China’s Mineral Grip Could Decide How Long The US Can Fight

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – Could China’s rare-earth supplies dictate how long US strikes on Iran go on? The U.S. military’s dependence on Chinese sources gives Beijing leverage in the lead-up to president Trump’s trip with roughly three weeks until his expected visit to China.

Washington’s heavy reliance on the Chinese minerals for its advanced weapon systems means China could dictate how long the U.S. military can fight.

Sources told the South China Morning Post that Washington had only around two months of rare earths inventory, and the supplies of these strategic minerals would dominate talks when Trump sat down with Chinese dictator Xi Jinping.

Marina Zhang, at University of Technology Sydney’s Australia-China Relations Institute, said the U.S.’ dependence on China’s rare earths would hand Beijing “significant indirect leverage over the duration and cost of potential conflicts.”

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Air superiority is more than denial. Operations Midnight Hammer and Absolute Resolve demonstrated the remarkable flexibility and overwhelming force possible when nations command control of skies.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush and its strike group finished pre-deployment training that prepares naval forces for long-term sustained combat.

US Marines and their Japanese counterparts practiced seizing enemy-held town during culmination of three-week exercise aimed at strengthening their joint defense of remote islands.

Eight crew members were rescued unharmed after work boat capsized at construction site of new US Marine Corps airfield in northern Okinawa, Japan.

NARCO TERROR THREAT

With $250 million drug bust, Coast Guard set new record for largest drug seizure made at sea in 18 years, which also turned out to be largest bust ever in history of its tactical helicopter unit.

US military killed six narco terrorists in strike on drug-smuggling vessel in eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Trump administration’s campaign against traffickers.

IRAN THREAT

The Iranian general who always survives… is he Mossad’s ultimate plant?  The fate of Esmail Qaani – one of Iran’s most powerful military figures – remains unknown after he became the focus of rumors that he was an Israeli spy.

Who is Esmail Qaani, and was Iran’s top military leader a spy?

War Secretary Pete Hegseth downplays risk to US troops from Iran-Russia cooperation and contends US troops are not in danger across Middle East – even as seventh US service member had been killed in the war.

Navy’s newest and world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is now operating in Middle East’s waterways, an arrival that could signal intensified US attacks against Iran.

Multiple US Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers have arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK, as US forces intensify strike operations against Iran.

President Trump previously expressed disdain for Iran’s new leader, and a son of the old one, Mojtaba Khamenei, calling him “unacceptable.” The Islamic Republic’s war strategy now has new commander, and powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has pledged allegiance.

IRAN CAMPAIGN

We need to know assumptions and reasoning. Pre-war US intelligence assessment completed shortly before US and Israel launched war in Iran determined US military intervention was not likely to lead to regime change in the Islamic Republic.

President Trump declared that US has already “won” war with Iran “in many ways,” but conceded that broader objectives of conflict — which he described as a “little excursion” — remain unresolved.

Commander’s message to Air Force on Iran: ‘We need you ready.’ In rare letter to entire force, Chief of Staff of Air Force is telling Airmen to stay ready to support Operation Epic Fury.

Washington Air National Guard members activated to assist in Iran war.

Trump threatens Iran with ‘death, fire and fury’ if it blocks oil flow, after saying war will end ‘soon.’

Israeli PM: End of Iran’s regime depends on Iranian people’s will to ‘throw off the yoke of tyranny.’ The Sahab Pardaz Company – responsible for the internet censorship in Iran – has been targeted by airstrikes on Tehran. Iran now has one of the “most severe government-imposed nationwide internet shutdowns on record globally.”

US and Iran have offered sharply different accounts of sinking of Iranian warship in Indian Ocean last week, with Washington rejecting Tehran’s claim vessel was unarmed and Iranian officials insisting it was operating in noncombat role.

Roughly 3 in 4 oppose sending US ground troops into Iran. The survey found that 20% of respondents support such a move, while 74% oppose it. But all polls depend on who and what you ask.

REGIONAL, ALLIED IMPACT OF IRAN CONFLICT

NATO defenses intercepted an Iranian missile that entered Turkey’s airspace.

Amid Iran missile threats, Turkey deployed six F-16C fighter aircraft to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

French Navy will send eight frigates and two amphibious assault ships to Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, joining aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91) as escorts for commercial shipping traversing Strait of Hormuz.

UK’s HMS Dragon warship will set sail in coming days to military base in Cyprus, amid escalating military operations from US and Israel against Iran.

Gulf states look to take down more Iranian targets with more affordable interceptors to defeat the incoming threats.

Footage shows multiple one-way attack drones shot down by UAE fighters.

As war with Iran rages, axis of resistance is in survival mode. In Beirut, Baghdad, and across Middle East, same pattern repeats: leader is killed, funeral fills the streets, and within weeks someone new is giving orders.

CHINA THREAT

Why now? China set to approve a new law promoting ‘ethnic unity.’

RUSSIA THREAT

Russia continues to add new military units near NATO’s eastern flank, according to new threat assessment that warns against easing Western sanctions on Kremlin.

NATO nations sending troops to Norway for cold weather exercise this week, as alliance kick off yearslong analysis of what-if scenarios that could cause Arctic conflict with Russia.

EUROPEAN DEFENSE BUILDUP

European NATO countries reduced their reliance on U.S. for weapons imports in past year, funneling greater share of their foreign defense acquisitions to South Korea, France and Israel.

In longtime policy departure, Finland readies itself to fully integrate into NATO’s deterrence architecture and be able to host nukes by scrapping Cold War-era blanket ban on nuclear weapons on its territory.

US MILITARY

Air Force seeking additional industry sources capable of producing Stand-in Attack Weapon or equivalent system compatible with future F-47 fighter and B-21 Raider stealth bomber.

Wearable biometrics, improved science, and more data are changing Army attitudes toward human performance, particularly how soldiers adapt to risks of overheating.

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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