menuSign Inperson_outlineclose This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: BRUSSELS - At its start, America’s war in Afghanistan was about retribution for 9-11. Then it was about shoring up a weak government and its weak army so that Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida could never again threaten the United States.Now it’s about over. With bin Laden long since dead and the United States not suffering another major attack,...…menuSign Inperson_outlineclose This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: BRUSSELS - At its start, America’s war in Afghanistan was about retribution for 9-11. Then it was about shoring up a weak government and its weak army so that Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida could never again threaten the United States.Now it’s about over. With bin Laden long since dead and the United States not suffering another major attack,...WW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyRelated topicsABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea.Austin spoke by phone with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyRelated topicsABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea.Austin spoke by phone with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana...WW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyRelated topicsABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea.Austin spoke by phone with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/john-kirby-south-china-sea-lloyd-austin-philippines-china-f113af1b858cabdb2ac369fd503ab16bClick to copyRelated topicsABOARD A U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Saturday discussed with his Philippine counterpart China’s recent positioning of “militia vessels” near the Philippines in the South China Sea.Austin spoke by phone with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana...WW…

menuSign Inperson_outlineclose This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: WASHINGTON - Without coming right out and saying it, President Joe Biden seems ready to let lapse a May 1 deadline for completing a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Orderly withdrawals take time, and Biden is running out of it.Biden has inched so close to the deadline that his indecision amounts almost to a decision to put off, at...…menuSign Inperson_outlineclose This copy is for your personal non-commercial use only. To orderpresentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distributionto colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire aboutpermissions/licensing, please go to: WASHINGTON - Without coming right out and saying it, President Joe Biden seems ready to let lapse a May 1 deadline for completing a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Orderly withdrawals take time, and Biden is running out of it.Biden has inched so close to the deadline that his indecision amounts almost to a decision to put off, at...WW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/us-military-risk-china-move-against-taiwan-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/us-military-risk-china-move-against-taiwan-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — The American military is warning that China is probably accelerating its timetable for capturing control of Taiwan, the island democracy that has been for decades and is widely seen as the most likely trigger for a potentially catastrophic U.S.-China war.The worry about Taiwan comes as China wields new strength...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/us-military-risk-china-move-against-taiwan-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/us-military-risk-china-move-against-taiwan-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — The American military is warning that China is probably accelerating its timetable for capturing control of Taiwan, the island democracy that has been for decades and is widely seen as the most likely trigger for a potentially catastrophic U.S.-China war.The worry about Taiwan comes as China wields new strength...WW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/world-news-beijing-taiwan-china-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/world-news-beijing-taiwan-china-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — The American military is warning that China is probably accelerating its timetable for capturing control of Taiwan, the island democracy that has been for decades and is widely seen as the most likely trigger for a potentially catastrophic U.S.-China war.The worry about Taiwan comes as China wields new strength from years of military...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/world-news-beijing-taiwan-china-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/world-news-beijing-taiwan-china-788c254952dc47de78745b8e2a5c3000Click to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — The American military is warning that China is probably accelerating its timetable for capturing control of Taiwan, the island democracy that has been for decades and is widely seen as the most likely trigger for a potentially catastrophic U.S.-China war.The worry about Taiwan comes as China wields new strength from years of military...WW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-seoul-diplomacy-south-korea-d95485e8ed9901f035233f1d6a7a8b03Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-seoul-diplomacy-south-korea-d95485e8ed9901f035233f1d6a7a8b03Click to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — A with South Korea on sharing the cost of keeping U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula is early evidence that President Joe Biden is shifting America’s approach to alliances in Asia and beyond. It shows he will cut allies a break to build unity in competition against China and Russia.President...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-seoul-diplomacy-south-korea-d95485e8ed9901f035233f1d6a7a8b03Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-seoul-diplomacy-south-korea-d95485e8ed9901f035233f1d6a7a8b03Click to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — A with South Korea on sharing the cost of keeping U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula is early evidence that President Joe Biden is shifting America’s approach to alliances in Asia and beyond. It shows he will cut allies a break to build unity in competition against China and Russia.President...WW…

AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/china-moving-faster-nuclear-f711665a7ebb3a58d6c5bb7ce899ff1dClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/china-moving-faster-nuclear-f711665a7ebb3a58d6c5bb7ce899ff1dClick to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — China appears to be moving faster toward a capability to launch its newer nuclear missiles from underground silos, possibly to improve its ability to respond promptly to a nuclear attack, according to an American expert who analyzed satellite images of recent construction at a missile training area.Hans Kristensen, a longtime watcher of U.S.,...…AP NEWSADVERTISEMENThttps://apnews.com/article/china-moving-faster-nuclear-f711665a7ebb3a58d6c5bb7ce899ff1dClick to copyhttps://apnews.com/article/china-moving-faster-nuclear-f711665a7ebb3a58d6c5bb7ce899ff1dClick to copyRelated topicsWASHINGTON (AP) — China appears to be moving faster toward a capability to launch its newer nuclear missiles from underground silos, possibly to improve its ability to respond promptly to a nuclear attack, according to an American expert who analyzed satellite images of recent construction at a missile training area.Hans Kristensen, a longtime watcher of U.S.,...WW…

President Biden's first military action targets Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groupBy Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns, Associated PressUpdated 1 hour agoA U.S. airstrike in Syria targeted facilities belonging to a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, killing one of their militiamen.WASHINGTON -- A U.S. airstrike in Syria targeted facilities belonging to a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, killing one of their militiamen and wounding a number of others, an Iraqi militia official said Friday.The Pentagon said the strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack...…President Biden's first military action targets Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groupBy Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Lolita C. Baldor and Robert Burns, Associated PressUpdated 1 hour agoA U.S. airstrike in Syria targeted facilities belonging to a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, killing one of their militiamen.WASHINGTON -- A U.S. airstrike in Syria targeted facilities belonging to a powerful Iranian-backed Iraqi armed group, killing one of their militiamen and wounding a number of others, an Iraqi militia official said Friday.The Pentagon said the strikes were retaliation for a rocket attack...WW…

Raymond T. Odierno, a retired Army general who commanded American and coalition forces in Iraq at the height of the war and capped a 39-year career by serving as the Army’s chief of staff, has died, his family said Saturday. He was 67. “The general died after a brave battle with cancer; his death was not related to COVID,” a family statement said. “There are no other details to share at this time. His family is grateful for the concern and asks for privacy.” Odierno died Friday; the family declined to say where. It said funeral and interment information was not yet available. President...…Raymond T. Odierno, a retired Army general who commanded American and coalition forces in Iraq at the height of the war and capped a 39-year career by serving as the Army’s chief of staff, has died, his family said Saturday. He was 67. “The general died after a brave battle with cancer; his death was not related to COVID,” a family statement said. “There are no other details to share at this time. His family is grateful for the concern and asks for privacy.” Odierno died Friday; the family declined to say where. It said funeral and interment information was not yet available. President...WW…