PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – New Orleans attack highlights ISIS threat. ISIS no longer rules a territory. But its recruits still pose a global threat.
It’s many years since ISIS, also known as Islamic State, held sway over much of Syria and northern Iraq, spawned affiliates throughout Africa and Asia, and organized a series of deadly terror attacks in European cities.
But as a terror group it remains active in more than a dozen countries – and has inspired and supported individuals and cells in Europe and Russia in recent years.
ISIS is far from moribund, even if it is now a loosely linked network rather than a self-declared caliphate controlling sizeable cities.
US officials are concerned that instability following the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria may allow ISIS to expand from its remote desert strongholds, nearly six years after the “caliphate” fell, and also regain a foothold in Iraq.
There is also the perennial concern among Western security services that individuals inspired by ISIS will launch low-tech attacks – such as stabbings, shootings and driving vehicles into crowds. Such plans are notoriously difficult to detect.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:
HOMELAND SECURITY
Green Beret identified as driver in Cybertruck blast at Trump Hotel.
The Army Special Forces sergeant who set off the Tesla explosion outside Trump Hotel could have done far more harm. Investigators are trying to figure out why he didn’t.
Trump blames deadly New Orleans truck attack on ‘radical Islamic terrorism,’ and Joe Biden’s ‘open borders.’ While the perpetrator was a radicalized Muslim of foreign heritage, he was also an American-born Army veteran.
POLITICS
Breaking down the 100 veterans in the 119th Congress, the largest such caucus in eight years.
DEFENSE CONTRACTORS SHOULDN’T BE EMPLOYING ILLEGALS ANYWAY! – Trump has promised to build more ships. He may deport the workers who help make them.
Celebrating 250 years of service. We the Veterans and Military Families propose one more powerful resolution for 2025: to be active, service-driven citizens and embracing the patriotism and pride that unite us as Americans.
US POWER OVERSEAS
US reportedly setting up new base in northern Syria. Six years after abandoning Kobani, US forces are building a base on the Turkish border that has been riven by strife between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkish-backed forces.
The 2024 battle between the Houthis and commercial shipping as seen by the sailors aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and the destroyers attached to the carrier strike group.
IRAN THREAT/ISRAEL WARS
How stealthy F-22s learned to take on elusive Iranian threats in the Middle East. When Lt. Col. Dustin Johnson was ordered to deploy to the region last year, he and his fellow Raptor pilots prepared for an unusual challenge.
Inside Israel’s commando raid on Iran’s underground missile factory in Syria. The dramatic raid back in September, codenamed Operation Many Ways, was deemed an outstanding success, with the facility destroyed and none of the 120 Israeli special forces troops involved being injured. Here’s how it was done.
Israeli strikes across central and southern Gaza, including an attack on a sprawling tent camp. Israel said the strike targeted high-ranking police officer and blames Hamas for civilian deaths.
CHINA THREAT
The unprecedented intensity of Chinese cyberattacks on US infrastructure illustrate how the Biden team’s focus on regulation and intelligence-sharing may change under a successor more focused on retaliation.
New Chinese stealth combat aircraft likely a medium-range bomber. Two new, tailless Chinese military aircraft seen last week are likely a prototype stealth medium bomber and a new lambda-winged technology demonstrator.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Ukraine just stopped Russian gas flows to Europe, bringing an end to Moscow’s decades-long dominance over Europe’s energy markets. Here’s who’s most at risk.
Are Russian sanctions working? Debate gains new urgency with Trump. The president-elect has said he will use sanctions sparingly while vowing to end the war in Ukraine.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
South Korean investigators attempt to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law faced resistance from presidential security staff as hundreds of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside vowing to protect him.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Ecuador judge orders detention of 16 air force members over disappearance of 4 children, whose charred remains were discovered weeks after they were seen being forced into a military patrol car.
US MILITARY
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.
READ NEXT: Former Fox News Trump Foe Takes Surprising Middle East Peace Role
Very scary since NO Hit
FINALLY!!! But way too LITTLE ! WAY and BEYOUND Too LATE!! When Your very own GOVERNMENT has ( SIMPA- THETIC- PHYSERS ) for other countries ? and open BOARDERS too every TOM-DICK-HARRY !!! NO ALLEGENCE to USA needed!!! Word is DENON_CRATS are LIBERAL ! What does that make the rest of PEOPLE, for letting the FOXES/ The other countries SPIES- TERRORISTS in with OPEN ARMS ?? I will gladly go too ? But I PRAY to see the Wailing and all HOW DID THIS HAPPEN !!! The Great and Powerful. When and if You decide too take that stance. Once achieved, the only left objective is PROTECT-DEFEND Always VISUAL !! The only other possible outcome is COMPLETE and Utter DESTRUCTION of your (KINGDOM – REIGN – Stupid WOKE POLOTICS ) My prayer: Dam any and all that had any part in Destruction of the MORAL Moralities and fiber of supposedly being HUMAN. Thus says the the GOOD and FAITHFUL ( SHEPERD ) Thus saithe the ( F—-d) or is it the Flock ?
Final comment. WoW ! You would think ? countries would really be taking care of Keeping ? cell groups ? terrorist groups undermining fabric of their country , Some of the WORST GROUPS ? chanting their different Religions, Who is low life’s in their Thimble sized BRAINs. Women are infare. Parents have no teaching rights. The Land of the FREE was a PIPE DREAM to gather Humans for SHEARING. Called the MELTING POT of the WORLD !!! GREAT , land of opportunity. Well YOU BLIND AND HUNGRY and most of all DEFF ! At the END OF DAY or ( DAYS) all that is LEFT IN THE MELTING POT IS A WORTHLEES PILL OF ( SLUDGE ) worthless impurities!!!!!!!!! One nifty solution is You can TRACE YOUR ROOTS and see what you LOST!!!!!!!!!
This is old news. This spy on others, plan take overs, cause riots over anything WOKE !!! Different budding up countries, groups to destroy who not it the Click, Even the The so called fairy tale book ( BIBLE ) The one GREAT GOD order SPIES to go in before, Killing every breathing life form. That was the lucky ones. Besides anything of value being the spoils of war. They took some prime human slave materials and some I would think ? Very PRIME BREEDING STOCK. Maybe even some animals ???