Tootfinder

Trump nixed $400 million in Taiwan military aid, angling for future arms sales
The fastest way to fortify Taiwan’s military is by directly shipping U.S. arms,
a process known as Presidential Drawdown Authority, or PDA.
The Biden administration approved three such packages for Taiwan while in office, alongside another round of long-term military aid, totaling more than $2 billion.

Trump has promised a more transactional U.S. foreign policy and does not support sendin…

Trump nixed $400 million in Taiwan military aid, pushing future arms sales
President Trump declined to approve more than $400M in military aid to Taiwan this summer, favoring future arms sales to the self-governing island China claims.

🪖 Military Chaplain's CHURCH – a unique place in UKRAINE #shorts: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/17/military-chaplains-church-a-unique.html

Trump nixed $400 million in Taiwan military aid, angling for future arms sales
The fastest way to fortify Taiwan’s military is by directly shipping U.S. arms,
a process known as Presidential Drawdown Authority, or PDA.
The Biden administration approved three such packages for Taiwan while in office, alongside another round of long-term military aid, totaling more than $2 billion.

Trump has promised a more transactional U.S. foreign policy and does not support sendin…

Trump nixed $400 million in Taiwan military aid, pushing future arms sales
President Trump declined to approve more than $400M in military aid to Taiwan this summer, favoring future arms sales to the self-governing island China claims.

highways are essential! we can't have protesters shutting down highways, that's terrible optics and hurts support for the cause! also, the government says burn more oil! drill, baby, drill! stop EV subsidies, and all hail gas-powered cars!
*explodes ordinance over the biggest interstate highway on the west coast, necessitating a shutdown*

Ecuador Votes ‘No’ to Hosting U.S. Military Base - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/world/americas/ecuador-us-military-base-vote-trump.html

Where the U.S. Is Building Up Military Force in the Caribbean (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/us/politics/trump-caribbean-venezuela-us-military-maps.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uU8.gwpB.dZBKoguSOH1R&smid=url-share
http://www.memeorandum.com/251018/p33#a251018p33

US military has adopted an aggressive push to embrace AI; the top US Army commander in South Korea says "Chat and I" have become "really close lately" (Business Insider)
https://www.businessinsider.com/even-top-generals-are…

Even top generals are looking to AI chatbots for answers
Some military leaders are turning to AI chatbots for help with decision-making, seeing this tech as a way to get the advantage.

I wrote this this morning:
"Tomorrow, about 2,600 protests plan to peacefully show the world, the administration and themselves that the United States remains a nation predicated on having No Kings.
Can the president come down hard on these protests with the military?"
https://stuff.davidaugust.com/no-su…

No Surrender
No Soldiers in the Streets, No Kings in This Land For all the military violence there has been in the world during my life, my tactic for surviving it has taken me next to no effort: not being there at the time. By largely luck, I have not yet been

Southern California:
Interstate 5 will close today through Camp Pendleton
as military confirms it will fire artillery at JD Vance's vanity show
https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/202

Interstate 5 will close today through Camp Pendleton as military confirms it will fire artillery
California will close Interstate 5 on Saturday after military officials confirmed Saturday that live-fire artillery rounds will be shot over the freeway, prompting state officials to shut down the freeway in an unprecedented move that will undoubtedly cause massive gridlock.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth tells military recruiters many young Americans are ‘too fat’ or ‘too dumb’ to serve | The Independent
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/hegseth-military-recruiting-pentagon-bonus-b2887435.html

Europe has to ramp up its military aid again. Ukraine is starting to regain territory and that progress needs to be accelerated.
https://kyivindependent.com/military-aid-to-ukraine-declines-sharply-in-recent-months-report-finds/…

Military aid to Ukraine declines sharply in recent months, report says
In July and August, total military aid to Ukraine fell 43% lower than the amount received in the first half of the year, a report by the Kiel Institute finds.

Americans weary of Trump's executive authority, military action in Venezuela, Quinnipiac poll finds (Gregory Svirnovskiy/Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/17/poll-trump-military-action-in-venezuela-00695694
http://www.memeorandum.com/251217/p113#a251217p113

Zelensky appoints Ukraine's first-ever military ombudsman: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/16/zelensky-appoints-ukraines-firstever-military.html

Trump declined to approve more than $400 million in military aid to Taiwan this summer,
as he tries to negotiate a trade deal and potential summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The decision, which may still be reversed, marks a U-turn in U.S. policy toward the self-governing island that China claims as its own territory.

Two people familiar with the matter said the package was worth more than $400 million and would have been “more lethal” than past rounds of aid to Taiwan…

Trump nixed $400 million in Taiwan military aid, pushing future arms sales
President Trump declined to approve more than $400M in military aid to Taiwan this summer, favoring future arms sales to the self-governing island China claims.

https://www.nextgov.com/people/2025/12/trump-formally-taps-joshua-rudd-lead-nsa-cyber-command/410266/
“Rudd, the current deputy director for Indo-Pacific Command, appears to not have previously held a military cybersecurity po…

Trump formally taps Joshua Rudd to lead NSA, Cyber Command
The nomination marks a turning point for the electronic surveillance and hacking teams that have been without a permanent leader for eight months.

Ecuadorian people, in a referendum, reject the right wing president's proposal to allow US military bases and to replace the 2008 constitution, the progressive one written by a constituent assembly under the leadership of Alberto Acosta.
Ecuador impide en las urnas que Noboa instale bases de EE UU y cambie la Constitución progresista de 2008

Ecuador impide en las urnas que Noboa instale bases de EE UU y cambie la Constitución progresista de 2008
La población ecuatoriana rechaza todas las preguntas de una consulta que pretendía reinstalar bases de EEUU en el país y acabar con la Constitución de 2008, aprobada bajo la gestión de Correa.

Fuck the United States of America.
And Israel, of course.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk. https://norden.social/@stephie_hamburg/115555340426223090

All of the following are appropriate protest attire:
- Yellow, as per request from No Kings organizers
- Nudity, as per Portland Naked Bike Ride
- Frog suits and other inflatables, as per Portland again
- Formal attire, as per 60s Civil Rights Movement
- Black Bloc attire, for those concerned about privacy
- Military attire, e.g. camo fatigues etc.
- Clerical attire, for those ordained
- Anything else you can think of that fits the theme
Wear what makes you feel comfortable!

Is Trump stupid (yes, he is) enough to attack Venezuela?🤬
So what's in it for US? Oil? Bauxite? Gold?🤔
Will be Ukraine left just with support mostly by EU?😬
Fucking "interesting times" as Sir Pratchett would say.

So, it looks like the US Israel are proposing to construct what Apartheid South Africa called "homelands", but which are actually very large concentration camps...
They euphemistically call it "Green Zone".
Which, in addition to being a concentration camp is one that is intended to be a no-mans land between to protect Israel.
Moreover, the remaining "Red Zone" is the area that the trumps jarad-k Saudis Emirates want to bulldoze and use to build…

Disclaimer: IANAL I am not well-read on applicable laws.
POTUS executive military authority without Congressional Declaration of War should be limited to when full Congress can't be consulted due to urgency and secrecy. Best example I know is raid to get bin Laden — limited in scope, possibly limited time to act on intel, would've leaked the more who knew.
None of that applies to the slowly simmering situation with Venezuela.

Series C, Episode 03 - Volcano
TARRANT: Like capturing us.
HOWER: Do you feel ill, or upset in any way?
DAYNA: No. What was it, some kind of narcotic spray gun?
HOWER: Something like that. Quite harmless, I assure you.
TARRANT: I'm glad to hear it.
https://blake.torpidity.net/m/303/102

Trump announces $1,776 military bonus as appeal to working-class voters (Josephine Walker/Axios)
https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/trump-military-1776-bonus-us-troops-tariffs
http://www.memeorandum.com/251218/p1#a251218p1

“Service academies to accept conservative alternative to SAT and ACT”
And it is called the CLT?
They’ll have to find it first.
Hey oh!
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/15/military-academies-clt-standardized-test-00564290…

Russian military vessel spotted near Hawaii, US Coast Guard says: https://benborges.xyz/2025/11/15/russian-military-vessel-spotted-near.html

Researchers used an off-the-shelf system to compile a vast collection of private data, including T-Mobile users' calls and texts, sent by satellites unencrypted (Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/satellites-are-leaking-the-w…

Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data
With just $800 in basic equipment, researchers found a stunning variety of data—including thousands of T-Mobile users’ calls and texts and even US military communications—sent by satellites unencrypted.

The American patrol satellite had the targets in its sights:
two recently launched Chinese spacecraft flying through one of the most sensitive neighborhoods in space.
Like any good tactical fighter,
the American spacecraft, known as USA 270, approached from behind,
so that the sun would be at its back, illuminating the quarry.
But then one of the Chinese satellites countered by slowing down.
As USA 270 zipped by, the Chinese satellite dropped in behind its…

Military satellites dogfighting as tensions escalate in orbit
U.S. and Chinese satellites routinely spy on each other in orbit, rehearsing for more aggressive operations in the event of war.

About 40 to 50 Pentagon reporters turned in access badges and exited the Pentagon rather than agree to new US government-imposed restrictions on their work (David Bauder/Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-press-a…

Journalists exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules
Journalists at the Pentagon turned in access badges and cleaned out their workspaces, the price for refusing to agree to new restrictions on their jobs at the seat of U.S. military power. The refusal was near-unanimous, from trade publications, wire services, television networks and newspapers, and included outlets that appeal largely to conservatives like Fox News Channel and Newsmax. Many of the reporters chose to turn in their badges together at the 4 p.m. deadline set by the Defense Departm…

🚫 PLEASE STOP USING SPOTIFY! 🚫
Spotify is serving you ICE cream dressed in Gestapo!
You can join the revolution at https://bandcamp.com, but I already know what you’ll whine:
“Oh nooo, but my faaaavorite artist isn’t on Bandcamp! How will I eeeever survive without them?! I’m sooo devastated, this is th…

Wow. Just saw an ad for Korean Submarines for Canada.
wth
I have never seen an ad from a proponent for Canadian military hardware. Ever.
This was on Crave. It must be elsewhere.
#canpoli #cdnpoli #military #submarines #navy #rcn

Trump says he won't rule out sending troops into Venezuela (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/11/16/trump-maduro-venezuela-military-talks/
http://www.memeorandum.com/251117/p136#a251117p136

Squirrels at War: Sneak Attack
#writingcommunity #visualinspiration Earlier installments can be read from this page. *** The meeting with the military went as I expected. They maintained that they were perfectly capable of defending themselves, but repeatedly stressed …

THE MILITARY OFFICER CORPS DEFIED TRUMP ON SEPTEMBER 30th; IT WILL NOT ABANDON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO A DICTATORSHIP; IT WILL OPPOSE IT WITH THEIR LIVES AND SACRED HONOR https://thewestpointhistoryprofessor.substack.com/p/the-military-officer-corps-defied

THE MILITARY OFFICER CORPS DEFIED TRUMP ON SEPTEMBER 30th; IT WILL NOT ABANDON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO A DICTATORSHIP; IT WILL OPPOSE IT WITH THEIR LIVES AND SACRED HONOR
THE THREE PRECEDENTS WHERE THE U,S ARMY DEFIED A SITTING PRESIDENT AND AGGRESSIVELY ACTED TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. WE DISCUSS THE FIRST EXAMPLE TODAY. BUT FIRST A SIDEBAR.

I think my immediate hot take about the news that the US military is going all-in on AI is: a growing dread that this gives AI vendors access to the bottomless hole that the US likes to throw its money into, aka the defense budget — thus postponing the inevitable burst of the AI bubble.
https://www.

Zelensky creates Odesa City Military Administration, appoints Serhii Lysak to lead it: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/15/zelensky-creates-odesa-city-military.html

Dylan Combelik, retired military analyst and Russian linguist, provides an update from within Ukraine, and he shared the friend link so the world can see...
https://medium.com/@dylan_combellick/ukraine-update-november-16-8ea414…

Ukraine Update November 16
2025 —Drone Wars, Whose Fault is it, anyway?

Must be an "expert" in military AND maritime law...
GOP Senator: "No Evidence" Of War Crimes By US - Joe.My.God.
https://www.joemygod.com/2025/12/gop-senator-no-evidence-of-war-crimes-by-us/

Putin calls European leaders
‘little pigs’
and says Russia will achieve its
Ukraine goals by diplomacy or force
The Russian leader says the aims of its ‘special military operation’ will be met ‘unconditionally
https://www…

Hegseth to overhaul chaplain corps, toss 'unacceptable and unserious' Army spiritual fitness guide (John Vandiver/Stars & Stripes)
https://www.stripes.com/branches/army/2025-12-17/hegseth-military-chaplains-20119952.html
http://www.memeorandum.com/251217/p129#a251217p129

All political violence is bad; violence is never a good answer.
From report AG and potus want to hide: "…the number of far-right attacks continues to outpace all other types of terrorism and domestic violent extremism."
https://www.scribd.com/document/9186184…

What NIJ Research Tells Us About Domestic Terrorism | PDF | Extremism | Crimes
NIJ-funded research has enhanced understanding of domestic terrorism, particularly the rise of far-right extremist violence in the U.S., which has outpaced other forms of terrorism. The studies reveal that radicalization processes vary by group and crime type, and highlight the importance of community-based prevention strategies. Key findings include the diversity of extremist beliefs and behaviors, the role of military experience in radicalization, and the need for targeted interventions to pr…

Neros, which makes low-cost, military FPV drones in the US, raised $75M led by Sequoia, bringing its total funding to $121M, and won a US Army contract (Farah Stockman/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/business/neros-military-drones.html

The 20-Somethings Who Raised $121 Million to Build Military Drones
Neros, a company founded in 2023 by former teenage drone racers, won a coveted Army contract and is gaining popularity in the defense sector.

"US armed forces’ seizure of the oil tanker constituted an unlawful use of force in violation of the UN Charter. This is the largest military buildup of US firepower in the Caribbean in decades. **If regime change succeeds in Venezuela, Cuba may be next**"
US Relied on Illegal Sanctions To Seize Venezuelan Oil Tanker | Portside
https://portside.org/2025-12-18/us-relied-illegal-sanctions-seize-venezuelan-oil-tanker

North Korea’s military parade showcases weapons that Russia might buy next: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/14/north-koreas-military-parade-showcases.html

Senate Democrats tank military funding bill amid shutdown feud (Connor O'Brien/Politico)
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/10/16/congress/senate-democrats-military-funding-bill-00611606
http://www.memeorandum.com/251016/p92#a251016p92

✅ Settler colonialism
✅ Apartheid
✅ Ethnic cleansing
✅ Genocide
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/08/yellow-line-that-divides-gaza-under-trump-plan-is-new-border-for-israel-says…

Venezuela Mobilizes Troops and Militias as U.S. Military Looms Offshore (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/venezuela-military-movement-militia-c59ca9ef
http://www.memeorandum.com/251016/p173#a251016p173

US Senate passes defense spending bill allocating $400 million annually in military aid to Ukraine through 2027: https://benborges.xyz/2025/12/17/us-senate-passes-defense-spending.html

US lawmakers remove provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026 that would have ensured military members' right to repair their own equipment (Boone Ashworth/Wired)
https://www.wired.com/story/the-military-almost-got-…

The Military Almost Got the Right to Repair. Lawmakers Just Took It Away
The final language of the annual bill that funds the US military is in. It removes provisions that would have helped ensure service members’ ability to fix their own equipment.

Trinidadian Family Says U.S. Military Killed Relative in Boat Attack (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/world/americas/trinidad-us-military-venezuela-boats.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uE8.6h-j.Sj_00H7gnDMZ&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
http://www.memeorandum.com/251016/p174#a251016p174

The US is planning for the long-term division of Gaza into a “green zone” under Israeli and international military control, where reconstruction would start,
and a “red zone” to be left in ruins.
Foreign forces will initially deploy alongside Israeli soldiers in the east of Gaza,
leaving the devastated strip divided by the current Israeli-controlled “yellow line”, according to US military planning documents seen by the Guardian and sources briefed on American plans.
“…

Standing atop a seven-ton military truck with his wife, Vance watched the largest Marine exercise in a decade on Oct. 18,
featuring F-18 and F-35 flyovers,
parachute landings,
Navy Seals swimming ashore,
offshore destroyers and amphibious ships,
simulated village explosions,
and MH-60 helicopters dropping additional Seals over the water.
-- all to distract attention from the massive "No Kings" protests happening all across the country.

Highway shuts down as Marines’ show sparks clash with Newsom
The Marines said in an earlier statement that the event would take place "on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols."

Unknown UAVs over military bases, and airfields in EUROPE! Russia’s secret invasion has begun!: https://benborges.xyz/2025/11/13/unknown-uavs-over-military-bases.html

Standing atop a seven-ton military truck with his wife, Vance watched the largest Marine exercise in a decade on Oct. 18,
featuring F-18 and F-35 flyovers,
parachute landings,
Navy Seals swimming ashore,
offshore destroyers and amphibious ships,
simulated village explosions,
and MH-60 helicopters dropping additional Seals over the water.
-- all to distract attention from the massive "No Kings" protests happening all across the country.

Highway shuts down as Marines’ show sparks clash with Newsom
The Marines said in an earlier statement that the event would take place "on approved training ranges and comport with established safety protocols."

Ukraine has a coastline of ~1,729 miles (~2,782km), and a very small navy. Russia blockaded them and end up with a bunch of their ships becoming coral reefs, and largely withdrawing from the Black Sea.
Venezuela has a coastline of 1,700 miles (~2,800km), and a very small navy. The US is gonna blockade them and…

Trump orders blockade of oil tankers into Venezuela
President Donald Trump says he is ordering a blockade of all “sanctioned oil tankers” into Venezuela, ramping up pressure on the country’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro. The moves comes after U.S. forces last week seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, an unusual move that followed a buildup of military forces in the region. In a post on social media Tuesday night announcing the blockade, Trump alleged Venezuela was using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes. The bu…

A bipartisan group in the Senate is planning to force a vote on legislation that would
bar the United States from engaging in hostilities inside Venezuela without explicit authorization by Congress.
The measure faces long odds given the unwillingness of most Republican lawmakers to challenge Donald Trump,
who would be all but certain to veto it.
But a vote on the legislation, which is required, would put Congress on the record on whether to rein in Trump’s escalating…

Senators Move to Force Vote to Bar Ground Strikes in Venezuela
The bid comes after the Senate rejected a similar measure to curb President Trump’s attacks against alleged drug runners in the Caribbean Sea.

US military strikes 3 more boats in the Pacific Ocean, killing 8 (Piper Hudspeth Blackburn/CNN)
https://cnn.com/2025/12/15/politics/us-military-strikes-three-boats-pacific
http://www.memeorandum.com/251215/p144#a251215p144

U.S. senators announced plans on Friday to force a vote on a resolution
to prevent military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization,
seeking to rein in Donald Trump's escalation of pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, who is sponsoring the war powers resolution with fellow Democrat Adam Schiff of California and Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky,
said he was responding to the repeated U.S…

Polish teens study in first drone class overseen by military
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/polish-teens-study-first-drone-055402283.html

Military aid to Ukraine declines sharply in recent months, report says: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/14/military-aid-to-ukraine-declines.html

US military says strikes on 3 boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean kill 8 people (Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-us-military-drugs-pacific-108d10bbd3d19c34b8959602222e22e6
http://www.memeorandum.com/251215/p140#a251215p140

Hegseth and Rubio to brief members of Congress on boat strikes as questions mount – live
US military says eight killed in strikes on three boats in eastern Pacific
On Monday night, the US military said it attacked three more boats believed to have been smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing eight people

Trump Admin Intensifies Military Probe Against Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, Launches Command Investigation (Yunior Rivas/Democracy Docket)
https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-admin-intensifies-military-probe-against-democratic-sen-mark-kelly-launches-command-investigation/
http://www.memeorandum.com/251215/p123#a251215p123

U.S. to repatriate survivors of drug boat strike to Colombia, Ecuador
The United States plans to repatriate two alleged fishermen to Colombia and Ecuador after military forces attacked their vessel in the Caribbean on Thursday.

Facing questions about the legality of the strikes, the Trump administration has sought to justify the killings by claiming the U.S. is in “armed conflict” with Latin American drug cartels that are linked to Venezuelan President Nicolšs Maduro’s alleged e…

U.S. to repatriate survivors of drug boat strike to Colombia, Ecuador
It is unclear if the two surviving alleged drug smugglers have any links to Venezuelan criminal organizations.

House Republicans on Wednesday
defeated a pair of war powers resolutions
aimed at reining in Donald Trump’s airstrikes on alleged drug-running boats in the Caribbean Sea
and Pacific Ocean
and his increasingly aggressive provocations that critics fear are leading to a war on Venezuela
htt…

House Republicans Squash Venezuela War Powers Resolutions
This follows two failed Senate attempts to stop Trump from continuing military action without congressional approval.

**The Pentagon Is Ordering Staff to Watch Hegseth’s ‘MAGA Garbage’ Speech… Or Else**
https://zeteo.com/p/pentagon-hegseth-speech-military-consequences

Belarus launches military readiness check as security concerns grow: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/11/belarus-launches-military-readiness-check.html

U.S. official says the 'table is being set' for possible military action against Venezuela (Laura Sullivan/NPR)
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/15/nx-s1-5609888/aircraft-carrier-caribbean-venezuela-military-action
http://www.memeorandum.com/251115/p57#a251115p57

You can still get to your Southern California #NoKings party,
despite the
Vance/Hegseth live-fire freeway shutdown
@…
@…

How to get around the Interstate 5 closure through Camp Pendleton in Southern California
Traffic delays could be significant Saturday with the U.S. military planning to fire live artillery rounds over Interstate 5 in Southern California. The freeway will be shut down temporarily Saturday afternoon.

Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/12/15/military-command-plan-caine-hegseth/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzY1Nzc0ODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzY3MTU3MTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3NjU3NzQ4MDAsImp0aSI6IjRhM2JmMjRiLTlmNDQtNDQ2NS1iM2MxLWExZDQ2ZTBiOTAzMCIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9uYXRpb25hbC1zZWN1cml0eS8yMDI1LzEyLzE1L21pbGl0YXJ5LWNvbW1hbmQtcGxhbi1jYWluZS1oZWdzZXRoLyJ9.FRMyTRxJAZJ__ViceDNiXgmrj9QwJpkrgKTdxn7edW0&itid=gfta
http://www.memeorandum.com/251215/p113#a251215p113

Nonprofit groups offer legal assistance to U.S. troops amid debate over boat strikes (Dan De Luce/NBC News)
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/nonprofit-groups-offer-legal-assistance-us-troops-debate-boat-strikes-rcna249524
http://www.memeorandum.com/251216/p145#a251216p145

A coalition of patriotic groups is again leading a day of mass demonstrations across the US to protest against the Trump authoritarian onslaught.
The coalition spearheaded a previous attempt #NoKings protest day in June,
drawing millions to the streets to speak out against Trumpism on the same day Trump held a military parade in Washington.
Today JD Vance is predictably holding a military…

Russian military bloggers confirm Ukraine used FP-5 Flamingo missile in strikes inside Russia: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/10/russian-military-bloggers-confirm-ukraine.html

Trump is opting some of the government out of the shutdown (Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/10/15/trump-government-shutdown-military-pay-funding/
http://www.memeorandum.com/251016/p20#a251016p20

Ukraine hits key military fuel supplier 1,400 km inside Russia for third time in month - Euromaidan Press
https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/10/11/ukraine-hits-key-military-fuel-supplier-1400-km-inside-russia-for-third-time-in-month/

"King" Trump has signed what’s called a “presidential finding,”
or a classified directive authorizing covert action, against the regime of Venezuelan ruler Nicolšs Maduro.
This would allow the CIA to conduct “lethal operations in Venezuela”
as well as “a range of operations in the Caribbean,” according to the Times.
Covert action could be taken “either unilaterally or in conjunction with a larger military operation.”

America First? Trump Authorizes “Covert” CIA Action in Venezuela
The CIA now has greater authority in leading lethal operations in Venezuela.

Trump orders Defense Dept. to issue military paychecks during shutdown

Trump said that the Pentagon would repurpose money to make payroll,
as military service members were poised to miss paychecks on Wednesday.
Most other government workers will not be paid.
https://www.…

Trump orders Defense Dept. to issue military paychecks during shutdown
Trump said that the Pentagon would repurpose money to make payroll, as military service members were poised to miss paychecks on Wednesday. Most other government workers will not be paid.

Russian missile strikes Ukrainian training ground, casualties reported, military says: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/16/russian-missile-strikes-ukrainian-training.html

Estonia closes border crossing with Russia amid increased military activity - Euromaidan Press
https://euromaidanpress.com/2025/10/11/estonia-closes-border-crossing-with-russia-amid-increased-military-activity/

Partisans derail train carrying military cargo in Russia, military intelligence source says: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/07/partisans-derail-train-carrying-military.html

Democracy Now! speaks to William Hartung about his new book
“The Trillion Dollar War Machine”
and who profits from the United States’ runaway military spending that fuels foreign wars.
Hartung says that U.S. policy is “based on profit”
and calls for a rethinking of our foreign entanglements.
“We haven’t won a war in this century.
We’ve caused immense harm.
We’ve spent $8 trillion,” he says

“The Trillion Dollar War Machine”: William Hartung on How U.S. Military Spending Fuels Wars
Democracy Now! speaks to William Hartung about his new book “The Trillion Dollar War Machine” and who profits from the United States’ runaway military spending that fuels foreign wars. Hartung says that U.S. policy is “based on profit” and calls for a rethinking of our foreign entanglements. “We haven’t won a war in this century. We’ve caused immense harm. We’ve spent $8 trillion,” he says.

Pentagon staff have been warned that if they don’t watch or read Hegseth's speech,
or if they speak negatively of it,
they could face severe consequences.
https://zeteo.com/p/pentagon-hegseth-speech-military-consequences

The Pentagon Is Ordering Staff to Watch Hegseth’s ‘MAGA Garbage’ Speech… Or Else
Defense Department sources tell Zeteo that staff have been warned that if they don’t watch or read the speech, or if they speak negatively of it, they could face severe consequences.

Negligence scandal in Ukrainian military | Ukraine This Week: https://benborges.xyz/2025/11/09/negligence-scandal-in-ukrainian-military.html

NATO reportedly weighs stronger military response to Russian provocations: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/09/nato-reportedly-weighs-stronger-military.html

The central problem for American national security:
By itself the United States cannot keep up with China’s soaring industrial capacity,
which translates directly into military might.
China has close to a 28 percent share of global manufacturing,
while the United States has around 17 percent.
By one count, it is acquiring advanced weapons systems and equipment five to six times faster than America is.
One Chinese shipyard can build more than all Americ…

Opinion | To Outbuild China, America Needs Friends
For the sake of global security and freedom, the world’s democracies must collaborate better.

Head of the U.S. Military's Southern Command Is Stepping Down, Officials Say (New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/us/politics/southern-command-head-stepping-down.html?unlocked_article_code=1.t08.8If9.E9yJ7ybleSbK&smid=url-share
http://www.memeorandum.com/251016/p96#a251016p96

Explosion derails Russian military cargo train on St. Petersburg–Pskov line: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/08/explosion-derails-russian-military-cargo.html

Russian who joined Ukraine's military detained over suspected espionage: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/07/russian-who-joined-ukraines-military.html

The Pentagon Is Ordering Staff to Watch Hegseth's 'MAGA Garbage' Speech... Or Else (Zeteo)
https://zeteo.com/p/pentagon-hegseth-speech-military-consequences
http://www.memeorandum.com/251014/p160#a251014p160

Britain has quietly suspended intelligence cooperation with the US in the Caribbean
because London does not consider the deadly US military campaign against ships accused of drug trafficking to be in line with international law.
That amounts to an extraordinary open fissure in a close working relationship
at a time when the US is increasing its military buildup,
expanding its controversial campaign in the region with an attempt to threaten Venezuela.

NATO sees no major Russian military response if Ukraine receives Tomahawks: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/15/nato-sees-no-major-russian.html

Trump Says Military Will Get Paid Despite Shutdown (Wall Street Journal)
https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-says-military-will-be-paid-despite-shutdown-a73e1587
http://www.memeorandum.com/251011/p56#a251011p56

Germany pledges over $2.3 billion in new military aid for Ukraine, including Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/15/germany-pledges-over-billion-in.html

Over the past two months the U.S. has blown up at least 20 boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
“80 people have been killed in what are extrajudicial executions under international law,” says Juan Pappier, Americas deputy director at Human Rights Watch.
The Pentagon claims the boats were carrying drugs but officials have acknowledged they don’t know who has been killed.
The U.S.now has 15,000 military personnel in the region.

“Gunboat Diplomacy”: U.S. War in Latin America Feared as Hegseth Launches “Operation Southern Spear”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the launch of Operation Southern Spear to target suspected drug traffickers in South America, Central America and the Caribbean. The U.S. now has 15,000 military personnel in the region. Over the past two months the U.S. has blown up at least 20 boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. “80 people have been killed in what are extrajudicial executions under international law,” says Juan Pappier, Americas deputy director at Human Rights Watch. Th…

Pentagon will pay military troops, Trump says, shifting $8B (Politico)
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/11/pentagon-pay-military-troops-trump-00604481
http://www.memeorandum.com/251011/p72#a251011p72

Ukrainian forces strike Russian gas processing plant, military says: https://benborges.xyz/2025/12/15/ukrainian-forces-strike-russian-gas.html

Trump orders Defense Dept. to issue military paychecks during shutdown (Jacob Bogage/Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/10/11/military-pay-shutdown-trump/
http://www.memeorandum.com/251011/p49#a251011p49

Zelensky transfers Odesa mayor's powers to newly created military administration, appoints its head: https://benborges.xyz/2025/10/15/zelensky-transfers-odesa-mayors-powers.html

Arab states expanded cooperation with Israeli military during Gaza war, files show (David Kenner/Washington Post)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/10/11/us-israel-arab-military-leaked-documents/
http://www.memeorandum.com/251011/p57#a251011p57

Trump repeatedly promised that his mass deportation efforts would target “the worst of the worst” criminals,
yet the government’s own data reveals that immigrants with no criminal record are the largest group in US immigration detention today.
How can the Trump administration justify its deployment of federal agents, and even the military, to US cities based on the factually disprovable fictions?

‘Spectacle of disorder’: How ICE creates the chaos ICE, cops, and the military are called in to ‘fix’
"Trump has been able to make this spectacle where you have disorder on one side and him on the other, and he can constantly encroach upon the civil rights of Americans by convincing us that this disorder is so systemic that only he can fix it."