Raw Intel

SummaryIn this episode, Sal discusses various pressing topics including the ongoing drug war, military operations, the situation in Ukraine, and the recent controversy surrounding the Pentagon press pool. He expresses gratitude to his subscribers and reflects on the complexities of military decisions, the implications of the war in Ukraine, and the impo… Read more View the full article

SummaryIn this episode of the UNCLAS Read Board, Sal discusses various geopolitical issues, focusing on the U.S. military presence in South America, particularly regarding Venezuela. He explores the implications of U.S. sanctions, the potential for economic growth in South America, and the importance of responsible governance. Sal also delves into naval… Read more View the full article

SummaryIn this episode, the host discusses the recent military operations related to Venezuela, focusing on the successful takedown of sanctioned tankers and the implications for U.S. naval strategy. The conversation also shifts to the defense budget under the Trump administration, exploring the need for increased military spending in light of national … Read more View the full article

SummaryIn this episode, the host discusses the recent Greenland kerfuffle, exploring the implications of international relations, particularly between the US and Europe. The conversation delves into the miscommunication between leaders, the dynamics of NATO, and the broader context of US-European relations under different administrations. The host empha… Read more View the full article

SummaryIn this episode, Sal discusses the evolving landscape of national security, focusing on the significant changes in global dynamics over the past year. He examines the roles of major players like China, Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, as well as the emerging trends in South America and India’s strategic position. Sal emphasizes the importance of unde… Read more View the full article

Show LinksNYT article on U.S. buildup around Iran. CSIS Graph mentioned by Shashank Joshi 2017 Navy Times article on Ford-class toilets Captain Luther’s note circa 2011/12 on the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)’s plumbing issues Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 2011 article on same issue SummarySal discusses the current military and geopolitical situation, focu… Read more View the full article

In this episode, Sal discusses recent naval activities, U.S. Iran tensions, and the strategic importance of maritime power. The conversation emphasizes the significance of maritime and aerospace capabilities in national security and offers insights into geopolitical choke points, regional alliances, and the future of U.S. military readiness. Key topics:T… Read more View the full article

Show Links:Substack posts Did China Culminate and No One Noticed? I’ll take LCC-21, 22, and yes, 23 and 24, thank you So, the SECNAV has Departed CVN Status The Day of Battle: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944, by Rick Atkinson SummarySal discusses current naval operations, geopolitical developments, and strategic insights, including the state of the US … Read more View the full article

SummaryA shorter than usual UNCLAS Read Board Podcast, with look around current naval developments, military actions in the Strait of Hormuz, the state of the Royal Navy, and Japan’s growing ties with its Western Pacific neighbors. Chapters00:00: Introduction and Overview of Current Naval Issues 03:24: The State of the Royal Navy 06:04: Japan’s Military D… Read more View the full article

SummaryIn this episode, Sal discusses recent congressional testimonies by Navy leaders, the MQ-25 Stingray, and the realities of directed energy weapons on ships. He emphasizes learning from past military delays, the importance of technological progress, and the significance of understanding bureaucratic growth through Parkinson’s Law. Show LinksActing S… Read more View the full article

Show LinksUkrainian FP-1/2 drone attacks Russian frigate Admiral Essen at the Novorossiysk Naval Base Ukrainian attack on the Kronstadt Naval Base Attack on Kuwait International Airport Saronic commentary by John Konrad on gCaptain AV-8B closes its story MQ-25A opens its story AUKUS update SummarySal discusses the ongoing Ukraine conflict, its historical cont… Read more View the full article

SummarySal discusses recent geopolitical developments including Iran’s negotiations, US military operations, UK military decline, Ukraine’s resilience, and global strategic shifts. This episode offers insights into current international security dynamics and future implications. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Context of the Iranian Conflict 02:55 Goals an… Read more View the full article

Key Topics:Reflection on America’s 250th celebration and patriotic observances, including the significance of the World Cup and tall ships. Analysis of Iran’s naval activities and the prospects of extended punitive campaigns in the Gulf. Insights into Ukraine’s ongoing conflict, new missile capabilities, and the normalization of long-range conventional st… Read more View the full article

SummarySal reflects on 22 years of blogging and podcasting, discusses the Iran conflict, and explores strategic military considerations and future threats. TakeawaysThe importance of willpower in conflicts like Vietnam and Afghanistan The strategic significance of the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea The evolving threat of missile and drone technology The need … Read more View the full article

Show LinksNatalie Winters’s report on the GOFO China Trade Heritage’s report, Theater Missile Defense Inventory: Inadequate for a U.S.–China Conflict SummarySal reflects on the current state of national security, personal relationships, and geopolitical tensions, emphasizing the importance of preparedness, understanding human motivations, and the impact o… Read more View the full article

SummarySal discusses election integrity, military deployments, naval readiness, and current political issues affecting the military and national security. Chapters00:00:Introduction and overview of election integrity and military topics 02:07: Florida’s election system reform and its impact on confidence 04:02: The state of U.S. Navy deployments and fleet … Read more View the full article

For coming up on two decades, the United States military has been engaged - if you want to call it by the medal they give everyone for it - a Global War on Terrorism. As we have invested two decades, trillions of dollars, and thousands dead across the globe in response to the attacks of September, 2001 - our best friends have been with us. They do this of their own free will, and share the good fortune and bad with us in our contact of the war. Today’s Midrats is a wide ranging discussion on the history, theory, and application of American leadership with our guest, Gray Connolly. Gray Connolly (Graham Alfred Frederick Connolly) is an Honors graduate in Arts and Law f…

Since the March 1996 humiliation in the waters around Taiwan handed to the People’s Republic of China by the US Navy’s world-dominating Carrier Battle Groups – as they were then known – China and her armed forces started a long-term, disciplined effort to ensure that a point in the not so distant future, their part of The Pacific west of Wake would no longer be considered and American lake. With a little over a quarter century passed, has China successfully closed the gap? Come join us for the full hour this Sunday from 5-6pm Eastern for a deep dive in to the subject with our guests Gerry Doyle and Blake Herzinger as we discuss their recent book, Carrier Killer: China's A…

Except for those over a 85, no one alive has ever existed at a time when the US Navy was not the premier naval power - and no one alive at all has known a world where the US Navy was not the premier naval power in the Pacific. Though on paper it could be challenged in the first third of the 20th Century by the Royal Navy, and was challenged in a very real way by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Pacific in the early mid-century, after the 1930s no industrial power could hope to compete with the United States in production and warships ready to fight at sea in a major conflict. During the Cold War, there were a couple of decades where the Soviet Union could put a fleet to …

I have no idea what to do with this statement from the President of the United States earlier today. This is not what I would recommend. It can be read about six different ways, and the most charitable one would be, “Take the President of the United States seriously, but not literally.” That isn’t what I am going to focus on today. Nope. In this space, I am accountable to myself and my loyal readers. On March 2nd, I put this on the table. While I approve of what we’ve done so far, I am going to put a marker down.My support is based on what we see this beautiful March 2nd, 2026. If this degenerates into another long, drawn-out conflict where we put boots on the ground, my…