Extended edition: Episode 3-28-23

Good morning, my friends!

Here’s today’s brief round-up of news and some daily motivation.

If you just happened to stumble by, here’s what I’m doing with The View from the Front extended edition.

My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m a prior Marine, journalist, and man who loves this country with all of my heart. I also like to focus on covering our military and looming hot spots, while also trying to unite the country as best I can.

I truly do appreciate all my supporters and listeners, and The View from the Front extended edition is just a small way I want to add value and 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.)

I will also continue to do my weekly podcast each Thursday.

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.

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Russia and Ukraine news:

Putin continues to do a great job of uniting Europe against him.

Nordic countries move toward linking their air forces: 250 planes.

From the story:

The first of its kind between the Nordic states, the declaration was signed March 16 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany by the commanders of the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish air forces.

The concept of a joint Nordic air force, comprising about 250 modern front-line combat aircraft, has been the subject of periodic discussions between the regional governments since the mid-1990s.

Sweden’s and Finland’s unaligned status remained an impediment to advancing talks and joint initiatives. But with the two countries primed to join NATO, Nordic governments find themselves on more solid ground to discuss a common action plan to create a so-called mini-NATO that would deliver a formidable and unified air force capability.

And even before the ink is dry on the above story, there’s talk about this:

Foreign Policy @ForeignPolicy

Imagine that, at the end of the war, Poland and Ukraine form a common federal or confederal state, @DaliborRohac argues. The Polish-Ukrainian Union would become the second-largest country in the EU and arguably its largest military power.

buff.lyIt’s Time to Bring Back the Polish-Lithuanian UnionA political construct created nearly 700 years ago offers solutions for Europe today.

Also, Putin tried to threaten the world again: Putin says Russia will station tactical nukes in Belarus.

But that was knocked down pretty fast by new friend and ally China.

Visegrád 24 @visegrad24

BREAKING: China is against Russia’s plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning: "A nuclear war cannot be won or fought. Wars between nuclear-weapon states should be avoided and strategic risks should be reduced."

China news:

POLITICO @politico

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Europeans are starting to pay more attention to President Joe Biden’s message about the dangers of dependence on dictatorships.

politico.comU.S. wants allies to line up against China. Europe is starting to listen.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is finally forcing the EU to get real about reliance on authoritarian states.

U.S. wants allies to line up against China. Europe is starting to listen.

In Biden’s alliance of democracies, Europe has been at best ambivalent on China. Some of the most important countries, such as France and Germany, have worried that decoupling from China would cause too much economic pain.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Europeans are starting to pay more attention to Biden’s message about the dangers of dependence on dictatorships. With urgency like never before, they are restricting exports of chip-making equipment to China, banning TikTok on government devices and pushing protectionist trade policy. Even long-time holdout Germany, the European Union’s biggest economy and a heavy investor in China, is starting to question its business-first ethos.

Middle East news:

This should relieve some tension in Israel.

POLITICO @politico

After fierce protests and international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delaying the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary. 👇 politico.com/newsletters/po…

politico.comHow Netanyahu is deepening Israel’s fault lines

Although foreign policy expert Richard Haass says this is about oh-so-much more than simply the judicial plans.

Richard N. Haass @RichardHaass

Events in Israel about much more than judicial independence & authority, as critical as that is. It is also about the secular-religious divide, policy toward the Palestinians, & whether Israel will be a liberal or illiberal democracy. Israel's future & ties to US in the balance.