Stan R. Mitchell's Blog, page 25

July 12, 2022

The view from the front for 7/12/22.

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday! Hope you had a great weekend!

My weekend didn’t go as planned — not in a bad way — but I had said in the last newsletter that I had planned a special edition on the impact of long-range rockets in Ukraine (HIMARS).

I had planned to do this probably on Sunday, but a couple of different spontaneous family events popped up that prevented me from getting to that. (One of those events might have involved a trip to Dollywood on what was supposed to be a spotty-shower day but was really more of a never-ending, rain-soaked day. lol. The other might have involved several hours (many hours?) at a number of Tanger outlets, where I can assure you we did our part to help keep the American economy humming.)

Nonetheless, the special edition I had planned on the impact of long-range rockets in Ukraine remains timely, and I can’t really push it back much longer.

SOOOOO… I’m just going to make it a part of this edition. A sort of double-edition, which seems oh-so-appropriate for my first paywalled edition anyway.

You drop a little cash in the hat, you get double what you were expecting. (At least today.)

I’ll do a regular edition, ending with the motivation, as always, and then after that, go into the impact of the HIMARS in Ukraine.

We’ll start today with Japan.

Following the assassination of Shinzo Abe (the former Japanese prime minister), the current government intends to change Japan’s constitution. This was a key desire of Abe’s.

For a summary of the situation, see the excellent video below. It provides a quick overview of the country’s pacifist constitution (now 75 years old), the history of the country’s alliance with the United States, and the threats Japan faces.

Council on Foreign Relations @CFR_orgJapan's constitution has remained unchanged since 1947. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he will initiate efforts to reform the pacifist constitution, a longtime goal of assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

July 11th 2022

18 Retweets44 Likes

In Ukraine, there were three things I wanted to share.

First, the United States approved more aid to Ukraine. (You can see the full image of everything included below that tweet.)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III @SecDefOur Ukraine 🇺🇦 security assistance efforts continue. Yesterday evening, we announced another $400m in aid, including four more HIMARS systems and ammunition for those systems.

July 9th 2022

992 Retweets5,618 Likes

This additional aid is clearly wonderful news for Ukraine.

The second thing I wanted to share was this wonderful video, which shows Ukrainian troops retaking Snake Island and already starting to set-up defensive equipment.

t.me/SoldiersofUkra… ","username":"RALee85","name":"Rob Lee","date":"Fri Jul 08 18:31:46 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/... Twitter avatar for @RALee85

Rob Lee @RALee85Video of Ukrainian SSO on Snake Island. t.me/SoldiersofUkra…

July 8th 2022

584 Retweets4,653 Likes

Finally, Ukraine is claiming it now has 1 million folks in uniform (including police and national guard units. Furthermore, Ukraine is saying it plans to retake at least all of the southern area that was seized. (I’ll share a map of that below.) Here’s the news, however.

thetimes.co.uk/article/ukrain…",... Times and The Sunday Times","date":"Sun Jul 10 17:25:49 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":368,"like_count":918,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uk... has one million ready for fightback to recapture south","description":"Ukraine is massing a million-strong fighting force equipped with western weapons to recover its southern territory from Russia, the nation’s defence minister h","domain":"thetimes.co.uk"},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}"> Twitter avatar for @thetimes

The Times and The Sunday Times @thetimes🔺 EXCLUSIVE: Ukraine is massing a million-strong fighting force equipped with western weapons to recover its southern territory from Russia, the nation’s defence minister has revealed to The Times thetimes.co.uk/article/ukrain…

Ukraine has one million ready for fightback to recapture southUkraine is massing a million-strong fighting force equipped with western weapons to recover its southern territory from Russia, the nation’s defence minister hthetimes.co.uk

July 10th 2022

368 Retweets918 Likes

From the story:

Ukraine is massing a million-strong fighting force equipped with western weapons to recover its southern territory from Russia, the nation’s defence minister has revealed to The Times.

In his first interview with a British newspaper since the invasion began, Oleksii Reznikov said President Zelensky had ordered Ukraine’s military to retake occupied coastal areas which are vital to the country’s economy.

And here’s a map of the land that Russia has seized to date:

Ukraine War Map @War_MapperA map of the approximate situation on the ground in Ukraine as of 00:00 UTC 12/07/22.There have been no notable changes to control since the last update.

July 12th 2022

124 Retweets534 Likes

In the image above, you can see the red that Ukraine certainly wants to take. (In the purple at the bottom is the peninsula of Crimea. Russia formally seized that in 2014. While there are some various comments out there about the future, I think ultimately, Ukraine wants to retake Crimea, as well.

Furthermore, I think the Ukrainian people want to take it back. In my opinion, they will see the peninsula, which is connected to mainland Russia by a bridge, as a foothold that Russia could use again to invade Ukraine in the future.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 12, 2022 12:22

July 8, 2022

The view from the front for 7/8/22.

Hi friend,

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you’ve had a wonderful week and have big plans for the weekend.

A bit of news here before we get to the other news.

From this point forward, my posts on Tuesdays will be moving behind a paywall and will be only for paid subscribers.

Fridays will remain free, but if you want the full newsletter twice a week (and I hope you do), you’ll have to become a paid subscriber. (It’s fifty dollars per year or five dollars per month. Click below.)

Subscribe now

Obviously, there’s absolutely no pressure to fork over your hard cash, and I think a free preview with a decent portion of the newsletter will arrive in your emails on Tuesday, even if you don’t sign up as a paying member.

But I’ve been putting out this newsletter for an entire year now, and I’ve been putting it out twice a week for at least the past six or seven months.

I put a lot of work into this newsletter and it’s time to take it to an even higher level.

And part of reaching that higher level will not only include making each edition better (because it’s more sustainable time-wise thanks to your support!), but also will likely include a podcast that I’m just starting to fool around with. It also might include something else that I’m not mentioning yet. The podcast (and the other thing, if I do it) will also be behind the paywall of Substack except on Fridays.

Also, there might even be some additional frequency of things for the paying folks, such as when there’s major breaking news. But for now, just know that if you chip in $5 per month, you definitely get full Tuesday editions (and whatever other future, crazy things I do).

Here’s the link one more time:

Subscribe now

We begin the news part of this edition with the downfall of Boris Johnson over in Britain. (UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns after mutiny in his party.)

Reuters had the following to say about his departure and the state of the country.

His term in office was ended by scandals that included breaches of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules, a luxury renovation of his official residence and the appointment of a minister who had been accused of sexual misconduct.

…

Johnson is leaving behind an economy in crisis. Britons are facing the tightest squeeze on their finances in decades in the wake of the pandemic, with soaring inflation. The economy is forecast to be the weakest among major nations in 2023 apart from Russia.

His departure also follows years of internal division sparked by the narrow 2016 vote to leave the European Union, and threats to the make-up of the United Kingdom itself with demands for another Scottish independence referendum, the second in a decade.

One thing that won’t change is the support the country has shown for Ukraine. This has been stated in several sources. Additionally, though Johnson is going to try to stay in power, his rivals are already trying to shove him out.

In other national figure news, there was an assassination last night in Japan. (See below.)

bit.ly/3Rnt5UT ","username":"AP","name":"The Associated Press","date":"Fri Jul 08 12:39:41 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FXJRav... Abe speaks during a news conference in 2013. Text overlaid the image is his name and 1954 - 2022."}],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":560,"like_count":1025,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}"> Twitter avatar for @AP

The Associated Press @APShinzo Abe, Japan’s longest serving prime minister, has died after being shot during a campaign speech.Abe, 67, was perhaps the most polarizing, complex politician in recent Japanese history. He left the PM job in 2020 but remained highly influential. bit.ly/3Rnt5UT Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference in 2013. Text overlaid the image is his name and 1954 - 2022.

Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference in 2013. Text overlaid the image is his name and 1954 - 2022.

July 8th 2022

560 Retweets1,025 Likes

Abe led the movement of Japan’s government and military to be much more prepared for the coming aggression out of China.

Derek J. Grossman @DerekJGrossmanFormer Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was the true brains behind the US Indo-Pacific Strategy. From his "two oceans" approach that conceptualized Pacific and Indian Oceans together, to his "security diamond" of like-minded democracies (precursor to Quad), his legacy is gigantic. RIP.

July 8th 2022

83 Retweets453 Likes

David Frum said that Abe "was more than the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese democratic history." That Abe deserves to be remembered as one of the great internationalists of his era.

For a good summary of his life and impact, check out this link: Shinzo Abe, powerful former Japan PM, leaves divided legacy.

Let’s discuss Ukraine briefly.

Nothing huge has happened there since Tuesday, but I wanted to share this tweet below. Because it’s just so ludicrous. Just so Putin-esque.

Sky News @SkyNewsUkraine war: Vladimir Putin's warning that Russia has barely started its action

Ukraine war: Vladimir Putin’s warning that Russia has barely started its actionThe Russian president insists he is ready to sit down for talks to end the fighting - but that “those who refuse to do so should know that the longer it lasts the more difficult it will be for them to make a deal with us”.news.sky.com

July 8th 2022

40 Retweets126 Likes

How insane is that comment? You’re on your third invasion, have pretty much completely had your butt handed to you, and you’re claiming you’ve barely started.

And I love the spirit of the Ukrainian people. Such as this incredible response:

Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenkoI may be wrong, but when a military force of nearly 45 battalion tactical groups spends 3 months storming two mediocre-sized cities, after which it is so depleted that it needs a long operational pause - I don’t see how Russia intends to take the rest of Ukraine.

July 7th 2022

2,914 Retweets23,378 Likes

Or this one (though I’m not sure this person is from Ukraine, it’s too good not to share):

@IAPonomarenko After struggling for 3 months to take two mediocre-sized cities, Russia is going to take Alaska. Putin has humiliated Russia for centuries to come.","username":"Microinteracti1","name":"gandalv","date":"Thu Jul 07 14:22:43 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":0,"like_count":13,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}"> Twitter avatar for @Microinteracti1

gandalv @Microinteracti1@IAPonomarenko After struggling for 3 months to take two mediocre-sized cities, Russia is going to take Alaska. Putin has humiliated Russia for centuries to come.

July 7th 2022

13 Likes

General Mark Hertling had this to say about the news.

Mark Hertling @MarkHertlingKinda what I’ve been saying for awhile. Take away Russia’s artillery & there’s little power behind the rest of their force. They haven’t trained in moving, shooting, logistics or communicating…the essence of combined arms operations. https://t.co/CcrW7s6wNH

Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenko

I may be wrong, but when a military force of nearly 45 battalion tactical groups spends 3 months storming two mediocre-sized cities, after which it is so depleted that it needs a long operational pause - I don’t see how Russia intends to take the rest of Ukraine.

July 8th 2022

574 Retweets3,574 Likes

One final Ukraine thought, while we’re on the subject. (And we all know the following is completely true, even with our own history of foreign interventions.)

David B. Larter @DavidLarterUkraine is increasingly looking like a quagmire, and the clock never favors the occupier.

July 8th 2022

39 Retweets431 Likes

There’s more I want to say about Ukraine, but space limitations. lol.

Having said that, I mentioned above about potential increased frequency for paid subscribers. And the first one I want to do will be out soon.

And by soon I mean, unless something changes, there will be a Ukraine-only post coming out probably this weekend about a sort of in-depth thing I want to discuss.

Moving along, I haven’t had a chance to dig in on this topic (and I have such mixed views on the news), but the news is the news. (Shared with a tear or two in my eye.)

politico.com/news/2022/06/1…\n@connor... @LeeHudson_ #FY23NDAA ","username":"dave_brown24","name":"Dave Brown","date":"Tue Jun 14 22:52:28 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FVP3cg... Twitter avatar for @dave_brown24

Dave Brown @dave_brown24Some big A-10 news tonight: Lawmakers may have finally found a way to grant the Air Force's longstanding request to start retiring the aging warplanes politico.com/news/2022/06/1…@connorobrienNH @LeeHudson_ #FY23NDAA

June 14th 2022

16 Retweets42 Likes

Here’s a bit more about it.

Oriana Pawlyk @Oriana0214“The full committee’s defense policy bill will permit the retirement of 21 A-10s stationed at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base in Indiana, clearing the way for the Air Force to replace them with F-16 fighters.”

Dave Brown @dave_brown24

Some big A-10 news tonight: Lawmakers may have finally found a way to grant the Air Force's longstanding request to start retiring the aging warplaneshttps://t.co/AmTCE01GN6@connorobrienNH @LeeHudson_ #FY23NDAA https://t.co/Jw14G2oDbM

June 14th 2022

18 Retweets44 Likes

And having just shared this, I think I’ll probably do a full post on A-10s and their future (or lack thereof) in an additional post here soon, as well.

Moving to the Middle East, I’m sharing the below just so you can see the location of the Red Sea. (If your geography is like mine, a reminder probably doesn’t hurt.)

Now that you’ve seen where the Red Sea is, Israel’s defense minister stated this week that Iran is building up its military presence in the Red Sea.

He called it a threat to regional stability and trade.

In an article titled, “Israel warns of Iranian warships in Red Sea,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz said, “Today, we can confirm that Iran is methodically basing itself in the Red Sea, with warships patrolling the southern region.”

From the article:

“In the last months, we have identified the most significant Iranian military presence in the area, in the past decade,” he said. Gantz’s office said he presented satellite images of four Iranian warships patrolling the Red Sea.

Iran has been building up its naval presence in the Red Sea over more than a decade in a move that it says is needed to protect Iranian oil tankers against the threat of piracy.

I’m sure we’ll hear more about this in the coming weeks and months, but this is probably just one of the reasons that Israel and Saudi Arabia have been moving closer together.

See:

Saudi Arabia and Israel quietly prepare 'deal of the century'

Saudi Arabia Moves Toward Eventual Ties With Israel - WSJ

Israel and Saudi Arabia 'in talks over joint defence against Iran' — The Guardian.

I’ll try to dig more into this subject at some point in the future.

Moving to our hemisphere, we all know that crime and corruption and cartels (the three C’s? okay, I just made that up) have been crushing Mexico’s economy for at least the past twenty or thirty years, but do want to see something that will completely blow your mind?

Check out the chart below, by economics whiz Noah Smith.

Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 @NoahpinionIn 1990, Mexico was richer than Poland, Turkey, Romania and Malaysia.Not anymore.

July 7th 2022

563 Retweets2,249 Likes

Exactly. I told you that would blow your mind. (The topic of Mexico and its cartels and corruption has intrigued me for at least the past ten years. It’s partly why I wrote a book about it, called “Mexican Heat.”

Mexican Heat (Nick Woods Book 2) by [Stan R. Mitchell]

That book is a rip-roaring ride, but I really did almost get TOO into the weeds reading about the cartels, efforts to combat them, etc, etc.

Just seeing that post by Noah makes me realize that absolutely nothing has changed since I wrote the book in 2014. I might really dig into the matter in a future post to see what the latest is in the government’s current efforts to deal with the cartels.

Well, we’ve covered a lot today. Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

N. M. Curry @realPatriot_7

July 7th 2022

1 Retweet16 Likes

I’m sharing this because it made me smile. And because I think there’s a lesson in it. (Sometimes, the big scary thing that has you pushed against the wall isn’t really out to get you. It’s out to help you. A fact we often forget.)

￮༺𓂂𓂃ᗙ 𝔐𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔦𝔫 🏳️‍⚧️ ᗛ𓂃𓂂༻￮ @KlatuBaradaNikoHeat index was 110 degrees🌡Frog 🐸 was offered 💦 cold water 💦He went for a full body soak 💦

July 5th 2022

42 Retweets152 Likes Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotes

Life Quotes @RTLifeQuotesFriends should be like books, few, but hand-selected. – C. J. Langenhoven

July 6th 2022

92 Retweets455 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_A strong soul never gives up, even when their heart feels heavy. They take one more brave step, then another, then another.

July 8th 2022

247 Retweets1,096 Likes#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Fri Jul 01 13:00:10 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":100,"like_count":247,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosStart and end your day with a smile even if nobody else notices it. Your mind notices it and will put you in the right attitude.#Motivation

July 1st 2022

100 Retweets247 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_F - FaceE - EverythingA - AndR - Rise

July 7th 2022

548 Retweets1,973 Likes

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"It's a slow process but quitting won't speed it up."

July 6th 2022

259 Retweets1,193 Likes

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (It’ll get you set up to receive each Tuesday edition, as well as any special editions, and here’s why you should.)

Subscribe now

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a leadership/biography book, and two realistic war novels: one about World War IIand one about Afghanistan.

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 08, 2022 11:33

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 7/8/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline “The view from the front…” at the top above my photo and name. That will take you to the website and allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you’ve had a wonderful week and have big plans for the weekend.

A bit of news here before we get to the other news.

From this point forward, my posts on Tuesdays will be moving behind a paywall and will be only for paid subscribers.

Subscribe now

But I’ve been putting out this newsletter for an entire year now, and I’ve been putting it out twice a week for at least the past six or seven months.

I put a lot of work into this newsletter and it’s time to take it to an even higher level.

Here’s the link one more time:

Subscribe now

We begin the news part of this edition with the downfall of Boris Johnson over in Britain. (UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigns after mutiny in his party.)

Reuters had the following to say about his departure and the state of the country.

His term in office was ended by scandals that included breaches of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown rules, a luxury renovation of his official residence and the appointment of a minister who had been accused of sexual misconduct.

…

Johnson is leaving behind an economy in crisis. Britons are facing the tightest squeeze on their finances in decades in the wake of the pandemic, with soaring inflation. The economy is forecast to be the weakest among major nations in 2023 apart from Russia.

His departure also follows years of internal division sparked by the narrow 2016 vote to leave the European Union, and threats to the make-up of the United Kingdom itself with demands for another Scottish independence referendum, the second in a decade.

In other national figure news, there was an assassination last night in Japan. (See below.)

July 8th 2022

560 Retweets1,025 Likes

Abe led the movement of Japan’s government and military to be much more prepared for the coming aggression out of China.

July 8th 2022

83 Retweets453 Likes

David Frum said that Abe "was more than the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese democratic history." That Abe deserves to be remembered as one of the great internationalists of his era.

For a good summary of his life and impact, check out this link: Shinzo Abe, powerful former Japan PM, leaves divided legacy.

Let’s discuss Ukraine briefly.

Nothing huge has happened there since Tuesday, but I wanted to share this tweet below. Because it’s just so ludicrous. Just so Putin-esque.

Sky News @SkyNewsUkraine war: Vladimir Putin's warning that Russia has barely started its action

July 8th 2022

40 Retweets126 Likes

How insane is that comment? You’re on your third invasion, have pretty much completely had your butt handed to you, and you’re claiming you’ve barely started.

And I love the spirit of the Ukrainian people. Such as this incredible response:

July 7th 2022

2,914 Retweets23,378 Likes

Or this one (though I’m not sure this person is from Ukraine, it’s too good not to share):

gandalv @Microinteracti1@IAPonomarenko After struggling for 3 months to take two mediocre-sized cities, Russia is going to take Alaska. Putin has humiliated Russia for centuries to come.

July 7th 2022

13 Likes

General Mark Hertling had this to say about the news.

Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenko

July 8th 2022

574 Retweets3,574 Likes

One final Ukraine thought, while we’re on the subject. (And we all know the following is completely true, even with our own history of foreign interventions.)

David B. Larter @DavidLarterUkraine is increasingly looking like a quagmire, and the clock never favors the occupier.

July 8th 2022

39 Retweets431 Likes

There’s more I want to say about Ukraine, but space limitations. lol.

Having said that, I mentioned above about potential increased frequency for paid subscribers. And the first one I want to do will be out soon.

And by soon I mean, unless something changes, there will be a Ukraine-only post coming out probably this weekend about a sort of in-depth thing I want to discuss.

Moving along, I haven’t had a chance to dig in on this topic (and I have such mixed views on the news), but the news is the news. (Shared with a tear or two in my eye.)

June 14th 2022

16 Retweets42 Likes

Here’s a bit more about it.

Dave Brown @dave_brown24

June 14th 2022

18 Retweets44 Likes

And having just shared this, I think I’ll probably do a full post on A-10s and their future (or lack thereof) in an additional post here soon, as well.

Moving to the Middle East, I’m sharing the below just so you can see the location of the Red Sea. (If your geography is like mine, a reminder probably doesn’t hurt.)

Now that you’ve seen where the Red Sea is, Israel’s defense minister stated this week that Iran is building up its military presence in the Red Sea.

He called it a threat to regional stability and trade.

From the article:

“In the last months, we have identified the most significant Iranian military presence in the area, in the past decade,” he said. Gantz’s office said he presented satellite images of four Iranian warships patrolling the Red Sea.

Iran has been building up its naval presence in the Red Sea over more than a decade in a move that it says is needed to protect Iranian oil tankers against the threat of piracy.

I’m sure we’ll hear more about this in the coming weeks and months, but this is probably just one of the reasons that Israel and Saudi Arabia have been moving closer together.

See:

Saudi Arabia and Israel quietly prepare 'deal of the century'

Saudi Arabia Moves Toward Eventual Ties With Israel - WSJ

Israel and Saudi Arabia 'in talks over joint defence against Iran' — The Guardian.

I’ll try to dig more into this subject at some point in the future.

Check out the chart below, by economics whiz Noah Smith.

Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇦 @NoahpinionIn 1990, Mexico was richer than Poland, Turkey, Romania and Malaysia.Not anymore.

July 7th 2022

563 Retweets2,249 Likes

That book is a rip-roaring ride, but I really did almost get TOO into the weeds reading about the cartels, efforts to combat them, etc, etc.

Well, we’ve covered a lot today. Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

N. M. Curry @realPatriot_7

July 7th 2022

1 Retweet16 Likes

￮༺𓂂𓂃ᗙ 𝔐𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔦𝔫 🏳️‍⚧️ ᗛ𓂃𓂂༻￮ @KlatuBaradaNikoHeat index was 110 degrees🌡Frog 🐸 was offered 💦 cold water 💦He went for a full body soak 💦

July 5th 2022

42 Retweets152 Likes Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotes

Life Quotes @RTLifeQuotesFriends should be like books, few, but hand-selected. – C. J. Langenhoven

July 6th 2022

92 Retweets455 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_A strong soul never gives up, even when their heart feels heavy. They take one more brave step, then another, then another.

July 8th 2022

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosStart and end your day with a smile even if nobody else notices it. Your mind notices it and will put you in the right attitude.#Motivation

July 1st 2022

100 Retweets247 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_F - FaceE - EverythingA - AndR - Rise

July 7th 2022

548 Retweets1,973 Likes

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"It's a slow process but quitting won't speed it up."

July 6th 2022

259 Retweets1,193 Likes

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

Subscribe now

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 08, 2022 11:33

July 5, 2022

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 7/5/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline at the top above my photo and name. That will allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hope you had a great July 4th weekend. We’re going to keep today’s edition super short, because I’m certain that if you’re like me, you’re a day behind at work and have less time than normal to read today.

We’ll start with a couple of positive things from Ukraine.

I know we all saw a lot of fireworks this weekend, but the video below is the kind of fireworks that make my day right now. (Note how by firing at night, they’re preserving their platforms and protecting them from UAVs and drones.)

t.me/bochkala_war/6… ","username":"RALee85","name":"Rob Lee","date":"Sun Jul 03 15:54:37 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/... Twitter avatar for @RALee85

Rob Lee @RALee85Video of Ukrainian HIMARS firing on Russian targets at night. With GPS guided munitions, HIMARS can accurately engage targets at night when Russian UAVs will be less effective at locating them. t.me/bochkala_war/6…

July 3rd 2022

829 Retweets6,612 Likes

The second amazing thing to see was the below item. I’ve got to say it made my day! lol. (If you missed the latest news about the withdrawal from Snake Island, check out last week’s newsletter.)

Jimmy @JimmySecUKThe Russian Air Force is now bombing Snake Island to destroy the tens of millions of dollars in equipment they were forced to leave behind when they evacuated.🙃

July 1st 2022

804 Retweets3,948 Likes

Moving along, the not-so-good news is the dread of the future that The Economist reminded me of, regarding Ukraine’s upcoming fight and the long-term bet that Putin is making.

From the story:

Ukraine is a heavy burden. Western defense industries are formidable, but struggle to produce large volumes, especially of ammunition. Ukraine’s government has a monthly deficit of $5 billion and the country will need rebuilding after the war.

Public support for Ukraine in the West will be buffeted by a host of pressures, from inflation to elections — including, as soon as 2023, campaigning in America that may involve a presidential bid by that Ukrainophobic Putin admirer, Donald Trump.

I do worry how long public support will remain, but I guess it’s one day at a time for Ukraine at this point (and for its support in the West).

In other news, I wanted to share one item regarding new technology.

It looks like Maverick in Top Gun was right.

The drones and planes without pilots continue to improve and get one step closer to making regular aircraft with humans obsolete.

go.usa.gov/xJzUD ","username":"USNavy","name":"U.S. Navy","date":"Sun Jul 03 18:07:01 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FWwsYw... Twitter avatar for @USNavy

U.S. Navy @USNavyOne step close to unmanned carrier operations! ⚓ MQ-25 team completes first lab integration event.Read the story here: go.usa.gov/xJzUD

July 3rd 2022

150 Retweets902 Likes

Moving further along, I’m sharing the below item just because I’m a sucker for great art and aircraft images.

#WarthogWednesday. \"Over the course of my career I've had the privilege of working with many A-10 squadrons, pilots & organizations to create nearly 20 Warthog paintings. It's an aircraft I never get tired of painting!\" buff.ly/3wu2Qmb ","username":"kchawg987","name":"Kim “KC” Campbell","date":"Wed May 18 13:59:30 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FTC6mj... Twitter avatar for @kchawg987

Kim “KC” Campbell @kchawg987Shout out to artist Rick Herter on #WarthogWednesday. "Over the course of my career I've had the privilege of working with many A-10 squadrons, pilots & organizations to create nearly 20 Warthog paintings. It's an aircraft I never get tired of painting!" buff.ly/3wu2Qmb

May 18th 2022

5 Retweets28 Likes

Here’s the full image:

That’s it for this edition. Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

#WordsOfWisdom","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Fri Jul 01 14:00:10 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":45,"like_count":87,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosYou can be as great as you want to be. What does it take? Self-beliefCourageDeterminationDedicationFocusDrivePatienceHumilityGratitude#WordsOfWisdom

July 1st 2022

45 Retweets87 Likes Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotes

Life Quotes @RTLifeQuotesOnce you truly understand that it is okay to lose or fail, you are free, you have nothing to fear, and only then, can nothing in this world hold you back. — Yahya Mohamed

May 18th 2022

15 Retweets76 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Train your mind to be calm in every situation."

April 30th 2022

332 Retweets1,769 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Take responsibility for your success. It’s nobody’s job, only yours."

May 21st 2022

267 Retweets1,288 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace."

July 5th 2022

89 Retweets422 Likes

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (Here’s why you should.)

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 05, 2022 09:41

July 1, 2022

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 7/1/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline at the top above my photo and name. That will allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you have some awesome plans for the weekend!

Quick commercial to pay the bills here. If you’ve been enjoying the newsletter, I’d really appreciate it if you would consider subscribing. (It’s $5 per month and can be canceled at any time.)

That would not only encourage me, but it’d also help justify the increasing amount of time that I devote to these posts. I love doing these and I’d love to honestly help make them even better than they currently are.

If you’re newer or can’t pull that off, no problem at all! Maybe consider sharing the post with someone you know, either by Facebook, email, or Twitter.

Here’s the link to share:

And here’s the link to sign up, if my sales pitch worked:

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Oh, and while we’re on the topic, I’m so appreciative to all my new subscribers and those who recently signed up as paid supporters!

There’s a lot of news that’s happened since Tuesday’s newsletter, and it’s hard to decide what’s most important, so let’s just jump into it.

As I stated in the Tuesday newsletter, NATO increased its troops on “high alert” from 40,000 to 300,000.

President Joe Biden announced the establishment of a permanent presence in Poland, as well as the decision to deploy two additional F-35 squadrons to the U.K.. The U.S. will also station two more destroyers in Spain and improve its defense capabilities in Germany and Italy, USA Today reported.

And if you dig in the weeds some, there will also be increased intel and cyber support, as stated below.

Admiral James Stavridis, USN, Ret. @stavridisjNATO moves are smart, balanced, & sensible. From F35 fighters to more guided missile destroyers to a corps HQ permanently in Poland.Rhetoric matched with combat power.Unseen, but also increasing, is Intel and cyber support, a final crucial element.

Biden pledges bigger US troop presence in eastern Europe, permanent presence in Poland – NATO recapPresident Joe Biden said at a NATO summit in Madrid that the United States would send additional troops to eastern Europe.usatoday.com

June 29th 2022

22 Retweets104 Likes

In other huge news, NATO reached a deal with Turkey to admit Sweden and Finland. I’ve talked about this possibility for some time now, but Turkey finally got out of the way of the deal. (Expansion of NATO requires unanimous consent of all NATO members, so Turkey had been able to hold up the deal.)

Besides these items, there were also additional commitments made to Ukraine, which will help them fight off the Russians.

And while we’re on the topic of Ukraine, this was pretty significant news, in my opinion. (See below.)

The Washington Post called it a “symbolic victory,” as you can see below, but I think it was more than that.

The Washington Post @washingtonpostUkraine scores a key symbolic victory on the Black Sea island where a lone Ukrainian soldier famously tossed a salty expletive at a powerful Russian warship.

On Snake Island, defiant Ukrainians force a Russian withdrawalUkraine scores a key symbolic victory on the Black Sea island where a lone Ukrainian soldier famously tossed a salty expletive at a powerful Russian warship.wapo.st

June 30th 2022

167 Retweets706 Likes

From that island, you can place anti-ship missile systems, anti-air systems, and other defensive (and offensive) measures that could help break the naval embargo.

The island is 25 miles off Ukraine’s southeastern coast and, interestingly, if you read the Post’s own story, it calls it a “strategic Black Sea outpost” further down in the same story that called the situation a “symbolic victory,.

This is an important reminder of why you shouldn’t just read headlines when you’re trying to inform yourself.

The same article even adds further toward the end of it that “The island, which covers just 0.06 square miles, sits on a major shipping lane and access point to the key port of Odessa.

If you want to know how the Russian grasp was finally broken, you can see it below.

Jimmy @JimmySecUKInteresting video from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence showing artillery strikes on Snake Island - apparently the sole 2S22 Bohdana self propelled howitzer in Ukrainian service was used, with TB2 drone correction.

June 30th 2022

73 Retweets289 Likes

One final point on this, perfectly stated below.

Tyler Rogoway @Aviation_IntelThat the Russian military & its much-touted Black Sea Fleet couldn't secure an island 170 miles from its homeport from a war-torn adversary with fixed-wing combat aircraft numbering in the dozens & no real operable Navy is an absolute stunning failure of massive proportions.

June 30th 2022

1,544 Retweets9,653 Likes

We’ll stop talking about the war for this edition, but because I love dunking on Putin, I’ll leave you with this clip below.

This is absolutely worth the watch if you’ve been keeping up with the invasion from the beginning. (Hat tip to Tom Nichols, who said it best: “Wait for the last line.”)

Michael Weiss 🌻🇺🇸🇮🇪 @michaeldweissLeaked footage of Vladimir Putin from inside the Kremlin today.

June 30th 2022

2,042 Retweets7,528 Likes

Moving along, I often discuss the deadly realities of PTSD for our military members who have returned, and in that line of thinking, I wanted to share the below article.

Task & Purpose @TaskandPurposeAmerica’s top enlisted military leader just showed what leading from the front truly means

America’s top enlisted military leader just showed what leading from the front truly meansThe senior enlisted advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff made a point this week to speak openly about mental health.bit.ly

July 1st 2022

2 Retweets29 Likes

From the article:

Colón-López has enjoyed a long career as pararescueman in the Air Force’s special operations community. He is also the most senior enlisted service member in the armed forces, representing all enlisted and non-commissioned officers when it comes to advising the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, so what he chooses to highlight carries some weight.

“PTS awareness is not a monthly celebration, but a daily task to ensure we are taking care of one another,” Colón-López wrote in the post about post-traumatic stress. “20 years in combat, unfortunate events, and life in general can throw many challenges at us. Remember, we have each other to rely on. Talk about it, seek help, and know that this teammate is here for you to navigate this minefield called PTS.

Take care of each other out there.

I challenge everyone reading this to reach out to one service member you know today. (Please do this.)

That’s it for this edition. Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Believe: I am worthy of making my dreams come true.

June 30th 2022

174 Retweets913 Likes#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Thu Jun 30 13:00:08 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":55,"like_count":115,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosOnce the bamboo seed is planted the farmer waters it every day. He does that for four years before the tree even breaks ground. When it finally does, it grows sixty feet in the next ninety days.Remember, good things take time to take root but then when they do...#Motivation

June 30th 2022

55 Retweets115 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Success is 1% idea, 99% doing."

July 1st 2022

64 Retweets295 Likes Twitter avatar for @PhilosophyDose_

Daily Dose of Philosophy @PhilosophyDose_"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up."- Pablo Picasso

June 30th 2022

47 Retweets211 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Work on yourself daily and watch your life change."

June 29th 2022

1,979 Retweets8,538 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see farther."

June 30th 2022

95 Retweets373 Likes

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (Here’s why you should.)

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on July 01, 2022 10:40

June 28, 2022

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 6/28/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline at the top above my photo and name. That will allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday! Hope your week is off to a great start.

We’ll start outside Ukraine for a change.

NATO meets today in a big meeting in Madrid. It’s expected to adopt a couple of measures.

-- An increase in troops on “high alert” from 40k to 300k (Hi, Putin).

-- And a resolution to cite China as a concern for the first time.

Moving to Ukraine, The Economist highlighted a few points I’ve been trying to make the past few weeks.

espresso.economist.com/f85ac96813ea9c… from ⁦@TheEconomist⁩ ","username":"StanRMitchell","name":"Stan R. Mitchell","date":"Fri Jun 24 22:15:19 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":0,"like_count":0,"expanded_url":{"url":"http://espresso.economist.com/f85ac96... bitter fight for Donbas","description":"Things look grim for Ukraine’s army in Donbas.","domain":"espresso.economist.com"},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @StanRMitchell

Stan R. Mitchell @StanRMitchellThe bitter fight for Donbas espresso.economist.com/f85ac96813ea9c… from ⁦@TheEconomist⁩

The bitter fight for DonbasThings look grim for Ukraine’s army in Donbas.espresso.economist.com

June 24th 2022

From the story:

Things look grim for Ukraine’s army in Donbas (see map below). In Luhansk province, the town of Severodonetsk, where a small number of Ukrainian fighters and civilians are holed up in a chemical plant, is now cut off by road. On Friday Ukrainian troops were ordered to retreat. Russian troops are also advancing from the south on Lysychansk, a town on the river’s other bank. Ukrainian officials warn that Russia may be preparing to mount an assault on Sloviansk, a city in the neighbouring Donetsk province.

Ukraine War Map @War_MapperUpdates:🇷🇺 have captured Vovchoyarivka and Bila Hora, solidifying their control south of Lysychansk and threatening any chance of 🇺🇦 withdrawal from the city.
June 28th 2022
78 Retweets336 Likes
Whether it does depends on how much Russia’s army has left in the tank. Its recruits are receiving only three to seven days of training before being thrown into battle, according to BBC Russian. The army has also had to rely on mercenaries from the Wagner Group. An American shipment of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, which arrived on Thursday, may yet enable Ukraine to mount a counter-offensive against their weary Russian foes later in the summer.

To me, the thing that stands out from that article was the fact that Russian soldiers are getting less than a week’s worth of training.

Having received three months of boot camp training, and then two full months of infantry-only training, I can say with absolute certainty that one week isn’t going to cut it.

It’s frankly almost criminal, but how could we expect anything more from Putin?

While the ground war grinds on with little real gain in either direction, Russia has stepped up its terrorism. (See below.)

Secretary Antony Blinken @SecBlinkenThe world is horrified by Russia’s missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall -- the latest in a string of atrocities. We will continue to support our Ukrainian partners and hold Russia, including those responsible for atrocities, to account.

June 27th 2022

7,232 Retweets36,032 Likes

I’m not sure I have anything to add. The Russian act like barbarians on a daily basis.

But there is so much that Ukraine must contend with.

Besides savage fighting in Donbas and missile strikes on residential areas, the Ukrainians are also having to deal with mines left behind.

#UkraineWar #UkraineUnderAttack ","username":"Gerashchenko_en","name":"Anton Gerashchenko","date":"Tue Jun 28 07:06:54 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/... Twitter avatar for @Gerashchenko_en

Anton Gerashchenko @Gerashchenko_enThis is how our fields are de-mined so that farmers can harvest crops.#UkraineWar #UkraineUnderAttack

June 28th 2022

1,181 Retweets5,107 Likes

It’s truly staggering what all the Ukrainian people are having to deal with.

I’ll end with one final point about Ukraine. If you watch the video below… (waiting for you to watch it) lol

Maria Avdeeva @maria_avdvLooting, rape and destruction, that’s what Russian troops brought to these people in the liberated villages of Kherson region. Troops that were occupying the area were from the poorest regions of Russian, crushing everything around out of envy and hatred.

June 24th 2022

2,361 Retweets5,265 Likes

You’ll see that this invasion by Russia is likely as much about envy and hatred as anything else. And clearly propaganda and poverty have helped fuel it.

Also, apparently, the Russians have no idea how to take care of their own yards or even pull weeds.

Moving to other news, I mentioned in a previous newsletter that China is launching its third aircraft carrier.

The Economist also had a great, in-depth piece on it since I wrote the above. What to make of China’s new aircraft-carrier. (See below.)

Stan R. Mitchell @StanRMitchell

What to make of China’s new aircraft-carrierA big and expensive demonstration of its ambitionseconomist.com

June 28th 2022

The interesting thing from the piece was that analysts are saying the carriers aren’t about a future war in America. Something I had wrong in my head. Rather, they’re about influence.

From the article:

China’s carriers are not designed for direct confrontation with America, naval experts say. In a war over Taiwan or in the seas around China (the likeliest conflicts involving China and America) ballistic and sea-skimming missiles would quickly destroy any big ships.

China is more likely to use its carriers against less powerful countries—much as America has since the cold war. Think, perhaps, of a confrontation with Vietnam over disputed islands or an intervention in Africa to protect Chinese interests. In the missile era, it is unrealistic to imagine a clash like the battle of Midway in 1942, which involved three American carriers and four Japanese ones, says Sam Roggeveen of the Lowy Institute, a think-tank in Sydney. “I really view it as a gambit to build a navy that will be useful when the Americans are far less powerful and when China has more space to coerce and punish smaller countries,” Roggeveen says.

Moving to a different topic, in not-so-great news for our military, there was this sad story.

Let’s not end on such a negative news note. Let’s instead end with this amazing video.

@usairforce formation of 48 F-35A Lightning II and 12 F-16 aircraft from 354th Fighter Wing participate in a readiness “elephant walk” exercise at @EielsonAirForce, Alaska. ","username":"DeptofDefense","name":"Department of Defense 🇺🇸","date":"Sun Jun 05 16:00:46 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/... Twitter avatar for @DeptofDefense

Department of Defense 🇺🇸 @DeptofDefenseReady for the close up. A @usairforce formation of 48 F-35A Lightning II and 12 F-16 aircraft from 354th Fighter Wing participate in a readiness “elephant walk” exercise at @EielsonAirForce, Alaska.

June 5th 2022

406 Retweets1,949 Likes

That’s it for this edition! Here’s some motivation and wisdom to send you off with.

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Your goals don't give a damn about your excuses.

June 25th 2022

1,221 Retweets5,256 Likes Twitter avatar for @PhilosophyDose_

Daily Dose of Philosophy @PhilosophyDose_"The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge." - Aristotle

May 31st 2022

787 Retweets3,841 Likes#Inspirational","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Fri May 27 14:00:03 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":55,"like_count":142,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosA year ago, I wasn't who I am today. A year from now, I aspire to be even better. Personal growth takes time, but all great things do, so I've learned to stay patient.#Inspirational

May 27th 2022

55 Retweets142 Likes Twitter avatar for @PhilosophyDose_

Daily Dose of Philosophy @PhilosophyDose_"It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop."- Confucius

June 26th 2022

400 Retweets2,052 Likes

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (Here’s why you should.)

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 28, 2022 10:21

June 24, 2022

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 6/24/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline at the top above my photo and name. That will allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Friday! Hope you have some great weekend plans in place!

We begin our news with Ukraine. Russian forces continue to advance in the east, in the Donbas region.

You can see the advances in the maps below (while at the same time, Ukraine is gaining some ground in the south).

#Russian forces have likely reached the outskirts of #Lysychansk and are reinforcing #Severodonetsk to complete the capture of both cities. #Belarusian forces are conducting exercises along the #Ukrainian border but are unlikely to enter the war.\n\nLatest: isw.pub/RusCampaignJun… ","username":"TheStudyofWar","name":"ISW","date":"Thu Jun 23 23:23:29 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FV-U6v... Twitter avatar for @TheStudyofWar

ISW @TheStudyofWar#Russian forces have likely reached the outskirts of #Lysychansk and are reinforcing #Severodonetsk to complete the capture of both cities. #Belarusian forces are conducting exercises along the #Ukrainian border but are unlikely to enter the war.Latest: isw.pub/RusCampaignJun…

June 23rd 2022

232 Retweets548 Likes

But, our highly-advanced rockets have finally arrived on the battlefield. So, hopefully, that will slow the Russian advance in the east. (It took several weeks of training before the complex weapons could be deployed.)

@SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III for these powerful tools!\nSummer will be hot for russian occupiers. And the last one for some of them. ","username":"oleksiireznikov","name":"Oleksii Reznikov","date":"Thu Jun 23 11:21:56 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FV7vxT... Twitter avatar for @oleksiireznikov

Oleksii Reznikov @oleksiireznikovHIMARS have arrived to Ukraine.Thank you to my 🇺🇲 colleague and friend @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III for these powerful tools!Summer will be hot for russian occupiers. And the last one for some of them.

June 23rd 2022

7,133 Retweets44,450 Likes

Moving from Ukraine to other news, Russia threatened Finland as the Nordic country attempts to get into NATO.

But Finland fired back that it was prepared to more than defend itself if Russia wanted to do something incredibly reckless and stupid. (You can read their reply below, as well as the decades of work they’ve done to prepare for another Russian invasion. It’s really quite interesting.)

Doctrine Man @Doctrine_ManIs Putin in over his head?

Heavily-armed Finland fires warning to Putin as nation vows to fight if attackedThe head of Finland’s armed forces said today that his countrymen would be compelled to fight tooth-and-claw against Vladimir Putin’s forces should the Kremlin order an attackmirror.co.uk

June 23rd 2022

6 Retweets29 Likes

Moving to China, they’ve harrassed Taiwan again with a large contingent of aircraft. They’ve done this so many times, and I’ve documented it here probably six or more times the past year or so.

But there’s a scary point to these threats, as described below.

Derek J. Grossman @DerekJGrossmanDepressingly, China makes so many incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ that it’s hard to determine whether Beijing is actually planning something more. And that’s precisely the point.

29 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ - Focus TaiwanTaipei, June 21 (CNA) A total of 29 Chinese military aircraft flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday, the third-highest single-day total this year, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).focustaiwan.tw

June 22nd 2022

21 Retweets58 Likes

Moving to our hemisphere, Colombia held elections and there’s been some major changes made there with the election of its new president.

Politico states there could be “major changes” to the relationship with our country, writing in part:

Among other planks of Gustavo Petro’s platform, Petro wants to renegotiate elements of Colombia’s free trade agreement with the U.S.; limit oil and gas exploration in Colombia; change the way Colombia fights rebel groups; and re-establish relations with Venezuelan President NICOLAS MADURO, a dictator whom the U.S. does not formally recognize — and whose policies have produced a refugee crisis that has affected Colombia.

Petro is an ex-guerilla taking charge in a country that has been led for decades by figures from the right-wing and center-right.

In other news, moving to our own military, I’m not even sure how to bring up this next topic. But it appears a member of our own Air Force tried to kill fellow service members. (See below.)

@barbarastarrcnn reports\n","username":"NatSecCNN","name":"CNN NationalSecurity","date":"Tue Jun 21 20:17:40 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":37,"like_count":42,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/21/politi... Air Force service member arrested in connection to insider attack on base in Syria that injured 4 Americans | CNN Politics","description":"An airman has been arrested by military law enforcement in connection to an April attack at a US military base in northern Syria that injured four US service members.","domain":"cnn.com"},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @NatSecCNN

CNN NationalSecurity @NatSecCNNBREAKING: A US Air Force service member arrested in connection to insider attack on base in Syria that injured 4 Americans, @barbarastarrcnn reports

US Air Force service member arrested in connection to insider attack on base in Syria that injured 4 Americans | CNN PoliticsAn airman has been arrested by military law enforcement in connection to an April attack at a US military base in northern Syria that injured four US service members.cnn.com

June 21st 2022

37 Retweets42 Likes

From the story:

CNN first reported earlier this month that the US military was investigating whether an American service member set off explosives in an insider attack on the small US base in northern Syria that injured four service members in April.

The Pentagon is refusing to disclose any additional details at this time. "We won't release the individual's name unless charges are preferred. It is too early in the process for a charge sheet. It will be available if charges are preferred," the statement said. The expectation is charges could be filed within the next few weeks," Stefanek said.

…

Initially, US officials said they believed the April 7 attack was caused by indirect fire on the base in a similar manner to rocket and mortar attacks that have been carried out in the region by militia groups. However, a week later, a military statement said that after "further investigation" the attack was believed to a result of "deliberate placement of explosive charges by an unidentified individual(s) at an ammunition holding area and shower facility."

I’m not even sure what else to add at this point. We’ll just wait for more details to be released.

I’ve said before that I’m a sucker for great military pics. Here’s today’s entrant:

go.usa.gov/xJ5C7 ","username":"USNavy","name":"U.S. Navy","date":"Sat Jun 11 00:22:03 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FU7lqD... Twitter avatar for @USNavy

U.S. Navy @USNavyUSS Gravely and USS Gunston Hall pay port visit to Helsinki, Finland. 🇺🇸 🇫🇮 Read more: go.usa.gov/xJ5C7

June 11th 2022

91 Retweets670 Likes

Let’s end the news portion by settling a huge debate in many households… lol

History Defined @historydefinedThe original patent from 1891 for a toilet paper roll actually shows the correct rolling direction.

June 24th 2022

453 Retweets3,307 Likes

That’s it for this edition! Have a great weekend! And here’s some motivation and wisdom to send you off with.

Life Quotes @RTLifeQuotesNothing will work unless you do. – Maya Angelou

June 24th 2022

11 Retweets39 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"All big things started small."

June 24th 2022

135 Retweets580 Likes#MotivationalQuotes","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Thu Jun 23 16:00:09 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":49,"like_count":134,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_Videos“Failure doesn't mean the game is over, it means try again with experience.” -- Len Schlesinger#MotivationalQuotes

June 23rd 2022

49 Retweets134 Likes

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (Here’s why you should.)

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 24, 2022 10:17

June 21, 2022

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 6/21/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline at the top above my photo and name. That will allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday! Hope you had an excellent weekend and Father’s Day.

I’ll begin today’s newsletter with Ukraine, but we’ll keep that portion short andnd the entire newsletter light today. (Because dang, there’s just so much bad news out there.)

The war in Ukraine drags on, with again little to report. But Ukraine will soon be getting its rocket artillery from the West.

I think this will play a decisive role, but as with any piece of news, this is something that’s up for debate.

The Atlantic Council claims it won’t have a decisive effect. You can read their story below.

@AtlanticCouncil military fellows say that \"HIMARS will NOT have a decisive effect on the Donbas campaign.\" We didn't send enough and the munitions we sent only go 70 km. ","username":"melindaharing","name":"Melinda Haring","date":"Thu Jun 09 20:38:45 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":237,"like_count":624,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs... Crisis Military Assessment: The impact of multiple rocket launcher transfers to Ukraine","description":"To help Ukraine expel Russian forces from its territory, the United States must begin its full transition to US-made equipment now, write our military fellows. Here’s what that means.","domain":"atlanticcouncil.org"},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @melindaharing

Melinda Haring @melindaharingExcellent piece: Our @AtlanticCouncil military fellows say that "HIMARS will NOT have a decisive effect on the Donbas campaign." We didn't send enough and the munitions we sent only go 70 km.

Russia Crisis Military Assessment: The impact of multiple rocket launcher transfers to UkraineTo help Ukraine expel Russian forces from its territory, the United States must begin its full transition to US-made equipment now, write our military fellows. Here’s what that means.atlanticcouncil.org

June 9th 2022

237 Retweets624 Likes

But if you want to hear the opposite view, you can jump on Twitter and read the thread below. It’s quite compelling and doesn’t get into the weeds too badly.

Trent Telenko @TrentTelenkoPeople making this claim: "HIMARS will NOT have a decisive effect on the Donbas campaign."...are ignorant of the logistical and precision guided munition capabilities of the platform in terms of Desired Mean Point of Impact (DMPI) serviced per combat day for a TEL**🧵1/

Melinda Haring @melindaharing

Excellent piece: Our @AtlanticCouncil military fellows say that "HIMARS will NOT have a decisive effect on the Donbas campaign." We didn't send enough and the munitions we sent only go 70 km. https://t.co/uHEbQttUX8

June 11th 2022

199 Retweets1,012 Likes

Speaking for myself, I certainly hope the latter view about the rockets is correct. Ukraine has already been through way too much and they could use a decisive advantage.

Moving along, it’s worth mentioning this small story below. Iran is apparently again trying to flex its muscles a bit.

dvidshub.net/r/w5bzhf ","username":"US5thFleet","name":"U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet","date":"Tue Jun 21 03:50:39 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FVv0CO... Twitter avatar for @US5thFleet

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet @US5thFleetThree vessels from Iran’s IRGCN interacted in an unsafe & unprofessional manner as U.S. Navy ships transited the Strait of Hormuz, June 20. U.S. naval forces remain vigilant & will continue to operate where international law allows.Read more ⬇️dvidshub.net/r/w5bzhf

June 21st 2022

51 Retweets123 Likes

You can read more about it in this NBC story: U.S., Iran in tense sea encounter; Tehran prepares enrichment escalation.

Here’s a bit more about the backdrop of the situation, from the story:

The incident on Monday involving the Guard and the Navy comes as tensions remain high over stalled negotiations over Iran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers and as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under decreasing international oversight.

I feel like things have been tense with Iran for thirty or forty years now, and I don’t see that ending anytime soon.

In other news, China recently launched its third aircraft carrier. (See below.)

OSINTdefender @sentdefenderThe Ship is said to be one of the most Modern Aircraft Carriers in the World with a displacement of around 100,000 Tons, making it more Advanced than the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-Class and French Charles de Gaulle and around on par with the U.S Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-Class.

June 17th 2022

59 Retweets320 Likes

CNN had a good write up about the new ship and China’s growing naval ambitions here: China launches third, most advanced aircraft carrier named 'Fujian.'

But several American military officers pointed out what many fail to consider, which is that it takes decades to become proficient at naval operations from an aircraft carrier.

See this example:

Farva Price @FarvaPriceWe should rightfully be concerned with China’s industrial capacity. But they have a long way to go before they can launch 100+ combat/support sorties a day in a blue water environment.

OSINTdefender @sentdefender

The Ship is said to be one of the most Modern Aircraft Carriers in the World with a displacement of around 100,000 Tons, making it more Advanced than the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-Class and French Charles de Gaulle and around on par with the U.S Navy’s Gerald R. Ford-Class. https://t.co/DTLMX9WbzL

June 17th 2022

5 Retweets58 Likes

And also this one.

Mike Jason @mikejason73Concur. We are about to see if you can just cut and paste nearly 100 years of naval aviation experience. I have my doubts. https://t.co/RcgypUivTd

Farva Price @FarvaPrice

We should rightfully be concerned with China’s industrial capacity. But they have a long way to go before they can launch 100+ combat/support sorties a day in a blue water environment. https://t.co/U0UuDt1Wtv

June 18th 2022

4 Retweets35 Likes

Let’s move on to a couple of cool tech news stories that I came across.

First, this:

Task & Purpose @TaskandPurposeIf WALL-E and a T-1000 had a child

Ukraine now has killer robots with machine gunsWhat you’d get if WALL-E went to war.bit.ly

June 16th 2022

4 Retweets15 Likes

And then there was also this, which is almost too big to believe (literally; lol):

CNN International @cnniAs the quest for less environmentally damaging aviation continues, one Spanish airline has thrown its hat into the ring by ordering new hybrid airships -- which pack as much of a punch visually as they are said to do environmentally.

This European airline just ordered a fleet of airshipsAir Nostrum, a Spanish airline, has ordered 10 Airlander 10 aircraft to make regional journeys around Spain.cnn.it

June 20th 2022

23 Retweets87 Likes

In the department of I’m a sucker for amazing military photos, how about this one?!

@USSHARRYSTRUMAN (CVN 75) transits the #AdriaticSea, June 6, 2022. \n\n📸 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Conner Foy ","username":"USNavy","name":"U.S. Navy","date":"Sat Jun 11 00:01:04 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FU7g2j... Twitter avatar for @USNavy

U.S. Navy @USNavyDo you remember your first sunset at sea? ⚓ @USSHARRYSTRUMAN (CVN 75) transits the #AdriaticSea, June 6, 2022. 📸 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Conner Foy

June 11th 2022

182 Retweets1,175 Likes

And in cool historical news that you probably didn’t know, how about this little fact?

#WestVirginiaDay, here is USS West Virginia (BB-48) in NY in 1934. The \"WeeVee\" was sunk on December 7, 1941, but refloated and rebuilt. When she returned to the firing line at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944, she flew the same colors that she had flown at Pearl Harbor. ","username":"NavalInstitute","name":"U.S. Naval Institute","date":"Mon Jun 20 20:20:22 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FVuJEP... Twitter avatar for @NavalInstitute

U.S. Naval Institute @NavalInstituteFor #WestVirginiaDay, here is USS West Virginia (BB-48) in NY in 1934. The "WeeVee" was sunk on December 7, 1941, but refloated and rebuilt. When she returned to the firing line at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944, she flew the same colors that she had flown at Pearl Harbor.

June 20th 2022

60 Retweets280 Likes

All right, let’s end this edition with some motivation and wisdom.

But first, there’s just so much bad news in the world and our country, that I have to say that this story absolutely made my day. (Great read if you have about two mins.)

CNN @CNNFor the first time, the world’s rarest species of sea turtle has laid eggs on Magnolia Beach in Texas.

For the first time, a sea turtle has laid its eggs on this Texas beachFor the first time, the world’s rarest species of sea turtle has laid eggs on Magnolia Beach in Texas, experts say.cnn.it

June 21st 2022

108 Retweets843 Likes

And here’s some motivation and wisdom.

#InspirationalQuotes","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Mon Jun 20 16:00:11 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":58,"like_count":153,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_Videos“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” -- Helen Keller#InspirationalQuotes

June 20th 2022

58 Retweets153 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Be SO positive that negative people do not want to be near you."

June 21st 2022

373 Retweets1,636 Likes Twitter avatar for @PhilosophyDose_

Daily Dose of Philosophy @PhilosophyDose_"The purpose of knowledge is action, not knowledge." - Aristotle

May 31st 2022

790 Retweets3,839 Likes

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (Here’s why you should.)

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 21, 2022 10:34

June 17, 2022

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 6/17/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline at the top above my photo. That will allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has had a great week and has some amazing weekend plans! At least around here, temperatures are finally going to drop a bit, which is more than needed.

Two quick bits of personal news. First, we had several new subscribers this week, so thanks so much for that! So honored, and welcome!

Secondly, my first book about Danny Acuff, a badass detective and prior Force Recon Marine, is now available in audio!

It was a ton of work getting this completed, but I had a great time doing it, and hopefully, it leads to me owning a beach cabin someday. lol. (It probably won’t, but a man can dream.)

In Ukraine news, there were several good things of note worth sharing, and then a couple of things to keep an eye on.

First, Ukraine has moved one big step closer to EU membership. That should do wonders for its economy and long-term security arrangements.

Second, America approved another large chunk of security assistance, which is great news.

The package of assistance includes the following, according to the Dept of Defense:

Eighteen 155mm Howitzers;

36,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition;

18 Tactical Vehicles to tow 155mm Howitzers;

Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems;

Four Tactical Vehicles to recover equipment;

Spare parts and other equipment.

Finally, I’ll share one other piece of potentially good news, and then I need to balance that with a couple of concerning matters.

I’ve covered EXTENSIVELY the Russian blockade of Ukraine’s grain. (Background for those who missed it/new subscribers: check out this newsletter.)

But on that front, the Biden Administration is exploring another alternative. Instead of some kind of naval solution, they’re now exploring a potentially new concept:

Biden said Washington was developing a plan to get grain out by rail, but noted Ukrainian track gauges were different from those in Europe, so the grain has to be transferred to different trains at the border.

"So we're going to build silos, temporary silos, on the borders of Ukraine, including in Poland," Biden said.

I think this is a great idea, and certainly less risky than my suggestion of a coalition navy of the world.

Now, for the two concerning things.

First, as much as I’m a cheerleader and believe in Ukraine, we have to caution our hopes with news such as this.

defenseone.com/threats/2022/0… via @DefenseOne","username":"TaraCopp","name":"Tara Copp","date":"Wed Jun 15 19:48:01 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":73,"like_count":162,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.defenseone.com/threats/20... Pledges More Weapons to Ukraine, But Milley Warns ‘The Numbers Clearly Favor The Russians’","description":"More Javelins, Howitzers, long-range rockets are on the way, but will they arrive in time to make a difference?","domain":"defenseone.com"},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @TaraCopp

Tara Copp @TaraCoppUS Pledges More Weapons to Ukraine, But Milley Warns ‘The Numbers Clearly Favor The Russians’ defenseone.com/threats/2022/0… via @DefenseOne

US Pledges More Weapons to Ukraine, But Milley Warns ‘The Numbers Clearly Favor The Russians’More Javelins, Howitzers, long-range rockets are on the way, but will they arrive in time to make a difference?defenseone.com

June 15th 2022

73 Retweets162 Likes

General Milley said in the story above that the new weapons just announced will arrive too late to prevent Russia from taking control of the Donbas.

From the story:

“The Ukrainians are fighting them street by street house by house,” Milley said. “And it's not a done deal. There are no inevitabilities in war. War takes many, many turns. So I wouldn't say it's an inevitability. But I would say that the numbers clearly favor the Russians.”

That’s truly unfortunate because not to be too graphic, but every city and town seized is nearly flattened in the process, and its men are often executed and the women are often raped.

The second concerning thing was this item, which I saw with much chagrin.

nbcnews.com/politics/natio…",&qu... Dilanian","date":"Thu Jun 16 12:42:06 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":39,"like_count":128,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @KenDilanianNBC

Ken Dilanian @KenDilanianNBC“Now, U.S. officials are increasingly concerned that the trajectory of the war in Ukraine is untenable and are quietly discussing whether President Zelenskyy should temper his hardline public position that no territory will ever be ceded to Russia…” nbcnews.com/politics/natio…

June 16th 2022

39 Retweets128 Likes

From the story:

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken had taken off on separate flights from southeastern Poland after their risky, high-stakes visit to Kyiv when they were conferenced into a phone call from President Joe Biden.

During their whirlwind April trip, Austin appeared to expand the U.S. goals in Ukraine, saying publicly that the administration wanted the Ukrainians to win the war against Russia, not just defend themselves, and that the U.S. hoped to weaken Russia to the extent that it could not launch another unprovoked invasion. Blinken had publicly aligned himself with the remarks. Now Biden wanted to discuss the mounting headlines that resulted.

Biden thought the secretaries had gone too far, according to multiple administration officials familiar with the call. On the previously unreported conference call, as Austin flew to Germany and Blinken to Washington, the president expressed concern that the comments could set unrealistic expectations and increase the risk of the U.S. getting into a direct conflict with Russia. He told them to tone it down, said the officials.

“Biden was not happy when Blinken and Austin talked about winning in Ukraine,” one of them said. “He was not happy with the rhetoric.”

The story then goes on to back-pedal some, with a spokesperson saying off the record that “the administration’s position has been that any decision about how and on what terms to end the war is for Ukraine to decide.”

“We are not pressuring them to make concessions, as some Europeans are. We would never ask them to cede territory,” one U.S. official said. “We are planning for a long war. We intend to prepare the American people for that, and we are prepared to ask Congress for more money.”

Now, for my comments.

As I’ve said repeatedly, the Biden Administration has done a great job when it comes to Ukraine. They’ve rallied support around the world. They’ve sent money and weapons. They’ve shown a steady hand and not backed down, despite over-the-top nuclear threats from Russia (and just stupidly dangerous coverage of these threats by our own media ecosystem, who seem oh-so-interested in stoking up fear and gaining more eyeballs).

Biden has shown nerve and spine up to this point. But this is the first bit of wavering, which has me a bit worried. Because this is often how the change in a policy begins. A leader starts to second guess themselves. An election approaches. The American public gets distracted by the Kardashians or whatever is popular these days. (The next Tiger King, if you will.)

Every President has done this very thing, from Trump not building a wall despite years of promises, Obama not closing Guantanamo and continuing the wars handed to him, and Bush saying he’d reduce government spending and privatize Social Security. As you all know, none of these things happened.

I hope this phone call from Biden was a mis-step and moment of shaky weariness (it’s not easy at the top), but only time will tell.

Ultimately, the American public decides these things and we have to hope that there continues to be support for Ukrainian freedom across both parties. Guys like Tucker Carlson are doing their best to erode this support on at least one side, but so far, almost 80 percent support the righteous cause of the Ukrainian people.

Keep your fingers crossed that this doesn’t change, or 40-plus million Ukrainians are going to face some horrific odds and dreadful years (even if they somehow hold the Russians at bay).

Moving away from Ukraine to the Middle East, there was a rare raid in Syria a couple of days ago. (See below.)

ABC News @ABCNEW: A rare U.S. military ground raid in northwestern Syria has captured a top ISIS leader, according to the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition.A U.S. defense official said there were no injuries to U.S. military personnel or aircraft involved in the raid.

US military ground raid in Syria captures top ISIS leaderThe U.S. military conducted a ground raid in northwestern Syria that captured a top ISIS leader, the U.S. military said Wednesday.abcn.ws

June 16th 2022

136 Retweets386 Likes

I’m glad the Biden administration is still going after those who need to be gone after.

Okay, enough heavy stuff.

In case you missed it, here was a heck of a heart-warming story.

Gavan Reilly @gavreillyMisha, a non-verbal teen with Down’s Syndrome, didn’t understand why his family had to flee Mariupol this year.To placate him, his mother told him they were travelling to meet John Cena.Cena heard… and went to Amsterdam to oblige. Just brilliant.

June 11th 2022

28,097 Retweets187,782 Likes

I don’t know much about John Cena, but I find it amazing that he hasn’t let celebrity go to his head and is willing to go to such inconveniences to impact the life of someone.

Moving further along, in weird news that just blew my mind, check out this little historic news bit.

#OTD in 1945, over 100 feet of USS Pittsburgh's bow was snapped off by a typhoon near Okinawa. The heavy cruiser managed to make it to Guam where she was referred to as the \"Longest Ship in the World\" because the distance from bow to stern was thousands of miles. ","username":"NavalInstitute","name":"U.S. Naval Institute","date":"Sun Jun 05 17:27:03 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FUgWhw... Twitter avatar for @NavalInstitute

U.S. Naval Institute @NavalInstitute#OTD in 1945, over 100 feet of USS Pittsburgh's bow was snapped off by a typhoon near Okinawa. The heavy cruiser managed to make it to Guam where she was referred to as the "Longest Ship in the World" because the distance from bow to stern was thousands of miles.

June 5th 2022

74 Retweets366 Likes

And because I’m a sucker for awesome military pics, take a look at these.

@USNavy's USS Tripoli, June 15.\n\nTripoli and VMFA-121 are operating in the @US7thFleet to serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. ","username":"USMC","name":"U.S. Marines","date":"Thu Jun 16 21:30:09 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FVZ308... Twitter avatar for @USMC

U.S. Marines @USMCF-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 conduct flight operations on the @USNavy's USS Tripoli, June 15.Tripoli and VMFA-121 are operating in the @US7thFleet to serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

June 16th 2022

107 Retweets571 Likes

Thanks again for reading, let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Thu Jun 16 13:00:10 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":91,"like_count":240,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosWhen you’re 20 years old, you care what everyone thinks about you. When you’re 40 years old, you don’t care what anyone thinks about you. When you’re 60 years old, you finally realize that nobody was thinking about you at all.#Motivation

June 16th 2022

91 Retweets240 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Yes, failure is a possibility.But so is Success.What we focus on is what becomes our reality.

June 16th 2022

193 Retweets915 Likes Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotes

Life Quotes @RTLifeQuotesLife's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can. — Vince Lombardi

June 9th 2022

43 Retweets149 Likes Twitter avatar for @DannyVietti

Danny Vietti @DannyViettiJosé Cuas was released by the Brewers after struggling to convert to a pitcher.He left baseball and took a job at FedEx in Brooklyn.His younger brother never gave up on him. He played catch with his brother every night.Today, José made his MLB debut.

May 31st 2022

1,415 Retweets13,429 Likes

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (Here’s why you should.)

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 17, 2022 11:09

June 14, 2022

The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 6/14/22.

Note: To get a better reading experience, click the headline at the top above my photo. That will allow all content below to play within the webpage, as well as prevent the message from being clipped/summarized by your email service.

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday! Hope you had a great weekend and are off to a great start this week.

Not much has changed in Ukraine. If you missed the last newsletter, I explained why I didn’t think there’d be much breaking news there anytime soon.

But some of the new artillery is beginning to make an impact. (Literally.)

#Ukraine: A Ukrainian drone filming a Russian Kamaz truck being destroyed. Given the lack of artillery craters and extremely accurate strike, it may have been hit by something that isn't the usual artillery 😏. ","username":"UAWeapons","name":"🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker","date":"Fri Jun 10 22:30:37 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/... Twitter avatar for @UAWeapons

🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker @UAWeapons#Ukraine: A Ukrainian drone filming a Russian Kamaz truck being destroyed. Given the lack of artillery craters and extremely accurate strike, it may have been hit by something that isn't the usual artillery 😏.

June 10th 2022

1,016 Retweets9,537 Likes

Former SEAL Chuck Pfarrer speculated that Ukraine likely used the deadly new M982 Excalibur GPS guided shells-- fired from M777 155mm artillery systems.

Moving along, the Marines announced who passed in the tragic helo crash last week. And one of them was the son of a pretty famous person. (See below.)

The Associated Press @AP"He was my hero and the best man I know." Former LA Dodgers player Steve Sax has issued a statement saying that his son, Capt. John J. Sax, was among five U.S. Marines killed in an Osprey training flight crash earlier this week in the California desert.

Son of former LA Dodger Steve Sax among 5 Marines killedLOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Steve Sax has issued a statement saying that his 33-year-old son who had always dreamed of being a pilot was among five U.S. Marines killed during a training flight crash earlier this week in the California desert.apne.ws

June 11th 2022

143 Retweets486 Likes

Speaking of tragedies, you may remember me discussing a horrible amphibious assault drowning last year. Following a long investigation, several officers have been punished for the accident that killed nine. (See below.)

Dan Lamothe @DanLamotheThe Navy Department has issued letters of censure to five military officers, including a retired three-star general, in response to a disaster at sea that killed eight Marines and a U.S. sailor, officials said Monday.

Marine general, four other officers censured in deadly disaster at seaNavy Secretary Carlos Del Toro took punitive action against Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman in response to the sinking of an armored vehicle that killed nine service members.washingtonpost.com

June 13th 2022

43 Retweets81 Likes

In much lighter news, we talked about Top Gun a couple of weeks ago. But the really scary fighter we use these days is the F-22, not the F-18. (See below.)

Task & Purpose @TaskandPurposeThe Air Force F-22 Raptor remains one of the most respected, and feared air-to-air fighters 17 years after it first became operational.

Air Force pilots explain why the F-22 Raptor is a ‘beast’ in aerial combatThe Air Force F-22 Raptor remains one of the most respected, and feared air-to-air fighters 17 years after it first became operational.bit.ly

May 13th 2022

3 Retweets12 Likes

Moving along, I wrote a couple of months ago about Congresswoman Elaine Luria stating that the most-recent Navy budget sucks.

I’m going to reshare that before providing an update below.

Congresswoman Elaine Luria, a Navy Veteran and former small business owner, wrote the following Twitter thread below.

I have delayed putting out a statement about the Defense Budget because frankly it would have been mostly full of words you might expect from a Sailor, but here goes: It sucks. 1/7

Once again, this Administration has chosen the divest-to-invest strategy as if whatever future conflict will not occur for at least two decades. Admirals Davidson and Aquilino disagree. 2/7

The Navy owes a public apology to American taxpayers for wasting tens of billions of dollars on ships they now say serve no purpose. 3/7

They propose decommissioning 24 ships; 11 of which are less than 10 years old. 1 has been in service less than 2 years and 2 are currently in modernization. 4/7

All to save…0.5% of their budget. This, along with an anemic building program, will shrink the Navy to 280 ships, at the same time they are calling to build a 500-ship Navy. HINT: If you want to grow the Navy, stop decommissioning more ships than you build. 5/7

China is not a “pacing challenge” when they will soon have double the size of our Navy. We are losing 1000+ VLS cells, with NO PLAN to replace them. (Editor’s note: A vertical launching system (VLS) is an advanced system for holding and firing missiles on mobile naval platforms, such as surface ships and submarines.)

Instead, we are investing in the next “Gucci” missile and technology that will not be mature for 20+ years. 6/7

Lastly, the Navy has no strategy. Stop saying you do, because if you did you would be able to explain how this Fleet size will allow us to defend Taiwan. 7/7

Following her comments and plenty of discussion, Congress plans to save five of the 24 ships that the Navy wanted to decommission. (They could even save more of the remaining 19 in a hearing later this month.) (See below.)

@jacqklimas ","username":"DefenseOne","name":"Defense One","date":"Tue Jun 14 02:07:00 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":1,"like_count":9,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://buff.ly/39hYBCx","i... Plan to Save Some of the 24 Ships the US Navy Wants to Cut","description":"House seapower panel has consensus on five ships; full Armed Services Committee will debate others June 22.","domain":"buff.ly"},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @DefenseOne

Defense One @DefenseOneICYMI: Lawmakers Plan to Save Some of the 24 Ships the US Navy Wants to Cut | via @jacqklimas

Lawmakers Plan to Save Some of the 24 Ships the US Navy Wants to CutHouse seapower panel has consensus on five ships; full Armed Services Committee will debate others June 22.buff.ly

June 14th 2022

1 Retweet9 Likes

Let’s end this newsletter — news wise — with this tech news from a couple of months ago. (See below.)

Tyler Rogoway @Aviation_IntelThe Air Force’s new ship-killing smart bomb has sunk its first vessel:

The Air Force’s New Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Has Sunk Its First VesselThe Air Force has moved a step closer to fielding a version of the ubiquitous Joint Direct Attack Munition that can hit moving warships.thedrive.com

April 30th 2022

52 Retweets340 Likes

The Air Force is really raving about this, but to me, I guess I just assumed they already had weapons that could do this.

Let’s wrap up today’s newsletter, as always, with with some motivation and wisdom.

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"When you focus on the good, the good gets better."

June 14th 2022

37 Retweets154 Likes Twitter avatar for @motivation_qot

Motivational Quotes @motivation_qotStay patient and trust your journey.

June 14th 2022

4 Retweets9 Likes#Wisdom","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sun Jun 05 16:00:07 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":76,"like_count":153,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_Videos"All endings are also beginnings. We just don't know it at the time." -- Mitch Albom#Wisdom

June 5th 2022

76 Retweets153 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Don't talk, just act. Don't promise, just prove."

June 14th 2022

152 Retweets650 Likes Twitter avatar for @motivation_qot

Motivational Quotes @motivation_qot"Trust your intuition. It never lies."

June 14th 2022

35 Retweets193 Likes#InspirationalQuotes","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Jun 04 16:00:06 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":69,"like_count":164,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_Videos“Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes heading in a new direction can be scary until you realize you’re headed toward a new and exciting destination.” -- Susan Gale#InspirationalQuotes

June 4th 2022

69 Retweets164 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Mindset: I am smart and capable, anything I don't know I can learn.

June 12th 2022

343 Retweets1,609 Likes Twitter avatar for @motivation_qot

Motivational Quotes @motivation_qot"Hard work puts you where good luck can find you."

June 11th 2022

26 Retweets92 Likes#WordsOfWisdom","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Jun 04 14:00:01 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":96,"like_count":220,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}"> Twitter avatar for @IMQuotes_Videos

Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosBefore you speak THINK:T —is it true? H —is it helpful? I —is it inspiring? N —is it necessary? K —is it kind?#WordsOfWisdom

June 4th 2022

96 Retweets220 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Better to be tired than to be broke.

June 12th 2022

319 Retweets1,689 Likes Twitter avatar for @_SuccessMinded_

Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Always Remember: Fall asleep with a dream and wake up with a purpose.

June 12th 2022

1,016 Retweets4,864 Likes

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple bucks in the hat by subscribing below. (Here’s why you should.)

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

View more on Stan R. Mitchell's website »

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on June 14, 2022 09:44

← Previous 1 2 … 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 … 88 89 Next →

Stan R. Mitchell's Blog

Stan R. Mitchell's profile
67 followers