A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – It’s an ordinary-looking, 1990s-era black plastic telephone, but it’s one that American military commanders here rely on daily to prevent the outbreak of World War III.

At any given moment, American jet fighters could be carving up the skies within shooting range of Russian MiGs over nearby Syria. The “deconfliction line” exists to make sure things don’t turn ugly.

It’s the most sensitive direct communication link U.S. and Russian officials have to ensure their many aircraft — flying conflicting missions across Syria’s increasingly crowded and chaotic skies — don’t clash in an unintended way.

“We’re on the phone with [the Russians] 15 to 20 times a day just trying to make sure their operation and our operation stay separate,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. David S. Nahom, a top commander of the U.S.-led bombing campaign being run from this strategic base in the Persian Gulf. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – The House of Representatives passed the Building A Better America 2018 budget in a 219 to 206 vote.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) said today that the budget will rein in our national debt, strengthen our national defense, help grow the economy, and pave the way for tax reform.

“It paves the way for historic tax reform,” Ryan said. “It unlocks the reconciliation process. We need to pass this budget so that we can deliver real relief for middle income families across this country.”

In 10 years, the budget produces a $9 billion surplus and increases GDP growth to 2.6 percent. It achieves this growth by reforming the tax code, reducing government regulations, using taxpayer dollars efficiently, and reforming government programs. [ Source: Washington Free Beacon (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Russian hackers stole data belonging to the National Security Agency about America’s cyber defense from the home computer of a U.S. government contractor, according to people familiar with the matter.

The material was highly classified and was identified by the hackers since the contractor was using Russian Kaspersky Lab antivirus software, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The stolen material included details about how the NSA penetrates foreign computer networks, the computer code it uses for such spying and how it defends networks inside the U.S., these people said. [ Source: Washington Free Beacon (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Tropical Storm Nate killed at least 22 people in Central America on Thursday as it pummeled the region with heavy rain while heading toward Mexico’s Caribbean resorts and the U.S. Gulf Coast where it could strike as a hurricane this weekend.

In Nicaragua, at least 11 people died, seven others were reported missing and thousands had to evacuate homes because of flooding, said the country’s vice president Rosario Murillo.

Emergency officials in Costa Rica reported that at least eight people were killed due to the lashing rain, including two children. Another 17 people were missing, while more than 7,000 had to take refuge from Nate in shelters, authorities said. [ Source: Channel News Asia (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Iran had not lived up to the spirit of the nuclear deal agreed with world powers and suggested he would reveal his decision on whether to certify the agreement soon.

“We must not allow Iran … to obtain nuclear weapons,” Trump said during a meeting with military leaders at the White House.

“The Iranian regime supports terrorism and exports violence, bloodshed and chaos across the Middle East. That is why we must put an end to Iran’s continued aggression and nuclear ambitions. They have not lived up to the spirit of their agreement,” he said. [ Source: Jerusalem Post (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Iraqi forces announced on Thursday they had captured Islamic State’s last stronghold in northern Iraq, leaving the militant group holed up near the Syrian border as its self-proclaimed ‘caliphate’ shrinks further.

The town of Hawija and the surrounding areas fell in an offensive by U.S.-backed Iraqi government troops and Iranian-trained and armed Shi‘ite paramilitary groups known as Popular Mobilisation.

Some fighting took place to the north and east of the town where the militants were surrounded. [ Source: Reuters (Read More…) ]