The former head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. Harry Harris, called in Congress on Tuesday for abandonment of “strategic ambiguity” towards Taiwan and a clear declaration that America will defend the island if China decides to invade. He also assessed that the need to defend Taiwan should not mean giving up supporting Ukraine.
“I will be the first to say that the policy of strategic ambiguity over Taiwan has served us well for the last 44 years. But I think the time for ambiguity is over.
Author: Michael
Germany is donating two MANTIS C-RAM systems to Slovakia for the protection of critical infrastructure. (Luftwaffe/Rheinmetall Defence)
Germany is donating two Modular, Automatic and Network capable Targeting and Interception System (MANTIS) counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar defence (C-RAM) systems to Slovakia, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and General Eberhard Zorn, Inspekteur der Bundeswehr (armed forces chief), announced in a 7 February order of the day.
The U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) notified Congress that the “PRC now possesses more ICBM launchers than the United States.” This notice reminds the U.S. government and legislative departments that China has been rapidly modernizing its nuclear weapons in recent years. The United States must also increase the number of nuclear arsenals and upgrade capabilities.
The US State Department announced on December 31 that it could not confirm Russia’s adherence to the New START treaty. American controllers were not allowed into Russian facilities with launchers and nuclear warheads, contrary to the treaty’s provisions. The pretext was the restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The problem started in August last year. Russia then invoked the clause of the New START agreement “temporarily exempting” from the obligation to admit American inspectors.
Image by Ahodges7
Despite new leadership in the House, 2023 has unfortunately turned out as expected so far. DirectTV dropped Newsmax, removing yet another non-woke news agency from their lineup. Despite congressional protests, the streaming TV service is content to hold its ground in the grand woke assault on freedom of speech. The progressive long game to dominate the 2024 elections is already in full effect. DoD covid vaccine mandates are gone – due to legislative decree, not due to SECDEF enlightenment.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused the United States of supporting Ukraine to attack nuclear forces, potentially causing direct conflict between the two powers.
“The United States is essentially waging a full-blown hybrid war against Russia, with the potential for direct military conflict between the two nuclear powers,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on February 8. . “Hybrid war” is a term to refer to the war in all fields such as politics, military, cyberspace in order to gain an advantage over the enemy.
A missile is displayed during a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of North Korea’s army, at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea February 8, 2023, in this photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. REUTERS IS UNABLE TO VERIFY THIS IMAGE INDEPENDENTLY. NO THIRD-PARTY SALES. SOUTH KOREA IS OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SOUTH KOREA.
Words matter. One of the historical words that has always mattered in the political world was ‘Reconciliation’. According to Webster, an act of reconciling occurs when former enemies agree to an amicable truce. But there are a couple of other words in that definition that need to be unpacked. The words “former” and “amicable” and “truce” need some additional clarification. ‘Former’ generally means traditional and is generally regarded as a foreign enemy such as another nation seeking to disrupt our democracy and our American way of life.
23d Wing Commander via Facebook.
An A-10C Warthog has emerged at Moody Air Force Base (AFB) sporting a heritage livery that commemorates the First American Volunteer Group (AVG), also known as the “Flying Tigers,” which flew during World War II, and one of the unit’s pilots in particular, Charles R. Bond Jr.
Images of the freshly-painted aircraft were released on February 8 by Col. Russell “Bones” Cook, commander of the U.S. Air Force’s 23rd Wing, which is based at Moody AFB in Lowndes County, Georgia.
Nepal is to receive two new M28 airlifters, bringing its total fleet to five such aircraft. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)
Nepal has contracted the US government to deliver a pair of PZL Mielec M28 Skytruck short take-off and landing (STOL) light transport aircraft by the end of April 2025.
Announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 3 February, the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) covers two M28 Block 05 aircraft, and is valued at USD30.4 million.