Situational Brief: Russian Recent Deployments Opposite Ukraine and What It Could Mean For Christmas
Situational Brief: Russian Recent Deployments Opposite Ukraine and What It Could Mean For Christmas Tensions in and around Ukraine and Russian occupied Crimea have increased since the 25th November 2018, Sea of Azov incident when Russia seized by force three Ukrainian naval vessels and shut down shipping traffic to Ukraine in the Sea of Azov. In recent days, US Special Representative to Ukraine Ambassador Kurt Volker warned that Russia had again built-up forces on the border.
North Korea-US Summit Doomed to Failure
This will come as no surprise, but on North Korea I remain a sceptic. Will there be a US-North Korean summit? Yes potentially. Will it result in the end of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, long-range ballistic missile program, and size able chemical and biological weapons arsenal? The answer is a clear No. Will it be the end of the Kim Jong-un regime? No! Will US troops remain in South Korea? Yes. For all the political posturing going on in the US and the Far East it is
Syrian Crisis Strike Update
The US, France and UK struck three targets last night all focused on Syria’s chemical weapons capacity as well as command centers directly related to the deadly Douma attack around 4 am local time. The attacks were geared to erode some of Syria’s chemical weapons capability without collateral damage and civilian casualties. The Pentagon stated that targets included the scientific research center in the Barzeh suburb of Damascus, a chemical weapons storage facility west of Hom
Syrian Crisis Update 13th April 2018
This morning, the Russians are making the ridiculous claim that the chemical weapon attack in Douma that killed 100 people and injured 500 others was the work of a foreign power and they are pointing the finger at the UK. US President Donald Trump has been briefed on military options and has talked with allies about those options but has yet to decide. There are unconfirmed reports about a disagreement on the US response between the Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and National
Syrian Crisis Update 12th April 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron has said that his government has proof that the Assad regime was behind the chemical weapon attack on Douma. France and the UK continue to ready aircraft and to position warships in the region to strike Syrian targets, and France has given advanced notice that it will target known chemical weapons facilities. The UK has reportedly directed British Tomahawk carrying Trafalgar and Astute class attack submarines to move into position to strike Sy
Syria Update 11th April 2018
This morning it was reported that Russia’s envoy to Lebanon has warned that any missiles fired at Syria by the US will be targeted and shot-down and their launchers targeted for destruction. The Russian ambassador to Lebanon was citing an earlier statement from mid-March by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Russian military. A Russian delegation of MPs is reportedly scheduled to arrive in Damascus today and they are tied to the 2-3000 Russian mercenaries fi
Syria Update The Gathering Storm
On Syria, US President, Donald Trump, yesterday promised a strong response after meeting key members of his national security team within a 24-48-hour period. France has reportedly agreed to support the US in joint-military action against Syria. In related news, the USS Donald Cook, a US destroyer, has left port in Cyprus and is sailing in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and armed with Tomahawk Land Attack Cruise Missiles. It was just announced that President Trump’s trip to P
Weapons of Mass Destruction Use Increasing by Axis of Evil Rogue States and with Diminished Threshol
There have been a series of comments from political partisans in the US blaming President’s Trumps suggestion that perhaps it was time to withdraw US military forces from Syria as the trigger for Syrian dictator President Assad’s latest chemical weapons attack on the Syrian people. Those political partisans in Washington have a right to their opinion, but their reasoning while convenient, is faulty. Assad has used chemical weapons on his own population repeatedly since 2013
John Bolton A Great Addition to Team Trump
Ambassador John Bolton will be a welcome addition to Team Trump and the White House as US National Security Adviser. First, John Bolton is a Yale-trained lawyer with a mind like a 'steel trap,' forty-years-experience serving several US Republican Presidents, and a 'conservative hawk.' There is nothing 'slow pitch' about John Bolton. He has served as US Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and UN Ambassador among many other posts. Bolton knows Washington, DC, like the bac
Kelly Induced Asia Strategic Update
My friends have been asking for a Pacific-oriented strategic update and so here goes. Chinese President, Xi Jinping, has been given a second term by the Chinese Communist Party and continues to strengthen his grip on the party, state and military establishment of China. In real terms President Xi is likely to remain Chinese leader for life. Xi is China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong and his personal goal is to leave a legacy of reunification, forced if necessary, wit
