Monday, February 27, 2023

China gala

New York business gala rolls out red carpet for Communist China. The pro-Beijing messaging on display is an indication that Rep. Mike Gallagher's China committee has its work set out for it.



Friday, February 24, 2023

Xi's economics, China satellites, Beijing's peace fiction

China's self-defeating economic policy. Xi wants a growing economy but seems unable to recognize why attacking business leaders doesn't exactly serve that agenda.

China reminds us why the U.S. Space Force was created. The PLA's plans for a new satellite constellation indicate its aggressive ambition.

Xi Jinping's burst Ukraine peace balloon. Beijing has failed to convince the world of its sincerity over Ukraine-Russia peace efforts.



Wednesday, February 22, 2023

F-35 vs. China, EU China

Lockheed Martin funded writer says F-35 is the best. It isn't. While well-placed to fight China, the jet is poorly orientated for the coming fight against China.

Will the EU wake up to China's support for Russia over Ukraine? Beijing's claim that it seeks a peace deal is a diplomatic veil for its support to Russia.



Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Poland-Hungary, Biden in Europe, Star Trek

As Poland salutes America, Hungary again bows to China. Viktor Orban's government is not a trustworthy U.S. ally. Poland very much is.

Biden's very successful trip to Europe. The president deserves credit for showing physical U.S. leadership and for saluting Poland in particular.

Star Trek: Picard finally arrives on station. The final season is worth your viewing.



Thursday, February 16, 2023

Russia's defective strategy, Beijing/press freedom, Europe tanks, Balloongate, China espionage

The shallow soil of Russian victories in Ukraine. Russian forces are expending great efforts for little strategic return. They may regret it when Ukrainian counteroffensives begin.

Lauding its own censorship, Beijing attacks Australian media freedom. The Chinese Communist Party has a very different view of reality and fair journalism than you or I.

Europe's tank debacle. The news that European nations cannot put together even a modest battalion size armored force for Ukraine is telling.

from Wednesday...

Why China feels particular international pressure over balloongate. Beijing recognizes how its balloon antics fundamentally undercut the central "win-win" cooperation/respect for sovereignty argument it applies in foreign relations.

Keep focused on China's vast espionage campaign. Beijing leverages its power to conduct global espionage of varying kind and great scale.



Monday, February 13, 2023

The movie ET and UFOs

UFOs and the White House's no evidence of extraterrestrials distraction. The point is not that these three objects or even many UFOs are extraordinary. The point is that prudent investigation should come before jokes.



Friday, February 10, 2023

Alaska object, Russia Olympics

What we can infer about the Alaska aerial object. Not much is clear, but the area where the object was shot down has strategic value.

Three reasons Russian athletes should be banned from the 2024 Paris Olympics. It comes down to Russia's war on Ukraine and record of cheating/cyber-attacks at prior Olympics.



Thursday, February 9, 2023

China and Colin Kahl, Turkey Twitter

When it comes to China, is the Pentagon's Colin Kahl living on another planet? His excessive confidence and ignorance of China's warfighting advantages is quite stunning.

Damaging Elon Musk's free speech credentials, Turkey claims Twitter bowed to censorship demands. If Musk is helping Erdogan tamp down legitimate domestic criticism, well, that's a problem.



Wednesday, February 8, 2023

DC crime, Zelensky UK

Crime friendly DC Councilwoman silent as local business calls for help. The DC Council appears dedicated to making criminal dreams come true.

Of course Zelensky went to Britain before Brussels. The UK has been a far more reliable supporter to Kyiv than has the European Union.



Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Designated Survivor staff, balloon response, balloon's mission

State of the Union 2023: Inside the designated survivor's emergency A-team. The prospective replacement president has a lot of specially chosen military and Secret Service personnel with him/her.

What the military did well and badly with the Chinese balloon. The military's tactical response has been excellent, the strategic response less so.

From Monday...

What China's balloon was doing. There was a joined intelligence and political purpose.



Friday, February 3, 2023

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Heritage and defense spending, Biden and China

 Heritage's Kevin Roberts rightly puts defense spending pressure on Congress but overemphasizes technology. The need is for capabilities that are deliverable and scaled-up effective in the near term.

State of Our Union: Biden’s China policy tolerates excessive risks. The Biden administration needs to act in anticipation of an imminent war.