Author: Thomas L. Knapp

Strategic Ambiguity (If We Must)

Source: Libertarian Institute
by Joseph Solis-Mullen

“In recent years, critics on both sides of the aisle have taken aim at the longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan. They argue that Washington should abandon ambiguity and embrace ‘strategic clarity,’ explicitly pledging to fight China over Taiwan. Others, such as Hoover Institute Fellow Eyck Freymann, have offered more sophisticated sounding alternatives like ‘structured ambiguity,’ attempting to codify precisely what America would and would not do in various contingencies, particularly involving gray zone activities. But abandoning a long-established policy that, whatever its faults, has prevented a major war between great powers for over half a century, in favor of a new policy, would be a serious mistake.” (06/18/26)

https://libertarianinstitute.org/articles/strategic-ambiguity-if-we-must/

Thomas L. Knapp

Waiting For The Miracle

Source: Astral Codex Ten
by Scott Alexander

“In 1917, three children in Fatima, Portugal claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary. They promised she would perform a miracle on a certain day in October. Nearly 100,000 pilgrims arrived, hoping to see whatever happened, and nearly all report that the sun turned pale, changed color, and spun around. Many other writers have investigated the children and their visions, but I was fixated on this sun miracle. … One of the first things I found was that there were many other sun miracles – at least ten! – similar to Fatima.” (06/18/26)

https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/waiting-for-the-miracle

Thomas L. Knapp

Apple to raise prices as AI boom pushes up chip costs

Source: BBC News [UK state media]

“Apple plans to raise the prices of its products as the cost of the memory chips it uses has surged, the technology giant’s boss has said. Tim Cook, Apple’s outgoing chief executive, told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that price increases were ‘unavoidable’ as the situation around memory chips had become ‘unsustainable.’ He did not say when prices would rise or which products would be affected. It is also unclear whether the price hikes will affect the iPhone 18, which is expected to be launched in September.” (06/18/26)

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3wyxvqdx1zo

Thomas L. Knapp

Hegseth announces six-month review of American forces in Europe, blasts NATO allies for putting troops “at risk”

Source: Fox News

“US defense secretary] Pete Hegseth had harsh words for NATO allies during an address to his European counterparts on Thursday, announcing a six-month review of U.S. force deployment on the continent. Hegseth said the review’s outcome will depend on how quickly European nations act to support themselves militarily. ‘This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,’ he told NATO officials in Brussels. Hegseth also lashed out at European countries for refusing to assist U.S. forces in the war against Iran, particularly those that withheld use of military bases.” (06/18/26)

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-announces-6-month-review-american-forces-europe-blasts-nato-allies-putting-troops-risk

Thomas L. Knapp