News

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

1. Taiwan and the United States - much thunder, little rain

2. Coronavirus vaccine: Short cuts and allegations of dirty tricks in race to be first

3. China's Communist Party is a threat to the world, says former elite insider

4. Chinese Consulate in Houston Intervened in US Political Movement

5. 'Painted as spies': Chinese students, scientists say Trump administration has made life hostile amid battle against COVID-19

6. Pax Americana is Here to Stay

7. Chinese Purchases Of U.S. Soybeans Pick Up

8. The Bronze Soldier Crisis of 2007: Revisiting an Early Case of Hybrid Conflict

9. The Pentagon is a shrine to antiquated technology where creative thinking goes to die

10. Indian 'Special Operations Forces': An instrument of foreign policy?

11. Why America's Navy SEALs Are More Important Than Ever

12. Inside the Boogaloo: America's Extremely Online Extremists

 

1. Taiwan and the United States - much thunder, little rain

eastasiaforum.org · by Douglas Paal · August 23, 2020

A sober conclusion from Dr. Paal: As with many of the threats, sanctions, trade tensions and tariffs between the United States and China so far, the Taiwan visit of Secretary Azar is more thunder than rain. But that could change dramatically and may well if the Trump team wants desperately enough to stir a strong Chinese reaction for domestic or other purposes.

 

2. Coronavirus vaccine: Short cuts and allegations of dirty tricks in race to be first

BBC · by Gordon Corera · August 23, 2020

Note Chinese and Russian actions.  Note the impact on the anti-vaxxer movement.

 

3. China's Communist Party is a threat to the world, says former elite insider

CNN · by CNN Staff

Not something you read every day. Cai Xia is quite outspoken:  They told me: 'you're first a

Communist Party member, and your identity as a citizen comes later.'" Cai recalled. "I thought to myself then, I would rather have my rights as a citizen than Party membership." I wonder about her safety.

 

4. Chinese Consulate in Houston Intervened in US Political Movement

chinascope.org

I have not seen any other reporting on this.  

 

5. 'Painted as spies': Chinese students, scientists say Trump administration has made life hostile amid battle against COVID-19

USA Today · by Deirdre Shesgreen

This is why we need better vetting and CI procedures so that innocent students are not incorrectly targeted.

 

6. Pax Americana is Here to Stay

Quillette · by Imran Said · August 18, 2020

Conclusion: "While the rise and fall of great powers is a historical given, the significant lead held by the US in economic clout and national wealth, technological innovation and global finance alongside China's internal challenges of low productivity, demographic decline, and chronic underconsumption, suggests to me that Pax Americana is here to stay for the foreseeable future."

 

7. Chinese Purchases Of U.S. Soybeans Pick Up

seekingalpha.com · by ING Economic and Financial Analysis · August 22, 2020

Good news for our farmers I hope.

 

8. The Bronze Soldier Crisis of 2007: Revisiting an Early Case of Hybrid Conflict

icds.ee · by Ivo Juurvee

The 55 page report can be downloaded here. 

 

9. The Pentagon is a shrine to antiquated technology where creative thinking goes to die

taskandpurpose.com · by Jeff Schogol

Ouch!

 

10. Indian 'Special Operations Forces': An instrument of foreign policy?

orfonline.org · by Siddhant Hira

Conclusion: "As is evident, the Special Operations Forces have been employed strategically by India in multiple theatres of action over the years. Their missions have always been given the green signal after factoring in the complex relationship between India's security and foreign policies - and never in isolation. In the current context of the Chinese incursions in Eastern Ladakh and the consequent turmoil arising along the LAC, it remains to be seen whether the Forces, despite their reported stationing near

 

11.  Why America's Navy SEALs Are More Important Than Ever

The National Interest · by Kris Osborn · August 22, 2020

All SOF will play critical supporting roles in Great Power Competition in diverse geographic locations especially where proxy conflict is taking place.

 

12. Inside the Boogaloo: America's Extremely Online Extremists

The New York Times · by Leah Sottile · August 19, 2020

 

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"Propaganda seeks to destroy art in order to sanitize culture." 

- Mary Karr in The Art of Memoir

 

"So the realm of strategy is one of bargaining and persuasion as well as threats and pressure, psychological as well as physical effects, and words as well as deeds. This is why strategy is the central political art. It is about getting more out of a situation than the starting balance of power would suggest. It is the art of creating power." 

- Lawrence Freedman, Strategy: A History

 

"There is simple ignorance, which is the source of lighter offenses,
and double ignorance, which is accompanied by a conceit of wisdom; and he who is under the influence of the latter fancies that he knows all about matters of which he knows nothing."
- Plato

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

1. Does the U.S. Need to Fear That China Might Invade Taiwan?

2. Exclusive: No. 2 U.S. diplomat to visit Russia, Lithuania to discuss Belarus

3. Mali coup leader was trained by U.S. military, officers say

4. Hackers Leak Alleged Internal Files of Chinese Social Media Monitoring Firms

5. The Chinese and U.S. Internets are drifting apart. Why that’s bad for the whole world

6. Silicon Valley and Wall Street Elites Pour Money Into Psychedelic Research

7. Former Green Beret accused of spying on the US for Russia

8. The Intelligence Community’s Role in Countering Malign Foreign Influence on Social Media

9. Here’s What Might Not Survive COVID Budget Cuts

10. (U)Report Of The Select Committee On Intelligence United States Senate On Russian Active Measures Campaigns And Interference In The 2016 U.S. Election

11. Pentagon finds National Guard use of surveillance planes during US protests was legal but changes are needed

12. With a mix of covert disinformation and blatant propaganda, foreign adversaries bear down on final phase of presidential campaign

13. The Biden Doctrine Exists Already. Here's an Inside Preview.

14. The Republican Embrace of QAnon Goes Far Beyond Trump

15. Trump's planned troop pullout from Germany has many military holes

16. Scoop: Open Technology Fund sues administration for $20M in missing funds

17. Some VOA Journalists Forced to Leave US Soon as Visas Expire

18. Engel Statement on VOA Journalists Facing Expiring Visas

19. The Critical 6 Months for US-Japan Defense Cooperation We Never Saw Coming

20. 'Missile barges' could be America's secret weapon in the Pacific

21. The true story behind that one scene from 'Black Hawk Down' that explains why soldiers go to war

 

1. Does the U.S. Need to Fear That China Might Invade Taiwan?

Bloomberg · by Hal Brands · August 20, 2020

Taiwan has to be on the most difficult strategic and military challenges.

 

2. Exclusive: No. 2 U.S. diplomat to visit Russia, Lithuania to discuss Belarus

ca.reuters.com · by Jonathan Landay and Arshad Mohammed

This will likely be a tough trip.

Perhaps the DEPSECSTATE could reinforce the Resistance Operating Concept in preparation for continued Russian meddling.

https://nsiteam.com/social/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/U-SMA-Brief-SOCEUR-Resistance-Operating-Concept.pdf

https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Portals/68/Documents/prism/prism_8-4/prism_8-4_17-28_Fiala-Pettersson.pdf

https://jsou.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=54216464

https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1392106/FULLTEXT01.pdf

 

3. Mali coup leader was trained by U.S. military, officers say

The Washington Post

Hindsight is 20/20.  Yes, unfortunately these things happen.  There will be the inevitable criticisms of US SOF training people like Col. Assimi Goita.  But I wish we could get credit for how many times this has not happened because of such training.  And yes, of course that is not provable.  

 

4. Hackers Leak Alleged Internal Files of Chinese Social Media Monitoring Firms

Vice · by Joseph Cox

I hope this can be exploited.

 

5. The Chinese and U.S. Internets are drifting apart. Why that’s bad for the whole world

Fortune · by Kislaya Prasad · August 21, 2020

 

6. Silicon Valley and Wall Street Elites Pour Money Into Psychedelic Research

WSJ · by Shalini Ramachandran· August 20, 2020

All you need is some acid to cure your PTSD. There is a magic pill for everything. 

I am reminded of Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit:

One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you, don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar has given you the call
He called Alice, when she was just small
When the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom, and your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know
When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's off with her head
Remember what the Dormouse said
Feed your head, feed your head

 

7. Former Green Beret accused of spying on the US for Russia

taskandpurpose.com · by Jeff Schogol

I guess we need some CI improvements.  This is am amazing story.  We had so many breakdowns in the Army and Special Forces.

Here is a link to the District's press release: 

Here is the link to the 17 page indictment. I rarely read legal documents like this but this one is worth the read to really see how we failed. 

 

8. The Intelligence Community’s Role in Countering Malign Foreign Influence on Social Media

lawfareblog.com · by Gavin Wilde  August 21, 2020

This is the essence of the challenge: "From the Church and Pike Committees to the Patriot Act, to WikiLeaks to the Snowden affair, perhaps no issue has drawn more public scrutiny of the otherwise-secretive intelligence community than its role with respect to U.S. persons - nor has any issue elicited more transparency reforms. The correct balance between privacy and security was fodder for debate long before the formal establishment of U.S. intelligence-gathering agencies well over a half-century ago."

 

9. Here’s What Might Not Survive COVID Budget Cuts

defenseone.com · by Marcus Weisgerber

Yes, we are going to face severe budget challenges. We are not going to be able to just continue printing money indefinitely.  We are going to need a lot of fiscal discipline and we will have to make tough decisions on priorities in the years ahead.

 

10. (U) Report Of The Select Committee On Intelligence United States Senate On Russian Active Measures Campaigns And Interference In The 2016 U.S. Election

Just in case, anyone needs access to the Senate report.  Here is the link to the 966 page report. I have not read it but perhaps some will find it useful research and reference.

VOLUME 5: COUNTERINTELLIGENCE THREATS AND VULNERABILITIES 

 

11. Pentagon finds National Guard use of surveillance planes during US protests was legal but changes are needed

CNN · by Barbara Starr

 

12. With a mix of covert disinformation and blatant propaganda, foreign adversaries bear down on final phase of presidential campaign

The Washington Post· by Shane Harris and Ellen Nakashima· August 21, 2020

This is happening.  We cannot bury our heads in the sand.  "At least three countries - Russia, China and Iran - have taken aim at the campaigns themselves and tried to stir the passions of voters, with a mix of covert “information laundering” and some ham-handed propaganda."  I also notice that NK News is reporting that north Korea is also trying to interfere with the US elections.

I wonder since these countries supposedly want different candidates to win will their efforts cancel each other out??? (that is a sarcastic comment).

 

13. The Biden Doctrine Exists Already. Here's an Inside Preview.

Foreign Policy · by James Traub · August 20, 2020

Foreign Policy magazine has chosen its candidate.

Excerpt:

Colin Kahl, Biden’s national security advisor from 2014 to the end of the administration and now a professor at Stanford University, said, “The three things that are most obvious are one, the world has become so interconnected that the biggest existential challenges we face are the transnational threats” - an awareness acutely amplified by the coronavirus pandemic; “two, democracy is on its back foot around the world; and three, the changing distribution of global power - great-power competition is back.”

 

14. The Republican Embrace of QAnon Goes Far Beyond Trump

The New York Times · by Matthew Rosenberg and Maggie Haberman· August 20, 2020

I wish we could develop some collective ability for critical thinking.  It is simply amazing how anyone could believe this stuff.  But it is worthy of study to see how easily some people can be manipulated.  It will be interesting to discover who is behind this pulling the strings.

Excerpts:

“QAnon is nuts -and real leaders call conspiracy theories conspiracy theories,” said Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, after the president appeared to endorse QAnon this week.“

If Democrats take the Senate,” he added, “This will be a big part of why they won.”Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the No. 3 House Republican, joined the fray on Thursday, calling QAnon “dangerous lunacy that should have no place in American politics.”

 

15. Trump's planned troop pullout from Germany has many military holes

CNN · by by Brad Lendon

These moves cannot be made overnight.  I feel bad for the logisticians and facilities engineers who will have to make these moves happen. They have Alexander looking over their shoulders:

"My logisticians are a humorless lot... they know that if my campaign fails, they are the first ones I will slay."

Alexander the Great

 

16. Scoop: Open Technology Fund sues administration for $20M in missing funds

Axios · by Sara Fischer

Not at all helpful to our information and influence activities efforts around the world in denied areas.

 

17. Some VOA Journalists Forced to Leave US Soon as Visas Expire

The New York Times · by The Associated Press · August 21, 2020

Yes, I understand that if people are in violation of visa status the proper action must be taken.

However, we should recognize how important these people are to the national security mission of the US.  They are contributing so much more than so many of us.  Also, many of these journalists could be at great risk if they return to their homes due to the nature of the news they have been reporting.

 

18. Engel Statement on VOA Journalists Facing Expiring Visas

foreignaffairs.house.gov · August 21, 2020

I hope Congress takes quick action to resolve these issues.

 

19. The Critical 6 Months for US-Japan Defense Cooperation We Never Saw Coming

thediplomat.com · by James L. Schoff · August 21, 2020

 

20. 'Missile barges' could be America's secret weapon in the Pacific

sandboxx.us · by Alex Hollings · August 18, 2020

Not so secret anymore. And if it looks like commercial shipping, it might make all commercial shipping vulnerable to attack.

 

21. The true story behind that one scene from 'Black Hawk Down' that explains why soldiers go to war

taskandpurpose.com · by James Clark

A great scene and a great story of the real story which does not take anything away from the great scene.  And most importantly, it does express the sentiment all military personnel feel and come to believe (or should).

 

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

 

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."

- Mark Twain

 

"No one understood better than Stalin that the true object of propaganda is neither to convince nor even to persuade, but to produce a uniform pattern of public utterance in which the first trace of unorthodox thought immediately reveals itself as a jarring dissonance."

- Alan Bullock, British historian

 

“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

 

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

1. [Editorial] Consultative mechanism (ROK/US)

2. Despite delegated power, Kim Yo Jong fails to make appearance

3. Highlights of North Korea's Latest Party Meetings: Setting a New Agenda

4. Sanctions on North Korea: An interview with Joshua Stanton

5. N. Korean newspaper urges conservation of electricity amid chronic power shortage

6. S. Korea approves aid group's plan to send protective clothing to N. Korea

7. Unification minister renews calls for inter-Korean cooperation against disasters

8. Delegation of power by Kim Jong-un a show of confidence: experts

9. Annual reserve forces' training called off due to COVID-19 (South Korea)

10. South Korea's plans to reform National Intelligence Service highlight ideological divisions

11. Unprecedented Glimpse of Crisis in North Korea

12. S. Korea braces for nationwide epidemic, expands stricter social distancing rules

13. Top S. Korean, Chinese officials have 'good' and 'enough' discussions, no announcement on Xi's visit

14. Xi to visit S. Korea after coronavirus situation is 'stabilized,' top officials agree

15. Former aide to ex-president claims NK leader in coma

 

1. [Editorial] Consultative mechanism (ROK/US)

koreaherald.com · by The Korea Herald · August 20, 2020

Two points:  The editorial board gets it right.  The ROK/US strategy working group does not hinder intra-Korea relations.  It is the north that hinders relations.

Second, the recent US Army manual on north Korean tactics is turning out to be quite influential. The Korean press is now regularly citing it for the 60 north Korean nuclear warheads and that the north has the 3d largest chemical weapons stockpile.

Excerpts:

“It is a misperception that the working group has acted as a roadblock to closer inter-Korean cooperation. The truth is that Pyongyang's insistence on sanctions relief and other concessions without dismantling its nuclear arsenal has blocked progress on inter-Korean reconciliation.”

“North Korea is now believed to have as many as 60 nuclear bombs and the world's third-largest stockpile of chemical agents -- an estimated 5,000 tons, according to a report released last month by the US Army. Pyongyang is unlikely to abandon these weapons, which it believes are essential to the survival of the isolated regime.”

“The North has ignored all proposals made so far by the Moon administration, which it sees as far from satisfactory.”

 

2. Despite delegated power, Kim Yo Jong fails to make appearance

donga.com · August 22, 2020

The guessing game continues.

 

3. Highlights of North Korea's Latest Party Meetings: Setting a New Agenda

38north.org

Economy and uncertainty.

 

4. Sanctions on North Korea: An interview with Joshua Stanton

dailynk.com · Joshua Stanton ·August 21, 2020

Very comprehensive interview.  Josh covers a lot of ground.  Of course, he is critical of our sanctions enforcement.  He says our weak enforcement is the cause of failure and that we need sanctions to bring the regime to the table the way sanctions brought Iran to the table.  Although it may seem like splitting hairs but while I believe external pressure (sanctions and much more, to include influence operations) is critically important, they are not sufficient to bring Kim to the negotiating table.  What really must force a change to the regime's calculus is internal pressure from the regime elite and military.  Again, we can say that our insufficient enforcement is a failure, we should also realize that our steadfast resolve not to lift sanctions has caused Kim Jong-un to be the real failure in the eyes of the elite and the military.  This is key to the way forward.  Our resolve to commit to current sanctions will continue to generate the necessary internal pressure but also is the best chance of undermining the regime's blackmail diplomacy. Once we make a concession, Kim will double down on blackmail diplomacy - coercion and extortion.

Also, note Josh's comments about humanitarian assistance.  And most important note his analysis of the Ministry of Unification plans for barter.  He suspects (with good cause) that the Koryo Kaesong Ginseng Trading Company for Officer 39.

 

5. N. Korean newspaper urges conservation of electricity amid chronic power shortage

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · August 21, 2020

We really do have to be observing for indications and warnings of instability as well as potential miscalculation by the regime in the face of multiple crises.

 

6. S. Korea approves aid group's plan to send protective clothing to N. Korea

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · August 21, 2020

The key point: "It is unclear whether the North will accept aid from such civilian organizations amid chilly inter-Korean relations."

 

7. Unification minister renews calls for inter-Korean cooperation against disasters

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · August 21, 2020

The MOU should focus on this (well actually my recommendation would be the MOU actually focused on planning and preparing for unification that results in a  United Republic of Korea (UROK))

 

8. Delegation of power by Kim Jong-un a show of confidence: experts

koreaherald.com · by Ahn Sung-mi · August 21, 2020

First, I think the NIS assessment must be taken with a grain of salt.  Second, if the assessment is accurate that Kim Yo-jong is being given some of the reins of power I am not sure it indicates strength and confidence.  I think this "new arrangement" is not normal for the regime and therefore it is more likely an indication of extreme internal stress and problems (perhaps KIm Jong-un's poor health). And if this new arrangement is a reality it could very well increase the possibility of miscalculation. The regime is not designed to operate in any way other than one man (or perhaps woman) rule.  Again, this could lead to dangerous decision making.

 

9. Annual reserve forces' training called off due to COVID-19 (South Korea)

koreaherald.com · by The Korea Herald · August 21, 2020

For the way ahead and due to the changing demographics with the reduction of military manpower, the ROK needs to invest in a strong reserve component.

 

10. South Korea's plans to reform National Intelligence Service highlight ideological divisions

SCMP · by John Power · August 22, 2020

A storied organization with an "interesting" history going back to the KCIA.

Critics want the NIS to move forward in the national interest.  I would bet if you asked both the leadership and members of the NIS they would always say their work is conducted in the national interest.

 

11. Unprecedented Glimpse of Crisis in North Korea

hrw.org · by John Sifton · August 21, 2020

Multiple crises.  As I have said and will continue to write, this is a time for possible miscalculation by the regime.  And we also have to be watchful for the indications and warnings of instability.  But the problem is in the title - sometimes we can only see 'glimpses" of what is happening inside north Korea.  These crises could create a perfect storm.

My new favorite line (after you cannot eat Juche) is from the article below; "You can't eat a parade."  But the regime sure loves its parades.

 

12. S. Korea braces for nationwide epidemic, expands stricter social distancing rules

en.yna.co.kr · by 우재연 · August 22, 2020

This is certainly worrisome.

 

13. Top S. Korean, Chinese officials have 'good' and 'enough' discussions, no announcement on Xi's visit

en.yna.co.kr · by 이치동 · August 22, 2020

So the discussions were just good enough?

 

14. Xi to visit S. Korea after coronavirus situation is 'stabilized,' top officials agree

en.yna.co.kr · by 이치동 · August 22, 2020

That could be a long time in the future.

 

15. Former aide to ex-president claims NK leader in coma

koreaherald.com · by Choi He-Suk · August 21, 2020

Here we go again. There is no substance to this "report."

 

----------

 

"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." 

- Mark Twain
 

"No one understood better than Stalin that the true object of propaganda is neither to convince nor even to persuade, but to produce a uniform pattern of public utterance in which the first trace of unorthodox thought immediately reveals itself as a jarring dissonance."
- Alan Bullock, British historian

 

"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

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Ahyoung Shin

 

1. A Russian military framework for understanding influence in the competition period

2. "Deepfakes: and the law of armed conflict: are they legal?

3. It is time to make rotating faculty positions at the US Military Academy open to all ranks

4. Why Russian military exoskeletons are not science fiction

5. The U.S. Army wants to transform soldiers into walking radar detectors

6. Former Navy SEAL says he did not throw a bomb at protesters, but Portland police say he has 'not been cleared'

7. How a fake CIA spy fooled everyone and swindled millions

8. US military personnel, veterans lost nearly $400 million to scammers since 2015, study shows

9. Local officials in China hid Coronavirus dangers from Beijing, U.S. agencies find

10. Inside story of US black ops in post-war Japan

11. Are America's East Asia allies willing and able to host U.S. intermediate-range missiles?

12. Why US Indo-Pacific strategy will fail

13. US formally ends three accords with Hong Kong

14. Taiwan plans to ban major Chinese video streaming services

15. Beyond TikTok: Preparing for future digital threats

16. Reported loss of two U.S. MQ-9 reapers in Syria raises troubling questions

 

1. A Russian military framework for understanding influence in the competition period

armyupress.army.mil

From the Army's Foreign Military Studies Office which is probably one of the organizations that punches way above its intellectual weight. Few may have heard of it, but they have done a lot of great research over the years with a very small cadre of experts. What FMSO produces is worth reading.

2. "Deepfakes: and the law of armed conflict: are they legal?

lieber.westpoint.edu · by Eric Jensen · August 19, 2020

Certainly some food for thought. To be honest I had not given this very much thought before reading this article. I will be interested to read the opinions of some of our law of war experts.

3. It is time to make rotating faculty positions at the US Military Academy open to all ranks

armytimes.com · by Tara Heidger · August 17, 2020

Very interesting idea. I have known many NCOs with both the education and aptitude to teach. But what strikes me about this OpEd is the author's honesty. Read the final statement in her bio. Make her the test case.

4. Why Russian military exoskeletons are not science fiction

Forbes · by David Hambling · August 19, 2020

So the Iron Man will be Russian.

5. The U.S. Army wants to transform soldiers into walking radar detectors

Forbes · by Michael Peck · August 19, 2020

The buried lede: "However, the problem is that American infantry are already groaning under the weight of weapons, body armor and equipment. Adding radar detection gear will add more strain to sore backs and knees." As the infantryman's adage goes, "A hundred pounds of lightweight s**t is still a hundred pounds."

6. Former Navy SEAL says he did not throw a bomb at protesters, but Portland police say he has 'not been cleared'

taskandpurpose.com · by Jeff Schogol

7. How a fake CIA spy fooled everyone and swindled millions

thedailybeast.com · by Justin Rohrlich 

A long read but what an unbelievable story.

8. US military personnel, veterans lost nearly $400 million to scammers since 2015, study shows

foxbusiness.com · by Hollie McKay

What an incredible amount of money.

9. Local officials in China hid Coronavirus dangers from Beijing, U.S. agencies find

nytimes.com · by Edward Wong, Julian E. Barnes, Zolan Kanno-Youngs 

We heard in January from Chinese friends the outbreak was known as early as October and Beijing knew about it then. But I suppose since it was a new virus everyone was probably in the dark about the dangers.

10. Inside story of US black ops in post-war Japan

asiatimes.com · by Robert Whiting · August 18, 2020

More interesting history.

11. Are America's East Asia allies willing and able to host U.S. intermediate-range missiles?

eastwestcenter.org · by Eric Gomez · August 19, 2020

Very interesting recommendations: "The United States should push on this open door. Emulating allies' plans for land-based missile forces should make U.S. deployments of similar capabilities more palatable to friendly administrations. Moreover, a narrowly defined role and target set for U.S. missile capabilities improves conventional deterrence while avoiding the nuclear escalation risks inherent with missiles that target facilities deeper in China's interior. If allies are still hesitant to let the United States deploy missiles on their territory, then joint development-like the U.S.-Japan effort on the SM-3 IIA missile defense interceptor-could be a viable alternative. Restraint should guide U.S. missile strategy in the post-INF world. East Asian allies have not rolled out the welcome mat for new deployments. Washington should be mindful of this and focus its efforts on emulating allied land-based missile strategy that has thus far emphasized creating friendly A2/AD zones.

12. Why US Indo-Pacific strategy will fail

asiatimes.com · by Ken Moak · August 20, 2020

Did we really produce a strategy that is not in our own interests? Is this a true statement? "There was never any problem of "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea until the US declared its "pivot to Asia" policy in 2012."

13. US formally ends three accords with Hong Kong

channelnewsasia.com

Things will never be the same again.

14. Taiwan plans to ban major Chinese video streaming services

The Verge · by Sam Byford · August 20, 2020

Those pesky loopholes.

15. Beyond TikTok: Preparing for future digital threats

warontherocks.com · by Kara Frederick - Chris Estep - Megan Lamberth · August 20, 2020

The new battlefield.

16. Reported loss of two U.S. MQ-9 reapers in Syria raises troubling questions

dailynk.com · by Kang Mi Jin · August 20, 2020

I am surprised that this does not happen more often.

 

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"In each succeeding war there is a tendency to proclaim as something new the principles under which it is conducted. Not only those who have never studied or experienced the realities of war, but also professional soldiers frequently fall into the error. But the principles of warfare as I learned them at West Point remain unchanged." 

- John J. Pershing, 'My Experiences in the World War'

 

"Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride, bridles the tongue." 

- George Horne

 

"The primary purpose of the Rolex is not as a timepiece but rather as a life insurance policy. When the situation goes pear-shaped and you've somehow made it to the airport, the Rolex buys you a seat on the last flight out of Heart of Darkness International Airport. As your aircraft circles the city, you look down at the rising columns of black smoke and imagine the scene downtown in the city square where they're chopping the few remaining Westerners up into monkey meat, you look at your wrist where your treasured timepiece used to be and you think 2 things: A) 'Well I guess the Rolex finally paid for itself,' and B) 'I can always buy another watch . . .'" 

-  Unknown

 

 

 

 

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Ahyoung Shin

 

1. Rodong Sinmun praises WPK for bringing about great turn in destiny of country and people

2. Political decision to be recorded as another special event in militant course of glorious WPK on convening 8^thCongress of WPK 6^th Plenary Meeting of 7^th Central Committee of WPK held

3. 6 Russian military aircraft briefly violate S. Korea's air defense zone

4. UNICEF: North Korea closed shipping route with China

5. Seoul revs up efforts to improve inter-Korean ties

6. Toward responsible liberalism (South Korea)

7. 'Time to send aged NK spies, POWs back to North'

8. N.K. to unveil new 5-year economic development plan at rare party congress next year

9. Top Chinese official won't meet Moon during Korea Visit

10. North Korean malicious cyber activity | CISA

11. FOLLOW-UP: North Korea's nuclear, chemical arsenals are growing: U.S. Army

12. North Korea's leader had big economic plans. He admits they’ve failed.

13. Kim Jong-un delegated partial authority to sister: spy agency*** (Note important comments)

14. Scott Snyder on Trump, South Korea, and 'America-First' Alliance Policy

15. George Clooney-backed investigative org exposes North Korean banking scandal in DR Congo

16. Anti-Japan nationalism taking hold in Korea

17. The 8th WPK congress announcement: strengthened economic control to come?

18. Kim Jong-un's dire warning on economy hints at growing crisis

19. N. Hamgyong Province faces potential shortage of vegetables following rains

 

1. Rodong Sinmun praises WPK for bringing about great turn in destiny of country and people

kcnawatch.org

This is the KCNA report of the Rodong Sinmun article on the WPK meeting. No one does better "flowery worded" propaganda than the regime's Propaganda and Agitation Department: "The article says that the exploits of our Party, which has turned the country into an independent powerful country and invincible socialist nation in the global spotlights, made the people masters of their destiny and gave them the dignity and honor of pacemakers carving out the future of mankind, will shine for all ages along with the steady prosperity of Kim Il Sung's nation and Kim Jong Il's Korea."

2. Political decision to be recorded as another special event in militant course of glorious WPK on convening 8^th Congress of WPK 6^th Plenary Meeting of 7^th Central Committee of WPK held

kcnawatch.org · August 20, 2020

The Propaganda and Agitation Department needs better headline editors.

Looks like the crucial issue is the economy and the decision to convene the 8th Party Congress and present a new 5 year economic plan. I think we were all expecting something nuclear or ICBM related - (though we should keep in mind all warfare, including especially political warfare, is based on deception so we should not be lulled into a false sense of complacency).

But here is the summary of the meeting (let me know if you can make sense of it): "He said that the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee suggested convening the 8th Congress of the WPK to analyze and review in a comprehensive, three-dimensional and anatomical way the deviations and shortcomings in the work for the implementation of the decisions made at the 7th Congress of the Party and to discuss and decide on the strategic tasks for the Party and the government in the new phase of struggle in the crucial period of our revolution."  ... "He said that the 8th Congress would review this year's work and the work of the Central Committee of the Party in the period under review and set forth a new 5-year plan for national economic development including next year's orientation of work.

3. 6 Russian military aircraft briefly violate S. Korea's air defense zone

en.yna.co.kr · by Oh Seok-min · August 20, 2020

Well that was very nice of the Russians. I would like to know what kind of ROK-Japan coordination took place as the article notes after 20 minutes in the ROK ADIZ (around DokDo) they transited to the Japanese ADIZ.

4. UNICEF: North Korea closed shipping route with China

upi.com· by Elizabeth Shim · August 19, 2020

The policy decisions of Kim Jong-un are responsible for the difficulties in providing humanitarian assistance to the Korean people living in the North. "U.S. experts on North Korea told Radio Free Asia the measures pose even greater challenges for international organizations sending aid supplies to the isolated country. Closures only exacerbate the public health and food security crisis in North Korea, they said."

5. Seoul revs up efforts to improve inter-Korean ties

The Korea Times · August 19, 2020

The doubling down by the Moon administration begins. I really wonder what are Minister Lee's new ideas. How is he going to build an environment conducive to bilateral ties with the North when the North does not want to do so? I fear since sanctions relief is not on the table it will have to be something under the table. But I wonder how long it will be before Kim Jong-un slams the door in the South's face, figuratively. And most importantly, if North Korea continues to act the way it has, will the Moon administration reassess its assumptions and adjust its strategy? The main (erroneous) assumption being that the North wants peace and is willing to negotiate to bring it about.

6. Toward responsible liberalism (South Korea)

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com · by Kim Byung-yeong

A very interesting OpEd. Don't let the use of the word liberalism distract you. This is really about how the government should view and act toward North Korea. Key excerpt: "Only a true liberal ponders deeply about North Korea's denuclearization. Only a responsible liberal clarifies that without denuclearization, peace and prosperity can never be achieved. President Moon checks neither of these boxes. In his Aug. 15 Independence Day address, Moon made no mention of denuclearization and blathered on about peace, prosperity and cooperation with North Korea."

7. 'Time to send aged NK spies, POWs back to North'

koreaherald.com · by Ahn Sung-mi · August 19, 2020

I do think this should be done. It is the right thing to do from a humanitarian perspective. Seoul should take the moral high ground here. It will not get anything in return from the North and it should not hold out for some of kind of deal. Just do the right thing because it is the right thing to do (Kant).

8. N.K. to unveil new 5-year economic development plan at rare party congress next year

en.yna.co.kr · by Koh Byung-joon · August 20, 2020

A question for all the economic-historians if there is such a discipline: When has a communist 5-year economic plan ever been successful and accomplished its objectives?

9. Top Chinese official won't meet Moon during Korea Visit

english.chosun.com

Perhaps a small thing but I think it is important for Moon not to meet with him.

10. North Korean malicious cyber activity | CISA

us-cert.cisa.gov

US government warnings.

Please see these two links:

https://us-cert.cisa.gov/northkorea

https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/analysis-reports/ar20-232a

11. FOLLOW-UP: North Korea's nuclear, chemical arsenals are growing: U.S. Army

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

I am resending the article below with new comments from Robert Collins. I think the doctrine writers got a little over their heads on the strategic analysis. I think the tactical and operational aspects of the manual are good, but I think they missed the mark on the strategic level. Regardless this is an excellent tutorial on Songun from Robert Collins.

Original Message and my original comments:

It is funny the Joongang Ilbo used the graphic below. A Korea hand emailed me last night and pointed out this graphic is wrong. Perhaps he will provide me with a critique I can share. I have already referenced the obvious on Songun - it is military first politics. It is not a policy - it is much more than. It is about political control. Let me share a short excerpt from one of my mentors, Robert Collins, and his report on the Organization and Guidance Department he wrote for the Committee for Human rights in North Korea.

North Korea's ORGANIZATION AND GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT - The Control Tower of Human Rights Denial

12. North Korea's leader had big economic plans. He admits they’ve failed.

nytimes.com · by Choe Sang-hun 

Again, when has a communist 5 year economic plan ever been successful?

13. Kim Jong-un delegated partial authority to sister: spy agency*** (Note important comments)

en.yna.co.kr · by 박보람 · August 20, 2020

I am sure there will be more analysis on this. However, my good friend and mentor, Robert Collins had this to say about Kim Yo-jong. This single paragraph is a critical assessment that we must pay attention to.

14. Scott Snyder on Trump, South Korea, and 'America-First' Alliance Policy

thediplomat.com · by Shannon Tiezzi · August 19, 2020

Important insights from Scott. And for all those who think a Biden Administration will transform Korea policy for the better there is this warning: "The election of Joe Biden would ease some America-first influences in U.S. government policy and bring a renewed focus to cooperative settlement of burden sharing and alliance management issues. But it is possible to imagine greater tensions between the United States and North Korea under a Biden administration, making the task of coordinating policies with Moon and future South Korean administrations both more important and potentially more difficult."

15. George Clooney-backed investigative org exposes North Korean banking scandal in DR Congo

deadline.com · by Tom Grater · August 19, 2020

I did not see this one coming (North Korean activities, sure but George Clooney's organization calling them out?).

The 22 page report can be downloaded here. 

16. Anti-Japan nationalism taking hold in Korea

The Korea Times · by Kang Seung-woo · August 20, 2020

Not a good sign. Note the argument for changing the national anthem. Truly sad but of course South Korea is not the only country where people argue about changing the national anthem because of past history.

17. The 8th WPK congress announcement: strengthened economic control to come?

nkeconwatch.com · by Benjamin Katzeff Silberstein 

18. Kim Jong-un's dire warning on economy hints at growing crisis

theedgemarkets.com · August 20, 2020

The difference between the Arduous March or great famine of 1994-1996 when the economy and public distribution system collapsed and as many as three million Koreans may have died from the severe conditions and now. The regime was "saved" by a large infusion of cash during the Sunshine Policy period. Due to the current sanctions regime that is less likely to happen today. The article below reminds us we need to pay close attention to the indications and warnings of instability. I am hoping that the indications and warnings laid out by Robert Collins' in his seven phases of regime instability and collapse are still being used by the command in Korea.

19. N. Hamgyong Province faces potential shortage of vegetables following rains

dailynk.com · by Kang Mi Jin · August 20, 2020

The “normal” level of suffering is getting worse.

 

-----------

"In each succeeding war there is a tendency to proclaim as something new the principles under which it is conducted. Not only those who have never studied or experienced the realities of war, but also professional soldiers frequently fall into the error. But the principles of warfare as I learned them at West Point remain unchanged." 

- John J. Pershing, 'My Experiences in the World War'

 

"Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride, bridles the tongue." 

- George Horne

 

"The primary purpose of the Rolex is not as a timepiece but rather as a life insurance policy. When the situation goes pear-shaped and you've somehow made it to the airport, the Rolex buys you a seat on the last flight out of Heart of Darkness International Airport. As your aircraft circles the city, you look down at the rising columns of black smoke and imagine the scene downtown in the city square where they're chopping the few remaining Westerners up into monkey meat, you look at your wrist where your treasured timepiece used to be and you think 2 things: A) 'Well I guess the Rolex finally paid for itself,' and B) 'I can always buy another watch . . .'" 

-  Unknown

 

 

 

 

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

1. North Korea harasses defectors with calls, texts: ‘are you having fun these days?’

2. VOA Washington talk combined training and OPCON transition

3. S. Korea, U.S. to stage joint summertime exercise this week: JCS

4. Liberation Day demonstrations take place amid sharp upturn in COVID-19 infections

5. Full text of President Moon Jae-in's speech on Korea's 75th Liberation Day

6. Thousands rally against South Korea leader despite virus warning

7. New sanctions spotlight North Korea’s harrowing Soviet-style gulags

8. North Korea's leader is tapping his own private food reserve to feed the country, and it could be a worrying sign

9. Could a President Joe Biden face a 'triple' North Korea crisis?

10. South Korea: new virus cases soar to 279

11. Seoul should not give up alliance with Washington in US-China spat: Nye

12. South Korea warns of new mass infection after church flareup

 

1. North Korea Harasses Defectors With Calls, Texts: ‘Are You Having Fun These Days?’

Wall Street Journal · by Andrew Jeong · August 15, 2020

This is more than troubling. South Korea has a moral responsibility to protect these brave escapees. 

 

2. VOA Washington talk combined training and OPCON transition

YouTube · by VOA · August 15, 2020

Kim Young-gyo hosted Scott Snyder and me to talk about this week's training and OPCON transition.

Recorded Friday and released online Saturday. The target audience is the elite in Pyongyang, which I think will explain some of my specific remarks as messages.

 (in English with Korean subtitles)

 

3. S. Korea, U.S. to stage joint summertime exercise this week: JCS

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · August 16, 2020

Important concluding statement from Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo.

 

4. Liberation Day demonstrations take place amid sharp upturn in COVID-19 infections

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · August 15, 2020

These are anti-government demonstrations. The photo seems to show substantial crowds.

 

5. Full text of President Moon Jae-in's speech on Korea's 75th Liberation Day

Yonhap News Agency · August 15, 2020

 

6. Thousands rally against South Korea leader despite virus warning

Stars & Stripes · by AP · August 15, 2020

 

7. New sanctions spotlight North Korea’s harrowing Soviet-style gulags

New York Post · by Dana Kennedy · August 15, 2020

Good interviews with former prisoners to help us understand the truly evil nature of the regime.

 

8. North Korea's leader is tapping his own private food reserve to feed the country, and it could be a worrying sign

Business Insider · by David Choi · August 15, 2020

We should have no doubt how severe the situation is in the North. This is a very important assessment from Thae Yong-ho

 

9. Could a President Joe Biden face a 'triple' North Korea crisis?

National Interest · by Peter Jennings · August 14, 2020

An Australian perspective: unsure dynastic succession, a viral outbreak, and escalating nuclear confrontation.

 A bipartisan group of advisers, affirm the ROK/US alliance, and take a coalition approach. Although he says Obama and Trump have failed, he does not advocate lifting sanctions and making concessions (though I fear that might be what he wants the bipartisan advisers to recommend).

 

10. South Korea: New virus cases soar to 279

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · August 16, 2020

 

11. Seoul should not give up alliance with Washington in US-China spat: Nye

Korea Herald · by Ahn Sung-mi · August 13, 2020

Joe Nye describes the "shrimp among whales."  But I think Nye's thesis that the US and China should be "cooperative rivals" is a fantasy. I think in the past year China has revealed its true colors.

 

12. South Korea warns of new mass infection after church flareup

Bloomberg · by Heesu Lee · August 16, 2020

 

"So, let me state this clearly: From where I sit, I see US foreign policy-makers inadvertently committing political warfare against themselves in a gray zone of their own making."

- Anonymous

"My favorite is when you go to Afghanistan and you meet the special forces guys, and they look like these heavily armed surfers. These guys are the best. You see guys dressed as full Afghans, but then wearing a Yankees hat.”

- Robin Williams

German GO at the Global SOF Conference: "There is no such thing as hybrid war, just reasonably good campaign design"

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

1. Today is National Airborne Day! (August 16)

2. Heads roll: sweeping staff changes made at VOA after pro-Biden ad released, hiring foreign workers

3. Mike Pence: Trump's loyal trooper

4. Pro-Pence Voice of America tweet sparks anger: 'state propaganda?'

5. Purge of senior officials at foreign broadcast agency stirs fear and outrage

6, Can Northeast Asia shake off shackles of the past?

7. Trump says he is considering pardon for leaker Edward Snowden

8. What do you tell young Americans doubting the military’s moral compass?

9. The Atomwaffen Division: the evolution of the white supremacy threat

10. Dozens of serving and ex special forces have brain injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan

11. Finland has a plan for Russia’s little green men

12. Young officers must be 'unconventional' in 'cyber and space' warfare

13. Japan’s been proudly pacifist for 75 years. A missile proposal challenges that.

14. How the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests could give rise to terrorism

15. Why protests threaten dictatorships but make democracies stronger

16. Chinese President Xi Jinping says Marxist political economy is the bedrock for nation’s growth

17. VJ Day: Culdrose chaplain’s POW granddad carried mental scars for the rest of his life

18. National Airborne Day - August 16, 2020

 

1. Today is National Airborne Day! (August 16)

Today is National Airborne Day!

The history of airborne forces began after WWI, when Brigadier General William Mitchell first conceived the idea of parachuting troops into combat. Eventually, under the leadership of Major William Lee at Ft Benning, Georgia, members of the Parachute Test Platoon pioneered methods of combat jumping in 1940. In November 1942, members of the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, conducted America’s first combat jump, leaping from a C-47 aircraft behind enemy lines in North Africa. This strategy revolutionized combat and established airborne forces as a key component of our military.

During WWII, airborne tactics were critical to the success of important missions, including the D-Day invasion at Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, the invasion of Southern France, and many others. In Korea and Vietnam, airborne soldiers played a critical combat role, as well as in later conflicts and peacekeeping operations, including Panama, Grenada, Desert Storm, Haiti, Somalia, and the Balkans. Most recently, airborne forces were vital to liberating the people of Afghanistan from the repressive and violent Taliban regime; and these soldiers continue to serve proudly around the world in the global coalition against terrorism.

The elite airborne ranks include prestigious groups such as the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, “Sky Soldiers,” 82nd Airborne Division, “All American,” and the “Screaming Eagles” of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Airborne forces have also been represented in the former 11th, 13th, and 17th Airborne Divisions and numerous other Airborne, glider and air assault units and regiments. Paratroopers in the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps, the 75th Infantry (Ranger) Regiment and other Special Forces units conduct swift and effective operations in defense of peace and freedom.

Airborne combat continues to be driven by the bravery and daring spirit of sky soldiers. Often called into action with little notice, these forces have earned an enduring reputation for dedication, excellence, and honor. As we face the challenges of a new era, I encourage all people to recognize the contributions of these courageous soldiers to our Nation and the world.

Now, therefore, I, George W. Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 16, 2002, as National Airborne Day. As we commemorate the first official Army parachute jump on August 16, 1940, I encourage all Americans to join me in honoring the thousands of soldiers, past and present, who have served in an airborne capacity. I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

George W. Bush

 

2. Heads roll: sweeping staff changes made at VOA after pro-Biden ad released, hiring foreign workers

Hot Air · by Karen Townsend · August 13, 2020

Another article to damage VOA and it is articles like this that will cause the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater. I fear for the damage that will be done to VOA and RFA.

 

3. Mike Pence: Trump's loyal trooper

VOA · by Ken Bredemeier · August 13, 2020.

Here is a VOA article about VP Pence.

 

4. Pro-Pence Voice of America tweet sparks anger: 'state propaganda?'

The Wrap · by Lindsey Ellefson · August 12, 2020

Another view of VOA. It was more than a tweet.

 

5. Purge of senior officials at foreign broadcast agency stirs fear and outrage

NPR · by David Welna · August 15, 2020

And another view of USAGM.

 

6. Can Northeast Asia shake off shackles of the past?

Press Herald · by Foster Klug · August 15, 2020

I think not.

I think Daniel Sneider explains this well in acknowledging the inter-linkages between identity, education, popular culture as well as perceptions of oppression and victimization.

 

7. Trump says he is considering pardon for leaker Edward Snowden

Reuters · by Raphael Satter · August 15, 2020

I cannot believe anyone on the President 's national security team would support this. I hope they can talk him out of this. Snowden has done tremendous damage to our country.

 

8. What do you tell young Americans doubting the military’s moral compass?

Defense One · by Scott Cooper & Paul Lewis · August 15, 2020

As the cliché goes, the military is a microcosm of society. Whether a civilian or military member or a civilian or military institution, the closing advice from these authors holds true.

 

9. The Atomwaffen Division: the evolution of the white supremacy threat

The Soufan Center · by Jason Blazakis et al. · August, 2020

The 33 page report can be downloaded here.

 

10. Dozens of serving and ex special forces have brain injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan

Mirror · by Sean Rayment · August 15, 2020

We should be pooling allied data on these injuries.

 

11. Finland has a plan for Russia’s little green men

Foreign Policy · by Robin Häggblom · August 15, 2020

This has been previously reported but it is worth considering FInland's unique plans.

 

12. Young officers must be 'unconventional' in 'cyber and space' warfare

Daily Mail · by Lizzie Deane · August 15, 2020

A UK perspective.

 

13. Japan’s been proudly pacifist for 75 years. A missile proposal challenges that.

New York Times · by Motoko Rich · August 16, 2020

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I think it will be some time before they work thorough the political issues and actually procure missiles. Meanwhile without Aegis ashore and other defensive measures, Japan will remain vulnerable.

 

14. How the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests could give rise to terrorism

NBC News · by Brian Michael Jenkins · August 16, 2020

From one of our preeminent terrorism scholars. We should think deeply about this article.

 

15. Why protests threaten dictatorships but make democracies stronger

Foreign Policy · by Sheri Berman · August 16, 2020

But there are many in the US today who do not believe or accept this and will say this theory is rubbish (as our cousins across the pond would say).

 

16. Chinese President Xi Jinping says Marxist political economy is the bedrock for nation’s growth

South China Morning Post · by Karen Yeung · August 16, 2020

There you have it.

 

17. VJ Day: Culdrose chaplain’s POW granddad carried mental scars for the rest of his life

Cornwall Live · by Graeme Wilkinson · August 15, 2020

 

18. National Airborne Day - August 16, 2020

SOF News · by SOF News · August 16, 2020

Just in case you forgot today is National Airborne Day.

 

"So, let me state this clearly: From where I sit, I see US foreign policy-makers inadvertently committing political warfare against themselves in a gray zone of their own making."

- Anonymous

"My favorite is when you go to Afghanistan and you meet the special forces guys, and they look like these heavily armed surfers. These guys are the best. You see guys dressed as full Afghans, but then wearing a Yankees hat.”

- Robin Williams

German GO at the Global SOF Conference: "There is no such thing as hybrid war, just reasonably good campaign design"

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

1. ‘No lines on the battlefield’: Pentagon’s new war-fighting concept takes shape

2. Taiwan to boost ‘invasion’ defenses with US weapons

3. Pentagon creates UFO task force to see if aerial objects pose threat

4. The plan that could give us our lives back

5. Federal appeals court rules male-only draft constitutional

6. Who decides who is a ‘domestic enemy’?

7. The Pentagon’s AI factory gets a powerful new tool

8. A plan to turn military bases into ‘sandboxes’ for 5G

9. Rightsizing the Afghanistan mission

10. An arms race is brewing in orbit

11. Public toilet erected on former site of razed Xinjiang village mosque

12. American passports are useless now

13. Trump: ‘A lot of people’ think Edward Snowden ‘not being treated fairly’

14. As relations with U.S. sink, China tones down ‘hotheaded’ nationalism

15. Sexual violence rampant and expanding in armed conflicts, UN

16. 'Deep remorse': Japanese emperor marks 75th anniversary of surrender

 

1. ‘No lines on the battlefield’: Pentagon’s new war-fighting concept takes shape

Defense News · by Aaron Mehta · August 14, 2020

 

2. Taiwan to boost ‘invasion’ defenses with US weapons

Asia Times · by Dave Makichuk · August 14, 2020

An asymmetric approach is definitely required for Taiwan's defense.

 

3. Pentagon creates UFO task force to see if aerial objects pose threat

Military Times · by Howard Altman & J.D. Simkins · August 14, 2020

I wonder how many people will be volunteering for this task force.

 

4. The plan that could give us our lives back

Defense One · by Robinson Meyer & Alexis C. Madrigal · August 14, 2020

There is no technical obstacle to the authors’ vision. There is only a dearth of political will.

 

5. Federal appeals court rules male-only draft constitutional

The Hill · by Rebecca Kheel · August 13, 2020

I wonder if this will go to the Supreme Court. And I wonder how it will rule.

 

6. Who decides who is a ‘domestic enemy’?

Defense One · by James Joyner · August 13, 2020

Another contribution to the Yingling-Nagl brothers and Schake-Golby debate.

 

7. The Pentagon’s AI factory gets a powerful new tool

Defense One · by Patrick Tucker · August 14, 2020

I would think this change would be game changing for DOD and especially its intelligence components. This development begs the question: will this be common throughout the intelligence community (I ask that rhetorically as I think we can guess the answer)?

 

8. A plan to turn military bases into ‘sandboxes’ for 5G

Wired · by Will Knight · August 13, 2020

I asked myself, what is a "sandbox" (in terms of 5G)?  I learned from the article that it means for experimentation.

 

9. Rightsizing the Afghanistan mission

Brookings · by Michael E. O'Hanlon · August 13, 2020

Just as an aside: we will never "right size" the mission if our sole metric is the topline troop number. Of course because of politics and ease of understanding the topline number will always be the driver and will always trump strategy.

 

10. An arms race is brewing in orbit

Economist · August 15, 2020

You have to dominate the ultimate "high ground." Two questions: who does? And how do you enforce the law in space?

 

11. Public toilet erected on former site of razed Xinjiang village mosque

Radio Free Asia · by Joshua Lipes · August 15, 2020

Stay classy, China. If we did not have RFA and VOA reporting on this type of activity, we would probably not learn of this.

 

12. American passports are useless now

The Atlantic · by Yascha Mounk · August 14, 2020

Sigh.....

 

13. Trump: ‘A lot of people’ think Edward Snowden ‘not being treated fairly’

New York Post · by Steven Nelson & Ebony Bowden · August 13, 2020

I do not think Edward Snowden treated US national security "fairly." He needs to be extradited to the US to stand trial for his crimes against the US (in a fair and just trial, of course).

 

14. As relations with U.S. sink, China tones down ‘hotheaded’ nationalism

New York Times · by Javier C. Hernandez · August 15, 2020

We should start including "hothead nationalism" in commentary. I wonder how it would go if used in negotiations. But is China really dialing down its belligerence? And even it appears to be doing so, we should not forget what Sun Tzu said: "all warfare is based on deception." And nowhere is that more true than with political warfare (or China's "three warfares" - psychological warfare, legal warfare or lawfare, and media or public opinion warfare).

 

15. Sexual violence rampant and expanding in armed conflicts, UN

Info Migrants · by Aasim Saleem · August 6, 2020

This is so tragic.

 

16. 'Deep remorse': Japanese emperor marks 75th anniversary of surrender

The Guardian · by Agencies · August 15, 2020

 

"It is the nature of every person to error, but only the fool perseveres in error."

- Marcus Tullius Cicero

“We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace.

- St. Augustine

“Without a word this uniform also whispers of freezing troops, injured bodies, and Americans left forever in foreign fields. It documents every serviceman’s courage, who by accepting this uniform, promises the one gift he truly has to give: his life. I wear my uniform for the heritage of sacrifice it represents and more. I wear my uniform with pride, for it represents the greatest nation of free people in the world.”

- Captain Karen Dorman Kimmel

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

1. Gwangbokjeol - Korean Independence Day, August 15th

2. Military gears up propaganda machine to celebrate August 15

3. Pompeo sends well wishes for Korean Liberation Day

4. War games prove why America cannot afford a second Korean War

5. North Korean soldier jailed for listening to Radio Free Asia broadcasts

6. North Korea’s Office 39 diverts electricity to gold production

7. The right question, the right to question: Thae Yong-ho versus Lee In-young

8. The Thae-Lee brouhaha: an American diplomat’s perspective

9. Moon says gov't ready to discuss wartime forced labor at any time with Japan

10. South Korea, US to stage joint summertime exercise behind schedule amid coronavirus: sources

11. New virus cases reach 5-month high, guidelines toughened for Seoul, Gyeonggi area

12. New book reveals Kim Jong-un’s deep bond with Trump

13. How is Korea faring in its battle against coronavirus?

14. U.S. conducting anti-dumping, countervailing duties probe on S. Korea steel pipes

15. N. Korean, Russian leaders pledge stronger ties on Liberation Day exchange

16. ICAS Polling XI (“The weakest link in the iron-clad US-SK alliance is Moon and Trump…”)

17. North Korean hackers target Israeli defense companies

18. How Joe Biden will take on North Korea

 

1. Gwangbokjeol - Korean Independence Day, August 15th

Asia Society · August 15, 2020

 

2. Military gears up propaganda machine to celebrate August 15

Daily NK · by Jeong Tae Joo · August 13, 2020

Kim Il-Sung developed the myth that he liberated Korea from Japan. He did not. It is a myth. But the legitimacy of the Kim family regime is built upon this myth. I recommend to anyone who wants to understand the myth: read Syd Seiler's book, Kim Il-Song, 1941-1948: The Creation of A Legend, The Building of A Regime

 

3. Pompeo sends well wishes for Korean Liberation Day

KBS World Radio · August 14, 2020

 

4. War games prove why America cannot afford a second Korean War

National Interest · by Michael Peck · August 14, 2020

The RAND report can be downloaded here.

 

5. North Korean soldier jailed for listening to Radio Free Asia broadcasts

New York Post · by Yaron Steinbuch · August 14, 2020

I often hear people say radio broadcasts do not make into the North due to jamming by the regime. We can overpower their jammers.

An interesting anecdote: a soldier listening to RFA on a military radio in a government ministry radio. But then she was caught by failing to change the frequency and was discovered and someone turned her in. She also seemed to be in a relatively important position.

 

6. North Korea’s Office 39 diverts electricity to gold production

Radio Free Asia · by Eugene Whong · August 12, 2020

Office (Department, Bureau, Room) 39 is one of the most important organizations to the Kim family regime. Everything it does is to support Kim Jong-Un and the Kim family regime, even diverting electricity to produce gold.

 

7. The right question, the right to question: Thae Yong-ho versus Lee In-young

38 North · by Aidan Foster-Carter · August 14, 2020

 

8. The Thae-Lee brouhaha: an American diplomat’s perspective

38 North · by Lynn Turk · August 14, 2020

The author thinks this is much ado about nothing.

 

9. Moon says gov't ready to discuss wartime forced labor at any time with Japan

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · August 15, 2020

Two key points from President Moon's speech on Independence Day: 1) his confidence that Japan/South Korea relations can be built through further mutual respect of individual human rights; and 2) his overtures towards the North with regard to achieving long-term peace and stability through a unified Korean peninsula.

 

10. South Korea, US to stage joint summertime exercise behind schedule amid coronavirus: sources

Korea Times · by [email protected] · August 15, 2020

Note the two day delay, as a member of ROK Army – who was exposed to more than 160 personnel –tested positive for the coronavirus. Yes, this is only training. However, our adversaries look at this and wonder what effects they could achieve if they unleashed a bio-weapon. We are going to have to learn to "fight through" this pandemic and the next week as well as be prepared for a future bio attack. As part of this training and during the two day delay, I recommend that commanders ask this question of staff and subordinate units: what preparation, plans, and procedures can we put in place to be able to fight through both a pandemic and a bio-attack, especially since we might not initially be able to tell the difference? This issue brings another problem set to the indications and warnings challenge: what if we misread a real attack and instead think it is a pandemic?

 

11. New virus cases reach 5-month high, guidelines toughened for Seoul, Gyeonggi area

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · August 15, 2020

 

12. New book reveals Kim Jong-un’s deep bond with Trump

Korea Herald · by Choi Si-young · August 14, 2020

The book is to be published on September 15th. I pre-ordered it on Amazon for the sole purpose of reading these letters (which is probably what the publisher intended). But we only have Kim's letters to understand the "deep bond." It is too bad that Woodward could not go to Pyongyang to interview Kim Jong-Un to get the real truth about how he feels about Trump. Perhaps that will be in his next book?

 

13. How is Korea faring in its battle against coronavirus?

Korea Herald · by [email protected] · August 15, 2020

Some very interesting data well presented for the layman (like me).

 

14. U.S. conducting anti-dumping, countervailing duties probe on S. Korea steel pipes

Korea Herald · by Yonhap · August 15, 2020

More friction in the alliance.

 

15.  N. Korean, Russian leaders pledge stronger ties on Liberation Day exchange

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · August 15, 2020

Remember that Kim Il-Sung was a guerrilla fighter leading the 1-88th Special Independent Sniper Brigade of about 200 men under the control of the Soviet Red Army. He was not fighting for Korea. It is a myth that he liberated Korea. He was fighting (in the one little skirmish he had with some Japanese police along the Korean-Russian border) for the USSR. Someone has to undermine the myth of Kim Il-Sung as the great leader conducting anti-Japanese partisan warfare. But, like all the great propagandists (from Stalin to Mao to Hitler and Goebbels) know: if you tell a lie enough times people will believe it. And if you tell the big lie people will believe it even more. We should be exposing these lies through effective information and influence activities.

 

16. ICAS Polling XI (“The weakest link in the iron-clad US-SK alliance is Moon and Trump…”)

ICAS, Inc. · August 14, 2020

The Excel spreadsheet with the survey data in bar graphs and pie charts can be accessed here.

 

17. North Korean hackers target Israeli defense companies

FDD · by Mathew Ha · August 14, 2020

From my colleague, Mathew Ha. We need the political will to aggressively target North Korea cyber activities.

 

18. How Joe Biden will take on North Korea

National Interest · by Joseph R. DeTrani · August 15, 2020

I was asked by a journalist to also comment on Biden policy for North Korea. Specifically, I was asked if Biden will the adopt progressive positions of Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Bernie Sanders. This is my take:

I will be happy to comment on such areas, but I will not take a partisan position. 

I think a fair question to ask regarding whomever wins, whether it is Trump or Biden, is will the unconventional, experimental, top-down, pen pal diplomacy with Kim Jong-Un continue? Will Trump’s relationship with Kim be damaged by the release of Bob Woodward’s book that will apparently have the 25 or so letters between the two published? If a Sanders position is adopted regarding direct talks, would Kim be willing to meet with Biden and would Biden be able to establish some kind of positive relationship with Kim?

Regardless of who wins, Kim will demand sanctions relief at least in part, if not complete, before he agrees to move forward. He has failed to “play” Trump and Moon, despite raised expectations that both would be willing to make a deal, and this has put Kim under enormous pressure in Pyongyang. He is going to have to deliver after the election so he will be making demands that must not be met. He will be resorting to his blackmail diplomacy, which is to conduct provocations and raise tension in order to gain political and economic concessions. We cannot give in to those concessions, because to do so will simply prove to Kim Jong-Un that his blackmail diplomacy works, and he will never negotiate in good faith as he knows he can make the US give in to his demands.

I do not have any insights into the Biden-Harris Foreign policy positions, but if they are going to adopt some of the position espoused by Representative Ro Khanna, then it will have a very damaging effect on US interests in Northeast Asia and security on the Korean peninsula.

Rep Khanna advocates for a peace treaty with North Korea. This plays into the hands of Kim Jong-Un and his long-term strategy to split the ROK/US alliance and get US forces off the Korean peninsula (sadly, this also seems to be a Trump desire as well). Ending the alliance, getting US troops off the peninsula, and ending extended deterrence and the nuclear umbrella over the ROK and Japan is what Kim calls for to prove that the US “hostile policy” has ended. This is what he means by a security guarantee from the US. He does not mean words or an agreement. He means concrete action by the US to remove what he perceives as a threat to him and the only obstacle standing in the way of him dominating the peninsula under the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.

Rep Khanna and his allies in various think tanks seem to think that sanctions should be lifted.  First of all, neither Trump nor Biden as President has the power to unilaterally lift sanctions as the UN Security Council must lift UN sanctions and the UK and France have shown that they oppose such a move and will likely use their vetoes even if the US advocates to do so. They would also not have the power to lift US sanctions without US approval. Korean issues are arguably the only real bipartisan foreign policy issues and there will likely remain very strong support for keeping sanctions in place until a substantive agreement and concrete action toward denuclearization is taken by Kim Jong-Un.

We should also keep in mind two things.  First, Kim could get sanctions relief if he would make the policy decision to comply with the requirements of the sanctions.

 Second, those who advocate lifting of sanctions without compliance must be asked what North Korean horrific behavior do they wish to condone by Kim Jong-Un and the Kim family regime?  Do they support the continued nuclear and missile development? Do they support the continued proliferation of weapons around the world contributing to instability in the Middle East and Africa? Do they support the ongoing cyber attacks around the world? Do they support the global illicit activities such as counterfeiting, drug trafficking, and the employment of overseas slave labor? Do they condone the gulags in North Korea and the brutal human rights abuses and crimes against humanity being committed against the Korean people living in the north? All those who advocate for sanctions relief without compliance by the North must be asked those questions and they must provide answers and specify with behaviors they wish to condone.

In conclusion, I do not know what positions a Biden administration will adopt, but if it includes a peace treaty, removal of US troops, continued direct diplomacy without progress from Kim Jong-Un, and sanctions relief without compliance with the requirements of sanctions, then US interests in Northeast Asia will be at risk as will the security of our two allies, the ROK and Japan.  Ironically, if Trump is elected for a second term some of this might describe his policies as well since he has said he will make a “quick deal” if he is re-elected.

 

"It is the nature of every person to error, but only the fool perseveres in error."

- Marcus Tullius Cicero

“We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace. Be peaceful, therefore, in warring, so that you may vanquish those whom you war against, and bring them to the prosperity of peace.

- St. Augustine

“Without a word this uniform also whispers of freezing troops, injured bodies, and Americans left forever in foreign fields. It documents every serviceman’s courage, who by accepting this uniform, promises the one gift he truly has to give: his life. I wear my uniform for the heritage of sacrifice it represents and more. I wear my uniform with pride, for it represents the greatest nation of free people in the world.”

- Captain Karen Dorman Kimmel

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Ahyoung Shin

 

1. Russia registers virus vaccine, Putin’s daughter given it

2. Global coronavirus cases top 20 million, doubling in 45 days

3. A 'cold war' would be 'dreadful'

4. Hal Brands - If America and China Go to War, It Won’t Be an Accident

5. U.S. Contractor Knew of Explosive Material in Beirut Since at Least 2016

6. Opinion | Austin Tice represents the best of America. President Trump must work to bring him home

7. First to Adapt: Why the Joint Force Should Be Closely Watching the Sweeping Overhaul of the Marine Corps

8. Spacepower Is ‘Catastrophically Decisive’ In War: New Space Force Doctrine

9. Opinion | Why Is China Coming After Americans Like Me in the U.S.?

10. Fighting Russia’s Disinformation Pandemic

11. Service Chiefs to SecDef: Stop the Handover of Military Hospitals to Defense Health Agency

12. US Cyber Command is using unclassified networks to fight election interference

13. COVID-19 casts SEAL training in Washington state adrift

14. FDD | China's Plan to Buy Iran Won't Go So Smoothly

15. FDD | Modernize the National Guard’s State Partnership Program

16. FDD | An ISIS Jailbreak in Afghanistan

17. Trump Considers Banning Re-entry by Citizens Who May Have Coronavirus

18. Pentagon offers military airwaves for 5G wireless networks

19. U.S. Health Chief Praises Taiwan’s Covid-19 Success, Irks Beijing in Rare Visit

20. An Answer to Aggression - How to Push Back Against Beijing

 

1. Russia registers virus vaccine, Putin’s daughter given it

AP · by VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV · August 11, 2020

So only to one daughter? What about the other one? Is he conducting his own family test?

2. Global coronavirus cases top 20 million, doubling in 45 days

AP · by NICOLE WINFIELD, ELAINE KURTENBACH and MARK STEVENSON · August 11, 2020

But there are still those who think the pandemic is a hoax or a conspiracy theory.

3. A 'cold war' would be 'dreadful'

chinadaily.com.cn · by 代艳

Just "dreadful.'  You have to love Chinese propaganda. It sounds like one of my late grandmothers' "Oh dear, a cold war with China would be just so dreadful."

4. Hal Brands - If America and China Go to War, It Won’t Be an Accident

english.aawsat.com

A very interesting thesis and interesting historical analysis and comparison. But it begs the question if not accidental war, then which side actually wants war?

While China may want to present these threats and dilemmas to the US because it knows our military industrial complex wants to develop the weapons and capabilities to fight these threats it would rather conduct political and economic warfare to undermine US credibility and legitimacy in order to further its strategic objectives. It would like the US to focus on preparing for the wrong war. Rather than the war the US military industrial complex wants to prepare for and resource, I believe China seeks to export its authoritarian political system (or perhaps just its authoritarian techniques and not communism per se) around the world in order to dominate regions, co-opt or coerce international organizations, create economic conditions favorable to China alone, and displace democratic institutions. It will do so by weakening the US and its allies through subversive activities rather than direct military confrontation.

5. U.S. Contractor Knew of Explosive Material in Beirut Since at Least 2016

The New York Times · by Maria Abi-Habib and Ben Hubbard · August 10, 2020

6. Opinion | Austin Tice represents the best of America. President Trump must work to bring him home

The Washington Post · by Fred Ryan · August 11, 2020

It is so tragic we have not been able to bring him home.

7. First to Adapt: Why the Joint Force Should Be Closely Watching the Sweeping Overhaul of the Marine Corps

mwi.usma.edu · by Brian Raike · August 11, 2020

I think the MAGTF concept will be enduring (or should be). But I wonder if the Marines like it being described as a Miniature Joint Force. Maybe a future MAGTF will adopt "mini-me" as its motto.

8. Spacepower Is ‘Catastrophically Decisive’ In War: New Space Force Doctrine

breakingdefense.com · by Theresa Hitchens

Interesting phrase - "catastrophically decisive."  Those two words seem incongruent and seem like they do not belong together.

Kind of like George Carlin's monologue about words that should not go together -  "JUMBO shrimp". "hand me that piano" or "please saw my legs off" and of course his all time favorite: "Do what you want to the girl but leave me alone."

But on a serious note, yes space is decisive "terrain." (okay that is another attempted quip).

9. Opinion | Why Is China Coming After Americans Like Me in the U.S.?

The New York Times · by Samuel Chu · August 10, 2020

10. Fighting Russia’s Disinformation Pandemic

realclearworld.com · by Veronika Velch

It is amazing to me how many on social media are influenced by this and adding reinforcing and supporting information fires. These seem to be people who have a distinctly anti-intellectual, anti-science, anti-vaccine, anti-mask, anti-government bent who are particularly susceptible to Russian disinformation because the Russians seem to feed them exactly what they want to hear to confirm their already existing biases.

11. Service Chiefs to SecDef: Stop the Handover of Military Hospitals to Defense Health Agency

military.com · by Patricia Kime · August 10, 2020

Stop the madness? Perhaps one good thing will come out of the coronavirus?

12. US Cyber Command is using unclassified networks to fight election interference

c4isrnet.com · by Mark Pomerleau · August 10, 2020

We must protect the integrity of our election process. Can we all agree on that?

13. COVID-19 casts SEAL training in Washington state adrift

navytimes.com · by Geoff Ziezulewicz · August 10, 2020

Another “casualty” of the coronavirus.

14. FDD | China's Plan to Buy Iran Won't Go So Smoothly

fdd.org · by Alireza Nader Senior Fellow · August 7, 2020

15. FDD | Modernize the National Guard’s State Partnership Program

fdd.org · by Bradley Bowman and Thomas G. Pledger · August 10, 2020

16. FDD | An ISIS Jailbreak in Afghanistan

fdd.org · by Thomas Joscelyn Senior Fellow and Senior Editor of FDD's Long War Journal · August 7, 2020

17. Trump Considers Banning Re-entry by Citizens Who May Have Coronavirus

The New York Times · by Michael D. Shear · August 10, 2020

What happens when that American citizen is denied entry and then returned to wherever he or she came from?  What if that country will not expect them back or what if that country wants to deport them to the US?  What about US military personnel who have been stationed overseas?  I have heard half of he Afghan population has COVID. How many US service members have been infected?  If an immigration official reasonably believes someone has been exposed shouldn't that person be referred for immediate medical treatment?  To put that person back on an airplane (which will likely have many Americans on it traveling overseas) would seem the height of irresponsibility as he or she would just keep infecting others.

18. Pentagon offers military airwaves for 5G wireless networks

AP · by MATT O'BRIEN and DEB RIECHMANN · August 10, 2020

I guess this must be a good idea?? I would like to hear from the technical communications experts.

19. U.S. Health Chief Praises Taiwan’s Covid-19 Success, Irks Beijing in Rare Visit

WSJ · by Chun Han Wong

It makes sense for the Secretary to travel to Taiwan. We can learn a lot from Taiwan about how to handle the coronavirus.

20. An Answer to Aggression - How to Push Back Against Beijing

Foreign Affairs · by Aaron L. Friedberg · August 11, 2020

We must execute a superior form of political warfare.

 

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“The world has achieved brilliance without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”

- General of the Army Omar Bradley. Veterans (Armistice) Day, 1948

 

 "Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

- Mahatma Gandhi

 

“The soldier who fights to death never dies, but the soldier who fights for existence never truly exists.”

-Admiral Yi Sun-shin