Elon Musks three-word reaction after unveiling Tesla Roadster flying car that hits 60 mph in under a second
Indiana wildlife rescue performs life-saving surgery on trio of baby squirrels with tails tangled together
For decades, Americans have thought about national security primarily in terms of military strength — the aircraft we build, the ships we deploy and the men and women who defend our country.Today, national security means much more, including having access to the critical materials required to not only build our military systems, but also power our data centers, manufacture advanced technologies and support the industries that underpin the American economy.And on that front, the United States has allowed itself to become dangerously dependent on foreign nations — most notably the People’s Republic of China.CORPORATE AMERICA'S CHINA ADDICTION HAS BECOME A NATIONAL SECURITY THREATWe have seen the consequences of this kind of dependence before.Miners work at a drilling site in Ambler Metal's Arctic deposit area on Sept.6, 2022, in Ambler Mining District, Alaska.
The company is conducting drilling explorations for a number of minerals/elements including copper, zinc and lead.(Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images)During the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions in overseas supply chains left American hospitals scrambling for masks, gloves and other basic medical equipment produced in China, which controlled their distribution.
It was a stark reminder that when a country outsources production of essential goods, it also outsources a measure of its security.CHINA HAS A CHOKEHOLD ON YOUR MEDICINE CABINET.IT’S A NATIONAL SECURITY THREATThe COVID crisis also exposed America’s larger strategic vulnerability regarding critical minerals.Graphite is a prime example.WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS TURN POLLUTED MINE WATER INTO CRITICAL RARE EARTH MINERALSMost Americans rarely think about graphite beyond being something like lead in a pencil.
Yet it is an essential material in rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles, energy storage systems and countless electronic devices.It also has applications across defense technologies, drones, adva...