News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Duncan Moore.
1. China furious with global outcry over Xinjiang and Hong Kong
2. The man who speaks softly - and commands a big cyber army
3. Afghans stunned, worried by Trump tweet to bring home U.S. troops early
4. Time to be honest about Japan’s defense deficiency
5. India and U.S. have been too cautious on China, says U.S. official
6. A world of geopolitical opportunity
7. Threat from nuclear weapons and missiles has grown since Trump entered office
8. The nuclearization of American diplomacy
9. China warns Asian countries to be vigilant on U.S strategy
10. National Guard cyber experts working to protect Washington state's election security
11. Dalio says ‘time is on China’s side’ in power struggle with U.S.
12. Low, fast, networked & lethal: future Army airpower
13. China, Cambodia sign landmark FTA, marking stronger ties
14. Irregular warfare with China, Russia: ready or not, it's coming - if not already here
15. Great power competition and the role of America's air commandos
16. US Marines pivot approach to information warfare at commandant’s direction
17. Lorenzana says 2nd stage of PH military upgrade won’t be completed on time
18. Esper’s reforms: an interim report card
19. First survey of West Point cadets' attitudes about civil-military relations raises concerns
20. How hatred came to dominate American politics
21. US Army conducts first-of-its-kind exercise for tactical information warfare unit
22. Ex-Green Beret to be extradited to Japan as Japanese corporate criminals remain at large
23. Covid-19 reinfection casts doubt on virus immunity: study
24. Will the cultural revolution be canceled?
1. China furious with global outcry over Xinjiang and Hong Kong
Deutsche Welle · DW · October 8, 2020
If you do not want to be furious, the solution is simple: stop the human rights abuses and likely crimes against humanity (likely in Xinjiang).
2. The man who speaks softly - and commands a big cyber army
Wired · Garrett M. Graff · October 13, 2020
A long, fascinating read.
3. Afghans stunned, worried by Trump tweet to bring home U.S. troops early
Washington Post · Pamela Constable & Sharif Hassan · October 12, 2020
4. Time to be honest about Japan’s defense deficiency
Asia Times · Grant Newsham · October 12, 2020
5. India and U.S. have been too cautious on China, says U.S. official
Hindu · Suhasini Haidar · October 12, 2020
6. A world of geopolitical opportunity
Wall Street Journal · Walter Russell Mead · October 12, 2020
A positive current assessment with guidance to both Trump and Biden.
7. Threat from nuclear weapons and missiles has grown since Trump entered office
Washington Post · Paul Sonne · October 13, 2020
8. The nuclearization of American diplomacy
Nation · Michael T. Klare · October 13, 2020
It is a complex world.
9. China warns Asian countries to be vigilant on U.S strategy
Reuters · Mei Mei Chu & Liz Lee · October 13, 2020
So, China is taking a page from Sun Tzu: “What is of supreme importance is to attack the enemy's strategy."
10. National Guard cyber experts working to protect Washington state's election security
American Military News · Abbie Shull · October 12, 2020
11. Dalio says ‘time is on China’s side’ in power struggle with U.S.
Bloomberg · Hema Parmar · October 12, 2020
12. Low, fast, networked & lethal: future Army airpower
Breaking Defense · Sydney J. Freedberg, Jr · October 12, 2020
13. China, Cambodia sign landmark FTA, marking stronger ties
China Daily · Liu Zhihua · October 12, 2020
14. Irregular warfare with China, Russia: ready or not, it's coming - if not already here
Hill · Sean McFate · October 11, 2020
Important op-ed featuring my favorite T.E. Lawrence quote.
15. Great power competition and the role of America's air commandos
Sandboxx · Stavros Atlamazoglou · October 6, 2020
16. US Marines pivot approach to information warfare at commandant’s direction
Defense News · Mark Pomerleau · October 12, 2020
17. Lorenzana says 2nd stage of PH military upgrade won’t be completed on time
Inquirer · Frances Mangosing · October 12, 2020
18. Esper’s reforms: an interim report card
Defense One · Mackenzie Eaglen · October 12, 2020
19. First survey of West Point cadets' attitudes about civil-military relations raises concerns
Army Times · Davis Winkie · October 12, 2020
This requires a lot of reflection and analysis.
20. How hatred came to dominate American politics
Five Thirty Eight · Lee Drutman · October 5, 2020
21. US Army conducts first-of-its-kind exercise for tactical information warfare unit
Defense News · Mark Pomerleau · October 12, 2020
22. Ex-Green Beret to be extradited to Japan as Japanese corporate criminals remain at large
Connecting Vets · Jack Murphy · October 12, 2020
23. Covid-19 reinfection casts doubt on virus immunity: study
Barron's · Patrick Galey · October 12, 2020
Not good.
24. Will the cultural revolution be canceled?
City Journal · Joel Kotkin · October 11, 2020
Food for thought.
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."
- H.L. Mencken
"Naturally, the common people don't want war...but, after all it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship...Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."
- Herman Goering at Nuremberg trial in 1946
"Their credulity debased and vitiated the faculties of the mind: they corrupted the evidence of history; and superstition gradually extinguished the hostile light of philosophy and science."
- Edward Gibbon