A new research center in New Jersey should help Iraq veterans struggling with burn pit-related illnesses get the treatment they need. Professionals at the new Airborne Hazards and Burn Pits Center of Excellence will conduct research and also create partnerships to help returning War on Terror veterans who were exposed to burn pit smoke in Southwest Asia. Dr. Anays Sotolongo, …
Deadly Week for Contractors in Afghanistan
Recent events suggest that private military contractors bear the brunt of the action in this war-torn country, as two contractors were killed in two separate incidents in June 2017. Retired Chief Warrant Officer Four Christian H. McCoy, a 30-year veteran of the Special Forces, lost his life when his armored vehicle exploded at an undisclosed location inside Afghanistan. At the …
Russia Simultaneously Admits and Denies Involvement in Syria
For the first time, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently acknowledged that private military contractors were in-county supporting strongman Bashar al-Assad. However, Putin insisted that these fighters served no official purpose and were only there to support private “oil exploration” efforts. These mercenaries belong to the shadowy Wagner Group, an organization with links to alleged 2016 election meddler Yevgeny Prigozhin. Moreover, …
Faces in the Crowd: Profiling Afghanistan and Iraq Contractors
America has been engaged in these Southwest Asia wars since shortly after 9/11, and contractors have long played a key role in these conflicts. Until now, little has been known about the men and women who fought and died here. Many details are still unavailable, largely due to proprietary and security concerns. So, to get a better idea of who …
U.N. Report Sheds New Light on 2018 La Saline Massacre
After continued government inaction, the United Nations released a report which blamed police and government officials in Haiti for the massacre which killed about two dozen people. About 5,000 people live in the La Saline neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. This sector is known for violent gang activity. In November 2018, according to the U.N. report, the National Police of Haiti (PNH) …