MONDAY PDB – Stefanik calls for wiping Hamas ‘off the face of the Earth' and touts Trump policies in speech to Israeli Knesset. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik said victory for Israel in the war against Hamas starts with “wiping” those responsible for the October 7 terrorist attacks “off the face of the Earth” and calling for a return to former President Donald Trump's policies.
“Total victory starts, but only starts, with wiping those responsible for October 7 off the face of the Earth. There can be no retrievable dignity for Hamas and its backers,” she said in her speech in which she called herself a “leading proponent and partner” to Trump and sharply criticized Team Biden. (RELATED: Trump Deserves A Medal For Keeping America Safe)
The New York Republican, who is considered a potential vice-presidential pick for the presumptive GOP nominee, has been outspoken in the House over reports of antisemitism on college campuses, earning attention for her grilling of university presidents. Her speech makes her the highest-ranking House Republican to address the Israeli governing body since the October 7 attacks.
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
It's time to re-adopt peace through strength. At the dawn of the Cold War, a simple phrase defined America's national security strategy: Ronald Reagan's “Peace through strength.” Today, 75 years later, the world faces similarly severe challenges, but this time the U.S. is struggling to adopt a similarly decisive policy.
In the fog of forever war, the US no longer recognizes alternatives. The fog of war makes it difficult for most people to think beyond the here and now. In the wake of the chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan in August 2021, policymakers, the military and others focused on the bungling of the singular operation — the withdrawal — and not the overall feasibility or desirability of U.S. foreign policy.
These ISIS news anchors are AI fakes. Their propaganda is real. The Islamic State-affiliated media broadcast News Harvest shows how artificial intelligence can be used to disseminate extremist propaganda quickly and cheaply.
Julian Assange faces judgment day in years-long fight to stay out of US court. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will face a British High Court on Monday to ultimately decide whether the accused classified information leaker will be extradited to the U.S. after more than a decade of legal battles.
HOMELAND SECURITY – LAW ENFORCEMENT
‘BIDEN'S ILLEGALS' ARE GROWING THREAT – Pair who tried breaching Virginia Marine base are Jordanian nationals here illegally under Biden. The two were likely doing reconnaissance for a terror attack.
Video shows Coast Guard setting cocaine-smuggling vessel on fire. The Coast Guard intercepted $17.5 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea, and then lit the smuggling vessel on fire!
Ill-fated cargo ship Dali will be refloated and hauled from the bridge wreckage site Monday. Multiple investigations into the crash are underway, including by the FBI and US Coast Guard.
Hundreds pack funeral for slain airman Roger Fortson. The Air Force members in dress blues joined Roger Fortson's family, friends, and others at a suburban Atlanta megachurch on Friday to pay their final respects to the Black senior airman, who was shot and killed in his Florida home earlier this month by a sheriff's deputy.
POLITICS
Sullivan presses Netanyahu for a more focused military campaign in Gaza. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated Team Biden pressure on Israel to limit its military operation in Gaza during a visit to the country on Sunday.
Blinken orders crackdown on Israel-Hamas leaks. Secretary of State Antony Blinken directed his top staff to crack down on leaks about diplomacy relating to the Israel-Hamas war, saying clearly that he was “angry” with the constant stream of press reports revealing sensitive information.
PENTAGON WOKE WATCH
WHAT COULD GO WRONG? – Marijuana testing for recruits could end under House's must-pass defense policy bill. Potential military recruits and prospective officers soon may not need to worry about drug testing if they recently used marijuana.
ISRAEL'S WAR AGAINST TERROR
A military expert on why the US view on Israel's fight against Hamas is a turning point for the world. Since Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, this military expert has been carefully observing the Israel Defense Forces' war against the terror organization.
US POWER OVERSEAS
General says he warned that Afghanistan would get ‘very bad, very fast.' The last four-star U.S. commander based in Kabul, is among the latest witnesses to meet with lawmakers scrutinizing the Biden administration's management of the withdrawal.
ANOTHER BIDEN FAILURE – US departure from Niger ‘already underway' ahead of September deadline. This, after a chaotic, months long saga. (RELATED: Explosive Scare At Military Base Prompts Lockdown)
Trucks are rolling across the US pier into Gaza, but challenges remain. This, as Israeli restrictions on border crossings and heavy fighting hindered the delivery of food and other supplies.
LCS quartet being lined up by Navy for Middle East mine operations. The Navy is on track to homeport four Independence-class littoral combat ships in Bahrain next year as part of a new mine countermeasures force.
IRAN THREAT
GOOD! – Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, supreme leader's protégé, dies at 63 in helicopter crash. The hard-line protégé of the country's supreme leader helped oversee the mass executions of thousands in 1988 and later led the country as it enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels and launched a major drone-and-missile attack on Israel.
CHINA THREAT
Taiwan's new President Lai in his inauguration speech urges China to stop its military intimidation. Lai Ching-te, said in his inauguration speech Monday that he wants peace with China and urged it to stop its military threats and intimidation of the self-governed island.
China sanctions Boeing, two US defense contractors for Taiwan arms sales. China's Ministry of Commerce announced sanctions against Boeing and two other defense companies on the day of Taiwan's presidential inauguration. (RELATED: US Pushing Back On Chinese Aggression Throughout Pacific)
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Kremlin says military will hold nuclear exercises in appropriate timeframe. Exercises involving non-strategic nuclear weapons that Vladimir Putin has ordered would be held “in the relevant timeframes” and that this was a matter for the defense ministry.
Russia's glide bombs devastating Ukraine's cities on the cheap. The cheap but highly destructive ordnance is being used to advance its offensive in Ukraine.
Ukraine's divisive mobilization law comes into force as a new Russian push strains front line troops. Russia launched a new offensive that some fear could close in on Ukraine's second-largest city.
Russia and Ukraine engage in dueling air assaults behind the front lines. Both sides have been looking for ways to inflict damage beyond the battlefield, targeting military logistics hubs and urban centers. (RELATED: Ukraine Shoots Down Russian Nuke-Capable Bomber For First Time)
US MILITARY
Go behind the scenes to see what it takes to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In most jobs, making one mistake would be no big deal. For the members of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), one mistake might seem like the end of the world.
Marines, special ops test MRZR vehicles that add power, payload capacity. Polaris has a version of its MRZR Alpha vehicle able to power offboard systems that's nearing production, as well as a heavy-payload variant undergoing testing with the Marine Corps and U.S. Special Operations Command.
WATCH – Could you handle the AT4? See soldiers fire anti-tank weapons.
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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