Small Wars Journal

07/31/2020 News & Commentary – National Security

Fri, 07/31/2020 - 9:21am

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

1. The American Way of Irregular War: An Analytical Memoir

2. Op-Ed: The U.S. faces new kinds of threats around the globe, but we have failed to adapt

3. The Military Demographic Conundrum

4. Beyond Borders: PLA Command and Control of Overseas Operations

5. DHS compiled ‘intelligence reports’ on journalists who published leaked documents

6. Trump Contradicts SecDef On Germany Withdrawal

7. Russian Intelligence Agencies Push Disinformation on Pandemic

8. Current IO Topics: US intelligence is finally figuring out how to communicate with the American public

9. ISIS releases video calling on supporters to carry out arson attacks in US

10. Democrats and Republicans take aim at Pompeo over US troop withdrawal from Germany

11. How a secretive Pentagon agency seeded the ground for a rapid coronavirus cure

12. Report Sheds Light on China’s Use of Military-Linked Researchers

13. China-Backed Infrastructure Bank Seeks to Win Over Countries With Western-Style Approach

14. FDD | Was Nixon Wrong About China?

15. Panel: New Focus on China Fight Could Rob Marine Corps of Versatility

16. Dirty tricks and the 2020 election: lessons from the KGB

17. Study: US adults who mostly rely on social media for news are less informed, exposed to more conspiracies

18. What the heck is ‘brushing’? The scam behind the China mystery seeds

19. There is no new cold war, the West is just losing influence in Eurasia

20. Pentagon Aims to Support More Sensitive Telework By Year's End

21. 'Bay of Piglets': A 'bizarre' plot to capture a president

22. FBI chief warns of China election interference

23. Hackers Broke Into Real News Sites to Plant Fake Stories

 

1. The American Way of Irregular War: An Analytical Memoir

Link Here to Publication. By LTG Charles Cleveland and Daniel Egel

There is no other "report" that identifies the essence of the problems we face and offers big ideas for solutions. (I put "report" in quotes because it is unlike any report and as noted it is an analytic memoir). Everyone who writes about these issues (most researchers. admire the problem - none have lived it). This report uses real world experience to tell the story (which is a key element here because the "case studies" tell the story and that is the best way to influence people - to see what is real and tangible rather than theoretical or some dry historical recounting). Furthermore those with some experience who write about these issues do not come close to the level of expertise in multiple theaters. There is no senior leader who has put this much intellectual sweat into analyzing the problems and recommending sound and concrete solutions. There is so much meat in this report to drive thinking and debate. Some may not like the recounting of some stories, some may not like the recommendations but all who read this will benefit. The perspective from the depth experience combined with the intellectual rigor ensures this report will make a significant contribution to the future study of the American Way of Irregular Warfare.

 

2. Op-Ed: The U.S. faces new kinds of threats around the globe, but we have failed to adapt

Los Angeles Times· Seth G. Jones and Juan C. Zarate· July 30, 2020

A good overview of the threats. It is why we need to have a world class irregular warfare capability to support of whole government/society approach to an America Way of Political Warfare

 

3. The Military Demographic Conundrum

lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com · by Robert Farley · July 29, 2020

Again, this is not submitted from a partisan perspective. But Professor Farley does a good job of explaining why Congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez proposed legislation on military recruiting is based on misinformation and misunderstanding.

 

4. Beyond Borders: PLA Command and Control of Overseas Operations

ndupress.ndu.edu · by Philipp C. Saunders·  July 28, 2020

The 12 page report can be downloaded here.

 

5. DHS compiled ‘intelligence reports’ on journalists who published leaked documents

The Washington Post· by Shane Harris · July 30, 2020

Might want to re-read our history.  

 

6. Trump Contradicts SecDef On Germany Withdrawal

breakingdefense.com · by Paul McLeary

The SECDEF is in a tough spot.

 

7. Russian Intelligence Agencies Push Disinformation on Pandemic

The New York Times · by Julian E. Barnes and David Sanger · July 28, 2020

Very important analysis.

 

8. Current IO Topics: US intelligence is finally figuring out how to communicate with the American public

standuprepublic.com · by Molly McKew · July 30, 2020

 

9. ISIS releases video calling on supporters to carry out arson attacks in US

Washington Examiner · by Zachary Halaschak · July 29, 2020

 

10. Democrats and Republicans take aim at Pompeo over US troop withdrawal from Germany

The Guardian · by Julian Borger · July 30, 2020

Both the SECDEF and the SECSTATE are in tough positions.

 

11. How a secretive Pentagon agency seeded the ground for a rapid coronavirus cure

The Washington Post· by Paul Sonne July 30, 2020

A lot of science in this.  But this is one of the unsung aspects of the military and the contributions it can make beyond military operations.

 

12. Report Sheds Light on China’s Use of Military-Linked Researchers

WSJ · by Kate O’Keeffe and Aruna Viswanatha· July 30, 2020

Some fascinating data and insights.  Here is the link to the Hoover essay .  In the essay is a link to the 85 page chapter one but I could not find the link to the entire report.  There are 10 good recommendations in the essay/Chapter 1.

 

13. China-Backed Infrastructure Bank Seeks to Win Over Countries With Western-Style Approach

WSJ · by Jonathan Cheng· July 30, 2020

Go figure. A western style approach works. But this is the buried lede: 'David Skidmore, a professor of political science at Drake University in Iowa, calls the AIIB “a quality institution,” though he says its small scale makes it akin to a boutique firm that is dwarfed by the trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which he says finances many more projects—of lower quality and with little transparency."  I also did not realize the AIIB now has 103 members.

 

14. FDD | Was Nixon Wrong About China?

fdd.org · by Thomas Joscelyn Senior Fellow and Senior Editor of FDD's Long War Journal · July 29, 2020

I am pretty sure the Secretary and everyone on the NSC staff have read Michael Pillsbury's book.

 

15. Panel: New Focus on China Fight Could Rob Marine Corps of Versatility

news.usni.org · by Mallory Shelbourne · July 30, 2020

 

16. Dirty tricks and the 2020 election: lessons from the KGB

CNN · by Donie O'Sullivan · July 30, 2020

What is old is new.  Just add social media and modern technology to the mix.

 

17. Study: US adults who mostly rely on social media for news are less informed, exposed to more conspiracies

TechCrunch · by Sarah Perez · July 30, 2020

What about the next generation(s) who are using social media almost exclusively? According to my daughter all her college peers only watch YouTube news channels and follow the news on social media. I have watched a couple with her and there are some interesting commentators out there.  But my daughter only watches CNN and Fox and ABC News Tonight. and C-Span etc.  when she is with me. Of course I make her read all the news I send out as well.  I do have to say when we sit down to dinner and we discuss the news she is already on top of most of the important national and international issues that have broken during the day. 

 

18. What the heck is ‘brushing’? The scam behind the China mystery seeds

Fortune · by Jeff John Roberts· July 30, 2020

I hope it is only "brushing."  But worry that it could be more.  I think brushing this threat off as "brushing" will breed complacency.  We need to be vigilant toward asymmetric and unconventional threats.

 

19. There is no new cold war, the West is just losing influence in Eurasia

SCMP · by Raffaello Pantucci· July 31, 2020

The reluctance to take sides is problematic.  No one is going to be able to sit out the next conflict whether it is political warfare, economic warfare, or warfare.

 

20. Pentagon Aims to Support More Sensitive Telework By Year's End

defenseone.com · by Mariam Baksh

This could be game changing for the work force.

 

21. 'Bay of Piglets': A 'bizarre' plot to capture a president

BBC · by Linda Pressly · July 30, 2020

Kudos to the headline editor.

 

22. FBI chief warns of China election interference

Axios · by Alayna Treene

I am more worried about China than Russia but we must prepare to defend against all threats.  This one thing should unite all Americans.  Don't eff with our elections, our democracy, and our way of life.  But of course our adversaries are exploiting our deep political divisions and the contempt we hold for the other side.

 

23. Hackers Broke Into Real News Sites to Plant Fake Stories

Wired · by Andy Greenberg

 

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"It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace."

- Aristotle

 

"The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world."

- Alexander von Humboldt

 

"Soldiers can sometimes make decisions that are smarter than the orders they've been given."

- Orson Scott Card

Categories: News