Drone repairs

Russian oligarchs should pay for U.S. drone repairs. It is unacceptable that Russia keeps damaging U.S. drones and Biden keeps letting Moscow do so.

Israel aid

Republicans should issue aid warning over Netanyahu's China threat. The Israeli Prime Minister cannot expect continued, unquestioned U.S. aid without supporting keystone U.S. security interests.

UFOs on the Hill

The three key takeaways from purported UFO whistleblower's testimony to Congress. David Grusch testified under oath as to his assertion that elements of the U.S. government and defense industry have concealed a UFO crash retrieval program.

House Intelligence chairman's UFO skepticism draws consternation from some Republicans. Rep. Tim Burchett appears to believe that Rep. Mike Turner's donations from the defense industry have affected his stance on UFO-related transparency.

Wang Yi, North Korea

Charisma and diplomacy: Xi takes risk in making Wang Yi foreign policy tsar. Wang is neither charismatic nor predisposed to comfortable dialogue.

China and Russia boost North Korea support as cudgel against U.S. Beijing and Moscow are signaling their desire to use Kim Jong Un's missile brinkmanship as a way to put new pressure on Washington.

China-Russia navy exercises, Israel, Russia grain strikes, Italy BRI, Russia vs. U.K.

China and Russia train together to sink U.S. submarines. New naval exercises illustrate the darker edge of the "no limits partnership."

Israel's first judicial reform isn't the issue, Netanyahu's weakness is. The prime minister is beholden to extremists in his coalition government.

Russia escalates against West with strikes on Ukraine grain depots. The targeting of a facility less than 0.7 kilometers from NATO member state Romania indicates Putin's increasing tolerance for escalation.

China warns Italy against Belt and Road Initiative withdrawal. Beijing fears the loss of the EU's third largest economy from Xi's global prestige/economic leverage project.

Russian fury grows over U.K. support for Ukraine. Moscow is adopting increasingly hawkish language against the U.K.

Next Navy Chief, Macron Taiwan

Biden makes the wrong choice for next Chief of Naval Operations. Sam Paparo should have gotten the top job.

from Thursday...

Macron's foreign policy adviser says French president offered stern warning to Xi on Taiwan threats. Emmanuel Bonne's remarks were far stronger than those Macron has offered publicly.

Gelsinger/Aspen

Intel's Pat Gelsinger admits support for China is all about money. The CEO pretends that he needs to keep helping the People's Liberation Army if the U.S. is to retain its technological edge. It's a weak argument.

North Korea soldier, Jack Smith security, Marcos v Duterte

Army private chose a particularly poor time to go to North Korea. Travis King now finds himself the guest of a regime that is deeply paranoid and deeply frustrated with Washington.

Jack Smith's security detail appears strengthened since Trump indictment. The Specia Counsel is under the protection of the U.S. Marshals Service.

As Marcos stands up for the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte performs for Xi in Beijing. The former president is a puppet for the Chinese Communist Party. Marcos isn't and China doesn't like that.

Tech giants/China, Crimea bridge attack, DC police chief, Russia grain

U.S. technology giants bat for the People's Liberation Army at the White House. Intel, Qualcomm and Nvidia are putting greed before their patriotic duty and the lives of young American service personnel.

Why Ukraine's Crimea bridge attack is a problem for Russia. It weakens Russia's defensive and economic posture in Crimea, and it further undermines Putin's credibility.

D.C. has a new police chief. Now, she'll have to contend with the city's crime-friendly Council. The nation's capital faces a crime problem that has been fueled by the Council's idiocy.

Russia's grain deal suspension is a risky gambit. Moscow risks jeopardizing important partnerships in return for limited gains. The U.S. should ensure the gambit doesn't pay off.

Elon Musk and China AI governance

 Not-so-free speech: 'Pro-China' Elon Musk endorses AI governance alongside China. The Twitter CEO continues to situate himself in Beijing's favor.

US-Israel air exercises, Lance Gooden/FBI, China climate talks

U.S.-Israel air exercises inadvertently show the divisions in dealing with Iran's nuclear program. The U.S. statement on the exercises has notable differences from that of Israel. It's also telling what forces the U.S. has and hasn't deployed to the exercises.

Rep. Lance Gooden shows Jim Jordan how to question an FBI Director. Rather than offering sound bite screeds, Gooden asked pointed questions. Including on China.

China warns no climate cooperation without other US concessions. Beijing views its climate policy only as a continuation of politics via other means.

NATO China, Zelensky NATO complaint, Serbian sanctioned

NATO calls out China with summit communique. In a surprisingly strong statement, the alliance identifies Beijing's varied threats to international security and prosperity.

Why Zelensky's NATO membership complaint is unreasonable. The Ukrainian president cannot credibly expect a NATO invite while his nation is still at war.

U.S. sanctions Nikolai Patrushev's Serbian pet. Aleksandar Vulin is the corrupt head of Serbia's civilian intelligence service and an American adversary.

Putin-Prigozhin meeting, NATO Lithuania, Sweden-Turkey and NATO-EU

Putin reinforces his deep vulnerability with Yevgeny Prigozhin meeting. It says much that Putin entertained the man behind the coup attempt targeting his regime just five days after said coup attempt.

Unlike many others, NATO summit host Lithuania is an ideal U.S. ally. The Baltic state spends significantly more than 2%-of-GDP on defense and is a stalwart against threats from both China and Russia.

Sweden belongs in NATO, Turkey doesn't belong in the European Union. The support of Turkey for Sweden's NATO membership bid is welcome news.