FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – With the many national security and intelligence topics that American Defense News (ADN) cannot adequately cover every day – in collaboration with the Center for American Defense Studies (CADS) – we are providing our readers a PDB:

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – Paul’s Daily Briefing.

Today’s PDB includes a variety of critical issues such as – South Dakota to send additional troops to border beyond the donor-funded mission. If the Taliban wins the war, can it still lose the peace? US troops in Iraq have come under attack every day this week.

Navy’s new maternity flight suit prototype

HMS Queen Elizabeth enters the Middle East after the Suez Canal transit; carrier Eisenhower now in the Atlantic.

N.Korea reshuffle signals military policy not top priority now, analysts say.

New proposal would push VA leaders to address the issue of extremism in the veteran’s community.

And MORE.

TODAY’S PDB:

Pentagon ‘Woke Watch’

Just say NO! – Proposal would push VA leaders to address issue of extremism in the veterans community. House appropriations want to require VA leaders to develop programs to stop online misinformation and radicalization among veterans.

Here is the Navy’s new maternity flight suit prototype. The maternity flight suit prototype is designed to accommodate pregnant aircrew as they progress in their pregnancy by adding expandable panels to standard flight suits.

National Security 

‘Special Relationship’ – HMS Queen Elizabeth enters Middle East after Suez Canal transit; carrier Eisenhower now in Atlantic. British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and its escorts are now operating in the Red Sea after transiting the Suez Canal on Tuesday, according to U.K. officials.

Homeland Security 

South Dakota to send additional troops to border beyond donor-funded mission. South Dakota National Guard will send 125 troops to the border on federal orders in addition to the deployment of 50 soldiers funded by a Republican billionaire mega-donor on state orders.

Afghanistan

Taliban’s rapid advance across Afghanistan puts key cities at risk of being overtaken. Taliban’s mounting pressure campaign on key cities across Afghanistan continued Wednesday as fighters battled government forces in the capital of Badghis province, the latest advance in a string of attacks on government-controlled districts since foreign forces began to withdraw in May.

Video: Return Of The Taliban | Military Times Reports. As U.S. forces fully depart the country, the Taliban is on the march, taking over districts and flexing regional muscle – prompting high-level responses from American and local governments.

If the Taliban wins the war, can it still lose the peace? The United States vowed to destroy the Taliban. Today, they are stronger than ever. But will that last?

Disaster in Afghanistan was foreseeable. America should never again enter a war without the commitment to win.

North Korea Threat

Analysis: N.Korea reshuffle signals military policy not top priority now, analysts say. The military dominates affairs in North Korea and there is no suggestion that will change in the long term, but the changes may signal that for the time being, Kim is unlikely to resume nuclear brinkmanship while he focuses on problems at home.

China Threat

Beijing eyes new military bases across the Indo-Pacific. Tanzania, Cambodia, and the UAE are on China’s wish list—and now Kiribati, within striking distance of Hawaii.

Iran Threat

US troops in Iraq have come under attack every day this week. Two U.S. service members were injured in the most recent attack.

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. - paulcrespo.substack.com - PAULCRESPO.COM