Thursday, January 31, 2019

Inheritance tax, Trump on China, Super Bowl security, Charter bans, Podcast

Why Bernie Sanders' new inheritance tax plan is inherently immoral. It penalizes the wealthy in unfair and extortionate ways. More importantly, it would destroy wealth creation in America.

Trump's China tweets are good, bad, and ugly. The president gets some stuff right on Beijing. But other things wrong.

How the Super Bowl will be protected. It's about an envelope of security.

Charter school bans and the black hole of liberal morality. The latest action by LA's teachers union and school board is an extraordinary attack on families.

And....

Rogan and Rogan - episode 2. A podcast with my father.

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Trump vs. IC, Rorke's Drift, Trump and EU backstop, Leningrad siege

Trump is right on Iran, and wrong on intelligence professionals. The president's petulance is beneath his office. He should focus on the good work that he and the IC have done on Iran.'

140 years ago last week, the anniversary of Britain's greatest last stand victory. At a place named Rorke's Drift, 150 soldiers fought off more than 3,200 Zulu warriors.

Britain needs Trump to pressure the EU on the Irish backstop. The EU is playing hardball, but Trump can move the needle for May.

Russia remembers the 75th anniversary of the ending of the siege of Leningrad. Here's why you should also.

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

2020 Democratic liberalism, NATO strategic deterrence, Shanahan on ISIS, BBC boycott BS

Racing each other to the far-left, 2020 Democrats offer Trump an easier path to reelection. Trump's advantage is that he increasingly appears the obvious moderate.

NATO's Secretary General is wrong about Russia's new nuke challenge. NATO's nuclear 3 must clarify strategic deterrence. The problem is Putin's mini-nuke strategy

Trump's acting defense secretary is wrong in describing ISIS as near defeat. The group will retain power. Also, ISIS has little to do with migrant outflows.

Moronic British celebrities call for a BBC boycott of Eurovision in Israel. Here's why their boycott letter is absurd, immoral, and destined for the BBC's rejection.

Monday, January 28, 2019

Xi's tears, Iran threats, NATO A2, Maduro sanctions, NATO Germany

5G networks, the Trump administration, and Huawei's delicious fear. The Chinese intelligence front has met its match. An editorial explains the lament.

Why existential Iranian threats to Israel matter. They illustrate the hardliners long term ambition.

NATO Secretary General: NATO 5th generation fighter-bomber aircraft allow credible deterrence of Russian air defense networks. It's a relevant concern in light of Russian strategic doctrine

The U.S. sanctions on Maduro are well-calibrated to decoupling his relationship with the military. This is the right course short of U.S. military action, which is not presently justified.

NATO Secretary General: we will push Germany to spend more on defense. The alliance leader made clear that he believes more is yet to be done to consolidate NATO.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Trump deal, Shutdown planes

Why China and North Korea will welcome Trump's shutdown deal. The president has blinked.

The air traffic controller shortage is the beginning of the end for the shutdown. The FAA concerns will motivate political fear.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Diplomats Venezuela, Conservative language, Venezuela's story

Pompeo is keeping US diplomats in Venezuela in order to break Maduro away from the military. The chief diplomat is banking on the Venezuelan military breaking against action.

Conservatives must challenge Democrats at the moral narrative language game. It's not enough to promote our policies, we have to make them easily understood as moral narratives.

Socialism's latest failure in Caracas: the Venezuelan government's sad story is an entirely predictable one. Here's what happened.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Venezuela recognition, Angela Rye, IC effect, Madrid ambassador, ADL terrorism

Trump's recognition of Venezuela's Juan Guaido is bold U.S. moral leadership. It will increase the structural pressure on those supporting Nicolas Maduro's regime.

Angela Rye's fanatically disingenious MAGA-KKK comparison. The CNN contributor does intellectual discourse no benefit

How the U.S. Intelligence Community can do more to improve workforce efficiency and effect. There are four good options worth considering

The U.S. should recall the U.S. ambassador and DCM to Madrid. The Spanish government is acting in ways contrary to U.S. interests.

The ADL is wrong to suggest that far-right terrorism is a bigger threat than Islamist terrorism. It manifestly is not.

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

AOC ww2, Shakespeare Trump, Venezuela president, LA strike

No, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, this isn't World War Two. The congresswoman is wrong to compare climate change to the struggle against Nazism and imperial Japan

Shakespeare Twitter is wrong. Trump isn't Macbeth, U.S. isn't sinking. Here's why.

Why Trump should endorse Venezuela's opposition leader as that nation's actual president. Nicolas Maduro's power rests on the presumption of his cronies.

Suspend negotiations with the Los Angeles teachers union. The simple reality of costs and outcomes means that the school board cannot give in.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Israel Iran, Northern Ireland, Skiing rockets

Deter, degrade: why Israel keeps bombing Iran in Syria. The Israelis want to impose an alternate cost-benefit calculation on the revolutionary guards.

Northern Ireland's inspiring response to a new terrorist attack. Politicians from all sides are united in condemning the latest violence

Skiing with rockets: life in Israel.

Saturday, January 19, 2019

China negotiations, missile defense,

It would be a very bad idea to waive any tariffs on China before a deal is reached. The key is to balance strategic interest to a tactical assessment of Chinese negotiating plots

Trump's new missile defense shield is bad strategy. It will cost too much, do too little, invite too much escalation. The better alternative is offensive dominance.

BuzzFeed's report depends on Trump being caught on tape. The president's legal team would have a field day with Cohen alone

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

China Taiwan, Kenya terror, Brexit situation, Jeremy Corbyn

Confront China with economic pressure not military threats. At least, that is, on the issue of Taiwan

Kenya's reminder of the Salafi-Jihadist war with the world. The Nairobi hotel attack illustrates certain truths

Brexit vote debacle puts Theresa May in a difficult but not catastrophic position. Here's why.

Michael Gove nukes Jeremy Corbyn. The Labour leader is without merit as a leader.

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Xi meeting Kim, LA teachers union, EU sanctions on Iran

In Xi’s meeting with Kim Jong Un, Trump’s opportunity for a lesson in leverage. China’s leader thinks he holds the cards on the North Korean crisis. He's wrong.

The power of the Los Angeles teachers union must be broken. The data shows that the union is putting its own members before the interest of students.

New European Union sanctions on Iran are defining in their weakness. They will embolden rather than deter acts of terrorism against the west.

Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Erdogan Syria, Security speech, Anthony Zinni

Trump unleashes Erdogan's inner minefield on Syria. The president should have known that the Turkish leader is an utterly unpredictable and emotional man.

What Britain could learn from America about protecting politicians and free speech. Namely, that uncomfortable speech should be admitted, but security provided.

Anthony Zinni's resignation is no obvious rebuke to Trump. It appears to reflect genuine frustration with the Saudis and Qatar.

Friday, January 4, 2019

Germany attacks, Turkey ISIS

Germany cyber-attacks: the five most likely culprits. A consideration of means, motive, and targeting leads to one of five probable actors.

The idiocy of giving the US military to Turkey to fight ISIS. Turkey's armed forces won't effectively take on the terrorists. But they will use US support to smash the Kurds.

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Special Report

Syria withdrawal, China threats, MBS scapegoats, Ocasio Cortez

How Trump can withdraw US forces from Syria and salvage US interests. It involves the CIA, air power, and resolve. The need for action is clear.

Signaling a harder edge for 2019, China threatens US aircraft carriers and war with Taiwan, and shows-off new nuclear warfare capabilities. Time to buckle up.

Mohammed bin Salman and the art of the Saudi scapegoat. The crown prince is dedicated to his own survival. Those now on trial are simple sacrificial lambs.

Two thoughts on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ dancing video. No one really cares.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Britain China, Russia-Assad, Doping ban, Beijing 1984, Chekist humor, Mitt Romney

How Britain will support America with a new military base in South-East Asia. The Royal Navy intends to support democratic international order in face of Chinese threats.

Why Russia and Assad are now ready to smash Idlib governorate, Syria. The withdrawal of US forces has ceded the strategic initiative and allowed Erdogan’s co-option.

Russia must face another sports ban. Moscow’s failure to oblige by its anti-doping commitments is utterly inexcusable.

Orwellian Newspeak from Beijing. The Chinese government intends to steal the West Pacific by parsing language.

Chocolate Cathedrals and the art of Chekist humor. The Russians are playing gallow games with their ode to Salisbury.

Mitt Romney gives Barack Obama an undeserved foreign policy free pass. Romney’s article on Trump was fair, but missed a key detail.


Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Strategic Command, India interests

Strategic Command should not have apologized for their nuclear weapons tweet. The military command was making a serious, necessary point in a humorous way.
India will be a core source of U.S. interest building in 2019. But the Pacific and South America also feature heavily on the opportunity front.