“We’re talking about hundreds of billions of dollars going to opaque firms, many of them involved in grotesque human rights abuses. If Americans knew where their money was going, they’d say… I’m out.” - Matthew Pottinger

In our struggle with the Chinese Communist Party, FDD China program chair Matt Pottinger nails it: “It does us little good to repeat again and again that we aren't seeking a new Cold War when the CCP has been stealthily waging one against us for years.”

Robust assistance for Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression and rigorous oversight of that assistance are both in the U.S. national interest.

A few loud voices offer a false choice; but HASC/SASC R leads get it right:

wicker.senate.gov/2023/1/wicker-…

armedservices.house.gov/news/press-rel…

Defense spending is just over 3% of GDP and would need to reach ~5% to meet national security requirements: “That is because we have to play catch up. Of the six administrations that followed President Ronald Reagan…none have committed to funding the military’s modernization.”

Senator Tom Cotton introduced legislation Thursday to ensure DOD takes proactive steps to eliminate delays b/w Israel’s receipt of its own KC-46s & their availability for missions.

Our new FDD Insight has the details 👇
fdd.org/analysis/2023/…

Tom Cotton FDD_CMPP #Iran

“When the Biden administration is in courtship mode, the aides said, it backs off from applying pressure on China on a range of issues.”

“True to form, Beijing is again trying to dangle the prospect of smooth relations to distract us from confronting its growing aggression.”

The U.S. has a sizable # of ATACMS, can buy more via multiyear authority, and is fielding a new replacement system. “Washington can safely send Kyiv at least some ATACMS, even a small number of which would yield significant battlefield benefits.” FDD's Center on Military & Political Power (CMPP) fdd.org/analysis/2023/…

“…There’s been a sea change in Congress in terms of recognizing the threat posed by TikTok. We had an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in favor of banning TikTok on government devices. I have a bill for the broader [ban] that has Democratic support.” hughhewitt.com/chairman-galla…

Rejecting cuts outright would be the first step in aligning with the views of the American public, which as The Vandenberg Coalition polling found supports increasing military spending (87% among Republican voters).

The Biden administration has committed to developing a “Plan B” to address the threats posed by the regime in Iran.

FDD Mark Dubowitz Orde F. Kittrie lay out a plan to finally abandon a
dangerous deal, support protests, and adopt a rollback strategy:

fdd.org/analysis/2023/…

Important bipartisan statement vote.

16-member select committee chaired by Rep. Gallagher Press Office “to investigate and submit policy recommendations on the status of the Chinese Communist Party’s economic, technological, and security progress and its competition with the United States.”

Soon Jake Sullivan Secretary Antony Blinken will be in Israel.

High on the agenda: Iran.

Badly needed: Plan B.

FDD just released 53-page Plan B w/231 actionable recommendations. Co-edited by Orde F. Kittrie & me

Max pressure on regime; max support for #IranRevoIution fdd.org/analysis/2022/…

SASC chairman Sen. Jack Reed supports sending Ukraine long-range ATACMS missiles to bolster Kyiv’s defense against Russian aggression.

Via Tom Vanden Brook: usatoday.com/story/news/pol…

“a single year’s worth of successful defense authorization and appropriation bills won’t solve these long-standing challenges. It will require sustained bipartisan focus and resourcing propelled by a genuine sense of urgency in the Pentagon and Congress.”

350-80: House passed the final version of the $858 billion #FY23NDAA defense programs and policy bill. 2/3rds vote (287) was needed for passage. 45 Democrats and 35 Republicans voted No. Bill now heads to the Senate, which plans to take it up next week.

“…we cannot ignore that releasing Bout back into the world is a deeply disturbing decision. We must stop inviting dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans overseas as bargaining chips…” -SFRC Chairman Menendez foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/rele…