PAUL’S DAILY BRIEF (PDB) Wednesday – Air Force secretary underlines growing Chinese power, intent as threat to Indo-Pacific. Kendall said the Chinese Communist Party continues to heavily invest in “capabilities, operational concepts and organizations that are specifically designed to defeat the U.S.” and its Western Pacific allies.
“I’ve been closely watching the evolution of [China’s] military for 15 years. China is not a future threat; China is a threat today,” Kendall said.
Beijing is focused on developing weapons to target U.S. land and sea assets like air bases and aircraft carriers, according to a recent report.
In August, Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of Indo-Pacific Command, spoke about China’s threat to take control of Taiwan, which China’s Xi Jinping has asserted will become Chinese territory by force, if necessary.
Kendall noted by example China’s larger, more sophisticated exercises aimed at overwhelming Taiwan.
In July, Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said Chinese aggression toward territorial rival the Philippines has transformed the security environment in the region.
“In addition, China continues to expand its nuclear forces and its ability to operate in cyberspace,” Kendall said. “We can expect all these trends to continue.”
The U.S. must be prepared for a potential conflict. The Air and Space Forces are working on their own massive modernization initiative, Kendall added.
“I am not saying war in the Pacific is imminent or inevitable…” he noted.
BUT (I NOTE) IT LIKELY IS.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:
NATIONAL SECURITY
NORAD boss ‘intrigued’ by new high-altitude drones amid increase in Russian approaches. Russian aircraft have encroached on the Alaska air defense identification zone (ADIZ) four times in the last week. He wants to ramp up his command’s training and monitoring capabilities.
Intel agencies are now awash in young talent. But can they keep it?
AWACS without a plane? Northrop pitches new connect-everything product. Until now, the US military needed a giant AWACS aircraft packed with people, sensors, and computers to handle sensing and data sharing. Northrop Grumman says it now has a way to do much of that far from the vulnerable skies.
HOMELAND SECURITY
NO GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA – Military influencers could help fight disinformation, experts argue. Some U.S. service members share their military experiences on social media, garnering hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of followers by posting videos explaining the realities of military life.
DISHONORABLE MARINE – Camp Pendleton Marine who made and sold ‘ghost’ rifles sentenced to prison. The lance corporal sold 22 unregistered rifles, most of them with unlawfully short barrels, to an undercover fed for $23,300. STILL, THE LAWS ARE QUESTIONABLE.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
ABSOLUTELY NOT – Affirmative action lawsuit: US Naval Academy says race-based admissions necessary. An attorney for the Academy said that the school should continue using race and ethnicity in admissions because it was not where it needed to be in building a diverse student body. NO PLACE FOR REVERSE RACISM.
FACILITATING? Narcan now available at exchanges on base to combat epidemic of opioid overdoses.
POLITICS
Russian disinfo groups target Harris-Walz campaign, Microsoft says. They are posting fabricated videos and other sham content to discredit the campaign.
Neo-Nazi group led by 2 ex-Marines pushed and cheered Haitian pet-eating claims gripping Springfield, Ohio. This, after Trump said the residents were “eating the dogs” during the debate last week.
Titan submersible sent its final message 6 seconds before contact was lost.
Top admirals might testify as unflattering details emerge in Navy bribery case. The five admirals could be compelled to testify in a bribery case against the Navy’s former second-highest ranking official. Allegations of a spurned lover and an illicit deal sketched on a napkin, are part of it.
US POWER OVERSEAS
Airborne assault comes to Super Garuda Shield exercise in Indonesia. U.S. Army and Indonesian forces, along with other allies and partners, coordinated a complex airborne assault mission into South Sumatra for the first time.
How commercial space services kept US troops safe while leaving Niger. The Space Force used commercial satellite services to support the withdrawal of U.S. forces from air bases in Niger this summer.
Transportation Command nominee promises review of failed Gaza pier mission. This, to better prepare for similar missions in the future.
Talk of US Iraq withdrawal is disconnected from ISIS threat. Most U.S. forces will depart Iraq over the next two years, leaving only a residual force in the semi autonomous region of Kurdistan to provide security to Iraqi Kurds and sustain U.S. forces in Syria.
Red Sea lessons informing Fleet Forces’ combat surge model. The short-notice surge of U.S. warships from the East Coast to take on missile and drone threats is informing a model for how the Navy will surge ships to fight in future conflicts.
ISRAEL’S WAR AGAINST TERROR
Hezbollah terrorists hit by a wave of exploding pagers that killed at least 9 people and injured thousands. They exploded near-simultaneously Tuesday in Lebanon and Syria, Israel is likely to blame for what appeared to be a sophisticated remote attack.
CHINA THREAT
China says it tailed a US military plane through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Tuesday.
US to assist in building new naval pier at Philippine base in Subic Bay.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Russia’s hasty mobilization to add 180,000 troops could see more drones crash on NATO territory.
Lessons from Ukrainian F-16 crash will shape US training for Ukrainian pilots.
Some of Ukraine’s allies are starting to look at how a cease-fire could work. This, raising concerns in several other Western capitals that these efforts could lead to Kyiv being forced into a premature end to the war.
One million are now dead or injured in the 2 ½ year Russia-Ukraine war. This, a staggering toll for two countries struggling with shrinking prewar populations, will cost them far into the future.
A new documentary about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has the film festival circuit up in arms. It is first substantive film about the war from the Russian point of view.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles on Chuseok holiday’s final day.
SPACE THREAT
Domain awareness, counterspace systems top US Space Force 2026 budget priorities.
France plans low-orbit demonstrator that can target other satellites. This, to show the country can take action to protect its space assets.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
India orders hundreds of new engines for Russian Su-30MKI fighters. The 240 engines will keep the backbone of India’s fighter fleet airborne for years to come.
Italy to buy 25 extra F-35 fighter jets under new budget. This, in addition to new Eurofighters as its defense procurement spending rises 16.8% this year to $10.3 billion.
US MILITARY
New missile allows Marine pilots to strike far, avoid air defenses. They can now strike targets up to 230 miles away, keeping aviators out of the range of many enemy air defense systems.
WATCH – Green Berets leaping out of helicopters during free fall ops.
Emphasis on electronic warfare a must. But details on the findings of the Air Force’s yearlong deep dive into electronic warfare capabilities are largely classified.
Air Force top enlisted leader says trainees carrying real rifles at boot camp is ‘desired end state.’ The change would mirror long-standing norms for other military branches.
Air Force meets recruitment goals in FY24, eyes 20% increase in 2025. This, one year after all components of the service missed the mark for the first time in decades.
Air Force hits recruiting goals with help from tweaks to body fat standards and tattoo policy.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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