Extended edition: Episode 3-30-23

Good morning, my friends!

Podcast will drop later today.

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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U.S. news:

Senate votes to repeal Iraq War power authorizations, 20 years after US invasion

The Senate voted Wednesday to repeal authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq, a significant moment as lawmakers aim to reassert authority in military intervention abroad.

The legislation now goes to the US House of Representatives for a vote. Speaker Kevin McCarthy has signaled support for it and said it would likely be brought to the floor. With bipartisan support for the repeal, the measure appears to have a good chance of passing the chambers, though it’s still unclear if lawmakers will try to amend it.

The vote comes on the heels of the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq.

The White House said it supports the measure to repeal the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for use of force in Iraq. If it passes both chambers, it would mark a formal conclusion to the conflicts and a symbolic reassertion of Congress’ ability to declare war.

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In other news, it appears America is pulling back a bit from flying too close to Russian forces in the southern part of Ukraine, even though it is international air space.

Pentagon Chief Won’t Deny Ceding Airspace to Russia After Drone Confrontation

America’s top military official would not deny that the U.S. is now limiting its intelligence-gathering operations in international airspace over the Black Sea following a confrontation this month in which two Russian fighter jets downed a U.S. drone.

Speaking before Congress on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin would say only that the U.S. “will fly the paths we feel necessary to collect intelligence information” in response to questions about recent reports – based on anonymous officials – that say the U.S. is only conducting surveillance operations in the southern half of the strategically critical seaway directly south of Ukraine.

Russia and Ukraine news:

I’ve got a feeling tanks are soon going to worsen Putin’s nightmares…

NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 @NOELreports

British Challenger 2 tanks are on Ukrainian soil 🇺🇦👊🇬🇧

Emily Haber @GermanAmbUSA

The #Leopards have landed. As promised, we've delivered 18 Leopard A6 tanks to #Ukraine's forces.

(((Tendar))) @Tendar

And here are the Marders in Ukraine, delivered from Germany. Good hunting to the Ukrainian crews and godspeed. #Germany #Ukraine

Euromaidan Press @EuromaidanPress

The first AMX-10RC "wheeled light tanks" donated by France are already in Ukraine 📹t.me/operativnoZSU/…

KyivPost @KyivPost

📈British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace estimated Russian losses at 220,000 dead and wounded soldiers in the war against #Ukraine. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 172 900 Russian soldiers have already died in Ukraine, as of March 30, 2023.

There’s also more proof that the fighting around Bakhmut has turned against the Russians. Here’s the head of the Wagner fighters — who have been doing the bulk of the fighting — saying things aren’t going so well…