Stars and Stripes Daily Headlines

March 12, 2017     Under the radar: Life is low-tech at Army missile defense base in the Pacific The Pentagon recognizes the operational importance of Kwajalein, but the average American likely hasn’t heard of it. Even some soldiers assigned here have to get out an atlas.   South Korea’s impeachment heralds major test for US alliance The ouster of South Korea’s president ushers in an era of uncertainty for its longstanding alliance with the United States at a critical time as the threat from North Korea is growing.   With Flynn out as Trump adviser, Turkey still presses for cleric’s extradition from US He is the “head of a terrorist organization,” the “cult leader” of a movement that has infiltrated every part of the Turkish state. He’s the mastermind behind an attempted coup that left a nation in chaos and 250 people dead. But the United States, a close ally, refuses to hand him over. That, at least, is the view from Turkey.   House committee wants evidence for Trump's wiretap claim  The House intelligence committee is asking the Trump administration for evidence that the phones at Trump Tower were tapped during the campaign as its namesake has charged.   Coalition official: Islamic State-held Mosul completely surrounded A senior coalition official says the remaining western Mosul neighborhoods held by the Islamic State group are now completely surrounded and IS has lost more than 60 percent of the territory the militants once held in Iraq.   The teachers are unpaid and danger is ever-present, but Mosul’s schools are reopening Schools and businesses have reopened since the Islamic State was driven out of east Mosul in January, but with the militants still entrenched on the west side of the city, the area’s future remains uncertain.   They serve in the Air Force 'because of what's in their hearts' -- but airlines want them, too Gen. Carlton Everhart II says he is working to develop partnerships with airlines to come up with solutions that benefit both the Air Force and the airlines.   Who and why, twin mysteries behind leak of CIA's cybertools  It's not just who did it, but why. Perhaps it was a U.S. spy or contractor who felt jilted. Maybe the CIA was exposed by a foreign country that wanted to embarrass U.S. intelligence. Could it have been a CIA insider worried about Americans' privacy rights? Some possible motives behind last week's disclosure.   USS Independence departure leaves big void The 58-year-old "Indy" will sail to International Shipbreaking in Brownsville, Texas, where the flattop will be dismantled like several before it. USS Constellation and USS Ranger are already being scrapped there.   Melania Trump begins to embrace new role as first lady Melania Trump's invitation for high-powered women to join her at the White House was about more than the lunch they would eat, or the stated purpose of honoring International Women's Day.   ‘An exciting time at the shipyard’ Two of the three dry docks can accommodate the larger Virginia class subs, and more and more of this newer generation will be coming into the yard in the years to come.