Save the United States
The right approach is to strike the very same kind of public-private partnership that birthed her to return her to passenger service.
VAGO’S NOTEBOOK
It’s Not Just a Balloon: Not Stopping Chinese Spy Craft Sooner Sent Wrong Signal
America’s biggest challenge isn’t spending; it’s that leaders are time and again paralyzed by risk aversion. Paralyzed that they will either be seen as too provocative, or paralyzed by the notion that someone, anyone, might be hurt by what they do.
US Must Learn Falklands War Lesson that Deterrence Matters
As the United States seek to avert war with China, it’s vital to remember the lessons of the Falklands War. The 1981 defense cuts by the Thatcher government, including retirement of the guard ship for the South Atlantic, HMS Endurance, convinced the Argentine junta that London were no longer committed to the Falklands and their defense. As deterring war is cheaper than fighting one, Washington must avoid sending Beijing the wrong signals that could lead to miscalculation that results in conflict.
Increase Aid to Ukraine, But Do it Quietly
So it’s time to do more and do it increasingly quietly. Transparency has its place, but so does secrecy. Detailing what’s going to Ukraine only helps Russia better prepare for what’s coming their way, or how depleted NATO’s own stocks are becoming.
Toughness, Not Self Deterrence, Needed to Deter Putin, Xi
Revised on Mar 22, 2022 at 09:37 When NATO leaders meet in Brussels on Thursday,…
Russia is an Enemy Not a Competitor; West Needs New Playbook to Treat it as Such
Washington and its allies must now regard Putin for what he is and treat him accordingly. He’s not a competitor. He’s not a potential adversary. He’s an enemy who has made his intentions clear through his words and actions.
US-UK-Australia Deal is as Much About Speed as Subs
The most important element of the agreement, however, isn’t about subs, but how quickly three allies can move to address capability shortfalls.
Not Ready for Prime Time
For many around the world, however, the events of the last week have reinforced the perception that the United States is simply not ready for prime time, whether in launching — and dragging allies into — costly, destabilizing and ultimately pointless wars, embracing questionable financial practices that plunged the world into an economic crisis, or proving unable fight a devastating pandemic that’s killed more 620,000 Americans. The world, rightly, expects the United States to do big things well, whether in crafting strategy, meaningful capabilities, starting wars or ending them.
Disinformation and Domestic Extremism are Existential Threats
A nation where leaders and a large chunk of the population either can’t tell fact from fiction — or deliberately won’t — can be exploited, whether internally by opportunists or externally by adversaries. This was the weakness Russia manipulated to tip the 2016 election in Trump’s favor with a disinformation campaign that cost about $100 million, the price of a single F-35 stealth fighter.
Team Biden Must Move Fast to Keep Deterring China
America has two years to field the capabilities needed to continue deterring an every more emboldened and capable China. Biden’s defense team will have to move fast make long-overdue changes to field new capabilities and operational concepts to maintain the nation’s deterrent edge.