The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 5/20/22.

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Happy Friday! Hope everyone has had a great week! And that you have some great plans for the weekend.

One personal note before we begin today. Because I’ve written a pretty bad-ass Western, I was interviewed about the best books regarding the Wild West.

Here’s the link: The best books about the Wild West that you’ll ever read. (Or, you can click the link below.)

Stan R. Mitchell, author, vet, and nice guy @StanRMitchellBecause I've written a Western, I was interviewed about the best books I've read about the Wild West. Here are the best five I've ever read. The best books about the Wild West that you’ll ever readDiscover the best books on the Wild West. Stan R. Mitchell and other experts share the best books on every topic you can imagine.shepherd.com

May 18th 2022

1 Like

Moving to the news, I thought we’d start today’s newsletter with one of the larger (and growing) issues facing Ukraine.

economist.com/europe/2022/05… from @TheEconomist ","username":"StanRMitchell","name":"Stan R. Mitchell, author, vet, and nice guy","date":"Thu May 19 02:33:57 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":0,"like_count":0,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.economist.com/europe/2022... to unblock Ukraine’s ports to relieve world hunger?","description":"There are few good options to get Ukrainian grain to global markets","domain":"economist.com"},"video_url":null}">Stan R. Mitchell, author, vet, and nice guy @StanRMitchellHow to unblock Ukraine’s ports to relieve world hunger? economist.com/europe/2022/05… from @TheEconomist How to unblock Ukraine’s ports to relieve world hunger?There are few good options to get Ukrainian grain to global marketseconomist.com

May 19th 2022

With a full blockade from the Russians preventing the export of wheat (and other things) that Ukraine needs to deliver, how does Ukraine break this serious blockade?

The Economist carried a terrific piece about this issue in its most recent edition. The issues for Ukraine (and the world) are stark.

The winter wheat from months ago is already in storage and there isn’t room for this year’s crop.

Andrei Stavnitser, the owner of Ukraine’s largest private shipping-terminal operator, (TransInvestService), was quoted in the article as saying, “Unblocking Odessa is as important as providing weapons to Ukraine,” he said.

The Economist states that while the European Union is working on expanding alternative routes by rail and road, such measures can only support a small part of what Ukraine needs to export. (And while I’ve not looked this up, can we all agree that building new railroad lines is probably NOT something one can do quickly?)

Samuel Ramani @SamRamani280% of Ukraine's food exports passed through the Black Sea Russia's port blockade has created serious complications as alternative road and rail routes might only recoup 25% of Ukraine's pre-war Black Sea exports

May 17th 2022

142 Retweets468 Likes

That means the wheat (and other items, but especially the wheat) has to go out by sea.

Some analysts are suggesting naval convoys to escort merchant vessels, such as occurred in the 1980s in the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq war. (Former President Reagan authorized U.S. Navy ships to protect Kuwaiti oil tankers against Iranian attacks. Read all about it here: Operation Earnest Will.)

There are a couple of issues to this idea.

First, it would be like a no-fly zone. America would have to be willing to risk confrontation with Russia if it brought U.S. warships into the Black Sea. (See image below.)

The Black Sea. (Source: The World Factbook, public domain/copyright free.)

Secondly, there are the issue of mines. Ukraine spread them all around Odesa, the primary port the wheat would need to be extracted from.

But clearing mines is far more difficult than placing them. From the research I’ve done, clearing them is much harder and more dangerious. (Plus, many have broken free from their chains and are floating freely.)

One idea now starting to emerge is to send deadly-serious anti-ship missiles to Ukraine. (See below.)

msn.com/en-us/news/wor… ","username":"ChuckPfarrer","name":"Chuck Pfarrer","date":"Thu May 19 20:14:02 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FTJZdw...Chuck Pfarrer @ChuckPfarrerBLOCKADE BUSTERs: Washington is considering sending anti-shipHarpoon and Naval Strike Missiles to Ukraine. These weapons have the capability of destroying all Russian warships in the Black Sea-- and lifting Moscow’s naval blockade.msn.com/en-us/news/wor…

May 19th 2022

41 Retweets182 Likes

There are no easy solutions, but keep an eye on this in the coming days and weeks. I’m confident we’ll be hearing more about it.

I wrote in the last newsletter about a Russian analyst on state TV finally admitting some hard truths to Russia. Well, it happened again.

This time, a different analyst even called it a “war,” which is supposed to carry a possible penalty of up to 15 years.

You can see the clip below.

Tim McMillan @LtTimMcMillanUPDATE: Another interesting exchange on Russian-state TV last night. The commentator says things are “proceeding quite difficultly,” described actions in Ukraine as “war,” and said Russia is fighting against Russian soldiers and officers, with "the same mentality.”

May 20th 2022

1 Retweet19 Likes

Moving to the brave defenders of the steel plant in Mariupol called Azovstal, in my last newsletter, I discussed the breaking news that a prisoner exchange with Russia was to happen in an effort to save the defenders.

That exchange actually happened, but now there are some growing questions about what might happen to them. (See below.)

Military.com @MilitarydotcomWhat Might Happen to 100s of Ukrainian POWs? What Might Happen to 100s of Ukrainian POWs?The Red Cross says it has registered “hundreds” of Ukrainians POWs who have left the giant Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.bit.ly

May 20th 2022

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There are also apparently some who didn’t surrender. (See below.)

#Mariupol defenders remain at #Azovstal, - Sviatoslav \"Kalyna\" Palamar denied claims of russian media that he has left the plant.\nEnglish subtitles\n#AzovstalExtraction #UkraineUnderAttack ","username":"Gerashchenko_en","name":"Anton Gerashchenko","date":"Thu May 19 18:33:09 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/...Anton Gerashchenko @Gerashchenko_enCommanders of #Mariupol defenders remain at #Azovstal, - Sviatoslav "Kalyna" Palamar denied claims of russian media that he has left the plant.English subtitles#AzovstalExtraction #UkraineUnderAttack

May 19th 2022

987 Retweets4,729 Likes

I have such mixed feelings about the entire situation.

Personally, I still don’t feel great about the surrender of the troops.

There is no guarantee of a prisoner swap. AND, it’s coming out that they will be at a minimum “interrogated.” Some could be tried in a “court.” And who knows what will happen to others.

Speaking entirely for myself, there’s no way I’d have surrendered unless I was down to my last bullet or breath. (And I’m not sure I would have then.)

Let’s just hope that those who have are treated better than other prisoners have been. And that those who are still there can hang on somehow.

The commander I linked to above mentioned some kind of possible operation. Let’s hope it involves a rescue or re-supply.

Moving to some larger news, the United States agreed to send even more aid to Ukraine since my last newsletter.

zpr.io/eG393JpvXkcG ","username":"defense_news","name":"Defense News","date":"Thu May 19 20:41:27 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FTJgK_...Defense News @defense_newsUkraine getting battalion’s worth of artillery in new $100 million aid packagezpr.io/eG393JpvXkcG

May 19th 2022

7 Retweets32 Likes

Here’s a quick over-view if you don’t want to follow the link.

#Ukraine: Includes 18 Howitzers, 18 tactical vehicles to tow the howitzers and 18 artillery tubes; artillery battalion and three AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radars.\" Brings total Howitzers committed to Ukraine to 108","username":"TaraCopp","name":"Tara Copp","date":"Thu May 19 18:46:05 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":34,"like_count":88,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null}">Tara Copp @TaraCoppBREAKING: Pentagon announces next round of weapons to #Ukraine: Includes 18 Howitzers, 18 tactical vehicles to tow the howitzers and 18 artillery tubes; artillery battalion and three AN/TPQ-36 counter-artillery radars." Brings total Howitzers committed to Ukraine to 108

May 19th 2022

34 Retweets88 Likes

Let’s wrap it up there for this edition. And let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

Inspirational Quotes @TheQuoteBoook_We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.

May 20th 2022

369 Retweets1,618 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.

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

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

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

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