Stan R. Mitchell's Blog, page 29

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 3/1/22.

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

I will again almost entirely focus on Ukraine this edition, while including some motivation and wisdom at the end.

Russian forces, under the control of Putin, pressed deeper into Ukraine since the last newsletter on Friday.

Here’s the latest map I could find of the situation. (It’s about 3-5 hours old, depending on when you read this.)

@detresfa_ & @SimTack ","username":"COUPSURE","name":"C O U P S U R E","date":"Tue Mar 01 14:40:08 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FMxUXQ... has not made any major progress in the last 24 hours. According to available intel, this may be the result of logistics failing to keep up with the pace of advancement. \n\nMap work with @detresfa_ and @SimTack https://t.co/nT2U5jJA93 https://t.co/jl5qezHLcf","u... O U P S U R E"},"retweet_count":105,"like_count":235,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">C O U P S U R E @COUPSURESat. images reveal that the Russian army is amassing a large amount of equipment N-W of Kyiv. In the east, Belarusian troops are believed to have entered Ukraine near Chernihiv.In the south, Mariupol is now caught between attacks from all sides.Map with @detresfa_ & @SimTack

C O U P S U R E @COUPSURE

Russia has not made any major progress in the last 24 hours. According to available intel, this may be the result of logistics failing to keep up with the pace of advancement. Map work with @detresfa_ and @SimTack https://t.co/nT2U5jJA93 https://t.co/jl5qezHLcf

March 1st 2022

105 Retweets235 Likes

You’ll note if you click the link that the Russians have nearly created their southern land bridge, which they wanted to establish so that they could better supply and control the Crimean Peninsula, which they invaded in 2014.

One other thing you’ll note while studying the map is that in the northern part of the invasion, there are three main pushes. That brings up this point:

Major General (ret) Paul Eaton @PaulDEaton52This tweet highlights what military pros worry about - logistics. Every line of comms-fuel etc. must be secured. Russia has three. Manpower intensive. Not to forget insurgency math: 20 soldiers/1000 population. Ukraine? 800,000 troops Give or take because Ukrainians are tough.

Jon Soltz @jonsoltz

With 3 Lines of Communication (LOCs), it doesn’t seem like Russia is prepared for a prolonged campaign. Very tough to secure those LOCs for weeks against stiff resistance. It leaves combat units vulnerable without substantial logistics support required for a mechanized fight.

February 26th 2022

86 Retweets271 Likes

So far at least, the Ukrainians have inspired the world with their fierce defense and unbreakable resilience.🇺🇦💪

But a convoy that extends for more than 40 miles, closing in on the capital of Kyiv?

Dark and vicious plans to encircle a city of 3 million, laying a suffocating siege to it? (See below.)

@andersoncooper on a massive convoy nearing Kyiv, stretching for more than 40 miles. ","username":"AC360","name":"Anderson Cooper 360°","date":"Tue Mar 01 01:18:46 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...Anderson Cooper 360° @AC360“The sense of impending danger is only underscored by video like this, satellite images of a massive convoy of Russian vehicles now on the northern outskirts of Kyiv ...”@andersoncooper on a massive convoy nearing Kyiv, stretching for more than 40 miles.

March 1st 2022

133 Retweets435 Likes

Without question, I fear what the days and weeks ahead will bring... 😢😭

This could be more horrific than even our worst fears. If you want a reminder of how bad this can get, take two mins to scroll through the Siege of Sarajevo, which lasted almost four years. (Fourteen thousand died in that battle and Sarajevo only had roughly 400,000 inside of it. Kyiv has nearly 3 million.)

But to present a counter view (because I never want to simply provide only my views), retired U.S. Army General Hertling said he’s not too concerned about the convoy.

@MarkHertling, this huge convoy is a lot of trucks and Ukrainian forces have bigger worries/targets right now: ","username":"MarquardtA","name":"Alex Marquardt","date":"Tue Mar 01 11:36:32 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...Alex Marquardt @MarquardtAImportant point by @MarkHertling, this huge convoy is a lot of trucks and Ukrainian forces have bigger worries/targets right now:

March 1st 2022

250 Retweets852 Likes

I absolutely hope he’s completely right and that if the war doesn’t end, then these are simply thin-skinned targets for Ukrainians to take out (or Russians to abandon).

From a high-level view, there are three things that the Ukrainians have to hold onto at this point.

First, their sheer size as a country and their audacious (and unbreakable) spirit. To their size, I present this:

Ted Lieu @tedlieuPopulation-Crimea: < 2.5mGeorgia: < 4mUkraine: Over 43 millionWar criminal Putin drew the wrong lessons from his invasions of Crimea & Georgia. He will never pacify Ukraine.The large Ukrainian population is enraged and will keep killing Russian forces until they leave.

olexander scherba🇺🇦 @olex_scherba

Odessa. Molotov cocktails. These people are unbreakable. #StandWithUkraine #RussiaGoHome https://t.co/3xXoJ2tbZ5

February 27th 2022

502 Retweets2,654 Likes

And to their audacious (and unbreakable) spirit, I share this as just one view of how they are rallying and standing strong. This is one of literally hundreds of examples.

#StandWithUkraine #RussiaGoHome ","username":"olex_scherba","name":"olexander scherba🇺🇦","date":"Sat Feb 26 19:51:30 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...olexander scherba🇺🇦 @olex_scherbaOdessa. Molotov cocktails. These people are unbreakable. #StandWithUkraine #RussiaGoHome

February 26th 2022

5,272 Retweets24,592 Likes

The second thing that the Ukrainians have to hold onto at this point is that a dozen mostly European countries are now flooding in weapons to help Ukraine. Weapons are coming from Germany, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Italy, etc., including Europe sending 70 fighter planes to Ukraine.

These weapons will help tremendously. Best of all, they include anti-air and anti-tank weapons, both of which the Ukrainians desperately need. Here’s just one example (there are many more):

Ann Linde @AnnLindeSweden will send military aid to Ukraine 🇺🇦. It includes 5,000 anti-tank weapons, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 body shields and 135,000 field rations. It also includes 500 million SEK to the Ukrainian Armed Forces🇺🇦. The total support is almost 1,4 billion SEK.

February 27th 2022

10,698 Retweets72,640 Likes

The third and final thing that the Ukrainians have to hold onto at this point is that the response from the U.S. and Europe is wrecking the economy of Russia.

CNN reports that Russia faces financial a meltdown as sanctions slam its economy. Even if you don’t want to read that story, you can see a simple summary view on the effects of these sanctions below:

@antontroian⁩ ⁦@INechepurenko⁩ ","username":"peterbakernyt","name":"Peter Baker","date":"Tue Mar 01 01:56:49 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":32,"like_count":104,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/28/wo... Sanctions Batter Economy, Russians Face the Anxieties of a Costly War","description":"The ruble plunged, the stock market was shuttered and foreign investors shed holdings in Russian companies, deepening the concern among citizens who had become accustomed to the perks of globalization.","domain":"nytimes.com"},"video_url":null}">Peter Baker @peterbakernytCosts of war: Russia’s Central Bank more than doubles its key rate to 20%. A dollar cost more than 110 rubles compared to about 80 a week earlier. Shares of Sberbank in London lose three-quarters of their value. ⁦@antontroian⁩ ⁦@INechepurenko⁩ As Sanctions Batter Economy, Russians Face the Anxieties of a Costly WarThe ruble plunged, the stock market was shuttered and foreign investors shed holdings in Russian companies, deepening the concern among citizens who had become accustomed to the perks of globalization.nytimes.com

March 1st 2022

32 Retweets104 Likes

Yes, you read that correctly. Russia’s central bank more than doubled its key interest rate to 20%. Here’s more:

Ned Price @StateDeptSpoxWe’re already starting to see effects of sanctions on Russia.1. Ruble has fallen in value, worth less than one cent2. S&P downgraded Russia’s sovereign debt to “junk” status3. Russian stock market is closed until at least March 5.

March 1st 2022

660 Retweets2,354 Likes

And Putin had hoped to use his reserves to prepare for these sanctions. But there’s a problem with that idea. Actually, a big one.

@Morning_Joe I discussed how strong sanctions are inhibiting Russia’s ability to deploy its currency reserves to buttress its economy. ","username":"SteveRattner","name":"Steven Rattner","date":"Mon Feb 28 17:57:16 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...Steven Rattner @SteveRattnerOn @Morning_Joe I discussed how strong sanctions are inhibiting Russia’s ability to deploy its currency reserves to buttress its economy.

February 28th 2022

2 Retweets12 Likes

I hate what these sanctions will do to the Russian people.

It’s not their fault that Putin is both an irrational tyrant and a delusional nutcase. But sometimes in life, you must feel great pain in order to force change. And it’s my great hope that by mis-calculating, Putin has ensured his own demise.

If that isn’t the final result, then I hope the West can find an off-ramp that Putin can take. Something to mitigate this horrific mistake he’s made. And while it’s tempting to want to punish him and see this out to the end (with him under the heavy boot of some oligarch/general or a few thousand Russian civilians dragging him out into the streets), he’s sitting on thousands of nukes and he’s not showing the greatest mental clarity right now.

I think a safer (and saner) bet is that perhaps a ceasefire can be arranged and the West can promise some easing up of sanctions as progress is made in de-escalation. Because otherwise, until that final result occurs, this is only going to turn out a whole lot worse for a whole lot of people.

Okay, I know today was heavy. (It’s impossible for it not to be right now, unfortunately.)

Nonetheless, let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

We will begin with one from Ukraine. Last week, I highlighted the incredible leadership of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. On that same note, how about this from the First Lady of Ukraine?! How inspiring?!

#OlenaZelenska. She’s a mother, a wife, an accomplished professional, a patriot. Never forget that when one person serves in politics, the whole family ends up serving. That is most definitely the case here. #StandWithUkraine ","username":"mariashriver","name":"Maria Shriver","date":"Mon Feb 28 20:07:36 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FMtZQW...Maria Shriver @mariashriverThis is a powerful message from Ukraine’s First Lady, #OlenaZelenska. She’s a mother, a wife, an accomplished professional, a patriot. Never forget that when one person serves in politics, the whole family ends up serving. That is most definitely the case here. #StandWithUkraine

February 28th 2022

5,827 Retweets36,936 Likes

Now, for some more typical motivation and wisdom.

CSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7You must have gratitude for all that's to come and appreciation for all that's here.

March 1st 2022

1 Retweet3 LikesCSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7

March 1st 2022

5 LikesCSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7Trust your hard work. It's unlocking doors you can't see yet..

March 1st 2022

2 Retweets26 Likes#InspirationalQuotes","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Fri Feb 25 17:00:02 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":67,"like_count":167,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_Videos“Don’t wait for approval. Not everyone will understand your vision. You just need to believe in yourself, remain positive and go get it done.” -- Idil Ahmed#InspirationalQuotes

February 25th 2022

67 Retweets167 Likes#FridayMotivation ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Fri Feb 25 13:00:11 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FMcap1...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosTrue friends are priceless.#FridayMotivation

February 25th 2022

105 Retweets210 Likes#Inspiration","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Thu Feb 24 15:00:09 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":93,"like_count":178,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosHow to Make Life More Positive: • Smile more • Be yourself • Be optimistic • Don’t complain • Throw away clutter • Make a change/difference • Unfollow negative people on social media • Show more gratitude • Do things that challenge you#Inspiration

February 24th 2022

93 Retweets178 Likes #MotivationalQuotes","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Tue Feb 22 17:00:01 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":67,"like_count":180,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_Videos“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” -- Jesse Owens#MotivationalQuotes

February 22nd 2022

67 Retweets180 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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. That will make sure you don’t miss any future editions. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing a few bucks into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

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 II and one about Afghanistan.

About me: I am a proud vet and moderate, who wants to unite this country. I’m also a proud independent author, who used to own a small weekly newspaper for nine years that was probably (in hindsight) too generous on pricing to my advertisers and too lenient on my collection terms (I’m honestly just almost too nice). I also sought to downplay controversy, understate headlines, and never create panic, all of which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act). Looking back, it’s clear I had (and have) a big heart and that I wasn’t made to be some kind of cut-throat business executive. It’s this same streak in me that prevents me from signing any book deals, even big ones. I just don’t trust ruthless business executives at the big publishers. And even if I did, that very same company that I trusted could be bought and purchased overnight. Sorry, but I’ll pass on that. The truth is that while I’ve relented and signed some distribution deals, such as the one I did with Audible for my Nick Woods series, I’m just not willing to be owned by any of the big publishing houses. If I want to speak out on China? I will. If I want to send free books to military members? I will. (And I have.) I don’t ever plan to be owned by some New York publishing house. (The only person I answer to on this earth is my wife and I plan to keep it that way.) My success to this point has been made by doing it the right way: gaining one new reader or one new subscriber at a time. So join me on my journey. Let’s build a community of like-minded Americans, who believe in this country and in our fellow citizens (even those on the other side of the aisle). People who believe in small businesses and independent dreamers on their own journey, whether it’s owning a small farm or staying autonomous in their creative fields. And when it comes to politics? No name calling. No screaming. Just honest discussion and a genuine search for the truth. In the end, we truly all want the same: good government, unity throughout our land, and ethical leadership.

If you’d like to support me, you can subscribe to my newsletter for $5 per month (it comes out twice a week) or check out my books at this link: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them.

More about Stan R. Mitchell:

BACKGROUND

— Prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997.

— 10+ plus years in print journalism, 20+ years of creative writing.

— Super picky reader, who hates slow-moving books. Also super ambitious, with his sights set on the very top of the fiction world. (See this article: Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.)

ACCLAIM

“Mitchell’s writing style is sharp, snappy, cinematic, and impacts with the trauma of a hollowpoint to the head.” — Author Mark Allen

SUCCESS

Mitchell tackles his writing with skill that will blow you away. He’s sold 70,000-plus copies and had thousands of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Plus, all of his books average 4+ stars on Amazon.

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/25/22.

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope everyone’s week has been good. (And that you’ve done a better job than me balancing the invasion of Ukraine with your own mental health.)

One quick personal note before we begin this edition.

I wanted to thank the subscriber (I don’t even know their name), who upgraded from a free to paid subscription this week. I still don’t have a ton of paid subscribers, so each and every one means a lot to me. And trust me, the paid subscribers not only support my work, but they also help fund (and justify) my research and improve the product.

For those who don’t know, I subscribe to multiple news sources (some more expensive than others), all in an effort to better inform my understanding, which hopefully also helps you. I assure you that I will always work hard to make sure each newsletter is factual and contextual, and that I give you the sober, mature view, with a slight bit of my optimism peering through.

Thank you for the brief interruption. And if you’re suddenly dying to sign up or switch to paid, here’s the link:

Subscribe now

Now, to the horrendousness that is the situation in Ukraine.

For months, I have written that Russia would likely invade. (I even got into a heated email exchange about a month ago with a reader who said I was wrong. And that an invasion by Russia made absolutely no sense.)

I truly wish I had been wrong. I would have screamed it in the middle of Times Square or done anything in my power to prevent what is happeneing from happening.

Unfortunately, the worst fears of myself (and most of the intelligence community) have come to pass. A tyrant, who’s increasingly “unhinged and living in a bubble” (as Tom Nichols said on a podcast with Charlie Sykes), made the foolish, immoral decision to invade Ukraine.

Putin (I do not intend to call him President anymore; he is a dictator and has been for years) stormed Ukraine for the third time.1 Putin’s troops plunged into Ukraine from the north, east, and south. (See map below.)

ian bremmer @ianbremmermap of reported attacks in ukraine, per the nytimes. all over the country.

February 24th 2022

486 Retweets1,326 Likes

This man, who jails and kills opposition leaders, intends to destroy the Western-backed government of Ukraine and replace it with a pro-Russian regime, according to experts quoted in The Washington Post.

This is a horrible and despicable action in every way. (And frankly, it’s going to be a long time before I ignore or forgive those on Fox and the so-called Republicans who, prior to this war, cheered Putin on and called this a small border dispute — before it turned into a full-scale invasion; now they’re a lot quieter. As a former Republican, I miss the old Republican Party that was a beacon for democracies and a concrete wall — if not a hammer — against dictators, but I digress.)

Ignoring the moral and religious implications, there are a few small problems with this plan by Putin.

First, he under-estimated the resistance. Badly.

No one who’s lived under freedom wants to give up such a thing without a fight.

Here’s just one example of the courage and tenaciousness of Ukrainians.

Some of Russia’s best troops poured from helicopters to seize an airfield near the capital. This was a force of two hundred men, reportedly, but in heavy fighting, the Ukrainians took it back. (See below.)

Mike Jason @mikejason73Very significant. Won't likely effect the long term outcome either way, but indicative that this won't be a cakewalk for the Russians. Further, losing several hundred paratroopers, killed or captured will not play well at home or in the ranks.

Paul McLeary @paulmcleary

Ukrainian govt. spokesperson confirms Ukrainian forces defeated Russian airborne troops at Gostomel military airfield near Kyiv. Earlier reports had 200 Russian airborne attacked it.

February 24th 2022

23 Retweets149 Likes

As Colonel Jason states, stories like this spread through the ranks like wildfire.

There is also the story of 13 Ukrainians who would rather die than surrender, even though they were basically helpless. (See below.)

Seth Abramson @SethAbramsonBREAKING: President Zelensky Names the 13 Killed on Snake Island “Heroes of Ukraine”; All Died Defending Snake Island, 25 Miles From NATO Territory; “This Is It,” One Said to a Second, Before Telling the Russian Warship Targeting Them to “Go Fuck Yourself”

February 25th 2022

13,753 Retweets53,013 Likes

The second big problem with Putin’s plan (besides under-estimating opposition) is I think he OVER-estimated the ability of his troops. And even their will to fight.

An entire platoon gave up with hardly a fight. And the craziest part is they didn’t even expect to have to fight. (See below.) This is NOT how you win a war, I assure you.

Stan R. Mitchell @StanRMitchellI really don't think the Russian conscripts want this as badly as the Ukrainian troops do. And at some point, in war, you've got to be willing to fight and die.This platoon of Russians was NOT prepared to do so. (Nor told the truth prior to invading...)

Militarnyi @militarnyi_en

The Russian occupants having encountered full opposition from Ukrainian defenders, surrender.A whole reconnaissance platoon of the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade surrendered near Chernihiv. 1/2 👇 https://t.co/qNmccdDmrZ

February 24th 2022

1 Like

I think the third big problem with Putin’s plan is he did not expect Russian lack of support in such a large scale. Such as this:

Alexander S. Vindman @AVindmanPushkin Square, maybe less than 1000 meters from Red Square and the Kremlin, is the cite of a significant protest. These people know the risks of challenging the regime. They’re on the street in-spite of major personal costs.

February 24th 2022

75,866 Retweets335,087 Likes

And also this, from the oligarchs, who are also speaking out.

Anton Troianovski @antontroianAnother extraordinary televised Kremlin meeting, this one with oligarchs. The head of the industrialists' lobby group tells Putin to avoid wrecking the Russian economy further in responding to Western sanctions; Putin responds describing today's invasion as a "necessary measure."

February 24th 2022

2,166 Retweets5,415 Likes

The final big problem is I think Putin thought the world would let this invasion slide, as it has for the most part with the two previous invasions of Ukraine (Donbas and Crimea), not to mention other invasions by Russia of countries such as Georgia, Chechnya, etc.

But he was wrong this time. Already, major sanctions have been leveled. Russia’s largest banks have been frozen and additional sanctions target virtually every major part of the country’s economy.

President Biden @POTUSWith today’s actions, we have now sanctioned Russian banks that hold around $1 trillion in assets. We cut off Russia’s largest bank — and we are also fully blocking four more major banks. That means every asset they have in America will be frozen.

February 24th 2022

2,531 Retweets18,456 Likes

I don’t care who you are, $1 trillion is a lot of money. And the pain is even worse than the frozen assets. Germany has halted the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline because of the invasion. (This is no lie: I have looked for what this might cost the Russians in real dollars and it’s so big, you can’t really find a value. Just building it would have cost $11 billion. And it would have delivered 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe each and every year. I found a link that 1,000 cubic meters in December was worth $2,145. How much is that a year? I tried to figure it out, but don’t trust myself on the zero’s; I’m a writer and journalist, not an economist. but let’s just say it’s a shit-ton of annual, recurring money and be done with this exercise.)

There’s still a chance Russia will be removed from SWIFT, but some European countries are holding off on that. For the moment. Anger about this invasion is only growing and more repercussions will fall, I predict.

To recap, Putin mis-calculated on this invasion. And while Russian forces will probably take the capital and parts of the country, they have grabbed a wolf and wrestled it to the ground, only to realize they are in a hell of a fight and they won’t get away without being chewed up badly.

One final note, if you missed President Biden’s address, try to watch the first 8 mins of this.

President Biden @POTUSWatch live as I deliver remarks on Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified attack on Ukraine. https://t.co/fsc84Sq6F6

February 24th 2022

6,218 Retweets24,161 Likes

Let’s move to China briefly. This report was incredibly concerning.

nyti.ms/3tcTPMR ","username":"saletan","name":"Will Saletan","date":"Fri Feb 25 15:51:22 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FMdBrg...Will Saletan @saletanGrimmest thing I've read about Ukraine. Indications that we're heading into a new cold war not just with Russia, but with a Russia-China alliance. nyti.ms/3tcTPMR

February 25th 2022

40 Retweets100 Likes

China is moving in a direction that isn’t good for anyone long term. It’s concerning and there are no easy answers, but we don’t have the time or space to get into that now.

There was some other news out there, but I think the focus for this edition should rightly be on Ukraine.

This will be an incredibly trying time for them.

But their leaders are responding.

This is a photo of the mayor of the capital city of Kyiv. He has pledged to fight.

Here are images of the Ukrainian President visiting the front lines.

#Ukraine ","username":"AsaadHannaa","name":"Asaad Hanna","date":"Thu Feb 24 21:39:54 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FMZIBS...Asaad Hanna @AsaadHannaaRespect to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyyStand for #Ukraine

February 24th 2022

5,226 Retweets29,917 Likes

Even if you think these are simple photo ops, leadership matters. Seeing your leaders at the front matters.

Our own George Washington lost nearly every battle he fought for several years, but with him rallying, exhorting, and begging the troops, we somehow held it together against the greatest army in the world at that time.

I think the Ukrainians can -- and are -- doing the same.

This is their capital city below. It hasn’t been taken yet, but keep the city and residents in your thoughts and prayers. They’re going to need it.

Ben Judah @b_judahThis is Kyiv

February 25th 2022

103 Retweets328 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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. That will make sure you don’t miss any future editions. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing a few bucks into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

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 II and one about Afghanistan.

About me: I am a proud vet and moderate, who wants to unite this country. I’m also a proud independent author, who used to own a small weekly newspaper for nine years that was probably (in hindsight) too generous on pricing to my advertisers and too lenient on my collection terms (I’m honestly just almost too nice). I also sought to downplay controversy, understate headlines, and never create panic, all of which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act). Looking back, it’s clear I had (and have) a big heart and that I wasn’t made to be some kind of cut-throat business executive. It’s this same streak in me that prevents me from signing any book deals, even big ones. I just don’t trust ruthless business executives at the big publishers. And even if I did, that very same company that I trusted could be bought and purchased overnight. Sorry, but I’ll pass on that. The truth is that while I’ve relented and signed some distribution deals, such as the one I did with Audible for my Nick Woods series, I’m just not willing to be owned by any of the big publishing houses. If I want to speak out on China? I will. If I want to send free books to military members? I will. (And I have.) I don’t ever plan to be owned by some New York publishing house. (The only person I answer to on this earth is my wife and I plan to keep it that way.) My success to this point has been made by doing it the right way: gaining one new reader or one new subscriber at a time. So join me on my journey. Let’s build a community of like-minded Americans, who believe in this country and in our fellow citizens (even those on the other side of the aisle). People who believe in small businesses and independent dreamers on their own journey, whether it’s owning a small farm or staying autonomous in their creative fields. And when it comes to politics? No name calling. No screaming. Just honest discussion and a genuine search for the truth. In the end, we truly all want the same: good government, unity throughout our land, and ethical leadership.

If you’d like to support me, you can subscribe to my newsletter for $5 per month (it comes out twice a week) or check out my books at this link: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them.

More about Stan R. Mitchell:

BACKGROUND

— Prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997.

— 10+ plus years in print journalism, 20+ years of creative writing.

— Super picky reader, who hates slow-moving books. Also super ambitious, with his sights set on the very top of the fiction world. (See this article: Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.)

ACCLAIM

“Mitchell’s writing style is sharp, snappy, cinematic, and impacts with the trauma of a hollowpoint to the head.” — Author Mark Allen

SUCCESS

Mitchell tackles his writing with skill that will blow you away. He’s sold 70,000-plus copies and had thousands of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Plus, all of his books average 4+ stars on Amazon.

1

I know, most news sources don’t say “third invasion,” but first Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. And they followed that up by invading the eastern part of the country in the Donbass region, also in 2014.)

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/22/22.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start!

We’ll start with Ukraine today, for obvious reasons.

Russian troops have entered the two break-away areas held by Russian-backed separatists, but this is likely just the start. Almost certainly, more advances are going to happen. In fact, NATO says Russia is still planning a ‘full-scale’ attack on Ukraine.

The responses to this aggression have already begun.

Germany has already said it will halt the authorization of Nord Stream 2 pipeline. This in itself is huge news and will prove economically devastating for Russia.

Britain has also already begun dropping sanctions, placing them on five Russian banks and three Russian billionaires.

Things are already dicey, and they’re probably going to get dicier. My view is the conflict has just started and it’s going to get a whole lot worse.

As just one piece of evidence, take a look at this example of Russia continuing to escalate things:

max seddon @maxseddonPutin speaking now: he says Russia has recognized the separatist's claim to the whole Donbas. This is as close as you can get to declaring war.

February 22nd 2022

577 Retweets962 Likes

What that tweet is saying (in shorthand for insiders) is that Russia is actually considering territory that Ukraine has already taken back from the separatists as territory that shouldn’t be Ukraine’s.

It’s important to note that on this very land that Putin is now claiming, Ukraine has plenty of troops dug in and defending it. So, this claim might be the basis Putin uses for declaring an all-out invasion, since it doesn't exactly mesh with the Minsk agreements.

Initially, the Biden Administration didn’t call the Russian moves an invasion. But that has since changed. (See below.)

Howard Altman @haltmanThe White House decided to begin referring to Russia’s actions as an “invasion” because of the situation on the ground, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.‘An invasion is an invasion’ White House now says of Russian troops in UkraineAfter heavy criticism, the Biden administration is now calling Putin’s movement of troops into Ukraine an invasion.militarytimes.com

February 22nd 2022

3 Retweets2 Likes

Partly from fears of an all-out war, U.S. trainers have departed, as confirmed below.

Alexander Marquardt @MarquardtAThe US special forces that had been advising Ukrainian counterparts in western Ukraine have now left, EUCOM spokesman Capt. Bill Speaks tells me. Another source familiar with their movements said they helped escort the US embassy personnel from Lviv to Poland.

February 22nd 2022

28 Retweets48 Likes

So, what happens next?

Glad you asked.

This video below is an absolutely must-watch video, which covers many of the weapon systems, some of the military strategies that might occur, and even talks about the concept of a Russian “land bridge” to Crimea.

cnn.it/3h4BGLx ","username":"CNN","name":"CNN","date":"Tue Feb 22 16:40:48 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...CNN @CNNCNN's Tom Foreman uses a map to break down some of the potential military strategies Russia may use to invade Ukraine cnn.it/3h4BGLx

February 22nd 2022

51 Retweets145 Likes

Now some are saying in the U.S., why should we care? And what would a war mean for most of us?

Just so happens we have that answer below, as well.

@ianbremmer says Putin has already factored sanctions from the U.S. and other NATO countries into his plans regarding a Ukrainian invasion — but that won’t stop the White House from imposing more. ","username":"CBSMornings","name":"CBS Mornings","date":"Tue Feb 22 12:39:03 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...CBS Mornings @CBSMornings“We’re entering a new Cold War with the Russians”: @ianbremmer says Putin has already factored sanctions from the U.S. and other NATO countries into his plans regarding a Ukrainian invasion — but that won’t stop the White House from imposing more.

February 22nd 2022

40 Retweets74 Likes

If an invasion happens, it’s going to be horrific. And it’s going to be mostly one-sided. Certainly at first.

But two potential counter points.

First, this, by General Hertling, about the lack of discipline by Russian soldiers.

Mark Hertling @MarkHertlingThis description of Russian soldiers encamped in Belarus is EXACTLY my experience seeing them in short (exercise/training) and long (Balkan deployments) environment. An army of conscripts w/ no professional NCOs and corrupt officers are usually undisciplined.

Katsiaryna Shmatsina @kshmatsina

This article describes some of the effects of having Russian military in large numbers in Belarus.  TLDR: It's not pretty, for the locals, the soldiers, the Russian army or Putin. 1/9https://t.co/Y0hkQGGz5c

February 20th 2022

315 Retweets910 Likes

Secondly, there was this incredible article below. (Hat tip, Louise Mensch.)

@IAPonomarenko⁩ - every word is true. Putin faces only disaster, death and ruin in Ukraine. ","username":"LouiseMensch","name":"Louise Mensch 🇺🇸🇺🇦","date":"Sun Feb 20 03:17:29 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":52,"like_count":142,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://kyivindependent.com/opinion/i... Ponomarenko: Even if Russia attacks, Ukraine’s fall is not predestined","description":"Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors. It’s important not to lose the battle before it even begins. Right now, the Russia-instigated security crisis in Ukraine is threatening to become an all-out war of occupation. Against all the voices of reason, Russ…","domain":"kyivindependent.com"},"video_url":null}">Louise Mensch 🇺🇸🇺🇦 @LouiseMenschIllia Ponomarenko: Even if Russia attacks, Ukraine’s fall is not predestined - MUST READ by ⁦@IAPonomarenko⁩ - every word is true. Putin faces only disaster, death and ruin in Ukraine. Illia Ponomarenko: Even if Russia attacks, Ukraine’s fall is not predestinedEditor’s Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors. It’s important not to lose the battle before it even begins. Right now, the Russia-instigated security crisis in Ukraine is threatening to become an all-out war of occupation. Against all the voices of reason, Russ…kyivindependent.com

February 20th 2022

52 Retweets142 Likes

This article is certainly a must-read, as well. And we all know that troops (and citizens) fighting for their homeland almost always outperform those of invaders, who are mostly hoping to survive and return to their families.

To counter this disadvantage, Putin is likely planning absolute brutality and vengeance.

foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukrai… https://t.co/Vb8Zbb1Rv2","u... S. Vindman","date":"Mon Feb 21 13:34:24 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{"full_text":"National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tells NBC this am that Russia is planning an “extremely violent” invasion of Ukraine. US has “intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality” against Ukrainians, “to repress them, to crush them, to harm them.”","username":"NatashaBertrand","name":"Natasha Bertrand"},"retweet_count":805,"like_count":1791,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Alexander S. Vindman @AVindmanPutin will seek to crush Ukraine’s will to resist. He‘ll strike “morale” targets (revolution square, schools, hospitals, groups of protesters, key cultural sights, etc.) to punish any resistance. Putin intends to break Ukraine.I wrote about this here: foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukrai… https://t.co/Vb8Zbb1Rv2

Natasha Bertrand @NatashaBertrand

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan tells NBC this am that Russia is planning an “extremely violent” invasion of Ukraine. US has “intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality” against Ukrainians, “to repress them, to crush them, to harm them.”

February 21st 2022

805 Retweets1,791 Likes

Think of how indiscriminate the bombings done by Russians in Syria were; there’s even strong evidence they purposefully targeted hospitals, schools, and aid workers. But I doubt I need to cite much evidence of that. I think most of my readers recognize the brutality of Putin and those he commands.

One final Ukraine note, I had mentioned above the two separatist areas. Here’s a great map of the land currently being discussed.

#UPDATE In a report covering attacks on Friday, OSCE observers recorded 591 breaches in Donetsk and 975 violations in neighboring Lugansk, two regions partly held by Russian-backed separatists ","username":"AFP","name":"AFP News Agency","date":"Sat Feb 19 22:04:00 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FL_c6b...AFP News Agency @AFP#UPDATE In a report covering attacks on Friday, OSCE observers recorded 591 breaches in Donetsk and 975 violations in neighboring Lugansk, two regions partly held by Russian-backed separatists

February 19th 2022

96 Retweets158 Likes

Moving along, in tech news, there were a few cool articles worth noting.

First this:

@Sikorsky and @DARPA flew a #BlackHawk helicopter for 30 minutes with no one inside through the ALIAS program. ","username":"defense_news","name":"Defense News","date":"Mon Feb 21 15:00:06 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":9,"like_count":27,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.defensenews.com/land/2022... the first time, Black Hawk helicopter flies without anyone aboard","description":"Sikorsky and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency flew a Black Hawk helicopter for 30 minutes with no one inside through the ALIAS program.","domain":"defensenews.com"},"video_url":null}">Defense News @defense_news.@Sikorsky and @DARPA flew a #BlackHawk helicopter for 30 minutes with no one inside through the ALIAS program. For the first time, Black Hawk helicopter flies without anyone aboardSikorsky and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency flew a Black Hawk helicopter for 30 minutes with no one inside through the ALIAS program.defensenews.com

February 21st 2022

9 Retweets27 Likes

And also this:

Defense One @DefenseOneRobot tanks and drones swarming the battlefield represent only a small fraction of the ways the military might put autonomy to use in the years ahead. The Near Future of Military Autonomy Isn’t Robotanks, But ‘Microservices’Instead of commanding killer robots, most troops will get helping hands from things like driving assistance software.buff.ly

February 11th 2022

8 Retweets14 Likes

And finally this:

Evan Kohlmann @IntelTweetReuters: "U.S. eyes 100-strong Mideast sea drone fleet with security partners" U.S. eyes 100-strong Mideast sea drone fleet with security partnersThe United States Navy and security partners will patrol Middle East waters with 100 unmanned vessels next year to improve deterrence against attacks, like those presented by Iran, the U.S. Fifth Fleet commander said on Monday.reuters.com

February 21st 2022

2 Retweets2 Likes

For those who have missed my earlier newsletters (welcome, new subscribers!), the U.S. Navy has already accomplished a lot with unmanned ships. They’ve completed long “autonomous transits” of nearly 5,000 miles. Yes, 5,000 miles!

And the U.S. Navy made history by having an unmanned ship cross the Panama Canal – the first time any unmanned ship had crossed the locks of the canal.

All right, that was a lot in today’s edition. Hope you enjoyed it. Let’s wrap up with some motivation and wisdom.

#Inspirational","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sun Feb 20 15:00:10 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":104,"like_count":242,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosKeep evolving & recreating yourself. Read. Explore. Discover. Learning new things & expanding your mind will add versatility into your life. You shouldn’t be who you were last week. Create new habits & consistently upgrade yourself in all ways & on all levels.#Inspirational

February 20th 2022

104 Retweets242 Likes #Inspiration","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Feb 19 15:00:10 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":75,"like_count":170,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosYou are doing all that you can. Balancing life & everything else in between. Give yourself credit for all that you do. You are resilient & strong. You are dedicated & determined. Even those days that seem like a setback are only a step up from where you used to be.#Inspiration

February 19th 2022

75 Retweets170 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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. That will make sure you don’t miss any future editions. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing a few bucks into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

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 II and one about Afghanistan.

About me: I am a proud vet and moderate, who wants to unite this country. I’m also a proud independent author, who used to own a small weekly newspaper for nine years that was probably (in hindsight) too generous on pricing to my advertisers and too lenient on my collection terms (I’m honestly just almost too nice). I also sought to downplay controversy, understate headlines, and never create panic, all of which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act). Looking back, it’s clear I had (and have) a big heart and that I wasn’t made to be some kind of cut-throat business executive. It’s this same streak in me that prevents me from signing any book deals, even big ones. I just don’t trust ruthless business executives at the big publishers. And even if I did, that very same company that I trusted could be bought and purchased overnight. Sorry, but I’ll pass on that. The truth is that while I’ve relented and signed some distribution deals, such as the one I did with Audible for my Nick Woods series, I’m just not willing to be owned by any of the big publishing houses. If I want to speak out on China? I will. If I want to send free books to military members? I will. (And I have.) I don’t ever plan to be owned by some New York publishing house. (The only person I answer to on this earth is my wife and I plan to keep it that way.) My success to this point has been made by doing it the right way: gaining one new reader or one new subscriber at a time. So join me on my journey. Let’s build a community of like-minded Americans, who believe in this country and in our fellow citizens (even those on the other side of the aisle). People who believe in small businesses and independent dreamers on their own journey, whether it’s owning a small farm or staying autonomous in their creative fields. And when it comes to politics? No name calling. No screaming. Just honest discussion and a genuine search for the truth. In the end, we truly all want the same: good government, unity throughout our land, and ethical leadership.

If you’d like to support me, you can subscribe to my newsletter for $5 per month (it comes out twice a week) or check out my books at this link: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them.

More about Stan R. Mitchell:

BACKGROUND

— Prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997.

— 10+ plus years in print journalism, 20+ years of creative writing.

— Super picky reader, who hates slow-moving books. Also super ambitious, with his sights set on the very top of the fiction world. (See this article: Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.)

ACCLAIM

“Mitchell’s writing style is sharp, snappy, cinematic, and impacts with the trauma of a hollowpoint to the head.” — Author Mark Allen

SUCCESS

Mitchell tackles his writing with skill that will blow you away. He’s sold 70,000-plus copies and had thousands of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Plus, all of his books average 4+ stars on Amazon.

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/18/22.

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope everyone has had a great week.

So far, as of when I published this, Russia hasn’t invaded Ukraine for a third time.1

But while working on the newsletter, this happened:

The fear of an imminent assault rose Friday when the Russian-backed leader of a separatist-controlled area of eastern Ukraine said officials there were launching a mass evacuation of civilians into neighboring Russia, citing the threat of military action by Ukrainian troops. He said the evacuation was “by agreement” with Russian leadership. (From this Washington Post story.)

As a reminder, this is a look at a worst-case, all-out invasion scenario (shared by NBC News):

If the invasion doesn’t happen today, then watch the date of Feb 20. Not only is that the end of the Olympics, but Alex Ward in Politico says:

Feb. 20 looms large: The Munich Security Conference concludes that day. The annual “Davos of defense” gathering is a major event, featuring in-person participation from leaders like Vice President KAMALA HARRIS, Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN and Ukrainian President VOLODYMR ZELENSKYY. Russia launching an invasion as America’s No. 2 is in Europe and/or while the Ukrainian head of state is out of the country could prove an ultimate humiliation — the kind of geopolitical trolling Putin loves.

No Russian officials plan to attend the transatlantic gathering for the first time in years for “various reasons,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson MARIA ZAKHAROVA said last week. (Link for full story: Why Feb. 20 worries Russia watchers.)

The United States remains highly concerned about the situation. It’s gotten so tense that the following happened just before I published the newsletter:

Peter Alexander @PeterAlexanderNEW: The Biden administration is concerned about Ukrainian President Zelensky leaving his country this wknd to attend the Munich Security Conference, where he’s scheduled to meet in person with VP Harris, according to four people familiar with the matter.

February 18th 2022

106 Retweets311 Likes@mitchellreports @ckubeNBC @kwelkernbc @JoshNBCNews","username":"PeterAlexander","name":"Peter Alexander","date":"Fri Feb 18 17:12:46 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":37,"like_count":117,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Peter Alexander @PeterAlexanderAdministration officials are worried that Russian President Vladimir Putin would somehow exploit Zelensky’s absence. w/@mitchellreports @ckubeNBC @kwelkernbc @JoshNBCNews

February 18th 2022

37 Retweets117 Likes

So, what is this all about? What’s a quick, high-level background to it? Watch this superb video from a U.S. Senator below. And he even argues that Putin is not in a strong position, but in a weak position.

Chris Murphy @ChrisMurphyCTTake a minute to watch this. It's tempting to view Putin as some world-dominating mastermind. But that's not what's happening here. At all.

February 17th 2022

4,516 Retweets11,563 Likes

We will all keep hoping and praying that Russia doesn’t invade. The consequences and amount of carnage will be almost too much to imagine if he does a full-scale invasion. (Although, at this point, Putin might figure some light fighting in the eastern Donbas region, from which he can claim victory and retreat, might be the wisest course of action.)

With all of the focus on Ukraine, it’s easy to overlook some pretty big things that have been happening.

First, there was this: the Israeli prime minister made historic visit to Bahrain, seeking to fortify regional coalition against Iran.

From The Washington Post story link above:

Greeted with a red carpet and a military honor guard that performed Israel’s national anthem, Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli prime minister to visit Bahrain, meeting high-level officials Tuesday in an effort to fortify a regional coalition opposed to Iran.

And here’s video of it. Bahrain isn’t even trying to keep this quiet. (What’s most crazy is the amount of clearly host-gov’t photographers documenting the event. I wonder how much Bahrain’s own government publicized this event? I would think the answer is a lot.)

gov.il/en/departments… ","username":"IsraeliPM","name":"Prime Minister of Israel","date":"Tue Feb 15 20:05:38 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...Prime Minister of Israel @IsraeliPMPrime Minister Naftali Bennett met with King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa:"We discussed many ways to build new bridges, and an architecture for a stronger and more stable region. And I'm looking forward to continuing this remarkable relationship"gov.il/en/departments…

February 15th 2022

46 Retweets192 Likes

The second thing was this buried, but big, story regarding the strategic jostling with China. Look at the EU coming out and swinging big.

Stan R. Mitchell, author @StanRMitchellIt is easy to get distracted by the urgency of the situation in Ukraine, but the competition with China remains the larger struggle. EU tempts Africa away from Chinese influenceThe bloc has pledged €150 billion in funding for major projects in Africa.politico.eu

February 16th 2022

Before we wrap up the military news portion of this edition, I wanted to share something from a reader.

Joshua Hughes, @joshuadhughes on Twitter, made some great commentary in the reply section of the last newsletter. Writing in a comment in regards to my statements about President Biden (that Biden hadn’t shown enough empathy and caring in the exit of Afghanistan), Hughes wrote the following counter-point:

I wonder, to some extent, whether Biden's apparent inflexibility last August was at least in small part due to his perception — whether true or not — that (Generals) McChrystal and Petraeus gave Obama the run-around on troop numbers during the 2009 Strategy Review. At the time, Biden was the only major Cabinet-level principal to oppose a surge, and I don't doubt that this experience has shaped his perspective as President.

Steve Coll covered this dynamic at length in 2018's "Directorate S," as did George Packer in his recent feature for The Atlantic. Last year, at least at the time, it seemed to me that his refusal to deviate in the face of deteriorating conditions on the ground was perhaps an overcorrection to his personal experience as Vice President. LBJ had a similarly adversarial relationship with the Pentagon over Vietnam, at times. I could be wrong, though! It's always a dangerous game to give too much weight to individual personalities as determinants of national policy.

I think Joshua is absolutely correct. Plus, Biden had seen his own son's service in the military, as well as some of the politics (and story shaping) that happens in the military from his son’s own vantage point. (Beau Biden served in the Delaware Army National Guard, reached the rank of Major, and even did a yearlong stint on active duty that included a 7-month deployment in the combat zone.)

If you read Obama's memoir, A Promised Land, the Generals REALLY tried to screw him over with leaks and other jabs both private and public. This not only hurt Obama’s poll numbers, but it’s also partly why he kept Robert Gates on as Secretary of Defense. Obama knew he differed with Gates — a Republican — on policy positions, but he hoped Gates would help him with his battles with the Pentagon.)

Regardless, I really wanted to thank Joshua Hughes for his comments. I know I don’t have thousands and thousands reading this small (but proud!) newsletter, but I get frequent emails about things I’ve stated from some really enlightened individuals. (Some of them, gasp, even serve in the federal government!) And while it’s a little intimidating being read by such knowledgeable and well-read individuals, I appreciate that they feel they can reach out to me about what I’ve written.

I will always try to be flexible and open to discerning the truth in a complicated world. If I ever get outside the lines, I expect (and hope) at least one or two of you will let me know so I can adjust course.

And again, big thanks to Joshua Hughes. I asked permission to use his comments in this week’s newsletter and he granted me permission.

Let’s end this week with some good news, which helps show we can all be a part of the change we want to see.

This story is a few months old, but more than 1,000 manatees died last year, which is quite likely a record. But the story doesn’t end there. The state is responding and helping save probably hundreds of manatees in the process. (See below for a heart-warming story of how the state is distributing 3,000 pounds of lettuce a day to help save them.)

CNN @CNNFlorida's manatees — which are dying at an alarming rate, largely from starvation — are being treated to tons of lettuce a week as part of a new feeding program that state wildlife officials say is showing signs of success. Florida wildlife officials are distributing 3,000 pounds of lettuce a day to save starving manateesFlorida’s manatees -- which are dying at an alarming rate, largely from starvation -- are being treated to tons of lettuce a week as part of a new feeding program that state wildlife officials say is showing signs of success.cnn.it

February 17th 2022

179 Retweets1,118 Likes

Finally, let’s end with some wisdom and motivation.

#wisewords #quotes #inspirationalquotes #quoteoftheday #quotesdaily #quotestagram #motivationalquotes #quote #quotesoftheday #quotesaboutlife #lifequotes #motivational #inspiration #motivation #quotestoliveby #hustle #writersofinstagram #thoughts #instadaily #success #life ","username":"realPatriot_7","name":"CSM Nicholas M. Curry","date":"Thu Feb 17 22:16:28 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FL1NQm...CSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7#wisewords #quotes #inspirationalquotes #quoteoftheday #quotesdaily #quotestagram #motivationalquotes #quote #quotesoftheday #quotesaboutlife #lifequotes #motivational #inspiration #motivation #quotestoliveby #hustle #writersofinstagram #thoughts #instadaily #success #life

February 17th 2022

5 Retweets15 LikesGreat Minds Quotes @GreatestQuotesLive your life and forget your age. - Norman Vincent Peale

January 30th 2022

145 Retweets560 LikesCSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7

February 5th 2022

4 Retweets37 LikesCSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7

February 5th 2022

3 Retweets30 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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing $5 into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

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 II and one about Afghanistan.

About me: I am a proud vet and moderate, who wants to unite this country. I’m also a proud independent author, who used to own a small business for nine years that was probably (in hindsight) too generous to my small business advertisers on pricing and too lenient on my collection terms, since they were struggling as badly as me. I also sought to downplay controversy, understate headlines, and never create panic, all of which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act). Looking back, it’s clear I had (and have) a big heart and that I wasn’t made to be some kind of cut-throat business executive. It’s this same streak in me that prevents me from signing any book deals, even big ones. I just don’t trust ruthless business executives at the big publishers. And even if I did, that very same company that I trusted could be bought and purchased overnight. Sorry, but I’ll pass on that. The truth is that while I’ve relented and signed some distribution deals, such as the one I did with Audible for my Nick Woods series, I’m just not willing to be owned by any of the big publishing houses. If I want to speak out on China? I will. If I want to send free books to military members? I will. (And I have.) I don’t ever plan to be owned by some New York publishing house. (The only person I answer to on this earth is my wife and I plan to keep it that way.) My success to this point has been made by doing it the right way: gaining one new reader or one new subscriber at a time. So join me on my journey. Let’s build a community of like-minded Americans, who believe in this country and in our fellow citizens (even those on the other side of the aisle). People who believe in small businesses and independent dreamers on their own journey, whether it’s owning a small farm or staying autonomous in their creative fields. And when it comes to politics? No name calling. No screaming. Just honest discussion and a genuine search for the truth. In the end, we truly all want the same: good government, unity throughout our land, and ethical leadership.

If you’d like to support me or check out my books, you can find them all here: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them. (I’ve been fortunate enough to have sold 70,000 copies and counting. Thank you, if you are one of the folks who have purchased one of those!! And if you’re not, I promise you, I don’t have that many cousins.)

1

I know, most news sources don’t say “third invasion,” but first Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula in 2014. And they followed that up by invading the eastern part of the country in the Donbass region, also in 2014.

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/15/22.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start!

We begin this edition with Ukraine. Russia is claiming to be pulling back some troops, but I’m beyond skeptical. And NATO sees no change yet. (See story below.)

Stan R. Mitchell, author @StanRMitchellRussia says some troops withdrawing from Ukraine’s border; NATO chief notes ‘cautious optimism’ but sees no de-escalation yet hRussia says some troops are withdrawing from Ukraine’s border; NATO chief notes ‘cautious optimism’ but sees no de-escalation yetNATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Moscow has signaled that “diplomacy should continue,” and he expressed “cautious optimism” while stressing that there has been no sign of “de-escalation on the ground.”washingtonpost.com

February 15th 2022

Worse, there’s this:

@DFRLab continues to observe other units positioning themselves closer to Ukraine’s northeast border. #RussianHybridThreatsReport🇷🇺 atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…","username":"AtlanticCouncil","name":"Atlantic Council","date":"Tue Feb 15 17:44:47 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":36,"like_count":46,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs... Hybrid Threats Report: Military camps close in on border as Kremlin accelerates false-flag narratives","description":"While the Kremlin announced that some units have begun loading equipment onto trains to return to their bases, the DFRLab continues to observe other units positioning themselves closer to Ukraine’s northeast border with Russia.","domain":"atlanticcouncil.org"},"video_url":null}">Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncilWhile the Kremlin announced that units from its Western + Northern military districts have begun to return to their bases, @DFRLab continues to observe other units positioning themselves closer to Ukraine’s northeast border. #RussianHybridThreatsReport🇷🇺 atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atla…Russian Hybrid Threats Report: Military camps close in on border as Kremlin accelerates false-flag narrativesWhile the Kremlin announced that some units have begun loading equipment onto trains to return to their bases, the DFRLab continues to observe other units positioning themselves closer to Ukraine’s northeast border with Russia.atlanticcouncil.org

February 15th 2022

36 Retweets46 Likes

Robert Gibbs provided a great summary of the situation today in his newsletter:

There are things we know and things we don't know. The White House has said that an invasion by the 140,000 plus Russian troops sitting at the border with Ukraine could move across the frozen ground as early as Wednesday, as did Ukraine’s President (though he claims he was only kidding — hilarious!). While at the same time there seems to be a furious back and forth across Europe to try to prevent the invasion.

In just the last 24 hours, we’ve seen some interesting developments. Vladimir Putin and his chief of foreign affairs say there’s more time and reason to talk, while just this morning Russia’s Defense Ministry has said some troops were being pulled back from around Ukraine, even as large-scale military exercises continue. Is Putin changing course and suggesting he won’t invade or is this a diversion on the eve of an onslaught? Only time will tell.

I personally think this is a final feint. A lame attempt to get Ukraine to drop its guard.

There is already some news that web attacks have begun.

#Ukraine has been targeted by a series of DDOS attacks on banking and military services, bringing down PrivatBank and Oschadbank and sending defence sector platforms offline. The incident comes amid heightened tensions with #Russia.\n\n📰 Report: netblocks.org/reports/ukrain… ","username":"netblocks","name":"NetBlocks","date":"Tue Feb 15 17:49:37 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FLp8pg...NetBlocks @netblocks⚠️ Update: #Ukraine has been targeted by a series of DDOS attacks on banking and military services, bringing down PrivatBank and Oschadbank and sending defence sector platforms offline. The incident comes amid heightened tensions with #Russia.📰 Report: netblocks.org/reports/ukrain…

February 15th 2022

368 Retweets459 Likes

There was also just this a couple of days ago:

Shashank Joshi @shashj“Ukrainian military officials have grown increasingly concerned about…SF & airborne troops to regions near Ukrainian border. Two days ago, the Kremlin deployed more than 50 attack and transport helicopters to Machulishchi in Belarus and Valuiki in Russia” U.S. Pulls Most Diplomats From Kyiv as Tensions MountWestern officials made another diplomatic push on Saturday to dissuade President Vladimir V. Putin from invading Ukraine.nytimes.com

February 13th 2022

137 Retweets278 Likes

Should the invasion happen, below is a good look at how it will go down. NBC News shared this on Instagram:

Lots of countries are still hoping to stop this from happening. (Or make Russia bleed so much that it never tries this anywhere else.)

Take a look at this:

Arvydas Anušauskas @a_anusauskas🇱🇹Lithuanian military support - the Stinger anti-aircraft missile system in 🇺🇦Ukraine. The security of Ukraine is also our security.

February 13th 2022

1,037 Retweets5,175 Likes

That tweet is from Lithuania's Minister of National Defense.

Britain has ramped up its weapons supply as well. (And Britain was already stepping up to the plate with some pretty serious armament support: UK supplying Ukraine with anti-tank weapons.)

UK Defence Journal @UKDefJournalUkraine will receive anti-ship missiles from the UK to counter the Russian Navy in the Black and Azov Seas, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko has said.Britain supplying Ukraine with weapons to counter Russian NavyUkraine will receive anti-ship missiles from the UK to counter the Russian Navy in the Black and Azov Seas, Ukrainian Ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko has said.ukdefencejournal.org.uk

February 11th 2022

31 Retweets85 Likes

Moving on to a different topic, but one that’s somewhat on the same page.

The tweet below sort of launched a rant in my mind that I want to share. Not against him, but against my own pent-up feelings on the matter. (I guess I’m a glutton for punishment because I’ve certainly fought — and arguably lost — this argument enough in the past.)

First, here’s the tweet:

Brandon Friedman @BFriedmanDCThere's still some confusion around criticism of the WH. Here are three facts:1. Generals were wrong to claim we were "turning the corner" for 20 years2. Biden was right to leave Afghanistan3. The WH absolutely botched a rushed evacuation after ignoring experts for months

Andrew deGrandpré @adegrandpre

NEW --> Declassified after-action reports support U.S. military commanders who said Biden team was indecisive during the Afghanistan crisisThe White House said Friday that no such reports exist. Via @DanLamothe https://t.co/BvP2RxHLaP

February 13th 2022

12 Retweets68 Likes

Regarding the topic of the tweet, let me say that in my eyes, President Biden looks unreasonably stubborn and defensive about the reports. It seems to me that he’s increasingly coming across as a grouch, who doesn’t want to be questioned or second-guessed about anything.

It’s not a good look.

Back to the three points above.

I definitely agree with 1 and 3.

1: The Generals were painting a false picture, and have for decades. 2: The White House completely mishandled the evacuation. (Even still, the military somehow managed a remarkable feat, but some flexiblity by the White House at the end would have been nice. Also, some more empathy from the President when discussing the horrific scenes witnessed on television screens around the world.)

But it’s point number 2 that I really want to discuss. “Biden was right to leave Afghanistan.”

In some ways, that’s a valid point. From a purely political perspective at first glance, the American people had definitely given up and tuned out. So politically speaking, leaving was the right decision.

And let’s restate again for those who forget. Both sides wanted to leave (Dems and the GOP, and let’s further remind folks that Trump’s timetable to leave was even shorter).

Despite all of this, I'm not convinced leaving was the right decision.

My vet friends weren't sick of going. I know many who served multiple tours there. And they were volunteering for more.

And we could have continued to train, support, equip, and lead Afghan forces. Especially providing them with crucial air support.

But I will be realistic. I'm not sure Afghanistan could have stayed a country as its borders are currently drawn; it’s true that the Taliban were winning; the country is the size of Texas.

Fine, let part of it go the way of the Taliban. But I'm also not sure that a moderate Afghan gov't couldn't have held out in say five or six of the major cities. And it would have been nice for women, moderate Afghans, etc, to show what was possible in such an impoverished and under-educated country.

It’s true this may have required us to surge some more troops, but I say again, our military would have paid that price.

What happened instead was beyond awful and horrific. Biden's presidency was knee-capped. He looked weak. And that’s a fact.

Additionally, Putin and China now see flashing, caution yellow lights, instead of bright red “do not go” warnings.

I would argue that part of the Ukraine mess happening is because Putin sensed weakness. Furthermore, part of Biden’s plunging poll numbers is because Americans saw weakness.

And then they saw a man acting like an un-caring jerk. People may have liked that in Trump, but they knew what they were getting when they voted for him. Biden was partly elected for his empathy and caring.

He showed far too little of that.

Sadly, at this point we have most certainly flushed 20 years of effort for nothing. We lost lives and billions and billions of dollars. We lost loads of credibility as world-wide, people saw that you can’t trust our country. Why spy on your country for America when we might abandon you in a heartbeat as we abandoned thousands of interpreters in Afghanistan? As we also abandoned the Kurds in Syria? (Headline: The Kurds Have Paid Dearly for Trump's Recklessness.)

We basically fled Afghanistan, and we asked permission for safety from the Taliban. We abandoned the Kurds, after they served as reliable partners in the fight against ISIS for years.

These are the moves of a shaky power that lacks the will to commit and stay. And I know there are counter-arguments that we’d have to leave eventually, but I will also say that I'm pretty sure there's data to say that the number of suicides of American servicemen and women have skyrocketed since our departure.

I will also say, before we end, that it’s not just the Generals, the public, Trump, and Biden who are to blame.

It’s also President Bush. He was abandoning Afghanistan, moving forces out of the country, just so he could invade Iraq. And he did this before we had even found bin Laden, the entire reason for invading Afghanistan in the first place.

There’s been a lot of people selling out Afghanistan, and it’s not all on Biden. But he’s the one who got stuck with the bill.

As a final point, I’m not alone in my assessment of the pain from this still attached to President Biden.

Mike Murphy, who’s far smarter about this stuff than me, mentioned in his newsletter, while discussing Ukraine, that “for a POTUS suffering from a weakness narrative, handling something like this (Ukraine) is critical for Joe Biden. He’s still bleeding from Kabul (Afghanistan).”

I couldn't agree more, though I give him an A+ (or maybe an A-) so far on Ukraine.

All right, we’ve worried and ranted enough for this newsletter. Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

#SundayMotivation ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sun Feb 13 13:00:08 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FLenkd...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosStay strong, and move forward with a positive attitude.#SundayMotivation

February 13th 2022

90 Retweets242 Likes#SaturdayMorning ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Feb 12 13:00:11 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FLZd_P...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosThere are many reasons to smile.#SaturdayMorning

February 12th 2022

89 Retweets213 Likes#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Fri Feb 11 14:00:12 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":47,"like_count":110,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosStudies show 3 ways to change our behavior for good:1) Epiphany, sudden revelation, insight.2) Change your environment.3) Take small, baby steps.Whatever you want to do, break it down into smallest steps. Then take the first step. And never stop. Start. Now.#Motivation

February 11th 2022

47 Retweets110 LikesCSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7This is called growth…

February 5th 2022

2 Retweets37 LikesGreat Minds Quotes @GreatestQuotesLive your life and forget your age. - Norman Vincent Peale

January 30th 2022

145 Retweets558 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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing $5 into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

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 II and one about Afghanistan.

About me: I am a proud vet and moderate, who wants to unite this country. I’m also a proud independent author, who used to own a small business for nine years that was probably (in hindsight) too generous to my small business advertisers on pricing and too lenient on my collection terms, since they were struggling as badly as me. I also sought to downplay controversy, understate headlines, and never create panic, all of which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act). Looking back, it’s clear I had (and have) a big heart and I wasn’t made to be some kind of cut-throat business executive. It’s this same streak in me that prevents me from signing any book deals, even big ones. I just don’t trust ruthless business executives at the big publishers. And even if I did, that very same company that I trusted could be bought and purchased overnight. Sorry, but I’ll pass on that. The truth is that while I’ve relented and signed some distribution deals, such as the one I did with Audible for my Nick Woods series, I’m just not willing to be owned by any of the big publishing houses. If I want to speak out on China? I will. If I want to send free books to military members? I will. (And I have.) I don’t ever plan to be owned by some New York publishing house. My success to this point has been made by doing it the right way: gaining one new reader, one new subscriber to my newsletter, one new contact from Twitter or real life. By sharing love and understanding and (obviously) good stories with killer writing. So join me on my journey. Let’s build a community of like-minded Americans, who believe in this country and in our fellow citizens (even those on the other side of the aisle). People who believe in small businesses and independents on their own journey, whether it’s owning a small farm or staying independent in their creative fields. And when it comes to politics? No name calling. No screaming. Just honest discussion and a genuine search for the truth. In the end, we truly all want the same: good government, unity, and ethical leadership.

If you’d like to support me or check out my books, you can find them all here: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them. (I’ve been fortunate enough to have sold 70,000 copies and counting. Thank you, if you are one of the folks who have purchased one of those!! And if you’re not, I promise you, I don’t have that many cousins.)

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/11/22.

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start.

The Ukraine situation will soon be coming to a head. And honestly, it’s hard to read the below and not leave convinced that Russia will invade Ukraine... 😢😢

Dmitri Alperovitch @DAlperovitchI’ve been convinced since mid December that the RU invasion of UKR is very likely. But I recognize that a lot of people disagree (not least of all, many in UKR government — at least publicly)It is always good to reevaluate your assumptions so let’s red team the alternatives 🧵

February 10th 2022

396 Retweets1,399 Likes

Love to hear your all’s thoughts in the comments below as to whether you agree with what Dmitri has said above.

I’m with Dmitri. I think an invasion is happening. But invasion or not, this will not be easy for Russia. See below.

#Russia'n tanks drowned in mud\n#Rostov or #Crimea area ","username":"markito0171","name":"C4H10FO2P","date":"Thu Feb 10 20:57:41 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...C4H10FO2P @markito0171- MudWar not BlitzKrieg -#Russia'n tanks drowned in mud#Rostov or #Crimea area

February 10th 2022

66 Retweets168 Likes

And the realities of a potential war are explained perfectly in the forty seconds of this clip below:

@mccaffreyr3 speaks with @yasminv about Ukraine's defense capabilities against a Russian invasion and the risks involved on both sides. \n\n@MSNBC ","username":"YasminMSNBC","name":"Yasmin Vossoughian Reports","date":"Wed Feb 09 16:20:51 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...Yasmin Vossoughian Reports @YasminMSNBC"If Putin decides to go all-out, he will get Ukraine in under 90 days. But it will be a catastrophe for him." General @mccaffreyr3 speaks with @yasminv about Ukraine's defense capabilities against a Russian invasion and the risks involved on both sides. @MSNBC

February 9th 2022

24 Retweets54 Likes

Ultimately, as Steven Erlanger writes in The New York Times, Putin has a decision to make. (See his story: In Ukraine Crisis, Putin Faces a Stark Choice.) Erlanger argues that:

Europe still badly needs Russian gas and oil, and Russia the income from selling it. Russian gas makes up 40 percent of the continent’s supplies — in Germany, it’s more than 55 percent — and Russian oil, 25 percent. At the same time, Russia still relies heavily on energy sales, which represent more than 30 percent of its economy and more than 60 percent of its exports.

Both countries are trying to present a united front against the global influence of the United States, both in Europe and Asia. But how much Russia wants to turn away from its European markets, and how much China wants to anger Europeans are open questions.

Here’s the link again to that story:

Steven Erlanger @StevenErlangerPutin has some choices to make. But they're not easy ones. Breaking with Europe would be hard.In Ukraine Crisis, Putin Faces a Stark ChoiceRussia can seize control over Ukraine or keep strong economic ties to Europe. It will be hard to do both.nytimes.com

February 9th 2022

2 Likes

Moving on from Ukraine, which really is such a big story right now, it’s important we keep our eyes on the ball. And in military matters, that means keeping the focus on Asia, as laid out below:

Derek J. Grossman @DerekJGrossmanBlinken says century will be shaped by Indo-Pacfic regionCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The United States remains focused long-term on the Indo-Pacific region despite concerns over Russian aggression toward Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday.apnews.com

February 11th 2022

1 Retweet5 Likes

I mentioned in a previous edition the killing of the head of ISIS. But additional reporting has shown that the U.S. spied on the man for months and learned of couriers and other vital intel that is undoubtedly being used to cripple ISIS. Nice work on the intel community’s part on this one.

Moving along, on the topic of weapons you have to see to believe, I came across this:

#NationalUmbrellaDay! Behold, the Bulgarian Umbrella on display @IntlSpyMuseum. In 1978, the KGB used this umbrella—modified to fire a tiny pellet filled with poison—to assassinate dissident Georgi Markov on the streets of London. \n\nbit.ly/3tEb5tP #NeverForget ","username":"IntlSpyMuseum","name":"The Spy Museum","date":"Thu Feb 10 18:25:03 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FLQVKW...The Spy Museum @IntlSpyMuseumIt's #NationalUmbrellaDay! Behold, the Bulgarian Umbrella on display @IntlSpyMuseum. In 1978, the KGB used this umbrella—modified to fire a tiny pellet filled with poison—to assassinate dissident Georgi Markov on the streets of London. bit.ly/3tEb5tP #NeverForget

February 10th 2022

41 Retweets81 Likes

How crazy that they created a lethal umbrella, huh? (I’ve seen umbrellas with swords in them, but this was something else for sure.)

One final note before we sign off with some light stuff, I wanted to re-vist something from the last edition. When I was recounting the story on Tuesday of the closest I ever came to dying when I served, I mentioned in passing how scared we used to be of flying in Ospreys, the helicopters/planes that were brand-new back then.

But thinking on it some more, I wanted to see just how dangerous the tilt-rotor planes actually are compared to regular helicopters. It turns out, if you read the article below, that they’re much safer than I originally believed.

I always want my information to be as accurate as possible, so I apologize for not researching that prior to the last edition.

The bottom line is that the Ospreys are not only faster with a wider reach, they seem to be pretty safe after all.

Finally, let’s end with some wisdom and motivation.

Dan Rather @DanRatherThis Olympics, like the last one, shows that humanity and sportsmanship are more important than gold.

February 11th 2022

500 Retweets8,354 Likes#TuesdayMotivation ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Tue Feb 08 13:00:08 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FLE3ne...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosWe all have the strength to endure the tough times. #TuesdayMotivation

February 8th 2022

90 Retweets229 Likes#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Tue Feb 08 14:00:14 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":106,"like_count":248,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosPath to success is messy. Mixed up with frustration, anxiety, worries, fear, panic, pain, failure. But you'll overcome them all because you take ownership of your life, because you don’t blame, you don’t complain, you don’t make excuses. And, because you never quit#Motivation

February 8th 2022

106 Retweets248 Likes#Quotes ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Feb 05 16:00:12 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FK2ED4...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosDream big, and be grateful for the small things in life.#Quotes

February 5th 2022

67 Retweets169 Likes#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Feb 05 14:00:10 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":103,"like_count":228,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosSuccess only starts when you get clear on where you are now. When you have the courage to admit you are stuck. When you come to grip on truth of your situation. When you accept responsibility for everything in your life. Now you are ready.#Motivation

February 5th 2022

103 Retweets228 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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing $5 into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

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

About me: I am a proud vet and moderate, who wants to unite this country. I’m also a proud independent author, who used to own a small business for nine years that was probably (in hindsight) too generous to my small business advertisers on pricing and too lenient on my collection terms, since they were struggling as badly as me. I also sought to downplay controversy, understate headlines, and never create panic, all of which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act). Looking back, it’s clear I had (and have) a big heart and I wasn’t made to be some kind of cut-throat business executive. It’s this same streak in me that prevents me from signing any book deals, even big ones. I just don’t trust ruthless business executives at the big publishers. And even if I did, that very same company that I trusted could be bought and purchased overnight. Sorry, but I’ll pass on that. The truth is that while I’ve relented and signed some distribution deals, such as the one I did with Audible for my Nick Woods series, I’m just not willing to be owned by any of the big publishing houses. If I want to speak out on China? I will. If I want to send free books to military members? I will. (And I have.) Right now, my day job owns me, but if I make it big, I’m not going to be owned by some New York publishing house. The only person I plan to answer to is my wife. And I’m going to reach my dreams just the way I’ve been doing it up to this point: one new reader, one new subscriber, to my newsletter, one new contact from Twitter or real life. So join me on my journey. Let’s build a community of like-minded Americans, who believe in this country and in our fellow citizens (even those on the other side of the aisle). No name calling. No screaming. Just honest discussion and search for the truth. A desire for good government, unity, and ethical leadership, both in government and in business.

If you’d like to support me, you can find all of my books here: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them. (I’ve been fortunate enough to have sold 70,000 copies and counting; I promise you, I don’t have that many cousins.)

Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most

“All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” – Ernest Hemingway

I’m about to share some scary shit. Some truths about myself that I’ve been too scared to share for years. Maybe decades, honestly.

And yet if there’s one thing I know after thirty years of writing, it’s that you have to tell the truth. You have to tell the truth in your writing and you have to write things that bite and sting.

Well, here’s the truth: I want to be the greatest writer ever. 

Yikes, did I really say that out loud? 

Crazy, right? More importantly, just why the hell did I publish that? 

It’s scary putting yourself out there, but I want to say some things. I’m not even sure where I’m going with this. It’s like a novel: you don’t know where it’ll end. You simply write it. One sentence, one paragraph, one page at a time. You let it flow out of you. Or explode out of you. Or dribble out in tiny drops as you squeeze the tube with all your might, screaming and cursing in the night.

But no matter the pace, or how long it takes, the story comes together.

Let’s continue then, with this honest post as well. I want to be the greatest writer ever. There, I’ve said it a second time. See? Not an accident. Not a fluke.

And since we’re sharing truths… here’s a second truth: writers are crazy.

They really are. Also musicians, artists, and professional athletes. They’re crazy, too.

But let’s stick with writers. They are what I know. Hell, even better, let’s stick with me. 

I literally wrote, “I want to be the greatest writer ever.”

How nuts is that? What kind of madness abides inside my head? What kind of person would say such a thing? (I can’t blame youth. I’m a touch over 44. Not some nineteen-year-old mouthing off in a college English lit class to impress the ladies.)

Want to know something scarier? I was pretty much thinking this thought at the age of 8 or 9. That’s the first time I slammed a novel shut and thought, “This book is terrible. I know I could do better.”

And the craziest thing about this story of my childhood is that I actually tried. Little old Stan, still in elementary school, started scribbling a story in pencil in his spiral-bound, school notebook. I remember it perfectly. And somewhere, out in some of my boxes in the garage, I still have it. Twenty pages or so. (Want to know something crazier? I think in my wildest dreams I imagine those pages being held in some museum someday, with literary geniuses studying them and trying to dissect them. It’s why I’ve never tossed them. It’s also further proof that I’m crazy, but I’ve already admitted that.) 

I know no museum will ever care about the scribbles of some kid. And I also know I’ll never matter enough to be considered among the greatest. But I want to be, and that’s the damned truth.

That’s probably the greatest truth of my life. It’s my North Star. My beacon I’ve been moving toward my entire life, even when I veer or slow.

Back to my twenty-page story above, I didn’t finish it, but even at the age of eight or nine, a small part of my soul (or something) told me I was meant to do this. That I could be great. That indeed, my one true desire was to be the greatest writer ever (though I must never admit this to anyone).

What nine-year-old says such a thing? How can you feel (or be haunted by) such a thing at such a young age?

Let’s return to the writers are crazy part of this post. Let’s broaden things a bit. Because if I’m going to admit to being crazy, then I damn sure want some company in whatever boat I’ve shoved off from shore on. 

Let’s start with Ernest Hemingway. A hell of a writer, but also a man who volunteered for war as an ambulance driver (where he was wounded), a man who married four times, and a man who survived two plane crashes in two days. Yes, I’m saying he had a plane crash on one day. Then decided to fly again the next day. And he crashed the second day as well. He also once shot himself in the calves while wrestling with a shark (Google it) and committed suicide with a shotgun at the age of 61. 

I’m going to say that Ernest Hemingway, who’s considered one of America’s greatest writers, makes a pretty compelling case for proving that writers are crazy. But I could easily point out a dozen other authors to add to the ledger.

And we’ve all heard the theme of how much most writers drink, correct? “Psychology Today” even had an article in it titled, “Why Do Writers Drink So Much?” That article listed roughly twenty big-name authors. 

So, if you’ll grant me that most writers are crazy (and/or drunks), we’ll get this show back on the road. Where were we? Oh, yeah. Just write one true sentence. And writers are crazy.

Here’s another one: Writing is a madness. It’s a disease. It’s a curse. 

That was three, but I’ll stand by them. 

I’ve learned that you can’t really run from this calling. It ruins your showers. Your bedtimes. Your conversations.

Writing afflicts your soul. It eats at you in the darkest parts of night. 

When I’m not writing, I’m miserable. My conscience won’t stop pestering. Sometimes whispering. Sometimes screaming and shaking me. But he (or she) always says the same thing: You should be writing. 

Also, when I’m not writing, my head goes into dark places. At the worst of times, it can plummet to scary depths. I’ll ask myself, “What’s the meaning of life? Is this all there is? There has to be more.”

My writing mania plagues me unabated. 

I’ll grab books to read because they are some of my greatest escapes. But I can’t read for long. My head whispers, “You should be writing.”

There’s no getting away from it. Not a day goes by when my head doesn’t say, “You should be writing.”

Writing is a madness. It’s a disease. It’s a curse. 

I’ve come to accept the three sentences above. 

I believe them to be true, and if you’re afflicted with the calling to be a writer, I’m confident you agree. 

But writing has a flip side. It can be the greatest high in the world. I’ve gotten so into the zone of writing a story that I will lose all track of time. I will enter an almost fictional world, where I’m dodging bullets or chasing down enemies. I have no idea what my opponent will do. Or even what my main character will do. But I’m there. I’m watching this movie and excited to see where it will go. And I don’t want to stop it. I don’t want to exit this world. 

I don’t think about food or time or really anything. The concept of time disappears.

Crazy, right?

There are also times I try to write and it’s like I jump into my desk chair, remembering the day before when I wrote for hours and was really into the story (right in the middle of that firefight or fistfight). But I’m not sitting in that space machine anymore.

It’s like I’m a pathetic, helpless worm, without arms or legs or eyes. Do worms have eyes? Hell if I know.

But I’m helpless. And I’m not in some timezone where the story rushes through my fingers. Instead, I’m sitting on the hard metal seat of a 1940s tractor. It’s raining and freezing cold, a whipping wind gusting across the land, cutting my face. And the tractor won’t start. And after screaming in rage, I look down and realize it’s up on a jack, one of its wheels leaning against a fence, the tire flat. No, actually the tire is rotted, I note upon closer inspection.

And holy shit. There are wires hanging out the side of the engine. Some asshole thief has stolen the electronic ignition and distributor cap in the middle of the night.

These times when you struggle to write a single sentence can be as maddening as when you’re not creating at all. You’re sitting in the chair, chasing your “calling” and trying to do what you’re meant to do in life, but the muse won’t cooperate.

So what I’m saying is that you’re miserable on those days when you chase your dream, but the words won’t come.

And you’re also miserable on the days when you don’t write and you run from your dream.

Writing is madness, remember?

It can be infuriating. Like, if you’re meant to be a writer, if you’re destined to be the greatest, then why is it so hard? Why aren’t you a natural? 

I think the answer to this question is that nothing in life comes easy. Maybe all those sports icons practice and work harder than we know, right? And maybe greats, such as Hemingway, who marry four times and shoot themselves at the age of 61 have struggled more than we know, right?

I’ve been chasing this dream for a long time. I will spare you the story.

But I eventually completed my first successful book after 12 years of total agony. It’s about a Marine sniper who gets betrayed by his government after completing a Top Secret mission (Sold Out — Nick Woods Book 1). It still sells well, and I’ve written three more books in that series. (The fifth one drops in a few months.) Yay, Stan.

Writing has tons of ups and downs, but about half of the time, I actually think I’m going to make a boatload of money. I’m driven as hell and my friends will tell you I’m as determined and stubborn as anyone you’ll ever meet.

On paper, I at least have a shot.

Desire? Check.

Writing degree? Check.

Typing speed? I can type faster than a cheetah with a rocket on his ass. 

But on other days, I think of just how many writers have tried this gig. This isn’t the first time a tractor has plowed this field. It’s a community lot, and it’s been plowed and worked for at least a couple hundred years. It’s depleted of any good soil. The land is exhausted and consumed. There’s little incentive to plow the dry, parched earth.

And that’s assuming you get the tractor running.

And that’s further assuming you don’t look across the land, and then to your left and right, and notice the literally thousands of fellow writers staring at their own tractors in the pre-dawn darkness. Some look desperate and crazy. Some look determined. Some look broken.

These men and women in this field have been doing this for decades, and there is no excitement or hype or high energy here. Not on this community lot.

To be lucky enough to do this as a full-time gig is possibly one of the greatest things in the world. To attempt to get into the zone every day — for a full day — instead of dealing with the day job and all the rest of life’s interruptions? That’s heaven. 

I know because I’ve been there. For almost two years.

Back in 2013, I made a lot of money one year. More than six figures, or just a tad over $100,000. In my hometown of Knoxville, if you can make a hundred thousand dollars in a year doing what you love (i.e., not a day job), then you’ve done something.

Making that kind of money in a single year from writing is beyond-words-awesome. And I somehow did that when I only had a couple of books published. In something I can only describe as magic, the books went viral, the fire burned hot, and I made great money. (It was mostly from that Marine Sniper book, called “Sold Out,” which you should totally go check out.)

But with just two books at the time, I lacked the inventory to keep it going. So the throngs of readers moved on to pastures with more sustenance. 

I’ve continued almost every day since then believing they’ll return. You don’t quit when you’re hungry. Nor when you’re crazy.

Back when the money was good, I learned another painful truth to this crazy dream: it can all end tomorrow. A drought can arrive. And that drought may last for years. The throngs may not return.

I still don't know what happened. All I know is one day I was on top of the world and the next day I wasn’t. The sales slowed, the fear rose, and eventually, my career died. It became a hobby on paper; a life-or-death pursuit in reality.

I’ve worked so hard since 2013. And I’m a 100x better author now than I was then. Best of all, I’m super proud to have written eleven books. Some big-name authors don’t even do that. (Margaret Mitchell, Gone With the Wind. One book.) (J.D. Salinger, The Catcher In the Rye. One book.)

Hell, maybe I should’ve stopped at one, too? hahaha. Okay, kidding. I think.

Man, I really am crazy. (And I can’t even put this on on the Marine Corps. The details of my military career.)

Every writer needs a schtick. Some writers craft lines that are exquisite and supple. You read them because they seduce and lure you forward, page-by-page. Some writers blast you with a foghorn. Or put a dozen twists in a book.

The only schtick (or gimmick/skill) that I have is brevity. A couple of my books barely top a hundred pages. But they work. At least according to the reviews. (Hell, my character study/motivational book about Obama is like 50 pages.)

I learned brevity in journalism school. And in ten years of newspaper writing after graduation. You only had a small amount of space in the newspaper. You damn well better make good use of it. 

And that brings me to my second skill. I hate boring books. Can I say that again? I HATE boring books. Even those with exquisite and supple writing. That kind of writing can work for a page or two, but something needs to happen. Blood needs to flow. Relationships need to start. Or relationships need to end.

This is the 21st Century. We live in a world of tweets, Vines, and TikToks. You can’t be screwing around and padding your books with fluff. 

I firmly believe this is the formula. And it’s one I try to follow. I also firmly believe that these things are going to make me boatloads of money. 

Of course, I’ve also admitted to being crazy, so there’s that.

But part of me just knows that tremendous success is going to happen. 

Call it confidence. Call it madness. It’s probably a bit of both. 

Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.

—————————————-

About me: I write fast-paced novels. No, I mean blistering fast. With great suspense & twists. Also prior #USMC with Combat Action Ribbon. Books are located here: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ. I also discuss foreign policy at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com.

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/8/22.

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start.

So far, things remain calm in Ukraine, despite the looming invasion.

President Biden hosted the top German official, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the White House, and following the meeting, Biden stated that a controversial gas pipeline project designed to send gas from Russia to Germany would be halted if Russia invaded Germany. (Nord Stream 2.)

This was the most explicit threat yet of this potential counter-move, but it ratchets up the cost of war for Russia, if Putin decides to go into Ukraine for the third time. (I know, most news sources don’t say “third invasion,” but first Russia invaded the Crimean Peninsula. And they followed that up by invading the eastern part of the country in the Donbass region.)

Already, America has stated that if Russia invades, it could remove Russian banks from SWIFT. (What is SWIFT and why it might be the weapon Russia fears.)

But things remain super tense and Biden has advised Americans to leave Ukraine.

A few more points on this before we move on.

First, there’s this:

OSINTtechnical @OsinttechnicalRussian troops are reportedly suffering from poor conditions in their staging areas, large covid outbreaks reported. Definitely matches the videos coming from the area, temporary camps mainly made up of tents while the weather regularly drops well below freezing. https://t.co/xnF4MTeLFS

Samuel Ramani @SamRamani2

Some more details: https://t.co/JP7p5cJJlF

February 7th 2022

206 Retweets540 Likes

More about conditions here:

Samuel Ramani @SamRamani2Some more details:

February 7th 2022

108 Retweets297 Likes

The second thing I wanted to share is that Putin is utterly failing at coming anywhere even close to winning over the Ukrainian people. Ten-plus years ago, there was a good portion of the population who either didn’t care or actually supported Russia.

Many on the western part of Ukraine grew up speaking Russian and reading Russian books and watching Russian media. The idea of Ukrainian independence was something that was a younger generation thing. You can find evidence of this with just a little research, including this article (In the Trenches of Ukraine's Forever War.)

But look how things have changed. Two scary invasions, plenty of cyber attacks, and threats of a massive invasion have led to this:

Olga Tokariuk @olgatokariukPutin is a genius. He managed to unite Ukrainians in their desire to stay away from Russia. Here, a pro-Ukraine march today in the Eastern city of Kharkiv, just 40 km from the Russian border. This mostly Russian-speaking city is becoming a beacon of 🇺🇦 patriotism.📷A.Polezhaka

February 5th 2022

1,518 Retweets5,508 Likes

Finally, check this:

David M. Herszenhorn @herszenhornUkraine isn't giving up on joining NATO, but recognizing membership is long path (perhaps a long-shot), Kyiv is pursuing bilateral agreements incl. w/ Turkey, Poland, UK. Ukraine links arms with Turkey, Poland and UK as NATO membership remains distant Ukraine links arms with Turkey, Poland and UK as NATO membership remains distantKyiv sees smaller, strategic pacts — and armed drones — as key to deterring Russia.politico.eu

February 5th 2022

1 Like

In many ways, assuming a massive invasion doesn’t happen, all Putin has done is made Ukraine a stronger, more unified country.

Let’s talk a moment about media stoking and blowing things out of proportion. Remember all the screaming headlines of late about U.S. troops deploying to counter Russia?

Here’s a great way to put that in perspective:

Shashank Joshi @shashjOn US troops to Europe, let’s get a grip. There are 130,000 Russian troops near Ukraine. US is sending 1,700 new troops to Romania & 1,000 Germany-based ones to Poland—on a temporary basis. For comparison, 20,000 Americans were involved in the Trident Juncture exercise in 2018.

February 5th 2022

241 Retweets895 Likes

Don’t get me wrong, though. These troops are crucial and needed because they hem Russia in on its options. You can’t go into any of those countries and kill American troops without unspeakable repercussions.

A good move by President Biden, but this isn’t some kind of massive escalation.

You may have remembered a drone attack in the United Arab Emirates a couple of weeks ago. (Drone attack in Abu Dhabi claimed by Yemen's rebels kills 3.) There’s some news on that front.

Samuel Ramani @SamRamani2BREAKING: France will provide aerial surveillance assistance to the UAE to help it intercept drones

February 5th 2022

52 Retweets141 Likes

And I literally wanted to add this link, too. I haven’t even read it yet, but it was breaking news just before I hit the publish button.

U.S. will work with the UAE to thwart drone attacks, Centcom chief says

In Mexico, on our southern flank, things are getting uglier with the fight against cartels. This is something that’s really sad to see.

@AP) By ⁦@mexmarks⁩ ","username":"EECastilloAP","name":"E. Eduardo Castillo","date":"Sat Feb 05 00:18:44 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":45,"like_count":57,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://apnews.com/article/af40ff9eae... cartels now use IEDs as well as bomb-dropping drones","description":"MEXICO CITY (AP) — In the war raging between drug cartels in western Mexico, gangs have begun using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on roads to disable army vehicles. The self-defense movement in the town of Tepalcatepec, in western Michoacan state, said improvised land mines severely damaged a…","domain":"apnews.com"},"video_url":null}">E. Eduardo Castillo @EECastilloAPMexican cartels now use IEDs as well as bomb-dropping drones (from @AP) By ⁦@mexmarks⁩ Mexican cartels now use IEDs as well as bomb-dropping dronesMEXICO CITY (AP) — In the war raging between drug cartels in western Mexico, gangs have begun using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on roads to disable army vehicles. The self-defense movement in the town of Tepalcatepec, in western Michoacan state, said improvised land mines severely damaged a…apnews.com

February 5th 2022

45 Retweets57 Likes

Finally, there was some tragic and sad news recently. Navy SEAL candidate dies, second hospitalized following 'Hell Week' training.

Most have probably heard that news, but I wanted to share this great interview below. It’s from a former SEAL instructor and he not only speculates on what potentially occurred, but discusses all the safety protocols in place.

Brianna Keilar @brikeilarcnnA 24-year-old Navy SEAL candidate died during the infamous selection and training course known as BUDS. Another has been hospitalized. What went wrong?We spoke to Ret. SEAL Chief Petty Officer Paul Anderson.

February 7th 2022

11 Retweets51 Likes

I tend to agree with him. I think some of the SEALs are hiding their injuries to prevent having to go through BUDs again.

Speaking for myself, I hid an injury that literally almost cost me my life.

It started innocently enough.

I dislocated my shoulder (probably blew it out) in some non-supervised hand-to-hand fighting with our sister platoon in Alpha Company (Weapons Platoon) back in 1997. I was a squad leader, and I went to fight their biggest man, despite the fact I was the second-smallest man in Third Platoon. (It’s called leadership, right? And sometimes you got to earn that sh-t.)

I thought that MAYBE with my martial arts background, I’d have a chance. I tried to hip toss him, but I learned much to my chagrin as he lifted me and slammed me to the ground with his body atop mine, that he had gone to State in Ohio as a wrestler. In short, I’d never in a fair fight be able to whoop a guy like that.

Needless to say, as we were flying through the air and toward the ground, I knew I was going to get hurt. He was probably 210 and I was barely 150.

So I tried to use my arm to stop me (and him) from the high-speed, approaching collision with the ground and snap, my shoulder ripped out of socket as my arm went backward in a way it’s not made to go.

Me fighting that guy sort of made me a legend (and I’d do it again, because everyone wants to be a legend when you’re that young and stupid). But legend or not, it severely dislocated my shoulder. And I didn’t want to tell any of the leaders. And I CERTAINLY didn’t want to go give up being a squad leader to go have surgery.

So, I sucked it up. For two-plus years, it would regularly re-dislocate in training activities and I’d deal with the horrendous pain of having that happen. I could literally do the Mel Gibson Lethal Weapon shoulder trick almost on command; that’s how destroyed my shoulder was.

None of this would have mattered, and it’d be a small footnote in the history of probably thirty men in 3rd Platoon A/1/8 back in the late ’90s, but that shoulder nearly cost me my life two years later. We were doing a mountain course in South Korea with the ROK Marines. And as part of the confidence-building part, before you do some of the huge rappelling exercises, you do some rock climbing across some gaps. It wasn’t even that challenging, but there are no ropes. And the ground is like 200 feet below.

If you’re even half a dope, you can do this no problem. You find handholds and footholds, and you cross a gap of like ten or fifteen feet. High schoolers could do this. Maybe even middle schoolers. Just don’t look down, and take your time. It IS scary, but it’s not challenging.

But there was one problem. The exercise was from the right of the mountain, climbing over toward the left. So, your left arm leads the way. And you had to mostly use hand holds of gaps in the boulders that were shoulder high or head high. And well, reaching up with my left arm (and out) was precisely the motion that would regularly cause my arm to dislocate.

I was halfway across before my left shoulder said, “Hello?” And I was suddenly reminded that, it regularly dislocated when I had it raised that high.

It started to disclocate and roll out of socket as I reached for the next handhold with it. I knew if it went out of socket, I’d scream in pain and fall off that rockface. So I lowered my arm and I prayed. What else could I do?

After a moment to regain my composure, I lifted my left arm again (but not as high). And with every bit of sanity and composure that I could drum up, I tried to keep moving, trying to find handholds about waist high — not how it’s taught, for sure. And not that easy; try it, if you don’t believe me.

Somehow I made it across that gap and I can tell you with absolute certainty that in four years of infantry training, including getting shot at and a near helo-crash off the side of a ship (The details of my military career), that was the closest I came to dying while in the Marine Corps.

I absolutely hate that we lost another Navy SEAL in training, but I don’t know the fix. The training has to be ruthless, and our service members will continue to hide injuries and not tell the truth about what’s going on. (For instance, once I reached safety, it occurred to me that if I had told my lieutenant, “Hey, I probably need to skip this exercise because of my shoulder,” he would have said, “Absolutely.” I had already proven my courage. And he knew about the constantly dislocating shoulder — though he thought it was an old injury. Heck, he was the one who had to approve the surgery that netted me three new screws and some wires a couple of months later; thanks, taxpayers!)

But I didn’t ask him to skip that event. I had too much pride. And the kinds of people who do dangerous things don’t feel sorry for themselves or skip training exercises. Ever. And honestly, maybe that’s the price of freedom?

People in the military REGULARLY say they’d rather die than quit. And unfortunately, we often do. Including a friend of mine, Lance Corporal Andre Foster. He died a couple of months after my near fall. We were back in Okinawa and doing jungle training. (Well, I was recouping after my surgery, but I digress.)

Back to Foster, I think if Foster were here with us, he’d admit to you that he wasn’t the strongest of swimmers. He was incredible at everything else. PT. Leadership. (He was older than most of us; had a wife and two kids.)

But instead of allowing a safety rope to be used on a dangerous creek crossing (which was roaring and deep; not the kind of creek you’re imagining), Foster didn’t request a safety rope to keep him attached to the rope that went across. Worse, he also didn’t ask to NOT be the one to try to get a light machine gun across, when he could have probably given it up to a stronger swimmer and toted across an M-16 like everyone else.

And thus, unfortunately, he courageously tried to do what I’m pretty sure his brain told him that he couldn’t. And for that, he lost his life (may his name and sacrifice never be forgotten).

I guess I’m rambling at this point, but my larger point is we will never have perfectly safe training situations. Every infantryman out there can tell you stories exactly like mine. Times they nearly fell or got seriously injured. It’s almost routine, honestly.

But if we want to keep the tip of the spear sharp, you train while you’re hurt. You cross creeks you’re afraid to cross. You lie about symptoms of pneumonia to doctors. That’s just the way it is. And that’s also why most military members won’t talk to you about what’s it like.

You wouldn’t understand. It doesn’t even make sense, once you’re re-acclimated as a civilian. For me, now in my 40s, all of that just seems stupid. Just young people stuff.

But when you’re in? You don’t blink when you’re scared. You don’t quit. You don’t whine or complain. You suffer in silence.

I guess, to wrap this up, as tragic as these losses are, we have to remember that the people who gave their lives in defense of our country? They knew the price. They knew the cost. They knew the dangers. And they volunteered and took an oath so that we could sleep in some level of comfort at night.

It’s tragic and I’m not even sure it’s fair. But it is what it is. I remember with almost tears in my eyes telling my Dad once as a high schooler that I wanted to go to Bosnia, to help defend those innocent civilians and children who were dying and under siege.

And he asked, “Why would you want to go there?”

I still remember saying, “Because those that can sometimes have to defend those who can’t (defend themselves).”

It’s a calling, I firmly believe, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Well, I typically like to end on a lighter note, but quite frankly, I think it’s more fitting to end with some solemnity and gratitude toward the Lance Corporal Fosters of the world. To the Seaman Kyle Mullens of the world.

These men would have given anything to serve their country bravely in wartime, and they signed up to do so. And they for damn sure didn’t blink from paying the full price in peacetime.

May God rest their souls and give their families peace.

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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing $5 into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I write tight, fast-paced books, with intricate storylines that keep you on the edge of your seat. To date, I’ve written eleven books and sold more than 70,000 copies. If you're looking for a fun ride, give one a try. You can find all eleven books here: amazon.com.

P.P.S. You can also find out more about me, with lots of FAQs about my military background, at my website: stanrmitchell.com.

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/4/22.

Happy Friday, everyone! Hope you’ve had a great week.

The biggest news this week was the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, the head of ISIS, who took over the leadership of the group in 2019. American forces swooped in during the middle of the night and attacked the home. After a brief firefight, he blew himself up and killed several of his family members in the process.

The Washington Post reported several key details about Qurayshi and his recent reign as head of the terrorist group. From the story:

Qurayshi took control of the Islamic State after his predecessor, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, killed himself in a similar U.S. raid in northwest Syria in 2019. Although the militant organization’s reach has diminished since it seized major cities there and in Iraq in 2014, U.S. officials said Qurayshi was planning a comeback, citing last month’s bloody, multiday siege on Syria’s Hasakah prison, where hundreds of ISIS fighters have been detained. He also oversaw some of the militants’ most horrific activities, including its genocide of the Yazidi minority sect in Iraq in 2014 — during which rape was wielded as a weapon of terror.

ISIS has definitely been trying to regenerate its old power. You can read a bit about the prison uprising here: Thousands of ISIS fighters surrender following US strikes on Syria prison uprising.

Also, here’s a photo of where he was staying. You can see part of the rubble from the top third floor, which he detonated at the end. I’m just super thankful that he panicked and exploded that before any of our forces got too close. (I hate that he took the lives of his own family members in the process, but I’m not sure he’s the kind of got who would lose much sleep over such a thing.)

Stan R. Mitchell, author @StanRMitchellIslamic State’s ‘ghost’ of a leader was plotting comeback when U.S. commandos cornered him Islamic State’s ‘ghost’ of a leader was plotting comeback when U.S. commandos cornered himThe Islamic State’s “ghost”-like leader was plotting a comeback when US commandos cornered him, officials say.washingtonpost.com

February 4th 2022

1 Like

In other news, it feels like the situation in Ukraine is coming to its peak. There are several bullet points that seem to imply this.

U.S. intelligence agencies believe Russia has formed a plan to fabricate a pretext for an invasion of Ukraine, potentially by producing propaganda videos showing a staged attack, the United States said

America is sending reinforcements to NATO countries that border Russia and Ukraine. And in that same article, you’ll see that we could send even more troops.

And the weather might be to the point to where it puts a real timeline on Putin and what he plans to do. From the article below: “Warmer weather starting in later February and into March brings with it thawing grounds, leading to muddy conditions that are less than ideal for heavy military vehicles. “It is very inconvenient to carry out offensive operations in the spring,” said Kirill Mikhailov, an analyst at the Conflict Intelligence Team, an independent Russian open-source investigative organization that monitors Russia’s military. “Because the thaw turns ravines into creeks, and creeks into rivers. If you carry out an operation, it should be carried out either in January or February.”

Stan R. Mitchell, author @StanRMitchellWetlands and radioactive soil: How Ukraine’s geography could influence a Russian invasion Wetlands and radioactive soil: How Ukraine’s geography could influence a Russian invasionCold weather provides hard, fast terrain should Russia decide to invade Ukraine.washingtonpost.com

February 4th 2022

We’ll soon see what Putin will do, I think. And for those who missed it, the below, short interview was a great summary of the situation:

The Lead CNN @TheLeadCNN"He's under absolutely no threat from NATO. He knows it. This is a game that Putin is playing to try to restore the Soviet empire." - Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark discusses tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

February 1st 2022

53 Retweets194 Likes

While America faces the rising threat of China in Asia, Russia aggression in Eastern Europe, and terrorism across the Middle East and Africa, some say we’re ignoring the Artic. You can read a great summary of this in the below item.

Atlantic Council @AtlanticCouncilUnlike the Soviet Union’s Sputnik surprise, there has been no moment shocking enough to awaken Americans to the threats in the Arctic region. The US is unprepared to face the challenge in the Arctic. Here’s what it should do.It’s time for Washington to craft a truly cohesive National Arctic Strategy.atlanticcouncil.org

February 2nd 2022

3 Retweets5 Likes

All right, that’s enough deep military and foreign news for this edition. Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

Great Minds Quotes @GreatestQuotesYou just can't beat the person who won't give up. - Babe Ruth

February 2nd 2022

138 Retweets581 Likes#Motivation ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Tue Feb 01 16:00:23 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FKhdvo...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosFailure can often times lead to success, don't give up.#Motivation

February 1st 2022

67 Retweets157 LikesCSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7You learn a lot about people who do not get what they want from you.

January 30th 2022

2 Retweets50 LikesCoach Hines 🇺🇸 @CoachKurtHinesYou wanna be a leader? Start LIVING like a leader!• Show up early/leave “late”• Compete in all you do• Empower others• Get 1% better every day• Show up to get better, not just to be seen• Ask questions (and truly listen)• Be intentional about all you do

January 8th 2022

141 Retweets483 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.

Don’t forget to also please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. Or you can help support my work by subscribing and paying $5 per month. It’s like throwing $5 into a hat. Here’s why you should.

Subscribe now

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written 10 military and police thrillers, as well as a self-help, motivational book about Obama, which completely avoids politics or liberal vs conservative positions. To date, I’ve been fortunate to have sold 70,000-plus copies, to thank you to who have supported me on this journey! You can find all eleven books here: amazon.com.

P.P.S. You can also find out more about me, with lots of FAQs about my military background, at my website: stanrmitchell.com.

The Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/1/22.

a.image2.image-link.image2-367-728 { display: inline; padding-bottom: 50.41208791208791%; padding-bottom: min(50.41208791208791%, 367px); width: 100%; height: 0; } a.image2.image-link.image2-367-728 img { max-width: 728px; max-height: 367px; }

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

I’m going to again skip over ruminating on the Ukraine/Russia situation this week. Things haven’t changed. Putin will either invade or he won’t. No huge news has broken on the matter as of publication time.

Moving along, I thought I’d start with the tweet below from the Air Force.

@PACAF ","username":"usairforce","name":"U.S. Air Force","date":"Sun Jan 30 20:00:10 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FKYBbr...U.S. Air Force @usairforceOver 500 Japan Ground Self Defense Force paratroopers performed a static-line jump from 13 Yokota Air Base C-130’s, showcasing the strategic importance of engaging in bilateral operations during Airborne 22 in Japan.📸 by SrA Brieana E. Bolfing@PACAF

January 30th 2022

157 Retweets643 Likes

The innocuous photos were probably posted as simply a majestic set of photos, illustrating the alliance and interoperability of American and Japanese forces. Possibly also a subtle reminder to China: we can drop 500 Japanese on any uninhabited islands at a moment’s notice. (Say, for instance, the Senkaku Islands. Here’s more about the tension there.)

Clearly, the very real point of that training operation is that if a conflict kicked off, these Japanese troops could either reinforce American forces rushed into the region or hold ground until additional American forces arrive in theater.

And it was this idea that got my mind racing. China is obviously the big giant in the area, but many of the smaller countries that feel threatened by China lack the naval and air assets to deploy their troops to aid their allies if a conflict occurred say a thousand miles away.

But what if the United States provides the transportation?

What if America were to transport a battalion of Vietnamese troops to some hot spot outside their comfortable reach? And bring along some South Korean forces, as well. And then some troops from Thailand and the Philippines, to top it all off?

As history has proven: removing dug-in infantry is never an easy task. Like, ever.

And what REALLY got my mind racing is depending on how you play out these scenarios, the United States wouldn’t even have to be at war with China to do some of these things I’ve state above. America could simply be an ally moving troops around. And that would put the weight on China’s shoulders as to whether it would respond aggressively to this shifting of forces, enabled by the United States?

Lots to really think on when you begin to consider all the possibilities. And of course, the U.S. CAN quickly deploy loads of air power to the area. Such as when we deployed dozens of F-22 fighter jets to the Pacific.

Love to hear some of your all’s thoughts on this in the comments section or on Twitter.

a.image2.image-link.image2-835-728 { display: inline; padding-bottom: 114.69780219780219%; padding-bottom: min(114.69780219780219%, 835px); width: 100%; height: 0; } a.image2.image-link.image2-835-728 img { max-width: 728px; max-height: 835px; }

Moving on to some tech news, Defense News reported recently that the U.S. Navy might pump the brakes a tad on unmanned ships.

Defense News @defense_newsThe U.S. Navy is unlikely to pursue a formal program for unmanned surface vessels in the next five years, instead focusing on the enabling technologies first, several leaders say. US Navy adopts new strategy prioritizing ‘the building blocks’ of unmanned techThe U.S. Navy is unlikely to pursue a formal program for unmanned surface vessels in the next five years, instead focusing on the enabling technologies first, several leaders say.defensenews.com

January 30th 2022

6 Retweets24 Likes

While the Navy might be slowing down the transition, the theory behind the vessels is a sound one. Namely, that large unmanned craft could not only reduce costs and the need for sailors, but also extend the reach of naval forces. After all, why send a manned destroyer near an enenemy’s coast (or fleet) when you can send an armed drone ship?

Already, the U.S. Navy has accomplished a lot already with unmanned ships. They’ve completed long “autonomous transits” of nearly 5,000 miles. Yes, 5,000 miles!

And the U.S. Navy made history by having an unmanned ship cross the Panama Canal – the first time any unmanned ship had crossed the locks of the canal.

All very interesting stuff. And if you really want to geek out and get into the weeds, you can read much more about the Navy’s strategy here: US Navy adopts new strategy prioritizing ‘the building blocks’ of unmanned tech.

Sticking with the U.S. Navy a moment longer, the Navy still hasn’t recovered the crashed F-35 that I mentioned in the last edition. (Who knows how deep of waters that thing is sitting in…)

But, the Japan Coast Guard is apparently going to be helping with the recovery.

Also, CNN provided a few more details and this amazing picture since the last edition. Though I’m confident the military wasn’t too happy about it, since the image was posted on social media and almost certainly taken by a sailor. (What is Op Sec again?)

CNN @CNNImages have emerged of a US Navy F-35C stealth fighter crashing into the South China Sea earlier this week. Images emerge of one of the US Navy’s newest stealth fighters crashing into the seaImages have emerged of a US Navy F-35C stealth fighter crashing into the South China Sea earlier this week.cnn.it

January 29th 2022

44 Retweets141 Likes

My final topic today isn’t a pleasant one. As many of you know, I posted a passionate video during Christmas begging folks to reach out to struggling veterans.

Stan R. Mitchell, author @StanRMitchellA small ask, and please share.

December 24th 2021

37 Retweets84 Likes

And I know I harp on this a lot, but PLEASE actually reach out to veterans. This is no joke and it IS a crisis.

The video series below illustrates why the need remains as important as ever, as we lose more and more of some of the greatest young men and women in our country.

@ScottPelley in 2015 about the suicides that have occurred within our unit since the 2009 deployment to Afghanistan. \"Why couldn't we reach them?\" he says. #SuicidePrevention #USMC ","username":"JimLaPorta","name":"James LaPorta","date":"Fri Sep 18 17:41:25 +0000 2020","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...James LaPorta @JimLaPortaMy commander, Col. Christian Cabaniss of 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, who is now retired, talks with @ScottPelley in 2015 about the suicides that have occurred within our unit since the 2009 deployment to Afghanistan. "Why couldn't we reach them?" he says. #SuicidePrevention #USMC

September 18th 2020

37 Retweets165 Likes#COVID19 isolated him this year. The father of 3 took his own life back in May—He's not counted among the more than 197,000 Americans who have died from the virus. #RIP ","username":"JimLaPorta","name":"James LaPorta","date":"Fri Sep 18 17:54:12 +0000 2020","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...James LaPorta @JimLaPortaIn the same interview, Rory Hamill, talks about how staying in touch helps to get through the struggles of war. #COVID19 isolated him this year. The father of 3 took his own life back in May—He's not counted among the more than 197,000 Americans who have died from the virus. #RIP

September 18th 2020

6 Retweets57 LikesJames LaPorta @JimLaPortaService members, veterans, friends and family who need help can call the Military Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255, then press 1, or access online chat by texting 838255. The Military Crisis Line connects those in need to a trained counselor with a single phone call or click

September 18th 2020

29 Retweets63 Likes@ArlingtonNatl in June. His children left with not enough memories of their father, challenge coins from martial time and a folded American flag. ","username":"JimLaPorta","name":"James LaPorta","date":"Fri Sep 18 18:22:33 +0000 2020","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/EiN4uk...James LaPorta @JimLaPortaHamill was buried in Section 60 at @ArlingtonNatl in June. His children left with not enough memories of their father, challenge coins from martial time and a folded American flag.

September 18th 2020

2 Retweets27 Likes

You all get the point: reach out to your fellow service members (or friends/family members).

Okay, I know that was a dark topic above, so let’s end with something lighter. Some motivation and wisdom to wrap up your day.

a.image2.image-link.image2-383-556 { display: inline; padding-bottom: 68.75%; padding-bottom: min(68.75%, 382.25px); width: 100%; height: 0; } a.image2.image-link.image2-383-556 img { max-width: 556px; max-height: 382.25px; } #Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Mon Jan 31 14:00:24 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":127,"like_count":293,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosRemind yourself every day, you are capable of more than you are living right now.#Motivation

January 31st 2022

127 Retweets293 LikesCSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing…

January 30th 2022

1 Retweet28 Likes

That’s it for this edition. And as a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love and support your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it! And I welcome any and all respectful comments below.

Share

And also, please consider signing up for email notifications if you’re just a visitor dropping by. Or possibly supporting me by subscribing and paying $5 per month. 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 10 military and police thrillers, as well as a self-help, motivational book about Obama, which completely avoids politics or liberal vs conservative positions. To date, I’ve been fortunate to have sold 70,000-plus copies, to thank you to who have supported me on this journey! You can find all eleven books here: amazon.com.

P.P.S. You can also find out more about me, with lots of FAQs about my military background, at my website: stanrmitchell.com.