FRIDAY PDB – And calls Joe Biden an “elderly man with a poor memory.” Biden won't face charges for keeping classified records, but DOJ criticizes ‘risks to national security.' “Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen.”
The report specifically noted classified documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan.
Biden defends how he handled classified docs after scathing special counsel report. Joe Biden gave a fiery defense of his mental acuity at the White House on Thursday evening after a Justice Department special counsel delivered a report that described him as an “elderly man with a poor memory.” (RELATED: Prominent Republicans Demand Biden's Resignation After Special Counsel's Surprising Findings)
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:
NATIONAL SECURITY
US may cut info-warfare assets as China, Russia expand influence ops. U.S. Army information-warfare capabilities are on the chopping block as the Pentagon looks to trim special operations forces.
Pentagon finishes review of Austin's failure to tell Biden and other leaders about his cancer. This comes from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ‘s failure last month to quickly notify the president and other senior leaders about his hospitalization for prostate cancer and reviewed how the notification process can be improved.
HOMELAND DEFENSE
The homeland is not a sanctuary: The case for more integrated air defenses. Three former senior NORAD officials argue that the U.S. homeland defense must be treated like any theater defense, prepared for multi-tiered attack.
US POWER OVERSEAS
US Army watercraft company that saw action at Normandy and Vietnam reactivates in Japan. A unit that will operate landing craft throughout the Indo-Pacific began work Thursday at this waterfront base south of Tokyo.
Floating around: Army's watercraft strategy in need of facelift, work continues on boat plans. “Envision a swarm of these autonomous vessels going out to various island chains … [and] not having to beach because we're gonna have the UAVs … meet somewhere over the water, grab portions… of ammo, food, blood,” said the deputy director of the Army's contested logistics team.
US military drills in Philippines unaffected by America's focus on Ukraine and Gaza, US general says. Bi-lateral combat exercises involving thousands of forces each year will not be impacted.
POLITICS
STOOGE GOT STEAMROLLED BY PUTIN – Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson interviewed Russian strongman Vladimir Putin. Putin delivered many familiar talking points and was rarely challenged by Carlson.
THESE IMMIGRANTS EARNED THEIR CITIZENSHIP – Bipartisan lawmakers eye ‘pilot program' to expedite citizenship for migrants who serve in US military. A Republican and Democrat are joining forces and pushing for a faster pathway to citizenship for migrants who serve in the U.S. military.
IRAN THREAT
40 militants killed in strikes on Iraq and Syria, Pentagon says. This, in a wave of strikes on 85 Iran-linked targets on Feb. 2, part of the first round of U.S. retaliation for the deaths of three service members in Jordan on Jan. 28.
Houthis, Russians wield same Iranian-supplied drones, DIA studies show. Houthi rebels based in Yemen are equipped with the same Iranian attack drones as Russian troops invading Ukraine, says the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency.
Iraq threatens to expel US troops after strike in Baghdad. Iraq condemned the U.S. for the latest strike on Iraqi soil (without informing our ally) and said the Team Biden action is pushing Baghdad closer to kicking U.S. troops out of the country.
ISRAEL'S WAR ON TERROR
Biden says Israel's military conduct in Gaza has been ‘over the top.' The comments marked the sharpest rebuke yet from Biden, who has been reluctant to criticize Israel despite rising pressure from his party.
US tells Israel it will not support Rafah offensive as it would be a ‘disaster.' Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has ordered the military to prepare a plan to evacuate the population of Rafah ahead of an expected Israeli invasion of the southern Gaza town, reports the Associated Press (AP).
CHINA THREAT
Congress should block US investment in China's military and repression industries. Most Americans, especially servicemen and women, don't want to invest in modernizing Communist China's armed forces. Yet, that's where millions of their investment and retirement dollars are now headed.
Chinese technology company lashes back at US claims it has ties to military. A Nasdaq-listed Chinese technology company that makes parts for self-driving vehicles is threatening to sue the U.S. government after it was included in a list of companies that have links to the Chinese military.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Ukraine's president replaces top general amid war with Russia. This, in a shake-up aimed at reigniting momentum in the deadlocked war with Russia, which is grinding into its third year amid shortages of ammunition, personnel — and support from the West.
Putin urges US to push Ukraine to talks, hints at swap for reporter. Vladimir Putin used his propaganda interview with Tucker Carlson to urge Washington to recognize Moscow's interests and persuade Ukraine to sit down for talks.
100 Ukrainians returned during Russia and Ukraine prisoner swap. A Russian and Ukrainian prisoner swap resulted in the return of 100 Ukrainians from captivity Thursday.
50 Americans have died in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. Nearly 40 of the Americans killed are U.S. military veterans.
Baltic nations prepare 600-strong bunker defensive line against Russia. The new bunkers, similar to “underground cellars” commonly found in Estonia, are expected to be 115 square feet, hardened to withstand artillery strikes and house up to 10 soldiers.
SPACE THREAT
Space Force's ‘Victus Haze' demo to focus on rapid threat response. Last September, the service conducted a record-breaking demonstration showcasing its ability to buy, build, launch, and operate a satellite on rapid timelines.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Smoke or substance? NATO-Japanese cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. NATO has long had a more complicated relationship with maritime geography than its name implies. Now, the alliance is trying to figure out how to further its mission in the Indo-Pacific.
Bolsonaro and allies planned a coup, Brazil police say. Former President Jair Bolsonaro oversaw a broad conspiracy to hold on to power regardless of the results of the 2022 election, including personally editing a proposed order to arrest a Supreme Court justice.
US MILITARY
US Army spent billions on a new helicopter that now will never fly. The U.S. Army is abruptly ending its latest effort to build a new armed scout helicopter, known as the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, one of the department's most significant program cancellations of the last decade.
Navy now forgiving recruits' prior marijuana use as it looks to cut more losses at boot camp. It is no longer immediately kicking out recruits who arrive at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, with detectable amounts of marijuana in their system.
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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