PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) — In just three weeks this June, the world witnessed three extraordinary military operations: Ukraine’s decimation of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, Israel’s sweeping overnight neutralization of Iranian key leaders and air defenses, and U.S. ultra long-range bunker busting of Iranian nuclear sites.
Each operation shared commonality in audacity, scale, and something surprising: detailed and immediate operational disclosure.
These weren’t the limited scope press briefings or carefully circumscribed military reports seen in other high profile missions, like the raid that killed Osama bin Laden or the Trump drone strike that killed Iranian terror master Qasem Soleimani.
Instead, presidential statements were quickly augmented by comprehensive overviews from that nation’s senior defense officials, complete with easily distributed media: drone footage, confirmational imagery, and mission graphics.
Warfare has always been performative — the means of actions carry significance beyond their explicit destructive effects. What distinguishes the June operations is not their performative nature, but their post-operation communications methodology.
Like the “shock and awe” of the 2003 Iraq War or CNN’s coverage of the first Gulf War, the June operations captured global attention using novel tools — social media, real-time distribution, and comprehensive disclosure.
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:
NATIONAL SECURITY
Consolidate NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM? There is renewed priority on reducing the number of combatant commands, with advocates citing cost savings and improved unity of effort, while streamlining command structures—particularly by cutting general and flag officer billets—would increase readiness. One region stands out as strategically essential and well-suited for consolidation: the Western Hemisphere.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Rwanda agrees to take deportees from the U.S. after a previous migrant deal with the UK collapsed. It became the third African nation to agree to accept deportees from the U.S. under the Trump administration’s plans to send migrants to countries they have no ties with to get them off U.S. soil.
Coast Guard says 2023 Titan submersible disaster could have been prevented, but OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush ignored safety warnings, design flaws and crucial oversight that may have resulted in criminal charges had he survived.
DEFENSE POLITICS
Bipartisan group of senators today introduced legislation to exempt numerous positions at the Navy’s four public shipyards from workforce reductions.
US POWER OVERSEAS
INDOPACOM’s ‘expeditionary foundry’ — A propeller blade that would take 18 months to replace. Parts for an expandable office that would cost hundreds of dollars to buy. A howitzer bracket that is unavailable at any price. All printed and replaced in a matter of hours at this new advanced 3D-printing facility.
Trump’s AFRICOM chief, an Air Force general, is the first airman to lead Africa command.
CHINA THREAT
New image provides best view of the latest addition to China’s growing family of Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighters. The J-15DT electronic warfare version may have entered operational service or gotten very close to it. This electronic attack Flanker is outfitted for operations aboard catapult-equipped aircraft carriers like Fujian which may have begun to host fixed-wing aircraft trials.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Russia no longer considers itself bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate range missiles, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race between Moscow and Washington.
Denmark, Norway and Sweden have agreed to jointly finance a $500 million U.S. produced weapons package, including Patriot air defense system munitions and anti-tank systems for Ukraine.
Ukraine is building fake howitzers, HIMARS, and aircraft to dupe Russian forces. Using plywood, plastic, and metal, they create accurate decoy replicas that force the enemy to waste resources and protect Ukraine’s real equipment.
Trump again threatens ‘very substantial’ tariff hikes for India over Russian oil.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
SPACE THREAT
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
U.S. condemns house arrest of Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro. The conservative populist is accused by Brazil’s socialist president of conspiracy to overturn his 2022 electoral loss – a move that ratchets up tensions with President Trump.
Lockheed Martin and German manufacturer Rheinmetall have jointly conducted the first live test fire of the Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS) launcher to prove reliability with Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rounds.
Finland will conduct live test fire to assess the potential of laser-guided artillery munitions and their compatibility with Finnish weapons. This could provide the Nordic country with strategic advantages for long-range fires.
US MILITARY
Army is planning to grow its air and missile defense force by 30%.
Army infantry training unit reverses ‘bay tossing’ ban. Drill sergeants can again overturn trainees’ mattresses or bunks, empty the contents of their wall lockers on the floor, knock over garbage cans, or take other actions to force trainees to clean up.
Army is about three months away from releasing its air and missile defense strategy for 2040.
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.
Only show was striking Iran Nuke sites