BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF AN ABRAMS: An engaging photo — pun intended. An M1A2 tank engages a target on the Konotop range at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland.

RELATED: One of my favorites, an Abrams encountering a camel. Here’s a detailed report on Abrams upgrades. It discusses the SEP2/3 (System Enhancement Package) upgrade programs.

JUDGING THE FLYNN CASE JUDGE: A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. has basically ordered Judge Sullivan to dismiss the case against General Flynn. High time. Alas, the decision was 2-1. Powerline’s Scott Johnson has posted the majority opinion. Choice quote from Scott: “The Flynn case constitutes a sidebar to the biggest political scandal in American history by far. One can only hope that this is, as it should be, the end of the road for this utterly disgraceful case.” (Link fixed.)

THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY IS SNARED IN A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL WAR: The snare’s a mess. Who bears responsibility for creating the mess? The CCP. President Xi, grab a hand mirror, stare at it.

Here’s one facet of the CCP’s domestic war:

The CCP cannot answer this question: How long can the prosperous tyranny continue to survive trading smartphones and quality American pork for political subservience by the roughly 400 million people in China’s quasi-middle class? Don’t get hung up on an exact figure. It’s huge. But so are the 200 to 300 million in the murky stratum of workers who left home in central and western China to work in coastal China’s factories.

The CCP’s own “international aggression magnifies the vulnerabilities.” The column includes Hong Kong, the Trade War, the Sino-Indian border war and the CCP’s “espionage and bribery” wars. Read the whole thing.

FIGHTING FALCON IN GHOST PAINT: An F-16 Fighting Falcon with a “ghost” paint scheme departs Hill Air Force Base, Utah, heading for Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. As the caption notes, the paint scheme is intended to replicate that of an adversary’s fighter jet. This photo does an superb job of capturing the paint scheme.

FIGHTING IN SPACE: What the Space Force does now, what it will do, what it could do. It’s the latest StrategyTalk podcast. The link goes to the online YouTube version. If you prefer an MP3 download, click on this link. If you enjoy the podcast, please subscribe.

MOVING BY RAIL: 1st Cavalry Division Bradley Fighting Vehicles roll aboard flat cars during rail operations at Pazeimene Station in Pazeimene, Lithuania. The unit is returning to Texas.

ALONG THE KOREAN DMZ: The Robot Refused To Fire.

SOMEWHERE OFF THE NORWEGIAN COAST: It’s a silver B-52, at least in this light.

SCENARIOS FOR A CHINA-INDIA HIMALAYAN WAR: Well, confrontation scenarios that could erupt into something very dangerous.

Everyone who wants to prevent nuclear war and expand economic opportunity should demand China’s dictatorship answer this question: Why is nuclear-armed mainland China militarily and diplomatically escalating its Himalayan border dispute with nuclear-armed India?

Read the whole thing.

IN FORMATION ABOVE THE NIMITZ: Aircraft from the carrier USS Nimitz fly in formation above the warship. Yes, it’s a Navy photo-op, but a good one.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT’S ESCALATING DIPLO-WAR ON VENEZUELA’S SOCIALIST DICTATOR: The goal of these new political and economic shackles is to make it difficult for Maduro’s supporters to enjoy the stolen cash and privileges they receive for protecting his noxious regime.

MARINE ASSAULT: U.S. Marines assigned to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment, scope out their terrain during an amphibious assault exercise at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. It’s a beautiful place to train.

U.S. STATE DEPT SHACKLES TARGET MADURO’S VENEZUELA KLEPTOCRATS:

In 2020, the military continues to support Maduro. Why? The ranks participate in the regime’s theft racket, so obedience pays in cash and privileges. Maduro’s clique has maintained control over major economic assets, like oil production. Regime military loyalists control food distribution and deny food to his opponents. However, they are willing to sell starving citizens food and, presumably, toothpaste, for cash — the bribes paid in jewelry, euros or dollars.

Read the entire column.

USAF’S FIFTH GENERATION ONE-TWO PUNCH ALOFT: An F-22 Raptor flies alongside an F-35 Lightning II over the Emerald Coast in northwest Florida. Photo taken May 18, 2020.

B-1B SELFIES: B1-B mechanics take selfies as a bomber overflies Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. Hey, it’s the 21st century.

CHINA IN CRISIS: The latest StrategyTalk podcast. If you like it, subscribe.

RELATED: Just Another Corrupt Dynasty.

DUST ON THE TANK TRAIL: An M1A2 Abrams tank moves at high speed, kicking up dust on a tank trail in the woods. The action photo’s from 2016. But the Pentagon caption is an ad for this year’s Sullivan Cup Tank Crew Competition at Fort Benning, Georgia. The cup competition is held every two years. According to the caption the competition “brings together top tank crews from the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and foreign military partners in a demanding test of their tank crew fighting skills.”

MARINE RECON LAUNCHING A PUMA: A reconnaissance Marine assigned to the Maritime Raid Force, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to launch an RQ-20 Puma unmanned aircraft system while aboard a combat rubber raiding craft. Photo taken May 24, 2020.

AT THE LINE OF ACTUAL CONTROL: Indian media report Chinese armor and artillery near the LAC — the name for the boundary separating India and China. It’s really more of a ceasefire line since the border is in dispute.

Gee, just this week someone wrote about Indian and Chinese forces clashing along “The Line of Actual Control threading through the Himalayas.”

MINNEAPOLIS MELTDOWN: Scott Johnson of Powerline reports on the riot and carnage in his hometown. It’s a mess.

WHAT TASKS DOES XI HAVE FOR CHINA’S MILITARY?: Question asked.

On May 26, Chinese President Xi Jinping told senior officers the Peoples Liberation Army and Peoples Armed Police Force increase “preparedness for armed combat” as well as other military tasks.

It is a chilling thought, but Xi may have several “tasks” in mind, for both the PLA and the PAP.

Possible answers follow. But some answers are hard fact breaking news: Hong Kong and India. “In the last six weeks, Indian media have reported that Indian and Chinese soldiers have clashed along what is called The Line of Actual Control threading through the Himalayas.” Read the entire essay.

HOGS AND EAGLES OVERHEAD: A pair of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a pair of F-15 Eagles based in Idaho participate in a flyover honoring the state’s citizens and essential workers who keep “Idaho running” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo taken May 15, 2020.

A PHOTO PUTIN DOESN’T WANT TO SEE, BUT DESERVES TO SEE 24/7: A USAF B1-B flies over Sweden accompanied by four Swedish Armed Forces JAS 39 Gripen fighters. The bomber was flying a long-range, long-duration Bomber Task Force mission. Photo taken May 20, 2020. Since the Kremlin’s Crimea invasion and annexation, Swedish forces have openly participated in several multilateral NATO military exercises and in bilateral military exercises with the U.S. and other Western nations.

SENTRY AND FRIENDS: An E-3 Sentry and two F-22 Raptors fly over snow-covered mountains in Alaska. Photo taken mountains taken May 5, 2020.

STRATEGYTALK PODCAST: A Plague Of Peace — Covid-19/Wuhan virus’ effect on various conflicts around the world.