TUESDAY PDB – Is China protecting Russia from collapse or prepping for a two-front war against us? Or both? – Even as the U.S. and NATO flood Ukraine with weapons, U.S. intelligence suggests China is considering sending arms and ammunition to Russia, a significant escalation by China on behalf of Putin.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken meekly warned that Beijing's direct involvement in the Kremlin's war effort would be a “serious problem” and warned China not to send weapons to Russia for the Ukraine war.
Meanwhile, North Korean ballistic missile tests and nuclear saber rattling are also raising the risk of war.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of those and other developing stories.
Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
PENTAGON SHOULDN'T BE PROVIDING TAXPAYER SUPPORT TO GET ABORTIONS – GOP lawmakers attack new Defense Department abortion policies. Republican lawmakers decried new Defense Department plans to provide travel expenses and leave time for troops' interstate travel to obtain abortion services, vowing their own coming response to counter the changes.
NATIONAL SECURITY
IS BIDEN'S PENTAGON UP TO FIGHTING TWO-FRONT WAR? – Is Pentagon up to the job of great power competition (AKA WAR)? As Russian forces massed on Ukraine's border in 2021 and 2022, China flew a record number of sorties into the airspace around Taiwan. When Pentagon leaders are faced with two separate crises like this, do they need to adjust their plans for conflicts and disasters in other regions? WHAT ABOUT N. KOREA?
HOMELAND DEFENSE
DON'T WANT ANY PROOF BIDEN SHOT DOWN HOBBYIST WEATHER BALLOONS – US ends search for objects shot down over Alaska, Lake Huron. The U.S. military said late Friday that it has ended its search for airborne objects that were shot down near Deadhorse, Alaska, and over Lake Huron on Feb. 10 and 12.
Hobby group wonders if F-22 shot down its missing balloon. An Illinois hobby group thinks one of the unidentified flying objects shot out of the sky by a jet fighter's sidewinder missile might have been their humble radio-equipped balloon.
CHINA THREAT
Rattled by China, US and allies are beefing up defenses in the Pacific. But ‘everything needs to go faster,' says Indo-Pacific command's top admiral.
China offers ‘no apology' in first meeting after spy balloon incident, Blinken says. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
MORE MONEY AND GUNS ISN'T A STRATEGY OR PLAN – Biden announces $500M in new military aid to Ukraine during surprise visit Monday. And he teased new sanctions against entities aiding Russia's war efforts.
HOWEVER – F-16s, longer-range missiles could help Ukraine beat Russia, US general privately tells lawmakers. Gen. Christopher Cavoli's comments go further than other administration officials.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea's October launch over Japan showed increased payload, distance: exclusive analysis. The Netherlands Defense Academy warns that North Korea's October missile launch demonstrated the ability to deliver an almost 20 percent greater payload into Guam.
North Korea fires 2 missiles in tests condemned by neighbors. North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea east of the country Monday in its second test launch in three days, prompting Japan to request an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
CAN PENTAGON FIGHT RUSSIA, CHINA, PLUS N. KOREA? – N. Korea makes fresh threats, US bombers fly after ICBM test. North Korea said Sunday its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test was meant to further bolster its “fatal” nuclear attack capacity and threatened additional powerful steps over upcoming military drills between the U.S. and South Korea.
SPACE THREAT
Space Force sees greater demand for national security launch program. The Space Force expects the scope of its next phase of major National Security Space Launch contracts to increase by about 50% due to surge demand for military lift services.
Creation of a Space National Guard gets renewed push from lawmakers. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are once again backing a bill to create a Space National Guard, renewing a fight over how the Space Force will manage reservists.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
EMPTY WARNINGS – Marcos: China laser not enough to activate US defense pact. The Philippine president said the Chinese coast guard's use of a military-grade laser that briefly blinded some of the crew aboard a Philippine patrol vessel in the disputed South China Sea was not enough for him to invoke a mutual defense treaty with the U.S. but warned that such aggression should stop.
US troops capture ISIS official in Syria tied to attacks on prisons. It's the third raid against ISIS in Syria in less than a week.
Why Indian military's embrace of AI risks sparking nuclear disaster. India is trying to incorporate AI into its defense capabilities in an attempt to compete with China and deter Pakistan, but this approach has huge risks.
US MILITARY
LET'S SEE – VA benefits nominee promises more free help for veterans filing claims. The nominee to lead Veterans Affairs benefits operations said he plans to improve outreach and support programs to ensure veterans don't feel forced into paying for legal assistance to obtain disability payouts and other services.
END of Paul's Daily Briefing
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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Well any warning from ten percent Joe, is a green light for China 🇨🇳. I think that is creepy Joe’s way of asking for more bribe money 💰
US warns China or Threaten China but let’s China buy our land!! Our society/Gov is so Freaking backwards it’s Pathetic!