alleged labor abuses at the company . Clinton also switched her position to support the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement , actively pushing Congress to ratify a pact she had previously pledged to oppose . Banking : In 2015 , the Wall Street Journal reported that in “ an unusual intervention ” by a top U.S. diplomat , Secretary of State Clinton announced a legal settlement that allowed the Swiss financial behemoth UBS to turn over far fewer tax documents than were sought by the IRS in its probe of the bank .
Instead , it ’s getting fewer than 50 . At that rate , if the Air Force were to move quickly to replace all of its old F-15s , F-16s , and A-10s with F-35s , it could do so only by significantly cutting the total number of frontline squadrons . But then the Air Force would be too small for all the training exercises , international deployments , and combatconflict.attack.naoperations that the Pentagon requires of it , according to Robert Work , the deputy defense secretary . “ If you told me we were going to go down from 54 tactical fighter squadrons to 45 but they ’d all be F-35s , I ’m not certain I ’d say that ’s a good thing , ” Work told the trade magazine Flight Global on March 10 . The Air Force ca n’t afford to cut down squadrons and also ca n’t afford to buy enough new F-35s for all the squadrons it needs .
The war has become the longest in U.S. history , and the Taliban remains a threat to the sovereignty of Afghanistan . The U.S. military has suffered 2,384 fatalities in the war , though the yearly count has fallen dramatically , from a high of 499 in 2010 to six so far this year , according to iCasualties.org . As the United States tries to withdraw from Afghanistan , the Obama administration has requested $ 44 billion for 2017 military operations there , which includes funding for combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattleand shoring up the Afghan army ’s fight against the Taliban and other extremist groups . While U.S. and NATO forces have largely left Afghanistan , any hopes for a complete withdrawal have proven to be false . “ Fifteen years of conflict has shown there are limits to U.S. ambitions in stabilizing Afghanistan , ” said Faisel Pervaiz , a South Asia analyst for Stratfor .
“ The presence of two carrier strike groups in the Mediterranean Sea demonstrates our commitment to safety and security in the region , ” the statement read . “ These forces further serve to support European allies and partners , deter potential threats and are capable of conducting operations in support of the counter - ISIL [ Daesh ] mission . ” On Monday , the US strike group with the Harry S. Truman carrier along with the guided missile cruiser USS Anzio and the destroyer USS Gonzalez , launched 68 combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattlesorties and delivered 52 precision guided munitions against IS targets in Iraq and Syria from the Mediterranean Sea . More than 1,500 smart bombs and pamphlets have been dropped since December when Truman carrier arrived . Read more
There 's real reason to fear , from this debate , that he has thus far not taken even those few minutes . ” For instance , Sanders twice dodged the question of how long he would leave at least 10,000 troops in Afghanistan , shifting the conversation by saying , “ our great task is to make certain that our young men and women in the military do not get sucked into never - ending , perpetual warfare within the quagmire of Syria and Iraq . ” On ISIS , Sanders insisted that “ the combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattleon the ground must be done by Muslim troops with our support . We must not get involved in perpetual warfare in the Middle East . ” But he had no real rejoinder for Clinton when she cited foreign policy and military analysts’ criticism of his views , such as inviting Iranian troops into Syria to try to resolve the conflict there while at the same time enlisting the aid of Saudi Arabia .
And that is exactly the case with Mr. Trump , " Lukyanov told CNN . But of course a bromance between political leaders is not enough to improve bilateral relations . The U.S and Russia have had massive disagreements over Ukraine in particular , where America accuses Russia of funding , equipping and providing combatconflict.attack.nasupport to separatist rebels and demands the return of Crimea , which Russia annexed in 2014 . Russia , for its part , wants sanctions levied against it by the international community because of its meddling in Ukraine 's affairs to be canceled . When Trump spoke about improving relations with Russia he did n't mention Ukraine or Crimea .
The U.S. Navy and other regional navies would be placed at risk in a crisis situation in the South China Sea . China would have excellent maritime domain awareness and be able to respond to the intrusion of foreign military ships and aircraft once it completed the construction of airfields , protected hangars , and fuel storage facilities . China ’s J-11 multirole air superiority fighters could take off from Woody Island to conduct combatconflict.attack.naair patrols . They could extend their patrol time by landing and refueling on an airfield on one of the artificial islands . China has constructed and continues to construct helipads on its occupied features .
GOP Sens . Ted Cruz Ted CruzAccess to palliative care needs to stay in new health bill Dems step up attacks on GOP ObamaCare bill Overnight Finance : Ryan seeks manufacturing muscle for tax reform | Warren targets Wells Fargo board | Senators raise concerns over Russian takeover of Citgo | Pelosi hits GOP for budget delays MORE ( Texas ) and Mike Lee Mike LeeOvernight Finance : Ryan seeks manufacturing muscle for tax reform | Warren targets Wells Fargo board | Senators raise concerns over Russian takeover of Citgo | Pelosi hits GOP for budget delays Senators offer bipartisan bill on retirement savings for grad students This week : Senate plots path on healthcare MORE ( Utah ) both say they voted against the Armed Services committee ’s defense bill , in part , because of the requirement that women sign up . “ I can not in good conscience vote to draft our daughters into the military , sending them off to war and forcing them into combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattle, ” Cruz , who ended his presidential campaign this month , said in a statement . Though the Texas Republican did n’t mention the Senate ’s upcoming debate he pledged to “ continue my efforts to speak out against the effort to force America ’s daughter into combat . ” Sen. John Cornyn John CornynDems step up attacks on GOP ObamaCare bill Overnight Finance : Ryan seeks manufacturing muscle for tax reform | Warren targets Wells Fargo board | Senators raise concerns over Russian takeover of Citgo | Pelosi hits GOP for budget delays Senators ask administration to probe possible Russian takeover of Citgo MORE ( R - Texas ) , McConnell ’s No .
Email US fighter jets have been scrambled to stop Bashar al - Assad 's air force bombing US special forces and anti - Isis allies on the ground as the Syrian conflict intensifies . Defence officials said the Syrian planes were leaving as the coalition aircraft arrived , meaning they did not engage in combatconflict.attack.na, but that the US would not hesitate to defend its forces . Captain Jeff Davis said the American jets were sent to the north - eastern city of Hasakah on Thursday after two Syrian air force SU-24s started air strikes near where coalition forces were conducting operations on the ground . “ It troubles us when we see regime airstrikes in Hasakah in an area where it 's well known by everybody , to include the [ Assad ] regime , that the coalition is actively engaged in operations against Isis , ” the Department of Defence spokesperson said .
But the Britain - based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 40 civilians were killed in Turkish shelling and air strikes on two areas held by pro - Kurdish forces in northern Syria , the first report of significant civilian casualties in Turkey 's operation . The bombardments came after Ankara suffered its first military fatality in the two - pronged offensive against IS and the Syrian Kurdish People 's Protection Units ( YPG ) militia . Addressing a rally in the southern city of Gaziantep , President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattlethe jihadists and the US - backed Kurdish fighters " with the same determination . " " We will make any kind of contribution to the work to clear Daesh ( IS ) from Syria , " Erdogan told thousands of flag - waving supporters in the city where a suicide bomber suspected of IS links blew himself up at a wedding party last weekend . Regarding " the PYD ( Democratic Union Party ) terror group in Syria , we have just the same determination , " Erdogan said , referring to the main pro - Kurdish party in northern Syria and its YPG militia .
" If this happens , the truce will collapse . " US Secretary of State John Kerry told a Senate committee that it would be clear very soon whether Russia was serious about ending the conflict . Image copyright AP Image caption The Syrian government said " military efforts to combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattleterrorism " would continue " The proof will be in the actions that come in the next days , " he said . He added that Mr Assad was going to " going to have to make some real decisions " about the formation of a transitional administration , as part of a UN Security Council - endorsed peace process , or the US would consider " Plan B options " .
I called the President an asshole ! ’ ” He added , “ I had been through hell already . If it ’s this , I ’ll admit to everything . ” When the agents brought Hamada back to the courtroom , the judge recognized him and immediately dismissed his case . Hamada returned to Deir Ezzor , which he described as “ a ghost city . ” Two years of intense combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattleand air strikes had destroyed many of the buildings . The minaret of the Othman mosque had been shelled . His two nephews were still detained in the Air Force - intelligence branch in Damascus .
The PLA continued a major build up of military forces across the range of weapons and troops , including large numbers of new missiles , warships , aircraft , along with cyber warfare capabilities and space weaponry . The report said among the challenges for the Chinese military is widespread corruption that ensnared more than 40 senior PLA officers in illegal activities since 2012 , including the PLA ’s most senior officer . Chinese leader Xi Jinping has told the PLA to prepare to “ fight and win ” battles , and the Pentagon said the slogan is an indication Chinese leaders are concerned the military , which has not fought a war in more than 30 years , may not fare well in modern combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattle. The Chinese military restructuring was announced late last year when China set up five new regional “ theaters ” out of seven military regions and restructured its military command system and services . The separate nuclear and conventional missile service , Second Artillery Corps , was renamed the Rocket Force .
( The Washington Post ) Donald Trump told a group of military veterans on Monday that some members of the military develop mental health issues because they are not " strong " and " ca n't handle it . " " When you talk about the mental health problems , when people come back from war and combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattle, they see things that maybe a lot of the folks in this room have seen many times over . And you 're strong and you can handle it , but a lot of people ca n't handle it , " the Republican presidential nominee told an audience of military veterans at an event in Northern Virginia on Monday morning . " And they see horror stories , they see events that you could n’t see in a movie — nobody would believe it . "
In 2011 , China commissioned into service an upgraded copy of Kuznetsov named Lioaning . She ’s China ’s first and so far only flattop . She ’s never seen combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattle, either . And if Kuznetsov can pull off her inaugural wartime mission without major embarrassment , maybe Lioaning can , too . -- with additional reporting by Matthew Bodner
Previous international surveys have found Trump to be exceptionally unpopular . -- Fear of an imminent terrorist attack is one of the top concerns of people across the globe , with most expecting extremist groups will acquire weapons of mass destruction , according to a new poll conducted in eight countries . From Carol Morello : " The survey , commissioned by the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) , showed that many people think their governments are not doing enough to combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattleviolent extremism . And a majority in every country polled , including the United States , overwhelmingly approved all 21 options presented to them — among them , requiring identification cards for citizens and visitors ; rigorous screening of immigrants ; bans on incendiary religious speech ; and monitoring of phone calls , emails and social media . " Clinton takes a selfie with the crowd at a voter registration rally at Wayne State University in Detroit .
" We are conducting a comprehensive dialog on a wide scale of international issues , in which Indian and Russian approaches are close to each other or coincide , " said Putin . Modi also praised Putin 's support for the fight against international terrorism , which India accuses its neighbor and rival Pakistan of sponsoring . " Russia 's clear stand on the need to combatconflict.attack.naterrorism mirrors our own , " Modi said . MULTIPLE DEALS The Rosneft - Essar deal will be the biggest foreign takeover in India , and Russia 's largest outbound deal , according to Thomson Reuters data .
" We are conducting a comprehensive dialog on a wide scale of international issues , in which Indian and Russian approaches are close to each other or coincide , " said Putin . Modi also praised Putin 's support for the fight against international terrorism , which India accuses its neighbor and rival Pakistan of sponsoring . " Russia 's clear stand on the need to combatconflict.attack.selfdirectedbattleterrorism mirrors our own , " Modi said . MULTIPLE DEALS The Rosneft - Essar deal will be the biggest foreign takeover in India , and Russia 's largest outbound deal , according to Thomson Reuters data .