MONDAY PDB – High public confidence in the military is dropping. Here’s how to reverse this dangerous trend. The American public has a relatively high level of confidence in the U.S. military — especially compared to how the public views other governmental institutions. This remains true today even though public confidence in the military has dropped markedly in the last few years, hitting the lowest point in two decades at 60%.
Yet, the military should not be complacent about its relative status because confidence in the military is high — but hollow.
The pillars undergirding the public’s confidence are eroding. And it is propped up by a peer pressure effect that could drop dramatically. If recent trend lines continue, we will likely see a marked further erosion in public confidence as well. Civilian and military leaders alike need to be alert to this issue and take steps to shore up public confidence before it’s too late.
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:
HAWAII FIRES RESPONSE
DAY LATE AND DOLLAR SHORT – Biden to visit fire-ravaged Maui on Monday as search efforts continue. Joe Biden will journey Monday to fire-ravaged Maui to witness up close the devastation left by an inferno more than a week ago and assess for himself a government response that some residents initially found lacking.
NATIONAL SECURITY
US military at pivotal moment for biodefense, Pentagon review warns. The U.S. military faces an acute threat from foreign adversaries who are developing advanced biological weapons programs and must act urgently to counteract growing threats in the biodefense sphere.
How a drill is preparing admirals, naval forces for simultaneous wars. Can the U.S. Navy’s fleet fight two conflicts at once, while managing distributed forces with limited resources?
China, US test intelligent-drone swarms in race for military AI dominance. Beijing and Washington prioritize autonomous vehicles and surveillance, study shows.
Don’t ditch soldiers for machines, combine them. The U.S. Army was pursuing more than 200 artificial intelligence-related projects as of 2021, according to a federal watchdog.
TWO WORDS FOR THIS – ‘IN SANE’ – There’s only one way to control AI: nationalization. AI’s infinite potential — and infinite risk — requires federal ownership.
CHINA THREAT
Chinese military launches drills around Taiwan. China’s Eastern Theater Command released footage of the drills online that showed soldiers running, as well as military boats and planes.
US, Japan and Australia plan joint navy drills in South China Sea. The drill will underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after recent Chinese aggression, Filipino security officials said.
THIS IS A GOOD THING – EVEN IF BIDEN DID IT – Biden brokers new defense commitments between Japan, South Korea. The series of trilateral defense initiatives with Japan’s Prime Minister and South Korea’s President at Camp David on Friday come as the two U.S. allies move past decades of strained relations.
China accuses government worker of spying for the CIA in second public espionage claim. This comes as Beijing ramps up its emphasis – and rhetoric – on national security.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 544. The United Nations condemned a Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s northern city of Chernihiv on Saturday morning, which killed seven people and injured dozens. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised a “tangible response” to what he called a “heinous strike.”
Two injured in Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow region, nearly 50 flights disrupted. At least two people were injured on Monday when parts of a Ukrainian drone destroyed by Russian air defenses fell on a house in the Moscow region, the regional governor said.
The Netherlands and Denmark will give F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The Netherlands on Friday said the U.S. had given its approval to deliver Dutch F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine’s air force.
USAFE boss: Ukraine won’t get the F-16 until 2024—and proficiency will take years. Developing proficiency with that aircraft “could be four or five years down the road,” said the commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces-Africa.
Russia’s war in Ukraine could run for years. From Moscow to Washington, a lack of clear and achievable strategic goals points to a long conflict.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea’s Kim watches cruise missile launches. They coincided with annual drills being conducted by U.S. and South Korean troops.
North Korean hackers target US-South Korea military drills, police say. Suspected North Korean hackers have targeted a joint U.S.-South Korea military exercise being held this week.
SPACE THREAT
Space Force activates first unit focused on targeting adversaries. The first Space Force unit dedicated to targeting an adversary was recently established in Colorado Springs.
As Russia and India attempt lunar landings, the moon rush gets crowded. Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft crashed into the moon, while India’s Chandrayaan-3 is expected to touch down as early as Wednesday.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Ukraine war prompts new US air tactics in Europe. Nineteen months into Russia’s war on Ukraine, its lessons are shaping how the U.S. Air Force thinks about combat over Europe.
US State Dept OKs potential $1 billion sale of HIMARS to Australia. The U.S. State Department has approved a possible sale of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) for $975 million.
Leader of Niger’s junta says it will restore civilian rule within 3 years but gives no details. The leader of mutinous soldiers who ousted Niger’s democratically elected president said Saturday night that they will return the country to civilian rule within three years.
US readying plans to evacuate drone bases in Niger if necessary. The U.S. is making precautionary plans to evacuate two key drone and counter-terror bases in Niger if that becomes necessary under the West African nation’s new ruling junta.
A presidential candidate was assassinated. His rivals are trying to stay alive. Ecuador wasn’t prepared for the assassination of a presidential candidate. There are no rules or protocol for protecting them.
US MILITARY
Corps identifies Marine who died at California infantry school. Lance Cpl. Joseph D. Whaley died Thursday during nighttime live-fire training.
USS Zumwalt arrives in Mississippi for hypersonic weapon installation. Guided-missile destroyer USS Zumwalt arrived in Mississippi to begin a two-year process two install hypersonic missiles arrived on Saturday.
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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The American people have lost confidence in the military, because of the (pardon the term) PUSSIFICATION of all the branches. Emphasis on pronouns and not offending each other instead of defense of the country and staying alive in the process… By contrast, Chinese elementary schoolers are trained in the maintenance and accurate use of firearms. I was not allowed in the military during the draft due to my deafness, but my veteran friends have told me they intended to have a career in the armed forces, but were appalled at the “limp wristed world” of the military and the idea of having to fight FOR and ALONGSIDE these feminine types….
Damn Woke killed the Military
Suffering from a loss of Patriotism, America?
Thank a bloody godless anti-American democrat.
Army vet