Westminster College
Kael Weston is a writer-in-residence at Westminster College. He served in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan as a State Department advisor, where he received the Medal for Heroism. He is the author of The Mirror Test: America at War in Iraq and Afghanistan.
America and the 'forever war' Anyone born in the US since September 11 has lived an entire lifetime in a nation at war. Presidents Bush, Obama and Trump have warned of threats from overseas -- but allies as well as enemies feel the real threat is America's unparalleled power. The total cost is up to $5.6 trillion, but less than one percent of the population has served -- and without shared sacrifice, foreign battlefields seem far away. Now the so-called "war on terror" is coming home, as Congress encourages local police to adopt military strategies and equipment designed for combat. In the name of ensuring freedom abroad, are we in danger of losing freedom at home? In December of the year 2000, this program went on the air. Less than a year later, everything changed.
Is the US fighting a permanent war in Afghanistan? Sixteen years after September 11th, the Trump Administration is divided over America's longest war. Since the peak of 100,000 American soldiers their number is now just 8500 soldiers — at a cost of $3.1 billion a month. Now the Pentagon wants to send 5000 more. But the Trump White House is divided . Advocates of continued US involvement say it's all about the Taliban gaining strength and even more extreme groups now involved in the country. Skeptics point to massive financial corruption and ask if there's any plan for ending a conflict that's killed and wounded so many American soldiers for so long.
State Department hero reflects on the 'Mirror Test' We spoke with a lot of authors this year, but our this guest stood out. For seven consecutive years, J. Kael Weston served in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan -- not as a soldier, but as a civilian — a State Department advisor. He received the Secretary of State's Medal for Heroism. This year, he published The Mirror Test: America at War in Iraq and Afghanistan , a searing account about his experience.
State Department Hero Reflects on the 'Mirror Test' For seven consecutive years, J. Kael Weston served in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan -- not as a soldier, but as a civilian — a State Department Advisor. He received the Secretary of State’s Medal for Heroism. Now he’s written a searing account about his experience called The Mirror Test: America at War in Iraq and Afghanistan .
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?