Reprinted from Bracing Views with the author’s permission.
Is the U.S. military becoming a paper tiger whose sole remaining power move is a mighty nuclear roar? It’s a disturbing thought, given the extent to which U.S. military power is overstretched, recruiting shortfalls, and the usual waste, fraud, and abuse at the Pentagon, exacerbated by imperial megalomania.
Meanwhile, that same Pentagon still seeks a huge “investment” in new nukes. America surely needs to launch a “first strike” against the absurdity of spending $1.7 trillion (or more) on “modernizing” the nuclear triad. Aren’t you tired of Presidents and Congress diverting your hard-earned tax dollars from Main Street USA to MAD Street, as in mutually assured destruction via nuclear war?
Are we witnessing the dawn of a new geopolitical crisis in Asia? As South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol declares martial law over perceived threats from the North, the region teeters on the edge of upheaval. This episode of the Kyle Angelo show dives into the fallout from this dramatic move, analyzing its impact on South Korea’s political landscape. We explore Yoon’s strategic gambit against a backdrop of declining popularity and a strengthening opposition, while weighing the implications of a possible Trump return and its effect on U.S.-North Korea diplomacy.
The storm clouds over Ukraine are no less ominous, as Keith Kellogg shares his contentious perspectives on the U.S. and NATO’s role in the ongoing conflict. Kellogg advocates for a UN-enforced no-fly zone, despite the perilous risk of sparking a broader war. We unpack his vision for supporting Ukraine with advanced weaponry while keeping American boots out of the fray, and how this aligns with his broader strategy to focus on China. The episode sheds light on the intricate geopolitical chess game, where every move could tip the balance of power.
Tracing the evolution of U.S. policy on Ukraine, we contrast the varied approaches of Obama, Trump, and Biden. From non-lethal aid to aggressive sanctions, we critique these policies and their impact on the conflict’s trajectory. The recent decision by the West to arm Ukraine with long-range missiles marks a significant escalation, and we scrutinize the incoming Trump administration’s apparent backing of this aggressive stance. This episode promises a gripping examination of the escalating conflict and its broader implications for global security, touching on the strategic roles of North Korea, Iran, and China.
Van Jackson identifies some of the things that we can reliably predict about Trump’s foreign policy:
Will Trump preside over a growing defense budget that officially eclipses more than $1 trillion? Will US grand strategy remain primacist? Will economic statecraft consist primarily of tariffs and sanctions? Will the US military end up conducting operations of some kind inside Mexico’s borders? Will the US continue providing a blank check to Israel?
The answer to all these questions is assuredly “Yes.”
It remains to be seen what changes Trump will to the foreign policy he is inheriting, but judging from his first term it is safe to assume he will preserve the worst of Biden’s policies while reneging on any remaining useful diplomatic agreements. Trump is also likely to introduce some of his own ill-conceived policies. Launching attacks in Mexico will be one of these. James Bosworth warned last week that “the signs are that the incoming Trump administration is preparing for an actual war against the drug cartels in 2025 that goes well beyond the “War on Drugs” of the past.”
In a recent American Conservative article. Kelley Vlahos makes a very strong case for putting the National Endowment for Democracy on the DOGE chopping block. The quasi non-government organization (generously funded by the US government) is the Deep State’s “regime change” machine. It harms, not helps, the US reputation overseas. Also today… 100 percent tariffs on BRICS countries?
