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Tom Bowman
@TBowmanNPR
NPR National Desk reporter covering the Pentagon, the war abroad and the war at home.
Washington DC
npr.org/people/5457129…
Joined November 2009
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  • user avatar
    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Aug 13, 2021
    The situation at the US Embassy in #Kabul is more dire than what the State Department is saying. Mail has stopped. Nearly all employees are packing up and a very small number will head to another location. Staff are gearing up to destroy sensitive papers, computers, phones.
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Oct 20, 2020
    I am a pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, small-government, strong-defense and a national-anthem-standing conservative, writes William McRaven. Here’s why I voted for Joe Biden.
    Biden Will Make America Lead Again
    Opinion | Biden Will Make America Lead Again
    From wsj.com
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Aug 17, 2021
    We learned today that as many as 600 #Afghan soldiers are helping US maintain security at #Kabul Airport. And what happens to them when the mission ends Aug 31? Pentagon says they can apply for visas. #NPR.
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Oct 11, 2020
    GEN Mark Milley on #NPR dismisses Nat Sec Advisor’s announced troop cuts in #Afghanistan. “Robert O'Brien or anyone else can speculate as they see fit...I'm going to engage in the rigorous analysis of the situation based on the conditions .. and conversations with the president.”
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Aug 18, 2021
    Friends of ours still hunkered down In #Kabul and can’t get to the airport. Taliban checkpoints. WH says Taliban assured safe passage. Not true on the ground. Big problem? US securing airport but the streets outside are owned by the #Taliban. #NPR
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Jul 5, 2023
    US expected to announce tomorrow it will send cluster munitions to Ukraine, which is low on artillery shells. The munitions scatter bomblets. Ukraine wants them to hit dug-in Russians; Human Rights groups say the unexploded bomblets are a threat to civilians. #UKRAINE #NPR
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Jul 2, 2025
    Here’s the list of US munitions approved for Ukraine but now being held in Poland. 92 AIM missiles 30 Patriots missiles (PAC3MSE) 8496 155mm Howitzer rounds 142 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles 252 GMLRs missiles 25 Stinger missiles 125 AT-4 grenade launchers. #NPR #UkraineRussiaWar
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Aug 17, 2021
    An Afghan friend in Kabul reports Taliban beating women who tried to get to the airport. Friend fled with his wife and two kids and lost all luggage and money. Now hunkered down and afraid.
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Sep 8, 2016
    Trump: "Right now we are not strong." Real Reporter: "What other national military is stronger, more capable than the US?" #NBCNewsForum.
  • user avatar
    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Aug 18, 2015
    Two women have made it through the tough and exhausting Army Ranger training. Both Lts and West Point grads. More on NPR's Morning Edition.
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Jun 26, 2023
    Replying to @LucasFoxNews
    I was there when it happened. 500 Wagner Group troops tried to take a oil field and a U.S. Special Ops/Kurd outpost was in the way. Wagner attacked with artillery. US responded with AC-130, F-16s, drones, etc. Half killed, half scooted. Never happened again.
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Mar 6, 2022
    With most Russian combat forces rimming Ukraine now committed to the fight, Russia now starting to call up other troops in its country. A couple of battalions so far, a US official tells me. Officials also keeping a close eye on possible attacks on Odessa. #NPR. #UkraineWar
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Jan 16, 2021
    SCOOP: Senior defense official tells NPR that there were 143 notifications of investigation by the FBI last year of military members, mostly former.  Of these, 68 pertained to domestic extremism cases, including attacks on govt bldgs and involvement with White Nationalism.#npr
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    Tom Bowman
    @TBowmanNPR
    Aug 22, 2021
    NPR’s David Gilkey was at a Marine outpost in Afghanistan in 2011 when bin Laden was killed and overheard this to grunts back from patrol. Officer: “Good news guys they got bin Laden.” Grunt: Great sir does this mean we get to go home? Officer: No! Grunt: Then who gives a shit.