News and Commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and Published by Riley Murray.
1. Reports: Biden’s top pick for Defense Secretary is Michèle Flournoy; would be first woman SECDEF
2. New Law Would Let Chinese Coast Guard Use Weapons in South China Sea
3. US must defeat China's 'D-Day' trade attack on Australia
4. Krach overstates Clean Network initiative claims
5. The Army Has Officially Selected The Navy's SM-6 Missile To Be Used In A Strike Role
6. The “Quad”: Security Cooperation Among the United States,Japan, India, and Australia
7. Philippines Shelves Plan for South China Sea Fishing Militia
8. Lam Says Next US President Should Not Interfere in Hong Kong
9. Army Picks Tomahawk & SM-6 For Mid-Range Missiles
10. Worries grow about rudderless post-election Pentagon
11. How President Biden Presidency Could Reshape U.S. National Security
12. The U.S. Army Wants a New Way to Fight in a Twenty-First Century War
13. Two ‘Boogaloo Bois’ Indicted In Plot To Supply Weapons To Terrorists For Attacks On U.S. Soldiers
1. Reports: Biden’s top pick for Defense Secretary is Michèle Flournoy; would be first woman SECDEF
https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/11/reports-bidens-top-pick-for-defense-secretary-is-michele-flournoy-would-be-first-woman-secdef/?utm – by Ryan Morgan – 7 November 2020
I expect this will be positive for the ROK/US alliance. I know she understands the alliance and its importance (which does not mean our current national security team does not because I know they do).
Back in the 1990's when Ms. Flournoy was the PDAS for strategy, Bob Collins and I worked with her on the initial training implementation of PDD 56 - The Management of Complex Contingency Operations. (https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/pdd56.htm) which used a north Korean collapse scenario. We were working on CONPLAN 5029 and General Tilelli suggested to the SECDEF we use a Korean collapse scenario as the complex contingency. She and Kurt Campbell (DASD at the time I believe) were main participants in the training. I hope a modernized PDD 56 will be resurrected to better orchestrate interagency activities.
2. New Law Would Let Chinese Coast Guard Use Weapons in South China Sea
benarnews.org – by Drake Long – 6 November 2020
3. US must defeat China's 'D-Day' trade attack on Australia
Washington Examiner · by Tom Rogan · November 5, 2020
Conclusion: "President Trump has made his mark on the world by finally unleashing American power to counter China's imperialism. Joe Biden often speaks of the need to restore alliances and America's global credibility. Witnessing what China is now doing to one of our closest allies, each man has reason to act in Australia's support. China is banking on Washington's distraction. Instead, Trump and Biden should pledge to impose immediate new and reciprocal tariffs on China, should Beijing's D-Day attack go forward."
4. Krach overstates Clean Network initiative claims
Criticism from a CCP mouthpiece.
5. The Army Has Officially Selected The Navy's SM-6 Missile To Be Used In A Strike Role
thedrive.com · by Tyler Rogoway · November 7, 2020
Seems like a smart move.
6. The “Quad”: Security Cooperation Among the United States, Japan, India, and Australia
The 3 page report from the Congressional Research Service can be downloaded at the link below.
The “Quad”: Security Cooperation Among the United States, Japan, India, and Australia
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11678
7. Philippines Shelves Plan for South China Sea Fishing Militia
thediplomat.com · by Sebastian Strangio · November 6, 2020
Was there pressure from China or just fear of pressure?
8. Lam Says Next US President Should Not Interfere in Hong Kong
thediplomat.com · by Associated Press · November 7, 2020
Words I am sure the CCP wanted expressed.
9. Army Picks Tomahawk & SM-6 For Mid-Range Missiles
breakingdefense.com · by Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
And the Tomahawk too (in addition to the SM-6). But I thought we were going to halt production of the Tomahawk? I guess not.
10. Worries grow about rudderless post-election Pentagon
The Hill · by Ellen Mitchell · November 7, 2020
We have professionals running the pentagon and the national security team. Our adversaries should not get the wrong idea and think they have an opportunity during this transition period.
11. How President Biden Presidency Could Reshape U.S. National Security
Forbes · by Sebastien Roblin · November 7, 2020
Obviously, any incoming president will reshape foreign policy whether of the same party or the opposition party to the outgoing president.
The buried lede and troubling point: Defense spending likely to remain flat or decrease
12. The U.S. Army Wants a New Way to Fight in a Twenty-First Century War
The National Interest · by Kris Osborn · November 7, 2020
Some amazing capabilities. Seems like the infantry soldier on the ground will have as complicated data management issues as a fighter pilot.
13. Two ‘Boogaloo Bois’ Indicted In Plot To Supply Weapons To Terrorists For Attacks On U.S. Soldiers
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/11/06/two-boogaloo-bois-indicted-in-plot-to-supply-weapons-to-terrorists-for-attacks-on-us-soldiers/?sh=63a31baaf6ae – by Nicholas Reimann – 6 November 2020
Left and right, liberal and conservative, do not define these extremists who simply seek to bring harm to the US despite their avowed causes.
"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.
Be less curious about people and more curious about ideas.
I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.
All my life through, the new sights of Nature make me rejoice like a child.”
-Madame Marie Curie
“You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having both at once.”
- Robert A. Heinlein
Seventy-three years ago this week—on November 11, 1947:
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise.
Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."
Ever since, however, this observation has been presented in a simplified way:
"Democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”
- Winston Churchill