The view from the front: military matters and motivation.

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The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 5/31/22.
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The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 5/31/22.

Stan R. Mitchell
May 31
1
Share this post
The view from the front: military matters and motivation for 5/31/22.
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Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday! Hope you had an incredible Memorial Day weekend!

The better half and I really had a great weekend. We managed to get in a great run, pull off some pool-side time, and see the movie Top Gun.

Twitter avatar for @StanRMitchellStan R. Mitchell @StanRMitchell
Three tough, hot miles on Memorial Day with my two favorite peeps to honor those paid the ultimate price.
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May 30th 2022

10 Likes

And before we get to the news, let me say this: do not miss going to see Top Gun in theaters…

I expected something that was kind of cheesy or maybe somewhat decent and reminiscent. A movie I’d enjoy, but one that wouldn’t necessarily crack even the top 100 great movies I had seen.

I was wrong.

Top Gun absolutely rocked my world and inspired the hell out of me as a creator. Even Jaimie agreed it was one of the best movies we have ever seen. Make sure you go see it in theaters. (You’ll want the full experience on this one.)


Let’s begin today’s news portion with a quick re-visit.

As my regular readers know, I have written about the surrounded defenders in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol in almost every edition for the past two months or so.

And weeks and weeks ago, I had speculated that I thought Ukrainians had been resupplying the cut-off troops at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol.

I’m going to share exactly what I said in The Stan R. Mitchell report for 4/22/22.

If I had to guess, I’d say there’s some kind of resupply happening by sea or something. Or maybe even by large drones or something. (They do, after all, make a drone that can carry 500 pounds of supplies; and that was a civilian version on a video from a year ago.)

Well, it’s taken some time, but it’s now confirmed that the defenders were being resupplied. (See below.)

Twitter avatar for @Blue_SauronBlueSauron👁️ @Blue_Sauron
For the first time, footage has been released of Ukrainian helicopters while facing the odds and resupplying Mariupol defenders during the siege. #Russia #Ukraine

May 31st 2022

238 Retweets1,058 Likes

I’d love to say I’m a genius for suggesting this, but it’s really just common sense. I knew they had to be getting some supplies.

Partly, this is because I know how much ammunition modern battles require. You have to suppress the enemy. Obtain fire superiority. Fire and move. Etc.

And the reality is that most fighters barely carry enough ammo for a single day. Even a couple of hours of hard fighting.

While I assumed they had some stored and pre-staged ammo, I just knew they had to be running out. And more than likely, they were. But they were getting re-supplied. (Just not by some kind of crazy drone that can carry 500 pounds of supplies! That must have been the crazy fiction writer in me talking. lol)

Sadly, however, it seems like Russia is going to make an example out of those who stood up so bravely against them. (See below.)

Twitter avatar for @StanRMitchellStan R. Mitchell @StanRMitchell
Mariupol’s defenders redefined in Russia
espresso.economist.com/67249303d47d37… Mariupol’s defenders redefined in RussiaFor 12 improbable weeks Ukraine’s Azov regiment held out against Russian troops in the city ofespresso.economist.com

May 26th 2022

From the story: “Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Andrei Rudenko, said on Wednesday that no swaps would happen before those who surrendered have been ‘properly convicted and sentenced.’”

It looks to me like the horrendous suffering of those who stood up to the Russians hasn’t come close to being done.


In bigger news this week, the European Union voted to halt the majority of Russian oil imports. The AP called it “the most significant effort yet to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.” (See below.)

Twitter avatar for @APThe Associated Press @AP
European Union leaders agreed to cut about 90% of Russian oil imports, in a significant new push by the West to punish Moscow for its war in Ukraine. The tense EU summit negotiations in Brussels succeeded in papering over some of the cracks in unity.
In big bid to punish Moscow, EU bans most Russia oil importsBRUSSELS (AP) — In the most significant effort yet to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine, the European Union agreed to ban the overwhelming majority of Russian oil imports after tense negotiations that exposed the cracks in European unity.apne.ws

May 31st 2022

108 Retweets301 Likes

In other Ukraine news, the idea of a multi-national navy to break the Russian blockade continues to potentially gain steam. It’s gone from nobodies like me throwing the idea out to actual admirals now discussing it.

From Admiral James Stavridis: How to Break Russia’s Blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports.


Moving along, this is not a big news story, but as a former infantryman, let me just say this VERY LOUDLY, almost in my war yell, “Pump this STRAIGHT into my veins.”

Twitter avatar for @Blue_SauronBlueSauron👁️ @Blue_Sauron
Incredible footage of American volunteers in Ukraine striking a Russian BTR. #Russia #Ukraine

May 27th 2022

8,750 Retweets48,561 Likes

Moving along to larger news, the rush for a better foothold against China continues. (See below.)

Twitter avatar for @StanRMitchellStan R. Mitchell @StanRMitchell
The battle for influence in the Pacific
espresso.economist.com/8f51d048845867… from @TheEconomist The battle for influence in the PacificIn the second world war, America thwarted Japan’s advance by leapfrogging across the Pacificespresso.economist.com

May 30th 2022

1 Like

From the article: “China has embarked on a diplomatic island-hopping campaign to secure a foothold in the region. America hopes to slow it down. China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, is on an eight-nation Pacific tour. Since Thursday, Mr Wang has signed economic deals in Kiribati and Samoa. In Fiji on Monday he is expected to unveil a pact covering fisheries, security and other areas with ten Pacific nations.”

President Biden visited the region to help strengthen the alliances there, but he created confusion with his comments (how did he make this gaffe again?!).

This was the third time in recent months that he made the wrong comment regarding whether America would defend Taiwan.

Some Biden supporters say he’s playing three-dimensional chess, but I’d argue it’s not working and makes him look foolish. If he wants to change our policy toward Taiwan, then change it.

It’s absurdly silly to make a comment that goes against national policy, only to then have it immediately countered by staffers. (I think Biden believes he’s showing strength, but he looks like a man who has to be corrected by the smarter, better-informed experts.)

China clearly isn’t impressed. It sent 30 fighters into Taiwan’s air defense zone, the largest number since January.

The irony is I’d say he’s done a strong job of creating and strengthening alliances in the region to counter China. But he can never seem to get out of his own way on things.


Let’s wrap things up there for today. And end with some motivation and wisdom.

Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
Remember the days you prayed for what you have now.

May 29th 2022

30 Retweets108 Likes
Twitter avatar for @TheQuoteBoook_Inspirational Quotes @TheQuoteBoook_
Just follow your joy. Always. I think that if you do that, life will take you on the course that it’s meant to take you.

May 29th 2022

144 Retweets580 Likes
Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
Trust your intuition. It never lies.

May 27th 2022

32 Retweets146 Likes
Twitter avatar for @TheQuoteBoook_Inspirational Quotes @TheQuoteBoook_
You get in life what you have the courage to ask for.

May 31st 2022

286 Retweets1,508 Likes
Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
Be proud, you survived the days you thought you couldn’t.

May 28th 2022

97 Retweets316 Likes
Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotesLife Quotes @RTLifeQuotes
Pain never really goes away; you just elevate and get used to it by growing stronger. – Philippos Syrigos

May 31st 2022

20 Retweets85 Likes
Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
"Don’t waste your time stressing over things you can’t change."

May 30th 2022

84 Retweets331 Likes
Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotesLife Quotes @RTLifeQuotes
Don't dare to be different, dare to be yourself - if that doesn't make you different then something is wrong. – Laura Baker

May 30th 2022

25 Retweets76 Likes
Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
Don’t lose hope, you never know what tomorrow will bring.

May 30th 2022

278 Retweets1,229 Likes
Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotesLife Quotes @RTLifeQuotes
A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug. – Patricia Neal

May 30th 2022

13 Retweets95 Likes
Twitter avatar for @TheQuoteBoook_Inspirational Quotes @TheQuoteBoook_
Life's like a movie, write your own ending. Keep believing, keep pretending

May 29th 2022

216 Retweets1,121 Likes
Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
Never stop believing in hope because miracles happen everyday.

May 31st 2022

27 Retweets80 Likes
Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotesLife Quotes @RTLifeQuotes
Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves. – Henry David Thoreau

May 30th 2022

50 Retweets253 Likes
Twitter avatar for @TheQuoteBoook_Inspirational Quotes @TheQuoteBoook_
Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky.

May 29th 2022

198 Retweets1,059 Likes
Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t really trying.

May 31st 2022

11 Retweets36 Likes
Twitter avatar for @RTLifeQuotesLife Quotes @RTLifeQuotes
Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. – Pablo Picasso

May 30th 2022

22 Retweets115 Likes
Twitter avatar for @motivation_qotMotivational Quotes @motivation_qot
Don't complain. Rebuild your life.

May 26th 2022

442 Retweets1,719 Likes

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and endeavor to love your fellow Americans. We need to pull this country together, and that starts with all of us.

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The view from the front: military matters and motivation is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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 leadership/biography book, and two realistic war novels: one about World War IIand one about Afghanistan.

P.P.S. And here’s a short bio about me and what I’m trying to do with the newsletter.

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