Secure Freedom Minute

Can we “live without Taiwan”? The claim that we can buy the nominee to be the third-ranking official in the Pentagon has stirred controversy.The question is a strategic, if not literal one. Communist China’s interruption of our economic and military dependence on Taiwan's unique, extremely high-quality chip-manufacturing capability could prove devastating.Ditto Taiwan’s conquest for America’s vital interests in the Western Pacific. Allies and others there would likely accommodate the PRC as the new regional and global hegemon, with dire ripple-effects for our trade and security relations.While suggestions that we can live without Taiwan are characterized as evidence of “realism” or “restraint,” as a practical matter, Chinese dictator Xi Jinping can only perceive them as proof of America’s retreat. That makes more likely, not less, the Chinese Communist Party’s acting to destroy, not just independent Taiwan, but us, as well.This is Frank Gaffney.

President Trump sent what might be called a literal “mash note” to the terrorist group Hamas yesterday, declaring: “Release all the hostages now, not later, and return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you….Not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say. This is your last warning.”Hamas has blown off Mr. Trump’s ultimatum. So, it’s time to destroy the jihadists, something the President says he’s giving Israel the means to accomplish. That’s also the outcome to which Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has been committed ever since Hamas murderously invaded Israel and seized over two hundred hostages on October 7 th 2023. Tragically, the Biden administration was determined to save the perpetrators. With Donald Trump’s strong support, Israel must now “finish the job.”
This is Frank Gaffney.

Last night, Donald Trump laid out an extraordinary blueprint for renewing the USA. Unlike most such addresses to Congress that are long on promises, few of which are ever fulfilled, this president has already acted in myriad ways on what he calls “the liberation of America.”
Notably, Mr. Trump immediately closed our borders. As he quipped, it didn’t take new laws; it just took a new president. Ditto, among many other examples, his protecting our sovereignty by withdrawing from the World Health Organization and excising cultural Marxist subversion by ridding “Wokism” from federal civilian agencies and the military.
To be sure, some Trump initiatives for Making America Great Again are still in the offing, or awaiting congressional action. But with this president’s leadership, we are well on our way to an unprecedented, vitally needed, and truly golden national renewal.
This is Frank Gaffney.

President Trump will address Congress tonight on the theme of restoring America. It is hard to overstate the importance – and the comprehensiveness – of his efforts so far to do just that.Our chief executive has striven to reestablish the values, renew the institutions, and redirect the priorities of a nation that Barack Obama promised to “fundamentally transform” – and did over what amounted to his three terms.For example, Mr. Trump’s “commonsense” has reaffirmed that there are two genders, one national language, and no justification for our underwriting the growing threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party.Righting the ship of state in order to Make America Great Again is what Mr. Trump received a mandate to do. If his first forty- four days are any guide, his determination to keep promises made will, indeed, restore America, praise the Lord.This is Frank Gaffney.

It’s easier to pause conflicts than resolve them. Absent decisive military outcomes, ceasefires like the latest Mideast ones have simply given Israel’s enemies the opportunity to regroup, rearm, and resume hostilities at will.The lesson has not been lost on Ukraine. President Trump understandably seeks to stop the carnage there. So, he fashioned a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy designed to achieve a ceasefire without explicitly committing the United States to providing security guarantees the Ukrainians seek in case the Russians subsequently restart the war.Despite the spectacular miscarriage of the White House meeting last Friday where the minerals deal was supposed to be inked, it remains the best hope for translating a temporary suspension of hostilities into an actual peace that will require an end to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s territorial ambitions, however, not just Ukraine’s efforts to resist them.This is Frank Gaffney.

President Trump has providentially tapped retired general Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next Joint Chiefs Chairman. That extraordinary step was prompted by this can-do warrior’s swift defeat of ISIS others insisted would take years.Such leadership and initiative is needed now regarding Mr. Trump’s directive for a Pentagon plan within weeks to defend the American people with our version of Israel’s “Iron Dome” anti-missile defense.The Pete Hegseth-Raizin Caine team could deploy a space-based “Titanium Dome” before the end of this presidency – especially if Elon Musk, with his record of audaciously and swiftly getting big things done in space, rides herd on the effort in the White House.Indeed, we could have had one thirty years ago had the approved “Brilliant Pebbles” program been placed in the High Frontier, albeit with far-less-capable technologies than are affordably available today.Let’s roll!This is Frank Gaffney.