PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Trump showcased the U.S. military during King Charles III’s White House visit. Hundreds of ceremonial troops in Revolutionary War and current day uniforms stood in formation to welcome Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, as President (not a king) Trump and First Lady Melania rolled out red carpet to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
“Honoring the British king might seem an ironic beginning to our celebration of 250 years of American independence,” the president said to the crowd. “But in fact, no tribute could be more appropriate.”
“Long before Americans had a nation or a Constitution, we first had a culture, a character, and a creed,” Trump continued. “Before we ever proclaimed our independence, Americans carried within us the rarest of gifts: moral courage, and it came from a small but mighty kingdom from across the sea.”
The (not a king) president and the (real) king went on to preside over the first-ever pass in review conducted at the White House, which featured 300 U.S. service members.
Later, during four-day state visit, King Charles III told Congress the U.K. and U.S. always find ways to come together.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of the top defense news of the last couple of days 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
Reagan’s military lessons for new Cold War. Securing America’s strategic advantage takes strong leadership as well as an open checkbook. Facing major challenges in Middle East, Pacific and Eastern Europe, Congress is considering an increase in military spending to 5% of GDP.
HOMELAND DEFENSE
Golden Dome has ‘pathways to pivot’ if delays arise. Space Force general overseeing White House’s ambitious $185 billion national missile shield initiative redoubled on promises to deliver an operational capability by mid-2028, even if it means changing plans and incorporating different technologies to do so.
DEFENSE POLITICS
Why Navy’s next battleship faces major hurdles. “Navy and Coast Guard need to demonstrate that approach to these [shipbuilding] programs is not short-term deviation followed by returning to long-standing business as usual approach.
BP slammed over ‘astronomical’ profits due to Iran war. But wider view over past 15 years shows these earnings are tame compared to other events.
US POWER OVERSEAS
IRAN CEASEFIRE/US BLOCKADE
IRAN CAMPAIGN
Weeks of silence over Iran school strike highly unusual. In two months since deadly strike, Pentagon has said only that incident is under investigation. MY SUGGESTION: Admit it. Explain it was a mistaken target, former IRGC barracks, adjacent to naval base. Apologize. And move on.
REGIONAL/GLOBAL AFTERMATH
UAE Quits OPEC as War Upends Oil Markets and Gulf Tensions Rise. Its exit from the cartel weakens OPEC’s grip on global oil supply and widens its rift with Saudi Arabia.
Former PMs Bennett, Lapid launch unified party for Knesset elections. Two of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top rivals will join forces in upcoming election to oust his coalition government.
Netanyahu’s rivals are joining forces. Would they shift Israel’s security policy?
CHINA THREAT
The Mountaintop mirage: Why Xi’s military purges cannot produce the force he wants. In his new high command, populated by terrified loyalists, the threshold for strategic miscalculation has never been lower.
RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR
From Chernobyl to Ukraine: The enduring cost of Kremlin lies. In April 1986, a reactor exploded at Chernobyl and Soviet Union lied about it. That instinct to conceal, distort, and deny did not just worsen the disaster; it defined collapse of Soviet state. Forty years later, same instinct still shapes Russia under Putin.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
US MILITARY
AI and autonomy are being integrated into special operations “at every level,” leader of Special Operations Command says — indication that SOCOM well-poised to take advantage of disruptive technologies.
Marines will update land warfare doctrine as they prep for near-peer, drone-driven fight. It is halfway through decade-long project to re-imagine itself for next generation of warfare, refocusing itself as seagoing service with Force Design 2030.
War with Iran has not slowed Air Force, Space Force recruiting.
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.
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What’s with the “not a king” inserts in the article about the Royal visitors? We all know our President is a president and not a king; we don’t need a cute reminder/