News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Ahyoung Shin
1. A Russian military framework for understanding influence in the competition period
2. "Deepfakes: and the law of armed conflict: are they legal?
3. It is time to make rotating faculty positions at the US Military Academy open to all ranks
4. Why Russian military exoskeletons are not science fiction
5. The U.S. Army wants to transform soldiers into walking radar detectors
6. Former Navy SEAL says he did not throw a bomb at protesters, but Portland police say he has 'not been cleared'
7. How a fake CIA spy fooled everyone and swindled millions
8. US military personnel, veterans lost nearly $400 million to scammers since 2015, study shows
9. Local officials in China hid Coronavirus dangers from Beijing, U.S. agencies find
10. Inside story of US black ops in post-war Japan
11. Are America's East Asia allies willing and able to host U.S. intermediate-range missiles?
12. Why US Indo-Pacific strategy will fail
13. US formally ends three accords with Hong Kong
14. Taiwan plans to ban major Chinese video streaming services
15. Beyond TikTok: Preparing for future digital threats
16. Reported loss of two U.S. MQ-9 reapers in Syria raises troubling questions
1. A Russian military framework for understanding influence in the competition period
From the Army's Foreign Military Studies Office which is probably one of the organizations that punches way above its intellectual weight. Few may have heard of it, but they have done a lot of great research over the years with a very small cadre of experts. What FMSO produces is worth reading.
2. "Deepfakes: and the law of armed conflict: are they legal?
lieber.westpoint.edu · by Eric Jensen · August 19, 2020
Certainly some food for thought. To be honest I had not given this very much thought before reading this article. I will be interested to read the opinions of some of our law of war experts.
3. It is time to make rotating faculty positions at the US Military Academy open to all ranks
armytimes.com · by Tara Heidger · August 17, 2020
Very interesting idea. I have known many NCOs with both the education and aptitude to teach. But what strikes me about this OpEd is the author's honesty. Read the final statement in her bio. Make her the test case.
4. Why Russian military exoskeletons are not science fiction
Forbes · by David Hambling · August 19, 2020
So the Iron Man will be Russian.
5. The U.S. Army wants to transform soldiers into walking radar detectors
Forbes · by Michael Peck · August 19, 2020
The buried lede: "However, the problem is that American infantry are already groaning under the weight of weapons, body armor and equipment. Adding radar detection gear will add more strain to sore backs and knees." As the infantryman's adage goes, "A hundred pounds of lightweight s**t is still a hundred pounds."
6. Former Navy SEAL says he did not throw a bomb at protesters, but Portland police say he has 'not been cleared'
taskandpurpose.com · by Jeff Schogol
7. How a fake CIA spy fooled everyone and swindled millions
thedailybeast.com · by Justin Rohrlich
A long read but what an unbelievable story.
8. US military personnel, veterans lost nearly $400 million to scammers since 2015, study shows
foxbusiness.com · by Hollie McKay
What an incredible amount of money.
9. Local officials in China hid Coronavirus dangers from Beijing, U.S. agencies find
nytimes.com · by Edward Wong, Julian E. Barnes, Zolan Kanno-Youngs
We heard in January from Chinese friends the outbreak was known as early as October and Beijing knew about it then. But I suppose since it was a new virus everyone was probably in the dark about the dangers.
10. Inside story of US black ops in post-war Japan
asiatimes.com · by Robert Whiting · August 18, 2020
More interesting history.
11. Are America's East Asia allies willing and able to host U.S. intermediate-range missiles?
eastwestcenter.org · by Eric Gomez · August 19, 2020
Very interesting recommendations: "The United States should push on this open door. Emulating allies' plans for land-based missile forces should make U.S. deployments of similar capabilities more palatable to friendly administrations. Moreover, a narrowly defined role and target set for U.S. missile capabilities improves conventional deterrence while avoiding the nuclear escalation risks inherent with missiles that target facilities deeper in China's interior. If allies are still hesitant to let the United States deploy missiles on their territory, then joint development-like the U.S.-Japan effort on the SM-3 IIA missile defense interceptor-could be a viable alternative. Restraint should guide U.S. missile strategy in the post-INF world. East Asian allies have not rolled out the welcome mat for new deployments. Washington should be mindful of this and focus its efforts on emulating allied land-based missile strategy that has thus far emphasized creating friendly A2/AD zones.
12. Why US Indo-Pacific strategy will fail
asiatimes.com · by Ken Moak · August 20, 2020
Did we really produce a strategy that is not in our own interests? Is this a true statement? "There was never any problem of "freedom of navigation" in the South China Sea until the US declared its "pivot to Asia" policy in 2012."
13. US formally ends three accords with Hong Kong
Things will never be the same again.
14. Taiwan plans to ban major Chinese video streaming services
The Verge · by Sam Byford · August 20, 2020
Those pesky loopholes.
15. Beyond TikTok: Preparing for future digital threats
warontherocks.com · by Kara Frederick - Chris Estep - Megan Lamberth · August 20, 2020
The new battlefield.
16. Reported loss of two U.S. MQ-9 reapers in Syria raises troubling questions
dailynk.com · by Kang Mi Jin · August 20, 2020
I am surprised that this does not happen more often.
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"In each succeeding war there is a tendency to proclaim as something new the principles under which it is conducted. Not only those who have never studied or experienced the realities of war, but also professional soldiers frequently fall into the error. But the principles of warfare as I learned them at West Point remain unchanged."
- John J. Pershing, 'My Experiences in the World War'
"Patience strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride, bridles the tongue."
- George Horne
"The primary purpose of the Rolex is not as a timepiece but rather as a life insurance policy. When the situation goes pear-shaped and you've somehow made it to the airport, the Rolex buys you a seat on the last flight out of Heart of Darkness International Airport. As your aircraft circles the city, you look down at the rising columns of black smoke and imagine the scene downtown in the city square where they're chopping the few remaining Westerners up into monkey meat, you look at your wrist where your treasured timepiece used to be and you think 2 things: A) 'Well I guess the Rolex finally paid for itself,' and B) 'I can always buy another watch . . .'"
- Unknown