Latest news with #StarsandStripes
New York Post
8 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump admin to open nation's largest immigration detention center in Texas with $1.2B contract
The Trump administration will open the nation's largest immigration detention center in Texas thanks to a massive contract worth $1.2 billion, according to a report. The feds will be able to hold up to 5,000 illegal immigrants at a time at Fort Bliss Army base in El Paso, Texas, to meet the demands of the rapidly expanding Trump administration's deportation campaign, Bloomberg reported. Shackled migrants walk toward a military transport plane before their deportation from the US. US Department of Defense/AFP via Getty Images The Department of Defense awarded the contract, which ends Sept. 30, 2027, to Virginia-based Acquisition Logistics LLC to set up a tent city on the base. The Trump administration has sought to erect temporary facilities to hold migrants as it attempts to make room for the 3,000-person quota it's seeking to collar each day. The effort has been turbocharged by a new flood of $45 billion for new detention beds from Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The massive spending bill will double Immigration and Customs Enforcement's detention capacity, with the goal of holding 100,000 illegal immigrants at a time as the Trump administration seeks to carry out 1 million deportations each year. ICE opened 'Alligator Alcatraz,' a tent detention center erected by the state of Florida in the middle of the alligator-infested swampland of the Everglades, earlier this month. The feds can currently hold up to 3,000 illegal immigrants there and hope to expand that to 5,000. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also set his sights on two additional military bases, Camp Atterbury in Indiana and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, for the deportation campaign, according to the Associated Press. The Trump administration has set out to deport one million illegal immigrants each year. AFP via Getty Images 'We're looking for any available bed space we can get that meets the detention standards we're accustomed to,' Trump's border czar Tom Homan said Friday. 'The faster we get the beds, the more people we can take off the street,' he added. Fort Bliss has previously been used for immigration purposes, housing unaccompanied migrant kids and Afghan refugees following the US withdrawal from the war-torn country, according to Stars and Stripes.
Yemen Online
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
US Analysts Urge Washington to Engage South Yemen to Counter Houthi Threat
Aden — A growing chorus of American defense analysts and foreign policy experts is calling on the Biden administration to recalibrate its strategy in Yemen by engaging directly with southern Yemeni factions, particularly the Southern Transitional Council (STC), to help resolve the enduring Houthi insurgency. According to a recent report published by Stars and Stripes, the failure of past military campaigns to decisively weaken the Iran-backed Houthi movement has prompted calls for a regional realignment. Advocates argue that southern forces possess territorial control, military discipline, and popular legitimacy that could be leveraged to contain Houthi expansion and restore stability. The STC, controls key areas including Aden, Mukalla, and strategic ports along the Gulf of Aden. Experts suggest that bolstering these forces could create a counterbalance to Houthi dominance in the north, especially as the Houthis continue to launch drone and missile attacks on Red Sea shipping and Israeli targets. The proposal remains controversial, given the STC's separatist ambitions and the complex web of alliances in Yemen. However, proponents argue that realpolitik demands a shift from idealistic unity frameworks to pragmatic partnerships that reflect realities on the ground.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket project suspended by US Air Force as it would harm…
The US Air Force has suspended a proposed hypersonic rocket cargo delivery project developed in partnership with Elon Musk 's SpaceX , following environmental concerns raised by scientists and wildlife advocates. The project, which aimed to test rocket re-entry vehicles from Johnston Atoll , a remote US territory in the Pacific, was flagged for its potential to harm the area's delicate bird population. Home to 14 species of tropical seabirds, the atoll is part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument and is protected under US environmental law. Elon Musk's rocket ambitions meet environmental pushback Biologists and conservationists warned that rocket tests on Johnston Atoll could endanger nesting seabirds, including several protected species. The island serves as a critical breeding ground with dense colonies of birds like frigatebirds and boobies. The plan would have required landing high-speed re-entry vehicles capable of delivering 100 tons of cargo within 90 minutes — an operation considered disruptive to the fragile ecosystem. A draft environmental assessment was expected but was delayed due to backlash from environmental groups, ultimately leading to the Air Force's decision to suspend the initiative. A strategic vision put on hold by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The rocket cargo program, part of a broader US military strategy to revolutionize logistics, aimed to use commercial rockets to rapidly deliver supplies anywhere in the world. While the Air Force had not formally confirmed SpaceX as its sole partner, Elon Musk's company was the most likely candidate due to its experience with reusable rockets. Despite the project's promise of logistical breakthroughs, the military is now exploring alternative test sites to avoid further environmental conflict. SpaceX's troubled track Record with Wildlife This is not the first time SpaceX has come under scrutiny for environmental impact. A 2023 Starship launch in Boca Chica, Texas, caused destruction of local shorebird nests, resulting in legal challenges. Musk responded to criticism jokingly at the time but did not deny the damage caused. The recent suspension highlights growing tensions between technological ambition and ecological responsibility as space companies increasingly intersect with protected environments. What's next for the rocket cargo program? According to Stars and Stripes, the US Air Force is now considering alternative locations for testing, though no specific site has been named. Officials have stated that the project remains important for the future of military mobility and supply chain resilience, especially in global conflict zones. However, any future tests will likely face stricter scrutiny from environmental regulators. For now, the seabirds of Johnston Atoll remain undisturbed, and the path forward for rocket-based military cargo remains uncertain.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
US Air Force suspends SpaceX rocket project: Reason may be similar for which Elon Musk joked, 'will not eat omelette for a week'
The U.S. Air Force has halted its proposed collaboration with 's SpaceX to test hypersonic rocket cargo deliveries from Johnston Atoll, a remote Pacific wildlife refuge, according to Stars and Stripes, an independent U.S. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now military publication. The decision as reported by Reuters highlights concerns from biologists and experts that the project would endanger numerous seabirds nesting on the unincorporated U.S. territory, located nearly 800 miles (1,300 km) southwest of Hawaii. The Air Force had planned an environmental assessment, but opposition from environmental groups delayed the draft's release. A military spokesperson told Stars and Stripes recently that the Air Force is now seeking alternative locations for the program, which aims to use commercial rockets, like those developed by SpaceX, to deliver up to 100 tons of cargo anywhere on Earth in about 90 minutes—a potential game-changer for military logistics in remote areas. Neither the Air Force nor SpaceX immediately responded to requests for comment. Biologists warn that the one-square-mile (2.6 square km) atoll, part of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, supports 14 species of tropical birds that could be severely impacted by the project. When Elon Musk said 'Would not eat omelets for a week' SpaceX has faced similar environmental issues before. Last year, a Starship rocket launch in Boca Chica, Texas, destroyed nests and eggs of protected plover shorebirds, leading to legal repercussions. In response, Elon Musk had said that he would "not eat omelets for a week" to atone for the incident, a remark that drew attention to the environmental controversy surrounding his company's activities. "To make up for this heinous crime, I will refrain from having omelette for a week," Elon Musk wrote. Elon Musk made the pledge in response to an article published in an American newspaper highlighting the environmental impact of the SpaceX launch.
Yomiuri Shimbun
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Donald Trump Has Wrapped His Political Career in the American Flag
He was born on June 14, the date President Woodrow Wilson designated as Flag Day. As a real estate developer, he battled the town of Palm Beach over the height of a flagpole at his Mar-a-Lago estate. As president in 2020, he hugged and kissed the flag and appeared to call it 'baby' as a crowd cheered at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Trump has wrapped his political career in the American flag, making the Stars and Stripes a central visual in his 'Make America Great Again' movement. On Friday, he celebrated July Fourth from the South Lawn of the White House, where he recently installed an 88-foot flagpole. He attended a picnic there with military families and signed his signature tax and spending legislation in front of more than a dozen American flags. He wore his signature uniform: a red tie, white shirt and blue suit, along with a MAGA cap that had an American flag embroidered on the side. Almost every politician uses the American flag as a backdrop, but no other has deployed the national symbol as their own brand as extensively as the former retail and licensing mogul. His family business sells dozens of 'Trump' branded trinkets with flag imagery, including a $120 rubber beach tote and a $110 knit sweater. His supporters have imposed his face on American flags, which they fly from their vehicles or wave from the crowds at his political rallies. His campaign peddled gold lapel pins with 'TRUMP' emblazoned on the flag, available for a $50 donation. And only Trump has transformed the meaning of the American flag into one of the most divisive topics in modern discourse. As flags are raised throughout the country to honor the traditionally unifying anniversary of the country's birthday, Trump's efforts to absorb the American flag into the branding of his Republican Party have left the nation divided over how to celebrate. He calls his supporters 'patriots' and his opponents anti-American, ripping open long-simmering debates over what it means to wave the flag and who gets to define American freedom. He has also spurred efforts among some Democrats and Trump opponents to embrace the flag and Independence Day celebrations – while, among others who do not care for Trump, he has pushed them away from such traditionally patriotic activities. 'It is fitting that the President of the United States loves the Star-Spangled Banner, which represents our nation's brave heroes that have fought and died for our freedom,' said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. 'The American flag has always been important to the President's identity – from the day he was born, on Flag Day, it was clear that his DNA is USA.' This year, some July Fourth barbecues and block parties served as undisguised anti-Trump demonstrations. The Women's March planned 'Free America' rallies throughout the country, where they encouraged organizers to entice people to protest with hot dogs and veggie burgers. 'The dream of American freedom belongs to all of us, and we will not stop in our pursuit of its promise, now or ever,' wrote the Women's March on a website announcing the plans. Some Democrats in Congress are trying to unite the Democratic Party around the flag at a time when the party is scrambling to find a cohesive way to counter Trump. About half of Americans have an American flag at home, but a higher share of Republicans report owning flags than Democrats, according to YouGov survey. In the same survey, 89 percent of Republicans said flying the flag was an act of patriotism, compared with only 58 percent of Democrats. Reps. Pat Ryan (D-New York) and Chris Deluzio (D-Pennsylvania) passed out 4-inch-by-6-inch American flags to their colleagues ahead of Flag Day. 'Patriotism does not belong to one party,' an accompanying letter said. 'The flag, and the values it stands for, belong to every single American.' Deluzio, who served in Iraq in the Navy, said he was motivated to distribute the flags because no one party has a 'monopoly' on American pride. Trump undermines his flag-waving displays by showing 'disdain' for service members and attacking political rivals in the presence of military leaders, Deluzio said in an interview. 'I refuse to take a lecture on patriotism from this guy,' Deluzio said. After November 2020, as Trump falsely claimed that he had won the election, many of his supporters displayed upside-down American flags as an anti-Biden symbol. Rioters carried such a flag into the U.S. Capitol when they sought to block the certification of the election results on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump's supporters widely shared the upside-down flag again last year, after he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to an adult-film actress ahead of the 2016 election. The U.S. Flag Code generally prohibits flying the American flag upside down except in a signal of 'dire distress.' Despite Trump's displays of pride in the American flag, he has frequently flouted the U.S. Flag Code, which dictates how the American flag should be folded, stored and displayed. The law requires that flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days following the death of the president. Trump was furious when he learned that the rule would be in effect during his inauguration festivities in January following the death of former president Jimmy Carter. 'The Democrats are all 'giddy' about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at 'half mast' during my Inauguration,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'They think it's so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don't love our Country, they only think about themselves.' House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) ultimately ordered the flag to be raised to full height during Trump's inauguration and then returned to half-staff the day after. Trump's famous hug of the flag at CPAC and his history of emblazoning his name over images of the flag have also been criticized as disrespectful to the national symbol. He has also criticized others for desecrating the flag, calling for criminal penalties against protesters who burn flags despite a 1989 Supreme Court ruling that burning the flag is protected speech under the First Amendment. DeLuzio spoke to The Washington Post from Congress on Wednesday, as House lawmakers were battling over the future of an immigration and tax package that has deeply divided the parties. But he called on Americans to put those differences aside for July Fourth. 'Go celebrate our Independence Day,' DeLuzio said. 'We need some unifying moments in our country.'
