• The US spends about $250 billion on defense outside of the Pentagon’s budget. [Link]

• An investigator is reporting that there is gross mismanagement on an F-16 base in Iraq. The base is operated by contractors and costs taxpayers $700 million. [Link]

• One US service member was killed, and two other were injured in Somalia. The US troops were assisting Somali troops in their fight against the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabaab. [Link]

• Helicopters attack near the area where the US troop in Somalia was killed. [Link]

• At least five West Africa countries are forming a coalition to fight Islamists in the region. [Link]

• At least 15 people have been left dead after a border fight broke out between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Most of the dead are civilians. [Link]

• The Taliban have seized a district near the Northern Afghanistan city Kunduz. [Link]

• Iraq’s Prime Minister says no US combat troops will remain in Iraq after the ISIS War. A few days ago, the Pentagon announced the US was working towards a status of forces agreement with Iraq that would allow US troops to remain in Iraq. [Link]

• At least 68 civilians have been killed by the Iraqi army bombing a school that was being used by displaced people in Mosul. At least 47 of the dead are women and children. [Link]

• In the past week, ISIS lost ground to US-backed SDF forces and the Assad government. [Link]

• A deal has been reached between Russia, Iran, and Turkey to establish safe zones in Syria. [Link]

• The US says it will not respect the safe zones set up by Russia, Iran, and Turkey. The US is not currently operating in any of the areas that are now safe zones. [Link]

• This video shows Venezuelan riot control vehicles running over protesters. [Link]

• At least 38 people have been killed during the protests in Venezuela. [Link]

On Foreign Policy Focus #36, I discuss the current status of the war on the Korean Peninsula. Decades ago hostilities ended in an armistice. However, the war lacks an official ending. Since Trump took office, tensions between the US and North Korea have been increasing. Leaders on both sides have threatened to restart the war. I also update Iraq, Libya, and Somalia. LISTEN HERE!!