NewzIntel.com

Category: Military Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Security: USSTRATCOM JEC Director Emphasizes Importance of Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations

    Source: United States Strategic Command

    WASHINGTON, D.C.   –  

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. AnnMarie Anthony, director of United States Strategic Command’s Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center, attended the Future Operating Environment workshop at National Defense University on Fort McNair, Washington D.C., Feb. 26, 2025.

    Anthony participated in a fireside chat and hosted an international leadership panel of U.S. and allied flag officers during the event.  The workshop focused on incorporating Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations into professional military education across the Joint Force and infusing a better understanding of critical warfighting capabilities into the curricula.

    During the fireside chat with Dr. Ling Yung, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for Force Education and Training, Anthony shared her insights on the importance of advancing the military’s EMSO capabilities and improving military leaders’ awareness of those capabilities.

    “The electromagnetic spectrum is not simply a supporting element of military operations, it is the very arena where future conflicts will be won or lost,” said Anthony. “The EMS is not a separate domain itself, but rather an inseparable component of air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace operations. We must continue to advance our capabilities and empower our forces to showcase lethality within the EMS environment to deter aggression and maintain our competitive edge.”

    Dr. Yung emphasized the significance of Anthony’s contribution to the workshop.

    “Maj. Gen. Anthony’s expertise on this topic is why we were so excited to have her join us for this workshop. She has a passion for educating our force and strengthening our EMSO capabilities that is so motivating,” said Dr. Yung. “Add to that her ability to take incredibly complex subject matter and make it easy to understand for all audiences and you have a powerhouse in the EMSO space. She has a lot to say, and we should be listening.”

    United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a global warfighting command, deters strategic attack through a safe, secure, effective, and credible global combat capability and, when directed, is ready to prevail in conflict.

    Learn more about USSTRATCOM:

    United States Strategic Command: Peace is our Profession…(YouTube.com)

    About (stratcom.mil)

    Mission, Vision & Intent (stratcom.mil)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: FBI Announces Eight FBI Subjects from Mexico in U.S. Custody

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)

    he FBI is announcing eight men, including two former FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, who were transferred into U.S. custody from Mexico this week. All are key subjects of FBI investigations spanning several states.

    Rafael Caro Quintero is a former FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive wanted for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena Salazar in 1985. Caro‐Quintero is widely regarded as one of the Mexican godfathers of drug trafficking and helped to form the Guadalajara Cartel in the late 1970s. Allegedly, he became one of the primary suppliers of heroin, cocaine, and marijuana to the U.S., and oversaw the cartel in Costa Rica and the U.S. and Mexico border. Quintero will face charges in the Eastern District of New York. This case was investigated by the FBI San Antonio Field Office.

    Alder Marin Sotelo faces homicide charges related to the killing of law enforcement officer. On August 23, 2022, Marin-Sotelo was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder following the August 11, 2022, death of Deputy Ned Byrd of the Wake County, North Carolina, Sheriff’s Office. Sotelo will face federal weapons charges in the Middle District of North Carolina and state murder charges in the North Carolina State Court. This case was investigated by the FBI Charlotte Field Office.

    Jose Rodolfo Villareal-Hernández, also known as “El Gato,” is a former FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive allegedly responsible for stalking and orchestrating the murder-for-hire of a 43-year-old male victim on May 22, 2013, in Southlake, Texas. Villarreal-Hernandez previously held a high-level position in the Beltran-Leyva Organization (BLO) Drug Cartel. He is believed to have overseen the importation of large quantities of cocaine into the United States as well as committing violent acts within the Republic of Mexico and the United States to maintain his organization’s power and status. He was arrested on January 7, 2023, in Atizapán de Zaragoza, Mexico and will face charges in the Northern District of Texas for interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire. This case was investigated by the FBI Dallas Field Office.

    Jose Angel Canobbio-Inzunza, also known as “Guerito,” was a key leader and the finance manager of the Sinaloa Cartel’s Los Chapitos faction. He allegedly trafficked narcotics, controlled an armed enforcement group, and managed corrupt relationships on the cartel’s behalf. He will face narcotrafficking charges out of the Northern District of Illinois. The subject was arrested last week in Sinaloa by the Mexican Army. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington and San Diego Field Offices.

    Rodolfo Lopez Ibarra is facing drug-trafficking charges with up to life imprisonment out of the District of Columbia. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office.

    Andrew Clark, a Canadian citizen residing in Mexico, allegedly ran and participated in a transnational drug trafficking operation that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Colombia—through Mexico and Southern California—to Canada and other locations in the United States. Clark is being prosecuted for four murders and one attempted murder, and will face charges in the Central District of California. This case was investigated by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.

    Luis Geraldo Méndez Estevane is facing several federal charges, including murder, racketeering, and drug conspiracy in the Western District of Texas. Mendez was a high-ranking Barrio Azteca lieutenant and responsible for the March 13, 2010, murder of two U.S. consulate employees in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and an El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Detention Officer. Mendez was indicted in the Western District of Texas. This case was investigated by the FBI El Paso Field Office.

    Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, the former leader of the Juarez Cartel, faces narcotrafficking charges in the Eastern District of New York. Fuentes is responsible for the trafficking of narcotics into the United States. He also assisted in perpetrating significant violence throughout Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, area. The case was investigated by the FBI El Paso Field Office.

    “The FBI and our partners will scour the ends of the earth to bring terrorists and cartel members to justice,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The era of harming Americans and walking free is over.”

    Significant and vital assistance was provided by the FBI’s valued international, federal, state, and local law enforcement partners across the country.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Research Effects of Low-Level Blast Injuries on Veteran Mental Health

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Angus King (I-ME) – member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – introduced legislation to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other research partners to comprehensively study the impacts of repetitive low-level blast injuries on veterans’ mental health.

    The Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 would require VA to work with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to create a ten-year research plan to establish the effects of repetitive low-level blast injuries, where benchmarks must be reported to Congress, in order to develop further legislation for veterans who suffer with the effects of these repetitive blast exposures.

    “Brain injuries are a common, yet misunderstood and often undetectable, injury — and we’re finding they can be caused by exposure to large explosions, as well as consistently being near smaller blasts such as when firing a rifle, so we need to confront this threat from all angles,” said Senator King. “The bottom line is we must expand our understanding of the impact all blasts have on mental health, so that we can take proactive measures and protect the long-term health and well-being of our military community. Here in Maine we know all too well the horrible tragedies that can occur when brain injuries are left untreated. This commonsense bill builds off of previous efforts to deliver on our government’s sacred promise to provide our servicemembers, veterans and their families the very best care and support.”

    “Research has linked low-level blasts, which servicemembers are exposed to during training and in combat, to increased occurrences of brain injuries, mental health conditions and suicides,” said Senator Moran. “The Precision Brain Health Research Act will help us better understand why and how blast injuries are impacting veterans’ mental health and make certain VA is able to quickly incorporate these findings into care for veterans and enable them to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. This legislation is a step towards providing veterans the evidence-based health care and benefits they have earned and deserve, and I look forward to its passage.”

    This legislation builds off the Precision Brain Health initiative in the Commander John Scott Hannon Mental Health Care Improvement Act, which became law in 2020.

    The full text of the bill can be found here.

    “America’s Warrior Partnership is proud to fully endorse the VA Precision Brain Health Act of 2025, led by Chairman Moran and Senator King,” said Jim Lorraine, President & CEO, America’s Warrior Partnership. “As a former member of United States Special Operations Command and an advocate for many I served with, I know firsthand the long-term health impact of repetitive exposure.  For far too long, our service members and veterans have suffered with unexplained symptoms because of undetected brain injuries caused by repetitive low-level blasts during their time in training and in combat. This legislation will ensure these veterans will no longer be left behind.”

    “The Navy Seal Foundation applauds U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Angus King on their work leading the Precision Brain Health Research Act,” said Robin King, CEO, The Navy Seal Foundation. “This bill will begin groundbreaking federal research—with accountability benchmarks built in—to ensure our Seals and others in the Special Operations community will not be left behind with the wounds they have suffered due to repetitive low-level blast injuries.”

    “The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) supports the Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 to expand VA research on repetitive low-level blast exposure, dementia, and other brain injuries affecting veterans,” said Joy Craig, Associate Director of Service Member Affairs, Veterans of Foreign Wars. “By strengthening VA-DOD data-sharing, funding large-scale studies, and partnering with the National Academies of Sciences, this bill advances cutting-edge care for those suffering from service-related brain injuries. We urge swift passage to ensure veterans receive the timely, evidence-based treatments they deserve.”

    “Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is a complex injury with a spectrum of short- and long-term conditions, and it is a signature wound of post-9/11 military service,” said Brian Dempsey, Director of Government Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project. “Part of keeping our promise to veterans is making sure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is prepared to deliver the best possible care and support to those who suffered brain injuries in service.  The Precision Brain Health Research Act of 2025 would set VA on a course to more effectively treat TBI and better understand the impact of repetitive low-level blast exposure on veterans’ mental and brain health.  Wounded Warrior Project is proud to support this important legislation and thanks Senators Jerry Moran and Angus King for their commitment to improving how we care for veterans with TBIs”

    This legislation is also supported by The American Legion.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Dan Sullivan Announces Leadership Roles in 119th Congress

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Alaska Dan Sullivan

    02.28.25

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) announced his leadership roles for the 119th Congress: deputy whip for the Senate Republican Conference, chair of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, and chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation (CST) Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries.

    “The new Senate Republican majority has a great opportunity to enact President Trump’s agenda to unleash American energy, build up our military readiness, strengthen our national security, and revitalize our economy,” said Senator Sullivan. “The Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee serves an incredibly vital role in overseeing the Defense Department and supporting our military’s readiness as we face one of the most dangerous periods since World War II with dictators on the march and increasingly working together. As chair of this subcommittee, I will be intently focused on our military’s lethality and ensuring our service members are as well-trained and equipped as possible should they ever be called upon to defend our nation. Similarly, I look forward to building up Alaska and America’s infrastructure, broadband, and maritime capabilities to maximize our national security and commercial and economic opportunities through my leadership role on the Commerce Committee. I will also continue this focus on Senator Barrasso’s team as a deputy whip. I am looking forward to working with this administration and with my Senate colleagues to get our country back on track.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Farm Matters on the Menu

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Q: What ag policies are on your radar in the new Congress?
    A: While work is underway on writing a new farm bill, I’m also rolling up my sleeves on legislative proposals and oversight efforts to address key issues facing the farm economy and rural communities. Since the new Congress started in January, I’m working on issues that matter to the bottom lines of Iowa farmers, including: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Prop 12 restrictions; foreign ownership of U.S. farmland; renewable fuels, including nationwide year-round sales of E15 and sustainable aviation fuel; and tax relief, including a permanent repeal of the death tax.
    Let’s start with the HPAI outbreak that’s ravaging the livelihoods of Iowa’s poultry and egg producers and leading to egg shortages and higher prices for consumers. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I participated in two hearings in February gathering feedback from farmers and ranchers about their operations. I asked representatives from turkey growers and egg producers about the importance of vaccines for egg-laying hens and how USDA’s indemnity program helps producers stay afloat during this crisis in the farm economy. I also pushed for swift confirmation in the U.S. Senate to get Secretary Brooke Rollins at the helm of the USDA. During her first week on the job, Secretary Rollins visited an egg farm in Texas and announced a comprehensive strategy to tackle the crisis that’s wiped out 166 million laying hens since 2022. I’ll continue keeping in touch with Iowa farmers as the USDA rolls out its plan to get this outbreak behind us. I’ll also keep pushing to reduce regulatory burdens that restrict market access and add costly decisions for producers to do business in states like California and Massachusetts. California’s Prop 12, what I call its “War on Breakfast” has jacked up the price for eggs and bacon, making protein-rich nutrition unaffordable for American families. I’ll continue working to restore common sense and economic freedom to the farm economy.
    Q: What is the Farmland Security Act?
    A: Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland has increased 85 percent in the last 15 years. Decades ago, when I represented Iowans in the House of Representatives, I co-sponsored the first-ever reporting requirement called the Agricultural Foreign Investment Act of 1978. It required foreign persons who purchase, transfer or hold interests in crop acres to report transactions to the USDA. They must file an FSA-153 in the local Farm Service Agency office where the land is located, within 90 days of the transaction. Our bipartisan law also directed the Secretary of Agriculture to analyze the information and its impact on family farms and rural communities.
    The upward trend of foreign ownership of U.S. farmland comes up regularly at my annual 99 county meetings. Farmland is finite, once it’s paved over with suburban sprawl or sold to foreign owners, America has one less acre to feed and fuel our people. In addition, foreign buyers needlessly increase competition for young and beginning farmers. There are also serious national security implications if a foreign adversary buys up farmland near U.S. military installations. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report that showed as foreign investment in U.S. farmland climbs, the USDA’s processes to collect, track and report key information are flawed. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 included my bipartisan proposal that required the USDA to adopt an online submission process and public database by 2025. Currently, real-time data isn’t available for federal agencies, including the Departments of Treasury and Defense and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review for potential national security risks.
    I’ve teamed up again with Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin to beef up existing federal law. Our Farmland Security Act of 2025 builds on our previous efforts to protect America’s rural communities from shady foreign investments. It would ensure all foreign investors, including “shell companies” who buy U.S. farmland must report their holdings and strengthens penalties for those who evade or misreport their filing obligations. Plus, it invests in research to better understand the impact foreign ownership of farmland has on agricultural production. As a lifelong farmer in the U.S. Senate, I’m proud to champion the livelihoods and way of life in rural America. Food security is national security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Canyon County Men Arrested for Enticing of Children

    Source: US State of Idaho

    [BOISE] – Attorney General Raúl Labrador has announced investigators with his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, arrested two (2) men in Canyon County. On Wednesday, February 26th, 2025, Jesse Elam (42) and on Thursday, February 27th, 2025, Garrett Vinni (37) were arrested and charged with (1) count each of enticing a child through use of the internet or other communication device.
    Both men were arrested as part of a coordinated undercover operation by law enforcement.  The operation targeted offenders communicating with children via text, social media, and other chat platforms to meet for sexual activity. During the two-night operation, officers worked undercover to expose adults seeking to sexually abuse children and share child sexual abuse material. Both suspects are incarcerated in the Canyon County Jail.
    “I’m grateful to each one of our participating agencies and partners in this ongoing effort to keep kids safe from exploitation,” said Attorney General Labrador. “The ICAC Task Force and our growing statewide network have a singular focus – to remove threats to children from our streets. We will not stop this pursuit.”
    This operation was a cooperative effort that included officers, attorneys, and support personnel from across the State of Idaho. Agencies included the Idaho Office of the Attorney General, Canyon County Sheriff Office, Idaho State Police, Canyon County Prosecutors Office, United States Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), and the Idaho ICAC Unit including affiliate Investigators from the Boise Police Department, Pocatello Police Department, Idaho Falls Police Department, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, Rupert Police Department, Moscow Police Department, Coeur d’Alene Police Department and Nampa Police Department.
    “This case is a testament to the power of law enforcement agencies working in unison to take down criminals,” said Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue. “Thanks to the relentless efforts of those involved, child predators have been removed from our streets, making Canyon County a safer place. We will not stop pursuing justice. Parents, you must remain aware—these predators are out there, and your children are at risk.”
    The Idaho Office of the Attorney General would like to convey appreciation to all who participated and to the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office for hosting the operation.Anyone with information regarding the exploitation of children is encouraged to contact local police, the Idaho Attorney General’s ICAC Unit at 208-947-8700, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
    To learn more about the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force please visit: icactaskforce.org or ICACIdaho.org.
    The charges listed above are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    (L to R) Canyon County Prosecutor Chris Boyd, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, Attorney General Raúl Labrador, and Boise Police Chief Chris Dennison

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Finnish Skiing in Finland

    Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)

    —————
    @usarmy soldiers with @10thMountainDivision and 11th Airborne Division train on Finnish skis to enhance warfighting readiness, tactical proficiency and integration during Arctic Forge 25 in Finland.

    For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
    —————
    Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!

    Like the DoD on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on Instagram: http://instagram.com/DeptofDefense
    Follow the DoD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/DeptofDefense

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ATGWfl5-s

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cartel Boss Tied to Southlake Murder-for-Hire Among Defendants Extradited From Mexico

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Among the 29 cartel bosses extradited from Mexico to the United States on Thursday was Northern District of Texas defendant Jose Rodolfo Villarreal Hernandez, aka “El Gato,” announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham. 

    Mr. Villarreal Hernandez, a Mexican national who held a high-level position in the Beltran-Leyva Organization (BLO) Drug Cartel, was charged in June 2018 with interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire in the brutal slaying of a 43-year-old Southlake, Texas lawyer in 2013. 

    He was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List in October 2020 and arrested by Mexican law enforcement agents in Atizapán de Zaragoza, Mexico in January 2023.

    Attorney General Pam Bondi announced his successful extradition yesterday, pledging to prosecute all extradited cartel bosses “to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers — and in some cases, given their lives — to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels.” 

    Mr. Villarreal Hernandez will make his initial appearance in federal court next week.

    According to evidence presented at the trial of his coconspirators, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez allegedly directed and financed a multi-year effort to locate and assassinate his victim, an attorney with ties to a rival cartel. Testimony revealed that Mr. Villarreal Hernandez allegedly believed the attorney was involved with the death of Mr. Villarreal Hernandez’s father and wanted revenge. 

    The victim was shot while sitting in the passenger seat of his vehicle outside an upscale shopping center in  Southlake on May 22, 2013. His wife was standing near the driver’s side door when her husband was killed. 

    Three men who, acting on orders from Mr. Villarreal Hernandez, tracked the victim prior to his death were convicted and sentenced in 2016: Jose Luis Cepeda-Cortes and Jesus Gerardo Ledezma-Cepeda were convicted at trial of interstate stalking and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire; Mr. Cepeda-Cortez was also convicted of tampering with documents or proceedings. Both men received life sentences. Jesus Gerardo Ledezma-Campano, son of Mr. Ledezma-Cepeda, pleaded guilty prior to trial to one count of interstate stalking and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

    A fourth defendant, Ramon Villarreal-Hernandez, the brother of Jose Rodolfo, was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States in 2020. He pleaded guilty to interstate stalking in June 2022 and was sentenced to ten years in prison.

    According to the U.S. State Department, in addition to allegedly ordering the Southlake murder, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez is believed to have overseen the importation of large quantities of cocaine into the United States as well as committing violent acts within the Republic of Mexico and the United States to maintain his organization’s power and status.

    “After more than a decade, Mr. Villarreal Hernandez will have to answer for his alleged crimes in an American courtroom,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “Since the victim was gunned down in a public parking lot in 2013, law enforcement’s commitment to this case has never wavered. I extend my sincere thanks to the federal, state, local, and international partners who have pulled together to ensure this defendant will be brought to justice.”

    An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Villarreal Hernandez is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

    The statutory maximum penalty for interstate stalking is life in prison; the statutory maximum for the murder-for-hire charge is life in prison or death.

    The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division, with assistance from the Southlake Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, US. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, the Fort Worth Police Department, and the Grapevine Police Department. The  Mexican Secretariat of the Navy, Fiscalía Generalde la República (FGR), Coordinación Nacional Antisecuestro (CONASE) coordinated in the arrest of Mr. Villarreal-Hernandez.  The U.S. Marshal Service for the Northern District of Texas assisted in securing the defendant upon his arrival in Texas. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Mexico City, and the U.S. Marshals Mexico City Foreign Field Office provided valuable assistance.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Burgess (fmr) and Aisha Saleem prosecuted the case against Mr. Luis Cepeda-Cortes, Mr. Ledezma-Cepeda, and Mr. Ledezma-Campano. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Smith and Laura Montes are prosecuting the case against Mr. Villarreal Hernandez.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Video: WE OWN THE NIGHT! | U.S. Army

    Source: US Army (video statements)

    : AEMO

    About the U.S. Army:

    The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

    Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
    Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

    Connect with the U.S. Army online:
    Web: https://www.army.mil
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
    X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
    #USArmy #Soldiers #Military #NightVision

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltVAG8gnnlI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: ‘A litany of human suffering’ in Myanmar, warns UN rights chief

    Source: United Nations 2-b

    Human Rights

    Myanmar is mired in one of the world’s worst human rights crises, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Friday, describing conditions there as “a litany of human suffering.”

    Addressing the Human Rights Council on Friday, he detailed the devastating toll of the ongoing conflict and economic collapse on civilians – many of whom have been displaced by the fighting.

    Earlier in the day the Council discussed the deteriorating situation in South Sudan, having heard a report from rights investigators serving on the Commission on Human Rights in the country.

    “Conflict, displacement and economic collapse have combined to cause pain and misery across Myanmar and civilians are paying a terrible price,” Mr. Türk said.

    The number killed in violence last year was the highest since the military coup in 2021. Over 1,800 civilians were killed in 2024, many in indiscriminate airstrikes and artillery shelling, with attacks on schools, places of worship and healthcare facilities having become routine.

    Mr. Türk condemned the military’s brutal tactics, including beheadings, burnings, mutilations, and the use of human shields. He also noted that nearly 2,000 people have died in custody since the coup, most due to summary executions and torture.

    Deepening humanitarian crisis

    Fighting between the junta forces and opposition armed groups has fuelled a humanitarian catastrophe, with more than 3.5 million people displaced and 15 million facing hunger – two million of whom are at risk of famine.

    In Rakhine state, clashes between the military and the Arakan Army have intensified, with thousands of civilians killed and Rohingya communities caught in the crossfire.  

    Tens of thousands of Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2024, despite border restrictions. More than 8,000 fled by sea – an 80 per cent increase over 2023 – but at least 650 people, nearly half of them children, perished on the dangerous journey.

    Economic collapse

    Myanmar’s economic collapse has fuelled corruption and crime, with one global tracker ranking it the world’s biggest nexus of organized crime. It remains the top producer of opium and a major manufacturer of synthetic drugs.

    Furthermore, scam centres in eastern Myanmar have become notorious for human trafficking, where victims are coerced into cybercrime and subjected to torture, sexual violence, and forced labour.

    Military conscription

    Mr. Türk also condemned the junta’s activation of military conscription laws, which have led to arbitrary arrests and forced recruitment, particularly targeting young men and women. Fear of conscription has driven many to flee the country, exposing them to trafficking and exploitation.

    “Given the humanitarian, political and economic impacts fuelling instability across the region, the international community must do more,” Mr. Türk underscored.

    He reiterated his call for an arms embargo, coupled with targeted sanctions – including on jet fuel and dual-use goods – to better protect the people of Myanmar.

    He also stressed the need for accountability, citing efforts at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to hold Myanmar’s military leaders accountable for atrocities.

    © WFP/Eulalia Berlanga

    Displaced South Sudanese people arrive at a camp in Upper Nile State. (file)

    South Sudan: Leaders failing their own people

    The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan presented its latest report to the Human Rights Council earlier in Geneva, detailing widespread violations, including extrajudicial killings, forced recruitment of children and systematic sexual violence.

    Despite South Sudan winning independence over a decade ago and repeated commitments to peace during years of civil war, the Commission found that the same patterns of abuses persist, often implicating high-ranking officials.

    “It is unconscionable that so many years after its independence, political leaders continue their violent contestations across the country and are abjectly failing the people of South Sudan,” said Yasmin Sooka, Chair of the Commission.

    Extreme ethnic violence

    The report described the situation in Tambura, where armed forces and militias inflicted extreme violence along ethnic lines in 2024, reigniting tensions from the 2021 conflict.

    Political elites at both local and national levels have actively fuelled this violence while remaining in power despite past crimes.

    The Commission also raised alarms over the “Green Book” law introduced in Warrap State in 2024, which authorizes extrajudicial executions for suspected cattle raiding and communal violence.

    Address corruption

    South Sudan’s leaders agreed in September 2024 to extend the transitional political arrangements by two years, citing funding constraints.

    The Commission’s report noted that the government generated $3.5 billion in revenue between September 2022 and August 2024, while essential institutions – such as courts, schools, and hospitals – remain underfunded and civil servants go unpaid.

    “Financing essential services and rule of law institutions requires an end to the corruption. The theft of national wealth robs citizens of justice, education, and healthcare,” said Commissioner Carlos Castresana Fernández.

    “Without addressing this systemic looting, no peace agreement will ever translate into meaningful change,” he added.

    The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan is an independent body mandated by the UN Human Rights Council. First established in March 2016, it has been renewed annually since. Its three Commissioners are not UN staff, they are not paid for their work and serve in an independent capacity.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Support Pours in for President Trump, VP Vance’s America First Strength

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today, President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance made clear to the world that the United States will not be taken advantage of — a sentiment echoed by the cabinet and members of Congress from across the country.
    Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Thank you @POTUS for standing up for America in a way that no President has ever had the courage to do before. Thank you for putting America First. America is with you!”
    Sen. Lindsey Graham: “I’ve never been more proud of President Trump for showing the American people — and the world — you don’t trifle with this man … He wanted to get a ceasefire. He wants to end the war and Zelenskyy felt like he needed to bait Trump in the Oval Office.”
    Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem: “I am so proud of our Commander-in-Chief. Thank you President @RealDonaldTrump and @VP for standing up for America. We will not tolerate the political games and disrespect of America. America is back.”
    Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth: “Amen, Mr. President.”
    Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent: “Thank you, President Trump, for standing up for the American people and our nation on the global stage.”
    Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum: “Thank you @POTUS for standing strong for America while working to end the killing abroad.”
    Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins: “American leadership is back — in the Oval Office — and on the world stage. FEARLESS. BOLD. RELENTLESS. We will save America.”
    Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy: “Thank you @POTUS for standing up for the United States. The American people will not stand for disrespect of our President, Oval Office, or our generous taxpayers. Peace is only accomplished through strength and our allies need to understand that.”
    Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner: “President Trump is standing up for forgotten Americans, not endless foreign wars. Biden’s legacy — increased homelessness, record high interest rates, all-time highs to buy a house, and Americans footing the bill. That ended January 20th. The American people are behind @POTUS.”
    Sen. Jim Banks: “Thank you President Trump for standing up for America!”
    Sen. Marsha Blackburn: “Thank you President Trump and VP Vance or standing up for America.”
    Sen. Bill Hagerty: “The United States of America will no longer be taken for granted. The contrast between the last four years and now could not be more clear. Thank you, Mr. President.”
    Sen. Josh Hawley: “Remember: the U.S. Senate has repeatedly and for years voted BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars to Ukraine with no strings attached and with no true oversight. It’s time for some ACCOUNTABILITY.”
    Sen. Jim Justice: “Glad to have a @POTUS and @VP in charge that absolutely put America FIRST.”
    Sen. Mike Lee: “Thank you for standing up for OUR COUNTRY and putting America first, President Trump and Vice President Vance!”
    Sen. Bernie Moreno: “Finally we have a President who will speak the TRUTH and stand up against Washington’s endless wars. American taxpayers have been funding this war, it’s time to stop the killing and stop risking World War 3!”
    Sen. Markwayne Mullin: “Under this President— the greatest, freest, and most generous nation on Earth is putting America First. I’d encourage anyone who has a problem with that to reevaluate their priorities.”
    Sen. Rick Scott: “Thank you President Trump for standing up for America.”
    Sen. Eric Schmitt: “It’s about time we have leaders who say what the American people are really thinking and prioritize the core national interests of America. The American taxpayer is tapped out, and President Trump and VP Vance are spot on.”
    Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “Thank you Mr. President and Vice President Vance for putting America first”
    Majority Leader Steve Scalise: “President Trump is fighting for PEACE around the world and is putting America First as our best negotiator—he’s the only one to get Russia to the table to consider a serious and lasting peace agreement with Ukraine.”
    Chairwoman Lisa McClain: “President Trump inherited this war. He has said from the beginning he wants to bring peace. @POTUS is a strong leader, and I know his negotiations will bring a deal together.”
    Rep. Andy Biggs: “Gone are the days of foreign leaders walking all over us and snubbing their noses at America’s generosity. There’s a new President and Vice President in town. World leaders would be wise to humble themselves.”
    Rep. Tim Burchett: “Job well done by @realDonaldTrump and our VP @JDVance. Give respect to get respect.”
    Rep. Mike Collins: “Thank God we finally have a @POTUS who is willing to put America FIRST. Blessed are the peacemakers.”
    Rep. Eli Crane: “America First. Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Vance.”
    Rep. Dan Crenshaw: “If you are the leader of a country in a dire situation with no path to peace without American support, do not come into the Oval Office and argue with the President of the United States in public. Just a word of advice.”
    Rep. Andrew Clyde: “President Trump and Vice President Vance are standing up for the AMERICAN PEOPLE. Our great country will NOT be taken advantage of or disrespected.”
    Rep. Byron Donalds: “This is what putting the AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST looks like. Thank you @realdonaldtrump and @JDVance for standing up for our nation.”
    Rep. Brandon Gill: “America First in action. Thank you, @realdonaldtrump and @JDVance, for prioritizing our people and for promoting peace!”
    Rep. Lance Gooden: “President @realdonaldtrump and Vice President @JDVance will never allow the United States to be disrespected or taken advantage of. America First, always!”
    Rep. Paul Gosar: “Thank you, Mr. President and Vice President. The days of the USA getting pushed around are clearly over.”
    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: “President Trump and Vice President Vance will put America First every single time. Putting Zelensky in his place while he disrespects the U.S. in the Oval Office is exactly what American leadership should look like. This is what We The People want to see!”
    Rep. Pat Harrigan: “America’s priorities come first. @POTUS and @VP made it clear—Ukraine’s interests are not America’s interests. We’ve spent hundreds of billions with no accountability, no clear objectives, and no plan for peace. It’s time to put America first and end this war.”
    Rep. Mark Harris: “Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Vance, for boldly defending America’s interests. This is PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH”
    Rep. Diana Harshbarger: “The act displayed by Zelenskyy in the Oval Office was nothing short of a massive show of disrespect for the Trump Administration and the American people. Despite this, President Trump and Vice President Vance are holding the line and trying to end this conflict peacefully. God bless them both.”
    Rep. Wesley Hunt: “You do NOT blame the people fighting to save your country! America leads—no more excuses!”
    Rep. Nancy Mace: “Peace through strength live from the Oval”
    Rep. Thomas Massie: “Is this the end of Zelensky’s presidency? He hitched his wagon to Biden and the deep state. They lost and now he doesn’t seem to be playing his cards well.”
    Rep. Brian Mast: “American won’t be taken advantage of and America won’t be taken for granted. Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Vance for standing up for America.”
    Rep. Addison McDowell: “AMERICA AND THE AMERICAN TAXPAYER ALWAYS COME FIRST”
    Rep. Mary Miller: “What has happened in Ukraine is a travesty. Joe Biden threw “gas on the fire.” Ukraine lost an entire generation, and Americans hundreds of billions in tax dollars. We thank God for giving us strong leadership. Thank you @POTUS and @VP for putting America’s interests first, and working to end this terrible war.”
    Rep. Riley Moore: “It is amazing to have a President and VP who put America First! Thank you President Trump and VP Vance for fighting for our country and our people!”
    Rep. Troy Nehls: “President Trump and Vice President Vance are standing up for the American people. This is America First leadership on display. Thank you POTUS and VP!”
    Rep. Ralph Norman: “THIS is strong leadership that is ensuring we put the American people FIRST. Thank you @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance for standing up for our nation.”
    Rep. Andy Ogles: “This is what it looks like to stand up for America.”
    Rep. Mike Rulli: “You don’t have the cards!”
    Rep. Keith Self: “TOUGH and FAIR. The world is witnessing American leadership back in the White House. Thank you President Trump and Vice President Vance.”
    Rep. Victoria Spartz: “Zelensky is doing a serious disservice to the Ukrainian people insulting the American President and the American people – just to appease Europeans and increase his low polling in Ukraine after he failed miserably to defend his country. This is not a theater act but a real war!”
    Rep. Greg Steube: “Ridiculous grandstanding by Zelensky in the Oval Office. The United States has spent hundreds of billions of dollars to defend Ukraine. And this is the thanks the American people get?  It’s time to end this war.”
    Rep. Marlin Stutzman: “TRUMP IS THE GREATEST NEGOTIATOR AMERICA HAS EVER HAD! AMERICA IS BEING MADE GREAT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES!”
    Rep. Andy Weber: “America FIRST. Strong, unapologetic leadership on the world stage is BACK!”
    Rep. Joe Wilson: “I agree with President Trump that Ukrainian soldiers have been unbelievably brave! Critical Minerals Deal a major step forward toward ending the war responsibly. More sanctions on Russia & arms for Ukraine create maximum leverage for FULL land swap Art of the Deal!”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Continuing Defense of Georgia Consumers, Senator Reverend Warnock Questions Nominee to Lead CFPB

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia

    Continuing Defense of Georgia Consumers, Senator Reverend Warnock Questions Nominee to Lead CFPB

    Senator Reverend Warnock questioned Jonathan McKernan, the Trump Administration’s nominee to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

    In partnership with Senator Reverend Warnock, the CFPB addressed 266,560 complaints from Georgians, including 20,168 from servicemembers in the state

    The hearing followed the recent news of the dissolution of CFPB, one of multiple federal agencies gutted by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

    Senator Reverend Warnock is a member of the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, which he chaired last Congress, and which oversees the CFPB

    Senator Reverend Warnock during the hearing: “You’ve [Jonathan McKernan] raised your hand to run the agency. I think you ought to know whether you think it’s a good thing to get rid of”

    Watch Senator Reverend Warnock at Thursday’s hearing HERE

    Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), a member and former chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, which oversees the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), questioned Jonathan McKernan and William Pulte, the Trump Administration’s nominees to lead the CFPB and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, respectively.

    Last Congress, Senator Warnock worked extensively with the CFPB to return funds and protect Georgians from future financial hardship, helping to address 266,560 complaints from Georgians, including 20,168 from servicemembers in the state. Additionally, Senator Warnock spearheaded several efforts to return dollars to hardworking Americans, including: remove medical debt from credit reports, rule ending an overdraft loophole, highlighting harmful practices in the private student lending market, safeguard Americans from ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ debts, and much more.

    During Senator Warnock’s line of questioning for Mr. McKernan, he highlighted the recent news of the dissolution of CFPB, one of many federal agencies gutted by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and if Mr. McKernan shared President Trump’s disturbing view that the agency is “a very important thing to get rid of.”

    “President Trump has said the CFPB is, quote, ‘A very important thing to get rid of.’ Yes or no. Do you agree with the President on that point?” asked Senator Warnock.

    “Senator, I think our elected officials decide normative questions like that,” said Mr. McKernan.

    “You’ve raised your hand to run the agency. I think you ought to know whether you think it’s a good thing to get rid of,” said Senator Warnock.

    The nomination hearing followed a special hearing earlier in the week that was organized by Ranking Member of the Banking Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and aimed to highlight the repercussions of dismantling the CFPB.

    Watch the Senator’s full remarks and line of questioning HERE. 

    See below transcript of the key exchange between Senator Warnock and CFPB Director nominee Jonathan McKernan:

    Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – the CFPB – in the wake of the financial crisis, during which Americans saw Wall Street bankers get bailed out, while millions of working folks lost their jobs, their homes, their retirements, their life savings. That’s the situation out of which the CFPB emerged.” 

    “Mr. McKernan, thank you. I enjoyed our meeting yesterday. Good to meet you. And I want to follow up on our discussion about the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the CFPB, the agency you’ve been nominated to run. President Trump has said the CFPB is, quote, ‘A very important thing to get rid of.’ Yes or no. Do you agree with the President on that point?”

    Jonathan McKernan (JM): “Senator as I’ve said, the CFPB is a product of statute. That is a question for our elected official. It’s…”

    SRW: “Yes or no question, do you agree that it’s a very good thing to get rid of?”

    JM: “Senator, I think our elected officials decide normative questions like that.” 

    SRW: “You’ve raised your hand to run the agency. I think you ought to know whether you think it’s a good thing to get rid of.”

    JM: “Well, I will say this. I certainly think that consumer protection is a very good thing, it’s a critical thing. A federal consumer protection role is a very important thing. That’s a lesson I learned from my experience in the 2008 financial crisis. We need to have a regulatory system that works for everyday Americans, and that includes consumer protection.” 

    SRW: “I’ll take that as you agree with the President, that we don’t necessarily need the CFPB. We need consumer protection, but not the CFPB. Is that your answer?”

    JM: “We need, we need to have a strong consumer protection function.”

    SRW: “President Trump and Elon Musk have basically gotten rid of the CFPB, which is why the question is so urgent, and the bureau has seen dozens of key employees fired. They’ve been told not to engage in its core supervisory or examination duties required by the law, and has even had its physical headquarters closed and locked.”

    “I think that’s a pretty clear message. If someone closes down the office that you’ve been nominated to run.”

    “With the CFPB effectively eliminated. How on earth do you plan to lead a shell agency that’s been completely gutted?”

    JM: “Senator, I’m not aware of the situation both this the staffing and resources at the CFPB. Well, what I will point to is just what the administration has said in its filings, and some of the litigation ongoing here, and they have said that we are going to have a CFPB that is streamlined and efficient. And quoting, I think, from the brief here, it says, ‘A predicate of that is there will be a CFPB’ again, though this is a question for our elected officials, my job is to follow the law and execute on my mandate.”

    SRW: “In the last three months alone, the CFPB has received more than 80,000 complaints from Georgians, with the Bureau currently seeking resolution to more than 40,000 of those complaints with the CFPB shuttered by President Trump and Elon Musk, what’s your plan to ensure that the bureau resolves those 40,000 pending complaints from my constituents in Georgia?”

    JM: “Senator like I said, the consumer complaint function is a statutorily required function that’s in 1021c and so my mandate, if I’m confirmed, is to fulfill faithfully, fully that statutory mandate.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh hosted a high-level European Union delegation led by Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and Space Sector experts

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh hosted a high-level European Union delegation led by Commissioner Andrius Kubilius and Space Sector experts

    India – EU interactions in the field of space has a long history and is growing strong, says MoS, Dept. Of Space

    Dr. Singh hails India’s achievements in Space as a global benchmark, acknowledging its growth in space sector

    India would be a major player in 21st century’s Space exploration announces S&T minister

    Dr. Jitendra Singh credits Prime Minister Modi for the Space Vision 2047 which aligns with the objectives of Viksit Bharat@2047

    ISRO to host the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) in association with the International Astronautical Federation in May 2025 in New Delhi informs Dr. Singh

    Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 7:07PM by PIB Delhi

    NEW DELHI, February 28: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh hosted a high-level European Union delegation led by Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, along with space sector experts, in New Delhi today. The delegation engaged in discussions regarding ongoing and future cooperation between India and Europe in the field of space exploration. On the Indian side, Shri V. Narayanan, Chairman of ISRO and Secretary of the Department of Space, along with other senior space scientists, attended the meeting.

    Addressing the EU delegation, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said “India – EU interactions in the field of space has a long history and is growing strong”. Tracing India’s space journey, which spans over six decade she hailed India’s achievements in Space as global benchmark, acknowledging its growth in space sector in the last decade.

    “India has acquired independent capabilities in building, launching, and operating satellites, as well as deriving applications from these satellites to benefit society,” said Dr. Singh. He further emphasized recent successes, such as the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the SPADEX mission, and the ongoing progress of the Gaganyaan mission. Dr. Singh announced that India would be a major player in 21st century’s Space exploration.

    Highlighting India’s dynamic space vision under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is aligned with the broader goal of making India a Viksit Bharat@2047. Dr. Singh credited Prime Minister Modi’s leadership for laying the foundation of India’s ambitious space agenda, which includes the continuation of the Gaganyaan program, India’s human spaceflight mission, the establishment of India’s space station – “Bharatiya Antariksh Station,” and an Indian landing on the Moon.

    Highlighting the long-standing cooperation between India and Europe in space exploration, Dr. Singh stated that the collaboration has been vast and enriching. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) collaborates with the European Space Agency (ESA), space agencies of individual European nations, and entities like EUMETSAT. European industries have also contributed to India’s space program, with notable examples of support, including the development of liquid engines, the launch of India’s first experimental communication satellite, and ESA’s assistance in the Aditya and Chandrayaan-3 missions.

    Dr. Singh also drew attention to the rapid expansion of India’s space program, noting that from the late 2000s, India’s space missions have included studies of the Moon, Mars, and the Sun, with plans for human spaceflight missions.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the delegation that, earlier, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was the sole entity responsible for space activities. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, space sector reforms were introduced in 2020 to open the sector for private investment. A new entity, the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe), was established to promote and authorize space activities by non-governmental entities.

    The Science and Technology Minister also highlighted the burgeoning startup revolution in India’s space sector. With more than 200 startups engaging in rocket building, satellite manufacturing, ground segment operations, and application development, the sector is rapidly growing. Many of these startups have also established a presence in Europe, marking a new chapter in global space collaboration.

    Reflecting on future missions, Dr. Singh emphasized that India’s expanded space program, which includes human spaceflight, space stations, and advancements in rocket technologies, alongside the emerging private space industry, offers a strong foundation for deepening India-Europe space relations.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh informed the delegation that ISRO will be hosting the Global Conference on Space Exploration (GLEX) in association with the International Astronautical Federation in May 2025 in New Delhi. He extended a warm invitation to all stakeholders in the European space ecosystem to participate in this landmark event.

    Along with Commissioner Andrius KUBILIUS; Mr. Benjamin HARTMANN, Cabinet Expert;Capt (N) Mr. Fabrizio FALZI, EU Defence Attache were part of the delegation.

    The high-level meet also witnessed participation of Dr. Rajiv Jyoti, Director, IN-SPACe; Mr. M. Ganesh Pillai, Scientific Secretary, ISRO; Dr. D. Gowrisankar, Director, Office of International and Inter-agency Cooperation (OIIC), ISRO HQ; Mr. Prashant Jha, OSD, MOS Office; Mr. M. S. Anurup, Director, Space Transportation Programme Office, ISRO HQ.; Dr. Rajeev Jaiswal, OSD, DOS and Ms. Seema Pujani, Deputy Secretary, D&ISA, MEA

    Concluding the discussions, Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his delight at hosting the EU delegation and acknowledged the significant interest shown by Commissioner Andrius Kubilius in strengthening space cooperation. He emphasized that space is the future, and the collaboration between India and Europe will continue to drive progress and innovation in this critical field.

    ****

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2107054) Visitor Counter : 51

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Leaders’ Statement: Visit of Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and EU College of Commissioners to India (February 27-28, 2025)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ms. Ursula von der Leyen affirmed that the EU-India Strategic Partnership has delivered strong benefits for their peoples and for the larger global good. They committed to raise this partnership to a higher-level, building upon 20 years of India-EU Strategic Partnership and over 30 years of India-EC Cooperation Agreement.

    President von der Leyen was on her landmark official visit as she led the European Union College of Commissioners to India on 27-28 February 2025. This is the first visit of the College of Commissioners outside the European continent since the start of their new mandate and also the first such visit in the history of India-EU bilateral ties.

    As the two largest democracies and open market economies with diverse pluralistic societies, India and EU underscored their commitment and shared interest in shaping a resilient multipolar global order that underpins peace and stability, economic growth and sustainable development.

    The leaders agreed that shared values and principles including democracy, rule of law, and the rules-based international order in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter make India and the EU like-minded and trusted partners. The India-EU Strategic partnership is needed now, more than ever, to jointly address global issues, foster stability, and promote mutual prosperity.

    In this context, they stressed the importance of intensifying cooperation between India and Europe in trade and de-risking of supply chains, investment, emerging critical technologies, innovation, talent, digital and green industrial transition, space and geospatial sectors, defence and people-to-people contacts. They also highlighted the need to cooperate on tackling common global challenges, including climate change, the governance of Artificial Intelligence, development finance, and terrorism in an interdependent world.

    The two leaders welcomed the progress made by the second ministerial meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) that took place during the visit in fostering deeper collaboration and strategic co-ordination at the intersection of trade, trusted technology, and green transition.

    They also welcomed the specific outcomes emerging from deliberations conducted between the EU College of Commissioners and their Indian counterpart Ministers.

    The leaders committed to as follows:

    i. Task their respective negotiating teams to pursue negotiations for a balanced, ambitious, and mutually beneficial FTA with the aim of concluding them within the course of the year, recognizing the centrality and importance of growing India EU trade and economic relations. The leaders asked the officials to work as trusted partners to enhance market access and remove trade barriers. They also tasked them to advance negotiations on an Agreement on Investment Protection and an Agreement on Geographical Indications.

    ii. Direct the India-EU Trade and Technology Council to further deepen its engagement to shape outcome-oriented cooperation in areas of economic security and supply chain resilience, market access and barriers to trade, strengthening of semiconductor ecosystems, trustworthy and sustainable Artificial Intelligence, high-performance computing, 6G, Digital Public Infrastructure, joint research and innovation for green and clean energy technologies with a focus on trusted partnerships and industry linkages across these sectors, including the recycling of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), marine plastic litter, and waste to green/renewable hydrogen. In this context, they welcomed the progress in the implementation of MoU on semiconductors for boosting the semiconductor supply chains, leveraging complementary strengths, facilitating talent exchanges and fostering semiconductor skills among students and young professionals; as well as the signing of MoU between Bharat 6G alliance and the EU 6G Smart Networks and Services Industry Association for creating secured and trusted telecommunications and resilient supply chains.

    iii. Further expand and deepen cooperation under India-EU partnerships in areas of connectivity, clean energy and climate, water, smart and sustainable urbanization, and disaster management as well as work to intensify cooperation in specific areas such as clean hydrogen, offshore wind, solar energy, sustainable urban mobility, aviation, and railways. In this context, they welcomed the agreement on holding an India-EU Green Hydrogen Forum and the India-EU Business Summit on Offshore Wind Energy.

    iv. Develop new specific areas of co-operation identified during the bilateral discussions between the EU Commissioners and Indian Ministers to be reflected in the future joint Strategic Agenda to drive mutual progress.

    v. Undertake concrete steps for the realization of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced during the G20 Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi, deepen their cooperation in the framework of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT 2.0), and Global Biofuels Alliance.

    vi. Strengthen people-to-people ties especially in the areas of higher education, research, tourism, culture, sports, and between their youths, and create an enabling environment for enhancing such exchanges. Also to promote legal, safe and orderly migration in areas of skilled workforce and professionals in view of India’s growing human capital and taking into account EU member states’ demographic profile and labour market needs.

    The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promote a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific built on international law and mutual respect for sovereignty and peaceful resolution of disputes underpinned by effective regional institutions. India welcomed the EU joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Both sides also committed to explore trilateral co-operation including in Africa and the Indo-Pacific.

    The two leaders expressed satisfaction at growing cooperation in the defence and security domain, including joint exercises and collaboration between Indian Navy and EU Maritime security entities. The EU side welcomed India’s interest in joining the projects under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) as well as to engage in negotiations for a Security of Information Agreement (SoIA). The leaders also committed to explore a security and defence partnership. They reiterated their commitment to international peace and security, including maritime security by tackling traditional and non-traditional threats to safeguard trade & sea lanes of communication. They emphasised the need to deepen collaboration in counter terrorism and to strengthen international cooperation to combat terrorism, including cross-border terrorism and terrorism financing in a comprehensive and sustained manner.

    The two leaders also discussed key international and regional issues, including on the situation in the Middle-East and the war in Ukraine. They expressed support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on respect for international law, principles of the UN charter and territorial integrity and sovereignty. They also reiterated their commitment to the vision of the two-State solution with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, consistent with international law.

    The Leaders recognized the productive and forward-looking nature of the discussions and agreed on the following concrete steps:

    (i) Expedite the conclusion of the FTA by the end of the year.

    (ii) Further focused discussions on defence industry and policy to explore opportunities from new initiatives and programmes.

    (iii) A review meeting with partners to take stock on the IMEC initiative.

    (iv) Engage on maritime domain awareness with a view to promoting shared assessment, coordination and interoperability.

    (v) Convene the next meeting of the TTC at an early date to deepen cooperation in semiconductors and other critical technologies.

    (vi) Enhance the dialogue on clean and green energy between governments and industry, with a focus on green hydrogen.

    (vii) Strengthening collaboration in the Indo-Pacific including through trilateral cooperation projects.

    (viii) Strengthen cooperation on Disaster Management through the development of appropriate arrangements including on policy and technical level engagement for preparedness, response capacities and coordination.

    Both leaders expressed confidence that this momentous visit will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further expand and deepen the India-EU Strategic Partnership. They looked forward to the next India EU Summit being organized in India at the earliest mutually convenient time and to the adoption of a new joint Strategic Agenda on that occasion. President von der Leyen thanked Prime Minister Modi for his warm hospitality.

    *****

    MJPS/ST

    (Release ID: 2107015) Visitor Counter : 10

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Lobbying by fake NGOs – E-000123/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In well-functioning democracies, transparent and accountable interest representation is a legitimate activity. Transparency of information about interest representation activities and entities carrying out such activities is essential for maintaining both EU citizens’ trust in democratic processes and decision-makers’ ability to exercise their responsibilities.

    In 2023, the Commission presented the Defence of Democracy package[1] which includes a legislative proposal that aims to enhance transparency and democratic accountability of interest representation activities on behalf of third countries which seek to influence policies, decision making and the democratic space. The proposal is currently being discussed by the co-legislators.

    At EU level, the EU Transparency Register[2] covers activities carried out by interest representatives with the objective of influencing the formulation or implementation of policy or legislation, or the decision-making processes of the EU institutions. It is up to each EU institution to define the rules on their interaction with interest representatives.

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_6453
    • [2] https://transparency-register.europa.eu/index_en
    Last updated: 28 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: President Trump, VP Vance Are Standing Up for Americans

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance will always stand up for the interests of the American people and those who respect the United States’ position in the world — and will never allow the American people to be taken advantage of.
    President Trump: “Let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards — but without us, you don’t have any cards.”
    More than half (52%) of Ukrainians want a quick end to the war and believe Ukraine “should be open to ceding some territory in exchange for peace,” according to a November Gallup poll.
    Since martial law was declared in Ukraine, 1,000,050 Ukrainians have been drafted into military service. In October 2024, Ukraine announced it would be drafting another 160,000 — bringing the total number of conscripted Ukrainians to 1,160,050.
    The average age of Ukrainian troops is 43 years old.
    “Even if the West did come through with all the weapons they have pledged, ‘we don’t have the men to use them,’ one of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s close aides told Time’s Simon Shuster, revealing that the average age of a Ukrainian soldier has already reached 43.”

    One of Zelenskyy’s closest aides told TIME in 2023 that he is “[deluding] himself … We’re out of options. We’re not winning. But try telling him that.”
    The Ukrainian army is facing rising desertions as “ill-trained and exhausted soldiers [go] AWOL,” with the military further strained by struggles in recruiting and the “arrests of respected and popular combat officers.”
    President Trump: “You’re gambling with World War III.”
    Zelesnkyy himself has acknowledged that the situation in Ukraine could lead to WWIII, and that without U.S. aid, they would lose: “A third world war could start in Ukraine, continue in Israel, and move on from there to Asia, and then explode somewhere else.”
    President Trump: “I gave you the javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets.”
    President Trump gave anti-tank javelin missiles to Ukraine, while Obama gave non-lethal aid only, including blankets.
    EURACTIV: “Poroshenko asks Obama for weapons, obtains blankets”
    President Trump approved lethal weapons sales to Ukraine in 2017: “The new arms include American-made Javelin anti-tank missiles, U.S. officials said.”
    President Trump approved a $39 million sale of defensive lethal weapons to Ukraine in 2019: “The new package will include Javelin anti-tank weapons, with one U.S. official saying it includes 150 missiles and two launchers.”

    Vice President Vance: “You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October.”
    Zelenskyy was called out for campaigning against President Trump in Pennsylvania.
    “Zelenskyy was flown to Pennsylvania in an Air Force C-17 plane.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: 909th ARS and 134th EFS soar in Cope North 25

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    For over four decades, Cope North has served as a cornerstone of U.S. military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. This trilateral exercise brings together American, Japanese, and Australian forces for realistic combat training, strengthening their ability to seamlessly operate together.

    This year’s exercise focused on enhancing teamwork capabilities and tactical skills in a complex and dynamic Indo-Pacific region. Participating assets included the F-35A/B Lighting II; F-16 Fighting Falcon; F-18C/D Hornet; EA-18G Growler; KC-46 Pegasus; Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker; KC-130J Hercules; Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules; E-3G Sentry; MH-60S Seahawk; and the E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node.

    “Exercises like Cope North provide invaluable training for our Airmen,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Travis Epp, 909th ARS commander. “The significantly larger airspace around Guam permits larger exercises than our local airspace.”

    Epp continued to say this higher-level training allowed the 909th ARS to integrate with allies and partners in ways that they could not at their home -station, better preparing the joint and allied force for future challenges together.

    Rotational units – like the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, which sent their F-35A Lightning II’s to CN 25 – regularly conduct missions to enhance Kadena Air Base’s operational readiness to defend Japan and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    Other rotational units currently stationed at Kadena include the 77th EFS from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., operating the F-16 Fighting Falcon and the 525th EFS from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, operating the F-22 Raptor.

    CN25 showcased seamless collaboration and communication between the U.S., Japanese, and Australian air forces, by the integration of their F-35 fighters. This provided a platform for these nations to exchange knowledge and best practices on the effective deployment, maintenance, and command and control of these advanced fifth-generation aircraft.

    “When multiple nations operate the same advanced platforms, joint training becomes essential. It enables us to identify and understand the subtle differences in how each country deploys, maintains, and commands these aircraft,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Trevor Callens, 134th EFS commander.

    He also said the critical knowledge provided by combined and joint exercises would be difficult to acquire without forming partnerships with allies.

    CN-25 continues this legacy of partnership, emphasizing the importance of interoperability and advanced defense capabilities in maintaining regional stability.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: USS San Diego Makes Port Visit to Ishigaki

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    This marks the third U.S. Navy ship to moor in Ishigaki, further strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, which has served as the foundation for regional peace and security for nearly 75 years.

    During a ceremony aboard the ship, San Diego’s commanding officer, Capt. Timothy Carter, expressed his gratitude to the people of Ishigaki for their warm welcome and extended thanks to several key organizations, including the Yaeyama Defense Association, Ishigaki Port Authority, and the Japan Coast Guard for their support and assistance in ensuring the ship’s safe arrival.

    “It is truly an honor to be here today representing the United States Navy,” said Carter. “This visit stands as a testament to the deep, enduring friendship we share with Japan. Our presence in Ishigaki today underscores the strength and commitment of the U.S.-Japan alliance, a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

    San Diego operates in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance interoperability with partners. The ship serves as a ready-response force for any type of contingency, from operational to humanitarian assistance missions.

    “Our military-to-military relationships have never been stronger,” he continued. “We look forward to engaging with the local community and deepening our understanding of each other’s cultures. Our partnership is not only important today, but will remain vital in the years to come.”

    While in Ishigaki, the crew will have the opportunity to engage with local residents, learn about the island’s rich history, and enjoy its unique culture and cuisine. This visit represents another milestone in the strong and enduring ties between the U.S. and Japan.

    San Diego, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is forward-deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

    U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    For more news from USS San Diego, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/lpd22/
    On Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/LPD22

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Commander, Naval Air Forces Concludes Visit to Japan and Guam, Reinforcing Warfighting Readiness and Sailor Quality of Service

    Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

    During the visit, Cheever, the U.S. Navy’s “Air Boss,” engaged leadership and Sailors at Kadena Air Base, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Fleet Activities Yokosuka and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. He also visited the forward-deployed Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and multiple forward-deployed squadrons, emphasizing the integral role of Naval Aviation in the Indo-Pacific.

    “Our forward-deployed aviation forces are the tip of the spear, and their ability to operate at the highest levels helps maintain a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” said Cheever. “It is critical that we provide them with the training, resources and support they need to maintain readiness and execute the mission.”

    Throughout the visit, the Air Boss and Force Master Chief met with command leadership to discuss key priorities, including sustaining warfighting excellence, improving the quality of life for Sailors and their families overseas and fostering a culture of trust and respect. They also took time to recognize outstanding Sailors for their hard work and contributions.

    “People are our most valuable asset,” said Kuers. “We must ensure every Sailor – whether on the flight line, in maintenance shops, onboard the ship or supporting operations – has what they need to succeed and thrive.”

    Air Boss also had the opportunity to see the U.S. Navy’s latest aviation capabilities in action, including the F-35C Lightning II, the CMV-22B Osprey and the MQ-4C Triton. These platforms enhance the U.S. Navy’s ability to strengthen deterrence to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    During engagements with squadron personnel, Air Boss flew with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195, reinforcing his commitment to safe, effective operations and firsthand understanding of the challenges they face.

    “Our aviators and maintainers work around the clock to ensure our air wing is combat-ready, strong and lethal,” said Capt. Brian Kesselring, commander of CVW-5. “Having the Air Boss fly with our squadrons and engage with our teams underscores the importance of our mission and the trust he has in our warfighters.”

    While in Guam, Air Boss visited Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron, which plays a critical role in search and rescue, logistics and fleet support operations across the Indo-Pacific.

    The visit marked the first time Cheever visited Japan and Guam as Air Boss, and reinforced morale, strengthened trust and underscored Naval Aviation as indispensable to operations around the world.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hickenlooper, Bennet, Neguse, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Honor Edward J. Dwight, Jr. with Congressional Gold Medal

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse reintroduced their bipartisan Edward J. Dwight, Jr. Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2025 to honor the life and legacy of author, sculptor, and astronaut Ed Dwight, Jr., who made history at 90-years-old as the oldest person on Earth to travel to space.
    “Ed Dwight is an inspiration to every American seeking to push the limits of what’s possible,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s high time we recognize his many contributions to our nation and to Colorado.”
    “Ed Dwight is one of our country’s greatest living legends,” said Bennet. “Despite racism and prejudice, Ed never stopped reaching higher and became a trailblazer in the worlds of art, science, aviation, and most recently, space travel. His successes are Colorado’s successes. It is a privilege to highlight Ed’s accomplishments and advocate for him to receive the highest honor bestowed by the United States Congress.”
    “Ed Dwight was a barrier breaker, overcoming obstacles to become the first African American candidate selected for the U.S. Air Force’s astronaut training program. Since then, he has continued to uplift and celebrate
    the contributions of Black Americans—both across the country and in Colorado—through his art,” said Neguse. “We are incredibly proud of his contributions to our nation, and I am honored to join Senator Bennet in the effort to award Ed with a Congressional Gold Medal.”
    Dwight became our country’s first African American astronaut candidate when President John F. Kennedy invited him to join the U.S. Air Force’s astronaut training program in 1961. However, he was never granted the opportunity to fly to space due to racism within the program.
    After completing his military service, Dwight moved to Denver, where he became an IBM engineer. He later opened a restaurant and worked as a real estate developer before pursuing his passion for sculpting full-time. Today, Dwight’s sculptures are collected by museums, institutions, and art enthusiasts around the world, including the Smithsonian.
    In 2020, U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations General Jay Raymond presented Dwight with the Commander’s Public Service Award and inducted him as an honorary member of the Space Force, for his contributions to the United States, space, and history.
    Then, in 2024, aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft, 90-year-old Dwight made history as the oldest person to travel to space.
    “The Congressional Gold Medal would bestow recognition to a man who has fulfilled his lifelong dream of going to space,” said Patricia Duncan, Colorado activist and author. “Senator Bennet’s bill honors Ed Dwight, the first Black astronaut candidate, a humble man receiving all the recognition he has earned and deserves.”
    “As of May 2024, Ed Dwight, using the moniker of ‘Justice’, was able to fulfill a 60 year dream of flying into space and earning the official title of Astronaut. I would like to sincerely thank Senator Bennet for recognizing and acknowledging my father, Ed Dwight’s contributions to Colorado, our culture, and the country as a whole,” said Tamara Rhone, Ed Dwight’s daughter. “It means so much to me and my family as I know he appreciates that he is not forgotten in this journey to reach and attain his dreams and be a positive example for others to follow.”
    The Congressional Gold Medal would recognize Dwight’s historic service, example of excellence despite adversity, and contributions to art and Black history.
    Representative Neguse introduced companion legislation in the House.
    The text of the bill is available HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Major General John R. Pippy Sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 55th Adjutant General; Assumes Command of the Pennsylvania National Guard

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    February 28, 2025 – Annville, PA

    Major General John R. Pippy Sworn in as Pennsylvania’s 55th Adjutant General; Assumes Command of the Pennsylvania National Guard

    Governor Josh Shapiro administered the oath of office to Major General John R. Pippy, Pennsylvania’s 55th adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). In addition to his cabinet-level position, Pippy also assumes command of the Pennsylvania National Guard, the third largest in the nation.

    Unanimously confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate on Feb. 4, MG Pippy, a western Pennsylvania native and a West Point graduate, brings decades of leadership experience in the National Guard to DMVA.

    “Ensuring the PA National Guard is able to effectively serve our communities, our Commonwealth, and our country and that the DMVA is able to deliver for Pennsylvania service members, veterans, and their families is critically important to my Administration,” said Governor Shapiro. “Major General Pippy has the experience and readiness to lead – and I look forward to working with him and the men and women of the PA National Guard and the DMVA to continue delivering for all Pennsylvanians.”

    Speaker list:
    Marc Ferraro, Executive Deputy Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairsa
    SSgt Jonathan Delise, 148th Air Support Operations Squadron, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard
    Chaplain Cpt. Guston J. Bird, 165th Military Police Battalion, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
    General (retired) Jessica L. Wright, The 50th Adjutant General of Pennsylvania
    Governor Josh Shapiro
    Adjutant General John R. Pippy

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Around the Air Force: Bomber Task Force 25, Minuteman III Test Launch, Weapons and Tactics Conference

    Source: United States Air Force

    Headline: Around the Air Force: Bomber Task Force 25, Minuteman III Test Launch, Weapons and Tactics Conference

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, BTF missions demonstrate force projected capabilities, an unarmed Minuteman III launch ensures a credible and effective deterrent, and WEPTAC offers the opportunity to develop, refine and validate tactics, techniques and procedures for Air Combat Operations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Around the Air Force: Bomber Task Force 25, Minuteman III Test Launch, Weapons and Tactics Conference

    Source: United States Air Force

    In this week’s look Around the Air Force, Bomber Task Force missions over Europe and the Middle East demonstrate force projected capabilities, an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile test launch ensures a credible and effective deterrent, and the Weapons and Tactics Conference, gives experts the opportunity to develop, refine and validate tactics, techniques and procedures for Air Combat Operations.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Coast Guard Evolution: AI and Unmanned Systems Enhancing SAR Operations

    Source: Frontex

    On 25–26 February 2025, the Italian Coast Guard, acting as Chair of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF), together with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) hosted an international workshop on AI and unmanned systems entitled “Coast Guard Evolution: Artificial Intelligence and Unmanned Systems Enhancing SAR Operations”. The event, held in Cagliari, Italy, brought together delegations from EU Member States and leading experts in AI and emerging technologies to discuss the future of maritime safety and the use of cutting-edge technology in optimising Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. 

    As the maritime domain faces increasingly complex challenges, close and effective cooperation between coast guard functions across the EU is now more important than ever. At the same time, if we want to considerably boost Europe’s collective capacity to safeguard its waters and protect lives at sea, prudent adoption of AI-driven technologies is the way to go. 

    In this context, the ECGFF and Frontex play a vital role in fostering cooperation and strengthening interoperability between Member States and EU coast guard agencies, ensuring that national coast guard authorities are equipped with the most effective tools and up-to-date knowledge to address any emerging issues.   

    With a blend of thematic presentations and panel discussions, the ECGFF-Frontex workshop was a platform for sharing knowledge on the latest advancements in SAR technologies and discussing how AI solutions can promote synergies and improve rescue operations.  

    With over 100 participants from 22 Member States, the EU Commission, European Defence Agency, Joint Research Center, and our sister EU agencies — EFCA and EMSA — this strong engagement reflects the growing interest in discussing this crucial topic. 

    The workshop explored the legal, operational and technological implications of adopting AI in SAR missions. Topics included the benefits and limitations of emerging technologies in both manned and unmanned SAR missions, EU initiatives supporting the development of AI-driven tools for coast guard functions, and the role of networks such as EUROSUR in optimising cross-border coordination of SAR efforts in migrant emergencies at sea. 

    The message that kept being repeated among SAR experts and practitioners was that the human element must remain central to all considerations regarding AI application in SAR and that technology must always serve humanity. 

    By bringing together the diverse perspectives and expertise in numerous areas, the ECGFF and Frontex reaffirm their shared commitment to further development of the coast guard through innovations and EU-wide cooperation. The insights gathered contributed to ensuring that AI and emerging technologies are effectively leveraged to save lives at sea while keeping Europe’s maritime borders secure. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Texas National Guard riverine team strengthens border security along Rio Grande

    Source: US National Guard (video statements)

    The brush and riverine team assigned to the Texas Army National Guard as part of Operation Lone Star plays a vital role in enhancing border security along the Rio Grande River. This specialized team operates both on land and water, conducting coordinated patrols to detect and deter illegal crossings and criminal activity. On land, they navigate dense brush and rugged terrain to carry out surveillance, reconnaissance, and interdiction missions. On the water, they utilize boats to patrol the Rio Grande, providing rapid response capabilities and maintaining a strong security presence. By integrating ground and riverine operations, the team supports state and federal agencies in disrupting transnational criminal organizations and bolstering public safety along the Texas-Mexico border. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Master Sgt. Amber Monio and Staff Sgt. Derek Gutierrez)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Icl5X_WdA

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: NSW Conducts Training with Lithuanian and German special operations forces

    Source: United States Navy

    Strengthening NATO alliances, U.S. East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) and U.S. Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCC) recently conducted a two-week training exercise with Lithuanian and German Special Operations Forces.

    The exercise, which took place in the Baltic region, aimed to increase warfighting readiness and allied lethality through a series of challenging maritime operations, small boat tactics, and low-light weapons live-fire drills. The training event was designed to foster greater cooperation and interoperability between the participating nations, maintaining a strategic advantage in the region.

    “Exercises like this are crucial to ensuring we can operate seamlessly together to fight and win wars,” said CAPT V. Scott King, Commodore of Naval Special Warfare Group TWO. “By training alongside our Lithuanian and German counterparts, we’re not only enhancing our own warfighting readiness but also strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation that underpin our alliance.”

    Allied training exercises like this are vital to bolstering the collective defense capabilities of NATO nations and builds a stronger, more lethal alliance to address threats in the area.

    Throughout the exercise, the units focused on developing and enhancing their skills in maritime special operations, as well as advanced marksmanship and close quarters combat techniques. The special operations forces refined their ability to launch, operate and recover small raiding crafts from the well decks of the Combatant Craft Medium, one of Naval Special Warfare’s most versatile boats. The event culminated with a full-mission profile, bringing together all aspects of the training into a real-world scenario that showcased the special operations forces’ readiness in the maritime domain.

    “The training we conducted was both realistic and challenging,” said the senior Naval Special Warfare Operator on site. “We were able to learn from each other and share best practices. This type of cooperation is essential to achieving shared goals and maintaining elite levels of lethality.”

    Naval Special Warfare Group TWO produces, supports, and deploys the world’s premier maritime special operations forces to conduct full-spectrum operations and integrated deterrence in support of U.S. national objectives. For more information, visit https://www.nsw.navy.mil/

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What are conflicts of interest and what can be done about them?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Archon Fung, Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government, Harvard Kennedy School

    The phrase is often lobbed around, but what does it really mean? Frank Brennan/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Americans’ trust in government and politicians is at record lows. In a 2022 Pew Research survey, about two-thirds of respondents said that all or most people who run for office want to serve their own personal interests rather than the community’s.

    I have taught political ethics to hundreds of public policy students at the Harvard Kennedy School over the past 25 years. One of the most important concepts we discuss is directly tied to that falling faith in government. It’s a term people love to throw around but can’t always define: conflicts of interest.

    Conflicts of interest pervade public service and jeopardize the quality of government action by degrading officials’ judgments. Controlling such conflicts is essential to the success of democracy because all citizens rely on millions of officials – from the president down to the person analyzing water quality in your city – to do their jobs conscientiously, using their best judgment. Citizens’ safety depends on government action in countless ways: to keep drinking water, food and medicines safe; to protect everyone from dangerous products and from individual and corporate predators; to keep airplanes, cars and trains from colliding; to ensure access to education, health care and pensions.

    But what counts as a conflict of interest? In the public sector, they arise when an official has “secondary,” private interests that may affect their judgment about how best to promote the public good. The more intense these private interests are – such as the promise of great financial gain or the welfare of loved ones – the greater the conflict and risk to public good.

    Not just money

    Secondary interests often stem from financial concerns: future employment prospects, corporate positions, stock holdings, real estate and gifts. But secondary interests can also arise from concern for the well-being of family members and friends.

    A conflict between primary and secondary interests – public vs. private – threatens the public by clouding the good judgment of officials. They may be tempted, even unconsciously, to make decisions that achieve secondary interests at the cost of not doing their best to advance the public interest.

    During his last weeks in office, for example, former President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter and, preventively, many members of his family. The Constitution establishes the president’s pardon power as a mechanism to correct miscarriages of justice in the court system. Did Biden’s concern for the welfare of his family – a secondary, private interest – cloud his judgment about how best to use this extraordinary power to pardon for the sake of justice, a primary, public interest? It is impossible to peer inside his mind, but anyone can see that there was a strong conflict of interest.

    Many public officials mistakenly deny that there is a conflict at all. Charlie Wilson, a secretary of defense in the 1950s, was previously president and CEO of General Motors, a defense contractor. “For years I thought what was good for our country was good for General Motors, and vice versa,” he said during confirmation hearings. “The difference did not exist. Our company is too big. It goes with the welfare of the country.”

    Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson holds a news conference in 1954.
    Bettmann via Getty Images

    After Trump was elected in 2016, he famously said that “the president can’t have a conflict of interest.” It wasn’t true then, and it’s not true now. Conflict of interest is an ethical principle that applies to everyone acting in a public role. The principal law regulating conflict of interest in the federal government does exempt the president and vice president. However, the emoluments clause of the Constitution prohibits some conflicts of interest.

    The president enters his second term with large private assets in social media platform Truth Social and cryptocurrency $Trump – industries that the United States is figuring out how to regulate.

    When leaders have a conflict of interest, it doesn’t necessarily mean they make bad judgments or act corruptly. Nevertheless, such conflicts can reduce citizens’ confidence about their leaders’ judgment.

    Cost for the country

    Conflicts of interest create three problems for democracy.

    Most important, the public suffers when officials’ judgments are compromised: when they are no longer doing their level best for Americans because they are concerned about various private interests rather than with citizens’ rights and well-being.

    Second, conflicts of interest reduce trust and confidence in government and democracy. Even if officials who have large conflicts of interest resist the pull of secondary interests, members of the public may – especially in this time of cynicism about government – still suspect that their leaders are acting corruptly.

    Third, when officials use their powers to benefit their private interests rather than the public interests, they profit from their offices: This is corrupt and unfair.

    Reducing risk

    Though conflicts of interest are ubiquitous, there are good strategies to mitigate and manage them.

    Federal agencies, as well as many state and local governments, require officials to mitigate their conflicts of interest by divesting from secondary interests, such as shifting from specific stock holdings to general funds and resigning from positions on boards of directors. Most U.S. presidents since Jimmy Carter have put their substantial assets into blind trusts in order to manage their conflicts of interests. In a blind trust, the owner knows the value of the trust but not the particular stocks and other holdings in it.

    Jimmy Carter put his peanut farm into a blind trust before taking office.
    PhotoQuest/Archive Photos via Getty Images

    Transparency and disclosure is another common management tool. When information about officials’ secondary interests is publicly available, citizens can better understand the forces that affect the judgment of those in government. For example, people who have undergone Senate confirmation for high-level positions in the federal government must file extensive disclosures that detail their assets and many of their prior sources of income.

    Biden disclosed 22 years of income tax returns. Other presidents have sometimes released several years of tax returns or parts of their tax records – in particular, how much tax they paid.

    Finally, it is important to create offices and procedures with staff dedicated to monitoring and mitigating conflicts of interest. In the executive branch, the seventy-some staff at the Office of Government Ethics, and many more ethics officers across the federal government, regulate conflicts of interest and other ethical issues. In February 2025, Trump dismissed the office’s director, who had been confirmed by the Senate two months before.

    Many states and cities have ethics commissions that adjudicate conflicts of interest, deciding when officials should recuse themselves from particular decisions in which they are conflicted. In 2002, for example, New York City’s Conflicts of Interest Board issued an advisory opinion about how multibillionaire Michael Bloomberg, the mayor at the time, should manage his conflicts of interest. They advised that he should recuse himself from all matters relating to the Bloomberg company, divest from large stock holdings and transfer those assets into professionally managed mutual funds, among other recommendations.

    Wealth – and hyperwealth

    Many conflict of interest measures are formulated with moderately wealthy individuals in mind. For example, the median wealth of a U.S. senator in 2018 was US$1.75 million. At that level, measures such as blind trusts, divestment and recusal are usually very workable.

    Hyperwealthy multibillionaires, however, raise unprecedented conflict of interest concerns that are far more difficult to mitigate and manage. Because their financial interests are enormous and range across many parts of the economy, standard conflict of interest measures have proven difficult to implement.

    Archon Fung serves on the National Governing Board of Common Cause, whose mission is to “to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest.” The organization has advocated to control conflicts of interest of many public figures, including Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

    He also consults for Apple and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Boston Review.

    – ref. What are conflicts of interest and what can be done about them? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-conflicts-of-interest-and-what-can-be-done-about-them-249983

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: As the Kremlin eyes a thaw with the White House, Russia’s pro-war hawks aren’t too happy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Adam Lenton, Assistant Professor of Politics & International Affairs, Wake Forest University

    Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow on Feb. 23, 2025. Sergei Bobylyov/AFP via Getty Images

    At face value, the Kremlin has plenty to celebrate after U.S. and Russian officials held high-level bilateral talks on the war in Ukraine for the first time since the full-scale conflict began in 2022.

    Russian delegates at the meeting, which took place on Feb. 18 in Saudi Arabia, struck an ebullient tone. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov concluded that “the American side has begun to better understand our position,” while Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and an envoy for Moscow, noted that the delegates managed to loosen up enough to laugh and joke. President Vladimir Putin did not attend the meeting, but he characterized it the following day as “very friendly,” going as far as to describe the American delegation as “completely different people” who were “ready to negotiate with an open mind and without any judgment over what was done in the past.”

    And the talks are far from the only reason for optimism in Moscow. In statements that echoed Kremlin propaganda, U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Ukraine for being invaded and described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a “dictator.” The U.S. then sided with Russia in two United Nations votes on the conflict and opposed language describing Russia as the aggressor in a draft G7 statement marking the anniversary of the war.

    This perceived rapprochement between Washington and Moscow has many critics on both sides of the Atlantic.

    Within Russia the reaction has been mixed. And not everybody in Moscow is celebrating the apparent shift in U.S. policy.

    Favoring pragmatism

    Of course, many Russians would welcome a thaw in relations. In January, Russia’s leading independent polling group found that 61% of Russians favored peace talks over continuing the war in Ukraine – the highest level yet. Meanwhile, the number of web searches for “When will the ‘Special Military Operation’ end?” on Yandex, a Russian tech firm, reached its highest-ever weekly total in the wake of the U.S.-Russia talks.

    While public opinion is unlikely to shape the Kremlin’s approach given Putin’s sole control over major foreign policy decisions, evidence suggests that a rapprochement with the United States could also be a boon for Putin at home.

    In a recently published article in the peer-reviewed journal International Security, my co-author Henry Hale and I found that while most Russians view the U.S. and NATO as threats, they largely prefer a pragmatic, measured response from the Kremlin – an approach they believed Putin delivered prior to the war in 2022.

    High-level summits between Russia and the U.S. have tended to be well received, we found. This is because they tap into a widely held preference for cooperation as well as depicting Russia as a geopolitical “equal” to the U.S.

    Pro-war hardliners speak out

    Yet not everyone is pleased with the prospect of closer U.S. ties. Russia’s vocal minority of tub-thumping war supporters is already angry.

    This loose community of so-called “Z-patriots” – a reference to the large “Z” letters marking Russian military equipment at the beginning of the war – has been a double-edged sword for the Kremlin.

    While they have been helpful in mobilizing grassroots support for the war, they have also lambasted Moscow’s execution and made pointed criticisms of top military brass. Such attacks are, in effect, a way of making veiled attacks on Putin himself.

    And we are talking about a sizable minority. Estimates indicate that Z-patriots – the more hawkish and ideologically committed segment of war supporters – represent 13% to 27% of the Russian population.

    One of this group’s most prominent ideologues, Zakhar Prilepin, didn’t pull any punches in a recent interview. He described as “humiliating” the fact that “the Russian media community, political scientists and politicians are dancing with joy and telling us how wonderful everything is (now that) Trump has arrived.”

    There are reasons to take this group seriously. According to Marlène Laruelle, an expert on nationalism and ideology in Russia, the Z-patriots are emerging as key opinion leaders.

    Unlike other ideological camps in Russia, the Z-patriots are very much a product of the war, having emerged from the popular military blogging community and with deep connections to paramilitary and veterans organizations. Indeed, many sympathized with former mercenary Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s anti-elite rants, while Igor Girkin, a former Donbas warlord who claimed to have sparked the initial war in eastern Ukraine in 2014, openly mocked Putin to his almost million-strong Telegram followers.

    The Kremlin partially cracked down on some of the Z-patriots in 2023. Prigozhin’s ill-fated mutiny in June was followed by his suspicious death in a plane crash later that summer, while Girkin was jailed and handed a four-year prison sentence for “inciting extremism.”

    Yet the Z-patriots remain a force. Girkin, commenting on the U.S.-Russia talks from prison, lamented the “egregious managerial and command failure” over the past three years and sarcastically concluded that Moscow’s political elites, aware of their own weakness, are likely to “‘drag their heels’ in their inimitable style – and with their well-known genius.”

    Other pro-war voices expressed skepticism about the information communicated by the Russian delegation and ironically said they expected the Kremlin would pass a law against “discrediting Russia-American relations,” a play on the March 2022 law against “discrediting” Russia’s military.

    Sanctions relief a concern

    Some of the sharpest criticisms of the Kremlin have been about the economy.

    Recent weeks have seen renewed optimism among many in Russia that sanctions relief is on the horizon and that sought-after Western brands may return. Russia – since 2022 the most sanctioned country in the world – had previously appeared to accept that sanctions would remain for decades to come.

    The Russian delegation at the recent talks emphasized the prospect of economic cooperation with the United States, no doubt believing Trump to be receptive to such mercantile framings.

    A few days later, Putin announced a willingness to develop Russia’s rare earth minerals with foreign partners, including the United States, in what appeared to be an attempt to outbid Zelenskyy.

    This, too, provoked a populist backlash among Z-patriots.

    “Grampa’s lost it,” one wrote in a thinly veiled swipe at Putin.

    Another displayed dismay that “stealing Russia’s natural resources once again became a prospect for mutually beneficial cooperation with American partners.”

    “We’ve barely begun to develop small and medium businesses,” Prilepin noted, deriding the “unbearable” excitement around the possibility of Western brands returning.

    These sentiments have struck a chord with other parts of society. After all, some Russian businesses have benefited from Western brands’ exit from the Russian market. The government is attempting to fend off these criticisms with a new bill proposed to Russia’s parliament on Feb. 27 calling to ban Western companies that had financially supported Ukraine.

    What to do about veterans?

    Perhaps most consequential will be what happens to the hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers currently on the front lines.

    While runaway military spending and lavish payouts to soldiers continue to strain the Russian economy, demobilization also poses risks.

    A report from the Institute for the Study of War recently concluded that demobilization would be politically risky for the Kremlin, fearful that masses of disgruntled veterans might constitute a potential challenge.

    That said, many of the estimated 700,000 Russian troops in Ukraine will eventually return to civilian life and likely become an important constituency in Russian politics moving forward.

    The Z-patriots may be a product of war, but they will have an afterlife beyond it. Meanwhile, regardless of any Russian rapprochement with the White House – or perhaps because of it – Russia’s hawks won’t be turning into doves anytime soon.

    Adam Lenton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. As the Kremlin eyes a thaw with the White House, Russia’s pro-war hawks aren’t too happy – https://theconversation.com/as-the-kremlin-eyes-a-thaw-with-the-white-house-russias-pro-war-hawks-arent-too-happy-250716

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS San Diego Makes Port Visit to Ishigaki

    Source: United States Navy

    This marks the third U.S. Navy ship to moor in Ishigaki, further strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, which has served as the foundation for regional peace and security for nearly 75 years.

    During a ceremony aboard the ship, San Diego’s commanding officer, Capt. Timothy Carter, expressed his gratitude to the people of Ishigaki for their warm welcome and extended thanks to several key organizations, including the Yaeyama Defense Association, Ishigaki Port Authority, and the Japan Coast Guard for their support and assistance in ensuring the ship’s safe arrival.

    “It is truly an honor to be here today representing the United States Navy,” said Carter. “This visit stands as a testament to the deep, enduring friendship we share with Japan. Our presence in Ishigaki today underscores the strength and commitment of the U.S.-Japan alliance, a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

    San Diego operates in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance interoperability with partners. The ship serves as a ready-response force for any type of contingency, from operational to humanitarian assistance missions.

    “Our military-to-military relationships have never been stronger,” he continued. “We look forward to engaging with the local community and deepening our understanding of each other’s cultures. Our partnership is not only important today, but will remain vital in the years to come.”

    While in Ishigaki, the crew will have the opportunity to engage with local residents, learn about the island’s rich history, and enjoy its unique culture and cuisine. This visit represents another milestone in the strong and enduring ties between the U.S. and Japan.

    San Diego, part of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is forward-deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

    U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

    For more news from USS San Diego, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/lpd22/
    On Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/LPD22

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to make a political Oscars speech that doesn’t flop – according to rhetorical theory

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Tom F. Wright, Reader in Rhetoric, University of Sussex

    So, it’s happened. You’re on stage, Oscar statue in hand, facing Hollywood’s finest and millions of viewers. You could keep it simple – thank your agent, your co-stars, your dog. Or you could use this moment to say something that matters.

    That’s exactly what Jane Fonda just did at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild Awards, urging the audience “to resist successfully what is coming at us” as Elon Musk’s Doge holds a chainsaw to the US federal government. From the cold war to civil rights to Trump 2.0, award ceremonies have always been stages for activism.

    Some of these political speeches have been electrifying. Some have flopped. Some have been drowned out by the orchestra before they even got started. If you’re going to make a political speech at the Oscars, you’d better do it right.

    Thankfully, Kenneth Burke — one of the 20th century’s most influential rhetorical scholars — offers a road map. His theories on identification, dramatism and symbolic action explain why some speeches resonate while others fall flat.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    1. Know your two (very different) audiences

    Burke argued in the 1950s that rhetoric isn’t just about persuasion – it’s about identification. A speaker is most persuasive when they convince their audience that they share the same values and concerns. If people feel you’re “one of them”, they’re more likely to listen.

    The Oscars create a unique rhetorical challenge. Inside LA’s Dolby Theatre, you might be surrounded by like-minded pampered progressives. But beyond that room, millions of viewers at home may be far less receptive.

    Michael Moore’s infamous acceptance speech in 2003.

    Director Michael Moore learned this the hard way in 2003 when, after winning best documentary for his film Bowling for Columbine, he stormed the stage and declared: “Shame on you, Mr Bush! Shame on you!” The result? A mix of cheers and boos. And days of being pilloried on cable news. Instead of drawing people in, Moore’s approach alienated half his audience.

    Compare this with Meryl Streep’s speech at the 2017 Golden Globes when collecting her lifetime achievement award. She also criticised her president but framed it differently: “Disrespect invites disrespect. Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”

    She didn’t need to utter Donald Trump’s name. And because she framed her speech as a universal concern, rather than a partisan attack, it resonated beyond the room.

    2. Put yourself in the story

    Burke’s second idea is that all communication is “dramatic” – a performance shaped by setting, characters and conflict. In a political speech, the most compelling “character” is often you, the speaker.

    Audiences don’t just respond to abstract arguments. They connect with people who embody the very struggle they’re speaking about.

    Lily Gladstone accepting the Golden Globe for best actress in 2024.

    Lily Gladstone’s 2024 Golden Globes speech worked this way. When she won best actress for Killers of the Flower Moon, she didn’t start with industry statistics or broad calls for change. Instead, she spoke in Blackfeet, honouring her Indigenous roots: “I just spoke a bit of Blackfeet language, a beautiful community – the nation that raised me.”

    That one sentence transformed her win into a moment of cultural recognition, making her speech as much an act of representation as a speech about representation.

    3. Frame your argument wisely

    If you want your audience to engage, you must frame your message in a way that pulls them in. Whereas a speech that just states a problem can feel like noise, one that connects the issue to a larger story can be powerful.

    This is where Burke’s idea of symbolic action comes in. He defined it as “the making or construction of social reality through symbols that foster identification”. Put another way: words don’t just describe reality, they shape it.

    Oprah Winfrey’s speech from the 2018 Golden Globes.

    Take Oprah Winfrey’s 2018 Golden Globes speech picking up the Cecil B. DeMille award. Instead of simply condemning sexism in Hollywood, she tied it to a broader historical movement, from civil rights to #MeToo: “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power [of] those men. But their time is up. Their time is up!”

    Winfrey wasn’t just talking about change – she was creating it in real time, rallying the room behind a clear, urgent message. That’s the difference between listing a problem and delivering a message that sticks.

    4. Turn your speech into an act of protest

    While framing helps persuade an audience, some moments go further, becoming acts of defiance themselves. This is when a speech moves beyond words into symbolic action.

    Let’s take perhaps the most famous protest in Oscars history. In 1973, Marlon Brando refused to pick up his best actor statue – sending in his place Sacheen Littlefeather, who explained she was there as a protest for Hollywood’s treatment of Native American people.

    Sacheen Littlefeather refuses to accept the best actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando.

    “He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award,” she told the audience. “And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry … and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.”

    In under a minute, she transformed what could have been a quiet refusal into a national reckoning. The audience’s reaction – some cheering, some booing – only made it clearer. This wasn’t just a speech, it was a moment.

    A speech that merely describes a problem may be forgotten, but one that transforms the moment itself? That’s the stuff of history.

    5. Expect a backlash, and decide if you care

    No matter how well you craft your speech, someone is going to be angry. Burke’s final idea for helping us understand this is the “scapegoat mechanism”, by which one figure is cast as the discordant element that must be removed to restore unity.

    If you make a political speech at the Oscars, it could be you. Vanessa Redgrave learned this in 1978: after winning best supporting actress for her role in Julia, she defended her pro-Palestine activism against attacks from the Jewish Defence League, who she called a “bunch of Zionist hoodlums”. The reaction was instant – cheers mixed with boos.

    Vanessa Redgrave accepts the Oscar for supporting actress in 1978.

    Later that night, screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky publicly rebuked her, saying: “A simple ‘thank you’ would have sufficed.” The backlash hurt Redgrave’s career, but she stood by her words.

    If you’re going to say something political, be prepared to own it. And make sure you beat the orchestra.

    Tom F. Wright does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How to make a political Oscars speech that doesn’t flop – according to rhetorical theory – https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-a-political-oscars-speech-that-doesnt-flop-according-to-rhetorical-theory-250949

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –