News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Duncan Moore.
1. Communist China and the free world’s future
2. An army transformed: USINDOPACOM hyper-competition and US Army theater design
3. Memes, the pandemic and the new tactics of information warfare
4. Social media braces for a deluge of voter misinformation
5. Stamps and spies: the CIA’s involvement in postage design
6. US and Australia set to launch campaign to counter disinformation
7. Aegis Ashore and Japan's constitutional debate
8. Chinese dream: Xi’s attempted coup against Pakistan
9. Huge Pacific exercise centered on Guam brings allies together amid growing China threat
10. Trump bypasses arms control pact to sell more large armed drones
11. No, the Air Force's shadowy surveillance test plane wasn't spying on Portland protesters
12. Was China’s Houston consulate trying to steal the coronavirus vaccine?
13. The two China fires: is America prepared for a cold war with China?
14. America is losing its ‘apple pie’
15. Is it time to defund the Department of Homeland Security?
16. To fight coronavirus disinformation, health care professionals must speak out | Expert Opinion
17. Australia says China's South China Sea claims are unlawful
18. The tale of four cities battling the virus
19. Biden declares asymmetric warfare on election meddling
1. Communist China and the free world’s future
US Department of State · by Michael R. Pompeo · July 23, 2020
Rather than make the world safe for democracy, we need to make existing democracies safe. I know it is controversial, but I think we need to focus on building something like an "Alliance of Democracies" that will provide for collective defense against the revisionist and rogue powers as well as the violent extremist organizations that will continue to threaten freedom loving countries.
2. An Army transformed: USINDOPACOM hyper-competition and US Army theater design
US Army War College (SSI) · by Nate Freier et al.
Nate Freier has done a tremendous job leading student research into important Army and national security problems. This is another important project and report (the 122 page report can be downloaded at the link above).
3. Memes, the pandemic and the new tactics of information warfare
Defense News · by Mark Pomerleau · July 23, 2020
I wonder if memes have become the primary tool for disinformation. They are funny, pithy, easy to produce, attention getting, and easy to retransmit. And the producers can easily monitor their spread among target audiences.
4. Social media braces for a deluge of voter misinformation
Bloomberg · by Naomi Nix · July 24, 2020
We all need to brace for this. Now more than ever all Americans need to heed these words in our National Security Strategy :
"A democracy is only as resilient as its people. An informed and engaged citizenry is the fundamental requirement for a free and resilient nation. For generations, our society has protected free press, free speech, and free thought. Today, actors such as Russia are using information tools in an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of democracies. Adversaries target media, political processes, financial networks, and personal data. The American public and private sectors must recognize this and work together to defend our way of life. No external threat can be allowed to shake our shared commitment to our values, undermine our system of government, or divide our Nation."
5. Stamps and spies: the CIA’s involvement in postage design
War on the Rocks · by Matin Modarressi · July 21, 2020
Some interesting history. Information and influence activities take many forms.
6. US and Australia set to launch campaign to counter disinformation
Sydney Morning Herald · by Anthony Galloway & Eryk Bagshaw · July 24, 2020
This is good. But we need the entire "alliance of democracies" to take collective action on this.
7. Aegis Ashore and Japan's constitutional debate
East Asia Forum · by Tom Corben · July 25, 2020
I think the constitutional debate is more important than the Aegis ashore cancelation.
8. Chinese Dream: Xi’s attempted coup against Pakistan
Asia Times · by Ali Salman Andani · July 25, 2020
Sounds like an application of elements of China's three warfares in support of its political warfare strategy.
9. Huge Pacific exercise centered on Guam brings allies together amid growing China threat
The Drive · by Jamie Hunter · July 24, 2020
Good work from 3 members of what should be the "alliance of democracies."
10. Trump bypasses arms control pact to sell more large armed drones
The Hill · by Ellen Mitchell · July 24, 2020
11. No, the Air Force's shadowy surveillance test plane wasn't spying on Portland protesters
The Drive · by Joseph Trevithick · July 24, 2020
It is amazing what can be found on open source aviation tracking services and other open source reporting.
My thought is what military training may have been taking place in these areas that this aircraft might have been supporting? Was the aircraft supporting some unannounced training exercise?
12. Was China’s Houston consulate trying to steal the coronavirus vaccine?
Foreign Policy · by Jack Detsch & Amy Mackinnon · July 24, 2020
Again, Chinese R&D = steal to leap ahead.
13. The Two China Fires: is America prepared for a cold war with China?
New York Times · by Bret Stephens · July 24, 2020
I will take a cold war over a hot war. But we need to execute our own political warfare strategy to effectively compete in the cold war and prevent a hot war.
14. America is losing its ‘apple pie’
Asia Times · by Michael MacDonald · July 23, 2020
One of many critiques.
15. Is it time to defund the Department of Homeland Security?
New Yorker · by Jonathan Blitzer · July 24, 2020
I think DHS will come under increasing scrutiny and Congress may come under pressure to disband it. After all, Congress created it. There are many questions that need to be evaluated to determine if DHS is worth the cost and the political challenges it creates.
16. To fight coronavirus disinformation, health care professionals must speak out | Expert Opinion
Philadelphia Inquirer · by Jeffrey. C. Lerner · July 17, 2020
And we need to re-establish our faith in science and scientists and public health professionals. But we also have to realize that, in an uncertain environment, the science will be revealed over time, knowledge will expand, and original assessments and diagnoses may have to evolve. Political leaders have to shoulder the responsibility to make decisions, but they (and the American people) are wise to trust the counsel of the professionals.
17. Australia says China's South China Sea claims are unlawful
Reuters · by Melanie Burton & Robert Birsel · July 25, 2020
A bold move by Australia. It seems to be playing an aggressive role in the great power competition with China.
18. The tale of four cities battling the virus
Asia Times · by Jeff Pao · July 24, 2020
We should be studying the pros and cons of the various approaches and learning from them.
19. Biden Declares Asymmetric Warfare on Election Meddling
Bloomberg · by Hal Brands · July 23, 2020
I am not sending this out for any partisan message. I am sending it because of Hal Brand's assessment and discussion of asymmetric warfare in the context of the election.
"To be born free is an accident. To live free is a privilege. To die free is a responsibility."
- Brig. General James Sehorn
"Heart is that by which the general masters. Now order and confusion, bravery and cowardice, are qualities dominated by the heart. Therefore the expert at controlling the enemy frustrates him and then moves against him. He aggravates him to confuse him and harasses him to make him fearful. He thus robs the enemy of his heart and his ability to plan."
- Chang Yu, 1000
"Cold Wars cannot be conducted by hotheads. Nor can ideological conflicts be won as crusades or concluded by unconditional surrender."
- Walter Lippmann: The Russian-American War 1949