Defense Secretary Ousts Senior Adviser, Halts General Nomination
NEW: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has forced the ouster of a senior military adviser to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, defense officials said, marking the Pentagon’s chief’s latest intervention into the service’s internal affairs amid long-simmering tension between two of the Trump administration’s top political appointees. Hegseth directed Driscoll to fire Col. David Butler during a discussion at the Pentagon last week, officials said. Butler had been nominated for one-star general, and will instead submit retirement papers to allow a list of other officers selected for advancement to move forward, these officials added.
US Caribbean Naval Buildup Costs $2.9B, $20M Daily
We did the math on the US naval buildup in the Caribbean. The total: $2.9B. At its height, costs topped $20M a day. Much was already funded, but combat operations cost extra -- and opportunity costs are difficult to quantify....
SMEs Must Expect Cyber Attacks, NCSC Warns
SMEs Wrong to Assume They Won’t Be Hit by Cyber-Attacks: NCSC Boss War - Infosecurity Magazine https://t.co/DjHx7581nV
EU Resistance Threatens Effectiveness of New Russia Sanctions
EU countries’ resistance risks blunting latest Russia sanctions package https://t.co/ck1N8lGobr via @AlbertoNardelli @AfPalasciano @donatopmancini https://t.co/6LWNSkOoNN
China's Submarines May Adopt Dual Towed-Array ASW
Looks to me like there might be towed array deployment tubes on the end of those upper x-planes (see the LA-class diagram on the right for an example). If that is what they are, would indicate plans to conduct dual-towed-array acoustic...
Iran's Hormuz Drills Raise Risk Premium, Shrink Deal Space
Iran launched naval drills in the Strait of Hormuz “Maximum pressure” cuts both ways. Iran wants nuclear-only talk, while the US wants missiles and proxies too The “deal space” is small and the risk premium stays high. https://t.co/Gs9viHRneW #oil #Brent #Hormuz #Iran #geopolitics #energysecurity #OPEC...
Ukraine Offers Ceasefire, Russia Demands Surrender, U.S. Stalled
I’ll save you five minutes of your time today so you don’t have to read the news about yet another round of “negotiations” in Geneva: Ukraine is still willing to agree to absolutely any ceasefires, compromises, a halt to the war,...
Western Alliance Myths Unveiled: From Plato to MAGA
Reässessing the “West” from John Winthrop to Marco Rubio: **From Plato to NATO to MAGA: Marco Rubio’s Myths & the Real "Western Alliance”** 2026-02-16 Mo
U.S. Buildup Highlights Iran’s Ignored Missile Threat
Great analysis by @brett_mcgurk U.S. military forces continue to conduct build up and readiness to provide the President with the most options, Islamic Regime in Iran not taking the military threat seriously, and Iran's missile program should definitely be included...
Iran Risk Unpriced: Trump Faces Bluff, Consequence Choice
Iran Risk Is Not Priced In Iran escalation does not look easily winnable for Trump. It looks like a bluff inside a trap, which sets up as a dangerous game of “concession or consequence”. https://t.co/XXKbHZrXhQ
Ukraine Deploys Drone‑Delivered Swedish 155mm Smart Shells
Ukraine's New Weapon: Dropping Swedish 155mm Smart Shells from Drones https://t.co/T0uD6pHKW8 There has been a technical and tactical shift in the Ukrainian conflict, where heavy-lift unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been adapted to deliver 155mm ordnance, including the sophisticated Swedish-designed 155...
U.S. Unready for Potential GPS Attack, Warns Former NSA Chief
"America is dangerously unprepared for a GPS attack," Adm. Michael Rogers, U.S. Navy (ret.), former commander of the U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency. https://t.co/hYWXOZoxEZ
F-16 Scramble Finds Balloons, Not UFOs Over Nevada
F-16s Find Balloons, Not UFOs, After Sunday Scramble: NORAD Alert F-16s out of California scrambled to hunt down mysterious targets over Nevada and California twice on Sunday. Story: https://t.co/oQhqC5oK7H
Russian Forces Advance Near Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, Rodynske
Updated maps from @Deepstate_UA from the past two days showing Russia advances in Pokrovsk, Myrnohrad, and Rodynske. They say the battle of Myrnohrad is coming to an end and Russian UAV positions are being detected in the northern part of...
Pentagon Reverse‑engineers GBU‑57 Using ATACMS Tech to Break Contractor Lock‑
New GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator Parts Reverse Engineered From ATACMS Ballistic Missile Tech Replacing GBU-57s dropped on Iran highlights issues that come from being locked into a single contractor, a which the Pentagon is trying to change. Story: https://t.co/P7JyrN8lCZ
Possible China Nuclear Test Detected, Seismology Needed
I wonder if this event is the alleged China nuclear test: 22 June 2020/0 depth/41.27, 90.75/~150 km from the test site, just outside error ellipse. The P/S amplitude ratio might show if it was an explosion--need a real seismologist for...
US Consensus on “Friendly” Proliferation Eroding, Prompting Pushback
The consensus that “friendly” proliferation is also bad is collapsing in the US, which is why we see efforts to shore it up, eg recent remarks by @USWPColby or the @NTI_WMD-@BelferCenter-@CarnegieEndow commission.
EU
AT @MunichSecConf, French minister says @defis_eu 2028-34 space budget to be ~ EUR 40B, less than Commission's 50B target; German minister says space and defense ministries now trade personnel as the missions are inseparable. @DLR_SpaceAgency @CNES.https://t.co/BjLtUUtIdc https://t.co/fQXynwvDtW
2026 War Outlook: Current Battlefield Dynamics Explained
Happy to share the latest. My views on the current battlefield dynamics and where the war stands in 2026. https://t.co/Wkrnmn3nE1
Russia's Dwindling Time Exposes Military‑political Mismatch
„Although Ukraine faces challenges, time is less and less on Russia’s side, however much Moscow portrays the situation otherwise. Moscow cannot wish away the fundamental mismatch between the military means it has available and the political aims it seeks to...
US Army Flew Active Nuclear Reactors in 1950s
The @USArmy started a nuclear aviation program in 1946 and in the 1950s test flights were conducted with active nuclear reactors on board. https://t.co/Sxm4F60zEL
Space’s Role Crucial as Europe Boosts Defense
Great weekend at @MunSecConf. The world is in transition, and it’s clear Space is incredibly relevant. I met with leaders incl @NATO_SACT and @DavidMcGuinty, and was inspired by remarks from @ZelenskyyUa, @vonderleyen, @Keir_Starmer and others on the critical need for...
Micro Reactors on C‑17 Promise Off‑grid Power
This Is A Nuclear Reactor Packed Into A C-17 Globemaster III Micro nuclear reactors are being seen as a way to get critical bases off the grid, but they could also have a major impact on civilian energy production. Story: https://t.co/KrommLR43d
Modern Bluetooth Pacemakers Continuously Broadcast When Disconnected
Regarding this, there was a couple questions on does the pacemaker continue to advertise - most BLE implantable devices go into a sleep type mode. In this case, we are lucky - it does not. We know based on law enforcement...
Stockpile Buffers Risk, Not Replaces Chinese Supply
A $12B rare earth stockpile is a step in the right direction, but buying from China on the open market isn’t independence; it’s a piggy bank with a very fragile supply chain. Until we build domestic processing, this is a...
Russia Likely to Sustain Ukraine War Until 2026
“Western officials believe that it’s probable that Russia can sustain its combat operations in Ukraine throughout 2026 as a result of its recruitment campaigns, industrial production and support from other nations like China.” https://t.co/bEORSYEWB0 https://t.co/ZjQFz8rmm1
Valentine's Day Nukesletter Warns of Compute Collapse in War
New Nukesletter out this Valentine's Day: on the cheery topic of compute discontinuities that might emerge from intense great power war (including nuclear war). https://t.co/0NS7f79VRz
Cognitive Warfare Already Undermining Western Alliances and Institutions
Cognitive warfare isn’t coming—it’s here. Some Western political leaders are being used to weaken alliances, disrupt decision-making, and fragment institutions. Swipe to see the key predictions, and visit davidmurrin.co.uk for the full analysis. #Geopolitics #NationalSecurity #Russia #China #Strategy
Iran Deploys Phone Tracking, Threatens Starlink Users
Iran Turns to Digital Surveillance Tools to Track Down Protesters @nytimes https://t.co/7JUt5gcTW3 Iran's government most likely tracked the protesters through location data emitting from their phones, researchers later concluded. The move was part of a new phase by the authorities to...
UAVs Take Down Russian Pantsir‑S1 Air Defenses, 2025
Video from SBU Alpha showing UAV strikes on Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems from 2025. https://t.co/JJ7SBvXmqz https://t.co/ml6Dr2qQlQ
Pentagon Deploys Anthropic’s Claude in Maduro Capture
“Anthropic’s artificial-intelligence tool Claude was used in the U.S. military’s operation to capture former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, highlighting how AI models are gaining traction in the Pentagon, according to people familiar with the matter… The deployment of Claude occurred through...
GE Aerospace Unveils Sustainable Fan Tech and Fighter
At the GE Aerospace booth during the Singapore Airshow 2026, it was more than just engines on display. From the CFM RISE Program’s open fan concept pointing to the future of sustainable propulsion, to the F110 engine that powers fighter fleets...
USAF Considers Mini‑Missiles to Defend Tankers
Mini Missiles Used To Shoot Down Incoming Missiles Eyed For USAF Tanker Fleet Tankers are increasingly vulnerable as enemy long-range missiles evolve, leading the USAF to explore 'hard kill' solutions. Story: https://t.co/B429nwNjht
USS Truxtun Collides with USNS Supply: Feb 2026 Incident
Collision Between USS Truxtun and USNS Supply, Feb 11, 2026. Check out full video on YouTube at What's Going on With Shipping #truxtun #supply #collision
Admiral Warns Extending Ford Deployment Risks Maintenance, Crew Strain
Navy’s Top Admiral Previously Said He Would “Push Back” Against Extending USS Gerald R. Ford’s Deployment The admiral said keeping the carrier, which was just sent to the Middle East, at sea could result in big maintenance repercussions & crew strain. https://t.co/ae4GE8qeU3
Trump to Unveil Multi‑billion Gaza Reconstruction and UN Force Plan
President Trump plans to announce multi-billion dollar reconstruction plan and detail plans for a U.N.-authorized stabilization force for Gaza at first Board of Peace meeting next week. https://t.co/BsAlHu5uhT
Deep Dives Into Urban Warfare: Lessons From Global Battles
One of my most important long term projects is our urban warfare historical case studies. Kyiv, Mosul, Fallujah, Marawi, Gaza, Shusha, Stalingrad, Aachen, Hue, etc. Detailed analysis of what really happened @WarInstitute with @JaysonGeroux @LiamSCollins https://t.co/mEQLZKuAw9
Historical Perspective Highlights Israel‑Iran Concerns Despite Bias
Great history and vision of what should be concerning Israel and Iran from @PahlaviReza Despite the loaded and biased question.
Rabois Predicts Trump May Block China's Nvidia Chip Access
Here's @rabois saying he thinks the Trump administration may ultimately reverse course on letting China get access to Nvidia's best chips https://t.co/XImO09oRyf
China's Expedition Cloud Trains Hackers on Replica Critical Networks
Leaked files detail a training platform called "Expedition Cloud" that is designed to allow China's hackers to practice hacking critical infrastructure of China’s opponents in South China Sea and Indochina region using replicas of those networks https://t.co/jbJhbj9JRi
US Should Avoid Iran Strike During Ramadan, Preserve Allies
This is the last weekend before Ramadan (2/17 - 3/26) and it happens to be a 3 day US holiday. Not that someone with Trump's risk appetite couldn't strike Iran during the holiest month of the Islamic calendar, it certainly...
Cross‑platform Tool Scans Bluetooth, Resolves Private Addresses
Just released a new tool that scans for Bluetooth devices including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) devices. It will scan for all, filtered by MAC, or if you have the Identity Resolving Keys (IRK), can be used to determine the Resolvable...
US Force Surge Risks Overstretch, Sacrifices Future Readiness
Shifting a carrier strike group and F-35s from the Caribbean to the Middle East shows the US can surge forces, but raises the real risk of overstretch. Repeated retaskings are trading tomorrow’s readiness for today’s pressure campaigns. For @TheTerminal: https://t.co/JBJinJmRNS...
Operation Sindoor Ushered a New Indian Army
Really looking forward to listening to this @Gen_RajShukla deep dive on the Indian Army. I fully agree. Operation Sindoor saw a new Indian Army and a new India.
IDF Vows to Disarm Hamas, Demilitarize Gaza
The @IDF is ready to return to disarming Hamas and demilitarizing the Gaza Strip. Both vital for peace and stability to be achieved.
DoD China List Document Removed From Federal Register
Just in on DoD China List: (Bloomberg) -- Document that previously listed Alibaba, Baidu, BYD, Huawei, Nio, TP-Link among companies connected to the Chinese military is no longer available in the Federal Register.
New Video Reveals Details of Truxtun‑Supply Collision
#Collision Between USS #Truxtun and USNS #Supply, Feb 11, 2026. Clearer quality video. Check full analysis on YouTube at What's Going on With Shipping.
Ford CSG Shift Highlights Readiness Tradeoffs in Carrier Strategy
Before news broke that the Ford CSG was moving from the Caribbean to the Middle East, we were already talking carrier chess on @BloombergTV. I laid out for @JMathieuReports & @kaileyleinz what this deployment really means for readiness and the...
Starlink Shutdown Blinds Russian Drones and Command Posts
“The shutdown didn’t only reduce Russian drone strikes. On the front lines, it also partially blinded Russian command posts and drone crews that relied on Starlink for communication, livestreams and more-precise control of assaults as commanders got real-time footage of...
NATO Remains Vital Amid Transatlantic Trust Crisis
for all the criticism and hand wringing, nato continues to serve a useful role for all members and nobody is trying to leave it or replace it. there’s a crisis of trust in the transatlantic relationship. but not an existential...