Hey guys,
Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. 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 week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:
Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots and foreign policy news you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)
Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. Our division and animosity toward each other is dangerous, and I want to do my small part to remind us that more unites us than divides us, and that most Americans are good and not screaming, crazy extremists like you see on the news all the time. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)
Finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of the episode, because I want to do my small part to help encourage you and lift you up. Life is certainly hard, and I think it’s fair to say all of us need all the motivation and encouragement that we can possibly get.
In this episode, we’ll be discussing several topics, that I think will really interest you, and that I almost guarantee you haven’t seen in the news! T
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Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.
Source notes:
Before we talk defense, I have some news…
I am now writing some politics, too. You can find that here:
You might say, there are already a lot of political newsletters out there. What makes you different?
I’m doing this — in part — because I couldn’t find anyone speaking with kindness, calm, and love about politics; as well as hope.
In my opinion, there is too much anger in politics. And I will do my best to bring the spirit of Lincoln into each thought I share on here.
I will also have an optimistic and positive tone to every post. I’m actually optimistic about the future, but I’m not naive. Even if we take some punches or get knocked down in the days and weeks to come, the “better angels of our nature” must climb back to our feet and never surrender.
My first post is here if you want to take a look: The light of dawn emerges.
I’ve also written a post titled: Trump returns to New York.
U.S. news:
I wanted to begin this edition by honoring some brave warriors who passed in the last couple of days.
First, there was this tragic training collision beween two helicopters: 9 soldiers killed in Army helicopter training crash in Kentucky.
Additionally, our country lost one of its most fierce warriors:
I debated whether to share this… Because the sheer ignorance of those in Congress, and that a U.S. general would even have to state the obvious — that we shouldn’t invade Mexico because of drug problems and immigration issues — almost insults my intelligence too much to even type it.
The U.S. military should not lead American counter-drug efforts in Mexico, nor operate against cartels there without the express consent of the Mexican government, said Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.
Republicans and conservative media pundits have seized on border security, often accusing the Biden administration of devoting insufficient attention and security forces to the issue. In recent Senate and House hearings about the president’s defense budget request, Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced multiple questions from Republicans asking about the possibility of U.S. military intervention or for some greater role for troops in stopping the inbound flow of drugs, including fentanyl, and people.
President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has asked for “battle plans” to invade Mexico to “conduct specific military operations to destroy the cartels”, Rolling Stone reported this week.
Russia and Ukraine news:
In other news, Russia acted like the complete, out-of-control police state that it is again: Wall Street Journal reporter arrested in Russia on spying charges.
But the bigger question is, “Was this why he was arrested?”
And my firm belief is that all Americans need to just get out of Russia as fast as they can. The country is as out-of-control as Iran on false imprisonments and bogus detainments.
I’m probably over-reacting — not really — but I don’t even think we should have State Department folks there anymore. Russia is no longer a country that even comes close to following the rule of law.
Officials: US providing Ukraine $2.6 billion in military aid
From the story:
The U.S. will send Ukraine about $500 million in ammunition and equipment and will spend more than $2 billion to buy an array of munitions, radar and other weapons in the future, U.S. officials said, as the Ukrainian troops prepare for a spring offensive against Russian forces.
The ammunition rounds, along with grenade launchers and vehicles, will be taken from military stockpiles so they can be in the war zone quickly, the officials said.
The $2.1 billion in longer-term aid, which is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, will buy missiles for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, as well as radar and other weapons, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the aid had not yet been announced. An announcement is expected as soon as Tuesday.
In news that will absolutely not happen, there’s this.
This didn’t really make the news when it was said, but it’s pretty big news nonetheless. And I’d make about a dozen points on why it’s not true, but no one already subscribing to The View from the Front needs to hear that.
You all know that such a statement is ludicrous, and I’m not talking about the rapper Ludacris.
And the news regarding Finland is finally official.
Finland joins NATO, dealing blow to Russia for Ukraine war
From the story:
Finland joined the NATO military alliance Tuesday, dealing a major blow to Russia with a historic realignment of the continent triggered by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Finland’s membership represents a major change in Europe’s security landscape: The country adopted neutrality after its defeat by the Soviets in World War II. But its leaders signaled they wanted to join the alliance just months after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine sent a shiver of fear through Moscow’s neighbors.
Finland shares a 1,340 kilometer (832 mile) border with Russia, so its membership doubles Russia’s border with the world’s biggest security alliance.
Expanding on this point some, I have talked so many times about what a terrible strategist Putin is, but these two summaries were so concise and strong that I couldn’t NOT share them.
On the flip side, Ukraine did something smart, in my opinion.
Zelensky invites China’s Xi to visit Ukraine.
Summarizing my thoughts perfectly, Alec Bertina, a journalist and conflict analyst, call the move “good diplomacy.”
“If Xi (Jinping, China’s President) doesn't turn up,” Bertina said, “it does not make him look like the impartial mediator he is trying to come across. If he does turn up, it is an uncomfortable situation for Russia. Plus it shows Ukraine is open to diplomatic input from anyone.”
France’s President Emmanuel Macron traveled to China and met with President Xi Jinping today.
Macron wants Xi “to bring back Russia to reason” and get “everyone back to the negotiating table."
But not everyone agrees that now is the right time to be negotiating. Here’s the counter view.
This is not great news for Russia.
Here’s an update on MiG fighter jets from Poland.
(For those who don’t know, JDAMs are just regular, unguided gravity bombs that have been turned into precision-guided munitions by the attachment of a guidance system and wings. They are accurate to within 20 to 30 feet. Learn more here.)
Nor is this great news for Russia. They’re running out of counter-battery radar for their artillery forces.
And here’s two views on the coming spring offensive in Ukraine.
The first thread is a “don’t-get-your-hopes up thread.”
You can read it at the link below.
You can see a full thread from the link above, but General Hertling explains the challenges of executing large-scale missions against a dug-in, defensive network, AFTER a river crossing (at least in the south). Won’t be easy.
He believes Ukraine will regain additional ground, but the spring offensive won't be a "war winner." UKR will need more support.
And here’s the counter view, which is more optimistic and focuses on the mentality of those fighting.
I’m always looking for actual numbers versus speculation, and here’s an update on how many Ukrainians we’ve trained to date. (And this doesn’t include the European countries, who have trained thousands, as well.)
And speaking of fighting forces, it really is incredible from just how many countries volunteers have left to help defend Ukraine. A compilation video was recently shared on the matter.
Finally, I know it might be spring here in America and finally starting to warm up, but put up a kind thought and prayer for those still fighting in eastern Ukraine. It is frigid and freezing there, and buried in snow.
China news:
I had to read this multiple times because this is some shocking news here:
Words On Boundless Friendship Between China And Russia Are Rhetoric – Chinese Ambassador To EU
The assertion of “unlimited friendship” between China and Russia is just a rhetorical device, said Chinese Ambassador to the European Union Fu Cong, according to The New York Times.
Three weeks before the start of the special operation in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a joint statement declaring “boundless friendship” between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador to the EU Fu Cong, in an interview with the European diplomatic mission in Beijing, said that this formulation is only a rhetorical device. Fu pointed out that China does not side with Russia in the conflict in Ukraine, does not provide it with military assistance and does not recognize the inclusion of new territories in the Russian Federation, including Crimea and the Donbass.
Now we wait to see if this Ambassador is sacked and fired… Or if China stands by these words.
But doesn’t even recognize new territories?! Rhetorical device?! Wow!
A reminder that we can often over-hype our fears in the short-term…
But you still have to prepare for possibilities, so in that line of thinking, this news came out.
However, there is another option. China has the second largest economy in the world and, as such, has an enormous appetite for raw materials. In a single year, it imports upward of $150 billion of crude petroleum, $99 billion of iron ore, $36.6 billion in gasoline, and $31.7 billion of refined copper. Much of this arrives by sea.
Several different types of ships transport this cargo, and interdicting even one could disrupt Chinese commerce. For example, a single tanker can carry from 500,000 barrels of oil (Panamax tankers) up to 4,000,000 barrels (the Ultra Large Crude Carrier). Container ships that transport goods measure their capacity in 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), after the standard 20 by 8 by 8 foot containers. Panamax ships can load 3,000–3,400 TEUs. The Very Large and Ultra Large Container Ships can transport more than 24,000 TEUs.
China’s dependence on extended overseas supply lines makes it politically and economically vulnerable. This is a critical vulnerability that, in the event of conflict, could be targeted. And U.S. Marines could help.
NPR laid out the challenges of a high-stakes upcoming meeting today in its daily newsletter:
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are expected to hold a high-stakes meeting today in Los Angeles. China opposes the meeting and says it may retaliate with more military exercises around Taiwan. NPR's Emily Feng tells Up First that Tsai's got a tall order to fill with this meeting, which is an opportunity to prove that Taiwan's partnership with the U.S. will protect it from China. Feng says Tsai will have to balance the "competing pressures of projecting defiance against China" without provoking conflict.
This seems potentially concerning.
As the U.S. adjusts its defensive approach toward China, here’s a good reminder on why we’re not more ready and prepared for such a competition.
Middle East news:
I predicted the news below in my last podcast, that America would reinforce its forces following attacks by drones on American troops and contractors, but there was no independent verification of that at the time. I was just following my gut and what I felt confident would happen.
It’s now been confirmed.
The US has bolstered its military forces in the Middle East following a series of attacks on US troops in Syria attributed to Iranian-affiliated militias, the Pentagon said Friday.
A squadron of A-10 attack aircraft are deploying to the region ahead of a scheduled deployment. The deployment of the attack aircraft was expedited by several weeks following the attacks in Syria, according to Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Phil Ventura.
In addition, the US ordered a carrier strike group to remain in the region to support US forces in Central Command, which covers the Middle East
Unfortunately, additional news has emerged from those earlier attacks.
Six U.S. service members so far have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries from attacks by Iran-backed militants in Syria earlier this month that killed an American contractor, the Pentagon said Thursday.
The diagnoses were made as part of ongoing medical assessments of American personnel at the two locations in northeast Syria targeted by an Iran-made drone and militant rockets, and more TBI cases are possible, said Brig. Gen Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman.
But America has already dealt an additional blow against ISIS.
US military says senior IS commander killed in Syria
From the story:
A drone strike carried out by the American-led coalition in northwestern Syria has killed a senior member of the Islamic State group who was in charge of planning attacks in Europe, the United States military said Tuesday.
The man killed Monday in the strike was identified by a U.S. military statement as Khalid Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri. The military statement added that his death “will temporarily disrupt the organization’s ability to plot external attacks.”
Monday’s strike was the latest by the U.S. military to kill a top official with the extremist group that once controlled large parts of Iraq and Syria, where it declared a “caliphate.” From the areas they once controlled, the extremists planned deadly attacks in Europe that killed scores of people. In recent years, such attacks have decreased because the Islamic State group lost the last sliver of land it controlled in March 2019.
And here’s an update on operations currently happening by U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Violence at Jerusalem holy site raises fears of escalation
From the story:
Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City early Wednesday, firing stun grenades at Palestinians who hurled stones and firecrackers in a burst of violence during a sensitive holiday season. Palestinian militants in Gaza responded with rocket fire on southern Israel, prompting repeated Israeli airstrikes.
The fighting, which comes as Muslims mark the holiday month of Ramadan and Jews prepare to begin the Passover festival, raised fears of a wider conflagration. By early morning, the Jerusalem compound, which is typically packed with worshippers during Ramadan, had quieted down.
The mosque sits in a hilltop compound sacred to both Jews and Muslims, and conflicting claims over it have spilled into violence before, including a bloody 11-day war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza. Al-Aqsa is the third-holiest site in Islam and stands in a spot known to Jews as the Temple Mount, which is the holiest site in Judaism.
After yesterday’s news about Israeli police storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem’s Old City — Violence at Jerusalem holy site raises fears of escalation — things have further escalated.
Rockets fired from Gaza raise tension as Passover begins
From the story:
Palestinian militants fired a barrage of rockets early Thursday, setting off air raid sirens in southern Israel, as violence erupted for the second day in a row during a sensitive period of overlapping holidays.
The Israeli military said seven rockets launched from the Gaza Strip all exploded in midair. No group claimed responsibility for the barrage.
The barrage came after another tense night at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police clashed with Muslim worshippers attempting to stay overnight.
The Saudis are cutting oil production, in defiance of American requests not to.
David Ignatius had this to say about it:
Saudi Arabia’s coldly pragmatic decision this past weekend to cut oil production and raise prices sent a simple message: The United States doesn’t call the shots in the Persian Gulf or the oil market anymore. For better or worse, the era of American hegemony in the Middle East is over.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed OPEC producers on Sunday to reduce production by about 1 million barrels a day, which boosted the price of crude oil by more than 6 percent to about $85 a barrel. For a Biden administration struggling to contain inflation and avoid recession, the Saudi-led price increase was as welcome as a poke in the eye.
Saudi Arabia is hedging its bets, and so is the United States. Neither country wants a break in relations, but leaders in both capitals feel disrespected. It’s not an easy or stable balance — especially for Israel, which wants better relations with Riyadh but depends absolutely on the reliability of U.S. power in the region.
Update on Somalia:
Tech news:
These are TWO different impressive tech news stories…
Motivation and Wisdom:
That’s it for this edition.
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.
Subscribed
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. Want to know more about me? Click here: About me. You can also learn more about my journey here: Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.
Podcast Episode 4-6-23