A New Perspective on Constantine

(Worthy News) – The vast majority of EU states have agreed to create what some have called the nucleus of a joint army.

Twenty three out of 28 EU states signed the declaration in Brussels on Monday (13 November), prior to making a legally binding pledge at an EU summit next month.

Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Malta, and Portugal stayed out.

But some of them, such as Ireland, indicated they might join in time for the summit. Britain, which is leaving the EU, could also take part under special conditions. [ Source: EU Observer (Read More…) ]

EU launches new era in defense cooperation

European Union countries on Monday officially launched a new era in defense cooperation with a program of joint military investment and project development aimed at helping the EU confront its security challenges.

Twenty-three of the EU’s 28 member nations signed up to the process, known as permanent structured cooperation, or PESCO. Britain, which is leaving the EU in 2019, and Denmark with a defense opt-out were among those not taking part.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini described it as a “historic moment in European defense,” and added that “23 member states engaging booth on capabilities and on operational steps is something big.” Those who didn’t sign up can join later. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello unveiled a $94 billion disaster relief request to Congress on Monday to help the U.S. territory recover from Hurricane Maria.

Island officials said the $94.4 billion request came after independent damage assessments to determine the funds necessary to restore and rebuild housing on the island as well as its infrastructure.

“We aren’t just asking for money. We are asking for what is needed. This disaster has been unprecedented,” Puerto Rico’s representative in Congress, Jenniffer Gonzalez, said.[ Source: UPI (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Congress is heading toward a budget showdown next month after the two chambers agreed to a defense authorization plan for fiscal year 2018 that exceeds federal spending caps by roughly $85 billion.

Lawmakers in coming weeks will have to reconcile the cost of the $700 billion National Defense Authorization Act with current spending limits, but members have yet to come to an understanding on how to deal with the issue.

The spending compromise, unveiled last week by the House and Senate Armed Services committees, still needs final approval by the full House and Senate, but the caps imposed by the 2011 Budget Control Act must be lifted before the legislation can be passed into law. [ Source: Washington Free Beacon (Read More…) ]

(Worthy News) – Iran is building a new military facility in Syria, the BBC has reported based on a Western intelligence source.

Located at Al-Kiswah, south of Damascus, the facility is one of many alleged Iranian bases in Syria and illustrates how Iran is establishing a permanent presence in the country.

Israel has repeatedly warned against Iran’s plans to put down roots close to its northern border.

“We will not allow it [Syria] to be used as a forward operating base of a Shi’a axis,” Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman’s office said on Saturday after Israel shot down a drone near the Golan Heights. [ Source: Jerusalem Post (Read More…) ]