MONDAY PDB – Biden admin's military recruiting and retention crisis a self-inflicted wound. Here's how to reverse course. Our government leadership is largely to blame for the recruiting crisis and their attempted solutions almost laughable.
Ideology, not lack of funds, is behind our military's recruiting crisis. America's military is in crisis, and it's not one caused by the threat of a foreign adversary. Rather, the crisis we refer to is completely self-made and cannot be fixed by force. It is the fact that fewer and fewer young Americans are willing to sign up and join.
Most Americans respect vets but would not recommend enlisting. The new survey from RAND suggests that positive views of veterans aren't enough to boost military recruitment.
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
US defense secretary arrives in Israel and is expected to press for a more targeted approach in Gaza. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was expected to press Israel to wind down major combat operations in Gaza on a visit Monday.
Israel faces new calls for truce after killing of hostages raises alarm about its conduct in Gaza. It faced these calls from some of its closest European allies on Sunday after a series of shootings, including the mistaken killing of three Israeli hostages.
POLITICS
Congress unlikely to finish work on Ukraine, border deal this year. Senate negotiators met over the weekend and cited progress, but the Republican side suggested January was more “realistic.”
Biden safe after car crashes into motorcade vehicle at campaign headquarters. A car unintentionally struck an SUV in Joe Biden's motorcade Sunday night, causing damage to both vehicles and appearing to startle the president as he left Wilmington, Delaware.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
Confederate memorial to be removed from Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial is to be removed in the coming days.
NATIONAL SECURITY
As irregular warfare comes to a crossroads, Congress chips in. IW proponents are wrestling with how to bring their domain into a new era—and to convince others it's still needed.
Congress approves bill barring presidents from unilaterally exiting NATO. Congress this week approved a measure aimed at preventing any U.S. president from unilaterally withdrawing the U.S. from NATO without congressional approval. This, amid concerns that Donald Trump may try to exit the alliance if he returns to office.
Disorganized and confusing: Lawmakers, industry rip Pentagon plans for drones. Critics say they want more specifics on DOD's Replicator program — including how they plan to pay for it.
The mystery of the missing binder: How a collection of raw Russian intelligence disappeared under Trump. The highly classified information related to Russian election interference went missing at the end of Donald Trump's presidency, sources told CNN.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Arizona's Democratic gov mobilizes National Guard to border, as Washington tries to reach border deal. Gov. Katie Hobbs is sending the Guard to help stem the ongoing migrant wave, as she accuses the federal government of “refusing” to do its job to secure the border.
Army launches investigation into Maine shooter after push from lawmakers. The reservist killed 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, in October.
CHINA THREAT
GONNA START A WAR – Chinese maritime militia swarms Second Thomas Shoal as Manilla mulls contingency plans. This is Beijing's latest move against the Philippines in the South China Sea.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Russia loads new intercontinental ballistic missile into silo south of Moscow. Russian rocket forces have loaded a new Yars intercontinental ballistic missile into a silo at the Kozelsk base in the Kaluga region.
Crude ground robots emerge on the battlefields of Ukraine. As armed aerial drones and artillery threaten troop movements on the front lines in Ukraine, crude ground robots are whizzing over the battlefield to resupply soldiers.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 663. Ukraine's Air Force said it destroyed 20 Russian drones and a missile – nine of them in the southern Odesa region. On Saturday, Ukraine said its air defense systems shot down 30 Russia-launched drones over 11 regions of the country.
Russian ‘conquest' of Ukraine on the table if US, allied military aid falters: Study. The report details the high cost the U.S. is likely to pay for “allowing Russia to win” in Ukraine, as the U.S. would be forced to bolster NATO defenses against a “renewed” Russian threat.
Putin says he has ‘no interest' in attacking NATO, calls Biden's warning ‘nonsense.' Russia's leader warns of ‘problems' with Finland now that the Nordic country has joined NATO.
IRAN THREAT
USS Carney takes out drone swarm in the Red Sea. Saturday's action comes as commercial ships transiting the vital economic sea lane continue to come under attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in nearby Yemen.
UK maritime group reports explosion near ship in Red Sea. A ship traveling in the Red Sea near Yemen reports another possible attack by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
US forces in Iraq came under attack for 98th time as general visited region. This, as the senior general overseeing US forces in the Middle East was visiting the region to meet with American troops and key leaders.
Pentagon has ordered a US aircraft carrier to remain in the Mediterranean near Israel. The Gerald R. Ford and one other warship to remain for several more weeks to maintain a two-carrier presence near Israel as its war with Hamas grinds on.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea conducts first long-range missile test in months, likely firing a solid-fueled weapon. It likely launched a developmental, more agile weapon, as it vows strong responses against U.S. and South Korean moves to boost their nuclear deterrence plans. The missile is reportedly capable of hitting anywhere in the U.S.
SPACE THREAT
SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch of X-37B space plane now targeted for Dec. 28. The mission's four-hour launch window opens at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 28.
US POWER OVERSEAS
82nd Airborne Division takes over Army operations on NATO's eastern flank. The paratroopers will collaborate with other rotational forces dispatched to deter potential Russian aggression in the Black Sea region.
American military presence in Niger remains at about 1,000, AFRICOM says. U.S. force levels are holding steady in Niger, where operations have slowed down in the aftermath of a July coup in the country.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Rocket Lab launches Japanese Earth-imaging satellite. California-based Rocket Lab, which specializes in putting small satellites into orbit, launched a Japanese satellite on Friday from the space company's complex on New Zealand's Mahia Peninsula.
US MILITARY
WC-135 ‘Nuke-Sniffer' fleet upgrades are complete. The Air Force took delivery on the third and final WC-135R aircraft, completing its transition from its two-aircraft WC-135C/W fleet.
Bridging the gap: Army validates division-led river crossing. The U.S. Army successfully validated a force structure change meant to help it make better wet gap crossings during large scale combat operations.
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.
