PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – China’s ‘mind-boggling’ space capabilities worry US, says Space Force chief. China’s rapid development of space-based military systems is more concerning to Washington than possible Russian space nuclear weapons.
China built a $50 billion military stronghold in the South China Sea to project power across thousands of miles of ocean it claims as its own. The military buildup gives it the ability to defeat the US and its allies if they try to thwart a Chinese attack on Taiwan.
2 Chinese aircraft carriers drill together for the first time in South China Sea.
China can economically punish South Korea at will. The former commander of U.S. troops in South Korea delivered a stark warning this week about China’s ability to weaponize its economic influence over South Korea.
Largest US drone manufacturer says it will need to ration batteries for customers after sanctions by China. Skydio described it as an effort to “eliminate” it and increase the world’s reliance on Chinese-made drones.
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:
NATIONAL SECURITY
How NATO wants to shape the future of war. Earlier this year, Ukraine pulled U.S.-made Abrams tanks off the front lines against Russia because of a threat a quarter of the tanks had been disabled by exploding drones.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Rival nations try to ‘divide, degrade, deceive’ US voters. Russia, China and Iran view next week’s presidential election as an opportunity to weaken American democracy by sowing doubt about the voting process and targeting one of the government’s key tenets — the peaceful transition of power.
POLITICS
Could an independent vet pull off one of the biggest election upsets? It could come from a Nebraska veteran who didn’t even win a primary battle last spring.
US POWER OVERSEAS
The US Navy fired nearly $2 billion in weapons over a year of fighting in the Middle East.
IRAN THREAT/ISRAEL WAR
What Iran is capable of now. As Iran reportedly plans a “definitive and painful” response to Israel’s attack, Washington is trying to figure out how much firepower Iran has left to launch a devastating strike.
Netanyahu tells US envoys that Israel must enforce security in any Lebanon/Hezbollah cease-fire deal, and return Israeli citizens to communities in the north of the country.
Berlin closes Iranian consulates after Tehran executes German national/ dual citizen.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Americans helping Ukraine’s war efforts say the US hasn’t done enough.
US-made jam-resistant drones helped Ukrainians cut through Russia EW. When Russian jamming neutered the recon drones flown by Ukrainian special operators, they turned to V-BAT drones built to withstand the massive electronic warfare interference used by both sides in the war.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Can the UK and France team up in the third nuclear age? Europe’s only nuclear powers have a lot in common. They have both been contributors to NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture since 1974. Despite France not having joined the alliance’s Nuclear Planning Group, these two countries have grown to become key partners.
India boosts submarine fleet as region’s warship traffic picks up. As more Chinese and Pakistani warships and submarines traverse the Indian Ocean, Delhi is boosting its nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
India’s buy of 31 MQ-9Bs from the US caps fruitless push for homemade drone.
US acknowledges limits in curbing UAE support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebel group. This despite calling for an end to foreign intervention in the conflict in Sudan.
US MILITARY
US troops in combat jobs should get higher ‘danger pay’ than others.
The Army is planning for a new robotics technician warrant officer MOS that would be dedicated to incorporating robots and autonomous systems into military operations.
12 aging Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers due to retire will now have their service extended. This, as the service balances the need to keep ships at sea with the time it takes for new ships to join the fleet.
Pentagon drops 51 previously disqualifying medical conditions as part of recruiting push.
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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And why in the hell did we let this happen?!?! It smells of corruption!!!
Been expanding since June 1953 to date