Beyond the executions, a particularly disturbing development has emerged within the Iranian prison system: the escalation of pharmacological torture against political prisoners.
The murderous terrorist attack of Oct. 7 by Hamas, coupled with daily rocket strikes into Israel from Gaza and from Hezbollah in Lebanon and constant threats by Iran to destroy it, shines a light on how Israel’s nuclear strategy requires an update and might be optimized for deterrence.
The U.S. Ready Reserve Fleet of cargo and fuel ships that move military gear around the world when needed for a conflict is in serious need of an upgrade. The fleet is aging and generally not ready for war.
Drug trafficking into the United States is no longer just a criminal act supported by cartels in Mexico and Asia. It has evolved into a strategic plan of attack, similar to the terrorist tactics commonly used to destabilize countries and governments.
With sound traveling farther the ocean will be noisier, and undersea stealth platforms such as submarines will simultaneously find it more difficult to hide in some circumstances and easier in others—and that is only the beginning.
The nation’s mine infrastructure is facing a historic nearly-40 plus year period of neglect and under-investment since the end of the Cold War. This decay also includes industrial capacity, explosives, training, infrastructure, ships and personnel.
Terrorists are not interested in a cessation of hostilities with Israel, nor are they interested in Palestinian statehood when the presumed rewards of martyrdom seem vastly greater.
Israel is stepping up its ground attack in the Gaza Strip, but destroying a powerful movement like Hamas is a tall order due to several difficulties and constraints. Furthermore, achieving this goal might ultimately be counterproductive for Israel.
It is critical for the world to learn from mainland China’s previous conquest of Taiwan as a guide to how China may seek to seize that island again.
Israel has always prided itself on not asking the U.S. to send soldiers to fight on its behalf. If another front opens up, if U.S. forces in the Mediterranean fail to deter, it may have to reverse its longstanding policy.
