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Latest Episodes:

423: US Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine + Egypt Prepares Plan for Gaza Reconstruction + UK & France Want to Lead "Coalition of the Willing" in Ukraine Peace Agreement + More Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Israel PM thanks US for recent Foreign Military Sales of weapons to "finish the job" against Iran and their terror proxies. On Saturday, US Secretary of State Rubio said he had signed a declaration to expedite around $4 billion in military assistance to Israel, adding that a partial arms embargo imposed under former administration had been reversed.

2. Egypt Prepares Plan for Gaza Reconstruction. Egypt’s vision will be presented at an Arab League summit on Tuesday.

3. US Pauses Military Aid to Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine on Monday, a White House official said, sharply escalating pressure on Kyiv to agree to peace negotiations with Russia.

4. UK & France Want to Lead "Coalition of the Willing" in Ukraine Peace Agreement. British Prime Minister Kier Starmer announced the proposal on Sunday during a meeting of 18 European leaders in London.

5. The UK placed an order worth as much as $2 billion with Thales to supply more than 5,000 air defense missiles for Ukraine, the government said.

6. US President Donald Trump’s administration is loosening restrictions on military airstrikes by giving Commanders more autonomy to make lethal decisions, according to a U.S. defense official.

422: President Trump & President Zelensky Oval Office Meeting + US FMS to Israel Worth $3 Billion + Poland Leases AH-64 Apache Helicopters before Full Fleet Delivery + More Mar 01, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. US Foreign Military Sale to Israel Worth $3 Billion- includes $295 million for Armored D9 Caterpillar bulldozers and related equipment. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.

2. President Trump & President Zelensky Oval Office Meeting. (You have to listen to the whole meeting.)

3. European Leaders react to the President Trump & President Zelensky Oval Office Meeting. Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni, proposed “an immediate summit” between the United States and European allies “to speak frankly about how we intend to face today’s great challenges, starting with Ukraine.”

4. Wall Street Journal Report: Ukraine has enough weapons to sustain fighting until Summer without further US aid.

5. In response to President Donald Trump's "America First" Policy- Germany (and Europe) will increase defense industrial capacity to gain military materiel independence.

6. Poland Leases AH-64 Apache Helicopters before Full Fleet Delivery.

The Polish Ministry of National Defence has signed a $300 million deal to lease 8 x Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters from the United States. The contract comes in anticipation of the deliveries of 96 x AH-64E helicopters Poland ordered in August 2024.

421: IDF Probe on 7 Oct Hamas Attack + US & Russian Diplomats Meet in Istanbul + Poland & Slovakia Collaborate on Defense Materiel + Senate Confirmation Hearings for Top Pentagon Positions + More Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. IDF Probe on 7 Oct Hamas Attack. Israeli reporters were presented with the investigations conducted by the Southern Command, Operations Division, Israeli Air Force, and Israeli Navy.

2. US & Russian Diplomats Meet in Istanbul. A U.S. Embassy official in Ankara confirmed that the Istanbul talks focused on the issues affecting the operation of respective diplomatic missions.

3. South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) said that North Korea appears to have sent additional troops to Russia, after its soldiers deployed on the Russian-Ukraine fronts suffered heavy casualties.

4. Poland & Slovakia Collaborate on Defense Materiel. Poland and Slovakia have signed a letter of intent to jointly produce ammunition and cooperate on the procurement of armored vehicles, tank, and air defense weapons.

5. Senate Confirmation Hearings for Top Pentagon Positions.

- John Phelan (President Trump's Nominee for the Secretary of the Navy) testified today before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Mr. Phelan told lawmakers he’d be focused on correcting the course of problematic shipbuilding programs as well as replenishing dwindling munitions stockpiles.

- Stephen Feinberg (President Trump's Nominee for Deputy Defense Secretary) listed shipbuilding, aircraft development, nuclear modernization, cyber defense, hypersonics, counterspace capabilities and counter-drone platforms as key technology “shortages” needed to beat China, which he called the biggest and most challenging threat the United States.

420: Israel & Hamas Agree on Hostage - Prisoner Release as Phase I Closes + US to Field Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in '25 + US Senate Confirms new SECARMY + More Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Israel & Hamas Agree on Hostage - Prisoner Release as Phase I of Deal Closes. The first phase of the deal, which includes the ongoing ceasefire, ends on Saturday.

2. French President Macron visits White House- "feasible" to talk about a truce in the war and the start of negotiations for a sustainable peace within weeks.

3. Ukraine President Zelenskyy to visit Washington this week and possible agree on rare earth and mineral deal with US- in exchange for continued US support to Ukraine.

4. Competing resolutions in UN highlight daylight between US and European Leaders.

5. Norway continues aid to Ukraine with $312 million allocation of military equipment support.

6. Latest Estonian military aid package to Ukraine is worth $104 million- including 10,000 rounds of artillery ammunition.

7. US to Field Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon in '25.

8. US Senate Confirms new Army Secretary- confirmed on a 66-28 vote.

419: President Trump Removes Chairman of the Joint Chiefs & Navy CNO + Israeli Forensic Doctor Reports Bibas Family Murdered by Terrorists - Not Killed by Airstrike + Arab Leaders Meet in Riyadh to Discuss Gaza Reconstruction + More Feb 23, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Israeli Forensic Doctor Reports Bibas Family Murdered by Terrorists - Not Killed by Airstrike.

2. Israel to delay freeing of 600 Palestinian Prisoners after humiliating release ceremony of six Israeli Hostages.

3. IDF Warplanes conduct flyover of former top Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's funeral ceremony in Beirut. Defense Minister Israel Katz: “You will specialize in funerals, and we will specialize in victories.”

4. Arab Leaders Meet in Riyadh to Discuss Gaza Reconstruction. The meeting – including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf Arab nations – took place ahead of a larger Arab summit on March 4, Saudi Arabia said. A meeting of Islamic countries is expected to follow, according to the Egyptian foreign ministry.

5. Polish President Duda met with President Trump in Washington to discuss Ukraine.

6, US President Trump announced a second meeting for Ukraine negotiations will occur on 25 Feb in Riyadh.

7. UK and French Leaders to visit Washington for Ukraine discussions with President Donald Trump. Mr. Macron, is due at the White House on Monday and Mr. Starmer is set to follow on Thursday.

8. US and Ukraine / EU send competing UN resolutions to General Assembly on 3d year anniversary of the war.

9. President Trump Removes Chairman of the Joint Chiefs & Navy CNO. In addition, the USAF Vice Chief of Staff and the Judge Advocate Generals of the Army, Navy and USAF have reportedly also been removed.

418: Bodies of Four Hostages Returned to Israel include Shiri, Ariel & Kfir Bibas + President Trump & Leader of Ukraine Have War of Words + Australia Monitoring Chinese Warships Off the Continent's East Coast + More Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Short episode- For review:

1. Bodies of Four Hostages Returned to Israel include Shiri, Ariel & Kfir Bibas.

2. President Trump & Leader of Ukraine Have War of Words.

President Trump: “Think of it, a modestly successful comedian, Volodymyr Zelensky, talked the United States of America into spending $350 Billion Dollars, to go into a War that couldn’t be won, that never had to start, but a War that he, without the US and ‘TRUMP,’ will never be able to settle.”

3. Australia and Papua New Guinea negotiate defense treaty.

4. Australia Monitoring Chinese Warships Off the Continent's East Coast. Three Chinese navy vessels — a frigate, a cruiser and a supply tanker — were spotted last week in waters off mainland Australia.

5. Australian UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters achieve Initial Operating Capability- 15 months after arrival. The IOC achievement follows extensive testing, evaluation, and training, along with the launch of a fleet support and maintenance system. In 2023, Australia signed a deal to procure 40 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters via the US Government foreign military sales program.

417: US & Russia Establish Goals for Cooperation in Riyadh Talks + IRGC General Threatens Israel with Third Missile Attack + IDF Strikes Weapon Sites in Syria + US Tests Unarmed Minuteman III Ballistic Missile + More Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Hamas to release six Israeli Hostages on Saturday.

2. IDF Strikes Weapon Sites in Syria. The strikes targeted Syrian tanks used to store weapons, according to the IDF.

3. IRGC General Threatens Israel with Third Missile Attack. “The True Promise 3 will be carried out in appropriate time,” said deputy commander-in-chief of the IRGC Brigadier General Ali Fadavi.

4. US & Russia Establish Goals for Cooperation in Riyadh Talks. The two sides agreed broadly to pursue three goals: to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks, and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.

5. US President Trump said he would not oppose the Europeans if they wanted to send peacekeepers to Ukraine to provide security guarantees in the event of a peace deal. "Having troops over there would be fine, I wouldn't object to it at all," President Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.

6. Russian defense companies make comeback at the biennial 2025 IDEX Defense Show in Abu Dhabi- United Arab Emirates. The 2025 IDEX setting is noticeably different from the 2023 edition, when Russian companies were not even listed on the show’s official website. One of the top Russian exhibits is the Kalashnikov Group's Kub-2-E strike drone equipped with guided munitions as part of a drone-swarming concept.

7. UK begins competition for new 5.56mm light machine gun. Named “Project TROUBLER,” the initiative seeks to address capability gaps left by the decommissioning of the L110 A2, a 7.2-kilogram (15.8-pound) machine gun. The new weapon must be lighter and more modern than its predecessor, enhancing the mobility and combat effectiveness of Infantry Soldiers.

8. US Navy continues recovery of the EA-18G Growler that crashed in the San Diego Bay last week. The entire recovery operation could take up to two weeks, according to a US Navy news release.

9. US Tests Unarmed Minuteman III Ballistic Missile. A test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled for Tuesday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. The missile will likely be visible from Los Angeles and well beyond as is flies on a trajectory to the central Pacific Ocean. The launch might be visible from as far away as Oregon, Nevada, western Utah and Arizona, and northwest Mexico.

416: IDF will Remain on 5 Strategic Hills in S. Lebanon + US & Russian Officials Meet in Saudi Arabia + Top European Leaders Meet in Paris to Discuss Next Steps in Ukraine + Ukraine President Calls for 200k Soldier European Army + More Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. : IDF will Remain on 5 Strategic Hills in S. Lebanon. The US authorized the IDF to remain in the five points, though it was not clear how long troops would stay there.

2. Lebanon extend ban on flights from Iran. US advised Lebanon that Israel may shoot Iranian planes down. Israel asserts that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah.

3. Unconfirmed reports say that Hamas has agreed to allow the Palestinian Authority to lead Gaza after a permanent ceasefire.

4. US & Russian Officials Meet in Saudi Arabia. Senior American and Russian officials will hold talks on improving their ties and negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine.

5. Ukraine President Calls for 200k Soldier European Army.

6. Top European Leaders Meet in Paris to Discuss Next Steps in Ukraine.

6. US Indo-Pacific Combatant Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo say that Chinese military exercises around Taiwan are “not exercises; they are rehearsals” for forced reunification with the mainland.

415: US & Russian Officials to Meet in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Peace in Ukraine + Three Israeli Hostages Released after 498 Days in Captivity + Indonesia to Procure Bayraktar TB3 Drones + More Feb 15, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Three Israeli Hostages Released after 498 Days in Captivity. In exchange for the three Hostages, Israel released 369 Palestinian detainees and security prisoners, including 36 terrorists serving life sentences for murder.

2. Per Washington Post report- President Donald Trump and PM Benjamin Netanyahu discussed US support for a potential Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites during the Israeli leader's visit to Washington D.C. last week.

3. IDF strikes a prominent member of Unit 127- the Hezbollah formation in S. Lebanon responsible for aerial drone attack and surveillance flights over Israel.

4. Lebanon arrests 25 for attack on UNIFIL Convoy that wounded two Peacekeepers. UNIFIL = UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

5. From Politico: US & Russian Officials to Meet in Saudi Arabia to Discuss Peace in Ukraine. Representing the US are the National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Steve Witkoff, the president’s Middle East Envoy. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian government and the State Department didn’t respond to a request for comment.

6. On Friday, US Secretary of Defense Hegseth visited Poland where he held talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, the country’s defense minister. Secretary Hegseth: "We see Poland as the model ally on the continent, willing to invest not just in their defense, but in our shared defense, and the defense of the continent.”

7. Due to long lead times for Lockheed Martin-made M142 HIMARS, Estonia is considering other long-range fires options for a second tranche order. Rocketsan’s Khan, from Turkey; the Elbit Precise and Universal Launching System (PULS), out of Israel; and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace-made K239 Chunmoo- are said to be in the running for selection.

8. Indonesia to Procure Bayraktar TB3 Drones. Turkish drone maker Baykar will supply Indonesia with 60 Bayraktar TB3 armed drones and nine Akinci surveillance drones, according to Indonesian firm Republikorp.

9. US Army to deploy the ATHENA - R (Army Theater level High Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR- Radar) to South Korea for a four-month Operational Test and Evaluation. The ATHENA effort is in support of the US Army's High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program- that is also integrated on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet.

414: Israel to Hamas - Ceasefire Continues if 3 Hostages Released Saturday + President Trump Speaks with Russian President - Directs Negotiations to End War + US Sec Def - No NATO Membership for Ukraine + More Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

For review:

1. Israel to Hamas - Ceasefire Continues if 3 Hostages Released Saturday.

2. IDF conducts airstrikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah weapon stores, launchers, and facilities.

3. Iran to unveil and new indigenous, cruise missile in March- with a reported range of 2000 kilometers. Quote from IRGC Rear Admiral Tangsiri: “We now have missiles that can be launched from the depths of the Iranian territory, eliminating the need for coastal launches.”

4. Speaking at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth says no NATO Membership for Ukraine. Secretary Hegseth: "the war between Ukraine and Russia must end", that Kyiv joining NATO is unrealistic and that the US will no longer prioritize European and Ukrainian security.

5. President Trump Speaks with Russian President - Directs Negotiations to End War.

6. US President Donald Trump wants to have nuclear arms talks with Russia and China. President Trump: “There’s no reason for us to be building brand new nuclear weapons, we already have so many,” Trump said. “You could destroy the world 50 times over, 100 times over. And here we are building new nuclear weapons, and they’re building nuclear weapons.” The US President continues: “One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say, ‘Let’s cut our military budget in half.’ And we can do that. And I think we’ll be able to.”

7. Japan to procure Boeing CH-47 Block II Chinooks. Beside the US, Japan will join Germany and the UK as operators of the latest Chinook variant.

8. Two Naval Aviators in good condition after their EA-18G Growler crashes during an attempted landing at the NAS North Island (San Diego, CA).

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