Two anniversaries just passed with little notice: the release of the Biden Administration’s 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and the one year anniversary of the congressionally-mandated, bipartisan Strategic Posture Commission (SPC) report. Unlike these anniversaries, the global security environment has been noticeably noisy lately. Both the NPR and the SPC report highlight China, Russia, and North Korea’s threats to the U.S.-led international order, and the growing role of these countries’ nuclear arsenals to advance their ambitions and coerce the United States and its allies.
These concerns are particularly evident in the Indo-Pacific region. China continues its fast-paced nuclear expansion and is expected to reach parity with the U.S. strategic deterrent in the next decade. North Korea has invested in intercontinental ballistic missiles with the potential to threaten the U.S. homeland, and equipped frontline units with low-yield nuclear weapons. These threats necessitate thoughtful consideration of a more concrete U.S. architecture of nuclear options in the Indo-Pacific to counter these adversaries’ advances.
Policymakers must, then, address a key challenge from these adversaries’ nuclear expansion – the threats of limited, low-yield nuclear strikes at the regional level against U.S. and allied forces. China and North Korea could exploit such threats to coerce and blackmail U.S. allies—Japan and South Korea come to mind—which would in turn sow divisions within U.S.-led alliances and force Washington and its allies to back down in a conflict on terms favorable to these adversaries. Ultimately, such a move would test the very credibility of Washington’s defense commitments.
Unfortunately, the current U.S. nuclear theater posture in the Indo-Pacific is practically non-existent, and stands in stark contrast to Chinese and North Korean buildup of regional nuclear capabilities. The incoming second Trump administration, building upon the recommendations of the SPC and taking into account the threat environment presented in both the 2018 and 2022 NPRs, could assess potential options for a future nuclear theater architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
The United States has long neglected its global nuclear theater posture. After the Cold War, Washington withdrew some of its forward-deployed nuclear weapons in Asia, and retired systems such as the nuclear-armed Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile. The current nuclear theater portfolio, concentrated around dual-capable fighter aircraft (DCA) and bombers based in the continental United States (CONUS), is insufficient to address regional nuclear threats from adversaries. The air leg of the nuclear triad has not been on alert for over three decades, minimizing preparedness for potential nuclear crises. Adversary integrated air defense systems and the long transit times required for the air leg to reach the Indo-Pacific from CONUS also strain the status-quo posture. […]
— Read More: www.wnd.com
At Last, a Company With Integrity in the Gold IRA Industry
For several years, I’ve been vetting out precious metals companies in search of the best. I believe in gold and silver but it’s hard to find integrity in the Gold IRA industry. The vast majority operate with shady tactics and gigantic spreads that take advantage of Americans who simply want to protect their life’s savings.
I’ve found a handful that I like and I’ve worked with some of them. By no means would I “unrecommend” them because, again, I vetted them out and found them to be above the fold. Unfortunately, it isn’t hard to be better than the rest when the rest are so darn awful.
After years of searching, I finally found a company that truly operates with integrity. Augusta Precious Metals has three important attributes that set them far above the competition:
- Non-Commissioned Sales Team: I cannot stress how important and unique this is. With just about every other company in the Gold IRA industry, the sales teams make commission from every account they open. This means they steer their clients toward the gold and silver products with the highest commission. With Augusta Precious Metals, the team is solely focused on putting the best gold and silver for their clients into their IRA. They get paid to serve the best interests of the Gold IRA client, NOT their own commission pay.
- Incredibly Low Fees: Most Americans would be shocked if they knew the spread other Gold IRA companies charge. Augusta charges just 5% versus up to 45% elsewhere.
- No Pressure, No Gimmicks: There’s an understanding among most in the Gold IRA industry that fear and pressure is the way to go. Augusta Precious Metals takes a sober approach when working with clients because they hold integrity in the highest possible regard. This is why they don’t offer gimmicks like “free” or “bonus” silver. It’s also why they do not apply pressure tactics to get quick sales. Their educational and transparent approach to doing business is exceedingly rare in the Gold IRA industry.
