News

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

1. Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity

2.  FACT SHEET: President Signs Executive Order Charting New Course to Improve the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Protect Federal Government Networks

3. Joint CISA-FBI Cybersecurity Advisory on DarkSide Ransomware | CISA

4. How China Views the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan

5. Colonial Pipeline: The DarkSide Strikes (Congressional Research Service)

6. Over 130 US personnel 'targeted in suspected directed-energy attacks'

7. US government has no answer to attack on pipeline

8. Echoes from the Age of Darkness – Time to Confront China’s Xi

9. Trump appointee gives rare endorsement to successor chosen by Biden

10. China increases foreign influence efforts on U.S. by 500%

11. White House Weighs Evacuating Afghans as Time Runs Out

12. Pentagon List of Extremism Experts Includes Anti-Muslim and Conservative Christian Groups

13. The US Navy has its own helicopter squadron dedicated to supporting special-operations missions

14. Shake Off the Pentagon's Industrial-Age Bureaucracy

15. Explosions and Crashes Echo Loss for an “Afghan Hand” by Jack McCain

16. DemTech | China’s Public Diplomacy Operations: Understanding Engagement and Inauthentic Amplification of PRC Diplomats on Facebook and Twitter

17. Bernie Sanders wants to cut defense spending. Not all Democrats agree.

18. White House Aims To Beef Up Nation’s Cybersecurity After Pipeline Hack

19. Lawmakers Scold Pentagon for Leaving Afghanistan Without ‘Over-the-Horizon’ Plan

20. The first Asian American to command a U.S. battalion

 

1. Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity

White House •  May 12, 2021 • PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

 

2.  FACT SHEET: President Signs Executive Order Charting New Course to Improve the Nation’s Cybersecurity and Protect Federal Government Networks

White House • May 12, 2021 • STATEMENTS AND RELEASES

Two points.

Why weren't many of these actions implemented years ago? I guess we have the Russian criminal gang to thank for pushing us to take some action.

Speaking of action, what this EO does not discuss are actions taken to punish attackers. I suppose those actions should be ina classified EO and a classified playbook. But we need to know how our government is going to respond to cyber attacks across spectrum from criminals to nation states.

Excerpts: “Specifically, the Executive Order the President is signing today will:

Remove Barriers to Threat Information Sharing Between Government and the Private Sector.

Modernize and Implement Stronger Cybersecurity Standards in the Federal Government. 

Improve Software Supply Chain Security.

Establish a Cybersecurity Safety Review Board. 

Create a Standard Playbook for Responding to Cyber Incidents. 

Improve Detection of Cybersecurity Incidents on Federal Government Networks. 

Improve Investigative and Remediation Capabilities.

 

3. Joint CISA-FBI Cybersecurity Advisory on DarkSide Ransomware | CISA

us-cert.cisa.gov

 

4. How China Views the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan

warontherocks.com · by Yun Sun · May 13, 2021

Excerpt: Broadly speaking, China’s reaction to American troops withdrawal from Afghanistan is complicated. In the short term, Beijing is concerned that without the U.S. military, Afghanistan will soon descend into chaos and will inevitably serve as a haven for Islamic extremism. But in the long run, the Chinese policy community remains deeply skeptical of U.S. intentions, and it assumes the United States will retain and use its influence in Afghanistan to advance its interests. Moreover, Beijing fears that the United States — freed from its on-the-ground military commitment in Afghanistan — will now use the country to undermine China’s regional position and key interests.

 

5. Colonial Pipeline: The DarkSide Strikes (Congressional Research Service)

Congressional Research Reports

The 3 page report can be reached at the link. 

 

6. Over 130 US personnel 'targeted in suspected directed-energy attacks'

Daily Mail · by Adam Schrader · May 13, 2021

There seems to be only one person arguing the science does not back up this type of "weapon" Cheryl Rofer). If that is true all these cases must be a "coincidence." But I would attribute all of these to coincidence.  

 

7. US government has no answer to attack on pipeline

asiatimes.com · by Stephen Bryen · May 13, 2021

Excerpts: “In the bigger picture, US intelligence says that foreign governments – eg, China, Russia, Iran and others – are either directly running cyber operations against outside targets or getting hackers to do it for them.

Even going back to the earliest computer hacks, Clifford Stoll reported in his book The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage (1989), that a hacker in Bremen, Germany, had penetrated the computer system of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and was seeking classified US Defense Department information. The Bremen hacker was working for the KGB.

Today hostile governments can afford to set up large and sophisticated cyber-spying operations or use those operations to cripple an adversary. This is something that the Chinese have tried to do against Taiwan, the Russians against the United States, the Ukraine and select European countries such as Estonia and Iran, have used cyber methods to attack Israel.

Many cyberattacks are designed to steal intellectual property. China ripped off Lockheed and Lockheed’s suppliers to steal information on the design of the F-35 fighter. Iran has used cyber espionage to steal intellectual property from hundreds of universities and private companies.

Despite government and industry spending hundreds of billions of dollars on computer security, most computer systems and networks remain dangerously exposed to cyber-attacks, including ransomware.

Worst still, as the Colonial Pipeline case underlines, the government including law enforcement doesn’t know what to do when a major disruptive intrusion happens. This is especially worrisome because the entire critical infrastructure could be collapsed by a determined adversary and Washington would just be scratching its head, as it is now.

 

8. Echoes from the Age of Darkness – Time to Confront China’s Xi

cepa.org · by Walter Clemens · May 12, 2021

Excerpt: Xi’s actions at home and abroad pose the same challenges in the 21st century as totalitarian states posed in the last century. Dangers loom even as the world needs great power collaboration to tap the best of modern science and cope with nuclear weapons, climate change and pandemics. The United States walks a tightrope between the imperatives of global interdependence and the need to contain aggression. Confronting a similar dilemma when Imperial Japan seized Manchuria, U.S. Secretary of State Henry Stimson in 1932 issued what is known as the Stimson Doctrine. It declared that the United States will never recognize political or territorial changes made by force of arms. Most League of Nations members followed suit. Reiterating the Stimson Doctrine would provide a constructive response to the expansionist claims of Vladimir Putin as well as Xi Jinping.

 

9. Trump appointee gives rare endorsement to successor chosen by Biden

NBC News · by Courtney Kube · May 12, 2021

I would say that this is what national security professionals do. They make objective assessments of abilities and do not rely on partisan stances.

Excerpts: “While Washington and the country remain divided along partisan lines, McCarthy said his endorsement is not about politics, but about what is best for the Army.

"We need to get the wind at her back," he said. "Making her successful is in everybody's best interest."

 

10. China increases foreign influence efforts on U.S. by 500%

Axios · by Lachlan Markay

Can there be any doubt about Chinese capabilities and intent? The revisionist and rogue powers are leading with influence.

 

My thoughts:

 

Problem

We face threats from political warfare strategies supported by hybrid military approaches.

 

Solution:

Learn to lead with influence

Learn to counter and conduct political warfare campaigns

 

Great Power Competition:

•Competition equals Political Warfare

• Most likely

•State on state warfare less likely

• Most dangerous

•We must be able to operate in the modern era of the Gray Zone and Political Warfare – Irregular Warfare

•But we must also support major theater state on state war – not either/or but both/and

 

 

Views on Warfare

•What is the major difference in the views of conflict, strategy, and campaigning between China, Russia, Iran, nK, AQ, and ISIS and the US?

–The psychological takes precedence and may or may not be supported with the kinetic

–Politics is war by other means

–For the US kinetic is first and the psychological is second

–War is politics by other means

•Napoleon: In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one

•In the 21st Century the psychological is to the kinetic as ten is to one

•The US has to learn to put the psychological first

–Can a federal democratic republic “do strategy” this way

–Or is it only autocratic, totalitarian dictatorships that can “do strategy” this way?

•An American Way of Political Warfare: A Proposal https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/perspectives/PE300/PE304/RAND_PE304.pdf

 

Bottom Line:

•Irregular Warfare is the military contribution to Political Warfare

•Political Warfare is a whole of government (and society?) effort at the national level integrating all instruments of national power toward an acceptable durable political arrangement that will sustain, protect, and advance U.S national security interests around the world

•

•Political warfare is Statecraft

–Some would call it “Irregular Statecraft.”

 

11. White House Weighs Evacuating Afghans as Time Runs Out

Bloomberg · by Jennifer Jacobs · May 12, 2021

April 1975.

 

12. Pentagon List of Extremism Experts Includes Anti-Muslim and Conservative Christian Groups

The Intercept · by Ken Klippenstein · May 12, 2021

Excerpts: “In a phone interview with The Intercept, Berry said he was not aware of his inclusion in the military working group’s list of experts. He also expressed concerns about respecting service members’ constitutional rights. “Eliminating extremism from the military is certainly a noble goal but it’s going to be important that we have a good definition of what extremism is such that we protect constitutional rights,” Berry said.

While it is unclear which of the individuals or groups mentioned in the Pentagon document will end up consulting, there are signs that some already have been doing so. Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation League, thanked the Army War College for inviting him to speak on extremism in tweets posted yesterday.

The Pentagon, MEMRI, and the ADL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

13. The US Navy has its own helicopter squadron dedicated to supporting special-operations missions

Business Insider · by Miguel Ortiz

Some damn fine pilots. Had the honor of working with these professionals in Asia.

 

14. Shake Off the Pentagon's Industrial-Age Bureaucracy

defenseone.com · by Dan Ward

Culture and bureaucracy are the two most difficult things to change.

 

15. Explosions and Crashes Echo Loss for an “Afghan Hand” by Jack McCain

thewarhorse.org · by Jack McCain · May 12, 2021

An excellent article from someone I am proud to call a friend. Jack was a student in my unconventional warfare class at Georgetown. I would have recruited him into Special Forces if he had not already been a Naval aviator. He knows the indigenous approach and working through, with, and by our friends, partners, and allies.

 

16. DemTech | China’s Public Diplomacy Operations: Understanding Engagement and Inauthentic Amplification of PRC Diplomats on Facebook and Twitter

demtech.oii.ox.ac.uk

The 41 page report can be downloaded here. 

 

17. Bernie Sanders wants to cut defense spending. Not all Democrats agree.

Defense News · by Joe Gould · May 12, 2021

Senator Sanders is dangerous for defense and US national security. That said I do acknowledge (as we all should) the Pentagon has many challenges in procurement and acquisition and budget management. We do need reforms in a number of areas.

 

18. White House Aims To Beef Up Nation’s Cybersecurity After Pipeline Hack

defenseone.com · by Patrick Tucker

 

19. Lawmakers Scold Pentagon for Leaving Afghanistan Without ‘Over-the-Horizon’ Plan

defenseone.com · by Jacqueline Feldscher

I have to believe we have conducted long term planning and there are planners who have long been analyzing all possible courses of action. We must have anticipated the decision to withdraw and looked at various contingencies. We must have conducted planning for what comes next. I have to believe that.

 

20. The first Asian American to command a U.S. battalion

wearethemighty.com · by Miguel Ortiz · May 10, 2021

The story of a great American hero. We should all be inspired by his life. He represents all that is good and great about America.

 

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

 

"Only the truth which was acquired by your own thinking, through the efforts of your intellect, becomes a member of your own body, and only this truth really belongs to us."

- Arthur Schopenhauer

 

"When you carry your burden, you should know that it is good for you to have it. Make the best of this burden and take from it everything which is necessary for your intellectual life, as your stomach takes from food everything necessary for your flesh, or as fire burns brighter after you put some wood on it."

- Marcus Aurelius

 

“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
- Isaac Asimov, Foundation

 

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

1. N.K. paper warns against inflow of capitalistic culture into country

2.  U.S. will address N. Korean human rights and nuclear issues at same time: official

3. Unification minister urges N.K. to resume nuclear talks after upcoming Moon-Biden summit meeting

4. Blinken offers outcome of N. Korea policy review to Russian counterpart: State

5. U.S. intel chief Haines visits DMZ amid policy coordination efforts on N. Korea

6. S. Korea, U.S. hold talks on ASEAN cooperation

7. N. Korea still in talks with COVAX to receive coronavirus vaccines: official

8. Vaccine partnership to be discussed at S. Korea-US summit, says Cheong Wa Dae

9. In Biden meet, Moon gets a late chance to shine

10. US government summons Samsung the day before ROK-US summit

11.  South Korea plans to invest $450bn to become chip 'powerhouse'

12. Korean Air Force to participate in U.S.-led Red Flag drills for first time in 3 years

13. Seoul spy chief meets with Suga to discuss relations, mend ties

14. 'US intel chief's open visit to S. Korea targets China, North Korea'

15. Moody's Warns of Korea's Record Sovereign Debt

16. Moon Has Abandoned Young People

17. N. Korea expands the number of soldiers going abroad to earn foreign currency

18. Hungry North Korean Construction Workers in Pyongyang Rob and Murder Citizens to Buy Food

19. More details emerge about the forced repatriation in 2018 of a N. Korean soldier working in Russia

20. The Lure of H Mart, Where the Shelves Can Seem as Wide as Asia

 

1. N.K. paper warns against inflow of capitalistic culture into country

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · May 13, 2021

This is just another indication that the regime fears the Korean people living in the north more than the US or any other threat. Kim fears the people armed with information about the outside world and participating in the market activity that has been the safety valve for survival and the key to societal resilience for the past two decades plus since the Arduous March of 1994-1996.

 

2.  U.S. will address N. Korean human rights and nuclear issues at same time: official

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 13, 2021

This is a major difference between the Obama and Trump north Korea policies (though Trump did address north Korean human rights in 2017 and up to the State of the Union in January 2018 but after that there was no more emphasis on it).

I hope Mr. Nadel is not out ahead of the tips of his skies here and that he is actually articulating the new administration Korea policy.

Excerpts: “Daniel Nadel, a senior official from the U.S. Department of State office of international religious freedom, also argued that a push for improved human rights conditions in the North would ensure "better outcomes" by addressing fundamental problems.

"The nuclear issues are real. They are a significant challenge. We intend to address those issues head on, as we have. But there is no trade off between addressing human rights issues or addressing other matters of national security or bilateral concern," he said in a telephonic press conference.

But he seems to slightly punt the anti-leaflet law issue here.  However, the buried lede may be that he is telegraphing that the new administration policy will have an information and influence activities line of effort.

In his earlier press conference, Nadel had also stressed the importance of a free flow of information into North Korea in a reaction to questions related to South Korea's anti-leafleting law that prohibits sending propaganda leaflets across the inter-Korean border to North Korea.

The U.S. official said the U.S. understood the concerns South Korea has in relation to the safety of its people who live close to the border.

"As part of our efforts to promote fundamental freedoms, we do believe access to information is vital. But we also recognize and understand the concerns that the Republic of Korea government was operating under with respect to this law," he told Yonhap, referring to South Korea by its official name.

"So I don't believe we have an opinion on the law itself. However, the important principle is that the information be available to individuals inside of North Korea," he said, adding the U.S. seeks to use a "number of different means" to transmit information to people in closed societies.

 

3. Unification minister urges N.K. to resume nuclear talks after upcoming Moon-Biden summit meeting

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · May 13, 2021

Indications of a compromise policy (based on Minister Lee's interpretation and comment):

 

4. Blinken offers outcome of N. Korea policy review to Russian counterpart: State

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 13, 2021

Just be prepared for future Russian actions to act as a spoiler on the Korean peninsula.

 

5. U.S. intel chief Haines visits DMZ amid policy coordination efforts on N. Korea

en.yna.co.kr · by 오석민 · May 13, 2021

A necessary pilgrimage for all US leaders.

 

6. S. Korea, U.S. hold talks on ASEAN cooperation

en.yna.co.kr · by 김승연 · May 13, 2021

The ROK's New Southern Policy and the US strategy of a Free and Open INDOPACIFIC are mutually supporting and reinforcing.

 

7. N. Korea still in talks with COVAX to receive coronavirus vaccines: official

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · May 13, 2021

This is the only way the north will probably agree to receive a US vaccine contribution- through COVAX.

 

8. Vaccine partnership to be discussed at S. Korea-US summit, says Cheong Wa Dae

donga.com · May 13, 2021

An agenda item for the summit.

 

9. In Biden meet, Moon gets a late chance to shine

asiatimes.com · by Andrew Salmon · May 12, 2021

Unfortunately this kind of analysis plays right into the regime's political warfare strategy. The regime assesses that South Korea and perhaps the US - want diplomacy more than the north. Therefore the regime is likely to make large demands just to agree to talks.  We cannot "want it " more than the regime. 

 

10. US government summons Samsung the day before ROK-US summit

donga.com · May 13, 2021

 

11.  South Korea plans to invest $450bn to become chip 'powerhouse'

asia.nikkei.com · May 13, 2021

 

12. Korean Air Force to participate in U.S.-led Red Flag drills for first time in 3 years

koreanjoongangdaily.joins.com · Michael Lee · May 13, 2021

Good news for the ROK/US Alliance.

 

13. Seoul spy chief meets with Suga to discuss relations, mend ties

koreanjoongangdaily.joins.com · Sarah Kim · May 13, 2021

A positive step I hope.

 

14. 'US intel chief's open visit to S. Korea targets China, North Korea'

The Korea Times · May 13, 2021

Again, the US is taking a number of actions to demonstrate the priority it is placing on alliances for US foreign policy and nationals security.

 

15. Moody's Warns of Korea's Record Sovereign Debt

english.chosun.com

 

16.  Moon Has Abandoned Young People

english.chosun.com

Will this cause the ruling party to lose the presidential election in 2022?

 

17. N. Korea expands the number of soldiers going abroad to earn foreign currency

dailynk.com · by Seulkee Jang · May 13, 2021

This is probably one of the most overlooked actions by the regime.  Note the tooth to tail ratio below! 

Although they will be under tight control, I would initiate a campaign to try to get information to those soldiers and undermine (subvert)  their relationship with their officers and the regime.  I bet I could recruit enough twentysomethings who would figure out a way to reach these soldiers. We could create such conditions through subversion that the regime could no longer afford to send soldiers overseas because when they return to the north they will be of no value to the regime and will not be able to be controlled.

Excerpts: “A source in Pyongyang told Daily NK on May 5 that most of the soldiers currently receiving education related to their upcoming overseas assignments are current soldiers, including those as low in rank as private.

In fact, 90% of the soldiers are privates, while the remaining 10% are military officers who will manage them.

North Korea’s leadership is expanding the number of soldiers being sent abroad because they can earn more money for state coffers compared to ordinary civilian workers.

Civilian workers “donate” various amounts of money into the country’s “loyalty fund” depending on what they do abroad; however, generally speaking, about 60% of their monthly wages go into state coffers.

 

18. Hungry North Korean Construction Workers in Pyongyang Rob and Murder Citizens to Buy Food

rfa.org · by Jeong Yon Park

Another indicator of potential instability and possible nascent resistance. This bears watching.

 

19.  More details emerge about the forced repatriation in 2018 of a N. Korean soldier working in Russia

dailynk.com · by Jeong Tae Joo · May 13, 2021

Internal discipline in the military is suspect.  The three chains of control of the military is challenged.

 

20. The Lure of H Mart, Where the Shelves Can Seem as Wide as Asia

The New York Times · by Ligaya Mishan · May 11, 2021

This is another fascinating American story.  We are long time regular shoppers at H Mart (at many different stores!).  But sadly we are reminded of today's conditions as there are some references to the current anti-Asian hate.

 

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

 

"Only the truth which was acquired by your own thinking, through the efforts of your intellect, becomes a member of your own body, and only this truth really belongs to us."

- Arthur Schopenhauer

 

"When you carry your burden, you should know that it is good for you to have it. Make the best of this burden and take from it everything which is necessary for your intellectual life, as your stomach takes from food everything necessary for your flesh, or as fire burns brighter after you put some wood on it."

- Marcus Aurelius

 

“Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”
- Isaac Asimov, Foundation

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

1.  FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS: Biden’s foreign policy of ‘competitive coexistence’

2.  Opinion | Biden's infrastructure plan wouldn't protect the Colonial Pipeline from another attack

3.  Rahm Emanuel to be appointed US ambassador to Japan

4. University President Apologizes for Plagiarizing Remarks by Famous Navy SEAL McRaven

5.  Taiwan as Donbas?: Subversion and insurrection vs. full scale invasion

6. China accuses US of biowarfare to deflect COVID blame

7.  New Officials Sworn-in at the Department of Defense

8. Over 120 Retired Flag Officers Warn U.S. Under Assault from Socialism

9. A Black Colonel Takes Command of a Key Marine Corps Brigade

10. Pentagon Chief Feared ‘Coup’ Accusations if He Deployed Troops to Capitol Riot

11. Revised JADC2 Strategy Hits DepSecDef’s Desk

12. Harmonizing Counterterrorism and Great-Power Competition

13. Reed prioritizing China deterrence fund, comms and unmanned ships

14. New Pentagon directive to manage gobs of data: Make it all sharable

15. Why National Cyber Defense Is a ‘Wicked’ Problem

16. French military chief invites ‘civil war’ letter soldiers to quit

17. Afghanistan: Taliban captures strategic district close to Kabul

18. Afghan forces "have to be ready" as U.S. withdraws, top commander says

19. Marine Corps rolls out ‘mishap library’ in wake of deadly accidents

20. Doubts emerge over Chinese President Xi Jinping's chances of securing 3rd term

21. The Philippine Resistance – How WW2’s Forgotten Guerrilla Movement Helped Bring Down Japan

22. 'Disturbing and reckless': Retired brass spread election lie in attack on Biden, Democrats

23. A Surprising Lesson from the Stoics

24. An old veteran friend died of COVID, and I blame the Republican leadership by Robert Bruce Adolph

 

1.  FOLLOW-UP COMMENTS: Biden’s foreign policy of ‘competitive coexistence’

ekathimerini.com · by Ian Bremmer · May 8, 2021

So after I sent this article out with my comment below, I received some important and useful responses from some experts that prove I am neither an international relations expert nor an expert on national security history. But I do try to be a lifelong learner and recognize there is always more to learn (especially from history!). Thanks to those who responded. I always appreciate new information and insights.

The first response was this (and even he recognized it might have come before): “FYI, the term “competitive coexistence” has been out there for a while. The first use I saw was in this piece, but it might have come even earlier, too. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nationalinterest.org/feature/competitive-coexistence-american-concept-managing-us-china-relations-42852%3famp

 

The second response was this: “Sorry for the interjection, but pulled strongly on the term competitive coexistence given its adjacency to Competitive Statecraft. The term dates back to the 1950s during the Cold War. I’m attaching the first academic article that I’ve seen that uses it, but this approach is often attributed to the Dulles cabal under Eisenhower.”

He actually attached the PDF of the article 1956 for anyone who is interested in access it.

"Competitive Coexistence": Can We Win? Author(s): Emile Benoit Source: The Antioch Review, Vol. 16, No. 2 (Summer, 1956), pp. 146-160 Published by: Antioch Review Inc. 

These four introductory paragraphs have an eerie parallel to today. Maybe history does rhyme. Replace the nuclear arms race from the 1950s with the race for development of cyber capabilities, AI, nanotechnology, space based systems, etc.

THE NEW DISPLAY OF CONFIDENCE by the Kremlin is neither a bluff nor a mystery. President Eisenhower at Geneva dramatically expressed our awareness of our nuclear vulnerability, and our absolute determination to avoid war short of extreme provocation. The Russians now know, if they ever doubted it, that they are not going to be attacked. They are certain that they will have all the time they need to mount a full-scale economic, diplomatic and psychological offensive-or what they euphemistically call "competitive coexistence." 

Until yesterday, it seemed to almost all Americans that in any such nonmilitary struggle we held all the main advantages. Our clear supremacy in the field of mass-production, especially of cars and other consumer durables, had conditioned us to assume that we were and always would be tops in science and technology. Only recently has it begun to dawn on even well-informed people that this is a race we could lose. The thought is so horrifying that it's fiercely resisted. 

American complacency has, nevertheless, had to take some nasty jolts recently. The Russians developed both A-bombs and H-bombs much faster than predicted by such leading scientific administrators as General L. R. Groves, and Drs. James Conant and Vannevar Bush. And it's by no means certain that the Russians had to rely heavily on espionage to do it. They got well ahead of us for a while in jet fighter design, and they are currently outproducing us on heavy intercon- tinental bombers. American automation experts recently visiting Russian plant proclaimed that they'd "never automation" in their lives. The Russians are in electronics, and some outstanding work in applied genetics and horticulture. Their published papers in mathematics and physics are apparently now on a level with our own, and this is true also of work being done in the Satellite countries. Top American scientists who have recently visited their laboratories believe they are years ahead of us in pure nuclear research. They are gaining an impressive momen- tum in the development of nuclear reactors, and there are grave fears that they may have outstripped us in the vital field of military rockets, thereby exposing us to the potential risk of what Senator Henry Jack- son has called "ballistic blackmail." 

A key factor in the new Soviet assurance was revealed by Mr. Khrushchev in an address to a Youth Conference in Moscow last January. "The capitalists always regard our people as being back- ward," he boasted, "but today we have more engineers and more supporting engineering technical personnel than any capitalist coun- try, and during the next Five Year Plan their number will increase further." Technological supremacy, he promised, would bring victory without war.

 

This cannot be dismissed as just Communist propaganda. In the sober judgment of Admiral Lewis L. Strauss, chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission: "In five years our lead in the training of scientists and engineers may be wiped out, and in ten years we could be hope- lessly outstripped. Unless immediate steps are taken to correct it, a situation, already dangerous, within less than a decade could become disastrous."

So I continue to learn something new everyday and most often from history.

Original Comment: “Ian Bremmer wins the prize for a new foreign policy doctrine name: "competitive coexistence."

 

2.. Opinion | Biden's infrastructure plan wouldn't protect the Colonial Pipeline from another attack

NBC News · May 12, 2021

A very important critique.

Excerpts: “As members of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, we were pleased to see Congress codify into law two recent provisions that will help victims prepare for, respond to and mitigate the consequences of cyberattacks. First, a Joint Cyber Planning Office will soon be established to help coordinate campaigns to fight cyberattacks between the public and private sectors. Secondly, the executive branch must develop a playbook for maintaining the functioning of the national economy in the event of a significant cyber incident. Although both these initiatives have been authorized by law, the administration must now take action on implementation.

As the Biden administration and Congress prioritize a massive infrastructure plan, now is the time for the federal government — and the country as a whole — to come to terms with the major investments needed to ensure the security and resiliency for our national systems. Otherwise, many more Americans will be impacted by the next bad day in critical infrastructure.

 

3. Rahm Emanuel to be appointed US ambassador to Japan

Financial Times · by Demetri Sevastopulo · May 11, 2021

I did not see this one coming. But traditionally our Ambassador to Japan is someone who is high profile and ideally closely connected to the President.

 

4. University President Apologizes for Plagiarizing Remarks by Famous Navy SEAL McRaven

military.com · by Stephen Losey · May 11, 2021

Wow.

 

5. Taiwan as Donbas?: Subversion and insurrection vs. full scale invasion

centerforsecuritypolicy.org · by Grant Newsham · May 10, 2021

The full 8 page report can be downloaded at this link.  

 

6. China accuses US of biowarfare to deflect COVID blame

americanmilitarynews.com · by Ryan Morgan · May 11, 2021

Admit nothing, deny everything, and make counter accusations.

 

7. New Officials Sworn-in at the Department of Defense

defense.gov

 

8. Over 120 Retired Flag Officers Warn U.S. Under Assault from Socialism

Breitbart · by Kristina Wong · May 11, 2021

Wow. The letter and the list of GOFOs can be accessed here.  

 

9. A Black Colonel Takes Command of a Key Marine Corps Brigade

The New York Times · by Helene Cooper · May 11, 2021

Excerpt: “As a Black man with combat command experience in a service that has never in its 245-year history had a four-star officer who was not a white man, Colonel Henderson is a rarity in the Corps: an African-American with a chance of making it to the top of the service.

Only 25 African-Americans have reached general in any form in the Marine Corps, and only one other — Brig. Gen. Calvert L. Worth — is currently an active-duty infantry general, a group from which the Corps draws much of its senior leadership.

 

10. Pentagon Chief Feared ‘Coup’ Accusations if He Deployed Troops to Capitol Riot

The New York Times · by Katie Benner · May 11, 2021

 

11. Revised JADC2 Strategy Hits DepSecDef’s Desk

breakingdefense.com · by Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.

At this link is a useful Congressional Research Service report on JADC2.  

 

12. Harmonizing Counterterrorism and Great-Power Competition

The National Interest · by Matthew Levitt · May 9, 2021

Can we walk and chew gum at the same time? CT, irregular warfare, and great power competition are not mutually exclusive and cannot be treated separately.

Conclusion: “As the Biden administration reviews current counterterrorism policies, it should make every effort to view both counterterrorism and great power competition not in binary terms of victory or defeat, but rather as ongoing efforts—short of both war and peace—in which both lethal and non-lethal tools are employed to compete with adversaries and disrupt acts of terrorism. Under any reorganization, the U.S. military will still play critical counterterrorism roles, both taking the lead in cases where terrorism threatens the homeland or U.S. interests abroad and supporting partner-led efforts elsewhere around the world. Such decisions, however, should be made strategically and based on a list circumstances under which U.S. military assets could be deployed abroad, in small but open-ended rotations or quick reaction forces acting in lead or support roles. Examples could include threats to the homeland, low-cost big-dividend counterterrorism opportunities, or the risk that declining to participate in a counterterrorism effort could incur great power competition costs.

Small counterterrorism missions in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, or Africa may be necessary to prevent terrorist groups from controlling territory or plotting foreign attacks from terrorist safe havens. Such deployments need not entail U.S.-led missions; they could be in support of partner-led initiatives such as the French-led Operation Barkhane in the Sahel region. In Iraq, where 2,500 U.S. troops are deployed, NATO announced plans to increase its military deployment from 500 to 4,000 troops and to expand its training mission beyond Baghdad. Even in Afghanistan, the Kabul government is likely to seek U.S funding to keep on Western contractors to help with a variety of critical needs, including security. Such hotspots typically also play important roles in great power competition. As the Biden team builds off its newly released Interim National Security Strategic Guidance report, it would do well to recognize that the Venn diagram overlap between counterterrorism and great power competition presents more opportunities than challenges.

 

13. Reed prioritizing China deterrence fund, comms and unmanned ships

Defense News · by Joe Gould · May 11, 2021

Excerpts: “Speaking at the Reagan Institute, Reed said Tuesday “additional funding” would be sought for PDI, though he was not specific. The comments come weeks after U.S. Indo-Pacific Command called for roughly $27 billion for the fund over five years and days ahead of President Joe Biden’s budget request for fiscal 2022.

“PDI will remain a priority for the committee as we seek to provide additional funding for required military capabilities, for strategic forward-based military posture and enhanced training infrastructure, and opportunities,” said Reed, D-R.I.

Echoing the Pentagon’s identification of the Indo-Pacific as a primary area of interest and of China as the leading threat there, Reed warned that China’s military is growing fast and investing in emerging technologies. He credited the U.S. military for tailoring its systems for that potential fight and for its own efforts to develop emerging technologies.

 

14. New Pentagon directive to manage gobs of data: Make it all sharable

c4isrnet.com · by Andrew Eversden · May 11, 2021

Excerpts: “Her memo, signed earlier this month, listed five decrees to ensure that data is ready for Joint All-Domain Command and Control:

1. “Maximize data sharing and rights for data use: all DoD data is an enterprise resource.

2. “Publish data assets in the DoD federated data catalog along with common interface specifications.

3. “Use automated data interfaces that are externally accessible and machine-readable; ensure interfaces use industry-standard, non-proprietary, preferably open-source, technologies, protocols, and payloads.

4. “Store data in a manner that is platform and environment-agnostic, uncoupled from hardware or software dependencies.

5. “Implement industry best practices for secure authentication, access management, encryption, monitoring, and protection of data at rest, in transit, and in use.”

New Pentagon directive to manage gobs of data: Make it all sharable

 

15. Why National Cyber Defense Is a ‘Wicked’ Problem

defenseone.com · by Terry Thompson

Excerpts: “The Biden administration appears to be taking the challenge seriously. The president has appointed a national cybersecurity director to coordinate related government efforts. It remains to be seen whether and how the administration will address the problem of fragmented authorities and clarify how the government will protect companies that supply critical digital infrastructure. It’s unreasonable to expect any U.S. company to be able to fend for itself against a foreign nation’s cyberattack.

In the meantime, software developers can apply the secure software development approach advocated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Government and industry can prioritize the development of artificial intelligence that can identify malware in existing systems. All this takes time, however, and hackers move quickly.

Finally, companies need to aggressively assess their vulnerabilities, particularly by engaging in more “red teaming” activities: that is, having employees, contractors or both play the role of hackers and attack the company.

Recognizing that hackers in the service of foreign adversaries are dedicated, thorough and not constrained by any rules is important for anticipating their next moves and reinforcing and improving U.S. national cyber defenses. Otherwise, Colonial Pipeline is unlikely to be the last victim of a major attack on U.S. infrastructure and SolarWinds is unlikely to be the last victim of a major attack on the U.S. software supply chain.

 

16.  French military chief invites ‘civil war’ letter soldiers to quit

euronews.com · May 12, 2021

France has its own significant civil-military relations problem. At least in the US it is retired military officers and not active duty ones. In France it appears to be both.

Excerpts: “It was the second letter, apparently authored by a military tribune, to be published in a right wing magazine, denouncing the “disintegration” of France and the dangers of Islamism.

Three weeks ago the weekly magazine Valeurs Actuelles published a similar letter, authored by 20 former generals, which claimed France was "in peril", stating that "Islamism and hordes from the suburbs" were transforming the country, which was “disintegrating”.

It was also endorsed by a hundred high-ranking officers and more than a thousand other soldiers, the magazine said.

The latest letter, written by those who call themselves “recent career soldiers”, some of whom have "experienced enemy fire" in Mali, Afghanistan or the Central African Republic, denounces what they perceive as a “brewing” civil war.

 

17. Afghanistan: Taliban captures strategic district close to Kabul 

DW 

 

18. Afghan forces "have to be ready" as U.S. withdraws, top commander says

CBS News · by Charlie D'Agata and Caitlin Yilek · May 11, 2021

I really feel bad for General Miller. I would not want to be in his shoes.

 

19. Marine Corps rolls out ‘mishap library’ in wake of deadly accidents

marinecorpstimes.com · by Philip Athey · May 11, 2021

An interesting innovation. We can ask why don't all the services do this and why was this done sooner? "Intelligent people learn from their mistakes and wise people learn from the mistakes of others."

 

20.  Doubts emerge over Chinese President Xi Jinping's chances of securing 3rd term

Livemint · May 12, 2021

I thought he had secured his "presidency" for life?

 

21. The Philippine Resistance – How WW2’s Forgotten Guerrilla Movement Helped Bring Down Japan

militaryhistorynow.com · by James Kelly Morningstar · May 11, 2021

Some history to reflect upon. . We must never forget the importance of resistance in all its forms.

 

22. 'Disturbing and reckless': Retired brass spread election lie in attack on Biden, Democrats

Politico

I wonder how much controversy this will generator will this fade away?

 

23. A Surprising Lesson from the Stoics

defenseone.com · by Nancy Sherman

I am very fond of reading the Stoics. Professor Sherman is one of the very best Stoic scholars. We can learn a lot from her and from the Stoics.

 

24. An old veteran friend died of COVID, and I blame the Republican leadership by Robert Bruce Adolph

Tampa Bay Times · by Robert Bruce Adolph

Excerpt: “I have no desire to politicize my friend’s demise — quite the opposite. It is also not my intent to add to the polarization between the political right and left in our country. My crucially important objective is to point out that the real issue here is about right and wrong. The former administration was wrong. We are still paying the cost in blood and tears. Although attenuated because of vaccinations, the death toll continues to rise.”

 

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

 

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” 

-Vince Lombardi

 

"If you live only for yourself you are always an immediate danger of being bored to death with the repetition of your own views and interests. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellowmen." 

- W. Beran Wolfe

 

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues." 

- Cicero

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

1. S. Korea, U.S. to hold regular defense talks on N. Korea, OPCON transfer

2. Spy chiefs of S. Korea, Japan meet to discuss N. Korea, bilateral issues: reports

3.  Unification minister planning to visit Washington next month: official

4. North Korea: Biden and Moon Should Focus on Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible ‘Action’ by Patrick M. Cronin

5. Biden must tell Kim: Begin denuclearization, end dehumanization of North Koreans

6. North Korea Leaves Room to Renew Dialogue with the US

7. N. Korea leaves out photos of inter-Korean summit from album of leader's diplomatic activities

8. Biden Shouldn’t Pressure Seoul into ‘Strategic Clarity’

9. N. Korean authorities mobilize inminban leaders to crackdown on street vendors

10. North Korea imports COVID-19 vaccine samples from China and Russia

11. North Korea Orders Youth League Reshuffle for More Effective Self-Criticism Sessions

12. North Korea Orders Farmers to Collect Urine for Fertilizer Amid Shortage

13. North Korea unlikely to respond to US vaccine offer

14. Moody's warns Korea about rising debt, stalled peace talks

15. [EXCLUSIVE] Moderna plans to build manufacturing facilities in Korea

 

1. S. Korea, U.S. to hold regular defense talks on N. Korea, OPCON transfer

en.yna.co.kr · by 오석민 · May 12, 2021

This should be an interesting discussion.

 

2. Spy chiefs of S. Korea, Japan meet to discuss N. Korea, bilateral issues: reports

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · May 12, 2021

Diplomats, military personnel, and intelligence officers - a lot of meetings - to include trilateral meetings  - are being held which indicate the importance the US is putting on alliances for national security.

Excerpts: “Park Jie-won, head of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), met with Hiroaki Takizawa, Japan's cabinet intelligence director, on Tuesday, according to JNN and Kyodo News. Park is in Tokyo for trilateral talks with Takizawa and U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.

Meanwhile, Haines will likely travel to South Korea on Wednesday after attending the trilateral spy chiefs' meeting, according to Japanese media reports.

 

3. Unification minister planning to visit Washington next month: official

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · May 11, 2021

Who is the Unification Minister going to meet? He has no counterpart in the US.

 

4. North Korea: Biden and Moon Should Focus on Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible ‘Action’ by Patrick M. Cronin

The National Interest · by Patrick M. Cronin · May 10, 2021

Excerpts: “Yet, CVIA may open the door to expert discussion about practical, step-by-step actions that improve security without rewarding North Korea’s unlawful behavior. Based on past results, this baby-step approach may well fail to produce satisfactory results. But that’s the beauty of Biden’s flexibility: even if negotiations fail, the allies can preserve stability. Indeed, crisis-management mechanisms should continue to be on the agenda for the two allies and Northeast Asian neighbors. That buys time for working on other pressing matters on the international agenda—from the pandemic and climate change to supply chain security and high-tech competition.

Diplomacy is mainly about moving forward in the right direction, even if the path is longer than most like. So, it may be closer to strategic patience than the all-or-nothing attitude that some ascribed to the failed Hanoi summit; even so, the focus is on diplomacy, not conflict.

North Korea: Biden and Moon Should Focus on Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible ‘Action’

It doesn’t matter that President Moon’s domestic ratings are flagging as he embarks on his fifth and final year in the Blue House. President Biden knows what he wants to do, and he understands that alliances represent ‘force multipliers’ for getting things done. 

 

5.  Biden must tell Kim: Begin denuclearization, end dehumanization of North Koreans

The Hill · by Joseph Bosco · May 11, 2021

Human rights is a moral imperative and a national security issue.  Kim denies the human rights of the Korean people living in the north in order to remain in power.

The root of all problems in Korea is the existence of the most evil mafia- like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime that has the objective of dominating the Korean Peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State. 

Bottom Line: 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).

Excerpts: “Yet, the third element of Trump’s pressure campaign — the prospect of threatening to encourage regime change, as Trump did in three major speeches in 2017 and 2018 and in hosting North Korean victims of Kim’s crimes against humanity — is a natural instrument of choice for the Biden administration given its professed emphasis on human rights.

Unlike Trump, Biden speaks passionately and empathetically about human rights and the human suffering that occurs when they are denied. He should tell Kim directly (but in a private conversation at first) that if North Korea conducts any further nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches, the United States will do a launch of its own — a sustained global shaming campaign that will pick up where Trump left off.

It will provide the gruesome details of North Korea’s gulag system and the daily horrors that even people not in those camps are forced to endure, making the point that the entire country is one giant concentration camp. The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) has been working on these issues for 20 years. HRNK facilitated Trump’s White House-hosting of North Korean victims and his spotlighting of Ji Seong-ho, the disabled North Korean defector who tearfully waved his crutch is defiance of Kim’s brutal tyranny during the 2018 State of the Union.

But, even if Kim finds this a private offer he can’t refuse and continues to exercise his own strategic patience on nuclear and missile tests, Biden should demand a full accounting of those programs, to be followed by the kind of phased denuclearization Psaki reported he is contemplating. The step-by-step approach should be merged with the methodical dismantling of North Korea’s hideous camps. Denuclearization must proceed as dehumanization of the North Korean people ends.

 

6. North Korea Leaves Room to Renew Dialogue with the US

thediplomat.com · by Mitch Shin · May 11, 2021

The question is whether the regime is desperate and can't take the internally generated pressure for Kim's failure to effectively play Trump and Moon and get sanctions relief while keeping his nuclear program. Or does Kim think he is effectively shaping the conditions around the new policy to successfully demand sanctions relief in return for a promise to talk?

 

7. N. Korea leaves out photos of inter-Korean summit from album of leader's diplomatic activities

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · May 12, 2021

This seems to be a significant indicator. Kim Jong-un realized he made a huge strategic mistake in September 2018 when he allowed Moon Jae-in to make a speech in Pyongyang.  Although it was criticized by the conservatives in the South as being too "pro-north.'' The speech actually undermined all the regime's propaganda about the South.  The response from the Korean people living in the north was very positive. Rather than an American puppet they observed a smart and compassionate leader with whom they believed the Kim family regime should be able to work with.  This undermined Kim Jong-un's legitimacy because people are asking why Kim could not make a deal with Moon and thus make their lives better. As we assess the regime's actions since September 2018 we can see a steady decline in north-South engagement and relations.  Kim has had to institute a strong anti-Moon and anti-South propaganda effort to be able to justify his failure to get a deal with Moon.   This may be the reason why all photos of the north-South summits are missing from the official record.

It is also an obvious statement that the regime has no respect for the South and its place on the international stage.  

 

8. Biden Shouldn’t Pressure Seoul into ‘Strategic Clarity’

The National Interest · by James Park · May 11, 2021

If we try to force the South to choose there will be blowback.  We need to help South Korea see what it is in terms of national security and national prosperity interests. It must come to the conclusion on its own that its best interests are served by standing with those who want to ensure a rules based international order and share the values of freedom and individual liberty, liberal democracy, free market economies, rule of law, and human rights for all.  We, and the members of the Quad and like minded democracies, must be prepared to come to the defense of the South when China initiates its economic warfare campaign against the South when it makes the right decision.

 

9. N. Korean authorities mobilize inminban leaders to crackdown on street vendors

dailynk.com · by · May 12, 2021

It seems like the regime wants to eliminate any of the relief valves and safety mechanisms which have made the Korean people resilient since the Arduous March of 1994-1996.  This market activity has been the saving grace for many Korean is in the north.  This is another indication that Kim fears the Korean people more than he fears the US and the outside world.  He is trying to increase control over the population to a level that could surpass his father and grandfather (though he is certainly employing all their best practices while he devises new ones. 

 

10. North Korea imports COVID-19 vaccine samples from China and Russia

dailynk.com · by Seulkee Jang · May 12, 2021

The regime will use its all purpose sword.

Excerpts: “As a part of their attempts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine domestically, North Korean authorities have reportedly utilized the newly-established Bureau 325. Bureau 325, an organization within the Reconnaissance General Bureau, has allegedly carried out continuous cyberattacks to steal data from Pfizer and other pharmaceutical companies developing vaccines.

The authorities reportedly dispatched professional hackers involved in these attacks to North Korean research facilities so they could deliver the stolen data and allow scientists to begin their analyses immediately.

Within North Korea, the authorities claim that they have all of the technology needed to produce vaccines domestically. However, it is not likely that North Koreans scientists have the capacity to perform high-quality research.

 

11. North Korea Orders Youth League Reshuffle for More Effective Self-Criticism Sessions

rfa.org · by Hyemin Son

Another population and resources control measure to further oppress the Korean people in the north.  KimJong-un fears the Korean people more than the US.

 

12. North Korea Orders Farmers to Collect Urine for Fertilizer Amid Shortage

rfa.org · by Jeong Yon Park

I cannot make light of the desperation inside north Korea.  But Korean themselves can.

Excerpts: “Farms in North Hamgyong had been complaining about fertilizer shortages ahead of the busy planting season, but the authorities left the solution to the problem to the farm workers themselves, according to the source.

“In some of the cooperative farms, the workers are forced to bring two liters of urine per person per day to mix into the compost pile until the production goal is achieved,” the source said. Two liters is about four-tenths of a gallon.

“They have to keep track of their donated urine in a record book, so if they do not donate enough, they will be criticized by their work group,” added the source.

“The Farm Management Committee is urging the farmers to produce the compost to carry out the plans laid out during the Eighth Party Congress in January, calling it a compost battle,” the source said, referring to the rare meeting of the ruling Korean Workers’ Party, during which leader Kim Jong Un leaned hard into the country’s founding Juche self-reliance ideology.

But as much as authorities try to frame the project as a revolutionary struggle, the farmers think the situation is ridiculous.

 

13. North Korea unlikely to respond to US vaccine offer

The Korea Times · by Nam Hyun-woo · May 12, 2021

We must offer vaccines from a purely humanitarian perspective (do the right thing because it is the right thing to do) and not as a concession to entice talks because they will not cause a change in regime behavior.  But I think it is very likely the regime would not accept direct vaccine aid from the US.

 

14. Moody's warns Korea about rising debt, stalled peace talks

The Korea Times · by Park Jae-hyuk · May 12, 2021

But there has never really been any substantive progress toward peace and denuclearization.

Excerpts: “He also mentioned that "susceptibility to event risk" remains as the overall constraining factor, saying that geopolitical risk is still weakening Korea's credit profile.

"Early progress towards denuclearization and economic cooperation has stalled," he said. "There is also some uncertainty with regards to the upcoming presidential election that is scheduled for next May. The Moon administration will likely seek to rekindle the peace talks, but the prospects for meaningful progress remain slim."

The global ratings agency, however, expressed an optimistic outlook about the potential of the Korean

 

15. [EXCLUSIVE] Moderna plans to build manufacturing facilities in Korea

The Korea Times · by Baek Byung-yeul · May 12, 2021

 

-----------

 

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.” 

-Vince Lombardi

 

"If you live only for yourself you are always an immediate danger of being bored to death with the repetition of your own views and interests. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellowmen." 

- W. Beran Wolfe

 

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues." 

- Cicero

 

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

1. White House’s slate of nominees would put familiar faces back in the Pentagon

2. DarkSide Ransomware Hit Colonial Pipeline—and Created an Unholy Mess

3. The Real Infrastructure Problem: The Colonial Pipeline shutdown is a warning of worse to come.

4. US military trashes unwanted gear in Afghanistan, sells as scrap

5. Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack Follows Years of Warnings

6. Toward a Whole-of-Society Framework for Countering Disinformation

7. The logic of US–China competition by Joseph S. Nye 

8. Romanian leader tells Biden more NATO troops needed in east

9. Strengthen Asia to Weaken Beijing

10. Create a Dedicated Humanitarian Ops Officer

11. The Tension Between Secrecy & Innovation

12. Redraw the Limits on Lethal Force Against Terror Groups

13. SOFWERX Zeros In on Rapid Acquisition

14. The U.S. Is Getting a Reality Check in Yemen

15. F.B.I. Identifies Group Behind Pipeline Hack

16. China’s ‘Long-Term Time Bomb’: Falling Births Stunt Population Growth

17. ‘We cut too deep’: Air Force reinstates hundreds of ROTC cadets after dismissals spark backlash

18. What the United States Wants From Japan in Taiwan

19. Russia's GRU spy unit suspected of being behind bizarre sonic attacks

20. Claims of Microwave Attacks Are Scientifically Implausible

21. ‘Where is the plan?’: Biden pressed on global vaccine strategy

22. A CIA Historian’s Photos of the Afghan War Tell the Story of Those Being Left Behind in Afghanistan

 

1. White House’s slate of nominees would put familiar faces back in the Pentagon

Defense News · by Aaron Mehta, Valerie Insinna, Joe Gould and Jen Judson · May 10, 2021

Personnel is policy.:

Michael Brown

Frank Kendall

Heidi Shyu

Christine Wormuth

 

2. DarkSide Ransomware Hit Colonial Pipeline—and Created an Unholy Mess

Wired · by Lily Hay Newman

The big questions are what are we going to do in response to this hostile action and how are we going to defend against such attacks in the future? This may be one of the greatest national security threats we face. Are we doing enough to defend the US?

Excerpts: “One step that could work in the near-term? Requiring that victims disclose ransomware incidents, and create a cyber incident review board in the US, says Rob Knake, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and a former director for cybersecurity policy at the National Security Council. Currently most victims keep ransomware attacks quiet when possible; a full accounting of these rolling crises could spur a response. “Notification is essential because cyber incidents are not like plane crashes—the investigating agency may never find out that they have happened,” Knake says. “So for the cyber incident review board to be successful it will need to be notified of incidents and then have the authority to investigate. Voluntary will not work.”

In the meantime, cybersecurity professionals say that they hope the Colonial Pipeline incident really will finally spark action in the fight against ransomware. Given how many other dire attacks have failed to act as this catalyst, though, they are wary of being too hopeful.

“We’re at a point where only systemic improvement will have any meaningful impact,” Crowdstrike's Meyers says. “And organizations don’t necessarily have the bandwidth, funding, and personnel to do that. But this should be a wakeup call to any organization: You need to do better or you’re going to suffer the same fate.”

 

3. The Real Infrastructure Problem: The Colonial Pipeline shutdown is a warning of worse to come.

WSJ · by The Editorial Board

Do we really appreciate the context? Do we understand the problem? Can we create an approach that will solve the problem?

All military failures (and I would broaden it to all national security failures) are the result of three things - failure to learn, failure to adapt, and failure to anticipate. (Eliot Cohen and John Gooch)  Are we anticipating what will come next while we learn and adapt? And can our learning and adaptation be based on what we anticipate will happen in the future and not just on what has happened up to this point?

 

4. US military trashes unwanted gear in Afghanistan, sells as scrap

militarytimes.com · by Kathy Gannon · May 10, 2021

One man's trash is another man's treasure. But our Afghan allies are pointing out all they are getting is our trash and there is no treasure.

 

5. Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack Follows Years of Warnings

breakingdefense.com · by Brad D. Williams

We can hear the "I told you so's." There are many who have anticipated this. Why can't we listen to the warnings? (and more importantly take appropriate action to protect ourselves).

We should probably go back and study and take for action the entire Cyber Solarium Commission report - especially those things that have received warnings about but have not yet actually happened. Can we anticipate?

 

6. Toward a Whole-of-Society Framework for Countering Disinformation

mwi.usma.edu · by JD Maddox · May 10, 2021

A view from the GEC (Global Engagement Center at State). I am happy to see State publishing at the Modern War Institute.

Excerpt: “In this article, we assume that the proposed framework and outlined capabilities are focused on the shared objective of countering disinformation that undermines US policies, stability, and national security. The term “countering disinformation,” a term that is almost as misunderstood and redefined as IO and PD, does not consist merely of counter messaging but also of proactive measures that use facts to inform audiences, reduce the impact of disinformation, and promote freedom of expression—activities that can be functionally categorized under communication, resilience, disruption, and regulation.

A survey of US information and influence capabilities: “The United States, as a society and nation, has an extraordinarily broad range of disparate communicators and voices, ranging from governmental institutions to the private sector, to civil society actors and organizations. Communication platforms are also constantly evolving and expanding their reach as production and consumption of social media, print and digital media, radio, and television continuously grow and change. Within the US government alone, communication encompasses a number of activities:

Of note - they do not call for re-establishing the US Information Agency (and all the myths that surround it - read Matt Armstrong's great research) or the Active Measures Working Group from the Raegan era, but instead recognize that the influence effort is not singularly controllable.

Categorizing activities to counter disinformation within the functions of communication, resilience, disruption, and regulation supports a focus on outcomes rather than creating further bureaucratic division. Opening the information aperture to consider a broader spectrum of actors and capabilities allows communicators, strategists, and policymakers to construct impact-based activities by combining disparate capabilities. No single agency and no single tactic is capable of countering disinformation on its own. Therefore, we must be committed to learning, collaborating, and innovating.

 

7. The logic of US–China competition by Joseph S. Nye 

aspistrategist.org.au · by Joseph S. Nye · May 7, 2021

Can the US and China agree on the definition of "global public goods?"

Conclusion: A key question when gauging the success of Biden’s China policy will be whether the two powers can cooperate in producing global public goods, while competing strongly in other areas. The US–China relationship is a ‘cooperative rivalry’, in which the terms of competition will require equal attention to both sides of the oxymoron. That will not be easy.

 

8. Romanian leader tells Biden more NATO troops needed in east

militarytimes.com · by Stephen McGrath and Vanessa Gera · May 10, 2021

Seems like everyone wants more US/NATO troops (from Nigeria asking for AFRICOM to Romania asking for more troops for Eastern Europe). Perhaps our friends, partners, and allies, have some concerns with the potential threats.

 

9. Strengthen Asia to Weaken Beijing

WSJ · by Walter Russell Mead

When our friends partners and allies recognize and understand this and develop their economic and and national security elements of power they will not want to be subject China's heavy hand:  China seeks to export its authoritarian political system 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.

Professor Walter Ruseell Mead's assessment: “In the short to medium term, Washington needs to work with allies to keep Beijing from exploiting its window of opportunity. China has its hawks, but the leadership is pragmatic. As long as Beijing understands that the military road leads nowhere good, peace is likely to hold. No country other than America can act as the linchpin of an alliance that can hold the window firmly closed. Doves may not like that reality, but they will like the consequences of failure even less.

The outlook brightens over the long term. The U.S. is not condemned to an endless struggle against an inexorably rising China. On the contrary: As the rest of Asia rises, Beijing’s chance at supremacy begins to shrink—and Washington’s Indo-Pacific allies will be able to bear more of the costs that keeping the peace requires.

Nothing, including retreat and appeasement, is risk-free. As China sees its hegemony window closing, Beijing’s hawks could press for a Japan-style dash for power. America and its allies must guard against this. Over the long haul, maintaining U.S. alliances as Asia rises will pose complex moral and practical difficulties that test the ingenuity of Washington diplomats. The appropriate mix of engagement and competition in America’s China policy will be hard to discern on issues ranging from the Belt and Road Initiative to trade policy and tech standards.

But the big picture is clear. A flourishing Asia is the answer to the U.S.’s China problem. Asia’s peoples and countries want to be independent and rich. Washington’s job is to help that Asian Dream come true.

 

10. Create a Dedicated Humanitarian Ops Officer

usni.org · May 10, 2021

Who wants to be a "HOO?"

Excerpts: “The HOO program is not a panacea for all the challenges of humanitarian response or the hazards of militarizing the provision of humanitarian aid.14 Alone, it is insufficient to address the security challenges posed by climate change and climate-related disasters. It does not address the threat of physical, sexual, or economic abuse by aid workers, peacekeepers, and military personnel in HA/DR environments or the political dimension of humanitarian aid, including how aid can be used to encroach on the sovereignty of another state or to further an outside government’s interests.15 These require a distinct response not covered by the creation of a HOO corps.

Nonetheless, the HOO program or a similar community of humanitarian professionals would provide the Sea Services a way to tackle the current difficulties of military involvement in humanitarian operations while laying the groundwork for what will be an increasingly routine part of U.S. military involvement at home and abroad in the coming years.

The military is the United States’ most capable force for humanitarian response, and as disasters grow in frequency and scale, it will be called on to render aid around the world. Meeting this challenge requires rethinking the military’s current means of conducting HA/DR operations and recognizing that those professionals tasked with employing martial force likely are not the ones best equipped to provide sustained, well-managed humanitarian assistance. In conjunction with other policies to mitigate the challenges this new security environment entails, a HOO corps may be the best bet for addressing a future where disaster, displacement, and need define the operating environment as much or more than who the enemy is.

 

11. The Tension Between Secrecy & Innovation

realcleardefense.com · by Paul Bracken

Conclusion: “But these recommendations are offset by a security system designed in the 1950s when the danger was one of spilling secrets from silos built around nuclear weapons, missiles, and aircraft. Now, this old security system is applied to new technologies like space, cyber, hypersonic missiles, and AI. This is very different from the closed innovation silos of the Cold War. Innovation requires going outside of the silos to bring in fresh ideas from different technical fields.

There’s a tension between secrecy and innovation. I don’t think this tension line is even recognized in today’s debates about whistleblowers and cyber espionage. To juice up defense innovation, we need to recognize the dual role of the system: security and innovation. We need to move the needle toward the innovation side of the ledger. Otherwise, a “secrecy first” culture will strangle innovation. This system has to change if the United States is to leverage its immense technological potential into real military advantage.

 

12. Redraw the Limits on Lethal Force Against Terror Groups

defenseone.com · by Rachel Stohl

The 48 page report from the Stimson Center can be accessed here: 

Conclusion: “The United States reserves the ability to use lethal force in new contexts, with new risks, yet with limited transparency and accountability. Such options were once viewed as exceptional but, in the last 20 years, have become entrenched in policy responses and counterterrorism strategies.

The administration should resist any inclinations to reinvigorate the approach adopted during the Obama administration and exacerbated during the Trump administration. Instead, President Biden should develop a clear, concise, and constrained strategy that appropriately situates counterterrorism among other pressing security priorities. As the Biden administration reviews the policy and guidance governing the use of lethal force outside war zones, it must make certain that the ensuing counterterrorism policies and practices do not perpetuate a cycle of “forever wars” around the world.

 

13. SOFWERX Zeros In on Rapid Acquisition

nationaldefensemagazine.org · by Mandy Mayfield

One of the great things done by the Nunn-Cohen Amendment to the 1986 Goldwater Nichols Defense Reorganization Act was to provide SOF (USSOCOM) some service authorities - namely for budgeting (MFP-11) and research and development for SOF unique equipment. The other thing it did which is too often overlooked is maintaining the relationship switch SOF and Services for service common equipment. And overlooked even further is the contribution SOF has made to the services and how much SOF unique equipment has been developed but has then been adopted by the services which is truly a win-win scenario.

The question is what other service authorities should be granted to SOF - e.g. personnel management? And a proper balance between SOF personnel management while still connected to the very necessary service recruiting efforts. 

 

14. The U.S. Is Getting a Reality Check in Yemen

Bloomberg · by Bobby Ghosh · May 11, 2021

 

15.  F.B.I. Identifies Group Behind Pipeline Hack

The New York Times · by David Sanger and Nicole Perlroth · May 10, 2021

We would do well to recall Frank Hoffman's seminal work on hybrid conflict:

Excerpt from "Examining Complex Forms of Conflict: Gray Zone and Hybrid Challenges" by Frank Hofffman: A hybrid threat transcends a blend of regular and irregular tactics. More than a decade ago, it was defined as an adversary that “simultaneously and adaptively employs a fused mix of conventional weapons, irregular tactics, catastrophic terrorism, and criminal behavior in the battlespace to obtain desired political objectives.”54 The criminal, or more broadly “socially disruptive behavior,” and mass terrorism aspects should not be overlooked, but the fusion of advanced military capabilities with irregular forces and tactics is key, and has appeared repeatedly during the past decade from Hezbollah to the Russian campaigns in Georgia and Ukraine.55

 

16. China’s ‘Long-Term Time Bomb’: Falling Births Stunt Population Growth

The New York Times · by Sui-Lee Wee · May 11, 2021

We should also remember that most all PLA soldiers are only sons in families due to the past one child policy.  This means the end of family bloodlines when those soldiers are killed in a needless conflict.

 

17.  ‘We cut too deep’: Air Force reinstates hundreds of ROTC cadets after dismissals spark backlash

The Washington Post · by Alex Horton · May 9, 2021

What was the Air Force thinking? Throw away our future seed corn?

Excerpts: “The pandemic’s wave of economic and social uncertainty triggered the initial decision, officials said. The natural cycle of departing officers creating room for the younger ranks has been disrupted, and service members, wary of leaving jobs and health care, are staying at the highest rate in two decades.

To rebalance the numbers, the Air Force rejected far more cadets than in past years. The cuts were so drastic that they swallowed up cadets with excellent grades and high fitness marks, according to current and former Air Force officials, sending scores of families into financial panic after scholarships vanished.

 

18. What the United States Wants From Japan in Taiwan

Foreign Policy · by Jeffrey W. Hornung · May 10, 2021

Excerpts: “Japan’s involvement could make an operational impact in many areas. Regardless of what the United States requests, however, Japan’s involvement will always be a political decision. When the Suga administration agreed to include Taiwan in recent statements, it must have understood this signaled Japan’s commitment to do something if the “peace and security” of the Taiwan Strait is broken. If Japan does nothing or underwhelms in its support, not only would the U.S.-Japanese alliance be shaken, but the strength of the whole U.S. network of allies could be called into question.

There are hopeful signs this situation can be avoided. For example, Tokyo is reportedly studying possible responses by the Self-Defense Forces to various scenarios involving Taiwan. Moreover, a recent poll by Nikkei showed 74 percent of the Japanese population support engagement in the Taiwan Strait.

As many Japan watchers know, Tokyo historically has tended to approach the use of military force through a legalistic lens. Depending on what box a situation checked, Japan’s level of involvement varied. Should China attack Taiwan, the United States is likely going to look for a quick operational commitment. Japan’s typical approach of clearing various administrative hurdles would likely not cut it in a rapidly changing operational environment. For Japan’s political decision-making to keep pace with U.S. operational timelines, Japan needs to know now what the United States will likely request in wartime. These discussions could already be occurring, and if so, it is important to get them right.

Having expressed support for securing the peace, the United States and Japan need real plans to translate their words into action. As a recent Nikkei article argued, “Japan cannot be neutral in this picture.”

 

19. Russia's GRU spy unit suspected of being behind bizarre sonic attacks

Daily Mail · by Harriet Alexander · May 10, 2021

Hmmm....

Russia's GRU spy unit suspected of being behind bizarre sonic attacks

Russia's infamous GRU spy unit is suspected of being behind microwave weapon attacks causing 'Havana Syndrome' on U.S. personnel across the globe - and even on the White House lawn

• Last year in Miami several government officials reported strange symptoms
• Effects were akin to 'Havana Syndrome' reported by diplomats in Cuba in 2016
• Sudden splitting headaches, loss of balance and ringing in ears were reported
• Also in 2020, a senior National Security Council official reported the effects
• He was walking to his car from the south lawn of the White House
• And in 2019, another NSC official felt the symptoms walking a dog in Alexandria
• In Europe, the U.S. and Syria, members of the military have reported symptoms
• On Monday three current and former officials said the Russians were suspected
• They told Politico that Russia's GRU - foreign intel unit - could be behind attacks

 

20.  Claims of Microwave Attacks Are Scientifically Implausible

Foreign Policy · by Cheryl Rofer · May 10, 2021

Something is harming our diplomats and intelligence officers. Please explain what it is.

Excerpts: “If there is such a weapon that can cause such effects, who is using it and how? Of course, the Russians are the prime suspects. Their military also has an interest in a death ray, and they were the ones who bathed the U.S. Embassy in microwaves during the Cold War. Diplomats and intelligence employees are likely targets. But we have no evidence that the Russians have such a weapon.

Of course, such a weapon would be classified, we are told. Mark Zaid, a lawyer who represents victims, claims that the American government knows more than it is letting on.

That may be, but it would be hard to keep the development of this kind of weapon secret. The military and associated industries are often proud of their innovations. We have heard regularly over the past 40 years of the progress of fitting a laser into an airplane, and the jet suit is popular—even if it only has fuel for about 10 minutes of flight. It’s rare that the government classifies every aspect of research surrounding a classified topic. University research on the interaction of microwaves with the brain would have been sponsored and published, and the National Academies committee would have found many more than its paltry dozen references. Although the central work on laser isotope separation was classified, the ultraviolet spectrum a colleague and I measured passed classification restrictions and was published.

The evidence for microwave effects of the type categorized as Havana syndrome is exceedingly weak. No proponent of the idea has outlined how the weapon would actually work. No evidence has been offered that such a weapon has been developed by any nation. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and no evidence has been offered to support the existence of this mystery weapon.

 

21. ‘Where is the plan?’: Biden pressed on global vaccine strategy

The Washington Post · by Dan Diamond and Tyler Pager · May 9, 2021

 

22. A CIA Historian’s Photos of the Afghan War Tell the Story of Those Being Left Behind in Afghanistan

historynewsnetwork.org · by Brian Glyn Williams

Please go to the link for the photos.

 

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

 

“There were occasions when Shakespeare was a very bad writer indeed. You can see how often in books of quotations. People who like quotations love meaningless generalizations.”  

- Graham Greene, Travels with My Aunt

 

"Disinformation does not mean false information. It means misleading information—misplaced, irrelevant, fragmented or superficial information—information that creates the illusion of knowing something,but which in fact leads one away from knowing."

- Neil Postman

 

“It is the politicians who dream their dreams - sometimes dangerous dreams, (...). A top intelligence officer has to be harder-headed than the toughest businessman. One has to trim to the reality, (...) (Sir Nigel Irvine, p. 428-429).”

- Frederick Forsyth, The Fourth Protocol

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

1. N. Korea says U.S. offer to explain outcome of policy review 'well received'

2. Biden administration is open to sharing coronavirus vaccines with North Korea

3. Pres. Moon Jae-in criticizes sending of anti-North Korea leaflets

4. North Korea is China's weapon

5. Source, destination of illicit weapons seized at sea still under investigation: Kirby

6. China’s gateway to North Korea feels chill of Covid-19 border closure

7. Main opposition party to send delegation to U.S. to discuss vaccine cooperation

8. New York Times opens Asia news hub in Seoul

9. How not to blow it (Moon-Biden Summit)

10. Special Address by President Moon Jae-in to Mark Four Years in Office

11. South Korea stumbles toward nuclear phase-out in favor of questionable wind power projects

12. Incheon stirs controversy with airport development plan in North Korea

13. South Korea Should Embrace Liberty in Confronting Pyongyang

14. Biden’s North Korea review is a diplomatic victory for Moon Jae-in

15. 'Glorious' North Korean Hummer Might Be The Least Appropriate Car Of All Time

 

1. N. Korea says U.S. offer to explain outcome of policy review 'well received'

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 11, 2021

An interesting development. We have shown diplomatic courtesy by offering to inform the north about our new policy. It is an opportunity to ensure there is no misunderstanding or mischaracterization of the policy. But is the north really willing to accept such a briefing? And more importantly is the regime reaching the point where the internal pressures are becoming so great to the regime that it must now negotiate as a means to survive.

From our Plan B for north Korea: “Any effective approach toward North Korea should be based on two new assumptions. The first recognizes that Kim will give up his nuclear program only when he concludes that the cost to him and his regime is too great – that is, when he believes possession of nuclear weapons threatens his survival. But external pressure alone, although important, will almost certainly fail to create the right cost-benefit ratio. It is the threat from the North Korean people that is most likely to cause Kim to give up his nuclear weapons.26 As former CIA analyst Jung Pak of the Brookings Institution has argued, “Kim fears his people more than he fears the United States. The people are his most proximate threat to the regime.”27 The ROK-U.S. alliance has yet to adopt a strategy with this in mind.

Kim, the DPRK military, and the North Korean elite must be made to recognize that keeping nuclear weapons poses an internal threat to their survival. External threats and actions alone will not suffice, though they are important. In addition, if these actors choose not to relinquish their nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, a maximum pressure 2.0 campaign should threaten to weaken the regime.

The second new assumption is that Kim will continue to employ a strategy based on subversion of South Korea; coercion and extortion of the international community to gain political and economic concessions; and ultimately the use of force to unify the peninsula under the domination of the North, thereby ensuring the survival of the Kim family regime. A key element of his strategy is to drive a wedge between South Korea and the United States. Kim’s strategy can best be described as a “long con” whereby he extracts as much as possible for the regime while conceding little to nothing and preparing to achieve unification under his control. Kim is pursuing a strategy established long ago by his grandfather and improved by his father.

This assumption requires the United States and South Korea to prepare for the possibility that Kim might refuse to relinquish his weapons of mass destruction (WMD). This assumption is buttressed by a U.S. intelligence estimate maintaining that he is unlikely to denuclearize.28 This cannot be discounted and must be factored into a new strategy.  

 

2. Biden administration is open to sharing coronavirus vaccines with North Korea

CNN · by Kylie Atwood

I agree that the regime has been consumed with internal challenges and threats that have prevented it from dealing with external issues. COVID, sanctions, natural disasters, collapsed economy (to levels much worse than in the last 2 decades since the Arduous march of 1994-1996), and internal unrest have all combined to keep inwardly focused. Yes the regime fears a COVID outbreak (and I would not accept the regime reports that there are no COVID cases inside north Korea though we have not seen evidence of a widespread outbreak,,,,yet).

However, I disagree with Dr. Terry here and think Dr Narang might have a more accurate assessment. It is very possible that the regime is desperate due to the effects of COVID and it might actually consider accepting vaccinations. However, we must be under no illusion that providing vaccines or conducting vaccine diplomacy will in any way change north Korean behavior and bring them to the negotiating table to negotiate in good faith as a responsible member of the international community. Yes, it might come to the negotiating table but it will do so when it judges the conditions are favorable to the regime. Unfortunately if we provide vaccines the regime may interpret it as success for its blackmail diplomacy -the use of increased tension, threats, and provocations to gain political and economic concessions). He might judge the conditions such that the US made a vaccination concessions ; therefore it may be willing to make the next concession which is of course what he desires most in the near term - sanctions relief. You can be sure if the north begins to talk about returning to the negotiating table the demand it will make will be sanctions relief and it will very likley be backed up by China, Russia, and perhaps even South Korea which is very willing to provide concessions. We must understand the nature, objectives, and strategy of the Kim family regime and deal with it accordingly.

Excerpts: "Vaccine diplomacy is an easy effort to break this impasse because the Biden administration cannot do much about sanctions lifting so they have to look at what incentives to give to North Korea," said Sue Mi Terry, a former Korea analyst at the CIA and now a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It depends on how desperate North Korea is." 

...

"It would be a great offer but there is no way that Kim Jong Un would ever accept them.There would be paranoia about what would be delivered by the US and there is also the possibility that China could be providing vaccines quietly to North Korean elites," said Vipin Narang, a professor at MIT.

 

3. Pres. Moon Jae-in criticizes sending of anti-North Korea leaflets

donga.com · May 11, 2021

President Moon doubles down on violating human rights and attacking the liberty of Korean citizens. This is so disappointing. It will be interesting to see how he explains this to President Biden at the May 21st summit. This is not acceptable for alliance partners who have long shared values - freedom and individual liberty, liberal democracy, free market economy, rule of law, and human rights for all.

 

4. North Korea is China's weapon

Newsweek · by Gordon G. Chang · May 10, 2021

My comments to Gordon below.

I would add that north Korean can be a spoiler in Great Power Competition to include against China (even if China exploits it as a weapon).

My additional thoughts: “Of the four revisionist and rogue powers we tend to isolate north Korea as a separate and often lesser included case within the larger national security challenges and also because of its perceived geographic confines to Northeast Asia. 

However, I would argue the Kim family regime is actually a global problem and one that could be a spoiler in great power competition. What is a spoiler? – The extreme type is the total spoiler which is defined as groups or individuals that will never compromise or negotiate. Although the international relations theorists say this is actually extremely rare, I would argue that it applies to north Korea and that has important implications for the US and all the powers competing in Great Power Competition. North Korea has the potential through words and deeds to upend cooperation and competition and this could lead to conflict. And what makes north Korea a spoiler most of all? It’s absolute unwillingness to negotiate the denuclearization of north Korea. It is its nuclear weapons that provide it with the ability to operate around the world to achieve its objectives and this can put a wrench in great power competition.

We must understand that north Korea is a self-described revolutionary power and its constitution and Workers Party of Korea charter call for it to complete the revolution to rid the peninsula of foreign influence and unify it under what I like to describe as the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State to support the single vital interest – survival of the mafia-like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime. It is employing the seven decades old strategy of subversion, coercion-extortion (blackmail diplomacy), and use of force to achieve unification on its terms. It is conducting a “long con” to obtain sanctions relief while keeping its nuclear weapons and military capabilities intact. It is using blackmail diplomacy -increased tension, threats, and provocations to gain political and economic concessions. Finally, it is conducting political warfare with Juche characteristics – “Political warfare is the use of all means other than military force to compel an opponent to do one’s will. Its exercise reflects a hostile intent.” The north conducts political warfare against its own people, the ROK, Japan, the US, and dating back to the Korean War, even China and Russia. As LTG (RET) Chun In Bum has written other adversaries in the world recognize the success of the North Korean regime and hope to emulate its success. This in turn is a new source of danger and a potential threat to the international order and the free world. It can make north Korea into a form of spoiler.

 

5. Source, destination of illicit weapons seized at sea still under investigation: Kirby

en.yna.co.kr · by 변덕근 · May 11, 2021

The Korean press is seeking answers to the right questions: How much of north Korean proliferation of weapons is supporting Iran's malign activities in the Middle East (and Africa). I would call attention to the excellent research by Dr. Bruce Bechtol on this subject: “North Korea’s Illegal Weapons Trade

The Proliferation Threat From Pyongyang:

Excerpts from Dr. Bechtol's essay: “North Korea’s best customer, however, is not Syria but Iran. The two states’ relationship began in earnest during the Iran-Iraq War. By the end of the war in 1988, some 300 North Korean military advisers were on the ground in Iran, and Pyongyang had reportedly sold Tehran more than $1 billion in conventional arms, training, and military assistance.

Like Syria, Iran is a major purchaser of North Korean conventional weapons. Iran’s Ghadir-class submarine, for instance, appears to be an exact replica of a North Korean submarine called the Yeono—the same model that sank a South Korean navy corvette in 2010. The Iranian–North Korean relationship, however, also extends to Iranian funding of weapons purchases by its regional proxies and allies, including Hezbollah, the Syrian government, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza—many of which come from North Korea. According to Larry Niksch, a senior associate of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “North Korea may receive from Iran upwards of $2 to $3 billion annually . . . for the various forms of collaboration between them.” This estimate makes sense, particularly if one includes the many arms purchases for Syria and nonstate actors that Iran has made from Pyongyang in recent years. The Houthis have used North Korean ballistic missiles—probably Scuds captured from the Yemeni government—to threaten the Saudis and have also used longer-range variants of North Korean missiles, provided by Iran, to target Riyadh. In April, Israeli intelligence assassinated a Hamas engineer in Malaysia who was involved in negotiating an arms deal with Pyongyang.

 

6. China’s gateway to North Korea feels chill of Covid-19 border closure

SCMP · by Kinling Lo· May 09, 2021

north Korea's self imposed COVID mitigation measures have done more damage than international sanctions. We must never forget the suffering of the Korean 

 

7. Main opposition party to send delegation to U.S. to discuss vaccine cooperation

en.yna.co.kr · by 장동우 · May 11, 2021

We can expect this will also be an issue at the 21 May Biden-Moon summit.

 

8. New York Times opens Asia news hub in Seoul

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com· by Sarah Kim

As did the Washington Post.

 

9. How not to blow it (Moon-Biden Summit)

koreanjoongangdaily.joins.com · by Choi Hoon · May 11, 2021

Very wise advice here: "There is a simple way for Moon to have a successful trip to Washington. He must proclaim that South Korea is a free democracy that values human rights and peace even as it lives next to a die-hard communist state. Those kind of shared values will reassure the U.S. in its goal of complete denuclearization of North Korea through diplomatic channels and also help restore the relationship with Japan. I hope Moon speaks for the entire South Korean population in Washington, not a certain group of people."

 

10. Special Address by President Moon Jae-in to Mark Four Years in Office

english1.president.go.kr

Excerpts: “If there is a will, there is a way. It is the aspiration of 80 million Koreans to end the era of confrontation and conflict on the Korean Peninsula and usher in an era of peace and prosperity. I will consider the remaining one year of my term to be the last opportunity to move from an incomplete peace toward one that is irreversible.

Now, the time for long deliberations is also coming to an end. It is time to take action. The new Biden Administration in the United States has also completed reviewing its North Korea policy. This is the result of close consultation with us. We welcome the direction of the Biden Administration’s North Korea policy that aims to achieve the primary goal of the Korean Peninsula’s complete denuclearization through diplomacy with a flexible, gradual and practical approach by building upon the foundation of the Singapore Declaration.

The ROK-U.S. alliance will be solidified through the bilateral summit scheduled in late May. We will restore dialogue between the two Koreas and between the United States and North Korea and find a way to step once again toward peaceful cooperation by more closely coordinating policies toward North Korea.

I will not be pressed by time or become impatient during the remainder of my term. However, if there is an opportunity to restart the clock of peace and advance the peace process on the Korean Peninsula, I will do everything I can. I look forward to North Korea responding positively. I hope that we will be able to build peace and move toward prosperity together. We have seen clear potential for issues to be solved diplomatically. I hope that the people will also join hands to create an atmosphere for dialogue. In particular, it is never desirable to dampen inter-Korean relations by violating inter-Korean agreements and current laws. I stress that the Government has no choice but to strictly enforce the laws.

 

11. South Korea stumbles toward nuclear phase-out in favor of questionable wind power projects

onekoreanetwork.com · May 9, 2021

The Moon administration's effort to reduce and eventually end reliance nuclear power is going to be a long term strategic error.

 

12. Incheon stirs controversy with airport development plan in North Korea

The Korea Times · by Nam Hyun-woo · May 11, 2021

Fantasy?

 

13. South Korea Should Embrace Liberty in Confronting Pyongyang

The National Interest · by Doug Bandow · May 10, 2021

Standing by your values is a national security imperative - freedom and individual liberty, liberal democracy, free market economy, rule of law, and human rights for all. These trump any authoritarian dictator's rule.

President Biden needs to have a frank discussion with President Moon about our shared values and how to stand up for them and how to use them in response to north Korean political warfare with juche characteristics.

 

14. Biden’s North Korea review is a diplomatic victory for Moon Jae-in

lowyinstitute.org · by Khang Vu

Really? Yes it will be a compromise policy for sure but we have not seen the details yet. 

Of course we should not be viewing the policy of winning and losing in terms of our ally.

 

15. 'Glorious' North Korean Hummer Might Be The Least Appropriate Car Of All Time

dmarge.com · by Jamie Weiss · May 11, 2021

I couldn't resist sending this one.

 

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

 

“There were occasions when Shakespeare was a very bad writer indeed. You can see how often in books of quotations. People who like quotations love meaningless generalizations.”  

- Graham Greene, Travels with My Aunt

 

"Disinformation does not mean false information. It means misleading information—misplaced, irrelevant, fragmented or superficial information—information that creates the illusion of knowing something,but which in fact leads one away from knowing."

- Neil Postman

 

“It is the politicians who dream their dreams - sometimes dangerous dreams, (...). A top intelligence officer has to be harder-headed than the toughest businessman. One has to trim to the reality, (...) (Sir Nigel Irvine, p. 428-429).”

- Frederick Forsyth, The Fourth Protocol

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

1. Biden admin declares state of emergency to keep fuel supply lines open after cyberattack

2. China Targets Muslim Women in Push to Suppress Births in Xinjiang

3. Indo-Pacific strategy signals renewed commitment: Top EU envoy

4. US military power comes from more than just the defense budget

5. Narcissism and National Security

6. Want better AI for the DOD? Stop treating data like currency

7. Former acting defense chief to testify on Pentagon’s response to Jan. 6 Capitol riot

8. The UN Commission on the Status of Women Lost All Credibility

9. DHS is gathering intelligence on security threats from social media

10. Cyberattacks on US are 'here to stay', Biden official warns

11. How an obscure Texas security company helped convince Americans the 2020 election was stolen from Trump

12. ‘Why Do We Deserve to Die?’ Kabul’s Hazaras Bury Their Daughters.

13. Air Force Special Operations Command competition solicits airmen's ideas for U.S. security

14. Burma poet dies in detention, body returned to family with organs missing: reports

15. US Pacific Deterrence Initiative too little, too late to counter China

16. Navy SEALs And Army Night Stalkers Captured In Amazing Photos During Virginia Exercise

17. The Case for Restructuring the Department of Defense to Fight in the 21st Century

18. Smokejumpers CIA Clandestine Weapon in America's Secret Wars

 

1. Biden admin declares state of emergency to keep fuel supply lines open after cyberattack

Axios · by Rebecca Falconer

 

2. China Targets Muslim Women in Push to Suppress Births in Xinjiang

The New York Times · by Amy Qin · May 10, 2021

More indications of the brutality and inhumanity of the Chinese government (and CCP).

 

3. Indo-Pacific strategy signals renewed commitment: Top EU envoy

koreanjoongangdaily.com · by Esther Chung

Excerpt: “Q. Several EU members had separate policy objectives towards the Indo-Pacific before. What does this latest announcement of a union-wide strategy mean for the Asian region?

 A. The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that the global challenges that we are facing are even more challenging [than before] and that we need to secure partnerships and work more on multilateral platforms to resolve the pandemic. Asia is the center of economy, as 60 percent of the world’s trade passes through the waters of the region. For Europe, it is very important to secure the freedom of navigation, and oceans governance is one of the key areas of partnership outlined in the Indo-Pacific strategy of the EU. Additionally, we are seeing more events in the region that are undermining the universality of human rights, such as the events in Myanmar, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. We want to ensure development in protection of human rights in the region.

With Korea, we have a close cooperation on crisis management, which allows us to operate joint exercises and exchange naval officers, and cooperate on anti-piracy operations like the Atlanta Operation off the Somali coast. We expect to see expansions in these partnerships. Further details to the strategy will be announced in September.

 

4. US military power comes from more than just the defense budget

Defense News · by Miranda Priebe, Bryan Rooney, Grant Johnson · May 7, 2021

Excerpts: “The Biden administration proposes to finance the spending bill through a series of increases in corporate taxes. Some policymakers have expressed concern that such tax increases may harm growth by reducing incentives for corporate investment. However, changes to similar tax provisions through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 had no discernable impact on business investment. This suggests that, taken together, the proposed infrastructure investments and tax increases should increase growth.

On net, infrastructure investments may have several security benefits. Such investments directly improve the resilience of military installations and infrastructure used for military deployments. Less directly, infrastructure investments promote economic growth, which enables future defense spending.

A rising China presents a sustained challenge for the United States that cannot be met by focusing narrowly on defense spending alone. To have the wherewithal to protect U.S. security against this challenge indefinitely, the country has to make a broader set of investments that support U.S. military power and promote continued economic growth. Therefore, the country should look beyond the annual defense budget to the broader set of ways to promote national security over the long term.

 

5. Narcissism and National Security

c4isrnet.com · by Jaime Coddington · May 7, 2021

interesting food for thought. We should reflect on this: “This is, of course, precisely what’s happening. Fueled by unchecked narcissism, we engage in activities that may seem pretty harmless in isolation but collectively undermine the security of our societies. On November 30, 1939, the Red Army invaded Finland, calculating that the neighbor – small to begin with – would be so riven by its recent civil war and the simmering internal strife that it wouldn’t put up a fight. How mistaken the Soviets were. Under the redoubtable Marshal Mannerheim, the Finns not only united but fought audaciously for a remarkable 105 days. Would our countries, divided as they are, be as courageous and united as the Finns of 1939? Sure, we all hope so.

But the figurative Soviet assault is unlikely to arrive. Instead, we’re constantly attacked in small ways, and it all seems pretty manageable. But just like narcissism in isolation is tolerable while collectively it is highly damaging, acts of aggression below the threshold of war are tolerable in isolation and collectively exceptionally damaging. A bit of incorrect information is part of life in a liberal democracy, but the large-scale spread of inaccuracies can dangerously undermine it. (Exhibit A: January 6.) The occasional Chinese VC investment is part of life the globalized economy, but concerted investments that lead to the best ideas being snapped up long before the startups enter the market deprive the startups’ home countries of invaluable innovation. One Western citizen arrested on bogus charges is manageable, but arrests of Westerners as a tool of coercion are a national security threat.

“You are exactly where you need to be”? I’m not suggesting we should deny ourselves individual pursuits. I am, however, suggesting that we ought to take our communities into account more frequently. Sure, we don’t need to ask the famous WWJD question before every decision, and it would be hubristic to stop to consider potential national security consequences of our every action. But at the very least, we would do well to spend a few more thoughts on those around us. As Putnam documented two decades ago, our social capital needs replenishing. And today that wouldn’t just be a good thing on a human level but for national security too.

 

7. Former acting defense chief to testify on Pentagon’s response to Jan. 6 Capitol riot

militarytimes.com · by Erick Tucker · May 9, 2021

 

8. The UN Commission on the Status of Women Lost All Credibility

algemeiner.com · by Naomi Grant

Excerpts: “...it recently elected Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Lebanon, Mauritania, and Tunisia to four-year terms on the council.

...

Article 2 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women states that all parties “agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women,” one example of which is adopting “appropriate legislative and other measures, including sanctions where appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination against women.”

Allowing countries with rampant abuse of women to be part of this body’s decision-making process is the opposite of applying sanctions and an indication that words on UN websites may be just that. It’s simply good PR for these six countries that oppress women and could provide them cover to defend themselves against international censure. Not only do the above countries have no credibility on this issue; countries that previously served on CSW with credibility and voted for these new members also deserve international censure.

Because of such actions, the commission makes a complete mockery of why it was created in the first place, and has sold out young girls and women around the globe. Activists will have to make do without it.

 

9. DHS is gathering intelligence on security threats from social media

NBC News · by Ken Dilanian · May 10, 2021

A careful approach is necessary. The potential for blowback is large.

Excerpts: “DHS sparked outrage over its open-source intelligence collection last year when it emerged that analysts had been compiling dossiers about tweets by certain journalists covering border issues. The secretary of homeland security ordered analysts to stop collecting information about journalists, and the flap led to a pullback in all types of collection of public information, current and former DHS officials have said.

Officials say they are taking a careful approach.

"Our job is not to police thought and speech — our job is to prevent acts of violence," Cohen told lawmakers.

However, he said later, "We have to understand the close proximity between constitutionally protected speech ... and the threat of violence posed by individuals who use that speech or leverage that speech as a way to incite violence."

 

10. Cyberattacks on US are 'here to stay', Biden official warns

Daily Mail · by Lauren Fruen · May 10, 2021

The genie cannot be put back in the bottle.

 

11. How an obscure Texas security company helped convince Americans the 2020 election was stolen from Trump

The Washington Post · by Emma Brown, Aaron C. Davis, Jon Swaine and Josh Dawsey · May 9, 2021

Long read. This will be pooh-poohed by certain factions and probably will not be read or objectively assessed. If accurate this explains a lot. This would be arguably one of the most effective psychological operations (whether witting or not) ever conducted against the United States and even worse because it was conducted by its own citizens.

It also shows how effective a slick briefing (probably PowerPoint) can be that appeals to the preconceived notions of political leaders. If this reporting is accurate this could be one of the most damaging acts against our Constitution and the American political system.

 

12. ‘Why Do We Deserve to Die?’ Kabul’s Hazaras Bury Their Daughters.

The New York Times · by Adam Nossiter · May 9, 2021

So tragic. Is this an indication of what is to come?

 

13. Air Force Special Operations Command competition solicits airmen's ideas for U.S. security

americanmilitarynews.com · by Jim Thompson · May 9, 2021

I would bet that more good ideas could be generated by listening to members of the organization at all levels than could be generated by any think tank or consulting firm. Ironically perhaps, the biggest untapped intellectual capital exists among members of organizations. I hope this proves my arguments and that the "evil geniuses" will generate some valuable input.

 

14. Burma poet dies in detention, body returned to family with organs missing: reports

eastasiaforum.org · by Hugh White · May 10, 2021

I guess nothing should shock us any more. But still, this level of brutality seems unbelievable. 

 

15. US Pacific Deterrence Initiative too little, too late to counter China

eastasiaforum.org · by Hugh White · May 10, 2021

Ouch. Strong criticism here: “Yet there is no sign that the United States has a plan to win a war with China that goes beyond a maritime campaign. A land invasion that aims to seize substantial Chinese territory can be ruled out as beyond US capability. History also suggests that a conventional bombing campaign or a trade blockade is unlikely to work.

This leaves nuclear weapons. The United States’ ‘nuclear first use’ doctrine envisages resorting to nuclear forces if conventional forces fail to deliver victory. But China has nuclear weapons too — which it could launch against US cities — and no president could afford to ignore the risk that they would be used to retaliate against any US nuclear attack on China.

Restoring credible deterrence of China is much harder than rebuilding US capabilities to fight and win a maritime campaign in the Western Pacific. It requires the United States to develop a credible military strategy that has a real chance of forcing China to concede on vital issues like Taiwan at a price that the United States is willing to pay. If that price includes a clear risk of nuclear attack on the United States itself, then no such a military strategy might be possible. In this case, the United States will lose the contest with China.

 

16. Navy SEALs And Army Night Stalkers Captured In Amazing Photos During Virginia Exercise

thedrive.com · by Tyler Rogoway · May 9, 2021

Photos at the link.

 

17.  The Case for Restructuring the Department of Defense to Fight in the 21st Century

madsciblog.tradoc.army.mil · May 10, 2021

There is an awful lot to digest in this essay.  

 

18. Smokejumpers CIA Clandestine Weapon in America's Secret Wars

Youtube

Thanks to a good friend for flagging this.

I have often come across mention of smokejumpers throughout my study of Special Operations history and other national security operations involving the IC (and some of the books are mentioned in this "documentary'). I know the rough terrain suits we jumped in 1st SFG were based on smokejumper design and our tree landing techniques (which I conducted once in the tall pines of Ft Lewis) were learned from smokejumpers. I even recall we used to once send SF soldiers to Montana to train with the smokejumpers. But I had no idea the extent of the smoker jumper contribution to national security and clandestine operations or the close relationship between smokejumpers and the CIA.

Although this appears to be a relatively low budget production documentary the 48 minutes of history in this video is really worth watching for any interested national security history. There is a lot to unpack here. Operations are covered in Taiwan and Laos and Tibet as well as Vietnam but also Africa and even the Arctic (spoiler alert -look for the first Fulton Recovery operations). Yes as the title says this about the Smokejumpers and the CIA (to include Air America) but it also touches on the connection to the OSS and includes George Sisler (A smokejumper, Green Beret, and Medal of Honor recipient). But more importantly it is a history of contributions by unsung American heroes to national security operations around the world.  

There are many lessons for today. While we lament that a bunch of Americans can no longer conduct clandestine operations in places such as Asia because we cannot blend in - there are lessons from this history that show how Americans did and may still even be able to contact clandestine operations working with indigenous forces.

 

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

 

"Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear."

- George Addair

 

“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty”

― John F. Kennedy

 

William Casey on the OSS: “You didn't wait six months for a feasibility study to prove that an idea could work. You gambled that it might work. You didn't tie up the organization with red tape designed …” “ … mostly to cover somebody's rear end. You took the initiative and the responsibility. You went around end, you went over somebody's head if you had to. But you acted. That's what drove the regular military and the State Department chair-warmers crazy about the OSS."

- OSS veteran and DCIA William Casey

 

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

1. We need to talk about Kim: US and South Korea remain far apart on the North as first summit approaches

2. Donald Kirk: Is South Korea next in line for US forces withdrawal?

3. Moon, entering final year, pledges last-ditch efforts to revive NK diplomacy

4. Two Organization and Guidance Department officials expelled to rural areas with their families

5. Kaesong party committee tries to send people to mines and rural areas

6. Moon urges North Korea to return to negotiation table

7. Moon Marks 4th Year in Office

8. Critics say Moon's special address far from public sentiment

9. Defector activist grilled by police over anti-N.K. leafleting

10. N.K. paper highlights nationwide support for farming amid rice-planting season

11. Russia, China are cozying up to North Korea

12. Bringing Korea Back into the Fold by Victor Cha

13. Biden in the Asia Pacific

14. Seoul Officials on Long 'Study' Jaunts to U.S., U.K

15. How to deal with a nuclear-armed Kim Jong Un

 

1.  We need to talk about Kim: US and South Korea remain far apart on the North as first summit approaches

The Independent

We need to talk about Kim: US and South Korea remain far apart on the North as first summit approaches

Joe Biden and Moon Jae-in meet later this month and one topic will dominate - North Korea. Donald Kirk, in Washington, reports on the differences dividing the allies when it comes to dealing with Kim Jong Un

 

2. Donald Kirk: Is South Korea next in line for US forces withdrawal?

wacotrib.com · by Donald Kirk · May 06, 2021

As I previously wrote: Some of my Korean friends worry about the Pentagon's force posture review and about US troop withdrawals from other areas (e.g., Afghanistan) and how it might affect force posture in Korea. But to my Korean friends I would not worry about the review or other withdrawals from other countries. What could drive changes to US force posture in Korea could be the logistic support for THAAD and the ability for US forces to conduct training, particularly live fire training, to maintain qualifications and certifications. if US forces do not have sufficient access to adequate training areas to remain qualified then those forces could be subject to withdrawal. As Confucius said, "To lead an untrained people to war is to throw them away."

Key points: “Victor Cha, who served as Korea expert on the national security council during the presidency of George W. Bush and now runs Korean issues at the influential Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, had a ready answer to my questions: “Might Biden go for a peace treaty or end-of-war agreement with North Korea, pulling U.S. troops out of Korea — also as Trump talked about? Is Biden’s decision on Afghanistan setting precedent for U.S. policy with its two Northeast Asia allies, Korea and Japan?”

Cha’s response was unequivocal. “I don’t think so,” he emailed back. “The situations are not really comparable. I’m not worried about withdrawals because of the impact on the credibility of U.S. security commitments to our allies in the region.”

In other words, concerns about South Korean defenses against North Korea are too inextricably bound to China’s burgeoning presence and also to U.S. relations with Japan for the U.S. to consider bugging out. The attitude of the liberal South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the conservative Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga may be quite different, and South Korea and Japan are not going to engage in real “trilateral cooperation” as long as contentious historical disputes remain unresolved, but leaders of both countries have to view U.S. troops as essential to maintaining peace in the region.

 

3. Moon, entering final year, pledges last-ditch efforts to revive NK diplomacy

koreaherald.com · by Lee Ji-yoon · May 10, 2021

The Moon administration will double down on his "peace at any cost" agenda. I too want peace on the Korean peninsula but I fear the Moon policy, if fully implemented with all the concessions desired, will actually increase the chances of conflict and will simply play right into the Kim family regime's political warfare strategy that is based on subversion, coercion/extortion 9blackmail diplomacy) and the use of force to dominate the peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.

 

4. Two Organization and Guidance Department officials expelled to rural areas with their families

dailynk.com · by Lee Chae Un · May 10, 2021

The OGD is the most important department or organization in north Korea and the most important to Kim Jong-un himself. It theoretically should consist of the most loyal and thoroughly vetted personnel.

But no organization is immune from corruption and of course the more powerful and influence an organization has, the more likely there will be corruption to exploit that power in a country like north Korea.

 

5. Kaesong party committee tries to send people to mines and rural areas

dailynk.com · by Jong So Yong · May 10, 2021

This will be an experiment to see how much contact with South Koreans has influenced them and if they subvert their fellow citizens in the mines and rural areas.

Excerpt: “Kaesong residents are reportedly critical of the party’s simultaneously coercive and conciliatory approach to the issue. The source quoted one as saying that “It is worrisome and confusing that the authorities are forcing [people in Kaesong] to move according to [the Party’s whims], giving them only the choice between mining and farming.”

 

6. Moon urges North Korea to return to negotiation table

The Korea Times · by Nam Hyun-woo · May 10, 2021

We all want north Korea to return to the negotiating table. But Kim hopes we want it more than him and that we are willing to make concessions to him for his promise to return. It would be a mistake to make any premature concessions because it would only confirm to him that his political warfare strategy and blackmail diplomacy is successful. This will cause him to double down and not come to the table as a responsible member of the international community.

 

7. Moon Marks 4th Year in Office

english.chosun.com

And last year.

 

8. Critics say Moon's special address far from public sentiment

The Korea Times · by Kang Seung-woo · May 10, 2021

Like many other politicians he appears to be only speaking to his base.

 

9. Defector activist grilled by police over anti-N.K. leafleting

en.yna.co.kr · by 김나영 · May 10, 2021

It will be interesting to see how President Biden handles this issue at the Biden-Moon summit.

 

10. N.K. paper highlights nationwide support for farming amid rice-planting season

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · May 10, 2021

Will "cheerleading" improve rice planting this year?

Excerpts: “North Korea is known for chronic food shortages and the scarcity appears to be getting worse due to the fallout of last year's flooding and the prolonged border controls put in place to ward off the global coronavirus pandemic.

South Korea's unification ministry handling inter-Korean affairs earlier estimated that the North could be faced with a food shortage of around 1 million tons this year.

 

11. Russia, China are cozying up to North Korea

koreanjoongangdaily · by Jeong Yong-Soo and Sarah Kim

If we had six party talks it might be more likely three against three or even four against two depending on how one of the six parties leans.

 

12. Bringing Korea Back into the Fold

english.chosun.com · May 10, 2021

A good question: Can President Biden bring President Moon back into the fold? Based on President Moon's recent speech I think not. This is going to be an innocent summit,

Excerpts: “The Biden administration has not been standing idly by, of course. It has been hard at work reconstituting the alliance after the Trump years, starting with the 2+2 meetings in March with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin meeting with their counterparts. On this occasion, Blinken also signed a deal on the upkeep of the U.S. Forces Korea, ending a protracted deadlock over cost-sharing. Shortly thereafter, the national security advisers of Japan and South Korea came to Annapolis to meet with Jake Sullivan and Kurt Campbell to re-establish executive-branch coordination and prepare for a potential summit-level meeting of the three allies. Behind all of these events sits a large volume of calls, messages, and in-person meetings to move the policy process forward. For the start of a new administration in Washington, this is a tremendous amount of activity in a short period and reflects the priority the Biden administration places on re-establishing trilateralism as a core element in Asia.

The purpose of these efforts is to bolster policy positions with regard to North Korea and China. But arguably another important objective of reconciling Japan-South Korea relations is to bring South Korea back into the fold of diplomacy with the major democracies in Asia. There has been a quiet but discernible trend developing over the past few years where South Korea was growing increasingly isolated.

 

13. Biden in the Asia Pacific

The Korea Times · by Deauwand Myers · May 10, 2021

Excerpts: “Now that President Moon Jae-in is near the end of his tenure, his administration still faces the challenges of an ascendant China and an aggressive North Korea.

Being the strongest ally to Korea, the United States' role in dealing with both countries is paramount, and oddly, we still don't know how President Joe Biden will deal with North Korea.

Biden has made it pretty clear how he feels about the Chinese government. Biden has already taken executive actions to change and secure supply lines and enhance security for sensitive and advanced technologies originating from the United States.

...

But President Biden's foreign policy is not xenophobic, pro-totalitarian, and seeks multilateral consensus, from rejoining the Paris Accords on climate change to strengthening the United Nations and NATO, the polar of opposite of former President Donald Trump. This means his administration will seek cooperation on dealing with North Korea from China, and dealing with China from Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

 

14. Seoul Officials on Long 'Study' Jaunts to U.S., U.K

english.chosun.com · May 10, 2021

Interesting critique: “Of those who went to the U.S. and the U.K., most followed a well-beaten path around the backwaters, where they could afford to bring their whole families. Twenty went to Oregon, eight to Texas, six to Missouri, and five to Georgia.

Officials did usually submit some kind of report on return, but they were often thin gruel. The 19 who went to Portland, Oregon mostly reported about transport or climate policies in the city.

"Many went to Oregon because the University of Portland has been designated as a policy training institution under an agreement," a city official said.

But very few went to population or technology hubs that are more obviously comparable to Seoul like Silicon Valley, or New York and Washington, where major organizations and international agencies are concentrated.”

 

15. How to deal with a nuclear-armed Kim Jong Un

CNN · by  David A. Andelman

Unfortunately Kim will not be a responsible member of the international community or of the nuclear powers. Trying to allow him the opportunity to be a responsible nuclear power will only cause him to continue his political warfare strategy and blackmail diplomacy because we will have proved it works for him.

Excerpts: “The essence of any such plan must lie in the United States finding a way to persuade the North to join the global nuclear non-proliferation club. Implicit would be the acceptance that it already has a weapon. In turn the North will need to make its weapons and their security clearly visible and open to inspection.

China has every incentive to go along with such a plan and see that North Korea respects its spirit and letter. Biden must persuade Xi Jinping to embrace this in his dealings with Kim. At the same time Kim, as well as Xi, should understand that if North Korea launches a nuclear weapon at any foreign power, the United States is capable not only of a targeted nuclear attack on the capital of Pyongyang, but of turning the entirety of North Korea into a radioactive glass bowl.

...

Still, the Biden administration does not seem to have many other, workable alternatives than to find a pathway for Kim to be lured or coerced back into the process -- whether by carrots or the stick of real, enforceable sanctions, especially enlisting China into an enforcement that is any more than simply lip-service. One of America's leading negotiators with the North, Evans J. R. Revere, told me that the US "must squeeze the North Koreans from every possible angle (so that) every morning when Kim Jong Un gets up, he needs to wonder whether (he) will make it through the end of the day." Revere paused then added, "I am convinced he is a rational actor."

Biden and his negotiators must find some way to persuade Kim they understand his needs, but that he must understand how incumbent it is for him to come to the table as a responsible member of the community of nations and of nuclear powers. That is the best assurance of North Korea's long-term survival, and his own.

 

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

 

"Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear."

- George Addair

 

“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of liberty”

― John F. Kennedy

 

William Casey on the OSS: “You didn't wait six months for a feasibility study to prove that an idea could work. You gambled that it might work. You didn't tie up the organization with red tape designed …” “ … mostly to cover somebody's rear end. You took the initiative and the responsibility. You went around end, you went over somebody's head if you had to. But you acted. That's what drove the regular military and the State Department chair-warmers crazy about the OSS."

- OSS veteran and DCIA William Casey

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

1. Restoring Taiwan’s Appropriate Place at the World Health Assembly - United States Department of State

2. Opinion | The U.S. Still Has Leverage In Afghanistan. Here’s How to Keep It

3. Biden’s foreign policy of ‘competitive coexistence’

4. Xi versus Biden: how China is beating the US

5. Will deterrence work, when our foes wage war disguised as peace? by Sean McFate

6. [OPINION] Fighting the virus of lies

7. Beijing’s Woke Propaganda War in America

8. US Navy Says Seizes Huge Weapons Cache In Arabian Sea

9. Ransomware attack leads to shutdown of major U.S. pipeline system

10. New U.S. Indo-Pacific chief to visit Japan in second half of May

11. Washington is playing a losing game with China by Chas Freeman

12. Genuine multilateralism, int'l cooperation championed worldwide

13. The US Needs to Impose Costs on China for Its Economic Warfare

14. Deterrent against China: Palau invites U.S. military to build on remote islands

15. 'Conspiracy is hard': Inside the Trump administration's secret plan to kill Qassem Soleimani

16. Leaked documents reveal China’s sinister virus plan

17. 4 Years After an Execution, a Different Man’s DNA Is Found on the Murder Weapon

18. US State Department: We Will Not Normalize Ties With Assad

19. Afghan Pullout Leaves U.S. Looking for Other Places to Station Its Troops

20. Major China Bill Puts Military in a Crunch

 

1. Restoring Taiwan’s Appropriate Place at the World Health Assembly - United States Department of State

state.gov · by Antony J. Blinken

Looks like we are going to do something with the WHA (and thus the WHO.)

We should remember the history of the WHO. China was a founding member of the WHO. But we know the People's Republic of China did not come into existence until 1948.

When diplomats met to form the United Nations in 1945, one of the things they discussed was setting up a global health organization.

WHO’s Constitution came into force on 7 April 1948 – a date we now celebrate every year as World Health Day.

 

2. Opinion | The U.S. Still Has Leverage In Afghanistan. Here’s How to Keep It

Politico · by Anne Pforzheimer · May 8, 2021

Conclusion: "Pulling out troops without conditions or remaining “at war” indefinitely are not the only two options; they never were. In our 2009 cable, we pointed out that anti-corruption and long-term development efforts were better investments than more troops. Rather than compound our past errors, the United States must now commit to the goal of stability by preserving our remaining leverage—and using it well."

 

3.Biden’s foreign policy of ‘competitive coexistence’

ekathimerini.com · by Ian Bremmer · May 8, 2021

Ian Bremmer wins the prize for new foreign policy doctrine name: "competitive coexistence."

 

4. Xi versus Biden: how China is beating the US

SCMP · by Suzanne Ho

Excerpts: “A strong leader who has both a deep understanding of strategy and a desire to meet the needs of the people comes only once in many generations. Meritocracy allowed Xi to climb up the over the course of decades, by honing his capability and generating support.

Despite the Western media image of Xi, he is one leader who has a clear-eyed view of the path forward for China and the support of his people in securing the future.

On the other hand, America’s political duopoly, at least in the last decade, has resulted in greater polarisation, with its citizens paying the price.

 

5. Will deterrence work, when our foes wage war disguised as peace?

The Hill · by Sean McFate · May 8, 2021

Politics is war by other means.

Mao: Politics is war without bloodshed and war is politics with bloodshed.

But Sean has coined a brilliant new phrase: "War is becoming a strategic scam." Perhaps this will take a rightful place next to Ike"s: "Military Industrial Complex."

Excerpts: “These “non-war” wars do not bend to the strategic logic of Clausewitz or Thomas Schelling, who prized brute force as the ultimate form of diplomacy (read: “deterrence and war”). Our national security establishment is steeped in these two thinkers. Yet warfare has changed, becoming more Sun Tzu, who valued deception above firepower. You win modern wars not through blitzkrieg, but by manufacturing the fog of war and exploiting it for victory, as our adversaries do. This is strategic deception. Trying to deter it is like trying to win at three-card monte.

War is becoming a strategic scam, and not a contest of brute strength alone. David beats Goliath through trickery, something the U.S. suffered in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet we have not learned. Deterrence is the reasoning of Goliath, but we are surrounded by Davids. To beat them, we must improve our strategic IQ and think beyond a big “shooting war” that may never occur. Rather, we should ask what is “war” today? It’s not our great-grandfather’s war. If war is getting sneakier, we must get sneaky with it. We must learn to scam the scammers — after all, Americans are clever people.

 

6. [OPINION] Fighting the virus of lies

rappler.com

From a great person, Maria Ressa, whom I am proud to know for the past 2 decades. Wise words.

Excerpts: “The virus of lies is highly contagious. They infect real people, who become impervious to facts. It changes the way they look at the world. They become angrier, more isolated. They distrust everything.

In this environment, the dictator wins, crumbling our democracies from within.

...

So here’s the thing: our problems can’t be solved from the Philippines alone. Again, something I’ve said repeatedly: what’s local is global; and what’s global is local.

...

Inevitably, there is this one moment when power and money chooses – status quo or change: in the Philippines in 1986, it was an elite family’s banner at a protest rally that helped open the floodgates that ousted a dictator. In Indonesia in 1998, months of student protests led nowhere until the business community and the military stepped in, ending nearly 32 years of Suharto.

Those with power and money must choose.

Ask yourselves these questions: Who are you? What do you stand for? What kind of world do you want in the next decade?

 

7. Beijing’s Woke Propaganda War in America

hoover.org · by Miles Maochun Yu

Excerpts: “On July 13, 1990, the Vice-Consul of Culture, Propaganda, and Exchange in the PRC’s San Francisco Consulate General, who defected to the U.S. in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Massacre, told a Berkeley, California audience about how easy it was for the CCP propagandists like himself to capture American intellectual and social elites to function as the CCP’s proxies in the U.S.:

“The tactic Chinese propagandists use is not really very complicated. It is simple. It is always to work on your ego, on your business interests, on your curiosity, and especially with the Chinese students (in the U.S.), on your patriotism.”

The former CCP propagandist further tellingly disclosed that:

“In the early 1970s when Nixon visited China, his visit was followed by a swarm of China experts from Hong Kong and the West. Surprisingly, these people were the easiest targets of all because they were self-important. They thought they knew everything about China.”

Indeed, since Nixon’s visit to China in 1972, the American elite’s ego, business interests, and curiosity about Chinese culture have supplied fertile ground and ample opportunities for the CCP to create a permanent class of the CCP propaganda proxies in the United States.

But elite capture goes further. Former senior government officials, including cabinet-level figures, routinely defend the CCP’s murderous acts, including the Tiananmen Massacre and other egregious human rights violations. Some of these former officials have even become registered agents for the Beijing regime and its CCP-controlled business interests in the U.S. Many of our leading universities and their talented professors often are coopted by the CCP to voice Beijing’s views in the U.S., masqueraded as research and objective surveys.

 

8. US Navy Says Seizes Huge Weapons Cache In Arabian Sea

Barron's · by AFP - Agence France Presse

I wonder who is responsible for these weapons? Inquiring minds want to know.

Excerpt: “The statement did not indicate where the vessel may have come from, but said the US Navy's regular patrols in the region "disrupt the transport of illicit cargo that often funds terrorism and unlawful activity".

 

9. Ransomware attack leads to shutdown of major U.S. pipeline system

Washington Post · by Ellen Nakashima, Yeganeh Torbati, and Will Englund

I wonder if these Eastern European criminals have read "Unrestricted Warfare?"

 

10. New U.S. Indo-Pacific chief to visit Japan in second half of May

japantimes.co.jp · May 9, 2021

Excerpts: “China could invade Taiwan "in the next six years," Davidson told the Senate Committee on Armed Services.

Aquilino told senators at a confirmation hearing in the same month, "My opinion is this problem is much closer to us than most think," but he declined to weigh in on Davidson's assessment of the six-year timeframe.

The Japanese government is studying possible responses by the SDF in the event of a military conflict between the United States and China over Taiwan within the strict confines of its national security laws and the war-renouncing Constitution.

 

11. Washington is playing a losing game with China by Chas Freeman

eastasiaforum.org · by Chas Freeman · May 9, 2021

Excerpts: “The United States should work with China to ease the inevitable transition from dollar hegemony to a multilateral monetary order in ways that preserve American influence; leverage not boycott China’s Belt and Road Initiative to benefit from its opportunities and connectivities; promote cross-Strait negotiations and mutual accommodation rather than China–Taiwan confrontation; and expand consular relations, restore exchanges, and promote Chinese studies to enhance understanding of China.

Doubling down on military competition gives China a reason to up the ante and call the bluff, leading to a mutually impoverishing arms race.

Stoking China’s neighbours’ dependency on the United States rather than helping countries be more self-reliant implicates them in US conflicts of interest with China without addressing their own. They need US diplomatic support more than military backing to work out a stable modus vivendi with China.

US China policy should be part of a new, broader Asia strategy — not the determinant of relations with other Asian nations or the driver of policies in the region. To hold its own with China, the United States must renew its competitive capacity and build a demonstrably better governed, better educated, more egalitarian, more open, more innovative, healthier, and freer society.

 

12. Genuine multilateralism, int'l cooperation championed worldwide

xinhuanet.com

From a Chinese propaganda outlet.

I am always curious about the country with the 2d largest economy in the world can still described and categorized as a developing country.

Excerpts: “As the largest developing country in the world, China has increased its contributions to achieving the highest reduction in CO2 emissions in the world and will achieve carbon neutrality from carbon peaking in the shortest time in the world's history, said Ayadi.

China has already pledged to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which is a much shorter time span than those proposed by many developed countries.

"This demonstrates China's commitment to making more contributions to tackling global climate change and building up its image as a responsible major country," she said.

 

13. The US Needs to Impose Costs on China for Its Economic Warfare

defenseone.com · by Jared Thompson and Anne Fixler

Yes. 

The US Needs to Impose Costs on China for Its Economic Warfare

 

14. Deterrent against China: Palau invites U.S. military to build on remote islands

washingtontimes.com 

Excerpts: “China is disadvantaged by America’s 70-year head start in the Pacific since the end of World War II and by Palau’s staunch support for the U.S., Taiwan and democratic Western allies,” a Bangkok-based geopolitical analyst with experience in the Pacific region said in an interview. “On the other hand, the U.S. spent the last two decades forfeiting much of the ‘First Island Chain’ to China.”

That “first chain” in the Pacific includes Taiwan, Okinawa, the Philippines and other islands closest to China on the front line of the struggle for influence in the highly trafficked and highly contested South China and East China Seas, where Beijing and Washington compete to dominate with their strategy and policies.

Palau is in the “Second Island Chain,” closer to Hawaii and the U.S. mainland. It links southern Japan, Guam and islands farther south across the Western Pacific Ocean. Although Palau’s primary interest is its economic survival, analysts say, the stakes are far greater and far 

 

15.  'Conspiracy is hard': Inside the Trump administration's secret plan to kill Qassem Soleimani

news.yahoo.com · by Jack Murphy and Zach Dorfman · May 8, 2021

I continue to be amazed by the amount of information that is allowed to see the light of day (or ink on pages). But I guess I should not be so naive to think that we could keep some secrets.

 

16. Leaked documents reveal China’s sinister virus plan

news.com.au · by Ria Matthews · May 8, 2021

Of course every biological research laboratory has and probably continues to have such discussions, mostly probably to talk about defense against the threats. But the question is do these discussions and "thinking" actually lead to weapons development. I am in no way excusing or defending Chinese actions or trying to establish a moral relativity relationship. But discussions are one thing, operationalization is another. I tend to be very suspicious of CHina and its capabilities and intentions but we need to continue to investigate.

“I think this is significant because it clearly shows that Chinese scientists were thinking about military application for different strains of the coronavirus and thinking about how it could be deployed,” said Mr Jennings.

 

17. 4 Years After an Execution, a Different Man’s DNA Is Found on the Murder Weapon

The New York Times · by Heather Murphy · May 7, 2021

This is one of the many reasons why I am opposed to the death penalty.  Despite modern science and technology we still make mistakes.

 

18. US State Department: We Will Not Normalize Ties With Assad

english.aawsat.com · by Washington- Muath al-Amri

 

19. Afghan Pullout Leaves U.S. Looking for Other Places to Station Its Troops

WSJ · by Vivian Salama and Gordon Lubold

It seems a little late. You would think we should have this sorted out and have put agreements in place before we withdraw our troops.

 

20. Major China Bill Puts Military in a Crunch

freebeacon.com · by Jack Beyrer · May 8, 2021

Excerpts: “China has increased its military forces in recent months. Beijing commissioned three advanced warships in April, with several more under construction. On Wednesday, multiple reports indicated China is planning to build an airstrip in Kiribati, one of the closest island chains to Hawaii, as well as several other U.S. and allied military installations.

The bill also signals a potential emphasis for the administration: restraining nuclear weapons. Calling for an arms control discussion with China, the bill states the United States and China are not in an arms race even as Beijing stocks up on advanced weaponry. Rep. Don Bacon (R., Neb.) praised much of the bill but said the United States cannot afford to cut defense, especially in the nuclear realm.

"As long as China remains a threat to the U.S. and our allies, we cannot afford to make any cuts to defense, especially to our nuclear triad," Bacon said. "Within our overarching strategic deterrence framework, both extended nuclear and conventional deterrence must be brought to bear if we are to present a credible challenge to the PRC’s hegemonic ambitions."

The bill, which has been praised by the White House, will likely receive a vote from the Senate in May.

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

 

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart." 

- Ancient Indian Proverb

 

"Virtue always lasts longer than other qualities, and it always starts from the beginning."

- Immanuel Kant

 

"Let us therefore set out whole-heatedly, leaving aside our many distractions and exert ourselves in the single purpose, before we realize too late the swift and unstoppable flight of time and we are left behind. As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of  all, and make it your own possession. We must seize what fees."

- Seneca

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

1. He Balloon-Dropped 500,000 Anti-Kim Flyers on North Korea—Then Cops Knocked on His Door

2. Southern county got a U.S. missile shield -- and little else

3. How North Korean APT Kimsuky Is Evolving Its Tactics

4. South Korean opposition politician meets with U.S. North Korea rights activist

5. Virus fight, North Korea policy to challenge Moon's final year in office

6. South Korea is betting it can stay out of the US and China's intensifying rivalry

7. Israel, South Korea to sign free trade agreement

8. Resolving US-North Korea tension requires a formal end to Korean War

9. Reports: Kim Jong-Un executes a conductor in front of orchestra

10. What I have learned about suffering after escaping North Korea

11. New N. Korea policy does not affect U.S. defense posture in S. Korea: Pentagon

12. Is North Korea’s ‘Monster Missile’ Designed to Release Multiple Nukes?

 

1. He Balloon-Dropped 500,000 Anti-Kim Flyers on North Korea—Then Cops Knocked on His Door

The Daily Beast · by Donald Kirk · May 8, 2021

Will this be an issue at the Moon-Biden summit?

Biden and his team have not commented on whether the topic of the anti-leaflet law will come up at the summit, but Park hoped Biden would ask about the legality of the legislation that he said represses free speech as guaranteed in the South’s constitution.

“I want President Biden to ask all those questions,” he said. “Why does Moon violate the Korean constitution, freedom of speech, freedom of information. That’s what President Biden should confront President Moon with.”

Park spoke out in terms that clearly identify with Korean right-wing forces, gathering strength while Moon’s own popularity sinks in response to corruption scandals and economic issues.

“Moon is working for Kim Jong Un,” he said, echoing widespread comments by Moon’s conservative critics.

 

2. Southern county got a U.S. missile shield -- and little else

koreanjoongangdaily · by Kim Jung-Seok and Sarah Kim

Now this is really rich. Why do they think they should get these projects as the professional agitators continue to radicalize the local citizens to protest and interrupt logistical support operations for the THAAD battery?

Perhaps the government should tell the local population that there can be no contributions until the THAAD battery can function without hindrance from local protests.

 

3. How North Korean APT Kimsuky Is Evolving Its Tactics

darkreading.com · by Kelly Sheridan

CloudDragon and KimDragon.

 

4. South Korean opposition politician meets with U.S. North Korea rights activist

UPI · by Elizabeth Shim · May 7, 2021

I wonder if the anti-leaflet law will be an election issue. But I hope not because it needs to be rescinded long before the 2022 president elections.

Excerpts: “The former prime minister also said Scholte inquired about President Moon Jae-in, a former human rights lawyer.

Scholte reportedly said Moon should cultivate the "right awareness" about the plight of North Koreans living under oppression, according to Hwang.

Last year, Scholte delivered a letter to the South Korean Embassy in Washington, addressed to Moon, after Seoul warned it could revoke operation permits for North Korean activists in the South engaged in leafleting.

Scholte said defectors were being harassed and investigated without sufficient cause.

Hwang's visit comes ahead of a presidential election in the South next year and after his colleagues in the conservative People Power Party won mayoral elections in landslide victories.

Hwang, who has not confirmed a presidential run, left Korea Wednesday for the United States, Korea Economic Daily reported.

 

5. Virus fight, North Korea policy to challenge Moon's final year in office

The Korea Times · May 9, 2021

As he tries to cement his legacy. I am afraid his legacy will not be the one he desires.

I am not sure if the Biden policy review is in synch with the South Korean government (maybe it is with the professionals in the South Korean government but it is not in synch with the politicos in the Moon administration.)

Excerpts: “Some of the expected topics for the speech and the following question and answer session include achieving herd immunity against COVID-19 by November as the government promised; boosting the virus-hit economy through its Korea New Deal project for job creation; stabilizing the real estate market through an administration-led boost in the housing supply; and how to capitalize on the upcoming South Korea-U.S. summit slated for May 21 to restart the President's Korean Peninsula peace process.

...

As to Moon's peace process, experts said there is little room for South Korean diplomacy, as the policies of North Korea and the United States will matter more.

Hong Min, a senior researcher at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, said it does appear that the policy review on the North by President Joe Biden's administration is in sync with the South Korean government. He noted that Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said Seoul welcomed Washington's review, in a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, May 3, during the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting in London.

 

But Hong said what is more important than the South Korean government's position is how the North responds to the review. He said prospects for North Korea-U.S. talks look dim as both Pyongyang and Washington have said they would respond in accordance with each other's moves, with neither making any preemptive concessions.

"Looking at a few words from Washington on its North Korea policy, there are no terms, words, or content that Pyongyang would be satisfied with. Washington has only said that it would take gradual and diplomatic steps, which is far from what Pyongyang has requested, namely the withdrawal of what it claims to be hostile policies against the reclusive regime," Hong said.

"Pyongyang has already revealed its principle of strong-against-strong and benevolence-for-benevolence. When both Pyongyang and Washington keep the position that they will wait for each other's preemptive concession, then there is the possibility for tensions to keep increasing with both opting for stronger words and actions against each other."

Hong said the government's task would be mediating between the U.S. and North Korea, while leading the U.S. to take preemptive reconciliation measures.

 

6. South Korea is betting it can stay out of the US and China's intensifying rivalry

Business Insider  · by Karl Friedhoff

Ah... a shrimp among whales (and a slightly different version used below).

But I disagree with the first line of the excerpt here but this is an interesting discussion of South Korean naval capabilities and ambitions.

Ultimately, there may not be a pressing need for South Korea to closely align with either great power, as it is not standing idly by in terms of its own defense. Under the supposedly dovish Moon administration, the country saw its two biggest year-on-year defense spending increases in its history, with an 8.2% increase in 2019 and 7.4% in 2020.

Its arms race with North Korea may attract the most attention, but it is also pursuing a blue-water navy — and that has little to do with North Korea. It has floated the idea of acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. And it is ready to develop a light aircraft carrier that could eventually carry up to 20 F-35B fighter jets.

Roh Moo-hyun, the last progressive president before Moon Jae-in, presided over construction of a deep-water naval port on Jeju island, South Korea's southernmost point. The advance of the South Korean navy is in part a natural outgrowth of South Korea's growing security interests around the world. But Seoul also has one eye on China and its territorial ambitions.

South Korea is in an unenviable position, and it will face growing scrutiny as it seeks to balance its economic and security interests. But the growth of its own national power has opened up previously closed spaces as it seeks to swim — not idly float — among the whales. Its ability to strike that balance will depend on not getting its tail caught.

 

7. Israel, South Korea to sign free trade agreement

Jerusalem Post

Two of our most important allies.

 

8. Resolving US-North Korea tension requires a formal end to Korean War

The Hill · by Colleen Moore · May 8, 2021

Kim Jong-un will only agree to an end of war declaration if it leads to the end of the alliance and withdrawal of US troops so that it can execute its critical line of effort in its long term strategy to dominate the peninsula - his divide to conquer strategy - divide the alliance to conquer the ROK.

He really does not care about ending the war unless he can exploit it for his political warfare strategy. 

The author is from Women Across DMZ which has proved to be a strong mouthpiece for north Korean regime issues and for placing all blame on the US rather than acknowledging the root of all problems in Korea is the existence of the most evil mafia- like crime family cult known as the Kim family regime that has the objective of dominating the Korean Peninsula under the rule of the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State.

I fear the influence of this organization on some members of congress. Such influence and co-opting of some very progressive members of congress risks breaking the bipartisan support for Korea issues that has long existed. 

 

9. Reports: Kim Jong-Un executes a conductor in front of orchestra

slippedisc.com · by John Borstlap · May 9, 2021

This is based on a report from north Korea escapee and YouTube millionaire Yeonmi Park. It does link to a Donga Ilbo report in Korean. While I would not be surprised if KJU  did this, it could also be a rumor followed by circular reporting.

 

10. What I have learned about suffering after escaping North Korea

The Korea Times · by Eom Yeong-nam · May 9, 2021

And most all us take our freedom for granted.

Excerpts: “What freedom means to me is suffering, but freedom also presents the opportunity to overcome suffering.

People can try to reduce the education gap between North and South Korea by learning English or studying in graduate school. It is still possible to achieve when there is freedom.

That suffering happened to me because I'm from North Korea.

However, I have overcome those challenges and I am enjoying freedom because I have a special strength that I gained when I was in North Korea.

 

11. New N. Korea policy does not affect U.S. defense posture in S. Korea: Pentagon

kdva.vet · by Byun Duk-kun · May 4, 2021

I missed this report last week. Some of my Korean friends worry about the Pentagon's force posture review and about US troop withdrawals from other areas (e.g., Afghanistan) and how it might affect force posture in Korea. But to my Korean friends I would not worry about the review or other withdrawals from other countries. What could drive changes to US force posture in Korea could be the logistic support for THAAD and the ability for US forces to conduct training, particularly live fire training, to maintain qualifications and certifications. if US forces do not have sufficient access to adequate training areas to remain qualified then those forces could be subject to withdrawal. As Confucius said, "To lead an untrained people to war is to throw them away."

 

12. Is North Korea’s ‘Monster Missile’ Designed to Release Multiple Nukes?

The National Interest · by Sebastien Roblin · May 8, 2021

I think the simplest answer is the regime wants to develop this capability to enhance both deterrence and its blackmail diplomacy - the use of increased tension, threats, and provocations to gain political and economic concessions.

However, there may be another reason for showing us this capability. The Hwasong 15 may be sufficient or deterrence. But showing us a possible new missile system increases the level of threat and tension. But what if this is only a mockup of a capability to generate fear on our part and make us negotiate to halt or roll back what we perceive as the regime's most advanced capabilities? What if the north simply wants to use this for negotiation and is actually setting the conditions to negotiate away this this capability in return for substantive concessions from the US. The regime neds of giving up a capability it does not really posses. The regime has long been masterful at getting something for nothing. All warfare is based on deception. 

 

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

 

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart." 

- Ancient Indian Proverb

 

"Virtue always lasts longer than other qualities, and it always starts from the beginning."

- Immanuel Kant

 

"Let us therefore set out whole-heatedly, leaving aside our many distractions and exert ourselves in the single purpose, before we realize too late the swift and unstoppable flight of time and we are left behind. As each day arises, welcome it as the very best day of all, and make it your own possession. We must seize what fees."

- Seneca