News

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs.

1. The Chinese View of WESTPAC

2. An Ancient Hill and Forgotten Dead: Afghanistan's Haunted Outpost

3.  What really drives the South China Sea conflict

4. A Navy SEAL, a Quadcopter, and a Quest to Save Lives in Combat

5. Drone wars: U.S. military maneuvers to defeat enemy unmanned aircraft

6. Bitter dispute sees US-Japan navy play war games against China's Coast Guard

7. Opinion: U.S. obsession with military hegemony threatens world peace

8. Will Pompeo's Asia trip help arrest China influence? It's not a one-day match, say experts

9. US Cyber Command exposes new Russian malware

10. With China, India Has Revealed a Blind Faith in Diplomacy

11. "The Talk" | Defense360 (Structural Racism essay related to national security and foreign policy)

12. What Americans Can Do to Address Bias and Structural Racism in the U.S. Foreign Affairs and National Security Workforce

13. Cubans lose access to vital dollar remittances after latest US sanctions

14. The Pandemic Is in Uncharted Territory

15. How the Best Forecasters Predict Events Such as Election Outcomes

16. How Conflict Shaped Us (Book Review)

17. Rebuilding Marawi: Too Early for Congratulations

18. 90% of NPA cadres recruited from schools: ex-commie (Philippines)

19. At Over 1,000 Strong, the Army's Delta Force Can't Be Taken Lightly

20. Stakeknife: unmasking the infamous IRA mole

 

1. The Chinese View of WESTPAC

USNI · CDR Salamander

Excellent graphic in the blog post. 

 

2. An Ancient Hill and Forgotten Dead: Afghanistan's Haunted Outpost

The New York Times · by Thomas Gibbons-Neff · November 1, 2020

 

3. What really drives the South China Sea conflict

asiatimes.com · by Mark J. Valencia · November 1, 2020

Is it really that simple?  Are we trying to maintain hegemony?  Or is it the clash of ideologies? (This is in the Asia Times and not the Global Times or Xinhua).

Excerpts:

“At base is a clash of political systems - authoritarian communism versus democratic capitalism - and their underlying ideology and values. Although the US hoped that China's values and system would become more like its own, that is now recognized as unlikely, and probably always was. This dialectic is driving the Americans' desire to dominate Southeast Asia and, in particular, the South China Sea.”

“China's motives are primarily self-defense and what it views as the rightful restoration of its sphere of influence. The US wants to maintain its hegemony and the "international order" it helped build and now leads to its asymmetric benefit.”

“As kinetic conflict looms, the US needs to decide what it really wants and why, what it is willing to pay to get it, and if it is too much, re-evaluate and adjust its goals. Is it willing to spend blood and increasingly dwindling treasure to continue to dominate militarily a sea and region that are not directly critical to its national security? Will its populace support yet another pursuit of vague goals in a foreign conflict halfway around the world?”

 

4. A Navy SEAL, a Quadcopter, and a Quest to Save Lives in Combat

Wired · by Elliott Ackerman

Interesting innovation.

 

5. Drone wars: U.S. military maneuvers to defeat enemy unmanned aircraft

washingtontimes.com · by Ben Wolfgang

We led the way in UAS (drone) development and employment.  We need to lead the way in UAS defense.

 

6. Bitter dispute sees US-Japan navy play war games against China's Coast Guard

nzherald.co.nz

Excerpt: " It's part of exercise Keen Sword 21. Its mission is "to deliver combat troops to defend the Senkakus or respond to other crises or contingencies".

 

7. Opinion: U.S. obsession with military hegemony threatens world peace

theprint.in · November 1, 2020

CCP Propaganda.

 

8. Will Pompeo's Asia trip help arrest China influence? It's not a one-day match, say experts

theprint.in · November 1, 2020

 

9. US Cyber Command exposes new Russian malware

ZDNet · by Catalin Cimpanu

There should be no doubt this is part of Russian political warfare.

 

10. With China, India Has Revealed a Blind Faith in Diplomacy

thewire.in · by Ashok K. Mehta

Interesting analysis from India.

Quite a dilemma here:

“The LAC standoff will see Chinese border guards and PLA and Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police battle it out in winter for survival. But even now India has left door to diplomacy open as part of its policy of engagement and containment. After November 15, India will not be able to pull back its troops from LAC as passes will have closed.

The PLA has no such problem. As India has bipartisan support in US, presidential election results on November 3, will not alter the foundation of the relationship though the pre-election rhetoric on China will moderate. Especially a Trump return, if it is gentle on Beijing, invoking his affection for 'very, very, very good friend Xi' could upset the apple cart of India's perceived pressure points.”

 

11. "The Talk" | Defense360 (Structural Racism essay related to national security and foreign policy)

defense360.csis.org · by Anthony "Tony" Johnson · October 26, 2020

Conclusion:

In 1857, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech in which he said: "[people] may lie down until [they] ha[ve] sense enough to stand up," and "power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." Americans of color must be full participants in the dialogue about where, when, and how the United States acts abroad. Our perspectives should be integral to U.S. foreign policy and national decision making at every level of government, from the White House Situation Room to the halls of Congress to the E ring of the Pentagon. Our perspectives ensure that U.S. security policy is not blind to the cultural factors and nuances that influence foreign relations. Without multicultural perspectives and advice, our leaders will make important decisions about American foreign policy through a mirror darkly.

 

12. What Americans Can Do to Address Bias and Structural Racism in the U.S. Foreign Affairs and National Security Workforce

defense360.csis.org · October 30, 2020

A follow-up to the previous essay. This requires reflection.  I know Tony.  He is a good man and a great American.

 

13. Cubans lose access to vital dollar remittances after latest US sanctions

The Guardian · by Ed Augustin · November 1, 2020

All actions have second and third effects.

 

14. The Pandemic Is in Uncharted Territory

Scientific American · by Pavel Atanasov · October 20, 2020

Key Points:

Testing accessibility and in-hospital patient care have improved, so it seems unlikely that we'll return to the case-fatality rates of the spring. The lower death rates from COVID-19, however, are predicated on stable and functioning health-care systems. As this outbreak continues to grow in so many urban and rural communities, public-health officials have brought back the "Flatten the curve" mantra of the spring. Each fall, hospitals prepare for an increase in patients requiring respiratory support due to influenza season.

What was true in the spring is true now: If hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, they cannot provide the quality of care that has reduced the number of Americans who die from this disease, and from other health emergencies. And local reporting suggests that communities from El Paso to Green Bay are in danger of letting the virus grow beyond the capacity of health-care workers to contain the damage.

 

16.  How Conflict Shaped Us (Book Review)

diplomaticourier.com · by Joshua Huminski

 

17. Rebuilding Marawi: Too Early for Congratulations

thediplomat.com· by Gus Miclat · October 30, 2020

Can the conditions be changed?

 

18.  90% of NPA cadres recruited from schools: ex-commie (Philippines)

pna.gov.ph · by Marita Moaje · October 31, 2020

Excerpts:

“Ka Eric also called on House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to let him and other former cadres speak at the Congress and face the Makabayan bloc representatives, and for Senate President Tito Sotto to conduct a Senate inquiry into his revelations.”

"This is going to be war, a war of information, a war of decision for standing up for the truth and war to side with the people," he added.

 

19. At Over 1,000 Strong, the Army's Delta Force Can't Be Taken Lightly

The National Interest · by Joseph Trevithick · October 31, 2020

 

20. Stakeknife: unmasking the infamous IRA mole

GQ · by James Harkin

More fascinating history.

 

------------------

 

"All politics is based on the indifference of the majority."

- James "Scotty" Reston

 

"No man has the right to be ignorant. In a country like this, ignorance is a crime.If a man is going to vote, if he's going to take part in his country and his government, then it's up to him to understand."

- Louis L'Amour 

"Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners"

 - Laurence Sterne

News and Commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and Published by Riley Murray.

 

1. Opinion | There’s Chinese interference on both sides of the 2020 election

2. Venezuela coup plotters met at Trump Doral. Central figure says U.S officials knew of plan

3. Esper’s Curious Partners-and-Allies Initiative

4. Esper’s Curious Partners-and-Allies Initiative

5. US special operations forces behind al-Baghdadi raid awarded Presidential Unit Citation

6. Trump meets special forces team behind Baghdadi raid to award top unit citation

7. The reputation of Australia’s special forces is beyond repair - it’s time for them to be disbanded

8. Five big questions as America votes: China

9.  China’s vaccine diplomacy jabs US in SE Asia

10. Air Force Reproves Senate Candidate Doug Collins on Campaign Ads in Uniform

11. TERRORISM FUTURES: Evolving Technology and TTPs Use

12. Taiwan ex-general says soldiers lack weapons for China war - "Are they supposed to fight with brooms?"

13. The PLA’s New Push for Military Technology Innovation

14.  China and the US risk accidental war over Taiwan

15. Statement by Jonathan Hoffman, Chief Pentagon Spokesman, on Hostage Rescue Operation in Northern Nigeria

16. American hostage rescued in West Africa by SEAL Team 6 in daring raid

17. US Forces conduct operation in Africa to rescue American citizen held in Nigeria

18. Air Force Moves Forward with Plan to Turn Giant Cargo Planes into Bomb Trucks

19. How a teenager with a Cessna helped topple the Soviet Union

20. Coming Storms: The Return of Great-Power War

21. The Answer to Extremism Isn’t More Extremism

 

1. Opinion | There’s Chinese interference on both sides of the 2020 election

The Washington Post – Josh Rogin - October 29, 2020

I bet the Chinese and Russians still cannot believe their good fortune.  The truth is neither country is trying to make one candidate win over the other.  They just want to sow discord.  It should be a no brainer for the us as American citizens - we should be absolutely united against these external threats. But instead we argue about which candidates our enemies are supporting.  We are playing right into their hands.  These influence operations will be studied for years to come.  But the reason for their success is not the sophistication of the operations it is because they were sowing seeds on fertile ground - we made their job easy because of the political divide between the extreme left and the extreme right.   But I digress.

This guy Guo Wengui is an interesting character. What is he really up to?

 

2. Venezuela coup plotters met at Trump Doral. Central figure says U.S officials knew of plan

miamiherald.com – by Antonio Maria Delgado

More on the Green Berets who have embarrassed the Regiment.  This story is unbelievable and if any of these allegations are true then we are truly the keystone cops.

If you go to this link the website has video and copies of "evidence"

 

3. Esper’s Curious Partners-and-Allies Initiative

defenseone.com · by Bilal Y. Saab

Very interesting initiative.  

Excerpts:

Philosophically speaking, not much is new about GDAP. GDAP is the result of security cooperation reforms and processes in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy that have been maturing for at least the past 3 years. So to call it, as Esper said, a “brand new” initiative is probably inaccurate.

That said, there is something different about GDAP, and that is the way the Pentagon is now prioritizing the allocation of security cooperation funds under Title 10 of the U.S. Code of Law. In other words, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities and his staff have now chosen to have a stronger say over who gets what in that global U.S. network of alliances and partnerships. Until a few days ago, the Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs) were the ones who were effectively in the driver’s seat in this prioritization process. They used to communicate their preferred security cooperation plans and initiatives with various countries in their respective areas of operation to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and those were rarely challenged. The GCCs were considered the center of gravity of security cooperation planning.

 

5. US special operations forces behind al-Baghdadi raid awarded Presidential Unit Citation

taskandpurpose.com · by Jared Keller

 

6. Trump meets special forces team behind Baghdadi raid to award top unit citation

americanmilitarynews.com · by Ryan Morgan · October 30, 2020

 

7. The reputation of Australia’s special forces is beyond repair - it’s time for them to be disbanded

theconversation.com · by Christopher Elliott

It pains me to read this. There are so many great Australian soldiers.

 

8. Five big questions as America votes: China

atlanticcouncil.org · October 29, 2020

 

9. China’s vaccine diplomacy jabs US in SE Asia

asiatimes.com · by Richard Javad Heydarian · October 30, 2020

Hmmm, vaccines to bust up coalitions,

But there is a general lack of trust of Chinese vaccines.

Excerpts:

Growing resentment against China has also coincided with intensified scrutiny of its vaccine diplomacy drive and emerging concerns over the safety of Chinese-made vaccines amid quality control concerns about its pharmaceutical industry.

Pandu Riono, a leading Indonesian epidemiologist, has warned of premature reliance on Chinese-made vaccines. He called on the Widodo administration not “to jump to do a deal and decide with China only. We should wait and seriously work with the WHO.”

Meanwhile, the US is moving amid trial hic-cups and intense regulatory scrutiny to develop at least three vaccines in the coming months. Unlike China, US pharmaceutical companies enjoy credibility and trust worldwide, including in Southeast Asia where they have decades of experience.

 

10. Air Force Reproves Senate Candidate Doug Collins on Campaign Ads in Uniform

military.com · by Richard Sisk · October 30, 2020

You would think a Lieutenant Colonel would know the rules.

 

11. TERRORISM FUTURES: Evolving Technology and TTPs Use

Small Wars Journal – by Dr. Robert J. Bunker

 

12. Taiwan ex-general says soldiers lack weapons for China war - "Are they supposed to fight with brooms?"

Newsweek · by John Feng · October 30, 2020

Blunt criticism.

 

13. The PLA’s New Push for Military Technology Innovation

thediplomat.com – by Marcus Clay -  October 31, 2020

Conclusion:  "But intentions matter in competitions. The PLA’s intentions are clear: accelerate change or lose, with Chinese characteristics. When disruptive mechanisms are introduced into an existing structure, and people who have new mindsets are positioned to lead and implement the intended changes, cultural change will take place. As Brown declared, “we must be able to account for the interactive nature of competition and continuously assess ourselves relative to our adversaries’ adaptations.” The U.S. military should keep a close eye on the PLA’s new initiatives and continue to fine-tune its own S&T RD&A processes accordingly."

 

14. China and the US risk accidental war over Taiwan

asia.nikkei.com – by Minxin Pei – 29 October 2020

Key excerpts:

To be sure, China will continue to close the defense spending gap as it invests more resources toward increasing the odds of a successful military operation targeting Taiwan. But any medium term military activities will be limited by the logic of strategic deterrence.

As China expands its gray-zone of coercion -- military acts short of war -- the U.S. will feel compelled to launch its own acts of counter-deterrence, which each side will need to escalate in order to prove its resolve. In practical terms, Chinese acts of military intimidation will have to seem bigger and more dangerous, while America will have to be seen to respond with more vigorous counter measures. A good example is the increased frequency of American warships transiting through the Taiwan Strait.

 

15. Statement by Jonathan Hoffman, Chief Pentagon Spokesman, on Hostage Rescue Operation in Northern Nigeria

defense.gov – 31 October 2020

Good news.

 

16. American hostage rescued in West Africa by SEAL Team 6 in daring raid

foxnews.com · by Lucas Tomlinson

Fox reports ST 6.  The DOD statement specified no unit.  Who is speaking out of school to the press?

 

17.  US Forces conduct operation in Africa to rescue American citizen held in Nigeria

CNN · by Barbara Starr

Unit not named in this report. Emphasis only on support of partners from the official statement.

 

18. Air Force Moves Forward with Plan to Turn Giant Cargo Planes into Bomb Trucks

military.com · by Oriana Pawlyk · October 30, 2020

Arsenal planes to complement arsenal ships?

As an aside I have to compliment the our creative service members for creating such practical acronyms: "The AMC experiment was similar to Air Force Special Operations Command's Cargo Launch Expendable Air Vehicles with Extended Range, or CLEAVER, test earlier this year, except the CLEAVER's pallet drop came off an MC-130J Commando II, which is already configured to airdrop weapons."

 

19. How a teenager with a Cessna helped topple the Soviet Union

sandboxx.us · by Alex Hollings · October 30, 2020

Some history to recall.  Photos at the link if they do not come through in this message. https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/how-a-teenager-with-a-cessnas-insane-trip-helped-topple-the-soviet-union/

Conclusion: Rust would never sit behind the stick of an aircraft again, but would go down in history as the only pilot to defeat the entirety of the Soviet military using a rented, single prop, trainer plane. Unfortunately, Rust’s seemingly heroic stunt has been overshadowed by the troubled man’s continued run-ins with the law. In the early 90s", he received another prison sentence for assaulting a woman that refused his romantic advances. In 2005, he was again convicted of a crime–this time for fraud. Today he describes himself an analyst for an investment bank, seemingly keen to leave his high-flying theatrics behind him."

 

20. Coming Storms: The Return of Great-Power War

Foreign Affairs · by Christopher Layne · October 30, 2020

Great power competition does not have to mean great power war in my humble opinion.

Is this a true statement? "If Washington does not cede its dominance in East Asia it is on the fast track to war."

Conclusion: "Whether the United States can, or will, peacefully cede its dominance in East Asia and acknowledge China’s standing as its great-power equal is an open question. If Washington does not do so, however, it is on the fast track to war - one that might make the military disasters of Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq pale in comparison.

 

21. The Answer to Extremism Isn’t More Extremism

The Atlantic · by Anne Applebaum · October 30, 2020

Whether on the radical or extreme left or the radical or extreme right, anyone who seeks to overthrow our government is wrong.  We should not make this a left versus right conflict but those who oppose our federal democratic republic with force and violence and those of us who believe in supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States and know that Democrats, Republicans, and Independents believe in that common cause.  to say or believe otherwise marks such a person on the extreme left or extreme right  - not the left or right - we need to make the distinction and call out the extremes not those with different opinions and views..  We should welcome and applaud criticism and protest from both sides but once they call for violence against our nation they must be stopped and the full force of the law must be brought to bear on them.

 

“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?”

- Epictetus, Discourses, 4.3.6b–8

 

"Whenever men in their arrogance and pride set themselves up as absolute, they will be beaten to the ground."

- Benjamin E. Mays

 

“Fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

- Ruth Bader Ginsberg

News and Commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and Published by Riley Murray.

 

1. N.K. propaganda outlet claims U.S. imperialists started Korean War

2. Pyonghattanite [평해트나이트] - New Videos about north Korea

3. North Korea’s Yongbyon Complex: Activity Picks Up

4.  FDD | U.S. Issues Timely Alert on Another North Korean Hacking Group

5. U.S. Amb. Harris says S. Korea, U.S. fought 'side by side against invasion from the north'

6. 'US President Trump may go for summit with Kim Jong-un right after re-election'

7. Russia and China Undermine U.N. Reporting on North Korea Sanction Dodging, Analysis Finds

8. North Korean Community Leaders Granted Right to Sell Sewage as Fertilizer for Farms

9. Where do Biden and Trump Voters Stand on U.S.-Korea relations?

10. A Korean news agency publishes an op-ed from Biden.

11. ICAS Strategy poll - Korean Issues

12. VOA: Washington Talk - Korean Peninsula Issues

13. U.N. panel says N. Korean mortar apparently used in terrorist attack in Somalia

14. Pompeo skips stop in South Korea yet again

15. N. Korea criticizes S. Korea for its killing of S. Korean official

16. U.S. bucks consensus and backs Yoo for WTO top spot

17. Nigeria reaches out to US, Korea to back WTO candidate

 

1. N.K. propaganda outlet claims U.S. imperialists started Korean War

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · October 30, 2020

One of my soldiers who went on a remains recovery mission in north Korea brought me a book from the war museum in Pyongyang in english by the same title as this article: "U.S. imperialists started Korean War"

 

2.  Pyonghattanite [평해트나이트] - New Videos about north Korea

Below are three videos from my friends Lee Hyun-Seung and Lee Seo-Hyun.  They are escapees from north Korea.  They provide some very unique and important insights in their 10 minute videos.

I recommend subscribing to their YouTube channel to receive their new videos.

[한글자막] Undisclosed Facts from the Historic Trump-Kim Negotiation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ2H_E24ohU&feature=youtu.be
 

[한글자막] Shocking Campus Life At The Most Prestigious University In North Korea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0VAw2rr1VE&feature=youtu.be

[한글자막] Undeniable Proof : North Korea Builds TEL With Chinese Help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU7NTE2BjI4&feature=youtu.be

 

3. North Korea’s Yongbyon Complex: Activity Picks Up

38north.org · by Frank Pabian, Peter Makowsky, and Jack Liu · October 30, 2020

I will leave it to the nuclear experts to assess.  What is the smoke or gas come from the site?

 

4. FDD | U.S. Issues Timely Alert on Another North Korean Hacking Group

fdd.org · by Mathew Ha · October 30, 2020

Important analysis from my colleague Mathew Ha.

 

5. U.S. Amb. Harris says S. Korea, U.S. fought 'side by side against invasion from the north'

en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · October 30, 2020

 

6. 'US President Trump may go for summit with Kim Jong-un right after re-election'

The Korea Times · October 30, 2020

Interesting speculation (and there is more to this article than the headline).  But I would counsel that the President should not ever again meet with Kim until substantive working level negotiations have taken place and the negotiators can bring an agreement to Kim and the President for approval.  I also do not think Kim will come to a summit unless he receives some guarantees that there will be some level of sanctions relief.

 

7. Russia and China Undermine U.N. Reporting on North Korea Sanction Dodging, Analysis Finds

freebeacon.com · by Jack Beyrer · October 30, 2020

As my colleague Andrea Stricker has written Russia and China are not only complicit in north Korean sanctions evasion, but they are also working to prevent accurate reporting by the UN Panel of Experts.

 

8. North Korean Community Leaders Granted Right to Sell Sewage as Fertilizer for Farms

rfa.org – 30 October 2020

Do what you must to survive.

Excerpts:

The inminban, or neighborhood watch units, are small, regimented community organizations that serve as the eyes and ears of the state to ensure the people stay in line. Membership and participation in the inminban are mandatory.

“Giving the inminban leaders the privilege to sell human manure from the apartments is like an implicit instruction to further strengthen control over residents,” said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons.

“Human manure is sold in sealed 500-kilogram sealed barrels brought by ox cart by the private farmers [1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds]. A barrel can go for about as much as 50 kilograms of napa cabbage,” the source said, referring to the vegetable most commonly used to make kimchi.

North Korean Community Leaders Granted Right to Sell Sewage as Fertilizer for Farms

 

9. Where do Biden and Trump Voters Stand on U.S.-Korea relations?

blog.keia.org – by Juni Kim - October 29, 2020

Some interesting data.  What is interesting is the similar levels of agreement among voters from across the spectrum on certain Korea issues (4 out of the 5 questions).

 

10. A Korean news agency publishes an op-ed from Biden.

The New York Times · by Neil Vigdor and Choe Sang-Hun · October 30, 2020

I think his OpEd was unprecedented.  Perhaps it has something to do with the data from KEI (http://blog.keia.org/2020/10/biden-trump-voters-stand-u-s-korea-relations/) that shows most voters across the political spectrum support Korean alliance issues.

 

11. ICAS Strategy poll - Korean Issues

icasinc.org – 26 October 2020

Some interesting data covering issues that are not in the mainstream news.

 

12. VOA: Washington Talk - Korean Peninsula Issues

Thanks to Kim Young Gyo and VOA for hosting Mark Fitzpatrick and me to discuss Korean issues. The target audience for this show is the elite in Pyongyang. I hope they are paying attention to our themes and messages in this broadcast. (note this is in English with Korean subtitles)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmxvO7eaZPg

 

13. U.N. panel says N. Korean mortar apparently used in terrorist attack in Somalia

en.yna.co.kr · by 김광태 · October 31, 2020

No surprise to anyone who follows Dr. Bruce Bechtol's research on north Korean proliferation. 

I recommend his book: https://www.amazon.com/Korean-Military-Proliferation-Middle-Africa/dp/0813175887

But this foreign Affairs article provides a good summary: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/north-korea/2018-06-06/north-koreas-illegal-weapons-trade

 

14. Pompeo skips stop in South Korea yet again

donga.com – 30 October 2020

The Koreans are sensitive to these types of apparent slights even though I am sure this was not intentional on SECSTATE's part.

 

15. N. Korea criticizes S. Korea for its killing of S. Korean official

donga.com – 31 October 2020

They may as well just say "you should not have made me kill your citizen."  north Korea is the theater of the absurd.

 

16. U.S. bucks consensus and backs Yoo for WTO top spot

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

I believe the US rationale is that she is more qualified.

 

17. Nigeria reaches out to US, Korea to back WTO candidate

The Korea Times · October 31, 2020

And Nigeria just supported a US hostage rescue operation overnight.  Any politics involved?

 

“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?”

- Epictetus, Discourses, 4.3.6b–8

 

"Whenever men in their arrogance and pride set themselves up as absolute, they will be beaten to the ground."

- Benjamin E. Mays

 

“Fight for the things that you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

- Ruth Bader Ginsberg

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Duncan Moore.

1. If you play videogames, China may be spying on you

2. Top officials were briefed on active threat against Pentagon leaders

3. As the West stumbles, ‘helmsman’ Xi pushes an ambitious plan for China

4. How the US and India became brothers in arms

5. Preserve America’s strategic autonomy in the Taiwan Strait

6. Philippines taking aim at China’s sea militias

7. Germany is ready to offer America a new deal

8. China's hopeless Twitter influence operations

9. US, China militaries talk "crisis communications" as they trade warnings before Nov. 3 election

10. Is China getting ready to start a war over Taiwan?

11. Behind China’s threat to support insurgency in India

12. Pics/Video: US launches ballistic missile 4,200 miles into the Pacific Ocean in new test

13. The United States doesn't want to reform the WTO. It wants to destroy it

14. After covering civil war overseas, journalist examines U.S. militia movement

15. Twitter bots promote right-wing conspiracies, paper shows

16. Americans hate each other. But we aren’t headed for civil war.

17. The Army repeatedly screwed this combat veteran. Now he’s being kicked out of the service – again

 

1. If you play videogames, China may be spying on you

Wall Street Journal · Dave Aitel & Jordan Schneider · October 28, 2020

This may be one reason why China is dominating the online games market. Another reason may be to control the narrative. Since most of the people reading my commentary do not play video games (like me), we do not see the narratives that are being disseminated through video games, namely that China is good, strong, and respected. The online gaming market is huge and reaches so many young people. China's intent is to shape subtly their views of China.

 

2. Top officials were briefed on active threat against Pentagon leaders

NBC News · Courtney Kube & Carol E. Lee · October 29, 2020

A very significant development if true. It would be quite an operation to be able to attack senior US military leaders on US soil.

 

3. As the West stumbles, ‘helmsman’ Xi pushes an ambitious plan for China

New York Times · Chris Buckley & Steven Lee Myers · October 30, 2020

 

4. How the US and India became brothers in arms

Asia Times · Jagannath Panda · October 28, 2020

Are we really brothers in arms? I think there may be a ways to go.

 

5. Preserve America’s strategic autonomy in the Taiwan Strait

War On the Rocks · Walter Lohman & Frank Jannuzi · October 29, 2020

Interesting co-authors. The Heritage Foundation and the Mansfield Foundation are not often ideologically aligned. And Frank Januzzi was a long-term foreign policy advisor to then Senator Biden.

 

6. Philippines taking aim at China’s sea militias

Asia Times · Richard Javad Heydarian · October 29, 2020

I think China and the Philippines are about to conduct a form of naval irregular warfare.

 

7. Germany is ready to offer America a new deal

Yahoo News · Andreas Kluth · October 29, 2020

Interesting proposal.

 

8. China's hopeless Twitter influence operations

China Talk · Jordan Schneider · October 29, 2020

Long read and a lot of data. The author's key point: China has no idea how to run a Twitter network and does not do a good job amplifying its message with insincere state-run accounts.

 

9. US, China militaries talk "crisis communications" as they trade warnings before Nov. 3 election

Newsweek · Tom O'Connor · October 29, 2020

Better to jaw jaw than war war.

 

10. Is China getting ready to start a war over Taiwan?

National Interest · Dan Blumenthal · October 29, 2020

I hope not.

 

11. Behind China’s threat to support insurgency in India

Asia Times · Bertil Lintner · October 30, 2020

Chinese irregular warfare. Will China overextend itself?

 

12. Pics/Video: US launches ballistic missile 4,200 miles into the Pacific Ocean in new test

American Military News · Ryan Morgan · October 29, 2020

Kim Jong-un: this one's for you.

 

13. The United States doesn't want to reform the WTO. It wants to destroy it

National Interest · Inu Manak · October 30, 2020

Really? Cut off our nose to spite our face?

 

14. After covering civil war overseas, journalist examines U.S. militia movement

KPCW · Terry Gross · October 28, 2020

Ughh... please do not drag Special Forces into this.

 

15. Twitter bots promote right-wing conspiracies, paper shows

Defense One · Patrick Tucker · October 29, 2020

Only 13%? That means 87% are real people endorsing conspiracy theories.

 

16. Americans hate each other. But we aren’t headed for civil war.

Washington Post · Richard Hanania · October 29, 2020

Why can't we all just get along???

We need to overcome this hatred of our fellow Americans.

 

17. The Army repeatedly screwed this combat veteran. Now he’s being kicked out of the service - again

Task & Purpose · Haley Britzky · October 29, 2020

A depressing story.

 

“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

- James Madison

A thought: “So long as we remain amateurs in the critical field of political warfare, the billions of dollars we annually spend on defense and foreign aid will provide us with a diminishing measure of protection.”

- Senator Mundt, 1961

Anybody can be angry, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, that is not easy. 

- Aristotle

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Duncan Moore.

1. North Korea’s elite defectors

2. North Korea media decries obsolete practices after mass games

3. Military says annual defense drill is defensive in nature amid N.K. criticism

4. North Korea-backed spy group poses as reporters in spearphishing attacks, feds warn

5. North Korea says shooting death of South Korean man was self-defensive measure

6. Kim Jong Un’s mystery woman sparks debate as sister, wife remain missing

7. Why the New York Times is moving its hub to Seoul

8. S. Korea may find itself on 'front line of new Cold War' if it joins U.S.-led, anti-China alliance: adviser

9. "Neo-Cold War" in East Asia to be disaster to region: S. Korean presidential adviser - Xinhua

10. The big stare-down: Kim Jong-un awaits outcome of US election

11. Peace on Korean Peninsula ultimate goal of U.S. regardless of election outcome: Ambassador Lee

12. North Korea’s big nuke doesn’t scare the 100th Missile Defense Brigade

13. Next president will face a nuclear-armed Korea increasingly unwilling to disarm

14. Viewing North Korea through the wrong lens

15. Pyongyang post-party anniversary: shifts in construction priorities

16. N. Korea locks down areas of border after Storm Corps trooper kills superior

17. U.S. Ambassador made honorary Seoul citizen

18. Sinuiju officials intensify bribe demands amid wider economic malaise

19. Special contribution by U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden

 

1. North Korea’s Elite Defectors

Diplomat · Mitch Shin · October 29, 2020

Yes, North Korea is a class system for sure. It is good to see Robert Collins’s work on Songbun with 51 classes in North Korean Society referenced in this article (Marked For Life: Songbun North Korea's Social Classification System).

A "Socialist Workers Paradise" for sure.

But this is the buried lede: I have still not seen anything confirming that Free Jeoson was behind the defection of Jo Song Gil and his wife.

 

2. North Korea media decries obsolete practices after mass games

UPI · Elizabeth Shim · October 28, 2020

This is an interesting development. Perhaps Kim Jong-Un has something new in mind for national competitiveness? The mass games just do not seem to make him happy. Perhaps it is because no other country in the world does anything comparable. I wonder what he has in mind to show off the greatness of the regime.

 

3. Military says annual defense drill is defensive in nature amid N.K. criticism

Yonhap News Agency · [email protected] · October 29, 2020

Don't back down. I am glad to see South Korea conducting exercises and training in spite of North Korean criticism. But it should not be "defensive" about conducting defensive exercises. It has every right to train to defend its country.

 

4. North Korea-backed spy group poses as reporters in spearphishing attacks, feds warn

Threat Post · Tara Seals · October 28, 2020

When I sent out the government warning from CISA/CERT it came back as blocked by the server for some of the recipients.

Perhaps this message about the warning will go through.

Here is the key information from the warning (the link to the CERT/CISA warning).

A lot of data in this warning for all the cyber experts. But here is the public service announcement for all Korea watchers who routinely get press inquiries.

This is very important for all of us to understand and be aware of.

 

5. North Korea says shooting death of South Korean man was self-defensive measure

Reuters · Hyonhee Shin · October 29, 2020

Admit nothing; deny everything; make counter accusations.  Or just spin the events whichever way that suits you. The Kim family regime is a real piece of work.

 

6. Kim Jong Un’s mystery woman sparks debate as sister, wife remain missing

New York Post · Yaron Steinbuch · October 29, 2020

Maybe this is how Kim wants to compete on the world stage. The mass games are obsolete. Perhaps providing tabloid type news to garner attention is the way to go. Kim is giving the world a soap opera view of the regime. Maybe he wants to compete in the realm of reality TV stars. His show is "wives and mistresses of the regime."

 

7. Why the New York Times is moving its hub to Seoul

Korea Joong Ang Daily · Sarah Kim · October 28, 2020

Very interesting development.  This says a lot for Seoul and South Korea.

 

8. S. Korea may find itself on 'front line of new Cold War' if it joins U.S.-led, anti-China alliance: adviser

Yonhap News Agency · [email protected] · October 29, 2020

Moon Chung-In is at it again. These remarks and his views are not helpful to South Korea. He is no friend of the ROK/US alliance.

 

9. "Neo-Cold War" in East Asia to be disaster to region: S. Korean presidential adviser - Xinhua

Xinhua Net · October 30, 2020

Of course, the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece picks up on Moon Chung-In's remarks. This is perfect for the Chinese narrative. Well done, Moon Chung-In. Your friends are in Pyongyang and Beijing.    know this is insensitive, but I would ban Moon Chung-In from future entry to the US based on his lack of support for the ROK/US alliance (I know that is hyperbolic and over the top, but we need to call out Moon for his damaging anti-alliance rhetoric).

 

10. The big stare-down: Kim Jong-un awaits outcome of US election

Business Day · Hyonhee Shin · October 30, 2020

The question is what is he going to do after the election?

My assessment of some possibilities:

Whether Trump or Biden wins, this is what I assess as the most likely North Korean course of action. The intent will be to demonstrate an advanced capability to bring the US to the negotiating table and provide concessions in return for ending the development of the "new" ICBM and SLBM, because they are potential threats to the US. I think an SLBM launch will be below the threshold demanding a response. An ICBM launch (the new Hwasong 16) to the atmosphere with a re-entry capability will be too great a threat to the US and almost certainly there will be demands for a military response which Kim does not want  Also, a nuclear test will demand a response because both and ICBM and nuclear test would cross Trump's apparent red line: he has an agreement with Kim not to test these. Also, China may be working as we speak to prevent a nuclear test as it does not want any more tests conducted because of the damage to the nuclear test site and the fact that the radiation effects may impact China. China has recently been trying to shore up its alliance with the North and this could be one of the reasons.

Since we are likely to be distracted for some weeks due to the election, we need to pay attention to possible North Korean actions. Kim may very well try to take advantage of the chaos to set the conditions for future negotiations in order to extract concessions from the US.

 

11. Peace on Korean Peninsula ultimate goal of U.S. regardless of election outcome: Ambassador Lee

Yonhap News Agency · Byun Duk-kun · October 29, 2020

Yes, we want peace. Mr. Ambassador, I would take it a step further. The only way we will see peace on the peninsula and an end to the North's nuclear weapons threat and its crimes against humanity will be through the resolution of the Korean question and the establishment of a United Republic of Korea (UROK). Not any kind of confederation of one country and two systems. Only a UROK.

 

12. North Korea’s big nuke doesn’t scare the 100th Missile Defense Brigade

Washington Examiner · Abraham Mahshie · October 29, 2020

Good messaging from the Lieutenant Colonel. I assume it is our intention to reveal all the capabilities described below. I hope VOA and RFA pick up on this for broadcast into Pyongyang. 

 

13. Next president will face a nuclear-armed Korea increasingly unwilling to disarm

Washington Examiner · Jamie McIntyre · October 29, 2020

Increasingly unwilling? He was never willing in the first place.

 

14. Viewing North Korea through the wrong lens

 

New Europe · Brad Adams · October 30, 2020

Human rights are not only a moral imperative, they are a national security issue. We need to focus on human rights in North Korea as much as, if not more than, we focus on the nuclear program.

 

15. Pyongyang post-party anniversary: shifts in construction priorities

38 North · Peter Makowsky · October 29, 2020

The hospital was supposed to be completed in time for the October 10th celebration.  Another regime failure.

 

16. N. Korea locks down areas of border after Storm Corps trooper kills superior

Daily NK · Kim Yoo Jin · October 30, 2020

We must always be observant for indications of a breakdown in the military chains of control (control versus command… there are three: the traditional military chain, the political chain, and the security or anti-coup chain). Instability and regime collapse will occur when the regime/party is not longer able to govern the entire North from Pyongyang, combined with the loss of coherency and support of the military. A breakdown in the chains of control will be an indicator in the loss of coherency.

This is, of course only, one incident. But we must be vigilant and look for other pieces of the puzzle.

 

17. U.S. Ambassador made honorary Seoul citizen

Chosun Ilbo · October 30, 2020

Kudos to our Ambassador.

 

18. Sinuiju officials intensify bribe demands amid wider economic malaise

Daily NK · Ha Yoon Ah · October 29, 2020

Another indicator of central governing effectiveness (or lack thereof).

 

19. Special contribution by U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden

Yonhap News Agency · October 30, 2020

I had to think before deciding to include this article. I offer this not from any partisan perspective or endorsement. I do think it is very interesting the former Vice President would choose to write and publish this now. It may garner some votes in the Korean-American community, but this will not have any significant effect on the election outcome.

But I think we have to look at this from a US foreign policy perspective, because if he is elected, this appears to be his blueprint for the ROK/US alliance. He is obviously trying to describe the vast difference between him and the President. 

Our Korean allies pick up on the SMA issue, but I what I want to call attention to is the idea that he will  "keep pressing for a unified Korean Peninsula." The Joint Vision Statements of Presidents Obama, Lee, and Park have all stated peaceful unification as the goal and President Trump and President Moon reaffirmed this on June 30, 2017 in their joint statement that said South Korea would take the lead and the US would support it in establishing the conditions for peaceful unification. But all of those are joint statements and I do not recall either President Obama or President Trump (or Presidents Bush and Clinton) talking about unification outside of a joint statement with their counterpart.

Of course, this is published in the semi-official Yonhap News Agency for both a Korean and US audience. However, I think the emphasis on unification is important (and kudos to the Vice President's Korea advisors for ensuring he includes it). But why is Korean unification important? As I have written many times:

The only way we are going to see an end to the nuclear program and threats as well as the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity being committed against the Korean people living in the North by the mafia-like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime is through achievement of unification and the establishment of a United Republic of Korea that is secure and stable, non-nuclear, economically vibrant, and unified under a liberal constitutional form of government based on individual liberty, rule of law, and human rights as determined by the Korean people. In short, a United Republic of Korea (UROK).

 

“No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.”

- James Madison

A thought: “So long as we remain amateurs in the critical field of political warfare, the billions of dollars we annually spend on defense and foreign aid will provide us with a diminishing measure of protection.”

- Senator Mundt, 1961

Anybody can be angry, but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, that is not easy. 

- Aristotle

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs

1. U.S. arrests five alleged Chinese agents, accusing them of targeting dissidents

2.  The West Is Surprisingly Well-Equipped for Gray-Zone Deterrence

3. Roundtable highlights media's role in fighting 'infodemic' amid COVID-19

4. The CCP’s Global Political Expansion: Why Can’t the Chinese Communist Party Become a Responsible Stakeholder?

5.  Subverting the Global Narrative: The Chinese Communist Party’s Propaganda Apparatus Seeks to Rule the World’s Media

6. China is not a threat to US liberty or democracy

7. The Year in Misinformation, So Far

8. China’s Real Invasion of Taiwan Has Already Started

9. Why American Strategy Fails: Ending the Chronic Imbalance Between Ends and Means

10. SecNav Says China Poses 'Threat Beyond Any Comparison' to American Way of Life

11.  Air Force Meshes Info-War Capabilities

12. No Matter Who Wins the U.S. Election, Relations With China Are at a Crossroads

13. Trump Admin Sets Allied Defense Spending Targets, Taiwan Deals Lead Way

14. Rangers, Green Berets Showing Interest in New Nonlethal M4 Carbine, Firm Says

15. Con man and fake spy who once worked at DEA gets seven years in prison

16. What a New Army App Reveals About the State of Defense Department Innovation

17. Will COVID-Stressed Countries Slow Their Arms Buys?

18. American money for American ideas: Think tanks should disclose foreign funding

19. The 200 Millisecond Mission: Inside the Secret CIA Plan to Steal Soviet Missile Data

20. World War II: How America Treated Nazi and Imperial Japanese Prisoners

 

1. U.S. arrests five alleged Chinese agents, accusing them of targeting dissidents

The Washington Post· by Devlin Barrett · October 28, 2020

I concur with FBI Director Wray. I think he is spot on: “China is violating norms and laws left and right,” said FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, adding that the unprecedented case sends a clear message to the Chinese government that “surveilling, stalking, harassing and blackmailing our citizens and lawful permanent residents carry serious risks.”

 

2. The West Is Surprisingly Well-Equipped for Gray-Zone Deterrence

defenseone.com · October 28, 2020

A surprising title and thesis.

Conclusion:

“The advantage in gray-zone warfare is that the attacker can strike in a time and manner of its choosing. But, unlike traditional conflicts featuring troops that attack and counter-attack in relatively set pattern, a gray-zone defender has the very same advantage as an attacker: it can deliver punishment in a time and manner of its choosing.

In its cost-benefit calculation, the attacker must thus count in the cost of a surprise response whose nature it can’t predict. That asymmetric potential leaves us, the West, surprisingly well-equipped to punish gray-zone attacks. What we need now is a great deal of creativity.”

 

3. Roundtable highlights media's role in fighting 'infodemic' amid COVID-19

en.yna.co.kr · by 박보람 · October 29, 2020

Hosted by Sputnik???  Well, it is very experienced at disinformation.

 

4. The CCP’s Global Political Expansion: Why Can’t the Chinese Communist Party Become a Responsible Stakeholder?

ipdefenseforum.com · by Dr. Jinghao Zhou

This is from INDOPACOM's publication - INDOPACOM Defense Forum.

Key point from the conclusion: Clearly, the CCP wants to turn China into the world’s dominant superpower while retaining its one-party system at home. Determined by the nature of the CCP, China will not become a responsible stakeholder in the U.S.-led international order as long as the CCP retains its power. When the China Dream meets “America First,” the confrontation between the two countries becomes inevitable. To preserve its values and sovereignty, the United States must prepare for a long-standing ideological war and potential military confrontation with China over the Indo-Pacific region while decisively competing with the CCP in many areas, especially trade and high technology. It is critical to understand the nature of the CCP to win the second global competition with communist China.

 

5. Subverting the Global Narrative: The Chinese Communist Party’s Propaganda Apparatus Seeks to Rule the World’s Media

ipdefenseforum.com · by IPDForum

Also from INDPACOM's publication: INDOPACOM Defense Forum.

 

6. China is not a threat to US liberty or democracy

asiatimes.com · by Denny Roy · October 28, 2020

And now for something completely different.  Certainly a different view than what we are reading in current newspaper and journal articles. But worth reading.

Conclusion:

“China is not a serious threat to US democracy. Americans are increasingly wise to Chinese influence operations involving the few issues at play, such as Chinese economic pressure on China-exposed US businesses to watch what they say about Taiwan or Hong Kong.

The Chinese social, economic and political models have no significant appeal in the US. Moreover, while the CCP leadership clearly wants to keep political liberalism out of China, there is little if any indication that the Chinese are hankering to destroy America’s freedoms.

China’s external behavior is more authoritarian than communist, more Machiavellian praxis than Marxist theory and more a way of doing business than an ideology.”

 

7. The Year in Misinformation, So Far

The New York Times · by Kevin Roose

Some very important analysis and data from Zignal Labs

 

8. China’s Real Invasion of Taiwan Has Already Started

The Daily Beast · by Brendon Hong · October 28, 2020

All countries with United Front Departments must be treated as threats.  They exist to conduct subversion.

 

9. Why American Strategy Fails: Ending the Chronic Imbalance Between Ends and Means

Foreign Affairs · by James A. Winnefeld, Michael J. Morell, and Graham Allison · October 28, 2020

We must seek balance and coherency among ends, ways, and means.  But as they write -easier said than done (because as the also write we are "stuck in our ways") : "From our experience as national security officials—in the military, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the Department of Defense—we understand why correcting this imbalance is easy to say but hard to do."

 

10. SecNav Says China Poses 'Threat Beyond Any Comparison' to American Way of Life

military.com · by Gina Harkins · October 28, 2020

Strong words from the SECNAV.

 

11. Air Force Meshes Info-War Capabilities

nationaldefensemagazine.org · by Yasmin Tadjdeh· October 28, 2020

 

12. No Matter Who Wins the U.S. Election, Relations With China Are at a Crossroads

TIME · by [email protected]

Is this a true statement?

 

13. Trump Admin Sets Allied Defense Spending Targets, Taiwan Deals Lead Way

breakingdefense.com · by Paul McLeary

Interesting excerpts:

Part of the US strategy in the region is to coax allies into spending more on their own defense.

Recently, Defense Secretary Mark Esper and National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien suggested that the new “gold standard” for allies across the globe is to spend 2% of their GDP on defense.

The goal has been a part of NATO planning since 2014. Only a handful of nations have reached the threshold, which has rankled President Trump since he took office. That anger boiled over during a messy blowup at a July 2018 NATO meeting in Brussels where he threatened to leave the alliance.

Earlier this month, Esper called the 2% goal “the floor” of what the administration expects from all allies. “We expect all allies to invest more in defense, at least 2 percent of GDP,” he said.

Why doesn't the administration respect South Korea's level of commitment to defense since it spends about 2.7% of its GDP on defense and on top of that does things like build the US the largest military base outside of the US - funding 93% of the $10.7 billion cost. The Administration should be using South Korea as an exemplar.

 

14. Rangers, Green Berets Showing Interest in New Nonlethal M4 Carbine, Firm Says

military.com · by Matthew Cox · October 28, 2020

nonlethal???

 

15. Con man and fake spy who once worked at DEA gets seven years in prison

NBC News · by Ken Dilanian · October 28, 2020

Truth is stranger than fiction.  Does he spend seven years for each of his five aliases? (apologies for the attempt at humor).

 

16. What a New Army App Reveals About the State of Defense Department Innovation

defenseone.com · by Patrick Tucker

Excerpt:

“Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO of Govini, said that the Defense Department needs to explore new ways to buy software in order to enable personnel at mid and lower ranks to actually work with the sorts of tools that entry-level workers at successful companies can use. “The standard for these types of things, data, software, should be licensing not owning… it gets back to culture and the fact that the default for when you’re writing a contract is to use DFAR clauses that assume the government has to own it all… The DFAR clauses in contracts should be limited rights where commercial IP is protected,” in particular, she said, the Department needs to look at new ways to rent or license software and data that can make apps like the one conceived by Adams more useful and functional. “The Department has a phenomenal understanding of its own data, a disastrous view of global markets,” she said.”

 

17. Will COVID-Stressed Countries Slow Their Arms Buys?

defenseone.com · by Marcus Weisgerber

I would expect so. 

But here is some irony:

“By the way, Cooper added, the economic downturns could result in more NATO allies meeting the alliance’s goal of members spending 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense.

“Bizarrely, we may have some states where their numbers look like they've had an increase [in defense spending] because they've had a drop in GDP,” he said.”

 

18.  American money for American ideas: Think tanks should disclose foreign funding

The Hill · by Herman Pirchner, Jr · October 28, 2020

 

19. The 200 Millisecond Mission: Inside the Secret CIA Plan to Steal Soviet Missile Data

Popular Mechanics · by David Hambling · October 28, 2020

Some interesting history.

 

20. World War II: How America Treated Nazi and Imperial Japanese Prisoners

The National Interest · by Warfare History Network · October 28, 2020

More interesting history.  We should learn from this.  Though we should keep in mind at the same time we interned Japanese Americans.

I recall training at Camp Bullis in Texas where German POWs were held.  There was a huge swimming pool that was like a huge concrete lake that was apparently dug by the prisoners.  Back in the 80's or 90's when I was there it was still in use.

I would also recall what Mao said about treatment of POWs: “We further our mission of destroying the enemy by propagandizing his troops, by treating his captured soldiers with consideration, and by caring for those of his wounded who fall into our hands” (page 93):

 

 

--------------

“Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves.”

 

-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

 

 

"Americans fully understand the requirement of the football field or the baseball diamond. They discipline themselves and suffer by the thousands to prepare for these rigors. A coach or manager who is too permissive soon seeks a new job; his team will fail against those who are tougher and harder. Yet undoubtedly any American officer, in peacetime, who worked his men as hard, or ruled them as severely as a college football coach does, would be removed. But the shocks of the battlefield are a hundred times those of the playing field, and the outcome infinitely more important to the nation. The problem is to understand the battlefield as well as the game of football. The problem is to see not what is desirable, or nice, or politically feasible, but what is necessary. 

 

- T.R. Fehrenbach

 

 

"Diplomacy without arms is like music without instruments." 

 

- Prussian King Frederick the Great

 

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs

1.  U.S. Forces Korea aide calls into question OPCON plans

2. Denuclearization will bring prosperity of N. Korea, not end of regime: O'Brien

3. Instead of learning from South Korea’s coronavirus example, Trump is lying about it

4. Xi renews commitment to firming up relations with N. Korea 'generation after generation'

5. Roundtable highlights media's role in fighting 'infodemic' amid COVID-19 | Yonhap News Agency

6. Kim Jong Un: A Meticulous Leader

7. Digital Entanglement: Lessons Learned from China’s Growing Digital Footprint in South Korea

8. N.K. slams top S. Korean security official over remarks about inter-Korean ties

9. More North Korea workers receive no pay amid sanctions, survey says

10. Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. hold phone talks on WTO chief selection

11. Statement from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on the WTO Director-General Selection Process

12. Xi's war anniversary speech strengthens case for South Korea-US alliance: Korea Herald

13. Time to Accept North Korea As a Nuclear Weapons State?

14. North Korea Has at Least 6,000 Hackers (And Might Strike the U.S.)

15. Analysis: With improved leverage, North Korea leader Kim awaits winner of U.S. vote

16. No post-US election party for South Korean policymakers

17. Using Proactive Information Campaigns to Break the North Korean Regime’s Information Suppression

18. Seoul Won't Back UN Resolution on N.Korea Rights Violations

19. Soldiers Injured as North Korea Deploys Landmines at Sino-Korean Border to Stop Escapees

20. What Trump and Biden get wrong about North Korea - Responsible Statecraft

21. South Korea's high court upholds ex-president's 17-year prison sentence

22. N. Korean authorities crackdown on homemade alcohol production

 

1.  U.S. Forces Korea aide calls into question OPCON plans

upi.com· by Elizabeth Shim· October 27, 2020

Who is this person Ham Ji-min, a USFK assistant chief of staff?  Is he a serving officer?  What he is proposing is one of the original plans for OPCON transition which was the dissolution of the ROK/us cfc into separate commands with the ROK warfighting command as the supported command and the US Command (which had been proposed to be named the Korean Command or KORCOM)  would be the supporting command.  ROK and US military leaders determined separate commands were not effective for deterrence and defense and for warfighting.

Note: when I posted this on twitter I received this response from a senior advisor at USFK.  It looks like Elizabeth Shim and UPI (and Mail Business) may have been the victims of some disinformation. I could not find the article on Mail Business.

2. Denuclearization will bring prosperity of N. Korea, not end of regime: O'Brien

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · October 29, 2020

The NSA reaffirms our policy - if north Korea makes the right strategic decision it can have a brighter future.

However I think Kim Jong-un would disagree with him about the end of the regime.  Out policy is actually a dual threat to the regime.  Kim believes he must have nuclear weapons to survive - not only to deter an attack (the belief the US will not attack another nuclear armed state) but it is also key to blackmail diplomacy which is key to near term survival while supporting the long term strategy to dominate the peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.  Kim has no intention of giving up his nuclear weapons.

Counterintuitively perhaps for some, a brighter future is also a threat to the regime's survival.  The brighter future means economic development and economic engagement with means an inflow of contact with and information from the outside world.  We should never forget that Kim Jong-un fears the Korean people most of all which is why he must systematically deny the human rights of all Korean people in the north.  

So while our policy is logical and makes perfect sense to the entire world but from Kim Jong-un's perspective it is a threat to him and his regime and rule.

Kim is not going to give up his nuclear weapons.  He will continue to conduct his political warfare strategy and prepare to use force when the conditions are right.  This is a summary of his strategy: It is a seven decades old strategy of subversion, coercion-extortion (blackmail diplomacy), and use of force to achieve unification dominated by the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State in order to ensure the survival of the mafia like crime family cult known as Kim family regime

Therefore, while we do not seek regime change in the Iraq and Libya models, the strategy we need is to solve the "Korea question" (para 60 of the Armistice) which must lead to the only acceptable durable political arrangement that will bring peace and stability to the Korean peninsula: A secure, stable, economically vibrant, non-nuclear Korean peninsula unified under a liberal constitutional form of government with respect for individual liberty, the rule of law, and human rights, determined by the Korean people.  In short, a United Republic of Korea (UROK).

 

3. Instead of learning from South Korea’s coronavirus example, Trump is lying about it

The Washington Post · October 27, 2020

Secretary Azar's comments are ignorant and ill-informed and unhelpful to our alliance. As we know, South Korea did not lockdown the nation and its economy is now recovering with third quarter growth.  

Jenny Town's comment is spot on: “South Koreans don’t comply with invasive contact tracing because they are Asian, they comply with it because they have been through pandemics before and they understand the severity of the danger,” said Jenny Town, a fellow at the Stimson Center, a nonpartisan policy research organization.

 

4. Xi renews commitment to firming up relations with N. Korea 'generation after generation'

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · October 29, 2020

We should never forget that north Korea poses an existential threat to South Korea.  South Korea should keep that in mind when it deals with China.

 

5. Roundtable highlights media's role in fighting 'infodemic' amid COVID-19 | Yonhap News Agency

en.yna.co.kr · by 박보람 · October 29, 2020

Hosted by Sputnik???  Well, it is very experienced at disinformation.

 

6.  Kim Jong Un: A Meticulous Leader

leftreviewonline.com · October 28, 2020

"Left Review Online" is associated with the CCP's propaganda mouthpiece, the Global Times.

I wonder if the north Korean Propaganda and Agitation Department (PAD) ghost wrote this.  This is the most favorable article about Korean Jong-un I have read from outside of north Korea (Of course there are many articles published around the world by the Korean Friendship Associations but I think those are written by the PAD.

 

7. Digital Entanglement: Lessons Learned from China’s Growing Digital Footprint in South Korea

cnas.org· by Kristine Lee, Martijn Rasser, Joshua Fitt and Coby Goldberg

Conclusion:

“The competition between Beijing’s 5G offerings and nascent democratic alternatives is playing out most consequentially in U.S. allied countries—such as South Korea—that already have deep economic and technological interdependencies with China. Thus far, the U.S. approach has been largely limited to a fierce, at times heavy-handed, global campaign about the dangers of Huawei. Meanwhile, U.S. investments in 5G research and international standard-setting bodies remain either meagerly funded or not yet fully enacted.

Talk is cheap but unwinding digital entanglement with China is not. Many American allies and partners perceive tough reassessments of Chinese technology companies as coming with serious costs to fix a problem that poses unclear risks. Persuading them otherwise will require a deep American investment in the technologies, governing mechanisms, commercial incentive packages, and private sector partnerships that undergird alliances—all of which are too often taken for granted. These investments should, of course, be coupled with a comprehensive communications and public diplomacy strategy. Without a nuanced policy approach calibrated to the domestic needs of allies most exposed to Chinese technological entanglement, the United States might find itself at the head of a shrinking coalition of the increasingly unwilling.”

 

8. N.K. slams top S. Korean security official over remarks about inter-Korean ties

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · October 29, 2020

The spin machine of the Propaganda and Agitation Department is in top form at work here.

 

9. More North Korea workers receive no pay amid sanctions, survey says

upi.com· by Elizabeth Shim· October 28, 2020

It is not the sanctions that are the cause. It is the policy decisions of Kim Jong-un.  He is responsible for the people's suffering.  He has prioritized his nuclear weapons over the welfare of the people.  Every time someone blames sanctions they are giving Kim Jong-un a pass.  He must be held accountable.

in the South." Analysts have said Kim could be signaling an interest in returning to talks.

 

10. Senior diplomats of S. Korea, U.S. hold phone talks on WTO chief selection

en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · October 28, 2020

 

11. Statement from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on the WTO Director-General Selection Process

ustr.gov

The US supports the selection of South Korean Yoo Myung-hee for the head of the WTO.

 

12. Xi's war anniversary speech strengthens case for South Korea-US alliance: Korea Herald

straitstimes.com

And more than the ROK/US alliance. It should influence South Korea to align with not only the US but other like-minded democracies in the regions and around the world.  I hope Xi's speech was a wakeup call for the Korean people and they pressure the Moon administration appropriately.

 

13. Time to Accept North Korea As a Nuclear Weapons State?

The National Interest · by Harry J. Kazianis · October 28, 2020

The one hour+ video is at this link: 

I think more than a few people believe Kim Jong-un will not give up his nuclear weapons. 

There is, however, a growing minority that argues Pyongyang will never accept denuclearizing in full, and that implicitly or explicitly, the U.S. and its allies must come to terms with decades of policy failures and work towards arms control with Pyongyang. That means either giving up on denuclearization entirely, or, taking the goal of a North Korea free of nuclear weapons and placing it far into the future when a peace accord on the Korean peninsula is fully established.

But that does not mean we have to accept and treat north Korea as a nuclear weapons state.  There is still the long term course of action to solve the Korea question which is the only way we will see an end to the nuclear threat and the human rights abuses and crimes against humanity being committed in the north.

 

14. North Korea Has at Least 6,000 Hackers (And Might Strike the U.S.)

The National Interest · by Stephen Silver · October 28, 2020

Might?  I think we know they already have struck the US.

 

15. Analysis: With improved leverage, North Korea leader Kim awaits winner of U.S. vote

ca.reuters.com · by Hyonhee Shin

Kim Jong-un only has leverage if we allow him to have it. We must conduct a superior form of political warfare.

 

16. No post-US election party for South Korean policymakers

eastasiaforum.org · by Anthony Rinna · October 29, 2020

Whoever wins the election will have his work cut out for him to get us through the perfect storm the is engulfing the ROK/US alliance.

This excerpt gets to one of the most fundamental issues:

“Reflecting on this reality with unusual candour, South Korea’s Ambassador to the United States Lee Soo-hyuck asserted that Seoul may not always stand on Washington’s side, a comment pertinent in the context of Beijing’s economic leverage over the country. To be sure, Lee’s position is not necessarily reflective of official South Korean foreign policy, as his comments drew reproach from ROK foreign minister Kang Kyung-hwa herself. Nevertheless, amidst the fallout over Lee’s remarks, former ROK ambassador to the US Choi Sung-jin asserted that such frankness was acceptable is South Korea and the United States truly are equal partners.”

Going forward, is the ROK/US alliance going to be one of equal partners when it comes to strategy and action on the Korean peninsula?

 

17. Using Proactive Information Campaigns to Break the North Korean Regime’s Information Suppression

nkhiddengulag.org  · October 27, 2020

I commend the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and their internship writing program.  And those that read what I wrote know that I am especially appreciative that Junsoung "Steve" Kim is writing about information and influence activities.

We must emphasize this clear statement:

“Therefore, to promote democracy and advance human rights in North Korea, the inflow of information is crucial. The United States and its allies need to engage in operating information campaigns sharing the truth about the Kim regime by using lessons from Cold War information campaigns strategies.”

 

18. Seoul Won't Back UN Resolution on N.Korea Rights Violations

english.chosun.com

Disappointing.

 

19. Soldiers Injured as North Korea Deploys Landmines at Sino-Korean Border to Stop Escapees

rfa.org· by Sewon Kim · October 27, 2020

Mines are dangerous. But if soldiers are being injured imagine what will happen to smugglers trying to cross the border.

 

20. What Trump and Biden get wrong about North Korea - Responsible Statecraft

responsiblestatecraft.org · by Christine Ahn · October 26, 2020

I think this is more aptly titled what Christine Ahn gets wrong about Kim Jong-un.

Christine Ahn should be registered as a foreign agent.  Her long time handler is Pak Chol from north Korea and the United Front Department.  She is a long time north Korean apologist if not an agent of influence for the regime.  You can read about her here: https://freekorea.us/2019/11/christine-ahn-pak-chol-and-the-united-front-department/.  Those government officials dealing with her should be concerned with her direct connections to the department responsible for political subversion.  My recommendation is that for security purposes no government official should engage with someone who is compromised.

How is a peace treaty or end of war declaration going to enhance the security of South Korea?  South Korean faces the existential threat from the north.  north Korea is postured for offensive operations and has the stated objective to dominate the Korean peninsula. This is what people like Ms. Ahn do not understand about north Korea.

 

21. South Korea's high court upholds ex-president's 17-year prison sentence

Los Angeles Times · by Associated Press · October 29, 2020

I fear the Moon administration is conducting rule by law to attack its political enemies.  What is happening to former Presidents Lee and  Park should give everyone pause.

 

22. N. Korean authorities crackdown on homemade alcohol production

dailynk.com· by Kang Mi Jin · October 29, 2020 

Two points. A morale killer by the regime.

But second, this is an indicator there is either excess agricultural resources to contribute to this or the economic opportunities from selling moonshine are significant.  If that is true then some of the population must have some discretionary income.

But perhaps the real point is the people need the diversion offered by alcohol to ease their pain and suffering (or mask the pain temporarily).

 

-------------

 

“Virtue is a state of war, and to live in it we have always to combat with ourselves.”

-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

 

"Americans fully understand the requirement of the football field or the baseball diamond. They discipline themselves and suffer by the thousands to prepare for these rigors. A coach or manager who is too permissive soon seeks a new job; his team will fail against those who are tougher and harder. Yet undoubtedly any American officer, in peacetime, who worked his men as hard, or ruled them as severely as a college football coach does, would be removed. But the shocks of the battlefield are a hundred times those of the playing field, and the outcome infinitely more important to the nation. The problem is to understand the battlefield as well as the game of football. The problem is to see not what is desirable, or nice, or politically feasible, but what is necessary. 

- T.R. Fehrenbach

 

"Diplomacy without arms is like music without instruments." 

- Prussian King Frederick the Great

 

 

 

 

 

 

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs

1. US senators seek to declare China 'genocide' against Uighurs

2. Trump team reinforces a fundamental reality: China must change

3. China's COVID triumphalism could be premature

4. NSA O'Brien's Latest Audible on Navy Plans: Calls For More Frigates, Faster

5. How the United States Handed China its Rare Earth Monopoly

6. How the US can build cooperation in the Pacific

7. Does the U.S. Nuclear Umbrella Still Protect America's Allies?

8. GM Defense delivers its first Infantry Squad Vehicles to U.S. Army

9. Will U.S. Troops Return to Taiwan?

10. Pompeo Touts U.S.-India Defense Deal, With an Eye on China

11. The Headwinds Looming for the U.S. Army

12. Retooling U.S. Security Sector Assistance

13. Al Qaeda Feels Losses in Syria and Afghanistan but Stays Resilient

14. Esper, Pompeo drive US anti-China message in India visit

15. Emails reveal how Capt. Crozier's pleas for help from the Navy fell on deaf ears until his bombshell letter leaked

16. Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter launches the Integrated Operating Concept

17. Drop in insurgent attacks, coalition airstrikes leads to fewest civilian casualties in Afghanistan since 2012

18. U.S. overbearing meddling shows hegemonic bigotry

19. Background on rescinding a so-called "firewall rule"

20. Pushback As Trump Appointee Tries To Control VOA

21. Joint Statement on the third India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

22. China shocked to discover the developed world views it in a negative light

 

1. US senators seek to declare China 'genocide' against Uighurs

news.yahoo.com · October 27, 2020

Excerpts:

The UN convention on genocide, drafted in the aftermath of the Holocaust, obligates states to prevent and punish the "odious scourge."

It defines genocide to include actions such as killing as well as preventing births "with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group."

A data-driven study by German researcher Adrian Zenz found that China has forcibly sterilized large numbers of Uighur women and pressured them to abort pregnancies that exceed birth quotas.

The Trump administration earlier described Myanmar's brutal campaign against the mostly Muslim Rohingya people as "ethnic cleansing."

US senators seek to declare China 'genocide' against Uighurs

 

2. Trump team reinforces a fundamental reality: China must change

The Hill · by Joseph Bosco· October 27, 2020

Conclusion: "As has been said, "America First" does not mean America alone - and China is reminding the West of why it needs to remain united."

 

3. China's Covid triumphalism could be premature

Financial Times · by Gideon Rachman · October 26, 2020

Excerpt: "The inability to accept criticism suggests that pro-Beijing triumphalism is premature. In broad terms, there is not much doubt that China, after mishandling the initial outbreak, has done a good job of containing the disease. But some Asian democracies, such as South Korea and Taiwan, have done even better, which undermines Mr Xi's claim that China's "socialist system" was the key to success. China's urge to suppress criticism also suggests that if there are continuing problems inside the country, Beijing will cover them up."

 

4. NSA O'Brien's Latest Audible on Navy Plans: Calls For More Frigates, Faster

breakingdefense.com · by Paul McLeary

The left hand not talking to the right hand?  The NSA is not in the chain of command, administrative or otherwise.

 

5. How the United States Handed China its Rare Earth Monopoly

Foreign Policy · by Jamil Hijazi, James Kennedy · October 27, 2020

Conclusion: "The history around publicly funding private ventures that require subsidies to survive also suggests that Rubio's proposal may be more on the mark-particularly since it addresses one of the root causes of the United States' fall from dominance to begin with. In that way, the plan may put the United States back on the right path."

 

6. How the US can build cooperation in the Pacific

aspistrategist.org.au · by Steven McGann · October 27, 2020

Conclusion: "There's a longstanding record of Congress using legislation to direct foreign policy initiatives that unify the efforts of American civilian agencies and the military. The competition with China and others challenging the US in the Pacific requires a resources-based strategy that underpins US regional commitments. For US allies and partner nations, a coordinated, comprehensive and cohesive approach would become a useful planning tool to meet common objectives."

 

7. Does the U.S. Nuclear Umbrella Still Protect America's Allies?

Foreign Policy · by Ivo H. Daalder · October 27, 2020

Conclusion:

The next president needs to forestall destabilizing steps by allied nations as they rethink their nuclear security by clearly and unequivocally reaffirming that the United States' alliances and collective defense commitments remain central to its national security. This affirmation must include a formal recommitment to allied nuclear security.

Words alone, however, may not be enough. The next administration should open up its nuclear planning processes to allies and include them in its deliberations on nuclear strategy, deployments, and modernization. It will also need to prioritize new nuclear arms control negotiations, starting with an extension of the New START agreement with Russia, while taking allied concerns about existing and evolving nuclear threats into account.

 

8. GM Defense delivers its first Infantry Squad Vehicles to U.S. Army

foxbusiness.com · by Gary Gastelu

 

9. Will U.S. Troops Return to Taiwan?

realclearworld.com · by Phillip Orchard

I doubt it but it would be quite a signal and quite provocative.  Although I intuitively support this I do have to ask what effect we would be trying to achieve?  Are the effects worth the potential costs?

I am confused by the map graphic below showing US naval bases and facilities in the INDOPACIFC - Fort Magsaysay airfield in the Philippines is a US Naval facility?  Utapao in Thailand is a US Naval facility?  I did not know.

 

10. Pompeo Touts U.S.-India Defense Deal, With an Eye on China

WSJ · by William Mauldin and Rajesh Roy

SECSTATE statement: "Our leaders and our citizens see with increasing clarity that the [Chinese Communist Party] is no friend to democracy, the rule of law, transparency, nor to freedom of navigation-the foundation of a free and open and prosperous Indo-Pacific."

 

11. The Headwinds Looming for the U.S. Army

warontherocks.com · by David Barno · October 27, 2020

Conclusion: "Taken together, these changes will challenge the Army's traditional identity as the service that delivers war-winning outcomes on land for the nation. It is going to get smaller, and become a supporting service in the nation's primary theater of potential conflict. Its missions will also expand to include a greater role in homeland security, and the importance and relevance of its reserve component may eclipse that of its active forces in some domains of future conflict. Navigating the Army through these tremendous challenges will require imagination, resilience, and resolve at every level of command, especially as resources decline. Army senior leaders will need to challenge some of the assumptions that have long guided the force, and overcome deeply ingrained orthodoxies about the relative priorities of warfighting versus support, fires versus maneuver, and active versus reserves. Doing so successfully will help assure that the Army can remain a relevant and vital component of the nation's military power as it transforms in the years and decades to come."

 

12. Retooling U.S. Security Sector Assistance

warontherocks.com · by Stephen Tankel · October 28, 2020

It must be tied to strategy.  I think it remains critical for support to our friends, partners, and allies.  But I concur that a retooling is necessary.

Conclusion: "Security sector assistance was critical for building the web of U.S. alliances and partnerships that endures across the globe, as well as the military capacity of many countries in these regions. That was then. This is now. Today, the United States is no longer well-positioned to use security sector assistance to compete with China and Russia - especially in "gray zone" activities short of war - or to prepare for a potential conflict with either of them. Security sector assistance can be a vital tool of American statecraft. Using it effectively will require rethinking the types of assistance the United States provides, reorienting this assistance toward the regions that matter most, and better integrating it with other instruments of national power. Much of the heavy lifting will take place behind the scenes, in Congress and the interagency process, where reforms to the ways in which security assistance is prioritized, planned, and implemented are desperately needed."

 

13. Al Qaeda Feels Losses in Syria and Afghanistan but Stays Resilient

The New York Times · by Eric Schmitt · October 27, 2020

 

14. Esper, Pompeo drive US anti-China message in India visit

militarytimes.com · by Matthew Lee · October 27, 2020

Excerpts:

Pompeo has made no secret of the Trump administration's desire for India's help in the U.S. bid to isolate China. Since Trump became president, the U.S. and India have steadily ramped up their military relationship. When Trump visited India in February, the two sides concluded defense deals worth over $3 billion. Bilateral defense trade has increased from near zero in 2008 to $15 billion in 2019.

The talks in New Delhi on Tuesday follow a meeting that Pompeo had earlier this month in Tokyo with his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia, which together make up the four Indo-Pacific nations known as "the Quad." The Quad is seen as a counterweight to China, which critics say is flexing its military muscle throughout the region.

 

15. Emails reveal how Capt. Crozier's pleas for help from the Navy fell on deaf ears until his bombshell letter leaked

taskandpurpose.com · by Jeff Schogol

 

16. Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter launches the Integrated Operating Concept

gov.uk

The 20-page UK concept can be accessed at this link. 

 

17. Drop in insurgent attacks, coalition airstrikes leads to fewest civilian casualties in Afghanistan since 2012

militarytimes.com · by Rahim Faiez · October 27, 2020

 

18. U.S. overbearing meddling shows hegemonic bigotry

english.cctv.com · by zhangrui

From the Chinese propaganda outlets CCTV and Xinhua.

 

19. Background on rescinding a so-called "firewall rule"

usagm.gov · by Michael Pack · October 26, 2020

Here is Michael Pack's rationale for removing the "firewall rule" at USAGM.  I think it is missing some history and context which I am sure some experts will fill in.

 

20. Pushback As Trump Appointee Tries To Control VOA

Barron's · by AFP - Agence France Presse

 

21. Joint Statement on the third India-U.S. 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue

mea.gov.in· October 27, 2020

 

22. China shocked to discover the developed world views it in a negative light

japantimes.co.jp · by Frank Ching · October 27, 2020

And I am shocked gambling is taking place in Macau as well.

 

---------------

 

There is no such thing as hybrid war, just reasonably good campaign design."

- German GO at the Global SOF Conference:

 

"Perhaps the most important lesson from Game Theory is that in business, war, or any competitive enterprise, one must anticipate his opponent's strategy before developing one's own strategy."

- Geoffrey Goff

 

"Kind hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat an enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as it sounds, it is a fallacy that must be exposed: war is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst ... To introduce the principle of moderation into the theory of war itself would always lead to logical absurdity." 

- Clausewitz

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs

1. Seoul's participation in 'Quad' may jeopardize regional security: S. Korean adviser

2. Cash-Strapped North Korea Orders Workers in China to Pay Into ‘Loyalty Fund’

3. Text messages replacing letters in North Korea, state media says

4. The Current Context and Projections for Promoting Human Rights in North Korea

5. S. Korea an example of successful, transparent handling of pandemic: Knapper

6. North Korea is going to be a major headache for whoever wins the US election

7. U.S. open to dialogue with N. Korea at any place, any time: U.S. diplomat

8. The South Korea - Japan Rift Plays Right into China’s Hands

9. S. Korea begins procedures to develop technologies for light aircraft carrier

10. U.S. Issues Warning to Businesses About North Korean Hackers

11. North Korean Women as New Economic Agents: Drivers and Consequences

12. U.S. Forces Korea aide calls into question OPCON plans

13. An A-10 Thunderbolt accidentally lost a munition somewhere in South Korea

14. Donju and ordinary people impacted by recent ban on mobile money

15. South Korean study finds Chinook upgrade more expensive than buying new helios

16. S. Korea to donate $10m to support coronavirus vaccine supplies to developing countries

17. South Korean Growth Shows Asia’s Stronger Recovery From Coronavirus

18. South Korea’s Moon Says Virus Has Been Contained

19. Complex geopolitical situation preventing inter-Korean relations from moving forward

20. Japanese diplomat arrives in Seoul for talks on wartime history, trade

21. DOD, FBI, DHS warn of active North Korean government-linked hacking operation - CyberScoop

22. Naenara 101: North Korea Debuts New Tablet Computer

 

1. Seoul's participation in 'Quad' may jeopardize regional security: S. Korean adviser

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · October 28, 2020

I listened to his remarks at this event.  I have come to the conclusion that the only person more dangerous to the ROK/US alliance than Kim Jong-un is Moon Chung-in.  I know that is over the top hyperbole and will upset some of my Korean friends but the advice that he is giving to the Moon administration is simply dangerous and damaging to the alliance.  I think it is time think tanks stop giving him a platform that gives him the opportunity to express his ideas that are a danger to the alliance.   Yes he is a smooth talker and mixes his remarks with praise for the alliance and acknowledgement of its importance but all of his substantive comments do damage to the alliance, from his argument for the end of war declaration to make north Korean feel safe so it can negotiate denuclearization to withdrawal of US troops after a "peace regime " (there will not longer be justification for them per his Foreign Affairs article of April 2018) to his attack on the Quad and Korean participation in it.

 

2. Cash-Strapped North Korea Orders Workers in China to Pay Into ‘Loyalty Fund’

rfa.org· by Joonho Kim

Just another indication of the nature of the Kim family regime.

 

3. Text messages replacing letters in North Korea, state media says

upi.com · by Elizabeth Shim· October 27, 2020

Potentially important for PSYOP practitioners and information and influence activities.

 

4. The Current Context and Projections for Promoting Human Rights in North Korea

HRNK Insider · by David Hawk · October 27, 2020

A very long and comprehensive essay that discusses the conditions (and context) well beyond human rights.

 

5. S. Korea an example of successful, transparent handling of pandemic: Knapper

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · October 27, 2020

Secretary Axzar's comments were ignorant and ill-informed and unhelpful for the alliance.   It is good that Marc Knapper could diplomatically correct the record.

 

6. North Korea is going to be a major headache for whoever wins the US election

CNN · by Joshua Berlinger, CNN

Probably the most accurate headline in the media today.

 

7. U.S. open to dialogue with N. Korea at any place, any time: U.S. diplomat

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · October 27, 2020

Our policy and messaging has been consistent.  It is Kim Jong-un who has not participated as a serious negotiating partner and he has prevented substantive working level negotiations. There is no question that we are ready to talk any time.

 

8. The South Korea - Japan Rift Plays Right into China’s Hands

National Review Online · by Mitchell Blatt · October 26, 2020

This should be a BFO - a blinding flash of the obvious.

 

9. S. Korea begins procedures to develop technologies for light aircraft carrier

en.yna.co.kr · by 최수향 · October 27, 2020

I would rather see the ROK invest in this capability than a nuclear powered submarine.

 

10. U.S. Issues Warning to Businesses About North Korean Hackers

Bloomberg · by Alyza Sebenius · October 27, 2020

There will be no let up in north Korean cyber activities. They will only grow.

 

11. North Korean Women as New Economic Agents: Drivers and Consequences

ISSUE & POLICY BRIEFS · by Sung Kyung Kim, October, 2020,

The 7 page report can be downloaded here.

This confirms much of what we have long believed - women have been key to survival since the Arduous March.  What is interesting about this report is that it discusses how women as economic agents can drive a societal transformation.  This also provides important information that will important during the unification process.

Abstract:

“This Issue Brief explores the changing social and economic role of women in North Korea since the so-called Arduous March of the 1990s. With the breakdown of the public food distribution system and deteriorating economic conditions, many women have been forced to become breadwinners for their families. While this new-found economic agency carries the seeds of societal transformation in a traditionally patriarchal system, women have borne a disproportionate burden in securing not only their families’ survival, but also arguably that of the North Korean economy.”

 

12. U.S. Forces Korea aide calls into question OPCON plans

upi.com · by Elizabeth Shim· October 27, 2020

Who is this person Ham Ji-min, a USFK assistant chief of staff?  Is he a serving officer?  What he is proposing is one of the original plans for OPCON transition which was the dissolution of the ROK/us cfc into separate commands with the ROK warfighting command as the supported command and the US Command (which had been proposed to be named the Korean Command or KORCOM)  would be the supporting command.  ROK and US military leaders determined separate commands were not effective for deterrence and defense and for warfighting.

 

13. An A-10 Thunderbolt accidentally lost a munition somewhere in South Korea

taskandpurpose.com · by Jared Keller

Ooops

 

14. Donju and ordinary people impacted by recent ban on mobile money

dailynk.com · by Mun Dong Hui · October 28, 2020

Important point: "According to the source, people prefer to keep dollars, yuan or yen in a safe or in a box rather than at a bank and that they “widely distrust state banks or deposit boxes.”

This is an indicator of possible future resistance potential.

 

15. South Korean study finds Chinook upgrade more expensive than buying new helos

Defense News · by Brian Kim · October 27, 2020

 

16. S. Korea to donate $10m to support coronavirus vaccine supplies to developing countries

koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · October 28, 2020

Korea - the only country to rise from a major aid recipient to a major donor nation.

 

17. South Korean Growth Shows Asia’s Stronger Recovery From Coronavirus

WSJ · by Eun-Young Jeong

 

18. South Korea’s Moon Says Virus Has Been Contained

Bloomberg · by Jeong-Ho Lee · October 28, 2020

It is always worrisome when someone makes these kinds of claims.  I hope this is not premature.

 

19. Complex geopolitical situation preventing inter-Korean relations from moving forward

The Korea Times · October 28, 2020

 

20. Japanese diplomat arrives in Seoul for talks on wartime history, trade

koreaherald.com · by Yonhap · October 28, 2020

I am not holding my breath for a positive step forward.

 

21. DOD, FBI, DHS warn of active North Korean government-linked hacking operation - CyberScoop

cyberscoop.com · by Shannon Vavra · October 27, 2020

 

22. Naenara 101: North Korea Debuts New Tablet Computer

The National Interest · by Stephen Silver · October 27, 2020

And loaded with the top of the line spyware and surveillance software.

 

---------------------------

 

There is no such thing as hybrid war, just reasonably good campaign design."

- German GO at the Global SOF Conference:

 

“Perhaps the most important lesson from Game Theory is that in business, war, or any competitive enterprise, one must anticipate his opponent's strategy before developing one's own strategy.”

- Geoffrey Goff

 

"Kind hearted people might of course think there was some ingenious way to disarm or defeat an enemy without too much bloodshed, and might imagine this is the true goal of the art of war. Pleasant as it sounds, it is a fallacy that must be exposed: war is such a dangerous business that the mistakes which come from kindness are the very worst … To introduce the principle of moderation into the theory of war itself would always lead to logical absurdity.” 

- Clausewitz

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Duncan Moore.

1. Exclusive: 600 U.S. groups linked to Chinese Communist Party influence effort with ambition beyond election

2. U.S. troops might be in danger. Why is the military trying to hide it?

3. Analysis: U.S. confirms senior al Qaeda leader killed in Afghan raid

4. Meet the Trump official calling Beijing’s bluff

5. US ambitions to expand QUAD set to fail

6. U.S. warns of threat posed by China, signs military pact with India

7. China’s inexorable rise to superpower is history repeating itself

8. Third India-US 2+2 dialogue: breaking the mold on post-war model of bilateral ties - analysis

9. India-US discuss cross-border terrorism, security, China at bilateral meetings

10. Japan and U.S. begin major military exercise as concern about China grows

11. These are all the major flashpoints between China and the U.S.

12. Trump admin dismantles 'firewall' for editorial independence at U.S.-funded outlets

13. Japan rejects nuclear ban treaty; survivors to keep pushing

14. Oxford covid vaccine works in all ages, trials suggest

15. Air Force Ospreys make first landing on Japanese destroyer to start Keen Sword drills

16. Japan and China both claim these islands as their own. Now the US is showing Tokyo how it can help defend them

17. U.S. Army moves to close red teaming university

18. Why the “orders project” is troubling

19. US airstrike in Syria wipes out 7 al Qaeda leaders

20. U.S. State Department approves $2.4 billion more in potential arms sales to Taiwan: Pentagon

21. FBI won’t release doc on white-supremacist terror until after election: report

22. Trump had one last story to sell. The Wall Street Journal wouldn’t buy it.

 

1. Exclusive: 600 U.S. groups linked to Chinese Communist Party influence effort with ambition beyond election

Newsweek · Didi Kirsten Tatlow · October 26, 2020

An amazing development. I am not surprised by the CCP’s actions, but I am surprised by our naivete that allows us to be duped by Chinese political warfare strategy.

 

2. U.S. troops might be in danger. Why is the military trying to hide it?

Vice · Nick Turse · October 26, 2020

Of course, Nick Turse is an investigative reporter, who, per his biased agenda, focuses on exposing special operations.

 

3. Analysis: U.S. confirms senior al Qaeda leader killed in Afghan raid

Long War Journal · Thomas Joscelyn · October 25, 2020

 

4. Meet the Trump official calling Beijing’s bluff

National Review · Jimmy Quinn · October 26, 2020

 

5. US ambitions to expand QUAD set to fail

Global Times · Lu Yuanzhi · October 25, 2020

From a propaganda mouthpiece of the CCP.

 

6. U.S. warns of threat posed by China, signs military pact with India

Reuters · Neha Arora & Sanjeev Miglani · October 27, 2020

I had hoped for a broader "military pact," but it is a step forward, though a small one.

 

7. China’s inexorable rise to superpower is history repeating itself

Bloomberg · Michael Shuman · October 27, 2020

Author's conclusion:

 

8. Third India-US 2+2 dialogue: breaking the mold on post-war model of bilateral ties - analysis

Eurasia Review · Observer Research Foundation · October 27, 2020

A positive step forward.

 

9. India-US discuss cross-border terrorism, security, China at bilateral meetings

India Today · Geeta Mohan · October 27, 2020

 

10. Japan and U.S. begin major military exercise as concern about China grows

Reuters · Tim Kelly · October 26, 2020

Keen Sword is an important Japan-US exercise.

 

11. These are all the major flashpoints between China and the U.S.

Bloomberg · Bloomberg News · July 21 (updated: October 27), 2020

A useful "scorecard" for keeping track.

 

12. Trump admin dismantles ‘firewall’ for editorial independence at U.S.-funded outlets

NBC News · Dan De Luce · October 27, 2020

These continuing reports are troubling and truly sadden me. The sad irony is those who think we should propagandize VOA, RFA, etc. are actually dooming our information efforts to failure. It will not achieve the desired effects and will only undermine the legitimacy of these great organizations and destroy the trust in that has been built up for decades. The only thing these efforts will result in are a feel-good effect in the US among the partisan supporters, but it will not support any US national level influence efforts. Sacrificing our values to prevent criticism or unwanted messages (e.g. reporting of facts) is not the way to support US national security.

 

13. Japan rejects nuclear ban treaty; survivors to keep pushing

Outlook India · Outlook · October 26, 2020

 

14. Oxford Covid vaccine works in all ages, trials suggest

Guardian · Sarah Boseley · October 27, 2020

Hopefully some good news here.

 

15. Air Force Ospreys make first landing on Japanese destroyer to start Keen Sword drills

Stars & Stripes · Seth Robson · October 27, 2020

 

16. Japan and China both claim these islands as their own. Now the US is showing Tokyo how it can help defend them

CNN · Brad Lendon · October 27, 2020

 

17. U.S. Army moves to close Red Teaming University

Forbes · Bryce Hoffman · October 26, 2020

This is a very troubling development. The Army is making a huge mistake.  "You train for certainty and educate for uncertainty" (General Schoomaker). We need to invest in education and developing our intellectual capital.

I have enjoyed supporting these efforts at Leavenworth and I guess I will do so only for the next year.  I hope senior leaders in our military will recognize the folly of the Army's decision to overturn it. 

And I hope Congress will act. The late Ike Skelton must be turning over in his grave.  We need a new Congressional advocate for PME (of course, the Army's decision is probably intended to force Congress to add back the funding since it is only $2.5 million, which is budget dust in the larger scheme of things).

 

18. Why the “Orders Project” is troubling

Lawfire · Charlie Dunlap · October 26, 2020

An important essay from one of our great military legal experts.

 

19. US airstrike in Syria wipes out 7 al Qaeda leaders

New York Post · Ben Feuerherd · October 27, 2020

 

20. U.S. State Department approves $2.4 billion more in potential arms sales to Taiwan: Pentagon

Reuters · Mike Stone · October 27, 2020

If a little is good. More is better!

 

21. FBI won’t release doc on white-supremacist terror until after election: report

New York Magazine · Matt Stieb · October 26, 2020

 

22. Trump had one last story to sell. The Wall Street Journal wouldn’t buy it.

New York Times · Ben Smith · October 25, 2020

I offer this not from any partisan perspective but for the provocative thoughts on the freedom of the press and the mainstream media.

A big part of the American experiment is freedom of the press, of course. This is a fascinating perspective from the New York Times on what it thinks the mainstream media's job is. It is really interesting how they assess the rise of the internet media as competition to the mainstream media and how they think this Biden scandal has returned the mainstream media to the fore. Don't get bogged down in the Biden scandal analysis. You have to read past that and get to the section on the gatekeepers’ return.

 

"Friends are like walls. Sometimes you lean on them, and sometimes it's good just knowing they are there."

- Author Unknown

"I believe with all my heart that our first priority must be world peace, and that use of force is always and only a last resort, when everything else has failed, and then only with regard to our national security."

- Ronald Reagan

“Even if you strive diligently on your chosen path day after day, if your heart is not in accord with it, then even if you think you are on a good path, from the point of view of the straight and true, this is not a genuine path. If you do not pursue a genuine path to its consummation, then a little bit of crookedness in the mind will later turn into a major warp. Reflect on this.”

― Musashi Miyomoto, A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy