Small Wars Journal

9/11/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

1. Here’s how Biden and the 2024 candidates will commemorate 9/11 and 2 other 9-11 articles.
2. U.S. Forces Try to Regroup as al Qaeda, Islamic State Sow Terror in West Africa
3. Congress bestows its highest honor on the 13 troops killed during Afghanistan withdrawal
4. Ukraine’s fire-dropping drones can find, shock Russian troops: experts
5. Ukraine braces for hardest winter due to intensified Russian attacks on energy infrastructure
6. Army units able to communicate more dispersed in recent exercise
7. Cold War Lessons for Revitalizing Deterrence
8. Our Moonshot Moment Is Here (Fusion)
9. Yes, Ronald Reagan Did Win the Cold War
10. Staff shortages and training faults hamper Navy ship upkeep at sea, sailors tell GAO
11. First AC-130J at Kirtland Marks New Chapter for Gunship Training
12. The War Crimes That the Military Buried
13. Ukraine’s western-trained ‘navy seals’ unleash wave of destruction
14. World’s Largest Shipbuilder! Chinese Firm Set To Dominate Global Shipping Industry, Eyes $17B In Annual Sales
15. "NATO's inaction leads to escalation." An interview with a Lithuanian colonel about the course of the war and the threat from the Russian Federation to the Baltic countries and Poland
16. The US Navy is about to launch a submarine built for a mixed-gender crew, the first of its kind
17. AUKUS, other agreements likely having 'galvanizing effect' in Beijing: Aussie ambassador
18. U.S. and Chinese military commanders hold rare phone call
19. Russia Is on a Slow Path to Bankruptcy, But How Slow?
20. How Corruption Fuels Inequality in China
21. A Less Lethal Latin America
22. America’s ‘kryptonite’(Gray or Grey Zone)
23. The Vandenberg Coalition Honors and Remembers the Victims and Heroes of the September 11th Attacks
 

Korean News Content:

1. Defense chief says 'fundamental' solution to N. Korean threats lies on free, unified Korean Peninsula
2. South Korea, UNC member states demand end to North-Russia military cooperation
3. Defense chief discusses cooperation with counterparts from 7 nations, NATO
4. N. Korea should be held accountable for damage from trash balloons: unification minister
5. S. Korea, U.S. discuss enhanced cooperation on economic security
6. Kim Jong-un's rare speech on Foundation Day intended to bolster internal unity
7. Kim Jong Un makes surprise speech aimed at ‘skeptics’ of his economic plans
8. US, South Korean Ambassadors discuss US-South Korea relations
9. North Korean diplomats abroad most likely VIPs to defect
10. North Korea's Kim Vows to Make His Nuclear Force Ready for Combat with US
11. Nuclear experts: “North Korea lacks nuclear materials and technology to exponentially expand nuclear weapons”
12. USS America paused for first South Korea port call after amphibious exercise
13. North Korean Residents' Lecture: "Putin Admires Kim Jong-un"
14. HMAS Sydney joins international effort to enforce sanctions against North Korea
15. Ukrainian military destroyed Russian depot storing North Korean missiles: Kyiv
16. UN food program still unable to enter North Korea to provide aid, official says
17. How to Get Kim Jong Un’s Email

Dave Maxwell Wed, 09/11/2024 - 10:29am

9/10/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary

Tue, 09/10/2024 - 7:18am

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

1. H.R. McMaster: America’s Weakness Is a Provocation
2. Tactical Solutions Will Not Fix a Strategic Defect
3. Uprooting the Enemy: A New Paradigm for Irregular Warfare Analysis
4. China to hold military drills with Russia in September
5. Hezbollah relies on 'sophisticated' tunnel system backed by Iran, North Korea in fight against Israel
6. Japan warns of ‘new era of crisis,’ asks for record defense budget
7.  Eyeing more special forces business, GDIT acquires AI, tech firm Iron EagleX
8. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 9, 2024
9. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, September 9, 2024
10. Russia’s Espionage War in the Arctic
11. Diplomacy Beyond the Elections: How China Is Preparing for a Post-Biden America
12. China says top diplomat Wang Yi to visit Russia this week 
13. Time to retire ‘Arab-Israeli conflict’?
14. Ukraine hits MOSCOW in huge drone attack, killing at least one woman
15. How the Space Force Can Better Tell Its Story
16. The Long Shadow of Biden’s Afghan Withdrawal Debacle
17. Ukraine Launches 144-Drone Barrage on Russia, Targeting Moscow and Key Regions
18. Don’t Hype the Terror Threat
19. Europe Takes a Trumpian Turn
20. Dissecting China’s purported carrier strategy against Taiwan
21. How our military can deter foreign conflicts and win future wars
22. Hawks want a new Cold War but are cagey about the cost. So we did the math.
23. Sen. Tuberville blocks promotion of Lloyd Austin’s top military aide
24. Watchdog challenges SOCOM’s plan to buy new armed aircraft to watch over special ops troops
 

Korean News Content:

1. Next U.S. president needs radical reset on North Korea policy
2. US help isn’t enough: South Korea wants its own nuclear weapons
3. North Korea Explained: What Americans Need to Know
4. Hezbollah relies on 'sophisticated' tunnel system backed by Iran, North Korea in fight against Israel
5. Kim Jong Un Might Have To Change North Korea's Strategy Amid Trump And Harris' Election Race After Biden Dropped Out — Leader's Sister To Speak Out?
6. Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Policy) Ms. Cara Abercrombie Travels to the Republic of Korea
7. Swedish diplomats set for imminent return to North Korea: Sources
8. Experts: North Korea's 12-axis ICBM launcher photo is just for show
9. International Watch Group: “North Korea Has Been Producing Cluster Bombs, Inhumane Weapons of Destruction, for 15 Years”
10. N. Korean military distributes assessment criteria before summer drills conclude
11. Pentagon stresses security cooperation with allies after N.K. unveils new mobile launcher
12. Japan warns of ‘new era of crisis,’ asks for record defense budget
13. N. Korea's leader vows push for exponential increase in nuclear weapons
14. U.S. diplomat hints at exploring more scenarios of N. Korean nuclear threats at EDSCG sessions
15. Military says timer devices on N. Korean trash balloons could lead to fires
16. Joint Statement of the 15th Republic of Korea-United States-Japan Defense Trilateral Talks
17. The importance of tangible realization (Korean military experience)
18. North Korean weapons extending Russian stockpiles, German general says
 

9/9/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary

Mon, 09/09/2024 - 7:52am

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

1. Decade After the UN COI Report: Michael Kirby on North Korea's Human Rights Landscape. (please note my comments)

2. Russia Is Waging War Against the West, but Most People Are in Denial

3. House Republicans and Democrats to issue dueling documents casting blame for mistakes made in US withdrawal from Afghanistan

4. Collapse of $15 Billion Sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel Could Cool the ‘Spirit of Camp David’

5. China "debt traps" loom on US partner's doorstep

6. Commentary: You could power America with China’s wasted energy

7. Mingus: Army Transformation ‘Never Stops’

8.  China’s ‘disappeared’ foreign minister demoted to low-level publishing job, say former U.S. officials

9. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 8, 2024

10. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, September 8, 2024

11. CIA boss says west should not be intimidated by Russia’s nuclear threats

12. Iraqi Banks Used U.S.-Created System to Funnel Funds to Iran

13. Israeli strikes in Syria leave 14 dead and more than 40 wounded, Syrian state media says

14. Welcome to the Resistance: Call for Papers—SOF in Competition

15. The US is dismantling nuclear warheads to power next-gen reactors

16. Phase Zero of the Coming War

17. Army struggles to win over recruits with slew of failed marketing campaigns

18. The Deep Roots of Trump’s Isolationism

Korean News Content:

1. Decade After the UN COI Report: Michael Kirby on North Korea's Human Rights Landscape (please read my comments)

2. State Department Suggests Possibility of US-North Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting During Choi Sun-hee's UN Attendance

3. N. Korea holds celebrations to mark 76th state founding anniv.

4. North Korea’s New Naval Base: Tapchon

5. China's Xi vows to strengthen ties with N. Korea in message to leader Kim

6. Nation With Lowest Birthrate Is Rocked By Soaring Sales of Dog Strollers

7. N. Korea slams U.N. report on its human rights as 'fabricated' document

8.  Monitoring and surveillance activities by Italy against illicit maritime activities including ship-to-ship transfers

9. North Korea's trash balloon causes record damage with fire at Paju warehouse

10. Poland Strengthens Artillery Capabilities with 500 HIMARS and 288 Homar-K Systems Rocket Launchers

11. Cheorwon Plain filled with rice ahead of the Chuseok harvest holiday

12. North Korean farmers in Hoeyrong resist corn guard duty

13. Welcome to the Resistance: Call for Papers—SOF in Competition

 

 

9/8/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary

Sun, 09/08/2024 - 11:22am

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

1. Heads of CIA and MI6 say world order 'under threat not seen since Cold War'

2. Russia’s Most Notorious Special Forces Unit Now Has Its Own Cyber Warfare Team

3. U.S. Army Special Forces Hackers Attack Wi-Fi Networks

4. Chinese State-Linked Influence Operation Spamouflage Masquerades as U.S. Voters to Push Divisive Online Narratives Ahead of 2024 Election.

5. Opinion: Russian Misinfo Pushers and US Useful Idiots

6. The battle of Kursk hinges on the Russian railroad

7. German warships to pass through Taiwan Strait this month: Report

8. ‘Special forces-styled travel’? Changing face of mainland Chinese travellers triggers Hong Kong tourism rethink

9. In Russia’s Kursk, Ukraine Takes On a New Role: Occupier

10. China Is Becoming Much Harder for Western Scholars to Study

11. Biden decision to kill Nippon Steel deal could spark legal challenge

12. Navy’s recruitment strategy should inspire other branches to act Rep. Tony Gonzales

13. CIA chief: Russian elite left questioning war after Kursk incursion

14. Australian links revealed in global defence company scandal involving China, Russia and Iran

15. Dracarys! Ukraine's Fire-Spewing 'Dragon Drones' Give Russian Troops a 'Headache'

16. Great Power Competition Report - United States & China Economic, Military, and Diplomatic Developments

17. Analysis: How secure and reliable are US elections? You’d be surprised

Korean News Content:

1. Modernizing Korea’s United Nations Command

2. South Korea's Nuclear Weapons Debate: A Third Way Forward?

3. North Korea's Kim Jong Un emphasises importance of strengthening naval power

4. North Korea Launches New Salvo of Balloons, but the South Barely Shrugs

5. How North Korea will seek to play the next U.S. president

6. Escapees develop leadership skills at the Bush Institute's North Korean Human Rights Workshop

7. N. Korea launches trash balloons toward S. Korea for 5th day

8. N. Korea's Kim visits several military facilities ahead of regime's founding anniversary

9. N. Korea decries S. Korea-U.S. security exercise Washington as 'nuclear blackmail'

10. Over 100 mln won in damage caused by N. Korean trash balloons in wider Seoul area

11. Why North Korea is surprised by Moscow being penetrated by drones

12. Free food, forced thanks: Inside N. Korea's flood relief efforts in Uiju county

13. US presidential election: a view from Seoul

14. North Korea reveals new, larger ICBM under development

15. Why did S. Korea suddenly declare Oct. 1 temporary holiday?

16. ‘12.12: The Day’ Selected As South Korea’s Oscar Entry

17. The Sherman's voyage to tiger-infested Wonsan

9/7/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary

Sat, 09/07/2024 - 11:32am

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:


1. Congressional Call for Center of Special Operations Analysis
2. U.S. Tells Allies Iran Has Sent Ballistic Missiles to Russia
3. $10 Million and a Fake Investor: How the Kremlin Allegedly Built a Conservative U.S. Media Startup
4.  Most Mass Shooters Telegraph Their Attacks. These Teams Are In the Business Of Stopping Them
5. Was There a Chinese Agent Working in the New York Governor’s Office?
6. China-Taiwan Weekly Update, September 6, 2024
7. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, September 6, 2024
8. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 6, 2024
9. Free Burma Rangers – Open Volunteer Positions 6 September 2024
10. Commentary: China-Philippines trust in troubled waters
11. US university Georgia Tech to end China partnerships following concerns over military ties
12. Secret American special forces boats spotted in Scotland
13. Unleashing Private Capital: A Strategic Shift to Boost Allied Defense
14. Special Operations Forces: Summary of Armed Overwatch Reports
15. US Special Operations cuts Armed Overwatch acquisition nearly 20%
16. ‘Men of War’ Review: A Delirious Doc About a Former Green Beret Trying to Overthrow the Venezuelan Government
17. When Students Become Terrorists
18. Carrier Captain In Combat: What Went On During 7 Months Under Fire Around The Red Sea
19. Reporter's Notebook: Why foreign policy might matter
20. US Army’s next budget invests heavily in drones and electronic warfare
21. Military must move beyond integration to inclusion
22. The Surface Navy and the Long War
23. Efficacy in Our Nation’s Deterrence Strategy
24. Military Reform: Reversing the Decline
25. Disinformation dilemma: US hands are way dirty, too
26. Five Yalies selected as 2024 Tillman Scholars for their achievements, potential in service
27. US election integrity fears heighten tension ahead of presidential vote
28. Combat swimmer operations and their importance in a near-peer conflict

Korean News Content:

1.  Joint Statement on the U.S.-ROK Nuclear Consultative Group Simulation
2. N. Korea launches more trash balloons toward S. Korea: JCS
3. Why Ukrainians love K-pop (and Korean artillery shells)
4. S. Korea, Germany hold joint naval drills in East Sea
5. North Korean Threat Actors Deploy COVERTCATCH Malware via LinkedIn Job Scams
6. US Warns of "Mounting Regional Threats" Posed by North Korea
7. A Pragmatic Shift? What Kamala Harris Might Do on North Korea
8. New Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun: “If North Korea provokes, the regime will end”
9.  S. Korea, U.S. held simulation drills for nuclear deterrence in Washington this week: defense ministry
10. S. Korea, U.S., Japan discuss sanctions, private industry efforts to address N.K. cyberthreats
11. Kamala Harris and North Korea: What Could Happen
12. Strengthening Bonds: Joint initiative enhances ROK-US interoperability
13. South Korea's Hanwha Ocean dismisses size criticisms over Polish Orka submarine offer
14. N. Korea's youth becomes cynical of Kim's 'flood response show’
15. Another victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery dies, leaving 8 survivors
16. Senior U.S. diplomat to visit S. Korea for AI forum next week
17. Forbidden fashion: N. Korean youth punished for mimicking Kim Jong Un's pants
18. US’ new export controls to have little impact on Korean businesses: ministry
19. S. Korean, U.S. envoys to visit Michigan, Texas, Arizona next week to reaffirm bilateral ties
 

Free Burma Rangers – Open Volunteer Positions 6 September 2024

Fri, 09/06/2024 - 4:20pm

Editor's Note:  The Free Burma Rangers have been doing incredible work in Burma for decades.  Please support them here: https://www.freeburmarangers.org/donations/.

Please go to this link if you are interested in volunteering: https://www.freeburmarangers.org/2024/09/06/open-volunteer-positions/

Information email: info@freeburmarangers.org

FBR

 

 

Open Volunteer Positions

6 September 2024

Given the high number of messages from interested applicants that FBR receives, we are currently only seeking volunteers who can fill specific roles and have prerequisites and/or prior work experience in a similar field of work. If you are interested in joining the FBR team, we ask that you prayerfully consider if you are willing and able to fill one of the following roles. The positions listed below will be updated regularly if they have been filled and/or if others become available.

All positions are based in Southeast Asia at FBR’s administrative headquarters unless otherwise noted. Please be advised that all volunteer positions are unpaid and FBR does not offer visa support at this time. All long-term positions require a minimum of a two-year commitment.

Finally, we recognize that many potential volunteers are interested in front line relief operations. In order to serve in our Operations Department, volunteers are expected to serve in a support capacity first (such as the open positions below) so that they are fully equipped to help on the front lines.

Current Open Positions

Physicians, Physicians Assistants, and Nurse Practitioners

FBR is seeking physicians, physicians assistants and nurse practitioners with an emphasis on family physicians, pediatricians, internal medicine, OB/GYN, and general surgery who are willing to commit any timeframe greater than one month. Providers must be willing and able to practice in an off-grid, remote environment with limited access to standard medical equipment. A moderate level of physical fitness is required.

Patient Care Appointment Coordinator

The Patient Care Appointment Coordinator assists in coordinating all activities for the FBR Patient Care Team, which manages case referrals from FBR’s Jungle School of Medicine Kawthoolei. This includes coordinating medical appointments for referred patients as well as ensuring that daily needs of room and board for the patient and a caregiver are met. Previous experience in case management may be relevant to this position and some medical knowledge is helpful. Facility with new languages is also a plus. This individual is a key player on the support team, ensuring adequate communication and resource allocation that is vital to successfully bringing help, hope and love to patients in need.

Medical Supply Coordinator

The Medical Supply Coordinator helps procure, process, and ship medicine and medical supplies needed to support relief operations and FBR’s Jungle School of Medicine Kawthoolei. They report to the Medical Department Manager. Attention to detail and a high level of organization are necessary for this position; some knowledge of medicine and medical supplies is also helpful.

Communications Specialist

The Communications Specialist assists in the management and operation of critical communications equipment including satellite internet systems, satellite phones, mobile phones, etc. The Communications Specialist helps to establish secure communications standards and protocols. Attention to detail, a high level of organization, and the ability to predict and troubleshoot IT issues in a variety of environments are useful in this position.

Report Writer

Report Writers support the Reporting and Information Department and FBR’s mission of “getting the news out” by collecting information from FBR field teams and staff to create and prepare reports for publication. Strong writing and editing skills in the English language are required, as well as the ability to work in a highly collaborative environment. A working knowledge of the situation and background of the locations FBR operates, or a willingness to self-educate, is also helpful.

Publications Specialist

The Publications Specialist supports the Reporting and Information Department and FBR’s mission of  “getting the news out.” The Publications Specialist serves FBR by leading and executing the creation of FBR’s annual print publications. Previous experience in publications and familiarity with publications programs such as the Adobe suite of products is highly recommended. This individual must have attention to detail, ability to work on a deadline, flexibility and willingness to collaborate, and exceptional communication skills.

Public Affairs/Social Media Manager

The Public Affairs/Social Media Manager is responsible for managing multiple chat groups and FBR’s official social media platforms, all of which are used to disseminate FBR’s field reports in various formats. This role involves maintaining communication with various stakeholders, ensuring the dissemination of accurate and timely information, and providing information to external entities such as news agencies, investigative reporters, and for sanction proposals/court cases. This individual will work directly with multiple information sources as well as various area specialists to develop appropriate content. This position requires initiative and a high level of attention to detail. Some familiarity with the areas in which FBR works is also helpful.

Deputy Supply Leader

The Deputy Supply Leader will work with FBR’s existing supply team to organize and procure all material needed to support operations and the overall mission of the organization. The Deputy Supply Leader reports to the Supply Leader. Must be organized, willing to work a flexible schedule, able to operate a manual transmission vehicle, and comfortable driving in a foreign city.

Gospel Resource Interpreter

The Gospel Resource Interpreter (GRI) is a part-time position within FBR’s Gospel Partnership Department that has the potential to develop into a paid staff position for ethnic language speakers. The GRI is engaged not merely in translating but interpreting Biblical materials in both written and verbal forms, thus thinking with the head and the heart, to contextualize Biblical messages and materials in culturally relevant and appropriate ways. Spoken and written proficiency in English and Burmese is required and proficiency in Karen is preferred.

Application and Media Developer: Gospel Partnership Department

The Application and Media Developer (AMD) is a new position within the Gospel Partnership Department. The AMD will report to FBR’s head Chaplain but work most closely with the Resource Coordinator on a daily basis. The AMD is expected to envision ways to engage others with the gospel in digital formats that can be understood and utilized in cross-cultural contexts. 

Short Term Volunteer, 3-6 Months (SLOTS FULL THROUGH MID 2025)

Short Term Volunteers serve FBR in Southeast Asia by performing all necessary tasks that support the overall mission of FBR, mainly clerical and practical tasks. Applicants are required to have an AAA international drivers license and be able to drive manual transmission vehicles. This role is primarily office-based, and field time in Burma and/or the Middle East is possible, depending on demonstrated skills and the needs of the organization, but not guaranteed. Short-Term Volunteers are expected to commit to approximately 20 hours a week for 3-6 months, with most volunteers serving approximately 3 months. When applying for a long-term position with FBR, successful Short-Term Volunteers are given preference.

To learn more or if you are interested in any of these positions, please email FBR’s Volunteer Coordination Team at info@freeburmarangers.org with the subject line: “Volunteer Inquiry_Your Full Name” to begin the application process.

Thank you and God bless you,

Free Burma Rangers

9/6/24 National Security and Korean News and Commentary

Fri, 09/06/2024 - 10:17am

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

1. The Putin Propaganda Chief Who the U.S. Says Is Now After American Minds
2. Reagan Didn’t Win the Cold War by Max Boot
3. Planning for a Post-American NATO
4. Russia pulls 60,000 troops to counter Kursk incursion, Zelensky claims
5. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, September 5, 2024
6. Israel–Hamas War (Iran) Update, September 5, 2024
7. Mongolia refuses to arrest Putin during visit, choosing economic ties over international law
8. The Russian Propaganda Attack on America
9. Ukraine’s top commander defends Kursk offensive
10. The Future of Warfare Is Electronic
11. U.S. Maritime Policy Needs an Overhaul
12. Antony Blinken Dragged US Diplomacy Into the 21st Century. Even He’s Surprised by the Results
13. A ramp-up in nuclear weapons is not always a bad thing
14.  SOF 2050: How Robotics, AI, and Human Augmentation Will Redefine Special Operations of the Future
15. Green Berets are integrating cyber warfare into their training. Here is why it matters
16. Ex-Green Beret Behind Failed Venezuela Raid Released Pending Trial
17. Malaysia says it won't bow to China's demands to halt oil exploration in the South China Sea
18. Indonesia continues ‘rowing between 2 reefs’ amid US-China rivalry, security expert says
19. Ukrainian AK-74-Equipped FPV Drone Engages Russian Forces for the First Time
20. Russia dismisses charges of election meddling; Putin claims he backs Harris
21. Accelerated Training in the Spotlight After Ukrainian F-16 Crash
22. Exclusive: US sees increasing risk of Russian ‘sabotage’ of key undersea cables by secretive military unit
23. US military draws up plans for collapse of Gaza ceasefire talks
24. Demographic Diversity Is Not Our Strength
25. What’s behind conservative opposition to DEI? Take a look at this study
26. Deepfakes deepfail: Russian propagandists turn away from generative AI
27. MC-130J Crews Earn Award for Supporting Longest US Army Helicopter Mission Relying on Aerial Refueling
 

Korean News Content:

1. Grim Picture of North Korea Is Being Sketched by Latest Diplomat To Defect
2. S. Korea, Japan agree to maintain positive momentum in bilateral ties
3. Military deploying anti-drone system to counter N. Korean drone threats
4. N. Korea media cover Cuba's diplomatic activities for 1st time since Seoul, Havana forge ties
5. Putin and Kim’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Alignment against the West, A Hedge against China
6. Seoul installs anti-drone system to quickly respond to North Korean incursions
7. Kim Jong Un is winning the war for young North Koreans’ hearts and minds
8. North Korean elites ‘tire of Kim Jong-un’s erratic behaviour’
9. S. Korea, US stress commitment to disrupting NK revenue generation through cyber activities
10. Kim Jong-un's 'hostile states' theory still a work in progress, former North Korean envoy-turned-defector says
11. North's latest trash balloon launch suggests multifarious motives at play
12. 'Educational videos' show North Korean teens arrested, shamed for watching South Korean TV shows
13. Would a President Kamala Harris Offer a Fresh Approach to North Korea?
14. South Korean chip executive detained again over alleged technology leak to China
15. N. Korea revs up festive atmosphere for next week's state founding anniv.