Trump vs. Xi and Putin

 Trump is tough on strong Xi but weak on weaker Putin

Putin ceasefire bluff

 Will Trump let Putin play him with three-day ceasefire bluff?

Chicago police, Iran attack, EU extortion

 From this week...

The courage and honor of Chicago police officer "5-11"

Is it really the perfect time to bomb Iran's nuclear program?

Trump must retaliate against EU tech extortion

Iran negotiations

 What's behind Trump's dovish turn on Iran? A clearer focus on nuclear issues than in his first term

Trump European defense spending

 Trump's chaotic messaging on European defense spending

Bill Maher

 Bill Maher went to Washington, he wasn't played.

Putin

 Putin's Christian nationalist mirage

China tariffs vs. rest

 Why Trump's China tariffs are good, and his 10% tariffs for all others are bad

from Wednesday

Trump's tariffs are damaging U.S. alliances needed for China

Rubio security incident

 Rubio security supervisor arrested by Brussels police after hotel fight

Trump tariffs

 Trump's tariffs will empower China and impoverish America

NATO relocations

 Strengthen NATO by relocating U.S. military from Spain and Italy to Greece and Poland

Putin manipulation game

Is Trump finally waking up to Putin's manipulation game?

Free speech

The Trump administration turns the screws on free speech

Kash Patel

 FBI Director Kash Patel is off to a strong start

Houthi Signal leak, Iran deployments, Dem response to Houthi leak

No question Houthi signal chat included classified information

U.S. boosts Iran strike options with aircraft carrier and bomber deployments

Democrats are exploiting the GOP on Houthi leaks

Trump Houthi strategy

Trump's Houthi strategy should avoid full scale war. The costs on U.S. military readiness and armament stocks of a prolonged, escalating conflict that will be near impossible to win are too high.

Putin-Trump call

Putin manipulates Trump into art of the KGB ceasefire deal. This is a clear indication that Putin is able to corral Trump against U.S. and allied interests.

Putin ceasefire nuances

Will Trump let Putin play him with ceasefire "nuances?" The president's penchant for seeing the best in Putin is about to hit the reality of Russian demands over any ceasefire.

Trump-Putin

How Trump fears and trusts Putin too much. The president needs to take more confidence from U.S. power while also recognizing Putin for who he actually is.

Trump Ukraine

Trump splashes a dash of ceasefire pressure on Russia. It's the first indication that Trump will be willing to exert pressure on Moscow.

First Amendment/Columbia University, Ukraine-Starlink

Protect Jewish civil rights and the First Amendment at Columbia University. Students should not face arrest and deportation simply for non-criminal speech that does not threaten national security.

Ukraine is under pressure but not so much as Elon Musk presumes. The Russian military machine is not a behemoth ready to trammel Ukraine.

Trump China

Trump's Russia prostration is a great global gift to China. As the U.S. appears unreliable, China will again dangle its deference-for-investment offer to our allies.

Trump-Ukraine intelligence, Iran-Trump

Trump smashes Ukraine's shield and summons Russia's sword. The president has made a serious moral and strategic error in cutting U.S. intelligence support.

Will Iran give Trump what he wants? The president wants a new nuclear accord. Iran wants to assassinate senior U.S. officials.

Cyber chumming

Trump's chumming gift to the Russian cyber shark. The president has made a foolish error by paring back U.S. intelligence efforts targeting Russia.

Zelensky-Trump

Zelensky's arrogance crashes into Trump's ignorance in the Oval Office. Zelensky utterly lacks Churchill's charm, and Trump utterly lacks understanding of the war or Putin.

Ukraine backstop

Trump undermines Ukraine peace with British backstop equivocation. The president fails to realize that the U.K. and France will not deploy peacekeeping troops without U.S. secondary support.

Trump DOJ

 Will Trump's Justice Department restore public trust? Or will it divert resources against national security interests and/or undermine the rule of law?

UN vote on Ukraine, DC Attorney and FIrst Amendment

Trump undermines U.S. in UN prostration to Russia. The U.S. voted against a resolution condemning Russia on the third anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine.

DC Attorney puts war on First Amendment before countering violent crime. Ed Martin needs to go back to law school. His job isn't to salivate at Trump's feet.

Mexican cartels

 Drone strikes on Mexican cartels are looming. The U.S. covert action program seems set to ramp up.

Ukraine peacekeepers, Germany Ukraine, Trump Ukraine

The challenge and necessity of peacekeeping troops for Ukraine. Without Western peacekeeping troops Putin will almost certainly re-invade.

Americans should be a little irritated with Germany. Europe's largest economy is not doing nearly enough for Europe's security.

Trump's dangerously deluded history of the Ukraine war. The president seems to think Ukraine started the war.

Colby confirmation

Iran, China, and why Elbridge Colby must be confirmed. Opposition to Colby is based on his necessary effort to relocate U.S. military forces from the Middle East to the Pacific.

USAID/terrorism

Trump's USAID cuts are unlikely to affect counter-terrorism support for allies. There is Trump administration tolerance for the latter form of support.

JD Vance free speech

JD Vance rightly calls out Europe on free speech. The Trump administration is imperfect here. Still, Europe's approach to this key right of individual freedom is increasingly outrageous.

 

Europeans and Trump/Ukraine

Europeans should support Trump's Ukraine overture. The opening gambit does not, in fact, represent a surrender to Putin on Russian terms.

Trump-Gaza

The many problems with Trump's Gaza plan. The proposal to relocate Palestinians undermines U.S. security and alliances.

Mark Zaid

Trump runs defense for deep state with Mark Zaid security clearance revocation. The decision makes no sense from either the perspective of the national interest or Trump's interest.

Trump Gaza -

Trump repudiates Rubio's attempt to repair Gaza foolishness. The president insists he wants to permanently relocate all Gazans.

Trump-Gaza

Trump endangers American interests with Gaza ownership plan. Sending U.S. ground forces to occupy the Palestinian territory is not a recipe for American security. Not at all.

HMS Agincourt no more, Patriotic entertainment

King Charles's not-so-astute wokeness below the waves. The British monarch has changed the name of the newest attack submarine to avoid offending France.

Woke entertainers find patriotism tough. Fortunately, there are an array of new cultural offerings which blend smart entertainment with patriotic values.

China-Trump, Pentagon portraits

What China wants from Trump. Xi Jinping will again attempt to manipulate Trump to protect his export, technology import, and Taiwan priority interests.

Trump misses the target with Pentagon portrait obsession. The president should focus on improving the quality and accountability of general officer ranks. And not personal vendettas.

Trump-Putin energy policy

Trump throws Putin off balance with energetic pursuit of Ukraine peace. The president is dangling new sanctions and energy pressures to hit Russia where it hurts.

Crawford AHi

Intelligence chairman determined to get to Havana Syndrome truth. Rep. Rick Crawford recognizes that more is going on here than the IC would like to admit.

Bolton-Trump security

Denying John Bolton security, Trump breaks his inaugural free speech pledge. The president pledged never to weaponize state power against free speech. But he's done just that.

Cartels covert action

Trump strongly hints at covert action against Mexican cartels. The precursor of a foreign terrorist organization designation seems to be a precursor for further, more direct action.

UK-France troops Ukraine

The U.K. and France might enforce Trump's peace plan. Starmer and Macron have suggested they would be open to leading a peacekeeping force along Ukraine's post-war borders.

Havana Syndrome

Havana Syndrome concerns partly motivated Speaker's replacement of House Intel. Chairman. Frustration over Turner's handling of the CIA subcommittee had grown.

J-36 jet, Israel-Hamas

China's 6th generation jet speaks to its strategic threat. The J-36 is the world's first deployed sixth generation fighter aircraft.

Ceasefire deal is a win for Hamas but a necessary deal for Israel. The terrorist group has been gutted but Israel cannot save its citizens without this agreement.

Havana Syndrome

The dam breaks on IC's Havana Syndrome cover up. Two agencies are moving toward the conclusion that a foreign actor (Russia) may be responsible for some AHI incidents.

Elon Musk First Amendment

Albeit hypocritical, Elon Musk is underlining the First Amendment's immense value. He is drawing attention to a scandal in the U.K. that has too long been concealed.

Trump-Kim part deux

Will Trump get Kim to deal? What prospect of a renewed U.S.-North Korean leaders dialogue is there? How might Trump reach an agreement with Kim Jong Un?