The 10/15/21 dispatch.

Happy Friday! Hope everyone is doing well.

I thought I’d start this week’s edition with the news that Harvard is withdrawing a language program from China and moving it to Taiwan. And I literally said at the time, the following: “I think this is just the start of a trend for American companies and institutions. China is going to have to decide who it wants to be.”

And what I meant is that if China continues its current bullying, horrendous behaviors, then Western institutions (and capital) will flee.

Stan R. Mitchell, USMC @StanRMitchell

I think this is just the start of a trend for American companies and institutions. China is going to have to decide who it wants to be.

nytimes.comAmid U.S.-China Chill, Harvard Moves a Top Language Program to TaiwanA university spokesman said the move out of Beijing had long been planned. The program’s director cited a perceived lack of friendliness from the host institution.

Sure enough, shortly afterward, LinkedIn announced it was starting to exit the country. (See below.)

Stan R. Mitchell, USMC @StanRMitchell

More.

nytimes.comLinkedIn to Shut Down Service in China, Citing ‘Challenging’ EnvironmentThe Microsoft-owned service had censored posts in China, in compliance with the country’s laws, to operate there.

This is the kind of thing that can spiral. Once a country (or person) gets a reputation, it’s hard to change it.

What if most American companies fled? What if all Western tourism ended? What if American consumers seriously boycotted all products made in China.

It’s hard to fully grasp how big a deal this could be and I hope China will begin to chart a new course forward. One of peace and unity with the rest of the world. Because the alternative will not only be bad for a lot of the West, it will also eventually be horrific for China.

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In other news, there was this, which certainly caught my eye:

CNN Politics @CNNPolitics

Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the US is prepared to turn to "other options" if nuclear diplomacy with Iran fails

cnn.itBlinken says US is prepared to turn to ‘other options’ if nuclear diplomacy with Iran failsUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that if diplomatic talks with Iran fail, the United States “is prepared to turn to other options” to prevent the country from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

From the story:

"We continue to believe that diplomacy is the most effective way to do that, but it takes two to engage in diplomacy, and we have not seen from Iran a willingness to do that at this point," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the State Department before their meetings.

Blinken emphasized that the window for diplomacy with Tehran is closing "because Iran has been using this time to advance its nuclear program in a variety of ways."

"I'm not going to put a specific date on it, but with every passing day and Iran's refusal to engage in good faith, the runway gets shortened," Blinken said.

With the window for a diplomatic opportunity growing more narrow, the Biden administration is holding discussions about contingency options to contain Iran's nuclear program with partners and allies.

This is the kind of thing that certainly bears watching.

I would hate to see strikes against Iran but we constantly seem to be edging up to that line with them. (Recall the strikes last year back and forth. And our history of small skirmishes with them goes back decades.)

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Moving along, for those who have been following the outspoken Marine Lt Col drama, it seems to have mostly resolved itself. See story below.

Dan Lamothe @DanLamothe

Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller has pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with videos he posted criticizing senior officials during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying he knew he was being disrespectful and wanted to call out "incompetence."

washingtonpost.comMarine officer pleads guilty to disrespecting senior officials, says his life spiraled down after posting viral videosUnder an agreement between the Marine Corps and Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller, the combat veteran will be sentenced to no more than a letter of reprimand and a loss of pay.

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I’ll end this edition with two lighter notes.

In the good-hearted category, there’s this.

AP Oddities @AP_Oddities

Doing the right thing: A teenager in Liberia has become a national hero after finding $50,000 on the road and returning it to its rightful owner. apne.ws/pbdkBtW #odd

apne.wsLiberian teen hailed hero after finding, returning $50,000MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — A teenager in Liberia has become a national hero after finding $50,000 on the road and returning it to its rightful owner in the northeastern Nimba County. Eighteen-year-old Emmanuel Tuloe told The Associated Press Thursday that he was driving his motorcycle taxi on a highw…

And in the motivation category, there’s this.

Patrick Whittle @pxwhittle

At 101, she's still hauling lobsters with no plans to stop (from @AP)

apnews.comAt 101, she’s still hauling lobsters with no plans to stopROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — When Virginia Oliver started trapping lobster off Maine’s rocky coast, World War II was more than a decade in the future, the electronic traffic signal was a recent invention and few women were harvesting lobsters.

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That’s it for this post. Stay safe and be kind. As always, please share this post if you enjoyed it.

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Every Tuesday and Friday, I write about conflicts and military matters that are happening throughout the world. Such as what’s happening in Afghanistan or Iraq. How we’re aligning ourselves to counter China’s growing influence. Updates on new military technology that we’re fielding.

As long-time readers know, I do all of this from a moderate perspective that focuses on unity in our country. I also don’t believe in clickbait, over-the-top headlines, or other tactics created to increase fear or panic, all in the hope of adding to web traffic. You will always get the sober, mature view, with a slight bit of my optimism peering through. 

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Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

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