Last Week in Logistics, 19-25 May
As America remembered those whose lives were sacrificed to war and defense yesterday, we recall here the story of Lieutenant Travis Manion’s final return home.
Ukraine War
The dismal demonstration of Russian arms - and perhaps a constrained supply due to losses and duration of the conflict - in Ukraine is weakening the market for their purchase globally. Lost income, diminishing reputation and influence, weakening domestic arms industry. With further downward pressure on foreign income, the PRC has reduced its investments in Russia threefold since the start of the war.
Making good use of these logistics, Ukraine’s campaign against military and critical infrastructure continued. They are now hitting targets within Russia regularly, with an ammunition depot in the Pokrovsky region destroyed last week, another strike is thought to have hit defense industry targets in Oryol, while more targeted industry and the Severny airbase. The Air Psy-War against the Moscow region also continues, with repeated airport closures in response to drone presence or threat. In self-defense, Ukraine air forces eliminated most of the drones and missiles Russia sent its way over the weekend. Despite this impressive record, the several Ukraine cities targeted suffered the few that made it through. Germany announced the lifting of range restrictions on where Allied provided missiles could be used against Russia.
Russia is also found to be targeting the Allied support to Ukraine and the logistics operation that has aided the beleaguered nation’s defense.
Defense
Lacking much in the way of capacity to compete with its Western counterparts constructively, Putin continues Russia’s campaign of aggressive political confrontation (I will never use Hyrbrid War), in this case against the logistics framework of Western power. Details in this Report.
US
As the Trump Administration pushes further on a renewed attempt at ballistic missile defense, the US risks setting off a spending race that favors none.
Europe
CEO Micael Johansson elected the Chairman of ASD, the European association for Aerospace and Defence: Saab. Poland will use post-COVID recovery funds for defense and security.
Domestic Crises and Disasters
Reduction in National Weather Service coverage in California will complicate their ability to manage fire season. Elsewhere, cuts to federal subsidies for wildfire fighting risks impaired responses to fires as that funding enabled critical capabilities in operations.
St. Louis, battered by recent tornadoes, has bipartisan support for assistance with both Democrats and Republicans pleading the case. FEMA has completed its survey and a decision on what aid will be given is awaited. North Carolina had its request for equal matching funds in its Hurricane Helene recovery denied. And as hurricane season approaches, FEMA has canceled the standing document and currently has no strategic plan.
Trade
Citing “market conditions”, Subaru of America is raising its prices as the Trump Tariffs ripple across the economy. Economists are generally pessimistic about US prospects under Trump’s trade policies, despite the frequent walkbacks that have earned the President the TACO moniker - Trump Always Chickens Out. This prognosis seems bolstered by the precipitous year-on-year drop in business travel from Europe - this was in advance of the Truth Social 50% tariff announcement later in the week, which itself was paused until July. Trump further put Apple in difficult standing with another post threatening a specific tariff of 25% upon its hardware built abroad - meaning the administration would be exacting greater punitive measures against and American company than foreign competitors, as its phones would be more severely taxed than, eg, Samsung’s.
North European gateway ports are struggling with bottlenecks as trade disruptions ripple across systems.
Transport
The benefits from NYC’s Congestion Pricing keep manifesting, as school bus on-time performance improved significantly under the new tolling regime.
Newark Liberty Airport’s continued air traffic control woes lead to restrictions in its operation until more controllers can be trained, expected by year’s end.
Transit
“It's not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. For me it's the same as if you bought a cow, or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you're going to put them.” — Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain. Despite conventional wisdom to the contrary, public transportation is good for business, case example Toronto and dedicated bus lanes. Pushing the case for the bus even further is this argument to frame it as part of the sidewalk infrastructure for pedestrian enhanced mobility - as a basic human right within the urban system.
Free Parking isn’t free - San Diego’s plan to introduce paid parking to Balboa Park could bring revenue enough to prevent library closures if start date advanced.
In Central Park, having removed vehicles from the circular drive, the mediation between pedestrian and cyclist is under way in earnest. As a beleaguered pedestrian tired of dodging riders on sidewalks and red lights, it is very gratifying to see considered attention to the conflict between bi-pedal and bi-cycle mobility.
Keeping infrastructure in good condition is a critical function of government, and Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin, is on the frontlines with his Pothole Patrol program.
Freight
Passenger to Freight conversions are successfully bridging the gap to meet demand for air cargo. The future of air freight is either unmanned, as in the Belarusian “sky truck” or possibly “dirigeable”.
Infrastructure
On Sewers: quotidian success in public service is the sort of boring we need. But that lack of notice is dangerous when we take such functioning for granted. NEORSD reminds us to be mindful of and appreciate what works.
The Verrazzano Bridge is home to a Peregrine Falcon and her chicks, and it is the MTA and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s job to monitor them and make sure they thrive in their public home.
Happy Birthday to the Brooklyn Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened 24 May 1883!
