PDB – Pentagon Adds Support to Border Mission

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Today’s PDB includes a variety of critical, global national security issues.

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READ TODAY’S PDB BELOW:

HOMELAND SECURITY

DoD is sending more support to the Mexico border mission. The Pentagon has approved a Homeland Security Department request to provide some contracting support to Customs and Border Protection at the U.S.-Mexico border, a spokesman confirmed on Thursday.

Expulsion of Russian ‘diplomats’ may strangle Moscow’s spying. Nearly two dozen European countries have expelled hundreds of Russian government personnel from embassies and consulates since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February and more recently was accused of war crimes against civilians. A significant number are probably spies posing as diplomats, according to U.S. and European officials.

CHINA THREAT

Call out Chinese spying for the serious threat it is. When the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on February 23, 2022, that it was ending its “China Initiative” it avoided singling out the biggest spy threat to the US. That Trump-era program sought to prioritize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its massive espionage campaign against our country as the main target for US counterintelligence (CI) efforts. Mention of the Initiative’s title in the press was almost invariably preceded by the adjective “controversial” owing to allegations that it was unfairly directed at those of Chinese heritage.

RUSSIA THREAT

Putin’s ‘probably given up’ on Kyiv as Ukraine war enters new phase. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russian President Vladimir Putin has “probably given up” on trying to capture the capital city of Kyiv, as Russia has shifted its focus to eastern and southern Ukraine.

Romania calls for permanent US presence, air policing to deter Russia. NATO Air Command pivoted quickly when Russia invaded Ukraine, deploying U.S. assets to conduct enhanced Air Policing in the Black Sea region, where years of investment are now bearing fruit. But Romanian defense officials say that the deterrence mission must change to a permanent defense mission to prevent future Russian aggression.

Russia says it would have to ‘rebalance’ if Finland and Sweden join NATO. Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which it says aims among other things to degrade Ukraine’s military potential and prevent it becoming a bridgehead for a NATO attack, has prompted the two Nordic countries to consider joining the U.S.-led alliance.

US Cyber Command reinforces Ukraine and allies amid Russian onslaught. U.S. Cyber Command has played a pivotal role in shielding networks and critical infrastructure stateside and abroad in the run up to and during Russia’s attack on Ukraine, its leader told Congress this week.

‘You don’t understand’: Ukraine official on possible military atrocities. Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, said his country would investigate “isolated incidents” of atrocities in response to a video, verified by The New York Times, that appears to show a group of Ukrainian soldiers killing captured Russian troops.

IRAN THREAT

Iran’s Quds Force should stay on US ‘terrorist’ list: Top general. The United States’ top general has said he does not support removing Iran’s elite Quds Force from Washington’s list of “foreign terrorist organizations”, an apparent key demand from Tehran to revive the multilateral nuclear deal.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

North Korea could celebrate founder’s birthday with nuclear test, US official warns. Pyongyang could test a nuclear weapon April 15, when the North will mark the 110th birthday of late leader Kim Il Sung, the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Sung Kim, told reporters Wednesday.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Human rights vote at U.N. highlights stark divisions over Russia. On one side, 95 nations — just slightly more than half the U.N. membership, but enough to reach the necessary two-thirds of those casting a vote — supported the resolution backed by the United States and dozens of others. The total included members of NATO and the European Union, some small Pacific island nations and much of Latin America. But the total was a significant reduction from the 141 that voted in favor of last month’s nonbinding General Assembly measure condemning Russia’s “aggression” in Ukraine.

US prosecutors say alleged Japanese yakuza crime boss planned to sell US missiles to Myanmar rebels. US authorities have arrested the alleged leader of a Japanese crime syndicate on charges of plotting to distribute drugs in the United States and purchase weapons including US-made surface-to-air missiles, according to prosecutors on Thursday.

India to boost arms output, fearing shortfall from Russia. India depends on Russia for nearly 60% of its defense equipment, and the war in Ukraine has added to doubts about future supplies.

US MILITARY AND SPACE

US Army initiates plan to replace Stingers with next-gen interceptor. The U.S. Army has launched an effort to replace Stinger missiles with a next-generation interceptor for Short-Range Air Defense capability as the aging weapon system heads toward obsolescence, according to a solicitation recently posted to the government contracting website Sam.gov.

How America watches for a nuclear strike. Hundreds of satellites and spacecraft are keeping an eye on Russia’s nuclear forces from above. So far, they haven’t seen much to worry about.

END of PDB

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.