Paul Crespo

PAUL'S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): What would it take to end the war, and where does Israel fit in? The U.S. and Iran have agreed to terms to end their war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, although the pact may hinge on an end to hostilities in Lebanon and defers talks on Tehran's nuclear program

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): ‘We need a bigger Navy’ — Fleet Forces commander talks ‘Golden Fleet,’ shipbuilding. We should be able to build some ships at friendly overseas shipyards. Stupid move by lawmakers. Trump administration’s recent push to buy foreign-built warships is being waylaid by congressional defense committees seeking to limit executive office’s ability to tap overseas […]

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): European allies say they’ll be ready to help in Iran. Trump just has to show he has solid deal with next steps in Iran, including a complicated effort to remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz. How Iran’s naval mines work. Following a deal to reopen the strategic waterway, scouring the Strait of Hormuz […]

PAUL'S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Trump congratulated China on its “massive … win” after the Supreme Court shot down his executive order attempting to restrict birthright citizenship in the U.S.

President Trump is set to make his first flight aboard the new Air Force One — an almost brand new Boeing 747-8 worth at least $400 million donated by the royal family of Qatar — during Washington’s planned July Fourth massive flyover celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. The interiors of the aircraft have been minimally changed […]

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): The nuclear deterrence gap is real and America needs low-yield nukes. Nuclear policy debates are best when they force hard questions about risk, deterrence, and military necessity, not when disagreement is recast as bad faith. In 2018, as an outgrowth of rigorous policy review process, Trump administration’s “Nuclear Posture Review” identified need for supplemental low-yield nuclear […]

PAUL'S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Taiwan needs “hornet's nest” of drones to help deter conflict and provide security, says top U.S. diplomat to the democratically governed island . The de facto U.S. ambassador said drones represented “game-changing opportunity” to enhance Taiwan's security and reinforce peace in region.

For any conservative national security professional not directly in the Trump orbit, the last several weeks of nonstop yapping by President Trump and his minions trying to positively spin the ceasefire and memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran have been painful and nauseating.

PAUL'S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB): Canada rushes to build up its military as U.S. relationship frays and Trump demands it do more . For decades, Canada's military has been considered a weak link in NATO. Country has long lagged behind NATO allies in defense spending, but Prime Minister Mark Carney says it has to do more.

Despite CNN's Kaitlan Collins smugly and erroneously chiding President Trump for branding the Democratic Socialists of America as “communists,” Trump is right.