//The Wire//1530Z January 15, 2024//

//ROUTINE//

//BLUF: SAR EFFORTS CONTINUE FOR SAILORS MISSING IN GULF OF ADEN. TAIWAN ELECTIONS RAISE TENSIONS IN REGION//

 -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----

-International Events-

Red Sea/HOA: U.S. Navy forces continue to search for two sailors that went missing on Saturday. Pentagon statements indicate that the sailors were SEALs who went missing during a boarding operation. No further details at this time.

Despite American airstrikes, Yemeni targeting of commercial shipping continues largely unabated. This morning, the UKMTO reported a missile strike on an as yet unidentified merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.

This morning, Qatar announced their cessation of LNG shipping through the Red Sea, in response to U.S. targeting. AC: Qatar provides approximately 13% of the LNG consumed by western Europe, all of which was transported via the Red Sea route.

Far East: Recent elections in Taiwan have exacerbated tensions with China. Following the election win of  Lai Ching-te and the third consecutive win for Taiwan's incumbent ruling party, the White House responded by issuing the statement that “We do not support independence”. AC: This continues the creeping departure from the long-standing policy of ‘strategic ambiguity’ regarding Taiwanese independence. As China will be looking at this election as an exacerbation of Taiwanese independence sentiments, China will likely be conducting major military drills in response to the election results.

-HomeFront-

Washington D.C. – Further reports indicate the gross negligence surrounding SECDEF Lloyd Austin’s hospitalization. Follow on information indicates that, during Austin’s initial transfer of command while under anesthesia, his Deputy (Kathleen Hicks) did not cancel her beach vacation in Puerto Rico, remaining outside the United States during this crisis of command.

Washington D.C. – Protesters supporting Palestine and Yemen breached White House security Saturday night, breaking through an outer perimeter fence.

-----END TEARLINE-----

Analyst Comments: The Dr. Strangelove-esque risks clearly and openly presented by senior defense officials are not simply grievances of a personal or political nature, but indicative of the gross incompetency within the National Command Authority (NCA) that has resulted in exceptionally grave strategic vulnerabilities being presented to the world. As a reminder, following the Chinese Spy Balloon incident last year, a slew of firings swept through STRATCOM, with many senior leaders being relieved of command. Many of these firings continue; even as recently as last September the commander of the 9th Bomb Squadron was relieved after only a few months of command. As the current crisis unfolded, the SECDEF was hospitalized with a life-threatening illness, his Deputy was on a beach in Puerto Rico, and the White House knew nothing about any of this for a period of four to seven days. During that time, questions remain as to how the NCA was expected to function, especially considering the planning efforts on the eve of a major military operation in the Middle East (the strikes in Yemen).

Analyst: S2A

//END REPORT//