Iran damaged US bases in the Mideast. Now imagine what China could do to U.S. bases in Japan, South Korea, Australia, the Philippines, Guam, even Hawaii. If most of those bases were knocked out of commission, even temporarily, it would cripple the U.S. ability to defend Taiwan. wapo.st/4jsqNEo

Because the Bahrain port was knocked out by Iran, the Navy had to rely on its base at Diego Garcia, 2,200 miles away, to supply the U.S. fleet in the Middle East. That increased the cost, and decreased the frequency, of supplies reaching the ships, while also making port calls too dangerous to contemplate. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln spent a backbreaking nine months at sea. wapo.st/4jsqNEo

Reminds me of the apocryphal Lenin quote: "The capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."

I would have had “The Wire,” not “Breaking Bad,” as No 1 but No 2 ain’t shabby. The real injustice of this list is that “The Bureau” is No 54! It should be in the top 5. One of the greatest series ever! The explanation isn’t exactly convincing: “This crackerjack thriller about the lives of secret agents deserves to be higher on this list, but it’s French, so c’est la vie.” Why downgrade a series for being French??? And by the way why was the delightful “Call My Agent,” another French series, left off the list altogether? Sacre bleu! nytimes.com/interactive/2026…

Great overview of China’s manufacturing juggernaut: “Only Britain at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution and the United States following World War II have so dominated the global production of goods. China now accounts for 32 percent of global manufacturing value added, twice its share in 2010, and more than the combined total of the next four biggest manufacturing powers — the United States, Germany, Japan and South Korea — according to the U.N. Industrial Development Organization.” washingtonpost.com/business/…

As I wrote a few days ago in @PostOpinions, Trump doesn’t seem to notice that the bromance is entirely one-sided; Xi didn’t greet Trump at the airport when Trump went to Beijing. Yet, as a token of his unrequited friendship, Trump gave China access to powerful AI chips, paused a $14 billion arms sales to Taiwan, and offered excuses for China providing satellite imagery that enables Iran to target U.S. bases. wapo.st/4rwZif1

Why bother with the rule of law when you can just kill alleged criminals instead? No evidence needed.

As with Kim Jong Un, Trump doesn’t seem to notice that the bromance is entirely one-sided; Xi said nothing about being Trump’s pal. Yet, as a token of his unrequited friendship, Trump gave China access to Nvidia's 2nd most powerful AI chips and paused a $14 billion arms sales to Taiwan. Now he offers excuses for China (along with Russia) providing satellite imagery that enables Iran to target U.S. bases. wapo.st/4rwZif1

Trump gives Xi a pass on reports that China has provided satellite imagery that allowed Iran to target US bases. “They basically do what we do,” Trump said. “We spy on them too.” It’s true the US spies on China, but it isn’t helping to kill Chinese soldiers or blow up Chinese bases. wapo.st/4rwZif1

It’s hard to say why Trump has suddenly gone from attack dog to lap dog on China. Part of the explanation may be that Trump discovered, during last year’s trade war, the high cost of confronting China; like many bullies, he shies away from a fight if he fears getting hurt. wapo.st/4rwZif1

Who exactly are these snipers on his arch supposed to be shooting? Is he expecting enemy troops to march on Washington? Perhaps he is afraid the Canadians will seek, like the British in 1814, to burn the White House? 🤔