NIGHTWATCH: Afghanistan Army Imploding – South Viet-Nam Redux

Afghanistan: Late last week, The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan published a quarterly report which included a section on manning in the Afghan National Army. The British newspaper Independent also published UK findings on manning as well, but with a slightly different focus. The US report indicates the Afghan National Army has gotten smaller …

NIGHTWATCH: US Exercise Ends, NK FIres Missile Into Ocean, Everyone Sits Back

The missile. News services have published no additional reports about the missile detected on the east coast. As a rule, when the North Koreans allow a missile to be detected, other than in a parade, they launch it. Readers should expect a launch. Apparently South Korean National Defense Minister Kim expects a launch as a …

NIGHTWATCH: Cyprus Shows Three Threats – Fall of Government, Widespread Rioting, Spread of Rioting to Mainland Europe

Cyprus: Comment. International press outlets have provided detailed reporting on the so-called tax Cypriot leaders have proposed imposing on bank deposits to help pay for an international bailout. Cyprus is the fifth European Union country to request a bailout. The issues are complex and not relevant to this brief discussion. NightWatch sees three threats in …

NIGHTWATCH: China Declares Peace with US, Taiwan, and the Region — The Chinese Dream is About Retrenchment & Revitalization

China: The National People’s Congress ended on the 17th with a press conference by Premier Li Keqiang. Before the closing, however, President Xi Jinping delivered his first address to the Congress. The central theme was The Chinese Dream. Eight of the 17 paragraphs of the text were devoted to, or carried forward the application of, …

NIGHTWATCH: North Korea Threatens War During Major US Exercise in South Korea Lasting to 30 April

North Korea:  NightWatch’s review of events since 1 January indicates that the North Koreans have been preparing this breakout since 2 February when Kim Jong Un began a series of meetings, starting with the Military Central Commission. NightWatch judges the actions are deliberately planned because of their breadth, coherence and consistency. The North’s depiction of …