THURSDAY PDB – Yes and no. Joe Biden wants to push the idea that most U.S. military aid to Ukraine stays in the U.S. but does it? ‘Bombenomics': Biden admin circulates map showing states that benefit from Ukraine aid. The White House has adjusted its sales pitch to skeptical Republicans, highlighting how continued funding benefits the U.S.
And that is a nice spin because it appears mostly true.
Ukraine aid's best-kept secret: Most of the money stays in the US. Funds to arm Ukraine are not going directly to Ukraine but being used stateside to build new weapons or to replace weapons sent to Kyiv from U.S. stockpiles. Of the $68 billion in military and related assistance approved so far, almost 90 percent is going to Americans.
While this reality does help persuade some that the military aid is more worthwhile, it still means we are giving away $68 billion of our own military stocks and weapons. So, there's also that.
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:
US V-22 OSPREY CRASH
Japan asks US military to ground Osprey aircraft after fatal crash. It asked to suspend all non-emergency V-22 flights over its territory after one crashed into the sea on Wednesday in western Japan, marking the country's first fatal U.S. military plane crash in five years. The cause of the mishap during a routine training mission is still unknown. One crewman was found dead. Search continues to find the remaining seven crew.
ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST TERROR
Blinken arrives in Israel as the Gaza cease-fire with Hamas is extended another day. Hours after Hamas released another 16 captives in exchange for 30 Palestinians held by Israel, the two sides agreed to extend their cease-fire by at least another day to continue the hostages-for-prisoners swaps.
POLITICS
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger dies at 100. Kissinger exerted uncommon influence on global affairs under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, and beyond.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
WHY?! – Cell phones at boot camp: Navy will let some recruits use their devices. The Navy's boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, will start letting recruits have some access to cell phones while in training.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Poll finds strong support for arming Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. An annual poll commissioned by the Ronald Reagan Institute found strong public support for arming Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as Congress negotiates a path forward on President Joe Biden's $106 billion supplemental spending request to arm all three security partners in the weeks ahead.
Hearing shines spotlight on depleted US icebreaker fleet in the arctic. A Coast Guard leader and Republican senator on Wednesday warned of the consequences of falling further behind Russia and China in the area.
This high-flying aircraft discovered China's spy balloon. Now Biden's Pentagon wants to kill it. Each day, combat commanders around the world demand more and more U-2 missions
HMMM – Climate makes this Cold War more dangerous than the last. In the decades ahead, the US and China will likely suffer more loss of life and property from transnational threats than from a war over Taiwan.
CHINA THREAT
We have China's ‘anti-access' challenge exactly backward. Stronger regional security depends on getting this right—then setting aside our wants for our needs.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Decorated Russian general blown up on land mine in occupied Ukraine possibly planted by another unit. The commander was killed by a landmine likely planted by his own side.
Ukraine insists it sees no sign of NATO war fatigue even as fighting and weapons supplies stall. Ukraine's Foreign Minister insisted that NATO allies remain committed to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia and take back occupied territory.
Zelenskiy faces manpower dilemma in Ukraine's stalled offensive. A plan to draft more Ukrainian men has been sitting on President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's desk since June. The wartime leader so far has defied pressure from the military to sign it.
Russian POWs describe ‘nightmare' of combat in Ukraine. Soldiers captured by Ukrainian troops in the battle for Avdiivka tell of the high price their army is incurring for its grinding advance.
IRAN THREAT
Iranian drone ‘took unsafe action' near carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower. The aerial drone “took unsafe and unprofessional actions” as the carrier operated in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday.
USS Carney shoots down drone launched from Yemen. The destroyer deemed the drone to be a threat and shot it down over water.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
Kim's sister rejects US offer of dialogue with North Korea and vows more satellite launches. The powerful sister of Kim Jong Un dismissed U.S. calls for a return to diplomacy and lambasted its condemnations of the North's recent spy satellite launch, vowing more launches in violation of U.N. bans.
SPACE THREAT
USSF to start production on new missile warning satellites for medium-earth orbit. The Space Systems Command announced it has completed the design review for six satellites built by Millennium Space Systems that will go in medium-Earth orbit (MEO), clearing the way for production ahead of a first launch by late 2026.
US POWER OVERSEAS
Forward deployed US Marine task force begin drills with Indonesia. After training in the Philippines since October, a forward-positioned Marine Corps task force kicked off another exercise in Indonesia last week.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Brazil increases northern border military presence amid Venezuela-Guyana spat. Brazil “has intensified defensive actions” along its northern border as it monitors a territorial dispute between its neighbors.
At least 40 civilians killed by al-Qaida-linked rebels in a Burkina Faso town. The terrorists are trying to take control of a besieged town in Burkina Faso's hard-hit northern region, the UN rights office said, calling the attack a war crime.
US MILITARY
Airpower experts: US needs more than 100 B-21s to meet future high demand. The new Raider stealth bomber will be needed for so many missions in a future conflict—from pathfinding through enemy air defenses to airfield attack to minelaying to direct conventional attack and nuclear deterrence—that demand could easily outstrip available aircraft if only the 100 planned are bought.
As US Army transforms, it's gleaning lessons about high- and low-tech fighting from Ukraine, Israel. The principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, said the effectiveness of high- and low-tech fighting was “pushing into our guiding principles.”
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.
