WEDNESDAY PDB – Send all the Marines to the Pacific, a top Trump adviser says. Donald Trump's last national security adviser is calling on the Pentagon to deploy the “entire” Marine Corps to the Pacific to face China's increasing military might.
O'Brien wrote that the Pentagon should consider “relieving” the Marine Corps of missions in other parts of the world, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, in order to focus on the Pacific.
He also urged the U.S. to build up the armed forces of its Pacific allies, devote more U.S. military resources to the region, and fix systemic problems within its own ranks.
In addition to limiting Marine deployments to the Pacific, he wants to move one of its aircraft carriers from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and send refurbished, decommissioned Navy ships to the Philippines.
Congress should also help build up the militaries of Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam by offering them “the kinds of grants, loans, and weapons transfers that the U.S. has long offered Israel,” he wrote.
In Trump's orbit, some muse about mandatory military service. Only 1% of the U.S. population serves in the military. Some Trump advisors say it's time more young adults put “some skin in the game.”
Christopher Miller, Trump's last Secretary of Defense, said a national service requirement should be “strongly considered.” He described the concept as a common “rite of passage,” one that would create a sense of “shared sacrifice” among America's youth.
Miller also believes all public high school students would be required to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), a standardized test to help the military funnel recruits into occupations that match their skills and intellect.
However, Trump has said a call for mandatory military service was “ridiculous” and attacked The Washington Post for what he said was a “failed attempt to damage me with the Voters.”
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
Pentagon shoots down concerns over Chinese solar panels. It is rejecting recent concerns that a project to install solar panels on the roof of the Pentagon and other DoD installations would use Chinese materials.
Congress wants to restore nuke capabilities on some conventional B-52 bombers. The roughly 30 B-52H Stratofortress bombers had been converted to drop only conventional munitions as part of the New START arms control treaty with Russia.
Vandenberg Space Force Base launches test of unarmed reentry vehicle for next generation of ICBMs. The reentry vehicle is meant to eventually be able to deploy a thermonuclear warhead as part of the next generation of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Four lessons on sea denial from the Black and Red seas. On Feb. 1, 2024, six Ukrainian sea drones destroyed a Russian missile ship in the Black Sea. The day prior, 2,000 miles away in the Red Sea, the U.S. Navy destroyer Carney successfully shot down three Iranian drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Houthi forces.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Texas Guard is shooting pepper balls to deter foreign aliens at the border. They are firing new pepper ball guns at migrants who are gathering on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande or trying to break through the tangle of concertina wire strung along the border.
TOO BAD BIDEN ISN'T DOING HIS DAMN JOB – Southern border mission has ‘no military training value' to troops stationed there, Guard chief warns. It also adds significant stress to their families, he said.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
YES! – Defense bill proposes school choice for military in Bahrain, citing ‘woke' DODEA policies. Some U.S. military families in Bahrain would be able to use government funds to spend on private schools under a proposed pilot program backed by conservatives in Congress.
POLITICS
Congress OKs Israel F-15 sale as Biden takes heat on heavy bomb pause. Two key Democrats on Capitol Hill lifted their hold on a roughly $18 billion F-15 sale to Israel, even as Israel adds to pressure on Team Biden to release thousands of heavy bombs to the country.
BIG MISTAKE! – Why is this year's defense budget request cutting the Space Force?
ISRAEL WAR AGAINST TERROR
Israel says Rafah attack near completion. A shift from the widespread ground and air attacks that have leveled much of the enclave would represent a significant milestone in the war.
What a war between Israel and Hezbollah might look like. The Lebanese terror group is trained and equipped much better than Hamas.
US POWER OVERSEAS
THANKS TO BIDEN FAILURE – US has withdrawn about 30% of troops from Niger ahead of full departure. Hundreds of U.S. troops are still in Niger, where they are working on shutting down two military sites after being ordered out of the country.
India and US vow to boost defense, trade ties in first high-level US visit since Modi's election win. They pledged to boost defense and technology cooperation and remove long-standing barriers to bilateral strategic trade, following a meeting between the national security advisers of both countries.
CHINA THREAT
US approves new $360 million arms sale to Taiwan for drones, related equipment. This will send the island hundreds of armed drones, missile equipment and related support material, a development that is sure to draw condemnation from China.
Philippine officials say Chinese forces seized 2 navy boats in disputed shoal, injuring sailors. The two Philippine rubber boats that were delivering food and other supplies to a military outpost in a disputed South China Sea shoal in a tense confrontation.
IRAN THREAT
Ship attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in fatal assault sinks in Red Sea in their second sinking. The bulk carrier sank days after an attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels believed to have killed one mariner on board. (RELATED: Biden Rewards Iran As Houthi Attacks Cost US Navy A Billion Dollars)
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Russian court sentences US soldier to nearly 4 years on theft charges. Black's sentencing further complicates U.S. relations with Russia.
Drones in Ukraine get smarter to dodge Russia's jamming signals. Electronic warfare is rapidly evolving, pushing drone makers to swap out parts and make craft more autonomous; Western companies are watching closely.
Northrop planning to build munitions inside Ukraine. The co production agreement is the first publicly acknowledged deal between a US defense prime defense contractor and Ukraine.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
Russia and North Korea sign strategic partnership, vowing to strengthen ties in fight against West. Vladimir Putin's rare visit to the reclusive state comes as he seeks ammunition for his war in Ukraine. (RELATED: Putin And Kim Sign Pact Promising Mutual Support Against ‘Aggression')
South Korea again fires warning shots at North troops in DMZ for the second time this month. North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the border with South Korea early Tuesday.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
UK approval of arms exports to Israel plunged at start of Gaza war. And the value of permits granted for the sale of military equipment to its ally, falling by more than 95% to a 13-year low.
Thousands of NATO troops join drills in the strategically sensitive Baltic Sea region. Some 9,000 troops from 20 NATO countries have been participating this month in military exercises.
US MILITARY
Thousands of airmen face inspection as 4-star warns of lax standards. Standards matter, says the new leader of the Air Force's largest swath of air combat forces. Now he wants assurance that all airmen are measuring up.
WATCH the explosive aftermath of a B-1B and F-15K dropping live munitions.
What to know about suicides in the US Army. Soldiers are more likely than their civilian peers to die by suicide. But it's not because of combat trauma. The most vulnerable group are soldiers who have never deployed.
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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