PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – No runways, no sorties: Chinese missiles threaten US airpower plans. U.S. air bases “can no longer be considered sanctuary.” Unlike the last 30 years, when U.S. air bases were largely safe havens from enemy attacks, “adversaries now possess high-end capabilities” that can threaten such installations.
This warning understates the threat.
Chinese missile strikes could keep U.S. military runways and taxiways in Japan, Guam and other Pacific islands closed in the critical first days – and even weeks – of a war with China. Even if the U.S. undertook massive investments in a mix of active and passive countermeasures, runways and taxiways would remain closed for at least the first several days of any conflict.
To fix this, the Air Force will need to move more rapidly toward uncrewed and autonomous systems, preposition equipment and munition stockpiles, and prepare to prioritize air denial in the initial air war.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:
NATIONAL SECURITY
The crumbling foundation of America’s military arms supply. The US failed to produce weapons and ammunition fast enough to supply Ukraine. Could it equip its own armed forces in the event of war?
HOMELAND SECURITY
US POWER OVERSEAS
US Coast Guard to participate in first-ever ‘Quad’ four-country drill in Tokyo Bay along with the coast guards of Japan, Australia and India. In March, Japan, the coast guards of the US, Japan, and the Philippines also plan to conduct joint drills off Japan’s coast.
12 ISIS terrorists killed in new round of US strikes on Syria.
US forces strike command hub of Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
Russia’s setbacks in Syria primed to benefit US Navy in Mediterranean and beyond.
POLITICS
‘Navy wasted $1.84 billion’ on old Ticonderoga guided-missile cruiser-rehab effort. The Navy never wanted to modernize its cruisers. But lawmakers balked at losing hulls and missile tubes and ordered the service to give some of its remaining cruisers several more years.
IRAN THREAT/ISRAEL WARS
After Assad’s fall, the task of unearthing the dead from Syria’s mass graves is just beginning.
CHINA THREAT
Advanced fighters bound for Okinawa will help counter ‘bully’ China, general says.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
NATO takes over coordination of military aid to Kyiv from US as planned, in a move widely seen as aiming to safeguard the support mechanism against NATO sceptic President-elect Donald Trump.
Biden admin will send several billion dollars in aid to Ukraine through the end of term. This, in addition to the more than $59 billion in security assistance sent before.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
Battle erupts over South Korean court that will determine the fate of impeached Yoon. This, as rival parties squabble the appointments of court justices who will determine whether to unseat or reinstate Yoon.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Chinese spy linked to Prince Andrew ‘was not a lone wolf’.
SPACE THREAT
Space Force launches new GPS satellite with lightning speed — shaving more than a year and a half off the typical timeline for launching the highest priority national security spacecraft while switching rocket providers to do it.
US MILITARY
Air Force expands waivers for asthma, allergies, hearing loss to bring in between 600 and 1,000 more recruits per year, though they would have to stay out of career fields with stricter medical standards such as aviation and special warfare.
Army set to debut Master Combat Badges in spring. The new badges will combine expert and traditional combat badges.
This Marine unit now has its own tool to blast drones out of the sky.
Opinions of lower-ranking troops could soon be considered in officer promotions.
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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We have no means of stopping China short of nukes. We simply do not have the manpower to fight them with conventional weapons. Game over.