The Bolduc Brief: The Trump Administration’s Peace Plan for Gaza – An Inevitable Collapse

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

The recent diplomatic developments concerning Gaza have been met with skepticism and the unmistakable signs of disintegration. As the Trump administration’s efforts to broker peace in the region falter, one cannot help but reflect on the fundamental flaws embedded in the plan itself. With a contentious history and complicated dynamics in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the expectation that such a plan would succeed is audacious at best. This article outlines several critical factors that contribute to the collapse of the Trump administration’s diplomatic deal in Gaza, including the inherent unreliability of Hamas, the errors in proposing an international coalition to build a new Palestine, and the untenable nature of key components of the Trump administration’s approach.

Lack of Trust in Hamas
First and foremost, any diplomatic initiative that seeks to engage effectively with Hamas—a designated terrorist organization by the United States and several other nations—faces an uphill battle. The organization’s track record is one of violence, broken agreements, and unilateral actions that undermine any semblance of trustworthiness. Given this history, the Trump administration’s expectation that it could negotiate in good faith with Hamas was fundamentally flawed.
Hamas has consistently demonstrated its unwillingness to adhere to ceasefires, peace talks, or negotiations that do not align with its ideological objectives. By engaging with Hamas without requiring significant concessions or guarantees, the Trump administration set the stage for potential backfiring. The group’s engagement in escalatory tactics, such as rocket fire into Israel and instigating violence, illustrated a pattern that undermined the credibility of any peace deal. Without a reliable partner committed to lasting peace, the prospect of a successful diplomatic resolution was, from the outset, highly improbable.
The Impracticality of Coalition Troops
Second, the Trump administration’s proposal of developing a new Palestinian state and a police force supported by coalition troops from various Arab nations, particularly Turkey, was fraught with practical and political challenges. The idea presupposed a level of regional cooperation that simply did not exist. Israel and Arab nations have their own geopolitical interests and adversarial relationships, which complicate the prospect of a unified front in establishing and maintaining stability in a new Palestinian state.
Furthermore, the notion of Turkish troops participating raises additional concerns. Turkey’s aspirations in the region, often at odds with those of Israel and Arab neighbors, suggest that a coalition led by such a power could breed further distrust among Palestinian leadership and citizens. The concept fails to consider the deeply rooted sentiments and national identities within Palestinian society, where external military presence might be seen as occupation rather than support. A sustainable peace in Gaza necessitates a locally led initiative rather than one imposed from outside, further negating the viability of the Trump administration’s plan.

Incompatibility of Key Components
Finally, key components of the Trump administration’s approach rendered the strategy untenable from the very beginning. The plan’s preconditions often disregarded established frameworks for peace, notably the two-state solution, which has long been championed by a broad international consensus as the pathway to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By sidelining the two-state solution and neglecting the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians for statehood and self-determination, the Trump administration alienated the very stakeholders necessary for a successful resolution.
Moreover, the proposal relied too heavily on economic incentives without addressing the core political issues at play. Promises of financial investment and development could not replace the need for political dialogue and recognition. Peace cannot be purchased; it must be negotiated with mutual respect and understanding among the parties involved. The failure to prioritize political dialogue ultimately doomed the entire initiative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Trump administration should not be surprised by the signs of the diplomatic deal in Gaza falling apart; the very foundations of the plan were riddled with miscalculations and oversights. The lack of trust in Hamas, the impracticality of advocating for coalition troops from Arab nations, and the incompatible nature of key components of the proposal significantly hindered its potential for success. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains one of the most complex and sensitive geopolitical issues facing the world today, demanding careful consideration, empathy, and genuine commitment from all parties involved. Any future attempts at resolution must learn from the failures of past initiatives and prioritize inclusivity, dialogue, and the rightful aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. Without such an approach, any peace plan is destined to fail.
Donald C. Bolduc

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Medal of Honor Monday: James H. Howard’s One-Man Air Force

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

Before the cockpit
James Howell Howard began life a long way from the American Midwest. He was born on April 8, 1913, in Canton, China, where his American father taught eye surgery at Canton Christian College. The family returned to St. Louis in 1927, and Howard graduated from John Burroughs School before heading to Pomona College in California. He planned on medicine until flying caught his eye late in his senior year. In 1938, he chose the Navy cockpit over the clinic, earned his wings at Pensacola, and headed to carrier duty out of Pearl Harbor. That turn set the trajectory for one of the great air combat stories of the war.

What happens when you mix @michaeljknowles and Humphrey Bogart. You get James H. Howard who’s a medal of Honor recipient pic.twitter.com/BLPNI2JD5H
— Clay (@GhostStalker451) January 13, 2024

From Flying Tiger to Mustang leader
In mid-1941, Howard left the Navy to join Claire Chennault’s American Volunteer Group (AVG). He flew P-40s with the AVG’s Panda Bears squadron over Burma and China. Across 56 missions, he was credited with six Japanese aircraft destroyed, including a tight scrap over Rangoon and Hengyang. He also learned a phrase that would follow him across two oceans. “Ding Hao” — a colloquial Chinese expression roughly meaning number one or top good — became the name on his Mustang later in Europe.
When the AVG disbanded in 1942, Howard returned to U.S. service, transitioned through the P-38 and P-39, and took command of the 356th Fighter Squadron in the 354th Fighter Group in England. His unit was among the first in theater to work the P-51B hard as a long-range escort.
Oschersleben, January 11, 1944
Howard’s Medal of Honor action reads like fiction until you check the mission logs. Escorting B-17s to the German aircraft works at Oschersleben, his P-51B became separated from the group after downing a German Bf 110. He climbed back to the bombers and found them under attack with no friendly cover in sight. For about thirty minutes, he repeatedly hurled a single Mustang into a swarm of Luftwaffe fighters, breaking up passes and shooting down three confirmed despite three of his four guns eventually failing and his fuel running low. Bomber crews watched a lone Mustang carve a shield around them. The Medal of Honor citation names his target area, his unit, and the timeline of those attacks. The medal was presented in London on June 27, 1944, by Lt. Gen. Carl Spaatz.
Reporters descended on him the next week in London. Stars and Stripes correspondent Andy Rooney called it the greatest fighter pilot story of the war, and the press ran with headlines like One Man Air Force. Claims varied in the papers, as claims do, but the official credit stands at three destroyed that day, and six Luftwaffe kills in Europe overall. He had six with the Flying Tigers in Asia, which made him an ace in two theaters.
The Citation
His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Oschersleben, Germany on 11 January 1944. On that day Col. Howard was the leader of a group of P-51 aircraft providing support for a heavy bomber formation on a long-range mission deep in enemy territory. As Col. Howard’s group met the bombers in the target area the bomber force was attacked by numerous enemy fighters. Col. Howard, with his group, at once engaged the enemy and himself destroyed a German ME. 110. As a result of this attack Col. Howard lost contact with his group, and at once returned to the level of the bomber formation. He then saw that the bombers were being heavily attacked by enemy airplanes and that no other friendly fighters were at hand. While Col. Howard could have waited to attempt to assemble his group before engaging the enemy, he chose instead to attack singlehandedly a formation of more than 30 German airplanes. With utter disregard for his own safety he immediately pressed home determined attacks for some 30 minutes, during which time he destroyed three enemy airplanes and probably destroyed and damaged others. Toward the end of this engagement three of his guns went out of action and his fuel supply was becoming dangerously low. Despite these handicaps and the almost insuperable odds against him, Col. Howard continued his aggressive action in an attempt to protect the bombers from the numerous fighters. His skill, courage, and intrepidity on this occasion set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.

Interesting kernels you can use at the bar
Howard named his Mustang Ding Hao because of his China years. The nose carried his AVG Japanese victory flags alongside fresh Luftwaffe markings in Europe. The slang itself filtered into American usage among pilots who had rotated through China. It was a small signature that said where he learned his trade.
He is often described as the only fighter pilot in the European Theater to receive the Medal of Honor. Aviation historians sometimes flag that phrasing because 1st Lt. Raymond L. Knight received the Medal of Honor in the Mediterranean. Either way, Howard’s London press conference and the bomber crews’ eyewitness accounts cemented his action as a singular moment in Eighth and Ninth Air Force lore.
His aircraft details draw modelers even now. Early in his tour, Ding Hao retained the original P-51B canopy and sported recognition markings that later changed as the squadron standardized fits. The Boxted Airfield Museum in the U.K. hosts a plaque honoring his January 11 fight.
James Howard with his North American P-51B-5 Mustang (serial number 43-6315), Ding Hao, in England, 1944.
After the war
Howard stayed in uniform through the transition to a separate U.S. Air Force. He was promoted to brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve and later commanded the 96th Bombardment Group. As a civilian, he became Director of Aeronautics for the City of St. Louis, managing Lambert Field. He founded Howard Research, a systems engineering firm, which he eventually sold to Control Data Corporation. In 1991, he published his autobiography, Roar of the Tiger, and retired to Florida, where a permanent exhibit honoring him stands at St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport. He died in 1995 and is buried at Arlington.
Why he still matters
Howard showed what flying as an escort really means. It is not merely paint or formation geometry. It is a pilot who refuses to let the enemy near his bombers even when he is alone and out of ammunition. The crews who made it home that day remembered the single Mustang that kept arriving at the edge of every attack. The record shows three kills. The memory that mattered showed a wall of defiance where there should have been none.

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Scientists Develop “Effort.jl” Emulator That Can Simulate the Entire Universe—on Just a Laptop

Military & Secret Tech, Space & Science, UFOs & Disclosure / memoment editorial

For most of human history, mapping the universe meant staring up at the night sky. Today, it means crunching trillions of data points drawn from the faint light of billions of galaxies.
However, as cosmic surveys like the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) and Europe’s Euclid mission gather vast amounts of data, astronomers are hitting a computational wall.
Now, building on these challenges, an international team led by physicist Dr. Marco Bonici at the University of Waterloo has unveiled a breakthrough tool that could redefine how cosmologists turn that data into understanding.
Called “Effort.jl,” it is a high-speed, differentiable “emulator”—a kind of machine-learning model that mimics the behavior of extremely complex cosmological simulations. According to the developers, Effort.jl is capable of mapping the large-scale structure of the universe in a fraction of the time traditional methods require.
Their results, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics (JCAP) in September 2025, show that Effort.jl can perform calculations up to three orders of magnitude faster than conventional pipelines while maintaining near-perfect accuracy.
“Using Effort.jl, we can run through complex data sets on models like EFTofLSS, which have previously needed a lot of time and computer power,” Dr. Bonici said in a statement. “With projects like DESI and Euclid expanding our knowledge of the universe and creating even larger astronomical datasets to explore, Effort.jl allows researchers to analyze data faster, inexpensively, and multiple times while making small changes based on nuances in the data.”
Modern cosmology is driven by vast datasets—from galaxy clustering surveys to measurements of cosmic microwave background ripples. To interpret this data, researchers rely on the Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure (EFTofLSS), a mathematical framework that links the visible distribution of galaxies to the invisible scaffolding of dark matter.
One problem is that EFTofLSS computations are incredibly expensive. Traditional tools, such as CLASS, CAMB, and pyBird, can take seconds to minutes for each likelihood evaluation, and full Bayesian analyses require millions of such calculations. That means even with supercomputers, generating a high-resolution “map” of cosmic structure can take days or weeks.
Dr. Bonici’s team built Effort.jl to address this issue. Written in the Julia programming language, often prized in the scientific community for combining Python-like ease with C-level speed, the new emulator replaces the slowest steps of these analyses with a neural network that predicts their outputs almost instantly.
At its core, Effort.jl acts as a surrogate model for the EFTofLSS, using a carefully trained neural network to reproduce the galaxy power spectrum. This is the statistical fingerprint of how galaxies cluster across cosmic scales. By combining physics-based preprocessing with machine learning, it achieves both speed and precision.
One of its key design features is that it remains fully differentiable, allowing scientists to utilize powerful gradient-based inference techniques, such as Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC). These methods can navigate complex, high-dimensional parameter spaces far more efficiently than the random-walk algorithms most cosmologists still use.
In the team’s tests, Effort.jl could compute the galaxy power spectrum in about 15 microseconds on a single CPU core. When paired with modern probabilistic programming frameworks such as Turing.jl, it achieved Bayesian convergence in roughly ten minutes on a laptop. This is compared to many hours on computing clusters using older software.
To validate its accuracy, the researchers applied Effort.jl to the PT-challenge simulations, a massive suite of high-precision cosmological mock universes, as well as the real-world Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) data.
In both cases, Effort.jl’s results agreed “within Monte Carlo noise” with those produced by pybird, the current workhorse of EFTofLSS analysis. Yet it finished in a fraction of the time.
“The entire analysis with Effort.jl required approximately ten minutes on a laptop and converged to the same posterior distribution as pybird,” the researchers write. “We stress that, given the large volume of the PT-challenge, this is a very stringent test of the accuracy [of] our emulator.”
Put simply, Effort.jl allows scientists to perform simulations that once required a supercomputer on a personal laptop.
While Effort.jl relies on neural networks, it isn’t what scientists call a “black-box AI.” In typical black-box systems, an algorithm may learn to make accurate predictions, but it does so without offering any insight into how those answers arise. This is a significant drawback in a field like cosmology, where physical understanding is as important as precision.
In contrast, Effort.jl employs what the authors describe as “physics-based preprocessing”—scaling and normalizing its inputs and outputs according to established physical laws, such as the evolution of the cosmic growth factor D(z) with redshift.
This approach anchors the neural network in established theory, enabling it to focus solely on the complex, nonlinear features that are most challenging to model. The result is an emulator that combines the interpretability of physics with the efficiency of AI—delivering speed without sacrificing scientific transparency.
Researchers even experimented with symbolic regression, a method that searches for human-readable equations instead of opaque neural weights. By finding an analytical approximation for the cosmic growth factor, they cut one of the emulator’s remaining bottlenecks, reducing a 150-microsecond calculation to just 200 nanoseconds.
“We were able to validate the predictions coming out of Effort.jl by aligning them with those coming out of EFTofLSS,” Dr. Bonici said. “The margin of error was small and showed us that the calculations coming out of Effort.jl are strong. Effort.jl can also handle observational quirks like distortions in data and can be customized very easily to the needs of the researcher.”
With instruments like DESI now cataloging tens of millions of galaxies and Euclid returning its first sky maps from orbit, cosmologists are entering what many call the “petabyte era” of data. The challenge isn’t collecting information anymore—it’s keeping up with it.
This is where Effort.jl could become indispensable. By making advanced modeling orders of magnitude faster, it enables researchers to run more exhaustive parameter scans, test exotic theories of dark energy, and integrate multiple datasets. This could include galaxy clustering or the cosmic microwave background. All in a single coherent analysis.
Because Effort.jl was built on top of AbstractCosmologicalEmulators.jl, its architecture is modular. This means the same framework can be retrained for other cosmological codes or even for entirely different physical domains, such as plasma physics and quantum materials. The team is already developing a Python-compatible JAX version to broaden adoption.
In practical terms, tools like Effort.jl could significantly reduce the time between data collection and discovery, enabling scientists to test new cosmological models nearly as quickly as telescopes can gather information.

That means faster updates to our estimates of the universe’s expansion rate, more precise measurements of dark matter’s distribution, and tighter constraints on the elusive properties of dark energy—the mysterious force driving the cosmos apart.
By streamlining this process, Effort.jl doesn’t just help researchers crunch numbers; it helps refine the very story of how the universe evolved and where it might be headed.
Equally as important is that the same computational advances that make Effort.jl so powerful—fast, interpretable machine learning combined with physics-based modeling—are already finding uses beyond cosmology.
Similar techniques could enhance weather and climate models, refine medical imaging, or even expedite the development of next-generation materials and energy systems.
By teaching computers to understand the universe in a manner similar to scientists, Effort.jl could help humanity make sense of everything, from the largest cosmic structures to the smallest technologies that shape daily life.
“The modular structure of Effort.jl is sufficiently general to support compatibility with other EFT-based codes,” the researchers conclude. “This flexibility opens the door for training Effort.jl to emulate these codes as well, broadening its application and usability.”
Ultimately, the breakthrough isn’t just about making cosmology faster—it’s about changing how scientists interact with data itself. By merging physics-informed machine learning with next-generation probabilistic programming, Effort.jl transforms the process of cosmic inference from a computationally intensive task into something nearly interactive.
For the first time, researchers could explore the universe’s deepest questions, from the nature of dark energy to the sum of neutrino masses, in real time.
The team has made Effort.jl freely available to the public, continuing a growing trend toward open, collaborative science in cosmology. The software is available on GitHub under an open-source MIT license, complete with documentation and example data for researchers to build upon.
By sharing the code behind their breakthrough, the authors aim to accelerate discovery not only within their own field, but across any discipline where understanding complex systems—from the cosmos to quantum materials—requires both speed and transparency.
“While previous codes have laid the groundwork,” researchers conclude, “Effort.jl offers a distinct advantage for analyses centered on gradient-based techniques, providing a robust and flexible toolkit tailored to the evolving needs of modern cosmological research.”
Tim McMillan is a retired law enforcement executive, investigative reporter and co-founder of The Debrief. His writing typically focuses on defense, national security, the Intelligence Community and topics related to psychology. You can follow Tim on Twitter: @LtTimMcMillan. Tim can be reached by email: tim@thedebrief.org or through encrypted email: LtTimMcMillan@protonmail.com

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NemoSens Micro-AUV of RTsys enhances Ukraine’s Underwater Demining Efforts

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

RTsys has supported French company GEOMINES pioneering a six-week training program for 24 operators from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (SESU), deploying the world’s only commercially available micro-AUV system currently operational in active conflict zones.

RTsys press release

This unprecedented initiative, conducted from September 8 to October 16, 2024, demonstrates the operational superiority, robustness, and real-world data management capabilities of RTsys’ micro-AUVs—proven in the most demanding environments.

The closing ceremony, attended by H.E. Gaël Veyssière, Ambassador of France to Ukraine, and the First Deputy Director of SESU, marked the certification of Ukrainian operators, now fully trained to deploy RTsys’ battle-tested micro-AUV NemoSens as unique shallow-water demining platform in live demining operations.

The Only Micro-AUV in the World Deployed in Active Conflict Zones

RTsys’ COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) micro-AUV stands as the sole system of its kind globally to be operationally deployed in real-world conflict scenarios, including Ukraine’s war-torn waterways. Unlike experimental or military-exclusive prototypes, RTsys’ micro-AUVs have proven their reliability, durability, and data management superiority in high-threat environments, setting a new standard for underwater demining technology.

“RTsys’ micro-AUV is not just a theoretical solution—it is the only system in the world today that has been battle-tested in real conflict zones,” declared François-Xavier de Cointet, CEO of RTsys. “Its deployment in Ukraine proves that our technology doesn’t just work in controlled environments—it excels where it matters most: in saving lives under fire.”

Operational Success in Ukraine: A Testament to RTsys’ Leadership

During the training, SESU operators conducted real-world exercises using RTsys’ micro-AUVs to detect and map potential submerged explosives in lakes and rivers, areas previously considered too risky or inaccessible, to neutralize threats remotely using ROV-assisted disposal techniques, minimizing human exposure, and to finish processing and analyzing sonar data in real time with dedicated software, enabling rapid decision-making in dynamic environments.

“Before this training, underwater demining in shallow waters was nearly impossible,” said Pierre-Alexandre CAUX, RTsys Business Director. “Now, with RTsys’ micro-AUVs, we can detect, identify, and eliminate threats with confidence, even in the most challenging conditions.”

A Strategic Partnership for Ukraine’s Recovery

RTsys picture

This initiative reinforces France’s commitment to Ukraine’s security by providing operationally proven technology to secure critical water infrastructure, accelerating humanitarian demining in high-risk areas and reducing casualties among demining teams thanks to underwater robotics.

“This is just the beginning,” said Pierre-Alexandre CAUX, “our micro-AUVs are saving lives in Ukraine, and we’re just getting started.”

With a track record of success in active conflict zones, RTsys’ micro-AUVs are redefining underwater threat detection.

– End –

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French Navy to Become First European Military Operator of the Pilatus PC-24

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

The French Navy is set to become the first European military operator of the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet. The aircraft fleet will be procured from Pilatus and leased to the French Navy by Jet Aviation France, acting as the prime contractor. Delivery of the first of three PC-24s is scheduled for February 2026.

Pilatus press release

Designed for exceptional operational flexibility, the PC-24 is certified for single-pilot operations, equipped with a standard cargo door, and approved for use on unpaved runways. These features make the aircraft ideally suited for a wide range of government missions, including instrument flight rules (IFR) pilot training, transport, and liaison tasks. Pilatus will provide its comprehensive CrystalCare support program, ensuring maximum availability and efficient maintenance for the fleet.

Delivering Mission-Ready Support and Maintenance

“It has been a privilege to work together with the Direction de la Maintenance Aéronautique (DMAé) and Pilatus on the selection and acquisition of the new fleet of PC-24s for the French Navy,” says Jeremie Caillet, Jet Aviation’s president. “With over 55 years of maintenance experience, including over 35 years working with governmental fleets, we are committed to providing our customers with solutions that are specifically tailored to meet their individual mission needs. We are delighted to build on our long-standing relationship with Pilatus to propose an acquisition and sustainment program that meets the requirements of the French Navy in terms of both the aircraft and ongoing maintenance and preparation of the fleet.”

The PC-24’s entry into European military service underscores the aircraft’s versatility and aligns with Pilatus Government Aviation’s focus on providing state operators with mission-ready solutions that extend beyond traditional training roles.

Ioannis Papachristofilou, Vice President Government Aviation at Pilatus, emphasizes: “We are delighted to see the PC-24 selected for the French Navy’s operational needs, highlighting its unique capabilities as a flexible and reliable platform for government missions. Our collaboration with Jet Aviation has been exemplary and instrumental in achieving this success, and we look forward to the first delivery in a few months.”

The latest version of the PC-24

The PC-24 is the world’s first business jet made to operate on short, unpaved runways. The Pilatus Advanced Cockpit Environment (ACE) comes with a wealth of functions to deliver an exceptionally user-friendly smart cockpit approved for singlepilot operation. The PC-24’s cabin volume surpasses even that of business jets costing up to twice as much. The latest version also has improved range and payload capacity.

– End –

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Australian Government and industry partners reach SSN AUKUS agreement

AUKUS: Launch of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

The Australian Government has delivered a key milestone in Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine program with the establishment of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator.

Australian Government press release

The new statutory Agency is responsible for the effective regulatory oversight of Australia’s naval nuclear propulsion capabilities, providing independent assurance that the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection are upheld.

The Albanese Government is pleased to announce Mr Michael Drake as the inaugural Director-General of the new regulatory Agency.

Mr Drake brings to the role technical expertise and a decade of maritime regulation experience, including most recently as the Executive Director of Operations with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and before that 15 years in the Royal Australian Navy where he served primarily in Australia’s Collins class submarines.

Commencing with over 70 trained staff, the new Agency has been working closely with the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the Commonwealth authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety, to ensure a smooth transition of regulatory oversight.

The new Agency is headquartered in Canberra and has a presence across the country as well as overseas. With personnel embedded in the United States and United Kingdom, the Agency’s workforce harnesses a broad range of skillsets to make independent and informed regulatory decisions.

Over the coming years, it will continue to expand its footprint in Western Australia and South Australia.

The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulations 2025, relating to licensing facilities and materials for activities related to naval nuclear propulsion, have been made following extensive consultation, including formal public consultation in July 2025.

Subsequent regulations will focus on future phases of the optimal pathway including Australia’s acquisition and operation of Virginia class submarines and the construction and operation of Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines.

This new regulatory framework is underpinned by the highest international nuclear safety standards, drawing on more than 70 years of safe nuclear propulsion practices in the United States and United Kingdom, tailored to Australia’s operating environment.

Relevant licences issued by ARPANSA, including in relation to the Controlled Industrial Facility at HMAS Stirling, will now transition to the new Regulator.

ARPANSA will continue to provide scientific and technical support to the new Regulator, and the two Regulators will work together to support consistent nuclear and radiological safety across Australia’s military and civilian activities.

The Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity within the Defence portfolio, and is established under the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Act 2024.

“Today marks another important step in the delivery of Australia’s conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.“This new Agency will play a key role in ensuring the highest standards of nuclear safety and stewardship.“I congratulate Mr Drake on his appointment as Director-General, and commend everyone involved for the work they have done to deliver a fit-for-purpose legislative and regulatory framework.”Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Richard Marles MP

“I am proud to be leading the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator and recognise its important role in delivering Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines.“The agency brings expertise from across Australia and internationally, with a clear mandate to deliver independent, evidence-based regulation.“We are committed to working with all Australian stakeholders and our AUKUS partners to uphold the highest standards of nuclear safety and radiological protection.”Director-General, Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator, Mr Michael Drake

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Evening Brief: Harvard Medical School Explosion Believed to Be Intentional, Chicago Takes on ICE Block by Block, Hegseth Hits Hanoi

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

Before Dawn at Harvard Med: Fourth-Floor Blast, Two Masked Suspects on the Run
At 2:48 a.m. Saturday, a blast punched through the fourth floor of the Goldenson Building at Harvard Medical School’s Longwood campus in Boston. The fire alarm drew a Harvard University Police officer to the scene. He arrived in time to see two figures sprinting away, one in a balaclava, the other in a hoodie with their face covered. By the time he could close distance, they were gone.

Boston Fire’s arson unit took the first hard look and reached a quick conclusion. This was intentional. Investigators have not released the design or composition of the device beyond confirming it was explosive in nature and not a conventional bomb. That distinction matters to the technicians who will reverse engineer the debris, because form tells you about the maker and the maker tells you about motive. Right now, motive is the blank space on the board.
A full sweep of the building turned up no secondary devices. That was the first piece of good news. The second was that no one was hurt. For a research tower that normally keeps odd hours and sensitive work, this could have ended worse. Think of an explosion inside a lab building like a fuse lit inside a library. The first flash is bad. The shelves it can ignite are worse.
Harvard University Police are running point with Boston police, state authorities, and the FBI on site. The FBI’s Boston Field Office calls the case active, which is the careful way of saying that agents are knocking on doors, pulling camera angles, and comparing the suspects’ movement to every exit path in the neighborhood. Surveillance footage has already been released that shows the two masked runners. Someone will recognize a gait, a jacket, or the way a person carries their shoulders when they move at speed.
Campus security across the Longwood medical area will tighten. Expect more ID checks, more closed doors after hours, more cameras reviewed instead of ignored. That is not panic. It is what you do after someone tests your perimeter and finds a seam.

If you were in the area around 2:45 to 3:15 a.m., you might hold a piece of the timeline. A rideshare ping, a late walk with the dog, a phone video of sirens. Call it in. The fastest way to find people who run from explosions is to make the city smaller for them, one confirmed sighting at a time.

🚨 BREAKING: An intentional explosion hit Harvard Medical School’s Goldenson Building around 3 a.m. Saturday.
The site houses MAJOR biomedical research labs.
No injuries reported, but two suspects fled the scene. The FBI and Boston police are investigating the attack. pic.twitter.com/UYrWadfYnJ
— Timcast News (@TimcastNews) November 2, 2025

Chicago’s Block-by-Block Pushback on ICE
Is the city of Chicago trying to secede from the United States? If not, they certainly are acting like it.
The Windy City is treating federal immigration raids like a neighborhood problem, which means neighbors are acting like a neighborhood. People pass word, show up, and hold a line. Since early September 2025, as federal enforcement ramped up in the city and suburbs, resistance has taken on a daily, almost routine rhythm around the Broadview ICE facility and across diverse blocks that share one rule. Nobody gets left behind in their front against the feds.
The communication net is the backbone. Facebook groups and encrypted Signal chats move tips at speed. Tens of thousands of residents report plate numbers, vehicle models, and agent locations. It is not glamorous, but it is disciplined. When a city can track you like a parade route, your raid gets harder to pull off. Activists say the chatter has forced ICE teams to wave off and leave without arrests more than once. That is the tactical effect of a community that treats information like security. This is organized resistance, but by whom?
Protesters have answered with presence, not poetry. They gather at facilities and in the streets where agents operate. The response from federal teams has been hard, with tear gas, pepper balls, and baton pushes used to clear lanes for vehicles. Local police have made arrests that mix public order concerns with First Amendment rights, and that balance is getting tested in real time.
Operation Midway Blitz is the federal campaign driving the tempo. By local counts, it has produced more than 3,000 arrests since September. With the pace has come sharper confrontations. Residents and advocates describe unorthodox and forceful tactics by agents, including repeated tear gas use, ramming with vehicles, Tasers, gunfire, and at least one fatal shooting. You do not have to agree on immigration policy to recognize that this level of force drags a fight out of the shadows and into living rooms. But it does make one wonder why residents are resisting enforcing the law to the extent that they are.
The city’s answer has been stubborn solidarity. People form human shields. They map routes. They warn each other before a knock hits the door. Community leaders and elected officials have criticized the raids as abusive and harmful, and they have called for tighter limits and stronger protections for immigrant rights. Hundreds of arrests among protesters have not quieted the pushback. If anything, they have packed the ranks.
Think of Chicago as a radio with the volume cranked up to ten. Every block chat, every sidewalk protest, every plate number called in raises the noise floor around enforcement. Agents rely on surprise. Residents are betting on daylight. One side moves in silence. The other makes the city louder until silence becomes impossible.
Where does this all end? Stay tuned.

Chicago IIIegals Form a ‘Union’ in Occupied Apartments, Refuse Rent Hikes Citing ICE Raid Fears and Work Restrictions pic.twitter.com/RP0IEKRN9S
— TaraBull (@TaraBull) November 2, 2025

Hegseth in Hanoi: From War Legacies to Hard Power, U.S.–Vietnam Ties Tighten
Before sunrise in Hanoi on November 2, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth went to work on a relationship that has been fifty years in the making. He sat down with Vietnam’s Defense Minister Phan Van Giang and pushed forward on defense cooperation, the kind that moves from polite communiqués to hardware, training, and shared habits. The timing matters. This year marks three decades of diplomatic ties and two years since Washington and Hanoi lifted the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Those are more than labels. They are the scaffolding for steady military-to-military work.
In the room, the agenda mixed past and future. Hegseth highlighted the war legacy projects that keep faith with history and build political permission for deeper ties: clearing unexploded ordnance, cleaning up dioxin hot spots, and accounting for missing service members. He even returned wartime artifacts, a small act with outsized meaning in Vietnam’s political culture. Diplomacy runs on symbols, and this one landed.

Keep this in mind: approximately 1,241 US service members remain unaccounted for in Vietnam from the Vietnam War.

Then came the practical gear talk. Reuters reports the Pentagon chief flagged ongoing cooperation that already put three U.S. Coast Guard cutters and three T-6 trainer aircraft in Vietnamese hands, with more planned. Parallel reporting and earlier sourcing point to transport aircraft as the next logical step, with discussions around Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules offering range, lift, and reliability that Vietnam’s current mix struggles to match. It is a natural move for a military seeking to diversify away from legacy Russian platforms without losing operational tempo.
None of this happens in a vacuum. Hanoi is walking its traditional tightrope. It wants an independent defense posture and a balanced neighborhood while keeping channels open to Moscow and even Pyongyang. The U.S. is signaling staying power in the Indo-Pacific after a season of doubts, and Vietnam is testing how far it can go without tripping its own red lines. That is why the war-legacy work is not charity. It is political lubrication for harder security cooperation.
Call it relationship arithmetic. War legacies clean up the past. Trainers and cutters build capability in the present. Airlift and logistics platforms set the table for the future. If the two sides keep stacking those blocks, today’s photo ops turn into routine exercises, maintenance crews swapping parts lists, and officers who know each other by first name. In this part of the world, routine is power. And power, handled steadily, is how you keep the peace.

Landed in Hanoi with Pete Hegseth pic.twitter.com/vYpgi1hxE1
— Bill Gertz (@BillGertz) November 2, 2025

Evening Brief: Harvard Medical School Explosion Believed to Be Intentional, Chicago Takes on ICE Block by Block, Hegseth Hits Hanoi Read More »

SOFREP Sunday Cartoon: Nuclear Policy for the Reality TV Age

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

When “Pull My Finger” Becomes Policy

Somewhere between Cold War paranoia and kindergarten humor, we’ve arrived at a moment where nuclear brinkmanship sounds like a middle school prank. Russia fires up its latest nuclear-powered cruise missile, and America’s answer, apparently, is a gold-plated “pull my finger” challenge wrapped in a spray tan. The missile next to him might as well have “FAFO” stenciled on the side. One wrong tug, and it’s not a whoopee cushion we’re dealing with—it’s Armageddon in high definition. This is what happens when international diplomacy merges with reality TV: the ratings go up, but so does the collective global blood pressure.
The Button and the Buffoonery
Every era has its version of brinkmanship. Khrushchev had his shoe. Reagan had his microphone gaffe. Now we’ve got a guy pointing at a big red button and turning deterrence into slapstick. The cartoon nails the absurd symmetry of modern power: two men with more nukes than sense, each waiting for the other to flinch—or fart. The line between statesmanship and stand-up comedy has officially been blurred, and the punchline glows faintly in the dark. There’s something both hilarious and horrifying about the fact that “press here now” could be literal policy if the right audience is watching.
Nukes, Nonsense, and the New Normal

Underneath the laughs, there’s a message that hits harder than a nuclear winter. We’re living in an age where childish provocation can carry world-ending consequences, where social media spats echo louder than treaties.
Russia tests cruise missiles. America tests patience.
Somewhere, a defense analyst is trying to explain “strategic deterrence” while two egos the size of the Sun play nuclear chicken with the launch codes.
It’s funny until it isn’t—until the world finds out what happens when someone actually takes the joke seriously.

SOFREP Sunday Cartoon: Nuclear Policy for the Reality TV Age Read More »

Ex Army Sergeant Gets Prison for Trying to Feed China U.S. Secrets

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

A federal judge in Seattle sentenced former Army sergeant Joseph Daniel Schmidt to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for trying to hand national defense information to the People’s Republic of China. Schmidt pleaded guilty in June to two felonies under 18 U.S.C. 793: attempting to deliver national defense information and retaining national defense information. Judge John C. Coughenour called the crimes serious and weighed Schmidt’s mental health when setting the punishment.

“It’s unconscionable for a former soldier to put his colleagues and country at risk by peddling secret information and intelligence access to a hostile foreign power.”
Acting U.S. attorney on ex-Army sergeant Joseph Schmidt, who tried to give defense secrets to China. pic.twitter.com/HUHGrp7B9F
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 29, 2025

The Soldier and His Access
Schmidt served on active duty from 2015 to 2020 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington with the 109th Military Intelligence Battalion. Court records identify him as a team leader in the human intelligence section supporting I Corps in the Indo-Pacific. In that role, he held access to Secret and Top Secret material. He also studied Mandarin and traveled to China while in uniform. Think of that portfolio as a ring full of keys to rooms where the lights are always off and the stakes are always high.
The Pivot to China
After leaving the Army in early 2020, Schmidt reached out to the Chinese Consulate in Turkey and later emailed Chinese security services offering what he called high-level secrets. In March 2020, he moved to Hong Kong and kept pushing for meetings. According to the Justice Department, he was granted a work visa for China 17 days after contacting the intelligence cutout. He stayed in China and Hong Kong for more than three years.
What He Tried to Hand Over
Prosecutors say Schmidt drafted multiple lengthy documents that drew on classified and national defense information from his Army work. He also kept a device that allows access to secure U.S. Army computer networks and offered it to Chinese authorities to help them break into those systems. In open court, prosecutors said he searched the web for questions like whether someone can be extradited for treason. That is the digital equivalent of walking into the town square with a shovel and asking folks where their cash is buried.
What exactly was in those documents remains sealed in broad terms. The government describes them as “high-level secrets tied to his intelligence duties”. Stars and Stripes reporting adds that Schmidt sought a job with Chinese services and emailed government-linked media while in China.
How Compromising Were the Materials
Two points matter. First, the content he created and the access device he retained were derived from classified and national defense information he learned and used in a sensitive unit. Second, investigators have not publicly confirmed that Chinese intelligence actually received the classified content. The Federal Bureau of Investigation intercepted his outreach and documented his efforts. The judge still called the conduct grave enough to merit prison even while acknowledging mental health factors.
How He Was Caught
Schmidt’s road back ran through San Francisco International Airport. After years in Hong Kong and travel in China, his visa lapsed. He flew to the United States in October 2023, and agents arrested him on arrival. Earlier, a grand jury in Seattle had indicted him on two counts tied to national defense information. He first contested competency but was later ruled fit to proceed. He entered a guilty plea this summer.
The Conviction and the Sentence
The plea covered two counts. Attempt to deliver national defense information carries up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to 250,000 dollars. Retention of national defense information carries the same maximums. The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized at sentencing that Schmidt wrote documents based on classified material and tried to offer an Army network access device to a hostile service. The court imposed a four-year term followed by three years of supervised release.
Where He Will Do His Time
The Bureau of Prisons will designate the facility. The sentencing announcement does not list a prison, and placement decisions typically follow after the judgment based on security level, medical needs, and bed space.
Why This Matters
This case is a snapshot of the current counterintelligence fight in the Indo-Pacific era. A junior leader with language skills, human intelligence training, and Top Secret access tried to turn sensitive knowledge and a network access device into a ticket to a new life under Beijing’s protection. The FBI and Army counterintelligence stepped in before those materials were confirmed to have landed in Chinese hands, but the intent was clear enough for a felony conviction and real prison time.

Ex Army Sergeant Gets Prison for Trying to Feed China U.S. Secrets Read More »

Torpedo Crane Loading Process PT PAL Picture 1024x576 1

Indonesia conducts first torpedo test from KSOT autonomous submarine

Military & Secret Tech / memoment editorial

On October 30, Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia conducted a torpedo firing test of its autonomous submarine prototype, known domestically as KSOT (Kapal Selam Otomatis Tanpa Awak), in Surabaya, East Java. By 2026, 30 KSOT units are targeted to enter service under the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Submarine Operations Command.

The test began with a 324 mm lightweight ‘Piranha’ torpedo—reportedly developed by PT PAL—being loaded into the starboard-side launch tube, which was mounted externally on the KSOT. The torpedo was placed using a mobile crane from the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) 2nd Fleet Command pier. The autonomous submarine then moved further into the sea before launching the torpedo.

Torpedo loading process using a mobile crane. You can see TNI AL’s first PPA frigate, KRI Brawijaya (320), in front of the KSOT. PT PAL picture.

Close-up photo of ‘Piranha’ lightweight torpedo before being loaded into KSOT. TNI AL picture.

A video released by PT PAL shows the KSOT performing a diving demonstration, although for most of the test, including during the torpedo launch, the prototype remained partially submerged.

‘Piranha’ torpedo being launched from KSOT. PT PAL picture.

As Naval News previously reported, the prototype is 15 metres long with a breadth of 2.2 metres and a draught of 1.85 metres. It can reach a maximum speed of 20 knots and can operate at depths of up to 350 metres.

The KSOT full-size model/prototype was publicly unveiled for the first time during the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ 80th anniversary parade on October 5 in Jakarta.

PT PAL stated that the autonomous submarine is fully designed by Indonesian engineers and with a domestic components level of over 50%, a figure the company aims to increase further in future development and production stages through the use of more locally-made components. The prototype also incorporates commercial off-the-shelf parts and systems, and the experience gained from the KSOT program is expected to contribute to the development of other autonomous platforms, such as unmanned surface vessels (USVs), PT PAL added.

30 Units by Next Year

Close-up photo of KSOT during the test. Indonesian MoD picture.

Minister of Defence Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, accompanied by Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali and other senior officials, attended the firing test. The minister stated that the KSOT will undergo continuous evaluation and refinement as part of the ongoing development process.

Indonesian MoD picture.

Moreover, PT PAL claimed that it will produce 30 KSOT units by 2026, all of which will be operated by TNI AL Submarine Operations Command (Koopskasel) to monitor and protect Indonesia’s strategic maritime choke points which include the Lombok and Sunda Straits. However, no additional information has been released on whether all 30 units will be the torpedo variants, as the KSOT is also designed in other configurations, including ISR and kamikaze/decoy. Given its size and operational concept, the KSOT could also potentially be deployed from larger vessels, expanding its flexibility and operational reach within TNI AL fleet structure.

Indonesia conducts first torpedo test from KSOT autonomous submarine Read More »