News & commentary by Dave Maxwell. Edited and published by Daniel Riggs.
1. On the Issue of Chinese Malign Influence, Both Trump and Biden are Right
2. Is the CCP losing its 'Mandate of Heaven'?
3. How Great Power Competition and Regional Rivalries are Destabilizing the Red Sea Region
4. U.S. Cyber Command helps prosecutors seize stolen cryptocurrency traced to illicit N. Korea nuclear weapons program
5. Opinion | Shinzo Abe's resignation could deal a blow to Japan and U.S. interests alike
6. Army official: 2 soldiers killed, 3 hurt in 'routine training' incident
7. East Asia military balance at risk from new missiles and drones
8. A New Era of Coronavirus Testing Is About to Begin
9. What's Next for the U.S.-Japan 'Special Relationship'
10. Top general says no role for military in presidential vote
11. Philippine human rights workers are being systematically killed in a growing war on dissent
12. The Army Now Has the Most 4-Star Generals on Duty Since World War II
13. Silver Stars awarded to two Green Berets and a pararescueman for close-quarters Taliban battle
14. Jolo back to normal, but braces for terrorist attacks, says mayor
15. How Many of Maria Ressa's Warnings Will We Ignore?
16. Pentagon poised to award Medal of Honor to Alwyn Cashe, who died after saving fellow soldiers in Iraq
17. Belarusian Officials Shut Down Internet With Technology Made by U.S. Firm
18. The Myth of SOF Leadership and the Need for Urgency | SOF News
19. Report - SOF Civil Affairs in Great Power Competition | SOF News
20. Leadership questions mount at GWU, where officials plan layoffs, salary cuts
21. Algorithms, AI alone can't help Facebook tackle online extremism. It needs people too
1. On the Issue of Chinese Malign Influence, Both Trump and Biden are Right
The National Interest · by Craig Singleton · August 27, 2020
From my FDD colleague Craig Singleton.
A key point:
The Chinese influence machine does not just target America's media landscape. Arguably, its most successful efforts to shape the narrative around China involve co-opting prominent academics and influential members of the business community to advance the Party's objectives, often in exchange for financial remuneration or promises of market access. This tactic, known as "elite capture," is also a hallmark of Beijing's One Belt One Road initiative.
On the Issue of Chinese Malign Influence, Both Trump and Biden are Right
Washington must stay on guard and continue to counter China's influence operations no matter who wins.
2. Is the CCP losing its 'Mandate of Heaven'?
eastasiaforum.org · by Friso Stevens · August 28, 2020
A view of a Chinese apologist?
3. How Great Power Competition and Regional Rivalries are Destabilizing the Red Sea Region
The National Interest · by Yoel Guzansky · August 28, 2020
A view from Israel.
4. U.S. Cyber Command helps prosecutors seize stolen cryptocurrency traced to illicit N. Korea nuclear weapons program
The Washington Post· by Spencer S. Hsu · August 28, 2020
Good work by Cybercom.
5. Opinion | Shinzo Abe's resignation could deal a blow to Japan and U.S. interests alike
The Washington Post · by Editorial Board
Hopefully we can manage the relationship during and after the transition.
6. Army official: 2 soldiers killed, 3 hurt in 'routine training' incident
fox17online.com · by KGTV Staff · August 28, 2020
"Routine training" can be very dangerous. Training like this is always high risk but I suppose that is routine for 160th SOAR.
7. East Asia military balance at risk from new missiles and drones
The subtitle begs the question: Does conventional deterrence no longer work?
8. A New Era of Coronavirus Testing Is About to Begin
defenseone.com · by Alexis C. Madrigal
I hope this pans out. We need massive rapid (and accurate and reliable) testing.
9. What's Next for the U.S.-Japan 'Special Relationship'
National Review Online · by Arthur L. Herman · August 27, 2020
We need to sustain our cornerstone alliance in Northeast Asia.
10. Top general says no role for military in presidential vote
AP · by Lolita C. Baldor · August 28, 2020
There is (or should be) no role for the US military in the political process.
11. Philippine human rights workers are being systematically killed in a growing war on dissent
Los Angeles Times · by David Pierson · August 27, 2020
Just a terrible situation. Duterte needs international condemnation and pressure.
12. The Army Now Has the Most 4-Star Generals on Duty Since World War II
military.com · by Matthew Cox · August 28, 2020
The article does not mention General Abrams in Korea or General Clarke at USSOCOM.
13. Silver Stars awarded to two Green Berets and a pararescueman for close-quarters Taliban battle
Stars and Stripes· by Chad Garland · August 27, 2020
We may have a lot of Army 4 star generals, but these are the men (of the Army and the AirForce) at the top of the spear.
14. Jolo back to normal, but braces for terrorist attacks, says mayor
manilastandard.net· by Macon Ramos-Araneta
15. How Many of Maria Ressa's Warnings Will We Ignore?
Wired · by Steven Levy
We need to pay attention to Maria Ressa (and we need to keep her out of jail in the Philippines).
16. Pentagon poised to award Medal of Honor to Alwyn Cashe, who died after saving fellow soldiers in Iraq
The Washington Post · by Dan Lamothe · August 28, 2020
Finally. This should not have taken this long.
17. Belarusian Officials Shut Down Internet With Technology Made by U.S. Firm
Bloomberg · by Ryan Gallagher · August 28, 2020
18. The Myth of SOF Leadership and the Need for Urgency | SOF News
sof.news · by Eliann Carr and David Hargett · August 29, 2020
19. Report - SOF Civil Affairs in Great Power Competition | SOF News
sof.news · by Travis Clemens · August 27, 2020
The two SOF trinities: irregular warfare, unconventional warfare and support of political warfare and the comparative advantage of SOF; governance, influence, and support to indigenous forces and populations. Civil Affairs forces play a key role.
The report can be downloaded at this link.
20. Leadership questions mount at GWU, where officials plan layoffs, salary cuts
Is GWU the canary in the coal mine? Is our university system heading for a train wreck.? What kind of "forcing function" with the pandemic have on shaping the future of the college education system?
21. Algorithms, AI alone can't help Facebook tackle online extremism. It needs people too
theprint.in · August 28, 2020
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My father was a soldier. He was a frogman in the special forces in Denmark before I was born, and always the reality of that inspired me. My mom is very left-wing, classic socialist, and she always talked about the solders as almost crazy, violent, sick people, and I want to confront that because its very judgmental, and I'm not sure it's true."
- Tobias Lindholm
"Huey Long once said, 'Fascism will come to America in the name of anti-fascism.' I'm afraid, based on my own experience, that will fascism will come to America in the name of national security."
- Jim Garrison (Playboy Interview, October, 1967)
“I am concerned for the security of our great Nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within."
- Douglas MacArthur