News

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

1. US using Taiwan as 'last card' may only speed up reunification

2. One China, two Trump China policies: 'peaceful coexistence' v. existential threat

3. Coronavirus: US senators seek review of drug supply chain, citing over-reliance on China

4. USCIRF warns that forced sterilization of Uyghur Muslims is evidence of genocide

5. Deepfake threats would get annual DHS look under proposed law

6. 90 out of 110 soldiers in a survival, evasion, resistance, and escape course just tested positive for COVID-19

7. Bounties are part of Moscow's aid to the Taliban, current and former intel officials say

8. U.S. commandos at risk for suicide: is the military doing enough?

9. Use of military contractors shrouds true costs of war. Washington wants it that way, study says.

10. Beijing approves experimental Covid-19 vaccine for use in Chinese military

11. English translation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

12. United States not on EU's 'safe' travel list, diplomats say

13. Trump approves Pentagon plan to move 9,500 troops out of Germany

14. U.S. coronavirus cases rise by 47,000, biggest one-day spike of pandemic

15. Hong Kong police make first security-law arrest as thousands protest

16. China is developing a 'nuclear triad' after adding 30 warheads

17. Coronavirus is still with us, but the rules are breaking down

18. Trumplandia v. Antifistan? What if the US breaks up?

19. Abe's Aegis Ashore cancellation doesn't add up

20. Major space force units to be called deltas, officials announce

21. A national mask mandate could save the U.S. economy $1 trillion, Goldman Sachs says

22. Strategy is a journey: thoughts on strategy and stability in an evolving world

1. US using Taiwan as 'last card' may only speed up reunification

Global Times · by Yang Sheng · June 30, 2020

This is from the Chinese Communist Party in response to the 1st Special Forces Group training in Taiwan.  Their training has struck a nerve. Sometimes the best PSYOP is unplanned. Or perhaps someone was thinking about PSYOP. This does give some meaning to the idea that one SF ODA can punch well about its weight. It is amazing the power of a 44 second video posted to Facebook.

2. One China, two Trump China policies: 'peaceful coexistence' v. existential threat

The Hill · by Joseph Bosco · June 30, 2020

Joe Bosco compliments the new approach and says if Trump allows them to continue to implement the policy objectives, "the free world's prospects will continue to improve."

3. Coronavirus: US senators seek review of drug supply chain, citing over-reliance on China

South China Morning Post · by Reuters · June 30, 2020

This is an obvious strategic vulnerability. We have to solve this problem.

4. USCIRF warns that forced sterilization of Uyghur Muslims is evidence of genocide

United States Commission on International Religious Freedom · June 30, 2020

And this is evidence of the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party.

5. Deepfake threats would get annual DHS look under proposed law

Defense One · by Brandi Vincent · June 30, 2020

I think the threat of deep fakes will continue to grow. While we must do everything we can to root them out and stop them, we must also realize that we will never be able to eliminate deep fakes. In addition to these efforts, we must help inoculate the public against deep fakes, which of course requires education and critical thinking among our population.

6. 90 out of 110 soldiers in a survival, evasion, resistance, and escape course just tested positive for COVID-19

Task & Purpose · by Jeff Schogol · June 30, 2020

There is no social distancing at SERE. This is a shock but not surprising giving the nature of SERE training. And the problem is made worse because all the SERE trainees are likely immuno-compromised from being in an extremely weakened state from lack of food and sleep for a long period (when I went through SERE I started at 188 pounds and graduated at 156 pounds). And given the hygiene conditions in the field and in the resistance training laboratory (the simulated POW camp), the trainees likely suffer infections and other illnesses that will further immuno-compromise.

7. Bounties are part of Moscow's aid to the Taliban, current and former intel officials say

Defense One · by Katie Bo Williams · June 29, 2020

We should not be surprised by this. And I am sure there is a lot more to this. And of course we need to figure out what effects the Russians are trying to achieve. Simply kill Americans and allied soldiers? Is this simply the way for the Russians to transfer funds to the Taliban? Do the Russians want to undermine the peace deal? Do the Russians want to achieve greater strategic effects by having this information leaked to sow dissent and discord within the US? Inquiring minds want to know.

8. U.S. commandos at risk for suicide: is the military doing enough?

The New York Times · by Nick Turse · June 30, 2020

I am surprised that Nick Turse is writing about this, but of course he is happy to write anything that exposes military and especially special operations forces "deficiencies."  Certainly the statistics are troubling. I agree with BG Bolduc that we need to do something better than we are doing now. But frankly I am at loss for what we should do. I know we need a culture change, but the question is how do we change the culture so that those suffering will seek and get help? I am sure we have some of the minds on this problem and I hope they can figure out how to reduce this problem (but it will never be eliminated)

9. Use of military contractors shrouds true costs of war. Washington wants it that way, study says.

The Washington Post · by Alex Horton & Aaron Gregg · June 30, 2020

These are some amazing statistics. There were 35,000 US troops in CENTCOM and some 53,000 contractors. And since 2001 some 8,000 contractors have died in the CENTCOM AOR.

10. Beijing approves experimental Covid-19 vaccine for use in Chinese military

CNN · by Ben Westcott · June 30, 2020

Will this be a breakthrough?

11. English translation of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

ECNS.cn · by Zhao Yuning · July 01, 2020

A lot of interesting words here. One Country, Two Systems, Rule of law. Human rights shall be respected and protected. A person is presumed innocent until convicted by a judicial body. I wonder if they think these words will satisfy the international community. This is a Chinese translation. I wonder if a linguist could compare the English and the Chinese versions and determine the differences.

12. United States not on EU's 'safe' travel list, diplomats say

Reuters · by Philip Blenkinsop · June 30, 2020

Not unexpected but still difficult to fathom. We are in the company of Russia and Brazil.

13. Trump approves Pentagon plan to move 9,500 troops out of Germany

The Hill · by Rebecca Kheel · June 30, 2020

The article does not specify where they will go (though of course Poland is mentioned for some number of troops).

As I understand it part of the reason for this is to "punish" Germany for not spending enough on its own defense. But doesn't Germany benefit by shifting troops east to deter Russia?  Better to fight Russia in Poland than in Germany?

14. U.S. coronavirus cases rise by 47,000, biggest one-day spike of pandemic

Reuters · by Paul Simao & Carl O'Donnell · July 1, 2020

Numbers do not lie. We are in trouble. We really need a national level effort of civic duty on scale we have not seen since World War II to fight this virus. But when the history is written and this humanitarian disaster is analyzed, our partisan and tribal divides are likely going to be the main cause of our failure to stop the spread of this virus. There are too many people in the US who do not believe we have a crisis so they do not have to execute the proper public health measures or support the public health professionals by doing what should be their civic duty. If you are talking about the coronavirus crisis using partisan talking points instead of the science then you are contributing to the problem.

15. Hong Kong police make first security-law arrest as thousands protest

The Wall Street Journal · by Dan Strumpf · July 1, 2020

That did not take long (for either protests or to implement the law).

16. China is developing a 'nuclear triad' after adding 30 warheads

Daily Mail · by MAILONLINE REPORTER · June 30, 2020

The triad is a logical strategic concept for a nuclear power. I wonder why China did not seek this sooner.

17. Coronavirus is still with us, but the rules are breaking down

The Wall Street Journal · by WSJ · June 30, 2020

It is some of the attitudes and beliefs in this article that are the reasons why we are not successfully killing the virus. The anti-science culture and the deniers of the seriousness of the situation are likely the biggest contributors to the proliferation of the virus.

18. Trumplandia v. Antifistan? What if the US breaks up?

The Stream · by David Marshall · June 30, 2020

This is probably the most provocative "think piece" in recent times. There is certainly some interesting "data" below.

19. Abe's Aegis Ashore cancellation doesn't add up

Asia Times · by Grant Newsham · June 30, 2020

I will keep beating the drum. We need an integrated missile defense system in Northeast Asia.

20. Major space force units to be called deltas, officials announce

MIlitary.com · by Oriana Pawlyk · June 30, 2020

Did anyone fact check or crowd source the name?  The Deltas were the drunken fraternity in the movie Animal House. The Netflix show, Space Force will have a field day with this.

I can see this as the headquarters for Deltas welcoming new members who are going through Space Force selection.

This will be how the Deltas participate in courts martial.

And if Deltas are led by O-6's they are going to have to meet this leadership standard for speeches.

My apologies to the Space Force for my attempt at humor. Please do not turn off my GPS.

21. A national mask mandate could save the U.S. economy $1 trillion, Goldman Sachs says

Forbes · by Sarah Hansen · June 30, 2020

Maybe this will convince some of the deniers. We can avoid a lockdown and we can open the economy if we implement and execute proper public health procedures (testing tracing/tracking, quarantining, and treatment, etc.) and if everyone does their civic duty to prevent the spread.

22. Strategy is a journey: thoughts on strategy and stability in an evolving world

Small Wars Journal · by Robert C. Jones · June 30, 2020

Some food for strategic thinking.

"Do not compromise on national security for purely budgetary reasons. The world is dangerous, and we must always be prepared for anything that might threaten our national interests and security."

- Sanford Bishop

"National security is the first duty of government but we are also committed to reversing the substantial erosion of civil liberties."

- Theresa May

"Talking nonsense is the sole privilege mankind possesses over the other organisms. It's by talking nonsense that one gets to the truth! I talk nonsense, therefore I'm human"

- Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground, White Nights, The Dream of a Ridiculous Man, and Selections from The House of the Dead

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

1. CDC says U.S. has 'way too much virus' to control pandemic as cases surge across country

2. "Demographic genocide": China engaged in campaign of forced birth control against Uighurs

3. SECSTATE: on China's coercive family planning and forced sterilization program in Xinjiang

4.  Swine flu strain with 'human pandemic potential' found in more Chinese pigs, scientists say

5. Senators aim to limit Trump's ability to remove troops from Germany

6. Pentagon releases 'initial' list of Chinese military-linked companies operating in US

7. Diversifying supply chains is a national security priority

8. The 'domestic terrorist' designation won't stop extremism

9. Good cyber hygiene in a pandemic-driven world starts with us

10. US spy chiefs warn leaks on alleged Russia-Taliban plot 'jeopardize' ability to find the truth

11. Japan's aim for first-strike capability

12. GM Defense wins infantry squad vehicle production contract

13. South Korea to spend $2 billion on aircraft buy

14, Chaotic world order and rising tensions with Beijing push Scott Morrison to overcome fear of 'negative globalism'

15. 'Boogaloo' believers think a civil war is coming. These gun firms are openly marketing to them.

16. The madness of mask politics

17. Women should be allowed to join IDF's elite commando unit, former commander says

18. Army releases ultra rare video showing green berets training in Taiwan

19. Senate defense bill may challenge Trump on renaming military bases with Confederate names

20. Military gears up to fight racial bias, a longstanding adversary

21. Reflections on the curse of racism in the U.S. Military

1. CDC says U.S. has 'way too much virus' to control pandemic as cases surge across country

CNBC · by William Feuer · June 29, 2020

Are we losing control? Is the virus still containable? The data is not looking good. And the blame lies with all those who have not taken this seriously.

2. "Demographic genocide": China engaged in campaign of forced birth control against Uighurs

Axios · by Fadel Allassan · June 29, 2020

The truly evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party.

3. SECSTATE: On China's Coercive Family Planning and Forced Sterilization Program in Xinjiang

US Department of State · by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State · June 29, 2020

4. Swine flu strain with 'human pandemic potential' found in more Chinese pigs, scientists say

Fox News · by Bradford Betz · June 29, 2020

Failure to learn, failure to adapt, and failure to anticipate. Will we anticipate this potential crisis?

5. Senators aim to limit Trump's ability to remove troops from Germany

The Hill · by Jordain Carney · June 29, 2020

Looks like the Senators will try to adopt similar language to that in the draft 2021 NDAA and has been in the past two NDAAs for Korea troop withdrawal.

Here is the draft Korea language from the HASC and SASC draft 2021 NDAA:

HASC: prohibits the use of funds to reduce the total number of active duty service members deployed to South Korea below 28,500 until 180 days after the Secretary certifies: 1) doing so is in the national security interest of the United States and will not significantly undermine the security of U.S. allies in the region, 2) is commensurate with a reduction in the threat posed by North Korea, 3) that South Korea is capable of deterring a conflict, and 4) U.S. allies - including South Korea and Japan - have been appropriately consulted.

SASC: SEC. 1260. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS TO REDUCE TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA. None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be obligated or expended to reduce the total number of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty and deployed to the Republic of Korea to fewer than 28,500 such members of the Armed Forces until 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees that- (1) such a reduction- (A) is in the national security interest of the United States; and (B) will not significantly undermine the security of United States allies in the region; and (2) the Secretary has appropriately consulted with allies of the United States, including the Re public of Korea and Japan, regarding such a reduction.

6. Pentagon releases 'initial' list of Chinese military-linked companies operating in US

Washington Examiner · by Jerry Dunleavy · June 29, 2020

The one page list is at this link.

7. Diversifying supply chains is a national security priority

Real Clear Defense · by Brad Wenstrup · June 30, 2020

But this of course conflicts with the free market principles. This must be reconciled. Companies act for profit and not for patriotism and national security.

8. The 'domestic terrorist' designation won't stop extremism

Defense One · by Arie Perliger · June 29, 2020

Designation will make some feel better and give the perception that something is being done.

9. Good cyber hygiene in a pandemic-driven world starts with us

DARKReading · by Yaniv Bar-Yadan · June 26, 2020

Malign actors and hackers will take advantage of the pandemic.  We need good cyber hygiene and cyber civil defense.

10. US spy chiefs warn leaks on alleged Russia-Taliban plot 'jeopardize' ability to find the truth

Washington Examiner · by Jerry Dunleavy · June 29, 2020

Yes, leaks can kill. But there are questions as to whether this intelligence was accurate and if American and allied soldiers were killed because of this. And that begs the question, what did we do about it? An argument will be made that, if this was not exposed by the fourth estate, our actions or lack of actions would not be held to account. This is the trade off and friction between the fourth estate and the government and their respective roles.

11. Japan's aim for first-strike capability

Asia Times · by Jagannath Panda · June 30, 2020

As I have mentioned it would be great for Japan and South Korea to collaborate on Korea's Kill-chain concept. But with the current state of relations between the two something like that is unlikely to happen in the foreseeable future.

12. GM Defense wins infantry squad vehicle production contract

Defense News · by Aaron Mehta · June 29, 2020

13. South Korea to spend $2 billion on aircraft buy

Defense News · by Mike Yeo · June 29, 2020

Much of the $2 billion will likely be spent on US platforms and capabilities. But South Korea will get no "credit" for that in terms of the burden sharing negotiations.

14. Chaotic world order and rising tensions with Beijing push Scott Morrison to overcome fear of 'negative globalism'

The Guardian · by Jonathan Pearlman · June 29, 2020

But it will not change the minds of many Americans.  They will continue to advocate for retrenchment.

15. 'Boogaloo' believers think a civil war is coming. These gun firms are openly marketing to them.

The Trace · by Ian Karbal · June 29, 2020

Shrewd marketing. From what I see on social media we have a lot more people than boogaloo believers who think a civil war is on the horizon.

16. The madness of mask politics

Asia Times · by Chris Tharp · June 29, 2020

Yes this is a tragic-comedy. No one should need to be ordered to wear masks. It should be a civic duty. The data is clear masks work (and common sense applies as well). It is so tragic that this had to become politicized. We are going to pay the price for this in American lives for the foreseeable future.

17. Women should be allowed to join IDF's elite commando unit, former commander says

Israel Hayom · by Yair Altman & LIlach Shoval · June 29, 2020

18. Army releases ultra rare video showing green berets training In Taiwan

The Drive · by Joseph Trevithick · June 29, 2020

Video at the link.

One JCET does not a relationship make. As I have mentioned, I recommend re-establishing a Special Forces Detachment Taiwan as we had in the 1950s/60s (I would go further and reactivate 46th SF Company in Thailand and a new DET-A like organization in Europe and other key locations around the world - it is the best way to develop and sustain long term relationships, ensure interoperability, and provide situational understanding of the conditions and threats in the country and region).

19. Senate defense bill may challenge Trump on renaming military bases with Confederate names

The Washington Post · by Karoun Demerjian · June 29, 2020

There could be a lot of controversial items in the NDAA. I wonder if POTUS would veto it. I am sure we will hear threats to do so. But would it happen this year?

20. Military gears up to fight racial bias, a longstanding adversary

The Wall Street Journal · by Nancy A. Youssef · by June 29, 2020

The military can lead the way. We must keep making forward progress.

21. Reflections on the curse of racism in the U.S. military

War On the Rocks · by David Barno & Nora Bensahel  · June 30, 2020

 (BEST OPORD EVER!) ...........................Grant's Orders to Sherman, 1864

In a letter to MG William T. Sherman, dated 4 April 1864, LTG Ulysses S. Grant outlined his 1864 campaign plan. LTG Grant described MG Sherman's role:

"It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me to take the initiative in the Spring Campaign to work all parts of the Army together, and, somewhat, toward a common center. . . . You I propose to move against Johnston's Army, to break it up and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their War resources. I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of Campaign, but simply to lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave you free to execute in your own way. Submit to me however as early as you can your plan of operation."

MG Sherman responded to LTG Grant immediately in a letter dated 10 April 1864. He sent Grant, as requested, his specific plan of operations, demonstrating that he understood Grant's intent:

" . . . Your two letters of April 4th are now before me . . . That we are now all to act in a Common plan, Converging on a Common Center, looks like Enlightened War. . . . I will not let side issues draw me off from your main plan in which I am to Knock Joe [Confederate GEN Joseph E.] Johnston, and do as much damage to the resources of the Enemy as possible. . . . I would ever bear in mind that Johnston is at all times to be kept so busy that he cannot in any event send any part of his command against you or [Union MG Nathaniel P.] Banks."

The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 10: January 1-May 31, 1864, by Ulysses S. Grant, edited by John Y. Simon. Ulysses S. Grant Foundation. ©1982. Excerpt from pages 251 through 254.

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

1. Beyond 'love,' Trump has little to show from N Korea talks

2. S. Korea, U.S. closely working for OPCON transfer: defense ministry

3. North rallies people behind leader Kim amid lingering tensions

4. Kim Yo-Jong a sordid example of female leader

5. Is North Korea really prepared to end the Korean War?

6. North Korea is more unpredictable than ever

7. North Korean 'YouTubers' raise eyebrows in South Korea

8. He sends up balloons, and North Korea wants him dead

9. Ministry takes final step to delist defector NGOs over leaflets (South Korea)

10. Deployment of U.S. strategic bombers to Korea has become swifter

11. Seoul police say they're questioning anti-North activists

12. US Forces Korea reports three more coronavirus cases from US arrivals

13. US-North Korea envoy doubts new Trump-Kim summit

14. Time to rethink the US-ROK alliance

15. Christian group continues to deliver bibles to North Korea via balloons

16. Half of coronavirus infections linked to sect followers (South Korea)

17. North Korea defector: I was imprisoned, tortured and sold as a slave

1. Beyond 'love,' Trump has little to show from N Korea talks

AP· by DEB RIECHMANN · June 29, 2020

I was queried by a journalist who interpreted this article as meaning the US was seeking another Trump-Kim meeting before the election.

I think too much was read into the anonymous official's comments about the administration seeking a meeting before the November election. He or she was merely speculating about what might be an "October Surprise," some kind of provocation or an "olive branch" which could be an agreement on talks.

That said I believe the administration's policy is that our negotiators are ready for working level negotiations at any time and any place. It is up to Kim to allow that to happen. I do not know if the administration is aggressively seeking negotiations but I am sure it has transmitted messages to the regime it is ready to negotiate whenever he is ready.

I also think it is important to transmit to Kim Jong-Un that an October surprise will have little to no effect on the outcome of the November election. Kim Jong-Un is not that important to the American people. Yes, President Trump has been touting his "foreign policy success" with Kim being the promise not to test nuclear weapons and ICBMs but that only resonates with his base and is not going to alter any votes of Democrats or Independents.

It is my belief that Trump should not meet again with Kim until there are substantive working level negotiations that result in an agreement that can be brought to Trump and Kim for final negotiation and signatures. I also do not think Kim will meet with Trump unless he is assured he will receive substantial concessions, in the form of sanctions relief.

Kim remains upset with Trump because Trump has benefited politically from their three meetings but Kim has received no political benefit that can serve him at home. His failure to get sanctions relief is causing tremendous pressure on the regime.

Over the past year (since May 2019) Kim has created a "new normal" for missile and rocket testing. The lack of significant response from the US and the ROK has pushed the unknown "red line" further up the escalation ladder. If Kim thinks he can have an effect on the election through provocation he will have to go beyond the 21+ rocket and missiles of the last year.

The alliance must be prepared for the full spectrum of North Korean actions from a violent provocation to a renewed "charm offensive" of North Korean diplomacy. However, the current friction within the alliance provides Kim Jong-Un with an advantage. In order to be prepared to deal with the North, the ROK and US must resolve the key issues with the alliance and focus efforts on training and readiness.  The weaknesses in the alliance, especially the stalemate over the SMA/burden sharing, provide Kim Jong-Un an advantage and support his objective to divide the ROK/US alliance.

2. S. Korea, U.S. closely working for OPCON transfer: defense ministry

Yonhap News Agency · by 최수향 · June 29, 2020

Readiness of the ROK/US Combined Forces Command must take precedence over OPCON Transition. The ROK/US CFC has not conducted a major exercise since 2018. The Feb/Mar exercise this year was cancelled and the August 2019 exercises focused on the Initial Operating Capability (IOC). The command must exercise the defense plan for Korea as the top priority and conduct the FOC assessment as the second priority. If they can design the exercise to do both, that will be good. However, if they cannot, the priority must be on readiness over OPCON transition.

3. North rallies people behind leader Kim amid lingering tensions

The Korea Herald · by Choi Si-Young · June 29, 2020

Again, who does Kim fear more, the US or the Korean people living in the North?

4. Kim Yo-Jong a sordid example of female leader

The Korea Herald · by Christopher Walsh & Natalie Gonnella-Platts · June 29, 2020

No one should be deceived by Kim Yo-jong's "charm offensive" at the 2018 Olympics.  She is an evil member of the evil Kim family regime.

5. Is North Korea really prepared to end the Korean War?

The National Interest · by Bruce W. Bennett & Soo Kim · June 29, 2020

An excellent run down by Bruce Bennett and Soo Kim. My short version à There can be no peace or denuclearization of the North for one simple reason: the existence of Kim Jong-Un and the nature and strategy and objectives of the Kim family regime.

6. North Korea is more unpredictable than ever

Bloomberg · by Jon Herskovitz · June 29, 2020

I do not think Kim Jong-un is strategically unpredictable. Tactically perhaps, but not strategically. He has not deviated from the Kim family regime strategy and objectives or the playbook.

7. North Korean 'YouTubers' raise eyebrows in South Korea

The Asahi Shimbun · by Tayuka Suzuki · June 29, 2020

Why does the North's Propaganda and Agitation Department get to conduct its information and influence campaign while the alliance tries to stop escapees/defectors from continuing information operations for human rights objectives? We can do better. We must do better. 

This is an ideological war between the north and South Korea.  The people on the peninsula must make a choice between the Shared ROK/US and values and the "values" of the Kim family regime.

South Korea and the United States share the values of freedom and individual liberty, liberal democracy, free market economy, rule of law, and human rights.

The "values" of the Kim family regime are Juche/Kimilsungism, the Socialist Workers Paradise, Songun, Songbun, Byungjin, and the denial of human rights to sustain the regime in power.

We should be conducting and winning this ideological war.

8. He sends up balloons, and North Korea wants him dead

Foreign Policy · by Morten Soendergaard Larsen · June 29, 2020

We could do so much more than balloons and leaflets (and thumb drives).

9.Ministry takes final step to delist defector NGOs over leaflets (South Korea)

The Korea Herald · by Ahn Sung-Mi · June 29, 2020

This is so wrong. This will provide no benefit to South Korea. It will not positively influence North Korean behavior. This will only result in more demands from the North as Kim assesses that his blackmail diplomacy playbook is still effective.

These escapees who are citizens of the Republic of Korea should be protected and their efforts should be supported.

10. Deployment of U.S. strategic bombers to Korea has become swifter

The Dong-A Ilbo · by Sang-Ho Yun · June 30, 2020

Good.  Again, strategic reassurance and strategic resolve. We should remind Kim that the seven decades of North Korea indoctrination that makes sure every Korean in the North learns of the devastation inflicted on the North by US air power from 1950-1953 will pale in comparison to what US air power can and will do if Kim makes a mistake and attacks the South. He will not survive.

11. Seoul police say they're questioning anti-North activists

AP · by Hyung-Jin Kim · June 30, 2020

Again, this is so wrong.

12. US Forces Korea reports three more coronavirus cases from US arrivals

Stars and Stripes · by Kim Gamel · June 29, 2020

Travel is a threat.  I wonder if Korea will have to take steps to ban travelers from the US as the EU may have to do.

13. US-North Korea envoy doubts new Trump-Kim summit

Channel News Asia · by AFP · June 30, 2020

Yes the coronavirus will make an in-person meeting difficult and unlikely. However, I think Kim will not meet unless he is guaranteed to receive substantial concessions in the form of sanctions relief. And I do not recommend President Trump meeting with Kim until Kim allows substantive working level negotiations and such negotiations produce an agreement that can be presented to both leaders for approval.

14. Time to rethink the US-ROK Alliance

Foreign Policy in Focus · by John Feffer · June 29, 2020

Another naive, sad, and dangerous op-ed that plays right into Kim Jong-Un's hands. Some people need to rethink the nature of the Kim family regime and its strategy and objectives. And, of course, the op-ed blames the US for all the South's ills. The presence of US troops is the most important contribution to deterring an attack from the North. The North is an existential threat to the South and it is in the US’s interest to prevent conflict on the Korean peninsula. 

15. Christian group continues to deliver bibles to North Korea via balloons

Persecution.org · by International Christian Concern · June 29, 2020

Keep up the fire. Of course, religion is another threat to regime survival. I would offer that the Korean people will need alternative belief systems when they learn that the Juche ideology and Kimilsungism are lies. The Korean people in the North will be hungry for faith.

16. Half of coronavirus infections linked to sect followers (South Korea)

The Chosun Ilbo · by Choi Kyu-Min · June 30, 2020

17.  North Korea defector: I was imprisoned, tortured and sold as a slave

Metro.co.uk · by Jihyun Park · June 29, 2020

We have to continue to read about the evil nature of the Kim family regime. These stories must be told, especially when there are pundits who want to give concessions to Kim Jong-un. He and his father and grandfather are responsible for these atrocities. And China is complicit in North Korean human rights abuses and crimes against humanity.

 (BEST OPORD EVER!) ...........................Grant's Orders to Sherman, 1864

In a letter to MG William T. Sherman, dated 4 April 1864, LTG Ulysses S. Grant outlined his 1864 campaign plan. LTG Grant described MG Sherman's role:

"It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me to take the initiative in the Spring Campaign to work all parts of the Army together, and, somewhat, toward a common center. . . . You I propose to move against Johnston's Army, to break it up and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their War resources. I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of Campaign, but simply to lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave you free to execute in your own way. Submit to me however as early as you can your plan of operation."

MG Sherman responded to LTG Grant immediately in a letter dated 10 April 1864. He sent Grant, as requested, his specific plan of operations, demonstrating that he understood Grant's intent:

" . . . Your two letters of April 4th are now before me . . . That we are now all to act in a Common plan, Converging on a Common Center, looks like Enlightened War. . . . I will not let side issues draw me off from your main plan in which I am to Knock Joe [Confederate GEN Joseph E.] Johnston, and do as much damage to the resources of the Enemy as possible. . . . I would ever bear in mind that Johnston is at all times to be kept so busy that he cannot in any event send any part of his command against you or [Union MG Nathaniel P.] Banks."

The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 10: January 1-May 31, 1864, by Ulysses S. Grant, edited by John Y. Simon. Ulysses S. Grant Foundation. ©1982. Excerpt from pages 251 through 254.

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

1. The Retrenchment Syndrome: A Response to "Come Home, America?" by H.R. McMaster

2. The Military We Have Vs. The Military We Need

3. Spies and Commandos Warned Months Ago of Russian Bounties on U.S. Troops

4. China's Sovereignty Obsession - Beijing's Need to Project Strength Explains the Border Clash with India

5. China and the US on a conflict collision course

6. Defense Secretary to Give Trump Options on U.S. Presence in Germany

7. Despite COVID-19, US Can't Afford to Cut Defense Spending

8. U.S. Options for a Consistent Response to Cyberattacks

9. US bases in Japan now vulnerable to missile attacks

10. Retired Military Endorsements Erode Public Trust in the Military

11. Five Critiques of the Trump Administration's China Strategy

12. New Sanctions on Assad Aim to Prevent Atrocities

13. Bullied by Beijing, America's Closest Allies Regret Saying 'Yes' to China

14. Who Gets a Brown Beret? Rethinking Assignments to the Security Force Assistance Brigades

15. Interservice vantage point: The stitching in our values

16. Commentary: Asking Yourself 'The Question' (From the "Steady State")

1. The Retrenchment Syndrome: A Response to "Come Home, America?" by H.R. McMaster

Foreign Affairs · by H. R. McMaster · June 25, 2020

Retrenchment will be one of the greatest strategic mistakes we can make in the 21st Century.

2. The Military We Have Vs. The Military We Need

defenseone.com · by Gregory D. Foster

A strong critique of the National Defense Strategy and military planning and the military in general.  The author also implies we have an unhealthy civil military relationship.  He sums up the problem here: "At root, our problem derives from our prevailing frame of reference: Defense, narrowly conceived, dominates security, broadly conceived. Military power dominates non-military power."  And there is more in the essay.  As the title notes in two paragraphs he describes the "heavy" military we have versus the "light" military we need.

3. Spies and Commandos Warned Months Ago of Russian Bounties on U.S. Troops

The New York Times · by Eric Schmitt · June 28, 2020

This is certainly troubling and disappointing if we have not done anything to counter this.  Unfortunately I fear we are going to focus on the partisan political aspect of this rather than focusing on Russian/Taliban actions.

4. China's Sovereignty Obsession - Beijing's Need to Project Strength Explains the Border Clash With India

Foreign Affairs · by M. Taylor Fravel · June 26, 2020

Are China's recent aggressions designed to divert domestic attention from the coronavirus crisis? Or has the coronavirus made China more sensitive to sovereignty and security issues?

5. China and the US on a conflict collision course

asiatimes.com · by Gordon Watts · June 29, 2020

The Chinese academics blame the US.  But note China's actions such as militarizing reefs, etc. (as described in the article).

6. Defense Secretary to Give Trump Options on U.S. Presence in Germany

WSJ · By Nancy A. Youssef · June 28, 2020

Sometimes I wonder why we have a National Security Strategy and a National Defense Strategy when we are considering actions that are in contravention to those strategies.

7. Despite COVID-19, US Can't Afford to Cut Defense Spending

dailysignal.com · by Elise Stefanik · June 29, 2020

This is going to be a hard sell with many Americans.

8. U.S. Options for a Consistent Response to Cyberattacks

divergentoptions.org · by Thomas G. Pledger · June 29, 2020

The title says it all.  We need options.  We need a consistent response.  And yes foreign powers are emboldened to conduct cyberattacks. 

9. US bases in Japan now vulnerable to missile attacks

asiatimes.com · by Stephen Bryen · June 29, 2020

We need an integrated missile defense system with Japan and the ROK.  Missile attack may be the main method of attack in the future.  If so, we need an effective defense and counter to such attacks 

10. Retired Military Endorsements Erode Public Trust in the Military

The National Interest · by Thomas Burke · June 28, 2020

Civil military relations.  A strong critique with good advice in the conclusion paragraph.  We must preserve the "unshakable confidence" the public has in the military.

11. Five Critiques of the Trump Administration's China Strategy

warontherocks.com · by Zack Cooper · June 29, 2020

A very interesting "paradoxical "critique" (e.e,g too confrontational and too restrained). 

Spoiler alert:

Too Confrontational for Administration Critics

Too Restrained for Communist Party Critics

Too Transactional for U.S. Allies

Too Values-Based for Trump

Too Late to Matter

12.  New Sanctions on Assad Aim to Prevent Atrocities

warontherocks.com · by David Adesnik · June 26, 2020

One of the best pieces of analysis and explanations of sanctions.

13. Bullied by Beijing, America's Closest Allies Regret Saying 'Yes' to China

Foreign Policy · by Salvatore Babones · June 27, 2020

Maybe we should adopt Napoleon's dictum: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

14. Who Gets a Brown Beret? Rethinking Assignments to the Security Force Assistance Brigades

mwi.usma.edu · by Jon Tishman · June 29, 2020

It will be interesting to see how the SFAB concept evolves, how long it will receive Army support and priority, and how long it will last.

15.  Inter-service vantage point: The stitching in our values

militarytimes.com · by Capt. Landon H.J. Ewers · June 28, 2020

An interesting discussion of military and American values.  Also interesting to see an inter-service transfer from the Army to the Air Force and now the Space Force.

16.  Commentary: Asking Yourself 'The Question'

militarytimes.com · by Charles G. Ikins · June 29, 2020

Interesting.  This is the first I have heard of the "Steady State."  It is a partisan web site. 

This is a military leadership critique based on recent events.

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

"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges." 

- Hemingway

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

- T.R. Fehrenbach

"It's part of a writer's profession, as it's part of a spy's profession, to prey on the community to which he's attached, to take away information - often in secret - and to translate that into intelligence for his masters, whether it's his readership or his spy masters. And I think that both professions are perhaps rather lonely."
- John le Carre

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

1. North Korea Rumors: Is Kim Jong Un In Poor Health? After Past Death Speculation, Japanese Official Raises New Questions

2. Angry Kim seizes opportunity to pursue push against Seoul

3. Japan conveys objection to Trump's plan to add South Korea to G-7

4. Guilt and punishment (north and South Korea)

5. Top adviser to South Korea's Moon unsure of North's willingness to denuclearize

6. Defectors' cash aid to family cut off amid tightened security

7. N. Korean Regime Desperate to Keep Elite on Side

8. Japan Is Foolish to Oppose Korea's Participation at G7

9. U.S. House of Representatives puts brakes on reducing USFK

10. N. Korea recently bought phone-tapping devices from abroad

11. China quietly shipping grain to North Korea, port sources say

12. NK paper lauds Kim on his leadership anniversary

13. N. Korea focuses on ending ship-based smuggling on border

14. Gov't holds hearing on defector groups over anti-N.K. leafleting

15. S. Korea to spend 36 billion won to help developing countries' pandemic responses

1. North Korea Rumors: Is Kim Jong Un In Poor Health? After Past Death Speculation, Japanese Official Raises New Questions

ibtimes.com · by Wesley Dockery · June 27, 2020

Rumors from Japan have to be taken with a grain of salt.  Three rumors: Coronavirus outbreak in north Korea and Kim is trying to avoid getting infected.  Kim's health is questionable.  The economy is "not doing well." That one is better than a rumor.

2. Angry Kim seizes opportunity to pursue push against Seoul

afr.com · Evans JR Revere · June 28, 2020

Evans Revere makes two good points. Kim probably regards the South as the soft target but he may see how far he can go with the US.

3. Japan conveys objection to Trump's plan to add South Korea to G-7

english.kyodonews.net 

Not a good sign for trilateral cooperation.

4. Guilt and punishment (north and South Korea)

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com · Ko Dae-hoon

A critique of the Moon administration and analysis of the regime actions. Are we seeing Kim execute the "madman theory?"  The regime thinks South Korea is guilty of three "crimes:" It libeled the Supreme Leader, it deceived the regime, and it humiliated the Supreme Leader.

5. Top adviser to South Korea's Moon unsure of North's willingness to denuclearize

japantimes.co.jp · by Internal Submission · June 27, 2020

Moon Chung-in said Kim Jong-un had a willingness to denuclearize at the Panmunjom Summit in 2018 but now he is unsure.  Did he look in Kim Jong-un's eyes and see what was in his heart?

And he sticks to his tired old line: Whether Kim will give up his nuclear weapons or not is a function of what kind of incentives the US will provide.  This is code for sanctions relief.  

I would like to know when providing concessions to north Korea has ever resulted in a sustained long term agreement that the regime did not break?  Enduring minds want to know.  

We should keep in mind that providing concessions is a sign of weakness and a sign the north's blackmail diplomacy works.  It will only result in more demands and no reciprocity for any of the concessions.

6. Defectors' cash aid to family cut off amid tightened security

koreaherald.com · by Choi Si-young · June 28, 2020

Hopefully this too shall pass.  I am sure the escapees will find creative ways around.  But this shows that it is possible to get money and information into the north.  This should be exploited.  As I have previously mentioned someone should start a sponsorship program just like we do for poverty stricken countries in other regions.  We could "adopt-a family" for $19.95 a month and through an established network we get money to families in north Korea.

7. N.Korean Regime Desperate to Keep Elite on Side

english.chosun.com

This is a critical indicator.  Kim's failure to get sanctions relief is putting him under tremendous pressure. His failure is exacerbated by the draconian populations and resources control measures that have shut down the border to trade and smuggling in order to defend against a coronavirus outbreak.  It is pressure from the elite and the military that will have the biggest influence on Kim Jong-un's decision making.

8. Japan Is Foolish to Oppose Korea's Participation at G7

english.chosun.com

This is going to be another self-inflicted wound in the trilateral relationship.  But it is interesting to consider Japan's "rationale" for opposition:  the "different stance" it has toward China and north Korea than other G7 nations.  The Editorial board postulates the real reason if it wants to remain the only Asian nation in the new G7/D10.

9. U.S. House of Representatives puts brakes on reducing USFK

donga.com · June 29, 2020

Every day this SMA/burden sharing stalemate continues, the alliance grows weaker.  And the threat to remove US troops from South Korea serves north Korean interests, not US interests.  It does not help the SMA stalemate.

10. N. Korea recently bought phone-tapping devices from abroad

dailynk.com · by Kim Yoo Jin · June 29, 2020

In the encyclopedia entry for surveillance state there is a picture of north Korea.

But we should consider the resource allocation decisions of the Kim family regime and the party.  The money spent on this equipment could be better spent on the Korea people.  But this is another indicator the regime fears the Korean people living in the north more than anything else, to include the U.S.

11. China quietly shipping grain to North Korea, port sources say

americanmilitarynews.com · by Radio Free Asia · June 28, 2020

Of course food and humanitarian aid is not prohibited by sanctions.  But this report seems to imply there is more than meets the eye here.

12. NK paper lauds Kim on his leadership anniversary

koreaherald.com · by Rodung Sinmun-Yonhap · June 29, 2020

The mafia-like crime family cult - with emphasis on cult.  But lauding his leadership?  How about his leadership failures? - Let me count the ways.

13. N. Korea focuses on ending ship-based smuggling on border

dailynk.com · By Jang Seul Gi · June 29, 2020

This will have a severe impact on market activity throughout north Korea.  Note the rationale for this: stop corruption between local officials and smugglers.  The MSS wants to make sure it gets its cut rather than local officials.

14. Gov't holds hearing on defector groups over anti-N.K. leafleting

en.yna.co.kr · by 고병준 · June 29, 2020

Again, this pains me.  The ROK should be protecting escapees and supporting their human rights work - information to north Korea is a human rights issue.

15. S. Korea to spend 36 billion won to help developing countries' pandemic responses

en.yna.co.kr · by 송상호 · June 29, 2020

South Korea is demonstrating it is a great middle power.  We should remember the ROK has gone from a major aid recipient to a major donor nation.

-------

"There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly; sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges." 

- Hemingway

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

- T.R. Fehrenbach

"It's part of a writer's profession, as it's part of a spy's profession, to prey on the community to which he's attached, to take away information - often in secret - and to translate that into intelligence for his masters, whether it's his readership or his spy masters. And I think that both professions are perhaps rather lonely."
- John le Carre

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

1. The new voice of America breaks his silence

2. The Army Is About to Get its First Female Green Beret

3.  Scientists just beginning to understand the many health problems caused by COVID-19

4. Opinion | China has been bungling its post-coronavirus foreign policy

5. The Chinese Communist Party's Ideology and Global Ambitions

6. Here are the biggest national security challenges that Trump or Biden will face after the presidential election

7.  How conspiracy theories emerge-and how their storylines fall apart

8. Opinion | I opposed taking Woodrow Wilson's name off our school. Here's why I changed my mind.

9. Opinion | What tearing down statues reveals about revolutionary movements

10. Facebook Tightens Controls on Speech as Ad Boycott Grows

11. Taiwan fact-checking group wins award for debunking vote rigging claim - Focus Taiwan

12. (Australian) Special forces chief acknowledges war crimes, blames 'poor moral leadership'

13. New MARSOC Commander - MG James Glynn

14. OSS Morale Operations: The Story of Cornflakes, Pig Iron and Sheet Iron

1. The new Voice of America breaks his silence

Washington Examiner · by Byron York · June 26, 2020

This is the key statement from my Mr. Pack: "My plan is to bring this agency back to what it was legally required to do," That is something we all should be able to support.  

2. The Army Is About to Get its First Female Green Beret

news.yahoo.com · by Matthew Cox · June 26, 2020

July 9th will be a historic day for the Regiment.

3. Scientists just beginning to understand the many health problems caused by COVID-19

Reuters · by Julie Steenhuysen· June 27, 2020

This is very worrisome.  Think about the long term impact on those who are infected and thus the long term impact on the medical system. This should be enough to convince all of us that we should implement aggressive and effective public health procedures to #killthevirus.  It is going to take an orchestrated national and individual effort to eradicate this deadly virus.  We cannot depend on a vaccine or therapeutics. We all must be vigilant.  There will be many long term effects that we are not yet anticipating.  

4. Opinion | China has been bungling its post-coronavirus foreign policy

The Washington Post · by Fareed Zakaria · June 25, 2020

A good run down on Chinese blunders.  

5. The Chinese Communist Party's Ideology and Global Ambitions

whitehouse.gov · by President Donald J. Trump

Video at the news link for those who want to watch and listen rather than read.

Also, here is the link to the White House's New Strategic Approach to China released on May 26, 2020. 

6. Here are the biggest national security challenges that Trump or Biden will face after the presidential election

taskandpurpose.com · by Jeff Schogol

Spoiler alert:

1. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

2.  The war in Afghanistan

3.  Cutting the Pentagon's budget

4. Extremists in the ranks

5. North Korea

No China? Russia? Middle East? Economy?  That must be for part two.  But in defense of the author this is the focus of his article:" immediate decisions that will affect the lives of troops and their families."

7. How conspiracy theories emerge-and how their storylines fall apart

phys.org · by Jessica Wolf, University of California, Los Angeles

We must pay attention to what happens with conspiracy theories.  They are too prevalent today and there are too many who are swayed by them (just look at the idiocy of QAnon)

I have never heard of this description before: "computational folklorist."

8. Opinion | I opposed taking Woodrow Wilson's name off our school. Here's why I changed my mind.

The Washington Post · by Christopher L. Eisgruber

Perhaps some will read this objectively. I know the argument of where will it stop? But this is a thoughtful OpEd from the President of Princeton.

9. Opinion | What tearing down statues reveals about revolutionary movements

The Washington Post  · by David Von Drehle · June 26, 2020

Some Sunday food for thought. "This continuum, from peaceful protests to wanton destruction, is an arc traveled by iconoclasts through the ages. And it may illuminate the frequent failures of revolutionary movements. Destruction is easy, persuasion is difficult. The ground has shifted; the country can be persuaded to look at its past anew. Vandalism, however, will lose the argument."

I will just add one of the reasons the American Revolution succeeded while others failed is because our founding fathers thought (and argued) more about the devising a governing system and rather than just write a Declaration of Independence and fight a revolution. They were not focused on destruction like so many today. They were focused on the future and the principles they believed in. They wrote a Constitution (after the failed Articles of Confederation) to codify what is arguably the most effective political philosophy in history and then explained it to (and persuaded) the people through the Federalist Papers (and there has been no improvement on this political philosophy since the Federalist Papers). Most other revolutions never invest the time and intellectual capital to develop the system and structure of a government with separation of powers and checks and balances to protect individual liberty, regulate interstate commerce, and provide for national security based on the universal rights of man (men and women). Most revolutions (like political parties today) are only concerned with their own power and remaining in power and are not committed to the ideals of the way our founding fathers were - and yet there was much disagreement among the founding fathers which had to result in the compromise agreement of the Constitution.

10. Facebook Tightens Controls on Speech as Ad Boycott Grows

WSJ · by Suzanne Vranica and Deepa Seetharaman · June 26, 2020

The market still plays a role.

11.  Taiwan fact-checking group wins award for debunking vote rigging claim - Focus Taiwan

focustaiwan.tw · by Sabine Cheng and Matthew Mazzetta · June 27, 2020

12. (Australian) Special forces chief acknowledges war crimes, blames 'poor moral leadership'

The Sydney Morning Herald · by Nick McKenzie, Chris Masters · June 28, 2020

I am always reminded of the late LTG Sam Wilson whenever I read about special operations and ethics and moral leadership.

20.  INTEGRITY, HONESTY, AND LOYALTY.

            A.  Need to take a moral bath.
            B.  Special Operations are very decentralized in execution and conducive to improprieties.
Improprieties, because of the political sensitivity of SO mission, cause long term mistrust within the command structure that take hard work and many years to overcome.

https://maxoki161.blogspot.com/2014/03/20-characteristics-of-special.html

13. New MARSOC Commander - MG James Glynn

sof.news · by Lance Cpl. Christian Ayers, SOF News · June 28, 2020

Congratulations Raiders.

14. OSS Morale Operations: The Story of Cornflakes, Pig Iron and Sheet Iron

psywar.org · June 23, 2013

Some history reading for Sunday.

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

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

- George Horne

"A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world."

- John le Carré

"Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion."

- Democritus

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

1. Declaring an end to the Korean War won't bring peace

2. Pakistan-North Korea can route nuclear weapons tech via China-Turkey: German report

3. North Korea says it will counter 'nuclear with nuclear' over 'hostile' US policy

4. Why North Korea Needs Its Nukes

5. Inside 'Office 39': North Korea's illicit global smuggling network

6. Seoul's renewed focus on 'ending war' raises questions

7. S. Korea to introduce more early warning aircraft from overseas

8.  Brinkmanship unlikely to save North Korea from sanctions

9.  Pro-N. Korea paper slams Bolton, Abe for hindering inter-Korean reconciliation

10. US Forces Korea eases anti-coronavirus restrictions for Yongsan Garrison

11. Time to End America's 70 Year War with North Korea

12. N. Korea to install new surveillance cameras on Sino-NK border

13. N. Korea's propaganda media resumes condemning S. Korea

1. Declaring an end to the Korean War won't bring peace

donga.com · June. 27, 2020

Wise words from the Donga Ilbo editorial board.

2. Pakistan-North Korea can route nuclear weapons tech via China-Turkey: German report

Economic Times · By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury, ET Bureau · June 25, 2020

We should remember that north Korea benefited from the A.Q. Kahn network and Chin has long been complicit in north Korea's nuclear program.

3. North Korea says it will counter 'nuclear with nuclear' over 'hostile' US policy

foxnews.com · by Brie Stimson · Fox News

We should keep in mind the north has specific demands to demonstrate the end of what it calls "US hostile policy:"  

1. End to the ROK/US alliance

2. Removal of US troops from the Korean peninsula.

3.  An end to US Extended Deterrence and the nuclear umbrella over the ROK and Japan.

4. Why North Korea Needs Its Nukes

Foreign Policy · by Doug Bandow · June 26, 2020

I would never bank a strategy on this assumption: "Which means it makes little sense for the United States to speak of deterring North Korea. Pyongyang would attack only if Washington struck first, because the result of any nuclear exchange would be North Korea's annihilation."  As usual I think articles like this misunderstand the nature of the KIm family regime.  This article places all the blame on US policy but does not recognize the evil nature of the Kim family regime and its strategy and objectives to dominate the Korean peninsula.  While I agree that we can and should assess policy and strategy and make changes the recommendations in this article are pure fantasy.

5. Inside 'Office 39': North Korea's illicit global smuggling network

New York Post · by Dana Kennedy · June 27, 2020

North Korea's Kim Jong Un vanishes, then pops up. Now, the portly despot is out of sight again, and that raises the question: Who's minding the store - the one that keeps him in booze and fancy wheels?

6. Seoul's renewed focus on 'ending war' raises questions

m.koreatimes.co.kr · June 26, 2020

An end of war declaration or even a formal peace treaty is not going to bring peace to the Korean peninsula.  Kim Jong-un and the Kim family regime do not want to co-exist with South Korea nor do they want any form of unification that does not result in the domination of the entire Korean peninsula by the regime.

We should be very clear about a number of things:

1. The root of all problems in Korea is the existence of the 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.

2. Kim Jong-un is executing the seven decades old strategy of subversion, coercion-extortion (blackmail diplomacy), and use of force to achieve unification dominated by the Guerrilla Dynasty and Gulag State in order to ensure the survival of the mafia like crime family cult known as Kim family regime.

3. In support of that strategy, Kim Jong-un seeks the objective to split the ROK/US Alliance and get US forces off the peninsula. KJU is executing his divide to conquer strategy - divide the alliance to conquer the ROK.

4. The only way we are going to see an end to the nuclear program and threats as well as the 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 determined by the Korean people. In short, a United Republic of Korea (UROK).

7. S. Korea to introduce more early warning aircraft from overseas

en.yna.co.kr · by 오석민 · June 26, 2020

Good.  South Korea must improve its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.  (You can never have too much ISR!)

8. Brinkmanship unlikely to save North Korea from sanctions

m.koreatimes.co.kr · June 26, 2020

But there are those who argue that the regime's "acting out" is a cry for help and therefore we should make concessions to bring Kim to the negotiating table. The only thing that will accomplish is that Kim will confirm his blackmail diplomacy continues to serve the regime well and thus he will continue to 'act out" in the future to get concessions.  I am glad to read the world remains unconvinced of the regime's sincerity and therefore the sanctions are likely to last.

9. Pro-N. Korea paper slams Bolton, Abe for hindering inter-Korean reconciliation

en.yna.co.kr · by 이원주 · June 26, 2020

Abe and Bolton make perfect targets for north Korea and its Propaganda and Agitation Department. 

10. US Forces Korea eases anti-coronavirus restrictions for Yongsan Garrison

Stars and Stripes · Kim Gamel · June 27, 2020

USFK appears to have set the US military standard for dealing with the coronavirus because decision making is based on the science and data.

11. Time to End America's 70 Year War with North Korea

hawaii.edu · by UH News · June 26, 2020

Just a reminder, the US never declared war on north Korea. We are not technically at war with the north.  We intervened under the authority of the UN to come to the aid of South Korea and its freedom from attack by the aggressor north Korea.  The US also did not conclude the Armistice.  General Harrison signed the Armistice was the military representative of the UN.

The two belligerents in the Korea civil war (and yes it is a civil war) were north and South Korea.  The UN Security Council resolutions designated the north as the aggressor.  Yes the US provided the bulk of the fighting forces (after the ROK) and China provided a "volunteer" force to aid the north.  However, any peace treaty should be between the north and South as the two main belligerents.  This of course is problematic because the constitutions of both the north and South do not recognize the existence of the other and each claims sovereignty over the entire Korean peninsula and the Korean people.  A peace treaty between the two would technically require changes to the Constitution.  This would be difficult to achieve in the South as there would be political opposition.  Kim could easily do it in the north; however, recognizing the existence of the South would undermine regime legitimacy and take away one of the fundamental national objectives - to complete the revolution on the peninsula and rid it of all foreign influence.  

So we are between the proverbial rock and a hard place.

12. N. Korea to install new surveillance cameras on Sino-NK border

dailynk.com· Mun Dong Hui · June 26, 2020

Maybe it is in preparation to resume Sino-north Korean trade but that is only an excuse for increase surveillance capabilities on the border for regime control of the Korean people living in the north. The regime is using the coronavirus crisis as an excuse to implement stronger and more draconian population and resources control measures that will likely not be lifted after the coronavirus subsides.  The north will be an even stronger surveillance state after the coronavirus. 

13. N. Korea's propaganda media resumes condemning S. Korea

donga.com · June 27, 2020

The "scorpion" strikes and the frog dies.  The regime cannot help itself. It is in its nature.  It is interesting that it is attacking the MOFA-State strategy working group. It must view it as effective in sustaining ROK/US combined strategy and thus is an element of a strong ROK/US alliance.

N. Korea's propaganda media resumes condemning S. Korea

-------------------
 

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

- George Horne

"A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world."

- John le Carré

"Nothing exists except atoms and empty space; everything else is opinion." 

- Democritus

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

1. Russia secretly offered Afghan militants bounties to kill troops, U.S. intelligence says

2. SECDEF seeks to reassure NATO over U.S. troop plans

3. Barr forms task force to counter 'anti-government extremists'

4. Spying on Americans: infamous 1970s White House plan for protest surveillance released | National Security Archive

5. Most U.S. Travelers will be barred from E.U. when bloc reopens

6. China's military provokes its neighbors, but the message is for the United States

7. Pakistan seeks relief from China over Belt and Road

8. China is more democratic than America, say the people

9. Violence by far-right is among US's most dangerous terrorist threats, study finds

10. System overload: can China's military be distracted in a war over Taiwan?

11. Trump signs order prioritizing job skills over college degree in government hiring

12. SOCOM's tech initiatives reflect old, new mission sets

13. U.S. curbs visas for Chinese officials over Hong Kong freedoms: Pompeo

14. Why is the Stars and Stripes military newspaper on Trump's chopping block?

15. A more resilient union - how federalism can protect democracy from pandemics

1. Russia secretly offered Afghan militants bounties to kill troops, U.S. intelligence says

The New York Times · by Charlie Savage · June 26, 2020

I have no words. Months ago we allegedly concluded this.

2. SECDEF seeks to reassure NATO over U.S. troop plans

Military Times · by Lorne Cook · June 26, 2020

Seems like a real challenge for the SECDEF. I do not envy the work he must do.

3. Barr forms task force to counter 'anti-government extremists'

The Washington Post · by Matt Zapotosky · June 26, 2020

I hope we learn from the past. Here is an article that was just released from the National Security Archives at GWU. Everyone should read this, and Congress and the American public need to ask the tough questions about this plan so we do not have happen again what happened in the 1970s.

Here are the subtitles of the article linked above:

• Nixon-era "Huston Plan" was too far-reaching even for J. Edgar Hoover
• Government sought more infiltration of Black political movements than FBI was already doing
• 50 years later, censors still hiding "sources and methods" for tracking Soviet-Chinese roles (and lack thereof) in antiwar movement

Are there parallels?  Have we learned from the past?

4. Spying on Americans: infamous 1970s White House plan for protest surveillance released

National Security Archive · June 25, 2020

Links to 29 documents for those who want to do some in-depth research.

5. Most U.S. travelers will be barred from E.U. when bloc reopens

The New York Times · by Matina Stevis-Gridneff · June 26, 2020

Can you blame the EU?  But it sure is tough to be lumped in with Russia and Brazil.

6. China's military provokes its neighbors, but the message is for the United States

The New York Times · by Steven Lee Myers · June 26, 2020

So what is the message?  What effects are they trying to achieve with these provocations? What is China's strategy and what do they really want to achieve?

7. Pakistan seeks relief from China over Belt and Road

The Financial Times · by Stephanie Findlay · June 25, 2020

This is the debt trap China sets for countries that participate in One Belt One Road. I hope the Global Engagement Center will exploit this and other stories to inform countries about the threat of One Belt One Road.

8. China is more democratic than America, say the people

Bloomberg · by Ben Schott · June 26, 2020

Some fascinating data. Take a look at the chart. The American statistics sadden me.

9. Violence by far-right is among US's most dangerous terrorist threats, study finds

The Guardian · by Jason Wilson · June 27, 2020

10. System overload: can China's military be distracted in a war over Taiwan?

National Defense University · by Joel Wuthnow · June 25, 2020

The 66 page report and EXSUM from INSS at NDU can be found at link.

11. Trump signs order prioritizing job skills over college degree in government hiring

USA Today · by Michael Collins · June 26, 2020

12.  SOCOM's tech initiatives reflect old, new mission sets

National Defense · by Yasmin Tadjdeh · June 26, 2020

No mention of the most important SOF mission sets: irregular warfare, unconventional warfare, and support to political warfare. It does mention MISO (AKA Psychological Operations) and the war of influence but does not mention governance or support to indigenous forces and populations. Except for PSYOP, none of the mission sets are technology centric (but even PSYOP should not be technology centric  - it must be focused on the cognitive and influencing the behavior and decision making of target audiences).

13. U.S. curbs visas for Chinese officials over Hong Kong freedoms: Pompeo

Reuters · by David Brunnstrom · June 26, 2020

14. Why is the Stars and Stripes military newspaper on Trump's chopping block?

The Washington Post · by the Editorial Board · June 26, 2020

I hope Congress will act to protect Stars and Stripes.

15. A more resilient union - how federalism can protect democracy from pandemics

Foreign Affairs · by Danielle Allen · July/August 2020

Is the United States' constitutional democracy fragile and unsteady?

 “No man has the right to be ignorant. In a country like this, ignorance is a crime.”

- Louis L’Amour

“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.”

- Sun Tzu

"No one starts a war—or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so—without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it."

- Clausewitz

“If there is not struggle, there is no progress.”

- Frederick Douglass

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

1. US to blame for new freeze on Korean peninsula

2. U.S. Congress moves to keep restrictions on removing troops from S. Korea

3. The reassuring context of Korea tensions

4. U.S. calls out N.K. regime for torture in detention facilities

5.  North Korea and Trump: is it back to square one, only worse?

6.  S. Korea reports 51 more coronavirus cases amid cluster infections at Seoul church

7. Hundreds of Korean soldier remains to return home some 70 years later

8. South Korea's digital New Deal

9.  90% of S. Koreans say NK won't give up nukes: poll

10.  North Korea defector offices raided, funding 'under investigation'

11. Project Force: where could North Korea's missiles strike?

12. Amb. Harris says S. Korea-U.S. alliance will thrive as linchpin of regional security

13. Kim Jong-Un: revolting way North Korean leaders are 'kept alive' exposed

14. An irresistible target: North Korea's use of cryptocurrency to fund the regime

1. US to blame for new freeze on Korean peninsula

Asia Times · by Andrew Salmon · June 26, 2020

Moon Chung-In blames the US. He is wrong. Kim Jong-Un is to blame. It is the nature of the Kim family and its zero sum relationship with the South and its sole objective to dominate the peninsula that is the fundamental and intractable problem.

And I think that, as sought after as Professor Moon is as a speaker, we should realize he is no friend of the ROK/US alliance.

2. U.S. Congress moves to keep restrictions on removing troops from S. Korea

Yonhap News Agency · by Lee Haye-Ah · June 27, 2020

Here is the language in the HASC summary and the SASC bill. Note the differences. The HASC requires a reduction in North Korean threat and the SACS does not.

The other point is South Korea must be capable of deterring a conflict. The staffers who wrote this language should have said South Korea is capable of defending itself. Deterrence is a function of Kim Jong-Un's perception and decision-making. From what we know from the regime, it is the presence of US forces that deters an attack because the regime believes (and knows) it cannot win a war if the South has US support. But the bottom line is you cannot measure deterrence with any certainty. But you can measure the defensive capability with somewhat more precision. The SECDEF could logically assess the ROK is capable of defending itself (and it is, in my opinion), but he cannot effectively assess that Kim is deterred by South Korean capabilities. But the key point is the US provides the deterrent capability (as Hwang Jong-Yop told us in 1997). The North is an existential threat to the South. But it is a US national interest to prevent war on the Korean peninsula because of the catastrophic effects a war will have on the region, the US, and the world because Korea is at the nexus of the 2d, 3d, and 11th largest economies of the world, two nuclear powers, a rogue nuclear regime, and some of the largest armies in the world (the NKPA is the fourth largest).

HASC summary: prohibits the use of funds to reduce the total number of active duty service members deployed to South Korea below 28,500 until 180 days after the Secretary certifies: 1) doing so is in the national security interest of the United States and will not significantly undermine the security of U.S. allies in the region, 2) is commensurate with a reduction in the threat posed by North Korea, 3) that South Korea is capable of deterring a conflict, and 4) U.S. allies - including South Korea and Japan - have been appropriately consulted.

SASC: SEC. 1260. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS TO REDUCE TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES SERVING ON ACTIVE DUTY WHO ARE DEPLOYED TO THE REPUBLIC OFKOREA. None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be obligated or expended to reduce the total number of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty and deployed to the Republic of Korea to fewer than 28,500 such members of the Armed Forces until 90 days after the date on which the Secretary of Defense certifies to the congressional defense committees that- (1) such a reduction-(A) is in the national security interest of the United States; and (B) will not significantly undermine the security of United States allies in the region; and (2) the Secretary has appropriately consulted with allies of the United States, including the Re public of Korea and Japan, regarding such a reduction.

(I will return to my recommendation over the stalemate in the SMA/burden sharing talks. We should immediately agree to the current (2019) level of funding for two years. We should go back to the negotiating table and redo the SOFA and legal framework to cover the mutually agreed upon categories of support (right now the ROK can only legally fund land and facilities and cannot legally fund all the other demands from the US). Once we have resolved the legal framework we can then negotiate the specific funding levels for the specific categories of support which should be incremental costs over and above the costs of stationing and sustaining the force in CONUS. My recommendation is here: Competing Crises: A Failed ROK-U.S. Burden Sharing Agreement and the Coronavirus in North Korea

3. The reassuring context of Korea tensions

Chicago Tribune · by Arthur I. Cyr · June 26, 2020

The article does not meet the title's statement. I am not reassured by this op-ed. A point: the South's transition to democracy was cemented in 1993 with the election of Kim Young Sam as the first civilian elected President. And he was one of the "Three Kim's" as was Kim Dae Jung who was elected 5 years later. Also yes, in 1950 Truman supported the UN decision to defend South Korea from the North's attack, but the UN Security Council Resolutions were pushed by the US and Truman's desire to have the UN as "top over" as well as to legitimize the UN.

4. U.S. calls out N.K. regime for torture in detention facilities

Yonhap News Agency · by Lee Haye-Ah · June 27, 2020

As we should. The North Korean gulags are brutal and inhumane and constitute crimes against humanity. I do not know how anyone could sympathize with the regime or blame anyone other than Kim Jong-Un (and the Peaktu bloodline) for all tragic suffering that has occurred on the Korean peninsula since 1950 and continues to occur in the North to this day. Human rights is a national security issue as well as a moral imperative.

5. North Korea and Trump: Is it back to square one, only worse?

The Christian Science Monitor · by Howard LaFranchi · June 26, 2020

I do not think Kim Jong-un ever left square one. Both the ROK and the US jumped steps ahead, but the regime never took the real first step to hold substantive working level negotiations.

6. S. Korea reports 51 more coronavirus cases amid cluster infections at Seoul church

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · June 27, 2020

While this seems bad, I think you have to assess this in the overall context of how the South is responding and then look at the causes of these cluster outbreaks for lessons. Note also the imported cases. International travel will likely allow the virus to persist.

7. Hundreds of Korean soldier remains to return home some 70 years later

Hawaii News Now · by Ashley Nagaoka · June 22, 2020

Video at the link. This is one of the best illustrations of ROK/US shared values. Both our countries honor our dead and missing and seek to bring closure to friends and families for their lost loved ones.

Here is a note I received from a friend and former colleague. It includes additional links to photos and video.

On 23 June, the DPAA hosted a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam to turn over the remains of 147 ROK soldiers from the Korean War.  The 4-star Commander of USINDOPACOM and the ROK Vice Minister of Defense were part of that ceremony.  As the ROK Air Force transport on which the repatriated remains departed, it was escorted by two flights of USAF fighters. https://www.facebook.com/dodpaa/

Today, on the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, there was a ceremony in Seoul to receive those repatriated remains, and to turn over the remains of 6 U.S. servicemembers which had been identified by the ROK equivalent of DPAA (called MAKRI).  The ROK President officiated at the ceremony.  The Commander UN Command Korea was present, as were the heads of all four branches of the Korean armed forces.  Video comments by the US President, Queen Elizabeth and UK PM, Canadian PM, Turkish President, Dutch King, Belgian PM, Australian PM, Philippine President, Thai King, etc.  The Koreans put on a pretty good ceremony, though I'm afraid I don't speak Korean and there are no subtitles in English (interesting choices of music - lots by American composers): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bpABygz9Hk&t=4198s

In June 2018, the DPRK had returned boxes of remains.  DPAA in Hawaii has been working to identify the U.S. remains, as well as those of ROK soldiers that were comingled.  This week's ceremony was the largest repatriation ceremony.

Here is a behind-the-scenes view of what went into making that happen.  RADM Banaji is the Deputy Director of DPAA (he works in Hawaii; the Director is an SES and works in Crystal City): https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/06/22/remains-nearly-south-korean-soldiers-be-returned-home-us-historic-ceremony/

8. South Korea's digital New Deal

The Diplomat · by Troy Stangarone · June 25, 2020

Korea will remain competitive with its digital new deal.

9. 90% of S. Koreans say NK won't give up nukes: poll

The Korea Herald · by Kim So-Hyun · June 26, 2020

I wonder what is wrong with the other 10%?

10. North Korea defector offices raided, funding 'under investigation'

UPI · by Elizabeth Shim · June 26, 2020

This is shameful.  Escapees (defectors) should be protected and not harassed. And their humanitarian work should be supported and applauded.

11. Project force: where could North Korea's missiles strike?

Al Jazeera · by Alex Gatopoulus · June 25, 2020

Video at the link. I will stand by for comments from missile experts who have an in-depth understanding of North Korean capabilities. I worry when analyses say they have a long way to go. I know there are differences of opinion on the North's possible re-entry capabilities. But when we down play the regime's capabilities we generally get surprised.

12. Amb. Harris says S. Korea-U.S. alliance will thrive as linchpin of regional security

Yonhap News Agency · by [email protected] · June 25, 2020

Yes, it can and must endure and thrive, and it will because of the relationships between the Korean and American people. And those who have a long-term strategic vision for the region know it must remain the linchpin of the US alliance structure.

13. Kim Jong-un: revolting way North Korean leaders are 'kept alive' exposed

Express · by Josh Saunders · June 26, 2020

More rumors on Kim Jong-Un's health. There are some outrageous excerpts from the book, My Favorite Dictator, that include eating certain parts of certain animals for medicinal purposes.

14. An irresistible target: North Korea's use of cryptocurrency to fund the regime

NK Hidden Gulag · by Lauren Jackson · June 23, 2020

A long but very well researched piece.  I will leave it to the cyber and financial experts to enjoy.

 “No man has the right to be ignorant. In a country like this, ignorance is a crime.”

- Louis L’Amour

“Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.”

- Sun Tzu

"No one starts a war—or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so—without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it."

- Clausewitz

“If there is not struggle, there is no progress.”

- Frederick Douglass

News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Riley Murray.

 1. China Has 'First-Strike' Capability To Melt U.S. Power Grid With Electromagnetic Pulse Weapon

2. DHS Predicted A Summer of Violence, Radicalization, and Conspiracies

3. Getting Past the Civil War: The Morality of Renaming U.S. Army Bases Named After Confederate Generals

4.  How the Virus Won

5. Protecting Democracy Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

6. The Dangers of Designating Antifa as a Terrorist Organization Now

7. White House intensifies effort to install Pentagon personnel seen as loyal to Trump

8. INSIGHT: U.S. Must Act to Slow China's Roll Toward Global Digital Payments Domination

9. What Police Can Learn From the Military About the Effectiveness of Soft Power

10. Addressing Diversity, Army Will Remove Photos of Officer Candidates in Promotion Reviews

11. Marines Say Banning Confederate Flag Is Only One Step To Confronting Racism In The Corps

12. Army Won't Ban Confederate Flag Displays Without Pentagon Approval

1. China Has 'First-Strike' Capability To Melt U.S. Power Grid With Electromagnetic Pulse Weapon

Forbes · by James Conca · June 25, 2020

I will start off with the most ominous and threatening article today.

2. DHS Predicted A Summer of Violence, Radicalization, and Conspiracies

defenseone.com · by Patrick Tucker

So what we are seeing was not unexpected.  

3. Getting Past the Civil War: The Morality of Renaming U.S. Army Bases Named After Confederate Generals

thestrategybridge.org – by C. Anthony Pfaff - June 25, 2020

This is a very thoughtful and important essay. There are some important insights from Robert E. Lee which we should consider. I recommend it and I commend the author, C. Anthony Pfaff.

4. How the Virus Won

The interactive article is at the link.  Some fascinating graphics.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-spread.html

5. Protecting Democracy Amid the COVID-19 Crisis

diplomaticourier.com · by John Zemko

6. The Dangers of Designating Antifa as a Terrorist Organization Now

rand.org · by Heather J. Williams

7. White House intensifies effort to install Pentagon personnel seen as loyal to Trump

The Washington Post – by Missy Ryan, Paul Sonne, and Josh Dawsey – 25 June 2020

Although this will be interpreted as a partisan article it does provide a fairly comprehensive rundown of some of the major vacancies and the possible nominees.

8. INSIGHT: U.S. Must Act to Slow China's Roll Toward Global Digital Payments Domination

news.bloomberglaw.com · by Jamieson Greer

We must protect the global financial system that is based on the dollar as the reserve currency or we will not be able to sustain our deficit spending.

9. What Police Can Learn From the Military About the Effectiveness of Soft Power

TIME – by James Stavridis – 25 June 2020

But we have to be careful of the perception (or reality)  of "militarization" of the police. 

We should recall the controversy over this concept: "With Green Beret Tactics, Combating Gang Warfare" https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/us/springfield-mass-fights-crime-using-green-beret-tactics.html

10. Addressing Diversity, Army Will Remove Photos of Officer Candidates in Promotion Reviews

The New York Times · by Helene Cooper · June 25, 2020

11. Marines Say Banning Confederate Flag Is Only One Step To Confronting Racism In The Corps

kpbs.org - by Steve Walsh - Thursday, June 25, 2020

12. Army Won't Ban Confederate Flag Displays Without Pentagon Approval

military.com · by Matthew Cox · June 25, 2020

The Marine Corps and US Forces Korea can ban the flag, but the Army needs Pentagon approval?   Not a good look for my Army.

"Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world...would do this, it would change the earth."

- William Faulkner

"I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; - but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest - I will not equivocate - I will not excuse - I will not retreat a single inch - AND I WILL BE HEARD."

- William Lloyd Garrison

"When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation."

- Alexander Hamilton