The full extent of the damage caused thus far by Hurricane Ian, let alone its longer-term repercussions for Florida and the eastern seaboard as the storm progresses further north are unknown. What is already clear, however, is that Ian will necessarily require national attention and resources on the home front at a problematic moment.  

The nearly simultaneous closure through apparent sabotage of Russian natural gas pipelines to Europe is further roiling the front created by Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion and, now, annexation of parts of Ukraine. The effect, and presumably the intent, is to intensify pressure on Ukraine’s European supporters to demand Kiev’s capitulation to Kremlin demands.

Unfortunately, these developments constitute distractions from the third front: the prospect that after next month’s Communist Party Congress, dictator Xi Jinping will be emboldened to engage in aggression towards Taiwan, and perhaps us.

This is Frank Gaffney.