WEDNESDAY PDB – US naval deterrence is going, going, maybe even gone. A new report expounds on the clear lesson of recent Houthi attacks: America isn't very scary anymore. IT'S BECAUSE OF BIDEN AND A SHRUNKEN NAVY.
Recently, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Carney fended off several missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea.
While Team Biden tried to frame the battle, for a battle it surely was, as the Carney's defending nearby merchant ships, it seems clear that Iranian-supplied Houthis were targeting the Carney directly as well as the commercial ships it was accompanying.
Joe Biden's numerous foreign-policy setbacks in Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Middle East have undercut Americans' will to fight and displayed a weakness of leadership and strategy to the country's enemies.
It is also becoming obvious that Washington hasn't maintained its existing naval battle force.
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:
ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST HAMAS TERROR
With 7-ton resupply of water to troops in Gaza, IDF shows precision airdrop capability. The mission could be a test case for potential future, long-range operations in the region.
US envoys work for a new hostage release deal and a scale-down of the Israel-Hamas war. The head of the CIA jetted to Europe for talks with Israeli and Qatari officials Monday, as our defense secretary spoke to Israeli military leaders about scaling back major combat operations against Hamas.
Why a potential Israel-Hamas cease-fire has so many names. It's not always clear what measures lawmakers are advocating for. That may be the point.
POLITICS
Air Force general to face court-martial for sex assault, other crimes. Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, the Air Force's former pilot training boss, will face court-martial for an alleged sexual assault and multiple other crimes under military law.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
RIDICULOUS! – In reversal, judge allows removal of Confederate memorial at Arlington. A federal judge on Tuesday allowed the Arlington National Cemetery to remove a century-old Confederate memorial one day after blocking the removal over a report that gravesites were disturbed.
Senate OKs 11 four-star nominees, ending ongoing nomination fight. The senior officials were the last remaining individuals involved in the protest by a Republican senator over the Pentagon's abortion access policy.
NATIONAL SECURITY
VIDEO: Pentagon says Santa's military escort is classified. What kind of assets are assigned to protect and defend Santa on his annual flight? DoD is keeping the info secret.
Replicator: An inside look at the Pentagon's ambitious drone program. Replicator is meant to help good ideas across the valley of death. But can it survive bureaucratic and cultural barriers of its own?
High-tech trench warfare: 5 hard-won lessons-learned for the US from Ukraine. From expendable drones, to ad hoc battle networks, to hacker “armies” of volunteers, the war in Ukraine has shown the big-spending US military new ways to fight in the Information Age.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Man demands entry into US Air Force base with AR-15 rifle, loaded magazines, feds say. The 33-year-old Tampa resident called himself “Captain America” and said he had to meet with a U.S. Special Operations Command general “to provide top secret information.”
Marine vet sentenced to over 3 years in prison for Capitol riot. Charles Donohoe is also a former leader of the ‘far-right' Proud Boys group.
CHINA THREAT
The US needs more munitions to deter China. At present, our armed forces do not have the munitions needed for a contingency in the Indo-Pacific region, and we certainly aren't producing enough munitions to sustain operations in all three theaters at once.
We cannot ignore China's information warfare any longer. An important but little-noticed hearing took place on Capitol Hill last week. The subject was China's disinformation campaign against the West, and the chairman, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) laid out the challenge.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Sweden, Denmark to send more CV90 combat vehicles to Ukraine. The two Nordic countries have signed a joint declaration to send additional combat vehicles to Ukraine in their latest show of support for the embattled country.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 665. Russia launched its fifth air attack this month on the capital, with air defense systems destroying all weapons on their approach to Kyiv.
As Congress kicks Ukraine aid to 2024, supplies and hope dwindle. The Ukrainians are bracing for a tough winter as military operations slow down, troops are forced to preserve ammunition and Russian attacks continue to hammer energy infrastructure across the country.
IRAN THREAT
US unveils international force to defend Red Sea. Here's what we know. Several nations have announced their contributions to Operation Prosperity Guardian, a new multinational security initiative in the Middle East.
GO TO THE SOURCE! – A $2M missile vs. a $2,000 drone: Pentagon worried over cost of Houthi attacks. “That quickly becomes a problem because the most benefit … is in their favor,” one expert said.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
Troops on South Korean side re-arm at border village amid tensions with North. International troops stationed on the South Korean side of the truce village of Panmunjom on the border with North Korea who had been unarmed can resume carrying guns, the United Nations Command (UNC) said on Tuesday.
US POWER OVERSEAS
US conducts first airstrike in Somalia in nearly 4 months. The security situation in Somalia is not good.
Air Force plans smaller permanent fleet of F-15EX Eagle IIs at Japan fighter hub. It is considering a plan to permanently replace its aging fleet of F-15 Eagle fighters on Okinawa with a smaller number of more advanced aircraft.
A Japan court orders Okinawa to approve a modified plan to build runways for US Marine Corps. This, at the planned relocation site of a key U.S. military base on the southern island despite persistent opposition and protests by residents.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Running short on Ukraine air defenses, US looks to Japan. Tokyo is preparing a significant policy shift in its defense export rules that would allow Washington to transfer additional Patriot missiles to Kyiv.
Turkey links Sweden's NATO bid to US approving F-16 jet sales and Canada lifting arms embargo.
US MILITARY
How an ‘unprecedented' shooting study may shake up Marine marksmanship. The new study will challenge every assumption about how to teach Marines to get rounds on target.
Congress asks Department of the Air Force for 2050 Force Design Plan. What will it mean? The Air Force will be required to produce a new report on its future Force Design by the end of next summer.
DARPA puts millions behind effort to power drones with ground-based lasers. Raytheon gets $10 million to develop energy “webs” that could keep drones in the air indefinitely.
Military focusing on JROTC programs as chances to paint picture of service to Gen Z dwindle. The Pentagon is struggling to fill the ranks in most of its services, a slump that is a complicated amalgamation of issues.
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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