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Al Mauroni

@progmil.bsky.social

1.1K followers 1.1K following 560 posts

NatSec analyst, WMD and nukes, sci-fi enthusiast, gamer

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · Nov 12

We should talk about how the national security community talks about WMD

open.substack.com/pub/almauron...

Why We Need to Talk about WMD

First we have to convince Congress to wake up

open.substack.com

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Reposted by Al Mauroni

Gregory Koblentz @gregkoblentz.bsky.social · 1d

Hundreds of CDC layoffs reversed, but biodefense preparedness staff hit

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

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Reposted by Al Mauroni

David Rothkopf @djrothkopf.bsky.social · 1d

When a bad man does a good thing, he does not cease to be a bad man. This is a complicated moment in the Middle East. Each of us must work to make sense of it. My latest. open.substack.com/pub/davidrot...

Joy. Sorrow. Fury. Disgust. And Hope. All at Once.

Reacting to this disorienting, misrepresented, misperceived moment in the Middle East.

open.substack.com

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 1d

Following up on yesterday's post, I need to better explain the intel community's challenges in WMD collection and analysis.

almauroni.substack.com/p/the-perils...

The Perils of WMD Intelligence Collection and Analysis

Following up on the NCBC disestablishment

almauroni.substack.com

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Reposted by Al Mauroni

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 2d

Absolutely brutal.

Bari Weiss: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

www.youtube.com

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 1d

Same issue as in “Hell Let Loose.” People have no patience for the medic to get to them.

Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 2d

I didn't realize until last week that Tulsi Gabbard killed the NCPC - not a good thing for the counter-WMD community

almauroni.substack.com/p/tulsi-gabb...

Tulsi Gabbard Disestablished the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center

Because countering WMD isn't a priority anymore

almauroni.substack.com

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Reposted by Al Mauroni

Stephen Schwartz @atomicanalyst.bsky.social · 2d

It’s worth noting (pun intended) that since Reagan launched the Strategic Defense Initiative in March 1983, the United States has spent more than $453,000,000,000 on multiple missile defense schemes, but to date we have not rendered ballistic missiles—or any other missiles—“impotent and obsolete.”

Stephen Schwartz @atomicanalyst.bsky.social · Mar 23

Moreover, since fiscal 1962, the US has spent more than $531 billion on multiple ineffective missile defense schemes—including Safeguard, which was operational for less than four months during 1975-76 and utilized nuclear-tipped interceptors to protect 150 Minuteman III ICBMs in North Dakota.

An aerial color photograph of the Stanley R. Mickelesen Safeguard Complex at Nekoma, North Dakota, the only operational Safeguard site ever built. The Missile Site Radar is the pyramid-shaped building in the background at center. The small square launch area in the foreground contains launchers for 16 Sprint antiballistic missiles. The larger rectangular area adjacent to it contains launchers for 30 Spartan antiballistic missiles. The entire launch area is ringed by two layers of tall perimeter security fencing.

A color photograph of the US Army Homing Overlay Experiment (HOE) test interceptor (built by Lockheed Missiles and Space Company) on display at the National Air and Space Museum Annex in Fairfax County, Virginia. After being launched from the ground and reaching space, the umbrella-like 13-foot-long spokes would unfurl and the hit-to-kill 2,600-pound interceptor would be guided by onboard sensors to smash into a ballistic missile reentry vehicle carrying a nuclear war during its midcourse phase (between the boost phase into space and reentry into the atmosphere over a target).

A color photograph of the Boeing/Air Force YAL-1 test bed (a modified 747) for the Airborne Laser in flight. YAL-1 was built to study if a chemical laser mounted in its nose could destroy ballistic missiles during their brief boost phase into space. It was plagued by serious technical problems and never achieved operational capability.

A color photograph of then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and several other men standing against a railing next to an open missile silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, in June 2009, looking down at the Ground-Based Missile Defense (GMD) interceptor missile inside.

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Reposted by Al Mauroni

Secretary of Defense Rock @sodrock.bsky.social · 4d

The “fury” of nuclear war movies

NPR @npr.org · 4d

A single nuclear warhead, of unknown origin, is heading toward the U.S. mainland in Kathryn Bigelow's new Netflix film. It's an unnerving scenario — but it's also thrilling to watch. n.pr/48przga

Every moment pops in the nuclear thriller 'A House of Dynamite'

A single nuclear warhead, of unknown origin, is heading toward the U.S. mainland in Kathryn Bigelow's new Netflix film. It's an unnerving scenario — but it's also thrilling to watch.

n.pr

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Reposted by Al Mauroni

Kara Swisher @karaswisher.bsky.social · 5d

One thing remains a constant: conservative or note, Marc A. Thiessen remains profoundly untalented and an exhausting nit.

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 5d

There is grass but it isn’t green. www.sos.nm.gov/about-new-me....

State Grass | Maggie Toulouse Oliver - New Mexico Secretary of State

www.sos.nm.gov

Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 9d

There's a couple of good reports on nuclear deterrence against China, if you haven't seen them.

almauroni.substack.com/p/nuclear-ha...

Nuclear Hawks and Nuclear Doves on China

Because what else is there to talk about

almauroni.substack.com

Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 14d

Appreciate that input. MSNBC should have been smart enough to get Mark Hertling instead of Mark Kimmitt.
www.thebulwark.com/p/hegseth-qu...

As Our Generals and Admirals Fly Home, Our Adversaries Watch and Wait

Couldn’t Hegseth’s in-person meeting of all flag officers have been a secure conference call?

www.thebulwark.com

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 14d

Really surprised to hear Brig Gen (retired) Mark Kimmitt basically defend SecDef Hegseth’s show this morning on @msnbc.com. Said the message was right and no big deal moving all those GOFOs to Quantico for a half-hour talk. Thank goodness @radiofreetom.bsky.social was there to correct him.

Reposted by Al Mauroni

James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 14d

This is correct.

If you heard someone in an assisted-living facility rambling on this way, you'd be talking with the doctors about appropriate next levels of care.

No kidding.

And every officer in the room has to realize it.

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 15d

This seems promising www.dems.gov/newsroom/pre...

Chairman Aguilar Relaunches National Security Task Force To Ensure America Remains Leader Of The Free World | House Democrats

Dems.gov is the official website for Members of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives. Dems.gov provides news and information about legislation, issues and resources.

www.dems.gov

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 15d

I forgot about Adam Smith. He’s a good guy. Not so up on Pat Ryan or others. Would be good if they actually had a clear platform and campaigned on it.

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 15d

Honest question. Who are the national security democrats in Congress? I’m not sure I’ve seen any who can articulate a moderate policy position that doesn’t echo Repub talking points. Dems seem too afraid to stand up a distinct platform and risk being called out as “soft.”

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 15d

Looking past the truly odious nature of his lecture, I am amused that he thinks stalking back and forth on the stage is a way to keep his audience focused on him. What a poser.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 15d

Hegseth on his firings of military leaders: "We all serve at the pleasure of the president -- every single day."

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Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 15d

That’s a separate but also important discussion. You’ve written about this and I completely agree.

Al Mauroni @progmil.bsky.social · 16d

The GAO released a report on the state of nuclear deterrence education in JPME, but draws the wrong conclusions. almauroni.substack.com/p/schooling-...

Schooling the GAO on Nuclear Deterrence Education

The GAO has a remarkably bad discussion about an important defense topic

almauroni.substack.com

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Reposted by Al Mauroni

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 16d

What would the reaction be if Democratic politicians went on TV every week to talk about how scary and dangerous Louisiana was, or how bleak and depressing life in rural Mississippi is, or how Oklahoma ranks last in education and “God, can you imagine being from there?”

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 16d

Rand Paul: "Chicago is a nightmare. It is literally a war zone."