QUESTION: @NatSecAnswers has heard that @SpaceForceDoD is getting a new weapon. What exactly is it? We asked @JoAnnePSears, a former Navy Civilian who worked in intelligence and a former Sr. Advisor to @usairforce Secretary Heather Wilson.
ANSWER: "The U.S. Space Force announced they received their first “offensive” weapon. Truth be told, this new system is an upgraded deployable communications jammer first deployed in 2004 and developed to prevent adversaries from using communication satellites during combat.
Why is this important? Instead of blowing up #satellites – creating a massive orbital debris problem in space – the U.S. #military is taking the lead on the responsible use of space and levering technology to turn off-and-on the bad guys’ communication satellites.
The #geostationary satellites used for communications orbit above our planet 22,000 miles or higher and are hard to reach. So, creating a temporary communication “kill switch” is a more practical solution.
The official name of the U.S. satellite jammer is the Counter Communications System or CCS.
According to unclassified reporting, the upgraded system will be able to jam across a wider spectrum of radio frequencies.
The deployable system will be used by 4th Space Control Squadron in Colorado Springs, as well as Air National Guard units in California, Colorado, Florida and Hawaii.
Russia has a similar jamming system called the #Tirada-2S.
And China is reportedly working to develop a similar jammer system which would be a game changer in the Pacific theatre."
QUESTION: What should the Biden administration do about growing frustration from the public over #Kremlin-sponsored cyberattacks on the US? We asked @natsec09 what he’s learned about this. Follow this thread for the answer.
ANSWER: An Intelligence source tells me, "yes, @JoeBiden is facing pressure from pundits and politicos across the country to do something public to show he's punishing Russia for its attacks. But, embarrass Putin publicly, then what?"
This is the key hurdle for the administration. How far can or should it go in publicly punishing Russia? Because, whether Americans want to hear it or not, Russia can also publicly punish the U.S.
QUESTION: Crisis at the US-Mexico border. What's the impact on the safety and security of migrants and asylum seekers? We asked @GCorreaCabrera. Follow this thread for the answer.
ANSWER: "What is happening today at the border is not a new phenomenon; it is a condition that has been repeating itself in the past few years under different ‘political’ circumstances. This so-called “crisis” responds to a broken immigration system in the United States and
to complex structural hemispheric problems that have not been yet resolved. Poverty, inequality and insecurity are at the center of a real humanitarian crisis in the Americas. There is indeed a relevant human problem at the US-Mexico border that is putting unaccompanied minors
QUESTION: How did the recent #Suezblockage impact global security? We asked Brandon Fried @AfAExecDirector. Follow this thread for the answer.
"The Suez situation could not have come at a worse time with global demand for products and an all-time high, and we didn’t need another significant choke point to restrain capacity. Of course, the congestion at the Port of Los Angeles continues to be a big challenge as well.
The containers on these vessels are essential to the global supply chain must be put back into circulation as soon as possible. Without them, cargo sits at the docks, waiting not only for the ships but the metal boxes they carry as well.
QUESTION: Authorities have identified the person believed to be responsible for the massive suicide blast in #Nashville on Christmas Day 2020 as, 63 year old, Anthony Quinn Warner. What was his motive? We asked @stick631 - Follow this thread for the answer.
ANSWER: “The man responsible for the Christmas Day bombing in downtown Nashville has been identified, but his motive for committing suicide in such a spectacular fashion remains a mystery. It does not appear he left behind any sort of statement or manifesto outlining a grievance
narrative that would provide insight into his motive. Because of this, it is hard to classify the suicide by bomb as an act of terrorism. The suspect also provided warning of the impending explosion, allowing the authorities to evacuate people from the area,
QUESTION: How has President Donald Trump's firing of top national security officials impacted the intelligence community and the safety & security of the country? We asked Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence @suemgordon22. Follow this thread for the answer.
ANSWER: “To begin, there is some overriding good news. The strength of the intelligence and national security communities lies in the expertise, ethos, and tradecraft of the women and men who serve.
Bureaucracies have downsides, but they have the upside of inherent stability over time. That said, leadership matters; and leadership during times of challenge and change matters a lot.
QUESTION: President Donald Trump's knowledge of US secrets and his debt may make him and others targets of foreign spies. We asked @LarryPfeifferDC of the @mvhaydencenter, how significant is this threat? Follow this thread for the answer.
ANSWER: "There’s been a bit of discussion in the media about how the large debt President Donald Trump carries into his post-presidency presents a significant security risk. What’s not discussed is the potential risks posed by those in his inner circle.
This is a president who has demanded loyalty above all—those who remain in his inner circle after 4 years are family and others undoubtedly the most loyal. If President Trump were predisposed to reveal classified or other sensitive US government information to foreign