MONDAY PDB – Go to the source. Kill this guy, like Trump did to his predecessor, Soleimani. The shadowy backroom dealer steering Iran's ‘Axis of Resistance.' Esmail Qaani, in control of the paramilitary Quds Force, is under pressure to avert a direct confrontation with Washington.
TOTAL SPIN AND NONSENSE – How closely does Iran control its proxy forces? It depends. Tehran provides arms and support to an array of militant groups across the Mideast, but it does not call all the shots.
IRAN IS THE HEAD OF THE SNAKE
US and UK strike Houthi targets in Yemen one day after US strikes in Iraq and Syria. The targets were hit from air and surface, including fighters, with the support of several other countries. At least 30 targets were struck across at least 10 locations.
US warns of further retaliation if Iran-backed militias continue their attacks. However, it added that it does not want an “open-ended military campaign” across the region.
BIDEN – STOP UNDERMINING YOUR THREATS WITH CAVEATS OF FEAR.
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
WE SHOULDN'T ‘ABANDON' UKRAINE BUT LET EUROPE TAKE THE LEAD AND WE SUPPORT. EUROPE SHOULD SUPPORT US AS WE TAKE LEAD WITH CHINA. If Republicans abandon Ukraine, don't expect Europe's support on China.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Alaska National Guard plans deployment to assist federal government on US-Mexico border. It has begun preparing for a potential deployment early next year. BIDEN'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISN'T TRYING TO CONTROL THE BORDER.
POLITICS
House Republicans announce bill that provides more military aid to Israel but leaves out Ukraine. They will move forward with a $17.6 billion package that also replenishes U.S. weapons but leaves out more help for Ukraine.
Senators unveil bipartisan bill to impose tougher asylum and border laws. The $118 billion package is the result of months of negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats, as well as Team Biden. It's not clear it will pass Congress.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
TOTAL HORES**T – THIS IS PART OF A DISGUSTING ORCHESTRATED LIBERAL PRO-ABORTION CAMPAIGN USING OUR DEAD SOLDIERS AS POLITICAL PAWNS – Retired military officials: Protecting abortion care keeps America safe. Two of the three soldiers killed in the tragic drone attack in Jordan were women. They lost their lives for a country that is moving to restrict the rights of all women — including those in uniform.
IRAN THREAT
US bolsters defenses around Jordan base as it readies more strikes. This, at a base that was attacked by Iran-backed militants.
Navy destroyers and jets took out at least 12 Houthi drones Friday.
For US carrier pilots, a vexing mission hunting down Houthi missiles and drones. On the USS Eisenhower, pilots say they're adopting new tactics to find and destroy Houthi weapons hidden in Yemen.
ISRAEL'S WAR ON TERROR
Israeli soldiers struggle to square political views with the realities of war. Amos Shani Atzmon says he doesn't blame Palestinians in Gaza for hating Israel right now.
CHINA THREAT
Air Force preps for mega overhaul with an eye toward China. The service is expected to announce major changes to its air wings and command structure this month.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Ukraine says Russia refuses to turn over the bodies of military plane crash victims. These are the bodies of scores of Ukrainian prisoners of war whom the Kremlin claims were killed in the downing of a Russian military transport plane by Kyiv's forces.
Ukraine is getting a new long-range bomb before the US. The new Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs will be used in combat for the first time by Kyiv.
Dozens detained in Moscow as wives of Russian soldiers protest. This, at a protest in central Moscow, as wives and other relatives of Russian servicemen mobilized to fight in Ukraine called for their return.
What military advantage could Russia get out of Libya? A visit by Russia's deputy defense minister to Libya on Sunday — his fourth in six months — represents how keen Moscow is on making the African nation another beachhead to influence the region.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
South Korea to start mass production of KF-21 fighter jets. It will build 40 indigenous Boramae fighters this year at a cost of U.S. $178.6 million, even as the aircraft makes its way through flight and ground tests.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
The tip of the American spear? How the UK could pursue military specialization. Big question: Can the UK continue to possess ‘full spectrum' military capability? Can it undertake every kind of military operation, on land, in the air, and at sea independent of any other nation? Unfortunately, the answer is no.
THIS NEW SHIP HAS HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS – UK aircraft carrier sidelined from largest NATO exercises since Cold War due to propeller problem. This, after the problem was discovered during final checks.
France orders $1.1billion of cannons, vehicles, and helicopters. The orders of self-propelled howitzers, armored vehicles and helicopters are part of its plan to modernize its armed forces through to 2030.
US lawmakers call on Hungarian President Viktor Orbán to immediately approve Sweden's NATO membership. The bipartisan group says patience with Orban is “wearing thin” as it continues to delay its approval for the Nordic nation.
US MILITARY
Marine Tactical Air Control Party specialists call in airstrikes during live-fire training. Watch now.
Switchblade 600 kamikaze drones in the running for Replicator mass production. With a 24-mile range, 40 minutes of loitering endurance and the ability to fly at speeds of up to 115 miles per hour, these UAVs are built to destroy armored vehicles and other targets.
Navy sinking nearly $1 billion into barracks construction amid revelations of poor living conditions. The Navy says it's set to make substantial improvements to barracks and that its top officer is committed to funding it.
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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