Rom Gayoso, Ph.D.

Check out this in-depth interview with Congressman Tom Cole, the highest ranking Oklahoman in a generation, by POLITICO. In the interview, Congressman Cole discusses the importance of "cigar diplomacy" and the need for more of it in today's political climate. https://lnkd.in/gdfHFETp

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🚨 Are Small Businesses Losing the Cyber War? 🚨 Yesterday, I had the incredible opportunity to discuss the pressing issue of #cybercrime on Newsmax Media, Inc. TV. During my segment, I shared crucial insights from my Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) career—particularly how heartbreaking it is to see small businesses suffer due to inadequate cybersecurity resources. Sadly, we ran out of time before I could dive into solutions, but here I am to fill in the gaps! 🕒 Here are five #CyberSecureMindset tips to help small businesses fortify their defenses against cyber threats: 🔒 Educate Your Team: Regular training on the latest cybersecurity practices is non-negotiable. Awareness reduces risks! Are your employees aware that they are the first line of defense against cyber threats? 🔑 Enforce Strong Password Policies: Use complex passwords and multi-factor authentication to secure your accounts. Do your employees reuse passwords, and do they know how to create and remember strong passwords? 🔗 Secure Your Connections: Always use VPNs and secure Wi-Fi networks to protect sensitive data. 🛡️ Regular Updates and Backups: Keep all software up-to-date and maintain regular backups of critical data. 👀 Monitor and Respond: Implement monitoring tools to detect suspicious activities and have a response plan ready. 📢 Call to Action: Let's not let resource constraints hold us back. Share these tips with your network and follow us at CyberSecure Mindset for more actionable insights. Together, we can make the digital world a safer place for small businesses! #CyberSecurity #SmallBusiness #CyberSecureMindset #DataProtection #InfoSec

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Excellent opinion piece by Glen Sturtevant in the Richmond Times-Dispatch today. Virginia's gain by Glenn Youngkin blocking PRC-based and CCP-tied Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited on account of the national security threat it presents, has become's Michigan's loss after Gretchen Whitmer Michigan Economic Development Corporation Ford Motor Company greased the skids for CATL coming to Michigan through billions of taxpayer dollars in "incentives". It seems this was the first shot taken by a governor in the Untied States to counter subnational incursions/influence operations by the PRC/CCP, that most often occur beyond the view of the eyes of the federal government. Governor Whitmer threw caution into the wind, ignoring the directive of our national security and intelligence agencies for states to perform strict scrutiny and due diligence on "deals" w/PRC-based and CCP-tied entities. Rather than ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity, government and business elites shrouded the "deal" with binding and punitive 5 and 10 year NDAs and a silly secret code name. What the ensued in Michigan was a $178 million no-bid contract; Ford now scaling "deal" way down with rumors that it may never happen as planned; Ford pivoting hard to hybrid and hydrogen; CATL tied to forced labor and Uyghur genoncide in XUAR, with three Congressional investigations underway, and now a call for blacklisting CATL by Congress. The national and economic security of the United States and Michigan are now imperiled. https://lnkd.in/grw7n7Ft

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Beyond the specific context of the U.S. Senate, the term "nuclear option" has come to be used generically for a procedural maneuver with potentially serious consequences, to be used as a last resort to overcome political opposition. Considering the idiocy and childishness of Congress and the rot of the overall bureaucratistanic regime… Maybe we need an actual nuclear option. Mutual assured destruction has a way of forcing sobriety and humility. Othniel Max Daves

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"𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱. 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁. 𝗪𝗲'𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮,” boasts US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹, ‘𝘄𝗲,’ 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻?” asks Lesley Stahl, correspondent for 60 Minutes. "𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿" replies Raimondo. So all the US talk about respecting the One-China policy and not supporting Taiwan independence was clearly baloney. It's clear US officials actually deep down see Taiwan as a proxy, an American imperial outpost. Their innovations are "ours", not China's. This also reveals just how completely deceptive their original justification for the semiconductors sanctions was: that it was purely to prevent use of advanced semiconductors by China in military applications. Raimondo doesn't even mention this anymore - it's clear from what she says that it's all about preventing China technological development across the board, which is why she's so obsessed with consumer goods like Huawei's new phones. Another example of US doublespeak They want to present themselves as a responsible actor who solely want to defend poor little Taiwan "democracy" vs "big bad China" But the truth is that "democracy" in Taiwan is just good as long as the island remains one of their client regimes where what is theirs is really "ours", meaning with zero sovereignty to speak of. It's ultimately about money, dominance, and control... 𝗨𝗦 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝘆𝗽𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹! Credit: Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand X #china #innovation #technology #usa #future

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Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, signals that he might not defend the democracy on Taiwan against the expansionist, genocidal, totalitarian Peoples Republic of China. The fall of Taiwan to the Chinese Communist Party would mark the end of America’s Pacific alliance system, which has produced 80 years of mostly peace. Beijing is also provoking a fight in the South China Sea with the Philippines, which the U.S. is bound by treaty to defend. Key points below from the WSJ Editorial Board: --"President Biden has stumbled into saying the U.S. will defend Taiwan, only to walk his remarks back. But he isn’t backing his rhetoric with more military power. --Americans deserve a better choice than possible defeat or pre-emptive surrender. Mr. Trump the supposed China hawk would do better to talk about how he plans to deter a crisis in the Taiwan Strait. --“I think, Taiwan should pay us for defense. You know, we’re no different than an insurance company. Taiwan doesn’t give us anything,” Mr. Trump told Bloomberg Businessweek. He complained that Taiwan “took our chip business.” Why “are we doing this?” Mr. Trump also offered a geography lesson. “Taiwan is 9,500 miles away” while it’s “68 miles away from China.” --Former National Security Adviser John Bolton recalls similar lines from Mr. Trump in his White House memoir, and you can be sure Beijing read Mr. Bolton’s book. Mr. Trump’s words won’t enhance U.S. deterrence. --Taiwan is increasing its defense spending and has extended conscription, albeit modestly. Yet Beijing has been mounting the largest military buildup since World War II, which the U.S. hasn’t countered with its own rearmament. Taiwan would struggle to defend itself alone from an amphibious assault or blockade even with heroic military effort. --But since Mr. Trump is wondering why the U.S. would bother with Taiwan, we’ll explain, and the answer isn’t only semiconductors. The fall of Taiwan to the Communist Party would mark the end of America’s Pacific alliance system, which has produced 80 years of mostly peace. Beijing is also provoking a fight in the South China Sea with the Philippines, which the U.S. is bound by treaty to defend. -Mr. Trump has been getting mileage from his claim that he’s the President who prevents wars, but here his bravado is inviting a fight that could cost thousands of American lives. --The Taiwan question isn’t about waging endless wars but preventing a catastrophic one." -

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4/24/24 Korean News and Commentary https://conta.cc/3QEMDpl 1. Pentagon stresses close consultation with S. Korea after simulated N.K. 'nuclear counterattack' drill 2. N. Korea sends economic delegation to Iran: KCNA 3. HRNK Quoted 12 Times in the U.S. Department of State's DPRK 2023 Human Rights Report 4. N.K. leader's sister slams joint S. Korea-U.S. military drills 5. S. Korea's nanosatellite launched from New Zealand for satellite constellation project 6. S. Korea warns N. Korea will face end of regime if it uses nuclear weapons 7. Korea's spy agency set to join NATO-led cyber defense drill for 4th straight year 8. South Korea needs to recharge foreign engagement following missed trips and opportunities 9. President should recalibrate his policy on North Korea 10. Seoul publishes latest edition of financial handbook for N. Korean defectors 11. Alarm sounded over major North Korean hacks 12. North Korea Continues to Rattle Sabers with Short-Range Missiles Launches 13. North Korea sends officials to Iran amid suspected military cooperation 14. Students, residents pressed into North Korean construction projects 15. Yoon says N. Korea must not dare challenge S. Korea 16. N. Korea calls envisioned US aid to Ukraine 'hallucinogen' 17. N. Korea encourages Chinese businesspeople to resume commercial activities 18. Abuse of opium remains a problem in N. Korea amid economic downturn

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Disinformation, Election, & Narrative Intelligence Thanks Tom Nagorski for interviewing me on this important piece. The Cipher Brief 1. How do we address this worsening problem that continues to exacerbate the fissures and divides in our nation? I think first and foremost, we have to accept that we will continue to face a great many theories and opinions about significant issues and events. 2. We don’t have reference points by which to evaluate wildly propagating stories and narratives in real time. Establishing those reference points without content moderation (removing or algorithmically deindexing content that is deemed problematic by the platform) or deplatforming (suspending or banning accounts) has great potential. 3. In other words, enabling users to ascertain what is accurate, timely, and transparent is how we can reduce the harms of mis/disinformation. 4. When it’s readily available to note where and how each story comes from and is amplified, then we’re less likely to think conspiracy theories have factual fidelity. In the end, when we treat conspiracy theories as conspiracy theories where we don’t act on them, then there should be little harm to the public. EdgeTheory #generativeAI #artificialintelligence #electionintegrity #nationalsecurity #democraticresilience #informationwarfare #Assassination #AssassinationAttempt

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🔍 The Double-Edged Sword of Intelligence: Navigating Double Agents and Disinformation 🔍 As a former intelligence officer, I understand the critical importance of source validation in safeguarding against infiltration and disinformation. The recent revelation by the F.B.I. regarding the severing of ties with informants linked to Russian disinformation underscores the perpetual challenge faced by intelligence and law enforcement agencies worldwide. 🕵️‍♂️ The F.B.I.'s internal review, conducted in 2020 and 2021, led to cutting ties with several informants and issuing warnings about dozens of others. This decision was made in response to concerns that these informants, some of whom had provided information about Russia-aligned oligarchs, political leaders, and other influential figures, were linked to Russian disinformation. This review came at a crucial time, during and after the 2020 election, amid heightened fears of Russian meddling and the looming threat of Russia's potential invasion of Ukraine. See the New York Times article here: https://lnkd.in/eGK_-Khb 🔍 Double agents, and dangles represent a persistent validation issue, posing a significant threat to the integrity of intelligence operations. Whether longstanding or newly recruited, any source could potentially be a plant by another intelligence agency or a hostile group. These individuals are strategically deployed by foreign intelligence organizations to disrupt and damage the reputation of the agencies they infiltrate. ⚖️ In navigating this complex landscape, agencies must remain ever-cognizant of the risks posed by double agents and dangles, continuously refining their vetting processes and adapting their counterintelligence strategies. The F.B.I.'s actions highlight the delicate balance between leveraging valuable human intelligence and mitigating the risks of disinformation, particularly in regions like post-Soviet countries where alliances are fluid and opaque. As we confront evolving threats in an increasingly interconnected world, vigilance and diligence are paramount in preserving the integrity and effectiveness of our intelligence services. For more insights into intelligence and national security, visit https://lnkd.in/g5gfQZ_7. #Intelligence #Counterintelligence #NationalSecurity #SourceValidation #DoubleAgents #Dangles #FBI #Security #LawEnforcement

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CZAR VLADIMIR PUTIN'S MISCALCULATION OF NATO © 10 July 2024, Sean Ian Fischer, contributor to Mustang Leadership Solutions Group℠ LLC. All Rights Reserved. NATOs 75th ANNIVERSARY SUMMIT | SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AUSTINs REMARKS https://lnkd.in/gQhyxPy6 Democracies have a tendency to exhibit signs of weakness as their institutions and citizens grapple with what the correct balance is domestically and internationally. Czar Putin capitalized on these weaknesses in 2008 (invasion of the Republic of Georgia), in 2014 - Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and the Donbas Region, and it's massive all out assault on Ukraine in February 2022, as well as other regions in its "sfear of influence," in violation of the UN Charter and international law. For the short term, Russia, along with its allies China, North Korea, and Iran have the upper hand. Long term however, Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, and regrettably its citizens, will collapse upon themselves. These autocratic regimes are stark reminders of what happened in Chancellor Adolf Hitler's Germany (...and democratically elected...with reasons rooted in Germany's defeat in World War I) during the 1920's and 1930's. Then, as now, democracies were slow to see the signs and act accordingly. Despite its many shortcomings, the United Nations and the Liberal International Order, overall, have proven beneficial for mankind. Czar Putin, Emperor Xi Jinping and their allies' days are numbered. Their societies are houses of cards, and ultimately will implode. Eventually, their citizens will have had enough of their hubris and auger for real and tangible change. NATO and the West will squeeze and strangle these autocracies over time. NATO added two additional countries to the Alliance (Sweden and Finland - historically neutral nations) since the Russian Federation's 2022 Ukraine invasion. GDP contributions have increased by individual NATO nations - a U.S. point of contention with NATO for decades. Overall, it is my opinion and projection, that NATO and the West will ultimately prevail against the present Axis of Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran diplomatically, informationally, militarily, and economically.

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The #chinese perspective of possible #impacts regarding the new U.S. #restrictions (https://lnkd.in/e-2wu3rB). #us #trade #technology #importexport #companies https://lnkd.in/exSWtamd

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Do read my article titled Re-emergence of Trench Warfare (pages 16 to 19). My suggested topic was Re-emergence of Unending Wars. https://lnkd.in/geX3TeE4

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The #DefenseProductionAct offers authorities to expedite and expand the supply of materials and services from the U.S. industrial base. According to a CFR report, the Pentagon uses it frequently and every year to buy military related equipment. Experts including Jerry McGinn, Ph.D. have argued for its renewal. Question for industry: do you know when #DPA authorities are being used to procure your goods? Is it possible to highlight what you are supplying as relevant to #DPA?

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Major events organized by dominionist groups: 1. The Truth & Liberty Coalition conferences and broadcasts [1] - These events are hosted by the Truth & Liberty Coalition, which promotes the "Seven Mountains" mandate of taking dominion over all spheres of society according to a biblical worldview. - Key speakers have included influential New Apostolic Reformation figures like Lance Wallnau, who has justified Christian support for Donald Trump through Seven Mountains theology. 2. The Family Research Council's "Pray, Vote, Stand" conference [1] - At this 2022 conference, a common theme was how the organization's politics are shaped by a "biblical worldview" - a core tenet of dominionist ideology. - The Family Research Council, led by Tony Perkins, actively promotes implementing conservative Christian principles across policy areas. 3. Efforts to overturn the 2020 election results [1][4] - Leaders of the New Apostolic Reformation movement engaged in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, driven by the belief that Trump's loss was due to demonic influence that required spiritual warfare to rectify. - This stems from dominionist convictions that Trump's presidency was prophesied and vital for advancing their nationalist Christian agenda. 4. The Congressional Prayer Caucus events [3] - This caucus within the U.S. Congress has been examined as reflecting dominionist themes and efforts to promote conservative Christian values and policies across government. 5. Local "City Elders" chapter meetings [2] - An organization called the City Elders, which promotes Seven Mountains dominionist ideology, has been establishing local chapters that meet regularly in churches and libraries across the country. So in summary, major dominionist events have included national conferences promoting their biblical worldview across all spheres, efforts to overturn democratic election results seen as ungodly, caucuses within government pushing their agenda, and the establishment of local organizational chapters to build grassroots support. [1][2][3][4] Citations: [1] 101: Dominionism | Political Research Associates https://lnkd.in/gj64pWb7 [2] City Elders: National Dominionist Group Puts Down Roots In The ... https://lnkd.in/gn5ZFNhz [3] Benedetti, Alexa Leigh - Dominionist Policy Goals - OATD https://lnkd.in/gYhxeDkm [4] The politically greased rise of 'dominionism' threatens to tear our ... https://lnkd.in/gDi6xj2C [5] Dominionism - RationalWiki https://lnkd.in/gKiHFbeu

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"From the war in Ukraine to the horrific terror attack on Oct. 7 and the subsequent conflict in the Middle East to the roiling waters of the South China Sea, the world today is in crisis. The causes are not found in Moscow or Tehran alone, but primarily in Washington and Beijing. They are the consequence of two fundamental and interrelated grand strategic mistakes made by the U.S. -First, the failure to understand the threat from the People’s Republic of China. -Second, the failure to balance against it. As a result, the U.S. is at risk of losing its dominant position to an emboldened PRC working in cooperation with Vladimir Putin’s Russia and the mullahs in Iran. Surveying the global unrest, Americans must comprehend three reasons why they face this dire strategic landscape. -First, U.S. elites did not perceive the threat due to the triumphalism of the “End of History” – the false assertion that modernizing nations like China were on the path to democratization and free market economics. Great power conflict was seen as an artifact of the past. This hubris contributed to what we term “threat deflation,” where year after year U.S. decision-makers consistently dismissed or underestimated the threat from the PRC. -Second, U.S. business interests and financiers indefatigably sought economic gain from cooperation with Beijing. This facilitated China’s rise as it entered the West’s economic ecosystem, as did its admission to the World Trade Organization....In essence, the U.S. willingly and enthusiastically taught, trained, and even equipped, its mortal enemy. Business interests and financiers funded our national security think tanks which contributed to a bias towards...threat deflation of the PRC. -Third, Deng Xiaoping, arguably one of the greatest strategists of the 20th century, advanced a brilliant political warfare strategy to promote threat deflation. Deng’s strategy focused on U.S. and other Western elites, enriching them..while using the enticement of a growing market to influence their behavior... To meet this threat, Washington -(First) needs to see the Communist China for what it is: an aggressive great power which seeks the overthrow of the U.S. -Second, the U.S. must support the education of strategists so younger generations may understand how to defeat the PRC... -Third, there must be sustained presidential leadership to define the enemy, educate the American people, and generate the necessary whole-of-government response... -Fourth, the failure of the intelligence community to identify China as an existential threat greatly weakened the ability of American national security decision-makers to identify and act against the threat.. (this) must be reversed... -Fifth, U.S. military leadership (must) prepare for China’s emergence as a formidable military power (and) be held accountable for the current state of unpreparedness."

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Counting the troops, ships, and bombs is not enough to assess how #China threatens the U.S. across multiple dimensions—#military, #economic, and diplomatic. My new book represents a deep analysis of China’s overall power and its threat to the U.S. #NationalSecurity #geopolitics #Threat #Security https://lnkd.in/epXVCMaZ