United States Defense Thread

[OPSSG]

Biden’s Foreign Policy in Context — Part 2

9. President Joe Biden gave his first major foreign policy speech (full text) during a visit to the Department of State. According to Eileen Donahoe, there were three significant themes in President Biden’s speech at the Department of State.

“First, President Biden sent a stark warning to our autocratic adversaries, most notably Russia and China, that they can expect the U.S. to confront them more directly and impose consequences for activities that undermine U.S. interests, particularly “grey zone” type activities that have escaped penalties in the past.​

Second, he made the point that diplomacy is a primary vehicle for advancing U.S. interest and that his administration will invest significant resources in the international diplomatic realm, especially to address transnational challenges like pandemics and climate change.​

Third, the president closed the speech with a subtle theme about the importance of American leadership on the world stage, not just to advance U.S. interests but to advance the interests of the democratic world. In effect, the president signaled that he will not retreat from the belief that the exercise of U.S. leadership contributes to global progress and good in the world.​

This was perhaps the most significant point. President Biden knows he faces a delicate task of balancing a sense of humility with a sense of urgency, when it comes to restoring U.S. leadership around the world.”

10. The Trump administration not only ceded U.S. leadership role on democracy and human rights — it contributed to the erosion of these core values domestically and abroad. In the aftermath of the 6 Jan 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol, foreign adversaries were quick to comment on the need for the U.S. to focus domestically before criticizing others. As I see it, the media should be critical of Biden’s policies that policy experts don’t think will work (by using facts to prove a point of view) but we should not be useful idiots for the CCP to sow unnecessary discord.

11. The spectacle of an insurrection provided an easy opportunity for Russia and China to suggest that the U.S. should cancel plans to host a Summit on Democracy. President Biden recognizes that domestic and foreign leadership are intricately intertwined. In this speech, however, he signaled that he has no intention of retreating from global leadership on democracy and human rights, even as we have lots of work to do at home.” Biden noted, however, that there are certain areas, such as in trade and nuclear proliferation, where the U.S. can and should work with its adversaries.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1357389717378134016

12. In his speech, Biden named Tim Lenderking, a veteran career diplomat, as a new U.S. envoy for Yemen, a nod to the need for better diplomacy there. But while he committed to ending support for “offensive operations in Yemen,” few details were given on what exactly that will mean in practice. President Biden also said the U.S. would continue to help Saudi Arabia “defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” I also note that neither Biden nor Blinken appear to have spoken to their Saudi counterparts since taking office, at least from public readouts.

 

[OPSSG]

Biden’s Foreign Policy in Context — Part 3

13. The big stick that Secretary Lloyd Austin carries is no longer CVN 76 (the US Navy’s forward deployed aircraft carrier) or LHAs/LPDs loaded with US Marines from III MEF, important as they are. Without the MQ-25 Stingray refueling UAS, and the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative to give back to US Navy super carriers superior strike range, a new generation of US Navy destroyers to replace the Arleigh Burke, and the 12 upcoming Columbia-class submarines (first patrol in 2031), the US Navy is constrained in its ability to conduct distributed operations for its surface action groups. Rather, the big stick is found in fresh ideas to counter enemy plans. Fresh ideas also include DARPA’s LongShot program, which is developing an air-launched UAV with the ability to employ multiple air-to-air weapons. It is envisioned that LongShot will increase the survivability of manned platforms by allowing them to be at standoff ranges far away from enemy threats, while an air-launched LongShot UAV efficiently closes the gap to take more effective missile shots.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1357701472910254081

14. In Sep 2020, Dr. Will Roper, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, announced that the USAF had secretly designed, and flown a full-scale prototype of a new generation fighter aircraft, as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. Other fresh ideas from the Air Force, include those from Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach’s Pacific Air Forces (which includes the 5th and 7th Air Forces) and Gen. Mark Kelly’s Air Combat Command (ACC) that is building capability for multidomain operations; including the ACC’s assumption of cyber responsibilities and the integration of the necessary capabilities to create both the nonkinetic effects and the traditional tool set of kinetic weapons and airpower.

(a) Gen. James Dickinson, SPACECOM commander elaborated during his conversation with Mitchell Institute Dean Dave Deptula that SPACECOM now has three primary missions: “One, our enduring, no-fail mission to enable warfighting operations in other domains. Two, our future mission as global SATCOM manager and global sensor manager. And three, our current new mission set compelling us to fight and win in the space domain in order to protect and defend our interests there. Previously, the old US Air Force Space Command (which is now a command in the U.S. Space Force, with its US$15.5 billion annual budget)—held the responsibility for the service’s Cyber Mission — this capability for cyber, ISR and weather is NOW found in a reactivated Numbered Air Force (NAF), of which the 16th Air Force is the latest reactivation.​

(b) ACC has also started to combine parts of the 9th and the 12th Air Forces under the hat of the 15th Air Force — to face the enemy (playing a similar role as the 7th Fleet as first to fight for the US Navy). Supported by cyber, ISR and weather capabilities of the 16th Air Force, the 15th Air Force (that commands fighter wings that include F-22s, F-35As, F-15Es, and ISR assets like the MQ-9A Reapers, RQ-170A Sentinels and E-3G Sentry), has become more capable. Since Oct 2009, RQ-170A Sentinels have been deployed to Kunsan Air Base in South Korea through elements of secretive 30th Reconnaissance Squadron of the US Air Force.​

​

(c) The USAF procured four EC-37Bs in FY2018, FY2019, and FY2020 (the 4th costs $114.1 million) — to replace the 14 strong EC-130H Compass Call fleet. The USAF plans call for procuring 6 more G550s (at the rate of one EC-37B per year for conversion) until the planned total of 10 is reached; with EC-37Bs scheduled to achieve IOC in 2023. L3 Technologies, is the prime contractor for the EC-37B. The EC-37B is based on the external mold-line of IAI’s G550 CAEW aircraft, that is in service with the US Navy, and the air forces in Israel, Italy and Singapore.​

​

(d) Moving Compass Call onto this sort of platform follows the U.S. Navy’s plan to replace its old NP-3D “Billboard” aircraft with two G550 special mission aircraft (aka the NC-37B). A plane such as the G550 CAEW, especially if it is already in U.S. military service in other roles, would be an obvious option for any “next-generation” USSOCOM airborne intelligence platform. The US Air Force Special Operations Command’s existing use of civilian-style aircraft for discreet operations could make a business jet type even more attractive.​

​

(e) While the USAF’s Compass Call EC-37Bs are used in a more defensive manner after their IOC in 2023, the Israeli CAEW and Italian JAMMS (aka Joint Airborne Multi-sensor Multi-mission System) are intended to perform a strike leader role for certain types of strike missions; which explains the need for programmable chaff & flares countermeasures, as part of customer requirements.​

​

(f) The Italian JAMMS programme will be structured in more tranches — as part of the Italian Defense Policy Document for 2020-2022. The first one, worth 1.2B Euro, covers the acquisition of the first two JAMMS G550 and six “green” airframes that can be converted at a later stage to either JAMMS or CAEW configurations, together with logistic and infrastructural support​

15. Fresh AI and big data ideas from Gen. Richard D. Clarke of USSOCOM on decision centric warfare, who said: “No longer can we just build counter-VEO* capabilities that serve a single purpose. As we look at the precision, lethality and mobility requirements as examples, we absolutely have to develop them so they can compete and win with Russia and China, but they could also work in a counter VEO fight,” and USSOCOM’s top priority is next generation intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability. That means sustainable ISR technology that “can provide the capability in both Great Power Competition and working for our SOF teams in remote, austere, short take-off-and land battlefields,” he said. Another priority is next-generation mobility and next-generation effects like the Hyper-Enabled Operator concept, which grew out of the TALOS (Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit) program, nicknamed the “Iron Man Suit.”

*VEO = violent extremist organizations

16. Fresh ideas from the US Marines like EABO, and NMESIS.

(a) The new US Marine littoral regiment is stood up to counter Beijing’s militarisation of its South China Sea islands (where it has built air bases), with a focus on rapid deployability, fire power and a measure of self-contained capability. Additional US Marine Littoral Regiments may be based in Japan and Guam, but the first Hawaii-based unit is expected to have 1,800 to 2,000 US Marines carved out mainly from units already there, including one of three infantry battalions at Kaneohe Bay, according to Maj. Joshua Benson.​

(b) Under this concept, the US Marine Corps will use expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO) to distribute highly mobile Marines across Pacific islands and arm them with advanced missiles that can aid the US Navy by sinking ships in contested choke points. “The Marine Corps is at an inflection point, and we must change,” said Commandant Gen. David Berger. “In a way, it’s a counter to China putting bases in the South China Sea”. “We may not have enough ships to cover the ground, but we have enough firepower and a concept to cover that ocean.”​

(c) The 3 year setup plan for the Littoral Regiment foresees the use of the Navy Marine expeditionary ship interdiction system (NMESIS), with Naval Strike Missiles using joint light tactical vehicles, and unmanned vehicles to conduct A2AD against the PLA(N).​

17. In multiple calls and statements, Biden and his top security officials have underscored support for allies Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, signalling Washington's rejection of China's disputed territorial claims in those areas. The PLA flew about 380 sorties into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in 2020, a defense ministry statement said. Taiwan’s ADIZ is being tested almost on a daily basis with as many as 15 Chinese aircraft in a single day. As China's military power tilts the military balance in the Taiwan Strait toward Beijing, analysts say the near-normalization of the Chinese military’s constant threats are aimed at subduing Taipei through exhaustion.

(a) When Lloyd Austin spoke with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi on 23 Jan 2021, he “affirmed that the Senkaku islands are covered by Article V of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, and that the United States remains opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea.” If even Japanese need American reassurance with their powerful JMSDF, what more Indonesia.​

 

[OPSSG]

Biden’s Foreign Policy in Context — Part 4

(b) Former senior State Department official Kurt Campbell will join the Biden administration with the title of "Indo-Pacific coordinator," a job that will give him broad management over the NSC directorates that cover various parts of Asia and China-related issues. Campbell will report directly to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan. The Biden NSC will have several of these "coordinators," who will have more authority than the "senior directors" below them, according to the newspaper. Reporting to Campbell is Laura Rosenberger, as the senior director for Indo-Pacific policy at the NSC. Reporting to Rosenberger is Rush Doshi, as director at the NSC.​

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(c) These appointments, moves and statements at the State Department, NSC, and DoD levels, are calculated to reassure nervous Asian allies that the Biden administration is taking the China challenge seriously, according to The Washington Post. There is no lack of talent or breath of bench strength in Biden’s State, NSC or DoD. “Taiwan is also quite partisan and divided. Yet there has been an ability for people to come together to deal with the threat to their health even as they continue to disagree on other issues,” Bonnie Glaser explained in a CSIS published a report that highlights Taiwan's experience dealing with disinformation campaigns from China. “That’s where I think maybe there are some lessons for the U.S."​

18. USAF video on the need for disruptive agility that is worth watching — modernizing the DoD by understanding the US tech ecology. “The China fight is not going anywhere. It was there when I started in the Obama administration, it is here as I work in the Department of the Air Force, and it will be here in the future,” Dr Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics said, “I fear them and I don't think that fear is properly shared yet in the Pentagon. I don't think there is true cognizance and realization that we can lose — and that on paper, we're likely to lose,” he continued. “The scale factors are against us in terms of GDP and population and STEM talent, every single factor is against. And the only way to win against the Goliath of that scale, is to have greater agility.”

19. The 2018 National Military Strategy specifically makes mention of great-power competition three times. In fact, there has been a recent flurry of analysis about the nexus of great-power competition and the COVID-19 pandemic—a sign of the remarkable extent to which the concept is linked to virtually every aspect of defense, strategy, and security. While the 2018 strategy called for investing in alliances, the Trump administration failed to implement this aspect and adjust as the pandemic changed international relations. Despite trying to set up U.S. defense strategy for global competition, the 2018 plan struggled — Washington under Biden needs to find ways to educate and discuss Beijing’s policies with an American audience while also not undermining its diplomatic agenda with Australia, Japan, Korea, ASEAN and Taiwan. Loosely using “Cold War” with China doesn’t meet that objective. Two other things went wrong: the Trump administration and the pandemic. President Trump and his national security team did not implement the strategy in a way that put allies and partners front and center as the plan originally intended.

20. The American military is 1of 4 stakeholders, in that it must train to fight with a clear understanding of the strategic environment. The disarray caused by the failure to explicitly conceptualize great-power competition is most clearly evident here. In this respect, the 5th and 7th Air Forces, Eighth U.S. Army, 7th Fleet’s and III MEF’s current operational plans (OPLAN) are not just static planning documents, they are also supported by the USAF, US Army, the US Navy and US Marines at HQ, trying to bring to fruition doctrine, tools, and new equipment they need to fight and win in the Pacific.

21. The defense industry is the 2nd of 4 stakeholders. Looking beyond current contracts, where should it focus its long-term research and development investments, beyond just programs like the NGAD, the B-21, FVL, TALOS, hypersonic missiles and NMESIS?

23. The 3rd of 4 stakeholders include elements of the diplomatic arm of the US and they also need a clear idea of the environment they are supposed to be shaping. In this respect, Joe Biden’s first major foreign policy speech lays the foundation stone and road map for the next 4 years.

24. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Jake Sullivan at the NSC must effectively inform Kamala Harris (as holder of the tie break in the Senate) and Congress (which is firmly in the hands of the Democrats) for the law makers to have a clear idea of how the US expects to adopt any national-security posture in order to effectively legislate. Each of these four groups naturally looks at the world through a different lens, which means that—without a single definition—they will inevitably develop different, and possibly competing, interpretations of great-power competition, with consequent effects for US national security and foreign policy.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

The formation of a ‘China Task Force’ within the US Department of Defense (DoD) to provide “a baseline assessment of department policies, programmes, and processes in regard to the challenge China poses”, was announced on 10 February.

It is clearly a sign that Biden takes China seriously.

Biden announces creation of Pentagon task force on China

US President Joe Biden announced on 10 February the formation of a ‘China Task Force’ within the US Department of Defense (DoD) to provide “a baseline assessment of...

www.google.com.sg

 

[John Fedup]

This is a poor decision by Biden’s administration and certainly won’t do much to generate GOP support for his foreign policy wrt China (although I admit GOP support on anything is unlikely anyway).

How Biden is allowing Chinese govt. to quietly creep onto U.S. college campuses

The Department of Homeland Security has dropped plans for a federal rule that would have required American schools and universities to disclose agreements with Chinese government-funded Confucius Institutes on their campuses.

m.washingtontimes.com

 

[Musashi_kenshin]

This is a poor decision by Biden’s administration

It depends who you believe. The first part of the article is Republicans criticising the Democrats. It then follows on with the State Department saying the GOP are being misleading.

A State Department official told Inside the Ring Wednesday the reports that the Biden administration had pulled the draft rule were misleading. The Office of Management and Budget under Mr. Trump failed to complete a review of the rule prior to Jan. 20, the official said, leaving it “stuck in OMB’s interagency review on Inauguration Day.”

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain ordered a freeze of all regulatory processes that day, automatically resulting in the withdrawal of rule targeting the Confucius Institutes.

“The Biden administration will treat Confucius Institutes as part of our overall approach of how best to respond to China’s use of information operations and other coercive and corrupting efforts to undermine and interfere in democracies,” the official said.

I would say wait and see. Trump-boosters were saying Biden would be immediately rolling back all of the policies brought in to check China, would be cancelling trade restrictions on day 1, etc. However, so far Biden has been following through on his promise to continue to bolster Pacific regional security. He's made a few postive gestures towards Taiwan, including ensuring its de-facto ambassador was properly invited to his inauguration, something that I don't think even Trump did despite his telephone call with Tsai. Biden's made it clear there won't be any rush to roll back changes made by Trump including on trade with China and the relaxation of official visits and communications with Taiwanese officials. Things may change but we shouldn't assume anything.

We haven't even hit 100 days. Give the man time to set out his shop.

 

[John Fedup]

It depends who you believe. The first part of the article is Republicans criticising the Democrats. It then follows on with the State Department saying the GOP are being misleading.

A State Department official told Inside the Ring Wednesday the reports that the Biden administration had pulled the draft rule were misleading. The Office of Management and Budget under Mr. Trump failed to complete a review of the rule prior to Jan. 20, the official said, leaving it “stuck in OMB’s interagency review on Inauguration Day.”

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain ordered a freeze of all regulatory processes that day, automatically resulting in the withdrawal of rule targeting the Confucius Institutes.

“The Biden administration will treat Confucius Institutes as part of our overall approach of how best to respond to China’s use of information operations and other coercive and corrupting efforts to undermine and interfere in democracies,” the official said.

I would say wait and see. Trump-boosters were saying Biden would be immediately rolling back all of the policies brought in to check China, would be cancelling trade restrictions on day 1, etc. However, so far Biden has been following through on his promise to continue to bolster Pacific regional security. He's made a few postive gestures towards Taiwan, including ensuring its de-facto ambassador was properly invited to his inauguration, something that I don't think even Trump did despite his telephone call with Tsai. Biden's made it clear there won't be any rush to roll back changes made by Trump including on trade with China and the relaxation of official visits and communications with Taiwanese officials. Things may change but we shouldn't assume anything.

We haven't even hit 100 days. Give the man time to set out his shop.

Fair enough, although the first 100 days is likely to be consumed with COVID. Another distraction for the Biden administration are the possible serious criminal charges against Trump (unrelated to the current impeachment )that may be forthcoming which will certainly add to government paralysis. I am willing to bet many of former the Democratic primary contenders are somewhat relieved they don't have to deal with the aftermath of Trump.

 

[OPSSG]

Biden’s Foreign Policy in Context — Part 5

It depends who you believe. The first part of the article is Republicans criticising the Democrats. It then follows on with the State Department saying the GOP are being misleading.

....We haven't even hit 100 days. Give the man time to set out his shop.

25. Let me add to the post by Sandhi Yudha and your post to keep things factual about President Biden’s plans. In this case, Biden announced the establishment of a China task force to prepare a report within 4 months (or 120 days), during his first presidential visit to the Pentagon on 10 Feb 2021 (Wed), signaling his intent to make countering Beijing’s rise a top priority for the military. Biden gave a speech and also made an announcement at the Pentagon alongside VP Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The move underscored the message that the administration is prepared to counter China on the military front. "It'll require a whole-of-government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships," Biden said.

26. Ely Ratner, a longtime Biden aide and Asia expert who Austin tapped as his special adviser on China matters, will lead a China task force of up to 15 members in a “sprint” effort dedicated to reviewing Pentagon policy on Beijing, according to the Defense Department. The task force will provide Austin and Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks its final findings and recommendations in the next four months. It will focus on strategy, operational concepts, technology and force structures, intelligence, strengthening alliances and partnerships in the region, and defense relations with China.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1360416860227870720

27. As Dr. Ratner said:

​

“...the intent here is not to produce a lengthy public report, but rather, to provide the secretary with a briefing and -- and memo proposing and recommending, as I said, specific top priorities. So that's the goal here. We will be consulting with Congress...​

I've... been working on China a long time, I led a major study in my last job at the Center for a New American Security. It was a congressionally-mandated study out of the 2019 NDAA on China. I understand very clearly the problem – China's a matrix problem because it cuts into almost every single functional issue and, frankly, increasingly every geographic issue that we -- that we deal with.”​

​

28. State Department spokesman Ned Price also warned China about menacing Taiwan after it repeatedly sent more than a dozen military fighters and bombers through the island's air defense zone. "We will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity security and values in the Indo-Pacific region - and that includes deepening our ties with Democratic Taiwan," Price said in a statement.

29. During calls with counterparts in Vietnam and the Philippines, new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made clear the US was not backing off its rejection of excessive Chinese claims of maritime rights and that the US was committed to maintaining a rules-based order in the South China Sea. Blinken said the US rejected China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea “to the extent they exceed the maritime zones that China is permitted to claim under international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention,” according to a statement from State spokesman Ned Price. It also made clear the U.S. would defend against attacks on Philippines military or government assets. “Secretary Blinken stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea,” in a State Department statement reads.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1360438875307397130

30. In the Q&A that followed, the DoD China Task force announcement, these are some extracts:

​

“Q: I mean, should we all on the -- in the media think that a review equates to changes in policy? Or is a review just that? The fact that you're doing these reviews, that you're actually going to change anything?​

MR. KIRBY: By definition, this is a chance to get smarter. And it may or may not involve actual policy changes. A review is just that. And I would -- you know, I'd caution everybody from -- from, you know, trying to anticipate or predict likely changes in force structure or resourcing, strategy, operational concepts, capabilities, until the reviews are complete.​

So I would not -- I understand the -- the anticipation on your part is that there'll be some changes as a result, and I suspect that in any of the reviews that he's doing, there may in fact be policy changes. But I -- again, I don't want to get ahead of his decision space and the kind of advice and counsel that he's going to be getting from all these activities.​

​

...​

​

Q: I guess I'm just trying to understand what that means exactly, that you're trying to figure out whether your best positioned to -- whether DOD is best organized to address these problems. Like what changes could there be?​

DR. RATNER: I'm not going to pre -- again, I'm not -- and I'm being completely straight, I'm not going to pre-judge the findings. What -- what is clear is that this issue of technology competition is of increasing importance in the U.S.-China relationship. It's a huge priority for the administration, they've made that clear. There's a new technology directorate inside the NSC.​

And many of the issues related to technology have to do with defense and security issues, and we have to make sure that DOD is adequately organized to be able to answer the kind of questions that the interagency is asking, and also as it relates to both innovation and supply chain and technology protection issues.​

So this is, in -- in some ways, a -- it's illustrative, insofar as it's, in some ways, a -- a new issue set in parts of its dimensions and we kind of make sure that we're organized to address it.​

​

...​

​

MR. KIRBY: One more for Dr. Ratner. Go ahead, Jim.​

Q: Sir, the military-to-military contacts in the Indo-Pacific are -- are key to a lot of these things. Will your task force be looking at the current state of military-to-military contacts and then perhaps suggesting areas where they could be improved or enhanced or -- or new countries that should be approached? Is that the sort of thing you're looking at?​

DR. RATNER: Absolutely, I think both in the context of how are we approaching our alliances and partnerships but also how are we approaching our defense relations with China? Absolutely, we'll be looking at both of those.”​

 

[ngatimozart]

In July of 2019 a flotilla of USN destroyers was swarmed by unidentified RPAS off the coast of California near a restricted exercise area. AFAIK they still haven't been identified.

Multiple Destroyers Were Swarmed By Mysterious 'Drones' Off California Over Numerous Nights

The disturbing series of events during the summer of 2019 resulted in an investigation that made its way to the highest echelons of the Navy.

www.thedrive.com

The Pentagon has admitted that UFOs are real but they are not saying who or what they think that they belong too. The guys over at the War Zone reckon that the Pentagon are hiding behind the UFO sightings ignoring the probabilities that these UFOs are foreign RPAS obtaining intelligence on US military systems such as radars etc. It is something definitely worth considering.

Adversary Drones Are Spying On The U.S. And The Pentagon Acts Like They're UFOs

The U.S. military seems aloof to the fact that it's being toyed with by a terrestrial adversary and key capabilities may be compromised as a result.

www.thedrive.com

 

[John Fedup]

Apparently up to 50% of military staff may continue to work from home. This will likely be the case with the private sector as well.

US Air Force, Navy Extend 50% Work-From-Home Indefinitely

New memos suggest office space occupancy may never return to 100 percent.

www.defenseone.com

 

[ngatimozart]

The US military have a tad large and somewhat embarrassing problem. They don't know how many small arms including machine guns they own or where they are located. More importantly they are unable to ascertain how many have been, misplaced, lost or stolen. So to save embarrassment the individual services and the Pentagon tend to fudge knowledge of the losses.

Now one would think that firearms would be held under strict control and there would be inventory checks very regularly with independent checks to ensure that the standing orders are being adhered too. But apparently not, and that points to a certain carelessness and lack of discipline that is not flattering to the professionalism of the forces. If it was just one or two units, it could be explained away and rectified, but across the four largest of the six services is not good and points to something fundamentally wrong with the culture within those services.

US military guns keep vanishing, some used in street crimes

An Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, with some resurfacing in violent crimes.

www.militarytimes.com

 

[John Fedup]

The US military have a tad large and somewhat embarrassing problem. They don't know how many small arms including machine guns they own or where they are located. More importantly they are unable to ascertain how many have been, misplaced, lost or stolen. So to save embarrassment the individual services and the Pentagon tend to fudge knowledge of the losses.

Now one would think that firearms would be held under strict control and there would be inventory checks very regularly with independent checks to ensure that the standing orders are being adhered too. But apparently not, and that points to a certain carelessness and lack of discipline that is not flattering to the professionalism of the forces. If it was just one or two units, it could be explained away and rectified, but across the four largest of the six services is not good and points to something fundamentally wrong with the culture within those services.

US military guns keep vanishing, some used in street crimes

An Associated Press investigation has found that at least 1,900 U.S. military firearms were lost or stolen during the 2010s, with some resurfacing in violent crimes.

www.militarytimes.com

Just was about to post on this story. Two thousand weapons over 9-10 years, probably way better than missing guns in the civilian world albeit 74 MGs and 100 grenade/rocket launchers is rather concerning. Likely sold to Mexican drug cartels.

 

[John Fedup]

Posting this here as there is no clue (that I see) as to which service this project was intended for. Perhaps this is a new critical eye on LM due to F-35 software C-Fs.

Lockheed Loses $225M on Secret Project, Lowers F-35 Production Forecast

Company will press ahead on aeronautics project in hopes of turning it into a profitable production program.

www.defenseone.com

 

[Ananda]

EXCLUSIVE-Biden plans shift in arms policy to add weight to human rights concerns

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration is preparing an overhaul of arms export policy to increase the emphasis on human rights, a departure from former President Donald Trump's prioritization of economic benefits to U.S. defense contractors, four people familiar with the initiative said.

www.reuters.com

Put it in here, as this thread for US Defense Geopolitical topics. I'm not going to talk on US politics, as this's for me already predicted after Biden wins. Democrats always have more emphasis on 'human rights' approach on defense compared to Republican on 'american share value' approach. For whatever both approach means, basically it drives by each 'Liberal/Progressive' constituents in one side and 'Conservative/American Value' on the other side.

I'm more inclined to see how the 'middle ground' or what some US analysts call the 'silent majority' will find balance on this. How they're going to find balance in Middle East for example with Israel, UAE, and Saudi. Between hard left interest that increasingly call them enemy of human rights with hard right interest that call them valuable/unreplaceable allies for American Interest and value in the region.

This will be interesting too watch.

 

[OPSSG]

Between hard left interest that increasingly call them enemy of human rights with hard right interest that call them valuable/unreplaceable allies for American Interest and value in the region.

This will be interesting too watch.

Adults are in-charge of the DoD and US State Department. They will limit the self-harm the Progressives try to inflict on American interests but that being said — this is a great time to be a IRCG Commander — as Hossein Salami said: “We will fight them on the global level, not just in one spot. Our war is not a local war. We have plans to defeat the world powers.”

 

[Ananda]

as Hossein Salami said: “We will fight them on the global level, not just in one spot. Our war is not a local war. We have plans to defeat the world powers.”

That's why I like to see how they are going to act to Israel, UAE and Saudi. Three US allies that the progressive keen to break down based on their human rights agenda. The progressive have similar importance for Democrats as Conservative to GOP.

With Iran seems feel vindictive on their path, thus those three are allies that US can not afford to lose in US containment move with Iran. US are working hard to create some kind of cohesive path for those three. I'm not surprised because of that, the hard/far left 'progressive' want to concentrate their agenda against them.

For me, the Far Left has same destructive power as the Far Right on bending US 'friends' away from US Interest. Similar thing as what Xi doing actually contradictive for long term China International standing. US friends always hope that the adult (middle ground) will prevail against those hard line progressive and conservative tug of war. That's why for me, it's interesting how this going to develop.

Just hope Biden maintain his health, it will be same disaster level as Trump, if his Vice President take over.

 

[Todjaeger]

That's why I like to see how they are going to act to Israel, UAE and Saudi. Three US allies that the progressive keen to break down based on their human rights agenda. The progressive have similar importance for Democrats as Conservative to GOP.

With Iran seems feel vindictive on their path, thus those three are allies that US can not afford to lose in US containment move with Iran. US are working hard to create some kind of cohesive path for those three. I'm not surprised because of that, the hard/far left 'progressive' want to concentrate their agenda against them.

For me, the Far Left has same destructive power as the Far Right on bending US 'friends' away from US Interest. Similar thing as what Xi doing actually contradictive for long term China International standing. US friends always hope that the adult (middle ground) will prevail against those hard line progressive and conservative tug of war. That's why for me, it's interesting how this going to develop.

Just hope Biden maintain his health, it will be same disaster level as Trump, if his Vice President take over.

I would caution against reading too much into some things. While DT is not really the appropriate forum for some of what is going on, as much of it involves socio-political issues internationally, as well as within the US and between the US and specific countries, I would disagree about some of the reasoning behind certain policy and perception changes following a change in the sitting US gov't. Some of it I suspect has to do with a reassessment on the part of various US policy makers and policy advisors regarding the question of, "what is really in the best interests of the US?" There are of course other reasons as well, but these are again mostly socio-political in nature (though elements of religion do creep in as well) and not really appropriate for DT.

 

[ngatimozart]

It maybe that the US is returning to pre-Trumpian arms sales settings. It was always two faced with its "human rights" etc., claims WRT arms sales, just as the UK and other countries. There is always the political dimension and politics always supersedes any moral scruples that pollies mayclaim to have. You have to remember to that the US despite whatever it claims, is first and foremost a mercantilist nation where trade and business are the top priority, above all else. Very much a modern day Venice.

 

[John Fedup]

After the Afghanistan exit debacle this FP article suggests several doable steps to help shore up confidence in US commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. This should be done ASAP.

After the Debacle: Six Concrete Steps to Restore U.S. Credibility

Each has bipartisan support and could be taken in short order.

foreignpolicy.com

 

[ngatimozart]

After the Afghanistan exit debacle this FP article suggests several doable steps to help shore up confidence in US commitment to the Asia-Pacific region. This should be done ASAP.

After the Debacle: Six Concrete Steps to Restore U.S. Credibility

Each has bipartisan support and could be taken in short order.

foreignpolicy.com

It will take more than that because of the way that the US has handled the withdrawal and treated its allies and partners in the process. Even the way that they are treating nationals other than their own at Kabaul Airport, if the German report in the Afghanistan thread is correct. There was an item on the TV news here last night about US military turning away US citizens at Kabaul Airport who had US embassy certification and US passports. So what gives?

This is an interesting read from The Atlantic andthought provoking. I don't know whether I agree with it or not because I really need time to think about it. It can be difficult to get into the American pysche sometimes and to see assess a topic through their lens.

Afghanistan Is Your Fault

The American public now has what it wanted.

www.theatlantic.com