MONDAY PDB – What it takes to reconstitute the Navy and win the new Cold War. Today's Navy faces massive challenges, many reminiscent of the darkest days of the Cold War: abysmal recruiting, failing shipbuilding programs, too few ships—all eroding our capability advantages over an increasingly aggressive and confident adversary.
It's discouraging, but not insurmountable. The tenure of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II as secretary of the Navy in the mid-1970s offers a lesson in how to overcome these serious problems.
Middendorf's success took money, but it wouldn't have happened without a clear understanding of the nature of the threat and a willingness to act. He recognized that the Soviet Union was guided by an incompatible ideology that would yield only to strength.
He embraced a “peace through strength” agenda that animated his energetic tenure as Secretary.
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
Venezuela defends military buildup, accusing neighboring Guyana of granting illegal oil contracts. The rabidly socialist regime in Venezuela said it would reserve the right to take any diplomatic actions necessary against the U.S. and UK ally.
NATO leader says Trump puts allies at risk by saying Russia can ‘do whatever the hell they want. This, after the Republican presidential front-runner said NATO members who don't meet their defense spending targets shouldn't be defended.
Austin back in the hospital with ‘emergent bladder issue. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Sunday.
Senators push forward with Ukraine aid package as their leaders say the world is watching. Senate leaders argue that the money is crucial to pushing back against Vladimir Putin and maintaining America's global standing.
Republicans are ‘owning' the message of abandoning Ukraine. Senators will face tough questions from European counterparts about Russia at a security conference in Munich.
HOMELAND DEFENSE
Air National Guard secures skies over Super Bowl. Go inside their operation to secure the skies over the Super Bowl.
US POWER OVERSEAS
Army activates new watercraft formation in Japan. In the service's latest move to bolster its presence in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Army activated the 5th Composite Watercraft Company at North Dock, Yokohama.
Marines, Navy's Bataan group officially get extended deployment in Mediterranean amid Middle East turmoil. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit and a Navy amphibious ready group headed by the USS Bataan will remain for a while longer.
CENTCOM's ‘Sandtrap' hackathon targets drones amid Middle East barrages. More than a dozen coders handpicked from across the Department of Defense spent a week chipping away at data and software challenges associated with swatting down drones in the Greater Middle East.
POLITICS
Nikki Haley slams Trump after he hit her over absence of deployed husband.
John Kirby promoted to expanded White House role. The National Security Council spokesperson's role just got bigger.
IRAN THREAT
Attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria hamstrung anti-ISIS mission. The attacks have interrupted the Pentagon's larger counter-terror effort in the region.
The question we are not asking: How will we handle this once Iran is nuclear? Americans are debating whether Joe Biden's retaliatory strikes against Iranian proxies will deter Iran. But they are asking the wrong question.
ISRAEL'S WAR ON TERROR
Israel says two hostages rescued from Gaza in special operation, 128 days after their capture. The special operation was conducted overnight in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza.
Biden doesn't plan to stop Israel aid after human rights order. Joe Biden issued an executive memorandum Thursday night stipulating human rights conditions on all U.S. military aid after weeks of pressure from Senate Democrats concerned about Israel's reported violations in Gaza.
Biden cautions Netanyahu on ground offensive in southern Gaza. He told the Israeli leader that protection was needed for Palestinians seeking shelter and called for “urgent and specific” steps on humanitarian aid.
CHINA THREAT
China makes presence felt at Saudi Arabian defense show, outpacing US, Russia. The wide range of equipment on display by China was dominated by armed and unarmed drones, but also had fighter models, air-to-air missiles, missile defense systems, anti-tank and C4ISR kit.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Ukraine's new army chief reveals top priorities. His immediate goals are to improve the rotation of troops out of the front lines and harness the power of new technology in the fight against Russia's invasion.
Russia is using SpaceX's Starlink satellite devices in Ukraine. Elon Musk's company, once hailed for aiding the besieged country, now appears to be helping its invaders as well.
‘Want to go home': Nepalis fighting for Russia in Ukraine describe horrors. They were lured by the promise of $3,000 paychecks and Russian citizenship. Now they're trapped, wounded or dead.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
UN experts investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks valued at about $3 billion. The cyberattacks occurred between 2017 and 2023, with the money stolen reportedly being used to fund its weapons of mass destruction programs.
SPACE THREAT
US military hopes one day to move supplies, maybe troops, on SpaceX's Starship. While NASA wants the Starship to land humans on the moon, the Pentagon has for the massive rocket that could include launches from Florida's Space Coast.
Space Force may launch GPS demonstration satellites to test new tech. The service is exploring options for expanding the capabilities of its GPS satellites and delivering low-cost demonstration spacecraft to help test new technologies.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Royal Marines' new vessel to ‘deliver a lethal punch.' The sea commandos are set to ‘wreak havoc on the enemy' with return to World War II raiding roots.
HMS Prince of Wales fails to depart for NATO exercises. The Royal Navy aircraft carrier failed to set sail a week after its sister ship pulled out because of a mechanical fault.
Al-Shabab claims attack in Somali capital that kills 4 Emirati troops and 1 Bahraini officer. The deadly al-Qaeda-linked terror group attack occurred at a training mission at a military base.
US MILITARY
General Atomics debuts new XQ-67A Air Force sensing drone. The program remains highly classified, but the effort to field an unmanned aircraft that can fly ahead of fighters, and relay targeting information and other threat data back to them, is moving ahead.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base begins retiring A-10 fleet. The first set of Warthogs from the 355th Wing in Arizona, have moved to the boneyard after nearly a half-century of flight.
Army buys 600 additional Coyote counter-drone weapons amid attacks on US troops. This is a ground-launched, radar-guided interceptor.
No one's been fired over ‘disgusting' barracks conditions, DOD official says. Now members of Congress are questioning whether that lack of accountability has become a major hurdle to fixing those problems for good.
GREAT. JUST GREAT! – NOT! – Paganism gains support in the military. Advocate Selena Fox talks about alternative faiths in the military.
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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