China reeducates Europe

China reminds Europe that obedience is the cost of profit. The visit of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez to Beijing has given Xi a chance to reeducation the European Union on his expectations.

Saudis-China, Evan Gershkovich, Putin mobilization

The grave stupidity of abandoning Saudi Arabia to China. U.S. interests clearly stand in favor of maintaining this long-term alliance.

Forget Russia's spy fiction, here's why Evan Gershkovich was likely arrested. Putin clearly senses it is in his interest to escalate.

Conscripting 147,000 more soldiers, Putin readies for Ukraine's counteroffensive. The Russian force disposition is not encouraging for Moscow.

Biden-Russia drones, Israel Mossad, Taiwan presidential visit

Biden's stunning weakness in face of Russia's drone aggression. The president has ordered U.S. drones to fly further south, sending a message of unhelpful hesitation to Moscow.

Israel's government might be flailing, but the Mossad is flourishing. Israel's foreign intelligence service scored another win this week.

China fumes over Taiwan president's visit to the U.S. Beijing is sending signals to Washington that it expects any events to be kept as low profile as possible.

2024 and Europeans in Beijing, DC police shooting

GOP presidential hopefuls should pay close heed to European visits to Beijing. The Europeans cannot be allowed to eat their Chinese cake and have America's easy tolerance for their betrayal.

A tragic police shooting appears to have been justified. Driving off with a police officer in the back of a stolen car poses a threat to life. That appears to have been the case in a recent Washington, DC incident.

Netanyahu the hostage, China on Belarus nukes

Attempting to cool protests, Benjamin Netanyahu makes himself a hostage of far-right elements in his own government. The Israeli prime minister is increasingly beholden to those who have very little in common with many of their fellow citizens.

China sidesteps Putin's Belarussian nuclear move, proving its false red line. Beijing likes to pretend it influences Putin against escalation, but its response here proves otherwise.

The dragon and the bear, Russian subs

Why China props up Putin. Or why the dragon finds value in the bear's cave.

Russian submarines excel where Russian army flails. The Russian submarine force is growing in strength and scale, and threatens to exacerbate already significant strains on the U.S. submarine force.

TikTok

TikTok witness implodes in front of Congress. The fundamental issue driving Congressional concern is China's access to and control over U.S. related data and coding.

Macron pension reforms

Emmanuel Macron's courage on pension reform offers a lesson to Biden and Congress. The French president is breaking the third rail of Fifth Republic politics for a simple reason. He must do so.

Putin's red carpet, China ambassador to Netherlands

How Putin's rare pageantry and promptness show his immense value in Xi. The Russian president figuratively and literally threw out the red carpet.

China's ambassador to the Netherlands has a meltdown over Chip ban. Interviewed by a Dutch newspaper, Tan Jian entered full on "Wolf Warrior" mode.

Putin-Xi, TikTok lobbying

Endorsing Putin's re-election, Xi underlines his own greatest fear. The Chinese president views unquestioned leadership as his preeminent principle.

Why TikTok's DC lobbying campaign is likely pointless. Unless it is sold to a U.S. owner, the social media company won't persuade Congress of its security reliability.

ICC Putin

How the International Criminal Court helps Putin with its arrest warrant. The move will play perfectly to Putin's narrative that he is waging war on Ukraine to save Russia from foreign liberal domination.

Drone defense, China internet white paper

How and why the U.S. must prevent Russia from downing more drones. The principle of free movement in international airspace must be upheld, and Putin must know the U.S. won't be cowed.

China's new internet white paper: obey Xi and ban global disinformation. The Chinese Communist Party has a rather odd conception of popular interest. And no regard for free speech.

AUKUS and China trade considerations, Missile stocks

Celebrating AUKUS, the UK and Australia hesitate on China hawkishness. The two U.S. allies want to improve trade ties with China alongside military cooperation with America. 

Pentagon's boosted missile buys are insufficient to meet China's threat. The U.S. cannot nickel and dime much-needed improvements to the military industrial base.

Saudi-Iran fiction, China's Taiwan visit offer, Gary Lineker

Saudi Arabia and Iran's diplomatic accord is lipstick on a pig. The two nations despise one another and will not engage in long term compromise.

U.S. should reject China's Kamala Harris for Kevin McCarthy visit offer. Beijing is proposing that the U.S. send Harris to Beijing when McCarthy goes to Taiwan. It might sound good, but it isn't. 

Why the BBC just suspended its star soccer presenter. Gary Lineker breached rules surrounding political impartiality. The BBC really fears is others following in his footsteps.

Mexican cartels, Prince Harry, Biden's defense request

A US military insurgency against the Mexican cartels would be bloody and difficult. This isn't Colombia in the 1980s. The complications in 2023 Mexico are more numerous and significant.

The tedious Mr. Harry. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle want their children to have princely titles, but don't ask them to go to the Coronation.

How Biden's defense budget request fails the China test. The president has proposed a paltry 3.19% defense spending increase. It's just not nearly enough.

McCarthy Ukraine

Kevin McCarthy has a weak excuse for not traveling to Ukraine. The Speaker of the House risks sending a message of GOP ambivalence about democratic sovereignty.

Max Boot/China

What Max Boot gets wrong about China "alarmism." The nature of the threat is driving bipartisan action, not a reflex towards populism.

PLA prepares for Taiwan, Biden-Scholz

U.S. unprepared as China boosts readiness for Taiwan war. The sense of urgency from Beijing is far greater than that from Washington.

From Friday...

Two reasons Biden must publicly pressure Olaf Scholz at the White House. The German Chancellor needs to get his defense program going and to get tougher on China.

China and UFOs, Havana Syndrome whitewash, Bezalel Smotrich, Netanyahu's unstable government

Congress told of likely Chinese spy balloon threat as early as 2019. Sources allege that the UFO task force improperly categorized some UFOs as extraordinary when they were likely Chinese balloons.

The U.S. intelligence community has proven it can't investigate Havana Syndrome. It should let the UK and Australia try to do so. The IC report finding very unlikely that a foreign nation was involved beggars belief.

Republicans should condemn Bezalel Smotrich's incitement. The Israeli finance minister deserves unequivocal criticism.

From Tuesday...

Netanyahu has trapped himself between Palestinian terrorists and fanatics in his own government. The Israeli prime minister's coalition is increasingly unstable.

China gala

New York business gala rolls out red carpet for Communist China. The pro-Beijing messaging on display is an indication that Rep. Mike Gallagher's China committee has its work set out for it.

Xi's economics, China satellites, Beijing's peace fiction

China's self-defeating economic policy. Xi wants a growing economy but seems unable to recognize why attacking business leaders doesn't exactly serve that agenda.

China reminds us why the U.S. Space Force was created. The PLA's plans for a new satellite constellation indicate its aggressive ambition.

Xi Jinping's burst Ukraine peace balloon. Beijing has failed to convince the world of its sincerity over Ukraine-Russia peace efforts.

F-35 vs. China, EU China

Lockheed Martin funded writer says F-35 is the best. It isn't. While well-placed to fight China, the jet is poorly orientated for the coming fight against China.

Will the EU wake up to China's support for Russia over Ukraine? Beijing's claim that it seeks a peace deal is a diplomatic veil for its support to Russia.

Poland-Hungary, Biden in Europe, Star Trek

As Poland salutes America, Hungary again bows to China. Viktor Orban's government is not a trustworthy U.S. ally. Poland very much is.

Biden's very successful trip to Europe. The president deserves credit for showing physical U.S. leadership and for saluting Poland in particular.

Star Trek: Picard finally arrives on station. The final season is worth your viewing.

Russia's defective strategy, Beijing/press freedom, Europe tanks, Balloongate, China espionage

The shallow soil of Russian victories in Ukraine. Russian forces are expending great efforts for little strategic return. They may regret it when Ukrainian counteroffensives begin.

Lauding its own censorship, Beijing attacks Australian media freedom. The Chinese Communist Party has a very different view of reality and fair journalism than you or I.

Europe's tank debacle. The news that European nations cannot put together even a modest battalion size armored force for Ukraine is telling.

from Wednesday...

Why China feels particular international pressure over balloongate. Beijing recognizes how its balloon antics fundamentally undercut the central "win-win" cooperation/respect for sovereignty argument it applies in foreign relations.

Keep focused on China's vast espionage campaign. Beijing leverages its power to conduct global espionage of varying kind and great scale.

The movie ET and UFOs

UFOs and the White House's no evidence of extraterrestrials distraction. The point is not that these three objects or even many UFOs are extraordinary. The point is that prudent investigation should come before jokes.

Alaska object, Russia Olympics

What we can infer about the Alaska aerial object. Not much is clear, but the area where the object was shot down has strategic value.

Three reasons Russian athletes should be banned from the 2024 Paris Olympics. It comes down to Russia's war on Ukraine and record of cheating/cyber-attacks at prior Olympics.

China and Colin Kahl, Turkey Twitter

When it comes to China, is the Pentagon's Colin Kahl living on another planet? His excessive confidence and ignorance of China's warfighting advantages is quite stunning.

Damaging Elon Musk's free speech credentials, Turkey claims Twitter bowed to censorship demands. If Musk is helping Erdogan tamp down legitimate domestic criticism, well, that's a problem.

DC crime, Zelensky UK

Crime friendly DC Councilwoman silent as local business calls for help. The DC Council appears dedicated to making criminal dreams come true.

Of course Zelensky went to Britain before Brussels. The UK has been a far more reliable supporter to Kyiv than has the European Union.

Designated Survivor staff, balloon response, balloon's mission

State of the Union 2023: Inside the designated survivor's emergency A-team. The prospective replacement president has a lot of specially chosen military and Secret Service personnel with him/her.

What the military did well and badly with the Chinese balloon. The military's tactical response has been excellent, the strategic response less so.

From Monday...

What China's balloon was doing. There was a joined intelligence and political purpose.

Balloon shot

China's self-inflicted balloon shot. Xi Jinping has made a terrible political error by sending his spy balloon over the American heartland.

Heritage and defense spending, Biden and China

 Heritage's Kevin Roberts rightly puts defense spending pressure on Congress but overemphasizes technology. The need is for capabilities that are deliverable and scaled-up effective in the near term.

State of Our Union: Biden’s China policy tolerates excessive risks. The Biden administration needs to act in anticipation of an imminent war.

Trump vs. IC

Trump's deluded endorsement of Putin over the U.S. intelligence community. The former president is lost in a narcissistic mind maze.

Masih Alinejad

Iranian government contracted Russian mob to kill Masih Alinejad. Those indictment included a captain within the ranks of a powerful Russian mafia clan.

100 tanks for Ukraine, Zircon threats

100 tanks will go a long way for Ukraine, figuratively and literally. Ukraine's possession of Western thanks will afford it a new range of offensive possibilities.

Assessing Russia's Zircon missile threat in the Mediterranean. Russian media is suggesting that a new frigate might launch hypersonic missiles against Ukraine.

Ukraine anti-corruption, Turkey-Hungary and NATO

Ukraine anti-corruption push: positive, but won't have lasting effect unless mid-ranking officials also targeted. Ukraine's increased struggle against corruption is new but long overdue.

Turkey and Hungary should be suspended from NATO. Their current leaders have proven themselves misaligned with the alliance's fundamental interests.

Russia conspiracy games, Biden's free pass

Inventing a different lie, Russia just showed Ukraine why not to lie. The SVR Director is using Ukraine's denials over a November missile accident to fuel a conspiracy over arms at nuclear facilities.

Germany aside, why is Biden getting a pass for failing to send tanks to Ukraine? The media is fixated on Berlin without considering Biden's role in this mess.

F-15EX v F-35, Macron defense boosts

China's threat requires more F-15EXs and fewer F-35s. The weapons payload, combat range and lifetime costs all point to the F-15 variant's favor.

France defense spending set for big boosts following Macron pledge. The French president finally seems ready to put his money where his mouth is.

DC seems to want more crime

Latest guest piece for the Wall Street Journal: DC seems to want more crime. The city council has passed a truly ludicrous crime law. Congress should step in to stop them.

Ukraine tanks, China Ardern

Failing to provide tanks to Ukraine, Biden administration offers deceptive excuse. The issue is not that of Ukrainian force compatibility or mission needs, but rather fear of Russia.

China rightly laments Jacinda Ardern's resignation. The New Zealand Prime Minister has been a stalwart partner for Beijing.

Orban/China + Russia

Viktor Orban's Hungary stands with China and Russia, not the U.S. On policy actions of key long-term consequence, the U.S. loses out with Orban.

Wilmington visits

No visitor records for Biden's Wilmington home? That strains credulity. The Secret Service PIX system should have a record for at least 60 days of visits.

Soledar, Defense Industry

Forget Soledar, Russia cannot sustain the offensive initiative. Russian forces will not be able to advance deep inside Ukrainian territory. They lack the equipment, command structure and logistics to do so.

'Where's the other four?' Or why we need a defense industry revolution. A Navy admiral rightly complains about failed delivery on the part of contractors.

UK and Japan agreement

The UK and Japan just boosted deterrence of China. The reciprocal access agreement reached in London on Wednesday will allow for the rapid deployment of UK forces to Japan or Okinawa. Something that might be valuable come war with China over Taiwan.

Biden classified docs, Benefit to Trump

Why the Trump-Biden classified documents aren't apples and oranges. There are differences in the two cases, but the fundamental similarity is the unauthorized retention of highly classified materials.

Biden's priceless political and legal gift to Trump. The president has given the former president a possible get out of jail free card with his mishandling of classified materials.

Dmitry Medvedev the hawk

Why did Russia's Dmitry Medvedev become an ultra-hawk? The answer is probably twofold. First, moderation doesn't play well in the Kremlin these days. Second, Medvedev is working under Patrushev.

Russia ceasefire games

Russia's ceasefire stunt deserves Ukraine's disregard. Vladimir Putin is playing for his own interests rather than the ideal of a peaceful Orthodox Christmas celebration.

China piracy

Treat China's fishing fleets for the pirates they are. They are destroying wildlife stocks, lives and the principles of international maritime law. They require forceful riposte.