The Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy highlights a shift in focus, preparing the U.S. military for potential combat operations on American soil due to the growing capabilities of adversaries. This strategy prioritizes homeland defense, including missile defense systems and cyber capabilities, while also aiming for a “stable peace” with China, even as it acknowledges China’s military buildup. Furthermore, the strategy addresses the risk of multiple simultaneous crises and calls on allies to increase defense spending, freeing up U.S. forces for homeland defense and addressing the most dangerous threats. Finally, the document also recognizes the need to rebuild the U.S. defense industrial base to ensure the ability to produce weapons and equipment at scale.
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Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane killing 11 people in September. The core of this issue, and the thing that’s really sticking in my craw, is the accusation that the Pentagon deployed an aircraft disguised as a civilian plane in September, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. This raises some serious questions, not the least of which is, why?
U.S. military manuals, steeped in the laws of war, explicitly condemn perfidy. Perfidy, in this context, is when a combatant intentionally feigns civilian status, tricking their opponent into lowering their guard. Military handbooks emphasize the importance of distinguishing military forces from civilians.… Continue reading
Following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, both the ELN and dissident FARC factions issued defiant statements condemning the action as a violation of regional sovereignty and vowing armed resistance. The ELN expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan government, calling on Latin American nations to reject U.S. aggression. The dissident FARC members echoed this call, stating their readiness to fight against the U.S. “empire.” These statements followed the capture of Nicolás Maduro, leading to heightened concerns about the potential for further U.S. military actions in the region, particularly in neighboring Colombia.
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After a U.S. strike on three boats in the Pacific Ocean on December 30, the U.S. military abandoned its search efforts for survivors who had jumped into the sea. The Coast Guard called off the search citing a “declining probability of survival,” and a government official confirmed the individuals were presumed dead. These deaths are a part of a larger campaign, with at least 117 civilians killed in 35 attacks since September. Experts and members of Congress have denounced the strikes as potentially illegal extrajudicial killings, as the U.S. has shown a pattern of not assisting survivors and withholding key information regarding the strikes.
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In a recent announcement, President Trump stated Venezuela would provide between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., with proceeds benefiting both nations. The White House is also organizing a meeting with U.S. oil executives to discuss increasing American investment in Venezuela’s oil industry. Meanwhile, officials have reported casualties from a U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, and the Venezuelan government is investigating the deaths. Despite political tensions and questions about oil production, discussions regarding the future of Venezuelan oil and its implications continue.
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Venezuelan Official Says at Least 40 People Were Killed in U.S. Attack. That’s the headline we’re grappling with, and it’s a stark one. The core of this issue centers around a reported U.S. military strike in Venezuela, and the consequences of that strike are what’s currently under the microscope. The immediate aftermath, as reported by Venezuelan officials, is a devastating one, with a minimum of forty lives lost.
This operation, whatever its true nature, has been shrouded in controversy from the outset. There’s mention of the U.S. President ordering strikes, seizing the Venezuelan president, and his wife, all without a formal declaration of war or Congressional approval.… Continue reading
A recent report reveals that a boat targeted by the U.S. military during a drug-trafficking campaign in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific contained marijuana, marking the first physical evidence of the campaign. The attack, which occurred in the Gulf of Venezuela and resulted in three fatalities, took place in international waters and was followed by the discovery of the bodies by local fishermen. Since then, the Trump administration has conducted 30 strikes against alleged drug vessels, escalating the death toll to at least 107. Despite these actions, legal experts and lawmakers have criticized the operation, particularly a strike that killed survivors, raising concerns about extrajudicial killings and the lack of transparency surrounding the campaign.
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Airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria, that’s where we find ourselves today, and it’s a complicated story, to say the least. The United States, under the direction of the then-commander in chief, launched a strike against Islamic State militants in the region, and that was confirmed by both the former President and the U.S. military. The stated reason? To target ISIS terrorists who have been attacking Christians, allegedly at levels not seen for many years. It is important to note that the U.S. military said the strike was at the request of the Nigerian government, which adds another layer to this already dense situation.… Continue reading
The Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that the U.S. military has denied Okinawa Prefecture’s request to conduct on-site inspections of U.S. military facilities due to the detection of PFAS, a potentially harmful organic fluorine compound, in the surrounding areas. The U.S. cited a lack of clear data linking the facilities as the source of contamination, as well as the absence of agreed-upon environmental standards and specific sampling locations. Despite the denial, the U.S. military stated they might consider allowing inspections if the purpose is to ensure the safety of drinking water and if certain conditions are met. The facilities include Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Camp Hansen, and Kadena Air Base.
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President Trump stated there would be “very serious retaliation” following an attack in Syria, attributed to ISIS, that killed two U.S. service members and one American civilian. The incident, which occurred in a dangerous part of Syria not fully controlled by the Syrian President, also left three U.S. service members wounded, and an investigation into the attack is ongoing. Syrian authorities reported a gunman linked to ISIS opened fire at a military post, also wounding members of Syria’s security forces. The attack marks the first with fatalities since the fall of President Bashar Assad, with the U.S. maintaining a presence in Syria to combat ISIS, as relations between the two countries have warmed since the recent political changes.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood