Free Republic

John Kirby appears on Fox News Sunday 7-16-23. (Credit: Fox News) The entire world knows that the United States is low on firepower because President Joe Biden acted on his inexplicable desire to blurt out such information on CNN, telling Fareed Zakaria, “This is a war relating to munitions. And [Ukraine]… is running out of that ammunition, and we’re low on it.”He also maintained that the shortage was one reason behind the controversial decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine.Now the U.S. is scrambling to strengthen stockpiles, according to John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security...

Japan is hosting its first ever international defense industry trade exhibition and conference, further emphasizing the government’s sharp departure from a 70-year self-imposed ban on the export of defense-related equipment by Japanese firms as well as collaborations with foreign defense companies. […] Firms from the United States are much in evidence, inevitable given Japan’s close security alliance with its Pacific partner, but a number of German companies are testing the waters of a new and potentially lucrative market. […] Not all of Japan’s neighbors have welcomed what they claim is a return to the aggressive nationalism of the early decades...

<p>CRAWFORD, Texas — President Bush and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak (search) said Monday they would welcome an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as a positive step toward a Middle East peace agreement and a future Palestinian state.</p> <p>"I think any withdrawal from the occupied territory is very highly appreciated," Mubarak told reporters following a private meeting at Bush's ranch.</p>

LONDON [MENL] -- Egypt has completed an agreement to manufacture artillery systems under license from Finland. Industry sources said the Egyptian Army has launched a project to produce the 155 mm towed howitzer by Finland's Patria Vammas. The agreement calls for the production of Patria's 155 GH 52 155mm towed howitzers. The contract calls for Egyptian production to take place at the Abu Zaabal Engineering Industries Co. The London-based Jane's Defence Weekly reported that the artillery would be designated the E52 and that Egypt would obtain technology to produce the system. The Patria 155 GH 52 has a range of...

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has offered the prospect of an upgrade of the Abrams tank fleet of Middle East allies. U.S. officials said the Defense Department has discussed the prospect of an upgrade of the M1A1 fleets of such countries as Egypt. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia already have the more advanced M1A2 tanks. Egypt has helped produce and assemble nearly 700 M1A1 main battle tanks. The Pentagon has awarded a $26 million contract to General Dynamics Land Systems for the retrofit of 14 M1A2 Abrams Upgrade Tanks to the M1A2 system enhancement program configuration. A Pentagon statement said...

After the Iraqi threat evaporated, others, old and new, were immediately pulled out of the hat. After all, it is unthinkable that the threats to poor little Israel should be reduced; this might lead to a doomsday scenario - a drastic cut in the defense budget. So, the good old Syrian specter and the Iranian missiles were resuscitated, and a new threat was also tossed in - Saudi Arabia. The Saudis have suddenly become a serious threat now that they have deployed fighter jets at Tabuk airport, not far from Eilat. The fact that the Syrian military is so weak...

Translation from Hebrew to English by Me: Hamas and the Islamic Jihad are rearming and gathering strength for a terror attack, immediately after the end of the 3 month hudna. Channel 2 reports that the Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, will present such evidence in front of the US President, Geroge Bush, during their meeting tommorow.

IDF Intelligence and the General Security Service have prepared a report warning that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are utilizing the current "hudna" period to raise money and enlist members, and that within 2-3 months, they will have rebuilt their terrorist capacities. Ynet reports today, in the name of a military source, that the achievements of last year's Operation Defensive Shield and Operation Determined Stand - the dismantling of the terrorist infrastructures and hierarchies - are gravely threatened. The source said that we will soon identify new terror cells, explosives labs, and engineers, and that they will be ready to take...