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The Normandy landings during World War II, better known as D-Day, Operation Neptune, and the first phase of Operation Overlord, was the most comprehensive amphibious invasion ever recorded. On June 6, 1944, Allied forces commanded upwards of 6,000 ships and landing vehicles to mobilize over 150,000 troops on multiple beaches along the coast of Normandy, France. D-Day was followed by several additional phases of Operation Overlord, which, while lengthy and extremely costly, convinced German leaders that they could not continue the war.

The term "D-Day" simply means "day," indicating that it was the first day of the massive military campaign known as Operation Overlord. D-Day involved naval, air, and land assaults along the coast of France, which was, at the time, occupied by Nazi forces. Shortly after Allied forces began parachuting into northern France, ground troops began to invade five beaches: Juno, Omaha, Gold, Utah, and Sword. The Allies ultimately succeeded in establishing a strategic foothold on the coast, which they could use to progress their invasion of occupied France.

While D-Day occurred midway through 1944, the Allies had established the defeat of Germany as their principal military aim as early as 1941. Until then, German forces had primarily been involved with the Soviet Union on the eastern front. D-Day and Operation Overlord would serve a dual purpose of relieving pressure on the Soviets and liberating France, thus diminishing Germany's hold on Western Europe.

The delay in moving against Germany was partially due to the staggering complexity involved with coordinating the landings at Normandy. Initial planning began following the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, but D-Day preparations did not begin in earnest until the Tehran Conference. Working with British, American, and Canadian tacticians, Lieutenant-General Frederick Morgan first submitted plans for the invasion in 1943, roughly one year before the invasion took place, and production began later that year. At this point, General Dwight D. Eisenhower started coordinating naval, air, and land strategies, which included numerous deception campaigns designed to lure German forces from Normandy and weaken the resistance Allied forces would face upon landing.

The numbers involved with the Normandy planning and landing processes are hard to envision. British factories received nearly 10 million tons of supplies and equipment from North America during the first half of 1944. In addition to transporting these materials, the United States sent more than 1.4 million servicemen across the Atlantic.

That said, the mission was a truly global effort. In addition to Great Britain, the US, and Canada, D-Day was supported by Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, and several other nations. This massive mobilization resulted in more than 18,000 paratroopers landing amidst over 14,000 sorties; the Allies had already secured air supremacy in Northern France and faced little resistance from the Luftwaffe.

Meanwhile, Project Neptune consisted of close to 7,000 battleships, destroyers, escorts, and other craft conveying in excess of 132,000 ground troops to the five assault beaches. The ships also assaulted German coastal defenses with a series of bombardments.

The United States government operates several major intelligence agencies, including the National Security Agency (NSA), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the National Security Agency. These organizations provide government leaders with essential information on domestic and international activities. While they are expected to collaborate, their differing roles and methods have sometimes led to conflicts, resulting in various reorganizations and restructuring.

The NSA is the oldest of the three intelligence agencies. The organization was formed in 1917, just a few weeks after Congress declared war on Germany and entered World War I. One of the agency's first acts was to establish a code and cipher decryption unit, the Cable and Telegraph Section. Following the war, the agency created the Black Chamber, the first government organization to perform cryptanalytics during times of peace.

During World War II, numerous problems arose regarding the organization and its interactions with other intelligence agencies, including the CIA, which had been formed as a replacement for the Office of Strategic Services in the lead-up to the Cold War. The organization that would come to be known as the NSA consisted of multiple smaller organizations collectively known as the Armed Forces Security Agency (AFSA). Agency leaders repeatedly failed to centralize communications intelligence from its various subchapters.

President Harry S. Truman led an investigation into the AFSA's failings, resulting in the reformation of several intelligence communities into the NSA. However, the National Security Act of 1947 also created the Office of the National Security Advisor, a senior aide tasked with providing information directly to the president, though the first advisor was not named until 1953.

America's three leading intelligence communities have distinct roles. The NSA is charged with monitoring, collecting, and interpreting global data that has intelligence and counterintelligence value. The agency is specifically known for its efforts in signals intelligence, meaning intelligence is gathered by intercepting electronic signals as opposed to direct communications. Similarly, the NSA is responsible for safeguarding American communications networks and data systems.

The CIA, meanwhile, is a foreign intelligence service that acquires data through much broader, more diverse operations, including covert field operations. The biggest difference between the CIA and the NSA is that the CIA focuses on collecting information via human intelligence rather than signals intelligence.

The NSA and CIA are expected to share information to better ensure the safety of the American people and government. The combination of signals and human intelligence should provide the president with a robust understanding of various international and domestic situations. Unfortunately, the two agencies have come into conflict on numerous occasions.

The lack of cooperation between intelligence agencies is somewhat understandable. The CIA and NSA are both large and highly secretive government agencies. Agents are provided information on a need-to-know basis. With a purposefully limited understanding of the larger operation, agents struggle to effectively share and gather intelligence reports from peers in equally secretive organizations.

Other times, the disagreements and conflicts between intelligence agencies are far more petty. Between 1970 and 2018, the CIA collaborated with the West German Federal Intelligence Service on Operation Rubicon, described as the "intelligence coup of the century." Leaked documents about the operation demonstrated how the NSA became involved in the operation and frequently bickered with the CIA, including disagreements about ownership stakes in the Swiss-based cryptology company Crypto AG, as well as basic elements of tradecraft.

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) uses public data such as news, social media, and records to create actionable insights. Raw data becomes intelligence through analysis and answering specific questions. Journalists, social engineers, human rights groups, the military, and governments use OSINT.

The intelligence cycle has five steps. First, the intelligence community assesses a request to determine the required information and the best sources. Then, the team gathers data passively (using publicly available data without direct engagement) or actively via direct interaction. Direct engagement tactics include adding the target on social media, messaging, or commenting on their post. The team then collates and sorts the collected data for easier analysis. Analysts identify patterns, interpret findings, and generate actionable insights. A complete report answers the intelligence question and recommends the next action step.

OSINT is a critical asset for government leaders and military personnel, providing real-time intelligence for strategic and operational decision-making. The intelligence community (IC) uses OSINT to ensure national security and defend national interests. The IC's strategic objectives include supplying relevant data to improve government leaders' and military personnel's situational awareness, optimizing the insights from publicly accessible information, and broadening the reach of open-source data gathering. The IC also aims to make OSINT the foundation of other specialties and integrate it with other intelligence work.

The intelligence community can effectively protect citizens only through interagency collaboration and access to the most accurate, timely intelligence. The President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) emerged to address the disconnect in the IC and give presidents independent counsel. In 1956, friction between the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency caused intelligence failures regarding the USSR, including the IC misjudging Soviet military capabilities and intentions. More recently, President Obama underused PIAB and President Biden was slow to reactivate it after taking office.

President Trump, concerned about OSINT and IC functions, pledged reforms for better oversight. He had previously accused intelligence agencies of leaking a report alleging Russian compromising information on him, damaging his relations with IC. To rebuild IC trust, President Trump appointed Devin Nunes as PIAB chairman before his second term began. Mirroring President Eisenhower, Trump prioritizes independent, non-partisan assessments and ensuring effective intelligence capabilities. Nunes' appointment aims to bring fresh perspectives and signals Trump's dedication to IC enhancement.

Beyond leadership, the IC's success depends on strategic OSINT initiatives. According to the 2024-2026 strategy, а key focus area is streamlining the intelligence community's open-source data collection to cut redundancy and promote broader data dissemination. This approach aims to maximize the value of publicly and commercially available intelligence while guiding investments to improve OSINT operations. Additionally, the strategy emphasizes monitoring data usage and mission impact for efficient resource allocation.

The second strategic objective is to unify and manage open-source collection efforts across the IC. This approach aims to optimize intelligence gathering to address evolving national security threats while ensuring privacy and civil liberties compliance. Establishing а common framework for OSINT collection will help identify intelligence gaps and assign clear responsibilities.

The third goal is advancing technological capabilities to enhance OSINT analysis. Continuous adaptation is essential for delivering credible, real-time intelligence to policymakers. Current tools include human language technologies, machine learning, and AI, which streamline data processing and improve intelligence accuracy.

The Medal of Honor serves as the highest medal awarded for valor in combat that United States Armed Forces members can earn. It started as the Medal of Honor for Bravery in the Field during the Civil War in 1861 for sailors and marines. Then, in 1862, Congress extended eligibility to military personnel and soldiers.

Service members earn the Medal of Freedom by performing a single act of heroism in the face of danger. This medal differs from other military medals, which recipients receive for demonstrating a pattern of behavior. The act must exceed the call of duty since earning the medal represents the recipient’s courage and sacrifice.

The military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, is presented to recipients who’ve demonstrated exceptional gallantry to risk their lives beyond their call of duty. Recipients have exemplified valor, love for their country and fellow citizens, and selfless service. The President of the United States presents the award on behalf of the U.S. Congress. Since the establishment of the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, 3,517 Americans have received the nation’s highest military award, but only 63 patriots are still alive. In 1990, Congress set aside March 25th to commemorate the National Medal of Honor Day, celebrated annually since 1991. Congress decided to commemorate the day annually to boost public awareness about the Medal of Honor and how national, state, and local organizations could appreciate Medal of Honor recipients.

June 6, 1944 witnessed the 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, which helped defeat the Germans and end World War Two. In commemoration, the Navy SEAL Museum in Florida dedicated a monument park on a Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer dune precipice at Omaha Beach. The U.S. Naval Combat Demolition Units/Scouts and Raiders Monument Park overlooks Dog Red, a mission-critical Allied landing zone.

The park features a series of slabs of French sandstone inscribed with events from D-Day. Sand is brought from locations worldwide where Navy SEALs and demolition units have seen combat service incorporated into the monument's interior. A rusted metal hedgehog barrier is set in this sandy stratum. Crafted from angled metal beams bolted together, the barrier halts the tanks' progress.

According to Studio X Design architect Matt Pearson, the park aims to celebrate and acknowledge the heroic events of D-Day rather than serve as a place of somber reflection. Elements of the 7,500-square-foot interactive park include stone benches, canopy trees, and an eight-foot, granite-hewn statue of a demolitioneer.

Awarded by the US President and presented in the US Congress’ name, the Medal of Honor has been received by 3,517 Americans since being instituted in the Civil War. Among the recipients still with us is retired Navy SEAL Michael Thornton, who embodies humility, selfless service, valor, and love of country and fellow man.

Serving on several tours to Vietnam, Thornton received his Medal of Honor for an incident when on a three-person Navy SEAL patrol focused on intelligence gathering and capturing prisoners at a naval base that was now enemy-occupied. Having reached land, Thornton and his comrades traveled on foot when they encountered heavy fire that quickly overpowered them. Outnumbered, they called to support naval gunfire and participated in a firefight. When encirclement became imminent, they returned to the waterline.

It was at this point that Thornton’s bravery came to the fore. Learning that enemy fire had taken out SEAL Thomas Norris, leaving him presumably dead, Thornton headed to the spot Norris had fallen, killing a pair of enemy soldiers who were preparing to overrun the position. Hefting his wounded comrade over his shoulder, he brought him to the shoreline and swam, towing the Norris in the water until they were rescued two hours later.

Cyberattacks have become prevalent instruments of war, representing a new frontier in conflict and defense. It involves the use of technology to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to enemy systems, often causing widespread chaos without physical violence. Cyberattacks are attractive to adversaries because they can be executed remotely, often anonymously, and inexpensively.

Recent trends highlight the increasing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks. According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), ransomware has emerged as a significant threat, impacting various sectors including health care, education, and critical infrastructure. Ransomware attacks involve encrypting a victim's data and demanding a ransom for its release, often causing severe operational disruptions and financial losses.

To combat these threats, CISA has launched several initiatives, such as the Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot Program. This program identifies vulnerabilities commonly exploited by ransomware and provides timely alerts to critical infrastructure entities, enabling them to mitigate risks before attacks occur.

Furthermore, CISA recommends that organizations implement robust cybersecurity measures, including regular software patching, employee training on recognizing phishing attempts, and securing remote desktop protocols. It also emphasizes the importance of whitelisting trusted applications, continuous monitoring of network activities, and maintaining offline data backups.

"These are tough times for many in America. Countless families are struggling to make ends meet. We are trillions in debt..."

"In World War II, the very survival of Western civilization was at stake. In freedom's darkest hour, America's finest, and those of Allied Nations, embarked on the Normandy invasion to save the Free World. Of the some 133,000 troops who landed on D-Day, June 6, 1944, casualties would number approximately 10,300..."

Each year on March 25th, the United States pauses to honor the valor and sacrifice of its most distinguished military service members on National Medal of Honor Day. This special day recognizes the recipients of the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded to American soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen.

The origins of the Medal of Honor are traced back to the Civil War, established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. This honor has three variations: for the Army, the Navy (including the Marine Corps and Coast Guard), and the Air Force. The official national Medal of Honor Day was first observed in 1991, with Congress designating March 25th. This date was chosen to commemorate the first presentation of the Medal of Honor on March 25, 1863, to six members of Andrews' Raiders for their daring raid during the Civil War.

Bobby Richardson is a renowned New York Yankees player who enjoyed a very successful career as a second base player with the Yankees. He was part of the All-Star team about eight times and clinched three World Series rings and five consecutive Gold Glove awards. Considering his remarkable achievements during his career, many wonder why the veteran player has yet to receive the prestigious Medal of Freedom.

Consequently, a team of delegates comprising members from the Republican and Democratic parties of the United States House of Representatives urged President Trump in July 2020 to confer the prestigious award on Richardson, agreeing unanimously that he was deserving of it.

After his retirement, Richardson was appointed to the Baseball Chapel, a role he served diligently for a decade. He was also a major player in the recent establishment of the Richardson Medical Foundation, a non-profit with the declared objective of assisting disadvantaged children with unmet medical requirements. These achievements are all pointers to why Richardson deserves the Medal of Freedom.

In recent years, David Beasley has continued to earn the respect and admiration of international leaders from various continents. The American is an evangelical Christian and former South Carolina governor. He has played key roles in bringing individuals from many backgrounds and ideas together to improve inclusivity. Beasley accomplished all these while adhering to time-honored business methods, leveraging cutting-edge technology, promoting creativity, and accepting personal responsibility.

Beasley took over the leadership of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in 2017. This was after his tenure as governor of South Carolina. The program had a teeming workforce of over 20,000 people in 80 countries. The establishment of the WFP aimed to counteract terrorist groups' use of food as a recruitment tactic. Because of Beasley's excellent leadership, the WFP feeds over 115 million people in nearly 90 countries.

Governor George Pataki received a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in March 2023. Long before the nomination, however, Pataki had contributed immensely to humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.

Despite the substantial amount of taxpayer funds sent through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), there was insufficient evidence of these relief resources reaching the war-affected people of Ukraine. Nevertheless, Pataki continued to ensure, single-handedly, that essential relief resources reached the people of Ukraine. To achieve this, Pataki collaborated with churches, synagogues, and other religious organizations. Reports indicate that the majority of humanitarian aid received by the Ukrainian people comes from faith-based groups in the private sector, including the George Pataki Leadership Center.

To ensure the safe delivery of all donated supplies to the affected country, Pataki also worked with the Knights of Malta, who provided logistical support. These humanitarian efforts by Pataki were instrumental in his official nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

There is a decline in America's national security supply chain. Not only is this shortage seen in the essential elements that form the supply chains of critical national security technology and weaponry, but Americans also observe a continuous decline in active pharmaceutical ingredients, energy components, rare earth elements, and more. Given the fragility of the national security supply chain, it is imperative to address this decline swiftly.

One of the critical actions that the nation can take to combat the American national security supply chain shortage is to enhance the transparency of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This committee has been at the forefront of monitoring and approving property and business purchases throughout the United States. This includes the purchase of industrial equipment, farmland, and natural resources. There is a need for this committee to become more transparent in its operations to avoid endangering national security.

Another strategy is to develop a Special Select Committee on the National Security Supply Chain. It is imperative to establish concurrent jurisdictions over CFIUS matters to ensure proper monitoring of the activities of the CFIUS programs. The committee should collaborate with the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and the House Committee on Financial Services. They will supervise and hold CFIUS accountable.