https://www.commondef.com Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:00:58+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/one-man-in-christian-craigheads-courage-his-story-and-the-battle-to-tell-it/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102785 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Bethany Loveland The former SAS operator ran toward a terrorist attack when no one else had yet gone in. Seven years later, his memoir and his return to the Shawn Ryan Show reveal a man still fighting—this time for the right to tell a story the world deserves to hear. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/trump-says-u-s-hopefully-nears-end-of-iran-war-as-saudi-arabia-and-houthis-trade-strikes/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102748 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Frank Guy Trump is signaling cautious hope for ending the Iran war, but escalating Houthi attacks, disrupted Saudi oil infrastructure and stalled ceasefire efforts are adding urgency to planned talks with Gulf leaders in New York. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/air-force-unveils-new-career-field-to-fortify-bases-against-drone-and-missile-attacks/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102728 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Frank Guy The Air Force is creating a dedicated point defense career field as drone and missile threats intensify, pairing specially trained airmen with artificial intelligence, electronic warfare and kinetic weapons to protect vulnerable installations. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/4-8-billion-army-deal-supercharges-helicopter-defenses-against-missile-threats/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102725 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Frank Guy The Army’s $4.8 billion Northrop Grumman contract will expand CIRCM laser protection across its helicopter fleet, giving crews an automated response to fast moving missile threats while replacing a much heavier system used for 16 years. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/germany-and-u-s-seal-major-patriot-and-strike-missile-production-pact/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102731 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Common Defense Staff Germany will serve as an additional production hub for scarce American munitions, with PAC-3 MSE interceptor work beginning later this year and officials examining German supply opportunities for Tomahawk components as Berlin builds deeper strike capacity. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/caine-warns-autonomous-systems-will-hunt-u-s-military-formations/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102736 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Julian Dorsett Gen. Dan Caine warned that autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities are rapidly transforming combat, requiring the joint force to invest early, adapt quickly and equip trusted young leaders before the next conflict begins. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/report-warns-u-s-is-dangerously-unprepared-for-nuclear-attacks-in-space/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102739 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Bethany Loveland War games exposed major gaps in American detection, response and recovery plans for an orbital nuclear crisis, even as officials acknowledge U.S. space weapons and warn that Russia may pursue a nuclear ASAT capability. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/f-35-proves-its-combat-mettle-in-punishing-middle-east-deployments/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102643 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Julian Dorsett Air Force officials say the F-35 maintained strong mission performance, enabled rapid turnarounds and handled multiple combat roles during recent Middle East operations, despite a watchdog report placing readiness across the full fleet at 25%. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/ai-targeting-may-outrun-human-control-before-disaster-strikes/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102742 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Congressional witnesses warned that faster AI assisted targeting could leave military personnel without enough time, information or authority to challenge recommendations, raising serious questions about civilian harm, accountability and whether formal human approval still represents meaningful control. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/army-crowns-elite-drill-sergeants-in-first-showdown-since-sweeping-command-overhaul/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102744 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Julian Dorsett Berges and Harrington captured the Army’s top drill sergeant honors after 34 demanding events, earning new Fort Knox leadership roles as the service streamlines recruiting and initial training under its reorganized force generation command. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/new-fbi-files-expose-deep-state-push-to-join-trump-probe-and-target-elon-musk-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102685 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 LifeZette Newly released FBI communications show one agent repeatedly seeking a role in Crossfire Hurricane and another proposing a criminal investigation of Elon Musk, prompting Grassley to accuse federal officials of sustained political weaponization against Trump and Republicans. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/coast-guard-saves-15-year-old-stranded-three-days-aboard-capsized-boat-in-frigid-alaska-waters-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102687 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 RVM News A Coast Guard aircraft located the 15 year old survivor Monday and guided a Good Samaritan vessel to the capsized boat, ending a three day ordeal in frigid Alaska waters that also claimed two lives. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/iran-war-burns-38-billion-and-drains-up-to-two-thirds-of-key-u-s-missile-interceptors/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102646 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Frank Guy CBO estimates the Iran conflict cost about $38 billion through Aug. 1 while consuming up to two thirds of key U.S. missile interceptors, stocks that could require at least five years to rebuild even with increased production. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/russia-and-iran-forge-a-dangerous-weapons-partnership-across-two-war-zones/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102652 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Common Defense Staff Russia’s wartime upgrades to Iranian drone technology are flowing back to Tehran alongside targeting intelligence, missile assistance and expanded production, creating a military partnership that officials warn is threatening American forces and naval assets across the Middle East. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/sweeping-air-force-tanker-modernization-will-span-decades/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102649 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The Air Force will introduce KC-46 tankers while sustaining hundreds of aging KC-135 aircraft, a decades long challenge requiring spare parts, connectivity, survivability improvements and close cooperation with industry. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/trump-dhs-extends-stunning-zero-release-border-streak-to-16-months/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102679 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 RVM News Trump officials reported zero border releases for a 16th consecutive month as August apprehensions fell and drug seizures climbed. The administration also moved ahead with Arizona wall construction after defeating a tribal challenge in federal court. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/u-s-marine-stand-in-forces-in-the-pacific-set-off-alarms-in-china/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102640 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Frank Guy A translated Chinese military article warns that missile armed Marine Stand-In Forces could complicate naval operations, drain combat resources and threaten submarines, prompting calls for surveillance, undersea weapons, maritime deception and attacks on American command networks. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/trump-pardons-former-sailor-convicted-in-machine-gun-sales-case/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102655 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Bethany Loveland President Trump pardoned Patrick Tate Adamiak after years of advocacy from gun rights groups, but the former sailor’s federal conviction remains intact as he continues pursuing an effort to overturn the jury’s verdict. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/space-force-launches-massive-push-to-add-10000-guardians-in-five-years/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102636 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Common Defense Staff The Space Force plans to add 10,000 guardians within five years, forcing dramatic growth across basic training, commissioning and professional education while STARCOM races to recruit more than 200 instructors for the coming surge. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/deadly-betrayal-former-sailors-admit-selling-fentanyl-pills-that-killed-uss-abraham-lincoln-sailor/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102632 2026-09-17T22:35:57+00:00 Common Defense Staff Two former sailors admitted participating in a controlled substance conspiracy involving counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, a scheme that killed one USS Abraham Lincoln sailor and hospitalized another before an NCIS investigation exposed the operation.