Preparations For Gog-Magog Continue

How Erdogan is turning Turkey into a regional superpower

Neta Bar

The NATO leaders' summit in Ankara will give Recep Tayyip Erdogan a platform to showcase his security and diplomatic achievements, as well as his ambition to position Turkey as a regional and international power. From the defense industry to influence from Africa to the Caucasus: These are the Turkish president's goals.

The NATO summit taking place this week in Ankara marks a peak moment for Turkey in general and for its president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in particular. While many have criticized the coercive and aggressive foreign policy of the man who sought to restore the glory days of the Ottoman Empire, arguing that it was isolating Turkey and causing it economic harm, it now appears that the country is only consolidating its status as a regional power.

Anyone who has paid even slight attention to developments in the country over the past year can easily say that Turkey is in the midst of an unprecedented process of military buildup and armament, led by the Turkish military industry. In this sense, the NATO gathering in the Turkish capital provides an unprecedented opportunity for Turkish arms companies to increase sales.

"It is inconceivable to establish European security without Turkey," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, as he continuously pushed for Turkey's "inclusion" in all European defense and security structures, especially the European Union's €150 billion ($171 billion) SAFE program.

Turkey boasts the second-largest army in NATO after the United States, with 355,000 soldiers and another 378,000 reservists, while its defense industry has flourished markedly over the past decade. But Ankara wants to move beyond the role of supplier to that of a strategic partner capable of dictating policy.

Turkey's defense industry, ranked 11th in the world and accounting for 1.8% of the global arms market, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), saw exports rise by 48% in 2025, compared with 29% a year earlier, officials said.

"We are now achieving in one week what we used to achieve in one year," Erdogan said last month about Turkey's exports of drones, tanks, armored vehicles and warships, one of which was supplied to Romania and became the "first export of a military ship to a European Union and NATO member state." Turkey is also carving out a share of the lucrative market created by the war in Ukraine, supplying Kyiv with Bayraktar drones and building two advanced warships for the Ukrainian navy.

But Turkey does not aspire only to be an arms supplier. It also seeks to become a first-rate military power in the region and perhaps even in the world. Turkey's military spending reached $30 billion in 2025, exceeding the combined defense spending of its close neighbors and marking a significant shift in the regional balance of power, according to recently published data and regional assessments.

The total exceeds the estimated combined military budgets of Greece, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Armenia, Georgia and other neighboring countries, which together amounted to about $24 billion to $25 billion. The gap points to a growing disparity in defense capabilities across the region, shaped by overlapping security challenges.

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Vanishing Support For Israel: How Propaganda Rewrote Reality

Vanishing Support For Israel: How Propaganda Rewrote Reality

 PNW STAFF

There are few examples in modern history that better demonstrate the power of propaganda than the dramatic shift in American opinion toward Israel.

Less than two years ago, the civilized world watched in horror as Hamas terrorists stormed across Israel's border, massacring approximately 1,200 people, burning families alive, raping women, kidnapping children, and livestreaming their atrocities. The attack shocked the conscience of the world.

Yet today, millions of Americans--particularly younger Americans--have become convinced that Israel, not Hamas, is the villain. Poll after poll now shows support for Israel steadily declining across nearly every demographic, including among younger Republicans and even younger Evangelical Christians.

What happened?

The old saying remains true: Tell a lie often enough, and people will believe it.

The "Genocide" Narrative

Perhaps no accusation has spread faster than the claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

The word itself carries enormous emotional power. It evokes images of the Holocaust, Rwanda, Cambodia, and systematic attempts to exterminate an entire people.

But does it fit Gaza?

The facts suggest otherwise.

If Israel were attempting genocide, it would arguably be the least effective genocide in military history.

The Palestinian population has not collapsed--it has grown dramatically over the past several decades. Even during the conflict, demographic projections continue to show long-term population growth rather than extermination.

More importantly, Israel's military campaign has produced one of the lowest civilian-to-combatant casualty ratios ever recorded in urban warfare according to numerous military analysts.

Former commanders and urban warfare experts--including John Spencer of the Modern War Institute at West Point--have argued that despite fighting in one of the most densely populated battlefields on Earth against an enemy deliberately embedded among civilians, Israel has achieved a civilian casualty ratio that compares favorably with recent conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Mosul, and Raqqa.

Why?

Because Israel has repeatedly used methods almost unheard of in warfare:

* Advance evacuation warnings.

* Millions of leaflets.

* Text messages.

* Phone calls.

* "Roof knocking" warning munitions.

* Humanitarian corridors.

* Temporary pauses in fighting.

No military can eliminate civilian casualties when the opposing force intentionally hides inside schools, hospitals, mosques, apartment buildings, and refugee camps.

Hamas openly admits this strategy.

Who Is Counting The Dead?

Another uncomfortable reality rarely discussed is the source of the casualty figures dominating international headlines.

Nearly every major media outlet relies primarily upon statistics released by Gaza's Health Ministry.

That ministry is controlled by Hamas.

While many reports acknowledge this fact in passing, headlines often present the numbers as though they were independently verified.

Even more significant, Hamas' casualty reports generally do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

A 17-year-old Hamas fighter carrying an RPG and a 6-year-old child are frequently counted within the same overall total.

That distinction matters enormously.

The ministry has also faced repeated credibility questions throughout the war.

Early in the conflict, Hamas claimed an Israeli airstrike killed roughly 500 people at Gaza's Al-Ahli Hospital. Within days, U.S., European, and independent intelligence assessments concluded the explosion was most likely caused by a failed Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket and that the casualty count had been dramatically overstated.

Researchers have also identified anomalies in reported casualty lists, including duplicate identities, inconsistent demographic patterns, and statistical irregularities that raised questions about the reliability of some published data.

None of this means every reported death is false.

It does mean the numbers should be treated with caution--not accepted uncritically as unquestionable fact.

The Social Media War

For many younger Americans, TikTok has become more influential than history books.

Thirty-second emotional videos rarely explain Hamas' decades-long commitment to Israel's destruction, its charter calling for Israel's elimination, or its systematic use of human shields.

Algorithms reward outrage--not context.

Graphic images circulate instantly while military realities disappear behind emotionally charged slogans.

The result is a generation increasingly convinced that good and evil are reversed.

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Rumors Of War: China Is Rehearsing For War-And America Is Already Part Of The Script

China Is Rehearsing For War-And America Is Already Part Of The Script

PNW STAFF

For years, many Americans have viewed rising tensions over Taiwan as a distant geopolitical dispute--something happening on the other side of the Pacific with little bearing on daily life. But recent military developments suggest that China is no longer merely preparing to defend its interests. It is openly rehearsing how to defeat America's military should a conflict erupt.

That should get our attention.

In just the past year, China has accelerated military activities that paint a troubling picture. It recently conducted a rare intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch into the Pacific from a nuclear-powered submarine--the first such publicly known submarine-based test in roughly four decades and only the second long-range Pacific demonstration in modern history. 

Although the missile reportedly carried a dummy warhead, the message was unmistakable: China wants the world to know its nuclear deterrent is becoming increasingly mobile, survivable, and capable of reaching targets across the globe.

At nearly the same time, newly released satellite imagery revealed China constructing yet another replica of a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer deep in the Taklamakan Desert. This wasn't built for tourism or propaganda. Analysts believe it is another target used to refine China's anti-ship missile capabilities.

In other words, Beijing isn't simply talking about defeating American warships--it is practicing.

And it isn't stopping there.

Over recent years, China has also built mock versions of Taiwan's Presidential Office, government buildings, and city streets for military exercises. These facilities allow the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to rehearse urban assaults, command seizures, and precision strikes against Taiwan's political leadership.

Military planners often say armies fight the way they train.

China is training for Taiwan.

China now possesses the world's largest navy by number of warships, with well over 370 battle force ships and submarines--a number expected to continue growing. While the United States still enjoys advantages in global reach, carrier aviation, and combat experience, China's naval expansion has been breathtaking.

Over the past year alone, Beijing has continued commissioning advanced destroyers, frigates, amphibious assault ships, and nuclear-powered submarines while expanding its aircraft carrier program. The sea trials of its next-generation carrier, *Fujian*, represent another milestone. Unlike China's earlier carriers, *Fujian* employs electromagnetic catapults similar to those used by the U.S. Navy, allowing heavier aircraft and more efficient launch operations.

China has also dramatically expanded its coast guard and maritime militia--civilian-looking vessels that increasingly serve strategic military purposes by harassing Philippine, Vietnamese, and Taiwanese ships without technically triggering open warfare.

These are not isolated developments.

They form part of a comprehensive strategy.

Why Now?

Timing matters.

China's economy has slowed considerably compared to the explosive growth that fueled its rise over the past two decades. Domestic challenges--from youth unemployment to real estate instability--have increased pressure on Beijing's leadership.

History shows governments facing internal difficulties sometimes emphasize external threats to rally national unity.

At the same time, President Xi Jinping has repeatedly declared that "reunification" with Taiwan cannot be postponed indefinitely. U.S. intelligence officials have stated that Xi has instructed the PLA to be capable of conducting an invasion of Taiwan by 2027--not that war is inevitable by then, but that the military should be ready if ordered.

Readiness requires rehearsal.

The missile tests.

The mock American warships.

The simulated Taiwanese government buildings.

The massive naval exercises surrounding Taiwan.

These pieces fit together.

Taiwan Isn't "Their Problem"

Many Americans understandably ask: Why should we care?

Because if Taiwan falls, the consequences won't stay in Asia.

Taiwan manufactures roughly 90% of the world's most advanced semiconductors. Those tiny chips power nearly everything--smartphones, automobiles, hospital equipment, artificial intelligence systems, financial networks, military hardware, and electrical infrastructure.

Disruption to Taiwan's semiconductor industry would ripple through the global economy almost immediately.

Beyond economics lies credibility.

The United States has spent decades building alliances throughout the Indo-Pacific. Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Philippines all rely upon American security commitments. If China successfully seized Taiwan without meaningful resistance, allies across the region would inevitably question whether America's security guarantees still carry weight.

That uncertainty could trigger a regional arms race--or encourage other authoritarian powers to pursue territorial ambitions of their own.

China's military pressure rarely makes front-page news because much of it happens incrementally.

Nearly every week, Chinese aircraft cross Taiwan's air defense identification zone.

Chinese naval vessels circle the island.

Cyberattacks probe Taiwanese infrastructure.

Spy balloons, underwater cables, satellite surveillance, electronic warfare, and increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence are becoming integral parts of Beijing's strategy.

Each operation gathers intelligence.

Each exercise identifies weaknesses.

Each test conditions the world to accept a slightly higher level of aggression than before.

This is sometimes called the "boiling frog" strategy--not one dramatic act, but a steady escalation that gradually normalizes behavior once considered extraordinary.

When Every Device Becomes A Tracking Device

When Every Device Becomes A Tracking Device

BY PNW STAFF

There was a time when leaving home meant leaving a trail only if someone happened to see you. Today, without ever touching your phone, sending a text, or making a call, you may already be broadcasting your location to dozens of nearby sensors.

And now, a new surveillance technology promises to stitch all those electronic breadcrumbs together.

It is called SignalTrace, and while its name may be unfamiliar today, the technology behind it offers a revealing glimpse into where modern surveillance is heading. Developed by global defense and security giant Leonardo, SignalTrace is designed to help law enforcement identify not merely vehicles, but the people traveling inside them. 

Rather than relying solely on license plates, it correlates the unique wireless signals emitted by smartphones, Bluetooth devices, vehicle systems, RFID tags, tire-pressure monitoring sensors, and other electronic devices to create what the company describes as an "electronic fingerprint."

Unlike Hollywood hacking scenes, the system is not reading your text messages or listening to your phone calls. Instead, it collects the identifiers constantly emitted by many of the wireless devices we carry every day. Individually, those signals reveal very little. But together they create a remarkably distinctive signature—one that can potentially be associated with a specific vehicle, tracked over time, and recognized again and again.

In many ways, SignalTrace represents the next evolution of automated license plate readers. Those systems were originally introduced to identify stolen vehicles and locate wanted criminals. Few objected. Catching dangerous offenders seemed a reasonable use of technology.

But surveillance technologies rarely remain confined to their original purpose.

Over the past two decades, governments have quietly assembled an increasingly interconnected web of digital observation. Security cameras became high-definition networks. License plate readers expanded from isolated police departments into nationwide databases. Smartphones evolved into constant sources of location information. Facial recognition became capable of identifying individuals within seconds. Financial transactions, online activity, and digital identities have become increasingly centralized.

Each advancement was introduced independently, usually accompanied by assurances that it would only be used for limited, legitimate purposes.

Yet taken together, they paint a very different picture.

SignalTrace is noteworthy not simply because of what it can do today, but because of what it represents. It seeks to bridge the gap between vehicles and occupants, allowing investigators to associate recurring collections of electronic devices with specific people rather than merely tracking a license plate. A car can change owners. A license plate can be replaced. But the combination of your smartphone, smartwatch, wireless earbuds, vehicle electronics, and other nearby devices creates a much more persistent digital signature.

The technology itself is impressive.

The broader implications are sobering.

Artificial intelligence has dramatically accelerated those implications. A decade ago, even if governments collected billions of data points, making sense of them required enormous human effort. Today, AI systems can rapidly analyze vast quantities of information, identify recurring patterns, uncover associations, and reconstruct what security professionals call a "pattern of life."

Israel prepares post-Hezbollah Lebanon peace pact

Israel prepares post-Hezbollah Lebanon peace pact

Joshua Marks, JNS

Israel is working to draft a comprehensive peace agreement framework with Lebanon that could be implemented once Hezbollah is no longer a factor, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said on Monday.

Speaking at a Council on Foreign Relations event in Washington, Leiter said Jerusalem aims to prepare a “full-fledged peace agreement, A-Z” and “put it on the shelf,” ready for use when conditions allow.

“Imagine for a moment that there is no Hezbollah, just Lebanon and Israel,” he said, outlining a vision that includes trade, visas, embassies, and tourism.

During the fifth round of talks in Washington on June 26, representatives of Beirut and Jerusalem, including Leiter, signed a U.S.-brokered framework agreement that, among other provisions, calls for the disarmament of the Iranian terrorist proxy.

Leiter said Israeli and Lebanese teams are expected to meet in Rome on July 14–15 to begin discussions through working groups on key issues, including border disputes.

“It would be like negotiating the Abraham Accords,” he said, noting that points of contention would be addressed through structured talks between “two sovereign countries” recognizing each other’s security needs.

The U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords were initiated in 2020 during President Donald Trump’s first term, normalizing relations with several countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

The Israeli and Italian foreign ministers on Tuesday confirmed next week’s Rome meetings.

“Less than two weeks ago, Israel, Lebanon and the United States reached a historic framework agreement. These talks are due to continue next week in Rome, Italy,” Sa’ar said alongside his German counterpart, who was visiting Jerusalem to sign a Yad Vashem Holocaust museum funding accord.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that the next round of U.S.-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon will be held in Rome, describing the city as a “crossroads of peace and dialogue.”

Tajani said Italy had previously expressed its willingness to host negotiations and support efforts to advance regional peace, citing the government’s diplomatic engagement and international role.