Gas Crisis Wipes $100 Billion off German Economy

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The ongoing gas crisis has resulted in the German economy losing over $100 billion, a report from a major economics institute has claimed.

A paper published by the Ifo Institute for Economic Research, one of Germany’s largest financial think tanks, has claimed that the country has ultimately lost over $100 billion as a result of the ongoing energy crisis.

Coming about as a result of Germany becoming overreliant on Russian gas while pushing its green agenda, many within the general public are now experiencing serious financial hardship, even cutting down on Christmas celebrations just to scrape by.

According to the research published by the Ifo Institute on Tuesday, this year’s losses as a result of the gas crisis will amount to just under 2 per cent of the total economic output of Germany, or around €64 billion (~$64 billion). (Read more from “Gas Crisis Wipes $100 Billion off German Economy” HERE)

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Pentagon Lays Out Expectations for Winter Months in Ukraine

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A top Department of Defense official warned that the changing season has already affected the war in Ukraine and will continue to do so as winter comes.

Dr. Colin H. Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy, predicted Tuesday that the fighting, which has already been altered by the increasingly colder conditions, will continue, “even if the intensity of the fighting goes down.”

“You’re already seeing the sloppy weather in Ukraine slow things down a little bit,” he said during a Project for Media and National Security event. “It’s getting really muddy, which makes it hard to do large-scale offensives. I think that that challenge is going to get worse in the coming weeks. So we’ll have to see whether the fighting slows down as a consequence of that.”

Both sides will likely continue to exchange artillery fire as “the fighting is not going to stop,” even if the fighting’s intensity decreases. For the troops on the front line, the winter months will be a chance to get resupplied and bring in reinforcements. (Read more from “Pentagon Lays Out Expectations for Winter Months in Ukraine” HERE)

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Guam Elects First Republican to Congress Since 1993

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Guam elected James Moylan as a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, the first Republican since 1993.

The Pacific Daily News, a local outlet in Guam, reported the results of the race based on partial and unofficial results from the Guam Election Commission around 4:00 a.m. local time.

Moylan defeated former Democrat Speaker Judi Won Pat in the delegates race to represent Gaum as a non-voting member of the U.S. House. At the time of the race being called by the local outlet, Moylan led by 1,648 votes: 17,075 (52.19 percent) votes to 15,427 votes (47.15 percent).

The Republican will fill the seat currently held by incumbent Del. Michael San Nicolas.

Moylan will be the second Republican elected to represent Guam and the first Republican sent to Congress since 1993 after former Del. Vicente T. Blaz lost his reelection bid. (Read more from “Guam Elects First Republican to Congress Since 1993” HERE)

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There Is Only One Way the Ukraine War Can End; Putin Issues Ominous Warning About Major Attack on Key Ukrainian City

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By Daniel Davis. How the Ukraine War Will End: In the heady days of September and October, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) won remarkable military victories over the Russian invaders, recapturing thousands of square miles of territory. Many in the West interpreted those successes as “irreversible” proof Kyiv was on its way to victory, and thus there was no need to consider a negotiated settlement with Moscow. The stark, cold realities of modern warfare, however, reveal that to the contrary, there is no end to the war in sight, and the most likely case remains – however unpopular in the Western world – a negotiated settlement.

The only question that remains: how many more Ukrainians must die before this harsh reality is grasped by the leaders of both warring parties?

There are a great many in the United States and the Western world that genuinely does believe Kyiv can win its war with Moscow and eventually drive all of Putin’s forces back to Russia. Last week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his longstanding boast that his forces would “definitely liberate Crimea.” Former four-star U.S. general Ben Hodges predicted that by the end of this year, the UAF would “push Russian troops back to positions” they held prior to the start of the war and “by the middle of next year Ukrainians will be in Crimea.” . . .

I wrote last Spring that the combat fundamentals of war favored Russia over Ukraine, despite the fact they had recently been driven out of Kyiv and Kharkiv. Nothing in the intervening months have altered the strategic balance. Most wars throughout history swing back and forth, with each side winning some battles, rarely producing a steady trend towards a conclusive outcome.

The ultimate winners, however, are almost always determined by which side has the most fundamentals in its favor. Moreover, success in war usually turns on factors outside of the battlefield. A 2008 U.S. Army War College report notes that “war is a political act,” implying that “tactical or operational victory without favorable political outcomes is sterile.” (Read more from “There Is Only 1 Way the Ukraine War Can End” HERE)

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Putin Issues Ominous Warning About Major Attack on Key Ukrainian City

By Newsweek. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that civilians in Kherson must be “removed” from the city as a battle for it could be coming soon.

“Now, of course, those who live in Kherson must be removed from the zone of the most dangerous actions,” the Russian leader said, adding that citizens “must not suffer” from attacks in the city, according to The Moscow Times.

Putin’s comments come as Russian troops have reportedly abandoned checkpoints in the occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson in recent days. In addition, Russian flags have been removed from the administration building in Kherson, as well as a city council building, according to reports.

However, the Ukrainian military has said that Russia’s withdrawal from the area could be a tactic to catch them off guard. (Read more from “Putin Issues Ominous Warning About Major Attack on Key Ukrainian City” HERE)

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U.S., Netherlands to Give Ukraine Refurbished Soviet-Era Tanks

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The U.S. is teaming up with the Netherlands to upgrade 90 Soviet-era tanks that will be shipped to Ukraine with new armor, optics and communications gear. Dutch defense officials told reporters some of the tanks could arrive in the country as early as next month.

U.S. officials confirmed the deal for the Czech T-72 tanks Friday at the Pentagon. It’s part of a new $400 million security assistance package for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance initiative. Unlike the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) program, which draws military supplies from U.S. stocks, the USAI works with the defense industry to provide the firepower. (Read more from “U.S., Netherlands to Give Ukraine Refurbished Soviet-Era Tanks” HERE)

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Former Japanese Navy Commander Calls on Canada and West to Prepare for Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

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China is likely to invade Taiwan within five years unless Canada and other Western allies band together to send tough economic and military warnings to Beijing, says the former naval commander of Japan’s Maritime Self Defence Force.

Retired vice-admiral Toshiyuki Ito told The Globe and Mail that he believes President Xi Jinping is determined to gain control of self-governing Taiwan, and he will use the full might of China’s military to do so.

“Within five years, he will do something. He will use force,” Mr. Ito said in an interview Wednesday that was arranged by the Japanese embassy in Ottawa.

He said the democratic world needs to prepare for a Chinese invasion and to use the threat of economic sanctions and military readiness to ward off Beijing, saying he doesn’t want to see Taiwan turn into another Hong Kong. In 2020, China imposed a national-security law on Hong Kong that has effectively criminalized dissent or free speech.

Mr. Ito said he would like to see the Royal Canadian Navy continue military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region and even join an informal four-country defense and security alliance involving the U.S., Japan, Australia and India. (Read more from “Former Japanese Navy Commander Calls on Canada and West to Prepare for Chinese Invasion of Taiwan” HERE)

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Austin, South Korean Defense Chief Issue Stark Warning After Fresh North Korean Missile Barrage

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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterpart vowed Thursday that any nuclear attack from North Korea against the United States or South Korea would mean the end of the Kim Jong-un regime. The statement came hours after Pyongyang launched a fresh missile barrage that included a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile that has sent tensions soaring across the region.

Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup was in Washington on Thursday for previously scheduled high-level talks. Topping the agenda was the record number of launches by Pyongyang this week, including nearly two dozen missiles on Wednesday alone, the most in a single day. The North has said its latest display — which some see as a prelude to a nuclear weapons test — is in protest of U.S.-South Korean military exercises that it considers a threat to its security.

Pak Jong-chon, secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, said in a statement that it was Washington and Seoul that were “shoving” the situation out of control with the decision to extend substantial military drills that kicked off Monday.

“The United States and South Korea will find that they have made a terrible mistake that cannot be reversed,” Mr. Pak said.

The joint U.S.-South Korean statement is “a strong warning” to North Korea, Mr. Lee told reporters during a joint press conference at the Pentagon. The two allies announced that the training exercises would not only continue but be extended beyond their scheduled closing date. (Read more from “Austin, South Korean Defense Chief Issue Stark Warning After Fresh North Korean Missile Barrage” HERE)

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Russian Official Lists Reasons Why Putin Had ‘No Other Choice’ but War

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Magomedsalam Magomedov, deputy head of the Russian presidential administration, listed four reasons justifying Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

“The open support and promotion of the neo-Nazi ideology, a speedy militarization of Ukraine, constant calls for the annexation of Russian territories, an increasing threat to our national security and stability left our country’s President Vladimir Putin no other choice but to launch the special military operation,” Magomedov said on Thursday, according to Russian news agency Tass. . .

“This was not an easy decision but an extremely necessary one, first of all, for the sake of the future of our country, our children and grandchildren,” he explained. “This decision is supported by a prevailing majority of the Russian people.” (Read more from “Russian Official Lists Reasons Why Putin Had ‘No Other Choice’ but War” HERE)

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U.S. Forces Now on the Ground in Ukraine; Russia Deploys ‘Killjoy’ Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles to Belarus, UK Intel Says

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By American Military News. U.S. military personnel are now on the ground in Ukraine, keeping track of and inspecting weapons the U.S. has shipped to Ukrainian forces, a senior defense official announced during a Pentagon background briefing on Monday. These U.S. personnel are some of the first the Pentagon has acknowledged have entered Ukraine since Russia launched its large scale invasion of the country in February.

The senior defense official who spoke on background during an official Pentagon event, said, “U.S. personnel have recently resumed on-site inspections to assess weapon stocks in country whenever and wherever the security conditions allow.” The official said “the return of our defense attaché and Office of Defense Cooperation personnel in country has allowed us to resume this critical function.”

The U.S. Defense attaché for Ukraine is U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Garrick Harmon.

The Biden administration ordered U.S. troops out of Ukraine in February just days before Russia launched its invasion. The Associated Press reported the administration did return some troops to provide security at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv earlier this year. (Read more from “U.S. Forces Now on the Ground in Ukraine” HERE)

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Most Troops Deployed for Ukraine Response Still in Europe

By Military Times. Roughly 20,000 U.S. troops were mobilized throughout central and eastern Europe in the early months of this year, first in anticipation of a Russian invasion of Ukraine and then in response to it.

Most of those troops are still posted in partner nations, training with local troops and otherwise assuring NATO countries that the U.S. will respond if Russia takes the fight beyond Ukraine.

“So right now, the intent is to keep troop levels at the same level as they’ve been,” a senior military official told Military Times on Monday during a background briefing. “We have no announcements to make in terms of any changes to that in the near term.”

A small number of those originally mobilized have since redeployed, according to the latest numbers.

The remaining members of the 300-soldier XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters deployment returned from Germany over the weekend, the unit announced Monday. (Read more from “Russia Deploys ‘Killjoy’ Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles to Belarus, UK Intel Says” HERE)

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Russia Deploys ‘Killjoy’ Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles to Belarus, UK Intel Says

By Washington Examiner. Russia has deployed some of its feared hypersonic ballistic missiles to Belarus, according to U.K. intelligence.

The AS-24 Killjoy, or “Kinzhal,” is seen by many as the pride of the Russian military, being one area in which Russia possibly surpasses the capabilities of the United States. The missile, launched from a MiG-31K fighter, is nearly impossible to intercept due to its hypersonic speed, can carry either a conventional or nuclear payload, and has a range of around 1,240 miles, according to an analysis from the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

The purpose of the alleged deployment of the advanced missiles to Belarus is debated, with the most prominent theories portraying it as a warning to the West, a way to further bring Belarus into the war in Ukraine, or as a sign that it could further increase its missile strikes into Ukraine, which has battered its infrastructure in recent weeks.

“Russia has fielded KILLJOY since 2018, but it has not previously been deployed in Belarus. Russia has occasionally launched these weapons during the Ukraine war, but stocks are likely very limited,” the U.K. Ministry of Defense claimed in an intelligence update on the war in Ukraine. (Read more from “Russia Deploys ‘Killjoy’ Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles to Belarus, UK Intel Says” HERE)

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Netanyahu Poised for Comeback in Israel Election, Exit Polls Show

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared well placed to return to power after exit polls following Tuesday’s election showed his right-wing bloc heading for a narrow majority lifted by a strong showing from his far-right allies.

Israel’s longest-serving premier, on trial over corruption charges which he denies, was poised to take 61-62 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, according to Israeli television exit polls.

The early exit polls may differ from the final result of the election, which is not expected until later in the week but the results pointed to a stronger-than-expected showing by the right.

Israel’s fifth election in less than four years exasperated many Israeli voters. (Read more from “Netanyahu Poised for Comeback in Israel Election, Exit Polls Show” HERE)

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