Carla Babb

#BREAKING #EXCLUSIVE The US military has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors to help reinforce US troops in the Middle East amid the war against Iran. Four officials tell Newsmax the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit is deploying ahead of schedule from the West Coast and is expected to sail through the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East region after the Navy was ordered to surge additional fire power. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group includes the USS Boxer amphibious assault ship—which serves as a mini aircraft carrier—and USS Portland and USS Comstock amphibious landing ships. There are roughly 2,500 Marines--4,000 total service members aboard these three amphibs. Additional Ships, Marines Deployed to Middle East | Newsmax.com

😮 Tillis: “Hegseth would do well to surround himself with more patriots like General Donahue and to get his henchmen, who are not qualified to carry Donahue's bag, out of the Pentagon.”

US and Nigeria say ISIS number 2 killed in Nigeria. Note: @USAfricaCommand headquarters is based in Germany

W.H.O. Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Health Emergency nytimes.com/2026/05/17/wor… via @NYTimes

Oh? 👀

Exceptionally strong statement from HASC Chair Mike Rogers on troop reductions in Europe at today's Army hearing: “We are going to mandate that the department follow the statutory minimums that are set in statute on force posture, and if there are attempted deviations, we will remedy them and impose pain when or if they aren't complied with,” Rogers said.

NEW!! The US Congress last night overwhelmingly rejected an amendment to divert $482 million from NATO funding toward domestic military bases, voting 333–80 against the measure.

The careless decision to reduce our force posture in Europe, along with moves by Pete Hegseth and his political henchmen to force out some of our finest general officers is amateur hour at best and deadly at worst. Hegseth continues to surprise and disrespect our greatest allies and some of our best military professionals with impulsive decisions not grounded in reality or good judgment. If the rumors are true that Hegseth is trying to sideline General Chris Donahue, one of our nation’s finest warfighters, by downgrading U.S. Army Europe-Africa to a 3-star command, he is taking another step down a dangerous path. A step that is not in the best interests of our nation or our servicemembers. General Donahue has dedicated his entire career to upholding the high standards and warrior ethos that Hegseth claims he is restoring to our ranks. Gen. Donahue has led Soldiers at all levels in Airborne (including Ft. Bragg’s 82nd) and Mechanized units, the 75th Ranger Regiment, and our most prestigious special operation units. He deployed over 20 times in support of Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Atlantic Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, European Assure, Deter and Reinforce, and in support of the Sudan crisis. Hegseth would do well to surround himself with more patriots like General Donahue and to get his henchmen, who are not qualified to carry Donahue's bag, out of the Pentagon. Keep your word, Mr. Secretary: choose meritocracy over your mediocre yes-men. notus.org/defense/pentag…

CENTCOM Commander Admiral Cooper: We’ve adopted large number of tactics, techniques, and procedures that Ukrainians passed to us, which helped us defend Americans. All of our partners working with Ukrainians in some way, shape, or form. Are they more effective as a result? Yes.

This is baloney. For starters Poland was not notified. Senior leaders contacted me yesterday saying they were blindsided. And… I’ve learned EUCOM did NOT say there was minimal risk by cancelling the deployment. This was a foolish and embarrassing course of events.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is home at last.

As U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth arrives in Norfolk, Virginia, the USS Gerald R. Ford has arrived back home after a 300+ day deployment. The Ford and accompanying vessels took part in combat operations in two combatant commands (COCOM) in that time, SOUTHCOM and CENTCOM. Video via @AirAssets

@CarlaBNatSec Carla... 13 men killed by US military boat strikes identified: ‘These were flesh-and-blood people’ | US military | The Guardian share.google/Y0lSoGOYjreJR6…

Acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Chris LaNeve told lawmakers today that conversations about the cancellation of these deployments and the decision to do so were made "relatively recently." “You say recent — when you say recent, you mean 10 days, or two months?” Republican Rep. Austin Scott asked. “Yeah, it’s probably been within the last two weeks,” LaNeve said, also confirming advanced elements of the brigade were already overseas and equipment was in transit.

The Administration prides itself on being great negotiators. But it doesn’t show with Russia. We are now withdrawing two armored brigades out of Europe with no concessions from Putin, while Putin continues bombing Ukrainian cities. The SecDef’s decision is weak and embarrassing.

Adm. Brad Cooper, the chief of U.S. Central Command, knocked down news reports that Iran retains 70% to 75% of its prewar missiles and launchers as “not accurate.” wsj.com/livecoverage/i…

Blowout vote right now for the House’s first annual spending bill to come up this year, which funds veterans programs and military construction projects. That’s a change from recent years, where it’s fallen along party lines. But that’s unlikely to hold as tougher bills come up.

80 House Republicans just voted to decrase NATO funding by $481M

U.S. Intel assessments do not indicate a total military victory.