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A memorandum of understanding with Iran isn't peace – it's a fragile ceasefire with a regime whose ideology traces back to 1,400 years of jihad. While Tehran projects strength and defiance, U.S. negotiators face an impossible choice: lock in a deal that leaves the most dangerous issues unresolved or hold the line and risk escalation.On this episode of Foreign Podicy, FDD military experts RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and Bradley Bowman join host Cliff May to break down why the 60-day negotiation window with Iran isn't just a diplomatic deadline; it's a crux in the global conflict between free nations and their sworn enemies.
A memorandum of understanding with Iran isn't peace – it's a fragile ceasefire with a regime whose ideology traces back to 1,400 years of jihad. While Tehran projects strength and defiance, U.S. negotiators face an impossible choice: lock in a deal that leaves the most dangerous issues unresolved or hold the line and risk escalation.On this episode of Foreign Podicy, FDD military experts RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and Bradley Bowman join host Cliff May to break down why the 60-day negotiation window with Iran isn't just a diplomatic deadline; it's a crux in the global conflict between free nations and their sworn enemies.
FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP episode of the FDD Morning Brief featuring FDD experts Miad Maleki, Bradley Bowman, and Ahmad Sharawi.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
The world is entering a more dangerous era.China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are increasingly coordinating across every domain of power. Wars are expanding. Nuclear threats are rising. America's alliances are under pressure. And President Trump is heading to Beijing.Former U.S. ambassador to Finland and Turkey Eric S. Edelman joins guest host Bradley Bowman to break down the new age of great-power competition — from China and NATO to Iran, deterrence, and the growing risk of global conflict.
The world is entering a more dangerous era.China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are increasingly coordinating across every domain of power. Wars are expanding. Nuclear threats are rising. America's alliances are under pressure. And President Trump is heading to Beijing.Former U.S. ambassador to Finland and Turkey Eric S. Edelman joins guest host Bradley Bowman to break down the new age of great-power competition — from China and NATO to Iran, deterrence, and the growing risk of global conflict.
It's Monday, May 4th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Christians in Afghanistan have to remain invisible to survive Being known as a Christian in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan brings lethal danger. In this country of 44 million people, Muslims comprise more than 99.7% of the population, reports International Christian Concern. Not long after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they declared that no Christians were remaining in the country. Though the Taliban claimed no Christians remained, Christians still exist—surviving only by remaining invisible. The Taliban reportedly searched door to door and through smartphones, hunting for any signs of Christian conversion. This reality highlights the core argument: Afghan Christians must stay hidden to survive. The situation also became highly precarious for other religious minorities, including Sikhs, Hindus, and the country's last Jewish resident. According to Open Doors, Afghanistan is the 11th most dangerous country for Christians worldwide. In John 15:19, Jesus said to His disciples, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” Trump withdraws 5,000 troops from Germany The United States will withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany in the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon said Friday, fulfilling President Donald Trump's threat as he clashes with the German leader over the U.S. war with Iran, reports the Associated Press. Trump had threatened to withdraw some troops from the NATO ally earlier this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized Washington's lack of strategy in the war. Germany hosts several U.S. military facilities, including the headquarters of its European and Africa commands, Ramstein Air Base and a medical center in Landstuhl, where casualties from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were treated. U.S. nuclear missiles are also stationed in the country. The number of troops leaving Germany would be 14% of the 36,000 American service members stationed there. News of the troop withdrawal drew swift pushback from Democrats in Congress as well as a hawkish Washington think tank. They said the move will benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin and weaken U.S. security interests. Bradley Bowman, a scholar at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said the U.S. military's presence in Germany and elsewhere in Europe “not only strengthens deterrence against additional Kremlin aggression but also facilitates the projection of American military power into the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Africa.” Federal appeals court blocks mail-order abortion pills Ready for some great pro-life news? On May 1st, a federal court issued a ruling that temporarily blocked the ability to send the Abortion Kill Pill by mail. Of American mothers who abort, 63% choose to use abortion drugs. If ultimately upheld, this decision could save tens of thousands of babies from abortions, reports LifeNews.com. A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily blocked a Biden administration rule allowing the abortion drug, mifepristone, to be dispensed through the mail. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called the ruling “a huge victory for victims and survivors of Biden's reckless mail-order abortion drug regime. We are so grateful for the tenacity of [Louisiana] Attorney General Liz Murrill, abortion drug coercion survivor Rosalie Markezich, and all our allies demanding action. “Women and children suffer and state sovereignty is violated every day the Food and Drug Administration allows abortion drugs to flood the mail – harms that are no mere accident, but predictable outcomes of the FDA's unscientific removal of safeguards like in-person doctor visits.” Republican State candidate found dead An investigation is underway into the death of a Republican state Senate candidate in Oklahoma who was found dead in his pickup truck on April 30th in a wildlife refuge, reports The Western Journal. Barry Christian, a candidate for state Senate District 38, had disappeared on April 28th, according to KOCO-TV. The Beckham County Sheriff's Office said a hunter reported to authorities that he had seen the wreck of a pickup truck that appeared to have crashed off a high ridge. 149th anniversary of God's locust miracle in Minnesota And finally, from 1873 to 1877, grasshoppers, also known as locusts, destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of crops in Minnesota, leaving eggs in the soil for the next season. On April 26, 1877, Minnesota Republican Governor John Pillsbury declared a statewide day of prayer and fasting to combat a devastating four-year Rocky Mountain locust plague, which was threatening widespread starvation. Schools and businesses closed, with many residents taking the day seriously, asking God for deliverance. Shortly after the day of prayer, an unseasonable cold snap and snow arrived, freezing and killing millions of hatching larvae grasshopper nymphs. It was divine intervention. God answered their prayers. Prayer At The Heart invites 1 million Christians to pray for an unbeliever Speaking of the power of prayer, Prayer At The Heart, a group founded in 2021, to pray for America, launched 50 days of prayer, inviting one million Christians to pray for the salvations of a friend or loved one through May 24th. Franklin Graham said, “The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association desires to express its appreciation and support for the efforts of Prayer At The Heart to see one million people come to Christ by Pentecost Sunday, 2026. This could be the beginning of the spiritual awakening our nation so desperately needs, a renewal found only in Jesus Christ.” Get access to a free 68-page, 50-day prayer guide through a special link in our transcript today at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, check out their online ‘Prayer Wall' with scheduled prayer in every state for an hour each week. In Jeremiah 29:12-13, God said, “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Monday, May 4th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
As U.S. and Israeli strikes pound Iran's military and Tehran threatens shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict is entering a dangerous new phase.FDD's Bradley Bowman joins Bill to break down what the strikes have achieved — and the harder question that remains: is the goal to weaken the regime… or bring it down?
THE MILITARY PARTNERSHIPS FUELING EPIC FURY---FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer hosts a special SITREP featuring FDD experts Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus and Bradley Bowman. They examine the U.S.-Israel military synchronization powering Operation Epic Fury as it unfolds.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/
HEADLINE 1: More countries are planning to contribute troops to the International Stabilization Force in Gaza.HEADLINE 2: The Lebanese government provided an update on disarming Hezbollah.HEADLINE 3: Qatar is taking some heat right now from an unlikely place: the Israeli left.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Andrew Tabler of The Washington Institute.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"Allies, Adversaries, and the Axis" - Bradley Bowman and LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, Foreign Podicy"Did Iran Use Chemical Weapons on Protesters?" - Andrea Stricker (writing with Gregory D. Koblentz), The National Interest"Trump could be missing the opportunity to rebuild the Navy efficiently and quickly" - RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, New York Post
Washington just unveiled its new National Defense Strategy. But is it a serious blueprint for deterrence—or a dangerous exercise in wishful thinking? Host Cliff May is joined by Bradley Bowman and Mark Montgomery to examine whether America is underfunding its military on the brink of great-power conflict, why China's cyber war is being soft-pedaled, and what the strategy gets right—and wrong—on Taiwan, Ukraine, Israel, and deterrence itself.
Washington just unveiled its new National Defense Strategy. But is it a serious blueprint for deterrence—or a dangerous exercise in wishful thinking? Host Cliff May is joined by Bradley Bowman and Mark Montgomery to examine whether America is underfunding its military on the brink of great-power conflict, why China's cyber war is being soft-pedaled, and what the strategy gets right—and wrong—on Taiwan, Ukraine, Israel, and deterrence itself.
Politicians love to tell Americans what we think about U.S. leadership, our military, our allies, and our enemies — but the data tells a different story. A new Reagan National Defense Survey cuts through the noise to reveal what Americans actually believe during a moment of strategic flux. To unpack the findings and what they mean for U.S. power, deterrence, and America's role in the world — guest host Bradley Bowman is joined by Roger Zakheim, Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute and co-founder of the Reagan National Defense Forum.
Politicians love to tell Americans what we think about U.S. leadership, our military, our allies, and our enemies — but the data tells a different story. A new Reagan National Defense Survey cuts through the noise to reveal what Americans actually believe during a moment of strategic flux. To unpack the findings and what they mean for U.S. power, deterrence, and America's role in the world — guest host Bradley Bowman is joined by Roger Zakheim, Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute and co-founder of the Reagan National Defense Forum.
Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Dana Stroul, who serves as Director of Research and Shelly and Michael Kassen Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
HEADLINE 1: The U.N. Security Council blessed Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza.HEADLINE 2: Syria opened its first trial over the mass killings of Alawite minorities last spring.HEADLINE 3: Yee Haw! The State of Texas designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Eran Lahav, the head of the Middle East Department at the David Institute for Policy & Research of IDSF.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces:"Maritime Protection of Taiwan's Energy Vulnerability" - FDD Memo"US Military Dominance Is the Backbone of Prosperity" - Saeed Ghasseminejad, The National Interest"What Washington Should Demand From Riyadh Before Providing the F-35" - Bradley Bowman and Justin Leopold-Cohen, Real Clear Defense
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MBS COMES TO TOWN?HEADLINE 1: The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on over two dozen targets that support Iran's ballistic missile and drone production networks.HEADLINE 2: U.S. Central Command provided an update on operational activity in Syria.HEADLINE 3: Israeli forces dismantled a Hamas network in the West Bank.--FDD Senior Research Analyst Natalie Ecanow, filling in for Jonathan Schanzer, provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Atlantic Council Nonresident Senior Fellow Sarah Zaaimi.Learn more at: fdd.org/fddmorningbrief--Featured FDD Pieces: "Previewing the Trump-MBS Meeting" - Jonathan Schanzer, Edmund Fitton-Brown, and Bradley Bowman, FDD"With voting in Iraq complete, government formation begins" - Bridget Toomey, FDD's Long War Journal "The war against Christians" - Clifford D. May, The Washington Times
WHAT HISTORICAL LESSONS MUST SHAPE GAZA'S FUTURE? HEADLINE 1: Israel is at its wit's end with the porous Egyptian border.HEADLINE 2: Israel and Greece wrapped up joint military exercises this week. HEADLINE 3: Turkey held a terrorist summit in Istanbul on Wednesday.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer delivers timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Hebrew University Professor Netta Barak-Corren.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/--Featured FDD Pieces:"Learning the Right Lessons From ‘A House of Dynamite'" - Bradley Bowman and David Adesnik, Real Clear Defense"Iranians Challenge the Regime by Celebrating Cyrus the Great" - Janatan Sayeh and Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD"The US must not endorse Russia and China's vision for cybersecurity" - John Yoo and Ivana Stradner, The Hill
Venezuelan Military Action and the Need for Congressional War Powers Debate Bradley Bowman John Batchelor speaks with Bradley Bowman of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies about the possibility of military action against Venezuela's illegitimate Maduro regime. Bowman stresses that before opening fire, the administration must brief Congress, build bipartisan support, and present a realistic plan. Drawing lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan, he warns that while destroying is easy, building is tougher, and war is always unpredictable. 1920
America's military faces extraordinary threats — and when resources lag, missions can fail. Guest host Bradley Bowman is joined by Krista Auchenbach of CSIS to discuss her forthcoming report, alongside Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, as they unpack how presidents convey orders, how the Pentagon manages risk, and how to avoid a dangerous ends-means mismatch.
America's military faces extraordinary threats — and when resources lag, missions can fail. Guest host Bradley Bowman is joined by Krista Auchenbach of CSIS to discuss her forthcoming report, alongside Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, as they unpack how presidents convey orders, how the Pentagon manages risk, and how to avoid a dangerous ends-means mismatch.
Bradley Bowman, Chinese Military Parade and US Security Bradley Bowman discusses a recent massive Chinese military parade, noting the presence of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un, with the president of Iran also in attendance. He views the parade as a demonstration of China's decades-long effort to build a military capable of defeating the US in the Pacific, highlighting the erosion of American security and increased likelihood of a Taiwan Strait conflict. Specific concerns include modernized hypersonic YJ seriesanti-ship missiles challenging US naval interception, the DF61 intercontinental ballistic missile aimed at the US, and a low-observable tailless drone for manned fighters. 11908 PEKING
IS IRAN'S "RING OF FIRE" STRATEGY BURNING BRIGHT — OR BURNING OUT?HEADLINE 1: Israel launched a satellite into space.HEADLINE 2: Apparently, Tehran had increased its stockpile of enriched uranium in the weeks before Israel launched its first preemptive strike on the program in June.HEADLINE 3: The Shin Bet thwarted a plot to assassinate Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.--FDD Executive Director Jon Schanzer provides timely situational updates and analysis, followed by a conversation with Emily Schrader, an Israeli journalist, author, and activist who serves as a news anchor at ILTV News Israel.--Featured FDD Articles:"Turkey's Quiet Relationship with ISIS" — Sinan Ciddi in The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune"Xi's military parade showed just how dangerous China has become" — Bradley Bowman in The New York Post"10 Takeaways From Simulated Attacks on Taiwan's Energy Sector" — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Craig Singleton, Johanna Yang, and Jack Burnham, FDD Insight
WHY ARE LEGACY MEDIA OUTLETS AMPLIFYING HAMAS' NARRATIVE? HEADLINE 1: Hamas has possibly agreed to a 60-day ceasefire with Israel. But don't hold your breath. The terms are 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences. HEADLINE 2: Yesterday, the families of the “Beautiful Six” commemorated one year since Hamas murdered their loved ones in cold blood. HEADLINE 3: Israel and Australia are locking horns — and things are only getting worse.--FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer provides timely updates and in-depth analysis of the latest Middle East headlines, followed by a conversation with Jonas Du, a fellow at The Free Press. Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief/--Featured FDD Articles: "Donald Trump Set a Nuclear Precedent. Now He Must Enforce It" - Andrea Stricker and Henry Sokolski in The National Interest"The urgent need to procure more THAAD interceptors" - Bradley Bowman and Ryan Brobst in Defense News"Top US teachers' union supports Palestinian counterpart with terror-linked leader" - Brandy Shufutinsky in JNS
In 2005, Vladimir Putin said the fall of the Soviet Union was the “greatest political catastrophe of the 20th century.” As Sen. Mitch McConnell pointed out, that should have told us everything we needed to know about this ex-KGB lieutenant colonel. He made the remark at an event in the U.S. Senate discussing a new report on Putin's war in Ukraine. The report was prepared by a task force of 22 foreign policy experts. The coordinator of the task force is Daniel Twining, president of the International Republican Institute. He joins host Cliff May along with FDD's Bradley Bowman — both also task force members — to unpack findings.
In 2005, Vladimir Putin said the fall of the Soviet Union was the “greatest political catastrophe of the 20th century.” As Sen. Mitch McConnell pointed out, that should have told us everything we needed to know about this ex-KGB lieutenant colonel. He made the remark at an event in the U.S. Senate discussing a new report on Putin's war in Ukraine. The report was prepared by a task force of 22 foreign policy experts. The coordinator of the task force is Daniel Twining, president of the International Republican Institute. He joins host Cliff May along with FDD's Bradley Bowman — both also task force members — to unpack findings.
Michael Allen talks with Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Bradley Bowman, who attacks the myth that supporting Ukraine has weakened America's defenses for Taiwan. Bradley, who's senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power, details how the war in Ukraine has become a brutal "World War I with drones"-- an attrition battle where crucial aid is still needed.
PREVIEW: ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY: Colleague Bradley Bowman of FDD reports that there is too little time for the US and its allies to prepare for wars in Europe and Asia simultaneously. More to come. 1971 VIETNAM
The Houthis are back at it—sinking ships, killing civilians, and holding crews hostage in the Red Sea. Bill is joined by his FDD colleagues Bridget Toomey and Bradley Bowman to unpack the details and discuss why Iran-backed proxies keep getting away with it—including how the U.S. “ceasefire” deal may have emboldened them. Also: Where's Europe? And why does everyone seem more afraid of offending Tehran than protecting global shipping and freedom of navigation?
Does arming Ukraine come at the expense of our military readiness—or is it an investment in it?Bill asks his FDD colleague and military expert Bradley Bowman to set the record straight on what it really takes for the US to defeat its enemies in the long war — and why deterring China, Russia, and Iran simultaneously is essential for American national security.From munitions math and Pentagon priorities to strained stockpiles, weapons we're sending, and weapons we're not making fast enough, Brad covers the bases to illustrate why helping our democratic partners do damage to our enemies now is an investment in saving American lives later.
Recent reports indicate that the White House is looking to find a way to move past Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missiles, and pave the way for Ankara to return to the F-35 program. Sinan Ciddi and Bradley Bowman, the authors of the recent op-ed “S-400s or not, don't give Turkey the F-35”, join Thanos Davelis to make the case that even if Turkey gives up the S-400s, F-35s should be off the table for both practical and moral reasons.Bradley Bowman is senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at FDD and director of its Turkey Program.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:S-400s or not, don't give Turkey the F-35US expands military footprint in Greece as priorities evolveForeign minister in Benghazi Sunday for high-level talks
Guest host Bradley Bowman is joined by U.S. Air Force pilots Lt. Col. Brian “Bud” Leitzke and Lt. Col. Kevin “Rowdy” Murphy for an exclusive firsthand account of April 13, 2024, when Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel. Bud and Rowdy's squadron scrambled into the night sky in one of the largest U.S. air combat missions in years. What followed was a high-stakes, real-time defense of Israeli and American interests.
Guest host Bradley Bowman is joined by U.S. Air Force pilots Lt. Col. Brian “Bud” Leitzke and Lt. Col. Kevin “Rowdy” Murphy for an exclusive firsthand account of April 13, 2024, when Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel. Bud and Rowdy's squadron scrambled into the night sky in one of the largest U.S. air combat missions in years. What followed was a high-stakes, real-time defense of Israeli and American interests.
NATO summits are usually dry and wonky affairs. This one was different.To unpack what was said, what wasn't, and what actually matters, host Cliff May is joined by his FDD colleagues RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and Bradley Bowman to discuss alliance politics, military power projection, strategic signaling, and more.
NATO summits aren't usually headline material. This one was.To unpack what was said, what wasn't, and what actually matters, host Cliff May is joined by his FDD colleagues RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery and Bradley Bowman to discuss alliance politics, military power projection, cyber threats to strategic signaling, and more.
On this special SITREP episode of the FDD Morning Brief, Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer is joined by FDD Senior Fellow Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus and FDD CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman to assess the fallout from Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran with a ceasefire now in effect — and evaluate the current status of Tehran's nuclear ambitions.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
IRAN: B-2S AND BOMB DAMAGE ASSESSMENT RYAN BROBST, BRADLEY BOWMAN FDD, 1937 SHANGHAI
Tune in to the FDD Morning Brief for a special SITREP assessing the damage from the U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. FDD Executive Director Jonathan Schanzer is joined by RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation; Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power; and Behnam Ben Taleblu, Senior Director of FDD's Iran Program for a comprehensive analysis.Learn more at: https://www.fdd.org/fddmorningbrief
Bradley Bowman and David Adesnik join Bill to unpack the U.S. decision to legitimize Ahmed al-Shara (AKA Jolani), the ex-al-Qaeda leader now heading HTS in Syria; other regional players seeking influence in the Syria vacuum, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia; and broader U.S. policy failures in Syria.
Germany's parliament blocked the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey earlier this month. This decision follows the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, and comes amid reports that Turkey is pressing the US to lift CAATSA sanctions and sell it F-35s. Sinan Ciddi, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and an expert on Turkish politics, and Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at FDD, join Thanos Davelis as we break down why Germany's move is significant and whether it should serve as an example to the Trump administration.You can read the articles we discuss on our podcast here:‘Attack on Democracy': Germany Blocks Eurofighter Sale to Turkey for Imprisoning Opposition LeaderTime For a New Policy Toward ErdoganFinMin sends message of recovery from IMF Spring MeetingsGreece announces 1 billion euros in financial benefits after posting 1.3% budget surplus
The Indo-Pacific is one of the most consequential regions in the world. It's home to economies, trade routes, and allies vital to American prosperity and security.It is also a region where the Chinese Communist Party, building on decades of defense sector cooperation with Russia, has expanded its military capabilities at a breathtaking pace. The more capable the Chinese military has become, the more aggressively Beijing has acted to coerce its neighbors and undermine American interests.Someone who grapples daily with this reality is General Ronald Clark, the Commander of U.S. Army Pacific, or USARPAC.For those who are not denizens of the Department of Defense, USARPAC is the Army service component command within U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. In other words, you can think of him as the top American soldier in the Pacific. A combat leader with decades of experience, General Clark has led American soldiers in Europe, the Middle East, and the Pacific. He's a veteran of Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. But now he focuses full time on the Pacific.He joins guest host Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, to discuss why the Indo-Pacific matters to Americans, the role of land power there, and what the Army is doing to deter and defeat adversaries—including forward-positioning forces, conducting rigorous training, and deepening cooperation with key allies such as the Philippines.
Some might think of veterans issues and national security issues separately, but they are intricately intertwined. There's a moral imperative to care for those who have risked their lives to defend freedom. There's also a national security imperative to do so.This fact raises several questions: How are America's veterans doing? How well are we taking care of those who have served our country in uniform? How can we do better?To discuss these questions and more, as well as some new research, guest host Bradley Bowman is joined by Marcus Ruzek and retired Navy Captain Dan Goldenberg. Marcus RuzekMarcus is Senior Program Director at The Marcus Foundation. The Marcus Foundation is a leader in philanthropy, specifically in the areas of military and veterans' support. He has worked at The Marcus Foundation for over 10 years, supporting its Free Enterprise initiatives, National Security/Foreign Policy, and Free Market Ideals programs. An infantryman and combat veteran, Marcus deployed to both Afghanistan and Iraq. He commanded a Special Forces “A Team” which partnered with Kurdish Peshmerga in the fight against Islamic State terrorists (aka: ISIS). Dan GoldenbergDan had led the Call of Duty Endowment or CODE since 2013. During his tenure there, the Call of Duty Endowment has become the largest philanthropic funder of veteran employment, backing more than 150,000 high-quality job placements and driving more than $9 billion in economic value for veterans and their families. Dan is a retired Navy Captain. His military service includes four tours as a commanding officer, as well as serving as a carrier-based naval flight officer, and special assistant to four Secretaries of the Navy. He also has two decades of business experience. Discussed in the episodeCODE ReportH.R. McMaster's article "Preserving the Warrior Ethos"
#ISRAEL "TIERED REVIEW" AND NECESSARY ARMS. BRADLEY BOWMAN, FDD 1890 JERUSALEM
As President Trump returns to the White House, he has no more important task than defense of the homeland and ensuring “peace through strength.” This is because U.S. national security is threatened by the deepening entente among the dictators in Beijing, Moscow, Tehran, Pyongyang — an Axis of Aggressors increasingly friendly a Star Wars cantina of terrorist groups.National security requires a military machine that can deter enemies who are rational, and defeat those who are not. How can this be achieved — and what exactly should be the president's top and immediate national security priorities?Host Cliff May asks his FDD colleagues RADM (Ret) Mark Montgomery and Bradley Bowman.
GOOD EVENING: The show begins in Syria with a reignited civil war... 1860 Damascus CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9:15-9:30 Part 1/2: SYRIA: Who is Abu Mohammad al-Julani? Bill Roggio, FDD; Husain Haqqani, Hudson Part 2/2: SYRIA: Continued discussion. Bill Roggio, FDD; Husain Haqqani, Hudson 9:30-9:45 LEBANON: Hezbollah begins reorganizing. David Daoud & Bill Roggio, FDD 9:45-10:00 IRAQ: Ketaib Hezbollah enters the battlefield. David Daoud & Bill Roggio, FDD SECOND HOUR 10:00-10:15 SYRIA: Turkey backs the jihadists against Assad. Malcolm Hoenlein, @Conf_of_pres; Thad McCotter, @theamgreatness 10:15-10:30 LEBANON: Untrusted Hezbollah. Malcolm Hoenlein, @Conf_of_pres; Thad McCotter, @theamgreatness 10:30-10:45 UKRAINE: Weapons too late. John Hardie & Bill Roggio, FDD 10:45-11:00 UKRAINE: General Frost enters. John Hardie & Bill Roggio, FDD THIRD HOUR 11:00-11:30 ICC: The recklessness of the allegations and warrants. Peter Berkowitz, Hoover Institution 11:30-11:45 JAPAN: Arming the Okinawa Island chain. Lance Gatling, Nexial Research; Gordon Chang, Gatestone 11:45-12:00 PRC: Another condemned Defence Minister. Rick Fisher, Gordon Chang FOURTH HOUR 12:00-12:15 UKRAINE: Rebuilding two badly damaged nations in the challenge. Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Washington Post 12:15-12:30 DOD: The need to fully fund the US military. Bradley Bowman, FDD 12:30-12:45 NEW WORLD REPORT: Mexico and Canada react profoundly differently to border security. Joseph Humire, @SecureFreeSoc; Ernesto Araujo, Former Foreign Minister Republic of Brazil 12:45-1:00 AM NEW WORLD REPORT: The advantages with Marco Rubio at State. Joseph Humire, @SecureFreeSoc; Ernesto Araujo, Former Foreign Minister Republic of Brazil
DoD: The need to fully fund the US military to 3-5% of GDP. Bradley Bowman, FDD 2004: B-29 Flight engineer 1946
DOD: Colleague Bradley Bowman presents the need to fully fund the U.S. military for its challenges of simultaneous conflicts worldwide and the persistent threat of large-scale and nuclear wars ahead. More later. 1967 Bell helicopter Vietnam
#TAIWAN:The debate over defending Taiwan. Bradley Bowman, FDD 1895 Taiwan
GOOD EVENING: The shiow begins in Erie County, Pennsylvania, where the winner of the state mmay well be decided..... 1890 Erie County CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9-915 #KeystoneReport: The critical diner vote of Erie County spells it "dinor." Salena Zito, Middle of Somewhere, @DCExaminer Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, New York Post, SalenaZito.com 915-930 #PacificWatch: #VegasReport: Soon the Vegas train from LA to the Strip. @JCBliss 930-945 #TAIWAN: The debate over defending Taiwan. Bradley Bowman, FDD 945-1000 #"Israel Alone:" New volume by Bernard-Henri Lévy, re October 7. Peter Berkowitz, Hoover Institution SECOND HOUR 10-1015 CALIFORNIA: GOP down 47 to 1 since 2002 and no winning prospect in sight. Bill Whalen, Hoover Institution 1015-1030 #SPACEFORCE: Triple the budget to start. Henry Sokolski, NPEC 1030-1045 SPACEX: Spacewalk success. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com 1045-1100 NASA: JPL: Voyager 1 nominal. Bob Zimmerman BehindtheBlack.com THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 5/8: The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower by Michel Paradis (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Light-Battle-Eisenhower-American-Superpower/dp/0358682371/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= On June 6, 1944, General Dwight Eisenhower addressed the thousands of American troops preparing to invade Normandy, exhorting them to embrace the "Great Crusade" they faced. Then, in a fleeting moment alone, he drafted a resignation letter in case the invasion failed. In The Light of Battle, Michel Paradis, acclaimed author of Last Mission to Tokyo, paints a vivid portrait of Dwight Eisenhower as he learns to navigate the crosscurrents of diplomacy, politics, strategy, family, and fame with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance. In a world of giants—Churchill, Roosevelt, De Gaulle, Marshall, MacArthur—it was a barefoot boy from Abilene, Kansas, who would master the art of power and become a modern-day George Washington. Drawing upon meticulous research and a voluminous body of newly discovered records, letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts from three continents, Paradis brings Eisenhower to life, as a complicated man who craved simplicity, a genial cipher whose smile was a lethal political weapon. With a page-turning pace and an eye for the overlooked, Paradis interweaves the grand arc of history with more human concerns, bringing readers into the private moments that led to Eisenhower's most pivotal decisions. By deftly integrating the personal and the political, he reveals how Eisenhower's rise both reflected and was integral to America's rise as a global superpower. An unflinching look at how character is forged, and leadership is learned, The Light of Battle breathes new life into the man who made "the leader of the free world" the mantle of the American presidency. 1115-1130 6/8: The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower by Michel Paradis (Author) 1130-1145 7/8: The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower by Michel Paradis (Author) 1145-1200 8/8: The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the American Superpower by Michel Paradis (Author) FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 #RUSSIA: Putin is a KGB thinker who practices empty threats. Ivana Stradner, FDD 1215-1230 #LANCASTER COUNTY REPORT: SEVERE MARKDOWNS AND LIGHT TRAFFIC. Jim McTague, former Washington Editor, Barrons. @MCTagueJ. Author of the "Martin and Twyla Boundary Series." #FriendsofHistoryDebatingSociety 1230-1245 #CANADA: Untroubled by the mass migration that burdens the US and Europe, Conrad Black National Post 1245-100 AM #ITALY: Debating immigrant citizenship in a nation that needs young families. Lorenzo Fiori, Ansaldo Foundation