Weekend Data Dump

I post at The Dignified Rant: Evolved on Substack. Help me out by subscribing and by liking and sharing posts. I also post here on TDR seven days a week, including Weekend Data Dump and Winter War of 2022. I occasionally post short data dump-type items on my Substack "Notes" section.  

In case you missed it on Substack: The Soldier is a Weapon

In case you missed it on Substack: American and Russian Nukes

In case you missed it on Substack: Army Transformation

In case you missed it on Substack: Thucydides Didn't Have the Distance We Have

A U.S. company linked a F-35 to a quadcopter targeting drone. The "test involved using the quadcopter to illuminate ground targets with a laser designator, enabling the stealth fighter to release and guide four inert GBU-12 Paveway II bombs with accuracy." Options expand when sensor and shooter are separated.

Israelis protest ("mostly peacefully"!) to end the war with Hamas; Palestinians get murdered for calling for Hamas to end its rule of Gaza. Tips to Instapundit.

I've been aware of the issue for decades but never knew if it is hype or real: "While EMPs are very real, they’re not the magic wands that can bring an entire country and its military to its knees."

Ukraine sank a Russian cargo ship importing weapons from Iran in the Caspian Sea with a drone.

Making good jihadis: "U.S. forces carried out a series of airstrikes against al-Shabab in Somalia at the start of the month, the latest escalation of the American involvement in the country." Escalation? No. Supply and demand? Yes.

LOL. Yeah, that's Africa's problem. I say they can use whatever map presentation tool they want. 

The Navy will soon no longer have cruisers, a class of ship it's had for 120 years. But don't worry, new "destroyers" will have much greater tonnage. A rose by any other name. Alright, I understand cruisers now have command and control capabilities destroyers don't have. I'm sure some will squeeze that in.

If those Chinese warships (one PLAN and one CCG) had collided with the Philippine coast guard vessel they were harassing rather than with each other, would we have invoked the U.S.-Philippines defense pact?

Drones helped achieve this: "So far Russia has lost over a million soldiers dead and wounded and another million soldiers and military age men who fled the country. Ukrainian losses have been fewer than 100,000 dead, about ten percent of them civilians." But drones can't close with and destroy the enemy. 

To repeat, Spider's Web was a flashy special forces operation and not a capability for day-to-day combat: "It took Ukrainians nearly two years to plan what they called Operations Spider Web." 

China has so much to thank Russia for: "NATO nations providing Ukraine with [air defense missiles] have gained a lot of experience in using these weapons against modern missiles. That means if the United States is ever at war with China their missile defenses will be much more capable."

Ukraine's surface drones have grown in capabilities.  

Will the West neutralize Russia's dark fleet of tankers moving the product? "The Russian economy and war effort in Ukraine is financed by oil and other energy exports." 

Is France's guiding role in its former African colonies--Françafrique--over? If they have progressed enough to take care of their security, that's great. If they count on Russia for security, France will be back.

Russia is counting on its new frigate design to be the core of the Russian fleet. Nooo!!! Don't settle for mere frigates, Russia!

The European Union's Von der Leyen's presence at the White House meeting about the Winter War of 2022 seems like a symbolic reward to her for signing the US-EU trade deal allowing her to pretend the EU has sovereign power. 

An ARG/MEU? Really? "The Navy and Marine Corps deployed thousands of sailors and Marines to the southern Caribbean on Friday in support of anti-drug cartel operations." Plus aircraft, a submarine, and a surface warship. Just going to observe that Venezuela is nearby. 

China is working on a crewed tilt-rotor aircraft. More grains of sand to build the PLA beachhead.

Ukraine has developed a "new cruise missile called Flamingo, which reportedly has a range of 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers)[.]"  There is a debate about the design origins. But it seems pretty basic.

Can AI restructure longstanding command structures? Doing more with a broader range of assets with fewer staff and being able to displace quickly would be great. Will AI expand span of control?

Will the people decide a different government is necessary? "Currently only about 40 percent of Iranians consider themselves Moslems and most adhere to other faiths, including the ancient Iranian Zoroastrianism." And if so, will enough security forces defend the mullah government with violence? 

We need to do more: "Over the last decade, the United States has been prosecuting, prosecuting and convicting a growing number of Chinese born men, and a few women, conspiring to commit or actually carrying out economic and other espionage in the United States." 

Is this aimed at Israel or is Israel just the convenient excuse? "The Jordanian Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) will reinstate conscription starting February 2026[.]" 

It amuses me that so many in the West are shocked the trans-Atlantic alliance remains firm. If you'd listened to me rather than the clown show media here and in Europe you'd know better. It has always been about re-balancing defense efforts. Stop panicking yourself with fantasy and hallucination.

LOL: "Repeated foreign occupation is not the answer. Haiti can address its own problems." Have fun storming the castle! 

I'm always amused when a ruler lacking power to achieve ambitions is credited with having a "long game." This time it is Erdogan and Turkey. Usually it is China wrongly credited. 

China has unveiled a next generation design with a common hull for tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. 

The U.S. is contesting Chinese efforts to gain influence in Pacific island nations. I say hop on the islands before we are forced to island-hop.

My earlier hunch was correct: "The United States is deploying three Aegis guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels[.]" That's impressive firepower for dealing with cartels.

CRS report to Congress on U.S.-Taiwan relations. 

The Army wants industry help for the "Air-Ground Littoral, which it describes as the increasingly drone-filled area between the ground and a 'few thousand' feet up." I called that region the "brown skies" (with the Air Force in the higher blue skies) in this older Army article advocating small fighter drones.

The Philippines is the front line of Australia's defense line: "Around 3,600 personnel from the Philippines, Australia, Canada and the U.S. kicked off the second iteration of the Australian-Philippine drills last week in Palawan." 

I mentioned the report before, but it stands repeating: "Replacing old-fashioned firepower with a purely drone force would be a blunder." Tanks and the forces supporting them must evolve, of course.

It's no Kuznetsov, but it will have to do for Putin's quest for a Red sports car: "For the first time since 1997, the Russian Navy’s nuclear-powered battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov is finally back in the water and moving under its own power, after years of repair work and modernization." The crew is relieved.

Two American B-1 bombers escorted by Swedish and Hungarian Gripen fighters flew over Latvia to reassure locals of NATO resolve. 

Italy's planned bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland will probably count toward the NATO defense spending target. Well, yeah. I thought that was the whole point of the final 1.5 percentage points of the NATO 5% of GDP pledge. And I still don't know how America fulfills the pledge.

They should be moved to an isolated Arctic island where the ice will cool their jihadi fervor for a few decades. 

We have a Navy shipbuilding crisis. And that applies more generally to all ship construction. 

What alternate universe of immunity from consequences do the Russians live in? 

Why is the U.S. dumping money into updated old F-22s? Because they are still excellent, are what we have right now, and if war breaks out soon we can't wait for the 6th generation F-47? But I'm just spitballing.

I hope we didn't just lose an LPD. 

China's nukes. Add that into America's and Russia's arsenals. 

Not a shock that Cuban mercenaries are fighting for Russia. 

Russia shows no interest in actual peace with a sovereign Ukraine. Or anyone west of Ukraine, as I've warned. I'm just tired of Moscow's BS.

China's subliminal offensive in the South China Sea is getting more overt. 

Oh, FFS: "Iranian-backed groups, such as the Houthis in Yemen, use Western cellphones to track merchant ships in the Red Sea by pinging them for their GPS locations. Even on warships, where communications are encrypted, sailors’ phones are not." That's their ISR? 

Every Marine a rifleman drone operator? I'm just not seeing the Marine Corps laser-like focus on seizing islands from enemies that Strategypage sees.

Will putting an Admiral in charge of Norfolk Naval Shipyard solve its problems? But even at peak efficiency, America still needs more shipyards. 

Is Russia losing?  Maybe. I do think Russia is building a Potemkin Victory facade to persuade the West to give up. But I won't say Russia can't win. 

Are the Russian people willing to submit? Or perhaps more relevant, are distant republics going to secede? "Russia is increasingly becoming a full police state. New laws reinstate many of the arbitrary powers once held by Soviet police and intelligence officials."  

Israel called up 60,000 reservists to finally take Gaza to eliminate Hamas. 

Extending helicopter usefulness for "close" air support: "Upgrades to the UH-60 Black Hawks will allow the helicopters to carry and deploy the Army's 'launched effects' drones, expected to field in 2026." 

Is China entering the long-range bomber arena? 

North Korea built a nuclear missile base as far from South Korea and Japan as it could. But since it is vulnerable to China taking it over, is a ship-based nuclear force meant to blunt that threat? 

I would have bet it was shoddy Russian maintenance practices: "A Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy suspected of coordinating the 2022 attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines[.]" 

It offends me as a history and political science major that people don't understand the 3/5 rule. Slave owners wanted 5/5, that is each slave unable to vote still counted as a person for deciding how many Electoral College votes a state got. Free states wanted 0/5. 3/5 was a compromise to keep America united.

Agni-5: "India has said it successfully test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile that, when operational, should be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to any part of China." 

Arguing that Somalia's continued state unity is vital for regional stability is just deluded given the past 3+ decades actual experience of pretending Somalia is a unified state.

How Africa became the global epicenter of ISIL. Give America's war on terror that much credit. Sad for Africa but keeping the Middle East from being the epicenter is actually progress. But that's why AFRICOM is needed. But I suppose AFRICOM did get The AFRICOM Queen.

Friction: "Russia and China had well-delineated roles in Central Asia — with Russia emphasizing political and security aspects, while China pursued economic cooperation — China is [now] showing signs of both becoming a more political actor and being more proactive in the security arena." The flag follows trade.

China sets its sights on East Timor. Mindanao was unavailable for comment.  

If America helps Ukraine with long-range missiles, Russia's Kerch Strait bridge might finally be dropped, complicating Russian logistics to its Crimea and western conquests; and Russia may find its European refineries getting hit more often.

Battling the 155mm shell shortage with a new production facility. 

China deployed armed small boats around Second Thomas Shoal. You may recall that eastern West Berlin. 

Is Canada foolish enough to rely on trading with China rather than dealing with internal sources of problems and negotiating trade terms with America? 

The long line of American heavy bombers. Oddly the B-1 is not mentioned. 

The X-37B returned to space for missions unknown. Sure, some are announced. But come on ... But space enthusiasts, allies, and enemies will no doubt have a go at tracking it.

I assume this was a Delta Force-led operation: "U.S. troops killed a suspected senior member of the Islamic State group, or ISIS, during an Aug. 19 raid in northern Syria, defense officials have announced."

Did Trump "botch" the chance for "peace" in the Winter War of 2022? No. This type of analysis assumes that only the U.S. has agency and everyone else passively waits for America to put forward the right plan or use the right words to move the lever of their decisions. Russia doesn't want peace.

The fire-damaged LPD USS New Orleans sailed into an Okinawa port under its own power. 

So other than American power projection forces, military facilities, and missile defenses, Alaska is neglected? "Despite Alaska’s undeniable role in the Indo-Pacific, providing a launch pad for force projection and missile defense, for three decades America has let its Pacific Arctic flank erode." 

What if Russians unhappy with the bloody and costly war assassinate Putin and blame Ukraine? Or blame NATO?

The same was said for giving Hitler the Sudetenland: "For peace in Ukraine, Russia needs 'security guarantees' too " How far West?! Should free NATO promise not to appeal to oppressed Russians? Face it, Russia needs security guarantees against China--not NATO. This is why Responsible Statecraft is useless.

The ISIL threat to Europe is rising. 

The problem with bomb damage assessment. So I'm open-minded about what Midnight Hammer achieved. Especially since I think Iran has a major path to nuclear weapons we don't discuss.  

The complaint that Trump didn't arrest Putin when he arrived in Alaska is insane. You don't arrest the leader of a country with that many nukes. 

How long could America cope with similar attacks on our refineries? "Ukrainian long-range strikes campaign targeting Russian oil refineries, Western sanctions, and struggling refinery modernization efforts in tandem are impacting Russia's fuel reserves and could threaten oil revenues." 

Iran retains a willing proxy: "A security source confirmed to the 'Post' that Israel is carrying out airstrikes in Sanaa in response to Friday’s missile launch by the Houthis toward Israeli territory." 

Jihadis are in full murder mode as Nigeria is forced to act: "Nigeria's military has killed 35 jihadists in a series of air strikes near its north-eastern border with Cameroon, it said in a statement." Just 35 is a rookie number of "good jihadis." 

That's a BS red herring concession: "The Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Ali Larijani, is the leading official to lower the country's uranium enrichment to 20% purity, down from 60%." Especially if the alternative path is being implemented. 

To be clear, this is being done to prevent Palestinians from getting into Egypt: "Egyptian officials are concerned about the IDF taking over Gaza City, and fearing the humanitarian and military repercussions of any such invasion." 

Is it just me, or is this story on Israel's recent campaign against Iran a bunch of gee whiz terminology and gobbledygook that doesn't really say anything? Mind you, I'd expect the Israelis not to explain any details as a basic security practice. So maybe the smoke and mirrors show is deliberate.

The surge of hits from Vietnam for over a month finally receded. This seemingly indexed my content (many times over); and I'm getting noticeably more hits--but some are indexing the site--from South America and Asia. Welcome! And what's up with the Russian speaker in Cuba?

Weekend Data Dump

I post at The Dignified Rant: Evolved on Substack. Help me out by subscribing and by liking and sharing posts. I also post here on TDR seven days a week, including Weekend Data Dump and Winter War of 2022. I occasionally post short data dump-type items on my Substack "Notes" section.  

In case you missed it on Substack: Don't Worry. Be the Worry

In case you missed it on Substack: Navy in a Box

In case you missed it on Substack: Is Ukraine Proving Tanks are Less Important?

In case you missed it on Substack: War Plan Orange 2.0

The VP confirmed "the Trump Administration's consistent position that the United States will no longer directly fund the Ukrainian military effort, but that Europe can continue to buy weapons from US manufacturers for Ukraine and Europe's own defensive needs." Note the "directly" modifier.

Good: "The Navy plans to build a new dry dock at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard that can accommodate its largest aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines into the 22nd century." 

This isn't the first time Western leaders have believed giving territory to Jew-hating monsters will provide peace for our time: "Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday that his country will recognize a Palestinian state in September, joining a growing list of Western allies ... "

Unlike the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, the Chinese have ships to spare: "A China Coast Guard vessel was chasing a Philippine ship when it hit one of Beijing's destroyers."

Massing four carriers is a photo-op and not a demonstration of Distributed Maritime Operations. 

Subliminal offensive: "A flotilla of three Chinese cutters was spotted near the waters of Manila’s northernmost island chain, prompting the Philippine Coast Guard to track their movements in the Luzon Strait. " 

Via Instapundit, how humanitarian aid feeds war. Add that to the Well, Duh files. 

As long as humans fly them, that should be our advantage: "China has a lot of impressive new warplanes entering service. The men, and a few women, who pilot these aircraft are a problem."

Good: "The United States is restoring a World War II-era airfield on Tinian, a tiny, strategically important Pacific island in its territory in the Northern Mariana Islands[.]" I've mentioned this before. So take your time, eh?

The U.S. nuclear deterrent isn't vulnerable to a command-and-control decapitation strike. 

One aspect of North Korea's decision to send troops to fight for Putin is that they are trusted, quality light infantry. I had assumed North Korea would send ill-trained cannon fodder he'd be happy to see die in the war in exchange for Russian payment.

Was Iran too focused on nuclear warhead production to appreciate all that they need for a nuclear deterrent? Interesting question if Iran wants a nuclear deterrent and not simply enough nuclear warheads to detonate one in Tel Aviv. 

Trump ordered the National Guard to Washington, D.C. to free up police to control crime: "Between 100-200 soldiers at any given time will be supporting law enforcement with administrative tasks, logistics and physical presence, according to the Army." Will this last longer than 30 days?

Supply UGVs seem like they have real potential.

Is Guam too crowded for Singapore to train on? "The Department of the Air Force has scrapped a plan to base a dozen Singapore air force F-15SG Eagle fighters on Guam, a U.S. territory in the Pacific, according to a recent decision." 

Interesting: "some American special operations forces (SOF) will begin fielding new wearable tech designed to keep a real-time eye on their vitals as well as integrate with systems designed to warn command posts should the operator be exposed to dangerous gases or chemicals[.]" 

The president of the Philippines said his country would be dragged "kicking and screaming" into any war over Taiwan because of proximity and Filipinos working in Taiwan. America needs the proximity. 

Wargaming in the military. For learning or validating what you want? To be fair, if memory serves me, one major wargame intended to test command, control, and logistics was hijacked into an OPFOR-style ambush.

The Army observes how Russia fights a war. Good timing for that group. I've mentioned their recent report to comment on the risk of long wars. But I have not yet actually read it. Bad TDR. 

There has been a lot of commentary on the Alaska meeting between Trump and Putin. I have no idea what to expect so won't speculate. And the summit will be over by the time this publishes. So what would be the point?

The Iranians think they get the bad end of security deals with Russia. 

Getting fired from Navy command. Long and way outside my lanes. But you may find it interesting. 

Small fighter drones join the Navy. As foretold by the prophecy. I mentioned the new systems but doubt they provide enough volume.

Did America hand China the tools to dominate Artificial Intelligence? Sometimes I wonder if we are just trying to lure China down a technology dead end. AI has uses for speeding processes, but I'm not ready to fling panties at AI.

Huh: "Russian officials are sounding increasingly alarmed and even paranoid in their public statements about the future of their country. ... Lavrov claimed in September of last year that Western governments have assembled a coalition of at least fifty countries in order to dismember Russia." It's self-inflicted.

Hi! "Three U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers arrived in Norway on Aug. 9, 2025, to begin Ally-led training operations as part of the latest Bomber Task Force Europe  25-4B." While Putin is in Alaska he'll be thinking about the Kola Peninsula.

Via Instapundit, one reason I don't fret about civil war today is that I'm old enough to remember leftist violence in the 1970s. Social media fanatics may be annoying but they can't Tweet a bomb.

There is bipartisan support in Congress to keep the AUKUS pact. 

A possible large German purchase of 30mm anti-aircraft guns for drone defense is reviving interest in the old air defense weapon. Precisely aimed auto-cannons are necessary if electronic warfare or microwave weapons can't put a bubble over targets.

The U.S. tested a small drone mounting a Claymore mine for anti-drone work. It could also strike ground targets. The article doesn't mention if the drone firing the Claymore survives firing. 

Helicopters must be wary when near the front line because of the many threats to them. As I said, terrain is now "armor" for helicopters. 

This is a training agreement and not an alliance: "A defense pact between Manila and Tokyo will go into effect next month, furthering a new phase of security cooperation aimed at enhancing military-to-military training on Philippine soil."

The European Union is a new Soviet Union. Preaching to the TDR choir, he is.

No self-respecting air force should have them: "Next month India will retire the last of its Russian-designed MiG-21 fighters." 

The collateral damage of NGOs--many funded by America--keeps wars going. Development and social programs rather than food, medical care, and other aid to respond to a crisis led them astray.

Hopefully this sentiment exists in Russia, too--especially in leadership: "Most Ukrainians now favor ending the war with Russia through negotiations, as support for fighting until victory has dropped sharply since the early days of the conflict." But what price are Ukrainians willing to pay?

There is "famine" in Gaza because the UN-affiliated group that determines that loosened its definition. I always say to check the Definitions Section, don't I? Also, Hamas generates the data. And again, if Hamas didn't steal or stop humanitarian aid, the problem would be much less.

CRS report to Congress on hypersonic weapons.

The segregationist background of the Posse Comitatus Act. I don't think it taints it today. But it is humorous given who is insisting on interpreting its limits more broadly. But there are lawful roles. I had riot control training when I was in the Army National Guard.

Huh: "The United States is disputing China’s claim that it chased away an American warship conducting a freedom of navigation operation near Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday." Comrade Walter Mitty was clearly available for comment. 

Can Space Force make part-time Guardians work in a weird blend of active component and reserve component? Do they get active or reservist benefits? I'm skeptical. And I think Space Force reservists should be in the Reserves and not National Guard. 

South Korea is working on an air-launched ballistic missile. 

Sh*t got real. 

When I read that basic training "stress cards" in the past are "a bit of a myth" I interpret that as "not a myth." Tell me that barracks lawyers didn't use "stress control cards" exactly like that. Close enough for government work, I say. Not saying this was broad. I suspect it happened and surely symbolized laxity.

It seems to me that the Early Bird Brief by Defense News is noticeably infected with left-wing bias. You really need to sift the chaff from the wheat. I use it and find it useful. But I don't know what happened to it. Is the sponsor Lockheed Martin cool with this? I hesitate to complain ... .

Should America use its military against the drug cartels? No. Cartel money and ruthlessness mean a cartel defense is corrupting or intimidating our military in a lengthy campaign. Our military must remain untainted to defeat foreign threats. The China/cartel drug threat is real. But find or make another tool.

Using AI for propaganda and disinformation purposes. You might want to be careful about obeying odd orders just because you recognize the voice of your commander who you've known since West Point. AI is being used to conduct cyber-war on us. Is it safe to unleash AI within our systems to defeat those attacks?

The Thailand-Cambodia border dispute and Thai internal fissures. 

The Russian Mediterranean naval squadron was NATO target practice before Russia's Black Sea losses and the loss of naval facilities in Syria stretched it thin.

Can mercenaries defeat gangs and stabilize Haiti? "[Vectus Global has] reached a 10-year agreement with the Haitian government to fight the country's criminal gangs and set up a tax collection system." The UN has failed. Mercenaries could have a role. Fingers crossed. Depends on whether the media pounces.

From September 12-16, Russia and Belarus in "Zapad-2025, ... will simulate air defense and ground combat scenarios." The Anschluss continues. Which provides access for attacking NATO. Stay on alert in the Suwalki Corridor, eh? Ukraine should pay attention, too.

The notion that the U.S. military should have refused to follow lawful orders despite the orders being "credibly perceived as an ominous" act by one particular political faction is frightening. Shame on those authors.[LINK FIXED]

A big reason to stop throwing panties at small FPV drones: "Ukraine is still taking heavy casualties and slowly losing ground to Russian assaults despite being a world leader in developing, using and innovating with military UAS." Not a silver bullet. 

National Guard troops are essentially manning guard posts in Washington, D.C. 

Good: "The Space Force will assume control of all space missions currently handled by Air National Guard units by Oct. 1, a consolidation move that bypasses years of lobbying for a separate Space National Guard." 

CRS: "The size and composition of U.S. naval forces reflect the position of the United States as a Western Hemisphere power with a traditional goal since the 1940s of preventing the emergence of regional hegemons (and otherwise defending and promoting U.S. interests) in Eurasia." Indeed.

Homeland defense: "The U.S. Army will soon assume a broader mission in defending the U.S. homeland, expanding from a focus on countering intercontinental ballistic missiles to address a much wider variety of threats, from drones to cruise missiles to hypersonic weapons[.]" CONUS is no longer a sanctuary.

The Marines are serious about being a third navy as they practice anti-submarine warfare with their Ospreys on a big-deck amphibious warship. It's an expeditionary strike group rather than an amphibious ready group.

Russia learns: "A surge in Russian use of ballistic missiles with enhanced maneuvering capabilities has cut into the effectiveness of Ukraine’s Patriot surface-to-air missile systems[.]" 

This is disturbing: "Taiwan’s armed forces have developed a launch system for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles concealed inside what otherwise looks to be a civilian truck." The rules of war require making military forces distinct from civilians. China has an excuse to shoot up every civilian truck in a war.

The defense zone will be 30 miles deep: "Lithuania has announced that it is establishing a multi-layered defensive line composed in part of anti-tank obstacles, drainage ditches, minefields and more to fortify its borders." And man it. Latvia and Estonia should do the same or Lithuania's defenses will be outflanked.

The sainted international community only cares if it can blame Israel: "Over 150,000 African deaths are attributed to Islamic terrorist groups in the past ten years." 

So near to China. So far from America: "Myanmar, a nation of 56 million people located in Southeast Asia between Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand, has got lots of problems." 

China: If it can chase a ball and kick it, it can chase a dissident and kick it. 

Anti-access/area denial isn't just for PLA missiles: "The United States is discussing the possible deployment of more missile launchers to the Philippines[.]" 

I assumed we would if Europeans stepped up: "European leaders have praised President Donald Trump for agreeing to allow U.S. military support for a force they are mustering to police any future peace in Ukraine [.]" People panic too easily. 

Hezbollah to Lebanon: Nice little state you've got there. It would be a shame if anything was to happen to it. 

Europeans are supplying Ukraine with military aid. We need a way to get American stuff there in quantity through this or other innovative means that aren't "aid", as I noted in a Wednesday update in this post.

The Silent Eagle design led to the F-15EX. Ah. I had wondered if the F-15EX was just a rebranded F-15SE.

That was waaay outside the intelligence agencies lanes. We must clean that rot out.

I'm guessing those two words for DDG(X) will be "too expensive" if Navy warship design and construction history is a guide. Also, that's approaching battlecruiser tonnage. It's at least a heavy cruiser. Do ship classes mean nothing any more?

Enemies attack what they can: "A vast undersea infrastructure, spanning the world in the form of telecommunications cables and resource pipelines, for the most part lies unmonitored and unprotected on the ocean floor. Increasingly, these assets are coming under attack." Tip to Instapundit.

How will Putin's ability to wage war on Ukraine cope with heavy Russian casualties combined with the inability to fully control information about the war. 

The "new pragmatism" of Syria's Islamist rulers "reshaping" Syria? Or ... the old Islamist lying to Infidels to defend your gains. And to be fair, the author recognizes the problem.

"'The world is deaf' — the life of Afghanistan’s forgotten women[.]" This never gets old:

 

The Clash: London Calling.

Four years later, the defeat in Afghanistan still stings. And now the Taliban have a fellow jihadi government in Syria to keep them company. And parts of Britain, of course.

Israel is attacking Gaza City. Good luck. 

Problems beneath the shiny hulls of China's new and expanding fleet. But is it still good enough for government party work? 

With the backing of the West, Ukraine has the economic power to resist Russia. And Russia's population advantage is being put to the test by very heavy troop casualties. Maybe Russia is fine and can lose troops forever. Or maybe it will break suddenly. I don't think Ukraine is as vulnerable to this, but who knows?

Weekend Data Dump

I post at The Dignified Rant: Evolved on Substack. Help me out by subscribing and by liking and sharing posts. I also post here on TDR seven days a week, including Weekend Data Dump and Winter War of 2022. I occasionally post short data dump-type items on my Substack "Notes" section.  

In case you missed it on Substack: War is Hell and Hellishly Long

In case you missed it on Substack: Who is China Keeping Busy?

In case you missed it on Substack: America in Strategic Overwatch 

In case you missed it on Substack: The Marine Corps Should Be the Marine Corps

Data flow is the biggest challenge for Golden Dome. Also, what is its scope? North America or the globe? Tip to Instapundit.

Pentagon signs largest deal thus far for AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.

GAO: "The U.S. defense industrial base and all branches of the U.S. military depend heavily on materials produced by China to make and use critical weapon systems, creating national security risks[.]" 

Standing Maritime Group 1: "NATO has deployed a maritime task group made up of Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese, and German vessels to boost its maritime presence in the Arctic and High North."

I concluded this early on: "The 2020 House Intelligence Committee report had concluded that Russian strongman Vladimir Putin’s 'principal motivations in these operations were to undermine faith in the US democratic process' and that he didn’t necessarily prioritize propping up one candidate over the other." 

China needs Iranian oil: "Last month Iran received Chinese HQ9B air defense systems. These restored the Iranian losses to recent Israeli airstrikes that wiped out most of their air defenses." 

Hmmm: "Ukrainian robotic vehicles induced several Russian soldiers to surrender without any Ukrainian troops present." In 1991, Iraqi troops tried to surrender to an American UAV. Ukrainian drones should drop "surrender kits" to Russians trying to infiltrate Ukraine's thin front line. 

Is the Left-Islamist alliance in Britain going to collapse? Being "goodlife" only makes the Left a later Islamist target for killing. But I'm skeptical the Left will recoil from their suicidal path.

The Brazilian supreme court has turned into a dictatorial committee to sustain the elites. 

The Army needs the AbramsX? But that vehicle is not a prototype--it's a demonstration model of various technologies that could be used to update the Abrams. 

I remain conflicted about whether crappy looking ships reflect poor capabilities or whether hull rust is separate from readiness to fight.  

Why are Britain and France rewarding Hamas and its jihadi allies for brutality that justifies hunting their members down and killing them no matter how long it takes?

The U.S. pulled out of a small base in Syria where American and local forces destroyed a Wagner mercenary force when it attacked the base in 2018. 

So no air defense system wouldn't have a worse health and housing market effect on Guam? FFS.

Killing hypersonic missiles is fun and easy.

Ukraine is increasingly using drones to destroy incoming attacking drones. All is proceeding according to the prophecy. 

Recruiting: "A disproportionate number of recruits come from the southern and Rocky Mountain states. The northeast, upper Midwest, and west coast are much more difficult to recruit from and the recruits are not as good because of less education, overweight, and bad attitudes." 

Maybe: "The United States has finally caught on to need to stockpile and train troops to use drones. The appearance of drone warfare in Ukraine was one of those infrequent revolutions in how wars are fought using new weapons and tactics." Or perhaps an evolution.

Israel is poised to fully occupy Gaza. Are Gazans exhausted and bloodied enough from serving as Hamas human shields to turn against Hamas when Israeli troops are around? 

I'm not against exploiting drones. But the drone capabilities described to restore movement to the battlefield are not unique to drones. I'd rather focus on providing the capabilities regardless of whether they are drones. Let's not get fixated on a particular weapon round of ammunition at this moment in time.

More Patriots battalions plus some for Guam's defensive suite. 

Hmmm. Has China pushed AI because it counted on it to overcome problems teaching the PLA to fight jointly? 

The U.S. Army tested the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile with a Multi-Domain Task Force in Australia. It is intended to kill Chinese A2/AD assets.

Australia will base its next primary surface warship on Japan's Mogami-class frigate. 

Was China premature in cutting us off? "The US is scrambling to get hold of the rare earth metals needed to make weapons after China slashed its supply to American defence firms."

Huh: "Ukraine said that it stole troves of classified information on Russia's newest nuclear missile submarine during a recent operation, including data that points to the vessel's vulnerabilities." Those SSBNs are vital to Russia.

Iran has plenty of nuclear scientists ... so far. 

I thought Brexit was a huge deal for Britain to escape continental EU autocracy. I've worried the empire might come back. I failed to appreciate just how much Britain's own elites internalized the continental autocratic impulse. How do the British exit from that? And again, Vance was so off base, eh?

Ukraine's new "Mongoose interceptor drone has a jet engine and an automatic homing system, which allows the drone to approach an enemy drone, fire a projectile into a drone’s engine or propeller, and then continue its mission or return for refueling." As the prophecy foretold.

The Army is planning to release its air and missile defense strategy in October. 

Stop panicking. Canceling U.S. participation a long-planned defense forum in Australia has nothing to do with downgrading American-Australian defense ties. Things will be fine. It isn't canceled--it's postponed.

The Army gets closer to having autonomous mobile rocket launchers. Huh. 

I've noted this before, but dummy assets are another practice to reduce the effectiveness of persistent battlefield surveillance. 

I respect the admiral's writing. But he really needs to get a grip. I seriously doubt any subs changed planned movements. And maybe Putin learned that waving his nukes around isn't cost free.

I sure experienced shark attack and bay tossing. And some other efforts intended to induce stress on me personally! 

A man hides behind his military record to spread Hamas propaganda. Yes, every bit of suffering in Gaza is the fault of Hamas, which hides behind human shields. Aguilar is just "goodlife", really.

The private security industry for Brazil's top 1%. "The Brazilian armed forces are, by Latin American standards, well trained and equipped." Spending just 1.1% of GDP on defense makes sense for the giant of South America with no real military threat to it. And corruption would lose a lot of it anyway.

Who actually hates Gazans? "Peace talks between Israel and Islamic terrorist group Hamas continue to not happen. Hamas has been interfering with Israeli and foreign efforts to deliver food in Gaza, plus the UN claims the sole right to distribute it but won’t actually do that. So the food just sits there in piles." 

Eighty years ago, using nukes on Japan saved a lot of lives--Americans, Japanese, and others who would have died with a war dragging on with fighting and blockades. But then America had a monopoly--and no more ready to go--so escalation to general nuclear war was not a threat. Today the threat is real.

Sounds like an aerial helicopter insertion followed by a Thunder Run back to friendly lines on foot: "Ukrainian special forces on Tuesday claimed to have killed more than 330 Russian troops in a dawn raid behind enemy lines."

Communist Cuba is poor. But don't imagine that the elites don't have the money. 

The Army restarted long-dormant Stinger production as it works on a new shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile. 

Ethiopia refused to lease civilian passenger planes to Russia. 

Will the U.S. halve its planned F-35 fighter buy to pursue the F-47 6th generation fighter? It seems like the F-35 is a good plane that pilots like. Are we judging the existing F-35 against the idealized future F-47 wonder plane? I'm skeptical.

Egypt didn't let Gazan refugees into Egypt through their border; let Hamas smuggle across that border; and didn't even want Gaza back when it had the chance. So they can shove their criticisms of the West over Gaza. 

North Korea lost 4,000 KIA of their initial 12,000 contingent sent to fight for Russia. North Korea will send 30,000 more, including support troops. Their troops are expected to fight inside Ukraine. Russia is paying with nuclear weapons technology.

How the U.S.-India trade deal unexpectedly collapsed. For now, I assume.

An overdue refusal to fling panties at drones. They aren't a silver bullet. But they can be part of a complete breakfast. 

CSIS on Midnight Hammer: "We determined that the U.S. and Israeli strikes inflicted significant damage on Iran’s nuclear program by destroying key infrastructure and human capital." 

Oh? "'As two tigers are fighting ferociously in the valley, a sage monkey is sitting on top of the mountain, looking down and waiting to see how it will end.' Beijing sees itself as the wise monkey, waiting patiently as Moscow and Washington erode their respective combat arsenals." Not quite. China's happy with Putin?

Forty years of the military embracing joint warfare hasn't worked. Egad. Yet we've trained flag and general officers in jointness to the point of not being proficient in their home service? While top leadership must integrate services, synergy comes from each service winning their domain in a joint effort.

An articulated Hellfire warhead. Interesting evolution of precision. Although I suppose top-attack ATGM warheads were the first stab at that. 

Hmmm: "The US Army is working on a new space policy to serve as the “umbrella” for a new Army space strategy and doctrine, as well as the foundation for future requirements and acquisitions[.]" 

What's the true size of Russia's nuclear force? Hell, what's the true state of that force? 

Can Lebanon disarm Hezbollah and end its state-within-a-state status? 

Honored to be part of the Hamas propaganda war. Tip to Instapundit.

National defense: "Canadian defense officials have strongly made the case that Ottawa should stick to a plan to buy 88 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets rather than splitting the order[.]" 

The Russians are learning to use their drones: "Russian UAV adaptations are likely achieving some effects of battlefield air interdiction (BAI): The use of airpower to strike targets in the near rear of the frontline to impact battlefield operations in the near term." It's an anti-access/area denial system behind enemy lines.

B-21s will need sustained sorties in a future Pacific war unlike current bombers and their one-off strikes.

China increased its navy and coast guard activities while India exercised with the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The British collaborator. You thought I was joking that Starmer bends the knee to the Cheese Throne?

WTAF?! "A string of previously undisclosed break-ins at Tennessee National Guard armories last fall marks the latest in a growing series of security breaches at military facilities across the United States, raising fresh concerns about the vulnerability of US armories to theft and intrusion."

Violence continues in Mali with Russia replacing France as the major foreign force. 

We still fund that murder??!! "Earlier this year the United States threatened to halt $336 million is aid to the Palestinian Authority/PA if the Palestinians did not halt their Pay for Slay program." 

Big, if true. It's basically ratifying Azerbaijan's battlefield victory and hoping Armenia can hold what it still has. Tip to Instapundit.

No! Way! I continue to hold the unfashionable opinion that dead jihadis have a zero recidivism rate. Tip to Instapundit.

India has "paused" arms purchases from America after America imposed high tariffs on Indian exports because India purchases Russian oil, helping Russia fund its invasion of Ukraine. Other security ties remain unaffected.

The China-backed government of Myanmar is losing the civil war. Nothing much seems to change, really: "Myanmar has been mired in chaos for centuries and is considered a failed state." 

The European Union is no super power. Well, sure. But the proto-imperial EU will be satisfied to eliminate the annoying prefix and rule Europe. All it needs is authority. Anything beyond that horizon is bonus territory. Does Trump loathe the EU? Everyone should.

Oh? "China is believed to have developed a plan to eliminate or greatly reduce Western interests in the Middle East and allow China to step in as the new foreign influence." A plan? LOL. Have fun storming the castle!

Hamas goes to Plan B: "Having unleashed a genocidal terrorist attack on Israel two years ago, and still holding Israeli hostages, Hamas is now doing the same to Gaza." Hamas is responsible for Gazan deaths and suffering.

If true, don't save them to "achieve" a deal: "Iran’s government is in big trouble." 

Small drones are useful in land warfare. But don't fling panties at them. 

Via Instapundit, Japan is embracing peace through military strength. Discussing even nukes is no longer forbidden. Bravo, China.

The M1E3 tank will be "under 60 tons so the tank can use more bridges. E3 has a modular design making it easier to replace broken components or install upgraded or new components. E3 has an improved fire control system, upgraded sensors and upgraded protection." South Korea is going to a 130mm gun.

Israel appears determined to actually destroy Hamas notwithstanding the widespread disinformation on behalf of Hamas to demonize Israel and ignore Hamas crimes that too many in the world embrace.

North Korea is dismantling propaganda speakers at the DMZ following South Korea's dismantling of its speakers. 

Weekend Data Dump

I post at The Dignified Rant: Evolved on Substack. Help me out by subscribing and by liking and sharing posts. I also post here on TDR seven days a week, including Weekend Data Dump and Winter War of 2022. I occasionally post short data dump-type items on my Substack "Notes" section.  

In case you missed it on Substack: When You Start to Defend Your Islands, Defend Your Islands!

In case you missed it on Substack: Before Drones There Was the 60mm Mortar

In case you missed it on Substack: Fit to Float is Not Fight to Fight

In case you missed it on Substack: One Year Evolving on Substack

In case you missed it on Substack: America's Trilogy of Dominance?

Yes, Iran still wants nukes no matter what damage the 12-Day War inflicted. I still think Iran could buy them from North Korea. 

Sh*t got real or an abundance of caution?

Putin's costly war to take a country that wants nothing to do with Moscow is costing Russia influence in ex-Soviet countries. And it could get much worse. #WhyRussiaCan'tHaveNiceThings 

Sounds like Army Delta Force got busy mowing jihadi grass in northwest Syria. 

British to Americans: Freedom is too ingrained in our society to need a written Bill of Rights! Wait. What? Tip to Instapundit.

CRS report to Congress on the SSN(X) program. 

The Marines are using their V-22 Ospreys to hunt submarines. To be fair, the Marines don't need their transport aircraft to fight ground operations or conduct forcible entry operations in a Force Design Corps.

Buh bye M10 Booker. Not saying I killed it, but I posted this essay about that FBOH the day before the announcement. Coincidence? Okay, sure. Probably.

Russian corruption is worse than Ukrainian corruption: "Russian authorities are increasingly pursuing corruption cases against regional and military officials, legal maneuverings that are putting the elite on guard and in some cases may be aimed at quelling public anger about battlefield failures." 

I think this is overly optimistic. If China keeps taking territory and entrenching its de facto control, who cares if targets are defiant? 

Hope amidst the ruins of American warship building? 

China is shifting to blue water navy training. Does this mean China is confident it can win near its shores and wants to exploit a wartime victory off the coast? It could mean China has decided peacetime power projection is needed without challenging its neighbors and the United States. Just saying.

After five days of fighting, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire. 

The three biggest lies China will try to sell to America to reduce tensions over Taiwan.  

So what's the Lockheed Martin "'magical' classified aeronautics program that is something that would be in high demand for many years in the future" that excuses its poor earnings report? 

LOL. And Britain is surrounded by ocean, which should make it really easy by comparison to the US. Tip to Instapundit.

Apparently the Australian government assumes the descendants of criminal settlers can be assumed to be criminals. We really need to try harder to justify the "Free World" description. Tip to Instapundit.

So why isn't Israel suffering another Intifada and more terror attacks over Gaza? The lack of response is much broader than inside Israel. The Palestinian appeal has become ... more selective. And for Iran, the appeal is someone else dying for them in battle. As for Israel creating a "forever war"? Hamas did that.

Hmmm: "[Ideological/religious] groups can kill; drug cartels can kill, but they can also lavishly reward. Ideology is a powerful force, but nothing near the power of greed and fear, which creates a compelling defensive system." I thought a profit motive made drug cartel leaders less suicidally stubborn. I'm wrong?

One of the four American SSGNs visited Brisbane Australia.

LeadOps are the best ops: "The U.S. military has launched its most intensive Somalia bombing campaign on record, carrying out more than 50 airstrikes in the country since the start of the year, U.S. Africa Command strike data show." 

Russia is faceplanting in Ukraine, wrecking its army and economy; while Ukraine is planning for the post-war. But I can't help but fear Ukraine is taking its eye off the ball. Russia has to be defeated first to get that post-war recovery. 

The rise of drones in the Winter War of 2022. They are important. But I'm still not sure how fleeting lessons of this particular war can be divined to help American forces. Lessons of 2023, 2024, and this year would be different. If we commit to particular lessons we could be as ill-prepared as if we learned nothing.

As we contemplate submarines for battling the Chinese navy, don't forget the capable conventionally powered attack subs that the Japanese and South Koreans have. 

Sh*t got real: "Israel ordered its troops to permanently seize parts of the Gaza Strip — to be 'annexed to Israel' — unless Hamas hands over the remaining hostages[.]" Consequences. What are they?

Down on Marine Force Design: "The stunning failure of Force Design is the lack of warfighting and logistics capabilities to operationalize the concept." I've had concerns with fighting and logistics. 

Aim high: "The Defense Department’s secretive X-37B  Orbital Test Vehicle will lift off again in late August, carrying a quantum sensor that could enable navigation when GPS is unavailable as well as a laser communication system[.]" Space Force got custody of that motto, right?

From the Army, How Russia Fights. I'm looking forward to reading the report. 

Interesting: "Turkey has secured a landmark defense export agreement with Indonesia, signing contracts for 48 KAAN fighter aircraft and two İstif-class frigates[.]" 

A Gazan child afflicted with a wasting illness is being used as fake evidence of starvation in Gaza. The brother and mother are clearly not starving. Hamas could end any hunger by surrendering instead of blocking humanitarian aid. Why does Israel have the duty to care more about Gazans than Hamas does?

I cannot imagine the Russians selling any islands to the United States right now. But let's revisit the issue when the Chinese grab Russia more firmly by the balls and are really squeezing.

Short CRS report on Taiwan defense and military issues. 

Well, this development does justify setting up POLARCOM. 

A Pentagon decision "extends tours for unaccompanied service members assigned to South Korea from 12 months to 24 months." 

The Battle for Palau rages. 

The British government is trying to impress American tech companies into British service to control the British people. I thought the War of 1812 established our sovereignty. Tip to Instapundit. 

Will AI result in a quantum leap in military wargames? Simulating enemy decision-making always risks mirror imaging by your guys. But will LLM-based AI just LLM-image? Or can we build subset LLMs based on each country's digital footprint plus intelligence that feed the in-house AI?

Selfridge: "More than 7,500 armed forces members will attend Northern Strike (NS) 25-2, one of the Department of Defense’s largest reserve component readiness exercises. It’s happening across [Michigan] from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16." 

The Army is testing a turret-top mini-gun in place of the .50 caliber machine gun on the Abrams for counter-ambush. Without a remote weapon station? Egad. Add that and automate it like Phalanx for anti-drone work, and then we're good to go.

The Houthi are tanned, rested, and ready to shoot at ships in the Red Sea again. When does Egypt take action? 

Starmer to Chamberlain: "Hold my warm beer." Worse than shameful, it's psychotic. The British invented "shoot on sight, shoot first, shoot to kill, keep shooting" to deal with Islamist jihadis.

Russia has been shrinking for decades: "Russia is running out of Russians. The Ukraine War hasn’t helped, with losses of over a million dead, badly wounded and deserters. Millions more fled the country to avoid getting mobilized into the military to die in Ukraine." 

Westerners wrongly (and conveniently) say China will learn from Russia's invasion of Ukraine that conquest is futile. This is wrong: "holding the island against a mobilized population would be a recipe for a quagmire." I doubt Taiwanese would resist. And if I was China, I'd mass deport Taiwanese to Xinjiang.

Danger, Will Robinsky! "The Chinese military announced Wednesday that it would hold an annual naval exercise and conduct a maritime joint patrol with Russian forces next month." Putin should never let the Chinese see Russia's military up close. Especially not at Fúlādíwòsītuōkè Vladivostok!

Did China violate the Biological Warfare Convention by smuggling that crop fungus into Michigan (and toother states)? Two weeks ago I asked if it was an act of war. But if we ignore killing millions of our people, mere crops are just about a good deed, eh?

Israel should follow a simple strategy for dealing with Hamas: "If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting." Sadly, Hamas has the same strategy. But "them" refers to Gazans and "they" refers to Israelis. 

So, what did that big earthquake off Kamchatka and the subsequent waves rolling into their main sub base do to Russia's strategic nuclear submarines? 

If corruption and socialist instincts aren't crushed to unleash free markets, India won't make the leap: "India is not a classic great power, but neither is it merely a regional actor." And it might regress to the latter. Not wanting to align with America to retain options with India-hating Pakistan and China is nuts.

The China-Russia-Iran axis isn't dead because it is perfectly natural for such autocratic states to have loose alliances. So it both is and isn't an alliance as the West views alliances? Okaay. 

As the U.S. contemplates reducing troops in Europe (and to be fair, the current level is a post-Winter War of 2022 surge), Poland is confident its contingent is secure. I imagine that's true. 

To be fair, America only has to worry about pro-Hamas people taking over our campuses. Europeans worry about losing their cities: "US allies break with Trump to force diplomatic shift on Gaza[.]"

Good: "Germany's armed forces reported a 28% surge in soldier recruits from January to late July, compared with the same period last year[.]" I was worried recruits wouldn't match promises of funding increases.

This post on Ukrainian drone usage mentions retransmitting drones. Which seems like a form of aerial refueling in that it extends drone range. Exit question: Will Ukraine target Russia's rail transformers that power that crucial transportation network?

Air force effect and BDA. Also, I'm not saying small drones aren't useful for recon and as ammunition. But counter-measures will be developed. And the example provided of high American air losses over North Vietnam needing new weapons and tactics supports my view. Don't look for silver bullets.

Is no lie in the service of murderous, evil bastards too great for some to embrace and spread? Apparently not, although "the truth is that there are real concerns about possible near-term hunger and malnutrition in Gaza because Hamas steals aid, hoards food and medicine away from civilians, and punishes dissent."

When Russia is preoccupied getting punched in the face, it has little time to help anyone who thinks it is Russia's ally. Russia was a rising star until it revealed the dead-cat bounce behind the curtain. Oopsky.

The Sin Red Line. Tip to Instapundit.

Make it so: "Australia and the U.K. on Saturday signed a 50-year bilateral treaty furthering the two countries’ sharing of nuclear propulsion technology under the AUKUS agreement."

Maybe it would have been better to devote four decades of research to desalinization technology instead of building nukes: "Iranian president says country is on brink of dire water crisis[.]" I guarantee America and Israel wouldn't have bombed that research.

First line of defense: "India’s latest operational deployment to the South China Sea will feature its first joint patrol with the Philippines in the contested waters." India eases from Act East into Fight East. 

The Army is condemned for clinging to the past and not innovating. But when it quickly sheds helicopters in favor of new systems and weapons, it is condemned for the "pace and planning" of eliminating units--called "gutting". 

Their presence discouraged more rioting: "The Pentagon said Thursday it is ending the deployment of all but 250 National Guard troops that were originally sent to Los Angeles[.]" 

You'd think after Ukraine's dreadful experience trying to penetrate Russia's Surovikin Line in 2023 that Ukraine would have more of a sense of urgency about building fortifications. 

Putin's madrassas: get them young to send them to die young. And actual madrassas, too.

A back door effort to demote super carriers in a couple decades? "The decision to build the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter means cancelling the Navy’s F/A-XX combat." I've expected that demotion for a long time. But the F-35C is only just now entering the fleet. 

We have more MOPs, right? "Iran is conducting a covert operation to “kill and kidnap” people in the UK and US, the State Department has warned." 

If this enables Army units to quickly make and enact decisions on the battlefield, good! 

The German Question. It's a big shift in European thinking to wonder how Germany can defend Europe rather than threaten it. Can Germany shift? Can  other Europeans shift? Can the Russians shift to seeing Germany as an obstacle to Russian advances rather than the reverse? America needs to lead NATO.

Russian USVs will challenge NATO in the Baltic Sea? Stop the mania. Mine the Gulf of Finland and Kaliningrad's ports and deploy shore-based strike assets in support. That supposed silver bullet will be nipped in the bud.

I have my doubts that Saudi Arabia would want to have another go at a ground war with the Houthi. 

Advocating an American Central Asia strategy. The strategy should be helping Russia resist Chinese inroads to Russia's "near abroad" there if Russia stops its war on Ukraine and ends hostility toward NATO. Other than that, I don't want to dilute limited resources in that area with no reliable access.

This is because the European Union is not in fact a sovereign state! It's a proto-imperial body with ambitions to strip away the prefix. Do not go along with their ambition. Kill the EU. And revert it to a common market, I say.

This should boost Western drone production: "China has stopped selling Ukraine drones and drone components. Ukraine’s solution is to rely on increased production by its domestic drone manufacturers and obtaining more drones and parts from the United States and NATO countries." 

Russian chemical warfare.

Will Arab Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia rally to provide regional security that lifts the burden from America? Well, the hope in the 1970s that Iran would provide that security didn't work out so well for us. 

China's campaign to undermine Oceania spanning the second and third island chains in the Pacific. Japan advanced through it in 1941-1942 to threaten Australia-United States sea lines of communication.

Will America transfer wartime control of combined forces to South Korea, as long discussed? Will that end American control and risk being dragged into a war with crisis response controlled by South Korea? Does it hamper America using South Korea as a power projection platform? Walking away isn't free.

There is no clear evidence that Russia's nuclear submarine base in Kamchatka was significantly damaged by the recent earthquake-generated tsunami waves. 

Did fear of national-building lead Israel to avoid government-building? "Militarily, Hamas is barely functioning, but on the civilian level, they still control everything. The IDF should have taken control and used that to install alternative leadership." I had thoughts on that early in the war.

Europe worries about the Sickly Islamist Man of Europe. I had hoped we only had an Erdogan problem ... But since Turkey no longer has a land border with Russia, Erdogan can focus on imperial ambitions.

No! Way!!

Brits to Yanks: We don't need a written constitution to protect our rights like you simple colonials. Wait. What?

Anybody can describe a doomsday chain-of-events scenario of denying Hamas a Gaza state. Say, what if Hamas gets its state, manages to get a nuke from an admirer in Iran or Pakistan, puts it on a ship and sails it into an Israeli harbor or just anchors off Israel's coast when the wind is blowing just right? 

No level of Hamas evil is enough to shake the fervor of its Western supporters. As I wrote long ago, such people are honored to be jihadi victims. Tip to Instapundit.

I'm pretty sure it's just a verbal rebuke to Putin's Nuke Monkey: "President Donald Trump said on Friday he's ordered two nuclear submarines to move to the 'appropriate regions' in response to what he called 'highly provocative statements' from the deputy chair of Russia's security council, Dmitry Medvedev." 

Huh: "Refaim is the Israeli Defense Forces/IDF effort to apply new drone warfare weapons and techniques while gathering information on who the enemy is, where they are and what they can do. In the midst of all this, Refaim will coordinate attacks on detected targets from army, air force and naval units." Similar?

True, but "can" does a lot of work: "A war between NATO and Russia would be one- sided even without the Americans. European NATO nations can raise far more troops and equip them with more tanks, warplanes and warships than Russia can muster." How much can Russia take before its army culminates?

Oh? "The militant organization Hamas on Saturday said it would not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established." Define what a state means, please. 

How Pakistan ambushed an Indian Rafale fighter with capabilities India did not know about. 

Why is Western "leadership" in the Middle East defined as rewarding the perpetually evil and self-destructive Palestinians who will accept nothing less than future chances to joyfully dip their hands in the blood of Jewish victims?