NYTIMES (Steven Erlanger and Jeanna Smialek) - Europe Mulls What Mutual Defense Looks Like Outside NATO
European Union nations have a little-known obligation to protect one another. Experts caution it is no replacement for NATO.
NYTIMES (Aaron Krolik) - War and Sanctions Accelerate China’s Currency Push
China’s bid to build a renminbi-based financial system beyond the U.S. dollar’s reach is gaining traction as a way to sidestep sanctions.
NEWSCATS (MeighTimbol) - Soldier’s alleged prediction-market scheme exposes new national security blind spot
Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, helped plan and execute Operation Absolute Resolve, a daring mission that saw the U.S. Army capture former Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro. Published [...]
NEWSCATS (MeighTimbol) - Trump extends Israel–Lebanon ceasefire as fragile peace deal faces new pressure
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon following his direct participation in historic White House peace talks, voicing optimism the diplomatic push could lead to a [...]
THEAMERICANCONSERVATIVE (Ted Snider) - How the Iran War Makes China Look Good
U.S. belligerence is driving Russia and the Global South closer to China. The post How the Iran War Makes China Look Good appeared first on The American Conservative .
Foreign Affairs How the Iran War Makes China Look Good U.S. belligerence is driving Russia and the Global South closer to China. There are no winners in the war on Iran. But if there were one, it would surely be China. Contrary to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s fawning remarks , “the whole world” is neither “safer” nor better for President Donald Trump’s decision to launch an illegal war on Iran. As the U.S. knows , Iran was not in pursuit of a nuclear bomb . Nor were its ballistic missiles intended for, or ever used for, offensive first strikes. The foundation of international trust has cracked, and partnerships…Open
THEAMERICANCONSERVATIVE (Ben Sixsmith) - Western European Elites’ Hungary Hypocrisy
Are their crooks so different from our crooks? The post Western European Elites’ Hungary Hypocrisy appeared first on The American Conservative .
Foreign Affairs Western European Elites’ Hungary Hypocrisy Are their crooks so different from our crooks? (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP via Getty Images) The end of Viktor Orbán’s premiership in Hungary has been greeted with whoops and cheers throughout Europe’s halls of power. “Hungarians have struck a blow for democracy,” the Economist claims . “Citizens … mobilised to take their country back,” the Guardian informs us . Well, I’m not going to pretend that Orbán’s rule did not contain blatant gerrymandering and corruption . I made critical points about his Fidesz government before as well as…Open
THEAMERICANCONSERVATIVE (Jude Russo) - Who’s Afraid of Losing Midterms?
The legislature is an afterthought to the actual business of governing. The post Who’s Afraid of Losing Midterms? appeared first on The American Conservative .
Politics Who’s Afraid of Losing Midterms? The legislature is an afterthought to the actual business of governing. (Photo by EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ/AFP via Getty Images) The Republicans are beginning to make frightened, unhappy noises about the upcoming midterm elections, and one hesitates to tell them they’re wrong to be afraid. President Donald Trump’s popularity is at or around its all-time low , the party’s popularity is in comparable territory , and the Democrats are sitting comfortably ahead in generic ballot polling . A Virginia redistricting scheme passed on referendum this week; if it holds up in court, it…Open
STRIPES (Alison Bath) - Pressure mounting to overcome mine fears for ship transit in Strait of Hormuz | Stars and Stripes
Extensive mine sweep operations likely won’t take place until after the war, lawmakers learned in a classified briefing.
NEWSCATS (MeighTimbol) - Why Iran’s “state sponsor of terrorism” designation remains one of the most explosive global issues
Iran has the largest ballistic missile inventory in the Middle East. Giving it nuclear weapons would endanger the Middle East, the United States, and its allies. Hossein Velayati, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons [...]
JUSTTHENEWS (The Center Square Staff) - Teens charged after FBI says plot targeting Houston synagogue, school foiled
Arrests made after multistate investigation involving the FBI in North Carolina and Texas.