US, NATO Preparing For Russian Aggression Beyond Ukraine

FRIDAY PDB – A soft-bellied Europe, shuffling toward Russia's rising threat. America's closest allies in Europe are warning that Russia could initiate a new war on the continent as soon as this decade – and that they are chillingly ill-prepared.

NATO has a munitions problem, and Europe needs to step up. In March, European Union countries pledged to supply Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells by spring 2024. It is unlikely to deliver on its promise. Meanwhile, in the U.S., between 2022 and 2023, the Army doubled monthly production of 155mm shells.

3 nations agree to simplify US and allied military movements across European borders. A corridor meant to enable the faster movement of troops and equipment to NATO's eastern flank is in the works after three allies this week signed a deal to simplify rules for cross-border military maneuvers.

Russian leaders have high hopes for new nukes this year — again. They now say 2024 is the year when several nuclear weapons will join Moscow's strategic forces, moving a number of goalposts that were meant to be reached last year.

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

NO PERSONAL SECRETS AT THAT LEVEL – Austin admits he wanted to keep his cancer diagnosis secret. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, during his first Pentagon briefing in two years, that he did not direct his staff to conceal his January hospitalization from the president or the public.

4 Chinese citizens charged with helping Iran obtain US technology for military use. This, according to the Justice Department.

HOMELAND SECURITY

AND A LOT OF AVERAGE EVERYDAY PISSED OFF PATRIOTIC AMERICANS – Proud Boys, other far-right groups use Texas convoy as rallying cry. A livestream of the “Take Our Border Back” protest convoy showed a few dozen vehicles in a Texas parking lot Thursday afternoon.

POLITICS

THEIR DEATHS ARE ON BIDEN – Biden to attend transfer for US service members killed in Jordan. Joe Biden will attend the transfer of the three soldiers killed in Jordan this week in a drone strike by Iranian-backed terror groups. WHAT ABOUT THE TWO SEALS WHO DIED IN BOAT RAID?

PENTAGON WOKE WATCH

WHAT A BUNCH OF ABSOLUTE HORSE SH*T – Access to abortion drug is a national security issue, former top military officials claim in legal filing. Former secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force as well as former high-ranking service members say that restricting access to mifepristone, the medication used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S., would hurt recruitment, military readiness and cause undue harm to national security. NO TAXPAYER-FUNDED ABORTIONS.

IRAN THREAT

A Houthi missile got within a nautical mile of USS Gravely on Tuesday. The warship used its Phalanx Close-In Weapons System to take the anti-ship missile out, a first in the ongoing conflict.

National Guardsmen were the majority of troops hurt in Jordan attack. At least 41 National Guardsmen are among the dozens injured in Sunday's attack on Tower 22.

IRAN IS THE SOURCE – Deadly attack on US troops needs a rapid devastating response and long-term follow-through. This is imperative for several reasons: to mete out justice for the fallen troops, to reduce the military capability of the Iranian-backed militias — and to deter those groups from trying again. HIT IRAN!

ACTUALLY, OBAMA AND BIDEN APPEASED IRAN – The deterrence problem: America took its eye off Iran with Indo-Pacific pivot, ex-CENTCOM chief says. As the US and Israel contend with multiple Iranian proxy groups in the Middle East, Joseph Votel says the US must “hold [Iran] accountable.”

PLAYING BIDEN – Iran slows production of enriched uranium, the UN's nuclear watchdog says. The move suggests that Tehran may be trying to ease tensions with the U.S.

ISRAEL'S WAR ON TERROR

LEFTISTS – Over 800 officials in US and Europe sign letter protesting Israel policies. The document was signed by government employees in 12 nations and E.U. institutions. Signers say their leaders' policies could be contributing to war crimes in Gaza.

CHINA THREAT

US Pacific Fleet chief on China's big lesson from Ukraine: Win quickly. “Instead of seeing the Ukraine conflict and deciding ‘this is too hard,' [China's] intention is to take note of the actions of Russia in order to effect a short, sharp, fait accompli conflict,” Adm. Samuel Paparo told lawmakers.

Members of the US Naval Institute say Navy is not ‘adequately' prepared for a cyberwar. China is not a ‘pacing challenge' (threat), it is the threat being chased, according to the report.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Ukraine must adapt to a reduction in Western military aid. Ukraine's embattled army chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, says Ukraine must focus ever more strongly on technology in its war against Russia.

Ukraine claims its sea drones sank a Russian ship. Moscow says Patriot missiles downed its plane. It sank a Russian corvette in the Black Sea as Russians alleged that two U.S.-made Patriot missiles downed a  military transport plane last month.

NORTH KOREA THREAT

North Korea tests more cruise missiles as leader Kim calls for war readiness. North Korea on Friday extended a provocative run of weapons tests into the sea.

Korean Air begins producing reconnaissance drone for South's military. Three South Korean companies have started mass producing a medium-altitude reconnaissance drone for the country's Air Force.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Biden administration moves forward on huge India drone sale. The State Department on Thursday approved a nearly $4 billion drone sale to India.

US confirms $1 billion Viper attack helicopter sale to Nigeria. The Pentagon confirmed the sale of 12 AH-1Zs.

US POWER OVERSEAS

B-52 bombers arrive on Guam on eve of Air Force's multinational Cope North exercise. The Stratofortress bombers landed at the end of January, just days before the kickoff of the Air Force's big aerial exercise.

US MILITARY

OORAH! – Marine Corps rated ‘strong,' US military overall ‘weak,' report says. It paints a picture of an aging and understaffed military.

Air Force rocket cargo initiative marches forward despite questions about feasibility. AFRL and SpaceX have been “digging through different scenarios” for the use of the company's giant rocket Starship for rapid, global military cargo transport.

Army eyes privatized barracks as it struggles to find a solution to poor living conditions for soldiers. The Army is hoping this can fix the myriad quality-of-life issues facing its barracks, at least partly because it has few other ideas.

VETERANS

A silent killer is stalking veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Cancer strikes GWOT vets at rates that recall Agent Orange. We're not doing enough to support them.

VA eyes more medical care for vets with toxic exposure issues. Thousands of veterans who faced toxic exposure risks in the military may be eligible for expanded health care options starting this March.

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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