Arsenal of Democracy: Northeast Asia Office.
An "honor" killing in Iraq. Western feminist women will not claim systemic misogyny. Or even mention the murder much. They know that every day they get lower on the Victim Olympics hierarchy.
America shot down that Chinese surveillance balloon that sailed over America. China vows that is precedent: "China's defense ministry said in a statement after the balloon fell into
the waters off the Carolina coast that it 'reserves the right to take
necessary measures to deal with similar situations.'" The problem is that China considers a similar situation to be one in any territory China claims despite international law on the subject. Flying "over" China includes the city of Sansha.
LOL (I forgot this one last week):
And yes--broadly speaking--that's what I want, if the clue bat has had an effect.
Starlink has nullified anti-satellite kinetic weapons by demonstrating the superiority of network-centric numbers over platform-centric high quality but rare satellites. Tip to Instapundit. Indeed. Now do the Navy.
I used to love vacationing in Canada. Now it is dead to me. Tips to Intapundit.
ISW reports that Putin has continued to be very cautious in taking steps to achieve his stated goal of destroying Ukraine as a state.
I'm not sure the China balloon incident is more than a symbolic failure for America. But the charge--enabled by General Milley, naturally--that balloons entered American air space under Trump appears to be substantively wrong even if technically true. No balloons apparently crossed into the air space of the continental United States--meaning the lower 48. It is a big difference to roll into Alaskan air space, perhaps briefly crossing the Aleutian Islands, because no Trump officials remember such incidents--much closer to China than the U.S. "mainland." Tip to Instapundit.
Very strong earthquakes in Turkey and Syria kill 1400 (so far). The toll is likely to be horrifyingly higher.
Ukraine needs to get its chain of command in order before Russia attacks.
A Canadian ISR plane is flying over Haiti to help impose order. Assuming enough foreign troops and police can be recruited.
India is about to have two carriers in service. Which could be useful.
The U.S. is putting pressure on Iraq to fix financial corruption that is helping Iran and jihadis finance their operations through money laundering in Iraq. Iraq seems to be cooperating.
I'm disgusted with Representative Santos. But he still seems much better than the lying Representative Schiff, who loudly and routinely lied about much more substantive and damaging things. If their constituents continue to vote for them, what can we do? We'll see how Santos does in 2024. That's the primary remedy.
This author rejects the "Let the Wookie win" argument against supporting Ukraine.
People sure are getting worked up about the Chinese balloon. I don't know. I think the theories are getting out of hand. I really wouldn't be surprised if the Chinese just let it get away from them. But maybe new information will piss me off, too.
Canada surprised to discover their southern border is actually on the Rio Grande River.
Oh? "[The] United States should not lose site of the essential role that non-proliferation has and continues to have for U.S. interests in Asia and elsewhere. The answers to improved allied security on the Korean Peninsula are unlikely to be found with nuclear weapons." I doubt that advice reassures South Korea. North Korea certainly rejects that advice. So that non-proliferation policy has sailed. Partial non-proliferation that only applies to Seoul is a best case scenario for Pyongyang.
Are sanctions against Russia failing? Well, what's the objective? If the objective is convincing Putin not to wage war on Ukraine? Yes. Sanctions are failing. I never expected them to deter Russia. But sanctions are weakening Russia's ability to wage and sustain war. That's good enough for me.
The Biden administration denies it made a direct offer to Russia that would let Russia keep 20% of Ukrainian territory as the price of ending the war. I hope the denial is accurate.
Fascinating. I guess. But unless it applies to making cocktails, I'm not sure how it is relevant to me. Tip to Instapundit.
Even as Russia shows that plain old warfare is the biggest threat, the NATO hybrid warfare center churns along. The center is a waste of effort. And past its "use by" date.
How would actual white racists undermine the ability of African Americans to succeed more effectively than what the woke are doing? Somehow telling African Americans not to do what can help them succeed is being an ally? WTF is wrong with people?
Questions, answers, and speculation on the Chinese balloon.
We're going to find out that the Chinese balloon lingering over Montana was trying to extract Liz Cheney, won't we?
Norway and the Czech Republic are looking to buy the latest Leopard II tank. I assume this means both will eventually send their older Leopard IIs to Ukraine. I assume other countries will do the same.
I have no problem with narrow defense cooperation--especially cross-border military mobility--with the EU: "The European Council has approved a signature-ready agreement with the
U.S. Defense Department that is meant to facilitate defense cooperation,
though the area of joint capability development is explicitly outside
the pact’s scope." As long as it doesn't touch military coordination under NATO.
Strategypage discusses Ukraine's improvised quadcopter drone bomb carriers. They don't seem to include anti-tank rocket warheads as earlier noted. Grenades with fins make more sense. The weapons aren't a major factor but it is one more thing for Russian troops to worry about and something Ukrainians can cheer.
Ukraine may have recently used an old Soviet Tu-141 target drone--with a warhead added--to strike deep in Russia. Aircraft in the open would be a good target. Let's hope Ukraine is accumulating a stock to surge fire during the looming Russian offensive. I suspect Russia may feel the need to commit its air force to the fight with more ground support.
The Navy and Coast Guard deployed to find and retrieve the Chinese balloon payload from the ocean.
Democratic efforts to "pounce" failed: "A top U.S. general said that the Pentagon did not detect previous
Chinese spy balloons as they were in the air, after former President
Trump and members of his administration vehemently denied a claim from
defense officials that such balloons had flown over the U.S. at least
three times during his presidency." Anonymous Pentagon officer fired a torpedo at Republicans and saw it circle back to attack the American military. I guess only certain civilians get military deference now. Keep pissing off and angering your recruiting and support base, guys. Democracy thrives in certain darkness? Tip to Instapundit.
Is America over-militarizing its China policy? No. It is true that the military aspect isn't the only aspect and perhaps is the minority of the effort. But whatever portion it is, the military aspect is absolutely critical. I don't buy the notion that China "can't" invade Taiwan. Really, China hasn't made plans to take its most core interest?
Motives for China sending a balloon over America. If it wasn't an accident or mechanical malfunction. And honestly, compared to other issues with China I think the balloon angle is small potatoes.
Putin is enabling the shielding of corruption to appease domestic supporters.
Yes, the same way we "prolonged the conflict" by aiding the USSR when the Nazis invaded Russia in 1941: "'The U.S. and its allies are trying to prolong the conflict as much as possible,' Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a conference call with military officials."
This is one reason I didn't flip to outrage mode as the story unfolded: "The recently-downed Chinese spy balloon may have sent more useful information to the Pentagon than to Beijing, U.S. military officials said Monday." We'll see.
The proto-empire strikes back, undermining Brexit with bad predictions and neglecting the value of breaking the ankle chains. What problems that exist are more from the EU's bloody determination to punish Britain for leaving the EU rather than the technical effects of leaving the EU. Britain is still adjusting trade relations long locked in EU amber. And as the pandemic/lockdown effects fade, Brexit will look better still.
Iranian airbase pre-buried for our convenience!
We're going to find out that all those "AI"(really just human-programmed simulated faux-objective intelligence) text generators and voice/video generators are part of a DARPA crash program begun in 2016 when Biden had to retreat to the basement to hide his ... ah ... issues ... from public view, aren't we? Those Brain Cocktails pumped into him to prop his mind up for a few key hours can't work forever.
To be fair, it is "free" to Canadians to get inappropriate, too-late, or no health care. So they've got that going for them. Tip to Instapundit.
The left says that occupying a government building--let alone a holy capitol building--to interfere with government processes is an "insurrection." Oh. Never mind. Can we have a rule apply equally? That's all I ask.
Comrade Biden last week assured his subjects that the state of the union is sound. Announced weekly egg ration will be increased to two eggs from four! Please clap. Don't. Stop. Don't you dare stop:
Good Lord, our president is an embarrassment. At least the late-stage Soviets had the sense to keep their drying husks of "leaders" under wraps as much as possible.
Islam's Two-Minute 34-Year Hate.
Putin expects attacks on Russia? "Russia has been repairing and upgrading thousands of Soviet-era bomb shelters over the past year, ever since it invaded Ukraine[.]" Or Putin just wants to scare Russians that mass attacks are possible.
Japan and the Philippines will forge closer security ties.
After 908 days in orbit, an X-37 returned to Earth.
China has more ICBMs than America. Have a super sparkly day.
The U.S. started sending aid to Turkey to cope with the destructive earthquakes there.
Poland request to buy $10 billion worth of HIMARS and ATACMS was approved. Although 80 batteries of HIMARS seems like an awful lot. Can that detail be correct?
Has Russia adapted their helicopters to survive in Ukraine?
Slavery--which has existed and thrived long before capitalism and long before America existed--was not the foundation of capitalism. Cartoon-level intellect leads to cartoon pseudo-history dreck. Tip to Instapundit.
Grand Forks, North Dakota stepped up to defend America after the federal government refused.
Is Russia's Gazprom state energy company being allowed to set up its own private military company?
Representative Santos must have been so confused at the State of the Union address watching Democrats and the media cheering Biden for doing what Santos is condemned for.
The United States blew up the Nordstream pipeline in the Baltic Sea? Well, according to Seymour Hersh. Who I do not trust one bit. I'm going to need a better source than him to change my opinion that ineptitude is the likely suspect.
The fear of Ukraine striking Russian territory is prompting Russia to beef up air defenses. This seems excessive given limited Ukrainian deep-strike assets. But I say, great. Fewer systems near the front, right?
Subcontracting government censorship. Remember, even if the government didn't use private companies to censor speech, the First Amendment is the minimum for free speech--not the ceiling. Tar. Feathers. Via Instapundit.
This doesn't bode well for keeping chips out of China's hands despite officially cutting them off: "ISW previously reported that 82% of Iranian-made drones downed in Ukraine had chips, semiconductors, and other components from the United States, suggesting that Russia and Iran are likely exploiting loopholes to transfer Western-produced arms components to Russia via proxy actors."
How Improved HAWK went to war.
Ukraine's reach went up to almost 100 miles. I really don't understand why Ukraine hasn't been able to build their own longer-range missiles. That article is old, but it speaks to an industry capable of giving Ukraine range. I assume Ukraine is working to revive that industry. Or maybe those facilities were knocked out early in the war.
The Left: Let's ban gas stoves. Don't be paranoid, we aren't going to ban gas stoves!! Starts banning gas stoves.
Aerial AUKUS: "The United States, Britain and Australia carried out joint air drills on Wednesday over the Nevada desert and beyond as part of an effort to simulate high-end combat operations against Chinese fighter aircraft and air defenses."
Welcome to the club! They earned it.
Did Wagner stop recruiting in Russian prisons? Or did the prisoners finally get concerned that there were few testimonials from satisfied customers?
All things under Heaven: "As China offers new details of its moon-exploration program, American
space officials worry that Beijing will turn a new moon race into a
territorial and resource grab along the lines of what the Chinese
military has been doing here on Earth – establishing bases on contested
islands in the South China Sea." Don't say I didn't warn you.
I'm in favor of heckling at State of the Union addresses. Heck, rip up the address like Speaker Pelosi did. The address is an emperor's pageant. I'd rather the State of the Union go back to the traditional letter sent by the president to Congress. If heckling interrupts the pageant so much that it is useless as a partisan propaganda exercise, perhaps the pageant will mercifully die off. And Biden's feebleness might accelerate that good result.
The anti-war left is oddly supporting Ukraine (via Instapundit): "I've come to think a portion of them experienced a rather strange morphology during the now discredited Russia-Trump collusion hoax that had them all of a sudden become Russia hawks. They had yet to regress to the mean when the Russo-Ukrainian War started and it kind of stuck." The conversion is truly stunning in its enthusiasm. And yeah, elements of the right confuse me, too.
And now for something completely different (Sorry. I'm just kidding! It practically memed itself and I couldn't resist. It's a character flaw, I know):
Voice actors? Sure. But I imagine talk radio will be taken over by AI interacting with callers based on AI-written stories read by the AI to set the topic. Only the true human stars will hang on. For a while.
Rings beyond Pluto? Cue the "That's no dwarf planet" realization.
New converts sure do find inspiration in the "religion of peace" for violence. I never minded that fiction while we aggressively fought jihadis in order to avoid insulting the wider Islamic world in as much danger from the fanatics as the West is. But I fear we are starting to actually believe what was once a polite fiction serving our national interests.
Good Lord, deaths in the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are already 19,000.
China wants their spy balloon back. I say we return it the way they returned our EP-3 forced to land on Hainan Island in 2001 after a Chinese fighter crashed into (and then went into drink at significant speed) our plane: Disassembled in a lot of crates.
Iraq continues to battle corruption, jihadis, and Iran.
Cambodia remains China’s voice in ASEAN.
I read that a study showed that wearing a mask didn’t prevent healthcare workers from getting Covid. This doesn’t prove masks are ineffective in my opinion. My view is that mask effectiveness depends on mask type, user skill, threat level, and time in threat environment. The last two elements will overwhelm the first two. But for others wearing an N95 in ordinary settings for a few hours every week, infection can be delayed a long time, I imagine.
China claims they lost their surveillance balloon over Latin America in a tragic boating accident.
The Senate May repeal 1991 and 2002 legislation that authorizes actions against Saddam’s Iraq. Saddam was executed and Iraq is an ally. And it would not harm war on jihadis. But would it hurt ability to fight Iran inside Iraq?
Quite right: “The Pentagon will need a basing strategy that thickens defenses in central and Eastern Europe without overextending them, given the larger long-term threat posed by China, according to a new policy analysis." Europe is an economy-of-force front.
Japan plans to largely replace attack and observation helicopters with drones. Bold move.
Via Instapundit, Americans under 65 aren’t getting the latest Covid booster. And aren’t filling hospitals. I won’t unless something dramatically changes. I got a booster in December 2021. And caught a mild case nearly a year ago. What’s the point for me? Especially since the J & J vaccine isn’t in the lineup? I’d rather not switch from the vaccine (yes, I know…) I handled fine.
Has Iran basically crushed the protests?
Acceptable collateral damage to control the Senate for the next two years.
The problem of Ukraine defining victory: “does anyone really believe there are circumstances in which the Russians will ever leave Crimea?" Leaving? Well, no. But Putin can be driven from Crimea.
The U.S. downed another airborne object—over Canada. Is China sending more in retaliation for first downing? Or are we now obligated to shoot down what we ignored before? Or didn’t try to detect?
Who cares if Russia puts targets in the Red Sea? “>The agreement allows Russia to set up a naval base with up to 300 Russian troops, and to simultaneously keep up to four navy ships, including nuclear-powered ones, in the strategic Port Sudan on the Red Sea.” I imagine Russian troops pray they are assigned to that base.
Ukrainian special forces and domestically made weapons are used to strike inside Russia.
Election deniers. Somehow the media doesn’t call this a threat to our democracy.
To Hell with the teacher union-teaching college complex.
Strategpage writes that Russia has suffered 150,000 dead in their war so far. If true, I think our media is grossly overestimating the size of Russia’s ground forces.
