washingtontimes--2020-10-18--U.S. Army eyes next-generation vehicle to dominate the battlespace: The drone tank

Armored tanks dominated the theater of war from the Battle of Kursk to Desert Storm and helped define combat in the 20th century .
But the mighty tank ’ s place in the battles of tomorrow isn ’ t entirely clear .
Specialists argue that the changing nature of war could limit tanks ’ effectiveness and mean a major demotion in how they are fielded in the face of more effective rocket fire , advanced radar systems that make it easier to spot and target the vehicles , and the proliferation of small , deadly drones that can rain destruction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ storied ground vehicles such as the M1A1 Abrams and the Leopard 2 , along with models on the production line that stem from the Army ’ s groundbreaking “ Next-Generation Combat Vehicle ” program , will by no means disappear from the military landscape .
It has become evident , however , that the once-impregnable traditional tank has become vulnerable and that its future hinges on how military leaders and vehicle manufacturers adapt .
For tank skeptics , one of the world ’ s hottest war zones is providing fresh ammunition for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nagorno-Karabakh clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan .
In barely three weeks of fighting , the Armenians have lost an estimated 80 battle tanks and its military claims to have destroyed more than 100 Azerbaijani armored vehicles .
Each side denies those figures , though videos posted on social media seem to confirm that tanks have suffered badly in the fight , largely because of the widespread availability of drones and other technologies that have proved effective at eliminating them or at least halting their advance .
In another sign of the times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself of its last three active tank battalions , ceding heavy ground armor capability entirely to the Army .
Marine Commandant Gen. David H. Berger said in March that tanks are “ operationally unsuitable ” for the Corps ’ main new mission : confronting “ near peer ” adversaries such as China , defending ships at sea and securing military control of contested coastlines .
But specialists say deeper issues are involved , including the fact that many militaries have failed to invest in defensive systems that could enhance the value of tanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re going to spend your money today , it ’ s providing those layers of protections to make sure you can deploy those systems , ” said Jack Watling , research fellow in land warfare at London ’ s Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies .
“ It ’ s not the tank .
It ’ s the air defense system … the things that go around it.
” The Armenian military , he said , “ didn ’ t have all of the components you needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price .
Analysts generally agree that most advanced militaries can easily defend ground combat forces from drone attacks .
The U.S. armed forces and other militaries also are well-practiced and generally capable of fending off air assaults and weathering mortar fire as they move tanks and infantry forces into theater .
The problem , Mr. Watling said , is that opposing military leaders now understand that if they unleash enough firepower in quick succession — drones , traditional aircraft , long-range rocket fire , electronic attacks and other tools — they can slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expend so much ammunition that they become less able to defend themselves as the fight progresses .
At the same time , some traditional defensive tactics that have aided tank formations , such as camouflage and the use of decoy vehicles , are no longer effective .
“ Historically , armored vehicles have been fairly difficult to find .
Things like decoys have been quite effective at forcing the other side to waste a lot of their air support , ” Mr. Watling said .
“ That is increasingly not the case.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sensors and similar systems seem to have played a key role in Nagorno-Karabakh and allowed the Azerbaijani military to more easily and effectively target Armenian tanks .
But military strategists have written the tank ’ s premature obituary in the face of changing technology many times , and some say the iron laws of battlefield strategy mean the tank , or its functional equivalent , will always have a role to play .
“ For as long as we continue to conduct ground operations with the purpose of physically seizing and holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we will need protected mobility to transport troops from A to B and protected firepower to support infantry in achieving their objectives and to neutralize other armored vehicles , ” former British officer and defense consultant Nicholas Drummond wrote recently in the journal U.K. Land Power .
Analysts are by no means writing off the tank , particularly in areas where one could imagine the breakout of a large-scale ground war .
A theoretical Russian move into Eastern Europe or a North Korean invasion of its southern neighbor are instances where major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move and protect them would be crucial .
“ We ’ ve seen tanks become more vulnerable in the modern era .
Now , precision-guided rocket fire can do serious damage , too , ” said Michael O ’ Hanlon , a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of the book “ The Future of Land Warfare.
” But , he added , “ given the right terrain and flexibility and control of the skies , tanks can still be formidable as part of a combined-arms capability.
” “ I certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them — lots of them — in Korea , for example , or even the Baltics , depending on the scenario , ” he said .
“ So basically , this is something we should continue to invest in , but within reason in terms of numbers of platforms , expectations for the technology and the centrality of big gas-guzzling chunks of steel in our core concepts for future war-fighting.
” The nation ’ s top fighting forces still retain huge stockpiles of tanks .
The U.S. has more than 6,200 tanks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39,000 armored vehicles , according to figures from GlobalFirepower.com , an online clearinghouse of nations ’ military strength .
Russia has nearly 13,000 tanks and more than 27,000 armored vehicles .
China has 3,500 tanks and 33,000 armored vehicles , according to the site .
Military leaders are keenly aware of the challenges facing those ground vehicles .
At the Pentagon , Army leaders have fast-tracked a next-generation tank program that is expected to produce huge leaps in survivability and maneuverability , along with perhaps the most widely anticipated advancement : vehicles that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be controlled remotely in settings where human operators would be at particularly high risk — a drone tank .
After the Marine Corps shift , American tank warfare will rest squarely with the Army .
Officials readily acknowledge that beyond the nuts and bolts , the advanced , cutting-edge systems surrounding the vehicle are crucial .
“ The network is almost more important in some ways than building the combat vehicles , ” Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cummings , program executive officer of ground combat systems , told the media outlet Defense News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the year , the Army is expected to release its request for proposals for an eventual replacement of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle , which was put into service in 1981 and has played an integral role in virtually all U.S. ground campaigns since then .
Most observers agree that vehicles of that age are outliving their usefulness despite their effectiveness and huge contributions to American military superiority .
“ The need for modernization is considered urgent , as many current Army ground combat vehicles … were developed in the 1980s or earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August concluded .
Much of that modernization will center on networks and linking tanks in real time with aircraft , control centers and military personnel , all of which must have immediate access to all of the same data .
But at its core , analysts say , the next generation of combat vehicles will remain similar to their predecessors in many ways .
“ The Army ’ s next-generation fighting vehicle should just be called its next tank , ” Mr. O ’ Hanlon said .
“ Nothing is advancing radically enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that a system developed in the 2020s will be radically different than one from the 1980s .
That ’ s a disappointment in some ways , but anytime the Army has tried to get too ambitious before … it ’ s found that its visions and ambitions tend to write checks that its technologies can ’ t actually cash .
”

Armored tanks dominated the theater of war from the Battle of Kursk to Desert Storm and helped define combat in the 20th century.
But the mighty tank’s place in the battles of tomorrow isn’t entirely clear. Specialists argue that the changing nature of war could limit tanks’ effectiveness and mean a major demotion in how they are fielded in the face of more effective rocket fire, advanced radar systems that make it easier to spot and target the vehicles, and the proliferation of small, deadly drones that can rain destruction on armored columns.
Researchers stress that storied ground vehicles such as the M1A1 Abrams and the Leopard 2, along with models on the production line that stem from the Army’s groundbreaking “Next-Generation Combat Vehicle” program, will by no means disappear from the military landscape.
It has become evident, however, that the once-impregnable traditional tank has become vulnerable and that its future hinges on how military leaders and vehicle manufacturers adapt.
For tank skeptics, one of the world’s hottest war zones is providing fresh ammunition for their argument.
Military strategists are closely watching the Nagorno-Karabakh clash between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In barely three weeks of fighting, the Armenians have lost an estimated 80 battle tanks and its military claims to have destroyed more than 100 Azerbaijani armored vehicles.
Each side denies those figures, though videos posted on social media seem to confirm that tanks have suffered badly in the fight, largely because of the widespread availability of drones and other technologies that have proved effective at eliminating them or at least halting their advance.
In another sign of the times, the Marine Corps this year divested itself of its last three active tank battalions, ceding heavy ground armor capability entirely to the Army. Marine Commandant Gen. David H. Berger said in March that tanks are “operationally unsuitable” for the Corps’ main new mission: confronting “near peer” adversaries such as China, defending ships at sea and securing military control of contested coastlines.
But specialists say deeper issues are involved, including the fact that many militaries have failed to invest in defensive systems that could enhance the value of tanks on technologically advanced battlefields.
“If you’re going to spend your money today, it’s providing those layers of protections to make sure you can deploy those systems,” said Jack Watling, research fellow in land warfare at London’s Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies. “It’s not the tank. It’s the air defense system … the things that go around it.”
The Armenian military, he said, “didn’t have all of the components you needed to protect their force” and paid the price.
Analysts generally agree that most advanced militaries can easily defend ground combat forces from drone attacks. The U.S. armed forces and other militaries also are well-practiced and generally capable of fending off air assaults and weathering mortar fire as they move tanks and infantry forces into theater.
The problem, Mr. Watling said, is that opposing military leaders now understand that if they unleash enough firepower in quick succession — drones, traditional aircraft, long-range rocket fire, electronic attacks and other tools — they can slow ground vehicle formations and force them to expend so much ammunition that they become less able to defend themselves as the fight progresses.
At the same time, some traditional defensive tactics that have aided tank formations, such as camouflage and the use of decoy vehicles, are no longer effective.
“Historically, armored vehicles have been fairly difficult to find. Things like decoys have been quite effective at forcing the other side to waste a lot of their air support,” Mr. Watling said. “That is increasingly not the case.”
Major advancements in radar, electronic warfare, sensors and similar systems seem to have played a key role in Nagorno-Karabakh and allowed the Azerbaijani military to more easily and effectively target Armenian tanks.
But military strategists have written the tank’s premature obituary in the face of changing technology many times, and some say the iron laws of battlefield strategy mean the tank, or its functional equivalent, will always have a role to play.
“For as long as we continue to conduct ground operations with the purpose of physically seizing and holding ground, it is reasonable to assume that we will need protected mobility to transport troops from A to B and protected firepower to support infantry in achieving their objectives and to neutralize other armored vehicles,” former British officer and defense consultant Nicholas Drummond wrote recently in the journal U.K. Land Power.
Tomorrow’s tank
Analysts are by no means writing off the tank, particularly in areas where one could imagine the breakout of a large-scale ground war. A theoretical Russian move into Eastern Europe or a North Korean invasion of its southern neighbor are instances where major ground forces and the tanks needed to move and protect them would be crucial.
“We’ve seen tanks become more vulnerable in the modern era. Now, precision-guided rocket fire can do serious damage, too,” said Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and author of the book “The Future of Land Warfare.”
But, he added, “given the right terrain and flexibility and control of the skies, tanks can still be formidable as part of a combined-arms capability.”
“I certainly wouldn’t want to be without them — lots of them — in Korea, for example, or even the Baltics, depending on the scenario,” he said. “So basically, this is something we should continue to invest in, but within reason in terms of numbers of platforms, expectations for the technology and the centrality of big gas-guzzling chunks of steel in our core concepts for future war-fighting.”
The nation’s top fighting forces still retain huge stockpiles of tanks. The U.S. has more than 6,200 tanks in its arsenal, along with more than 39,000 armored vehicles, according to figures from GlobalFirepower.com, an online clearinghouse of nations’ military strength.
Russia has nearly 13,000 tanks and more than 27,000 armored vehicles. China has 3,500 tanks and 33,000 armored vehicles, according to the site.
Military leaders are keenly aware of the challenges facing those ground vehicles. At the Pentagon, Army leaders have fast-tracked a next-generation tank program that is expected to produce huge leaps in survivability and maneuverability, along with perhaps the most widely anticipated advancement: vehicles that are “optionally manned” and can be controlled remotely in settings where human operators would be at particularly high risk — a drone tank.
After the Marine Corps shift, American tank warfare will rest squarely with the Army.
Officials readily acknowledge that beyond the nuts and bolts, the advanced, cutting-edge systems surrounding the vehicle are crucial.
“The network is almost more important in some ways than building the combat vehicles,” Army Maj. Gen. Brian Cummings, program executive officer of ground combat systems, told the media outlet Defense News this week.
By the end of the year, the Army is expected to release its request for proposals for an eventual replacement of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, which was put into service in 1981 and has played an integral role in virtually all U.S. ground campaigns since then.
Most observers agree that vehicles of that age are outliving their usefulness despite their effectiveness and huge contributions to American military superiority.
“The need for modernization is considered urgent, as many current Army ground combat vehicles … were developed in the 1980s or earlier,” a Government Accountability Office survey in August concluded.
Much of that modernization will center on networks and linking tanks in real time with aircraft, control centers and military personnel, all of which must have immediate access to all of the same data.
But at its core, analysts say, the next generation of combat vehicles will remain similar to their predecessors in many ways.
“The Army’s next-generation fighting vehicle should just be called its next tank,” Mr. O’Hanlon said. “Nothing is advancing radically enough in the undergirding technologies for us to think that a system developed in the 2020s will be radically different than one from the 1980s. That’s a disappointment in some ways, but anytime the Army has tried to get too ambitious before … it’s found that its visions and ambitions tend to write checks that its technologies can’t actually cash.”
• Ben Wolfgang can be reached at bwolfgang@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-18--Martha McSally pummels Mark Kelly over communist China ties

It was a stunning charge Sen. Martha McSally lobbed at Democratic opponent Mark Kelly : that the former Space Shuttle astronaut , on his 2006 flight , took a Chinese flag as his sole personal item .
And that he carried a Chinese communist banner on his motorcycle .
Mr. Kelly first tried to ignore the claim , but he pleaded ignorance when pressed by the moderator at their debate last week .
“ I don ’ t know what she ’ s talking about , ” he said .
“ She might have found something on the internet.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s long-standing ties to China and the role Ms. McSally hopes they play in helping her fend off his Senate challenge in the Nov. 3 election .
Americans increasingly see China as the country ’ s top competitor , and many would say enemy , even besting Russia for that role .
But there has never been a bloc of voters casting ballots on the China issue .
The Arizona race is shaping up as an early test of whether that can change .
“ He sold out to China in multiple business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick , ” Ms. McSally said early in her debate with Mr. Kelly .
She came back to that theme repeatedly , even when the question was far afield .
Her evidence , beyond the claims of a Chinese banner on the space shuttle , were his multiple trips to the communist country and his search for financial backing from Chinese corporations such as social media giant Tencent for his own space payload company , World View .
Mr. Kelly met his wife , former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , on a trip to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is one of a number in which Republican incumbents are hoping to fend off strong Democratic challenges .
Polling has shown Mr. Kelly consistently leading .
If he wins , Arizona will have gone in the course of two years from having two Republican senators to two Democrats .
The last time the state had two Democratic senators was 1953 .
Ms. McSally is sitting in the seat once held by the late Sen. John McCain .
She was appointed to the seat after she lost her bid for the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sinema , a Democrat , topped Ms. McSally 50 % to 48 % .
Ms. Sinema in recent days has jumped into the election to back Mr. Kelly .
Neither the Kelly nor McSally campaigns responded to inquiries from The Washington Times for this article .
China also popped up in this week ’ s debate between incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia and his Democratic opponent Jon Ossoff , with the challenger saying it was “ absolutely false ” that his company has taken money from a state-supported Chinese firm .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gross , who is backed by Democrats in his challenge to Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan , on Monday accused the GOP lawmaker ’ s family company of doing business with a firm tied to Beijing .
Mr .
Gross said that revelation , in a story by Yahoo News , punctures Mr. Sullivan ’ s tough-talk approach to China .
“ Dan Sullivan is just another hypocritical politician who talks tough on China in Washington while his family company is working with the Chinese government to enrich themselves , ” Mr .
Gross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use China against Democrats ’ presidential nominee , former Vice President Joseph R. Biden , whose son Hunter joined him on a 2013 trip to China .
Ten days later , the younger Mr. Biden scored a business deal with the Bank of China , according to Peter Schweizer in a 2019 book .
Steven Mosher , who as president of the Population Research Institute has been a longtime China observer and critic , said business ties with China are a valid campaign issue .
“ We hear the words ‘ existential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But China really is a threat to the continued existence of the U.S. as a constitutional republic , ” Mr. Mosher told The Washington Times .
He said Tencent likely invested in Mr. Kelly ’ s company specifically so China could gain a window into NASA , with which Mr. Kelly ’ s company does business .
“ Why doesn ’ t he sever his relationship with the company ?
” he asked .
Mr. Mosher said Americans used to think of China as an economic threat , but with the emergence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a health threat .
“ For most Americans , the China threat is now personal and is likely to remain so , ” he said .
“ China is not just a ‘ competitor , ’ as Biden now reluctantly admits .
They are literally a mortal threat , having killed 200,000 Americans and sickened millions more.
” Ms. McSally pioneered her China attacks earlier this year , and they did seem to have a modest effect , said Mike Noble , the chief pollster at OH Predictive Insights in Phoenix .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time showed Ms. McSally didn ’ t get any more likable , though some independents who had been backing Mr. Kelly took a “ pause.
” It was short-lived , though .
“ Once the dust settled , those independents reverted back to Kelly .
Conclusion : McSally did a hard China push but ultimately it didn ’ t stick , ” he said .
During the debate last week , Mr. Kelly tried to turn the tables .
He said he served on an aircraft carrier during one of his deployments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Chinese directly.
” “ I ’ ve known China as an adversary my entire adult life , ” he said .
He said Ms. McSally ’ s attacks were Washington-funded opposition research and that trying to link him to China was an attempt “ to question my patriotism.
” Yet he also seemed to acknowledge at least the business links with China .
He said he was “ never going to apologize for creating good-paying jobs.
” And he also said Ms. McSally didn ’ t complain when President Trump was congratulating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his handling of the coronavirus .
Now , of course , Mr. Trump calls it the “ China virus ” — and says China is a bigger threat than Russia .
On that , at least , the public seems to agree , according to a Harvard Center for American Political Studies/Harris poll last month .
The results showed 58 % of voters put China over Russia as the more concerning nation and 62 % of voters thought the U.S. should stiffen policies toward China .
The worries are bipartisan , though Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling by the Pew Research Center .
Among Republicans , 83 % see China unfavorably and 38 % call it an outright “ enemy.
” Among Democrats , 68 % see China unfavorably and 19 % call it an enemy .
The opinions of China are the worst Pew has recorded in data going back to 2005 .

It was a stunning charge Sen. Martha McSally lobbed at Democratic opponent Mark Kelly: that the former Space Shuttle astronaut, on his 2006 flight, took a Chinese flag as his sole personal item. And that he carried a Chinese communist banner on his motorcycle.
Mr. Kelly first tried to ignore the claim, but he pleaded ignorance when pressed by the moderator at their debate last week.
“I don’t know what she’s talking about,” he said. “She might have found something on the internet.”
Not in question are Mr. Kelly’s long-standing ties to China and the role Ms. McSally hopes they play in helping her fend off his Senate challenge in the Nov. 3 election.
Americans increasingly see China as the country’s top competitor, and many would say enemy, even besting Russia for that role. But there has never been a bloc of voters casting ballots on the China issue.
The Arizona race is shaping up as an early test of whether that can change.
“He sold out to China in multiple business arrangements in his path to get rich quick,” Ms. McSally said early in her debate with Mr. Kelly. She came back to that theme repeatedly, even when the question was far afield.
Her evidence, beyond the claims of a Chinese banner on the space shuttle, were his multiple trips to the communist country and his search for financial backing from Chinese corporations such as social media giant Tencent for his own space payload company, World View.
Mr. Kelly met his wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, on a trip to China in 2003.
The Arizona race is one of a number in which Republican incumbents are hoping to fend off strong Democratic challenges. Polling has shown Mr. Kelly consistently leading.
If he wins, Arizona will have gone in the course of two years from having two Republican senators to two Democrats. The last time the state had two Democratic senators was 1953.
Ms. McSally is sitting in the seat once held by the late Sen. John McCain. She was appointed to the seat after she lost her bid for the state’s other seat in 2018. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, topped Ms. McSally 50% to 48%.
Ms. Sinema in recent days has jumped into the election to back Mr. Kelly.
Neither the Kelly nor McSally campaigns responded to inquiries from The Washington Times for this article.
China also popped up in this week’s debate between incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue of Georgia and his Democratic opponent Jon Ossoff, with the challenger saying it was “absolutely false” that his company has taken money from a state-supported Chinese firm.
And in Alaska, independent candidate Al Gross, who is backed by Democrats in his challenge to Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, on Monday accused the GOP lawmaker’s family company of doing business with a firm tied to Beijing. Mr. Gross said that revelation, in a story by Yahoo News, punctures Mr. Sullivan’s tough-talk approach to China.
“Dan Sullivan is just another hypocritical politician who talks tough on China in Washington while his family company is working with the Chinese government to enrich themselves,” Mr. Gross said.
And Republicans nationally have tried to use China against Democrats’ presidential nominee, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, whose son Hunter joined him on a 2013 trip to China. Ten days later, the younger Mr. Biden scored a business deal with the Bank of China, according to Peter Schweizer in a 2019 book.
Steven Mosher, who as president of the Population Research Institute has been a longtime China observer and critic, said business ties with China are a valid campaign issue.
“We hear the words ‘existential threat’ bandied about a lot. But China really is a threat to the continued existence of the U.S. as a constitutional republic,” Mr. Mosher told The Washington Times.
He said Tencent likely invested in Mr. Kelly’s company specifically so China could gain a window into NASA, with which Mr. Kelly’s company does business.
“Why doesn’t he sever his relationship with the company?” he asked.
Mr. Mosher said Americans used to think of China as an economic threat, but with the emergence of COVID-19 they now see China also as a health threat.
“For most Americans, the China threat is now personal and is likely to remain so,” he said. “China is not just a ‘competitor,’ as Biden now reluctantly admits. They are literally a mortal threat, having killed 200,000 Americans and sickened millions more.”
Ms. McSally pioneered her China attacks earlier this year, and they did seem to have a modest effect, said Mike Noble, the chief pollster at OH Predictive Insights in Phoenix.
He said his firm’s polling at the time showed Ms. McSally didn’t get any more likable, though some independents who had been backing Mr. Kelly took a “pause.” It was short-lived, though.
“Once the dust settled, those independents reverted back to Kelly. Conclusion: McSally did a hard China push but ultimately it didn’t stick,” he said.
During the debate last week, Mr. Kelly tried to turn the tables. He said he served on an aircraft carrier during one of his deployments in the western Pacific “dealing with the Chinese directly.”
“I’ve known China as an adversary my entire adult life,” he said.
He said Ms. McSally’s attacks were Washington-funded opposition research and that trying to link him to China was an attempt “to question my patriotism.” Yet he also seemed to acknowledge at least the business links with China. He said he was “never going to apologize for creating good-paying jobs.”
And he also said Ms. McSally didn’t complain when President Trump was congratulating Chinese President Xi Jinping in January for his handling of the coronavirus. Now, of course, Mr. Trump calls it the “China virus” — and says China is a bigger threat than Russia.
On that, at least, the public seems to agree, according to a Harvard Center for American Political Studies/Harris poll last month. The results showed 58% of voters put China over Russia as the more concerning nation and 62% of voters thought the U.S. should stiffen policies toward China.
The worries are bipartisan, though Republican voters are more hard-line, according to polling by the Pew Research Center. Among Republicans, 83% see China unfavorably and 38% call it an outright “enemy.” Among Democrats, 68% see China unfavorably and 19% call it an enemy.
The opinions of China are the worst Pew has recorded in data going back to 2005.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-18--Kim Jong-un threatens Trump with new ballistic missile capable of targeting U.S.

North Korea ’ s rollout last week of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of targeting the U.S. with a nuclear warhead showed that Pyongyang continues to expand its illegal weapons arsenal despite increased sanctions and diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration .
The communist regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un unveiled the road-mobile ICBM during a massive military parade in Pyongyang that U.S. experts said was clearly designed to send a message to Washington and its allies in the region , including South Korea .
“ This parade was orchestrated to show that despite the sanctions and hardships , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advance its capabilities across the spectrum , from nuclear weapons and missiles to conventional systems to individual soldier equipment , ” said David Maxwell , a former U.S. Special Forces colonel focused on North Korea .
“ Most important , it laid the foundation for continued blackmail diplomacy with the South and the U.S. , ” said Mr. Maxwell , a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies .
He circulated his comments via email as U.S. officials scrambled to gauge the technical implications of what they had seen over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The ICBM that rolled through a parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Kim regime ’ s ruling Workers ’ Party appeared to be a significantly ramped-up version of the Hwasong-15 missile that Pyongyang test-launched in 2017 .
The ICBM , which had not been shown before in public , was rolled onto a transporter-erector launcher with 11 axles , two more than the Hwasong-15 — also known as the KN-22 .
It marks the fourth ballistic missile that the North Koreans have developed in a class that also includes the Taepodong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pyongyang also showcased the KN-20 and a submarine-launched ballistic missile called the KN-11 .
The larger , newer ICBM is expected to have a longer range than the others , with a potential capability of flying some 7,000 miles — notably farther than the distance from Pyongyang to Washington .
National security sources have predicted for months that North Korea might use the Workers ’ Party anniversary parade for a missile reveal , delivering an “ October surprise ” to capitalize on perceived policy uncertainty in Washington surrounding the impending U.S. presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressed frustration over the reveal .
“ It is disappointing to see the DPRK continuing to prioritize its prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile program over working towards a brighter future for the North Korean people , ” the official told Reuters , using the acronym for North Korea ’ s official name , the Democratic People ’ s Republic of Korea .
The development appears to fly in the face of the Trump administration ’ s pursuit of a major denuclearization deal with the Kim regime .
Talks toward such a deal have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 2019 Hanoi summit between President Trump and Mr. Kim .
Mr. Trump said he walked away from the summit early because Mr. Kim demanded sweeping sanctions relief in exchange for only a limited commitment to destroy part of his nuclear arsenal .
The period since has been marked by on-again , off-again provocations from Pyongyang , including months of short-range missile launch tests that the Trump administration has largely ignored .
Mr. Trump has repeatedly pointed out that , despite the tests , the Kim regime has thus far held to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first summit between the two men in June 2018 in Singapore : not to carry out any more ICBM or nuclear launches .
This weekend ’ s action was considered a parade rollout , not a test launch .
While the Trump administration remains eager to resume dialogue with the North Koreans , it has gradually increased sanctions on the Kim regime .
U.S. officials have vowed to maintain a “ maximum pressure ” campaign until Pyongyang denuclearizes .
But Washington has struggled to get a full buy-in for the sanctions from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Korea and is Pyongyang ’ s main strategic and economic backer .
Hawkish foreign policy advisers in Washington have called on the Trump administration to level sanctions directly against Chinese banks doing business with the Kim regime .
The regime , meanwhile , has shown an ongoing ability to produce nuclear bombs and increasingly sophisticated missiles , exposing the limitations of U.S. and international sanctions .
North Korea has been under United Nations-backed sanctions and a nuclear embargo for more than two decades and has repeatedly violated past diplomatic nuclear agreements with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ panel of experts reported several years ago that North Korea ’ s mobile missiles were built on transporter-erector launchers converted from Chinese lumber-carrying vehicles exported in the early 2000s .
The display of missile force over the weekend was the first since 2018 , when the Trump administration began its push for diplomacy with the Kim regime .
Video of the Saturday parade in Pyongyang showed Mr. Kim opening the proceedings with a midnight speech .
“ We will continue to strengthen war deterrence for self-defense to deter , control and manage all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever-growing nuclear threats , from hostile forces , ” said the North Korean leader , who was dressed in a light-gray suit , according to South Korea ’ s Yonhap News Agency .
North Korea uses the term “ war deterrence ” in referring to nuclear arms .
Mr. Kim also said North Korean military power would not be used preemptively .
“ But , ” he said , “ should anyone undermine our national security and mobilize military power against us , I will retaliate by using the most powerful offensive force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manner.
” North Korean long-range missile development in recent years has forced the Pentagon to reevaluate its strategic missile defenses .
“ I believe we have the capability today to deter North Korean aggression , but given where we think the North Korean capability might be in terms of their missiles in the next five years , I think we must continue to explore , improve and resource our entire missile defense capabilities , ” Adm. Philip Davidson , commander of the military ’ s Indo-Pacific Command , said in 2018 .
Upgraded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THAAD ) in Guam and South Korea , missile defense ships in the Pacific and near Japan .
“ I support planned improvements to the [ ballistic missile defense ] of the homeland architecture via the new Homeland Defense Radar for Hawaii , additional purchase of Ground Based Interceptors , and a detailed study that ascertains the efficacy of positioning interceptors in Hawaii , ” Adm. Davidson said .
The admiral also said he wanted to see improvements in the capabilities and numbers of ballistic and cruise missile interceptors that he said would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect key regional nodes from North Korea ’ s aggressive action against the United States.
” Richard Fisher , a military affairs specialist with the International Assessment and Strategy Center , said the new North Korean ICBM unveiled over the weekend appears to have the same diameter as the previously revealed KN-22 , “ but is longer , to accommodate a new warhead bus and possible third stage.
” “ The warhead bus is large enough to carry multiple warheads , but how many would depend on their size , something not clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fisher said .
The new 22-wheeled ICBM vehicle , a transportor erector launcher ( TEL ) , appears to be a variant of the 16-wheel transporters that China sold to North Korea in 2010 .
“ With 22 wheels , this new ICBM has the largest mobile TEL in the world , exceeding the previous record of the HS-15 ’ s 18-wheel TEL , ” Mr. Fisher said .
“ It is either made in China or assembled in North Korea with substantial Sanjiang Space Group/China Science and Industry Corp. assistance , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to conclude this is yet another massive Chinese violation of the North Korea sanctions regime .
”

ANALYSIS:
North Korea’s rollout last week of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of targeting the U.S. with a nuclear warhead showed that Pyongyang continues to expand its illegal weapons arsenal despite increased sanctions and diplomatic pressure from the Trump administration.
The communist regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un unveiled the road-mobile ICBM during a massive military parade in Pyongyang that U.S. experts said was clearly designed to send a message to Washington and its allies in the region, including South Korea.
“This parade was orchestrated to show that despite the sanctions and hardships, [North Korea] has continued to advance its capabilities across the spectrum, from nuclear weapons and missiles to conventional systems to individual soldier equipment,” said David Maxwell, a former U.S. Special Forces colonel focused on North Korea.
“Most important, it laid the foundation for continued blackmail diplomacy with the South and the U.S.,” said Mr. Maxwell, a senior fellow with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
He circulated his comments via email as U.S. officials scrambled to gauge the technical implications of what they had seen over the weekend on North Korean state-controlled TV broadcasts.
The ICBM that rolled through a parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Kim regime’s ruling Workers’ Party appeared to be a significantly ramped-up version of the Hwasong-15 missile that Pyongyang test-launched in 2017.
The ICBM, which had not been shown before in public, was rolled onto a transporter-erector launcher with 11 axles, two more than the Hwasong-15 — also known as the KN-22. It marks the fourth ballistic missile that the North Koreans have developed in a class that also includes the Taepodong, KN-20 and KN-22.
The parade in Pyongyang also showcased the KN-20 and a submarine-launched ballistic missile called the KN-11. The larger, newer ICBM is expected to have a longer range than the others, with a potential capability of flying some 7,000 miles — notably farther than the distance from Pyongyang to Washington.
National security sources have predicted for months that North Korea might use the Workers’ Party anniversary parade for a missile reveal, delivering an “October surprise” to capitalize on perceived policy uncertainty in Washington surrounding the impending U.S. presidential election.
A senior Trump administration official expressed frustration over the reveal.
“It is disappointing to see the DPRK continuing to prioritize its prohibited nuclear and ballistic missile program over working towards a brighter future for the North Korean people,” the official told Reuters, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The development appears to fly in the face of the Trump administration’s pursuit of a major denuclearization deal with the Kim regime. Talks toward such a deal have been stalled since the breakdown of the February 2019 Hanoi summit between President Trump and Mr. Kim.
Mr. Trump said he walked away from the summit early because Mr. Kim demanded sweeping sanctions relief in exchange for only a limited commitment to destroy part of his nuclear arsenal.
The period since has been marked by on-again, off-again provocations from Pyongyang, including months of short-range missile launch tests that the Trump administration has largely ignored.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly pointed out that, despite the tests, the Kim regime has thus far held to a promise he said Mr. Kim made at the first summit between the two men in June 2018 in Singapore: not to carry out any more ICBM or nuclear launches. This weekend’s action was considered a parade rollout, not a test launch.
While the Trump administration remains eager to resume dialogue with the North Koreans, it has gradually increased sanctions on the Kim regime. U.S. officials have vowed to maintain a “maximum pressure” campaign until Pyongyang denuclearizes.
But Washington has struggled to get a full buy-in for the sanctions from China, which shares a border with North Korea and is Pyongyang’s main strategic and economic backer. Hawkish foreign policy advisers in Washington have called on the Trump administration to level sanctions directly against Chinese banks doing business with the Kim regime.
The regime, meanwhile, has shown an ongoing ability to produce nuclear bombs and increasingly sophisticated missiles, exposing the limitations of U.S. and international sanctions.
North Korea has been under United Nations-backed sanctions and a nuclear embargo for more than two decades and has repeatedly violated past diplomatic nuclear agreements with the wider international community.
A U.N. panel of experts reported several years ago that North Korea’s mobile missiles were built on transporter-erector launchers converted from Chinese lumber-carrying vehicles exported in the early 2000s.
The display of missile force over the weekend was the first since 2018, when the Trump administration began its push for diplomacy with the Kim regime.
Video of the Saturday parade in Pyongyang showed Mr. Kim opening the proceedings with a midnight speech.
“We will continue to strengthen war deterrence for self-defense to deter, control and manage all dangerous attempts and threatening acts, including ever-growing nuclear threats, from hostile forces,” said the North Korean leader, who was dressed in a light-gray suit, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
North Korea uses the term “war deterrence” in referring to nuclear arms.
Mr. Kim also said North Korean military power would not be used preemptively. “But,” he said, “should anyone undermine our national security and mobilize military power against us, I will retaliate by using the most powerful offensive force at our disposal and in a preemptive manner.”
North Korean long-range missile development in recent years has forced the Pentagon to reevaluate its strategic missile defenses.
“I believe we have the capability today to deter North Korean aggression, but given where we think the North Korean capability might be in terms of their missiles in the next five years, I think we must continue to explore, improve and resource our entire missile defense capabilities,” Adm. Philip Davidson, commander of the military’s Indo-Pacific Command, said in 2018.
Upgraded defenses include Theater High-Altitude Area Defenses (THAAD) in Guam and South Korea, missile defense ships in the Pacific and near Japan.
“I support planned improvements to the [ballistic missile defense] of the homeland architecture via the new Homeland Defense Radar for Hawaii, additional purchase of Ground Based Interceptors, and a detailed study that ascertains the efficacy of positioning interceptors in Hawaii,” Adm. Davidson said.
The admiral also said he wanted to see improvements in the capabilities and numbers of ballistic and cruise missile interceptors that he said would “further enhance homeland defense capabilities and protect key regional nodes from North Korea’s aggressive action against the United States.”
Richard Fisher, a military affairs specialist with the International Assessment and Strategy Center, said the new North Korean ICBM unveiled over the weekend appears to have the same diameter as the previously revealed KN-22, “but is longer, to accommodate a new warhead bus and possible third stage.”
“The warhead bus is large enough to carry multiple warheads, but how many would depend on their size, something not clear from North Korean sources,” Mr. Fisher said.
The new 22-wheeled ICBM vehicle, a transportor erector launcher (TEL), appears to be a variant of the 16-wheel transporters that China sold to North Korea in 2010.
“With 22 wheels, this new ICBM has the largest mobile TEL in the world, exceeding the previous record of the HS-15’s 18-wheel TEL,” Mr. Fisher said.
“It is either made in China or assembled in North Korea with substantial Sanjiang Space Group/China Science and Industry Corp. assistance,” he said. “It is safe to conclude this is yet another massive Chinese violation of the North Korea sanctions regime.”
• Bill Gertz can be reached at bgertz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-18--Thin blue line lining up behind Trump: 'This is make-or-break for law enforcement'

Retired cop Paul Beakman Jr. has been a pro-union Democrat his entire life .
He heads two western New York police associations and is even running as a Democrat for city alderman in Lockport , New York .
So he surprised himself when he attended a Trump rally last month outside of Harrisburg , Pennsylvania — and wept at the outpouring of respect and support he felt for law enforcement .
“ I couldn ’ t believe it , ” he told The Washington Times .
“ I just started crying .
I am used to hearing about cops being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrown at us .
And here we were with 17,000 real Americans cheering for us.
” To endorse Mr. Trump , police unions and associations across the country are bucking the AFL-CIO .
They also are mobilizing like never before .
Mr. Beakman said he will remain a Democrat , but plenty of his brothers and sisters in blue are making a clean break from the Democratic Party .
“ We ’ ve always been active , but the future of policing depends on this election , ” said Paul DiGiacomo , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Endowment Association .
“ The safety of our members depends on this election .
This is make-or-break for law enforcement.
” The shift could play a role in the Nov. 3 presidential election .
Harvard University researcher Michael Zoorob studied the police union support for Mr. Trump in the 2016 election and found police accounted for more than 13,000 votes in Michigan — greater than Mr. Trump ’ s margin of victory over Hillary Clinton — and more than 27,000 votes in Pennsylvania .
Those votes could help Mr. Trump make up ground @ @ @ @ @ @ @ double digits , according to some national polls .
Union chapters that have never endorsed political candidates at any level are siding with the president , and that advocacy is trickling down to other offices .
Mr. Beakman ’ s organizations made first-ever endorsements this year to back a Republican slate of candidates .
The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association has endorsed state and regional candidates for 40 years but this year made Mr. Trump their first federal endorsement in nearly 20 years .
“ Because of this particular election process with ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get involved in this presidential election , ” said the association ’ s executive director , John Midgette .
The series of defections is a major embarrassment for Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden , who during more than four decades in Washington was seen as a key ally of both unions and police .
Mr. Biden was the driving force behind the 1994 crime bill that included grant money to help communities hire 100,000 more police officers .
It empowered them with new tools and heightened penalties for criminals .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in leftover campaign funds to build a memorial for fallen law enforcement in his home state of Delaware .
But the fracture line between Mr. Biden and police widened this year after the death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests .
As racial justice protests broke out across the country , with some turning into violent riots , Mr. Biden called for dramatic overhauls to policing .
He has proposed more investigations into local departments .
Asked at the first presidential debate whether he would call Democratic leaders in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lid on more than 100 days of mayhem , he demurred , saying it ’ s not his place because he isn ’ t in office .
He also sought to distance himself from the 1994 crime bill , which has been blamed for the mass incarcerations of Black men .
Mr. Trump , meanwhile , unabashedly voiced support for law enforcement .
He chided Mr. Biden for what the president says has been a tepid denunciation of rioters .
Mr. Trump says Mr. Biden is so worried about angering his party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawless demonstrators over police .
Law enforcement organizations have seized on the contrast and have mobilized for a candidate like never before .
The National Association of Police Organizations , which endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 because Mr. Biden was on the ticket , has endorsed Mr. Trump .
It did not endorse a candidate in 2016 .
The Fraternal Order of Police , the nation ’ s largest police union , also has endorsed Mr. Trump , though it did so in 2016 as well .
Mr. Trump picked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Associations and the NYC Police Benevolent Association .
Even the Delaware Fraternal Order of Police in Mr. Biden ’ s backyard broke for Mr. Trump .
“ Trump is the only candidate who is even mentioning the word police in a positive manner , ” said Mr. DiGiacomo , who said this is the first year he can remember the NYCDEA backing a White House nominee .
“ The other candidate is afraid to say police in a positive way , and I find that disturbing.
” The fissure goes beyond mere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registration drive for its members and has several initiatives to educate members about local , state and national candidates .
A group of retired Philadelphia police officers has formed a political action committee , Protect our Police , to target political candidates who are advocating for slashes to police department budgets .
It raised $ 750,000 in its first three weeks .
Mr. Biden has picked up some backing .
The National Coalition of Justice Practitioners , a group of more than 10,000 high-ranking law enforcement officers , is supporting him , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hailing the former vice president .
Charles P. Wilson , chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives , has personally endorsed Mr. Biden .
His organization can not support a political candidate because it is a nonprofit .
“ I believe the police reform platform Mr. Biden is putting forward is one that will work , ” he said .
“ It is one that represents the true concepts of police accountability and rule of law .
The concepts the current administration is putting out there are divisive and discriminatory.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Mr. Trump within law enforcement organizations is as strong as their leaders claim .
None of the organizations has conducted significant membership polls to learn where they stand , he said .
“ Those who are in opposition to those endorsements have just not forcefully come out because they still have to work with those stupid sons of bitches , ” he said .
Mr. Beakman , though , sees a complete change of mindset for many officers .
After he attended the Trump rally last month , he posted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Make America Great Again face mask and hat at the rally .
If he had done that a year ago , he said , he would have been blasted by colleagues .
When he did it last month , there was largely silence .
James Albert , the sheriff in Westmoreland County , Pennsylvania , wrote a scathing op-ed in a local paper explaining why he changed his party affiliation to Republican .
Mr. Albert , 70 , who was a Democrat his entire life , said he was outraged by Democrats ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule and attacks against law enforcement.
” “ These outrageous , lawless acts have been met with silence , acquiescence and , in some instances , outright support from the local , state and national leadership of the Democratic Party , ” he wrote .
He is not the only sheriff to publicly break from the Democratic Party .
Tom Latham , the sheriff for Posey County , Indiana , posted on Facebook that he has switched parties to become a Republican .
He said the Democratic Party had gone too far and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Vanderburgh County , Indiana , County Sheriff Dave Wedding , elected twice to office as a Democrat , announced last month that he has also switched to the Republican Party .
Despite his frustration with his party , Mr. Beakman said , he doesn ’ t want to leave it .
“ If I leave the party , there will be no voice to say these guys are going in the wrong direction , ” he said .
“ I spent my life as a union leader , and I do believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party used to talk about .
If I walked away from this , who is going to sit there and say you guys are wrong ?
”

Retired cop Paul Beakman Jr. has been a pro-union Democrat his entire life. He heads two western New York police associations and is even running as a Democrat for city alderman in Lockport, New York.
So he surprised himself when he attended a Trump rally last month outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — and wept at the outpouring of respect and support he felt for law enforcement.
“I couldn’t believe it,” he told The Washington Times. “I just started crying. I am used to hearing about cops being spit on and having bags of feces thrown at us. And here we were with 17,000 real Americans cheering for us.”
To endorse Mr. Trump, police unions and associations across the country are bucking the AFL-CIO.
They also are mobilizing like never before.
Mr. Beakman said he will remain a Democrat, but plenty of his brothers and sisters in blue are making a clean break from the Democratic Party.
“We’ve always been active, but the future of policing depends on this election,” said Paul DiGiacomo, president of the New York City Detectives’ Endowment Association. “The safety of our members depends on this election. This is make-or-break for law enforcement.”
The shift could play a role in the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Harvard University researcher Michael Zoorob studied the police union support for Mr. Trump in the 2016 election and found police accounted for more than 13,000 votes in Michigan — greater than Mr. Trump’s margin of victory over Hillary Clinton — and more than 27,000 votes in Pennsylvania.
Those votes could help Mr. Trump make up ground even as he trails Mr. Biden by double digits, according to some national polls.
Union chapters that have never endorsed political candidates at any level are siding with the president, and that advocacy is trickling down to other offices.
Mr. Beakman’s organizations made first-ever endorsements this year to back a Republican slate of candidates.
The North Carolina Police Benevolent Association has endorsed state and regional candidates for 40 years but this year made Mr. Trump their first federal endorsement in nearly 20 years.
“Because of this particular election process with ‘defund the police,’ we decided to get involved in this presidential election,” said the association’s executive director, John Midgette.
The series of defections is a major embarrassment for Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden, who during more than four decades in Washington was seen as a key ally of both unions and police.
Mr. Biden was the driving force behind the 1994 crime bill that included grant money to help communities hire 100,000 more police officers. It empowered them with new tools and heightened penalties for criminals.
In 2009, Mr. Biden donated $26,000 in leftover campaign funds to build a memorial for fallen law enforcement in his home state of Delaware.
But the fracture line between Mr. Biden and police widened this year after the death of George Floyd and the ensuing Black Lives Matter protests.
As racial justice protests broke out across the country, with some turning into violent riots, Mr. Biden called for dramatic overhauls to policing. He has proposed more investigations into local departments. Asked at the first presidential debate whether he would call Democratic leaders in Oregon and tell them to put a lid on more than 100 days of mayhem, he demurred, saying it’s not his place because he isn’t in office.
He also sought to distance himself from the 1994 crime bill, which has been blamed for the mass incarcerations of Black men.
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, unabashedly voiced support for law enforcement. He chided Mr. Biden for what the president says has been a tepid denunciation of rioters.
Mr. Trump says Mr. Biden is so worried about angering his party’s left wing that he is embracing lawless demonstrators over police.
Law enforcement organizations have seized on the contrast and have mobilized for a candidate like never before.
The National Association of Police Organizations, which endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 because Mr. Biden was on the ticket, has endorsed Mr. Trump. It did not endorse a candidate in 2016.
The Fraternal Order of Police, the nation’s largest police union, also has endorsed Mr. Trump, though it did so in 2016 as well.
Mr. Trump picked up the backing of the International Union of Police Associations and the NYC Police Benevolent Association.
Even the Delaware Fraternal Order of Police in Mr. Biden’s backyard broke for Mr. Trump.
“Trump is the only candidate who is even mentioning the word police in a positive manner,” said Mr. DiGiacomo, who said this is the first year he can remember the NYCDEA backing a White House nominee. “The other candidate is afraid to say police in a positive way, and I find that disturbing.”
The fissure goes beyond mere endorsements.
The NYCDEA launched a voter registration drive for its members and has several initiatives to educate members about local, state and national candidates.
A group of retired Philadelphia police officers has formed a political action committee, Protect our Police, to target political candidates who are advocating for slashes to police department budgets. It raised $750,000 in its first three weeks.
Mr. Biden has picked up some backing. The National Coalition of Justice Practitioners, a group of more than 10,000 high-ranking law enforcement officers, is supporting him, and 190 law enforcement officers signed a statement hailing the former vice president.
Charles P. Wilson, chairman of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives, has personally endorsed Mr. Biden. His organization cannot support a political candidate because it is a nonprofit.
“I believe the police reform platform Mr. Biden is putting forward is one that will work,” he said. “It is one that represents the true concepts of police accountability and rule of law. The concepts the current administration is putting out there are divisive and discriminatory.”
Mr. Wilson said he doubts the support for Mr. Trump within law enforcement organizations is as strong as their leaders claim. None of the organizations has conducted significant membership polls to learn where they stand, he said.
“Those who are in opposition to those endorsements have just not forcefully come out because they still have to work with those stupid sons of bitches,” he said.
Mr. Beakman, though, sees a complete change of mindset for many officers.
After he attended the Trump rally last month, he posted a picture to Facebook of himself wearing a Make America Great Again face mask and hat at the rally. If he had done that a year ago, he said, he would have been blasted by colleagues. When he did it last month, there was largely silence.
James Albert, the sheriff in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, wrote a scathing op-ed in a local paper explaining why he changed his party affiliation to Republican.
Mr. Albert, 70, who was a Democrat his entire life, said he was outraged by Democrats’ refusal to condemn “arson, mob rule and attacks against law enforcement.”
“These outrageous, lawless acts have been met with silence, acquiescence and, in some instances, outright support from the local, state and national leadership of the Democratic Party,” he wrote.
He is not the only sheriff to publicly break from the Democratic Party. Tom Latham, the sheriff for Posey County, Indiana, posted on Facebook that he has switched parties to become a Republican. He said the Democratic Party had gone too far and “demeaned and demonized” police.
In Vanderburgh County, Indiana, County Sheriff Dave Wedding, elected twice to office as a Democrat, announced last month that he has also switched to the Republican Party.
Despite his frustration with his party, Mr. Beakman said, he doesn’t want to leave it.
“If I leave the party, there will be no voice to say these guys are going in the wrong direction,” he said. “I spent my life as a union leader, and I do believe in some of the things the Democratic Party used to talk about. If I walked away from this, who is going to sit there and say you guys are wrong?”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-17--Smugglers abandon children on banks of Rio Grande

Border Patrol agents found four young illegal immigrant children abandoned on the banks of the Rio Grande near Brownsville , Texas , Saturday morning , after they were smuggled across then left there by their guide .
The children — ages four , five , six and seven — were wet and shivering from cold , but otherwise unharmed , agents said .
They were given dry clothes and food .
An agent monitoring border video surveillance spotted the group when it reached the U.S. side of the border , then watched as a lone person rafted back to Mexico @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found the children , two sets of siblings , one from Honduras and the other from Guatemala .
Someone had written their names and phone numbers of contacts in the U.S. on their clothing .
That ’ s a common tactic for parents and smugglers who , counting on lax American immigration policies , know the U.S. government will often complete the smuggling attempt by delivering the children to the persons whose names were written on the children ’ s clothing .
Customs and Border Protection didn ’ t say what will happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus restrictions many illegal immigrants are able to be quickly expelled .

Border Patrol agents found four young illegal immigrant children abandoned on the banks of the Rio Grande near Brownsville, Texas, Saturday morning, after they were smuggled across then left there by their guide.
The children — ages four, five, six and seven — were wet and shivering from cold, but otherwise unharmed, agents said. They were given dry clothes and food.
An agent monitoring border video surveillance spotted the group when it reached the U.S. side of the border, then watched as a lone person rafted back to Mexico.
Agents responded to the site and found the children, two sets of siblings, one from Honduras and the other from Guatemala.
Someone had written their names and phone numbers of contacts in the U.S. on their clothing.
That’s a common tactic for parents and smugglers who, counting on lax American immigration policies, know the U.S. government will often complete the smuggling attempt by delivering the children to the persons whose names were written on the children’s clothing.
Customs and Border Protection didn’t say what will happen in this case, though because of coronavirus restrictions many illegal immigrants are able to be quickly expelled.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-18--Inside the Beltway: NY Times cites 'power of conservative talk radio'

None other than The New York Times has taken notice of a media force to be reckoned with .
“ Talk radio is turning millions of Americans into conservatives .
The medium is at the heart of Trumpism , ” writes Paul Matzko , author of “ The Radio Right : How a Band of Broadcasters Took on the Federal Government and Built the Modern Conservative Movement.
” He cites syndicated host Rush Limbaugh , of course .
But let ’ s address the gargantuan radio audience itself .
According to Talkers.com — an industry source — Mr. Limbaugh has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15.5 million listeners .
Sean Hannity is in second place , followed by Dave Ramsey , Mark Levin and Glenn Beck .
Collectively , these gents draw in 66 million listeners .
And that ’ s just the top five .
“ Talk radio may face an aging audience , a decline in ad revenue and competition from new mass media forms like podcasts , but there are still millions of Americans whose politics are shaped by what they listen to on talk radio all day , every day , ” says Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the attention for shaping conservative opinion and for its influence on the Trump administration , but we shouldn ’ t overlook the power of conservative talk radio , ” he continues .
“ The typical major talk radio show is produced every weekday and runs three hours , so just the top 15 shows are putting out around 45 hours of content every day .
Even setting aside hundreds of additional local shows , the dedicated fan can listen to nothing but conservative talk radio all day , every day of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” notes Mr. Matzko .
Nielsen Media Research , meanwhile , offers the particulars in a recent analysis of public media habits .
According to Nielsen ’ s audience measurement data , adults spend 5 hours and 51 minutes with TV-connected devices each week .
“ While that ’ s nothing to thumb your nose at , it ’ s dwarfed by the amount of time Americans spend with traditional radio , the proverbial patriarch of the media industry .
In fact , radio commands nearly 12 hours ( 11 hours , 51 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Nielsen said .
“ The news/talk format remains the most popular genre on the radio — a designation it ’ s held for nearly a decade , ” the industry group advised .
President Trump is duplicating the 2016 action-backed strategy which kept him on campaign trail with an unmatched zeal .
On Sunday , the president was in Carson City , Nevada .
On Monday he will be in the cities of Prescott and Tucson , Arizona .
Tuesday finds Mr. Trump in Erie , Pennsylvania ; on Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Also on the road at the same time , with nine rallies between them : Vice President Mike Pence , Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump .
They will appear in Maine , Michigan , North Carolina , Pennsylvania and New Hampshire .
“ Twenty-seven Black Republican candidates are running for Congress this election , and that is a good thing for the Republican Party , our political system , and our entire country , ” writes Republican strategist Paris Dennard , in an essay for Real Clear Politics .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the GOP Black Renaissance , ” and credits President Trump for this phenomenon .
“ The following Black candidates are standing up for their values , standing up for their families , and deserve to be heard and not silenced or canceled because they are not running as radical liberals : Tamika Hamilton , Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy , Errol Webber , Aja Smith , and Joe Collins in California ; Casper Stockham in Colorado ; Byron Donalds , Carla Spalding , Vennia Francois , and Lavern Spicer in Florida ; Angela Stanton-King in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Illinois ; Rayla Campbell in Massachusetts ; Kimberly Klacik in Maryland ; John James in Michigan ; Kendall Qualls and Lacy Johnson in Minnesota ; Billy Prempeh in New Jersey ; Laverne Gore in Ohio ; Kathy Barnette in Pennsylvania ; Charlotte Bergmann in Tennessee ; Wesley Hunt , Wendell Champion , and Tre Pennie in Texas ; Burgess Owens in Utah ; and Leon Benjamin in Virginia , ” Mr. Dennard says .
“ This election , political elites will be reminded that the Republican Party is the original home of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Remember , the first Black American to serve in the U.S. Senate was a Republican , Sen. Hiram Revels of Mississippi .
From 1870 to 1935 , the Black men who served in the House of Representatives were all Republicans , ” Mr. Dennard concludes .
The annual Western Conservative Summit — the largest gathering of western-state conservatives in the nation — conducted a presidential straw poll of attendees at a virtual gathering on Oct. 10 , The poll of 800 respondents found that 98 % backed President Trump ’ s reelection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 % approval .
What does this select demographic care about ?
“ From most important to least , respondents said these issues would affect their vote for president : Supreme Court appointments ( 90 % ) , the economy ( 90 % ) , violent crime ( 72 % ) , abortion ( 69 % ) , gun policy ( 67 % ) , foreign policy ( 64 % ) , health care ( 49 % ) , the COVID-19 pandemic ( 30 % ) , racial inequality ( 15 % ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , ” the poll said .
⦁ 16 % of registered U.S. voters would want to get a COVID-19 vaccination “ as soon as a vaccine is available ” ; 14 % of Republicans , 14 % of independents and 18 % of Democrats agree .
⦁ 46 % would want to be vaccinated “ after waiting and seeing what happens when others take it ” ; 39 % of Republicans , 44 % of independents and 53 % of Democrats agree .
⦁ 26 % overall “ never ” want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans , 27 % of independents and 20 % of Democrats agree .
⦁ 12 % are not sure : 13 % of Republicans , 15 % of independents and 8 % of Democrats agree .

NEWS AND OPINION:
None other than The New York Times has taken notice of a media force to be reckoned with.
“Talk radio is turning millions of Americans into conservatives. The medium is at the heart of Trumpism,” writes Paul Matzko, author of “The Radio Right: How a Band of Broadcasters Took on the Federal Government and Built the Modern Conservative Movement.”
He cites syndicated host Rush Limbaugh, of course.
But let’s address the gargantuan radio audience itself. According to Talkers.com — an industry source — Mr. Limbaugh has the largest audience of all, with 15.5 million listeners. Sean Hannity is in second place, followed by Dave Ramsey, Mark Levin and Glenn Beck. Collectively, these gents draw in 66 million listeners. And that’s just the top five.
“Talk radio may face an aging audience, a decline in ad revenue and competition from new mass media forms like podcasts, but there are still millions of Americans whose politics are shaped by what they listen to on talk radio all day, every day,” says Mr. Matzko.
“Fox News gets more of the attention for shaping conservative opinion and for its influence on the Trump administration, but we shouldn’t overlook the power of conservative talk radio,” he continues.
“The typical major talk radio show is produced every weekday and runs three hours, so just the top 15 shows are putting out around 45 hours of content every day. Even setting aside hundreds of additional local shows, the dedicated fan can listen to nothing but conservative talk radio all day, every day of the week, and never catch up,” notes Mr. Matzko.
Nielsen Media Research, meanwhile, offers the particulars in a recent analysis of public media habits. According to Nielsen’s audience measurement data, adults spend 5 hours and 51 minutes with TV-connected devices each week.
“While that’s nothing to thumb your nose at, it’s dwarfed by the amount of time Americans spend with traditional radio, the proverbial patriarch of the media industry. In fact, radio commands nearly 12 hours (11 hours, 51 minutes) of our weekly media diets,” Nielsen said.
“The news/talk format remains the most popular genre on the radio — a designation it’s held for nearly a decade,” the industry group advised.
THE RALLY STRATEGY CONTINUES
President Trump is duplicating the 2016 action-backed strategy which kept him on campaign trail with an unmatched zeal. On Sunday, the president was in Carson City, Nevada. On Monday he will be in the cities of Prescott and Tucson, Arizona. Tuesday finds Mr. Trump in Erie, Pennsylvania; on Wednesday, it’s Gastonia, North Carolina.
Also on the road at the same time, with nine rallies between them: Vice President Mike Pence, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. They will appear in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.
YEAR OF THE BLACK GOP RENAISSANCE
“Twenty-seven Black Republican candidates are running for Congress this election, and that is a good thing for the Republican Party, our political system, and our entire country,” writes Republican strategist Paris Dennard, in an essay for Real Clear Politics.
He has declared that 2020 is the “Year of the GOP Black Renaissance,” and credits President Trump for this phenomenon.
“The following Black candidates are standing up for their values, standing up for their families, and deserve to be heard and not silenced or canceled because they are not running as radical liberals: Tamika Hamilton, Ronda Baldwin-Kennedy, Errol Webber, Aja Smith, and Joe Collins in California; Casper Stockham in Colorado; Byron Donalds, Carla Spalding, Vennia Francois, and Lavern Spicer in Florida; Angela Stanton-King in Georgia; Philanise White and Craig Cameron in Illinois; Rayla Campbell in Massachusetts; Kimberly Klacik in Maryland; John James in Michigan; Kendall Qualls and Lacy Johnson in Minnesota; Billy Prempeh in New Jersey; Laverne Gore in Ohio; Kathy Barnette in Pennsylvania; Charlotte Bergmann in Tennessee; Wesley Hunt, Wendell Champion, and Tre Pennie in Texas; Burgess Owens in Utah; and Leon Benjamin in Virginia,” Mr. Dennard says.
“This election, political elites will be reminded that the Republican Party is the original home of Black Americans and Black Republican congressmen. Remember, the first Black American to serve in the U.S. Senate was a Republican, Sen. Hiram Revels of Mississippi. From 1870 to 1935, the Black men who served in the House of Representatives were all Republicans,” Mr. Dennard concludes.
WESTERN CONSERVATIVES VOUCH FOR TRUMP
The annual Western Conservative Summit — the largest gathering of western-state conservatives in the nation — conducted a presidential straw poll of attendees at a virtual gathering on Oct. 10, The poll of 800 respondents found that 98% backed President Trump‘s reelection. Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden won 1% approval.
What does this select demographic care about?
“From most important to least, respondents said these issues would affect their vote for president: Supreme Court appointments (90%), the economy (90%), violent crime (72%), abortion (69%), gun policy (67%), foreign policy (64%), health care (49%), the COVID-19 pandemic (30%), racial inequality (15%), and climate change (6%),” the poll said.
POLL DU JOUR
⦁ 16% of registered U.S. voters would want to get a COVID-19 vaccination “as soon as a vaccine is available”; 14% of Republicans, 14% of independents and 18% of Democrats agree.
⦁ 46% would want to be vaccinated “after waiting and seeing what happens when others take it”; 39% of Republicans, 44% of independents and 53% of Democrats agree.
⦁ 26% overall “never” want to get the vaccine; 34% of Republicans, 27% of independents and 20% of Democrats agree.
⦁ 12% are not sure: 13% of Republicans, 15% of independents and 8% of Democrats agree.
Source: A Yahoo/YouGov poll of 1,525 registered U.S. voters conducted Oct. 9-11.
⦁ Helpful information to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-10-18--Trump blessing by Denise Goulet at Las Vegas International church service

LAS VEGAS — President Trump attended a service Sunday at a charismatic Christian church , where a preacher prophesied that he would win a second term and Mr. Trump made a big cash donation to the collection bucket .
Mr. Trump , who is on a three-day campaign swing of Western states , sat in the front row at the International Church of Las Vegas as church leader Denise Goulet told the congregation of her dream in which the president ’ s victory was foretold .
In the dream , God told her that Mr. Trump is getting “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would carry him through the campaign .
She said it had multiple meanings , including “ that he will be the president again.
” “ The Lord said , ‘ He is ready for the next four years and he will have a second wind , ’ ” she said .
“ The second wind — with a D — is the Holy Spirit.
” When the collections buckets were passed around , Mr. Trump put a handful of $ 20 bills into the plastic bucket .
Paul Goulet , who leads the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering support ministries for the poor and unemployed in Las Vegas , including a food bank .
Later Sunday , the president held a campaign rally in Carson City as he tries to flip the state that he lost in 2016 by 2.4 percentage points .
Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden is leading Mr. Trump in Nevada by an average of 5.2 points in the Real Clear Politics average of public polls .
The church in Las Vegas describes itself as a multicultural , healing , prophetic church , all about giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. Trump stayed for about an hour at the service , which included a full band on stage and several preachers who praised the his leadership .
At one point , Mr. Goulet said the election of Mr. Trump in 2016 had answered his prayers .
He listed about 10 reasons why Mr. Trump was a blessing to America , including giving a voice to the church and a voice to the unborn .
The preacher also said Mr. Trump was a blessing for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ values , making America energy independent , promoting school choice and bringing jobs back .
He also led the congregation in blessing Mr. Trump .
Congregants stretched out their arms , palms down , toward the president .
“ We bless this man , ” said Mr. Goulet , adding blessing for police officers , the Secret Service , Mr. Trump ’ s staff , the first lady and their son .
Several hundred people were in attendance but the cavernous church was not filled .
Mr. Goulet said Mr. Trump was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member ” since it was his third time attending the services .
In between the church service and the campaign rally , Mr. Trump made a quick side trip to Orange County , California , for a last-minute fundraiser that underscored his surprising cash disadvantage against Mr. Biden .
Tickets to the president ’ s $ 11 million fundraiser in Newport Beach — which featured a live performance by the Beach Boys — started at $ 2,800 per person at the lowest access levels , up to $ 150,000 per couple at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Richard Grenell , his former ambassador to Germany and former acting director of national intelligence , at a lunchtime roundtable and reception .
The fundraiser was hosted at the home of Palmer Luckey , a 28-year-old tech mogul who said he was forced out of Facebook due to his conservative views .
The rare campaign trip to a state he won ’ t win showed Mr. Trump ’ s urgent need for campaign cash .
In the third quarter , Mr. Biden raised $ 383 million — $ 125 million more than Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street outside the fundraiser , with scores of people shouting disparaging comments at journalists traveling with the president .
Several men yelled , “ Fake news !
” Another man yelled : “ The computer is real , ” and “ Don ’ t spin this event.
” “ The lying press has arrived , ” an older woman in a golf cart called out .
On Monday , the president will visit Arizona for rallies in Tucson and Prescott .
Although Mr. Trump won the state in 2016 , a new CBS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading by 3 percentage points 50 % -47 % , an amount that falls within the poll ’ s 4.1-point margin of error .

LAS VEGAS — President Trump attended a service Sunday at a charismatic Christian church, where a preacher prophesied that he would win a second term and Mr. Trump made a big cash donation to the collection bucket.
Mr. Trump, who is on a three-day campaign swing of Western states, sat in the front row at the International Church of Las Vegas as church leader Denise Goulet told the congregation of her dream in which the president’s victory was foretold.
In the dream, God told her that Mr. Trump is getting “a second wind” for his run that would carry him through the campaign.
She said it had multiple meanings, including “that he will be the president again.”
“The Lord said, ‘He is ready for the next four years and he will have a second wind,’” she said. “The second wind — with a D — is the Holy Spirit.”
When the collections buckets were passed around, Mr. Trump put a handful of $20 bills into the plastic bucket.
Paul Goulet, who leads the church with his wife, said the offering support ministries for the poor and unemployed in Las Vegas, including a food bank.
Later Sunday, the president held a campaign rally in Carson City as he tries to flip the state that he lost in 2016 by 2.4 percentage points. Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden is leading Mr. Trump in Nevada by an average of 5.2 points in the Real Clear Politics average of public polls.
The church in Las Vegas describes itself as a multicultural, healing, prophetic church, all about giving the grace of Jesus to the community. Mr. Trump stayed for about an hour at the service, which included a full band on stage and several preachers who praised the his leadership.
At one point, Mr. Goulet said the election of Mr. Trump in 2016 had answered his prayers. He listed about 10 reasons why Mr. Trump was a blessing to America, including giving a voice to the church and a voice to the unborn.
The reference to Mr. Trump’s pro-life stance sparked loud applause.
The preacher also said Mr. Trump was a blessing for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, appointing judges with conservative and Judeo-Christian values, making America energy independent, promoting school choice and bringing jobs back.
He also led the congregation in blessing Mr. Trump. Congregants stretched out their arms, palms down, toward the president.
“We bless this man,” said Mr. Goulet, adding blessing for police officers, the Secret Service, Mr. Trump’s staff, the first lady and their son.
Several hundred people were in attendance but the cavernous church was not filled. Mr. Goulet said Mr. Trump was not a visitor to the church but “a member” since it was his third time attending the services.
In between the church service and the campaign rally, Mr. Trump made a quick side trip to Orange County, California, for a last-minute fundraiser that underscored his surprising cash disadvantage against Mr. Biden. Tickets to the president’s $11 million fundraiser in Newport Beach — which featured a live performance by the Beach Boys — started at $2,800 per person at the lowest access levels, up to $150,000 per couple at the highest.
Mr. Trump appeared with Richard Grenell, his former ambassador to Germany and former acting director of national intelligence, at a lunchtime roundtable and reception. The fundraiser was hosted at the home of Palmer Luckey, a 28-year-old tech mogul who said he was forced out of Facebook due to his conservative views.
The rare campaign trip to a state he won’t win showed Mr. Trump’s urgent need for campaign cash. In the third quarter, Mr. Biden raised $383 million — $125 million more than Mr. Trump.
A large crowd lined the street outside the fundraiser, with scores of people shouting disparaging comments at journalists traveling with the president. Several men yelled, “Fake news!”
A man called out: “Where’s Hunter!”
Another man yelled: “The computer is real,” and “Don’t spin this event.”
“The lying press has arrived,” an older woman in a golf cart called out.
On Monday, the president will visit Arizona for rallies in Tucson and Prescott. Although Mr. Trump won the state in 2016, a new CBS News poll released Sunday showed Mr. Biden leading by 3 percentage points 50%-47%, an amount that falls within the poll’s 4.1-point margin of error.
⦁ Dave Boyer reported from Washington.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.