Extended edition: Episode 3-13-23
PLEASE NOTE: Today’s edition will be free and sent to all subscribers. But if you want to receive this in the future, you’d need to convert to a paid subscription.
I’m sending this to everyone because I just wanted to provide a sample of what I have in mind. And I believe, having put the time into today’s edition, that I can send something like this out on most weekday mornings.
If you have any questions, you can email me at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com.
Love and peace,
Stan
Hello, my friends!
Here’s today’s brief round-up of news, thoughts, etc. (Please make sure you drop a comment or question if you have any! Remember, only paid subscribers will be able to see or comment on these posts, so this could — maybe — really turn into something cool. I will try to reply to all comments and answer any questions you drop, if you’d like me to elaborate on anything. Hopefully, this will become a place to comment and talk instead of OTHER angry, hate-filled places like Twitter. If we are lucky, it will become a place like my old blog from back in 2012-13, where a small community often commented, bantered, and got to converse regularly. It wasn’t a large community, but aren’t we all looking for a little more community?)
Welcome to the View from the Front extended edition. If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.
For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.
Every episode, I primarily share a combination of news currently happening, as well as my thoughts.
I truly do appreciate all my supporters and listeners, and this is just a small way I want to repay those who have signed up as paid subscribers. (And it also is another step forward toward the long-term dream and vision I currently have.)
If you’d like to upgrade and go from free to paid, here’s the link:
But no pressure. I’ve already got a nice contingent of awesome, paying supporters, and this is mostly for them.
Love and peace,
Stan R. Mitchell
Russia and Ukraine news:
Russian advance stalls in Ukraine’s Bakhmut, think tank says
From the story:
Russia’s advance seems to have stalled in Moscow’s campaign to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a leading think tank said in an assessment of the longest ground battle of the war.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut. Russian forces and units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group continued to launch ground attacks in the city, but there was no evidence that they were able to make any progress, the ISW said.
The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Sunday on the Telegram messaging app that the situation in Bakhmut was “difficult, very difficult, with the enemy fighting for each meter.”
Russia’s economy holds up, but growing challenges test Putin.
From the story:
Western sanctions have hit Russian banks, wealthy individuals and technology imports. But after a year of far-reaching restrictions aimed at degrading Moscow’s war chest, economic life for ordinary Russians doesn’t look all that different than it did before the invasion of Ukraine.
There’s no mass unemployment, no plunging currency, no lines in front of failing banks. The assortment at the supermarket is little changed, with international brands still available or local substitutes taking their place.
China news:
China shows some increasing might in the Middle East and proves it’s a continually growing and expanding power.
Truce between Iran and Saudi Arabia, brokered by China, raises some concern for U.S.
From the story:
After years of hostility, Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reestablish relations. This tentative peace was brokered by China after it was announced that officials from the three countries had met in Beijing for several days prior to negotiating the deal. This announcement from the three countries marks a new beginning of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern powers and the reopening of embassies in Tehran and Riyadh within the next two months. China's involvement in the deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia comes as a surprise and concern to some as U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and China have been strained in recent years.
The AP noted that this is a new position for China: Iran-Saudi Arabia deal casts China in unfamiliar global role
In other news, China is also STILL considering sending lethal aid to Russia for use in Ukraine.
The Washington Post warned against this rash move in an editorial on Sunday: Opinion — For China, arming Russia would be folly
From the editorial:
For Beijing to depart from its policy of pro-Russian neutrality would accelerate its spiraling hostility toward the United States and reposition China not only as a U.S. rival but also as a threatening adversary in the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Whatever else Beijing thinks it might achieve by replenishing Moscow’s depleted arsenals, it is clear that new weapons and munitions would enable Russia to spill more blood, pulverize more infrastructure, raze more cities and lay waste to more lives in Ukraine, the victim of Russia’s unwarranted aggression.
…
It would also play havoc with China’s commercial relationships across the world, likely triggering a cascading series of punitive responses by Western countries that would compound Beijing’s already daunting economic problems. The Biden administration and its European allies have warned of such a response.
Motivation and Wisdom:
As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.
So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.
Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.
Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.
And with that, I’m out.
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 self-help book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan. You can find all of these books on Amazon.
P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.
thank you for doing this...i am starting to see some posts about the amount of ammunition that is being used in Bahkmut is outragious and the US is not going to be able to keep up with supply. i can believe this so what are the implications of this...China, Iran and Saudi....i dont trust that for a minute...Cant imagine what conversations are going on in Isreal...
Thank you for always adding the motivation. Curious your thoughts on the banking closures and do you feel it might affect in other countries because of it. (I havnt done my research on it so thought I’d ask you). Thanks!