Pivot To Asia; Force Projection, Part 3 is a discussion of hard power. Symmetry suggests that “soft power” is a symmetric opposite. At least, that’s what I thought when I finished with, “Next: hard versus soft.” But it’s not. Soft power encompasses every aspect of competition between societies. Perhaps, in outer aspect, in gaining allies … Continue reading Pivot to Asia; Soft Power, 1 of many →

(CNN)  Exclusive: US assessing reported leak at Chinese nuclear power facility contains new information. Quoting, French utility company Electrictie de France (EDF) said in a statement it has been informed of an increase concentration of “noble gases in the primary circuit” of reactor number one of the Taishan nuclear power plant. The noble gases produced … Continue reading Revised: US assessing reported leak at Chinese nuclear power facility →

The readership indicators for Providing for the Common Defense; Report of National Defense Strategy Commission, Part 1and  Part 2 suggest that undermining the report is not a pleasant concept.  This is sometimes happens when speaking truth to power. It’s not pleasant to me either. The U.S. military needs not only the best weapons but also … Continue reading Speaking Truth to Power →

Reuters reports, “Russia masses heavy firepower on border with Ukraine”. Also from Reuters, “As Russia growls, EU goes cool on eastern promises”. “Eastern Promises” is a pun on the title of an excellent movie. If you’re into indie film, it’s a must-watch.  It is a voyeur’s delight, a vision of the unique Russian contribution to … Continue reading Russia Masses Firepower, Next Ukraine Grab? →

(CNN) China could be ready to mount a ‘full-scale’ invasion of Taiwan by 2025, island’s defense minister says. When I was a child, I had a dog, a collie-terrier mix.  Her sprint resembled a greyhound’s, a talent she used with ferocious terminal strategy to depopulate the local rodents.  She never caught a rabbit. Although she … Continue reading China’s Taiwan Strategy: Beagle-Rabbit Hypnosis →

(CNN) Defense Secretary dismisses hundreds of members of Pentagon advisory boards including late Trump picks. Some, though not all of the appointments of the previous administration had a strong tinge of the political, and, going beyond that, personal loyalty, demanded by then-POTUS. This deprived DoD of the best possible civilian expertise. If DoD were a … Continue reading (CNN) Defense Secretary dismisses hundreds of members of Pentagon advisory boards including late Trump picks →

Will China Deploy Troops in Hong Kong ? posits  criteria for deployment of the hammer. Two of them have now been met: Organizing efforts by civil servants, bringing political form to an amorphous movement. Absent overt indications such as the above, concessions by Carrie Lam, that instead of diminishing the protests, result in escalated demands, … Continue reading Danger: Will China Deploy Troops in Hong Kong? →

This article is written as a mystery. Did the authors meditate on the vanishingly small percentage of readers who could interpret? (Reuters) U.S. withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon. Quoting, The administration had sought approval for the assistance starting in May, arguing that it was crucial for Lebanon, an important U.S. partner in … Continue reading Reuters: U.S. withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon; Night Vision Goggles; Vox Populi →

(CNN) CIA official: China wants to replace US as world superpower. Quoting CIA’s Michael Collins, “By their own terms and what Xi enunciates I would argue by definition what they’re waging against us is fundamentally a cold war, a cold war not like we saw during the Cold War, but a cold war by definition. … Continue reading Aspen Security Conference; The Rise of China, Part 1 →

In September of 2017, I wrote a six-part series: Advice for a New Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson Part 1 – Kissinger as an  exemplar. Part 2 – Linkage as a tool. Part 3 – Handling Russian subversion. Part 4 – The Russia we are dealing with is not an individual. Advice for a New … Continue reading U.S. Foreign Policy Challenges; the Games of John Bolton, Part 1 →