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History illustrates that statesmen often make one great mistake: the belief that the status quo will continue. Because there is peace today, there will be tomorrow too. That is the “fog of peace” that leads to a strong tendency to dismiss warnings and indications of aggression that cut against the bias of the status quo. A second danger is one to which Americans are particularly prone. That the national security community can only focus on one problem at a time. The war in Ukraine or the unrest in Syria occupies much of the bandwidth of the national security community and senior decision-making officials, despite the existence of our geographic and functional combatant command organizations. This allows bad actors to exploit a lack of focus that prevents national leadership from being able to separate the “signal from the noise” that exists in the modern world of seemingly endless digital communications 24/7/365.

Both biases are present now as the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is certainly moving towards war against Taiwan and very likely against the U.S. and its allies like Japan. The intense political warfare waged by Beijing against Taiwan, Japan, and the U.S. is increasingly becoming kinetic. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) calculating and deliberate actions may disappear at times as they are superseded by crisis events, such as in Syria this past week, in Ukraine, in Israel, or the next crisis to come. Yet, an objective assessment of the CCP’s intentions and capabilities has long warned about this coming problem.

In 1962, Roberta Wohlstetter published Pearl Harbor: Warning and Decision. Her major argument was that the U.S. was surprised by the Japanese surprise attack on December 7, 1941, but in fact, it should not have been. The U.S. had ample indications of a Japanese attack, but those “signals,” accurate indications of a Japanese attack, became lost in the “noise” of other intelligence, operations, and the peacetime expectations of civilian and military decision-makers.

Today the PRC’s actions are exploiting our biases much in the same way as they move towards war. CCP dictator Xi Jinping has repeatedly sent strong signals, including most recently by informing the Biden administration of the “Four Red Lines” the U.S. cannot cross—actions that it must not support or undertake. These “Red Lines” were the major theme of Xi’s meetings with President Biden at the 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting held in November in Lima, Peru. Most important was Xi’s personal demand that the U.S. obey them. A clear signal to the incoming Trump administration. Xi stated that the “Four Red Lines” are: the Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, China’s path and system, and China’s development rights. The Communist tyrant is telling the future U.S. president that: 1) the U.S. must not support an independent Taiwan; 2) the U.S. must not interfere in Chinese democracy and human rights; 3) the U.S. must not support the overthrow of the CCP; and 4) the U.S. must not interfere with China’s “rights” for advancement and development. At root, Xi is telling Biden and Trump that America must accept the PRC’s conquest of Taiwan, not labor to overthrow Communist tyranny, and accept the PRC’s aggression as it works to supplant the U.S.

Of great importance is that these political warnings are augmented by military actions. The recent detection by the Taiwanese military of 53 Chinese military aircraft and 11 People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, as well as eight other PRC vessels, around the island is a cause of concern, as it could be a preparatory signal for a future People’s Liberation Army (PLA) action against Taiwan and American forces in the region. Worth noting is that 23 of those aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, southwestern, and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). This fits the pattern of the PRC tightening the noose around Taiwan while attempting to normalize the increased number of naval and aerial incursions against Taiwan. […]

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.