France burns

France burns as racial tensions boil over. The immediate cause of the rioting is the killing of a 17 year-old by police. The larger motivation is a sense of disenfranchisement from opportunity and national identity.

Putin tourism tour, US-Israel relations

What coup? Why Vladimir Putin is talking about tourism and taking selfies. The Russian leader evidently feels a need to show public normality. Which suggests all is not normal.

Neither the U.S. or Israel is served by Biden and Netanyahu being bad allies. The two leaders need to reconsider how they approach one another's concerns on Iran and China.

Kamala Harris, Biden's motorcade

Biden's Iraq comment underlines why foreign governments are paying increasing attention to Kamala Harris. They do not expect Biden to serve out a second term.

Why did Biden's motorcade shut down DC's arterial highway? The answer is likely to be found with the Virginia State Police.

New Zealand

New Zealand cozies up to China. The new prime minister has the same disinterest as his predecessor in the fundamental question of Wellington's U.S. alliance.

Putin and the Russian Rubicon, Prigozhin

Vladimir Putin is caught between Prigozhin and the Russian Rubicon. Putin cannot tolerate Prigozhin's revolt, but neither can he easily destroy him.

from Saturday...

Five things to consider regarding Yevgeny Prigozhin's Russian revolt. The Wagner Group leader has launched an unprecedented challenge to Putin's rule.

Obama-Ukraine

Always weak on Russia, Obama again misleads on his Ukraine record. The former president pretends he was tough on Vladimir Putin. The opposite is true.

China/Marines

The Marines remind us that China is coming. The Marine Corps is advancing its Force 2030 vision to fight the PLA in the South and East China Seas.

China and the meaning of words

Chinese state media inadvertently explains why a major U.S.-China detente is not going to happen. The Chinese do not construe from U.S. words the same thing that the U.S. means to say.

Europe/China, US-China agreements?, Cuba's China bullseye

With European friends like these... The U.S. military has currently deployed 100 aircraft to simulate a defense of Germany from external attack. France is deploying one aircraft. On the ground below, Germany is throwing out the red carpet for the Chinese premier.

We need to know if and what agreements the U.S. reached with China. Xi says Blinken reached "agreements" on "specific issues" during his recent visit to Beijing. Is he telling the truth?

Cuba paints a bullseye on itself with China military bases. If the U.S. goes to war with China over Taiwan, Cuba may well find its territory in the firing line.

Blinken-China, 'Working Groups', Navalny, Ukraine-NATO

How Blinken's visit to China risks fueling Xi's appetite for escalation. The Chinese leader appears to believe that the trip shows he can use military pressure to extract U.S. concessions.

Beware China bearing 'working groups.' Beijing adopts a transactional approach to cooperation.

The Kremlin reminds us it fears Alexei Navalny. The political opposition figure's latest trial is being held in secret. Putin doesn't want any attention towards Navalny's resolute courage.

Of course Ukraine won't be joining NATO in July. The suggestion that it's time for Ukraine to be provided a path for NATO membership is incompatible with the war in Ukraine.

GOP China investment

Republicans must reject protections for China tech investment. The U.S. cannot allow major American investors to help China better develop means of defeating the U.S. in war.

Strategic Autonomy/NATO, F-22s Syria

Germany is under simulated attack. Where is France's "strategic autonomy" force? The French air force has deployed one aircraft to the major NATO exercise. The U.S. has deployed 100. There's a lesson here.

F-22s will not deter Russia, their shows of force will. The U.S. is sending F-22s to Syria in order to deter escalating Russian harassment of U.S. forces there.

Amnesty report

Amnesty's new Israel report goes to war with reality. It is obviously partisan in its pro-Palestinian mentality. And unfairness on military issues.

Paparo CNO?. Trump trial security, Russia attacks on civilians

Admiral Samuel Paparo is the right choice to become the next Chief of Naval Operations. He is experienced on China related concerns and widely respected.

Trump on trial: spare a thought for the Secret Service and the Marshals Service. They will be responsible for a complicated security operation that has just begun.

Why Russia is escalating its targeting of Ukrainian civilians. The Russian way of war is to impose pain on civilians as a means of weakening the resolve associated with them.

John Kirby, Snow Forest, David Grusch

Why did John Kirby mislead the public over China spy base in Cuba? His excuses do not add up.

Stupidity and the Snow Forest. Just because a book is set in 1930s Russia, that needn't mean the book be banned over the war in Ukraine.

What should we make of UFO whistleblower David Grusch? The former intelligence officer says he is aware of a conspiracy involving UFO crash retrievals.

Trump indictment, Virginia-class construction delays

The nuclear factor: Trump indictment poses a problem for his defense. The govt. charge sheet claims it has evidence that Trump both mishandled highly classified documents and did so capriciously.

Congress must summon General Dynamics Electric Boat company executives and Navy to testify on Virginia-class construction delays. The General Accounting Office has a new report out showing that delays are only growing.

Air Defender 23, Ukraine offensive, UK-US meeting

Air Defender 23 doesn't show NATO's strength but rather its U.S. dependency. The U.S. military is providing the great majority of aircraft and capability for the exercise.

Why even limited Ukrainian breakthroughs will pose a challenge for Russian forces. The Russians have shown an inability to coordinate their defensive efforts.

What the U.S. and the U.K. want from each other. Where the U.K. wants trade and AI cooperation, the U.S. wants Northern Ireland concessions and China policy alignment.

Poland

Poland deserves US gratitude, not censure. The allied service Poland has provided the U.S. is significant in Europe and beyond.

Zaporizhzhia false flag concern, Ukraine dam attack

Destruction of dam will exacerbate US concerns over Russian activity at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. Vladimir Putin last week warned that Ukraine was preparing an attack at the plant. It's more likely that Russia is considering doing so in order that it can then blame the attack on Ukraine.

If responsible, Russia must be punished for blowing up Ukrainian dam. This devastating attack seems designed to protect Russia's military position at the expense of major civilian suffering.

Ukraine reconnaissance in force, 2024 security details

Ukraine begins reconnaissance in force operations against Russian defenses. The latest activity suggests Ukraine's counter-offensive is about to begin.

For Biden, Trump, and DeSantis campaigns taxpayer-funded security will save millions of dollars. The other campaigns will have to make do with private security paid for with campaign donations.

Taiwan, IRGC, China

Taiwan has a big problem. It doesn't take its own defense seriously and its de facto ambassador to Washington believes that "hope" is its best weapon.

U.S. should retaliate inside Iran if IRGC kills Americans in Syria. Newly released intelligence on the threat facing U.S. personnel demands Biden Administration attention.

From Wednesday

U.S. should give up on near term defense ministers meeting with China. Beijing cannot be allowed to extract concessions simply for mutually beneficial communication.