EU Ukraine

Do European Union leaders want Trump re-elected? Their Ukraine freeloading certainly suggests so. The U.S. is bearing an unfair burden of sustaining Ukraine's democracy.

Russian military bullying, Academia/China espionage

Russian draft dodging is about endemic bullying, not just the war in Ukraine. Russians are aware of how military service involves extortion and physical abuse alongside normal military hardships.

Los Alamos spying shows why academia's complaints must be ignored. The U.S. has a responsible to protect cutting edge research from being used to build Chinese weapons and hegemony.

Chamber of Commerce in HK, Albania's narcostate

Corporate America holds fast to Communist China in Hong Kong. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong dishonors American values by its supplication to Beijing.

Biden's strange tolerance for Albania's narcostate. The highest echelon of the Albanian government appears to be in bed with the Sinaloa cartel.

Yair Lapid UN

Meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah, Israel's Yair Lapid exemplifies good leadership. The Israeli Prime Minister offers a stark contrast with Benjamin Netanyahu.

Biden's Taiwan pledge

The two problems with Biden's Taiwan defense pledge. Put simply, Taiwan is not taking the necessary action to defend itself.

Queen's funeral security, Modi 4 Putin

How President Biden, King Charles III and other world leaders will be protected at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. A massive security operation aims for a peaceful conclusion.

Sorry, Narendra Modi is still very much in Russia's corner. Modi's tentative condemnation of the war in Ukraine means nothing.

Xi-Putin

Why Xi Jinping squirmed in his Putin meeting. It's very clear that the Chinese president doesn't want to be associated with the war in Ukraine.

Orban's latest waltz with Putin

Betraying the U.S. and Europe, Viktor Orban again delivers for his Hungarian master. The fake friend of America is supporting Russian calls for an end to sanctions imposed over the war in Ukraine.

Putin's stability

Why Vladimir Putin's presidency remains stable in spite of everything. The Russian leader's power base and popularity remain secure.

Li Zhanshu

Li Zhanshu offers a bold endorsement of Russia's war on Ukraine. The powerful Chinese Communist official risks alienating increasingly skeptical EU partners.

QEII. King Charles III and politics

Queen Elizabeth II's life of duty, honor, country. The British monarch embodied sober patriotism of the highest order.

Will King Charles III do his duty and abandon politics? The new British monarch has a critical responsibility to lead in a manner that he has not previously shown capable of doing.

Liz Truss China

Prime Minister Liz Truss will move Britain closer to the U.S. when it comes to China policy. The former Foreign Secretary is more hawkish than her predecessor when it comes to both Beijing and Moscow.

Biden's undemocratic address

Biden attacks American democratic values in service of a naked partisanship. The president's address in front of Independence Hall was shameful.

Putin's energy war, China's UN report fury, Taiwan capabilities

Deprioritizing the Kherson battle, Vladimir Putin shifts his focus to Brussels and energy supplies. The Russian leader is banking on his ability to extort Europe into a concessionary stance on Ukraine.

Europe, ego, and the reasons for China's UN report fury. The Uyghurs' plight is alarming to Beijing only so much as it undermines Beijing's influence with the European Union.

From Wednesday...

Survivable ships and long range missiles, not B-2 bombers, will win a Taiwan war. The military continues to overemphasize prestige at the expense of expedient investments in necessary capabilities.

Solomon Islands challenge

Facing China threat, the U.S. must take a tougher stance towards the Solomon Islands. The government of Manasseh Sogavare is taking orders from Beijing.

Europe-China

China risks losing its European Union linchpin. Beijing's joining of Russian military exercises poses a clear threat to European security. Will the EU make clear its frustration?

Michael Hayden's damaging tweets

Why is Michael Hayden trying to validate Trump's 'deep state' conspiracy theory? The former CIA and NSA director keeps making assertions on Twitter that are damaging to the Intelligence Community's nonpartisan credibility.

India's lack of reciprocity, Xi's miserable summer, China's new lesson for the world in Hong Kong

India has not earned U.S. military's increasing support. Deployments of the U.S. Army to India's border with China and Pentagon access grants are unreciprocated by New Delhi.

Xi's miserable summer. The God president faces escalating challenges at home and abroad.

China sends the world two messages with no-jury Hong Kong trial. Jimmy Lai's treatment encapsulates the Chinese Communist Party's deceptive, evil nature.

China salutes its rational and pragmatic friend Viktor Orban. The Hungarian leader has earned China's approval.

Mar-a-Lago

Everything still depends on what was in the Mar-a-Lago boxes. The evidence must stand on overwhelming merits, or the DOJ will suffer a damaging blow to its credibility.

Bolton indictment, Russia Alaska

Justice Department unveils indictments against IRGC official accused of plotting to kill John Bolton. The indictment corroborates my reporting from March.

Russia's hidden messages in Alaska air defense zone intrusions. Moscow is showing solidarity with China, reminding Washington of its retained threat, and exerting influence over the Bering Sea.

Milley

Why Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley should step down. He is now subsumed by a political identity. That is not compatible with his uniform service role.

China-Taiwan, Israel-Palestinian violence

China unveils its Taiwan ambitions and enters a new era of escalation. This week has clearly shifted Beijing's calculus as to how it must approach the Taiwan-U.S. concern.

Why Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are fighting again. It's about rocket fire, planned attacks on Israel, and a perceived need to deter Iran.

UN tsar releases idiotic statement on latest Israel-Palestinian violence. The UN once again reminds us why it has no credibility on this conflict.

Hawley China/NATO, Orban CPAC

Hawley is wrong on Finland-Sweden NATO accession but right on China. The U.S. cannot afford to maintain its military deployment structure in Europe.

Orban tips hat to Putin and plays down China ties at CPAC. The Hungarian prime minister isn't being straight with his American audience.

Pelosi's Taiwan visit, Zawahiri

Why China has announced military action in response to Pelosi's visit. The PLA's drills are designed to immediately signify Beijing's claimed sovereignty over Taiwan and express Xi's anger.

How to - and not to - respond to China's military drills in Taiwanese waters. The key is to use this moment to increase military readiness and China's international isolation.

Ayman al-Zawahiri's demise evinces a tactical victory but also a broader strategic loss. Zawahiri was able to be killed because he felt comfortable in Kabul. His compatriots will feel the same but won't be identified.

Iran assassination plot? Pelosi to Taiwan, F-22 coverage

Biden administration should disclose any links between Iranian government officials and suspected plotter against Masih Alinejad. This is only the latest apparent Iranian terrorist plot on U.S. soil.

From Friday...

Why Pelosi's Taiwan trip is such a big deal for Beijing. The Chinese Communist Party views the visit as an equally personal and political attack on its sovereignty.

Depleting already insufficient F-22 coverage for the Pacific, Biden sends more of the jets to Europe. The White House is trying to do everything everywhere when it should be making necessary hard choices.

Wagner group, Russian theatrics

Wagner group units should be annihilated wherever they attack U.S. forces. Comments by Africa Command's commanding general that Wagner has attacked his forces should spark a response.

Russia makes U.S. beg for one-sided prisoner swap. Sergey Lavrov is playing games because he knows Antony Blinken is desperate for a deal. It's embarrassing.

Netanyahu's Sino-Russian affections, Griner-Bout deal

Seeking a return to power, Benjamin Netanyahu buddies up to China and Russia. The former Israeli Prime Minister is not as close a U.S. friend as he claims to be.

Biden would make a big mistake trading Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan for Viktor Bout. The Russians will take that trade as an invitation to conduct more hostage taking and as evidence of American emotional weakness.

Russia disruption

Grain, gas, and Putin's game: how Russia is disrupting the West. Russian strategy is designed to keep the West off balance.

NATO nukes

The folly of removing NATO nuclear weapons from Europe. Those suggesting a nukes-for-peace deal do not know what they are talking about. 

Pelosi-Taiwan, Europe warships, China ambassador, Liz Truss vs. Rishi Sunak

Nancy Pelosi should travel to Taiwan via commercial airliner, not military jet. China would likely view the latter option as a publicly cornering action demanding of harsh riposte.

from Wednesday...

White House defends sending more warships to Europe when it needs them in the Pacific. The excuses given are not credible.

Visiting Aspen, China's Ambassador reaffirms absurd demands. Beijing seems to believe diplomacy entails simply doing what Beijing demands.

Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak contend to become Britain's next Prime Minister. Truss would be the better choice for U.S. interests.

Europe's winter

From Merkel, with cold: Russia prepares a winter freeze for Europe. Gazprom is cutting gas supplies even further, setting up Putin's blackmail strategy over Ukraine.

China and Intel

Intel blackmails Congress in service of the Chinese Communist Party. Xi Jinping's regime has a happy warrior in the form of Intel CEO Pet Gelsinger.

More LCS absurdity, MBS meeting and U.S. relations

Why are Republicans John Rutherford and Rob Wittman helping China to defeat the U.S. Navy? Saving Littoral Class Combat ships is incompatible with our military needs.

Biden was right to fist bump Mohammed bin Salman. 6 issues which are more important than Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. foreign policy must focus on the priorities.

China 4 Rishi?

Why China has endorsed Rishi Sunak to be Britain's next Prime Minister. The Chinese Communist Party wants a leader who puts mercantilism first. Sunak looks to offer that.

China's "seriously" anger, Kaliningrad EU weakness, China vs. Australia, Biden security in West Bank

Why China is "seriously" angry with the U.S. and why the U.S. is right to provoke that anger. The South China Sea is not a Chinese paddling pool. It constitutes international waters the free passage of which is critical to the sustainment of global prosperity and freedom.

From Kaliningrad with pathetic weakness: the EU bows to Russia and betrays Biden and Lithuania. The European Commission's abandonment of its own sanctions on rail transits offers a pathetic example of the EU's weakness. A reckoning is coming.

China demands Australia become its lapdog. Beijing has decided that the best way to earn the new Prime Minister's favor is to insult him and demand submission from his people.

How Biden will be protected on his Friday visit to East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Secret Service will work alongside a range of Israeli security efforts.

Japan and China

Fearing military constraint, China warns Japan against constitutional changes. Japan may alter its constitution to provide greater flexibility to conduct military operations.

Abe's funeral, security failings, Navy's command problem, Boris Johnson replacement

Why Biden must attend Shinzo Abe's funeral. The former Japanese Prime Minister was an instrumentally important U.S. ally who shifted his nation into more actively supporting Pacific security.

Decoding the security failings in Shinzo Abe's assassination. The former Prime Minister's security detail made serious errors.

From Thursday...

The Navy has a toxic command problem. The decision to award the Legion of Merit to a failed commanding officer signifies the politicization of the officer ranks.

Boris Johnson resigns: who will replace him? The most likely candidate is defense secretary Ben Wallace.

FBI-MI5 speech on China, UK political chaos

Joint FBI-MI5 speech illustrates Britain's big shift on China. The UK now regards China as a preeminent security concern rather than a problematic but pivotal trade partner.

A very British chaos. As Boris Johnson refuses to resign, media reporting has been amusing.

Shireen Abu Akleh, Boris Johnson, UFO day

Who killed Shireen Abu Akleh and why? The evidence suggests Israeli forces are likely responsible. The incident on May 12 followed an IDF raid in the West Bank city of Jenin.

Boris Johnson fights for political survival as two top ministers resign. It's just the latest crisis for the British Prime Minister, albeit the most serious he has faced this far.

From Saturday...

Three things to think about this World UFO day. Conspiracy likelihood, identification interests etc.

Biden deployments, Secret Service

Biden's new Europe military deployments are well-intentioned but a serious mistake. The U.S. doesn't have enough warships and aircraft in the Pacific, sending even more to Europe represents an unaffordable risk to U.S. deterrence against China.

Legitimate Secret Service concerns explain why Tony Ornato and Robert Engel might not want to testify before the January 6 Commission. It's the agency's motto.

NATO summit

NATO's key problem is underlined by Madrid summit location. Spain is the second worst offender in the alliance when it comes to %-of-GDP spending on defense. The issue is urgent amid Russia's war in Europe and rising Chinese demands on the U.S. military.

Congress defense waste

U.S. military chief for China shreds Congress on junk spending. Indo-Pacific Command needs more of what can survive, see and strike the PLA. Not old transport helicopters and glorified yachts.

Littoral lifeline

Congress helps China by saving useless Littoral Combat Ships. The Navy needs vessels capable of surviving and succeeding against the PLA. Not wannabe floating graveyards.

From Russia with explosions?

Did Russian hackers blow up a Texas LNG pipeline on June 8? A Russian military intelligence unit was conducting preparatory targeting reconnaissance earlier this year. The explosion correlates with a possible attack method seen by the same unit.

Taiwan Strait

Send an international flotilla through the Taiwan Strait. China must know that the response to its escalating aggression will be both multilateral and robust.

Putin the Great?, Merkel's whitewash

Declaring himself a modern Peter the Great, Putin issues a new threat against Estonia. The Russian president drew a line between Russia's historic Tsar and his own policies.

Bleaching her Ukraine record, Angela Merkel provides a whitewash masterclass. The former German Chancellor appears to be living in an alternate reality.

Supreme Court security

It's time to simplify and strengthen security for Supreme Court Justices. There is too much overlap between the Marshals Service and the Supreme Court Police.

China tariffs

Why Biden must not drink from China's poisoned tariff chalice. The costs to U.S. security interests would be significant, and the gains to China immense.

China chaffe

China chaffes itself in the face. Its latest air antics with Australia will only harden the new government's attitude towards Beijing.