Posted on 08/15/2026 10:01:23 AM PDT by Red6
U.S. Central Command has unveiled Task Force Falcon Strike, a new multinational attack drone force for the Middle East. This unprecedented initiative integrates U.S. and regional militaries to deploy unmanned one-way attack systems across air, surface, and sub-surface environments. The move comes amid rising Iranian and Houthi drone attacks, prompting CENTCOM to seek a unified, multi-domain deterrent. Allies are being invited to join this coalition, which builds upon earlier U.S.-only efforts like Task Force Scorpion Strike. Falcon Strike will utilize advanced autonomous systems, including USVs, UUVs, and UAS, marking a significant shift towards a more aggressive, collective defense posture in the region.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Official: https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PUBLIC-RELEASES/Article/4573159/centcom-launches-first-ever-multinational-attack-drone-task-force/
Analysis: https://youtu.be/5Bvo8C1LaNI?si=qJbMvi_xxvgtp34c
Our center of gravity post Cold War is the Middle East and North Africa. These are the places where the greatest threat in terms of our national security and economic (oil and gas) interests rest.
China poses long term the greatest risk for a large scale conventional, nuclear, intel conflict, they are also the largest industrial and tech threat to us. But we are likely still some time away from them achieving the true "near peer" status, also this conflict though historically likely (>60% - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thucydides_Trap) is not necessarily predestined. There are other possible outcomes and off-ramps if policy makers on both sides are smart enough to realize where the "natural course" of things will lead unless we take the effort and have the foresight to intervene.
NATO is dead. Mark Rutte has done an absolute commendable job! But the schism his trying to bridge is to large. That's the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. Ukraine which we declare a victory was the final death blow to this organization. The Euro's are not interested in supporting our efforts even though they are at greater risk and more dependent on resources from the Middle East and North Africa. Far larger Muslim populations, closer proximity to the Middle East and North Africa, and greater resource dependence means they actually have more at stake than we do. However, they are merely interested in their regional interests and we have moved on without them at this point.
Example: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/07/24/with-no-iran-war-end-in-sight-germany-pulls-back-two-navy-ships-eyed-for-hormuz-mission/
What these articles and the analysis elude to, is that you're seeing the birth of a new security paradigm in the Middle East (hopefully).
The Middle Eastern nations (Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait) may latch onto this opportunity, and it is an OPPORTUNITY for them, as it is for us (win - win).
My question is how will Iran react? Iran will surely try to prevent this, i.e. dealing with each nation independently is by far better than having a common unified front against them.
Europe imported too many from the middle east, so they are now the Middle east in values/culture.
NATO is rejuvenated and getting stronger and Ukraine is helping in the Middle East and will be involved with this Middle East Centcom drone planning.
Trump currently has Americans training in Ukraine and we just received our first shipment of Ukraine drones, and of course Trump has invited their know-how drone plants to build over here.
>>Our center of gravity post Cold War is the Middle East and North Africa. These are the places where the greatest threat in terms of our national security and economic (oil and gas) interests rest.<<
I disagree. The Middle East is the center of Israel’s national security, and perhaps the center of China’s and Japan’s economic interest, but the USA? The United States should not treat the Middle East/North Africa as its permanent, primary center of gravity the way it did in the 1990s–2010s. Energy independence has reduced the economic stakes; and Israeli and American interests, while aligned against certain threats, are not identical.
The solution is for the USA to stop spending more than we take in in tax revenue. Our military spending is out of control. The Center of our economic interests more in our homeland, and in the Americas, and in the Pacific.
My response is off-the-cuff and perhaps there are some holes in my argument, but if we are to survive economically, the US must stop our massive military spending, and perhaps start thinking about finding the money to fund Social Security,
GREAT
“”””NATO is dead. Mark Rutte has done an absolute commendable job! But the schism his trying to bridge is to large. That’s the elephant in the room no one wants to talk about. Ukraine which we declare a victory was the final death blow to this organization.””””
That is a bizarre thing to think.
Do you think Russian war planners would rather face
1. the stagnant, weakening NATO of 2021?
2. the rejuvenated, expanded and quickly rebuilding NATO of 2026?
3. the even more prepared, better armed, probably larger, and better fortified and manned NATO of 2031?
Your thinking is that NATO of 2021 was the more fearful.
The Euro's aren't playing in the Middle East with us, and we're not going to play much on their behalf in the future.
We'll sell them our stuff. No more “free lunch” as in the past.
Did the UK send any resources to Hormuz (late and little they technically have a ship in the area that they sent which is doing nothing)? Nope.
Did the Germans send any resources to Hormuz? Nope.
Did the French send any resources to Hormuz? Nope.
Did NATO as an organization support us in any way with Iran? Nope. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/potential-nato-mission-strait-hormuz-is-political-decision-top-commander-says-2026-05-19/
NATO is dead and that is fine.
That said, the death of NATO was in no way the results of Mark Rutte, and excellent leader that was handed a crappy hand to play, as far as NATO is concerned.
No one says this, but everyone knows it.
Regional security: we have restored the Monroe Doctrine and our hemisphere is secure (critical for long term stability).
Security abroad: Europe is not where our center of gravity is (that ended with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact dissolution). Our true national security interests are in the short term, regional threats in the Middle East and North Africa. Our large scale and global near peer threat is long term, China.
Economic: Our dollar is based on oil, and we are the worlds largest oil producer influencing about ~70% of the worlds production: USA (>20% by ourselves), Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Libya, Nigeria - we and the Russians (~30%) basically control the worlds available oil and gas production.
Where does Ukraine fit into this? It doesn't. Ukraine is a distraction, background noise, a waste of time and resources. In fact, Ukraine has been to the (((DETRIMENT))) of Iran today, making Russia play hard against us, wasting >600 of our interceptors and 1,400 MANPADS, a massive amount of our drones (which we now need), squandering massive amounts of war stock we could employ elsewhere working towards our actual interests by backing militia's in Iraq that are more favorable to us and the Kurds, sucking up some INTEL resources which in some cases could have helped with Iran.
I know you have some Ukraine fetish and Russian phobia, but Ukraine was a WASTE of our time and money.
It was an ENTIRELY unnecessary war, no imminent national security interest required us to extend NATO membership to Ukraine (the cause of this war). It was avoidable, we had 3.5 months where we could have changed course as Russia built up an invasion force. It was predictable that it would happen post 2004, and what the final result will be: Russia will invade and as with Crimea, take another chunk of Ukraine to make it worth their effort.
Ukraine is a “stupid” war. Ukraine is the sort of war that had it not been started by a liberal Democrat Biden (the MSM will automatically practice apologetic’s for him), the Euro's and NATO weren't part of (has the globalist seal of approval), if it had not been an issue PUSHED by global corporate and financial interests (hence your corporate MSM will be lockstep on board), is the sort of subject matter that movies telling about senseless idiotic wars are made of.
Unless you think Ukraine was part of a greater geopolitical strategy to weaken Russia on the world stage, and that may indeed be the case and have paid off with Venezuela, Syria and Libya, then this war in Ukraine served ZERO national security interests for us.
Great point you make:
The power axis of Russia - China - North Korea - Iran, as well as massive expansion of BRICS and its scope, the pace of de-dollarization were all CAUSED by this war in Ukraine.
Russia and China were NOT best buddies.
We all but squeezed those two together with our misguided Ukraine adventure.
And now you want to use what we “created” as a consequence of a war we caused with NATO expansion, as some shining example of why Russia is a threat. LOL
Lunacy-
LOL, I knew you would ignore that simple post about your silly statement and post some long rambling narrative of gibberish.
Why not respond to post 7?
Do you think Russian war planners would rather face
1. the stagnant, weakening NATO of 2021?
2. the rejuvenated, expanded and quickly rebuilding NATO of 2026?
3. the even more prepared, better armed, probably larger, and better fortified and manned NATO of 2031?
Your thinking is that NATO of 2021 was the more fearful?
Israel is truly a politically sovereign nation, BUT they are economically and for their own national security ENTIRELY dependent on the West.
Israel is an “OUTPOST” of the West in the Middle East.
They are fighting for their existence / survival, have become good at it, under the table MOST of their Arab neighbors even back them to varying degrees (Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia), but they lack the mass and capabilities. They couldn’t handle these threats if they destroyed themselves economically and militarily trying.
—It is US arms sales to Saudi Arabia that break all records: https://caat.org.uk/data/countries/united-states/us-arms-exports/ Even with the war in Ukraine, Saudi Arabia spends more!
—It is the US that has a currency pinned to oil (like gold in the past): https://www.investopedia.com/articles/forex/072915/how-petrodollars-affect-us-dollar.asp
—It is the US that has bases all through that region because we have “economic interests” in all of these places: https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/INTERACTIVE-US-Military-presence-in-the-Middle-East-June-2026-1772272730.png?resize=770%2C513&quality=80
The world runs on oil and gas.
It is oil and gas which AROUND THE WORLD makes airplanes fly, ships cross the oceans, trains pull rail cars, trucks travel the spiderweb of roads, cars and buses carry people to work, in many places provides the electricity and/or even heating, and “we” control that oil and gas.
This thread is about Iran - you are obsessed with Ukraine.
But to answer (no more on Ukraine after this):
Russia didn’t want this war in Ukraine.
They screwed around with this issue FAR-FAR longer (YEARS!!!) than our patience would have lasted.
They went along with crap that they had to know was utter BS, like Minsk I and II, where they had to know we weren’t going to play nice as we didn’t sign to it, etc. But they still tried.
Russia is NOT in a situation they want to be in or that they created. They “reacted” to a situation they could no longer avoid / ignore.
They are in a situation that was IMPOSED on them through our repeated efforts to push NATO up to their border.
They are in a situation where they knew it would be painful and they avoided it, and you just can’t get this through your thick skull, THIS CAUSED A WAR: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-president-zelenskiy-holding-talks-with-biden-adviser-says-2021-12-09/
—
If Chinese influence in Mexico (and it’s actually quite substantial BTW) were to cross the line where they start talking defense agreements, how long would it take before we either topple the government in Mexico or invade? Seconds-
I quoted your statement on NATO, you very much posted on NATO, you keep avoiding my post 7 and continue with your rambling long posts while avoiding it.
NATO is stronger today and getting stronger, Russian planners would much prefer to face the NATO of 2021 rather than the NATO of today, and especially the future NATO as these changes reach greater fruition, the budgets grow, the new weapon factories hum, the weapon warehouses fill with new ammo and missiles and weapons, as the new geography and usefulness of the new members sea capabilities and Air forces is incorporated and the larger militaries as drafts and recruitment grow and of course the growing fortifications and training and arming of civilians and
Trumps new tactical and other nuclear weapons come on board.
“”””This thread is about Iran - you are obsessed with Ukraine.
But to answer (no more on Ukraine after this):”””””
More mental issues from you, you are the one obsessing about Ukraine, I only mentioned it in post 4 and about IRAN, in response to your bringing it up in your very first post, since then you have been making lengthy posts about Ukraine, in post after post after post.
Your thinking is muddled.
NATO today is the EU and the US as in two separate things. They are no longer under the same roof of NATO.
I have answered this several times.
FACT: You do not have the EU or NATO helping us with Iran, and we are willing to sell NATO what they want, but no more free stuff and don’t count on us if we’re engaged elsewhere.
Is this under NATO? https://maritime-executive.com/article/european-mine-clearance-force-for-strait-of-hormuz-forming-up No. This is the realization that the Euro’s have some interests there and might have to protect their assets. But it is NOT helping us nor under NATO.
It’s not a bad thing which is happening.
The EU has their interests (Euro centric), and we have ours in the Middle East, China, etc.
Should we really be engaged in wars like Serbia? What was our interest there other than proving NATO is viable? That was essentially a war we paid and bled for, BUT where as with Ukraine, (((YOU CANNOT))) articulate an interest for us. Literally, it is the Euro’s interests that are at stake, but we’re paying.
On the other hand the Euro’s have been absolute shitheads as allies for us. They cannot be counted / relied on, they always come late, to few, want to set up in the safe areas and do the nice clean jobs where they don’t get blood on their hands. WORTHLESS ALLIES-
We can’t even get them to pay their absolute NATO contractual minimum until Ukraine came along.
In fact, having them part of any campaign only makes planning and actual operations FAR more complex as they always bring their individual (each one is different), always changing, huge list of limitations with them (this is on top of the capability and doctrinal differences).
It’s almost better to just do it ourselves.
“The solution is for the USA to stop spending more than we take in in tax revenue. Our military spending is out of control. The Center of our economic interests more in our homeland, and in the Americas, and in the Pacific.”
____________________________________________________________
What parts of our military so you suggest eliminating in the name of reduced spending?
There’s a big difference between griping about the overall bill, and doing the real work necessary to make informed judgements about what weapons or deployments are no longer in our national interest.
“In fact, having them part of any campaign only makes planning and actual operations FAR more complex as they always bring their individual (each one is different), always changing, huge list of limitations with them (this is on top of the capability and doctrinal differences).
It’s almost better to just do it ourselves.”
____________________________________________________________
Coalition warfare is always the most difficult path, but it spreads the pain and the cost beyond our own borders - even if you don’t find it to be enough.
Still no response to post 7, just more long rambling.
Post 14 is where NATO is today, and why it is stronger than in 2021, and post 15 is a description of your muddled thinking.
—Closing Hormuz, or trying to do this, has probably impacted their neighbors like UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc. substantially, even if their economies are doing fairly well.
—Firing missiles all over the place and into every nation that is helping us or where we are based out of, probably did not help Iran's cause. That is where understanding the art of limited warfare is important.
—Iran supporting the Houti’s and trying to shut down Red Sea access is probably not helping their cause either.
IMHO, Iran has done a fabulous job at creating an enemy threat picture the US, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar can unite around and it appears to me that we are helping them fulfill their goal! (Sarc - LOL)
Us keeping the Israeli's out of the picture and pushing on them to curb how aggressive they proceed in Gaza might now start making more sense to some folks here. It's not anti-Israel. It's a “bigger picture” issue. Israel stands to benefit long term if we get others to pitch in more against Iran!!! But if Israel runs Berserk, it makes this effort far more difficult.
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