DH—The discussion centers on the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has reportedly been striking UAE vessels and demanding significant concessions for safe passage, including the removal of sanctions and war reparations
US Military Limitations: Sleboda criticizes the reliance on air power and mentions that US munitions, particularly air defense interceptors, are running dangerously low. He asserts that the Patriot missile system is largely obsolete against modern Iranian ballistic missiles.

RB—I have covered previously the attempts of Western government and EU funded “misinformation” groups to brand those that espouse beliefs or report facts that are inconvenient for the European oligarchies and their courtiers as “misinformation”. In addition, numerous news outlets from countries such as Russia and Iran have been banned. Together with people losing their jobs, and students being expelled from universities. This campaign fully got into gear with the Russo-Ukrainian War and escalated after the start of the Israeli genocide of the inhabitants of Gaza. Unfortunately for the oligarchs and their courtiers (the “Our” in the title), some pesky citizens just keep wanting to read about, and report on, the truth and different perspectives.

EZ—”The Pentagon is drafting a new nuclear weapons strategy to prepare for a potential conflict with China or Russia, marking a significant shift in US military tactics.

The strategy, overseen by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy chief, would place greater emphasis on shorter-range tactical nuclear weapons in the event of a regional war, rather than relying on long-range strategic missiles.

Mr Colby is expected to discuss the plans on Wednesday during a private military event in Nebraska while visiting the US Strategic Command, which oversees nuclear forces, NBC reported.

According to sources familiar with the plans, the strategy is designed to address scenarios in which US allies come under attack from Russia or China in a regional conflict.

A senior US defence department official told NBC: “Our view is that we need credible nuclear options.”

The strategy would not restrict Donald Trump’s choices but instead “expand the president’s option space by providing him with realistic and credible options and therefore strengthen deterrence”, the official said.”

OBB—First of all is the crisis of diminishing US weapons stockpiles, which has severely reduced the supply of weapons to Ukraine. The absence of air defense missiles means that few, if any, Russian missiles fired at Ukraine, are being brought down.
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“The skies are open and Russia now has free rein to destroy anything it wants with its vast and growing arsenal of cruise and ballistic missiles. We are moving into the end game as Ukraine is increasingly defenseless against the escalating Russian onslaught. And winter is coming. That will be harsher than last year’s already punishing campaign that left residents living in apartments where temperatures dropped to -10°C or less.”

RB—With chapter 6, starting at page 168, we at last get some of what the book’s title promised; some details of how the Party-state actually works. Li starts by showing the huge difference between the Chinese leadership members that have spent many decades of meritocratic competition moving up the Party ladder while they take on increasing amounts of responsibility, and their Western counterparts. By the time they reach the upper levels of the Party-state, they are very fully-rounded and competent technocrats. In contrast to Western leaders who in many cases may have had no relevant experience before being appointed to their positions.

DD—This video from Due Dissidence provides a critical commentary on the recent pro-Israel song, “We Will Dance Again,” released by Boy George (0:00 – 1:36). The hosts analyze the song’s lyrics, which they describe as “god-awful” and suggest were created with the assistance of AI.

The hosts speculate that Boy George’s manager, Paul Kemsley, who is noted as a “big Zionist,” may have influenced the artist’s decision to release the track