Is A Big War Brewing In Mideast? What Will China Do?

THURSDAY PDB – A new, much bigger war may be coming to the Mideast.

With the U.S., Russia, Israel and Iran involved, it could be huge. It might also give China the opportunity to strike Taiwan.

BUT WHAT OTHER OPTIONS DO WE HAVE? – The perils of adding US forces in the Middle East. Last month, a Russian fighter had a near-miss with a manned American surveillance craft, while the U.S. has deployed F-35 stealth fighters to deter Iran in the Strait of Hormuz – just two examples of the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

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:

PENTAGON WOKE WATCH

Veterans and advocates sue DoD, VA over fertility policies. They alleged they were denied federal aid for in-vitro fertilization because of issues like their marital status, sexual orientation and the extent of their service injuries.

CHINA THREAT

Why China is not as powerful as the West might think. Xi Jinping's brand of economic policy is less and less convincing to Western companies. Politicians are waking up, too.

China, UAE to hold first-ever joint military drill, likely a ‘message' to US. Though few details of the exercise are known, analysts said the emirates could be sending a signal to Washington about security “options” in the region.

China is suddenly dealing with another public health crisis: mpox (Monkey pox). While the scale is vastly differently than covid, the government is already repeating some of the same mistakes with this disease, which is primarily transmitted by male gay sex.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

NATO nations beef up security due to Wagner fighters in Belarus. NATO allies along the alliance's eastern front are growing increasingly worried about the presence of Russia-linked Wagner group mercenaries in Belarus, where some have been deployed since a short-lived mutiny in Russia in June.

Ukrainian troops trained by the West stumble in battle. Ukraine's army has for now set aside U.S. fighting methods and reverted to tactics it knows best.

Ukraine war: Drones target Odesa grain stores near Romania border. A Russian drone strike has hit Ukrainian port facilities at Izmail on the River Danube, a short distance from the Nato member state.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 526. Russian drones struck port and grain storage facilities in and around the Danube. The attacks damaged about 40,000 tonnes of grains expected by countries in Africa. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of waging an attack on “global food security.”

Nearly half of those held in Russia's detention centers in Kherson were tortured, rights report finds. The torture included sexual violence.

HOMELAND SECURITY

US Capitol Police chief says report of active shooter may have been a ‘bogus call.' Senate office buildings were locked down Wednesday after a ccall to Metropolitan Police about an active shooter in the Hart Senate Office Building.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

US orders partial evacuation of embassy in Niger following military takeover. The Department of State Wednesday ordered a temporary partial evacuation of the U.S. embassy in Niamey.

The perils of adding US forces in the Middle East. Last month, a Russian fighter jet had a near-miss with a manned American surveillance craft, while the U.S. has deployed F-35 stealth fighters to deter Iran in the Strait of Hormuz — just two examples of the escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Russia launches live-fire Baltic naval drills on Europe's doorstep. It began begun live-fire naval exercises in the Baltic Sea on Wednesday, ratcheting up tensions with nearby European nations that are already high over NATO and Ukraine.

New Zealand reports on defense and security expected to call for more spending. More money and resources are needed to bolster forces that have long been seen as underfunded relative to its partners.

Israel says US has given green light to send David's Sling to Finland. Finland approved the purchase of the air defense system in April, a day after joining NATO.

US Defense Secretary Austin talks security with Mozambique President. They discussed the “security situation” in Cabo Delgado Province.

Widespread war crimes committed in Sudan, Amnesty International says. Violations documented in Sudan include sexual violence and attacks targeting civilians.

BIDEN AFGHAN DISASTER

They fought alongside the US — now this female Afghan military platoon is in limbo. An all-female Afghan military platoon is in immigration limbo.

US MILITARY

Anduril, Epirus to boost US Marine Corps drone defenses. Two defense companies teamed up to support the Marines Corps in creating a system capable of detecting, tracking and zapping drone swarms.

BUT SHOULD THEY? – How Lockheed is positioning the F-22 to fly into the 2040s. The Pentagon is spending billions to keep the Raptor ready for battle.

Morgan Freeman visits the Pentagon, talks history with Austin. The Oscar winner is promoting a documentary on an all-Black tank battalion from World War II. 

We salute the Army crew that named their tank ‘Academy Dropout.' Just about anyone who has spent at least one day in the Army can tell you, graduating from West Point does not guarantee a be-all and end-all of military competence.

A year after Revolutionary War soldiers from 1777 were found in a NJ field, questions remain. It was one year ago Wednesday that officials announced a startling discovery at one of New Jersey's Revolutionary War battlefields. 

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.

READ NEXT: The Remarkable Difference About Trump's New Indictment