THURSDAY PDB – Here we go again. More unreliable Intelligence Community (IC) assessments.
The same intelligence agencies that said COVID didn’t leak from a lab in Wuhan – and that Hunter Biden’s laptop was a Russian intel plot – now say that the so-called ‘Havana Syndrome’ affecting thousands of US diplomats and spies unlikely caused by foreign adversary or sonic weapon. A new U.S. intelligence report didn’t pinpoint a cause for the wide range of symptoms but said factors such as pre-existing medical conditions were probably behind the incidents. WRONG THEN. LIKELY WRONG NOW.
Admitting it was caused by a foreign weapon would require real action.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of other developing stories.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
NEW – TAXPAYER KIDS CARE AT MILITARY ACADEMIES – Cadets at the service academies can now have children while attending school. Four cadets at the Air Force Academy were allowed to continue their studies during the last year after having children due to a policy change enacted by Congress. NOT TO MENTION DIVIDED FOCUS AND ADDED STRESS FOR CADETS.
WHY IN GOD’S NAME IS THIS SEEN AS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT? – Baby on-board? Pregnant Air Force B-1 pilot soars to new heights. Olme is one of the first airmen to benefit from new service guidance on flying while pregnant (FWP).
NATIONAL SECURITY
PREPPING FOR WAR? – Air Mobility Command removes tail numbers and unit info from planes, alarming watchdogs. Air Mobility Command has directed its refueling and cargo planes to obscure the majority of identifying information painted on the aircraft, citing national security concerns — an unusual move that is alarming to government watchdogs.
POLITICS AND BUDGET
EASIER SAID THAN DONE – Tips for generals: how to navigate politics without partisanship. With Washington’s partisan politics growing arguably fiercer, military leaders have to figure out how to defend their policies and people without appearing to take a side, says a group of longtime D.C. policy hands.
CHINA THREAT
House’s first China Committee hearing highlights Taiwan defenses. Lawmakers made the case for arming Taiwan when the House select committee on China convened its first hearing on Tuesday.
China sends 25 planes, 3 ships toward Taiwan. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said 19 planes crossed into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.
US seeks allies’ backing for possible China sanctions over Ukraine war. The U.S. is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
US government is not powerless to stop Chinese real estate deals near sensitive US military bases. Feds shouldn’t appear unprepared to respond to Chinese companies purchasing land near vital military bases.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
US eclipses all other nations in military aid to Ukraine. Between Jan. 24, 2022, and Jan. 15, 2023, the U.S. provided $46.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine in the effort against the Russian invasion, according to one recent study.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 372. Ukrainian forces are fiercely resisting a Russian attempt to seize the small city of Bakhmut and are throwing massive extra reserves into the bloody battle, said Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force. Seizing Bakhmut would open the way for Russia to fully control the rest of the strategic Donbas industrial region bordering Russia.
Ukraine reinforces embattled Bakhmut, but the mission is unclear. Amid rumors of Ukrainian withdrawal from the war’s most prolonged battle, officials said nothing about the size or purpose of the reinforcement.
BUT DEMS SAY WALLS DON’T WORK!? – Finland begins building 10-foot-high razor-wire wall along Russian border. Five E.U. nations plan to build more than 770 miles of fencing along their borders with Russia and Belarus. One expert called it a “barbed-wire curtain.”
IRAN THREAT
GIVE ‘EM TO UKRAINE – UK navy intercepts ‘Iran missiles’ likely headed for Yemen. Iran has long been accused of smuggling weapons to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, with French and US ships also seizing shipments.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
US increases military support for Somalia against al-Shabab. The U.S. is increasing its military assistance to Somalia as the country sees success in battling what the U.S. calls “the largest and most deadly al-Qaeda network in the world.”
US Special Forces launch counter-terrorism drills with African armies. The U.S. began its annual counter-terrorism training program for African forces in Ghana on Wednesday, aiming to strengthen border defenses in the fight against Islamist insurgents who are spreading south into new territories.
SPACE THREAT
Air Force advisers study use of satellites for tracking moving targets. A board of scientific advisers is looking at ways the Air Force can use satellites to track moving targets on the ground and in the air — a task traditionally performed by aircraft.
US MILITARY
COMPETING WITH MARINES? – With Indo-Pacific in mind, Army eyeing heavy support ship prototyping competition. With a Maneuver Support Vessel – Heavy competition on the horizon, the service is also working on the smaller MSV-L, trying to address design changes without increasing costs.
DARPA wants a high-speed, no-runway aircraft. Will it be a helicopter? A seaplane? Or a whole new thing?
Nuke Missile Base firings due to failed nuclear safety inspection. The six officers at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., who were fired Monday were relieved of command after their units failed a nuclear surety inspection.
END of PDB – 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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NEW – TAXPAYER KIDS CARE AT MILITARY ACADEMIES – Cadets at the service academies can now have children while attending school Oh great. Now female cadets can have kids. Instead of being dismissed, now they will have parental leave, day care centers, etc. More focus on woke stuff to weaken the military. 1SG, USA, Ret