FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Today’s PDB includes the China Threat and combative U.S.-China Talks, North Korea Denuclearization, U.S. Army’s new anti-jam GPS, Germany bashes UK over its nukes, Senate confirms Biden CIA director. And the Army denies Special Forces soldier pardoned by President Trump, his SF tab and Silver Star.

Plus, the threat to America’s vulnerable drinking water supply.

With the multitude of national security and intelligence topics that American Defense News (ADN) cannot adequately cover every day – we are providing our readers a PDB – not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – Paul’s Daily Briefing.

TODAY’S PDB HIGHLIGHTS:

China Threat

An Explosive Start to U.S.-China Talks – China Blasts U.S.

Following the U.S.-China meeting in Alaska, a senior administration official released a statement criticizing the Chinese for “violating protocol” by going over the two-minute limit set for opening statements and accused the Chinese delegation of “grandstanding” and focusing on “public theatrics and dramatics over substance.”

Beyond Colossus or Collapse: Five Myths Driving American Debates about China

North Korea Threat

Blinken presses China on North Korea denuclearization

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressed China on Thursday to use its influence with North Korea to push Pyongyang toward denuclearization.

NATO

German Foreign Minister Criticizes UK Nuclear Plans

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says that the United Kingdom’s plan to expand its nuclear arsenal works against European disarmament efforts.

Intelligence and Unconventional Warfare

Senate Confirms Burns as CIA Director after Cruz Lifts Hold

The Senate has confirmed William Burns to be the next CIA director after Senator Ted Cruz lifted his hold that aimed to pressure President Biden over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

US Military – Army – Special Operations

Army rushes to deploy anti-jam GPS alternative for armored force

The Army intends to field a first iteration of its MAPS navigation system on armored vehicles this year, as it pushes to begin initial production of a more capable version in fiscal 2022.

Former Green Beret, whom Trump pardoned for alleged murder, won’t get Silver Star or SF tab back, Army rules

Secret Plans Detail Failures of U.S. Commandos in Africa

Homeland Security – Threats to Water Supply

America’s Drinking Water Is Surprisingly Easy to Poison

The experts say the sorts of rudimentary vulnerabilities revealed in the breach are common among America’s 151,000 public water systems.

END of PDB

Paul Crespo

Paul Crespo is the Managing Editor of American Defense News. A defense and national security expert, he served as a Marine Corps officer and as a military attaché with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) at US embassies worldwide. Paul holds degrees from Georgetown, London, and Cambridge Universities. He is also CEO of SPECTRE Global Risk, a security advisory firm, and President of the Center for American Defense Studies, a national security think tank.