2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy +

2026 U.S. National Defense Strategy

It follows that, although we are and will remain engaged in Europe, we must—and will—prioritize defending the U.S. Homeland and deterring China.

Related papers from the Marathon Initiative:

Bridge Colby / DTRASharing the Load: Developing Better Strategies for Burden Sharing

Robert Almelor Delfeld / Elbridge Colby: Broadening the Base: A Blueprint for Expanding Defense Industrial Capacity

Report: Kurdish Fighters Have Been Entering Iran From Iraq and Clashing With the IRGC

Report: Kurdish Fighters Have Been Entering Iran From Iraq and Clashing With the IRGC

By Dave DeCamp | The Libertarian Institute | January 14, 2026

Turkish intelligence has warned Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that Kurdish fighters have been entering Iran from Iraq amid protests inside Iran, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The US has a significant presence in Iraqi Kurdistan, including a military base and an $800 million consulate compound that it opened in December. The Israeli Mossad is also known for having a presence in the area, and Iran claimed that it attacked a Mossad base in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2024.

Previously:

Trump Has Strong Options for Iran /Alastair Crooke & Lt Col Daniel Davis

These are the same Iraqi Kurds for whom the U.S. established the post‑1991 autonomous zone. Erbil Governorate sits on the Iran‑facing side of Iraqi Kurdistan. The U.S. operates Harir Air Base there (active since 2003) and maintains the largest consulate compound in the world. This is a forward U.S. position on Iran’s border. The U.S./Coalition also has units in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, which likewise borders Iran.

The tropical island in the Philippines where Bondi terrorists trained + more

[Australian Financial Review] The tropical island in the Philippines where Bondi terrorists trained

Related:

[New York Times] Bondi Suspects Were in Southern Philippines, Where ISIS Is Active

Both articles quote Rommel Banlaoi from the Philippines, who was recently smeared by Ray Powell, of SeaLight, and Reuters.

Updated: The War of Ideas in the Indo-Pacific (Rommel Banlaoi)

Read More »

Gimenez: The Tweets and the Foreign Lobbying Firm

Brian Berletic:

US Authorizes CIA Violence in Venezuela, Then Blames Venezuela For It…

The US already openly announced the CIA is conducting operations inside Venezuela, then says “Venezuela” is doing it to themselves to blame the US or its terrorist proxies inside Venezuela…

The NYT had reported:

“The new authority would allow the C.l.A. to carry out lethal operations in Venezuela and conduct a range of operations in the Caribbean.

Read More »

Washington’s “Second Coming” to Asia: Militants, Ports, and Pressure Points

Source

President Trump’s renewed focus on regaining the Bagram Air Base and developing Pakistan’s Pasni Port signals Washington’s attempt to reassert strategic influence in a region increasingly dominated by China, Russia, and Iran.

Washington’s “second coming” to Asia

Pakistan’s Pasni Port, located in Balochistan province, sits at the crossroads of strategic infrastructure and insurgent resistance. The Western-backed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), active in the region, has long targeted Chinese-financed projects. The BLA maintains ties with both the Pakistan Taliban and ISIS-K—a faction recently linked to recruiting Uygur militants. Separately, U.S. support for Uygur militants predates this trend, with allegations tracing back to the 1970s/1980s. Rep. Perry has claimed that ISIS-K received backing from USAID, adding another layer to the region’s militant entanglements. 

This only deepens my suspicion that recapturing Bagram Air Base could serve as a launchpad—not merely for tactical leverage, but to stir Uygur militant resistance against Beijing or pressure China with a second front in the event of a future Pacific conflict.

Sources:

BLA: U.S. Proxies in Balochistan document

ISIS-K & Uygur militants: ISIS has its sights set on a new potential ally—Uyghur jihadi groups

CIA & Uygur militants: US & TERRORISM IN XINJIANG

Uygur militants: *Xinjiang*

USAID & ISIS-K: Rep. Perry reveals what some of us already knew about USAID

Bagram Air Base: Why Does Trump Want U.S. Troops Back in Afghanistan?

Bonus: Chokepoints Are The Focus Of A New Cold War