The 11/19/21 dispatch.

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Happy Friday! Hope everyone has had a great week!

Things continue to be tense along the Ukrainian-Russian border.

David Ignatius writes in The Washington Post that despite outreach from the U.S. to calm things down, “Putin seems to be relishing the West’s anxiety.”

In fact, Ignatius states that Putin made comments yesterday that it wasn’t Russia trying to escalate the situation. It was the West, who was ignoring Russia’s “red lines” and “escalating the situation” with shows of force.

Currently, the situation is as thus, according to Ignatius:

Nearly 100,000 Russian troops have massed along the border, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This faceoff continued Thursday. U.S. officials didn’t detect any change in the Russian military presence, up or down.

There are nearly daily skirmishes in the contested Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian troops. The conflict could escalate if Russia sends “humanitarian” aid convoys into the region under a decree issued Monday by Putin. Ukraine has recently augmented its defense of the Donbass, using Turkish drones to combat pro-Russian rebels — and drawing a protest from Moscow.

You can read his full column here: The U.S. is warning Russia on Ukraine. So far, the message isn’t getting through.

At least for now, this situation certainly bears watching.

You might have remembered a drone attack against Iraq's leader that I mentioned two or three newsletters ago.

There are now reports that Iran likely didn’t order that.

nbcnews.com/news/world/ira… via @NBCNews","username":"tparsi","name":"Trita Parsi","date":"Sat Nov 13 22:49:45 +0000 2021","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":25,"like_count":56,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Trita Parsi @tparsi""It's fair to say that Iran does not have as much control over these groups since Soleimani was killed," the defense official said."U.S. officials: Iran likely did not order drone attack on Iraqi leader nbcnews.com/news/world/ira… via @NBCNews

November 13th 2021

25 Retweets56 Likes

A couple of things about this.

First, there’s the lesson of unintended consequences. You may have remembered the killing of Qasem Soleimani. That probably has led to some increased challenges to Iranian control of their various backed groups.

But secondly, Iran uses its “lack of control” of these groups as a strategic weapon, allowing for plausible deniability. Which, in shadowy, covert operations, is often a good thing for a country trying to exert its influence.

Moving along, America continues to strengthen its ties with Taiwan.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) led a congressional delegation to Taiwan last week and met with the Taiwanese government, led by President Tsai Ing-wen.

Cornyn was quoted in the Post saying:

“This has been a discussion about, ‘How do we prevent an invasion of Taiwan?’ This trip convinced me, we need to open the aperture and look at other ways that we can deter China,’ Cornyn said. “The key to deterrence is to rely on the thing the [People’s Republic of China] does not have, which is our friends and allies in the region.”

That was a bit of an obvious statement, since the Biden administration is already pursuing that with great haste and energy. But I share it because it’s important readers understand that defending Taiwan is a bi-partisan issue.

There is plenty of support in D.C. to remain engaged in the defense of Taiwan from Chinese aggression.

Full story here: The battle to protect Taiwan’s democracy is already underway.

While we’re on the subject of China and Taiwan, there’s this bit of news:

@sidhant \n","username":"DerekJGrossman","name":"Derek J. Grossman","date":"Sun Nov 14 02:54:43 +0000 2021","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":22,"like_count":59,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.wionews.com/india-news/qu... summits on the anvil: Japan in 2022, India in 2023, Australia in 2024","description":"Members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)--India, the US, Australia, and Japan-- have largely agreed on the annual summit schedule which will happen rotationally between the four countries.","domain":"wionews.com"},"video_url":null}">Derek J. Grossman @DerekJGrossmanQuad appears to have some serious staying power, folks. First in-person Quad leadership summit was hosted by US this year. And now, tentatively, here’s the future hosting schedule: Japan in 2022, India in 2023, and Australia in 2024. @sidhant Quad summits on the anvil: Japan in 2022, India in 2023, Australia in 2024Members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)--India, the US, Australia, and Japan-- have largely agreed on the annual summit schedule which will happen rotationally between the four countries.wionews.com

November 14th 2021

22 Retweets59 Likes

In other news, two Iranian men were charged yesterday, accused of a hacking and disinformation campaign that targeted American voters in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Full story below:

The Washington Post @washingtonpostAlleged hackers from Iran charged with targeting U.S. voters in disinformation campaign in 2020 U.S. indicts two Iranian hackers over 2020 election disinformation campaignCharges include hacking state election data and a U.S. media firm in an effort to sow doubt and division in the United States.washingtonpost.com

November 18th 2021

85 Retweets166 Likes

Weighing on this, Clint Watts said the following:

Clint Watts @selectedwisdomwhen the U.S. is in chaos, fighting with itself, its easy for any country to amplify our divisions during an election cycle. Russia, Iran, China or any foreign country that wants to harm the U.S. or pursue their interests by manipulating or tarnishing our democracy.

November 18th 2021

44 Retweets154 Likes

This article is an important reminder that we must come together as Americans. The demonizing of our fellow citizens as communists, socialists, fascists, extremists, etc is not only ineffective as far as persuading goes. It’s also detrimental, un-Christian, and about as immature as watching two seven-year-olds argue.

Please do your part and help discourage this horrendous, constant divisiveness.

This is an old story that probably every Marine knows. (Or at least the ones that served when I did, when the story wasn’t quite so dated.)

But if you’ve never heard this story, it’s worth a couple mins of your time.

Military.com @MilitarydotcomHow a US Marine Single-handedly Stopped Israeli Tanks in Lebanon How a US Marine Single-handedly Stopped Israeli Tanks in LebanonPistol drawn, the Marine told the Israeli tank commander the tanks could advance over his dead body.military.com

November 19th 2021

8 Retweets22 Likes

And while we’re on the topic of Marines, there’s no real reason to have to share this, but I just thought it was a beautiful photo. And what Marine grunt doesn’t love a Cobra? (Although technically, these upgraded helo’s based on the Cobra are called Vipers. Full history here.)

Task & Purpose @TaskandPurposeAn AH-1Z Viper helicopter and two UH-1Y Venom helicopters assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 269 fly over Lamar, Colorado, Nov. 12, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elias E. Pimentel III)

November 16th 2021

5 Retweets39 Likes

All right, let’s wrap this up. Plus, I see on Twitter that the Kyle Rittenhouse decision has just landed, so it’s not like there’s going to be a lot of folks talking about my little newsletter today anyway. lol

Before we go, for motivation this week, I thought I’d share several things.

First, there’s this:

David Begnaud @DavidBegnaudMEET JULIA HAWKINS:•She’s 105•She started racing at 101•She ran 100 meters & set a world record•She’s a fmr. teacher from Baton Rouge•2 of her fmr. students, ages 90 & 89, watched her set the record•She trains by jogging a mile or so daily

November 10th 2021

169 Retweets1,029 Likes

Then this, from US Army Command Sergeant Major Nicholas M. Curry.

CSM Nicholas M. Curry @realPatriot_7Patience is a necessary ingredient of genius.-Benjamin Disraeli

November 19th 2021

4 Retweets36 Likes

And finally this:

#Motivation ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Wed Nov 10 16:00:17 +0000 2021","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FD2Bw1...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosAt times, it is right when we are ready to give up that something positive happens. #Motivation

November 10th 2021

77 Retweets188 Likes

That’s it for this post.

Let me say before we depart with this edition that we all need to be kinder in our online interactions with strangers, whether it’s Facebook or Twitter or wherever.

Please work daily to unite our country again and constantly remind yourself that the vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.

As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it, as well as comment below.

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Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I write fast-paced military and mystery thrillers. You can find all ten books here: amazon.com.