"The first person said 'Iran doesn’t need to be solved before we go there.' They added that Cuba is a 'huge priority of Rubio’s,' referring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio." www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
US sends more intel assets to Cuba
The move is one of several actions by the Trump administration to squeeze the communist regime in Havana.
politico.com
thedateline.substack.com/p/iran-war-h...
SLOC-blocked
New military challenges and wavering superpower commitment are raising doubts about the future of the open sea.
thedateline.substack.com
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2d agoTrump on Strait of Hormuz tolls: "If anybody is gonna charge, we'll charge. We have total control." (Trump moments ago said he's negotiating with Iran to reopen the strait ... )
The availability of long-range drones and missiles is making it easier to threaten traffic in maritime chokepoints, while the superpowers are showing wavering commitment to freedom of navigation. Those trends are a bad sign for the future of the open sea thedateline.substack.com/p/iran-war-h...
SLOC-blocked
New military challenges and wavering superpower commitment are raising doubts about the future of the open sea.
thedateline.substack.com
In an op-ed (americasquarterly.org/article/elbr...) about the Trump administration's defense policy in Western Hemisphere, Elbridge Colby writes that the US "doesn’t need its neighbors’ assets or dependency." Which is literally true perhaps but you wonder how it holds up in practice
The availability of long-range drones and missiles is making it easier to threaten traffic in maritime chokepoints, while the superpowers are showing wavering commitment to freedom of navigation. Those trends are a bad sign for the future of the open sea thedateline.substack.com/p/iran-war-h...
SLOC-blocked
New military challenges and wavering superpower commitment are raising doubts about the future of the open sea.
thedateline.substack.com
"The first film memorably included a maple syrup chugging race. That, they all agree, they’re too old for now. 'We’ve only done it once since,' says Chandrasekhar, shaking his head. 'It’s not a good idea. It’s not a healthy choice.'" apnews.com/article/supe...
'Super Troopers' at 25: A quarter-century of mustaches and maple syrup — and a new film
A quarter of a century is a long time for mustache rides and syrup binges, but “Super Troopers” has gotten a lot of mileage out of the simple joys of friends goofing around.
apnews.com
If you get wounded in an Iranian missile attack but it happens after the administration says Operation Epic Fury ended, what doest that mean for your VA benefits? Guess we'll find out
Christopher Woody@chrstphrwdy.bsky.social · last wk.You have to image that at least some US troops will find it discouraging that military leaders are trying to obfuscate the timing and causes of American casualties in the Middle East apnews.com/article/iran...
You have to image that at least some US troops will find it discouraging that military leaders are trying to obfuscate the timing and causes of American casualties in the Middle East apnews.com/article/iran...
Pentagon ties new casualty category for renewed US-Iran fighting to the end of 'Operation Epic Fury'
The Pentagon says a new, separate category was created in its official casualty system to account for those killed and wounded in the renewed U.S.
apnews.com
A few weeks ago, after a Navy official said that arms sales to Taiwan were paused to ensure there were enough munitions available for operations against Iran, Hegseth denied there was a link between US munitions usage in Iran and foreign military sales: thedateline.substack.com/p/taiwan-him...
Taiwan’s strait shooters are caught between Trump and Xi
Taiwan is incorporating US-made HIMARS into its plans to stop a Chinese invasion, but future sales are in doubt.
thedateline.substack.com
Christopher Woody@chrstphrwdy.bsky.social · 2w agoAsked on Wednesday about the delay on arms sales to Taiwan, Rubio says one of the reasons the latest arms package is under review is that "we have to look at our own stockpiles" and at "the availability of whatever it is we’re promising to do"
Asked on Wednesday about the delay on arms sales to Taiwan, Rubio says one of the reasons the latest arms package is under review is that "we have to look at our own stockpiles" and at "the availability of whatever it is we’re promising to do"
Rubio, speaking to press in Manila, says a US Coast Guard vessel "actually helped stand between" Chinese and Philippine vessels to allow the evacuation of a Filipino injured in a confrontation between those two sides near Second Thomas Shoal earlier this week
Interesting: DoorDash is supporting the GOP bill in Congress to limit D.C.'s ability to increase or decrease taxes and fees, largely in response to the D.C. Council's recent vote in impose a new 20-cent delivery fee to help fund food-access programs. www.notus.org/metro/uberea...
That Food Delivery Is Soon Going To Cost You a Little More in D.C.
DoorDash unsuccessfully fought a 20-cent fee approved by the D.C. Council that will also affect UberEats deliveries.
notus.org
"...the additional volume created by the truncated [warhead] apex could support active radars or multi-mode guidance systems associated with terminal target acquisition. Such configurations would suggest that some DF-26 variants are intended for anti-ship missions." www.janes.com/defence-inte...
Chinese footage reveals previously unseen DF-26 variant
Footage first aired by a Chinese state broadcaster CCTV military programme and subsequently circulated on official channels in July 2026 appears to show a previously...
janes.com
China & Thailand agree to "intensify" anti-scam-center ops and start 2+2 foreign and defense minister talks. Wonder if Thais declined 3+3 talks with foreign, defense and public security ministers like its neighbors (inclu Cambodia) have recently set up w/ China www.nationthailand.com/news/asean/4...
Thailand, China agree on 2+2 security dialogue and stronger anti-scam cooperation
Thailand and China agreed to establish a foreign and defence ministers’ 2+2 dialogue and deepen joint action against online scam networks.
nationthailand.com
“When Hegseth testified before the House panel … in April, committee leaders urged him to provide information on the war’s costs as soon as possible. The Pentagon later missed the panel’s deadline and has since failed to share requested details for weeks” www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
The Pentagon, sinking billions into Iran war, is quickly running short on cash
With some funds set to dry up within weeks, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to press lawmakers Tuesday to address the increasingly urgent shortfall.
washingtonpost.com
What's better leverage than a nuke? “Iran is ready to reach an agreement on the nuclear programme,” the regime insider said. “But we are unlikely to get that far because Iran will not compromise over its control of the strait. A deal now looks close to impossible.” www.ft.com/content/ecf0...
How far will Iran go for the Strait of Hormuz?
A years-long stand-off with the US over Tehran’s nuclear programme has been superseded by a battle for the waterway
ft.com
"Beijing will interpret Trump's accusations as reflecting the actions of a diminishing president of a declining country. ... China is a useful tool for Trump to advance his argument on need for new election reform legislation. This doesn't mean Trump has changed his mind on his relationship with Xi"
🤓 knowledge is knowing you can get good deals at Costco 🙇♂️ wisdom is knowing you won’t be able to eat all that cheese by yourself
"At least four Chinese dissidents detained ... in Bangkok face possible deportation to China. The Chinese government has increasingly pressured Thai authorities ahead of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s scheduled visit to China from July 16 to 20" www.hrw.org/news/2026/07...
Thailand: Don’t Forcibly Return Chinese Dissidents
The Thai government should not forcibly return detained Chinese dissidents to China.
hrw.org
Using FY2026 FMS funds, so presumably this is part of the $11 billion arms package that was approved in December (which Trump likes to brag is more than Biden approved in 4 years) but hadn’t appear to move much in the months since
John Ismay@johnismay.bsky.social · 3w agoTaiwan is spending $439 million on ATACMS
Hellish news out of Bangkok overnight Bangkok pub fire kills at least 27 people, reports say www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia...
Bangkok pub fire kills at least 27 people, reports say
The fire was believed to have started at Rong Beer Na Lat Phrao, a popular pub in Bangkok's Chatuchak district. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
straitstimes.com
“Free advice to the Israelis: It’s not a good idea to detain long-shot presidential candidates,” Khanna said. “Not how you’re going to build good will with the next American president, whoever that is.” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/u...
An American Politician is Blocked by Israeli Settlers in the West Bank
Representative Ro Khanna was barred from leaving for 90 minutes. Where past U.S. leaders toured the region to show support for Israel, today’s Democratic presidential aspirants are going to bolster th...
nytimes.com
Wrote about Taiwan's China-facing HIMARS drill last month, which shows how Taiwan's plans to defend against a Chinese invasion are evolving but also how those plans depend on US support that may not be forthcoming thedateline.substack.com/p/taiwan-him...
Taiwan’s strait shooters are caught between Trump and Xi
Taiwan is incorporating US-made HIMARS into its plans to stop a Chinese invasion, but future sales are in doubt.
thedateline.substack.com
"This is not scientific research. This bathymetric and hydrographic data serves Beijing's anti-access/area-denial strategy," Yang said. "This global expansion confirms these missions are dual-use operations designed to support China's military strategic objectives" focustaiwan.tw/politics/202...
Chinese research vessels serve military purposes: Coast Guard captain - Focus Taiwan
China's deployment of scientific research and survey vessels in waters east of Taiwan and beyond carries a military motive -- to prepare for denying foreign naval vessels access to strategically impor...
focustaiwan.tw
“The Pentagon is pressing everyone to move faster,” one of the sources told CNN about the decision to override warnings about the old intel. “A lot of former hedge-fund people and made-for-TV personalities in the mix. But leadership at CENTCOM did not push back either.” www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/p...
Exclusive: US commanders bypassed warnings about outdated intelligence ahead of strike that hit school in Iran, sources say | CNN Politics
Senior US military commanders bypassed warnings in critical databases that intelligence about potential targets in Iran was severely out of date and approved some strikes — including one that hit a sc...
cnn.com
"Read as insurance, the [petrochemical sector] build-out makes sense. The aim is a sector large enough to supply itself under any conditions, including blockade, which is why energy security overrides the commercial signal to stop building." chinapolicy.substack.com/p/hormuz-tes...
Hormuz tests the PRC petrochemical build-out
Hormuz showed baseline thinking in action: petrochemical capacity holding firm under blockade; it also showed how far the most advanced materials remain out of reach
chinapolicy.substack.com
“Turkey’s S-400s — many of which are still in their shipping containers — may be handed over to a third party, according to one administration official who has been deeply involved in the talks. A second official said the mechanism had not been worked out yet.” www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07...
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Expected to Announce Restoration of Turkey’s Access to U.S. F-35 Stealth Fighters
nytimes.com
Azerbaijan has taken delivery of their first JF-17C Block III light fighter jets, a joint Chinese-Pakistani aircraft. They are reportedly working with Turkey to integrate Turkish-made munitions, and it's unknown yet whether Azerbaijan also acquired Chinese PL-15E long-range air-to-air missiles.
Travis@someforeignfield.bsky.social · 7mo agoThe JF-17 is quietly proliferating across the region, with Azerbaijan ordering 40 and an Iraq deal allegedly in the works.
"One of the stated aims of the exercise is to reduce perceived threats to key maritime strategic corridors posed by certain regional countries. ... the two sides seek to demonstrate their ability to keep these sea lanes open and operate farther into the Pacific" 🤔 www.globaltimes.cn/page/202607/...
globaltimes.cn
