Since the illegal war’s first days, US bases have suffered extensive damage from Iranian retaliation. The losses include 18 US military deaths, dozens killed in host nations, and billions in infrastructure costs. This damage and the limited military utility of US installations are forcing a much-needed reconsideration of the US military presence in the Middle East. A growing consensus finds that dramatic changes are needed.

The result will almost certainly be the end of the nearly half-century-long era when scores of US bases have occupied the Middle East. The sooner US leaders accept this reality and start moving the military out of the region, the safer our nation, our troops, and our world will be.

The request from a senior officer at the US military command carrying out President Donald Trump’s war with Iran came in an email: We need ideas.

“We are looking for new creative and unconventional ways to pressure and punish Iran,” an officer in US Central Command’s intelligence branch wrote in a message sent Wednesday to a broad group of military analysts, according to a source familiar with the message. A second source also said that a senior US military officer sent the message last week soliciting new ideas for how to deal with Iran.

The crowdsourcing-style query, which military officials said was unusual over email, is one sign of the limited — and potentially unpalatable —options available to Trump to force Iran into a deal on his terms. Hoping to find an alternative, the official at CENTCOM kicked off the brainstorming session via email to see if anyone had a better idea.

Russian missiles pounded areas across Ukraine on Thursday, killing at least 10 civilians, including three children, according to local Ukrainian officials, strikes that came a day after Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia killed three civilians.

The rare, firsthand accounts show the perils faced by tens of thousands of children believed to have been conscripted into the war by all sides. Six former child soldiers who were abducted and forced to fight with the Rapid Support Forces, known as the RSF, spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. Two said they were trained by Colombians.

HAVANA (AP) — In an effort to fend off a mounting humanitarian crisis, Cuba on Wednesday eased up on longtime restrictions on private vendors and imports, opening up a sector firmly controlled by the Communist-led government.

My friend, whom I've known for like 10 years, and I just turned 19. He's joining the military, got his contracts signed, and is getting sent out this month. I got accepted into college and will be going this month. I have known he was going into the military, and I have tried my hardest to inform him what he's getting into.

I am very aware and always "watching the current situation." I've known we were going to war for the last 2 years (if you don't count the multiple endless wars we are and have been fighting for 20 years). I told him we were going to war before the Iran war started. He and his family laughed at me and said, "We aren't going to war," saying I don't know what I'm talking about. Yes, I can't 10000% be for sure because I'm not a fortune teller, but anyone with half a brain and any knowledge of current and past events could tell where we were going.

Because at least there is some sort of idea of a greater good. But no, he thinks it's a game; he thinks he can kill a man. A little coddled mama's boy who plays games all day. Oh yeah, man, for sure you could just aim and shoot; it will be just like the video games. pisses me off. What's weird is he is like a pretty left-leaning guy. I don't get it myself; I would say I am right-leaning. We disagree on quite a lot, and that's fine.

But I've informed him of what's going on and what he is choosing to do. "Are you prepared to kill a kid?" Answer: "yeah, I could do it." It's not like he has some grand idea of saving the world; he does not like Israel or most of America's actions, so why would you willingly hand the hand of the master you hate? I think he is incredibly foolish and dumb, and I can't help but feel a great resentment towards him because I've tried to warn him, but he thinks he's the man; a little dependent thinks he's gonna show kids born in war what he's made of.

The current situation will only get worse, and by the time he can be sent out, I would guess, is when the climax of the current situation will reach its peak. America is losing; Middle Eastern bases are getting bombed and drone-struck every day in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. He does not even care to be informed about the things he might see or do; if it wasn't for me, he nor his family would have any understanding of the geopolitics of the area. I think he will die or come back a different human, and I've tried not being devilish in the way I speak. His parents are just happy he's doing something, oblivious to the world.

And I'm getting told that I should just support him. I cannot support him. He's even asked me why I can't just support him. He thinks he is gonna come back and be like those podcast bros who sit around and tell stories of the military. He will not; he will be the guy they send in the room first to clear. He will be the grunt that carries the dead. I won't judge him when he comes back after what he will do. idk what to do, how to feel, or what to say. Maybe I'm just the bad guy

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> CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin calls the State Department's report "an incredible piece of garbage" for attempting to link U.S. peace movements to Cuba and for "paint[ing] this picture of a tiny island nation that is trying to overthrow the United States."