China fight

 How to fight China in the South China Sea. Thomas Hamme and Bryan Clark offer some good suggestions.

China's numbers problem

China has a big numbers problem. The Communist Party must figure out how to sustain rising living standards and promote more births. It won't be easy.

Russian army Ukraine

 Russia’s sort-of Ukraine military withdrawal. Many forces are returning to their home bases, but the 41st combined arms army is keeping its equipment in place.

CIA-NSA on Russia bounties, Biden appeases Putin

 Inside the CIA and NSA disagreement over the Russian bounties story. Evidence collected by each service is driving independent assessments.

Given a media pass, Biden blinks before killer Putin. The president is not as tough on Vladimir as some might presume.

Biden Putin

 Biden's tough-on-Putin policy is all talk. Measured by actions, the Biden administration is pursuing an obviously hesitant course towards Russia.

Germany ally?

Is Germany still a U.S. ally? The question bears asking in light of Chancellor Merkel's policies towards China and Russia.

Biden Afghanistan

 Biden's Afghanistan debacle. U.S. interests and those of our allies are not served by this foolhardy decision.

China's Rhineland moment

 China’s Rhineland 1936 test in the South China Sea. Beijing is testing whether it can get away with an assault on the Philippines’ sovereignty. And whether it can damage American credibility in so doing.

Merkel Xi

Angela Merkel reminds us why she deserves China’s highest honor for foreigners. In another call with Xi Jinping, Merkel tripled down on her overt appeasement policy.

Biden Ukraine

 Biden’s tough on Putin rhetoric fails the Ukraine reality test. The president is giving Putin reason and space to escalate against Ukraine’s sovereignty.

 

76 years ago

I just asked my 96 year-old grandfather if he remembered what he was doing 76 years ago today. He was on day two of the land battle for Okinawa. His unit, 22nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Battalion (6th Marine Division) had the northern most landing site, Green 1. Here's the audio of his answer. Here's a story about one of my grandfather's friends who was killed in action on Guam. See the casualty rates below the map.