Tag: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

US to change Japan command posture to boost deterrence in face China -US envoy

Ms. Cat

US to change Japan command posture to boost deterrence in face China -US envoy

Sources with knowledge of the planning have told Reuters Washington will consider appointing a four-star commander for Japan to match the rank of the head of Japan’s new military headquarters. Experts say a U.S. officer of that rank could lay the groundwork for a future unified Japanese-U.S. command.

Related:

A Vital Next Step for the U.S.-Japan Alliance: Command and Control Modernization

Reimagining U.S. Forces Japan

The current structure of alliance command and control is not sufficient for the task. U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) has changed little since the 1960s, when Japan was viewed as little more than a platform for U.S. military operations across the region. USFJ’s authorities and staffing are limited primarily to administering alliance agreements related to the 50,000-plus U.S. personnel stationed in Japan with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army. U.S. forces in Japan represent some of the most important U.S. military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific, but the three-star USFJ commander has limited joint operational authorities, and the separate U.S. service elements in Japan report back to their component headquarters in Hawaii.

Philippines Gunning For Fast And Massive Military Build-Up + More

Ms. Cat
Full video.

MANILA –“We are not satisfied with minimum [deterrence capability alone]…movement is life, stagnation is death,” Colonel Micheal Logico, a top strategist at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), recently told this reporter when asked about the country’s evolving defense strategy.“We [need] to elevate ourselves into a world-class armed forces,” he added.

Philippines Gunning For Fast And Massive Military Build-Up

Related:

De Facto American Military Forward Operating Base?

Hungry Pinoys highest so far under Marcos government

Philippines Conducts Joint Exercises With U.S. In S. China Sea

Batanes eyed for Balikatan military drills

Report: US Military Advisors Deployed to Taiwan-Controlled Islands on China’s Coast

Dan Crenshaw’s measure greenlighting psychedelics to treat PTSD part of defense bill + More

Ms. Cat
Ruling classes puts forth drugs & “healing” instead of addressing US imperialism.

The legislation would allow supervised clinical studies with active-duty members.

Dan Crenshaw’s measure greenlighting psychedelics to treat PTSD part of defense bill

Related:

First-ever provision for psychedelic studies included in defense bill

National Defense Authorization Act, pp. 402-406, p. 1817 ($50,311 allocated for R&D)

CIA MKULTRA / Mind Control Collection

FDA Weighs New Application To Approve MDMA As First-Ever Psychedelic Medicine For PTSD + More About MAPS

Military Personnel Seen Wandering Forest Pressing Button On F-35 Key Fob

Ms. Cat
Internet.

HUGER, SC — A team of Marines was seen trudging through the woods, stopping every 30 feet to wave a key fob around in a 90° arc, say campers at Francis Marion National Forest. The Marines, who traveled in a tactical column, were allegedly on a mission to locate, close with, and recover the F-35 fighter jet that went missing Sunday evening.

Military Personnel Seen Wandering Forest Pressing Button On F-35 Key Fob

Related:

A missing F-35 fighter jet highlights the tragicomedy of military spending

That jet the Marines lost? Taxpayers will pay $1.7 trillion for the F-35 program

US to cut military presence in Niger + Pentagon lied to Congress

Ms. Cat

The Pentagon reportedly plans to pull out some of its troops from the African country

The US has begun “repositioning” the troops it has in Niger and plans to cut their number “nearly in half” over the next several weeks, Politico reported on Friday citing two Defense Department officials.

US to cut military presence in Niger

Related:

Pentagon Misled Congress About U.S. Bases in Africa

Rand Paul: Why do we still have troops in Niger?

FEMA Money For Maui Disaster Relief May Get Caught Up In A Partisan Fight Over Ukraine

Ms. Cat

FEMA Money For Maui Disaster Relief May Get Caught Up In A Partisan Fight Over Ukraine

But the effort to get a speedy appropriation has foundered after the Biden administration sought $12 billion in emergency funding that would extend disaster relief programs while simultaneously requesting some $24.1 billion in military spending for Ukraine in the same package.

That means that funding Hawaii’s needs for Maui’s recovery has been tied to funding to back Ukraine’s military, an increasingly unpopular topic in some Republican circles. When the House passed its fiscal 2024 defense authorization bill early this summer, a contingent of several dozen House Republicans sought to prohibit additional U.S. assistance to Ukraine.

Related:

Help Maui Fire Victims: Here’s How You Can Donate

Americans must unite to reject 21st Century ‘alien land laws’

Ms. Cat

Americans must unite to reject 21st Century ‘alien land laws’

Now, taking a page from DeSantis, Congress is considering inserting an amendment into the National Defense Authorization Act that would ban visa holders from targeted countries from making certain agricultural purchases. These restrictions would apply to all 50 states, and be based solely on national heritage. This is wrong and legislators must reject it.

Related:

Chinese Exclusion Act (1882)

Banning foreign ownership of land doesn’t protect US. It just scapegoats Asian Americans.

Stop Biden From Sending Cluster Bombs to Ukraine

Ms. Cat
“CODEPINK’s action alert requesting House representatives co-sponsor the amendment to ban the export license for cluster munitions.”

President Biden may have crossed a new red line for the Democratic Party when he announced he would send banned cluster munitions to shore up Ukraine’s slow counter-offensive against Russian troops.

Stop Biden From Sending Cluster Bombs to Ukraine

Related:

Rep. Gaetz Says He Will Co-Sponsor Amendment to Block Cluster Bombs to Ukraine

Gaetz said that the NDAA will be voted on this week in the House. “We have an opportunity with bipartisanship to stand against the war-mongering Bidens,” he said.

Here’s why supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions would be a terrible mistake

Democrats Denounce Biden’s Decision to Send Cluster Munitions to Ukraine