Joel C. S.

Elizabeth Hoffman, writing for Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), outlines how the U.S. defense industrial base is benefiting from continued support to Ukraine. "Of the $113 billion appropriated by Congress to date related to the conflict in Ukraine, as much as $68 billion is destined to be invested here at home. U.S. support for Ukraine thus offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to sustain a demand signal to address long-standing weaknesses in U.S. DIB systems generally and ordnance and missile production specifically." #defenseindustry #freedomsforge  https://lnkd.in/e3TRQYvG

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This week’s edition of the Big Five is now available, covering the war in #Ukraine, confrontation in the Pacific and five great new reads on military and national security affairs. https://lnkd.in/gghPTAG5

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https://lnkd.in/eEV8wHwi Mr. Umland makes for an Interesting read and I offer my compliments on expressing his predictions. The outcome is flawed because the beginning premise is wrong. This problem was created by the US, manufactured by the Obama and Biden Administrations, along with their UK accomplices. Here is why: 1. The Ukraine coup 2014 was engineered by the West and executed by Nuland as we all know, but too many myopic analyst suffer from selective amnesia. 2. The Obama regime change bright idea trip-wired the catastrophe's that herded the stampede of Muslim men from Syria and North Africa into Western Europe, gave birth to ISIS and fueled the political turmoil in the EU. 3. Russia observing that failure validated their border security concerns and if you recall in cooperation with President Trump stabilized Syria and killed ISIS. 4. VP Biden went to Ukraine and started feathering his nest and injected Hunter and company as the bagmen for the money laundering operation to follow. Allowing chaos to foment, they empowered the Banderas and Azov's and ethnic violence targeted Russians and Jews in Ukraine. Pushing the NATO incursion plan even after being waved off fervently is what triggered Russia into Ukraine. The West broke the deal. 5. It is a false and unproven narrative to blame this mess on being for Agriculture or Empire, it was plainly for national integrity and strategy. Also, face it. Putin is smarter than Obama and Biden and Boris and Nuland on any given Sunday. Russia is twice the size of USA, food exports are up +8%, and Ukraine is like Rhode Island. Putin already had pipeline deals, port deals, trade deals, and loans to Ukraine making steady cash for both sides and their respective gangsters. The fiasco was of our own making. Any denial of it or blame shift to Putin is parochial and wishful thinking. As for President Trump making a deal. The only thing missing from Putin's Press conference when asked about it was breaking into the now viral "Trump Victory Dance." They are both smart and capable and skilled negotiators. They will make the deal. To the rest of Mr. Umland's essay predicting the end to EU/NATO if diplomacy prevails. Why the trepidation? A return to European language, religious, cultural, financial, political and national sovereignty may be what is needed for all involved. Making your own nation great again could work best after all.

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12/14/24 National Security News and Commentary https://conta.cc/49C1aKs 1. Delta Force article disappears - at SOCOM's request 2. Leaders of Rich Nations Are Deeply Unpopular. That Spells Trouble Ahead. 3. Russia Begins Packing Up Military Equipment in Syria, Satellite Images Show 4. U.S. Ally Halts Fight Against Islamic State in Syria as It Battles Rebel Group 5. Mike Pompeo: America Needs the Nippon Steel Deal 6. How Luigi Mangione Captivated the Internet 7. Americans Are Stockpiling to Get Ahead of Tariffs 8. Why Armies Crumble 9. NSA Director: Salt Typhoon ‘Not the Highest-end Operation That We’ve Seen’ 10. US military flies missing American out of Syria 11. What Hamas wrought 12. Russian Intelligence had to persuade Assad to leave Syria 13. The Big Five - 14 December edition by Mick Ryan 14. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, December 13, 2024 15. Iran Update, December 13, 2024 16. Special Report: Russian Efforts to Centralize Drone Units May Degrade Russian Drone Operations 17. Navy dismisses cases against SEAL commanders in BUD/S death 18. More than Half of Senior Army Officers Are Turning Down Command Consideration 19. In Iraq and Afghanistan ‘our future was always written,’ but the next war is uncertain, says 101st commander 20. “A Lot of Eyerolls”: Tulsi Gabbard Face-Plants With Senate Republicans 21. West Point apologizes for sharing inaccurate information about Pete Hegseth

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The Future of Warfare U.S. Military: Competition and Contestation | GSF Seth Jones with a panel of the U.S. vice chiefs https://lnkd.in/dB5kgj5z As #CSIS's flagship annual #securityconference, the Forum convenes leaders from the #defense and #nationalsecurity communities to discuss the top #security challenges facing the country and the world. This year's conference will feature keynote discussions with General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Honorable Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence. The theme of the #2024GlobalSecurityForum is "Gathering Strength in a Gathering Storm." Speakers will address how the #UnitedStates can muster its strengths to counter multiple global challenges, posture for uncertainty, and prepare U.S. forces to deter and defeat aggression. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) 🦉The theme of the conference alludes to Winston Churchill’s 1948 book ‘The Gathering Storm’ about the buildup towards WWII and the parallels with today - the denial and the difficulty in being heard as the alarm is sounded. A lot of learning post the full-scale invasion of #Ukraine and #Iran’s attack on #Israel. The vice-chief of the air force compares today with the Spanish Civil War. A lot of combined wisdom and experience (and medals) on show! ✌️🥇🥈🥉🏅🎖️ #usforces #strategy #competition #intelligence A2/AD #emergingtechnology #industrialbase #manoeuvre #landwardlittorals #airmissiledefense #informationwarfare #deterrence #iran #redsea #gaza #ukraine #israel #arctic #indopacific #russia #china

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Hybrid warfare is all about a state’s skill in subverting another’s rules by leveraging sub-state and local actors for strategic influence. When U.S. policy focuses solely on state-level actors, we miss both the threats and solutions essential to countering hybrid warfare. Recent developments in the Balkans and Caucasus underscore this point. Russia’s influence, wielded through local allies, media manipulation, and economic leverage, demonstrates the effectiveness of sub-state engagement in destabilizing regions from within. In Moldova and Georgia, pro-Russian local actors have created internal fractures that can be as disruptive as any conventional threat. To counter these tactics, U.S. and allied strategies need to evolve, putting more emphasis on understanding and working with sub-state actors. Ignoring these local dynamics leaves us vulnerable to the very threats we aim to counter. For a deeper dive into this complex landscape: https://lnkd.in/dDBU9Zj5 #HybridWarfare #irregularwarfare #NationalSecurity #Geopolitics #ForeignPolicy #StrategicStudies #ConflictResolution #USPolicy #SubStateActors #Russia #InfluenceOperations #GlobalSecurity #WarOnTheRocks

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#DOD Adjusts Nuclear Deterrence Strategy as Nuclear Peer Adversaries Escalate Nov. 21, 2024 | By David Vergun, DOD News | https://lnkd.in/g6YEECTP Multiple nuclear peer adversaries challenge the U.S. and its allies' and partners' security, according to the Defense Department. “We are now in a world where we're facing multiple nuclear competitors, multiple states that are growing, diversifying and modernizing their nuclear arsenals and also, unfortunately, prioritizing the role that nuclear weapons play in their national security strategies," said Richard C. Johnson. As the security environment evolves, adjustments to the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review may be required to sustain the ability to achieve nuclear deterrence, in light of enhanced nuclear capabilities of China and Russia and possible lack of nuclear arms control agreements after February, said Johnson, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and countering weapons of mass destruction policy, who spoke on a panel at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)’ Project on Nuclear Issues event, yesterday in Washington, D.C. The underlying logic of nuclear deterrence remains sound. Also, the U.S. remains committed to a safe, secure and reliable nuclear deterrent, he said. However, the nuclear modernization program of record, while necessary, may be insufficient moving forward, he added. DOD, in partnership with the #NationalNuclearSecurityAdministration, has already taken steps to field capabilities to enhance nuclear deterrence and flexibility and to reduce risk to the department's #nuclearmodernizationprogram, Johnson said. [….] On Nov. 15, the department submitted the 791 Report to Congress describing the #nuclearemploymentstrategy of the U.S. It's called the 491….. The #491report describes changes that have been made from previous guidance and accounts for the new deterrence challenges that are posed by the growth, modernization and increasing diversity of potential adversaries' nuclear arsenals, Johnson said. The report directs that…….. The report also recognizes that deterrence alone will not address strategic dangers. It recognizes that arms control and that risk reduction and nuclear nonproliferation play indispensable roles as well, Johnson said. Grant Schneider, vice deputy director for strategic stability at the Joint Staff….said that another part of the report is the significant intellectual and analytical work required to identify the range of scenarios and strategic circumstances that the U.S. might face alongside its allies going into the 2030s. "To be prepared for the 2030s, we have to modernize our nuclear forces, the nuclear command and control, and the associated infrastructure that will allow us to be flexible and adjust over time as new challenges arise, whether that's new threats or potential changes or delays in our modernization," Schneider said. #unitedstates #usmilitary #security #nucleardoctrine #nucleardeterrence

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"Beyond strategies, policy, and investment, the US military needs to create a command to develop national contingency plans to mobilize and sustain the materiel required by the joint force and, in the event of conflict, interdict adversary supply chains through partnerships across the government." Thanks to the Modern War Institute at West Point for running 𝑰𝒇 𝑯𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒂𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒔 𝑫𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝑨𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓, my personal take on the need for a more active approach to defense supply chains. This article and the ideas within have been years in the making. There are many who walked alongside me and I'm grateful! Special thanks to Greg Boschert, Matt Evers, CLTD, Joseph Whittington, David Sanford, David Martin, Sean W., John Barrett, Cody Retherford, Lyle Drew, Jason Okumura, Jon Millard, Peter Guinto, Margaret Sankey, and Chip Litchfield for their thoughtful inputs. As always, these views and any weaknesses related are mine alone! #weaponizedinterdependence #supplychains #warfare #logistics

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REMEMBER THAT PEER? Pentagon watchdog to review JLOTS system used for Gaza aid pier The inquiry is separate from another review of America's military pier to deliver aid into the Gaza strip. Read More

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Ray Powell and James Carouso talk to Elbridge Colby, author and former 🇺🇸U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Development, about his provocative views concerning #America's need to urgently address the 🇨🇳#China threat by prioritizing the #IndoPacific theater. They discuss and debate the interaction between sharp honesty and assurance when dealing with America’s allies, their concerns about U.S. staying power, and whether accepting risks in other theaters might actually undermine deterrence with respect to 🇹🇼#Taiwan and East Asia. The wide-ranging conversation covers a range of topics related to U.S. foreign policy and defense strategy, including China’s gray-zone coercion and America’s defense industrial base.

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RFP: Historic Battlefield Public Interpretation Scoping Project, Battle of Bladensburg, Prince George's County, Maryland Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Inc. (ATHA), a private nonprofit organization, is seeking proposals from qualified consultant teams to conduct a survey of existing interpretation of the Battle of Bladensburg and the War of 1812 within the county as well as a comprehensive review of modern best practices in battlefield interpretation with a focus on inclusive storytelling, creative engagement, and new technologies. The Battle of Bladensburg, fought on August 24, 1814 in Prince George’s County, Maryland holds significant importance in both state and national history due to its immediate tactical consequences, its impact on national morale and political dynamics, and its lasting cultural and symbolic significance. During the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812, the State of Maryland, under then-Governor Martin O’Malley, supported a robust commemoration that resulted in historic research, large events, and many new interpretive signs. These documents, photos, and signs continue to stand on the landscape 10 years later. The goal of this project is to inventory, assess, and plan for the retention, repair, removal, and/or replacement of War of 1812 public history interpretation elements in Prince George’s County, Maryland – specifically the Battle of Bladensburg. This project is funded in part by at National Park Service Battlefield Interpretation Grant for scoping (planning and development) and does not include plan implementation. Proposals are due Monday, July 1, 2024 via email. A confirmation receipt will be sent to all applicants. Interviews will take place, as needed, in July with a project award decision made on Monday, July 29, 2024. The project needs to be completed by Tuesday, December 31, 2024. ATHA encourages proposals from consultants with expertise in history, parks, education, interpretation, and placemaking. We are dedicated to actively seeking out and partnering with consultants from a wide range of backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability status, and socio-economic background. We believe that diverse consultants bring unique insights and expertise that enrich our projects and drive innovation. https://lnkd.in/eueYEMvt

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I hope you might read this short historical case study published at The National Interest of how President Eisenhower changed out his entire Joint Chiefs of Staff at the beginning of his administration to pursue a new National Military Strategy (The New Look) while cutting the Pentagon's budget and bureaucracy. The case study is derived from primary source documents reviewed at The National Archives, the Eisenhower Library, and the Wilson Papers at Anderson University, Anderson, IN. https://lnkd.in/ewPKdKC9

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You can surge all kinds of capabilities and expanded capacities like forces in crisis but trust takes time and commitment and meetings like the Nuclear Consultative Group does that (builds trust and confidence) and makes extended deterrence much more than just words. #boozallen #cwmd #cbrne #cbrndefense

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A review of 2024 in DoD Acquisition and Sustainment by William LaPlante, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. Examples of building resilience include: Joint Production Accelerator Cell (JPAC) and its impact on multiple weapons systems including Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), Long-Range Anti-Ship Mis­sile (LRASM), Tomahawk, Harpoon, and F-16. Regional Sustainment Framework (RSF), which established with international allies & partners "a distrib­uted maintenance, repair, and over­haul (MRO) network placed closer geographically to the point of opera­tional need." Publishing of the first evert National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) in order to "guide genera­tional change toward a more robust, resilient, and modernized defense in­dustrial ecosystem..." Competitive Advantage Pathfinders (CAPs), "which employ modular open systems approaches and cross-Service integration to streamline development and fielding." Re-energizing nuclear and biodefense capabilities through work by the Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC) and the Biodefense Council (BDC). #defenseindustry #Acquisitionreform https://lnkd.in/eDrypNGy 

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It'scalled #PIPIR, #Partnership for #IndoPacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), but it won't be same as how it works at #NATO. "Pentagon has been casting about across the world in search of new partnerships for weapons production. That desire has manifested in the Indo-Pacific in agreements like a joint #hypersonicmissile killer program with #Japan, a #trilateral #submarine pact with the #UnitedKingdom and #Australia and interest in new coproduction and sustainment with #SouthKorea." "the group will “work through common #acquisition and #sustainment issues, whether it’s co-development, coproduction [or] co-sustainment.” "the #Pentagon has to “set up a regular cadence” in the Indo-Pacific. And since the two regions’ needs are distinct, there will likely be differences in how the PIPIR effort plays out."

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Sneak peek at the next Hatch Report: The Mississippi Army National Guard (MSARNG) has a requirement for six sUASs due to divestment of the RQ-7 Shadow. 7 Jan response deadline. ..................................... Description: Category: Group 1 (non-weaponized, multirotor, under 20 lbs) Capabilities: ISR support, IR/thermal imaging, encrypted communications Compliance: DIU Blue UAS List, NDAA & TAA compliant; Advanced Encryption; Standard Tactical Open Government Architecture (TOGA) compatible. Performance: At least 30 minutes endurance with payload Durability: IP53 certified (dust and rain resistant) ..................................... Thoughts / Questions: Broader Coordination: I suspect other ARNG units are also replacing their RQ-7 Shadows. If so, is there a unified approach to addressing these needs, or is each ARNG unit handling this individually? Additionally, how well-coordinated are these efforts between the Guard and the Active Component? NOTE: There’s an important balance to strike between enabling units to rapidly acquire the capabilities they need and leveraging aggregate demand to drive down costs and simplify logistics. ISR Implications: Are there separate plans to replace the RQ-7 Shadow with a comparable Group-3 UAS? If not, what are the ISR implications? While it’s possible this solicitation is intended for testing and evaluation purposes, the wording strongly suggests these Group 1 sUASs are being positioned as a direct replacement for the Group 3 RQ-7. It’s worth noting that the Army recently selected Red Cat’s small Teal drone for its SSR Tranche II requirement, which closely aligns with the MSARNG’s UAS product description. Additionally, the Army also selected the Ghost X from Anduril Industries Industries and the C-100 from PDW for its Company-Level UAS program, which gets you more range/payload but is still not comparable to the RQ-7. ..................................... Context/Background: In February 2024, the Army announced plans to divest the RQ-7 Shadows by September 2024. This purportedly created an ISR capability gap until 2027, when the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System (FTUAS) is scheduled to begin Brigade-level deployment. To address this, the Army turned to DIU’s Blue UAS list as a stopgap. However, as of October 2024, no Group-3 offerings appear on the Blue UAS list. Link to Solicitation: https://lnkd.in/ecX3imD2

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A unique and useful essay from Dr. Lumpy Lumbaca. I thought the title meant "And/Or" as in irregular "and/or" conventional warfare. But on a more serious note, we need to use fiction and even pop culture more often to explain irregular warfare concepts. I wonder if the writers of Andor knew they were employing these concepts? Had they read irregular/unconventional warfare doctrine or was this by chance? Or is unconventional warfare doctrine merely common sense and based on historical actions in the real world. I can say for sure that unconventional warfare is a synthesis of of the history or revolution, resistance, and insurgency, Excerpt: QUOTE: Ultimately, the brilliance of Andor lies in its ability to translate the realities of insurgency and irregular warfare into a compelling narrative set in a galaxy far, far away. It embraces the moral complexities, the internal struggles, and the immense human cost of resistance. By grounding its story in these real-world themes, Andor transcends the genre of space opera fantasy and offers a thought-provoking exploration of the fight for self-determination against overwhelming odds. While entertaining and a Hollywood production, Andor nevertheless captures the real-world elements of modern insurgency and irregular warfare. END QUOTE https://lnkd.in/e_89xK7W

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