DeSantis Expands Permanent Florida ‘State Guard’

THURSDAY PDB – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on May 26 to permanently establish and expand the Florida State Guard, which he revived last year.

This entity will not have any links to the federal government.

Florida expands state defense force, establishes it as permanent unit.

DeSantis restored the state defense force last year, citing a need for a larger civilian emergency response force in a state prone to natural disasters.

He is the force's commander-in-chief, as he is for the Florida National Guard when its units aren't mobilized and placed under federal control.

The bill expands the maximum size of the Florida State Guard — a separate entity from the Florida National Guard — from 400 members to 1,500.

The legislation also increases the force's budget tenfold, from roughly $10 million to approximately $107.6 million.

MORE RED STATES SHOULD CREATE ‘STATE GUARDS' THAT ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of today's other top defense stories from national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:

PENTAGON WOKE WATCH

ENOUGH ALREADY – Pentagon officials defend diversity and inclusion at Pride Month event. Uniformed and civilian Defense Department officials defended LGBTQ+ service members and diversity and inclusion efforts on Wednesday at the Pentagon's annual Pride Month celebration.

Pride flags at VA campuses irk Republican lawmakers. GOP lawmakers are demanding that Veterans Affairs leaders stop allowing LGBT Pride flags to be flown at its buildings this month, calling it political posturing that could discourage some veterans from seeking care.

NATIONAL SECURITY

Senators plan briefings on AI to learn more about risks. Democrats and Republicans can agree on at least one thing: There is insufficient understanding of artificial intelligence and machine learning in Congress. 

HOMELAND SECURITY

170 INCIDENTS BY VETS OVER 32 YEARS – Military service key factor in 3 decades of extremist attacks. One-quarter of all extremism-driven mass casualty attacks and plots from 1990 through 2022 were devised by perpetrators with military backgrounds, according to new research. 

IMPORTANT – “Offenders with military backgrounds had higher rates of unemployment, mental illness and affiliations.” 

CHINA THREAT

Propaganda film casts Chinese Army as saintly liberators. The two-minute video, which switches back and forth from animation to live footage, is a cartoonish depiction of the country's military as a saintly, selfless group of missionaries.

Taiwan activates air defense as China aircraft enter zone. This after 37 Chinese military aircraft flewinto the island's air defence zone, some of which then flew into the western Pacific, in Beijing's latest mass air incursion.

Taiwan's navy caught between two strategies to counter Chinese threat. Taiwan's Republic of China Navy is facing two looming threats from China and has been struggling to create a force structure to handle both.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Burst Ukraine dam alters battlefield as floodwaters rise. The flooding has forced thousands of people to flee their homes, adding another dimension to a humanitarian crisis resulting from the war. 

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 470. Russian leader Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of a “barbaric act” in his first public comments on the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam, which has caused widespread flooding.

Russians shooting at rescuers in flooded areas, Zelenskyy says. Ukrainian president says dead bodies are floating in floodwater from the Nova Kakhovka dam.

Zelenskyy denies Ukraine involvement in Nord Stream pipeline blasts. The Ukrainian president said there is no evidence Kyiv was behind the explosions crippling the pipelines.

After F-16s, Biden under renewed pressure to send long-range weapons to Ukraine. House members want the administration to greenlight the Army Tactical Missile System for Kyiv. 

SPACE THREAT

Space Force to reveal draft for commercial satellite ‘reserve' service soon. “The capacity needed during times of crisis or conflict will exceed our steady state peacetime demand,” says chief of Space Systems Commands Commercial Space Office.

No time to fail again—pass the Space National Guard Establishment Act. Failure to align Air National Guard space elements with the Space Force will make it less likely they can achieve desired mission effects when needed most.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

WOW! – In first, IDF sends troops to participate in major US-led drill in Morocco. 12 Golani soldiers join ‘African Lion' exercise, held in north African nation and nearby countries, including Tunisia, with which Israel has no formal ties

Navy destroyer practices electronic warfare with allied ships after Taiwan Strait incident. A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer joined forces with Japanese, Australian and Canadian warships for a three-day exercise that began the same day it encountered an aggressive Chinese vessel.

Mexico investigates army personnel seen on video appearing to beat and kill suspected cartel members. An investigation has been launched into what Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has described as an “execution,” after a video shows Mexican army personnel dragging men in civilian clothing out of a car.

US MILITARY

DOOMSDAY PLANE – Navy receives first modified airborne command post. Navy has taken delivery of an improved version of the aircraft that links the upper echelons of government with U.S. submarines carrying nuclear-tipped missiles. 

Cutting weight: Marine infantry battalions to shrink 10% by end of the summer. Marine Corps infantry battalions are set to shrink by almost 10% this fall. 

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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