This week the Pack is joined by Retired General Paul Kern, who wisely avoids social media. We discuss Russia's military prowess, vital rare earth minerals and the CCP eyeballing Taiwan.   General Paul Kern graduated from West Point in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He holds master’s degrees in civil and mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2006. He was a National Security Fellow at the J.F. Kennedy School, Harvard University and was a member of the Defense Science Board for 15 years. General Kern commanded operational units as a platoon leader in the Blackhorse Regiment in Vietnam receiving the Silver Star for valor and three Purple Hearts.  He retired after 38 years with the US Army as the Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command. The command of more than 50,000 personnel has worldwide responsibility for supply and maintenance support to the Department of Defense, manages the Army depot system, and conducts research for all the ground and rotary wing equipment. In June 2004, the Secretary of Defense tapped General Kern to lead the military's internal investigation into the abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. He has a unique career which blends technical expertise, combat operations, program management, policy development, and advisor to senior political leaders. He currently serves as a Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group and serves on multiple advisory boards including US Rare Earth LLC, a company focused on developing domestic supplies of strategic materials. Sit back, have a drink and mine your back yard for lithium.    SHOW LINKS   https://cohengroup.net/who-we-are/team/paul-j-kern