TUESDAY PDB – Biden's massive military aid package neglects the real strategic threat: China. The congressional breakthrough on the $95 billion foreign assistance package after months of political wrangling provides Joe Biden's administration with arms outlays that are larger than the defense budget of every country other than the U.S., China and Russia.
Biden now has considerable leverage to further conflict or deterrence across three large geographic regions encompassing more than half of the world — Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. BUT – the package reflects the Biden administration's skewed strategic priorities.
It provides $60.8 billion for Ukraine in its war of attrition with Russia, with much of the funding going to U.S. defense contractors and the Pentagon; $26.4 billion for Israel and America's supporting military operations in the Middle East; and a relatively miserly $8.1 billion for Taiwan and other security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region — the world's center of gravity where America's main rival, China, is incrementally changing the territorial and maritime status quo.
The bottom line is – the longer the U.S. remains involved in the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the greater will be the likelihood of China invading Taiwan.
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
Soaring US munitions demand strains support for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan. The U.S. has transferred tens of thousands of its bombs and shells to Israel since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. But it hasn't given Israel everything it wants. That's because the U.S. military lacks the capacity to provide some of the weapons Israel requested.
HOMELAND SECURITY
THIS IS ABSOLUTE BIDEN BULLS**T – Migrant families, homeless will be housed at National Guard armory in Lexington. Massachusetts has spent months dealing with a migrant crisis that's filled the state's shelters.
POLITICS
THEY ARE RIGHT! – 48 US state governors object to DoD plan to shift Guard units to Space Force. Despite Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall's reassurances, the governors are outraged at what they see as a Defense Department end-run around their authorities that they say could set a negative precedent.
IDIOTS – Attorneys inside and outside the administration urge Biden to cut off arms to Israel. So far more than 90 lawyers have signed on to a legal letter alleging Israel's conduct in Gaza violates U.S. and international law.
US POWER OVERSEAS
Assisting Pacific island nations is ‘sweet spot' for Coast Guard. Helping island nations, like Vanuatu, protect their resources and enforce their laws is “a sweet spot” for the Coast Guard's operations in the Pacific, Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan said Monday.
How US special operators are training Ukrainians—and what they're learning in return. The Ukrainian troops bring battlefield experience that is helping to reshape the U.S. Army's own special operations.
Inside a Navy submarine navigating the Arctic. A Times photojournalist embarked on a nuclear-powered attack sub to see how the Pentagon is training for a potential war below the frozen sea.
F-15Es and A-10s join Red Flag-like exercise on Arabian Peninsula. The jets arrived last week for a multilateral exercise hosted by the United Arab Emirates.
American F-16s from Aviano Air Base deploy to Middle East. F-16 Fighting Falcons from Aviano Air Base's 510th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron have deployed to the region, as Iranian-backed militants continue to target U.S. allies and commercial vessels.
ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST HAMAS
The wartime outrage in Israel that no one is talking about. Trust me, you do not want to watch Sheryl Sandberg's documentary, “Screams Before Silence,” about sexual violence committed by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 and beyond. Trust me, you should.
Ahead of visit to Israel, US's Blinken presses Hamas to accept new proposal for Gaza cease-fire. The U.S. stepped up pressure Monday for a cease-fire deal in Gaza as the secretary of state said a new proposal had been put to Hamas, whose officials were in Cairo talking to Egyptian mediators.
CHINA THREAT
Chinese spy ships stalk US, Philippine, and French warships in South China Sea. The allied amphibs and frigates drew the attention of Chinese surveillance ships and surface combatants as they sailed out of Philippine territorial waters into the disputed waters of the South China Sea over the weekend during Manila's largest annual military exercise.
Chinese water cannon damages ship in new South China Sea flare-up, Philippines says.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Italy has given Ukraine long-range missiles, says UK defense minister. Italy has sent Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine, lifting the lid on months of secrecy surrounding Italy's supply of weaponry to Kyiv.
As Ukraine runs low on ammo, civilians build troops DIY drones at home. Before Russia invaded, Magdalyna, a florist, used a simple desk in her suburban home to assemble bouquets. Now it's where she builds drones.
Ukraine forced to withdraw from more villages as Russia intensifies pressure. This, as Russian forces press forward across the eastern front line and take advantage of Kyiv's exhausted military, which is desperately awaiting the arrival of new U.S. assistance.
NATO chief chides members as Ukraine's allies say slow arms deliveries have helped Russia. NATO countries haven't delivered what they promised to Ukraine in time, the alliance's chief said Monday, allowing Russia to press its advantage while Kyiv's depleted forces wait for military supplies to arrive from the U.S. and Europe.
China's Xi to visit France, Serbia, Hungary as Beijing appears to seek a larger role in Ukraine. Xi Jinping will visit next week.
US MILITARY
WTH?! – Marine unit found metal shavings in F-35 fuel, plastic tool in wing. The shavings in contaminated fuel, incorrectly assembled parts, and a plastic scraper protruding from a wing fold were among the faults discovered in five new F-35C Joint Strike Fighters delivered last year.
OORAH! – Tun Tavern, traditional birthplace of Marine Corps, set to get rebuilt. When the Marine Corps turns 250, Marines may get to raise a pint to the Corps in the place where it supposedly all began.
Dive into water rescue training with Special Warfare Combat Crewman candidates. Watch now.
Could you hit this target with a .50 cal.? See soldiers fire M2 machine guns. Watch now.
Marine special operators are using fiction to envision the future. Short stories by Marine Raiders are driving discussions about the evolution of MARSOC through 2040.
Army says fitness plan cut injuries and drug use, aids mental health. Early data analyzing Army brigades using the service's new all-encompassing fitness program shows less injuries, behavioral health problems and substance abuse, and quicker return to duty for injured soldiers in brigades with program staff.
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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