Excellent from Matthew Syed on Europe’s lotus-eating approach to its own defence. Elbridge Colby will find much to agree with here.

It’s just common sense.

Things need to change to stay the same.

The party’s over.

A new deal.

Pick your phrase.

This was superb 🇺🇸🇺🇸

Elbridge Colby You won't get any change if Biden is reelected. If he is, the disaster headed our way will be catastrophic. And there still has been no end-game strategy articulated for Ukraine, the Red Sea, Iran, or China if it invades Taiwan. This election determines if we'll hit the iceberg.

Winning also means accountability.

We are pursuing a particular foreign policy with certain architects and advocates. They have the dominance now, so they should have responsibility for its results - good or ill.

punchbowl.news/archive/42224-…

It is very clear that this liberal-primacist alliance controls current American foreign policy. The responsibility for the consequences will be theirs as well. Change is needed but it will be hard, costly, and risky.

wsj.com/politics/elect…

Exactly right.

#China has a much bigger economy than any challenger we have ever faced since America's own rise to great power status

China is a manufacturing powerhouse unparalleled since our own industrial rise.

Our domestic debt situation is already out of control & we

Yes, we need a big change. Without it, we're heading toward the iceberg.

Characteristically frank assessment in this thread. Reality is biting, and we can’t afford to simply keep doing what we did before. Yet, we seem to be stuck on a treadmill.

Many European countries could learn a LOT of lessons from Singapore when it comes to defensive military capabilities.

Also some good examples from South Korea.

And closer to home - in Finland. Or just going back 4 decades to look at Cold War Sweden.

Elbridge Colby

Bottom line: We’re in a bad situation and it’s getting worse.

Our country needs a different foreign policy. But we’re so deep in the hole that getting out of it will be tough, risky, and costly. That’s where we are. 7/

A political alliance between progressives and primacists dominates our current foreign policy. The results speak for themselves.

We need fundamental change in our foreign policy toward a much more realistic approach. But there will be no easy way out. 1/ thespectator.com/topic/world-ev…

Logically, if there is indeed such an Axis and it is coordinating, China is by far the most powerful member.

So why does the supplemental not prioritize China and Asia?

People in the Navy should be especially worried about China and our vulnerable position in the Pacific.

We need to relax or bend onerous regulations to revamp our defense industrial base.

“Saab CEO Johansson called on governments to cut environmental rules to make it easier for companies to diversify their supply chains for critical military components.” politico.eu/article/saab-c…

Yes, we did. And many of the same people who advocated avidly for them are still in positions of political or intellectual power.

Damning about our system. No wonder people are so fed up.

The house is on fire. It’s terrible for the neighborhood and a tragedy to see. We should help how we can.

But the chemicals plant across town is on the verge of blowing up and will destroy our way of life in the city. That has to the priority for the FD.

4) America is in a far worse fiscal position than in 1980 and on a “completely unsustainable path.”

He also notes the dramatic decline in the military balance in Asia.

People saying “we just need the will!” to do everything are signing a Sirens song. 2/

.Niall Ferguson nails the key differences between today and the Cold War - and that make simply hoping for re-running the 1980 playbook implausible.

1) China is a much bigger economy than the USSR ever was.

3) China has a far greater manufacturing base. 1/

Yes, while magnanimity and ecumenism are instinctively preferable, we simple can’t afford to go on like this.

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