Vernuccio’s View

Vernucio’s View: China Displays Massive Military Power

Vernucio’s View: China Displays Massive Military Power

Speaking at a Brookings Institution event earlier this month, Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Indo-Pacific region Randall Schriver sounded an alarm about China, and warned that the U.S. military needed to prepare for the significant challenge. Schriver noted that “We […]

by · October 16, 2019 · Opinion, Vernuccio's View
President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on stage in the Grand Ballroom of the InterContinental New York Barclay in New York City. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Vernuccio’s View: U.S. Emphasizes Religious Freedom at U.N. Opening

As the U.N. opened its latest session, the United States co-sponsored with Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom a panel discussion on “The Human Rights Crisis in Xinjiang.” The BBC has reported that evidence of the camps first […]

NATO Summit 2018

Vernuccio’s View: US, German Relations Reach Low Point

German-U.S. relations have reached their lowest point since East and West Germany were united. Issues including Berlin’s inadequate contribution to NATO, its Middle Eastern policies, and its growing energy dependence on Russia are the key concerns. NATO American Military News recently […]

by · September 29, 2019 · Opinion, Vernuccio's View
NATO Summit 2018

International Danger Grows

American national security is at greater risk now than during the Cold War. Russia, China, Iran and North Korea as well as terrorist forces present an extraordinary danger to the United States. Russia now has the planet’s largest nuclear arsenal, […]

by · September 22, 2019 · Opinion, Vernuccio's View
President Vladimir Putin, Russia.

Vernuccio’s View: Foreign Affairs in 2020 Campaign

President Trump has had a distinctly different set of foreign policies towards Russia, China, Iran and North Korea than his predecessors.  Those nations, more accustomed to administrations that do not place a greater emphasis on U.S. national security in return […]

by · September 11, 2019 · Vernuccio's View
Predator drone (US Army photo)

America Lags in New Tech War

Just as industrialization, the advent of flight and nuclear power dramatically changed warfare, cutting-edge technologies are now altering how the world will soon fight. America’s adversaries are making significant headway in this. Science fiction readers may recognize some of the […]

by · September 11, 2019 · Military, Opinion, Vernuccio's View
ISIS fighters in Iraq.

Vernuccio’s View: Prosecuting ISIS

According to a United Nations investigation, world body researchers are “Making significant progress” gathering evidence to prosecute ISIS for atrocities in Iraq and the Levant. U.N. personnel have been gathering documentary, digital, testimonial and forensic evidence for use in prosecuting […]

by · September 9, 2019 · Military, Opinion, Vernuccio's View
China: A Realistic View

China: A Realistic View

A number of leading political figures have consistently downplayed both the economic and military threat from China. Democratic party presidential front-runner Joe Biden stated earlier this year, referring to China, “What are we worried about?” It was a follow-up to a comment […]

by · September 1, 2019 · Opinion, Vernuccio's View
Palestinian Leadership Prevents Peace

Palestinian Leadership Prevents Peace

The Israeli-barred visit by two first term U.S. congresswomen, Freshmen Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN), the first Muslim women elected to Congress, has sparked increased debate over the Palestinian issue.  Talib and Omar, who are virulently anti-Israel, […]

by · August 24, 2019 · Vernuccio's View
Korea, China Issues Loom Large at ASEAN Meeting

Korea, China Issues Loom Large at ASEAN Meeting

As the Indo-Pacific region continues to face crises, national governments recently met to discuss peaceful approaches. ASEAN, the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) met […]

by · August 18, 2019 · Vernuccio's View
Vernuccio’s View: Human Trafficking: 21st Century Slavery

Vernuccio’s View: Human Trafficking: 21st Century Slavery

Slavery is not relegated to the past, relegated to historical accounts of 18th Century sailing ships, or tales of the Roman Empire. The U.S. State Department has released its 2019 Report on Human Trafficking, the modern slave trade. The numbers […]

by · August 15, 2019 · Opinion, Vernuccio's View
Vernuccio’s View: World Refugee Numbers Soar

Vernuccio’s View: World Refugee Numbers Soar

The U.S. State Department has issued its latest report on worldwide refugee conditions. At the end of 2017 (the most recent figure available) the estimated refugee population worldwide stood at 25.4 million, with 17.2 million receiving protection or assistance from the […]

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo is greeted by Ecuadorian Minister of Foreign Affairs José Valencia Amores and U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador Michael J. Fitzpatrick, in Guayaquil, Ecuador. [State Department photo by Ron Przysucha]

U.S. Forms Commission on Unalienable Rights

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced the formation of a U.S.-led international “Commission on Unalienable Rights.” The commission is designed to bring together human rights experts, philosophers, and activists, Republicans, Democrats, and Independents of varied background and beliefs, who […]

Credit: YouTube

Vernuccio’s View: Selling Out to China

It is going to be difficult for Washington to overcome China’s unfair trade practices, espionage, and intellectual property theft when portions of the private sector and the political establishment refuse to acknowledge that the problem even exists. In a recent […]

by · July 14, 2019 · Vernuccio's View
Vernuccio’s View: Pacific Allies Coordinate Defense

Vernuccio’s View: Pacific Allies Coordinate Defense

The threat from China’s dramatic increase in military power and escalating aggressiveness has produced extraordinary concern among Pacific nations. Beijing has shown no signs of relenting, even in the face of a ruling by international authorities such as the World […]