate turned Waffen SS (Schutzstaffel) General Joachim Peiper and his men captured over 100 American soldiers, all part of Battery B of the 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. After a brief skirmish, the Americans who were unable to escape into the woods surrendered — and after taking their personal possessions from them, Peiper&#8217;s men lined the unarmed Americans up in eight rows in a nearby field and opened fire. The few who survived by pretending to be dead recalled hearing laughter as the SS soldiers fired.
By December 20th, the city of Bastogne itself was under siege, entirely surrounded and vastly outnumbered by the enemy — and word of Peiper and the massacre at Malmedy had gotten to soldiers and civilians alike. Snowy and frigid weather conditions made supply drops all but impossible, and even on the ground, visibility was limited.
Bastogne had also been inundated by &#8220;stragglers&#8221; — soldiers who had been assigned to units that had been overrun as the Germans had moved to encircle the city — and so Team SNAFU (Situation Normal, All Fouled Up) was born. Men from tank battalions, men from artillery groups, cooks, barbers, it no longer mattered: if they could carry a weapon and stand a post, they were temporarily reassigned to SNAFU and used as much-needed replacements to aid the 101st Airborne.
<div id="attachment_848989" style="width: 859px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-848989" class="wp-image-848989 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1140427866-849x576.jpg" alt="Airborne Infantrymen, .30-caliber Machine Gun, Ardennes-Alsace Campaign, Battle of the Bulge, 1945. (Photo by: History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)" width="849" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1140427866-849x576.jpg 849w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1140427866-300x204.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1140427866-768x521.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-1140427866.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px" />History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images</div>
<a href="https://www.asomf.org/the-battle-of-the-bulge-asom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Two days into the siege</a>, on December 22nd, a German contingent approached waving a white flag — and delivered an ultimatum to Major Alvin Jones, who commanded the 2nd Battalion, 327th Glider Infantry Regiment.
&#8220;The fortune of war is changing. Battalions are ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near Bastogne,&#8221; the letter read. Demanding surrender — within two hours — the German commander threatened to destroy the city if the Americans did not comply. He also promised that the Americans would be blamed for any resulting civilian casualties.
&#8220;The order for firing will be given immediately after this two hour’s term,&#8221; the German commander wrote. &#8220;All the serious civilian losses caused by this Artillery fire would not correspond with the well known American humanity.&#8221;
&#8220;They want us to surrender,&#8221; Jones told Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe.
McAuliffe, who was acutely aware of the situation, laughed in the face of certain doom: &#8220;Aw nuts!&#8221;
He went to write a return memo, but told his staff, &#8220;I don’t know what to tell them.&#8221;
Lt. Colonel Kinnard commented, &#8220;Well, sir, that first remark of yours would be hard to beat.&#8221;
And so McAuliffe&#8217;s reply read simply: “To the German Commander: Nuts! The American Commander.”
Colonel Joseph H. Harper, commander of 327th Glider Infantry, delivered the note to the Germans — reportedly delighting in the chance to explain to them what it meant: &#8220;If you don’t understand what &#8216;nuts&#8217; means, in plain English, it is the same as, &#8216;Go to Hell.’”
McAuliffe followed that note with an <a href="https://warontherocks.com/2021/12/nuts-mcauliffes-1944-christmas-letter-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">equally blustery</a> Christmas Eve letter to his troops, detailing both the German commander&#8217;s demands and his response.
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75 years ago this Christmas Eve, Gen. Anthony McAuliffe wrote this letter to his troops during the Battle of the Bulge. Today we remember the service members who served during the holidays both then and now and wish you a Merry Christmas! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NoVeteranEverDies?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NoVeteranEverDies</a> <a href="https://t.co/VuYyhYqqVj">pic.twitter.com/VuYyhYqqVj</a>
&mdash; National Cemeteries (@VANatCemeteries) <a href="https://twitter.com/VANatCemeteries/status/1209458808587784192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;What’s Merry about all this, you ask? We’re fighting — it’s cold, we aren’t home,&#8221; McAuliffe&#8217;s letter read. &#8220;All true but what has the proud Eagle Division accomplished with its worthy comrades the 10th Armored Division, the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion and all the rest? Just this: We have stopped cold everything that has been thrown at us from the North, East, South and West.&#8221;
&#8220;We have identifications from four German Panzer Divisions, two German Infantry Divisions and one German Parachute Division,&#8221; McAuliffe continued. &#8220;These units, spearheading the last desperate German lunge, were headed straight west for key points when the Eagle Division was hurriedly ordered to stem the advance. How effectively this was done will be written in history; not alone in our Division’s glorious history but in World history. The Germans actually did surround us, their radios blared our doom.&#8221;
McAuliffe, after sharing his flippant response to the German demand for surrender, concluded with these words: &#8220;Allied Troops are counterattacking in force. We continue to hold Bastogne. By holding Bastogne we assure the success of the Allied Armies. We know that our Division Commander, General Taylor, will say: &#8216;Well Done!&#8217; We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas.&#8221;
The Germans did deliver the <a href="https://www.asomf.org/the-battle-of-the-bulge-asom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promised barrage</a> of artillery and bombs, bringing assault after assault over four days beginning on the 22nd — but on December 26th, a late Christmas gift finally arrived: General George S. Patton and his Third Army severed the German lines completely, breaking the siege of Bastogne.
<div id="attachment_848993" style="width: 721px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-848993" class="wp-image-848993 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-119462242-711x576.jpg" alt="American military commander Lieutenant General George S. Patton (1885 - 1945) (center left) talks with Brigadier General Anthony McAuliffe (1898 - 1975), Bastogne, France, December 28, 1944. McAuliff commanded the 101st Airborne Division, which was beseiged in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge, until the seige was broken by troops under Patton shortly before this picture was taken. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images)" width="711" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-119462242-711x576.jpg 711w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-119462242-300x243.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-119462242-768x622.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/12/GettyImages-119462242.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px" />PhotoQuest/Getty Images</div>

Two Infantrymen, Bastogne, Belgium, Ardennes-Alsace Campaign, Battle of the Bulge, December 1944

No Silent Night: Christmas Eve At The Siege Of Bastogne, 1944

Europe

Nazi Germany

World War II

With the 126th Army-Navy Game fast approaching, the prerequisite social media trash talk has already begun to ramp up between Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Navy Secretary John Phelan.
Kick-off for the 2025 Army-Navy Game, between West Point&#8217;s Black Knights and the Naval Academy&#8217;s Midshipmen, is at 3:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 13, at M&amp;T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
Army comes into the game at a disadvantage, with a 6-5 season compared to Navy&#8217;s 9-2 showing, but that did not stop Driscoll from taking the first shot with an X post calling out West Point&#8217;s longtime rivals.
&#8220;@SECNAV, hope you brought your life vest! The Black Knights are about to sink @NavyFB on Saturday. @WestPoint_USMA’s spirit rally on Friday is the appetizer and Saturday’s game is the main course&#8230; and @USNavy is on the menu,&#8221; Driscoll posted on Sunday.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SECNAV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SECNAV</a>, hope you brought your life vest! 🛟🌊The Black Knights are about to sink <a href="https://twitter.com/NavyFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NavyFB</a> on Saturday. <a href="https://twitter.com/WestPoint_USMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WestPoint_USMA</a>’s spirit rally on Friday is the appetizer and Saturday’s game is the main course&#8230; and <a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a> is on the menu. 🍽️🛳️ <a href="https://t.co/7xsxrnlsxE">pic.twitter.com/7xsxrnlsxE</a>
— Secretary of the Army (@SecArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecArmy/status/1998549463775023160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Phelan shot back, &#8220;I brought you tissues, a pacifier and diapers. Unfortunately you will need them Saturday, not for your kids, for yourself! GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!&#8221;
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecArmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecArmy</a>, I brought you tissues, a pacifier and diapers. Unfortunately you will need them Saturday, not for your kids, for yourself! GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY! <a href="https://t.co/c8G1GAQKYm">https://t.co/c8G1GAQKYm</a>
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) <a href="https://twitter.com/SECNAV/status/1998600237515202903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And then he followed up with another, adding, &#8220;Let me know if you need my corpsman’s information. Always happy to help the Army patch up after Saturday. GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!&#8221;
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecArmy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecArmy</a> , let me know if you need my corpsman’s information. Always happy to help the Army patch up after Saturday.
GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!<a href="https://twitter.com/USNavy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USNavy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USMC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USMC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NavalAcademy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NavalAcademy</a> <a href="https://t.co/NBFnehtQK3">pic.twitter.com/NBFnehtQK3</a>
— Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan (@SECNAV) <a href="https://twitter.com/SECNAV/status/1999091817657360852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Both teams on the field will be wearing uniforms designed to honor 250 years of service to country.
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible c-link--underline" href="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://get.dailywire.com/subscribe/plus/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=editorial&amp;utm_campaign=christmas&amp;utm_content=christmassale25" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Christmas Sale – Get 40% off New DailyWire+ Annual Memberships</a>
The Army described the uniforms in a thread posted one month prior to game day, saying in part, &#8220;For the past 250 years, the United States Army has stood as America’s enduring symbol of service and sacrifice. Born in the desperate conditions of the American Revolution, the Army’s legacy is one of steadfast commitment to the defense of liberty, reflected in its motto, &#8216;This We’ll Defend.'&#8221;
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For the past 250 years, the United States Army has stood as America’s enduring symbol of service and sacrifice.
Born in the desperate conditions of the American Revolution, the Army’s legacy is one of steadfast commitment to the defense of liberty, reflected in its motto, “This… <a href="https://t.co/s02t82uDtq">pic.twitter.com/s02t82uDtq</a>
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/USArmy/status/1988924807681868043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Navy&#8217;s team followed five days later with their own uniform unveiling.
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Every detail was taken into consideration when <a href="https://twitter.com/UnderArmour?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnderArmour</a> made these uniforms <a href="https://t.co/168T92kRln">https://t.co/168T92kRln</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoNavy</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Navy250?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Navy250</a> <a href="https://t.co/UIfdjjmWgb">pic.twitter.com/UIfdjjmWgb</a>
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/NavyAthletics/status/1990823195344048371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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And of course, the rivalry has infected Capitol Hill. Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) announced a friendly wager with Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) — a former Navy SEAL &#8212; Todd Young (R-IN), and West Point graduate Jack Reed (D-RI).
&#8220;We’re 2 days away from America’s Game. I’m team Army, but @TimSheehyMT and @SenToddYoung are Navy fans. @SenJackReed and I challenge our colleagues to a friendly wager. If Navy wins, we’ll wear Navy gear. If (and when) Army wins, Senators Young and Sheehy will have to wear Army gear. Looking forward to a great game. Go Army, Beat Navy!&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We’re 2 days away from America’s Game. I’m team Army, but <a href="https://twitter.com/TimSheehyMT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TimSheehyMT</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SenToddYoung?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenToddYoung</a> are Navy fans. <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJackReed?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJackReed</a> and I challenge our colleagues to a friendly wager. If Navy wins, we’ll wear Navy gear. If (and when) Army wins, Senators Young and Sheehy will have to wear Army… <a href="https://t.co/I6NYBf0s31">pic.twitter.com/I6NYBf0s31</a>
— Senator Dave McCormick (@SenMcCormickPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMcCormickPA/status/1999226325182349365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Even the United States Secret Service got into the rivalry with a video of two agents — one a West Point alumnus and one who&#8217;d graduated from the Naval Academy.
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The Army–Navy rivalry brings incredible energy when <a href="https://twitter.com/GoArmyWestPoint?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GoArmyWestPoint</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NavyAthletics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NavyAthletics</a> meet on the field. Alumni and veterans in the Secret Service carry that friendly rivalry into their work. This year we will secure the December 13 game in Baltimore.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArmyNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArmyNavy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ArmyNavyGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ArmyNavyGame</a> <a href="https://t.co/pPIFR3zzN5">pic.twitter.com/pPIFR3zzN5</a>
— U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecretService/status/1998509418569150828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
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President Donald Trump said in late November that he <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/trump-moore-crime-baltimore-army-navy-football-president/">planned to attend</a> the game.

Army Officials Testify In Senate Hearing On Defense Authorization Request For 2026

Army-Navy Hype Heats Up As Leaders Trade Pre-Game Jabs

Football

U.S.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his team is making &#8220;tremendous progress&#8221; toward ending the years-long Russia-Ukraine war, offering updates on his peace negotiations ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Trump&#8217;s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as his Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll meets with the Ukrainians, the president shared. Though there had been some talk of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky coming to the United States this week, Trump dispelled this rumor, noting that he will only meet with Zelensky and Putin when they have reached a deal.
&#8220;Over the past week, my team has made tremendous progress with respect to ending the War between Russia and Ukraine (A War that would have NEVER started if I were President!),&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;Last month 25,000 soldiers died. The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement.&#8221;
&#8220;I will be briefed on all progress made, along with Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles,&#8221; the president added of his team&#8217;s meetings with the warring world leaders.
<div id="attachment_1006069" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-vows-no-meetings-with-putin-zelensky-until-the-deal-to-end-this-war-is-final/u-s-washington-d-c-trump-ukraine-zelensky-meeting" rel="attachment wp-att-1006069"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1006069" class="wp-image-1006069 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2241665155-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2241665155-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2241665155-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2241665155-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/GettyImages-2241665155.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>U.S. President Donald Trump 2nd L welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Oct 17, 2025. (Photo by Hu Yousong/Xinhua via Getty Images)</div>
&#8220;I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this War is FINAL or, in its final stages,&#8221; he concluded. &#8220;Thank you for your attention to this very important matter, and let’s all hope that PEACE can be accomplished AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!&#8221;
The president&#8217;s statement came after news that Ukraine has agreed to the terms of a potential peace deal, negotiated by the Trump White House, that could end the years-long war with Russia.
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“The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,” Driscoll <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-holds-secret-meetings-russians-abu-dhabi-ukraine/story?id=127840867" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC News on Tuesday morning. “There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.”
A White House official told The Daily Wire late Tuesday morning that no meeting between Zelensky and President Trump had been scheduled “at this time,&#8221; and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also stressed Tuesday morning that “there are a few delicate, but not insurmountable, details that must be sorted out and will require further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.”
A spokesman for Driscoll, who was part of a Monday evening meeting of U.S. officials with the Russian delegation, said in a statement that “late Monday and throughout Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and team have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine.”
“The talks are going well and we remain optimistic,” said LTC Jeff Tolbert, who is Driscoll’s spokesman. “Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress.”

President Trump Pardons Thanksgiving Turkeys

Trump Vows No Meetings With Putin, Zelensky Until ‘The Deal To End This War Is FINAL’

Global Politics

Russia

Steve Witkoff

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

Volodymyr Zelensky

World

On Sunday, speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll discussed the growing threat of drones. Driscoll underscored the seriousness of the issue, calling drones “the threat of humanity’s lifetime.”
Driscoll explained that under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Army is now leading the Pentagon’s counter-drone efforts, coordinating closely with federal and local law enforcement. Driscoll stressed that drones, particularly inexpensive, 3D-printed models, act as “flying IEDs,” capable of crossing borders quickly and causing rapid, unpredictable destruction. He cited recent examples in Ukraine and Russia to illustrate the scale and speed of devastation drones can produce, framing them as a unique and unprecedented security challenge.
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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll says drones, and flying IED devices, are “the threat of humanity’s lifetime.”
“The problem with the drone fight, you need all sorts of layered defense. One solution does not work, if you just try to jam them. If you look at what’s happening in… <a href="https://t.co/hK58Kj3R0W">pic.twitter.com/hK58Kj3R0W</a>
&mdash; Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1990112148492853731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Driscoll emphasized that responding to this threat requires a layered, technologically integrated approach. Simple measures like radar jamming are insufficient, especially against drones that can be hardwired to resist interference. Countermeasures include net guns and other intercept tools, but success depends on human coordination and real-time information sharing. He described the need for a “digital layer” to exchange sensing data, allowing the closest personnel or devices to neutralize threats quickly. Driscoll noted that the complexity of the problem increases when protecting sensitive sites such as airports, borders, or major public events like the Super Bowl, World Cup, and Olympics.
Regarding domestic drone regulation, Driscoll conveyed cautious optimism. Brennan asked, “Should there be restrictions in this country on who is able to own and operate drones?” He replied, “I’m pretty optimistic that we will be able to figure out a solution where we will know what is in the sky at every moment across our country all at once. … We’re not there yet.”
Driscoll said the goal is to track all drones nationwide in real-time, enabling Americans and commercial companies, such as Amazon, to operate drones safely while ensuring national security. He likened this approach to a “golden mini dome” over key sites, integrating detection systems, interceptors, and trained personnel to maintain safety and order.
Driscoll’s comments align with broader U.S. drone initiatives. The Pentagon has recently moved to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hegseth-unleashes-u-s-military-drone-dominance?utm_source=chatgpt.com">accelerate</a> drone production and deployment, empower lower-ranking officers to test and operate drones, and streamline bureaucratic procedures. Past programs include CIA MQ-9 Reaper <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/cia-operating-reaper-drones-over-mexico-in-war-against-drug-cartels?utm_source=chatgpt.com">surveillance</a> over Mexico and AI-enabled drones for active shooter deterrence on military bases.
Across these efforts, Driscoll’s framing of drones as the “threat of humanity’s lifetime” highlights the urgency with which the U.S. government is addressing both military and domestic challenges posed by drone technology.

Senate Holds Nomination Hearings For Daniel Driscoll To Be Army Secretary

‘Flying IEDs’: Army Sec Calls Drones ‘The Threat Of Humanity’s Lifetime’

'The Threat Of Humanity's Lifetime': Army Sec Warns Of Drones Being 'Flying IEDs'

Drones

On Independence Day, we celebrate.
On Memorial Day, we remember.
On Veterans Day, we honor. We honor all who, at one point in time, signed a blank check to the United States of America and said, “I’m in.”
But in for what? And for how long?
What I signed up for was to be part of the solution, to be a defender for my country. To be part of something bigger than myself and to sacrifice my “right now” for the future of my nation.
That oath wasn’t about a uniform. It was about a calling. Service doesn’t end when the deployment does; it simply takes new form.
When I first took my oath, I thought it was a promise limited by time, a contract that ended when my active duty did. But years later, I’ve realized that my oath was never meant to expire. It was a declaration of lifelong responsibility, a commitment to something far greater than myself: to stand ready, in whatever way the moment demands.
<div id="attachment_998785" style="width: 812px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-998785" class="size-full wp-image-998785" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Jimmy-graham.jpg" alt="" width="802" height="564" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Jimmy-graham.jpg 802w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Jimmy-graham-300x211.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Jimmy-graham-768x540.jpg 768w" sizes=" (max-width: 802px) 100vw, 802px" />Credit: Jimmy Graham</div>
I may no longer be on active duty status, defending freedom on distant shores, but I’ve never been more active. Everything I do is a continuation of service — to this nation that I dearly love and to the people in it. The war today is against apathy, division, and moral decay. It’s the fight for our children’s minds in classrooms that have forgotten the truth. It’s the struggle for integrity in leadership, for unity in our communities, and for courage in a culture that rewards comfort. It’s a war for meaning in a generation that’s been told purpose is optional.
My battleground has shifted from standing on the frontlines of combat to standing in the frontlines of my home and community.
True service evolves. It becomes mentorship, leadership, and example-setting. It means preparing others to stand firm when life demands strength. It means showing young men and women that service isn’t just about defending borders; it’s about defending principles.
Many veterans understand this instinctively. We can’t turn it off, nor should we. The discipline, humility, and vigilance we learned in uniform are needed now more than ever right in our own city. Our duty didn’t end when we hung up our gear; it was simply reassigned.
But, we can’t expect our military or our first responders to shoulder all of the responsibility for keeping our nation safe and strong. If the last few years have shown us anything, it’s that danger doesn’t always knock first, it shows up unexpectedly in our schools, our churches, and our neighborhoods. We can’t outsource courage, so we must all be ready to fight and defend.
That relentless commitment to excellence and readiness is what our nation needs. It’s what we can all learn from the men and women who’ve worn the uniform and adopted a service mindset that transcends battlefields.
<div id="attachment_998787" style="width: 730px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-998787" class="size-large wp-image-998787" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/J-Graham-720x576.jpg" alt="Credit: Jimmy Graham" width="720" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/J-Graham-720x576.jpg 720w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/J-Graham-300x240.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/J-Graham-768x614.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/J-Graham.jpg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" />Credit: Jimmy Graham</div>
So how do we honor veterans this Veterans Day? By doing more than saying, &#8220;thank you.&#8221; By showing our unyielding appreciation for those who fought for this country, but also by recognizing those wearing a new uniform and continuing the fight here at home. The ones leading in their churches, mentoring the next generation, and protecting their communities.
To those who’ve never served, I hope you turn your gratitude into movement. Put on that metaphorical uniform and join the new mission alongside the Vets now serving at home.
To my fellow veterans, thank you for your courageous service. I invite you back into “active duty.” This nation needs your leadership, professionalism, and courage now more than ever. Find a way to better serve your family, your community, and your country once again.
More than a once-a-year &#8220;thank you,&#8221; we need active appreciation. We need proof that the generations to come will carry on our fight for freedom. That the men and women of this great nation will continually defend our land and sacred institutions through service that comes in all shapes and sizes. That is how we can truly honor our veterans.
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Jimmy Graham, CEO of<a href="https://ableshepherd.com/"> Able Shepherd</a>, is a veteran Navy SEAL and former CIA Global Response Staff Protective Officer with over two decades of experience in high-risk environments worldwide. He and his team train civilians, law enforcement, and first responders across the U.S. in armed and unarmed response to active threats to improve community safety and preparedness.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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