The Democratization of Strategic Strike

by Lane Butz | Apr 4, 2026 | Beehiiv

Edited by Sidney McAlearIn Partnership with Proton PassWelcome inThe Lowdown is your intel brief on aviation, defense, and geopolitics. No noise. No spin. Just the stuff that matters. Subscribe and stick around…or don’t…the choice is yours. Check us out on...

All Roads Through China

by Lane Butz | Mar 25, 2026 | Beehiiv

Edited by Sidney McAlearIn Partnership with Proton PassWelcome inThe Lowdown is your intel brief on aviation, defense, and geopolitics. No noise. No spin. Just the stuff that matters. Subscribe and stick around…or don’t…the choice is yours. Check us out on...

The U.S. Base Problem

by Lane Butz | Mar 18, 2026 | Beehiiv

Edited by Sidney McAlearWelcome inThe Lowdown is your intel brief on aviation, defense, and geopolitics. No noise. No spin. Just the stuff that matters. Subscribe and stick around…or don’t…the choice is yours. Check us out on Youtube: Afterburn Defense &...

The U.S. Must “Bat a Thousand”

by Lane Butz | Mar 15, 2026 | Beehiiv

Edited by Sidney McAlearWelcome inNew here? I’m John “Rain” Waters — The Lowdown is your intel brief on aviation, defense, and geopolitics. No noise. No spin. Just the stuff that matters. Subscribe and stick around…or don’t…the choice is yours. Before anything else:On...

War with Iran: How We Landed Here

by Lane Butz | Mar 11, 2026 | Beehiiv

Edited by Sidney McAlearOn February 27th’s Newsletter, we asked: Are we going to war with Iran? The answer: Turns out, yes. If you missed it: 2/27 Newsletter: “Will the U.S. Attack Iran”How Did We Get Here?Last week, the United States and Israel launched one of the...

Will the U.S. Attack Iran

by Lane Butz | Feb 27, 2026 | Beehiiv

Are we going to war with Iran?This is the million-dollar question on everyone’s mind. Obviously, only the President and his inner circle of decision-makers know the real answer. However, the massive military buildup we’ve observed across the Middle East...