Shield of the Republic America's New Defense Strategy is Nonsense
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Feb 2, 2026 They tear into the new National Defense Strategy for being vague, sycophantic, and missing Taiwan. They unpack Trump's Greenland flap and its diplomatic fallout. They analyze Xi’s purge of a top general and what it might mean for the Indo-Pacific. They debate U.S. force movements around Iran and whether strikes or economic quarantines are more likely.
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Shoveling Sleet And Washington Paralyzed
- Eliot A. Cohen described shoveling heavy sleet and using an ax to break up packed snow.
- He used the story to segue into commentary on how severe winter has paralyzed Washington, D.C.
Greenland Episode Harms Transatlantic Trust
- Trump's Greenland episode likely damaged U.S. credibility with European partners.
- Eliot A. Cohen argues the episode reinforces doubts about American reliability and boosts European skepticism.
Don't Overread The NDS Release
- Treat the NDS with skepticism and avoid overreacting to it as a definitive guide.
- Eliot A. Cohen urges diplomats and analysts not to hold serious seminars inflating its significance.