(End of the American Dream)—At a time when their economy is really struggling, the Chinese are increasing military spending and ramping up preparations for war. But who is China preparing to fight a war with? Needless to say, the answer to that question is obvious. Yes, the border dispute between India and China could erupt into something significant, but that is not likely. The only other opponent that the Chinese would be fighting a major war with would be the United States. And right now, Chinese shipyards are churning out military vessels at a pace that the U.S. simply cannot match…
The US cannot match the pace of building in the shipyards of Shanghai, which have already turned out two new aircraft carriers with a third expected to begin sea trials soon.
The latest vessel, the Fujian, features catapults to launch heavy, fixed-wing aircraft with immense bomb payloads. These shipyards are also building a new type of amphibious assault vessel, and many roll-on, roll-off ferries, which could have a dual purpose – transporting cars in peacetime, and armoured assault vehicles in the event of an attack on a neighbour, such as Taiwan.
Of even greater concern is the vast network of tunnels that the Chinese have been constructing.
We are being told that this network of tunnels makes the Hamas tunnels under Gaza “look like holes scooped by children in a sandpit”…
While the West has been scaling back its military spending in favour of welfare and healthcare, China has been building artificial islands as naval bases and airfields. Less obvious but more ominous, it has also been digging a vast network of tunnels and bunkers that make the Hamas warrens in Gaza look like holes scooped by children in a sandpit.
The Chinese tunnels stretch for hundreds of miles and their plans are so closely guarded that Western intelligence agencies have little idea what is down there.
Domestic spies in the pay of the West, who have attempted to smuggle out information, have been caught and executed.
Nobody knows why China has been putting so much effort into these tunnels. Are they anticipating that vast numbers of Chinese will need to shelter underground during an apocalyptic conflict with the United States?
In recent years, the Chinese have been feverishly upgrading and expanding their strategic nuclear arsenal…
Most alarming of all is the build-up of nuclear missiles. Throughout the Cold War, though China has been a nuclear power from the mid-1960s, its atomic arsenal was limited. By the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the People’s Liberation Army had only 30 or 40 long-range nuclear missiles – because that, it believed, was more than enough. As President Deng Xiaoping chillingly taunted American journalists: ‘How many Los Angeles can you afford to lose?’
That policy has changed. More than 100 nuclear missiles with multiple warheads have already been built and armed, with production expected to exceed 500 by the end of this decade, if not sooner.
The moment the Chinese invade Taiwan, they know that it will mean war with the United States.
If that war is limited to conventional weaponry, the Chinese will win a war in Taiwan, and every war game that our leaders have conducted in recent years has shown this.
The U.S. could try to threaten China with nukes, but if China now possesses enough missiles to wipe out dozens of U.S. cities our leaders may not want to risk a nuclear confrontation.
The Chinese know that most battles are won before they are ever fought.
So they are trying to position themselves for a positive outcome before the very first missile is fired at Taiwan.
Interestingly, as talk of war with China has heated up, the number of Chinese migrants coming over our southern border has spiked exponentially.
In fact, CBS News is reporting that the number of Chinese migrants encountered at the border is now 50 times higher than it was two years ago…
Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 37,000 Chinese citizens were apprehended crossing illegally from Mexico into the U.S.…that’s 50 times more than two years earlier.
In many cases, groups of military-age Chinese men all decked out in similar equipment are being encountered.
Of course they have been trained to say all the right things, and so the Biden administration is letting them in.
Meanwhile, western nations continue to prepare for an all-out war with Russia…
Several European countries have raised concerns that Russia’s war against Ukraine could eventually lead to a greater conflict between Moscow and NATO. The military alliance has taken several steps to bolster its defense systems along its eastern border in recent months, including by conducting trainings in the spring for over 90,000 troops from all 32 of the member states in countries that share a border with Russia, such as the Baltic nations and Poland.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have been some of the loudest members of NATO that have urged the Western bloc to prepare for Russia’s next offensive in the region. Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, for example, has said that Russia is preparing for war against NATO countries within the next 10 years.
All of those NATO troops are not going to do much good if a conflict with Russia goes nuclear.
As Bloomberg has reported, Russia has 10 times more tactical nukes than the U.S. does.
Sadly, the Russians also have the advantage when it comes to strategic nukes. As I detail in my latest book, the Sarmat is the most sophisticated intercontinental ballistic missile on the entire planet. Meanwhile, hopelessly outdated Minuteman missiles that originally went into service in the 1970s continue to form the backbone of the U.S. arsenal.
The Russians also have the most advanced anti-missile systems in the world by a very wide margin, and we don’t have any anti-missile systems that can handle what the Russians can throw at us.
Considering how the balance of power has changed, perhaps we should have tried to find a peaceful resolution to the mess in Ukraine.
But now that window appears to have closed for good…
A top ally of Vladimir Putin has claimed the relationship between the US and Russia is worse than during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, as the Kremlin accused the West of ‘direct involvement’ in the war in Ukraine.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, made the comments in a public speech, and added that the Kremlin has ruled out peace talks with Ukraine, as its invasion of the nation entered its third year.
Medvedev said Russia would prosecute what it calls its ‘special military operation’ until the other side capitulated. He said that what he called historical parts of Russia should ‘return home.’
Medvedev was speaking in front of a map of Ukraine which showed the country as a much smaller landlocked rump of territory squeezed up against Poland with Russia in complete control of its east, south and Black Sea coastline.
We really are living at a time of wars and rumors of wars.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
On top of everything else that I have discussed, the war in the Middle East could dramatically escalate at any moment, and North Korea’s military has been put in a state of “heightened readiness for war”…
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected field training of troops at a major military operations base in the western region of the country on Wednesday and ordered heightened readiness for war, the state Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday.
The tour of the base, the location of which was not identified, came after the start of annual combined military drills by US and South Korean forces on Monday in the South. Twice the number of troops took part compared to last year.
I am entirely convinced that 2024 will be a year of war. Of course countless others see things the exact same way.
The hot phase of World War III is rapidly approaching, and right now there is a great deal of talk about how to get prepared for such a scenario…
Your phone is out of action, the electricity has cut out and there’s no way to reach food. What’s your game plan?
These are questions people have been urged to explore as the risk of ‘World War Three’ seemingly grows.
With the Doomsday Clock – a scientific invention which measures how close the Earth is to disaster – remaining at 90 seconds to midnight, Admiral Rob Bauer, who chairs NATO’s Military Committee, has warned people to make basic preparations for a potential ‘full-blown war’.
‘You need to have water, you need to have a radio on batteries and you need to have a flashlight on batteries to make sure that you can survive the first 36 hours’, he said. ‘It starts there, the realisation that not everything is plannable.’
Unfortunately, if you are only preparing to survive for 36 hours you are not going to last very long at all once the missiles start flying.
At this moment, most people living in the western world have no idea how much the hot phase of World War III will change all of our lives.
If they really understood what was coming, they would be loudly demanding peace.
Sadly, it will be way too late when most of the population finally awakens from their slumber.
Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
