Member Login Become a Member
Advertisement

07/20/2020 News & Commentary – National Security

  |  
07.20.2020 at 05:48pm

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

 

1. Face Masks Really Do Matter. The Scientific Evidence Is Growing.

2. The US Is Out of Position in the Indo-Pacific Region

3.  More Than 39,000 Federal Employees Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

4. Special operations forces and great power competition

5.  ‘That Others May Live’: The Pararescue Units Preparing for War on Top of the World

6. Homeland Security Worries Covid-19 Masks Are Breaking Facial Recognition, Leaked Document Shows

7. Opinion | Doing Schoolwork in the Parking Lot Is Not a Solution

8. Veteran speaks out after video of federal officers beating him goes viral

9. Out of Portland tear gas, an apparition emerges, capturing the imagination of protesters

10. Green Beret designs first-ever fireproof American flag made of kevlar to withstand rioters

11. Trump says bases named for Confederates won’t be renamed: ‘I don’t care what the military says’

12. Here’s what the damage inside the Bonhomme Richard looks like

13. With 30 Submarines, Japan Will Shape The Pacific’s Undersea Defenses

14. We Don’t Need Conversations, We Need Systemic Change

15. Army vet steps down from congressional committees amid voter fraud charges

16. Retired Army Master Sergeant Gets Heroism Medal for Stopping Shooter on Kansas Bridge

17. The Navy’s Cultural Ship Is Listing

18. Risk Aversion and the Army’s New Tactical Unmanned Aircraft: Buying Technology is One Thing, Being Able to Employ it is Another

19. A Strategic Pivot to Outer Space

20. US tech giants exposed if China takes Taiwan

21. As ‘cancel culture’ activism peaks, big tech and its algorithms quietly fuel the flames

 

1. Face Masks Really Do Matter. The Scientific Evidence Is Growing.

WSJ · by Caitlin McCabe

Just a public service announcement.

 

2. The US Is Out of Position in the Indo-Pacific Region

defenseone.com · by Nathan Freier, John Schaus, Al Lord, Alison Goldsmith, COL Elizabeth Martin – 19 July 2020

Nate Freier has been doing a lot of really good work at the Army War College with students looking at complex issues and as shown here they have been really focusing on INDOPACOM.

 

3. More Than 39,000 Federal Employees Have Tested Positive for COVID-19

defenseone.com · by Eric Katzsenior

Some interesting data here.

 

4. Special operations forces and great power competition

www2.deloitte.com

If the formatting does not come through please go to the link: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/public-sector/future-of-special-operations-forces-great-power-competition.html

Some important voices in this: Rep. James Langevin, Mike Vickers, Mark Mitchell, Ken Tovo.

 

5. ‘That Others May Live’: The Pararescue Units Preparing for War on Top of the World

Popular Mechanics · by Jeff Bolton and Kellen Wilson · July 19, 2020

American heroes here.

 

6. Homeland Security Worries Covid-19 Masks Are Breaking Facial Recognition, Leaked Document Shows

The Intercept · by Mara Hvistendahl · July 16, 2020

I am reminded of this meme that has come out with COVID 19.

 

7. Opinion | Doing Schoolwork in the Parking Lot Is Not a Solution

The New York Times · by The Editorial Board · July 18, 2020

Internet access is a civil rights issue?  In today’s world it is a necessity for living a modern life.

We have been discussing many issues and ways to cope with the changes with our daughter as she prepares to go back to college last month. With common areas closed or reduced in amount of usable space due to social distancing it is going to make studying difficult (and access to Wi-Fi).   They are increasing the time between classes but while this could be used for studying there is a reduced amount of study space so where do students go in between classes with a larger gap of time than normal?  There are second and third order effects to every mitigation measure the university takes to deal with the coronavirus.  And of course, this is happening to schools all over the country and at every level of education.

 

8. Veteran speaks out after video of federal officers beating him goes viral

Independent · by Danielle Zoellner · July 20, 2020

Please watch the video at the link: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/portland-protests-trump-veteran-christopher-david-federal-officers-oregon-a9627466.html?fbclid=IwAR3slTOgvxpA8i-_XIpomHzE5d33my1rd5umEon9S6LzR2qHlDtaCvxtBiw

If we are dealing with an insurgency then we are seeing how not to deal with it.  Whoever these federal officials are in combat uniforms and gear ought to be taken to task for their actions.  But this is exactly the kind of response that insurgents would like to cause and of course to get it on film.  They want draconian population and resources control measures as it strengthens their cause.

And then there is the video of the suburban moms lined up between the thugs in uniform and the protestors.  Someone needs to provide better advice to whomever is controlling these federal officials.  And these people in uniform need better training. 

 

9. Out of Portland tear gas, an apparition emerges, capturing the imagination of protesters

Los Angeles Times · by Richard Read · July 20, 2020

This must have been quite a place.  I suppose some would say, only in Portland.  Whatever the federal government officials think we are going to do there, they are going to be embarrassed and make matters worse.  They are playing right into the protestors’ (or insurgents’ if that is what you want to believe) hands.

 

10. Green Beret designs first-ever fireproof American flag made of kevlar to withstand rioters

theepochtimes.com · by Robert Jay Watson · July 18, 2020

Pretty innovative. We ought to hand these out in places like Iran so protestors will get frustrated.   What a great PSYOP effect – the American flag is too strong and powerful for you to be able to burn it!

 

11. Trump says bases named for Confederates won’t be renamed: ‘I don’t care what the military says’

taskandpurpose.com · by Jeff Schogol

 

12. Here’s what the damage inside the Bonhomme Richard looks like

navytimes.com · by Geoff Ziezulewicz · July 18, 2020

The photos and video are at this link: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/07/17/heres-what-the-damage-inside-the-bonhomme-richard-looks-like/?utm

 

13. With 30 Submarines, Japan Will Shape The Pacific’s Undersea Defenses

Forbes · by Craig Hooper · July 19, 2020

 

14. We Don’t Need Conversations, We Need Systemic Change

usni.org – by Commander Jada Johnson – 19 July 202

A very thoughtful and thought-provoking essay.  But there is a lot of push back on the concept of structural systemic racism among some people.

 

15. Army vet steps down from congressional committees amid voter fraud charges

militarytimes.com · by Leo Shane III · July 17, 2020

 

16. Retired Army Master Sergeant Gets Heroism Medal for Stopping Shooter on Kansas Bridge

Well deserved.  It is what American soldiers do.

military.com · by Gina Harkins · July 17, 2020

 

17. The Navy’s Cultural Ship Is Listing

WSJ – by Kate Bachelder Odell – 17 July 2020

We need our Navy large, strong, and effective.

 

18. Risk Aversion and the Army’s New Tactical Unmanned Aircraft: Buying Technology is One Thing, Being Able to Employ it is Another

mwi.usma.edu · by Addison McLamb · July 20, 2020

 

19. A Strategic Pivot to Outer Space

thestrategybridge.org · July 20, 2020

Are wars in space “small wars” or major combat operations?  🙂 

 

20.  US tech giants exposed if China takes Taiwan

asiatimes.com · by Scott Foster · July 20, 2020

A scary thought.  If China takes Taiwan, I would be a lot more worried than just about exposure of tech giants.  It could be a brutal war that spreads far beyond Taiwan.

 

21. As ‘cancel culture’ activism peaks, big tech and its algorithms quietly fuel the flames

foxnews.com

We all need to take a step back and think about cancelling this “cancel culture.”  And the article begs the question of whether technology is helping or hindering the defense against it?

 

“Strategy is revolution. Everything else is tactics.”

– Lawrence Freedman, Strategy: A History

 

“Power always has to be kept in check; power exercised in secret, especially under the cloak of national security, is doubly dangerous.”
– William Proxmire

 

The freedom to criticize ideas, any ideas – even if they are sincerely held beliefs – is one of the fundamental freedoms of society.

-Rowan Atkinson

About The Author

Article Discussion: