Hacked Documents Reveal Russia’s Contracts for Cuban Mercenaries in Ukraine
A military officer’s hacked email account reveals the apparent recruitment of at least 100 Cubans, some of whom posted on Facebook about their journey to Russia.
World
New GOP Measure Would Bar Pentagon Assistance to Pakistan
The defense budget amendment would cut off funds to Pakistan amid an ongoing crackdown by the military establishment and its civilian allies.
Matt Gaetz Wants to Make the Pentagon Answer for Training Coup Leaders
By targeting the defense budget, Gaetz demands the military tell Congress about trainees who “broke bad.”
Ghosts of Guantánamo
Censorship Has Never Been Worse at Guantánamo Bay
Visiting press are forced to turn a blind eye as the military pretends the prison doesn’t exist.
No One Knows How Many Americans Are Imprisoned in Pakistan’s Crackdown on Dissent
The U.S. helped set Pakistan’s crisis in motion, but it appears to be doing little to help dual citizens caught up in the military’s dragnet.
Honduras Defense Official and U.S. Drug War Ally Tied to Narco-Trafficker, Notorious Mercenary Firm
Documents and interviews link Col. Elias Melgar Urbina to a convicted drug trafficker and a security company accused of assassinating activists.
Voices
Putin’s Night of the Long Knives
The Russian president’s role in Wednesday’s fatal plane crash is not entirely clear, but the day’s events were reminiscent of Hitler’s 1934 purge.
Prigozhin’s Legacy Is the Global Rise of Private Armies for Hire
Wagner didn’t just support Russia’s military, it became an integral part of the fighting force.
Imran Khan Booked Under Pakistan State Secrets Law for Allegedly Mishandling Secret Cable in 2022
A fight over recent amendments to the Official Secrets Act sent Pakistan into a constitutional crisis.
![TOPSHOT - Niger's National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane (2nd R) is greeted by supporters upon his arrival at the Stade General Seyni Kountche in Niamey on August 6, 2023. Thousands of supporters of the military coup in Niger gathered at a Niamey stadium Sunday, when a deadline set by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS to return the deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to power is set to expire, according to AFP journalists. A delegation of members of the ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) arrived at the 30,000-seat stadium to cheers from supporters, many of whom were drapped in Russian flags and portraits of CNSP leaders. (Photo by AFP) / "The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo by - has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane] instead of [Colonel-Major Amadou Adramane]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require." (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)](https://theintercept.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1581236163.jpg?fit=768%2C527)
When Is a Coup Not a Coup? When the U.S. Says So.
The Pentagon refuses to call the overthrow of Niger’s president a coup — a move that could affect military assistance and a U.S. drone base.