Two top US Republican lawmakers expressed concern on Saturday about the Pentagon's decision to withdraw 5,000 troops from Nato ally Germany.
Republican Leaders Voice Concern
Senator Roger Wicker and Representative Mike Rogers, who chair the Senate and House armed services committees respectively, said in a joint statement: "We are very concerned by the decision to withdraw a US brigade from Germany." Their statement came a day after the Pentagon announced the withdrawal, which is expected to be completed over the next six to 12 months.
President Donald Trump threatened the withdrawal earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that the Iranians were "humiliating" the United States in talks to end the war and that he couldn't see Washington's exit strategy.
Nato Seeks Details
Nato is seeking to "understand the details" of the US decision, a redeployment ordered by Trump amid his feud with Merz. The German government sought to play down the severity of the move, describing it as "anticipated" and a reminder of Europe's need to invest in its own defence.
Spirit Airlines Ceases Operations
US airlines and government officials battled on Saturday to deal with stranded passengers and stricken employees after discount carrier Spirit Airlines abruptly ceased operations. A political and business blame game began over the collapse of the low-cost carrier.
Trump Administration Ignoring Courts
An Associated Press analysis found that in the first 15 months since Trump returned to the White House, district court judges ruled the administration was violating a court order in at least 31 lawsuits over issues including mass layoffs, deportations, spending cuts and immigration practices. That is about one out of every eight lawsuits where courts have at least temporarily blocked the administration's actions.
Trump Compares US Navy to Pirates
Donald Trump said the US navy acted "like pirates" as he described an operation seizing a ship amid the tit-for-tat American blockade of Iranian ports. "We land on top of it and we took over the ship. We took over the cargo, took over the oil. It's a very profitable business," said Trump at a rally in Florida. "We're like pirates," he added to cheers. The comparison comes as legal experts raise alarms about Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
ICE Hires Firm Accused of Torture
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement awarded a contract to a private security company that has faced accusations of "torture" and "enforced disappearance" to assist in tracking down undocumented immigrant children who arrived in the US alone, a contracting document shows.
Impact on Landstuhl
The US president's move to pull American troops out of Germany has hit Landstuhl, the largest American military community outside the US, like a bombshell. Deborah Cole reports from the German town, where Americans have been woven into the fabric of life since 1945.
