Gaza And Ukraine Show Modern War Is High-Tech But Still Hell

WEDNESDAY PDB – Drones, jammers in Ukraine signal new era of warfare, SECNAV Del Toro says. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, now nearing the end of its second year, has ushered in a “new era of war” in which drones and electronic warfare are having outsize impacts, the secretary of the Navy said.

Gaza and Ukraine show that war hasn't become futuristic — it's still hell. The Israel Defense Forces clashed with Hamas last week in the most intense day of house-to-house fighting since the Gaza campaign began. Roughly 1,200 miles north, Ukrainian troops shivered in their trenches.

The innovative aspects of these wars generate the most interest, but this emphasis on tools can obscure the physical demands imposed upon the humans waging them.

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 rushed new F-35 capabilities to Israel after Hamas attack. Pentagon officials say they're delivering “unprecedented surge support to F-35 users in Israel.”

Biden takes a tougher stance on Israel's ‘indiscriminate bombing' of Gaza. Joe Biden on Tuesday warned that Israel was losing international support because of its “indiscriminate bombing” of Gaza, speaking out in unusually strong language just hours before the UN demanded a humanitarian cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. (RELATED: Report: Biden Says Netanyahu Must Change Course)

Austin to visit Israel as war rages in Gaza and US forces in Mideast withstand more attacks. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will make a return visit to the Middle East in the coming days — his second in the last two months — to meet with leaders in three countries, including Israel.

POLITICS

No, Tucker Carlson – As I wrote about before – SECDEF Austin did not threaten to send US troops to fight in Ukraine. Your uncles, cousins, and sons are not being sent to fight against Russia.

CHINA THREAT

How China is challenging the US military's dominance in space. In recent years, China has closed the gap with the U.S. in space. “We seem to be asleep at the switch,” said Dean Cheng, an expert on China's military space program.

EU framework heralds dawn of AI diplomacy with US, China. China is ahead of both Europe and the U.S. with a set of AI regulations implemented this past August – though its laws aren't as comprehensive as the EU's.

Japan wants a stronger military. Can it find enough troops? A shrinking, aging population poses an obstacle as the nation tries to counter security threats from China and North Korea.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Zelenskyy asks Congress for more air defenses as Ukraine aid dwindles. Zelenskyy faces an uphill battle on Capitol Hill as he asks for more Ukraine aid to unlock air defenses, he says are crucial for victory over Russia. (RELATED: Speaker: Sorry Zelensky, US Must Protect Own Border Before Ukraine's)

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 658. The Moscow-installed head of the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhia region, said Russian forces had “advanced significantly forward northeast of Novopokrovka.”

US Army general regularly traveling to Ukraine in advisory role, report says. A three-star general based in Germany is now spending a lot of time in Kyiv, where he is taking a hands-on role in improving the quality of advice the U.S. is giving to Ukraine's military.

IRAN THREAT

AND HIT THE SOURCE – IRAN – Former CENTCOM commanders: US should consider strikes against Houthis. Iranian-backed forces have once again stepped up their attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria and commercial vessels in the Red Sea in recent days, fueling concerns the Israel-Hamas war may lead to broader hostilities in the region.

Navy destroyer Mason aids commercial ship struck by missile in Red Sea. The commercial ship was struck by a cruise missile in the Bab-el-Mandeb strait Monday.

SPACE THREAT

Russia, China time suspicious space activity for some US holidays. On Thanksgiving, for instance, a Russian satellite revealed and released three sub-satellites — Matryoshka-style — in what a LeoLabs analysis said could've been timed for fewer American eyes on the sky.

Freedom to maneuver key for future space ‘combat mindset,' says ex-SPACECOM deputy. “In a sense, we drive our satellites today as if we're going to church. Our adversaries drive their satellites as if they're going to combat,” Lt. Gen. John Shaw.

USSF creates new component for SPACECOM. The name—'U.S. Space Forces – Space'—may seem a little redundant, but the newest Space Force component will have an outsized role in how the Space Force coordinates with U.S. Space Command.

US POWER OVERSEAS

The US has cut its troop presence in Niger by almost half. U.S. troops in Niger went from around 1,100 in September to 648 in December.

Portugal shipment shows full range of US military drive to move supplies across Europe. A Portuguese port recently took its first turn shipping American military goods from Europe back to the U.S. as part of efforts to diversify the ways the Pentagon moves cargo in and out of the continent.

US MILITARY

Marine Corps about to release new warfighting publication on information operations. “If we don't put our hearts and minds to truly understand the power of data, ultimately information, we're gonna be in an awkward place,” said Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy, deputy commandant for information.

Navy trying out new, lighter aircrew survival vests. The new vests for helicopter and V-22 Osprey aircrews, are lighter setups that the sea service hopes will cut down on overheating while reducing back and neck injuries.

Lawmakers press for more outside help in stopping veteran suicides. Lawmakers frustrated with federal officials' lack of progress in preventing veterans' suicides suggested on Tuesday that more of the $16 billion allotted for those outreach efforts be urgently given to outside community groups.

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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