Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

February 20, 2017     Pence: Patience of American people being tested by NATO NATO allies must accelerate defense spending this year in answer to a U.S. demand that Europe carry a heavier burden — or face consequences, Vice President Mike Pence said Monday during a visit to the alliance headquarters in Brussels.   Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster is named Trump's national security adviser President Donald Trump has tapped Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster as his new national security adviser, replacing the ousted Michael Flynn.   Mattis arrives in Iraq and makes clear the US is not there to take oil Defense Secretary James N. Mattis made an unannounced visit to Iraq’s capital on Monday to reassure allies of the U.S. military’s commitment to support the sprawling operation to recapture the city of Mosul from entrenched Islamic State militants.   US advisers are now fighting alongside Iraqi forces in the battle for Mosul U.S. military advisers are now fighting alongside Iraqi forces near the front lines against the Islamic State, a sign of President Donald Trump’s willingness to grant more latitude to American commanders than they’ve had since Iraq’s ground war against the militants was launched more than two years ago.   After financial hit, recovery of Wounded Warrior Project could take years Wounded Warrior Project’s well-known logo shows one solider carrying a fallen comrade to safety. For the past year, the charity has dealt with its own financial wounds after national media reports plunged it into a touch-and-go period marked by a nose-dive in donations and staff cutbacks.   Police return stolen Purple Heart to Oroville Dam evacuee Vietnam veteran Mike Pomeroy thought his Purple Heart was gone forever after burglars took it when he evacuated his home last week due to the emergency at Oroville Dam.   Drugs vanish at some VA hospitals Federal authorities are stepping up investigations at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers due to a sharp increase in opioid theft, missing prescriptions or unauthorized drug use by VA employees since 2009, according to government data obtained by The Associated Press.   Chilling CCTV footage shows killing of N. Korean leader’s brother Chilling new security footage emerged Monday purportedly showing the assassination of the North Korean leader’s half-brother at a Malaysian airport.   Robots poised to take over wide range of military jobs The wave of automation that swept away tens of thousands of American manufacturing and office jobs during the past two decades is now washing over the armed forces, putting both rear-echelon and front-line positions in jeopardy.   US servicemember dies outside Ramadi A U.S. servicemember died during a non-combat related incidentMonday outside Ramadi, Iraq, the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria said.