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The Duffel Brief · the free edition, Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Vol. 15 · No. 126 · Wednesday, 21 October 2026

Pentagon

Hegseth consults God via dumpster fire behind Pentagon

Secretary says God commanded him to invade Greenland, restore Christian values

US to livestream execution of Ukraine

Iran condemns US plan to livestream execution as barbaric

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Vol. 15 · No. 126 · Deployed worldwide

Wednesday

21 October 2026

1249 Zulu

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← Front page
· Page 2

China close to developing own 'Top Gun' film

Nipping at our heels.

Filed · 1149

LANGLEY, Virginia — Analysts from the Central Intelligence Agency and other representatives of the U.S. Intelligence Community warned today that China may be able to develop its own Top Gun movie in as little as two years.

“Until recently, the [Intelligence Community] consensus was that China may never be able to field a fully functional Top Gun type movie,” said U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael M. Gilday. He noted that while the People’s Liberation Army has made some impressive advances in over-the-top, ground force-related military cinema, China’s lack of a modern aircraft carrier force made a serious attempt at a muscular, testosterone-intensive naval air force movie practically impossible.

“Not to mention we thought the ‘Tom Cruise gap’ was insurmountable,” Gilday added.

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