TUESDAY PDB – Even as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to expand into a major regional conflict, China must remain a top concern.We are one spark away from a big war in the Pacific.
FOCUS MUST BE ON PROJECTING STRENGTH NOT WEAKNESS.
China's Shandong aircraft carrier sails into South China Sea. The People's Liberation Army Navy Shandong Carrier Strike Group sailed into the South China Sea Monday, passing through the waters between the Philippines and Taiwan.
Canadian navy says its helicopter took evasive action from Chinese fighters. Canada's armed forces have reported a dangerous close call one of its helicopters had with Chinese fighter jets early last week in the South China Sea.
MESSAGE TO CHINA – Navy carries out another multi-carrier exercise, this time with Japan in the Philippine Sea. The roar and rumble of fighter jets began early Sunday, part of a joint U.S.-Japan drill meant to showcase the two nations as a “cornerstone of peace and deterrence” in the region.
Chinese, Philippine clashes draw US vow to defend Pacific ally. Joe Biden promises to honor a defense pact with the Philippines following a series of at-sea provocations with China.
US, Philippines complete largest EDCA project to date. U.S. and Philippine defense officials marked the completion of their Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement site project at Basa Air Base in a ceremony unveiling a refurbished runway on Monday.
GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher previews plans to deter China from invading Taiwan. The chair of the House's China-focused panel discussed ways to deter Beijing and what's in store for the year ahead.
MEANWHILE – ALSO A MESSAGE TO CHINA – BIDEN ASS-KISSING WEAKNESS – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wants to meet with his unnamed Chinese counterpart. Austin is making another attempt to meet with his Chinese counterpart this month as overall relations between the world's biggest economies improve.
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
Called to serve, Israeli reservists wait to deploy. For the 360,000 reservists who have been called up as Israel goes to war in Gaza, there are plenty of ways to conjure up nightmares: taking part in a combat operation that accidentally kills an Israeli hostage held by Hamas, confronting Hamas fighters as they pop up from tunnels in a chaotic urban landscape or simply coming upon a Palestinian child who strays within rifle range.
US SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
Biden admin notified Congress of plan to transfer $320M worth of precision bombs to Israel. The plan, according to one report, also includes the provision of support, assembly, testing, and other technology related to the weapons use.
Eisenhower carrier strike group, submarine arrive in Middle East. The strike group, as well as an Ohio-class guided missile submarine, have entered the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility (AOR) as concerns continue about a larger conflict erupting in the region amid Israel's war against Hamas.
POLITICS
Former SecDef Mattis says vets at Jan. 6 Capitol riot ‘don't define the military.' The retired Marine general said: “There's always someone that disappoints you. I'm reminded that Jesus of Nazareth had 1 out of 12 disappoint him.”
Sinema plays peacemaker in the Hill's Pentagon promotion wars. The Arizona independent has worked for months to craft an emergency solution that would break Sen. Tommy Tuberville's holds on military nominees over Pentagon ‘s new abortion policies. Republicans will gather on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the Tuberville holds in private.
NATIONAL SECURITY
STOP THIS! – For sale: Data on US servicemembers — and lots of it. Active-duty members of the U.S. military are vulnerable to having their personal information collected, packaged, and sold to overseas companies without any vetting.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 622. The 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade confirmed that 19 of its soldiers were killed last week in a “tragic” Russian air attack. They were attacked as they gathered for an awards ceremony at a village near the front line in the southern Zaporizhia region. SPIES AMONG THEM.
Grenade in birthday gift kills aide to Ukraine's top commander. Ukraine's Gen. Valery Zaluzhny said that his assistant was killed under “tragic circumstances” while celebrating his birthday. LOTS OF ‘TRAGIC' ATTACKS RECENTLY.
IRAN THREAT
Number of troops injured in Iran-backed Middle East drone attacks now at 46. Dozens of American troops sustained injuries following drone attacks on bases in Iraq and Syria on Oct. 17 and 18.
PODCAST: Number of US troops injured in Middle East drone attacks increases. The number of attacks has also increased, with more over the weekend.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
South Korea to launch first domestically built spy satellite. It plans to launch its first domestically built spy satellite at the end of this month to better monitor rival North Korea, which is expanding its arsenal of nuclear weapons.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
US, NATO to suspend participation in landmark Cold War arms treaty. The move follows Russia's withdrawal from the Conventional Forces in Europe pact.
Blood brothers: In the Pacific, US medics may soon use blood from allies. A first-of-it-kind agreement could see U.S. combat medics in the Indo Pacific treat American troops with blood from other nations.
Russia and Myanmar start first maritime exercises. Moscow has become a key ally for Myanmar's rogue military regime, providing it with weapons and diplomatic support.
US MILITARY
See it: the Marines deadly new ‘robot goat.' In a vision of a creepy and lethal near future, the Marines strap a rocket launcher to a robotic quadruped.
Marine Corps wants lighter .50 caliber ammunition to reduce the burden of weight on the battlefield. This, to increase Marines' speed and survivability.
Army looks to update tactical blimps. How does the Army want to update its blimp-like aerostats?
Army, Marine special operators fail to keep up with language training. Fewer than half of all Army and Marine Corps special operations personnel completed any of their annual foreign language training in recent years, prompting a call to overhaul how the community prioritizes and accounts for language standards.
What's next for Air Force special tactics? Members of the Air Force's newest special tactics career field, special reconnaissance airmen are trained to infiltrate enemy territory and gather information on hostile air defenses.
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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