BlackRock China

Larry Fink and BlackRock require Congressional scrutiny over China tech industry funding. It is unconscionable that they would support an industry which exists to threaten American lives and interests.

Southwest

Southwest Shambles: the airline has utterly imploded. There's not much else to say, except that it's absurd the CEO and COO haven't yet committed to resign.

Drones, Sino-Russian naval drills, Zelensky Congress

Unidentified drones flying over U.S. nuclear laboratories. Four reports returned from a Freedom of Information Act request offer insight into the security challenge presented by unmanned vehicles.

from Wednesday...

Xi mocks Macron and Scholz with Sino-Russian naval drills. The Chinese president is showing his European interlocutors that their appeasement bears no fruit.

Four things Zelensky must address with Congress. The Ukrainian president should center his message in unequivocal gratitude and strategic clarity.

DSS failings, Belarus front?

Agents say diplomatic security service riven by mismanagement and failing key missions. The State Department's primary security agency faces major challenges.

From Belarus without much love: Putin's exaggerated hopes for a new offensive towards Kyiv. The Russian military very likely lacks the means of being able to conduct a successful multi-front offensive.

Investment firms and China

Bridgewater, KKR and BlackRock's support for Communist China is deeply unpatriotic. The investment firms should reconsider their support for a regime that is arming itself to kill Americans and replace the U.S.-led democratic international order.

Elon Musk vs. free speech, Russian social media lamentations

Elon Musk's lamentable reversal on his own free speech agenda. The Twitter CEO's explanation for banning flight tracking is incompatible with his claims to defend free speech.

The grim state of Russia's war effort is finally leaking into Russian social media. Three stories from Wednesday testify to Russia's deep concern over its war in Ukraine.

UK fails China test

UK offers pathetic response to Chinese diplomats' attack, sending bad signal for US special relationship. The attack on Manchester protesters should have resulted in the expulsion of those diplomats involved. Instead, the British government is pretending its appeasement policy represents strength.

P-8 over Baltic Sea, UK health system crisis

Looking for a new Lada, or why a U.S. submarine hunter might be flying over the Baltic Sea. The Russian Navy is putting an advanced diesel-electric submarine through trials.

America's healthcare system faces fiscal implosion, the UK's healthcare system faces functional implosion. Under-resourced and overwhelmed by an aging population, the NHS is near breaking point.

European allies

The U.S. has better European allies than Germany and France. Finland and the Baltic states are more committed to defending Europe's eastern flank and assisting the U.S. in challenging China's imperial agenda.

Putin nuclear

Decoding Vladimir Putin's latest nuclear nonsense. Pretending Russia can match U.S. first strike capabilities, Putin plays for domestic propaganda.

Griner deal

Brittney Griner-Viktor Bout trade gives Putin two victories. The Russian president has secured valuable domestic propaganda material. He can also broadcast to the EU that he has secured the initiative over Washington.

Ukraine winter

A brutal winter is coming for Russian forces in Ukraine. Poorly equipped, poorly led and facing motivated Ukrainian units, Russian forces face a growing problem.