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B-21 Raider. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force. B-21 Raider. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

200 New B-21 Raider Bombers Could All Fail Thanks to a 1957 Tanker the U.S. Air Force Is Still Using

B-21 Raider: America’s Most Advanced Bomber Has a 1950s Achilles’ Heel: Look at the photograph the Air Force dropped this week. Not at the...

3 hours ago
The first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) steams in formation with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and other coalition warships during a formation transit, Oct. 25, 2022. Ford is on its inaugural deployment conducting training and operations alongside NATO Allies and partners to enhance integration for future operations and demonstrate the U.S. Navy’s commitment to a peaceful, stable and conflict free Atlantic region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sawyer Connally)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The Strait of Hormuz Will Be Closed as Soon as the U.S. Navy Leaves

Iran Opened the Strait to Make Payroll. Not to Make Peace.

22 hours ago
220213-N-TL932-1221 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 13, 2022) Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), back, and USS Nimitz (CVN 68) transit the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 13, 2022. Vinson and Nimitz are currently conducting routine maritime operations in U.S. 3rd Fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Joshua Sapien)

Trillions - 19FortyFive

The Strait of Hormuz ‘Reopening’ Is Just a PR Stunt

Oil crashed 13% on Friday after Iran announced the Strait of Hormuz was ‘open for business.’ But ships still need Iranian permission to transit,...

23 hours ago
(Feb. 3, 2026) - The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed Naval Station Norfolk for a scheduled deployment on Feb. 3, 2026. The ship’s company includes approximately 300 Sailors, with an additional 26 embarked air wing personnel assigned to the “Valkyries” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50. U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime ready forces to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derek Cole)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The Strait of Hormuz Is Open — If Israel Stops Hitting Hezbollah in Lebanon. That’s the Deal.

Oil Just Crashed 13%. The Strait of Hormuz Reopened. But Iran Set a Condition. What Happens Next?

24 hours ago

Dr. Andrew A. Michta: Geostrategy
240105-N-LK647-1019 STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR (Jan. 5, 2024) A view from the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) of the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), as the Ford Carrier Strike Group passes through the Strait of Gibraltar, Jan. 5, 2024. Normandy is part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group and is currently operating in the Mediterranean Sea, at the direction of the Secretary of Defense. The U.S. maintains forward-deployed, ready, and postured forces to deter aggression and support security and stability around the world. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Malachi Lakey)

Dr. Andrew A. Michta: Geostrategy

The Iran War Is Giving China Time, Russia Money, and North Korea an Opening

Iran: A War at the Wrong Time and Place: As the war in Iran continues and analysts debate how long it will last and...

4 days ago
M1 Abrams Tanks for Ukraine. Image: Creative Commons. M1 Abrams Tanks for Ukraine. Image: Creative Commons.

Dr. Andrew A. Michta: Geostrategy

Russia Is the Big Winner in the Iran War

Strategic expert Andrew A. Michta explores how Russia is capitalizing on the Iran War to consolidate gains in Europe. With U.S. resources drained and...

March 22, 2026
Baltic Air Policing is a peacetime mission in which NATO Allies deploy fighter jets to cover the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Baltic Air Policing is a peacetime mission in which NATO Allies deploy fighter jets to cover the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Dr. Andrew A. Michta: Geostrategy

NATO’s 5% Pledge: A Hollow Victory for a Dependent Europe?

Key Points and Summary – The recent NATO summit in The Hague, where European allies agreed to a new 5% of GDP defense spending...

June 29, 2025
Russian President Putin. Image Credit: Creative Commons. Russian President Putin. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Dr. Andrew A. Michta: Geostrategy

Why Putin Believes He Can Win His ‘Civilizational War’ Against the West

The Trump administration made the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire its priority foreign policy initiative shortly after the inauguration. Setting aside Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric that he...

May 28, 2025

Smart Bombs
F-35 Fighter

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Gut Punch: Canada Wanted the F-35 But the Price Spiked and the JAS 39 Gripen Looks Great On Paper

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has ordered a review of his country’s deal to buy 88 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets. Saab has responded...

2 hours ago
H-20 Bomber from YouTube Screenshot H-20 Bomber from YouTube Screenshot

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

China’s H-20 Stealth Bomber Has Been 6 Years in the Making. U.S. General Says ‘They’re Just Not There Yet.’

The notional Xi’an H-20 stealth bomber is, at least on paper, kind of a big deal, as it represents the People’s Republic of China’s...

2 hours ago

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

China Plans 9 Aircraft Carriers by 2035. The U.S. Navy Has 11 — and Can’t Build Replacements Fast Enough to Keep That Number

According to recent reports from U.S. officials, China intends to obtain a fleet of nine aircraft carriers by 2035. Currently, China operates three aircraft...

2 hours ago
J-20S Stealth Fighter Landing J-20S Stealth Fighter Landing

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Forget the J-20: It’s Been 47 Years Since China Fought a Real War

Key Points: Forget the J-20. Forget the Fujian-class carrier. Forget the DF-41 missiles and the 2-million-man Army and the largest navy on Earth. The...

4 hours ago

Trillions
STRAIT OF MALACCA (June 18, 2021) The Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) transits the South China Sea with the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Halsey (DDG 97) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67). Reagan is part of Task Force 70/Carrier Strike Group 5, conducting underway operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rawad Madanat)

Trillions - 19FortyFive

There Is Only 1 Way to Solve the Strait of Hormuz Crisis

In 2012, the UAE’s Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline went operational — 236 miles of steel moving 1.5 million barrels per day, completely clear...

1 day ago
Archaeologists Dicle University Archaeologists Dicle University

Trillions - 19FortyFive

Archaeologists Discover A 2,400-Year-Old City Under a Turkish Lake. It’s Somehow Intact.

Archaeologists working with Dicle University have identified a surprisingly well-preserved settlement dating back approximately 2,400 years beneath Dicle Dam Lake in southeastern Turkey. The...

3 days ago
U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin "BEO" Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander and pilot, flies during a demonstration rehearsal at Hill Air Force Utah, Jan 20, 2021. The F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team is part of the 388th Fighter Wing, and routinely flies over the Hill Air Force Base to practice and prepare for upcoming air shows around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Barley) U.S. Air Force Maj. Kristin "BEO" Wolfe, F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team commander and pilot, flies during a demonstration rehearsal at Hill Air Force Utah, Jan 20, 2021. The F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team is part of the 388th Fighter Wing, and routinely flies over the Hill Air Force Base to practice and prepare for upcoming air shows around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Barley)

Trillions - 19FortyFive

The F-35 Is the Best Fighter on Earth. India’s Answer Is a Big Fat No

India is not currently in talks to acquire the F-35, but the question of whether it should buy the aircraft has only grown more...

3 days ago
An A-10 Thunderbolt II maintains formation with a C-130 tanker during probe and drogue refueling operations, April 2, 2026. The Probe Refueling Adapter allows A-10s to refuel from C-130 tankers, significantly expanding refueling options for deployed units. An A-10 Thunderbolt II maintains formation with a C-130 tanker during probe and drogue refueling operations, April 2, 2026. The Probe Refueling Adapter allows A-10s to refuel from C-130 tankers, significantly expanding refueling options for deployed units.

Trillions - 19FortyFive

Why the Hormuz Crisis Stings: It’s Not Just Oil. Fertilizer, Aluminum, and Microchips All Pass Through the Strait

The Iran Strait of Hormuz Crisis – From Bad to Worse? As of Monday morning, April 13, a U.S. military blockade of maritime traffic...

3 days ago

The Embassy
Airport Chaos

The Embassy

Puerto Rico, Barbados, Trinidad, Aruba, and Saint Maarten Resume Flights as Caribbean Recovers From U.S.-Venezuela War Airspace Closures

Three and a half months after Operation Absolute Resolve captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, Caribbean air travel is finally returning to normal — Puerto...

21 hours ago
F-35I Adir. Image Credit: IDF Air Force. F-35I Adir. Image Credit: IDF Air Force.

The Embassy

Destroy the F-16s: Israel Could Launch a Preemptive Attack on Turkey

In 1967, Israel defeated Egypt in Just Six Days. Could Israel do the Same with Turkey? – Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser made no...

2 days ago
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs the “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance” memorandum during a drone demonstration at the Pentagon, July 10, 2025. The event was hosted to portray the Secretary of Defense’s initiative of Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alondra Y. Lopez Gonzalez) U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signs the “Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance” memorandum during a drone demonstration at the Pentagon, July 10, 2025. The event was hosted to portray the Secretary of Defense’s initiative of Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Alondra Y. Lopez Gonzalez)

The Embassy

‘Unauthorized War’: Pete Hegseth Faces an Impeachment Problem

House Democrats have introduced articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. The effort, led by Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) and Rep. John...

2 days ago
Basic Combat Training, also known as “boot camp,” is the process in transforming civilian volunteers into Soldiers. Over 10 weeks, trainees will go through four phases that cover Army core values, physical training, first aid, hand grenades, obstacle course, basic rifle marksmanship, navigation, and three separate field exercises. Basic training produces Soldiers that are disciplined, resilient, physically fit and competent in their basic skills who can successfully contribute as members of a team when they arrive at their first unit of assignment. (US Army photo by Robin Hicks) Basic Combat Training, also known as “boot camp,” is the process in transforming civilian volunteers into Soldiers. Over 10 weeks, trainees will go through four phases that cover Army core values, physical training, first aid, hand grenades, obstacle course, basic rifle marksmanship, navigation, and three separate field exercises. Basic training produces Soldiers that are disciplined, resilient, physically fit and competent in their basic skills who can successfully contribute as members of a team when they arrive at their first unit of assignment. (US Army photo by Robin Hicks)

The Embassy

Psychology Suggests the ‘On-Again, Off-Again’ War Is the Most Psychologically Damaging Kind. U.S. Troops and Their Families Are Living It.

Mental Health and Psychological Stress In The On-Again, Off-Again Campaign Against Iran: US military warfighters facing the threats associated with combat operations over Iran...

4 days ago

Hermit Kingdom
North Korean Military. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Hermit Kingdom

6,000 North Korean Soldiers Are Dead in Ukraine: Kim Jong Un Keeps Sending More

Fake Russian IDs, Orders Never to Be Captured, and 50% Casualties: Inside North Korea’s Secret War in Ukraine The Russian Army has sustained nearly...

March 27, 2026
Hwasong-17 North Korea ICBM. Image Credit: Creative Commons. Hwasong-17 North Korea ICBM. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Hermit Kingdom

Iran Has An ICBM Program: They Got it From North Korea

Summary and Key Points: Dr. Bruce E. Bechtol Jr., a political science professor and proliferation expert, evaluates the strategic partnership between Iran and North...

March 4, 2026
North Korea North Korea

Hermit Kingdom

North Korea’s Demand: Kim Jong Un Wants Trump To Recognize the Hermit Kingdom as a Nuclear Weapons State

Summary and Key Points: Reuben F. Johnson, a veteran defense technology analyst and Casimir Pulaski Foundation fellow, scrutinizes the Ninth Congress of the Workers’...

February 26, 2026
North Korean Military. Image Credit: Creative Commons. North Korean Military. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

Hermit Kingdom

Korea Reunification Isn’t Coming—And Great-Power Politics Is Why

Korea’s Division Isn’t a Glitch Anymore. It’s a Feature of the New Order The division of Korea was always understood to be temporary. In...

February 2, 2026