Bolen C (Page 191)

Based on music recorded in Butler, Pennsylvania, an audio forensic analysis&nbsp conducted by Catalin Grigoras, director of the National Center for Media&nbsp, Forensp, at the University of Colorado in Denver, and Cole Whitecotton, top professional research&nbsp connect at Media Forensics, may indicate the possibility of a subsequent shooter.

According to these specialists,” The first&nbsp, three&nbsp, pictures were consistent with alleged tool A, the second five were consistent with alleged tool B and the final’ sound desire’ was &nbsp, emitted by a possible weapon C”. We are aware that one of them was the gunman who had been identified, and the other a Secret Service shooter. We are unsure of the owner of the “possible tool C.” A minute sniper? The state sniper team’s trained spotter

The FBI claims that the gunman was acting only, but only one has been identified. The commission may want to rethink its conclusion.

Evidently, this contentious sound forensic analysis needs friend assessment. There are, however, additional issues that need to be addressed that are beyond the sound forensics.

Below I review some of what we know, and a lot we do n’t know, and I ask questions where the information we have so far leads.

I participated in the John F. Kennedy death, along with thousands of others, as a sort of learner. I’ve read tens of thousands of pages of books and papers, and I’m proud. &nbsp, But what turned out to be most remarkable, as far as I am concerned, are two points.

Second, I believe there was a significant scandal that still exists sixty and a half years after Kennedy’s death.

Second, it appears that President Trump had promised to release all that is still in the Kennedy killing’s libraries even though he withheld some of them. He allegedly&nbsp, told Roger Stone&nbsp, that he ( Stone ) “would not believe what is in the]still ] classified ]and unreleased ] files”.

That indicates that Trump believed walking that plank to be harmful.

What’s worrying about 2024 is whether we will have a fair research and ensure that all the information is kept intact. &nbsp, Obviously President Biden has ordered some sort of inspection. A strong FBI analysis with congressional oversight is what I personally prefer. The FBI has the investigative skills to carry out the task, but it requires leadership and oversight, which should be expected. &nbsp, It wo n’t be easy to sell the American people on a sloppy or politically biased review.

The weapon

We have not been able to identify the weapon used by the identified sniper. &nbsp, No images of it. We do n’t have a model number or the name of the manufacturer.

AR-15s may get altered to improve their accuracy. &nbsp, There are a&nbsp, range of websites&nbsp, that have directions.

It’s unknown whether the cannon had a reflector look or another aiming device. &nbsp, It was perhaps too far from the target for a light cursor, although some claim a range of 500 feet in morning. ( Trump was less than 400 feet from the shooter’s location when the shooting occurred. ) It seems too far in a setting with unnatural TV lights and bright sunlight. Also, no one saw any proof of a light on Trump.

We’re not sure if the firearm was altered. It probably was used straight away, according to my private opinion.

The weapon will need to be forensically tested. Whether that has happened, we don’t know, and if it was we do not know the results.

In reality, we are unsure if any of the shots have been found. &nbsp, Fired and recovered shell, if found, could possibly be matched to the weapon or arms. This will also play a role in determining whether a minute gunman was present. It is important to point out that laws police blocked off the entire region as a crime scene. &nbsp, The chase for shells and other information is good underway.

We’re not sure if the firearm had a carrying rope that extended over the shoulder. Since witnesses witnessed the gunman and the gun, they could ascertain how it was carried and whether it was kept in any way secret, which does not appear to be the case.

The shooter is even purchased a five-foot staircase at Home Depot. We’re never sure what type or how much, but we do understand that aluminum ladders are very mild despite being awkward to transport around. There are also ladders made of plastic that are also gentle, as well. There is at least one photo of the ladder up against the building ( assuming, for the moment, it was the Home Depot-purchased&nbsp, ladder ).

We’re not sure if the two police officers who arrived at the developing after being yelled at by the group that a gunman was on the roof actually used the same staircase, but they most likely did. The shooter is turned his gun at the shooter, who later claimed he” jumped” or fell to the ground after the first police officer poked his head above the roof line.

It could be that the rope was put in place the day before the march. The shooter is reportedly was present at the scene and was seen hovering around the metal detectors nearby; why we are n’t sure because he avoided entering the rally’s security area. He is not said to have been carrying a rope around.

On&nbsp, the houses, according to some witnesses, the gunman allegedly sped from one tower to the next. However, as previously reported, that does n’t seem to align well with the ladder’s position. &nbsp, We need to hear more.

Some believe that the gunman needed assistance in order to execute this well-planned operation.

He undoubtedly required amazing luck to be able to walk a ladder in the dead of night onto a roof. &nbsp, Lots of people saw him but the reaction took too long, was sleepy and inadequate.

We’re not sure if the witness instructions were broadcast on television or via cell phone, but it seems to me that the Secret Service guns were given directions to appear, and the response would be that the shooter’s place was revealed to the rifle group. The Secret Service sniper team gazed at the shooter with a telescope before taking aim, according to Larry Johnson and Chris Whitcomb, who are both former FBI HRT snipers. &nbsp, &nbsp,

No details are known about any gunshot detectors being used at the rally. A reliable gunshot detector can triangulate and locate a shooter in a millisecond when a shot is fired.

The weapon was “legally purchased” by the shooter’s father, according to the FBI. Since the shooter was at a gun range last Friday, “practicing,” it is clear he had access to the gun. Was it bought for the purchaser’s son? The son could legally buy a gun in Pennsylvania as he was 20 years old (minors in Pennsylvania under 18 cannot buy a gun, although there are some permitted gun activities allowed with supervision).

Since we do not know when the gun was actually purchased, it might have been for the son when he was just a kid. He was rejected for being inaccurate in his aim and unsafe in his gun handling when he tried out for the high school shooting team. Does the gun trace to that time?   Perhaps the students who saw him could recognize the weapon used at the time.

According to reports, the shooter’s identity was determined by DNA, which would have required family members to provide DNA samples ( spit into the test tube ). There are facilities in nearby Pittsburgh and perhaps elsewhere where, once DNA samples were delivered, they could check for a match within 90 minutes. Additionally, it is highly likely that the father has the gun’s serial number.

Did the police take human remains for drug testing? The shooter is, who saw the policeman climb up before he turned at fired at Trump must have been incredibly brazen and calm. Did drugs play a role?

So far as we are aware, the shooter made no effort to remove the weapon’s serial number. If that had been done the gun would not have been traceable to the father.

On Friday, the shooter purchased 50 rounds of 5.56 ammunition. Because this is permitted in Pennsylvania, the weapon clip is likely to hold 30 rounds.

Preliminary acoustic evidence ( see above ) says there possibly were three people firing. There was a first burst of gunfire coming from the shooter’s location, a second burst, but the location is n’t clear and different from the first burst, and possibly a third shooter who fired one shot. According to forensic acoustic experts, there may have been two shooters.

The identified shooter could have moved location for the second round, but there was little time and no one has reported any change of location.

The Secret&nbsp, Service agent sniper team on the roof behind Trump on stage shot how many shots, we do n’t know how many. Most accounts claim that it took just one shot to stop the shooter. &nbsp, The agents were equipped with sophisticated sniper weapons, one mounted on a tripod and one on a small stand for a prone shot. According to what we are told, the shooting started after the shooter started firing, but that does not exactly correspond to the acoustic&nbsp evidence. The acoustic evidence may point to the possibility that the last single shot, if confirmed, may have been fired by the snipers. &nbsp, The shooter is was dispatched by a single headshot.

There are a few ( perhaps more ) possibilities. One is that the first or second firing rounds were spliced into the sniper round to target Trump and the podium. &nbsp, The problem with this theory is that the microphone on the podium may not have heard the sniper round, or would have heard it differently from the shots fired from some distance away. If the second volley had been interspersed with the first, it would have to have come from somewhere else. &nbsp, &nbsp,

That leaves the third alleged shot unaccounted for. The Secret Service fired the third shot, as an alternative. That would indicate that roughly 9 shots in two volleys had already been fired, a significant, potentially fatal, and delayed response. ( One person was killed trying to protect his family, two others were critically wounded. )

We need to see if the Media Forensics team’s initial determination holds up to scrutiny because the recording of the ballistic blast of the rounds picked up by the podium microphone is available for further investigation.

The shooter is

The only candidate for the actual shooter is the 20 year old Thomas Matthew Crooks. If a second shooter was involved, they fled and are not being pursued, or at least we are unaware of any efforts in that direction. The Secret Service and FBI both acknowledge that there was only one shooter, as they both made the declaration before the evidence, including ballistic evidence, was examined. &nbsp, If you should think that sounds a lot like the Kennedy Assassination, you may not be far off the mark.

Before there was a credible investigation, I thought it was premature and amateurish to make any concrete declaration about the threat’s scope. Sadly, all too frequently law enforcement releases statements that are inaccurate or incomplete. &nbsp, If there was a second shooter, or if there were other accomplices, they are long gone ( which means there could still be an active threat against Trump ).

Crooks is alleged to have been a trustworthy and good worker. Fellow students claimed that he was a loner and frequently faced bullying at school. &nbsp, Whether this amounts to any sort of motive is hard to judge, but often disgruntled, bullied students turn on their school or fellow students and not on presidential candidates. It seems too far a way to be reliable.

This is unusual because there is no social media history for the young man. &nbsp, Most wannabe murderer-assassins want publicity to air their grievances&nbsp, and get sympathy from the public. Some people are undoubtedly aware that they might not survive, so the social media postings, including videos and manifestos, serve as last wills and testaments.

Sadly, the police have been known to withhold some things, as they did in Nashville after March 27, 2023, when a mass shooting occurred at the Covenant School. The shooter is, Audrey Hale, was a transvestite. Hale’s plan was to target “white privileged cr***ers” and “f****ts” before turning the gun on herself.

No real Crooks friends have yet to appear, assuming he had some. &nbsp, Former students who talk about him say that they really did not know him, that he stayed to himself. &nbsp,

If Crooks was a person ripe for exploitation, it is worthwhile to inquire. &nbsp, A person without friends can be open to manipulation and can feel a sense of protection, even of inviolability.  There is at least a reasonable chance that Crooks did not anticipate dying when he shot at Trump. allegedly there were bombs or IEDs in his old van when he parked across the field, suggesting that he may have planned a” spectacular” escape. &nbsp, While the explosives&nbsp, devices in the van have been reported, they have not been seen. The van was towed away by law enforcement, according to news.

Security

There is a general consensus that security at the Trump rally was poor. The main argument for that is the lack of coverage of buildings in the line of sight of the podium where Trump stood. The shooter is had an unobstructed view of Trump’s head when he fired from a prone position (which improves accuracy by making the shooter stable).  

The Secret Service is supposed to coordinate other law enforcement activities in a high security event involving the Secret Service and lay out all the protection ground rules.

The Secret Service said it was the responsibility of local law enforcement to protect the outer perimeter, which is partially true but also intentionally misleading, since the Secret Service had to approve all the security measures. We do n’t know whether this was done, and whether the Secret Service approved all security measures, so we wonder, like millions of others, how they could have a view from the rooftops.

Additionally, we are not familiar with the communications system. &nbsp, Surely there was a Secret Service command center ( that’s why these folks have clear plastic earphones connected to secure radios ). One would also assume that there is a&nbsp, a recording, or recordings of the communication channels. The recordings are significant pieces of evidence.

According to reports, the Secret Service was understaffed, had only arrived at the fairground the day before, and that its employees had been spliced together because the “regulars” were out defending Jill Biden and Kamala Harris. If accurate, and it certainly is, it would indicate that the preparations were hurried and performed below industry standards.

There also has been criticism of the team assigned to physically protect Trump. They did their job, but as the video clearly demonstrates, sending short ladies to body-protect a big, 6 foot 3 inch VIP is not logical. Because the woman was too short to cover him, of course, miracle de Dieu gave Trump the chance to fist-pump the crowd and yell” Fight, Fight” &nbsp. &nbsp, Not much planning there.

Let’s face it, Secret Service security occasionally blunders. They allowed President Reagan to be shot almost fatally on March 30, 1981 at the side entrance outside the Washington Hilton. In the killings of both Kennedys the Secret Service failed to protect either the president in a Dallas motorcade ( November 22, 1963 ) or his brother running for president and murdered at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles ( June 5, 1968 ).

Despite numerous requests, President Biden and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have consistently denied Robert Kennedy Jr. requests for Secret Service protection. Mayorkas finally relented on July 15 after being instructed by Biden to do so. &nbsp, Two hours before the Mayorkas announcement Trump, having met with Kennedy, called on Biden to provide protection to Kennedy. &nbsp, &nbsp,

It is crucial to point out that Trump praised the security of the Secret Service.

It is likely the Secret Service will be subjected to serious scrutiny by Congress. There is no chance of an internal investigation of any kind given the attitude of her director, who blames others for her failures. Therefore, Kimberly Cheatle, the company’s director, should step down as she is in charge of the Pennsylvania scandal. She can go out the door with her boss Mayorkas, the man who denied protection to Kennedy.

In a certain way, I want to categorize Cheatle’s fate. She has a wealth of experience and is a highly qualified Secret Service agent. But she is responsible for the mess.

The Secret Service needs a new beginning, beginning with the removal of all the wake-based lies that undermine its mission. It is supposed to be tough, military, highly trained, and its agents are willing to give themselves up. &nbsp, Selfless attention to duty in terms of protecting Donald Trump was certainly on display at the Trump rally in Butler.

The Secret Service sniper team did what they did, but there are still questions about the timing, as lives could have been saved and the threat could have been eliminated much sooner. Bullets flying around the shooter could have been a part of the dissuasion. Any argument that the Secret Service has to wait until actual harm has been done will not protect anyone, including the American president.

The Secret Service requires a new beginning. The agency has already experienced too many outright failures, as well as numerous drunk agents and other issues that needed fixing and attention. &nbsp,

Training for counter-assault teams and counter-sniper teams may also require new operating rules. Before you expel a threat, you should n’t have to wait for bodily harm to occur.

Unfortunately the instinct of government organizations, just as in the civilian world, is to protect and cover up failure. This is not the time for that, &nbsp.

Stephen Bryen served as the Near East Subcommittee of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee&nbsp and as the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy. &nbsp,

This article was originally published on his Substack, Weapons and Strategy, and was republished with permission.

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Not only old political candidates are included.

Based on my own data, nearly 20 % of House and Senate members are 70 or older, compared with about 6 % who are under 40.

Citizens in North Dakota just approved a ballot initiative that would establish an upper age limit for applicants for the state’s congressional seats. Everyone 81 or older from North Dakota may be prohibited from serving in Congress if it survives possible court challenges. The goal of such a measure is to correct that significant millennial disparity in Congress.

With a number of high-profile British politicians approaching or exceeding 80, including both events ‘ presumed presidential contenders, it’s no wonder methods like North Dakota’s are getting interest.

But what precisely justifies the advanced period of Congress? And what, if anything, may help even points out between the years?

Some key causes

Congress ‘ advanced age has many reasons, and some of them are obvious.

Second, if it feels as though Congress simply keeps getting older over time, it’s because Americans are, too. According to historic info on members of Congress, the typical House person’s time is off 10 % since 1960– 58, away from 52. The Senate experienced a similar enhance, with the average age now 63, upwards from 57.

But the average American’s life expectancy – 79, up from 70 – is up by even more during this time, around 13 %. The median American age has increased by over 30 % between 30 and 39 during that period, according to the US Census Bureau.

The US Constitution now imposes an age floor, despite North Dakota’s suggestion of a sort of age roof. Senate members may be 30 by the time they take department, and members of the House must be at least 25 years older. Therefore, if the earlier mentioned ordinary congressional ages seem high, it’s largely due to some synthetic inflation from age floors.

Fresh individuals are difficult to locate.

However, current trends and constitutional requirements do n’t fully explain why Congress is made up of members of the younger generation.

One significant plus is that younger possible Congress candidates face a rougher walk and may make more sacrifices than older applicants do.

For instance, Americans in their 20s and 30s have n’t had as many opportunities to establish themselves in secure careers as older generations have, despite their interest in running for Congress. Less access to the political network and contacts that political scientific research cite as essential for winning legislative campaigns.

More important, this means less access to money and potential sponsors. When I spoke with US Official Maxwell Frost, a Florida Democrat and the first Gen Z member of Congress, last year, he explained why his success was the exception and not the rule.

” It’s really hard”, Frost told me. The phrase” The system is not for young people to be running for office” is not true. Just being a prospect, he said, means” a month without pay. If you’re currently wealthy, that’s not a big deal, you’re good, you have benefits. It makes it so young people ca n’t run”.

Additionally, younger, unqualified prospects have limited resources. Compared with early ages, your 20s and 30s often contain more major life events and adjustments, such as job moves, geographical mobility and starting a family.

As a result, elections take up less space in young person’s life, compared with older generations with more time, private security and career and financial stability.

Age has merits

However, older Americans with an interest in running for Congress enjoy a couple important political benefits.

Longer careers, whether democratic or otherwise, are brought with it by the time of which voters frequently perceive their demonstrated experience or longevity in jobs that may well interpret into usefulness as a member of Congress. In other words, older people have had more time to demonstrate their worth to citizens. Individuals who are younger does appear uncooked in comparison.

Social research has also demonstrated how challenging it is to unsettle elected officials in Congress. Virtually all congressional candidates who run for reelection ultimately succeed. The so-called “incumbency edge” helps all sitting members of Congress, no simply older people.

However, it limits the number of empty seats to Congress’s most good younger members.

Are there answers?

Frost and some stress the importance of gender stability in Congress for both legislative and legislative purposes.

Any advancement made in this area may have a positive impact in the long run. According to social science findings, having “like us” in Congress or another workplaces helps us feel heard and more likely to support our political systems. The success of younger applicants motivates other young people to take the initiative themselves, triggering a virtue-filled routine of picture.

Although some of the elements that favor older individuals cannot be avoided, there are still ways to motivate younger people to run for office. Frost suggested letting prospects receive more good stipends from their own campaign funds in order to lessen the burden on younger, less fiscally able individuals in our discussion.

And, of course, age restrictions like North Dakota’s may possibly help create space for younger generations to work.

Charlie Hunt is Assistant Professor of Political Science, Boise State University

The Conversation has republished this post under a Creative Commons license. Read the original content.

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In the disputed South China Sea, the Philippines is in warm achievement of more India-made BrahMos hypersonic cruise weapons to point at China in the disputed area.

By 2026, the Philippine Marine Corps ( PMC) intends to add two additional shore-based supersonic anti-ship missile batteries to its coastal defenses, according to WION.

Three BrahMos batteries, each armed with four missiles and three rockets capable of striking target up to 290 meters away, are currently scheduled to arrive in the PMC. The acquisition, the WION document information, significantly enhances the Philippines ‘ ability to deter and store coastal challenges.

WION claims that the Philippines ‘ potential additional purchase would raise India’s defense exports and strengthen the marketability of the BrahMos missile in the midst of a burgeoning South Asian arms race.

The Philippine Army ( PA ) might also think about getting the missiles, which might allow it to be equipped for land and naval battles, according to the report.

WION praises the BrahMos missile’s high speed and longer range, which help strengthen the Philippines ‘ coastal defense skills and increase its ability to withstand maritime challenges.

The Philippines and India’s security partnership has gotten stronger as a result of Delhi’s clashes with China in the Himalayas and Manila’s conflicts with China in the South China Sea, according to the report.

It states that the Philippines must immediately start supplying Multirole missiles in order to stop China’s forceful actions in the South China Sea, providing a reliable barrier and protection ability to assert its sovereignty and rights in the West Philippine Sea.

In the midst of tense and tense relations with China, India’s decision to trade the Icbm missile to the Philippines represents a geopolitical shift, according to WION.

In June 2024, Asia Times reported that the Philippines is strengthening its defenses in the South China Sea by constructing a foundation for its recently acquired BrahMos weapons, which India provided in a landmark US$ 375 million offer.

Situated at the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui in Zambales, Western Luzon, the basic overlooks the disputed waters and is poised to house BrahMos weapon chargers capable of striking the China-occupied, Philippine-claimed Scarborough Shoal.

However, the Philippines faces significant challenges also with US shared defense guarantees. For one, Manila lacks long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( ISR ) capabilities and over-the-horizon ( OTH) radar.

Second, it relies on a small fleet of flimsy drones and aircraft for ISR things, which could reduce the range of its Largest rockets to a few hundred meters in a situation involving a Chinese issue.

Additionally, the Philippines may have to choose between protecting military installations like its Largest missile basic and important facilities and population areas due to its lack of air defense assets.

Operational challenges, such as China’s grey zone warfare tactics, the Philippines ‘ vulnerability to the naval blockade, and its inability to internally manufacture Largest weapons to sustain its reserves, could further undermine the deterrent effect of its BrahMos weapons.

Manila’s expectations of the US, with which it shares a mutual defense treaty, in a potential China conflict at sea are unclear.

However, the US’s muted response to the Philippines ‘ maritime standoff in June 2024 may underlie a foregoned belief that Washington will not run into Beijing over controversial features that the Philippines claimed in the South China Sea.

The US sold out the Philippines to China in June 2024, as demonstrated by its failure to assist with the 2012 Scarborough Shoal standoff and its refusal to impose with military might the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA ) ruling in favor of the Philippines over their disputed South China Sea claims.

However, additional BrahMos missiles can address one of the Philippines ‘ key weaknesses as a potential US ally in a potential Taiwan conflict: being within the reach of Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and Subi Reef’s occupied sea features ‘ significant power projection and strike capabilities.

According to an interactive map created by the Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS), cruise missiles, bombers, and fighter aircraft with ranges that span the entire Philippines and the South China Sea can be found in Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and Subi Reef.

Even if it is capable of brushing off and covertly bribing away the Philippines ‘ concerns about hosting foreign troops, such a vulnerability could be a significant reason why the US has chosen to not push to re-establish permanent military bases in the country after closing them in 1991.

According to their Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement ( EDCA ), which opened more bases in the Philippines to US bases under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the US currently rotates troops and equipment through the Philippines.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP ) reported this month that China has been practiced strikes on US F-22 and F-35 mockups in the Taklamakan Desert, ostensibly practicing how to kill those fighters in a preemptive strike, underscoring that vulnerability.

US forces stationed in the Philippines under the auspices of EDCA could quickly be in China’s line of fire, with US and Philippine aircraft destroyed on the ground in a potential surprise attack on EDCA sites like Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Basa Air Base in Pampanga, and Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

However, additional BrahMos missile sites in Palawan might be able to target Chinese military installations and parked aircraft on Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and Subi Reef, thereby putting people at risk and preventing a preemptive strike on US forces in the Philippines.

If the Philippines decides to purchase more BrahMos missiles, it will signal to US and allies that it is no longer as helpless as it appears in relation to China’s overwhelming military might.

A purchase like this would demonstrate that the Philippines is a reputable forward operating base and that US and allies may be justified in funding a bigger military presence on its soil.

The US might be able to strengthen Manila’s defenses while avoiding a confrontation with China by providing targeting data to the Philippines ‘ BrahMos batteries. However, it’s possible that no number of BrahMos missiles will be able to assist the Philippines in combating China’s aggressive gray zone tactics.

According to SCMP, China has begun to pursue more “darker gray” strategies against the Philippines, including actions that have caused its maritime militia and law enforcement to board, obstruct, and ram the Philippines ‘ occupied features in the area.

These actions, according to SCMP, remain below the threshold of an armed conflict while placing the Philippines in a delicate balance between de-escalation and making a mistake that China might use as a justification for further aggression, which might lead to additional territorial losses for the Philippines.

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US President John F. Kennedy held a luncheon with the editor of the New York Times on October 22, 1963. During the dinner he suggested that the Times&nbsp, shift its journalist in South Vietnam, David Halberstam, to another posting.

According to Halberstam’s monitoring, the Saigon government was losing the war with its socialist foe, Vietcong. This dissented from the reports Kennedy was receiving from established American sources, which all claimed that the Saigon plan had the upper hand.

Halberstam was not removed from his place, and Kennedy would have done properly &nbsp, to pay more attention to &nbsp, his monitoring. But the president did not, preferring to focus on formal channels that provided him, one may suppose, with the news that he wished to hear, especially that Saigon, Washington’s ally, was winning the war.

It was evident that Halberstam’s journalism and human work did not have access to as much first-hand knowledge as the government did. But, he had many sources within the British counter-insurgency area, operating at the grass roots levels, who shared with him, albeit privately, their misgivings about how the conflict was moving.

The government had access to those doubts, but they were routinely disregarded by both the British government and the American Embassy in Saigon. In other words, the grass-roots intelligence collection technique worked.

The handling of the information at the level of Saigon, whether by the British defense or by the diplomats, failed. Therefore, the westward connection to Washington regarding the inferences to be drawn from this directly produced knowledge was flawed.

The system in Washington blindly accepted the flawed information, which served as a conduit for the political establishment, which was only too content to get information that matched its perspective of Vietnam.

If the ruling establishment is attempting to assimilate information that comes from concurrent or illegal sources or does not conform to the accepted view, then the issue is twofold worse when a one-party program or a one-man rule is in place. The most striking illustration is Hitler’s attack on the Soviet Union.

‘ Shoot him. He lies.’

On June 22, 1941, Hitler launched activity Barbarossa, which was supposed to bring down the Soviet Union. Stalin was unprepared for the assault, but it was still the case. Stalin had been in a few resources for months prior to the attack to inform him that Hitler was about to invade the Soviet Union. A European man crossed the lines to inform the Soviets of what was about to happen shortly before the invasion. His information was properly reported by tv to Moscow, and the response was immediately,” Take him. He lies”.

The cause of this response was straightforward. Stalin had made the decision to strike Hitler in 1943, but no amount of disproportional evidence may alter the dictator’s thoughts. Russian officials who dared to give him opposing data were risking their lives, which led to the refusal to give him any information that did not support his preconceived ideas. The outcome was that Stalin proved thus prepared when Hitler launched an attack that he almost lost the Soviet Union.

From China’s treatment in the Asian combat to the Tet 1968 0ffensive to Iraq’s “weapons of mass death” to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, post-World War II history is built with intelligence failures – with two limitations.

The first is that most countries continue to collect and process natural knowledge at the local level in response to both domestic and international security concerns. When not interfered with, this process typically leads to meaningful outcomes, though not always ones that are in the public domain.

The second is that it is well established that social establishments have a propensity to force-fit intelligence&nbsp, conform to their preconceived notions of reality, or ignore political imperatives. The end result is that knowledge is disregarded in the decision-making approach with grave effects. The two publication ends of this liquor are Korea and Ukraine as of right now.

General McArthur’s forces, under their command, were heading toward the Yalu valley, which marked China’s borders, in the fall of 1950. They had crossed the 38th parallel and had crossed the border there. This piqued the attention of Beijing in particular because McArthur had indicated that he might contemplate using Taiwanese separatist Chinese forces to strengthen his grip on North Korea.

The outcome was that a fight that had begun on the Korean peninsula had the potential to spread and was directly threatening the Chinese government. In fact, the 38th Parallel was a dark line that could not be crossed, despite the new socialist leadership in Beijing’s ability to tolerate an British military presence in South Korea. However, given the complete breakdown of communications between China and the United States, there was no stream by which&nbsp, Beijing may portray its problem to Washington.

The Chinese Communists started massing troops on the Yalu border because they were unaware of Washington’s intentions and becoming increasingly wary that Americans might be drawn to cross the border into China and attempt to overthrow the regime.

For Washington the questions that should have been raised were two: at the strategic level, would China intervene, and at the tactical level, where and how. These inquiries were never ever made, according to the evidence.

The UN’s initial objective in Korea was to stop aggression. China’s involvement in the conflict was a strategic given once general McArthur had made the decision to allow his forces to travel beyond the 38th Parallel, and all that was left to be desired.

There is no proof that the Washington policymakers ever took this &nbsp, conundrum into consideration. Thus a &nbsp, strategic intelligence failure&nbsp, was compounded by a tactical one when, on November 1, 1951&nbsp, some 350 000&nbsp, Chinese troops &nbsp, caught the American forces by surprise and sent them reeling from the border areas.

Ukraine stands out today as the other bookend of intelligence failures. The Russian attack&nbsp, that started on&nbsp, February 24, 2022, took the form of an armored column headed for Kiev. Had the attack occurred 20 years earlier, one can reasonably assume that &nbsp, the Russian force would have reached &nbsp, its target in a matter of hours and imposed on Ukraine a pro-Russian government. However, in 20 years, Ukrainian nationalism had taken on a new dimension and contributed to an unexpectedly strong resistance to the invasion.

The state of the Russian army, which Putin found to be more problematic, made matters worse. The Russian armed forces had been disbanded over the previous ten years as a result of a massive modernization effort. However, the level of corruption in the nation was such that the majority of the military’s funds were diverted. &nbsp, The&nbsp, combination of an unexpected resistance and a non-performing army ensured that what should have been a 48-hour operation morphed into the present &nbsp, quagmire. And there are no signs that these two developments were ever taken into account when President Putin made his decision to use force against Ukraine.

The reasons for this inability to take reality into account are beyond presumptuous, but it would have contradicted two of President Putin’s fundamental assumptions, namely that Ukraine was in substance Russian and that the Russian armed forces reform had been successfully carried out. Therefore, President Putin either ignored the intelligence that the situation demanded or implicitly disregarded because it amounted to a rebellion against his ideological bent.

The 70-year relationship between Korea and Ukraine has been riddled with tactical intelligence mistakes.
Cuban dissidents ‘ invasion of Cuba by the United States in April 1961 was orchestrated by the United States, which would eventually cause the Castro regime to fall. The invasion turned out to be a terrible failure, predicated on the false assumption that Castro had no popular support.

The Soviets attempted to position missiless in Cuba in October 1962, bringing the world close to a nuclear war. This was done in response to the Soviets ‘ attempts to misinterpret America’s resolve.

The genetic makeup of intelligence was not significantly altered by the Cold War’s end. Strategic intelligence is still very much a slave to the ideologies of governments, despite the fact that tactical intelligence remains largely the domain of the technocrats. And as the controversy surrounding the WMD and Iraq demonstrated, it’s difficult to resist the temptation to manufacture or cherry pick evidence to ensure that it complies with a particular version of reality.

Alexander Casella PhD has taught and he has worked as a journalist for Le Monde, The Times, The New York Times, Die Zeit, The Guardian and Swiss radio and TV, writing primarily on China and Vietnam. In 1973 he joined the UNHCR, serving, among other postingss, as head of the East Asia Section and director for Asia and Oceania. The International Center for Migration Policy Development’s representative in Geneva then served him.

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Rest begins in the middle of the night, the beginning funds blaring only to the rhythmic snoring noise. When a person stirs to get her husband squatting straight on the bed, her husband is standing straight up opposite her. As she turns on the light, he says in a strong and distant words:” One’s inside”.

Jung Soo-jin ( Jung Yu-mi ) lives with her actor husband Oh Hyun-su ( Lee Sun-kyun ) and their dog Pepper in a typical, modern, urban Korean flat. Everything in the couple’s life seems to be exactly ordinary up until this night, when they are expecting a baby. This strange opening is Hyun-su’s initial knowledge of parasomnia. Without a recollection of what he did when he woke up, he is talking and moving.

” Sleep” is the debut film from Korean director Jason Yu, a former assistant to the Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho ( Parasite, 2019 ). Told in three sections, it follows this pair as they try to work out what is causing Hyun-su’s parasomnia. It may take more than just some rest strips or medication to help Hyun-su, as these opening times demonstrate. Something else is going on in their level at night.

Drawing on Asian folklore tradition and social ideas around mysticism” Sleep” is a gripping, beautifully shot divine thriller. Yu’s comeback introduces a brand-new shamanism to the display, a faith and a core component of Vietnamese culture that has been suppressed and ignored for hundreds of years, but which is then reportedly being embraced by a new generation of young people who are fans of social media.

The happy couple’s daily lives are depicted in Book 1. Through close-up images that depict a normal day, Yu depicts wed bliss. The meal lovingly prepared by Hyun-su for Soo-jin before she wakes, the plants on the ledge, a well-organised book, a large framed picture of the few.

The words” Together we can conquer everything” are scribbled on a big piece of wood before Soo-jin puts them face-down on the walls. As Hyun-su’s parasomnia gets worse and threatens his health ( eating raw foods, trying to jump from a window ), as well as that of his entire family, this sentiment will be a recurring theme throughout the movie.

Soo-jin’s family second suspects the divine might be at play, and suggests the couple seek the aid of a shaman. Shamanism in Korea society stretches back over 5, 000 times. It’s existing in the nation’s foundation myth of Dangun, the first king of Gojoseon ( the first Korean country ) and the child of the king of the sky.

Shamanism in Korean film has a long history, with features such as” Ieoh Island” ( 1977 ) and” The Wailing” ( 2016 ) being among Korea’s best. It is also a part of” Exhuma,” which was also released this year, and follows young shamans as they try to remove a family of a curse. These films, but, present mysticism as a provincial, remote concern. ” Sleep” brings it into a modern and cosmopolitan setting.

In Nap, we are introduced to the mystic Madame Haegoong, who confirms one is truly inside Hyun-su. When faced with difficulties or having trouble making choices, Koreans typically turn to mystics. In the past of Korea, mystics have played the roles of priest, doctor, and sorcerer.

In most cases, mystics serve clients as marketers – a kind of middleman between the lawyer’s world and the other earth where the spirits, the ghosts, stay. As a physician, the mystic often performs a dura, an extravagant and expensive ceremony, to allow connection with the spirit – an important part of the treatment. That proves to be the scenario for Hyun-su in” Sleep”.

The frustrated and terrible Soo-jin in” Sleep” primarily harbors mysticism, but gradually becomes drawn in as treatment options fail and Hyun-su’s behavior becomes more dangerous.

In Soo-jin’s voyage from non-believer to anxious follower, familiar mythological stories associated with shamanistic idea arise. For example, Soo-jin grows to feel that her father’s sleep issues are caused by spirits grasping onto him while he sleeps that, as Madame Haegoong puts it,” the mind becomes more vulnerable and they exploit this this walk into your brain.”

Such tales of spirits and suicide are common in Asian culture. In the film, a now seemingly crazed Soo-jin explains:” If]your soul does n’t ] ascend in ten days you become a ghost”, and” A ghost cannot ascend 100 days after death. ]It may ] wander around our planet permanently”.

These suggestions sound conventional and ridiculous. However, the idea that it’s a young woman being drawn to these concepts resonates with some North Korean youth’s new documented interest in shamanism. Similar to Soo-jin, some shamans attribute this attention to young people seeking comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty.

Solid performances are included in” Sleep,” a skillfully crafted modern occult movie with Lee Sun-kyun’s belated lead performance, who passed away last year. In his directorial debut, Yu successfully combines traditional mythological shamanistic stories with dramatic horror and drama.

Hyunseon Lee is a faculty research affiliate in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, and the Center for Creative Industries, Media and Screen Studies, SOAS, University of London.

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