FRIDAY PDB – In a show of support for our close ally and as a warning to our mutual enemy, American forces are pouring into the Middle East again. Here's a look at the military firepower the US is providing to Israel.
Within hours of the horrific terror attack by Hamas, the U.S. began moving warships and aircraft to the region to be ready to provide Israel with whatever it needs to respond.
A second U.S. carrier strike group departs from Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday. Scores of aircraft are heading to U.S. military bases around the Middle East. Special operations forces are now assisting Israel's military in planning and intelligence.
The first shipment of additional munitions has already arrived.
A-10 Warthogs arrive, more US forces coming amid Israel-Gaza fighting. The US military's deployments are a warning to anyone thinking about exploiting the Israel-Hamas war: Don't.
MEANWHILE – More US aid to Israel ahead of Austin visit. A day after the first package of U.S. security aid arrived in Israel, a senior Pentagon official said more will be on the way.
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 AT WAR
American hostage recovery to be led by Israeli forces, US to advise. Joe Biden confirmed that Americans are among hostages taken by Hamas, though the White House has not given an estimate of the number beyond calling it “less than a handful.”
PODCAST: US arranging evacuation flights for Americans in Israel. The evacuation flights are scheduled to begin today, as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is also slated to visit Israel.
Israel orders unprecedented evacuation of 1 million in Gaza as possible ground offensive looms. Israel's military told the Palestinians on Friday to evacuate northern Gaza and head to the southern part of the besieged territory ahead of an expected ground invasion against the ruling Hamas terror group.
POLITICS
Scalise drops out of speaker's race. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Thursday dropped out of the race for Speaker, just one day after he won the Republican nomination for the role. At the same time, the U.S. is approaching another government shutdown deadline and war has broken out in Israel.
Judge Cannon postpones Walt Nauta hearing over possible lawyer conflicts. The judge overseeing former President Trump's classified documents case criticized the government on Thursday for “wasting the court's time” after prosecutors introduced new questions about the lawyer for one co-defendant.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Senator Bob Menendez accused of acting as foreign agent for Egypt while helming Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Federal prosecutors added the new criminal charge against the New Jersey Democrat and his wife.
Former US Army sergeant accused of trying to give secrets to China will face charges in Seattle. Joseph Schmidt spent his more than three years since leaving the service trying to hand over U.S. defense documents to the Chinese and work for their military or intelligence forces.
NATIONAL SECURITY
WE NEED MORE NUKES – Congressional commission calls for more nuclear arsenal expansion. The U.S. should expand its capabilities beyond current modernization plans despite industrial constraints, it said in a report.
US SUB POWER – Congressman: US undersea supremacy is only growing stronger. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-CT., makes the case for why America's submarine capabilities are still robust.
Hamas attack shows space-based sensing can't see everything. A new Pentagon constellation will close some gaps, but the need for “old-school” human intelligence will remain.
CHINA THREAT
China's soft message on Hamas is part of a much bigger strategy. This latest eruption of Middle East violence gives Beijing an opportunity to offer developing countries a U.S.-displacing alternative vision for global leadership. China appears to have decided that its road to greater global clout lies through the Palestinians — no matter what hits it takes for going soft on Hamas.
RUSSIA THREAT– UKRAINE WAR
Russia mounts major attack on key city in eastern Ukraine. Russia has mobilized thousands of troops and columns of armored vehicles to capture Avdiivka, which sits in a strategic pocket close to the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk.
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 597. Ukraine says the death toll in last week's Russian missile attack on a cafe in the village of Hroza had risen to 59. “All victims are local residents. They were pensioners, medics, farmers, teachers, entrepreneurs. All were civilians. Entire families of several generations died.”
Pentagon program cobbles together air defense weapons for Ukraine. The Pentagon calls it FrankenSAM.
NORTH KOREA THREAT
North Korea responds after US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea. It is calling the arrival of a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group a provocation.
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
AGREED – AND GOOD – Hamas attack might freeze Saudi-Israeli normalization, but won't likely kill it: Analysts. The Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and Israel's retaliation also prompted the first-ever call between Saudi and Iranian leaders.
Stocked with eyeglasses and excitement, hospital ship USNS Mercy begins Pacific partnership deployment. The Mercy (T-AH-19) left San Diego this week on a mission to Oceania, where its medical and engineering personnel will join U.S. partners for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief exercises, and civic projects, and to spread goodwill.
IOC suspends Russian Olympic Committee for incorporating Ukrainian sports regions. The suspension does not immediately affect any Russians who are returning to compete in international sports as neutral athletes, including in some qualifying events for next year's Paris Olympics.
DRONES
US troops test aerial drone that relays vital signs of wounded on the ground. A medical drone the Army is testing may one day prove the difference between life and death for American troops in combat.
US MILITARY
US Army considering aerostat overhaul as focus turns to Russia, China. The Army is examining how it can reinvigorate its aging fleet of blimp-like aircraft known as aerostats that serve as elevated surveillance and communication platforms.
TOO MUCH FOCUS ON 2030s – NOT ENOUGH ON RIGHT NOW – The Army needs a near-term strategy for the 2020s. The U.S. Army must move faster to deter near-term threats.
Incidents of laser points aimed at aircraft have spiked, and it has the Air Force concerned. Air Force investigators are raising the alarm over a significant increase in laser pointers being aimed at aircraft, with more than 9,000 incidents reported last year alone.
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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