Hey guys!
Welcome to the show! In this episode, we’ll be discussing several topics, which you probably haven’t seen in the news. As I always say, our media does a terrible job covering our military and potential hotspots, so I’m hoping to fill this void.
But, in addition to ending the podcast with some awesome motivation and wisdom, we’ll cover:
Timestamp: 7:36. We begin with U.S. news. Two U.S. Air Force commanders were suspended in the Air National Guard unit of the accused intelligence leaker.
Timestamp: 9:15. Also on the topic of U.S. news, there have been two additional evacuations in Sudan, bringing the total number of removed Americans to more than 1,000. I go into those evacuation efforts, which include buses and armed drones.
Timestamp: 15:30. Moving to the war in Ukraine, Russia has launched two major missile attacks against Ukraine, but Ukraine landed the much-heavier, much more costly strategic attack when it hit Crimea this weekend.
Timestamp: 21:00. Moving from the competing missile and drone strikes, could it be that Russia is even less prepared than we even thought of Ukraine’s upcoming spring offensive? It looks that way. I’ll cover the two reasons why.
Timestamp: 25:31. Finally, Russia had been hoping that the Republicans in the House would no longer provide a quote “blank check” to support Ukraine, but Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave some shocking comments that show that might not be the case.
Timestamp: 27:22. Besides these stories, there are three more Ukraine stories that absolutely have to be heard. First, the recently-donated MiG jets from Poland and Slovakia will not give Ukraine air superiority against Russia, experts say. We’ll also cover some very intriguing air statistics that have come out regarding the air war over Ukraine.
Timestamp: 36:59. Second, Ukrainian President Zelensky says White House told him nothing about Discord intelligence leaks. I’ll explain some of the impacts of that. Also, it’s come out that Ukraine is not sharing its offensive details with the United States, Europe, or really, for that matter, anyone.
Timestamp: 40:36. Third, Ukraine denies Russian claim Kyiv sent drones to hit Kremlin.
Timestamp: 44:33. In Middle East news, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has seized a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This is the second such seizure in under a week.
Timestamp: 55:06. Also in the Middle East, Russian warplanes are ‘trying to dogfight’ US jets over Syria, General says.
Timestamp: 1:01:50. Finally in Middle East news, Syrian refugees are fearful as Lebanon steps up deportations.
Timestamp: 1:03:55. In tech news, has Ukraine created mobile drones that carry land mines and attack tanks from their vulnerable underside? It sure appears so, according to brand-new released video.
Timestamp: 1:09:10. And at the end of this edition, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end.
Timestamp: 1:12.58. And if you want to learn more about me, my hope for the country (and for those listening), and about the 11 books I’ve written, jump to here on the podcast.
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!
The work I do each week is primarily a podcast. You can listen to it from the player above, or from whatever podcast you listen to it from.
And if you love what I’m doing here, please sign up for email notifications. It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time.
Subscribing also gets you The View from the Front Extended. This is a Monday update that comes out as a newsletter and is a way to provide value and thank my paying subscribers.
Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon or at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).
But you don’t have to do any of these things. I’ve already had incredible support and feel called to do this. As long as I’m making enough to cover the time I invest each week, I’m not going anywhere. Why paid subscriptions help, and what they’d help me do more of...
Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.
Source notes:
U.S. news:
The fallout over the leaks continues.
I discuss beginning at Timestamp: 7:36.
From the story:
The Department of Air Force has temporarily removed these individuals' access to classified systems and information.
The case has been called the most serious U.S. security breach since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010.
Sudan news:
Also on the topic of U.S. news, there have been two additional evacuations in Sudan, bringing the total number of removed Americans to more than 1,000. I go into those evacuation efforts, which include buses and armed drones.
Begin at Timestamp: 9:15.
I covered last week the evacuation of more than 100 embassy personnel by U.S. Special Forces in Sudan.
I also stated strongly that 16,000 Americans hadn’t been abandoned and that additional efforts would be made to guide and lead Americans out of the country.
That prediction has already been borne out.
On Saturday, The Washington Post reported that 300 U.S. citizens had been evacuated from the capital, Khartoum, under the protection of armed drones.
From the story:
“This builds on the work the U.S. government has done this week to facilitate the departure of our diplomats by military assisted departure, and hundreds of other American citizens by land convoys, flights on partner air craft, and sea,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also approved a request for assistance from the State Department “to support the safe departure of U.S. citizens and their immediate family members via overland,” deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said on Saturday.
The Pentagon “deployed U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to support air and land evacuation routes,” she said in a statement. “Our focus has been and remains to help as many U.S. citizens depart as safely as possible.”
Since that first convoy arrived safely, an additional convoy made it out on Sunday.
That puts the number of safely-evacuated Americans at more than 1,000, according to an updated NPR story today.
There is also some reporting that some U.S. Naval forces have been positioned to prepare for additional military-led evacuations.
Russia and Ukraine news:
Moving to the war in Ukraine, Russia has launched two major missile attacks against Ukraine, but Ukraine landed the much-heavier, much more costly strategic attack when it hit Crimea this weekend.
I cover this at Timestamp: 15:30.
Things have been especially brutal for civilians in Ukraine since Thursday.
It began on Friday, when the Russians — unable to win against Ukraine's military — again attacked innocent civilians.
Russia fired 20 cruise missiles and two drones at Ukraine early Friday, "in a terrifying nighttime attack."
More than 20 people were killed when two missiles slammed into an apartment.
And I’m not sure how to say this nicely, but if two missiles hit the same apartment building, then it's NOT AN ACCIDENT.
I guess Russia has given up on attacking electric substations and is resorting to sheer terror again.
The war crimes continue...
But Ukraine began a part of its spring offensive on Saturday when it attacked parts of Russian-occupied Crimea. A drone attack destroyed more than 10 massive fuel tanks housing some 40,000 tons of oil intended for Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, Ukrainian officials say.
The Russians were infuriated at the attack and launched a counter strike that probably wasn’t as satisfying at Putin would have wished.
From The Washington Post story:
Russia targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with a wave of missiles overnight, Ukrainian officials said. The assault on the capital lasted several hours, but no casualties were reported, according to local authorities. Ukraine’s armed forces said that 15 of the 18 missiles launched by Russia were destroyed.
In fact, The Associated Press reported the attack damaged buildings and wounded at least 34 people in the eastern city of Pavlohrad, but failed to hit the capital city of Kyiv.
Russia better buckle its seat belt because as I discussed in the last podcast, the spring offensive is coming. And it’s going to be catastrophic to Russia, in my opinion. If you missed the two big reasons why I think this is so, make sure you check out that podcast. I have timestamps in it so you can jump to whatever section you want.
But seeing this updated total of vehicles sent even further causes me to be optimistic: According to NATO: Ukrainain allies have sent 1,550 combat vehicles and 230 tanks to the country.
From the story:
NATO allies and partner countries have delivered more than 98% of the combat vehicles promised to Ukraine during Russia’s invasion and war, the military alliance’s chief said Thursday, giving Kyiv a bigger punch as it contemplates launching a counteroffensive.
Along with more than 1,550 armored vehicles, 230 tanks and other equipment, Ukraine’s allies have sent “vast amounts of ammunition” and also trained and equipped more than nine new Ukrainian brigades, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said.
More than 30,000 troops are estimated to make up the new brigades. Some NATO partner countries, such as Sweden and Australia, have also provided armored vehicles.
Timestamp: 21:00. Moving from the competing missile and drone strikes, could it be that Russia is even less prepared than we even thought of Ukraine’s upcoming spring offensive? It looks that way. I’ll cover the two reasons why.
CNN laid out two brutal pieces of news for Russia as the offensives begin.
It’s the last 72 hours that have perhaps most betrayed Russia’s lacking readiness.
First, the apparent firing of the deputy defense minister in charge of logistics, Mikhail Mizintsev. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not spelled out his dismissal, merely issuing a decree that Aleksey Kuzmenkov now has his job.
The “Butcher of Mariupol,” as Mizintsev is known, surely had enough failings over Russia’s disastrous war to merit his firing. But removing key ministers in the moments before its army faces Ukraine’s counter-assault, Moscow sends a message of disarray.
And then there’s Yevgeny Prigozhin’s new round of criticism. The Wagner mercenary warlord chose Sunday to give another long interview in which he laid bare the sheer extent of the issues his mercenaries face.
According to the Wagner head, his fighters are so low on ammunition that they may have to withdraw from Bakhmut – the strategically unimportant city they have squandered thousands of lives trying to take.
Timestamp: 25:31. Finally, Russia had been hoping that the Republicans in the House would no longer provide a quote “blank check” to support Ukraine, but Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave some shocking comments that show that might not be the case.
Timestamp: 27:22. Besides these stories, there are three more Ukraine stories that absolutely have to be heard. First, the recently-donated MiG jets from Poland and Slovakia will not give Ukraine air superiority against Russia, experts say. We’ll also cover some very intriguing air statistics that have come out regarding the air war over Ukraine.
Donated MiG jets will not give Ukraine air superiority against Russia, experts say
From the story:
When Poland and Slovakia announced their plans to donate up to 30 MiG fighter jets to Ukraine, it was hailed as a breakthrough in getting Kyiv ever more sophisticated weaponry and as a sign that Eastern European nations were prepared to be bolder than the United States or NATO allies in Western Europe.
For the Ukrainian pilots who fly it, the Soviet-designed MiG-29 is an “old friend” — a fighter that lacks the flash and capabilities of newer jets but nonetheless has played a critical role. “It’s ridiculously fast,” said Moonfish, a Ukrainian pilot who has flown close to 60 sorties, all in the MiG-29, and spoke on the condition that only his call sign be used for security reasons. One time, Moonfish said, he needed to “escape from Russian missiles.” “The MiG,” he said, “carried my a-- out of danger.”
But as Ukrainian forces prepare to launch a new offensive to oust Russian forces from occupied territory in the east and south, the old friend may not be enough.
I cover quite a few additional details from that Washington Post story, but you’ll have to listen to the podcast to hear those. Jump to Timestamp: 27:22.
Timestamp: 36:59. Second, Ukrainian President Zelensky says White House told him nothing about Discord intelligence leaks. I’ll explain some of the impacts of that. Also, it’s come out that Ukraine is not sharing its offensive details with the United States, Europe, or really, for that matter, anyone.
That article is also from The Washington Post: Zelensky says White House told him nothing about Discord intelligence leaks.
I explain some of the impacts of that story, beginning at Timestamp: 36:59. Also, it’s come out that Ukraine is not sharing its offensive details with the United States, Europe, or really, for that matter, anyone.
Ukraine withholding counteroffensive details from allies
Kyiv is holding close the details of its spring counteroffensive in an attempt to prevent the leak of sensitive information that could compromise its positions on the battlefield, according to two European officials who are in touch with military leaders in Ukraine.
The officials said their Ukrainian counterparts have cited the alleged leak of the classified documents from Massachusetts Air Guardsman JACK TEIXEIRA as one of the reasons Kyiv is holding back from sharing counteroffensive information, including its timing, where and how many troops they plan to move into position for the operation.
…
A Ukrainian lawmaker, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations, said that top officials in Kyiv also had withheld details about the counteroffensive from other politicians inside the capital.
“There are only a few people in the country that know the plan,” the lawmaker said.
Timestamp: 40:36. Third, Ukraine denies Russian claim Kyiv sent drones to hit Kremlin.
Ukraine denies Russian claim Kyiv sent drones to hit Kremlin
Russia claimed it foiled an attack by Ukrainian drones on the Kremlin early Wednesday, calling it an unsuccessful assassination attempt against President Vladimir Putin and promising retaliation for what it termed a “terrorist” act. The Ukrainian president denied it, saying: “We don’t attack Putin or Moscow.”
Putin wasn’t in the Kremlin at the time and was at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti.
There was no independent verification of the purported attack, which Russia authorities said occurred overnight but presented no evidence to support it. Questions also arose as to why it took the Kremlin hours to report the incident and why videos of it also surfaced later in the day.
Middle East news:
Timestamp: 44:33. In Middle East news, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has seized a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This is the second such seizure in under a week.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz.
From the story:
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the second such capture by Tehran in under a week amid heightened tensions over its nuclear program.
The taking of the oil tanker Niovi renewed concerns about Iran threatening maritime traffic in the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all crude passes. It also comes amid the disappearance of a crude oil tanker in southeast Asia believed to be carrying Iranian crude oil amid reports it may have been seized by the United States.
The U.S. Navy published surveillance footage shot by an aerial drone of about dozen Guard vessels swarming the tanker on Wednesday morning. The drone had been on a routine patrol in the area and saw the seizure, though the Navy did not receive a distress call from the Niovi itself, 5th Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins said.
There has been a long history of the U.S. Navy and Iran’s much-weaker navy clashing in this area.
Timestamp: 55:06. Also in the Middle East, Russian warplanes are ‘trying to dogfight’ US jets over Syria, General says.
Russian Warplanes Are ‘Trying to Dogfight’ US Jets Over Syria, General Says
I discuss this Defense One article and its implications — or lack thereof — beginning at timestamp: 55:06.
I also cite this fight during that monologue: Battle of Khasham.
Timestamp: 1:01:50. Finally in Middle East news, Syrian refugees are fearful as Lebanon steps up deportations.
Syrian refugees fearful as Lebanon steps up deportations:
Lebanese officials are cracking down on Syrian refugees against the backdrop of a worsening economic crisis and political stalemate, an escalation that has caused a panic among Syrians in the country.
In recent weeks, the army has raided refugee camps and set up checkpoints to review the documentation of non-Lebanese citizens, arresting and in many cases deporting Syrians found not to have legal residency, according to refugees and humanitarian organizations.
…
Lebanon hosts some 805,000 registered Syrian refugees, whose official status in theory protects them — although those who fail to keep their residency papers up to date can face deportation. The actual number of Syrians living in Lebanon after fleeing their country’s 12-year-old civil war is believed to be much higher as Lebanon’s government ordered the United Nations to halt new registrations in 2015.
Government officials have given varying estimates of the number of Syrians in the country, ranging from 1.5 million to more than 2 million. Lebanon is believed to have a population of around 5 million to 5.5 million citizens, but no census has been held for nearly a century.
I talk about this at Timestamp: 1:01:50.
Tech news:
Timestamp: 1:03:55. In tech news, has Ukraine created mobile drones that carry land mines and attack tanks from their vulnerable underside? It sure appears so, according to brand-new released video.
(Unfortunately, you’ll have to go to Twitter to see the successful test attack against an armed target; I couldn’t find the video anywhere else, but it’s worth watching it. Can you imagine trying to stop this thing racing toward you?!)
Motivation and Wisdom:
Timestamp: 1:09:10. And at the end of this edition, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end.
Guys, you need to hear this. At least one of you out there needs to hear this.
Life is passing you by. You only get one shot at life, and you’re letting it slip through your fingers, day by day. Life has beaten you down, kicked you in the face, ignored you, punished you, rained on you, assailed you with illnesses and injuries, burdened you with debts and levels of despair that I know are breaking your spirit.
But you have to get up? Do you hear me? You have to get up.
You’re going to get up, get up now, and start fighting back. Do not let despair win. Get up and take a step to confront those things facing you now.
Do it now.
And let these following items lift your spirit and take you to a higher level. You can do this.
You’re meant to do this.
And you have to do this. For yourself. For your family. For your creator.
With all of that being said, I truly hope these help pick up your spirits, revive your hopes, and make you a better person.
That’s it for this edition. And if you want to learn more about me, my hope for the country (and for those listening), and about the 11 books I’ve written, jump to here on the podcast. Timestamp: 1:12.58.
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.
Love and peace,
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 5-4-23