Stan R. Mitchell: The view from the front podcast for 8-5-22.
What is up, guys?! Happy Friday!
Hope everyone is doing well!
What follows are the source notes for this podcast. (I’ll talk about the show below.)
So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find the source notes here on my substack.
On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom to reach those notes. Otherwise, not all of them will show up.
About me: I am a prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997, and I love doing this podcast twice a week.
For those who don’t know, every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)
Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.
That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.
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First, I believe in the mission of this. Of trying to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. We want to avoid those places we should avoid. We also want to avoid unplanned mission creep, such as we did in Afghanistan, where we went from removing the Taliban and pursuing Osama bin Laden, to then trying to create a thriving democracy in one of the poorest, least-educated parts of the world. I could also mention our invasion of Iraq. Or our intervention in Vietnam. These decisions mattered when they were made, and the decisions being made now matter as well. I am passionate about this topic because I’ve been the scared, young rifleman, who went into a foreign land and had the wits scared out of him, while dodging bullets for a few days in a foreign land. The bottom line is foreign policy really matters. (What are the details of your military career?)
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Finally, I also know that this isn’t a broad topic that 80 percent of the country is excited to hear about. Foreign policy news is a very-small, niche subject, and I’m not kidding myself into believing that I can somehow single-handedly make half the country care about it.
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So, that’s what I’m trying to do here. I don’t claim to know the answers, but I think we can ask the questions, seeks the answers, and make a difference.
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Source notesChina:
Pelosi, Congressional Delegation statement on visit to Taiwan press release.
Nancy Pelosi has left Taiwan. The real crisis may be just beginning. From The Economist.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/05/us-summons-china-ambassador/
Mick Ryan, AM @WarintheFutureThe aggressive behaviour of China, the PLA and the Eastern Theatre Command, as shown in this graphic, will provide valuable insights into Chinese military thinking and capacity in the days ahead. 1/14 🧵 
August 3rd 2022
1,112 Retweets4,002 LikesMick Ryan, AM @WarintheFuture2/ First, the coming days will permit us to observe how China and the PLA might think about conducting a naval blockade of Taiwan. In essence, they are telegraphing their operational approach so we can war game ways to subvert it in future.August 3rd 2022
113 Retweets1,077 LikesMick Ryan, AM @WarintheFuture13/ Beyond the strategic messaging about ‘don’t mess with the PLA’, the PLA will almost certainly use this as an opportunity iron out issues with its joint command and control. They are decades behind the west in these kinds of operations.August 3rd 2022
57 Retweets613 LikesMick Ryan, AM @WarintheFuture14/ But, we have been given a priceless opportunity to learn about the Chinese joint military capability in real time, and to assess its strengths and weaknesses. The Taiwanese, Americans, Japanese, Australians and others will be watching closely. EndAugust 3rd 2022
99 Retweets1,066 LikesChina sends missiles flying over Taiwan https://www.economist.com/china/2022/08/04/china-sends-missiles-flying-over-taiwan from @TheEconomist
Russia:#Olenivka prison complex holding Ukrainian POWs in occupied #Donetsk Oblast but blamed #Ukraine for an alleged precision strike using Western-supplied military equipment. (1/6)\n\nisw.pub/RusCampaignAug… ","username":"TheStudyofWar","name":"ISW","date":"Thu Aug 04 13:01:50 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FZUXYf...
ISW @TheStudyofWarAugust 3 Assessment Highlight:Russian forces likely set fire to the #Olenivka prison complex holding Ukrainian POWs in occupied #Donetsk Oblast but blamed #Ukraine for an alleged precision strike using Western-supplied military equipment. (1/6)isw.pub/RusCampaignAug… 
August 4th 2022
142 Retweets409 Likes
Patrick Fox @RealCynicalFoxOn the castration video, short 🧵:Video evidence of Russian personnel, likely ethnic Chechens, castrating a restrained Ukrainian POW has been widely circulating. I will not be posting it here. If you want to view it, it can be found easily & I warn you it's extremely graphic. 1/July 29th 2022
132 Retweets556 Likes#Finland and #Sweden into #NATO. US = 23rd ally to ratify; 7 more to go.\n\nVladimir Putin deserves big share of credit. Without his actions this year, Helsinki and Stockholm most likely would not have applied. ","username":"steven_pifer","name":"Steven Pifer","date":"Wed Aug 03 22:31:44 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FZRR8c...
Steven Pifer @steven_piferUS Senate votes 95-1 to consent to ratify admission of #Finland and #Sweden into #NATO. US = 23rd ally to ratify; 7 more to go.Vladimir Putin deserves big share of credit. Without his actions this year, Helsinki and Stockholm most likely would not have applied. 
August 3rd 2022
438 Retweets1,920 LikesRussia’s faltering invasion. http://espresso.economist.com/44b8b1b5c2c259df31d9d9b0f53be68b from @TheEconomist
Africa:
Story link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/20/michael-langley-africom-marines-general/
In tech news, I wanted to cover:
zpr.io/mAWgT6dqNKty ","username":"defense_news","name":"Defense News","date":"Thu Jul 14 17:08:53 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FXpIke...
Defense News @defense_newsRoyal Air Force chief says drone swarms ready to crack enemy defenseszpr.io/mAWgT6dqNKty 
July 14th 2022
17 Retweets53 LikesDefense News @defense_newsThe Army won't be able to shoot down a swarm of enemy drones they way it would a single drone, Leonardo DRS CEO William Lynn said, so it needs a new strategy. 
Leonardo DRS chief talks taking out drone swarms and what integrated sensing has in common with TeslaThe Army won’t be able to shoot down a swarm of enemy drones they way it would a single drone, Leonardo DRS CEO William Lynn said, so it needs a new strategy.defensenews.comJuly 26th 2022
15 Likesnews.usni.org/2022/07/13/sev… ","username":"NavalInstitute","name":"U.S. Naval Institute","date":"Thu Jul 14 01:53:33 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FXl29G...
U.S. Naval Institute @NavalInstituteSeveral UAVs Under Development for Next-Generation Carrier Air Wing - USNI Newsnews.usni.org/2022/07/13/sev… 
July 14th 2022
9 Retweets62 Likesdefenseone.com/technology/202… via @DefenseOne @caitlinmkenney","username":"DefenseOne","name":"Defense One","date":"Wed Aug 03 13:25:43 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":2,"like_count":10,"expanded_url":{"url":"https://www.defenseone.com/technology... Ships Debut at RIMPAC, Helping US Navy Sail Toward a Less-Crewed Future","description":"Four unmanned surface vessels sailed with manned ships, sharing data and testing how they would operate with the larger U.S. fleet.","domain":"defenseone.com"},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}">
Defense One @DefenseOneRobot Ships Debut at RIMPAC, Helping US Navy Sail Toward a Less-Crewed Future defenseone.com/technology/202… via @DefenseOne @caitlinmkenney
Robot Ships Debut at RIMPAC, Helping US Navy Sail Toward a Less-Crewed FutureFour unmanned surface vessels sailed with manned ships, sharing data and testing how they would operate with the larger U.S. fleet.defenseone.comAugust 3rd 2022
2 Retweets10 LikesPrevious news on unmanned ships in my newsletter:
The view from the front by Stan R. MitchellThe Stan R. Mitchell report for 2/1/22.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…Read more6 months ago · 1 like · Stan R. MitchellMotivation and wisdom:cnn.it/3bvDBJO ","username":"CNN","name":"CNN","date":"Thu Aug 04 02:01:09 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://substackcdn.com/image/upload/...
CNN @CNNThis company is turning heaps of plastic trash into construction building blocks cnn.it/3bvDBJO August 4th 2022
114 Retweets417 Likes#mindfulness","username":"MindfulEveryday","name":"Everyday Mindfulness","date":"Sat Jul 23 11:34:05 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":31,"like_count":256,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}">
Everyday Mindfulness @MindfulEveryday“I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.” ~ Angelita Lim#mindfulnessJuly 23rd 2022
31 Retweets256 Likes#quote","username":"Life__Quotes","name":"Daily Life Quotes","date":"Wed Mar 23 01:42:42 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":14,"like_count":32,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}">
Daily Life Quotes @Life__QuotesSome of life's best lessons are learned at the worst times. -Ani Difranco #quoteMarch 23rd 2022
14 Retweets32 Likes#zen #zazen #meditation #mind","username":"zen_buddhism","name":"Zen","date":"Sun Jul 24 06:20:24 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":1,"like_count":10,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}">
Zen @zen_buddhismPatience deepens practice;practice deepens patience.#zen #zazen #meditation #mindJuly 24th 2022
1 Retweet10 Likes
Inspirational Quotes @TheQuoteBoook_You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.April 16th 2022
1,286 Retweets4,907 Likes
Motivational Quotes @motivation_qotTrain your mind to be stronger than your feelings.April 19th 2022
50 Retweets168 Likes
Success Minded @_SuccessMinded_Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.August 3rd 2022
502 Retweets2,008 LikesSuccess Minded @_SuccessMinded_An unproductive minute can turn into an unproductive hour.An unproductive hour can turn into an unproductive day.So always be aware of your actions and do what you actually have to do.April 16th 2022
109 Retweets425 LikesSuccess Minded @_SuccessMinded_If you don’t love it, you’ll never be great at it. Do what you love, Be devoted to your craft,Show up,And Do the work one day at a time.April 15th 2022
140 Retweets592 LikesInspirational Quotes @TheQuoteBoook_Find out who you are and be that person. That’s what your soul was put on this earth to be. Find that truth, live that truth, and everything else will come.April 23rd 2022
288 Retweets1,052 Likes#Motivation","username":"IMQuotes_Videos","name":"Inspired Motivation Quotes","date":"Sat Apr 02 13:00:09 +0000 2022","photos":[],"quoted_tweet":{},"retweet_count":76,"like_count":149,"expanded_url":{},"video_url":null,"belowTheFold":true}">
Inspired Motivation Quotes @IMQuotes_VideosWhy put off until tomorrow what you can do today?What you can do today, why not do it now?"Later" is enemy of success.#MotivationApril 2nd 2022
76 Retweets149 LikesSuccess Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Before you can succeed, you have to believe you can succeed."August 5th 2022
175 Retweets843 LikesSuccess Minded @_SuccessMinded_"Guard your big goals from small thinkers."August 4th 2022
455 Retweets2,024 Likes#Keepgoing ","username":"fearlessmotivat","name":"Fearless Motivation","date":"Sat Mar 26 12:05:04 +0000 2022","photos":[{"img_url":"https://pbs.substack.com/media/FOxkJe...
Fearless Motivation @fearlessmotivatIf it's not quite happening, double or triple your efforts, change your approach. Quitting is never the answer. #Keepgoing 
March 26th 2022
32 Retweets142 LikesThat’s it for this edition.
As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.
We have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.
We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious gravity to our politics.
So, please, try to be a better person yourself each and every day.
And, please, if you haven’t already, sign up for free episodes at a minimum. We’d be proud to have you join us here.
And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.
I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.
And also, if you have two seconds, drop a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. I think we only have a few ratings, so a little love there might help us grow the show a little better.
Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best.
The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!
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 motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.
P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.
