The Stan R. Mitchell report for 3/4/22.
Happy Friday, everyone! Hope everyone has survived their week okay and that you’re looking forward to the weekend.
Before we begin, please note that many email services such as Gmail have been “clipping” my emails. If you want to see the entire thing, including the motivation and wisdom, scroll to the bottom and click “view entire message.”
With that administrative note out of the way, let’s begin.
Things have mostly slowed down (and bogged down) in Ukraine.
And I’m seeing a couple of different arguments being presented out there in the defense analyst world.
On the one side are folks saying Russia won’t likely win, even in the short term.
You can see that in the video below, where General McCaffrey argues that the defenders in cities will have all the advantages, while the Russians will have to go “block-by-block.” This will devour Russian infantry, he said, while unfortunately also proving devastating to the Ukrainian population. (He also discusses why a no-fly zone is a no-go, even mentioning something I hadn’t considered: ground-based Russian anti-air missiles. Of course, all of us have talked about the Russian planes in the air as well.)
Barry R McCaffrey @mccaffreyr3MSNBC. MORNING JOE. Thursday 3 March 2022. Russians mired down in mud and Ukrainian fighters. A rolling disaster for the Ukrainian civilian population. Putin in a strategic disaster. The world revolted by growing Russian brutality. March 3rd 2022
4 Retweets13 LikesBut there’s a flip side point being made out there in the defense world, as well. An argument that Russia will eventually take the cities and ground that it wants.
I think Ian Bremmer described it perfectly in his newsletter, which I’ll quote down below.
Despite Ukrainians’ formidable resistance and Russia’s initial battlefield underperformance, much of east and south Ukraine will surely fall to Russian control in the coming weeks. Moscow’s numerical and material superiority is too overwhelming.
Make no mistake, though: Russia may “win” the battle for Ukraine, but it has already lost the war. President Vladimir Putin’s grave miscalculations have resulted in a geopolitically feebler Russia, an emboldened Ukraine, an invigorated West, an economy in shambles, and heightened political instability.
As I stated in my last newsletter, Russia will try to pummel the Ukrainians into submission. They’re going to knock out all services in each of the cities, and it’s still winter over there. (With current temperatures dropping down to the twenties at night.)
Here’s the deputy mayor of Mariupol discussing the targets Russians are striking.
@JohnBerman about the critical situation there with Russian forces cutting off water, power, heating. Continuous shelling for 26 hours, \"they are destroying our city.\" He estimates 200 civilians dead but \"we cannot collect all the bodies.\" ","username":"MarquardtA","name":"Alex Marquardt","date":"Thu Mar 03 11:48:02 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://cdn.substack.com/image/upload...
Alex Marquardt @MarquardtAListen to the Dep Mayor of Mariupol tell @JohnBerman about the critical situation there with Russian forces cutting off water, power, heating. Continuous shelling for 26 hours, "they are destroying our city." He estimates 200 civilians dead but "we cannot collect all the bodies." March 3rd 2022
287 Retweets384 LikesIt’s certainly increasingly clear that Russians aren’t expecting what they’re getting in terms of this invasion. I concur with every fact stated below.
Rob Lee @RALee85Some consistent themes in videos and reports from Russian soldiers:-Thought they were only taking part in a training exercise-Poor leadership, particularly from officers-Not well-informed-Lack of food and water-Poor living conditions CIT (en) @CITeam_en
This rare video was filmed by a (non-captured) Russian soldier complaining about losses and harsh conditions.What caught our attention is a claim that they are forced to "sign papers" to be "dismissed retroactively" from the army https://t.co/GqzcSSwVHAMarch 3rd 2022
762 Retweets2,930 LikesAnd while mud is doing amazing things for Ukraine…
Task & Purpose @TaskandPurposeThe Russian army in Ukraine is finding out the hard way that mud is one of the greatest threats against tanks and other vehicles. 
‘Tanks and mud are not friends’ — Ukraine’s terrain is proving to be a problem for Russian armorThe Russian army in Ukraine is finding out the hard way that mud is one of the greatest threats against tanks and other vehicles.taskandpurpose.comMarch 3rd 2022
13 Retweets63 Likes… the Russians have mostly locked up the land bridge in the south.
Bill Roggio @billroggioA look at the southern and eastern fronts linking up. 
March 3rd 2022
450 Retweets1,156 LikesThree final items before we leave the topic of Ukraine.
First, America isn’t pinpointing targets for Ukraine’s military. (I think this is smart from the standpoint of preventing escalation, but like all of you, I sort of wish they would. But we can’t. And we shouldn’t.)
@KenDilanianNBC nbcnews.com/news/investiga… via @NBCNews","username":"RichardEngel","name":"Richard Engel","date":"Fri Mar 04 14:41:14 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":143,"like_count":345,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">
Richard Engel @RichardEngelUS is not sharing some of the most sensitive intelligence that could enable lethal strikes against the Russian military by Ukrainian forces, in part over concerns about being seen as a direct participant in the war. @KenDilanianNBC nbcnews.com/news/investiga… via @NBCNewsMarch 4th 2022
143 Retweets345 LikesSecond, we really shouldn’t assassinate Putin, as Sean Hannity suggested. And as tempting as that thought can be. It would violate U.S. laws, international laws, and it could backfire by removing American legitimacy and turning the Russian people against us. Remember, we’re not even at war with Russia.
Steven Fish, a political science professor at the University of California at Berkeley, said in the article linked above: “If the Americans assassinate Putin, they will make him a martyr at home rather than allowing his cult of lies, impunity, arrogance, egomania, and inhumanity to undo him. … We need to leave the honor of taking Putin down to the Russian people, who do not want this war and have already begun to turn against him.”
The third and final point is that this war will be won and lost with these people:
Jeremy Bowen @BowenBBC18 year old Ukrainian volunteers off to war in Kyiv. Three days training and they will be on the front line. 
March 4th 2022
11,940 Retweets57,710 LikesAnd these people:
Matthew Luxmoore @mjluxmooreLooks like the whole of Novopskov in eastern Ukraine has come out to tell the bedraggled Russian soldiers occupying the town what its residents think: “War and death follows you wherever you go, get up and leave!” Crowd chanting “Ukraine!” March 4th 2022
1,903 Retweets5,627 LikesAnd for Americans and the rest of the world, this is the ultimate answer (in addition to arming the Ukrainians).
Rob Lee @RALee85The best thing the US can do to help Ukraine is to convince Putin that de-escalation is a less costly and risky option for him than continuing the war. Calling for regime change or assassination does the opposite.March 4th 2022
3,242 Retweets20,523 LikesAnd with that, let’s move on. I promised myself we wouldn’t spend the entire defense portion of the newsletter on Ukraine this time.
Let’s move on to some tech news:
You’ve heard the rumors for some time… Now, I present to you what many have feared but struggled to conceptualize.
zpr.io/v62aqaNVSFJ7 ","username":"defense_news","name":"Defense News","date":"Tue Mar 01 20:35:25 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FMypNR...
Defense News @defense_newsUS Army to demo offensive drone swarms in next Project Convergencezpr.io/v62aqaNVSFJ7 
March 1st 2022
14 Retweets29 LikesHere’s more about drone swarms… They’re literally coming sooner than you can imagine. (Hat tip: Agnes Helou @agneshelou27.)
zpr.io/BbRbXaybNxCJ ","username":"defense_news","name":"Defense News","date":"Tue Feb 22 16:18:10 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FMNrNG...Defense News @defense_newsFollowing first demonstration, Edge unveils swarming drones based on AI technologyzpr.io/BbRbXaybNxCJ 
February 22nd 2022
3 Retweets8 LikesAnd there’s been more about lasers of late, and what role they may play.
zpr.io/38wC4wYcFBzL ","username":"defense_news","name":"Defense News","date":"Wed Mar 02 18:05:49 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FM3QkE...Defense News @defense_newsWinning 21st century wars requires directed-energy capabilitieszpr.io/38wC4wYcFBzL 
March 2nd 2022
15 Retweets55 LikesFinally, in tech news, there was this, which still just defies comprehension…
DW Global Ideas & Environment @dw_environmentA Chinese satellite was spotted in late January grabbing another long-dead satellite & days later throwing it into a "graveyard" orbit 300 km away, where objects are less likely to hit spacecraft. Have the Star Wars truly begun? 
Chinese ‘space cleaner’ spotted grabbing and throwing away old satellite | DW | 09.02.2022Last month, a private satellite tracking company spotted a Chinese spacecraft apparently grabbing and throwing a dead satellite away into a “graveyard” orbit.p.dw.comFebruary 13th 2022
1 RetweetOne other news note, you may remember me writing we had lost an F-35, near China, which we were desperate to retrieve so that they wouldn’t have access to loads of our secrets and technology.
That has now been successfully achieved, with them retrieving it from 12,400 feet deep?! (I can’t even imagine fishing that deep with a deep-sea rig.)
news.usni.org/2022/03/03/nav… ","username":"USNINews","name":"USNI News","date":"Thu Mar 03 14:58:49 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FM7vV2...
USNI News @USNINewsNavy Recovers Crashed F-35C From Depths of South China Sea - USNI Newsnews.usni.org/2022/03/03/nav… 
March 3rd 2022
51 Retweets171 LikesFinally, let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.
#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Tue Mar 01 14:00:07 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":100,"like_count":194,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">
Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosWhen we get into our comfort zone we lose interest in learning, our curiosity slowly starts to disengage. Always keep yourself at the edge of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself. Find things to master. Stay alert. Keep learning & getting better. Keep succeeding.#MotivationMarch 1st 2022
100 Retweets194 Likes(I found this SOOOO inspiring. Click on the image and zoom in…)
Carin Wagner FA @wfineart5This painting has taken over 16 months to complete. While my heart has been heavy with the war in Ukraine, and the global pandemic, it has helped to look up the branches of this critically endangered Blue ash ( Fraxinus quadrangulata)to see the light from the sun shining through. 
March 1st 2022
151 Retweets1,374 Likes@Addictd2Success: Picture Quote Of The Week :) ","username":"StanRMitchell","name":"Stan R. Mitchell, author and centrist","date":"Tue Dec 02 14:01:16 +0000 2014","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/B3vcqs...
Stan R. Mitchell, author and centrist @StanRMitchellRT @Addictd2Success: Picture Quote Of The Week :) 
December 2nd 2014
2 Likes#Wisdom","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Tue Mar 01 17:00:07 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":92,"like_count":296,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosIf you get that gut feeling that something isn’t right about a person or situation, trust it. #WisdomMarch 1st 2022
92 Retweets296 Likes#SaturdayMotivation ","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Feb 19 13:00:11 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FL9hHW...Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosYou ALWAYS have an opportunity to make course corrections and improve.#SaturdayMotivation 
February 19th 2022
100 Retweets246 Likes
#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Fri Jan 28 14:00:12 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":57,"like_count":115,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosYou can take a strand of your hair & your DNA can tell you about your body, about where you came from. But nobody can tell you anything about why you became who you are or who you might become. Only you choose who you become. Success of your life is in your hands.#MotivationJanuary 28th 2022
57 Retweets115 LikesThat’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.
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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.
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And if you want to know just a tad more about me and my journey, there’s this: Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.
The facts 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
SUCCESSMitchell 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.
