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🇺🇸 Downed Drone Deep Dive

🇺🇸 Downed Drone Deep Dive

Plus, moonwalkers get a wardrobe update.

March 20, 2023

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Good morning, and happy Monday! These Delta pilots are father and son, and they recently flew a notable flight together.

Plus, take a look at these upgraded prototype spacesuits for moonwalking astronauts.

Also, do you hold crypto? Turn your diamond hands into actual diamonds with Arch’s instant credit offer.

FLAG POLLS

🐘 Friday, March 17, Florida Republican Presidential Primary 2024: Trump 47, DeSantis 44, Pence 4, Haley 2, Pompeo 1, T. Scott 1 (Emerson)

🟰 Friday, March 17, Florida - Trump vs. Biden: Trump 44, Biden 44 (Emerson)

🐘 Friday, March 17, Florida - DeSantis vs. Biden: DeSantis 46, Biden 43 (Emerson)

📉 Friday, March 17, President Biden Job Approval: Approve 46, Disapprove 53 (Rasmussen Reports)

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QUICK CLICKS

Cohen's Claims, Calm for Credit Suisse, Spring Break Shootings

US: Cohen: Trump will ‘absolutely’ take mugshot, be fingerprinted if arrested (The Hill) + NYC bracing for unrest after Trump calls for protests over possible arrest, indictment (NY Post)

World: Putin makes surprise visit to occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol (CBS News)

Economy: Central banks try to calm markets after UBS deal to buy Credit Suisse (Reuters)

World: China’s Xi set to meet Putin in effort to weaken US standing at 'highly significant' gathering (Fox News)

US: Miami Beach issues curfew after 2 people killed during spring break festivities (ABC News)

World: Pension protests pile pressure on Macron ahead of crucial vote for France (France 24)

US: Here’s the Real Story behind the Massive ‘Blob’ of Seaweed Heading toward Florida (Scientific American)

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Downed Drone Deep Dive

A screen grab from a video clip released by the U.S. Defense Department's European Command depicts the Russian fighter jet

Last Tuesday, an unmanned drone flown by the US military was forced down over the Black Sea, after being harassed by a Russian fighter jet. Video released by US officials shows the jet dumping fuel on the drone, and then clipping its wing.

Reporting from the Left: US releases video of Russian fighter jet forcing down reaper drone (CNN)

Reporting from the Right: Russia to try recovering downed US drone, as US vows to 'protect our equities' (Fox News)

From the Flag: Moscow has denied its jet hit the drone, while US officials have described the Russian pilot’s actions as “unprofessional.” The Pentagon maintains it will continue to fly drones over international waters, as allowed under law. Here’s fresh commentary from both sides of the political aisle.

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Let the Drones Fly: Pushing Back Against Putin With US Military Tech

Russian President Vladimir Putin, continuing his role as the aggressor, showed his willingness to take risks with this incident.
Drone flights over international waters should not be suspended as a result of this incident, which would signal weakness to Moscow.
It’s a new era: instead of downed pilots and a true international crisis, we’re just talking about $14 million worth of taxpayer money.

“Replying to Russia's Drone Provocation” Editorial Board, Wall Street Journal: “Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley said Wednesday that it wasn’t clear whether the Russians intended to ram the MQ-9 drone’s propeller… But a collision was a risk Russia accepted when its pilots dumped fuel in what the Pentagon calls an ‘unprofessional’ intercept. … Some are warning that the episode shows the risk of US war with Russia and is a reason to abandon Ukraine. But the drone was operating in international air space, and Mr. Putin wants to make the Black Sea his private pond. Russia could escalate, but the moment is clarifying that Mr. Putin is the aggressor and his designs aren’t limited to Ukraine. The Biden Administration has been calibrating its Ukraine policy based on its own anxiety about Mr. Putin’s reaction, but this crash is the latest reminder that Mr. Putin takes whatever risks he thinks he can get away with.”

“How and why the US must prevent Russia from downing more drones” Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner: “While Vladimir Putin has no interest in a direct military conflict with the US or NATO, he is a strategic opportunist who is willing to take risks. Amid rising statements of skepticism about the Biden administration's Ukraine policy from the leading presumptive candidates to replace Biden, Donald Trump, and Ron DeSantis, Putin may regard Biden's response here as an indication he is increasingly cautious over the war. … Still, the Biden administration cannot allow Russia to (veto) US military operations in international airspace. Doing so would undercut the central contention of US operations in relation to the Taiwan Strait and the near entirety of the South China Sea, which China illegitimately claims as its own. Namely, that the US will operate in international waters and airspace without being intimidated. If the US now suspends these normally daily drone flights, it risks signaling unambiguous weakness to Moscow.”

One more opinion piece from the Right: Did Russia commit an act of war against America? Jazz Shaw, Hot Air

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

The Destructive War Grinds On, but the Drone Incident Will Pass

The US was conducting surveillance and a Russian jet buzzed the drone – which is common – but this time the aircraft collided.
This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers associated with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, including to the US military.
As dramatic as this collision is, US and Russian pilots frequently test each other in the air.

“Russian downing of US drone ‘unprofessional’, says UK defense secretary” Wallace & Sabbagh, The Guardian: “It is common for Russian jets to harass western military planes flying over neutral airspace by flying at an unsafe, close distance, but the presumption is that on this occasion, one of Moscow’s pilots miscalculated – and struck a propeller on the Reaper. … a US air force official told ABC News the incident lasted at least half an hour, with the two Russian jets buzzing close to the drone 19 times, spraying jet fuel on the last three or four times. The collision happened at the end, when one of the Su-27s approached the Reaper at speed from behind, colliding as it pulled up. … The US did not immediately say what kind of mission the Reaper had been undertaking, but it is likely that it was conducting long-distance surveillance of Ukraine and the war.”

“A Russian aircraft collided with a US drone. It’s a reminder of the Ukraine war risks.” Jen Kirby, Vox: “This kind of mishap is a sign of the larger geopolitical tensions undergirding that conflict. Russia is pressing forward with its offensive, still trying to take Ukrainian territory. At the same time, the United States and its allies are providing Kyiv with economic and security aid that make it possible for Ukraine to fight the war, and potentially deter Russia’s advance and reclaim its territory. The West’s deep involvement, and Russia’s uncompromising focus on pushing ahead with its invasion, are ultimately putting two nuclear superpowers at odds. The day before the US released the footage, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had a rare call with his Russian counterpart over the incident, a sign that the US sought to de-escalate tensions. Still, Austin called the encounter between the US and Russian aircraft ‘dangerous and reckless.’ The US previously said it would continue to conduct missions in international airspace, and called on Russia to conduct itself safely.”

One more opinion piece from the Left: Russia-US drone clash: Why it won't lead to further escalation Daniel R. DePetris, MSNBC

FLAG THIS

Threat Level Critical? How Americans See Things

Last week we covered comments from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who dismissed the Russian-Ukraine war as a "territorial dispute" and said getting “further entangled” in it is not a vital US national interest.

Polling conducted prior to the release of that statement found 62% of Republican voters feel the war represents a “critical threat” to US vital interests.

In the same survey, 58% of Democrats and 51% of Independents agreed with the “critical threat” assessment.

Just under half of all Independents (48%) said the war isn’t a critical threat (Gallup).

Would you describe the Russia-Ukraine war as a critical threat to US national interests?

FLAG FINDS

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WATERCOOLER

Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Quitting Your Phone, 11th Hour Edits

First edition, title-page illustration by Hammatt Billings for Uncle Tom's Cabin

On March 20, 1852: Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, is published. The novel goes on to sell 300,000 copies within three months, and to be so widely read that when President Abraham Lincoln met Stowe in 1862, he reportedly said, “So this is the little lady who made this big war.”

Vox: How to stop looking at your phone

Consumer Reports: How to Fall Asleep When Your Mind Won't Rest

CNET: How to Exercise More Day to Day: 7 Tips That Actually Work

Today I Learned the ending of The Bourne Supremacy was reshot just two weeks before its release. Director Paul Greengrass and Matt Damon came up with a new idea that would cost $200,000 and involve pulling Damon from the set of Ocean's Twelve. The movie tested 10 points higher with the new ending and went on to make $176 million.

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