FRIDAY PDB – War warnings everywhere: Global risks are heating up. While the U.S. has been focused on Gaza and Ukraine, several other long-simmering global threats are getting hotter.
The last 72 hours have seen menacing Chinese patrols near Taiwan, an exchange of fire between Iran and Pakistan and further escalation between the U.S. military and Houthi rebels.
Then there's North Korea, which has been largely off Washington's radar – but where the risks appear to be growing.
Add the ongoing humanitarian disasters in Haiti, Sudan, the Sahel and more, and the risk of violence surrounding the dozens of elections taking place worldwide this year and you get a pretty grim picture of the state of global security in 2024.
JOE BIDEN IS PART OF THE PROBLEM AND DEFINITELY NOT UP TO FACING THE TASK.
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
STUPID BIDEN – Russia shoots down US proposal to restart nuclear arms control talks. Russia's top diplomat argued that it is impossible to hold discussions in the wake of the U.S.'s continued support to Ukraine.
HOLY COW – Pentagon's rehab of nuclear-missile arsenal hit by soaring costs. A 37% increase in price tag to replace aging Minuteman ICBMs buried in silos adds pressure on funding for other defense programs.
How (not) to reorganize the Air Force. After a top Air Force official strongly hinted at coming changes to the service's structure, experts warn that one particular option would be bad news for America's nuclear readiness.
US military can't sustain Arctic operations, ‘let alone dominate,' experts say. Arctic Edge in 2022, is a biannual joint training exercise first held in 2018 to train troops to operate in the harsh conditions north of the Arctic Circle.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Gunfight at Mexico border: New details of deadly violence involving dozens of cartel members. Mexican military members reported to US officials that they were ‘outnumbered' as they exchanged gunfire with cartel members.
OUTRAGEOUS TREATMENT – Why an Army Special Forces vet remains in custody on Jan. 6 charges. Jeffrey McKellop remains in custody nearly three years after being accused of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
POLITICS
Lawmakers plan public hearing on Austin's hospitalization and health. House Armed Services Committee leaders are asking Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to testify about the secrecy surrounding his recent health issues.
Trump offers defense of presidential immunity, cites Obama civilian drone deaths: ‘He meant well.' Obama was criticized for civilian casualties from drone strikes he ordered.
ISRAEL-GAZA WAR
Is Biden losing leftist ‘progressive' support with his stance on Gaza? Joe Biden has seen a big split of support within the democratic party as the Israeli-Gaza war wages on.
Time is running out: Family members of six Israeli-American hostages meet with Biden's top advisers. The hostages are believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas more than 100 days ago.
Netanyahu publicly rejects US push for Palestinian state. He has told Team Biden that he opposes this scenario once the conflict in Gaza ends.
Pressure mounts on Biden to leverage human rights laws on Israel aid. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza mounts, a growing group of Democrats is pressuring Biden.
IRAN THREAT
WEAK PINPRICK RESPONSE – Biden says US strikes against Houthi rebels will continue. This, as the U.S. conducted a fifth strike targeting another missile launcher site.
If Biden wants peace, he needs to stop punishing our allies while rewarding Iran. Recent U.S. strikes in Yemen against the Iranian-backed Houthis represent a failure of Biden's policies in the region. Continued appeasement of Iran under the guise of preventing the spread of war has predictably entrenched Iran and its allies.
Iran launches air defense drill amid rising regional tensions. It reportedly used drones designed to intercept hostile targets in an area stretching from its southwestern to southeastern coasts.
Unpacking the Iran-Houthi dynamic: Expert explains Iran's influence. American Enterprise Institute's Middle East expert Nick Carl speaks to Defense News Weekly.
Iran's new missile fleet: Part deterrent, part sales pitch. Last year, the world discovered that Iran's drones were becoming world-class threats and a favorite of the Russians. Now, its revived missile fleet is drawing attention, too.
CHINA THREAT
Where might the US station its B-21 bombers to deter China? Nations in the Asia-Pacific are growing their missile arsenals, but the development of long-range capabilities may help stabilize the region.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
NATO holds its biggest exercises in decades next week, involving around 90,000 personnel. The months-long drills are aimed at showing the alliance can defend all of its territory up to its border with Russia.
US, France to lead artillery coalition for Ukraine. The two nations will lead 23 countries to provide artillery and ammunition to Ukraine.
Please guys, wake up: European leaders push Biden, Congress on Ukraine. A group of NATO parliamentarians visited Washington this week to press for more aid.
Secretive surveillance flights keep close watch on Russia and Ukraine. NATO policing of its airspace has ramped up since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
MISTAKE – Ukraine is pressuring China to help bring an end to the war. But Beijing's peace plans are focused on Gaza.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Japan buys hundreds of Tomahawk missiles from US. It will purchase up to 400 cruise missiles as part of its ongoing military buildup in response to increased regional threats.
Belarus adds nukes to its military doctrine for first time. The new doctrine will reflect the rapid change in Belarusian strategic thinking in recent years that has seen Minsk push ally Moscow for the deployment of those weapons on soil.
In no position to fight a war, Pakistan seeks an off-ramp with Iran. Pakistan has recently struggled with economic and political crises, an increase in militant attacks and souring relations with another neighbor, Afghanistan.
US POWER OVERSEAS
What the Navy is learning from its fight in the Red Sea. Thirteen years ago, the current head of the Navy's surface fleet was captaining the destroyer Carney.
Navy warships to be repaired at Japanese shipyards, US ambassador says. This will reduce the time it takes them to return to service,
US MILITARY
The Navy relieved 16 commanding officers in 2023. The term ‘loss of confidence' has real meaning in the Navy.
How the Navy is using deployed ships to improve maintenance. The Navy is using data from warships deployed in the Red Sea to improve its maintenance and modernization efforts.
B-21 Raider bomber conducts test flights at Edwards Air Force Base in California. WASHINGTON — The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is carrying out test flights at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the U.S. Air Force has confirmed.
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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