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Robert Burns
Workers remove debris from the site of last week's explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 10, 2020 (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
August 12, 2020, 8:11 am
US contractor told Lebanese port official of chemicals risk 4 years ago
Unclear if official passed on warning, given during brief, impromptu inspection of physical security at the facility; assessment was briefly noted in State Department cable
By Robert Burns and Matthew Lee
In this Jan. 4, 2020, file photo a sign for at Fort Bragg, N.C., is shown. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
June 11, 2020, 2:24 am
Trump rejects renaming military bases named for Confederate officers
Despite military showing willingness to rename 10 bases, US president says such a move would show ‘complete disrespect’ for soldiers who served and trained there over the years
By Robert Burns
In this June 1, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump departs the White House to visit outside St. John's Church in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
June 4, 2020, 3:51 am
Pentagon-Trump clash breaks open over military and protests
Defense chief refuses president’s request for troops to quell protests but decision to send some soldiers back to home bases from DC area reversed
By Zeke Miller and Robert Burns
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks during a press briefing about the coronavirus in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
June 3, 2020, 9:29 pm
US defense chief says no military for protests as standby troops leave
Trump’s call to use active-duty troops against demonstrators leads to widespread backlash
By Zeke Miller and Robert Burns
In this image provided by the US Air Force Academy on January 31, 2019, Cadet 2nd Class Eric Hembling uses a Ludwieg Tube to measure the pressures, temperatures, and flow field of various basic geometric and hypersonic research vehicles at Mach 6 in The United States Air Force Academy's Department of Aeronautics, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Joshua Armstrong/US Air Force Academy via AP)
May 20, 2020, 5:45 pm
Quest for ‘super-duper’ missiles at heart of US rivalry with China, Russia
Pentagon says hypersonic weapons needed ‘to dominate future battlefields,’ but critics warn they could fuel dangerous new arms race
By Robert Burns
In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, Capt. Brett Crozier, then-commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), addresses the crew on Jan. 17, 2020, in San Diego, Calif. (Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Alexander Williams/U.S. Navy via AP)
April 24, 2020, 11:34 pm
US Navy recommends reinstatement of carrier captain fired for virus warning
The dismissal of Capt. Brett Crozier rocked navy and led to resignation of top official; so far one sailor of USS Theodore Roosevelt has died and 840 are infected with coronavirus
By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns
Thomas Modly testifies during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, December 3, 2019. (AP/Alex Brandon, File)
April 8, 2020, 4:26 am
US Navy boss resigns amid uproar over firing of ship captain
Thomas Modly quits after his profanity-laced tirade against fired skipper of aircraft carrier provoked widespread outrage
By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns
In this Nov. 15, 2029, photo US Navy Capt. Brett Crozier, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), addresses the crew during an all-hands call on the ship's flight deck while conducting routine operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Huynh via AP)
April 7, 2020, 5:35 am
US Navy leader calls fired carrier captain ‘naive’ or ‘stupid,’ then apologizes
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly had delivered profanity-laced speech to crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt, slamming captain who was fired for warning of coronavirus threat to crew
By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns
In this April 13, 2018, file photo the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier is anchored off Manila Bay west of Manila, Philippines. The captain of the US Navy aircraft carrier facing a growing outbreak of the coronavirus is asking for permission to isolate the bulk of his roughly 5,000 crew members on shore, which would take the warship out of duty in an effort to save lives. The ship is docked in Guam (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez, File)
April 3, 2020, 7:53 pm
Sailors cheer USS Roosevelt captain fired for exposing virus outbreak onboard
Top Navy official says Capt. Brett Crozier ‘demonstrated extremely poor judgment’ in middle of a crisis; video shows officer leaving ship to applause from crew who chant his name
By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, shakes hands with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani,during the 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, southern Germany, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Pool photo via AP)
February 14, 2020, 7:12 pm
Official says US, Taliban reach Afghan truce agreement
News comes as Pompeo, Esper meet with Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani; could lead to withdrawals of American troops
By Matthew Lee and Robert Burns
US soldiers stand at a site of Iranian bombing at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar, Iraq on January 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Qassim Abdul-Zahra)
January 30, 2020, 8:51 pm
Pentagon seeks Iraqi permission to deploy missile defenses after attack by Iran
Asked whether Patriot batteries could’ve stopped Iranian missile strike on Ain al-Asad base, US military chief replies: ‘That’s what they’re designed to do’
By Robert Burns
US soldiers stand amid damage at a site of Iranian bombing at Ain al-Asad air base, in Anbar, Iraq, January 13, 2020. (AP/Qassim Abdul-Zahra)
January 25, 2020, 1:18 am
Pentagon now says 34 troops suffered brain injuries in Iran missile strike
Casualty total at odds with Trump’s claim following attack on bases in Iraq that no US personnel were harmed; army previously said 11 service members suffered concussions
By Robert Burns
Screen capture from video of US Defense Secretary Mark Esper during an interview with CNN, January 12, 2020. (YouTube)
January 12, 2020, 11:10 pm
Esper has seen no hard evidence for Trump claim of Iran threat to embassies
US president had justified strike on top Iranian general by saying intelligence showed Tehran had four potential attacks lined up on US missions
By Robert Burns
Screen capture from video of US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper talking to the press on Iran and Iraq, at the Pentagon in Washington, January 7, 2020. (divids via AP)
January 12, 2020, 8:21 pm
US seeking to amplify voices of protest in Iran amid turmoil
Defense Secretary Esper says street demonstrations in Tehran show Iranian people want ‘better government — a different regime,’ but denies that is Washington’s policy
By Robert Burns
Iranians march with a banner bearing an illustration of Quds Force General Qassem Soleimani during a demonstration in Tehran on January 3, 2020, against the killing of the top commander in a US strike in Baghdad. (Atta Kenare/AFP)
January 11, 2020, 1:39 am
US unsuccessfully targeted another Iranian commander on day of Soleimani strike
American forces tried to take out high-ranking Revolutionary Guards commander Abdul Reza Shahlai, who is accused of financing militias, planning attacks on US and allies
By Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns
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