Rowan Scarborough
Articles by Rowan Scarborough
National Guard fraud claims taint recruiting assistants as top brass escapes accountability
Two years ago, news headlines blared that the nation's oldest army, the National Guard, was awash in one of the biggest defense fraud investigations ever, destined to reach nearly $100 million in stolen bonus money. Published February 11, 2016
Putin’s forces refuse to attack Islamic State in Syria
Russian forces are not attacking the Islamic State in Syria unless its terrorist army is battling troops of President Bashar Assad, the U.S. military said Wednesday. Published February 3, 2016
Obama’s gun control executive order directs Pentagon to make firearms safer, not more lethal
In President Obama's first foray into small-arms procurement for the armed forces, his recent executive order on gun control directs the Pentagon to find ways to make not so much more lethal firearms, but safer ones. Published January 31, 2016
France cracks down on Islamic radicalism after Paris attacks, shutters mosques
France is once again responding to a Paris slaughter at the hands of Islamic radicals by trying to root out extremism entrenched in its growing Muslim population. Published January 28, 2016
U.S. troops must deploy permanently to Afghanistan: McCain
Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain said on Thursday that the U.S. needs to model its troop stay in Afghanistan on the long commitment the nation made to South Korea. Published January 28, 2016
ISIS boasts of an assassin boot camp capable of unleashing mass murderers on Europe
A propaganda video from the Islamic State shows that the terror group has the machinery in place to attract recruits, mold them into assassins and then dispatch them back to Europe to commit mass murder, such as the carnage in Paris on Nov. 13. Published January 25, 2016
‘Jihadi John’ obituary reveals limits of surveillance in stopping ISIS extremists
The story of Londoner "Jihadi John" shows how difficult it is for the U.S. and its allies to monitor extremists, unable to arrest them and helpless to act before they commit murder for the Islamic State terror army. Published January 24, 2016
Obama releases al Qaeda’s most skilled explosives expert
The Obama administration has released one of al Qaeda's most skilled explosives experts, a man personally praised by Osama bin Laden and who created the shoe-bomb design that was used unsuccessfully to bring down an airliner in 2001. Published January 21, 2016
U.S. airstrike on Mosul banks kills Iraqi civilians
The U.S. command in Iraq acknowledged Wednesday that some civilians were killed when it targeted two cash centers in Mosul, as war planners weighed the benefit of destruction against the downside of collateral damage. Published January 20, 2016
Afghanistan forces held back by corrupt, incompetent commanders in Taliban fight
The Afghans have fired the commanders of a large ground force in Helmand province, a critical battleground where the Taliban is contesting allied control and where a U.S. commando was killed this month. Published January 19, 2016
Obama too cautious in bombing ISIS, former war planners say
Amid the 25th anniversary of the devastating Desert Storm air war, the Obama administration is bombing the Islamic State terrorist army so carefully that commanders are falling well short of enemy destruction allowed by international law. Published January 18, 2016
Diesel engine trouble while in Iranian waters led to easy seizure of U.S. Navy boats
The crew of two U.S. Navy Riverine Command Boats commandeered by Iranian forces on Jan. 12 crossed into that country's territorial waters, U.S. Central Command said on Monday. Published January 18, 2016
Obama releases Guantanamo detainees determined to keep trying to kill Americans
Among the 10 Yemeni terrorists released by the Obama administration this week, one is Muhammad Salih Husayn al-Shaykh, a man who has pledged to kill as many Americans as possible. Published January 14, 2016
Terror attacks likely to increase as ISIS desperately tries to show ‘an image invincibility’
The top commander in the war against the Islamic State said on Thursday that its ability to strike targets in capitals in Europe, Asia and the Middle East this week does not mean the terror army is growing stronger. Published January 14, 2016
American commandos are on the ground in Syria in fight against ISIS
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday that American commandos are on the ground in Syria embedded with anti-Islamic State rebels and are finding new targets for coalition aircraft to strike. Published January 13, 2016
Ray Mabus destroying Marine Corps by forcing integration of women, Duncan Hunter says
Former Marines in Congress, including a liberal Democrat, are on the offensive against Navy Secretary's Ray Mabus' sweeping edicts to the Corps on women in combat. Published January 12, 2016
Ukraine desperate for U.S. surveillance equipment in standoff with Russia
When Ukraine's border defense forces look east and south, they see nothing but Russian trouble. Published January 10, 2016
Marine Corps scolded for dragging its feet integrating women into the infantry
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has sent scolding memorandum to the Marine Corps, warning commanders that problems with integrating women into the infantry should not be used as an excuse to "halt the policy." Published January 8, 2016
Islamic State loses 40 percent of its Iraqi territory
Basking in Iraq's pre-Christmas takeover of Ramadi, the U.S. military on Wednesday made bold claims about the war against the Islamic State, saying the terror army is on the defensive, is losing territory and faces rejuvenated government forces. Published January 6, 2016
Pentagon admits Afghan forces are unable to ‘entirely operate on their own’
The Pentagon said on Tuesday that Afghanistan forces still can't "operate entirely on their own" as it explained why U.S. special operations troops were involved in a firefight that killed one of them. Published January 5, 2016
