The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 5/24/22.
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Hi friend,
Hope you had a great weekend and that your week is off to a great start!
I discussed at length in the last issue the growing problem that Ukraine is facing with not being able to export its wheat by sea routes.
After writing that, and seeing some more news about how it’s going to affect especially the poor in places such as Africa and India, I just found myself getting madder and madder about the situation.
And in complete frustration, I finally wrote the following two things on Twitter.
Stan R. Mitchell, author, vet, and nice guy @StanRMitchellMaybe we should gather ships from most of the countries of the world, put them in a convoy, and tell Russia if they fire at any vessel, the whole world is going to take part in sinking every ship they have in a 300-mile area. Let Putin decide what he wants to do about that. The Telegraph @Telegraph
🚨 The world has just ten weeks' worth of wheat left after Ukraine warFood supplies are being rocked by Russia's invasion of the 'breadbasket of Europe' 🧵👇https://t.co/ar8F6hPhfs https://t.co/OxZU6QplyRMay 21st 2022
7 LikesStan R. Mitchell, author, vet, and nice guy @StanRMitchellI wrote about this earlier today. It's clear we need to move the wheat out by ship.But I've just gotten angrier about it all day long.Seems it's about time the whole neighborhood stand in the street and tell the crazy neighbor we've had it. No more.
The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 5/20/22.What options are there for Ukraine breaking the Russian blockade? What’s the latest news about the brave defenders of the steel plant in Mariupol called Azovstal? And what all is in the latest defense bill from America for Ukraine? Plus, some inspiring motivation. All for free.stanrmitchell.substack.comMay 21st 2022
2 Retweets7 LikesMuch to my surprise, three days later, my crazy idea might not be so crazy after all. (Not that someone saw my idea, but I guess someone else had the same kind of thinking.)
Regardless, it looks like countries are legit talking about it and considering it. (See below.)
Euromaidan Press @EuromaidanPressBritain supports in principle Lithuanian call for a naval coalition ‘of the willing’ to restart exports of Ukrainian agricultural products.A naval escort operation could protect the grain ships as they headed through the Black Sea past Russian warships.
Lithuania wants naval coalition to lift Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s grainBritain supports in principle the call for a naval coalition ‘of the willing’ to restart exports through Black Seatheguardian.comMay 24th 2022
271 Retweets882 LikesTo bolster this effort, there was even this news. (See below.)
The Washington Post @washingtonpostDenmark’s plan to send Harpoon anti-ship missiles and a launcher to Ukraine would provide Kyiv with an advanced weapon that can poke a hole in Russia’s naval blockade, potentially allowing for the resumption of grain exports via the Black Sea.Denmark offers Ukraine Harpoon missiles to fight Russia’s Black Sea blockadeThe anti-ship missiles have been compared to the Javelins that have destroyed many Russian tanks during the war.wapo.stMay 24th 2022
194 Retweets752 LikesAnd here are more details on that Harpoon deal. (See below.)
#Ukraine will be getting, thanks to #Denmark as announced today. Seems we're looking at a range of 140 km, and training time of 14 days. \nMagic numbers for much needed coastal A2/AD!\n\n","username":"EHunterChristie","name":"Edward Hunter Christie","date":"Mon May 23 20:13:32 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":145,"like_count":801,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/.... may boost Ukraine’s defense with Harpoon missiles - Naval News","description":"Unconfimed reports suggest that the U.S. is planning to send Ukraine Harpoon missiles to break the Russian blockade off the coast of Odessa.","domain":"navalnews.com"},"video_url":null}">
Edward Hunter Christie @EHunterChristieA bit of background about the land-based variant of the Harpoon that #Ukraine will be getting, thanks to #Denmark as announced today. Seems we're looking at a range of 140 km, and training time of 14 days. Magic numbers for much needed coastal A2/AD!
U.S. may boost Ukraine’s defense with Harpoon missiles - Naval NewsUnconfimed reports suggest that the U.S. is planning to send Ukraine Harpoon missiles to break the Russian blockade off the coast of Odessa.navalnews.comMay 23rd 2022
145 Retweets801 LikesThis is a bit unrelated to the naval spectrum of the war we just discussed, but I wanted to share the video below to give you a taste of life in the cities there. Even the condition of the roads.
Status-6 @Archer83AbleA drive through the outskirts of the city of Lyman in the Luhansk Oblast, where heavy clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces are underway.Piles of smoke rising above the city can be seen on the video and nearby shelling can be heard. May 23rd 2022
29 Retweets86 LikesI joked after watching it on Twitter that this guy is either nuts or his wife told him to go get some milk and bread.
Either way, I’m not a fan of driving toward artillery fire. (And yes, the above is a joke. Relax.)
In other big news since Friday, President Biden stated that America’s armed forces would step in to defend Taiwan if China attacks Taiwan. This is a change from the “strategic ambiguity” normally adopted on the island.
And in other big news, Ukraine ruled out conceding territory to Russia as part of a ceasefire deal.
One final point about the situation in Ukraine that will probably start making bigger news soon is the crisis of lack of fuel. (See below.)
The Economist @TheEconomistFor the past three weeks Ukraine has found itself in the midst of an acute fuel shortage. All but a handful of pumps nationwide are closed to the public 
Much of Ukraine is paralysed by a petrol shortageBut at least the army gets first dibsecon.stMay 23rd 2022
13 Retweets42 LikesFrom the story, The Economist states:
Before the war began on February 24th, 80 percent of the country’s fuel was imported. Most of that came by rail from Belarus, now an enemy and participant in the war. A smaller part came by sea, into Black Sea ports now closed by a Russian naval blockade. The only significant local producer, the Kremenchuk oil refinery, was taken offline in April after a series of rocket attacks. … Ukraine needs about 540,000 ton of petrol products a month. It currently has the means to cover only around 70 percent of that. … With the war effort and agriculture taking priority, very little is left for anyone else.”
Moving along, here’s a deep thought for the day, which from my experience is very true.
Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenkoThere’s a special thing about war. It cleanses your head. It shows you what’s really important in life and what is not. What really matters and what is trash not worth wasting time on or being overly worried about. So-called “problems” are blown away like dust in the wind. 
May 20th 2022
2,451 Retweets17,857 LikesMoving to historical matters, check out the Scaligero Castle below.
History Defined @historydefinedThe Scaligero Castle is a fortress built in the 14th century in Sirmione, Italy. 
May 20th 2022
1,247 Retweets27,143 LikesIs that an incredible fortification or what?! And the internal dock above is the only surviving example of a 14th Century fortified port. (You can read more about it here.) And Atlas Obscura states, “The castle served a defensive function, but also acted as a small port with its docks serving as a safe haven for Scaliger and Venetian fleets. The entire castle, even the dock, is surrounded by towers and battlements.”
That’s a good place to wrap up today’s edition. Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.
Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Success doesn't lead to happiness. It's the other way. Happiness leads to success. It's only when you love what you are doing that you have any shot at succeeding.May 24th 2022
65 Retweets273 Likes
Motivational Quotes @motivation_qotYour best teacher is your last mistake.May 23rd 2022
17 Retweets80 LikesSuccess Minded @_SuccessMinded_If you think big, believe big, act big - then the results will be big.May 22nd 2022
520 Retweets2,137 Likes
philosophy for life @philosophy_life“A man is great not because he hasn't failed; a man is great because failure hasn't stopped him.”― ConfuciusMay 21st 2022
2,455 Retweets10,603 Likes
Psyche Poetry @PsychePoetrySelf belief propels one to Action.Actions lead to progress.Progress builds Confidence.Confidence reinforces self-belief.This sets consistent long-term discipline in motion for a Grander Achievement.March 12th 2022
42 Retweets130 Likes
Coach Hines 🇺🇸 @CoachKurtHinesTwo types of people who walk into a gym… May 21st 2022
25 Retweets132 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 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.
