Stan R. Mitchell: The view from the front podcast: Recent Episodes

Stan R. Mitchell

Every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (All from a moderate perspective.) Friday posts are free. Tuesday posts are delayed by one day except for paid subscribers. ($5 mo or $50 per yr; subscribe from Substack.) Please help sustain the show if you enjoy it.

stanrmitchell.substack.com

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Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

0:27 — Rain in Texas

2:21 — Islam

16:08 — Trump’s poll numbers

31:46 — Trump loses a lawyer, and a big talking point

38:54— Iran

42:30 — Rapid round of news

45:30 — Faith & Encouragement

53:27 — About the Show and My Mission

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Sources, articles, and clips referenced in this episode can be found on my Substack page.

Faith notes:

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few faith episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

And here’s what I consider: The greatest threat to America — and how we fix it.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

0:00 — Opening

3:04 — Listener feedback

7:35 — Saudi nuclear deal

16:09 — Iran

28:42 — Ukraine

35:15 — China more popular than America?!

46:12 — About the Show and My Mission

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Sources, articles, and clips referenced in this episode can be found on my Substack page.

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few faith episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

And here’s what I consider: The greatest threat to America — and how we fix it.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:57 — The mood sours on the Iran War

23:54 — Ukraine changes its military leadership, and gains a new (unexpected) cheerleader

41:54 — Trump’s big address to the nation bombs, and I don’t like having old people in the House or Senate. (I know that’s mean, but it’s the truth. And you know I’m correct.)

54:42 — Faith & encouragement

1:14:29 — About the show and my mission

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Sources, articles, and clips referenced in this episode can be found on my Substack page.

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few faith episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

And here’s what I consider: The greatest threat to America — and how we fix it.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

0:18 — Putin and Russia are feeling the pressure from several new developments happening due to their invasion of Ukraine.

12:27 — The Iran War nightmare for the President continues to worsen.

24:24 — Ukraine lost one of its most vocal supporters in Washington with the death of US Senator Lindsey Graham.

31:19 — Here is the thing that drives me most crazy about Trump.

43:04 — Faith & encouragement

54:53 — About the show and my mission

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Sources, articles, and clips referenced in this episode can be found on my Substack page.

Faith notes:

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few faith episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

And here’s what I consider: The greatest threat to America — and how we fix it.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

4:06 — Let’s begin the show by being real. And by encouraging each other with whatever battles we’re facing.

21:45 — Iran. Our options. And some words for our troops.

37:50 — America’s greatest threat. (And it’s not Iran, China, AI, or global warming.)

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Sources, articles, and clips referenced in this episode can be found on my Substack page.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

Episode Timestamps

3:26 — America celebrates its 250th birthday

A look at what America has gotten right over the past 250 years — from peaceful transfers of power and religious liberty to local communities and service — while honestly acknowledging our failures and asking what kind of country we want to pass on to the next generation.

20:57 — Why the risk of war with Iran may be far greater than most people realize

The headlines aren’t telling the whole story. We examine why the conflict has become a larger geopolitical struggle over power in the Middle East, why regional allies are shifting their positions, and why the chances of a wider war appear to be increasing.

48:30 — Is President Trump losing political momentum?

Recent polling, policy challenges, and shifting public opinion suggest the political landscape may be changing. We look at what that could mean heading into the months ahead.

1:00:25 — Ukraine’s stunning turnaround—and what the West got wrong

The war looks very different than it did just months ago. We examine Ukraine’s changing position, Russia’s challenges, and why the United States and Europe should honestly evaluate many of the assumptions they made during the invasion.

1:14:35 — Faith & Encouragement

A reminder that our deepest hope isn’t found in politics, governments, or military victories, but in Christ—and why that truth matters even more during uncertain times.

1:31:44 — Why this show exists

A quick look at the mission behind The Stan R. Mitchell Show: calm analysis, lower temperatures, honest conversations, and the search for common ground in a divided country.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Link to my Substack page.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:41 — Preamble to the show; this one is going to sail some rough waters.

12:38 — The reflecting pool disaster is leading to all-too-many jokes.

21:24 — Shouldn’t corruption be something we all oppose, no matter your party?

30:44 — Negotiations with Iran continue, but goodness, it seems rocky.

44:09 — President Trump blows up the Housing bill and its planned celebration.

53:01 — The Epstein story isn’t dead.

54:43 — Ukraine is winning, and Russia is buckling under the pressure.

1:01:20 — Faith & encouragement

1:57:19 — About the show and my mission

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Sources, articles, and clips referenced in this episode can be found on my Substack page.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:02 — About the document Trump signed with Iran…

13:25 — The real reason the “deal” had to happen?

20:33 — Iran used mass to overwhelm our sophisticated advantages; and the charts prove it.

25:34 — The New York Times blasts the President in an editorial, says Trump lost the war to Iran. Former Vice President (and Republican) Mike Pence agrees…

39:59 — Real talk: does the deal even matter? Will it possibly hold?

46:13 — Faith & encouragement

1:11:18 — About the show and my mission

1:02 — Trump got his Iran deal. Why are so many conservatives furious?

Less than a week ago, President Trump was threatening additional strikes. Now he has signed an agreement with Iran. But some of the loudest criticism isn’t coming from Democrats. It’s coming from Republicans, conservative media, and even former allies who say the deal fails to achieve many of the goals the administration originally promised.

13:25 — The real reason the deal may have been unavoidable

For months, the message was that America didn’t need Middle Eastern oil. Then the President acknowledged something very different: that reserves could have become a serious problem within weeks. Was the agreement driven more by military success—or by economic reality?

20:33 — How Iran fought America to a draw

The most eye-opening charts I found this week weren’t about politics. They were about math. While the United States relied on sophisticated and expensive defenses, Iran relied on sheer volume—thousands of missiles and drones launched across the region. The numbers help explain why the pressure to end the conflict kept growing.

25:34 — “President Trump Lost This War”

The New York Times editorial board didn’t pull any punches. Neither did former Vice President Mike Pence. I walk through their arguments, why they’re resonating with some conservatives, and whether the criticism is fair or simply partisan spin.

39:59 — The question that matters most

Forget who won the news cycle. Forget the talking points. The real question is whether this agreement survives at all. Israel reportedly wasn’t part of the negotiations, key details remain controversial, and opposition is already building from multiple directions. Does the deal even matter if it doesn’t last?

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

📌 Sources, articles, and clips referenced in this episode can be found on my Substack page.

Faith notes:

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

4:04 — Iran.

24:26 — Three below-the-radar political stories.

32:12 — Ukraine and Russia.

38:20 — China.

43:41 — Faith message

57:04 — About me, the mission, and my books

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Politics, military, and world events — explained clearly, without the outrage.

Finding common ground, lowering the temperature, and offering Biblical encouragement for difficult times. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

0:54 — The Iran war isn’t over

13:14— Oil trickles through Hormuz as Congress reasserts itself

40:45 — Congress stands up to Trump on tariffs

57:48 — Trump still negotiating with Iran, for now, but pressure remains

27:16 — Ukraine keeps hitting strategic targets while Russia terrorizes civilians

34:51 — Faith message

42:52 — About me, the mission, and my books

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Military and world events — explained clearly, without the noise.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement to help provide you hope, wisdom, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:16 — Iran stalemate deepens as pressure builds on Trump.

22:23 — This week’s Texas primary results suggest the political ground may be shifting for Trump.

29:21 — Ukraine, while still innovating and winning, needs more air defense.

37:41 — Faith message.

45:56 — About me, the mission, and my books.

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

Amazon link to my books.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Military and world events — explained clearly, without the noise.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement to help provide you hope, wisdom, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

2:59 — Has America lost the war in Iran?

29:53 — Trump’s diminishing power

47:59 — China and Ukraine.

59:30 — Faith message

1:11:10 — About me, the mission, and my books

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Military and world events — explained clearly, without the noise.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement to help provide you hope, wisdom, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:33 — Victor Davis Hanson and intellectual honesty

15:42 — Iran peace talks collapse

24:33 — Iran’s military may be stronger than advertised

30:28 — What comes next with Iran

33:17 — Trump’s China trip and the limits of leverage

42:57 — Tennessee redistricting risks

47:57 — The CIA’s secret war on Mexican cartels

54:01 — Faith & fortitude

1:02:08 — About me, the mission, and my books

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page.

The notes and receipts for my remarks regarding Victor Davis Hanson.

From my podcast three weeks ago where I quoted Victor Davis Hanson:

The recent comments of Victor Davis Hanson, on what he’s saying now:

U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Substantial Missile Capabilities

Secret new assessments say Iran has operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that its military remains far stronger than President Trump has asserted.

The Trump administration’s public portrayal of a shattered Iranian military is sharply at odds with what U.S. intelligence agencies are telling policymakers behind closed doors, according to classified assessments from early this month that show Iran has regained access to most of its missile sites, launchers and underground facilities.

Trump’s Shrinking Ambitions on China

The president came into office planning harsher trade moves on China than on the rest of the world. Here’s why he’s had to scale them back.

China Increasingly Views Trump’s America as an Empire in Decline

(The below is not a summary or transcript of the above podcast, but rather a compilation of various new sources pulled together.)

  • China needs the U.S. economy more than the U.S. needs ChinaThe argument is that China’s slowing economy still depends heavily on access to American consumers and markets, especially while dealing with debt problems and weaker growth.

  • China is vulnerable on energy and trade routesWith instability around the Strait of Hormuz, China has a huge interest in keeping global shipping and oil flowing. That gives Washington leverage.

  • China backed down before on trade pressureEven though China retaliated with rare earth restrictions, the broader point is probably that Beijing ultimately prefers stability and continued trade over a prolonged economic confrontation.

  • The U.S. still dominates militarily and financiallyThe dollar system, global naval power, sanctions capability, and alliances still give America structural advantages China cannot easily replace.

  • Xi Jinping may need stability more than Trump does politicallyChina’s leadership tends to prioritize internal stability and long-term economic calm, which can make Beijing cautious about escalation. Trump, meanwhile, often uses unpredictability as leverage.

HUGE DISCLAIMER: One important thing: a lot of foreign-policy analysts actually argue the opposite right now — that China holds significant leverage because of rare earth minerals, manufacturing dominance, and America’s dependence on Chinese supply chains.

CNN: CIA escalates secret war on cartels with deadly operations inside Mexico

Faith notes: Let’s talk about life in the valley, when life knocks you flat on your back

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Military and world events — explained clearly, without the noise.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement to help provide you hope, wisdom, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page.

Faith notes:

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

Also, please consider helping me grow the show. To help, please consider subscribing on Substack (or Patreon). You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

My goals are simple: more unity for our country, less anger (and fear) in the news, and a steady reminder that though we live in a noisy world, we all need God in our lives.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Faith reminder: Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God. Don’t know where to start? Check out my Bible resource page. Struggling with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this. And if you want more faith content,I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on military and world events — without the noise.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page:

(Note: on most channels/outlets, you’ll need to click the Substack episode note link to see these.)

Florida Approves House Map That Could Add 4 Republican Seats

Faith notes:

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on military and world events — without the noise.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:18 — Iran ceasefire recedes and war looms again.

26:11— Is time on America’s or Iran’s side as the blockade continues. Liberals and conservatives disagree.

39:07 — The consequences of the war in Iran are becoming clearer.

48:20 — The President has taken some real political losses of late.

56:13 — Faith and fortitude.

1:04:38 — About the show, the mission, and my books.

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page:

(Note: on most channels/outlets, you’ll need to click the Substack episode note link to see these.)

  • Time is not on Iran’s side — victor davis Hanson)

The counter argument: Time ISN’T on Trump’s side:

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:33 — Trump AI image sparks backlash

20:44 — The President needs to get some sleep

27:23 — What is happening with Iran? It seems no one knows.

32:07 — Hungary election: Orbán loses power after 16 years

35:32 — Melania speaks out, and she didn’t warn the President about her remarks.

50:05 — JD Vance’s proudest achievement.

58:39 — Faith and fortitude

1:13:17 — About the show, the mission, and my books

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page:

(Note: on most channels/outlets, you’ll need to click the Substack episode note link to see these.)

Matt Day video.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

🎯 If you only listen to one section, jump to 12:59 — it’s the most important part of the episode.

0:58 — The goal this week: challenge both sides — and lower the temperature

3:01 — The tweet heard around the world

12:59 — The ceasefire terms — and why no one agrees

28:53 — The NATO rift: real or overblown?

36:41 — Trump proposes a $1.5 trillion military budget

39:49 — The Epstein list and the manosphere podcasts

44:15 — Election results tilt toward Democrats again

49:25 — Faith and fortitude

59:40 — About the show, the mission, and my books

📌 Source notes can be seen on my Substack page:

(Note: on most channels/outlets, you’ll need to click the Substack episode note link to see these.)

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

0:59 — This was a brutal week for President Trump.

8:45 — Alex Jones and Joe Rogan break with Trump

12:46 — Did Trump’s speech fall flat?

32:20 — Could Trump try to leave NATO?

35:46 — Can someone please tell me why the Administration can’t communicate clearly and get on the same page?

40:10 — Rapid round: more tough headlines for Trump

47:03 — Faith message

50:18 — About me, the mission, and my books

📌 Source notes:

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

📌 The Intel Packet (Worth Seeing)

If you want visuals to follow along with this episode, here are a few key links:

  • Map / illustration:

  • Successful drone attacks by Iran on American bases:

  • After an initial drop, Iran is still averaging quite a few drones and missiles per day, some of which are getting through:

  • Pete Hegseth doesn’t look like he wants all the credit for deciding to launch this war. Watch his face below. 🤣🙃

  • Ukraine has taken out another major Russian oil hub. NBC News says 40 percent of Russian oil capacity has come to a halt because of these attacks.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

📌 The Intel Packet (Worth Seeing)

The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet has been pummeled by Iran. See images below.

Check out this advance by Ukraine the past month. More than 20 km, and drones (plus air power) are increasingly playing a role.

Finally, check out this map of the drone kill zone that Ukraine is expanding.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

🎯 If you only listen to one section, jump to 22:40. That’s where we answer the biggest question: Can Iran actually close the Strait of Hormuz?

1:08 — Trump says the war will end soon. Iran says not one “liter” of oil will leave the region.

6:11 — Why the Left and Right see the Iran war completely differently

22:40 — Can Iran close the Strait of Hormuz?

37:14— Three ways this war could end — and which is most likely

45:04 — Faith message

1:01:25 — About me, the mission, and my books

📌 The Intel Packet (Worth Seeing)

If you want visuals to follow along with this episode, here are a few key links:

This photo, shared by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, shows just how narrow the Strait of Hormuz is — only about 21 miles wide, roughly the same width as the English Channel. The landmass visible on the right is the coast of Oman.

Faith sources:

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

1:08 — How to keep your sanity in the middle of this war

8:14 — Finding a deeper peace while war surrounds you

10:29 — Israel and the U.S. strike Iran in a coordinated attack

15:28 — The reasons for the war, according to Trump officials

18:44 — The drone problem we haven’t solved (specifically Shahed drones)

29:10 — Where does this war go from here?

34:21 — My views on this war

43:11 — About me, the mission, and my books

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.

Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

⏱️ Timestamps / main stories covered:

3:31— The State of the Union

40:23 — The Supreme Court axes Trump’s tariffs; kneecaps his Presidency

1:00:54 — The buildup (and looming war) with Iran

1:23:12 — Trump to get Medal of Honor?

1:35:05 — First arrests made from the Epstein files

1:39:22 — Ukraine war hits four-year anniversary

1:43:28 — Mexico takes on the cartels with America’s help

1:45:37 — Let’s end with some hope for America

1:50:31 — Faith message

2:00:42 — About me, the mission, and my books

Source Notes (referenced in this episode):

The following reporting and posts informed this episode.

DISCLAIMER: The links are included for transparency and context. Judging the episode by a quick scan of the following posts without listening won’t give you the full picture. My goal remains the same — balanced analysis, principled reasoning, and independence from party pressure.

If this episode was helpful, please share it with someone who would benefit — and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify. That small action helps the show reach more thoughtful listeners.

If you’d like to support the mission, you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). Your support keeps the show independent — free from corporate influence.

You can also send a one-time gift via Venmo or PayPal.

I work a full-time job, and this show is built in the margins — but the goal is simple: more unity, more clarity, and a steady reminder of God’s truth in a noisy world.

If support grows, the mission expands.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

Have no idea where to start? Check out my Bible resource page here.

Dealing with depression or PTSD? Please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Clear-eyed takes on politics and world news — without the outrage addiction.Every episode ends with Biblical encouragement for perspective, courage, and peace. Learn more about the show here.

This was a pressure-building week. Not one where a single headline dominated everything, but one where you could feel multiple fault lines widening at the same time.

The political temperature kept rising, public trust kept straining, and overseas instability continued to simmer in ways that could escalate fast. This wasn’t a breaking-news week. It was a momentum week — the kind where you can sense the system grinding, and where one spark could turn into something much bigger.

In this episode, I break down the biggest stories shaping the country and the world, and what to watch next.

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Podcast hub — all platforms

Here are the main stories we covered this week:

  • Shutdown pressure builds as DHS funding fight escalates (2:53)

  • Immigration enforcement surge ends — backlash erupts (6:32)

  • U.S. military buildup raises risk of a strike on Iran (14:53)

  • Cuba on the brink (25:07)

  • Ukraine — two competing views of the war (31:20)

  • Epstein — what’s real, what’s noise, and what matters now (40:22)

  • Biblical encouragement for anxious times (47:39)

📌 The Intel Packet (Worth Seeing)

If you want visuals to follow along with this episode, here are a few key links:

⏱️ Timestamps

THE HOME FRONT 2:53 — DHS Funding Fight / Shutdown Pressure 6:32 — Immigration Enforcement Surge Ends / Backlash 11:54 — State of the Union Protest Plans

THE WORLD STAGE 14:53 — U.S. Military Buildup Raises Risk of Strike on Iran 25:07 — Cuba on the Brink 31:20 — The Two Competing Views on Ukraine

SIGNAL VS NOISE 40:22 — Epstein

FAITH & FORTITUDE 47:39 — Biblical Encouragement 1:00:39 — About me, the mission, and my books

🎯 If you only listen to one section, jump to 14:53 — it’s the most important part of the episode.

If you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend and consider leaving a rating on Apple or Spotify — it helps more than you’d think.

Want to support the show? There is a paid subscription option where you can subscribe on Substack (or Patreon). This helps keep the show independent — and free from corporate control.

You can also send a one-time tip via Venmo or PayPal.

Questions or Comments

📩 stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Faith reminder

Real peace isn’t found in a country, a party, or an earthly leader. It’s found in God.

If you want to know where to start reading the Bible, check out my Bible resource page here.

If you’re a veteran dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide — please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also host a faith-only podcast called The Search for God.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Timestamps & Topics

  • 2:08 — Feedback from the last episode.

  • 26:33 — The Epstein list might be the end of Trump’s Presidency

  • 40:45 — Congress stands up to Trump on tariffs

  • 44:46 — Bitcoin falls below $70K for first time since Nov 2024

  • 46:21 — New job numbers give mixed economic outlook

  • 47:16 — Grand jury rejects indictment of 6 democrats (legal pushback growing)

  • 49:12 — FBI raids Fulton County election facility (no fraud evidence found)

  • 53:44 — Venezuelan opposition politician freed, oil tanker seized in Indian Ocean

  • 56:32 — Air Canada cancels Cuba flights as fuel crisis worsens under U.S. blockade

  • 57:48 — Trump still negotiating with Iran, for now, but pressure remains

  • 59:54 — Almost no progress has been made in Gaza, since ceasefire

  • 1:03:50 — Two more bits of bleak political news for Trump

  • 1:07:48 — China drops the hammer on dissent (again)

  • 1:10:17 — Trump won’t apologize for racist Obama video, despite losing support from it

  • 1:15:10 — Elon Musk has a terrible, terrible week

  • 1:18:54 — Trump gets a breakthrough on soybeans with China phone call

  • 1:20:19 — Despite freezing winter, some things are looking up for Ukraine

  • 1:27:07 — Faith message

  • 1:47:55 — About me, the mission, and my books

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Is this show free?

Yes! You can read and engage for free, but there is a paid subscription option if you’d like to show your support and keep the show going strong.

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

There are also other methods: If you prefer, you can also support the work on Patreon, or send a one-time tip via Venmo or PayPal.

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write compelling stories that matter — about courage, faith, and the fight for what’s right. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Sources, footnotes, videos, episode links, etc.

Let’s end with an important reminder about faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to know where to start with reading the Bible?

  • Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here: Thoughts from a Southern Gentleman.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Timestamps & Topics

  • 3:26 — Trump is just trolling us. Or is he?

  • 25:07 — A segment that will make both sides happy

  • 41:28 — The Epstein list keeps getting bigger

  • 47:53 — Trump sues the IRS for $10 billion

  • 50:04 — Kennedy Center shut down

  • 54:48 — My great comfort about the Trump Administration

  • 1:10:40 — Faith message

  • 1:1:12 — About me, the mission, and my books

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Is this show free?

Yes! You can read and engage for free, but there is a paid subscription option if you’d like to show your support and keep the show going strong.

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

There are also other methods: If you prefer, you can also support the work on Patreon, or send a one-time tip via Venmo or PayPal.

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Let’s end with an important reminder about faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to know where to start with reading the Bible?

  • Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

Want more faith content?

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here: Thoughts from a Southern Gentleman.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Timestamps & Topics

  • 2:40 — Opening segment: Heavy news week

  • 6:32 — ICE in Minnesota

  • 22:32 — Jack Smith testifies against Trump

  • 28:22 — Tensions with Iran escalate

  • 33:34 — Update on Venezuala

  • 40:39 — Israel says not-so-fast on Gaza reconstruction

  • 46:24 — How the West (and Ukraine) is closing in on Russia’s “Shadow Fleet”

  • 53:08 — Windfarm victories in court tell a larger story

  • 53:39 — A reminder that Russia is not winning in Ukraine. Not even close.

  • 1:00:29 — Faith message

  • 1:08:01 — About me, the mission, and my books

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Opening Segment – Heavy News Week

This has been one of those weeks.

The kind of week where the news feels relentless — headline after headline, outrage piled on outrage — and it can feel like the country is coming apart at the seams.

But I want to slow things down for just a moment, because this is important.

In weeks like this, the loudest voices on the far left and the far right get amplified. Social media, cable news, and algorithms reward anger, certainty, and extremes. That’s what cuts through the noise.

But that does not mean those voices represent most of the country.

Most Americans are not spending their days glued to political fights. They’re going to work. They’re raising kids. They’re caring for aging parents. They’re trying to pay bills, keep their marriages together, and live decent lives. Most Americans are not radical activists. They’re not screaming online. And they’re not rooting for the country to fail just so “their side” can win.

In fact, a huge number of Americans don’t vote at all. In most elections, tens of millions sit it out. Even in presidential years, turnout rarely reaches the full population. That alone should remind us that the political temperature we see online is not the temperature of the nation as a whole.

The truth is, the center of this country is much larger—and much quieter—than the extremes would have you believe.

And that matters, because the way forward doesn’t come from the edges. It comes from normal people — the middle — deciding to engage more, not less. It comes from showing up and voting for sane, serious candidates who understand that compromise isn’t weakness. It’s how a diverse republic actually survives.

We’ve been through uncertainty before. Worse than this. And every time, the country didn’t make it through because one side crushed the other—but because enough reasonable Americans refused to give in to fear, chaos, or despair.

So if this week has felt heavy, here’s the reminder:

You’re not alone.

The country is not as broken as it sometimes looks.

And we are going to get through this—together.

And for people of faith, this is also a moment to remember that our hope was never supposed to rest in politics or personalities. It rests in something steadier — something bigger than any news cycle. When things feel uncertain, that grounding matters.

That’s the perspective I want to hold onto as we go into this episode.

Some Republicans now openly acknowledge that the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis has gone deeply wrong. One explanation for the turnabout can be found in the polls.

Anderson Cooper played side-by-side video of Noem and Bovino smearing the victim of Saturday's shooting, then said, "If either of these public officials had an ounce of decency, they would call up Alex Pretti's parents and apologize."

Wall Street Journal: Videos Contradict U.S. Account of Minneapolis Shooting by Federal Agents.

The Trump administration is planning to move Gregory Bovino, the official in charge of President Trump’s Border Patrol operations and the face of on-the-ground immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, out of the city, officials said.

Here’s how some conservatives framed it:

And conservatives also made this point:

I decided to try to look up what the truth is and here’s what I found.

🚔 Does U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) need a warrant?

1. Public places — ❌ No warrant needed

ICE can:

  • Stop, question, or arrest someone in public (street, parking lot, workplace lobby)

  • Act on probable cause that the person is removable under immigration law

This is similar to other law-enforcement arrests in public.

2. Private homes — ✅ Warrant required (with a big caveat)

To enter a home without consent, ICE needs a judicial warrant (signed by a judge).

Important distinction:

  • Administrative warrant (ICE paperwork) → NOT enough to force entry

  • Judicial warrant (court-signed) → Required for non-consensual entry

If someone inside voluntarily consents, ICE can enter without a warrant.

3. “Knock and talk” — 🚪 Allowed

ICE may:

  • Knock on your door

  • Ask questions

  • Ask to come in

You are not required to open the door or let them in unless they show a judicial warrant.

4. Exigent circumstances — ⚠️ Rare exception

ICE can enter without a warrant if:

  • There’s immediate danger

  • Risk of evidence destruction

  • Hot pursuit

This is narrowly defined and often challenged in court.

After heavy political pressure, the Trump administration is going to do some type of investigation, it seems.

Could a government shutdown be on its way again?

SCHUMER says Democrats are “united” behind three DHS reforms1/ End roving patrols; tighten the rules on warrants and require ICE to coordinate with local authorities.2/ Enforce accountability; a uniform code of conduct.3/ Require masks off, body cameras on, agents carry ID.

The ICE violations are pretty wild, quite honestly.

An extraordinary document. Read it. “Attached to this order is an appendix that identifies 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. … ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence.”

And the controversy is increasingly closer to taking down even higher-ranking officials than even Bovino.

Reporter: Should Kristi Noem resign?Senator Murkowski: I voted for her. I would not support her again, and I think it’s probably time for her to step down.

"Noem has complained to others that she feels she's being hung out to dry over the episode and has made sure to emphasize she took direction from Miller and the president."

But Noem may not go down without a fight.

Kristi Noem: “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done at the direction of the president and Stephen.”

The political heat is going all the way out to the heartland.

Harriet Hageman, the Trump-backed candidate who ousted Liz Cheney, was booed out of her town hall because she wouldn't condemn the ICE shootings.

New videoo has emerged of Alex Pretti on Jan 13, showing him spitting at ICE agents and kicking their taillight.

And back in Minnesota, a Republican gubernatorial candidate has dropped out because of ICE actions.

In other news, Jack Smith testifies there was "proof beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump committed crimes.

Jack Smith explains that he had an overwhelming amount of evidence of Trump committing a crime, much of it from Republicans who supported Trump.

As a reminder, on August 1, 2023, a grand jury for the District of Columbia U.S. District Court issued a four-count indictment of Trump for conspiracy to defraud the United States under Title 18 of the United States Code, obstructing an official proceeding and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding under the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, and conspiracy against rights under the Enforcement Act of 1870 for his conduct following the 2020 presidential election through the January 6 Capitol attack.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges in both indictments. Trials were scheduled but never held.

In other testimony, Jack Smith just said that Trump intimidated witnesses via death threats.

Trump is now calling on Pam Bondi to prosecute Jack Smith.

Middle East news:

The USS Abraham Lincoln, an American aircraft carrier, has arrived in the Middle East — just days after President Trump said a naval armada was moving toward Iran.

So far, the president has held back from direct intervention, even as the Iranian regime continues its crackdown on protesters. But he has also made clear that the situation is being watched very closely.

Iran, for its part, has issued a stark warning, saying that any attack would be treated as an all-out war.

Saudi Arabia said it would not allow its airspace to be used for any military action against Iran. The announcement followed a meeting between Muhammad bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince, and Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president.

Iran has rejected the Trump administration’s terms. A senior U.S. official says Tehran will not compromise on “its right to continue enriching uranium for civilian purposes and to maintain its missile arsenal, which is essential for its defense.”— WSJ

Khamenei adviser says US military action will trigger Iranian attack on Israel and an all out war.

Lindsey Graham says if Trump abandons the people of Iran after he promised to protect them it will be a million times worse than Benghazi.

US Intelligence Raises Doubts About Venezuela Leader’s Cooperation.

SCHATZ: You testified the oil funds are being held in Qatar & then will move to a Treasury blocked account. What's the statutory authority for the admin relying on Qatar to hold the funds?RUBIO: It's not our funds. It belongs to VZS: What authority are you relying on?R: They've agreed to this

Netanyahu Says Palestinian State ‘Will Not Happen’, Tells Israelis Hamas Will be Disarmed, Warns Iran

Judge Revives Wind Farm That Trump Halted Off Martha’s Vineyard

The project, known as Vineyard Wind, was already 95 percent complete when the Trump administration ordered construction to stop.

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that construction could continue on a $4.5 billion wind farm off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., striking down the Trump administration’s decision to halt work on the nearly complete project.

Judge Brian E. Murphy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction that would allow the developers of the wind farm, known as Vineyard Wind, to restart construction while the broader legal battle unfolds.

The ruling was the fourth legal setback that the Trump administration has suffered in its quest to throttle the country’s nascent offshore wind industry.

Ukraine news:

A reminder that Russia is not winning in Ukraine. Not even close.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.” — ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭11‬

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” — Colossians 3:1

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” — ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭

The Lord’s message to Joshua

“I will not fail you or abandon you. … Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”— Joshua 1:5, 7–9

Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here: Thoughts from a Southern Gentleman.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Timestamps & Topics

  • 2:26 — Greenland crisis averted

  • 14:47 — The new Board of Peace

  • 16:43 — Some topics to keep an eye on in the coming days

  • 19:05 — Faith message

  • 23:36 — About me, the mission, and my books

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books: I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Trump steps back from the brink on Greenland. But the damage has been done.

After two weeks of escalating threats toward Europe, President Donald Trump blinked on Wednesday, backing away from the unthinkable brink of a potential war against a NATO ally during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Trump’s vow not to use military force to seize Greenland from Denmark eased European fears about a worst-case scenario and prompted a rebound on Wall Street. And his declaration hours later after meeting with NATO’s leader that he may back off of his tariff threat having secured the “framework” of an agreement over Greenland continued a day of backpedaling on one of the most daring gambits of his presidency to date.

But his continued heckling of allies as “ungrateful” for not simply giving the U.S. “ownership and title” of what he said was just “a piece of ice” did little to reverse a deepening sentiment among NATO leaders and other longtime allies that they can no longer consider the United States — for 80 years the linchpin of the transatlantic alliance — a reliable ally.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here: Thoughts from a Southern Gentleman.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Timestamps & Topics

  • 5:36 — Feedback on the show

  • 17:17 — Donald “the bully”

  • 25:13 — Trump eyes Greenland

  • 46:54 — Venezuela “uninvestable,” Exxon says

  • 55:53 — Iran struggles to contain its unrest

  • 59:26 — Hegseth goes after Mark Kelly

  • 1:02:52 — Some hope for those worried

  • 1:14:27 — Faith message

  • 1:19:20 — About me, the mission, and my books

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos that are emailed in are preferred.

Books: I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

‘Uninvestable’: Trump pitch to oil execs yields no promises

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Check out my Bible resource page here.

By the way, if you’re a vet dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, please listen to this.

  • "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected." — Proverbs 18:10

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a few episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

  • I stand on the shoulders of a giant — my eulogy to my Dad.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here: Thoughts from a Southern Gentleman.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Timestamps & Topics

  • 5:14 — Maduro captured from Venezuela

  • 35:51 — Epstein files could blow up bigger soon

  • 39:13 — The truth about Jan. 6

  • 48:57 — Faith message

  • 54:20 — About me, the mission, and my books

Listen & Subscribe

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Support the mission

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

Contact

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books

I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Video and audio clips used in the show

Special master will be requested to release the files: 37 min mark.

Boise MAGA Granny apologizes to Capitol police at hearing

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. I’ve written twelve books spanning military thrillers, crime fiction, and historical war novels — stories shaped by duty, leadership, and moral responsibility under pressure. They’re all available on Amazon.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Timestamps & Topics

  • 0:52 — Update, show schedule for next week

  • 4:01 — A reminder that it’s okay to change your mind and admit you’re wrong

  • 5:52 — The Epstein files only get worse

  • 14:33 — The despair over Trump is ending

  • 25:04 — U.S. strikes targets in Nigeria over Christian persecution

  • 33:39 — Trump goes nuts on Truth Social on Christmas; nearly 200 posts

  • 40:18 — Boatstrike double-tap

  • 43:58 — Venezuela

  • 58:50 — Trump’s ballroom

  • 1:02:15 — Where did the law and order go

  • 1:11:42 — Trump and his battleships

  • 1:13:56 — Ukraine news roundup

  • 1:22:42 — Two tech advancements worth hearing about

  • 1:26:40 — The Gaza peace plan stalls, and talks of hitting Iran again heat up

  • 1:28:55 — Faith message

  • 1:36:43 — About me, the mission, and my books

Listen & Subscribe

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Support the mission

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

Contact

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books

I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Source notes

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

0:52 — Update, show schedule for next week

I’m recording a news episode today — off schedule because of Christmas, and after several quiet weeks as my family walked through my Dad’s illness and passing.

There’s been a lot of news, and I’m putting everything I have into this episode.

I’ll be out next week for a previously planned cruise, but I wanted to show up today, be present, and do the work.

If you haven’t yet, the best way to keep up during an irregular schedule is the email list — that’s where I always post first.

Thank you for your patience, your prayers, and your continued support. It means more than I can say.

4:01 — A reminder that it’s okay to change your mind and admit you’re wrong

5:52 — The Epstein files only get worse

I want to try to be fair to the President, so here’s a list of accomplishments that they are claiming.

25:04 — U.S. strikes targets in Nigeria over Christian persecution

33:39 — Trump goes nuts on Truth Social on Christmas; nearly 200 posts

40:18 — Boatstrike double-tap

58:50 — Trump’s ballroom

1:11:42 — Trump and his battleships

1:13:56 — Ukraine news roundup

1:26:40 — The Gaza peace plan stalls, and talks of hitting Iran again heat up

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. I’ve written twelve books spanning military thrillers, crime fiction, and historical war novels — stories shaped by duty, leadership, and moral responsibility under pressure. They’re all available on Amazon.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Today’s episode is different.

Instead of a typical show, I’m sharing something deeply personal: the eulogy I delivered for my father.

This was not written for an audience, an algorithm, or a platform. It was written for a room filled with family, friends, and loved ones — and ultimately, for God. I share it here only because so many of you have walked alongside me in prayer, encouragement, and quiet support during these last days.

My father was not a public figure. He didn’t seek attention or recognition. He lived a small, faithful life — and I’ve come to believe those are often the lives that leave the deepest mark.

This eulogy is my attempt to honor him honestly: his faith, his endurance, his humility, and the lessons he passed on without ever needing to raise his voice. It’s also my words of gratitude — for a good father, for a life well lived, and for the hope we have in Christ, even in moments of deep loss.

If you choose to listen, know this: there’s no agenda here. No debate. No commentary on the news. Just a son honoring his dad, and pointing, however imperfectly, to the God who carried him through every season.

Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your kindness. And thank you for allowing me to share this moment with you.

— Stan

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype.Every episode ends with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement for perspective and peace. Learn more.

Listen & Subscribe

Listen in the player above, or find The Stan R. Mitchell Show on your preferred platform.

👉 Official podcast page

Support the mission

Subscribing on Substack is the best way to support the show and keep it independent.

Contact

Questions or comments: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com

Include your first name and city if you’d like your message possibly included in a future episode.

Short voice memos are welcome (and preferred).

Books

I write stories about duty, leadership, and moral responsibility — often under extreme pressure. I’ve written twelve fast-paced thrillers, with more than 70,000 copies sold. They’re available on Amazon.

Source notes

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Tonight won’t be a full episode.

This week has been heavy, and I want to honor that honestly.

But let’s start with an awesome compliment that really caught my attention and made my day, then kind of scared me.

I had a pastor — with degrees in Theology, Philosophy, and a Master of Divinity — say this about my podcast.Like… what?! Honored and absolutely terrified. 😬😬

Now to the heavy stuff…

Something to inspire you.

A final, brief Christmas message

But I didn’t want Christmas to pass without saying this.

Christmas is not about noise, or politics, or headlines.It’s about God stepping into human history.

The Bible says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”Not from a palace.Not with power on display.But as a child.Born into poverty.Born into danger.Born into a broken world.

Jesus didn’t come to make life comfortable.He came to make redemption possible.

He came for the grieving.For the exhausted.For the fearful.For those standing at hospital bedsides.For those who feel like they’re barely holding it together.

Christmas is God saying: I see you. I am with you. And death does not get the final word.

If this season feels joyful for you, give thanks.If it feels heavy, you’re not alone.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

From my family to yours—Merry Christmas.Jesus Christ was born.And hope is alive.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (2:10). An update, a pep talk, and a few of my core principles I want to share. (Oh, and as usual, I share too much about me and my past, but oh well, that’s podcasting…)

Timestamp: (20:20). The big problem with the administration.

Timestamp: (27:36). The Trump Administration releases its new security strategy, and I cover the pros and cons of it.

Timestamp: (41:33). The follow-up strike in the Caribbean isn’t going away.

Timestamp: (52:40). The action off the coast of Venezuela has escalated.

Timestamp: (1:01:51). The faith message for this week.

Timestamp: (1:09:54). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Timestamp: (2:10). An update, a pep talk, and a few of my core principles I want to share. (Oh, and as usual, I share too much about me and my past, but oh well, that’s podcasting…)

Example tweet:

Timestamp: (20:20). The big problem with the administration.

Erick-Woods Erickson: Twitter is Rotting the Right’s Brain

Europe is absurd. It is also a strategic partner.

The majority of the angst, however, comes over immigration and the belief that the Islamization of Europe is upon us. The reality is that foreigners make up less than 13% of Germany, and even less in France and the United Kingdom. They just happen to be concentrated in the capitals and get a lot of attention. And the European elite treat them paternalistically, setting up security perimeters around Christmas events instead of cracking down and insisting on assimilation.

Yes, the European elite give us a lot to criticize in their handling of immigration. But also, the non-native populations are not nearly as large as one might think. Muslims make up less than eight percent of the population of Sweden, but on Twitter, you’d think they’ve taken over the country. On Twitter, the United Kingdom is overrun and on the verge of becoming an Islamic nation.

In reality, there are absolutely problems, often dismissed by the European elite who prefer to crack down on speech, but the online community also vastly overstates the problem.

Therein lies the problem with the Trump Administration.

The Biden Administration was overrun with white upper-income progressives from the non-profit world who’d never had a real job and could not relate to the real world.

The Trump Administration is overrun with the kids from wealthy white elites who live their lives online and have concluded that Twitter is real life because that’s where they spend their time.

The Biden Administration got radicalized by the white guilt of progressives. The Trump Administration got radicalized by an online horde of white kids who have convinced themselves that if it is buzzing on Twitter it must be real.

The elites and the experts deserve a lot of blame for people distrusting them, disregarding them, and discrediting them. But we’ve traded experts trained in a field of study for experts who learned everything they know from Twitter. We’ve gone from the elite of Harvard Yard to repeat residents of a Holiday Inn Express.

Timestamp: (27:36). The Trump Administration releases its new security strategy, and I cover the pros and cons of it.

The new National Security Strategy

Experts react to Trump’s National Security Strategy...

👍 PROS (Arguments For the Plan)

  • Refocuses U.S. strategy on domestic priorities and the Western Hemisphere.

  • Pushes Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense.

  • Seeks to end prolonged conflicts like Ukraine through negotiation, reducing long-term U.S. commitments.

  • Emphasizes economic strength at home, including trade leverage and industrial capacity.

  • Argues for a more realistic, interest-based foreign policy rather than open-ended global obligations.

  • Tries to reprioritize U.S. attention toward China and the Pacific, which many analysts view as the primary long-term challenge.

👎 CONS (Arguments Against the Plan)

  • Weakens NATO unity and undermines the U.S. commitment to European security.

  • Pressures Ukraine toward territorial concessions, effectively benefiting Russia.

  • Signals a U.S. retreat from leadership in Europe at a dangerous moment.

  • Undercuts the democratic alliance system that has been a core U.S. strength for decades.

  • Risks fracturing the West, creating divisions Russia can exploit.

  • Damages U.S. credibility and moral authority among allies.

  • Encourages Europe to seek strategic autonomy away from the U.S.

  • Potentially reduces long-term American power and influence globally.

Timestamp: (41:33). The follow-up strike in the Caribbean isn’t going away.

Hegseth: Fired military lawyers were potential ‘roadblocks

Timestamp: (52:40). The action off the coast of Venezuela has escalated.

U.S. seizes oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

Timestamp: (1:01:51). The faith message for this week.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

Timestamp: (1:09:54). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:59). The double-strike in the Caribbean, and the moral and Biblical principles that no one seems to be talking about. None of us should be laughing or gleeful. (I’m talking to you, conservatives… You, too, liberals…)

Timestamp: (48:35). Trump’s pardon blunder, and why I”m still mad at conservatives who’ve made politics their idol instead of the Lord Jesus.

Timestamp: (1:02:59). Megyn Kelly’s not-so-Christian rants… And what Pete Hegseth said about ethos and the law of war nine years ago… Exactly what happened to these people? What made them change so much?

Timestamp: (1:11:44). Did Minnesota welfare money go to Somali terror group al Shabaab?

Timestamp: (1:14:40). News speed round.

Timestamp: (1:18:17). The faith message for this week.

Timestamp: (1:32:16). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (1:57). I’m so thankful for this country.

Timestamp: (12:16). The MAGA reign in the House might end sooner than expected.

Timestamp: (17:52). The Trump Administration has decided to go after six Democrats, who advocated against the military obeying “illegal orders” from the President.

Timestamp: (30:03). This is how NOT to push a peace deal… The disastrous week of news for Trump as his team fights among themselves to pursue an elusive peace deal in Ukraine.

Timestamp: (44:05). Just how much foreign influence is going on in our social media landscape these days?

Timestamp: (45:59). It sure seems like we are awfully close to going to war against Venezuela, but I do not believe the Administration has sold this operation to the American people yet.

Timestamp: (49:45). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Timestamp: (54:31). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Timestamp: (1:57). I’m so thankful for this country.

From link above:

Trump’s net worth has grown by $3 billion since he took office. His family businesses are raking in millions in the crypto industry, luxury real estate, and investment deals in the Middle East. The Trump Organization is reported to be in talks with Saudi Arabia on a deal that could bring the Trump brand to a government-owned luxury real estate development, flying in the face of the Constitution’s Foreign Emoluments Clause. Meanwhile, Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House today.

Timestamp: (12:16). The MAGA reign in the House might end sooner than expected.

Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation this week, after President Trump called her a “traitor.” Greene had called for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Timestamp: (17:52). The Trump Administration has decided to go after six Democrats, who advocated against the military obeying “illegal orders” from the President.

Timestamp: (30:03). This is how NOT to push a peace deal… The disastrous week of news for Trump as his team fights among themselves to pursue an elusive peace deal in Ukraine.

Timestamp: (44:05). Just how much foreign influence is going on in our social media landscape these days?

Timestamp: (45:59). It sure seems like we are awfully close to going to war against Venezuela, but I do not believe the Administration has sold this operation to the American people yet.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

Timestamp: (49:45). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (1:53). Is the Jeffrey Epstein saga over? Or just getting started?

Timestamp: (13:17). My “Trump has apexed in power” view from a couple of months ago seems more and more accurate by the day, and the Supreme Court’s looming decision on tariffs, as well as a war in Venezuela and a torn-down East Wing, aren’t going to help things.

Timestamp: (22:03). Israel has shown itself to be dominant in the Middle East, militarily speaking, but its government is on some pretty shaky ground right now, and real peace seems more elusive than ever.

Timestamp: (32:47). China reacts even more forcefully to the comments from Japan last week.

Timestamp: (35:34). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Timestamp: (41:11). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Timestamp: (1:53). Is the Jeffrey Epstein saga over? Or just getting started?

Timestamp: (13:17). My “Trump has apexed in power” view from a couple of months ago seems more and more accurate by the day, and the Supreme Court’s looming decision on tariffs, as well as a war in Venezuela and a torn-down East Wing, aren’t going to help things.

Middle East news:

Timestamp: (22:03). Israel has shown itself to be dominant in the Middle East, militarily speaking, but its government is on some pretty shaky ground right now, and real peace seems more elusive than ever.

Ukraine news:

Timestamp: (29:34). A peace deal in Ukraine looks as elusive as ever, but could more U.S. sanctions happen?

Russian attack kills at least 25 in Ukraine | AP News

China news:

Timestamp: (32:47). China reacts even more forcefully to the comments from Japan last week.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

Timestamp: (35:34). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (5:21). Trump made a couple of big statements the past week that have hurt his political credibility, as well as his standing with MAGA.

Timestamp: (16:59). The U.S. aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, moved into the Caribbean region off the coast of Venezuela this week. An increased military operation against Venezuela seems almost certain at this point, in my opinion.

Timestamp: (21:15). The Trump Administration is about to execute a strong show of force off the coast of the Philippines — a move intended to push back an aggressive China.

Timestamp: (30:26). Our forces and diplomats are working tirelessly (and in dangerous conditions) without sufficient due credit in Syria right now. Let’s talk about it.

Timestamp: (39:17). Two stories about Russia: One funny; one not-so-funny.

Timestamp: (44:05). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Timestamp: (50:28). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

On Wednesday, as I was preparing to record, complete chaos broke out on the Epstein files. It feels like a roller coaster about to go over the edge of that really high climb, except unlike a roller coaster, we don’t know where this one is going to end up at.

Moving along, the longest government shutdown in history has ended.

Was it the filibuster that caused it to end? Or the fact that SNAP benefits (as well as an untold number of regular paychecks to government workers) weren’t going out?

This is a topic of much debate, but let’s hope for some more normalcy in our federal government.

Timestamp: (5:21). Trump made a couple of big statements the past week that have hurt his political credibility, as well as his standing with MAGA.

Two other political stories of note:

Timestamp: (16:59). The U.S. aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, moved into the Caribbean region off the coast of Venezuela this week. An increased military operation against Venezuela seems almost certain at this point, in my opinion.

The New York Times: “The arrival of the Ford and three missile-firing Navy destroyers adds about 5,500 military personnel to a force of 10,000 troops already in the region, roughly half ashore in Puerto Rico and half aboard eight warships. With more than 15,000 military personnel, the U.S. buildup is the largest in the region in decades.”

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said in a statement on Tuesday that the U.S. “forces will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere.”

Timestamp: (21:15). The Trump Administration is about to execute a strong show of force off the coast of the Philippines — a move intended to push back an aggressive China.

Timestamp: (30:26). Our forces and diplomats are working tirelessly (and in dangerous conditions) without sufficient due credit in Syria right now. Let’s talk about it.

Timestamp: (39:17). Two stories about Russia: One funny; one not-so-funny.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

Timestamp: (44:05). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (4:04). Let’s start with some feedback about my “don’t protest” position from last week.

Timestamp: (15:28). I had to take a detour from recording to check on my Dad at the hospital, but let’s take this moment to do a quick sidebar on God’s timing and how he sometimes works out coincidences that defy description.

Timestamp: (19:34). Some insights you may have missed from this week’s consequential elections.

Timestamp: (37:38). The government shutdown is getting more painful, but maybe there’s a glimmer of hope. Plus, is Trump’s tariff plan about to take a big hit?

Timestamp: (50:09). Let’s talk about the Trump-China meeting from last week.

Timestamp: (55:43). The President wants to end the Senate filibuster. The Republicans in the Senate are saying “not so fast.”

Timestamp: (57:49). So are we going to war with Venezuela or not? The President says “no,” but…

Timestamp: (1:01:40). The potential for war in Venezuela isn’t the only thing on the President’s plate. He’s also looking at military options in Africa.

Timestamp: (1:09:15). Israeli military’s ex-top lawyer arrested as scandal over video leak deepens.

Timestamp: (1:11:28). Ukraine scores some big wins this week. Here are several stories that didn’t make the news, but should have.

Timestamp: (1:18:06). The friction inside the Pentagon continues.

Timestamp: (1:24:14). The Right has gone to war with itself among its ranks.

Timestamp: (1:31:05). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Timestamp: (1:40:52). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Timestamp: (4:04). Let’s start with some feedback about my “don’t protest” position from last week.

Timestamp: (19:34). Some insights you may have missed from this week’s consequential elections.

Democrats win big over GOP incumbents in 2 statewide Georgia utility regulator races

Timestamp: (37:38). The government shutdown is getting more painful, but maybe there’s a glimmer of hope. Plus, is Trump’s tariff plan about to take a big hit?

Senators closing in on key piece of shutdown deal

Timestamp: (50:09). Let’s talk about the Trump-China meeting from last week.

Timestamp: (55:43). The President wants to end the Senate filibuster. The Republicans in the Senate are saying “not so fast.”

Timestamp: (57:49). So are we going to war with Venezuela or not? The President says “no,” but…

Timestamp: (1:01:40). The potential for war in Venezuela isn’t the only thing on the President’s plate. He’s also looking at military options in Africa.

Timestamp: (1:09:15). Israeli military’s ex-top lawyer arrested as scandal over video leak deepens.

Ukraine news:

Timestamp: (1:11:28). Ukraine scores some big wins this week. Here are several stories that didn’t make the news, but should have.

Timestamp: (1:18:06). The friction inside the Pentagon continues.

Timestamp: (1:24:14). The Right has gone to war with itself among its ranks.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

Timestamp: (1:31:05). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (6:08). The fact people are too worried to speak out makes me sad; and it’s something that should concern us all.

Timestamp: (9:50). Update on Argentina aid: Trump has now angered many cattle ranchers, as well.

Timestamp: (14:03). Update on the President tearing down the East Wing.

Timestamp: (19:41). Dems pounce on President Trump suing the DOJ for $230 million.

Timestamp: (23:17). The economic headlines right now are just terrible for the Administration, although they did get another rate cut from the Fed.

Timestamp: (29:01). More proof that I was right two weeks ago when I said President Trump was at the apex of his power?

Timestamp: (36:09). Is Trump going to war in Venezuela?

Timestamp: (41:06). With the news of these National Guard “quick reaction forces” trained in riot control, I repeat my most controversial take of the past year.

Timestamp: (48:43). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Timestamp: (57:48). About me, about my books, and a little about the mission.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Some kind words about the last episode

The fact people are too worried to speak out makes me sad; and it’s something that should concern us all.

Update on Argentina aid: Trump has now angered many cattle ranchers, as well.

Update on the President tearing down the East Wing.

Update on the President Trump suing the DOJ for $230 million.

The economic headlines are terrible, although they did get another rate cut from the fed.

More proof that I was right two weeks ago when I said President Trump was at the apex of his power?

Is Trump going to war in Venezuela?

With the news of these National Guard “quick reaction forces” trained in riot control, I repeat my most controversial take of the past year.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome! This is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter. Learn more.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (2:07). This episode isn’t going to seem as balanced as I’d like. So, I start the episode by discussing the claim that “Democrats are providing healthcare for illegals” and name some good things I believe President Trump has done.

Timestamp: (16:30). The Party of law and order is dead under Trump.

Timestamp: (18:37). Let’s talk about the “No kings protest,” and how President Trump and his people responded. And how one former Republican so perfectly explained why she participated in the protest herself.

Timestamp: (43:52). Russia/Ukraine negotiations completely collapse, after Putin calls Trump before the Zelenskyy meeting

Timestamp: (48:55). Donald Trump is suing his own DOJ for $230 million. And his former attorney will make the decision on how much to pay Trump of our taxpayer money — yeah, you read that correctly.

Timestamp: (52:47). Trump may be a salesman, but he definitely undersold the construction project happening at the White House.

Timestamp: (56:04). Could Trump’s unawareness make him the next President Biden?

Timestamp: (58:53). Is there an increasing trend of military uneasiness among the officer ranks?

Timestamp: (1:05:06). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Don’t forget to check out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting, and have sold more than 70,000 copies?!). Amazon link.

Listen to this week’s episode in the player above, or find it by searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen. You can also find the show at the following links: Apple, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

Have a question or comment? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. If you want to possibly be included in a future episode, please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name.)

Want to hear your voice on the air? Send me a voice memo with your question or comment. Keep them short, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Shutting down the shutdown lies

The Republicans aren’t telling you the truth about the shutdown. Below is a couple of sources I cite in my opening monologue. Make sure you listen to the full thing, and don’t just jump to pre-assumed assumptions.

The Party of law and order is dead under Trump

Let’s talk about the “No kings protest,” and how President Trump and his people responded.

Russia/Ukraine negotiations completely collapse, after Putin calls Trump before Zelenskyy meeting

Donald Trump is suing his own DOJ

Trump may be a salesman, but he definitely undersold the construction project happening at the White House

Could Trump’s unawareness make him the next President Biden?

Is there an increasing trend of military uneasiness among the officer ranks?

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

Want to learn more about the Bible,? Check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide (especially if you’re a veteran), please check out this link.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God.

Here are a couple of episodes you don’t want to miss:

  • For the vets out there... Dealing with paranoia, PTSD, and the emotional scars you earned from serving.

  • How it all started: my painful origin story.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

Want to help support the mission?

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, or send tips through Venmo and PayPal.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google.

All posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #NationalSecurity #DefenseNews #MilitaryMatters #Geopolitics #SecurityInsights #ForeignPolicy #VeteransVoice #StanRMitchellShow

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to the show!

I’m Stan R. Mitchell, and this is the place for balanced takes on politics and world news — without the anger or hype. I believe we can stay informed and stay hopeful.

Every episode wraps up with a few minutes of Biblical encouragement to remind us that faith, peace, and perspective still matter.

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or any other channel, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:35). President Trump celebrates a well-deserved victory lap for the ceasefire in Gaza and the return of the hostages. But now, the real work begins, and will the President be there for that?

Timestamp: (18:24). Is the United States about to really ramp up the pressure on Russia to end its war (and invasion) against Ukraine?

Timestamp: (24:58). Are we on the cusp of war in Venezuela?

Timestamp: (32:04). There are several stories brewing that seem to further point to trouble for President Trump. Is he making some devastating political mis-steps right now? And has his power apexed?

Timestamp: (43:59). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe.

You can sign up for free email alerts below if you haven’t already. And if you can chip in some support by subscribing below, I’d be honored.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The Stan R. Mitchell Show wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

The latest map of how forces are currently deployed. inside Gaza.

With Truce in Place, Hamas Pursues Bloody Crackdown on Rivals in Gaza

Now Comes the Hard Part for the Gaza Cease-Fire Plan

US intel guided Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy sites

US intelligence helps Ukraine target Russian energy

Venezuela escalation: President Trump said he was considering expanding his military operations in the Caribbean to include ground strikes in Venezuela.

“We are certainly looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control,” he said.

Trump Offered a Helping Hand to Argentina. It Backfired.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The Stan R. Mitchell Show is a listener-supported show. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to the show!

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or any other channel, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (0:00). Intro and my base views and personal beliefs (for those new to the show or trying to figure out what I’m really about trust me, I’m completely transparent).

Timestamp: (8:24). Programming note: no episode next week! I’ll be on a cruise.

Timestamp: (10:13). About that government shutdown.

Timestamp: (16:58). Let’s talk about the Hegseth/Trump meeting with the 800 generals and admirals. My views probably aren’t what you expect on that, and it’s not a view I’ve seen anywhere. (Maybe it’s the Marine in me?)

Timestamp: (1:01:36). More about the proposed Israel-Gaza peace deal has emerged, and support for the plan seems to be growing.

Timestamp: (1:08:14). How is Europe responding to Russia? And how’s the gasoline shortage in Russia currently going?

Timestamp: (1:16:35). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe.

You can sign up for free email alerts below if you haven’t already. And if you can chip in some support by subscribing below, I’d be honored.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

IMPORTANT PROGRAMMING MESSAGE:

No episode next week; I will be on a cruise!

U.S. news:

Trump’s remarks from 2011.

USA Today: Can undocumented immigrants get ‘free health care’ or Medicaid?

No clapping?

NYTimes: “The Pentagon’s senior military leaders had warned the officers not to react or cheer, per the norms of what is supposed to be a nonpartisan military.”

I respectfully think the fears are over-hyped. The Trump Administration is losing steam. They’re afraid to even have the House in session or seat a newly elected Congress member.

The American people will never give in to a govt that doesn’t respect their voices.

Keep the faith and stay engaged.

Middle East news:

Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, supports Trump’s plan to end the war in Gaza. The deal includes releasing all Israeli hostages and more than 200 Palestinians serving life sentences in Israel, as well as the demilitarization of Gaza.

Potential holdouts for the plan include Hamas and far-right religious nationalists in Netanyahu’s government.

New York Times Editorial: This Terrible War Must End

The war in Gaza, now approaching its second anniversary, needs to end.

It needs to end for the people of Gaza, more than 60,000 of whom — roughly 3 percent of the population — have been killed. The victims include entire families and thousands of children. Neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble. Most Gazans have been displaced from their homes. Starvation and illness haunt the strip.

The war needs to end for the nearly 50 Israeli hostages whom Hamas is still holding in Gaza. Those who remain alive are being held in brutal conditions, often underground, without adequate food. They have been held captive for more than 700 days, since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed about 1,200 Israelis and others.

The war needs to end for the sake of Israel and its security. The horrors that it has inflicted in Gaza have contributed to a sharp decline of support for Israel in the United States and elsewhere. Any additional military gains against Hamas pale in comparison with the long-term strategic threats from global isolation.

Ukraine/Russia news:

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Prayer:

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to the show!

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or any other channel, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (0:00). Intro and my base views and personal beliefs (for those new to the show or trying to figure out what I’m really about trust me, I’m completely transparent).

Timestamp: (8:31). Some thoughts of mine on the future direction of the show, as far as length and going against the trends of our modern-day norms.

Timestamp: (14:36). President Trump tried to cancel Jimmy Kimmel but the American people have spoken, and they’re not having it.

Timestamp: (30:11). Russia threatens NATO and President Trump has finally seen the light on what’s actually happening inside Ukraine, as far as Russia’s war effort.

Timestamp: (50:09). There’s some great news on the Shahed drone front situation in Ukraine.

Timestamp: (51:48). President Trump threatens to go back into Afghanistan a war he helped end. Trump wants to re-take/re-control Bagram Air Base.

Timestamp: (1:00:39). Gaza gets more recognition, and could the war be closer to ending?

Timestamp: (1:04:01). The United States has positioned more military assets in the Caribbean. Is Venezuela closer to being a possible target?

Timestamp: (1:05:37). Let’s end the news portion by covering two cool tech stories you probably haven’t seen.

Timestamp: (1:11:18). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe.

You can sign up for free email alerts below if you haven’t already. And if you can chip in some support by subscribing below, I’d be honored.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Heather Cox Richardson wrote:

In Strength in Numbers, G. Elliott Morris noted that as measured by internet searches for “Cancel Disney+,” the boycott against Disney, the parent company of ABC, is now four times as large as any similar search of a boycott over the past five years. Since ABC suspended comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show—allegedly for his comments about MAGA Republicans’ search for someone to blame, although he frequently skewers Trump and the administration—Disney’s stock has dropped 2% although the market in general is up nearly 1%.

Morris observes that “a lot of powerful people just don’t realize how unpopular Trump is.” He explains that while polls show Trump is deeply unpopular, many people confuse voters with consumers. That is, while polls frequently measure how voters feel about the president, only about 64.1% of American adults eligible to vote went to the polls in 2024. Figuring that number into Trump’s popularity shows that only about 32% of American adults voted for Trump in 2024, while 53% of adults currently disapprove of his performance in the White House, with 48% strongly opposed. So businesses that decide to try to appease Trump voters are making poor business decisions.

Here’s a look at what the worst case scenario would look like:

The reasons for it. And some complications to keep in mind.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to the show!

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or any other channel, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (4:14). The assassination of Charlie Kirk continues to dominate the news, and we really need to address the facts regarding whether or not this is one-sided.

Timestamp: (25:37). Is Russia trying to see how far it can push against NATO? And isn’t the weakness shown by the West just encouraging Putin to push harder?

Timestamp: (46:20). Ukraine has its own plans to end the war.

Timestamp: (56:11). Israel launches its new ground offensive into Gaza city.

Timestamp: (59:30). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe.

You can sign up for free email alerts below if you haven’t already. And if you can chip in some support by subscribing below, I’d be honored.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

So it’s NATO’s fault he couldn’t solve the war in a 24 hours? And to me, this reads like he finally found his escape clause, eight months later. He’s done with the war.

The Economist: The Kremlin’s plot to kill NATO’s credibility

The alliance needs an emphatic response to Russian air incursions

The alliance, and above all America’s president, now face a moment of truth. Unless the response is immediate and unequivocal, weakness is exactly what Russia will surmise.

But now European citizens may fear their borders are not safe. And escalation has already come—from Moscow. If NATO signals timidity, the risk of sleepwalking into a larger war will grow.

The task before Mr Trump is simple. He must find the words that have long failed him and declare that America will uphold its treaty obligations, and defend its allies. Anything less will invite further aggression, not only from Russia but from autocrats elsewhere.

But maybe if they start with this, they’ll have the guts to keep extending it further and further into Ukraine? That may just be the optimist in me talking, but it’s a start.

Middle East news:

News analysis from The New York Times: Netanyahu and an Israel Without Restraint

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to the show!

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or any other channel, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:36). Charlie Kirk was shot and killed, and the threat of increased political violence is soaring.

Timestamp: (17:35). Israel bombs Qatar. And there’s already a lot of reaction and fall-out to this.

Timestamp: (32:48). You won’t believe what Russia did this week.

Timestamp: (35:28). As farmers in places like Arkansas beg for federal intervention, I feel like I have to talk about U.S. AID one more time. Or, maybe I’ll let Marco Rubio speak on it the old Marco Rubio, that is.

Timestamp: (41:07). The sinking of an alleged drug boat is becoming a bigger and bigger story, as it seems it had turned around to head back to shore. And it might not have been a drug boat after all.

Timestamp: (42:58). China is still working hard behind the scenes to exert its influence in the Pacific. Here’s a reminder of just some of what they’re trying to do.

Timestamp: (46:07). How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart

Timestamp: (47:06). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe.

You can sign up for free email alerts below if you haven’t already. And if you can chip in some support by subscribing below, I’d be honored.

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart

The 2019 operation, greenlit by President Trump, sought a strategic edge. It left unarmed North Koreans dead.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to the show!

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or any other channel, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:20). Some feedback from last week, regarding my rant, and a governing philosophy that I think we all need to be reminded of.

Timestamp: (18:45). Let’s talk about the prospect for peace in Ukraine, and how I’m not letting go of the statements made by President Trump when he campaigned.

Timestamp: (29:22). You won’t believe what Russia did this week.

Timestamp: (35:43). Let’s look into how the actions of President Trump are driving India away from the U.S., and into the arms of China and Russia.

Timestamp: (47:15). The Trump Administration sinks what it claims was a drug vessel off the coast of South America, and what that means for our country.

Timestamp: (57:43). Does the Trump Administration still have its eyes on Denmark? And were some kind of influence actions taken there?

Timestamp: (1:04:33). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Why India Should Not Walk Into the China-Russia Trap

Rubio says intercepting drug vessels doesn’t work, blowing them up does

Rubio on Wednesday argued that the traditional policy of intercepting drug-carrying vessels had not worked. Instead, the US is “going to wage war on narco-terrorist organizations.”

“The United States has long, for many, many years, established intelligence that allow us to interdict and stop drug boats. We did that. And it doesn’t work,” Rubio said at a press conference in Mexico City.

“What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them,” he said, arguing that interdiction doesn’t work because drug cartels plan to lose 2% of their cargo.

The top US diplomat said the US had intelligence that the vessel coming from Venezuela, with alleged ties to the criminal organization Tren de Aragua, “was headed towards, eventually, the United States.”

“Instead of interdicting it, on the president’s orders, we blew it up. And it’ll happen again. Maybe it’s happening right now,” Rubio said.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated several Latin American cartels and criminal organizations, including Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to the show!

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (5:51). I haven’t gone on a good rant in a while, but it’s time I go on a good rant about President Trump and the weak leaders around him that enable him.

Timestamp: (35:22). Let’s talk about the prospect for peace in Ukraine, as well as some big weapons news for them.

Timestamp: (41:27). This hasn’t made the news much, but have you seen about the oil situation happening in much of Russia?

Timestamp: (44:10). I meant to squeeze this in earlier, but have you seen what the National Guard is currently doing in Washington, D.C.?

Timestamp: (46:39). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Ukraine news:

What Are the New US ERAM Missiles Ukraine Just Got That Threaten Every Russian Base 400 Km Away

Norway to help Germany pay for Patriot air-defense systems for Ukraine

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (5:20). President Trump has spent a week pursuing peace between Vladimir Putin Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Where does that stand at this point? And what’s my prediction for where this will all I end?

I spent A LOT of time preparing what I think is some of the most-fair, most-indepth, and most thorough reporting out there, and then I squeezed and compressed that into about twenty minutes of tight production, including quotes from leaders and the very latest.

You don’t want to miss this.

Timestamp: (30:23). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Russia Demands Role in Guaranteeing Ukraine’s Postwar Security

European and Ukrainian officials call the idea ludicrous, showing the large gaps in peace negotiations.

Russia’s top diplomat on Wednesday said the country would insist on being a part of any future security guarantees for Ukraine, a condition that European and Ukrainian officials widely see as absurd.

It was the clearest sign yet that enormous gaps remain in the negotiations over a possible end to Russia’s invasion. And it added to the uncertainty over how a European effort to rally a “coalition of the willing” to protect a postwar Ukraine, possibly with Western soldiers stationed inside the country, would fit into President Trump’s plans for a peace deal with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

“Seriously discussing issues of ensuring security without the Russian Federation is a utopia, a road to nowhere,” Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, told reporters in Moscow after a meeting with his Jordanian counterpart.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (6:05). President Trump plans to meet with Vladimir Putin in the coming days. That possibility has gone from terrifying to potentially good. I’ll explain.

Timestamp: (13:44). Russia breaks through Ukraine’s lines (sort of).

Timestamp: (20:26). Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse inside Gaza, Israel proves everyone wrong and burns even more political capital.

Timestamp: (28:14). Two stories about China that barely made the news of late, but which you need to know about.

Timestamp: (36:22). Let’s end with some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Want to know my thoughts about the troops being sent into Washington, D.C.? Make sure you enter your email address below and sign up for email alerts — it’s absolutely free to do so (and I’ll share my thoughts probably by about noon on Thursday, in much more detail than what I can get into on this podcast):

Europe’s Leaders Say They’ve Agreed With Trump on a Strategy for Russia Talks

Russia breaks through Ukraine’s lines (sort of).

Middle East news:

China news:

Philippines Condemns China After South China Sea Collision Captured on Video

Trump’s tariffs are sending African countries into China’s hands

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (5:03). NATO initiative could regularly supply Ukraine with U.S. military equipment

Timestamp: (9:32). President Trump threatens India with 50 percent tariffs and says there will be “a lot more secondary sanctions” levied. Meanwhile, a potential meeting with Vladimir Putin looms.

Timestamp: (20:01). It seems impossible to believe, but could the situation in Gaza get even worse? With threats of an expansion in the war, it seems possible.

Timestamp: (23:57). The crackdown on Hong Kong by China led to more than 10,000 arrests and over 500,000 fleeing for their lives. Their story has lessons for us today.

Timestamp: (31:01). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. and Ukraine news:

NATO initiative could regularly supply Ukraine with U.S. military equipment

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte today (4 August 2025) welcomed the first package of U.S. military equipment for Ukraine coordinated under the new NATO Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative. The Secretary General and the Dutch government confirmed that the Netherlands is funding the first package in full.

“I commend The Netherlands for taking the lead and turning this initiative into concrete support on the ground, building on the steps taken last week by Germany to deliver more Patriot systems to Ukraine,” said the Secretary General.

“This is about getting Ukraine the equipment it urgently needs now to defend itself against Russian aggression. The aim of all Allied assistance to Ukraine is to bring the war to a just and lasting end, in support of President Trump’s peace efforts. I have written to all NATO Allies, urging them to contribute towards this burden sharing initiative, and I expect further significant announcements from other Allies soon,” he added.

Today’s announcement follows the agreement made by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on 14 July 2025. This new initiative is funded by European Allies and Canada, and will consist of regular packages, each worth roughly $500 million, containing equipment and munitions identified by Ukraine as operational priorities. These include capabilities that the United States can provide in greater volumes than Europe and Canada alone. Packages will be prepared rapidly and issued on a regular basis.

At the NATO Summit in The Hague, Allies agreed that the common responsibility of supporting Ukraine must be shared more evenly. “This new initiative delivers on this commitment, and builds directly on key decisions made by leaders in The Hague by increasing defence investment and sustaining support to Ukraine,” said Secretary General Rutte.

NATO will coordinate the delivery of the packages, including through the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) command in Wiesbaden. Working closely with Ukraine and the United States, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich will validate packages that correspond to Ukraine’s needs, such as air defence, ammunition and other critical equipment for rapid delivery from U.S. stockpiles.

The Atlantic Council: Trump offered Putin victory in Ukraine. Why did Putin refuse?

Tymofiy Mylovanov: President, Kyiv School of Economics; Minister of economy, Ukraine, 2019-2020; Associate professor, University of Pittsburgh

Middle East news:

China news:

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you are viewing this on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, etc., you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to learn more about the podcast, and to sign up for free email alerts each week for when the latest episode has dropped.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:56). The pressure ratchets up on Israel as the UK and Canda join France in recognizing a Palestinian state and demanding a ceasefire and an increase in food arrive in Gaza.

Timestamp: (19:16). President Trump shortens Putin’s 50-day deadline, and could this secret weapon help save Ukraine from the escalating drone attacks, which are approaching a thousand a day?

Timestamp: (35:06). Return of the Houthis... And how long will it be before America is dragged back into war again in Yemen?

Timestamp: (44:19). Something that gives me hope about our U.S. military right now.

Timestamp: (52:51). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

If you’re new to the show, here’s what I’m doing.

Each week in my podcast, I cover politics, national security, and obscure military matters outside the news. I also do my best to lower your blood pressure, as I avoid clickbait.

Finally, I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom.

My hope is that you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week. Yes, I work a full-time job and squeeze these podcasts out on my free-time. And yes, I’d like to do this full-time! 🤣

If you’d like to help make that happen, you can support the show in several ways.

My preferred way is for you to subscribe through Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon, if you have an account there: https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Finally, you can send tips through:

  • Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

  • And PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

One final way you can support me is by checking out my books — I’ve written twelve of them (and they’re fast-paced and exciting) on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG—or, you can rate and review the show on APPLE, SPOTIFY, or wherever you listen.

You can listen from this page (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by clicking the links below or searching for The View from the Front wherever you listen:

Have a question? Email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

A big preference is shown toward voice memos that are sent in. Keep them short and pithy, and I might just play them!

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Middle East news:

The Hill: The American right is falling out of love with Israel

Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state, raising allies' pressure on Israel

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN writes of the situation:

How did we get here, where a Jewish democratic state, descended in part from the Holocaust, is engaged in a policy of starvation in a war with Hamas that has become the longest and most deadly war between Israelis and Palestinians in Israel’s history — and shows no sign of ending?

My answer: What makes this war different is that it pits what I believe is the worst, most fanatical and amoral government in Israel’s history against the worst, most fanatical, murderous organization in Palestinian history.

But they are alike not just in the awfulness of their goals — each seeking to wipe out the other to control all the territory from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. They are also guided by leaders who have consistently prioritized their own political survival and ideological obsessions over the basic well-being of their own people — not to mention the interests of the United States.

You may have noticed that this war has no generally accepted name — like the Six-Day War, the Sinai War or the October War. Well, I personally have always had a name for it. It’s the War of the Worst.

This is the first Israeli-Palestinian war where the worst leaders on both sides are calling all the shots. The moderate Israeli opposition parties and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank have no influence. And that is why I cannot tell you how or when it will end. Because Netanyahu still insists on “total victory” over Hamas, which he will never achieve, and the Hamas leadership still insists on surviving this war in order to still control Gaza the morning after, which it does not deserve.

Ukraine news:

Something that gives me hope in regards to our military

Part of his full message:

Now if you’ve read this far, I’m sure you or a loved one was forced out of the military based on the vaccine. I took interest in this initiative because I understand what it’s like to be treated unfairly by the military. I was imprisoned in solitary confinement as a “serious threat” and “flight risk” both which were blatantly untrue… and I would argue illegal. When I got out of the brig, my medical records and investigation were released to a reporter still working in the Pentagon, and ironically, who is still reporting on me.

Why do I point this out… because my impression is that many who exited the service because of poor treatment over the shot refusal want retribution. I get tagged every day with posts questioning when commanders at every level of the military will be thrown in jail for “illegally enforcing the COVID vaccine.” That’s not going to happen. Time to move forward.

  1. For the leaders at every level - restore the trust. Take some time to reach out to that service member you served with and may have been cut short. Extend the olive branch.

  2. Everyone - find some room to forgive…we got bigger threats out there. But let’s not forget and never let this happen again.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not an earthly leader, such as our President or the leader of whatever political party you prefer.

I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. It’s an encouraging pep talk that I believe will help. It also has the hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the link for that page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

If you are viewing this on Apple, YouTube, or any other format, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to go for more information about the podcast.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:17). I thought we’d start the show by talking about gratitude for just a moment, as well as just how mixed up in the head we are here in the West.

Timestamp: (14:18). Republicans flee Congress as the Epstein news continues to rampage through the Trump Administration.

Timestamp: (16:11). In Ukraine news, Ukraine is getting some more air defence, which they drastically need, as well as more tanks. And why did Trump give Russia 50 days? I’ll share one possible reason I hadn’t heard from the great Tom Nichols.

Timestamp: (26:10). Let’s talk about Israel and Gaza for a moment, and the humanitarian catastrophe happening there.

Timestamp: (39:23). Can a “divorce” with China be avoided? Let’s discuss.

Timestamp: (50:37). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a one-time tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

There’s even a PayPal link you can use for one-time tips/support: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front or clicking the links below:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Why 50 days? And not two weeks? And is this Putin’s secret (and only) strategy at this point?

Can we avoid a more-peaceful path forward with China?

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

This week’s theme is on confidence. I wanted to share three verses regarding confidence:

  • I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. — PHILIPPIANS 4:13 NLT

  • Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go;

give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress...

For You have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. — PSALM 71:3, 5 NIV

  • Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. — HEBREWS 10:35 NCV

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏 Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

If you are viewing this on Apple, YouTube, or any other format, you can find the full episode with links to video clips, news articles, and source notes at https://stanrmitchell.substack.com. (This is also the best place to go for more information about the podcast.)

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:36). President Trump authorizes his first series of new weapons to Ukraine.

Timestamp: (12:49). State Department cuts have begun, with more than 1,300 fired last week. Don’t forget the famous words of General “Mad Dog” James Mattis when such cuts occur…

Timestamp: (14:45). Let’s cover some tech news! Three pretty crazy tech stories coming out of Ukraine this past week.

Timestamp: (24:44). The depths to which the Ukrainians will stoop to save Russian lives continues to blow my mind. It’s not even close how ethically the Ukrainians fight compared to the numerous war crimes committed by the Russians.

Timestamp: (37:12). A quick round-up of news about the China threat, none of which has really made mainstream media or broken through, even though one of the news stories involves a 19-nation training operation and more than 35,000 troops the largest ever in Australia.

Timestamp: (43:22). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a one-time tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

There’s even a PayPal link you can use for one-time tips/support: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front or clicking the links below:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Ukraine news:

China news:

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏 Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (0:49). Pete Hegseth undermines the President on weapons shipments to Ukraine. People typically get fired for this, right?

Timestamp: (9:58). President Trump’s patience with Vladimir Putin finally wears out, and Congress may be ready to act on this situation.

Timestamp: (14:09). Four-topic rapid round: Patriot missiles, stubborn Houthis, Russian terrorists, and Western weakness…

Timestamp: (27:50). After decades as enemies, Syria and Israel now share a common foe: Iran. Here’s why.

Timestamp: (35:47). Let’s wrap up the news section by looking at the Pacific and the recent news and threats posed by China.

Timestamp: (43:22). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a one-time tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

There’s even a PayPal link you can use for one-time tips/support: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front or clicking the links below:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Yemen Houthis sink second Red Sea cargo ship in a week

Middle East news:

After Decades as Enemies, Syria and Israel Now Share a Common Foe

The longtime enemies have opened contacts, reflecting a power shift across a Middle East in which they have newfound common ground: antipathy for Iran.

China news:

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

A great reminder (with so many wrapping themselves in the flag and Bible at the same time). Be cautious of such people and whether they speak for the Lord.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏 Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (1:59). The bomb damage assessment (and debate) on Iran continues.

Timestamp: (5:51). Trump backtracks on helping arm Ukraine against aerial attacks from Russia, and the drone attacks worsen significantly.

Timestamp: (22:34). The last segment was pretty bleak about Ukraine — here are three good things that happened this week that will help balance that out.

Timestamp: (31:33). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a one-time tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

There’s even a PayPal link you can use for one-time tips/support: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front or clicking the links below:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Political link that I mentioned in the beginning of the show. Want to know my thoughts on the Big, Beautiful Bill?

Sign up for free email alerts below. I’ll be dropping that article probably on Thursday.

Pentagon halting some promised munitions for Ukraine

The Pentagon has halted shipments of some air defense missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine due to worries that U.S. weapons stockpiles have fallen too low.

The decision was driven by the Pentagon’s policy chief, Elbridge Colby, and was made after a review of Pentagon munitions stockpiles, leading to concerns that the total number of artillery rounds, air defense missiles and precision munitions was sinking, according to three people familiar with the issue.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement the decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe. The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”

Ukrainian forces halt Russian advance in Sumy region

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏 Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (0:22). The insane pace of our news cycles right now, and a historical reminder of how it once was (and why the current way is so bad for our mental health).

Timestamp: (3:16). America bombs Iran, Trump negotiates a ceasefire, and the political fighting about the effectiveness of the strikes takes off. (All in a matter of days.)

Timestamp: (8:08). This is a big victory for the Trump Administration, at least for the moment.

Timestamp: (10:02). But big questions (and obstacles) remain for President Trump. Let’s look at those…

Timestamp: (15:37). Two BIG reasons that we’ll know the truth of how successful the US bombing campaign was against Iran in the coming weeks and months.

Timestamp: (17:46). Three big challenges Trump will now face with Iran.

Timestamp: (25:31). Was this the best week of announcements for Ukraine in nearly a year? Let’s cover three good things that happened for Ukraine.

Timestamp: (30:53). Has Trump changed in his feelings toward Ukraine, following a pivotal NATO meeting in Europe? It certainly seems so.

Timestamp: (38:47). While the world focuses on Iran and Ukraine, China continues to build up its threats (and capacities) toward Taiwan.

Timestamp: (43:32). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some Biblical wisdom (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a one-time tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

There’s even a PayPal link you can use for one-time tips/support: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here (in the player above), or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front or clicking the links below:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Ukraine news:

China news:

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏 Please include at least your first name and city, if you’re okay with me citing/using the information in a future episode. (Or you can share your full name if you want to get a little famous.)

To God be the Glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books. Buying books (or recommending them to a friend) is a great way to support the show.

You can find all of my books on Amazon, by searching my name Stan R. Mitchell, or by following this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Stan-R.-Mitchell/author/B0077BNGPG.

I’ve written 12 of them to date, and they include 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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:11). Where did all the Aghan lovers go?

Timestamp: (9:56). Israel hits Iran.

Timestamp: (13:07). Why now? Why did Israel pick this time to strike?

Timestamp: (17:02). Why is the US being drawn into this war?

Timestamp: (22:26). Trump made two promises he can’t keep when campaigning last year.

Timestamp: (24:13). How bad is this rift in MAGA on a potential joining of the war against Iran?

Timestamp: (33:52). The dangers of mission creep?

Timestamp: (36:59). Why Trump is to blame for this mess; and why he should probably do it.

Timestamp: (43:12). Trump bungles -- badly -- why Russia is no longer in the G7.

Timestamp: (46:37). Ukraine continues to be pummeled by Russia from the air.

Timestamp: (50:05). Russia is gaining ground along the front, and we have to be honest about that.

Timestamp: (51:35). On the bright side, Ukrainian aviation is attacking more Russian frontline positions.

Timestamp: (52:36). Additionally, Ukraine has an idea that might help counter the drone attacks. And I continue to believe that Europe should help defend the skies over Ukraine -- at least over the capital city and the rear areas.

Timestamp: (57:53). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

White House welcomes Afrikaners to the U.S., but drops protection for Afghan allies

Trump is about to cross his base — BIG TIME. No matter what he does, really.

As one analyst said so well…

When he campaigned last year, Trump convinced one set of Americans he was going to be Israel’s biggest ally.

But he convinced another set of Americans that he was totally turning the page on American foreign policy.

And these ideas are not reconcilable.

Trump probably hopes Israel can finish the job, but is not clear that they can.

And Charlie Kirk and other big name MAGA supporters are trying to keep Trump from bombing Iran.

See this poll, which ran on X.

And here’s Charlie Kirk warning what a threat this issue is to Trump and MAGA.

Parades, protests, and BIG problems ahead. Trump's current nightmare examined.

Ukraine news:

Incredible accuracy.

And I had mentioned in my podcast, probably a month or six weeks ago, that Ukrainian air power was increasingly being used in offensive strikes on the front line.

And this appears to be continuing with increasing frequency.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

Let’s end with some notes on faith

Reminder: If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to read some of it for the first time in a while (or maybe ever),check out my resource page here. I know it’s a big book that can seem overwhelming, but that link can help you. And yes, you can read it from a phone, computer, laptop, etc. (See my link above.)

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (1:37). I wanted to share my nuanced, unique take on the situation happening in Los Angeles, looking at it from the perspective of both a vet who served and a Christian who’s listening to both sides of the argument and trying to find some middle ground.

Timestamp: (42:11). Tensions rise again in the Middle East as the potential for conflict with Iran appears to be upon us once again.

Timestamp: (45:42). Several important updates on Ukraine, which have barely made the news.

Timestamp: (49:31). Latvia says Russia is stalling on peace negotiations, Russia makes some notable advances on the ground, and Russia’s economy continues to face a crushing interest rate problem.

Timestamp: (57:40). Russia could send "little green men" to test NATO's resolve, according to German intelligence.

Timestamp: (1:01:37). The U.K., Canada, and other countries impose sanctions on Far-Right Israeli Ministers.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

As immigration raids continue, ICE protests spread coast to coast

How the immigration protests in Los Angeles started

‘A pivotal moment?’ Why many Latino voters in California chose Trump

How previous Presidents spoke on this issue.

US withdraws some diplomats and military families from Middle East amid Iran tensions

Trump has said he’s grown less confident in being able to strike a deal with Iran curbing the country’s nuclear ambitions, saying in a new interview that Tehran could be “delaying” striking an agreement.

“I’m getting more and more less confident about it. They seem to be delaying, and I think that’s a shame, but I’m less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago,” Trump said in an interview with a New York Post podcast that was released earlier on Wednesday.

“Something happened to them, but I am much less confident of a deal being made,” he went on, saying it was his “instincts” telling him a deal was moving further from reach.

Russia Launches Biggest Drone Assault of the War, Ukraine Says

The attack used almost 500 drones and missiles, breaking a record set just days earlier, as Russia tries to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses, which shot down most of the weapons.

Latvia’s foreign minister, Baiba Braže: “Putin is now following step-by-step Russia’s well-worn negotiations manual: issue absurd maximalist demands and blame the other party for not accepting them; concede nothing; continuously delay the process; reset expectations; wait for others to present compromises or concessions; and exploit this as weakness.”

Russia could send "little green men" to test NATO's resolve...

U.K., Canada and Others Impose Sanctions on Far-Right Israeli Ministers

The push to blacklist Mr. Ben-Gvir and Mr. Smotrich had been weeks in the making and underscored Israel’s growing diplomatic isolation. It came after Britain, Canada and France issued a stark statement last month about the treatment of civilians in Gaza.

While the United States did not join the action, British officials said they had sounded out officials in the Trump administration about the proposed move in recent weeks and had not encountered strong resistance.

In their statement, the five countries said that, as of April, extremist Israeli settlers had carried out 1,900 attacks on Palestinian civilians since last year. This violence, and the inexorable expansion of settlements, the statement said, undermined the prospects for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (15:27). Ukraine hits Russia’s strategic bombers, two railroad bridges, and even the Crimean bridge — all within days of each other.

Timestamp: (26:05). MAGA and the far Right are not happy about what Ukraine is doing with these attacks against Russia. Let’s dive into that a bit.

Timestamp: (35:02). Why Ukraine can’t accept Russia’s demands for peace.

Timestamp: (39:31). Drones now cause two-thirds (2/3) of all casualties in Ukraine, and the United Kingdom is about to send Ukraine 100,000 more.

Timestamp: (45:19). Israeli soldiers open fire near Gaza aid site. Gaza officials say 27 are killed. These headlines — and the pressure on Israel — are growing untenable for Netanyahu.

Timestamp: (50:41). U.S. proposes an interim step in Iran Nuclear talks, allowing some enrichment.

Timestamp: (56:26). Let me end by sharing some Biblical wisdom and spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine Says It Struck Crimea Bridge

As Trump Wavers, Europe Is More Optimistic About Defending Ukraine

Despite Mr. Trump’s complaints about Ukraine, the United States has continued to provide intelligence to Kyiv, save for a pause for a few days after Mr. Trump took umbrage with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. It has also delivered weapons and equipment authorized by Congress during former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s administration. But that authorization, about $61 billion, is expected to run out in the next few months, and there is no talk in Washington of another appropriation of funds.

Their expectations have been boosted by Mr. Trump’s overt frustration with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Mr. Putin has intensified the war, hit more civilian targets and begun a summer offensive, rather than agree to Mr. Trump’s desire for a cease-fire and an end to the bloodshed. Ukraine and Russia met Monday in Istanbul for peace talks that yielded little progress.

But the European members of NATO, who also represent the largest and most important members of the European Union, are largely united in their commitment to support Ukraine no matter what Washington decides to do.

Israeli Soldiers Open Fire Near Gaza Aid Site. Gaza Officials Say 27 Are Killed.

It was the second such shooting in three days near a food distribution center, which is part of a contentious new Israeli and American-backed initiative.

These comments below by Tom Friedman from this story. 😳😳I had never even thought about this point he’s making. 🤯🤯

U.S. Proposes Interim Step in Iran Nuclear Talks Allowing Some Enrichment

An outline by the Trump administration would allow Iran to continue enriching uranium at low levels while a broader arrangement is worked out that would block the country’s path to a nuclear weapon.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com

Timestamps for Insider Brief:

Timestamp: (0:06). Can Erik Prince help save Haiti?

Timestamp: (5:20). Germany will help Ukraine produce long-range weapons. Let’s talk about what’s known about this situation.

Timestamp: (6:39). Hegseth diverts a billion dollars from rebuilding old barracks to troops operating on the border. Let’s talk about it.

Timestamp: (8:54). Ukraine and Russia exchange a thousand prisoners. The largest POW exchange to date.

Timestamp: (10:40). Have you heard how large Poland’s army is lately?

Timestamp: (11:51). The shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers opens some nasty possibilities. Let’s talk about that a bit.

Hi everyone!

This is the Insider Brief — a benefit for paid subscribers, who make the show possible.

If you’d like to support the show and want access to the Insider Briefs each week, such as this one, sign up below.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Here’s a list of audio topics (and commentary) covered in this episode.

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:23). Let’s start with some great commentary on the Russia-Ukraine situation, from the perspective of Finland’s President. Here are some great reminders in here that are often forgotten.

Timestamp: (8:42). Russia is raining hellfire on Ukraine. Should countries of Europe send anti-air units and air force squadrons to Ukraine?

Timestamp: (14:23). The United Nations has condemned Israel’s new aid program in Gaza, after a chaotic start. And European countries are increasingly furious. You cannot starve 2 million people in Gaza and expect the world to remain quiet.

Timestamp: (21:11). Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome,” and why I think it’s the dumbest idea ever.

Timestamp: (30:10). North Korea launches a new ship, and it fails spectacularly. And though it’s kind of a humorous story, there are important things we as a nation should learn from this lesson.

Timestamp: (36:39). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Russia is raining hellfire on Ukraine

YEAR AGO, for 30 drones to strike Ukraine in a single night was considered exceptional. Now Russia is saturating Ukraine’s air defences with hundreds of them. On May 25th the Kremlin pummelled the country, with what it called a “massive strike” against Ukrainian cities, featuring 355 drones, probably a record. Russia is using more missiles, too: 69 were fired on the same night. As a result, Ukraine is once again stepping into the unknown. If the current ceasefire talks fail, which seems highly probable, air-defence units will need to ration their interceptors. More Russian missiles and drones will get through, to strike towns, cities and critical industry.

U.N. Condemns Israel’s New Aid Program in Gaza, After Chaotic Start

A chaotic start to a heavily criticized food distribution system. Mounting anger from Europe over its threats to dramatically escalate a ground assault in Gaza. And growing pressure from the United States to reach a truce.

Israel is weathering one of its toughest weeks on the diplomatic stage since the start of the war in Gaza, as its allies, including President Trump, appear increasingly fed up with the protracted war, as well as Israel’s conduct of it.

On Wednesday, the United Nations denounced the new Israeli-backed aid operation in southern Gaza, a day after the chaotic launch of the initiative, when thousands of hungry Palestinians rushed a food distribution site, prompting Israeli forces to fire warning shots.

Israel had barred humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for more than two months, causing widespread hunger, before allowing shipments of food, fuel and other goods to begin flowing in last week. But desperately needed relief — either from the old U.N.-run system or the new Israeli-designed one — has yet to reach many Gazans.

Triple trouble for Israel as its furious allies bail

YOU MIGHT think it would be impossible for the inferno in Israel and Gaza to burn hotter. Yet Binyamin Netanyahu is fuelling three parallel emergencies; a humanitarian one in Gaza, a torching of support among European allies and a constitutional crisis over who controls the security services, army and courts. The pressure on Israel and its institutions is almost unbearable and a culminating moment is probably imminent. But whether that comes in the form of a re-invasion of Gaza which finally ruptures Israel’s alliances and fractures its armed forces and society, or through a U-turn or ceasefire that triggers the prime minister’s political demise, remains dangerously unclear.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God for that — not a country, not a Party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com

Hi everyone!

This is the Insider Brief — a benefit for paid subscribers, who make the show possible.

If you’d like to support the show and want access to the Insider Briefs each week, such as this one, sign up below.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Timestamps for Insider Brief:

Timestamp: (0:13). The United States will no longer say on paper that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “illegal.” Are you kidding me?!

Timestamp: (2:52). Did you hear who the first world leader the new Pope spoke to? Or who he met with in person first?! This will blow your mind and is beyond exciting for those who support and defend democracy.

Timestamp: (4:10). Theo Von speaks out about what’s happening in Gaza. Listen to what he had to say.

Timestamp: (9:30). Denmark has announced a $635 million military aid package for Ukraine, with a major amount of funding going toward maintaining Ukraine's F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet. Denmark has already delivered twelve F-16s to Ukraine, with 19 total pledged.

Timestamp: (10:58). Food rations that could supply 3.5 million people for a month are rotting in warehouses around the world because of US aid cuts.

Timestamp: (12:16). Did you hear about this chips deal the Trump Administration made, and how that could affect the United Arab Emirates, as well as China?

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (2:14). Senator Shaheen rips the Trump Administration for allowing China to be seen as a more responsible partner. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responds to her comments.

Timestamp: (11:57). The Trump Administration makes what appears to be absolutely no gains on a peace deal in Ukraine, because Russia continues to stall and makes excuses — and that’s not me talking. That’s what Ben Shapiro is saying.

Timestamp: (22:24). Learn about Russia’s “spy factory,” which is now no more. It’s an incredible story about spycraft that you’ll want to hear.

Timestamp: (41:35). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? You can email me at stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Exclusive: US suspends some efforts to counter Russian Russian sabotage as Trump moves closer to Putin

The latest on the peace talks between President Trump and Russia and Ukraine.

President Donald J. Trump’s Statement on His Call with President Vladimir Putin

The Spy Factory

Gift link above to The New York Times article that documents what Russia was doing in Brazil with its “spy factory.”

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com

Hi everyone!

This is the Insider Brief. This is a benefit I provide for paid subscribers.

If you’d like access to the full episode and want to support the show, sign up below.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:51). More information has come out on why President Trump stopped bombing the Houthi’s in Yemen.

Timestamp: (11:28). A full update on the chances for peace in Ukraine; there are a lot of mixed signals out there.

Timestamp: (23:22). The world is increasingly speaking out about the dire situation happening in Gaza.

Timestamp: (29:34). We’ll look into claims by Poland’s government that Russian agents burned down a shopping mall.

Timestamp: (34:09). Finally, we’ll look at a couple of controversial things that President Trump is doing in the Middle East.

Timestamp: (40:30). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Ukraine, US sign additional agreements for minerals deal, Economy Ministry says

Ukraine and the U.S. signed two additional agreements on May 13 to formally launch a joint Reconstruction Investment Fund as part of the deal for Ukraine's mineral resources, Ukraine's Economy Ministry said on May 13 during a briefing.

The move follows Ukraine's ratification of the minerals agreement earlier this week, as well as Zelensky's signing of the ratified deal. Ukraine's parliament also on May 13 approved in the first reading changes to the budget code necessary for the fund to operate in Ukraine.

The documents concerning the establishment and operation of the fund were signed between Ukraine's Public-Private Partnerships Agency and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), a key agency of the U.S. government for foreign investment.

The Reconstruction Investment Fund will be jointly managed by Kyiv and Washington under an equal partnership model. Both sides have declined to publicly disclose operational specifics.

The Economist wrote an editorial entitled The war in Gaza must end. Let’s talk about that some.

Poland says Russia recruited arsonists for Warsaw fire on social media

Trump Meets Former Militant Who Now Leads Syria

President Trump’s conversation with President Ahmed al-Shara, who once led a branch of Al Qaeda, was the first time in 25 years that the leaders of the United States and Syria had met.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (1:28). I know there’s a lot going on politically, and it remains a time of great division and fear. Let’s address some of the concerns out there and hopefully lift your spirits.

Timestamp: (9:52). Is the bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen over? Possibly for now. But let’s examine the costs and the likelihood that it’s actually over.

Timestamp: (23:50). Who’s the bigger threat to America? Russia? Or China? For a long time, I said the latter, same as everyone else. But I read an article this week that shook me about this.

Timestamp: (43:36). The Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has survived yet another week, but how strong is his support in the military?

Timestamp: (51:40). Rapid round: Steve Witkof needs to get his act together; India and Pakistan are on the brink of war; President Trump has ordered U.S. intelligence to start spying on Greenland; and finally, there are prelimary talks that the United States might send troops into Gaza to help adminsiter a post-war situation.

Timestamp: (1:00:29). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

A look at the cost of the operations against the Houthis.

First, news broke last week that the Navy lost a $60 to $70 million aircraft.

Here’s how it happened, according to Military.com.

The USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier lost an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet and a tow tractor when both fell overboard on Monday, the Navy said in a statement.

This incident marks the second Super Hornet that the Truman has lost while deployed to the Red Sea, and it is the third major mishap that has occurred aboard the aircraft carrier in the last several months.

"The F/A-18E was actively under tow in the hangar bay when the move crew lost control of the aircraft," the statement said, adding the "sailors towing the aircraft took immediate action to move clear of the aircraft before it fell overboard."

A U.S. official confirmed to Military.com that initial reports indicated the Truman made a hard turn to evade Houthi fire, which contributed to the fighter jet falling overboard.

The Institute for the Study of War claimed that the Houthis “used a complex strike package combining ballistic and cruise missiles and drones to force the USS Harry S. Truman to take evasive action.”

It seems that was a pretty sophisticated attempt by the Houthis.

Back to the cost of this to date, besides losing the fighter jet mentioned above, the Houthis continue to knock out MQ-9 Reaper drones. They’ve now downed seven of them in the past month and a half.

While this is approximately $300 million in losses between the jet and the drones, it hasn’t been the only cost, as we lost another plane this week.

Some articles put the total cost of the attacks against the Houthis as over a billion dollars, when add in the cost of the munitions, missiles, and bombs that we used.

Is China or Russia the bigger threat to the United States? There’s a clear answer.

In other news this weekend, Ukraine made history. (They had previously shot down helicopters, but never a jet.)

In Hegseth news, it appears the troops aren’t buying the act as well as he’d like. A great story below on it, if you have a moment.

Across military Reddit forums and enlisted meme pages, Hegseth has become a regular target of satire, often referred to with nicknames such as "DUI Hire," "Whiskey Leaks" and "Kegseth." The references allude to past controversies, including alleged alcohol abuse and an incident in which he shared sensitive Yemen attack plan details in an unsecured Signal group chat that included a journalist.

Military.com spoke with more than a dozen service members ranging from noncommissioned officers to a general. They were all given anonymity out of concerns over retaliation.

The jabs at and mocking of Hegseth, while not unprecedented for senior military officials, appear unusually persistent and pervasive. Other high-ranking leaders have been the butt of jokes and the target of online irreverence -- such as Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer, the Army's top enlisted leader who was mocked online for his perceived preoccupation with grooming standards -- but those moments have tended to fade quickly.

In Hegseth's case, satire has become part of the daily discourse.

In a recent Reddit post on the Marine Corps forum that featured the reports of Hegseth setting up a makeup studio in the Pentagon, one user quipped “wouldn’t this fall under gender-affirming care?”

India and Pakistan

The Indian government said its forces had struck nine sites in Pakistan

While India in recent years has struck Pakistan-administered Kashmir and areas close to it during periods of rising tensions, the attack on Wednesday included strikes on Punjab, in mainland Pakistan, for the first time in more than half a century.

A couple of things from this week’s Insider Brief for The View from the Front podcast, edition 5-5-25

First, this is huge for Ukraine if this hasn’t been halted yet by the Trump Administration.

From the story:

Ukraine is getting more help in its war with Russia.

A Patriot air-defense system that was based in Israel will be sent to Ukraine after it is refurbished, four current and former U.S. officials said in recent days, and Western allies are discussing the logistics of Germany or Greece giving another one.

The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, declined to describe President Trump’s view of the decision to transfer more Patriot systems to Ukraine.

The White House’s National Security Council does not provide details on the strength and placement of defense systems, said James Hewitt, a spokesman for the council. “President Trump has been clear: he wants the war in Ukraine to end and the killing to stop,” he said.

A former White House official said that the Biden administration had secured the agreement with Israel in September, before the election won by Mr. Trump. The Defense Department said in a statement that “it continues to provide equipment to Ukraine from previously authorized” packages, referring to weaponry pulled from existing inventories and new purchases.

In other weapons news, did you all see this?

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

I also wanted to share some words from Pastor Rich Bitterman (link below):

John tells us that Jesus is also the Baptizer with the Spirit.

He does not merely pardon — He transforms.

He does not merely wipe the slate clean — He breathes new life into the dust of dead souls.

Eyes that once saw nothing but self now see the splendor of God.

Ears once deaf to mercy now hear the music of grace.

Hearts once stone now beat with the pulse of eternity.

Today, Christ stands among us still.

He comes not with crowns or armies.

He comes in preaching.

He comes in Scripture.

He comes in the whispered tug at your heart even now.

You may brush past Him in the crowd.

You may hear the words but close your ears.

You may sit so close to eternity that the hem of His robe could brush your knee — and still turn away.

Or —

You may behold the Lamb.

And live.

Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Look — while there is still time.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:32). A quick reminder on why I do this show each week. And why I talk about foreign policy as the primary subject.

Timestamp: (14:31). Trump hits the 100-day mark, and The Economist paints a dark picture of the Administration’s opening act.

Timestamp: (25:05). As a country, we fumbled the ball on handling China. And now they have the upper hand, and they’re going to seriously embarrass us.

Timestamp: (40:06). The Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has survived another week, and he’s perhaps in the clear for now.

Timestamp: (43:33). Canada selects a new leader, who is defiant in the face of Trump’s claims to making Canada a 51st state. Polls show most Americans are defiant on this issue, as well.

Timestamp: (49:39). Conservatives are growing tired of President Trump’s weakness toward Ukraine, and has a mineral deal been signed between the United States and Ukraine?

Timestamp: (55:56). Ukrainian air power is starting to take a real toll on the Russians… Let’s talk about it.

Timestamp: (1:00:29). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Trump is a revolutionary. Will he succeed? from The Economist.

Eventually, bad polls will impinge on elected officials. America is a federal system that is too big and has too many rival centers of power to become Hungary (whose population is about the same as New Jersey’s). Congress, too, could become a problem for Mr Trump. Republicans have a thin majority in the House and were able to pass a budget framework only because a couple of Democratic representatives had died. Betting markets give Democrats more than an 80% chance of winning back the House next year. Control would enable the Democrats to frustrate Mr Trump, even if he continued to govern by executive order. In the Senate, Republicans are seven votes short of the 60 needed to avoid a filibuster. Those constraints are real.

The last source of resistance is the courts. The law moves slowly, but the Supreme Court has already handed down a 9-0 ruling in the case of a man wrongly deported to El Salvador. As with other institutions, the courts have less to fear from the defiance of an unpopular president. The administration may yet lose cases on tariffs, on the president’s ability to fire officials and close agencies without congressional backing, and on Mr Trump’s scattergun use of break-glass emergency provisos such as the Alien Enemies Act. If that happens, his theory of executive power will be discredited.

Even on the most optimistic reading of the MAGA revolution, Mr Trump has already done lasting harm to America’s institutions, alliances and moral standing. And if he is thwarted by investors, voters or the courts, he is liable to lash out against institutions with even greater ferocity. Using the newly politicised Department of Justice, he may persecute his opponents and stir up the fear and conflict that give him licence to operate. Abroad, he could cause alliance-wrecking provocations in, say, Greenland or Panama. There is no going back to the way America was 100 days ago. Only 1,361 days left.

China, Japan, South Korea will jointly respond to US tariffs

Hainan Island incident

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (3:22). President Trump is pushing a peace deal that completely favors Russia, while also hinting that he’s nearly done trying to bring about peace.

Timestamp: (21:32). Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has shared detailed military plans in a second Signal chat that included his wife and brother, and he appears to be in at least some danger of losing his job.

Timestamp: (29:18). A number of prominent Republicans, including several former members of the first Trump administration, have blasted the President for going after two Republicans within his first Administration.

Timestamp: (40:55). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

It would make perfect sense for Trump to force Rubio to be the messenger on this inability to create a peace deal.

Here’s a quick reminder that this won’t be the first time. This is what Trump said during the State of the Union this year.

The Atlantic: Trump’s Plan to Sell Out Ukraine to Russia

There’s been a lot happen since last Thursday’s podcast.

Here’s a quick rundown on the stories you need to know about, and which I’m tracking for this week’s edition.

The biggest news is Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth shared detailed military plans in a second Signal chat that included his wife and brother.

As CNN reports:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared detailed plans about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen on a second Signal group chat, this one on his personal phone and including his wife, lawyer and brother, three people familiar with the chat told CNN.

The chat was set up during Hegseth’s tumultuous confirmation hearing process as a way for his closest allies to strategize, two of the people familiar with the matter said. But Hegseth continued using the chat, which had more than a dozen people in it, to communicate after he was confirmed, the people said.

The revelation comes as some of Hegseth’s closest advisers have begun sounding the alarm about the secretary’s judgment, including his former press secretary, John Ullyot, and three former senior officials Hegseth fired last week — his top adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll, who served as chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense.

This impossible-to-imagine news has Hegseth on the hot seat. (Or possibly his time is already finished, according to NPR.)

Even before this terrible news broke, Hegseth was having former advisers and strong supporters of President Trump speak out publicly against him.

Check out what John Ullyot wrote in Politico. Ullyot is a former chief Pentagon spokesman and led communications at the National Security Council and the Department of Veterans Affairs in President Donald Trump’s first term.

Besides that, he was a senior communications adviser on Trump’s 2016 campaign.

But last week, Ullyot resigned from the Pentagon and wrote these blistering words in Politico:

The latest flashpoint (for Hegseth) is a near collapse inside the Pentagon’s top ranks. On Friday, Hegseth fired three of his most loyal senior staffers — senior adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, chief of staff to the deputy secretary of Defense. In the aftermath, Defense Department officials working for Hegseth tried to smear the aides anonymously to reporters, claiming they were fired for leaking sensitive information as part of an investigation ordered earlier this month.

Yet none of this is true. While the department said that it would conduct polygraph tests as part of the probe, not one of the three has been given a lie detector test. In fact, at least one of them has told former colleagues that investigators advised him he was about to be cleared officially of any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, Hegseth’s team has developed a habit of spreading flat-out, easily debunked falsehoods anonymously about their colleagues on their way out the door.

On Friday, POLITICO reported that Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, was leaving his role. Kasper had requested the investigation into the Pentagon leaks, which reportedly included military operational plans for the Panama Canal and a pause in the collection of intelligence for Ukraine.

It definitely looks like Hegseth is on his final legs with the Trump Administration, but he still sounds confident:

President Trump also claims — at least for now — that Hegseth is safe and doing a great job.

See here:

While it’s difficult to make a bold prediction, I would think that Hegseth is in trouble.

Hegseth even has the first (or probably many) Congressional Republicans coming out against him.

But the White House pushback is pretty strong.

And you could also argue a couple of things.

First, Trump doesn’t need the distraction with everything going on from Iran talks to strikes against the Houthis.

Secondly, the NPR story only has one source. But I balance out the single source with the fact that I put NPR pretty high on my list of media outlets that I trust. So, I’m skeptical they’d have written such a story without a strong source — especially given how Trump and the GOP are trying to defund them.)

What do you guys think?

UPDATE:

Link to full letter: An Open Letter Opposing White House Retaliatory Investigations

Bill Clinton and Loretta Lynch’s meeting scandal is every Clinton scandal in miniature

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (1:42). President Trump (again) blames Ukraine for starting a war that Ukraine didn’t start.

Timestamp: (3:26). The tariff moves by President Trump have been dizzying.

Timestamp: (7:13). China bans sale of rare earth minerals needed by the defense industry.

Timestamp: (15:18). The latest on the situation with Iran.

Timestamp: (27:11). The Senate confirmed Dan “Razin” Caine, a retired Air Force Lieutenant General, as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Timestamp: (28:41). The war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel grows darker.

Timestamp: (32:09). Could there be a European Army created to replace NATO? And could there be some good that comes from President Trump’s chaotic tariff program and reshuffling of our entire set of alliances and partnerships?

Timestamp: (37:49). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

As a reminder, monthly paid subscribers through Substack also get access to bonus audio summaries and special “Insider Brief” newsletters. These typically drop once a week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

The Consequences of China’s New Rare Earths Export Restrictions

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

To God be the glory,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (2:24). Is the American Age over? And has the United States commited imperial suicide? Let’s talk about it.

Timestamp: (20:22). Moving along, could America bomb Iran in the coming days? The pressure is building, as are the number of U.S. forces in the region.

Timestamp: (23:59). Back to our continent, why is it we need Greenland again? One of our top commanders says we already have what we need.

Timestamp: (30:54). Bigger isn’t always better? The Secretary of Defense is looking at plans to cut the Army by 90,000. Let’s discuss this news and why.

Timestamp: (33:09). Who needs peace? Russia is now saying that a peace deal with Ukraine may not happen in 2025 at all. Or if it does, it will be late fall.

Timestamp: (37:22). The strikes against the Houthis in Yemen are proving quite expensive. Guess how many $30 million Reaper drones we’ve lost?

Timestamp: (42:23). In other news, Estonia makes a bold move against ships that are threatening undersea cables.

Timestamp: (45:36). Finally, China is making some bigger threats against Taiwan, and the United States is shifting more focus toward the area.

Timestamp: (52:33). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

The American Age is over… Or is it?

China news:

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

From Bible devotional: Reading the Bible has a purifying effect upon the heart and mind.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #Iran #Israel #Christian #Christianity #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (1:07). A recap of the past week's political news, from election results to tariffs, and what that means for the country. I also make a bold prediction about Trump being at the apex of his power. Do you agree or disagree with the argument I’ve laid out?

Timestamp: (23:31). Why is such a large build up of U.S. military forces happening in the Middle East? I lay out three possible theories/opponents.

Timestamp: (31:15). The latest on the negotiations with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Timestamp: (35:06). What is Pete Hegseth doing?!

Timestamp: (43:18). Greenland and Canada… Both are still on the acquisition list of Trump. And as Americans, we need to examine our souls… I’m not even kidding. This stuff is getting out of control.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

In other big news, Senator Cory Booker made history with the longest Senate floor speech in protest of Trump agenda. It lasted more than 25 hours.

I listened to several parts of it, and it was actually quite good. Here’s a few examples:

Moving along, I mentioned last week that some on the Right aren’t happy with the attacks on due process.

Those folks are increasingly speaking out.

US moves B-2 stealth bombers to Indian Ocean island in massive show of force to Houthis, Iran

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

These two next posts: they explain a lot.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: (0:24). It’s political madness in America right now, but here’s some hope for you.

Timestamp: (7:16). The tariff math isn’t adding up… Replacing Europe and Canada with Russia and the Middle East? Let’s look at the numbers…

Timestamp: (15:28). Are we any closer to a peace deal in Ukraine?

Timestamp: (24:39). The Trump Administration isn’t flinching at all on “due process,” or lack thereof.

Timestamp: (40:16). War plans on Signal? Seriously?

Timestamp: (48:19). What’s going on in Turkey? And what’s that about the F-35?!

Timestamp: (51:55). We have updated war plans for where?! Are you kidding me?!

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

If you’re new to the show, let me say this. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some verses from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Read the Full Text Chain From Trump Officials' Group Chat

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamp: (0:36). President Trump has his big call with Vladimir Putin.

Timestamp: (15:49). The 80-year history we’re walking away from in Europe, and some additional evidence of how Putin has tricked previous American presidents. Both Republicans and Democrats.

Timestamp: (24:18). Our country is at the brink. And it’s time we start paying attention. The Trump Administration has now gone after the very fundamental right of “due process” — our entire legal foundation.

Timestamp: (45:54). Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:18. In a pivotal Saudi meeting, Ukraine agrees to a 30-day ceasefire.

Timestamp: 12:58. Ukraine gets pushed out of Kursk.

Timestamp: 14:43. Europe advances without the United States.

Timestamp: 20:58. The ugly realities of Trump’s new defense posture.

Timestamp: 37:13. The best explanation of Trump’s new foreign policy (by Steve Bannon).

Timestamp: 41:53. China threatens Australia with unannounced, terrifying voyage around the country.

Timestamp: 46:32. Elon Musk calls Senator Mark Kelly a traitor.

Timestamp: 53:19. Europe talks, at least some, about a no-fly-zone in Ukraine.

Timestamp: 1:13:28. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Trump's national security adviser: 'I don't think there's any plans to invade Canada'

Dem seeks to halt Trump from 'invading' Greenland, Canada and Panama

Steven Bannon explaining new defense posture below. (Timestamp: 27:10 -28:40)

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

Yesterday, I wasted too much time on TikTok, Netflix, and other silly things. And instead of feeling bliss and happiness at the end of it all, I felt like it was a total waste. In was reminded in my devotional that we are designed to spend time with God, serving His purpose. Don’t waste your time.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 4:31. “Save Ukraine, save the world.” Rick Wilson makes the strong case for why the fight in Ukraine is so pivotal.

Timestamp: 11:26. Other American leaders, including Republicans and Dems, as well as The Wall Street Journal editorial page, react to the meeting between Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vance. You have to hear what they’re saying.

Timestamp: 33:27. The fallout from the Friday “Oval Office brawl,” as the WSJ coined it, continues. Here’s what Senate leaders, prominent conservative media voices, and even current Trump Cabinet members are saying.

Timestamp: 45:24. The United States, under the leadership of Donald Trump, has said it will stop sharing intelligence with Ukraine, regarding Russian troop formations and possibly even missile and drone attacks. Here’s what this means.

Timestamp: 56:01. Despite all of the above, not everything is going bad for Ukraine. Here’s some news you probably haven’t heard.

Timestamp: 1:05:46. Five former Secretaries of Defense call on Congress to exercise oversight responsibility on Trump’s firing of senior military leaders. Wait until you hear about their letter.

Timestamp: 1:13:28. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

Rick Wilson: Save Ukraine, Save The World.

WSJ editorial: Toward the end of his on-camera, Oval Office brawl with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, President Trump quipped that it was “great television.” He’s right about that. But the point of the meeting was supposed to be progress toward an honorable peace for Ukraine, and in the event the winner was Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

After the meeting, The Economist recapped what followed in the deluge of worldwide support for Ukraine:

Sir Keir Starmer, Britain’s prime minister, told Volodymyr Zelensky that the country would support Ukraine “for as long as it may take”. The Ukrainian president is in London for an impromptu European defence summit on Sunday. On Friday, at an acrimonious meeting at the White House, President Donald Trump and Mr Zelensky clashed over a possible peace deal with Russia, and abandoned the signing of a deal giving America access to Ukraine’s rare minerals.

European leaders rallied behind the Ukrainian president. Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor, said that “Ukraine can rely on Germany—and on Europe”. Kaja Kallas, Europe’s foreign-policy chief, said “the free world needs a new leader”. Mark Rutte, the secretary-general of NATO, told the BBC, however, that Mr Zelensky should “restore his relationship” with Mr Trump.

Fire Engulfs Russian Oil Refinery 900 Miles From Ukraine

This is the first strike on Ufa oil refinery, and it's also the furthest targeted one.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 9:57. My take on the state of our country. How worried should you be? How bad is it?

Timestamp: 23:09. Would the military use force against American civilians? Would they actually follow unlawful orders?

Timestamp: 38:12. Trump reaches a deal — sort of — with Ukraine.

Timestamp: 45:11. The military leadership at the Pentagon undergoes major changes under Trump and Pete Hegseth. Who was fired and why this happened, according to Pete Hegseth.

Timestamp: 48:33. America votes AGAINST calling Russia the aggressor and asking for it to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

Timestamp: 50:05. Zelensky says he is ready to step down for peace in Ukraine.

Timestamp: 51:30. Europe steps up as the United States steps back in Ukraine.

Timestamp: 52:50. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Emergency pod on the Ukraine negotiations. Please listen above, or at one of the stations/channels listed below.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 6:36. You won’t believe what President Trump and the Secretary of Defense are asking the Department of Defense and the Pentagon to do...

Timestamp: 16:04. What is going on with these peace negotiations regarding Ukraine? And what is causing President Trump to take the stance that he’s taking?

Timestamp: 1:04:40. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Trump administration orders Pentagon to plan for sweeping budget cuts

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered senior leaders at the Pentagon and throughout the U.S. military to develop plans for cutting 8 percent from the defense budget in each of the next five years, according to a memo obtained by The Washington Post and officials familiar with the matter — a striking proposal certain to face internal resistance and strident bipartisan opposition in Congress.

Hegseth ordered the proposed cuts to be drawn up by Monday, according to the memo, which is dated Tuesday andincludes a list of 17 categories that the Trump administration wants exempted. Among them: operations at the southern U.S. border, modernization of nuclear weapons and missile defense, and acquisition of submarines, one-way attack drones and other munitions.

Robert G. Salesses, a senior Pentagon official, said in a statement that the money saved could be “realigned” to pay for new priorities in the Trump administration, including the “Iron Dome for America,” President Donald Trump’s catchphrase for an expansive missile defense system. That sum could amount to $50 billion in next year’s budget, he said.

The Pentagon budget for 2025 is about $850 billion, with broad consensus on Capitol Hill that extensive spending is necessary to deter threats posed by China and Russia, in particular. If adopted in full, the cuts would include tens of billions of dollars in each of the next five years.

This morning’s “peace” talks between the Trump team and Russia are going as described below, according to Fox News’s Jacqui Heinrich reports:

The US and Russia are proposing a three-stage peace plan, according to multiple foreign diplomatic sources close to the talks in Saudi Arabia. The plan includes a ceasefire, elections in Ukraine, then signing of a final agreement.

Multiple foreign diplomatic sources tell FOX the US and Russia consider holding new elections in Ukraine to be a key condition for the success of the settlement process. This piece is certain to stir controversy, as Russia does not hold true elections and the Ukrainians balk at the prospect of installing a pro-Russia puppet president.

Trump and his aides believe that the price of defending Europe is too high — New York Times

In addition, Trump and his advisers believe that a settlement with Moscow will allow the U.S. to redirect security resources towards China, which they consider a greater threat.

Pre-summit meeting coverage that I quote from:

As U.S. and Putin negotiate, intel shows he's not interested 'in a real peace deal,' sources say

Kremlin Message to Trump: There’s Money to Be Made in Russia

“Donald trump is reflexively a contrarian.” — “General HR. McMaster, who was National Security Advisor from 2017 to 2018.”

Trump learns conversationally.

What’s in it for us? Why do we care? How much does it cost? How can we get people to pay more?

Trump is transactional. What’s in it for us.

What is Zelensky's actual approval rating in Ukraine? About 57 percent.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 12:54. The Secretary of Defense has made some moves this week that deserve applause. Let’s highlight a few before we get into more critical coverage.

Timestamp: 17:37. The Trump Administration dropped its first negotiating lines regarding Ukraine. I share what Trump and Secretary Hegseth are saying, plus my thoughts and those of some other analysts.

Timestamp: 32:15. The Secretary of Defense has described how American forces will be deployed across Africa and Europe in the near future. You might be surprised by what he said.

Timestamp: 36:01. The disruption of USAID has caused much damage, and even put lives at risk. Here’s the latest on that increasingly explosive news.

Timestamp: 54:16. Two bits of positive Ukraine news that haven’t really made the news.

Timestamp: 58:11. Here are three pieces of news coming out of China that haven’t gotten enough attention.

Timestamp: 1:06:58. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Links to my preliminary thoughts.

U.S. news:

Pentagon to restore Fort Liberty's name to Fort Bragg

Defense Secretary Discusses Force Posturing in Africa, Europe

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today spoke about DOD's force posturing priorities on the European and African continents while meeting with members of the media during a visit to U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany

When asked whether visiting Africom on his first overseas trip as defense secretary should be taken as a sign that U.S. strategic aims in Africa are changing, Hegseth pointed to the threat posed by China in that region.

He said China's intentions are pernicious, not just in their part of the world but also on the African continent.

"And America's posture there, along with allies and partners, is going to matter contesting that space. So, it certainly remains a priority," he continued.

In addition to continually monitoring China's presence in Africa, Hegseth said force posturing in Africom's area of responsibility is countering the ongoing terror threat in that region.

As an example of this, he pointed to the Feb. 1, 2025, airstrikes against ISIS targets in Somalia that Africom coordinated in conjunction with the Federal Government of Somalia.

Hegseth said the operation was an example of DOD returning tactical decision-making authority to senior military commanders.

"That's a reflection … of pushing authority down untying the hands of warfighters," he said. "[Such decisions] should be made at the four-star level or at the Secretary of Defense level more quickly based on the ability to degrade the enemy," he added.

Regarding troop posturing in the European area of responsibility, Hegseth — who visited U.S. European Command earlier in the day — said there are currently no plans to shift forces from Europe to the Indo-Pacific region to deal with the emerging threat from China. He added that force posturing across the world will be reviewed.

The secretary said peacefully ending the war in Ukraine and ensuring European NATO countries raise their defense spending to sufficient levels would need to occur before the U.S. would consider any significant re-posturing of forces.

Hegseth clarified that any future re-posturing of U.S. forces in Europe should not be viewed as an abandonment of America's allies.

"We would be remiss in not reviewing force posture everywhere, but it would be the wrong planning assumption to say, 'America is abandoning [Europe]' or 'America is leaving.' No, America is smart to observe, plan, prioritize and project power to deter conflict," Hegseth said.

"Being strong — peace through strength — is how you deter that," he continued.

Video:

Politico piece: ‘Americans Can and Will Die from This’: USAID Worker Details Dangers, Chaos

USAID Kept My Troops Safe in Afghanistan

Almost $500 million in food is at risk of spoilage after USAID pause, report says

Almost $500 million in food aid is at risk of spoilage as it sits in ports, ships and warehouses after funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, was paused by the Trump administration, according to a Feb. 10 report from a government watchdog.

The report from USAID's inspector general highlighted the risks of "safeguarding and distribution" of $8.2 billion in unspent humanitarian aid after the Trump administration ordered almost all staff to be placed on leave and ordered a review of U.S. foreign assistance programs.

USAID, which provides humanitarian aid to more than 100 countries, buys food directly from U.S. farmers and manufacturers, which have typically provided about 40% of international food assistance, according to a 2021 report from the Congressional Research Service. With USAID funding paused, there is concern among U.S. farmers about the market for some of their products, including Kansas sorghum producers, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.

While the future of USAID's funding and its purchases from U.S. farmers remains unclear, there is currently $489 million worth of food sitting "at ports, in transit, and in warehouses at risk of spoilage, unanticipated storage needs, and diversion," the Feb. 10 USAID inspector general report said.

Ukraine news:

China news:

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

What an incredible prayer and reminder. Thank you.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

For $5 per month, you can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

Also for $5 per month, you can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or you can send a tip of any amount through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchellor PayPal: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell. This would be like throwing some money in a hat for a performer in a town square.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:41. President Trump announces his Gaza plan.

Timestamp: 12:40. Greenland remains on the table for America, too.

Timestamp: 17:16. Trump and Elon take a hatchet to US Aid.

Timestamp: 20:51. Tucker Carlson made some false claims about Ukraine again in an interview with Piers Morgan. Let’s set the record straight.

Timestamp: 27:43. Ukraine has stalled out Russia’s offensives, across the entire front line, thanks to some deep strikes against Russian oil depots.

Timestamp: 35:20. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

My thoughts on the FBI purge and other political news below:

Trump says America should take over Gaza and relocate the Palestinians there.

Trump’s Gaza plan has stunned the region. Here’s a look at the serious obstacles

Full List of Republicans Breaking with Trump Over Gaza

Ukraine news:

US arms shipments to Kyiv briefly paused before resuming over weekend, sources say

U.S. shipments of weapons into Ukraine were briefly paused in recent days before resuming over the weekend as the Trump administration debated its policy towards Kyiv, according to four people briefed on the matter.

Shipments restarted after the White House pulled back on its initial assessment to stop all aid to Ukraine, two of the sources said.

There are factions inside the administration that are at odds over the extent to which the U.S. should continue to aid Kyiv's war effort with weapons from U.S. stocks, said one of the people, a U.S. official.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that he can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shephard. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:46. The Trump Administration orders halt to almost all foreign aid, with the exception of military assistance to Israel and Egypt. The Administration has also demanded NATO countries increase defense spending to 5% -- an amount higher than even the U.S. spends.

Timestamp: 4:15. Pete Hegseth is narrowly selected as the next Secretary of Defense. Let’s dig into what that means both broadly and narrowly speaking, and also look at the move to transfer troops to the southern border.

Timestamp: 15:48. Trump makes two moves that upset some, with his decision to remove protection from some former Administration officials and his announcement that he would investigate General Mark Milley.

Timestamp: 35:46. How heavy-handed will President Trump’s foreign policy be? And how effective will that be? The balancing act confronting America (and the world).

Timestamp: 42:44. Trump proposes moving Palestinians out of Gaza and into countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Here’s why those countries likely won’t be on board with that plan.

Timestamp: 46:14. The latest on the peace deal that Trump is pursuing between Ukraine and Russia.

Timestamp: 53:20. Things are almost eerily quiet right now with China and the United States.

Timestamp: 53:39. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Trump makes his first foreign policy moves. 0:46 min timestamp.

Pete Hegseth is narrowly selected as the next Secretary of Defense. Let’s dig into what that means both broadly and narrowly speaking, and also look at the move to transfer troops to the southern border. Timestamp: 4:15.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Begins 'Most Important Deployment of My Life'

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was sworn into his new role leading America's 3.5 million service members and civilians by Vice President JD Vance this morning, following Hegseth's Friday evening Senate confirmation.

"When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense," Hegseth said during his Jan. 14 confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"He, like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on lethality, meritocracy, warfighting, accountability and readiness."

Hegseth listed restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence as the ingredients needed to bring back warfighting.

Calling himself a change agent, Hegseth outlined a vision of a culture of accountability, high standards, performance, readiness, rapid innovation and merit across the Defense Department.

"We share the same goals," he told the committee. "A ready, lethal military; the health and well-being of our troops; and a strong and secure America."

He also said he would trim the bureaucracy and reallocate resources to the warfighter.

"We won World War II with seven four-star generals," he said. "Today we have 44. … There is an inverse relationship between the size of staffs and victory on the battlefield. We do not need more bureaucracy at the top. We need more warfighters empowered at the bottom. So, it is going to be my job … to identify those places where fat can be cut, so it can go toward lethality."

A former Army National Guard officer, Hegseth, 44, served as an infantryman leading troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and guarding detainees at Guantanamo Bay. His military awards include two Bronze Star Medals, the Joint Commendation Medal, two Army Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Expert Infantryman Badge.

Hegseth said his role as the 29th secretary of defense is "the most important deployment of my life."

Hailing from Minnesota, Hegseth graduated from Princeton University in 2003 and earned a master's degree from Harvard University in 2013. He has led organizations advocating for veterans, served as a Fox News host and published several books.

Hegseth and his wife, Jennifer, have seven children.

Hegseth Arrives at Pentagon, Says Warfighters Are 'Ready to Go'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon today and said improving lethality, warfighting and readiness are the main lines of effort he will pursue while in office.

Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, greeted Hegseth as he arrived at the Pentagon. The defense secretary spoke to about 30 members of the press before entering the building.

"It's an honor to serve on behalf of the president and serve on behalf of the country," Hegseth said. "In talking to the chairman and so many other folks here, we're in capable hands. The warfighters are ready to go."

President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency on the southern border. Hegseth said the "protection of the sovereign territory of the United States is the job of the Defense Department." He said he was pleased the Pentagon "snapped to" last week, providing troops to strengthen the border barrier and transportation "for the mass deportation effort."

"Whatever is needed at the border will be provided," Hegseth said. "Whether that is through state active duty, Title 32 or Title 10. This is a shift: This is not the way it was done in the past. The Defense Department will support the defense of the territorial integrity of the United States of America's southern border, including reservists, National Guardsmen and active-duty in compliance with the Constitution and the laws of our land, and the directives of the commander in chief."

Other areas the secretary will study include reinstating troops that were pushed out because of COVID-19 vaccination mandates and developing an Iron Dome anti-missile system for the United States.

Hegseth said he is focused on the men and women in uniform.

"Our job is lethality and readiness and warfighting. [The United States] will be no better friend to our allies and no stronger adversary to those who want to test us and try us," he said. "I look forward to serving the troops, the warriors of this department. It's the honor of a lifetime, and we're going to get to work. God bless you all."

Trump makes two moves that upset some, with his decision to remove protection from some former Administration officials and his announcement that he would investigate General Mark Milley. Timestamp: 15:48.

Adam Kinzinger‬: ‪”There is only one reason Trump pulled the security off Pompeo and Bolton…to put them in danger for “crossing him.” To send a message to anyone else who would oppose. Both have active death threats from Iran. All to intimidate.”

How heavy-handed will President Trump’s foreign policy be? And how effective will that be? The balancing act confronting America (and the world). Timestamp: 35:46.

Let’s talk about what happened with Colombia and what might happen elsewhere.

“It is much better to have friends and allies in the world than countries that do your bidding, while seething with resentment, only because they are smaller and weaker.” — Atticus Finch (of Georgia)

Middle East news:

Trump proposes moving Palestinians out of Gaza and into countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Here’s why those countries likely won’t be on board with that plan. Timestamp: 42:44.

Source for that reporting:

Ukraine news:

Donald Trump's '100 Day' Ukraine Peace Plan Leaked: Report

China news:

Things are almost eerily quiet right now with China and the United States. Timestamp: 53:20.

Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

As you know, if you want true peace,I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. I believe that not only can God give you ever-lasting life, but that He can also give you peace in this life. God is like a good shepherd. He leads you by the still waters. He restores your soul. He guides you out of the death and destruction of sin. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out,check out my resource page here.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:29. Let’s begin with some great feedback from the last show.

Timestamp: 13:58. Why I’m a moderate, why both political parties drive me crazy, and what George Washington said about political parties… A mini-rant, if you will, quoting Washington from back in 1799.

Timestamp: 16:48. President Trump is sworn in and begins his second term. My overview of that and a deeper look at his desire to take back the Panama Canal.

Timestamp: 26:14. Let’s cover the latest news in Ukraine since Trump has taken office, as he has ended funding temporarily and is now moving toward trying to make a peace deal.

Timestamp: 34:15. A Ukrainian pilot has made history by shooting down six Russian cruise missiles during a single mission in December

Timestamp: 37:02. A brief update on the Israel-Gaza situation.

Timestamp: 42:55. Trump says he's considering a 10% tariff on China beginning as soon as Feb. 1. How will that be taken by China? And how will Trump react when China acts aggressively around Taiwan or the Philippines, now that there’s a new sheriff at the helm, so to speak, in the United States.

Timestamp: 46:01. Let me end by sharing some spiritual encouragement for you all out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Trump’s ambition to retake the Panama Canal could have a heavy cost

Ukraine news:

In historic record, Ukrainian F-16 pilot downs 6 cruise missiles

Middle East news:

First 3 hostages arrive in Israel after Hamas release. Here is what we know.

After 15 months of war, Hamas still rules over what remains of Gaza

Trump 'not confident' Israel-Hamas ceasefire will hold as truce enters third day

China news:

Trump says he's considering a 10% tariff on China beginning as soon as Feb. 1

Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there.

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:15. Let’s talk about the Pete Hegseth nomination, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense.

Timestamp: 10:08. Zelensky has ordered the suspension of the creation of new brigades, directing new reinforcements to already experienced and combat-ready units.

Timestamp: 12:34. Biden admin imposes harsh sanctions on Russian oil industry to cut off funding for Ukraine war effort.

Timestamp: 14:20. Both Ukraine and Russia are exchanging brutal aerial attacks that are harming their economy.

Timestamp: 15:54. Some front-line reporting has emerged on how North Korean troops are doing.

Timestamp: 22:24. Secratary of Defense Lloyd Austin tries to rally Europe on his way out.

Timestamp: 24:57. Both China and Japan make large purchases of landing ships.

Timestamp: 27:16. Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Israel and Hamas agree to deal for ceasefire in Gaza, release of hostages

When Will Trump Take Office? All You Need to Know About the Inauguration

How Hegseth's controversial religious views could affect military leadership

Ukraine news:

Austin to Convene Ukraine Coalition Group to Map Country's Future Defense Needs, Objectives

Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there. (Please listen to podcast episode recorded above.)

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 6:02. Tonight was a different kind of show, with just me providing my thoughts on the statements from President Trump about Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada. I hope what I have to say really makes you think on the topic in a different way.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Reminder: Three weeks ago, I said the drones weren’t a big deal and were being over-hyped. (See below, beginning at timestamp 4:39.)

'The Common Defense': Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Reagan National Defense Forum (As Delivered)

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. I also have listed a hotline that you can call, whether you’re a service member or just a civilian. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:09. US announces $2.5 billion in new Ukraine aid

Timestamp: 6:07. Ukraine shows Russia it has moves it can make on the world’s chessboard, as well, as it offers a massive food aid package to Syria and opens an honorary consulate there. It also is asking the rebels in charge of the country to close the Russian bases inside Syria.

Timestamp: 8:34. Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing hard-won land in Kursk to Russia. Plus, the 2024 summary of how much land Russia captured inside Ukraine, how many troops it lost in doing so, and how Russia’s momentum is slowing.

Timestamp: 15:43. Finland seizes a Russian ship after another cable was cut in an undersea power cable.

Timestamp: 20:02. A Ukrainian sea drone has just downed a Russian helicopter, while damaging a second one, in what is a “historic first” in the art of warfare.

Timestamp: 29:30. Ukraine has now begun arming some of its drones with shotguns to take down Russia’s drones.

Timestamp: 34:32. Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

US announces $2.5 billion in new Ukraine aid

The United States Monday announced nearly $2.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine as part of a surge of assistance in the waning days of the Biden administration.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the aid includes air defense munitions, counter-drone munitions, ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, anti-tank weapons and artillery munitions.

U.S. President Joe Biden said the aid “will provide Ukraine with both an immediate influx of capabilities that it continues to use to great effect on the battlefield and longer-term supplies of air defense, artillery, and other critical weapons systems.”

Bloodied Ukrainian troops risk losing hard-won land in Kursk to Russia

What to know about Finland, Russia's 'shadow fleet' and a severed undersea cable

As Finland seizes Russian ship, Estonia launches naval patrols

One of Ukraine’s drone boats just shot down a Russian helicopter, while damaging a second Russian helicopter

Exclusive: Rare access to Ukraine’s sea drones, part of Ukraine’s fightback in the Black Sea

Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there. (Please listen to podcast episode recorded above.)

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Christian or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

This week, I have a special edition of the show. I interview Christian Ray Flores about his perspective in regard to why so many Russians actually support Vladimir Putin, and why Russia is fighting so hard — sending so many of its men to fight (and die) in Ukraine.

Honest to goodness, for the first time, it makes sense to me.

Flores lived in Russia for twenty years, and he knows the country well and has many friends still there. (Some who even still serve in legislative bodies.)

Flores also knows a lot about loving America.

He has witnessed a military coup in Chile, a civil war in Mozambique, and the fall of the USSR while he lived there.

In fact, all of this led to him writing a book called the “Little Book of Big Reasons to Love America: A Love Letter from an Immigrant.”

I think you’ll learn a lot about Russia and why we shouldn’t take America for granted by the time you end the show.

I really hope you enjoy the interview.

Here’s his book that we discuss:

And here is the Xponential Scorecard Assessment that he discusses toward the end of the episode.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

By the way, if you’re dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide, I have a link I’d like you to check out. In fact, it’s an entire page long. A pep talk, if you will, that I believe will help. Here’s the page: PTSD.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: stanrmitchell2012@gmail.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. 👊💓🙏

May God bless you,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 4:39. Let’s cover this drone hysteria happening over New Jersey and other states.

Timestamp: 11:57. The share of Americans who want to see the US more engaged in international events is on the rise, growing by 15 percentage points to 57% in the last year, according to a survey conducted after the November election.

Timestamp: 19:16. Three stories about Ukraine you need to know about, and a heck of a rant about my frustrations with Americans who don’t want to support aiding Ukraine.

Timestamp: 46:49. Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Feedback on the last episode:

U.S. news:

Let’s address the hysteria over drones.

Ukraine news:

Russian oil tankers split in two by strong storms in the Black Sea

Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. : )

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:02. Bashar al-Assad flees Syria more than 13 years after an uprising against him began during the Arab Spring.

Timestamp: 3:07. US Mission to defeat ISIS remains ongoing in Syria. Is the US helping to destroy chemical weapons in Syria?

Timestamp: 8:42. What the downfall of the Syrian government means in a larger context -- both for the world and for Russia. Also, how it affects Russia’s ability to project power, as well as the reputation African countries perceive Russia to have. (Could Russia save them if Russia couldn’t save Syria?)

Timestamp: 16:52. Of the Arab Spring countries… Following brave and dangerous protests, how many of them ended up being better off (with thriving democracies)? You probably don’t want to know, but I’ll tell you.

Timestamp: 19:07. A look at how little ground Russia has taken the past year, while suffering (on average) 1,500 casualties a day. Also, the US gives $20bn to Ukraine funded by seized Russian assets

Timestamp: 20:28. China is using an “anaconda strategy” to squeeze Taiwan, and the pressure is causing real strain inside Taiwan.

Timestamp: 26:09. Could a blockade of Taiwan by China work?

Timestamp: 35:27. Does the Marine Corps or American forces have any doubts about whether they would prevail in a conflict with China? Let’s hear what the Commandant of the Marine Corps has to say about that.

Timestamp: 39:20. Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Middle East news:

The Assad regime falls. What happens now?

DOD's Mission to Defeat ISIS Remains Ongoing in Syria

U.S. working to destroy Syria's remaining chemical weapons, official says

Assad joins list of toppled leaders 13 years after Arab Spring

Ukraine news:

Ukraine war: US gives $20bn loan to Kyiv funded by seized Russian assets

China news:

China is using an “anaconda strategy” to squeeze Taiwan from The Economist

Marine Corps commandant completes combat fitness test 11 months after open heart surgery

Let me end by sharing some encouragement for my Christian brothers and sisters out there.

As you know, if you want true peace, I believe you should look to God and the Bible for that — not a country, not a party, and certainly not a person. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

I also have a podcast that focuses solely on faith called The Search for God. You can find it below.

I always like to end with an important reminder, whether you’re a Chrisitan or not.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. : )

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

I’ve got timestamps below on the various topics, as well as source notes you can refer to.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show, there are several ways you can do so.

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:37. How will Donald Trump handle the war in Ukraine?

Timestamp: 7:25. A reminder of how different Western nations fight compared to Russia and Iran.

Timestamp: 16:53. How the surprise setbacks in Syria show the true weakness of Russia and Iran.

Timestamp: 23:28. China rams another ship near the Phillippines.

Timestamp: 25:54. Let’s talk about God for a moment.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

How will Donald Trump handle the war in Ukraine? from The Economist.

“Trump won’t be played for a sucker,” argues Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council, a think-tank in Washington, who recently co-wrote an article for The Economist with Michael Waltz, whom Mr Trump has chosen as his national security adviser. “He will walk away from a bad deal.” Mr Trump, insiders say, fears a failure in Ukraine would dent his popularity, just as the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 hurt President Joe Biden.

Mr Waltz has acknowledged that America may need leverage to extract better terms from Mr Putin. He has suggested that America expand gas exports, crack down on Russian oil sales, provide more weapons to Ukraine and ease restrictions on their use if Mr Putin does not come to the table. Kurt Volker, who served as a special envoy to Ukraine during Mr Trump’s first term, suggests Mr Trump’s approach might initially be simple: a demand to “stop the war” without conditions.

Others in MAGA-land are also thinking about how a deal might be enforced. Keith Kellogg, a retired general whom Mr Trump this week picked as special envoy to Russia and Ukraine, and Fred Fleitz, a CIA veteran at a pro-Trump think-tank, have proposed that America “continue to arm Ukraine…to ensure Russia will make no further advances and will not attack again after a ceasefire”. Ukraine would not be asked to cede territory and America and its allies would lift sanctions and normalize ties only if Russia were to sign a settlement “acceptable to Ukraine”. If Mr Trump were to embrace these proposals, Ukrainians would be delighted.

A reminder of how different Western nations fight compared to Russia and Iran. The following comments come from Chief of the Defense Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin:

Reminder: Russian toll in Syria battle was 300 killed and wounded

Syria crumbles…

Syrian rebels have taken Aleppo, the country’s second biggest city.

China continues its antics:

Philippines says China’s coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped its patrol vessel

Your Bible lesson for the week:

Let’s end the show with a quick Bible lesson.

The Bible clearly says to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, and I can say that I’ve done so before returning to the faith. I’ve studied Hinduism and Islam, and even became a Zen Buddhist — or what they call Chan Buddhism in China — for a good five years or so.

And I know if you study these religions yourself, I think you will find them lacking and that they will leave you desiring more.

But go ahead and study then if you wish, it will only get you to the true solution faster. Now, as a reminder, I did launch a new podcast that focuses solely on faith. You can find it below.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

Finally, be a part of some community, if nothing else.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

So, if you’re one of those people who say you’re a good moral person and you don’t need God or Christianity to be good, then I’m challenging you to be REALLY good and be the reason someone smiles. We need more people to be a light in the world.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, here’s the book that I mentioned.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. : )

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:17. Joe Rogan makes big news with his comments about Ukraine. We’ll cover what he said and some pushback to those comments, as well.

Timestamp: 32:11. Republican Senator goes viral with blazing takedown of those who want to negotiate peace with Putin.

Timestamp: 47:53 How intense operations and combat fatigue can make you wish you were almost dead (or really dead).

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Joe Rogan Slammed for ‘Repeating Russian Propaganda’ on His Podcast

Joe Rogan claims Zelensky was exhibiting “cocaine-like behavior”

Ruble tumbles as Russia’s war economy comes under increasing strain

US Treasury targets Russia's Gazprombank with new sanctions

North Korean Troops Sent to Russia Are 'Gorging on Pornography'

Ukraine doubles down on psychological campaign against North Korean troops

Republican Senator Goes Viral With Blazing Takedown Of Those Who Want to Negotiate Peace With Putin

Trump’s McConnell problem

Sen. Mitch McConnell to focus on defense in new role

An interview worth listening to.

What would you do if you got a Stage Four cancer diagnosis?

In the episode below, I interview Tom Cannon about his faith journey as he navigates a Stage Four cancer diagnosis. His story, his faith in God, and his wisdom are something you don't want to miss.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

Finally, be a part of some community, if nothing else.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

So, if you’re one of those people who say you’re a good moral person and you don’t need God or Christianity to be good, then I’m challenging you to be REALLY good and be the reason someone smiles. We need more people to be a light in the world.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, here’s the book that I mentioned.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. : )

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 17:10. Celebrating 1,000 days of Ukraine defending itself (plus lots of recent news happening there, including long-range strikes, defense of Pokrovsk, use of landmines, etc).

Timestamp: 37:29. Russia continues its hybrid warfare. Germany (and the West) shrugs.

Timestamp: 1:11:22. China drops hefty sentences on people who dare wish for democracy.

Timestamp: 1:15:38. Let’s talk about God for a moment.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Have a question? Or want to provide some feedback? Record a voice memo in your phone and email it to authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. Please include at least your first name and city. (Or full name if you want to get a little famous.)

Ukraine news:

The Ukrainian Defense of Pokrovsk Has Compelled Russia to Change Its Approach in Eastern Ukraine

Crimean Bridge

European officials cry sabotage after two internet cables are cut in the Baltic Sea

China to lock up Hong Kong protestors. (Link to recording of that.)

Your Bible lesson for the week:

Let’s end the show with a quick Bible lesson.

As a reminder, I did launch a new podcast that focuses solely on faith. You can find it below.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems. If you know nothing about the Bible, but want to test the waters and maybe try it out, check out my resource page here.

Finally, be a part of some community, if nothing else.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

So, if you’re one of those people who say you’re a good moral person and you don’t need God or Christianity to be good, then I’m challenging you to be REALLY good and be the reason someone smiles. We need more people to be a light in the world.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, here’s the book that I mentioned.

Oh, I forgot to say that I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. : )

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hey guys, welcome to The View from the Front.

My name is Stan, and I'm thrilled you all have joined me.

As I said a couple of weeks ago, I am going to start doing some interviews with the podcast, and tonight I am delighted to offer my first one.

This interview is with Miles Spencer, and Miles Spencer and myself talk a lot about the Middle East.

We talk about everything from the Crusades to how the borderlines were drawn after World War I and World War II. We talk about oil. We talk about Lawrence of Arabia, the film.

We talk about T.E. Lawrence, who actually was the hero behind the film, as well as his book, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which is back from 1926.

And really, we just cover the 100-plus most recent years of the conflict that's been happening in the Middle East.

Also, what some of the possibilities for peace and a reset in the Middle East is, since we now have a couple of things happening, with the new Trump administration coming into office. So we've got a change of administrations in the United States.

We've also got Iran, who has really been hit back pretty hard by Israel, with Israel decapitating Hamas in the south and Hezbollah in the north, and also almost appearing impervious in its ability to attack Iran's defense industries and the potential to attack again.

So there's kind of an interesting bit of timing happening in the Middle East. So I thought this was a perfect time to talk to someone who not only wrote a book about the Middle East, but Miles and his co-author literally walked 1,100 miles through the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria.

They know a lot about Israel and those countries, and he shares some of that insight in this interview that I'm about to share with you guys.

Now we do jump back and forth a bit on some topics you may not be totally familiar with, so I'll have some links in the episode notes about that film Lawrence of Arabia, as well as T.E. Lawrence, who did so much work for the British Army and for the Allies back in the earlier 1900s.

So I have links to those so you can find out just a bit more about them easily.

And with that out of the way, I hope you enjoy. You can hear it either on this page or on the stations below.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

  • The Balfour Declaration was a public statement issued by the British Government in 1917 during the First World War announcing its support for the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine, then an Ottoman region with a small minority Jewish population.

  • Lawrence of Arabia (film)

  • T. E. Lawrence

Book link for the reference book by Miles Spencer.

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. : )

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 03:34. Russia is doomed. (Something to think about.)

Timestamp: 11:12. Did America and NATO provoke Russia into invading Ukraine? They did not. Here’s the inaccurate telling of that view that’s spreading on social media.

Timestamp: 18:39. And here’s the de-bunking of that viral (and false) video.

Timestamp: 36:48. What the election of Trump means for Ukraine?

Timestamp: 51:56. Let’s talk about God for a moment.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

No, the US didn’t “provoke” the war in Ukraine

As a reminder, I did launch a new podcast that focuses solely on faith. You can find it below.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

Finally, be a part of some community, if nothing else.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Want to talk to me directly?

Email me at the following address: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. I love hearing feedback, compliments, and even constructive criticism. : )

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Headline: up to 80 characters.

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:38. Lots of post-election thoughts with the selection of Trump as President.

Timestamp: 46:31. Have you heard that China has hacked our telecommunications system? And that they are likely spying on members of Congress and other intelligence folks in what is the biggest breach of national security in at least the past ten years?!

Timestamp: 1:05:40. Let’s talk about God for a moment. .

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Bill Ackman’s tweet that I read.

My political post that I referenced.

Zelenskyy’s tweet to Trump.

China news:

Other source notes referenced:

China Paid Pro-CCP Agitators To Clash With Dissenters

Gangsters, Money and Murder: How Chinese Organized Crime Is Dominating America’s Illegal Marijuana Market

40 Officers of China’s National Police Charged in Transnational Repression Schemes Targeting U.S. Residents

Russia behind Litvinenko murder, rules European rights court

U.K. mother killed by nerve agent

Your Bible lesson for the week:

Let’s end the show with a quick Bible lesson.

As a reminder, I did launch a new podcast that focuses solely on faith. You can find it below.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

Finally, be a part of some community, if nothing else.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:38. Small announcement regarding the show, as well as some encouragement for men.

Timestamp: 6:23. Israel hits back at Iran. What it means. How Iran might respond.

Timestamp: 16:04. Several news items regarding the war in Ukraine that you need to know.

Timestamp: 35:33. New ‘Great Game’ unfolds in Pacific as U.S. and China bie for backing.

Timestamp: 44:19. Three quick updates on Haiti, Sudan, and Afghanistan.

Timestamp: 47:40. Let’s cover a few verses from the Bible, which I hope will encourage you.

Timestamp: 55:20. A few words for those dealing with depression, PTSD, or harmful thoughts.

Timestamp: 1:01:32. Some final words of unity, as well as more info about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Middle East news:

Israel hits Iran

Satellite images show damage at Iran military sites after Israel attack

Israel took out primary Iranian air defenses, left it ‘essentially naked’ – report

Ukraine news:

Putin Admits Economic 'Difficulties' as Interest Rates Skyrocket

China news:

New ‘Great Game’ Unfolds in Pacific as U.S., China Vie for Backing

Bloomberg Island nations scattered across the Pacific Ocean are at the center of an intensifying competition between China and the US for maritime routes, deep-water ports and other strategic assets in what the Lowy Institute calls a new “Great Game.”

The countries’ proximity to key shipping lanes and the communication cables that criss-cross the Pacific floor, together with fisheries and seabed minerals, also encourage the rivalry, Lowy said in a report on Wednesday. But it’s the region’s maritime location between Asia, North America and Australia that is set to keep it at the forefront of major powers’ defense strategies.

“The Pacific’s geopolitical landscape is increasingly crowded, with multiple powers vying for influence,” report authors Mihai Sora, Jessica Collins and Meg Keen said. “China is expanding its reach through diplomatic relations, infrastructure projects, and development finance, while traditional partners such as Australia and the US strive to maintain their influence.”

That’s a significant turnaround for island leaders who used to complain that western nations didn’t pay enough attention to the region. Lowy warns the new strategic focus is set to challenge good governance and transparency, given opportunities for local political actors to advance narrow interests over what best serves the people of the Pacific.

Afghanistan news:

As Taliban starts restricting men, too, some regret not speaking up sooner

Besides imposing severe rules on women, new laws require men to grow fist-length beards and bar them from imitating non-Muslims in appearance or behavior.

Your reminder for the week, in case you duck the scripture in the next part: Be a part of community, if nothing else.

Your scripture for the week:

Let’s end the show with some scripture, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

As a reminder, I did launch a new podcast that focuses solely on faith. You can find it below.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

The final thing that I want to do is something I do in every show.

I want to talk to you just for a moment about depression, PTSD, and even suicide for just a moment.

I do this because veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age group of folks who haven’t served.

But this section isn’t just for veterans. I know we can all get in really low spots in our lives so I just want to remind people that it’s a season.

It’s a valley. So when you’re in that thick, deep, tough situation that just seems like you can’t see over it, just remember it. It’s just a season. It’s just a valley, like I said.

Now, if you are having serious issues, you can call 988 and select 1 and you can talk to a crisis-line responder anytime day or night.

And you can do this whether you’re a civilian or a veteran, but I do know that this is hard to do and I know most of you who are struggling probably won’t do so.

As such, I have to be a little mean here because the fact is is when we’ve had a drill instructor or a tough coach in the past who pushed us, you experienced that you can go further than when it’s just you.

So I’m gonna be mean for a moment and I have to remind you guys that you cannot give up. You can’t give in to those really terrible thoughts you’re having.

I don’t want you to lose this fight. I don’t want you to make your parents or your family have to plan your funeral.

I don’t want them to feel guilty that they didn’t check on you for that. That they couldn’t reach you.

I want you to know that you can hold on for another day, and I think if you do, I think the next day is gonna be a little easier.

Now again, if you’re in a fight that you worry you may lose, please call someone. Call a friend or a family member.

This is really easy to do and I beg of you to do so. We have all lost friends that we wish had reached out to us, so again reach out to one of them. Just be honest. Say that you’re struggling right now and can’t catch a break.

But again, you can also call 988. Select 1.

As I said, whatever you do, please do not quit. You’re just in a valley and this world needs you. Probably, if we’re honest, your parents need you, as well. Because seriously, who’s going take care of your parents in 30 years? Or in 10 years? Or whatever age you are?

And I’m serious about this. I just helped take care of my Mom before she passed.

I help take care of my Dad, who’s dealing with some pretty serious memory issues.

So I just wanna ask you who’s gonna do it? Are you just gonna let the system take care of them? How horrible is that?!

So the broader point is you cannot quit and you need to think beyond the season that you’re in and realize that there’s something you’re meant to do -- you just can’t see it. Because like I said earlier, in this immediate fog and pain, you can’t see the end result, but I believe that there’s a mission for you to do.

I believe that God has a mission for you to do. Maybe it’s coach a little league team. Maybe it’s to help others with PTSD. Maybe you’re supposed to run for office.

Whatever it is, I believe there’s some calling for you and you haven’t found it.

But I want to encourage you to get involved.

Stop isolating yourself. Visit a veterans group, such as the VFW. Something like that.

Maybe visit a church near you. Maybe visit some family you’ve lost touch with. Maybe call or text that friend you’ve grown apart with.

Reach out to the long-lost friend from high school. Or the one from the military you haven’t talked with in years. I’ll bet they’re dying to talk to you.

But again if you’re struggling, I beg of you to call 988, select 1.

Also, and this is my personal suggestion if you’re not absolutely opposed to it, I would suggest that you start moving closer to God.

Start reading the Bible, if you never have. I really do think that will help. You can read some of Psalms or Proverbs, and then you can start with the New Testament in the Book of John.

I think you’ll find the Bible will start drawing you in and I think it’ll start changing your life. If you don’t have a Bible, you can download the Bible app on your phone or you can look it up online there. There are dozens of sights with it on there.

But again, the broader point is I just want to encourage you not to give up. There’s a plan for you. I really hope that you won’t give up and that you’ll reach out to God or maybe check out the Bible as I’ve mentioned so many times.

If that’s not your thing, or if you’re not ready for that step, I hope you try to surround yourself with some more community or some more friends.

I know a lot of the websites say to not guilt someone who’s thinking about suicide. That such a thing is cruel, but I sadly think that suicide is the easy way out.

It’s a short-term solution to what you think is a complicated problem that you can’t solve.

And trust me. I’m not stupid. I know life is hard. I know going on whether it’s in life or a marathon or a really long rucksack run or forced march in the military, I know to keep going is often more painful. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s also the right answer.

Not only will you get tougher and stronger and have more endurance, but if you fall out of that race, someone’s got to carry your gear. Someone’s got to care for you. Or maybe your team arrives at the mission objective with fewer people, which is gonna lead to more strain and danger and probably higher casualties to those around you.

And unfortunately, that same thing happens if you decide to pull the plug and check out in regular life. Somebody’s going to have to carry your load. Somebody’s going to have to care for your family or for your parents. Someone’s going to have to plan your funeral. Someone is going to have to deal with all the things that you left hanging out there.

So, I know it sounds like I’m trying to guilt you, and I’m really not trying to, but I just want you to think about these things when you are in the lowest point in your life. That really dark place. Please think of others.

You’re a good person. And I just think you’re stronger than what you think you are right now.

And as such, I just encourage you to keep fighting. Please keep taking that next step.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:38. Israel takes out the leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar.

Timestamp: 5:27. Israel could strike Iran this week. How big will that strike be? I lay out my expectations.

Timestamp: 8:41. US bombers hit Houthis; send message to Iran.

Timestamp: 13:38. All the latest news happening in Ukraine.

Timestamp: 29:15. A motivating speech on why the defense of Ukraine matters.

Timestamp: 45:38. The latest on those North Korean troops that have deployed to Russia.

Timestamp: 48:25. Let’s cover a few verses from the Bible, which I hope will encourage you.

Timestamp: 58:03. A few words for those dealing with depression, PTSD, or harmful thoughts.

Timestamp: 1:04:14. Some final words of unity, as well as more info about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Middle East news:

Ukraine news:

Moldovans, Very Narrowly, Choose to Look Toward Europe, Not Russia

Kremlin sowing chaos with bomb threats and bribery to thwart Moldova's vote to join EU, authorities say

Lloyd Austin warns against isolationism and insists Ukraine absolutely can win war against Russia

US and G7 allies moving forward with $50 billion loan

Sweden Sends Ukraine Entire Stock of 300 APCs

Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

Austin Confirms North Korea Has Sent Troops to Russia

Your reminder for the week, in case you duck the scripture in the next part: Be a part of community, if nothing else.

Your scripture for the week:

Let’s end the show with some scripture, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

And as I said in the podcast, I did launch a new podcast that focuses solely on faith. You can find it below.

The final thing that I want to do is something I do in every show.

I want to talk to you just for a moment about depression, PTSD, and even suicide for just a moment.

I do this because veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age group of folks who haven’t served.

But this section isn’t just for veterans. I know we can all get in really low spots in our lives so I just want to remind people that it’s a season.

It’s a valley. So when you’re in that thick, deep, tough situation that just seems like you can’t see over it, just remember it. It’s just a season. It’s just a valley, like I said.

Now, if you are having serious issues, you can call 988 and select 1 and you can talk to a crisis-line responder anytime day or night.

And you can do this whether you’re a civilian or a veteran, but I do know that this is hard to do and I know most of you who are struggling probably won’t do so.

As such, I have to be a little mean here because the fact is is when we’ve had a drill instructor or a tough coach in the past who pushed us, you experienced that you can go further than when it’s just you.

So I’m gonna be mean for a moment and I have to remind you guys that you cannot give up. You can’t give in to those really terrible thoughts you’re having.

I don’t want you to lose this fight. I don’t want you to make your parents or your family have to plan your funeral.

I don’t want them to feel guilty that they didn’t check on you for that. That they couldn’t reach you.

I want you to know that you can hold on for another day, and I think if you do, I think the next day is gonna be a little easier.

Now again, if you’re in a fight that you worry you may lose, please call someone. Call a friend or a family member.

This is really easy to do and I beg of you to do so. We have all lost friends that we wish had reached out to us, so again reach out to one of them. Just be honest. Say that you’re struggling right now and can’t catch a break.

But again, you can also call 988. Select 1.

As I said, whatever you do, please do not quit. You’re just in a valley and this world needs you. Probably, if we’re honest, your parents need you, as well. Because seriously, who’s going take care of your parents in 30 years? Or in 10 years? Or whatever age you are?

And I’m serious about this. I just helped take care of my Mom before she passed.

I help take care of my Dad, who’s dealing with some pretty serious memory issues.

So I just wanna ask you who’s gonna do it? Are you just gonna let the system take care of them? How horrible is that?!

So the broader point is you cannot quit and you need to think beyond the season that you’re in and realize that there’s something you’re meant to do -- you just can’t see it. Because like I said earlier, in this immediate fog and pain, you can’t see the end result, but I believe that there’s a mission for you to do.

I believe that God has a mission for you to do. Maybe it’s coach a little league team. Maybe it’s to help others with PTSD. Maybe you’re supposed to run for office.

Whatever it is, I believe there’s some calling for you and you haven’t found it.

But I want to encourage you to get involved.

Stop isolating yourself. Visit a veterans group, such as the VFW. Something like that.

Maybe visit a church near you. Maybe visit some family you’ve lost touch with. Maybe call or text that friend you’ve grown apart with.

Reach out to the long-lost friend from high school. Or the one from the military you haven’t talked with in years. I’ll bet they’re dying to talk to you.

But again if you’re struggling, I beg of you to call 988, select 1.

Also, and this is my personal suggestion if you’re not absolutely opposed to it, I would suggest that you start moving closer to God.

Start reading the Bible, if you never have. I really do think that will help. You can read some of Psalms or Proverbs, and then you can start with the New Testament in the Book of John.

I think you’ll find the Bible will start drawing you in and I think it’ll start changing your life. If you don’t have a Bible, you can download the Bible app on your phone or you can look it up online there. There are dozens of sights with it on there.

But again, the broader point is I just want to encourage you not to give up. There’s a plan for you. I really hope that you won’t give up and that you’ll reach out to God or maybe check out the Bible as I’ve mentioned so many times.

If that’s not your thing, or if you’re not ready for that step, I hope you try to surround yourself with some more community or some more friends.

I know a lot of the websites say to not guilt someone who’s thinking about suicide. That such a thing is cruel, but I sadly think that suicide is the easy way out.

It’s a short-term solution to what you think is a complicated problem that you can’t solve.

And trust me. I’m not stupid. I know life is hard. I know going on whether it’s in life or a marathon or a really long rucksack run or forced march in the military, I know to keep going is often more painful. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s also the right answer.

Not only will you get tougher and stronger and have more endurance, but if you fall out of that race, someone’s got to carry your gear. Someone’s got to care for you. Or maybe your team arrives at the mission objective with fewer people, which is gonna lead to more strain and danger and probably higher casualties to those around you.

And unfortunately, that same thing happens if you decide to pull the plug and check out in regular life. Somebody’s going to have to carry your load. Somebody’s going to have to care for your family or for your parents. Someone’s going to have to plan your funeral. Someone is going to have to deal with all the things that you left hanging out there.

So, I know it sounds like I’m trying to guilt you, and I’m really not trying to, but I just want you to think about these things when you are in the lowest point in your life. That really dark place. Please think of others.

You’re a good person. And I just think you’re stronger than what you think you are right now.

And as such, I just encourage you to keep fighting. Please keep taking that next step.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:38. United States deploys missile battery and 100 troops to Israel

Timestamp: 6:13. Are we in World War III already? George Will says we are.

Timestamp: 17:13. Is a negotiated peace even a reality for Ukraine?

Timestamp: 30:47. China rattles its sword again. What they did, what their goals are, etc.

Timestamp: 42:41. Let’s cover a few verses from the Bible, which I hope will encourage you.

Timestamp: 58:38. A few words for those dealing with depression, PTSD, or harmful thoughts.

Timestamp: 1:04:49. Some final words of unity, as well as more info about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Opinion: World War III is already under way. Not that Harris or Trump has noticed. (Gift link.)

China news:

China won't renounce use of force over Taiwan; Xi visits frontline island

Your reminder for the week, in case you duck the scripture in the next part: Be a part of community, if nothing else.

Your scripture for the week:

Let’s end the show with some scripture, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

The final thing that I want to do is something I do in every show.

I want to talk to you just for a moment about depression, PTSD, and even suicide for just a moment.

I do this because veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age group of folks who haven’t served.

But this section isn’t just for veterans. I know we can all get in really low spots in our lives so I just want to remind people that it’s a season.

It’s a valley. So when you’re in that thick, deep, tough situation that just seems like you can’t see over it, just remember it. It’s just a season. It’s just a valley, like I said.

Now, if you are having serious issues, you can call 988 and select 1 and you can talk to a crisis-line responder anytime day or night.

And you can do this whether you’re a civilian or a veteran, but I do know that this is hard to do and I know most of you who are struggling probably won’t do so.

As such, I have to be a little mean here because the fact is is when we’ve had a drill instructor or a tough coach in the past who pushed us, you experienced that you can go further than when it’s just you.

So I’m gonna be mean for a moment and I have to remind you guys that you cannot give up. You can’t give in to those really terrible thoughts you’re having.

I don’t want you to lose this fight. I don’t want you to make your parents or your family have to plan your funeral.

I don’t want them to feel guilty that they didn’t check on you for that. That they couldn’t reach you.

I want you to know that you can hold on for another day, and I think if you do, I think the next day is gonna be a little easier.

Now again, if you’re in a fight that you worry you may lose, please call someone. Call a friend or a family member.

This is really easy to do and I beg of you to do so. We have all lost friends that we wish had reached out to us, so again reach out to one of them. Just be honest. Say that you’re struggling right now and can’t catch a break.

But again, you can also call 988. Select 1.

As I said, whatever you do, please do not quit. You’re just in a valley and this world needs you. Probably, if we’re honest, your parents need you, as well. Because seriously, who’s going take care of your parents in 30 years? Or in 10 years? Or whatever age you are?

And I’m serious about this. I just helped take care of my Mom before she passed.

I help take care of my Dad, who’s dealing with some pretty serious memory issues.

So I just wanna ask you who’s gonna do it? Are you just gonna let the system take care of them? How horrible is that?!

So the broader point is you cannot quit and you need to think beyond the season that you’re in and realize that there’s something you’re meant to do -- you just can’t see it. Because like I said earlier, in this immediate fog and pain, you can’t see the end result, but I believe that there’s a mission for you to do.

I believe that God has a mission for you to do. Maybe it’s coach a little league team. Maybe it’s to help others with PTSD. Maybe you’re supposed to run for office.

Whatever it is, I believe there’s some calling for you and you haven’t found it.

But I want to encourage you to get involved.

Stop isolating yourself. Visit a veterans group, such as the VFW. Something like that.

Maybe visit a church near you. Maybe visit some family you’ve lost touch with. Maybe call or text that friend you’ve grown apart with.

Reach out to the long-lost friend from high school. Or the one from the military you haven’t talked with in years. I’ll bet they’re dying to talk to you.

But again if you’re struggling, I beg of you to call 988, select 1.

Also, and this is my personal suggestion if you’re not absolutely opposed to it, I would suggest that you start moving closer to God.

Start reading the Bible, if you never have. I really do think that will help. You can read some of Psalms or Proverbs, and then you can start with the New Testament in the Book of John.

I think you’ll find the Bible will start drawing you in and I think it’ll start changing your life. If you don’t have a Bible, you can download the Bible app on your phone or you can look it up online there. There are dozens of sights with it on there.

But again, the broader point is I just want to encourage you not to give up. There’s a plan for you. I really hope that you won’t give up and that you’ll reach out to God or maybe check out the Bible as I’ve mentioned so many times.

If that’s not your thing, or if you’re not ready for that step, I hope you try to surround yourself with some more community or some more friends.

I know a lot of the websites say to not guilt someone who’s thinking about suicide. That such a thing is cruel, but I sadly think that suicide is the easy way out.

It’s a short-term solution to what you think is a complicated problem that you can’t solve.

And trust me. I’m not stupid. I know life is hard. I know going on whether it’s in life or a marathon or a really long rucksack run or forced march in the military, I know to keep going is often more painful. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s also the right answer.

Not only will you get tougher and stronger and have more endurance, but if you fall out of that race, someone’s got to carry your gear. Someone’s got to care for you. Or maybe your team arrives at the mission objective with fewer people, which is gonna lead to more strain and danger and probably higher casualties to those around you.

And unfortunately, that same thing happens if you decide to pull the plug and check out in regular life. Somebody’s going to have to carry your load. Somebody’s going to have to care for your family or for your parents. Someone’s going to have to plan your funeral. Someone is going to have to deal with all the things that you left hanging out there.

So, I know it sounds like I’m trying to guilt you, and I’m really not trying to, but I just want you to think about these things when you are in the lowest point in your life. That really dark place. Please think of others.

You’re a good person. And I just think you’re stronger than what you think you are right now.

And as such, I just encourage you to keep fighting. Please keep taking that next step.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

I’m out of town this week, but wanted to record something for you all while I’m away.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Reminder:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone! Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and review on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:36. Some feedback from the last show, as well as a small announcement.

Timestamp: 5:56. Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, in an airstrike. I share the words of several leaders on the impact this will have in the Middle East.

Timestamp: 19:48. Iran responds to the strike; the attack did little damage, but Israel promises to respond. What does that mean? What will that look like? Several responses shared.

Timestamp: 38:03. Trump changes his mind and meets with Zelenskyy; why that’s good news, and why a peace deal is hardly likely anytime soon.

Timestamp: 55:01. Let’s cover some scripture from the Bible, which I hope will encourage you.

Timestamp: 58:37. A few words for those dealing with depression, PTSD, or harmful thoughts.

Timestamp: 1:04:47. Some final words of unity, as well as more info about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

One quick personal note before getting to the news…

I may have launched another podcast, for those who are interested. 🤣

Middle East news:

Gift link from The Washington Post, if you want to learn about Nasrallah or get a quick overview of the tensions and religious conflict inside Beirut. It gives a quick highlight on the past 30 years.

Hasan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader and force in Middle East, is killed

Hasan Nasrallah, a Shiite cleric who oversaw the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for decades and became one of the most powerful and divisive leaders in the Middle East, revered by his followers as a savior and condemned by his foes as a terrorist, diedSept. 27 in Beirut. He was 64.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that Mr. Nasrallah “was eliminated” alongside other Hezbollah commanders as it struck what it called the group’s “central headquarters” in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Hezbollah confirmed the death but didn’t detail the cause. The massive airstrike leveled several residential buildings and sent plumes of smoke over neighborhoods in the city’s south.

Mr. Nasrallah, who transformed his Iranian-backed Shiite Islamist guerrilla movement into the single most capable paramilitary organization in the Middle East, dedicated his life to confronting Israel and the United States. “He is the shrewdest leader in the Arab world, and the most dangerous,” Daniel Ayalon, then serving as Israel’s ambassador to the United States, told The Washington Post in 2006.

Opinion piece by David Ignatius: Hasan Nasrallah chose his own fate

Hasan Nasrallah wanted to live and die as a fighter, and he got his wish Friday, when Israeli bombs pulverized his underground lair in Beirut. Hezbollah will surely seek to avenge Nasrallah’s death, but he was the rare leader who was close to irreplaceable.

I met Nasrallah in October 2003 in a fortified bunker in the southern suburbs of Beirut, not far from where he died. For a man who ordered the deaths of so many Israelis and Lebanese, he was surprisingly soft-spoken. He was a charmer, not a shouter; his legitimacy came from his clerical study in Najaf, Iraq, and his riveting sermons, televised during Muharram and other religious holidays.

In a Lebanon where political leaders usually live the soft life, even as they plunder the people, Nasrallah was different. He told me proudly that his own son Hadi had died fighting Israel in 1997. “We didn’t send our children to London or Paris to university but to fight alongside other Lebanese,” he said.

Thread I shared.

U.S. Assets in Mediterranean Again Helped Defend Israel Against Iranian Missiles

Iran attacked Israel earlier today with a barrage of approximately 200 ballistic missiles. While most of those missiles were destroyed before reaching their target, some did impact and cause minimal damage, said the Pentagon press secretary during a briefing today.

"We condemn these reckless attacks by Iran, and we call on Iran to halt any further attacks, including from its proxy forces," said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. "During the attack, the U.S. military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces to help defend Israel."

Today's attack was nearly twice the scope of a similar attack April 13 and 14, said Ryder. And like in April, the U.S. again assisted in defending Israel.

Two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, the USS Cole and USS Bulkeley, both deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, fired a dozen interceptors at incoming Iranian ballistic missiles as part of defending Israel. At this time, Ryder said, it is unknown if those interceptors took down any of the missiles.

Ryder also said initial assessments are that all the missiles fired were actually launched from Iran, not from proxy states, and Iran did indeed plan to cause a significant amount of harm in Israel.

Hezbollah’s downfall exposes Iran’s weakness and reshapes the Middle East

Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last Friday didn’t just deal a crushing blow to the once-fearsome Lebanese militia. It also exposed Iran’s vulnerabilities and marked a pivotal shift in the region’s balance of power.

The death of Nasrallah caps several weeks of successful Israeli strikes against Hezbollah’s military capabilities and chain of command that have left the group weaker than it has been in almost two decades.

Israel is now pressing its advantage with a limited ground incursion into southern Lebanon – the natural conclusion of the sabotage, bombing, and assassination campaign of the 10 days prior. The end goal of the operation remains the same: to clear the area south of the Litani River of Hezbollah fighters, weapons depots, and infrastructure in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 to safely return the 60,000 displaced Israelis to their homes in the north. The IDF has indicated the targeted offensive is expected to stay close to the border and end within weeks, as opposed to a more protracted occupation of extensive Lebanese territory (best-laid plans, though …).

Hezbollah would normally be expected to respond to such an escalation with heavy missile and rocket strikes on Israeli military installations, civilian infrastructure, and densely populated urban areas. That hasn’t happened. At the very least, Hezbollah could be counted on to defend its strongholds. Yet Israel’s ground offensive has met virtually no resistance thus far.

It’s become even harder to imagine Iran, its patron, reacting sharply to Israel’s escalations and risking a regional war that could draw the United States into the fight.

For starters, the Islamic Republic lacks good options to effectively retaliate against the Jewish state without inviting devastation to its homeland. That is especially true now that Hezbollah, previously the leading edge of Iran’s efforts to deter Israel, is reeling from Nasrallah’s death. Apart from its impressive array of ballistic missiles, most of Iran’s military is built upon Cold War-era hardware. It is no match for Israel’s overwhelmingly superior technological, intelligence, and military capabilities, let alone its nuclear weapons. A direct conventional conflict with Israel would not go Tehran’s way – and that’s before you bring the US military into the equation.

U.S. news:

Your reminder for the week, in case you duck the scripture in the next part: Be a part of community, if nothing else.

Your scripture for the week:

Let’s end the show with some scripture, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

The final thing that I want to do is something I do in every show.

I want to talk to you just for a moment about depression, PTSD, and even suicide for just a moment.

I do this because veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age group of folks who haven’t served.

But this section isn’t just for veterans. I know we can all get in really low spots in our lives so I just want to remind people that it’s a season.

It’s a valley. So when you’re in that thick, deep, tough situation that just seems like you can’t see over it, just remember it. It’s just a season. It’s just a valley, like I said.

Now, if you are having serious issues, you can call 988 and select 1 and you can talk to a crisis-line responder anytime day or night.

And you can do this whether you’re a civilian or a veteran, but I do know that this is hard to do and I know most of you who are struggling probably won’t do so.

As such, I have to be a little mean here because the fact is is when we’ve had a drill instructor or a tough coach in the past who pushed us, you experienced that you can go further than when it’s just you.

So I’m gonna be mean for a moment and I have to remind you guys that you cannot give up. You can’t give in to those really terrible thoughts you’re having.

I don’t want you to lose this fight. I don’t want you to make your parents or your family have to plan your funeral.

I don’t want them to feel guilty that they didn’t check on you for that. That they couldn’t reach you.

I want you to know that you can hold on for another day, and I think if you do, I think the next day is gonna be a little easier.

Now again, if you’re in a fight that you worry you may lose, please call someone. Call a friend or a family member.

This is really easy to do and I beg of you to do so. We have all lost friends that we wish had reached out to us, so again reach out to one of them. Just be honest. Say that you’re struggling right now and can’t catch a break.

But again, you can also call 988. Select 1.

As I said, whatever you do, please do not quit. You’re just in a valley and this world needs you. Probably, if we’re honest, your parents need you, as well. Because seriously, who’s going take care of your parents in 30 years? Or in 10 years? Or whatever age you are?

And I’m serious about this. I just helped take care of my Mom before she passed.

I help take care of my Dad, who’s dealing with some pretty serious memory issues.

So I just wanna ask you who’s gonna do it? Are you just gonna let the system take care of them? How horrible is that?!

So the broader point is you cannot quit and you need to think beyond the season that you’re in and realize that there’s something you’re meant to do -- you just can’t see it. Because like I said earlier, in this immediate fog and pain, you can’t see the end result, but I believe that there’s a mission for you to do.

I believe that God has a mission for you to do. Maybe it’s coach a little league team. Maybe it’s to help others with PTSD. Maybe you’re supposed to run for office.

Whatever it is, I believe there’s some calling for you and you haven’t found it.

But I want to encourage you to get involved.

Stop isolating yourself. Visit a veterans group, such as the VFW. Something like that.

Maybe visit a church near you. Maybe visit some family you’ve lost touch with. Maybe call or text that friend you’ve grown apart with.

Reach out to the long-lost friend from high school. Or the one from the military you haven’t talked with in years. I’ll bet they’re dying to talk to you.

But again if you’re struggling, I beg of you to call 988, select 1.

Also, and this is my personal suggestion if you’re not absolutely opposed to it, I would suggest that you start moving closer to God.

Start reading the Bible, if you never have. I really do think that will help. You can read some of Psalms or Proverbs, and then you can start with the New Testament in the Book of John.

I think you’ll find the Bible will start drawing you in and I think it’ll start changing your life. If you don’t have a Bible, you can download the Bible app on your phone or you can look it up online there. There are dozens of sights with it on there.

But again, the broader point is I just want to encourage you not to give up. There’s a plan for you. I really hope that you won’t give up and that you’ll reach out to God or maybe check out the Bible as I’ve mentioned so many times.

If that’s not your thing, or if you’re not ready for that step, I hope you try to surround yourself with some more community or some more friends.

I know a lot of the websites say to not guilt someone who’s thinking about suicide. That such a thing is cruel, but I sadly think that suicide is the easy way out.

It’s a short-term solution to what you think is a complicated problem that you can’t solve.

And trust me. I’m not stupid. I know life is hard. I know going on whether it’s in life or a marathon or a really long rucksack run or forced march in the military, I know to keep going is often more painful. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s also the right answer.

Not only will you get tougher and stronger and have more endurance, but if you fall out of that race, someone’s got to carry your gear. Someone’s got to care for you. Or maybe your team arrives at the mission objective with fewer people, which is gonna lead to more strain and danger and probably higher casualties to those around you.

And unfortunately, that same thing happens if you decide to pull the plug and check out in regular life. Somebody’s going to have to carry your load. Somebody’s going to have to care for your family or for your parents. Someone’s going to have to plan your funeral. Someone is going to have to deal with all the things that you left hanging out there.

So, I know it sounds like I’m trying to guilt you, and I’m really not trying to, but I just want you to think about these things when you are in the lowest point in your life. That really dark place. Please think of others.

You’re a good person. And I just think you’re stronger than what you think you are right now.

And as such, I just encourage you to keep fighting. Please keep taking that next step.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Thank you for being here. Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:11. We do a terrible job reaching out to older folks around us, and now more than 16 million elderly Americans are living alone. Please reach out to those older folks who are around you. Be a light and blessing to them!

Timestamp: 6:54. The United States is preparing for a potentially very dangerous mission in the Middle East. I discuss.

Timestamp: 16:27. Former President Donald Trump made some controversial comments regarding Ukraine that I need to do a fact check on for the record (same as I was critical of President Biden for his botched withdrawal of Afghanistan).

Timestamp: 28:27. UK foreign minister David Lammy EVISCERATES Putin and his UN ambassador at the United Nations.

Timestamp: 33:19. The leader of NATO makes the case for why the West should continue to give Ukraine more weapons.

Timestamp: 34:59. What Professor Timothy Snyder thinks it will take for Russia to see peace.

Timestamp: 41:24. An update on the ammunition dump that Ukraine hit last week; plus details on a second ammo dump just hit.

Timestamp: 44:47. The Kursk Offensive has thrown Russia's Ukraine war strategy into chaos.

Timestamp: 51:02. Let’s cover some scripture from the Bible, which I hope will encourage you and ground you. I truly do desire to help lift you up.

Timestamp: 54:18. A few words for those who are dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide.

Timestamp: 1:00:29. Some final words of unity, as well as more information about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Israel launches ‘extensive’ strikes on Hezbollah; Lebanon says hundreds killed, more than 1,600 injured

Israel calls up reservists, telling troops to prepare for Lebanon incursion

US troops deployed to Cyprus as fears of wider Middle East war intensify

Ukraine news:

A brief recap of the actual facts of the Russian invasion.

Update on Ukraine’s attack last week on the ammunition dump:

A second ammunition dump has been struck.

Ukrainian Drones Just Blew Up 2,000 Tons Of Ammo in Southern Russia

And a great reminder of a detail that apparently many in the Biden Administration want to ignore.

The Kursk Offensive has thrown Russia's Ukraine war strategy into chaos

Your reminder for the week, in case you duck the scripture in the next part: Be a part of community, if nothing else.

Your scripture for the week:

Let’s end the show with some scripture, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

  • 'Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”' — Matthew 11:28-30

  • 'Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. ' — Psalms 51:10-12

  • 'Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. ' — Hebrews 10:23-25

  • 'Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” ' — Hebrews 13:5-6

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

The final thing that I want to do is something I do in every show.

I want to talk to you just for a moment about depression, PTSD, and even suicide for just a moment.

I do this because veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age group of folks who haven’t served.

But this section isn’t just for veterans. I know we can all get in really low spots in our lives so I just want to remind people that it’s a season.

It’s a valley. So when you’re in that thick, deep, tough situation that just seems like you can’t see over it, just remember it. It’s just a season. It’s just a valley, like I said.

Now, if you are having serious issues, you can call 988 and select 1 and you can talk to a crisis-line responder anytime day or night.

And you can do this whether you’re a civilian or a veteran, but I do know that this is hard to do and I know most of you who are struggling probably won’t do so.

As such, I have to be a little mean here because the fact is is when we’ve had a drill instructor or a tough coach in the past who pushed us, you experienced that you can go further than when it’s just you.

So I’m gonna be mean for a moment and I have to remind you guys that you cannot give up. You can’t give in to those really terrible thoughts you’re having.

I don’t want you to lose this fight. I don’t want you to make your parents or your family have to plan your funeral.

I don’t want them to feel guilty that they didn’t check on you for that. That they couldn’t reach you.

I want you to know that you can hold on for another day, and I think if you do, I think the next day is gonna be a little easier.

Now again, if you’re in a fight that you worry you may lose, please call someone. Call a friend or a family member.

This is really easy to do and I beg of you to do so. We have all lost friends that we wish had reached out to us, so again reach out to one of them. Just be honest. Say that you’re struggling right now and can’t catch a break.

But again, you can also call 988. Select 1.

As I said, whatever you do, please do not quit. You’re just in a valley and this world needs you. Probably, if we’re honest, your parents need you, as well. Because seriously, who’s going take care of your parents in 30 years? Or in 10 years? Or whatever age you are?

And I’m serious about this. I just helped take care of my Mom before she passed.

I help take care of my Dad, who’s dealing with some pretty serious memory issues.

So I just wanna ask you who’s gonna do it? Are you just gonna let the system take care of them? How horrible is that?!

So the broader point is you cannot quit and you need to think beyond the season that you’re in and realize that there’s something you’re meant to do -- you just can’t see it. Because like I said earlier, in this immediate fog and pain, you can’t see the end result, but I believe that there’s a mission for you to do.

I believe that God has a mission for you to do. Maybe it’s coach a little league team. Maybe it’s to help others with PTSD. Maybe you’re supposed to run for office.

Whatever it is, I believe there’s some calling for you and you haven’t found it.

But I want to encourage you to get involved.

Stop isolating yourself. Visit a veterans group, such as the VFW. Something like that.

Maybe visit a church near you. Maybe visit some family you’ve lost touch with. Maybe call or text that friend you’ve grown apart with.

Reach out to the long-lost friend from high school. Or the one from the military you haven’t talked with in years. I’ll bet they’re dying to talk to you.

But again if you’re struggling, I beg of you to call 988, select 1.

Also, and this is my personal suggestion if you’re not absolutely opposed to it, I would suggest that you start moving closer to God.

Start reading the Bible, if you never have. I really do think that will help. You can read some of Psalms or Proverbs, and then you can start with the New Testament in the Book of John.

I think you’ll find the Bible will start drawing you in and I think it’ll start changing your life. If you don’t have a Bible, you can download the Bible app on your phone or you can look it up online there. There are dozens of sights with it on there.

But again, the broader point is I just want to encourage you not to give up. There’s a plan for you. I really hope that you won’t give up and that you’ll reach out to God or maybe check out the Bible as I’ve mentioned so many times.

If that’s not your thing, or if you’re not ready for that step, I hope you try to surround yourself with some more community or some more friends.

I know a lot of the websites say to not guilt someone who’s thinking about suicide. That such a thing is cruel, but I sadly think that suicide is the easy way out.

It’s a short-term solution to what you think is a complicated problem that you can’t solve.

And trust me. I’m not stupid. I know life is hard. I know going on whether it’s in life or a marathon or a really long rucksack run or forced march in the military, I know to keep going is often more painful. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s also the right answer.

Not only will you get tougher and stronger and have more endurance, but if you fall out of that race, someone’s got to carry your gear. Someone’s got to care for you. Or maybe your team arrives at the mission objective with fewer people, which is gonna lead to more strain and danger and probably higher casualties to those around you.

And unfortunately, that same thing happens if you decide to pull the plug and check out in regular life. Somebody’s going to have to carry your load. Somebody’s going to have to care for your family or for your parents. Someone’s going to have to plan your funeral. Someone is going to have to deal with all the things that you left hanging out there.

So, I know it sounds like I’m trying to guilt you, and I’m really not trying to, but I just want you to think about these things when you are in the lowest point in your life. That really dark place. Please think of others.

You’re a good person. And I just think you’re stronger than what you think you are right now.

And as such, I just encourage you to keep fighting. Please keep taking that next step.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:42. The election season is heating up already, but here are just a few things to remember so that you can keep your own temperature down, as well as do your small part to help unite (and heal) this country.

Timestamp: 8:27. The United States has stalled its decision regarding Ukraine using American long-range weapons in their war against Russia against targets deep inside Russia.

Timestamp: 17:12. Ukrainian drones carried out a massive attack against a crucial ammunition depot deep inside Russia.

Timestamp: 24:37. Why Russia seems so powerless to stop these Ukrainian drone attacks. The answer isn’t as simple as you might think.

Timestamp: 33:31. Some keen overall analysis in regards to the larger, higher situation happening in the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Timestamp: 42:44. A promised anti-air weapons system that Italy promised in June has STILL not arrived in Ukraine yet. It’s expected by late September.

Timestamp: 45:39. President Zelenskyy speaks out and says that the promised military aid to equip 14 new brigades was not enough for even four. That, and many more shocking details, in a short interview that he did with CNN.

Timestamp: 54:09. Turkey's Erdogan says Russia must return Crimea to Ukraine; plus Ukraine gets back a hundred prisoners and Russia commits another war crime against a captured soldier.

Timestamp: 58:27. Turkey's Erdogan says Russia must return Crimea to Ukraine; plus Ukraine gets back a hundred prisoners and Russia commits another war crime against a captured soldier.

Timestamp: 1:00:28. Two German ships passed through the Taiwan straight. China wasn’t happy about this.

Timestamp: 1:04:30. Let’s cover some scripture from the Bible, which I hope will encourage you and ground you. I truly do desire to help lift you up.

Timestamp: 1:12:18. A few words for those who are dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide.

Timestamp: 1:18:29. Some final words of unity, as well as more information about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Timestamp: 1:42. The election season is heating up already, but I discuss in the podcast just a few things to remember so that you can keep your own temperature down, as well as do your small part to help unite (and heal) this country.

Ukraine news:

US wants more clarity from Ukraine on possible use of long-range missiles

Ukraine missile request under discussion

Putin warns NATO risks 'war' with Russia over Ukraine with long-range missile discussion

China news:

Your reminder for the week, in case you duck the scripture in the next part: Be a part of community, if nothing else.

Your scripture for the week:

Let’s end the show with some scripture, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

As a final scripture reminder, do not grow weary in doing good. Even if you’re just helping one hungry kid or donating one school backpack, that might not solve world hunger or fix everything in our country (or your neighborhood), but you are doing good.

So, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size of the world’s problems.

The final thing that I want to do is something I do in every show.

I want to talk to you just for a moment about depression, PTSD, and even suicide for just a moment.

I do this because veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age group of folks who haven’t served.

But this section isn’t just for veterans. I know we can all get in really low spots in our lives so I just want to remind people that it’s a season.

It’s a valley. So when you’re in that thick, deep, tough situation that just seems like you can’t see over it, just remember it. It’s just a season. It’s just a valley, like I said.

Now, if you are having serious issues, you can call 988 and select 1 and you can talk to a crisis-line responder anytime day or night.

And you can do this whether you’re a civilian or a veteran, but I do know that this is hard to do and I know most of you who are struggling probably won’t do so.

As such, I have to be a little mean here because the fact is is when we’ve had a drill instructor or a tough coach in the past who pushed us, you experienced that you can go further than when it’s just you.

So I’m gonna be mean for a moment and I have to remind you guys that you cannot give up. You can’t give in to those really terrible thoughts you’re having.

I don’t want you to lose this fight. I don’t want you to make your parents or your family have to plan your funeral.

I don’t want them to feel guilty that they didn’t check on you for that. That they couldn’t reach you.

I want you to know that you can hold on for another day, and I think if you do, I think the next day is gonna be a little easier.

Now again, if you’re in a fight that you worry you may lose, please call someone. Call a friend or a family member.

This is really easy to do and I beg of you to do so. We have all lost friends that we wish had reached out to us, so again reach out to one of them. Just be honest. Say that you’re struggling right now and can’t catch a break.

But again, you can also call 988. Select 1.

As I said, whatever you do, please do not quit. You’re just in a valley and this world needs you. Probably, if we’re honest, your parents need you, as well. Because seriously, who’s going take care of your parents in 30 years? Or in 10 years? Or whatever age you are?

And I’m serious about this. I just helped take care of my Mom before she passed.

I help take care of my Dad, who’s dealing with some pretty serious memory issues.

So I just wanna ask you who’s gonna do it? Are you just gonna let the system take care of them? How horrible is that?!

So the broader point is you cannot quit and you need to think beyond the season that you’re in and realize that there’s something you’re meant to do -- you just can’t see it. Because like I said earlier, in this immediate fog and pain, you can’t see the end result, but I believe that there’s a mission for you to do.

I believe that God has a mission for you to do. Maybe it’s coach a little league team. Maybe it’s to help others with PTSD. Maybe you’re supposed to run for office.

Whatever it is, I believe there’s some calling for you and you haven’t found it.

But I want to encourage you to get involved.

Stop isolating yourself. Visit a veterans group, such as the VFW. Something like that.

Maybe visit a church near you. Maybe visit some family you’ve lost touch with. Maybe call or text that friend you’ve grown apart with.

Reach out to the long-lost friend from high school. Or the one from the military you haven’t talked with in years. I’ll bet they’re dying to talk to you.

But again if you’re struggling, I beg of you to call 988, select 1.

Also, and this is my personal suggestion if you’re not absolutely opposed to it, I would suggest that you start moving closer to God.

Start reading the Bible, if you never have. I really do think that will help. You can read some of Psalms or Proverbs, and then you can start with the New Testament in the Book of John.

I think you’ll find the Bible will start drawing you in and I think it’ll start changing your life. If you don’t have a Bible, you can download the Bible app on your phone or you can look it up online there. There are dozens of sights with it on there.

But again, the broader point is I just want to encourage you not to give up. There’s a plan for you. I really hope that you won’t give up and that you’ll reach out to God or maybe check out the Bible as I’ve mentioned so many times.

If that’s not your thing, or if you’re not ready for that step, I hope you try to surround yourself with some more community or some more friends.

I know a lot of the websites say to not guilt someone who’s thinking about suicide. That such a thing is cruel, but I sadly think that suicide is the easy way out.

It’s a short-term solution to what you think is a complicated problem that you can’t solve.

And trust me. I’m not stupid. I know life is hard. I know going on whether it’s in life or a marathon or a really long rucksack run or forced march in the military, I know to keep going is often more painful. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s also the right answer.

Not only will you get tougher and stronger and have more endurance, but if you fall out of that race, someone’s got to carry your gear. Someone’s got to care for you. Or maybe your team arrives at the mission objective with fewer people, which is gonna lead to more strain and danger and probably higher casualties to those around you.

And unfortunately, that same thing happens if you decide to pull the plug and check out in regular life. Somebody’s going to have to carry your load. Somebody’s going to have to care for your family or for your parents. Someone’s going to have to plan your funeral. Someone is going to have to deal with all the things that you left hanging out there.

So, I know it sounds like I’m trying to guilt you, and I’m really not trying to, but I just want you to think about these things when you are in the lowest point in your life. That really dark place. Please think of others.

You’re a good person. And I just think you’re stronger than what you think you are right now.

And as such, I just encourage you to keep fighting. Please keep taking that next step.

Before we end, I always like to end each week’s edition with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture from the Bible (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:13. Let’s talk about China and Russia, and the perils of isolationism — a position I held myself as short as 10 years ago.

Timestamp: 29:07. The United States is finally signaling that Ukraine can use American long-range weapons in their war against Russia against targets deep inside Russia.

Timestamp: 31:04. The good — and bad — about the push into Kursk by Ukraine, including the fact that Russia has launched what appears to be a massive counter-attack and taken back at least one-tenth of the land that Ukraine had seized.

Timestamp: 37:26. Ukraine gets some additional air defense from Spain.

Timestamp: 38:59. Iran has supplied more than 200 ballistic missiles to Russia, according to US intelligence.

Timestamp: 40:55. Ukraine launches its second ship inside Turkey as it works to rebuild its own navy.

Timestamp: 42:54. Ukraine hits the economic numbers that it needs to meet to get more funding from the IMF.

Timestamp: 44:01. Up in the skies, Ukraine has taken its anti-drone drone program to new heights.

Timestamp: 50:57. Beijing appears to be carefully weighing plans to tow a Philippine vessel it says is “illegally” deployed at a disputed atoll that has become a new flashpoint in the South China Sea.”

Timestamp: 56:45. Let’s cover some scripture from the Bible, which I hope will encourage you and ground you. I truly do desire to help lift you up.

Timestamp: 1:08:25. A few words for those who are dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide.

Timestamp: 1:14:36. Some final words of unity, as well as more information about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Isolationism versus alliances.

(Gift link: Opinion: We cannot give in to the isolationists. Taiwan must not fall.)

Ukraine news:

The good — and bad — about the push into Kursk by Ukraine.

The good…

The bad…

China news:

Your scripture for the week:

Let’s end the show with some scripture, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover hot spots and critical threats that might affect our country, as well as keep you informed about our military. I end each show by sharing some scripture and Jesus (without being too pushy), and then talk about PTSD and depression (since life is hard and the veteran suicide rate is FAR too high).

My hope is you end each show better informed, less worried, and more optimistic (about both our country and your life).

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:23. I talk about my obsession with the rock band Disciple and how Kevin Young, its lead singer, is one of my all-time favorite heroes.

Timestamp: 10:16. Zelensky reshuffles cabinet at key moment in war and ahead of U.S. trip

Timestamp: 12:36. The latest on the defense of the Ukrainian town of Pokrovsk, where Russia is applying almost all of its pressure.

Timestamp: 23:15. An update on the push north into Russia in the Kursk region by Ukrainian forces.

Timestamp: 33:28. The limitations on weapons usage continues to get many Ukrainians killed.

Timestamp: 36:31. The EU fiddles on frozen Russian assets while Ukraine burns.

Timestamp: 43:42. For those who say we shouldn’t care about Taiwan or what China is doing as it aggressively expands, just realize they are already in America: organized and already using violence. The Washington Post broke this insane story.

Timestamp: 48:39. China rams Phillippine vessel multiple times, after surrounding it. Were they trying to immobilize and capture it?

Timestamp: 52:17. Mapping the growing U.S. presence in the Middle East, and 7 U.S. personnel wounded in Iraq raid that killed 15 ISIS members.

Timestamp: 54:08. Motivation and encouragement, to help lift you up.

Timestamp: 1:11:10. A few words for those who are dealing with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide.

Timestamp: 1:17:10. Some final words of unity, as well as more information about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Link to my favorite band that I mention in the intro:

Ukraine news:

Zelensky reshuffles cabinet at key moment in war and ahead of U.S. trip

KYIV — Ukraine is undergoing its largest government shake-up since Russia invaded the country in 2022, as the war reaches a critical juncture and President Volodymyr Zelensky prepares to visit the United States to unveil a “victory plan” on how Kyiv hopes to win.

The visit later this month comes as Ukraine is preparing for various scenarios ahead of a U.S. presidential election in November that could affect the future of a key partnership that has, until now, ensured Ukraine’s defense. It also coincides with renewed pleas from Kyiv for Western allies — including Washington — to lift restrictions on using certain weapons for long-range strikes inside of Russia in hopes of curbing its devastating missile strikes across the country.

During a news briefing Wednesday, Zelensky praised the team that has led his government throughout the war but said, “Today, we need new energy, and these steps are related to strengthening our state in various directions.”

Update on Pokrovsk

The town of Pokrovsk plays a crucial role as a logistics hub used by Ukrainian forces in the eastern region of Donbas.

(Below item is dated and no longer true; advance has slowed, but sharing this as evidence of larger point made.)

The EU fiddles while Kyiv burns

China news:

For those who say we shouldn’t care about Taiwan or what China is doing as it aggressively expands, just realize they are already in America: organized and already using violence. And you can bet they almost certainly have far more ambitious plans.

Free gift link from The Washington Post: How China extended its repression into an American city

Chinese diplomats and pro-China diaspora groups based in the United States organized demonstrations in San Francisco that harassed and silenced protesters opposed to Beijing’s policies, including through violence, during Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s visit to the city in November, a six-month investigation by The Washington Post shows.

U.S. news:

Words of encouragement:

Let’s end the show with some words of encouragement, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover our military, defense news, and foreign policy in a calm and rational manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a calm manner, I end each show with some words of encouragement.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:23. The Ronda Rousey apology, and what it teaches about apologies, going down rabbit holes on the internet, and carrying guilt.

Timestamp: 12:27. Days after Hezbollah and Israel exchanged some of the heaviest cross-border fire in years, there is hope a larger conflict between the two sides may be held at bay, though eyes are still on Iran to see whether it strikes Israeli targets.

Timestamp: 15:36. On the three-year anniversary of the Afghan withdrawal, let’s re-visit that entire catastrophe and fairly distribute the blame to many different people involved.

Timestamp: 48:06. An Army private who fled to North Korea just over a year ago will plead guilty to desertion and four other charges and take responsibility for his conduct, his lawyer said Monday.

Timestamp: 52:56. The head of Telegram was arrested. How big a deal is that for Russia?

Timestamp: 58:18. Fuel supplies to Russian troops, Crimea strangled by destruction of ship.

Timestamp: 1:04:06. Has Ukraine invaded Russia again by another direction?

Timestamp: 1:08:45. Ukrainians flee Pokrovsk as Russians advance

Timestamp: 1:11:24. Russia launches one of its largest combined missile and drone attacks of the war.

Timestamp: 1:19:33. Ukraine hits more fuel storage sites in Russia.

Timestamp: 1:24:01. Ukraine gets more than a 100 prisoners released back in prisoner exchange.

Timestamp: 1:26:02. Motivation and encouragement, to help life you up.

Timestamp: 1:31:58. A few words for those who are dealign with depression, PTSD, or thoughts of suicide.

Timestamp: 1:38:10. Some final words of unity, as well as more information about me and my books.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Woah. This apology is good. And honest. And from the heart.

And it helps teach you a lesson about going down rabbit holes, which I think is really good.

It also teaches a heck of a lesson about carrying guilt.

U.S. news:

I go into a very long discussion of the complicated topic below. Please listen to my words in my podcast, not the images or links below. I fairly (and equally) place the blame all around in my podcast.

A) I think the below is true of Trump (hat tip Blue Virginia), but I also think that:

B) Biden mangled the exit plan and could have extended its timeline.

C) Biden didn’t have to exit at all, and could have maintained a small U.S. presence in at least the capital (and part of the country), which would have been vastly better for the Afghan people and women, plus the deterrence factor to Russia (before it invaded Ukraine), and even for the U.S. troops who invested so much over 20 yrs, only to see it thrown away.

Ukraine news:

‘Russians do everything via Telegram.’ Pavel Durov’s arrest upends Kremlin military comms.

French authorities detained Pavel Durov on allegations that his Telegram social media platform was being used for child pornography, drug trafficking and organized crime — but the immediate freakout came from Russia.

That's because Telegram is widely used by the Russian military for battlefield communications thanks to problems with rolling out its own secure comms system. It's also the primary vehicle for pro-war military bloggers and media — as well as millions of ordinary Russians.

“They practically detained the head of communication of the Russian army,” Russian military blogger channel Povernutie na Z Voine said in a Telegram statement.

Fuel Supplies To Russian Troops, Crimea Strangled By Destruction Of Ship

The destruction of the ship full of fuel tank train cars at a port in the Kerch Strait yesterday will hamper Russia’s ability to supply troops and the Crimean peninsula with fuel and lubricants, according to the Ukrainian Navy and the popular Crimean Wind Telegram channel. As we reported yesterday, the Conro Trader, a Russian Roll On Roll Off (RORO) vessel with a reported 30 fuel tank cars aboard, erupted in a ball of flames at the Port of Kavkaz.

The Ukrainian Navy on Friday took credit for that attack, which was suspected to have been carried out by a converted Neptune missile.

“We can confirm the information that this target was destroyed by the [Ukrainian] Navy,” spokesman Captain Dmytro Pletenchuk said Friday, according to Ukrainian Pravda. “This ferry is one of the most important chains of Russian military logistics for supplying the occupation forces, primarily with fuel and lubricants, but it also transported weapons, of course. Therefore, this is a legitimate target. And, accordingly, this should reduce the potential of our enemy’s capabilities in those locations where they are actively engaged in hostilities.”

“Fuel is not being delivered to Crimea via the Kerch Bridge by rail, as the structures are weakened after the explosion on the bridge and the burning freight train. There are also concerns that the train carrying fuel could be hit by a missile.

Incredible map. The changing numbers represent troops in theater.

Ukraine Attempting Incursion In Belgorod, Russian Regional Governor Says

Gift link from the Post: Last chance to escape: Ukrainians flee Pokrovsk as Russians advance

Those staying and those leaving wept in the thick August heat — stunned by how quickly Russian forces are advancing on Pokrovsk, a key supply hub in eastern Ukraine that until now was seen as a relatively safe fallback city, far enough from the front line to stay. Russian troops are now just eight miles from the city center, putting much of the area within range of attacks by artillery and first-person view drones.

As of this week, more than 45,000 people remained in Pokrovsk, including more than 3,000 children, according to police data shared with The Washington Post. Civilians have been ordered to evacuate and many have fled in recent days or said they are making plans to leave.

Russia launches one of its largest combined missile and drone attacks of the war.

The dam holds 3.7 billion tons of water and sits upstream from the capital city of Kyiv. A breach would endanger thousands of civilians in the city and nearby towns.

At least five systems pledged at last month's NATO Summit in Washington D.C. have failed to materialize so far, the outlet said.

Though it does not mention the specific countries behind the air defense pledges, President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 18 singled out the U.S., U.K., and France during his evening address in which he called on allies to speed up deliveries of promised weapons systems.

"There are no vacations in war," he said, adding: "Decisions are needed, as is timely logistics for the announced aid packages."

Words of encouragement:

Let’s end the show with some words of encouragement, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible/Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, I cover our military, defense news, and foreign policy in a calm and rational manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a calm manner, I end each show with some words of encouragement.

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 4:24. The latest on the Ukrainian advance into Russia, including the destruction of three permanent Russian bridges, as well as a pontoon bridge.

Timestamp: 12:07. Just how big of a secret was this invasion into Russia? Well, the troops thought it was a joke…

Timestamp: 14:31. Part of the reason for the incursion has become more public.

Timestamp: 16:19. This push north is making Ukraine’s aerial drone attacks more effective against the Russians. They’re even hitting Moscow now. And you know the pressure has to be ramping up on Putin.

Timestamp: 24:12. Kremlin response to Kursk incursion shows how Putin freezes in a crisis

Timestamp: 27:39. With new front opened up, Russia supplying Ukraine with lots of captured tanks.

Timestamp: 30:32. In a big shift, Russia now bombing its own territory.

Timestamp: 32:12. Could retired NATO pilots fly F-16s for Ukraine?

Timestamp: 40:46. Who blew up the Nord Stream Pipeline? We may finally have the answer.

Timestamp: 45:24. Russian oil depot fire continues for more than three days, costing Russia more than $200 million in losses.

Timestamp: 48:44. Incredible footage of Ukraine training drone pilots.

Timestamp: 52:07. Russia closes in on eastern city despite Ukraine’s successes elsewhere.

Timestamp: 55:42. Iran signals that it's promised strike on Israel may not be imminent

Timestamp: 57:23. A year in, DOD racks up wins for foreign military sales

Timestamp: 1:00:06. Russia, China Vying for Influence in Southern Hemisphere With U.S.

Timestamp: 1:03:55. Chinese and Philippine vessels collided near a disputed reef in the South China Sea, undermining what had been a brief and fragile truce.

Timestamp: 1:06:49. Motivation and encouragement.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

A short story about bridges inside Russia, and Ukraine continues its advance northward.

3 days ago: Two bridges down, one to go. Ukraine

2 days ago.

Yikes. Looks like the Russian pontoon bridge has been sunk, too!!! 😱😱 (That's now all three permanent bridges, as well as this interim temporary one...)

Also, it’s kind of crazy that Russia couldn’t have defended this third— and last — bridge. They had to know Ukraine was coming, and yet they still couldn’t station air defenses to stop it.)

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary: Austin Has Discussed Ukraine's Actions in Russia With Ukrainian Counterpart

From the story:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a description of the objectives of the Ukrainian counteroffensive into Kursk on Saturday. "There have already been several reports by Commander-in-Chief [Ukrainian Col. Gen. Oleksandr] Syrskyi about the frontline situation and our operation in the Kursk region" of Russia, Zelenskyy said in his daily report to the Ukrainian people. "We see that the occupier is suffering losses, and this is helpful — very helpful — for our defense. It is about destroying the logistics of the Russian army and draining their reserves."

Ukrainian forces must inflict maximum damage on all Russian positions, he said. The Ukrainian forces are tenaciously defending the Donbas region even as they advance in Kursk. "We are eliminating the Russian military presence in the area of our operations there and replenishing 'the exchange fund' for our state," he said.

The "exchange fund' is replenishing units with personnel, ammunition and supplies.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine will fortify the area in Kursk and use it as a buffer zone to prevent Russian forces from firing into Ukraine. In his Aug. 18 report, he said Ukrainian forces have achieved "good and much-needed results" in destroying Russian equipment.

"All this is more than just defense for Ukraine. It is now our primary task in defensive operations overall to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions," he said. "This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor's territory: our operation in the Kursk region."

Zelenskyy took an expansive view of actions against Russia. "Everything that inflicts losses on the Russian army, Russian state, their military industrial complex, and their economy helps prevent the war from expanding and brings us closer to a just end to this aggression, a just peace for Ukraine," he said.

Ukraine attacks Moscow in one of largest ever drone strikes on Russian capital

Kremlin response to Kursk incursion shows how Putin freezes in a crisis

Faced with crisis, Vladimir Putin tends to freeze.

Moscow’s slow, fumbling military response to Ukraine’s surprise occupation of parts of the western Kursk region is the latest example of the Kremlin chief failing to respond with quick, decisive action to match his bellicose rhetoric.

The Kursk incursion is the fourth major blow to Putin’s authority since his February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and highlights the weaknesses of a top-down autocracy that operates largely on fear and punishment.

In each case — after Russia’s failure to topple the Ukrainian government at the start of the invasion, after Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeniy Prigozhin led a rebellion against the regular Russia military command and after Islamist extremists struck the popular Crocus City Hall concert venue — the Kremlin’s response has been halting, with Putin waiting 24 hours or more to offer any public comment.

“It’s always the same style. Putin likes to keep everything secret. When he appears publicly, he doesn’t say much. He prefers not to be alarmist,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, founder of France-based analytical group R.Politik.

In a big shift, Russia now bombing its own territory.

Link to the story:

Fire rages for a third day at a Russian oil depot

Any Russia-Ukraine peace deal unlikely to be just

From the story:

Any peace deal reached between Ukraine and Russia likely won't be fair, Czech President Petr Pavel said Wednesday — but justice should be the objective nonetheless.

"A just peace, if we were to imagine it on a scale from 100 percent to nothing, would mean the restoration of Ukraine's full control over its territory, including Crimea. It would require that the aggressor pay compensation for war damages. But that's probably a fantasy, we can all agree," Pavel said on PoliTalk, a Czech political podcast.

Russia closes in on eastern city despite Ukraine’s successes elsewhere

U.S. news:

Iran signals that it's promised strike on Israel may not be imminent

Iranian officials are signaling this week that an attack against Israel may not be imminent, tamping down some of the more urgent rhetoric around threats to avenge Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed last month in a blast at his guesthouse in Tehran.

Iran had warned early on of a “devastating” reprisal to “punish” Israel for the assassination — but it later adjusted its language, and, in a statement Wednesday, the Iranian mission to the United Nations reinforced the government’s position that any response“must be carefully calibrated” to avoid affecting a potential cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Even Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the country’s most powerful security force, said that an attack might not come right away. “Time is at our disposal,” Brig. Gen. Ali Mohammad Naeini, the IRGC spokesman, said Tuesday, according to local media. “And the waiting period for this response could be long.”

A Year in, DOD Racks Up Wins for Foreign Military Sales

According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, in fiscal year 2021, sales through FMS clocked in at about $34.8 billion total. For fiscal year 2022, that number jumped to $49.7 billion. In fiscal year 2023, it jumped again to about $66.2 billion. And so far in fiscal year 2024, FMS sales are already above $80 billion, and may top $100 billion by year's end.

Russia, China Vying for Influence in Southern Hemisphere With U.S.

Russian warships have been making port visits to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and 22 nations in the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility have signed on to China's Belt and Road Initiative, the commander of Southcom told attendees of the Aspen Security Forum.

Army Gen. Laura J. Richardson said the nations that have signed on to the Chinese initiative don't see the investments the U.S. has been making in their countries.

"All they see are the Chinese cranes," she said. "These projects are in the billions of dollars. … They are big-time projects."

Richardson said it would be OK with her if those investments were for doing good in the hemisphere. "But it makes me a little suspicious when it's in the critical infrastructure."

Critical infrastructure, she said, includes deep-water ports, cybersecurity, energy and space.

"I worry about the dual use nature of that. These are state-owned enterprises by a communist government. I worry about the flipping of that to a military application," Richardson said, referring to China.

Southcom's No. 1 teammate working in the various countries in the region are U.S. ambassadors, but some nations are without a U.S. ambassador because many have not been confirmed in a timely manner, leaving, she said.

"We have an absolute connective tissue with all of our U.S. ambassadors in the region."

Besides U.S. ambassadors, others that Southcom partners with to increase U.S. influence in the region include the Commerce Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, NASA, the Inter-American Development Bank, the American Chambers of Commerce, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and human rights and nongovernmental organizations, the general said.

"I really believe that economic security and national security go hand in hand here in this hemisphere, and we have got to work both of them together very, very quickly," she said.

Regarding the Russian port visits, Richardson said U.S. vessels have been shadowing those vessels to ensure the safety and security of the United States.

Also, the Russians continue to make high-level government visits to Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua with their foreign affairs minister and the head of the Russian legislative body, she said, adding that the U.S. could be doing more in its own government exchanges.

China news:

Words of encouragement:

Let’s end the show with some words of encouragement, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible or Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. (And if you don’t, I can guarantee it’s coming. That’s how life goes.) So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

But before I do, let me share this post in the hopes that it might help some veteran or family who had roots to Afghanistan. I think this is a good and healthy way to see it.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, in The View from the Front podcast, I cover defense news in a sophisticated and balanced manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a respectful way, I end each show with some motivation and wisdom. Hope you enjoy the show! #SupportOurMilitary #DefendDemocracy

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

Ukraine’s Kursk attack surprised Russia and perhaps some of its backers

A week on, as Russian forces scrambled to respond to the sneak attack after days of fierce fighting, Ukraine’s top military commander said that his troops were in control of 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of territory.

Kyiv’s aims are not entirely clear. Some analysts speculate that the incursion aims to strengthen Ukraine’s hand in future peace negotiations. Military experts agree that it should provide some relief for embattled Ukrainian troops by drawing enemy soldiers away from the frontline.

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says the operation is to protect against long-range strikes launched from Kursk. “Ukraine is not interested in taking the territory of the Kursk region, but we want to protect the lives of our people,” spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said, according to local media.

Ukraine turns the tables on Russia

By one estimate, Ukraine has seized more Russian territory in a week than Russia has captured in Ukraine in this whole calendar year.

The operation has led Russia’s forces to carry out bombing raids on its own territory — after months of pummeling Ukraine. “The incursion clearly has achieved at least one Ukrainian objective: breaking through the haze of Russian complacency about the war — which has had limited impact on the lives of most ordinary Russians,” my colleagues wrote earlier this week.

“Since last week, Russians, rather than Ukrainians, have taken to social media and blogs to wonder whether the nuclear plant nearest the combat area is safe, to watch videos of their young conscript soldiers taken prisoner and civilians stripped of shelter as the Kursk region disappears behind an active front line,” wrote Anna Nemstova in the Atlantic.

Ukraine Strikes Russian Airfields Hosting Hypersonic Missile Carriers

U.S. news:

U.S. Seeks to Deter Regional War in Middle East

There is still time for diplomacy to work in the Middle East, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said today during a news conference.

U.S. forces are moving into the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility as a deterrence measure, he said. The Air Force has moved F-22 Raptor aircraft into the region, and the U.S. Navy is moving the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group — centered around F-35C Lightning II aircraft — to the region, as well. The USS Georgia, a guided missile submarine, is also progressing there.

Today, there are approximately 40,000 U.S. service members in the Centcom region, Ryder said.

The Defense Department continues to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is in almost daily contact with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other partners in the region, Ryder said.

"The U.S. remains intensely focused on de-escalating tensions in the region, while also remaining focused on securing a cease-fire as part of a hostage deal to bring all of the hostages home and to end the war in Gaza," the general said.

In his most recent phone call with Gallant, Austin assured the Israeli leader of the United States' commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel. He also noted the strengthening of U.S. military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions, Ryder said.

"These U.S. military force-posture adjustments are designed to improve U.S. force protection, to increase our support for the defense of Israel, and to ensure the United States is prepared to respond to a wide variety of contingencies," Ryder said.

U.S. Will Work With African Nations to Protect Interests, Encourage Cooperation

The United States has vital interests on the African continent and will protect those interests in concert with African nations, said the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Africa during an interview earlier this month.

Maureen Farrell emphasized that Africa — with more than 1.5 billion people in 54 nations who speak hundreds of languages and have hundreds of cultures — is a diverse continent where a one-size-fits-all approach will not work.

Still, Farrell said there are commonalities. Nations in some sub-regions and particular climate belts share concerns, and often the U.S. government works with the nations in all aspect of government — from the economy to diplomacy to security and more, she said.

But all of this is done "based on the feedback from our African colleagues, as opposed to what might make sense from a policy maker's desk here in Washington, where if you haven't worked on Africa in depth, it can all blend together without the nuance that one clearly needs to understand to be effective," she said.

Listening and engaging with African leaders is an important part of Farrell's job, and it is also an important aspect of the strategy of Marine Corps Gen. Michael Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command. Farrell and Langley and Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., just returned from the African Chiefs of Defense Conference held in Gaborone, Botswana, where they did listen to and engage with African leaders.

"It was a fantastic opportunity for the chairman and the combatant commander to hear directly from their uniformed counterparts at a very senior level," Farrell said. The two U.S. leaders, along with Farrell, were able to hold many bilateral talks with African chiefs of defense and have focused discussions. The discussions on West Africa were particularly important, she said, as Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso following recent coups have withdrawn from the Economic Community of West African States.

"There are some interesting politics and threat information at play in terms of the withdrawal of these three states from ECOWAS," she said. The African nations in the region and beyond, Farrell said, are looking at the political implications of those policy decisions for the uniformed military services in the region.

African leaders very much want African solutions to African problems, Farrell said, and many nations are working together. She noted that two constellations of nations offered different approaches to the troubles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Southern African Development Community has sent peacekeeping forces to the Eastern region of Congo. SADC is also sending peacekeepers to Mozambique where an ISIS-affiliated uprising has killed thousands since 2017 and displaced more than 800,000.

African nations are also working together in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.

"These are all African-led initiatives," Farrell said. "There are plenty of examples of African leadership on security solutions."

One continent-wide problem is climate change. The Sahara is growing, and the Sahel nations are feeling that effect, Farrell said. This has meant increased migration and struggles for resources from water to food to energy.

"The expansion of the Sahel is posing resiliency challenges for the people of the Sahel and coastal West Africa and the broader the West African region." Farrell said. "The drought problems afflicting the Horn of Africa are creating increased security pressures. Add to this the economic challenges from the global food crisis caused by the Russia and Ukraine war. All these issues have squeezed systems in Africa."

She said the continent is also still feeling the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic. "All of these economic challenges create friction in societies that makes easy fodder for conflict," she said. "I think our security service counterparts on the continent are very cognizant of the pressure of resource constraints and what that creates in terms of security challenges for them. So, it's a reality that we're acknowledging as a factor in a spark for conflict, usually over water."

She pointed to Lake Chad — a main source of water for Niger, Chad and Nigeria — as an example. The lake has dramatically diminished in size in recent years placing enormous economic and political pressures on these countries. "If you look over time at the size of Lake Chad, you can see it has shrunk in a matter of years, not multiple decades, but just a handful of years," she said.

The future in Africa involves more African leadership, Farrell said. The United States is listening to and deferring to African leaders. "Our African colleagues are leading, and I think that's only going to grow," she said. "I think the challenge for us in Washington and for our partners and allies is to appropriately support those mechanisms, as opposed to asserting our own particular worldview."

Africa has its challenges, but it has opportunities as well. She noted that Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are investing in the continent. India, Japan and South Korea are active economically and diplomatically with African nations. "These are dynamics that I think we have to pay attention to," she said. "There's no question that the rest of the globe sees the importance of the continent, and not just for resource extraction, but for diplomatic maneuvering, and economic investment. Those are trends that I think have to be part of the consideration for DOD."

China and Russia are also interested in expanding influence on the continent. "We recognize that Africans have a choice, and we are choosing to engage with African partners for our mutual benefit," Farrell said. "It's part of the landscape that there are other actors engaged. We're interested in partnering with countries such as Angola, with Kenya, with Cote d'Ivoire, with Nigeria and with many others, because of the importance that we place on these bilateral relationships, and in many cases, those countries' roles in the broader region."

"There could be threats emanating from some of those other actors' engagements on the continent, but in general, our priority is to engage with African partners for our own mutual benefit," she continued.

Words of encouragement:

Let’s end the show with some words of encouragement, because I know that life is hard and sometimes, you just need to hear something that will lift you up.

I always like to share some verses from the Bible, or quotes that touch on the Bible or Jesus, because my Christian faith has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years, since losing my Mom and now worrying an awful lot about my Dad and his serious memory problems.

I’m betting you have something really challenging going on in your life, as well. So, I hope by sharing some of these, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll change your life, if you let it.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

Here are those links again if you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

And there’s even a PayPal link you can use: https://paypal.me/StanRMitchell.

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

Also, all posts are free, so feel free to share. (And in that line of thinking, it seems like all the social media sites I’m on throttle down my posts when they have a link to Substack, so if you could forward this to a person or two that might be interested, and ask them to consider signing up for free, it’d sure help me a lot!)

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, in The View from the Front podcast, I cover defense news in a sophisticated and balanced manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a respectful way, I end each show with some motivation and wisdom. Hope you enjoy the show! #SupportOurMilitary #DefendDemocracy

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Some light news you won’t find anywhere else:

Full size:

BALD EAGLE POPULATION EXCEEDS 11,000 PAIRS IN 2007

Having collected the most recent census data from state and federal bald-eagle managers in each of the lower 48 states and the District of Columbia, the Center for Biological Diversity has determined that the 2007 bald eagle population is approximately 11,040 pairs. This is a nearly 1,300-pair increase from the 2006 estimate released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in May 2007. The bald eagle's spectacular return from 417 pairs in 1963 is one of the world's great conservation success stories.

Ukraine news:

Images of Ukraine's new F-16s and their weapons hint at what the US-made fighter jets may start off doing against the Russians

China news:

Marine Corps' Force Design Is Focused on Pacing Challenge From China

U.S. news:

Assorted news:

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and wisdom for you, because I know that life is hard and pep talks help. I also know that sometimes you can get too close to a situation and not be able to see what’s happening, so I share some quotes of wisdom alongside these motivational quotes in the hopes that maybe just one of them might speak to you.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

Just came across this one. Wish I had seen this one twenty years ago. (I am such an overthinker.)

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Thank you for being here.

Each week, in The View from the Front podcast, I cover defense news in a sophisticated and balanced manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a respectful way, I end each show with some motivation and wisdom. Hope you enjoy the show! #SupportOurMilitary #DefendDemocracy

Also, huge shout out to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

Update on F-16s in Ukraine.

Unfortunately, there may be as few as six fighter pilots. Here’s a report from the Telegraph about that. (About the 9 min mark to 11:35 or so.)

On the ground, the Russians continue to invest in massive ground attacks against Ukraine, but with little success to date.

U.S. news:

U.S. military launches first airstrike in Iraq in months

South America news:

Maduro urges Venezuelans to report protesters who question his reelection

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because I know that life is hard and pep talks help. I also know that sometimes you can get too close to a situation and not be able to see what’s happening, so I share some quotes of wisdom alongside these motivational quotes in the hopes that maybe just one of them might speak to you.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Each week, in The View from the Front podcast, I cover the news in a sophisticated and balanced manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a respectful way, I end each show with some motivation and wisdom. Hope you enjoy the show! #SupportOurMilitary #DefendDemocracy

Thank you for being here. And thank you to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

While JLOTS Mission Has Concluded, Several Million Pounds of Aid Remain to be Delivered

The U.S. military Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore system, or JLOTS, in use since May to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza, has closed out its mission, U.S. Central Command announced yesterday.

But Centcom remains committed to delivering several million pounds of aid originally destined for delivery using that system, said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a news briefing.

"In the coming days, Centcom will work with USAID to deliver the remaining aid commodities, currently afloat, to the port of Ashdod, in Israel, for onward distribution to Gaza, and will provide coordination and liaison support for humanitarian aid delivery as a request of USAID when appropriate," Singh said.

Due to sea states, the JLOTS pier has not been in operation in Gaza since late June. That pause in operations, coupled with the announced shuttering of the mission, will require about five million pounds of humanitarian aid once designated for delivery over the JLOTS pier to be delivered through the Israeli port of Ashdod.

That aid, Singh said, is either in Cyprus, or "afloat," in that it is currently either on commercial shipping vessels or U.S. military vessels underway on the Mediterranean Sea.

In early May, the Defense Department completed deployment of the JLOTS in the Mediterranean Sea. This included a floating pier several miles off the coast of Gaza as well an additional pier, referred to as the Trident Pier, anchored on the Gaza shore.

The mission was then carried out in multiple steps. Commercial cargo ships loaded with humanitarian aid in Cyprus sailed to the floating pier. There, at sea, cargo was unloaded from the commercial ships and onto trucks that were aboard Army-owned logistic vessels.

After leaving the floating pier, the Army vessels traveled to the Trident Pier. There, the trucks exited the Army vessels and moved aid over the pier to the shore, where the humanitarian aid supplies could then be staged for delivery inside Gaza.

Singh said the mission was successful.

"With collaboration from 12 nations, international partners, USAID, and the United Nations, the temporary pier successfully delivered nearly 20 million pounds of aid, which is the highest volume of humanitarian assistance the U.S. military has ever delivered into the Middle East," Singh said. "The temporary pier achieved its goal of providing an additive means of delivering high volumes of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza."

Going forward, Singh said, the U.S. military will play an advisory role, at least for the short term, in the continued delivery of aid, which is expected to go through Ashdod and then over ground routes into Gaza.

"In the immediate future, we're going to maintain some coordination elements that have been in place, such as the coordination cell ... in Cyprus and in Israel. We want to make sure that aid is going to continue to flow into Gaza," she said. "But this new route, that aid flows through Ashdod, will ultimately be managed by USAID and other humanitarian organizations ... I'd include the World Food Program in that as well."

Ukraine news:

Opinion: With U.S. aid flowing, Ukraine’s defense stiffens — for now

Michael Kofman, an analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who recently returned from visiting Ukraine, wrote on X: “Ukraine faces difficult months of fighting ahead, but the situation at the front is better than it was this spring.”

The biggest danger to Ukraine at the moment is not from a Russian ground assault but from the air. Last week’s Russian missile strikes, which hit a children’s hospital in Kyiv and killed at least 37 people, are a reminder of the constant menace. Kofman notes that “Ukraine is very low on ammunition for legacy Soviet [air defense] systems, whereas Russian drone and missile production rates have increased significantly.”

The Russians have had particular success in recent months in targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian officials say Russian strikes have taken offline nine of the 18 gigawatts that the country needs for peak consumption this winter. Electricity is already being rationed, and it could be limited to as little as five hours a day in the winter. As Ukrainian officials have been saying since the start of the war, they are in desperate need of more air defenses, to protect not only their cities and infrastructure but also their front-line positions. Ukrainian troops have suffered devastating damage from Russian “glide bombs,” as stockpiled dumb bombs retrofitted with cheap guidance kits are called.

At last week’s NATO summit, the allies announced that they were sending dozens of new air defense systems to Ukraine, including at least four U.S.-made Patriot batteries, the most effective system for stopping Russian missiles. Talks are underway for Israel to contribute as many as eight of its own earlier-generation Patriot batteries, which it no longer needs. The imminent delivery of F-16s from the Netherlands and Denmark should help, too: Those fighter aircraft can chase away the Russian bombers dropping glide bombs.

China news:

Background article from June: Philippine Sailor Severely Injured, Vessels Damaged as Chinese Block South China Sea Mission

Defense Official Says U.S.-Philippines Alliance Is Making Remarkable Progress

Part of this vision is the United States standing with the Philippines as the nation defends its lawful rights in the South China Sea, Ratner said. China is challenging the Philippines' lawful right to the Second Thomas Shoal, a "low-tide elevation beyond any lawful territorial sea, on the Philippines' continental shelf, and well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone," Ratner said.

China's claim on the Shoal "has no more credibility today than it did when the arbitral tribunal issued its unanimous ruling in 2016," he said. "And the kind of revisionism and coercion we've seen there from [China] is both destabilizing and dangerous."

This aggressive Chinese behavior stands in sharp contrast to the remarkable leadership by President Marcos to protect and defend the rights of the Philippines under international law, Ratner said.

"All the while, the United States has acted in support of the Philippines and made clear that our alliance commitments are ironclad and that all nations should be able to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," Ratner said.

The Philippines is working alongside Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and other nations of the region in these exercises.

These like-minded nations are moving toward greater interoperability and cooperation, Ratner said. They are granting reciprocal access. They are also engaging in more complicated and complex regional exercises. "The new convergence in the Indo-Pacific won't always start with or include the United States, nor should it," Ratner said.

South China Sea Arbitration Ruling: What Happened and What’s Next?

Gift link from The Washington Post: Why does China care about a rust bucket in the middle of the sea?

China brokers Palestinian unity declaration in bid to be global mediator

Leaders of Palestinian factions, including Fatah and Hamas, signed a joint statement Tuesday in Beijing aimed at ending divisions between the bitter rivals, a deal bolstering China’s claim to being a global mediator but unlikely to heal the deep rift between the Palestinian political groups.

The statement calls for the formation of a Palestinian unity government overseeing the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip and eventually holding elections, for which the leaders of the factions would meet and draw up a road map. The Israeli government has rejected any proposal that gives a governing role to Hamas or the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority.

Chinese media hailed the “Beijing declaration” as a breakthrough and a sign of the country’s emerging role as a peace broker in faraway conflicts. In a speech after the talks ended, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called it a “historic moment for the cause of Palestine’s liberation” and highlighted the “consensus around establishing an interim national reconciliation government to manage Gaza after the war.”

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because I know that life is hard and pep talks help. I also know that sometimes you can get too close to a situation and not be able to see what’s happening, so I share some quotes of wisdom alongside these motivational quotes in the hopes that maybe just one might speak to you.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi everyone!

Each week, in The View from the Front podcast, I cover the news in a sophisticated and balanced manner, with an over-arching goal to unify our country.

Besides covering the news in a respectful way, I end each show with some motivation and wisdom. Hope you enjoy the show! #SupportOurMilitary #DefendDemocracy

Thank you for being here. And thank you to those of you whose paid subscriptions make it possible for me to devote time and resources to researching and compiling the news each week.

If you’d like to support the show:

You can subscribe with Substack: https://stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

You can also now sign up at Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/stanrmitchell

Or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell): https://account.venmo.com/u/authorstanrmitchell

Finally, I’m still trying to grow the show. Please rate and leave comments on SPOTIFY, APPLE, or wherever you listen.

You can listen here, or you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below by searching for The View from the Front:

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because I know that life is hard and pep talks help. I also know that sometimes you can get too close to a situation and not be able to see what’s happening, so I share some quotes of wisdom alongside these motivational quotes in the hopes that maybe just might speak to you.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:31 “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the July 11th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

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:

  • Cover the news and foreign policy reports that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast above. I really hope you get something out of it.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

By the way, if you’ve been enjoying the show for a while… you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

This was Tuesday: The Biden question has been answered: he's not leaving.

But by Wednesday, it seemed the ground had shifted again.

Nancy Pelosi opened the door, subtly, to replacing Biden.

George Clooney called for Joe Biden to step down, saying he witnessed the President’s decline

First Senate Democrat asked Biden to leave race, and now nine members of the House who are Democrats have spoken out publicly about it

So, we will just have to see.

In other political news, Trump’s VP choice may be down to 3. Here’s what each brings.(Breaking down the advantages of having Marco Rubio, J.D. Vance or Doug Burgum on the ticket — and what they lack.)

July 4 U.S. Central Command Update

In the past 24 hours U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USV) in the Red Sea and one Houthi radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

It was determined the USVs and radar site presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.

US to complete withdrawal from Niger base Sunday

The U.S. is set to complete its withdrawal of forces and equipment Sunday from an air base in Niamey, the capital of the West African country of Niger, with a joint ceremony marking the occasion.

Next on the U.S. agenda is its exit from a Niger drone base that is scheduled to be completed in August.

The departures are in compliance with a September 15 deadline agreed upon by the U.S. and Niger’s ruling junta, after Niger’s new military leaders ordered U.S. troops to leave following a coup in Niamey last year.

U.S. Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, in Niger to coordinate the exits, told reporters by video conference that the bulk of the U.S. forces in Niger will be transferred to European locations. However, he said small teams of U.S. forces have been relocated to other West African countries.

Ukraine news:

Russia strikes a children's hospital in Kyiv and other sites across Ukraine

Joint Statement on Strengthening Ukraine’s Air Defenses

Ukraine’s first F-16s will see combat this summer, officials say

NATO to announce new military command to train Ukrainian troops, appoint Kyiv representative, Sullivan says

In the coming days, the NATO alliance will announce a new military command in Germany to train and equip Ukrainian troops, as well as appoint a new NATO senior representative in Kyiv, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on July 9 at the start of the NATO summit in Washington.

Outlining measures the U.S. and NATO allies will take to further support for Ukraine, Sullivan briefly detailed "robust new measures," including previously unannounced plans for a three-star general to lead a new German military command for "training, equipping, and force development program for Ukrainian troops."

Sullivan also announced that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will appoint a new senior NATO representative in Kyiv to "deepen Ukraine's institutional relationship with the alliance and serve as the focal point for NATO's engagement with senior Ukrainian officials."

China news:

Japan and the Philippines sign a defense pact in the face of shared alarm over China

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because we all know that life is hard and pep talks help.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the July 4th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Reminder of the debate: Trump made more than 30 false claims during CNN’s presidential debate — far more than Biden

Trump’s repeat falsehoods included his assertions that some Democratic-led states allow babies to be executed after birth, that every legal scholar and everybody in general wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, that there were no terror attacks during his presidency, that Iran didn’t fund terror groups during his presidency, that the US has provided more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, that Biden for years referred to Black people as “super predators,” that Biden is planning to quadruple people’s taxes, that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned down 10,000 National Guard troops for the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, that Americans don’t pay the cost of his tariffs on China and other countries, that Europe accepts no American cars, that he is the president who got the Veterans Choice program through Congress, and that fraud marred the results of the 2020 election.

Trump also added some new false claims, such as his assertions that the US currently has its biggest budget deficit and its biggest trade deficit with China. Both records actually occurred under Trump.

Biden made at least nine false or misleading claims in the debate. He used false numbers while describing two of his key Medicare policies, falsely claimed that no US troops had been killed on his watch, repeated his usual misleading figure about billionaires’ tax rates, baselessly claimed that Trump wants to eliminate Social Security, falsely said that the unemployment rate was 15% when he took office, inaccurately said that the Border Patrol union had endorsed him before clarifying that he was talking about agents’ support for the border bill he had backed, and exaggerated Trump’s 2020 comments about the possibility of treating Covid-19 by injecting disinfectant.

Biden and aides concede he needs to quickly demonstrate his fitness for office

This has been a long time coming and what a disgraceful end for a man who helped rally our country after 9/11. The lesson is clear: Never sell your soul -- or your integrity -- to any other person.

Steve Bannon reports to prison for contempt of Congress sentence

Alex Jones’ court trustee plans to shut down his notorious conspiracy outlet Infowars

Ukraine news:

China news:

China and the Philippines hold crucial talks to ease tensions after intense clash in disputed waters

Philippines to be 'relentless' in protecting interests in South China Sea, it says

Taiwan says China seized fishing boat under new protocol

Haiti news:

Haiti’s prime minister says Kenya police is crucial to controlling gangs, calls early days positive

Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille told the U.N. Security Council Wednesday that recently-deployed Kenyan police will be crucial to helping control the country’s gangs and moving toward democratic elections — and he called feedback from their initial days in the capital “extremely, extremely positive.”

He said his government will focus on addressing gang violence and food insecurity, ensuring free elections through constitutional and political reform, and rebuilding public trust in the police.

On June 25, the initial contingent of 200 Kenyan police arrived in Port-au-Prince. Kenya has pledged 1,000 police to the international police force and Conille said the next contingent will be arriving “very soon.” They will later be joined by police from the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Chad and Jamaica in the force that will total 2,500 personnel.

Motivation and encouragement:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because we all know that life is hard and pep talks help.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, or that touch on Jesus, because Christianity and the Bible have become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past couple of years.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front Podcast. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the June 20th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Governor Moore announces the gull reopening of the Port of Baltimore

No timeline for Baltimore port reopening following bridge collapse

Baltimore to open "temporary alternate channel" for ships

G7 agrees to loan Ukraine $50 billion from the interest on frozen Russian assets

The total number of individually struck air defense systems is approximately 15. Specifically, divisions of air defense systems in the modifications of S-300, S-350, and S-400 have been affected; dozens of launcher units of these systems have been destroyed, along with over 15 radar stations and more than 10 command posts.

Motivation and encouragement:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because we all know that life is hard and pep talks help.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the June 13th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

President Biden deserves applause for how he’s conducted himself during the Hunter Biden trial, as I describe in the podcast, despite the ludicrous comments below.

8 suspected terrorists with possible ISIS ties arrested in New York, L.A. and Philadelphia, sources say

Eight men from Tajikistan with potential ties to ISIS out of central Asia were arrested over the weekend in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, three people familiar with the matter told NBC News on Tuesday.

Middle East news:

Ukraine news:

Motivation and encouragement:

Here’s some motivation and encouragement for you, because who doesn’t need that?!

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link to my faith newsletter: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the June 6 edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

0:33. Feedback on last episode, more on the China threat, and a celebration of D-Day.

9:49. Biden authorizes Ukraine to hit part of Russia with US weapons.

13:09. Temporary pier in Gaza faces setback with rough storm (and other conditions).

16:56. US Secretary of Defense meets with Chinese Defense Minister.

19:15. Putin’s purge ramps up as fith general is arrested.

21:41. Hal Brands: Putin’s shadow war against Europe is intensifying.

24:22. Russia co-opts far-right politicians in Europe with cash, officials say

27:09. Some U.S. weapons stymied by Russian jamming in Ukraine

31:02. Ukraine frustrated with US over F-16 pilot training.

33:42. Are US M1 tanks performing poorly inside Ukraine?

36:38. Ukrainians have purchased $25 billion in govt bonds since start of full-scale war.

40:11. United States learns from China’s military operations around Taiwan.

42:13. China convicts pro-democracy Hong Kong dissidents.

46:20. Honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you.

1:02:55. An important message re: PTSD.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

U.S. news:

Biden gives Ukraine permission to carry out limited strikes inside Rusia

President Joe Biden has given permission to Ukraine to strike inside Russian territory with American munitions, though he has restricted their use so Kyiv can only hit targets over the border close to Kharkiv after Russia made significant advances around the city in the northeastern part of the country close to the Russian border, two US officials told CNN on Thursday.

“The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US supplied-weapons for counterfire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them,” one of the officials said.

The loosening of the restrictions marks a break from long-standing policy and comes amid growing international pressure from close US allies. But it is limited to the area around Kharkiv, and Ukraine has not requested permission beyond that, the official said, adding that they do not anticipate the US widening the area allowed.

Temporary pier in Gaza faces setback with rough storm

Austin Emphasizes Open Lines of Communication Between U.S., China Militaries

Russia news:

Putin's purge ramps up as another general arrested over bribes

Hal Brands: Putin’s shadow war against Europe is intensifying

Russian nationals have been arrested in Germany on charges of planning to attack military facilities. English prosecutors claim that Russian agents set fire to a warehouse containing aid for Ukraine. Sweden is investigating alleged Russian-sponsored acts of sabotage. The Czech government accuses Moscow of sabotaging its railways.

Estonia, meanwhile, has reportedly uncovered a host of Russian plots on its soil. Russian ships are suspected of targeting communications cables and wind farms in the North Sea. Now, Moscow may be involved in suspicious fires — including one that engulfed a shopping center — in Poland. The roster of allegations goes on and on.

Russia naturally denies any culpability, but where there is this much smoke — literal or figurative — there is probably some fire. As Prime Minister Kaja Kallas of Estonia has said, Russia seems to be waging a “shadow war” against Europe.

Russia co-opts far-right politicians in Europe with cash, officials say

The Czech probe rapidly expanded into Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and France, European security and intelligence officials said, as investigators concluded that Voice of Europe represented far more than its official veneer as a pro-Russian website interviewing favored European politicians about ending aid to Ukraine.

The organization was being used to funnel hundreds of thousands of euros — up to 1 million a month — to dozens of far-right politicians in more than five countries to plant Kremlin propaganda in Western media that would sow division in Europe and bolster the position of pro-Russian candidates in this week’s European Parliament elections,according to interviews with a dozen European intelligence officials from five countries. Most of the officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing and sensitive investigation.

Officials described the Russian operation as among the most ambitious undertaken by the Kremlin in Europe in its efforts to undermine support for Ukraine and create divisions in the transatlantic alliance.

Ukraine news:

Some U.S. Weapons Stymied by Russian Jamming in Ukraine

Ukraine frustrated with US over F-16 pilot training

Ukrainian officials are pressing the U.S. and other countries to ramp up their F-16 pilot training, saying the current pipeline isn’t producing enough aviators to fly the jets that will be soon donated to Kyiv.

Ukraine says it has 30 pilots who are eligible to start training in the U.S. immediately. Yet the Biden administration has told Kyiv it lacks the school seats in its Arizona-based program to accept more than 12 pilot trainees at a time, according to three people with direct knowledge of the request. Two other facilities in Denmark and Romania have a similar issue with available training spots.

Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium plan to ship more than 60 U.S.-made F-16 jets to Kyiv this summer. Ukrainians argue that the ability to fly more F-16s will help Kyiv push back Russian forces from the frontlines in places such as Kharkiv, where Moscow has advanced in recent weeks. Yet the U.S. has said it does not expect the jets to be a game-changer on the battlefield.

China news:

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

On May 13, 1899, at San Miguel de Mayumo, Philippine Islands, an entrenched enemy force of 300 men opened fire upon Corporal Anders and 11 other scouts. The scouts promptly charged the enemy trenches, routing their forces and capturing the bridge to San Miguel in a sharp firefight. The scouts entered the town and took refuge in a church bell tower. From there they held the town, having driven the enemy entirely out of the city, until two infantry companies arrived that afternoon to help secure the city.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

Motivation and inspiration:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the May 30th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

2:59. China launches large-scale military drills to punish Taiwan.

8:37. Will China invade Taiwan in the next year or two?

11:57. “World on the Brink.” Will China invade in 2027 or 2028?

25:24. Top Senate Republican pushes massive hike in defense spending.

27:59. Biden edges closer to reversing ban on US weapons usage inside Russian.

31:10. Sweden announces airborne surveillance and control aircraft for Ukraine.

33:36. Honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you.

54:59. An important message re: PTSD.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

China news:

US lawmakers vow to bolster Taiwan’s defense with bipartisan visit days after China’s ‘punishment’ military drills

CNN — US lawmakers vowed to bolster Taiwan’s deterrence against China on Monday during a bipartisan congressional visit to the self-governing democracy just days after Beijing surrounded the island with massive military exercises.

Last week’s drills were the largest China has launched in more than a year and came days after Taiwan swore in its new president, Lai Ching-te, who is openly loathed by Beijing for championing the island’s sovereignty and distinct identity.

In a news conference in Taipei, US Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called the drills an “intimidation tactic to punish democracy” and vowed to bolster Taiwan’s defense by speeding up the delivery of defensive weapons from the US.

Will China invade Taiwan in the short term?

CIA chief: China has some doubt on its ability to invade Taiwan in 2027

Top Senate Armed Services Republican pushes massive hike in defense spending

Ukraine news:

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

Psalm 62.

Ephesians 4.

Proverbs 3.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the May 23rd edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:56. The Russian advance near Kharkiv falters.

Timestamp: 6:08. Ukraine’s energy grid has been rocked.

Timestamp: 9:50. Much needed artillery ammo finally reaches Ukraine’s front lines.

Timestamp: 12:21. The pressure builds on Biden to greenlight Ukraine using American weapons against targets inside Russia.

Timestamp: 14:53. E.U. sets precedent with plan to use profits from frozen Russian assets

Timestamp: 17:44. Russia faces a growing labor shortage.

Timestamp: 21:58. Destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) returns home from historic deployment.

Timestamp: 25:37. U.S. completes floating pier off Gaza, but challenges remain.

Timestamp: 32:47. Honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 53:09. An important message re: PTSD.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

By the way, you can sign up to support the show at the link below. (Or use the two options below that.)

You can also now sign up at Patreon or send a tip through Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

Gift link: With its energy network nearly destroyed, Ukraine already fears the winter

Also, in contrast to the previous campaign against Ukraine’s energy sector, which focused primarily on destroying the electrical distribution grid, Russian forces are now directly targeting the country’s thermal and hydroelectric power plants.

Boiko said that consumption restrictions should be expected to last until September, by which time nuclear power stations — which provide half of the country’s electricity — will have ramped up production, while lower temperatures should reduce the energy demands.

Winter will be “undoubtedly difficult,” Boiko said — the only question is to what degree. Ukraine has lost some eight gigawatts of electricity production because of the strikes, he said — approaching half of what this country more than 30 million, the size of Texas, needs during peak periods.

E.U. sets precedent with plan to use profits from frozen Russian assets

U.S. news:

USS Carney had ‘seconds’ to respond to anti-ship ballistic missiles

Challenges abound, but aid moves into Gaza

While 569 metric tons of aid have landed off the Defense Department's Joint Logistics, Over-the-Shore pier in Gaza, getting the aid to the Palestinian people has been a problem, officials said today.

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters that aid is making it ashore and the amount of aid should quickly increase as the process continues.

The problem with delivery comes as desperate Palestinians have been mobbing the trucks after they leave the marshalling yards. Ryder said there have been discussions among the U.S., Israel and the United Nations on efforts "to identify alternative routes for the safe movement of staff and cargo."

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the May 16th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel by searching by name Stan R. Mitchell and The View from the Front.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 6:07. Modern Europeans are a people of peace? It’s a joke, people. And we need to start with a joke before we get to something deadly serious.

Timestamp: 9:04. American political dysfunction and propaganda from Russia are beginning to threaten political support in the U.S. and Europe for Ukraine.

Timestamp: 24:50. The latest updates on the advances of the Ukrainian forces in its counteroffensive against Russian-occupied forces.

Timestamp: 25:56. Russia gets a taste of its own medicine as Ukraine launches small drone attacks on Russian electrical substations.

Timestamp: 29:59. Ukrainian forces are increasingly conducting raids in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Timestamp: 42:59. Motivation and encouragement, just for you. As well as the honoring of a special Medal of Honor recipient.

Timestamp 35:02. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine news:

Gift link to NYTimes: White House Worries Russia’s Momentum Is Changing Trajectory of Ukraine War

Ukraine has been able to use that recaptured territory near Kharkiv to conduct harassing attacks into Russia. Those attacks have prompted the Russians to retake land in recent weeks to create a buffer zone that Mr. Putin has said will make cross-border attacks harder for Ukraine to carry out. Recently, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency has called the Russian advance near Kharkiv “critical.”

Some outside experts caution that Russia’s real strategic aim in taking territory around Kharkiv is to force Ukraine’s troops to move to reinforce the city, weakening the front lines elsewhere. That could set up an opportunity for another Russian drive in June, in the Donbas, the part of eastern Ukraine that the Kremlin has illegally annexed and is trying to capture.

“The Russian offensive aim is likely to draw Ukrainian reserves and elite units, then pin them in Kharkiv, thereby weakening the rest of the front,” Mr. Kofman said. “The primary Russian objective still remains recapturing the rest of the Donbas.”

Gift link to Wash Post: Why Russian troops are suddenly able to advance toward Kharkiv

Germany to buy three US HIMARS launchers for Ukraine for $30 million

U.S. news:

Pentagon orders all US combat troops to withdraw from Niger

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And honestly, if you were like me, and you had spent years and years reading self-help books, meditating, Buddhism, whatever, and it’s still not working? Then why not try something else? We know that the definition of insanity is dong the same thing over and over, expecting a different result.

If you’ve never cracked open the Bible, I invite you to try it. In fact, I almost double-dog dare you to try it. Because if it’s all fake, if it’s all not real, then it should have no effect.

It’s just another lame self-help book. But if you’re courageous enough to open it, I think it will rock your world, the same way it’s rocked mine.

Bottom line, what do you have left to lose? You’ve tried everything else, so why not try this.

And I think if you do, you’ll see that the Bible is the handbook for your life. I think you’ll find it speaking to you, because it’s not just ancient words, it’s the wisdom of God.

And if you need hope and purpose, if you’re really drowning and feeling lost, then you need more than the self-help quotes I shared above. You need God and one of the best ways to find Him is in the Bible. You don’t just have to go to some church you’re nervous to visit. You can start learning about Him from the safety of your home, by simply reading the Bible — either in print or on your phone through a Bible app.

Hebrews: 13:5-6

John 6:51.

Isaiah 40:29-31.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget that I've also written twelve fast, exciting books.

Finally, I also write a faith blog about God and the Bible. (As a child, I was wounded badly by the church and left it to study other religions, before returning to the faith of my roots.)

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Timestamp: 8:21. Why it may be in China’s interest to invade by 2028?

Timestamp: 15:09. China’s self-fulfilling prophecy.

Timestamp: 17:39. China’s self-fulfilling prophecy.

Timestamp: 25:34. US soldier detained in Russia.

Timestamp: 32:59. Putin is inaugurated for fifth term as Russian president.

Timestamp: 34:43. Marjorie Taylor Green gets smacked down.

Timestamp: 38:33. Ukraine arrests two colonels in plot to kill Zelensky.

Timestamp: 40:07. Ukraine orders nationwide electricity rationing after Russian airstrikes.

Timestamp: 41:23. Russia completes an important train line inside occupied-Ukraine.

Timestamp: 42:28. Protests and unrest in Georgia is turning ugly.

Timestamp: 44:05. The U.S. ship crash you never heard of, which took the lives of nearly 200 sailors.

Timestamp: 46:35. Honoring a Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 104:03. An important message re: PTSD.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the May 2nd edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 7:15. Dark clouds loom with China.

Timestamp: 16:27. The good news and bad news regarding Ukraine this week.

Timestamp: 23:20. Has an ISIS leader respsonbile for 4 U.S. deaths been killed?

Timestamp: 24:44. US withdraws troops from base in Chad.

Timestamp: 26:19. Honoring a special Medal of Honor recipient, as well as motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 37:04. An important message re: PTSD.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S./China news:

Chinese water cannon damages ship in new South China Sea flare-up, Philippines says

Xi Jinping tells Antony Blinken US should avoid ‘vicious competition’ with China

China threatens retaliation for Taiwan, TikTok law signed by Biden

Ukraine news:

Biden Administration announces historic new $6 billion security assistance package for Ukraine

Africa news:

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

Through so many major wars, more than 1 million Americans have sacrificed their lives and died, getting us to this place and time.

In wars such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm, then after Sept 11th, there was Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

And these were only the major wars that I’ve listed, and I know I overlooked so many smaller conflicts. In all, more than 41 million Americans have served over the course of the nation's history. And as I said earlier, more than 1 million have died, and tens of millions have been wounded or had their lives shattered.

So, I think it’s always important we remember these facts, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split up our country because of whatever the latest culture war is. Or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our grandparents and great-grandparents and those who came before them would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. It’s a great way to help support this writing journey I’m on. To date, I’ve written 12 of them: 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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the April 25th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:18. The West, Ukraine, and the civilized world get a big win.

Timestamp: 3:38. Why President Biden believes this makes America (and the world) safer.

Timestamp: 5:32. What weapons are in the Ukraine aid?

Timestamp: 9:05. The surprise news about weapons shipments, which broke on Wednesday.

Timestamp: 13:34. One good thing that came from the long delays on passing this Ukraine aid in the United States.

Timestamp: 15:48. Is the Republican Party starting to go after its extreme members more strongly?

Timestamp: 24:01. The UK announces a new, impressive aid package for Ukraine.

Timestamp: 29:49. An update on the situation in Haiti and the chances that U.S. troops may have to deploy.

Timestamp: 32:55. The forces necessary to contsrtuct a floating pier off the coast of Gaza have arrived, so that’s good news for the desperate folks inside Gaza who need larger amounts of humanitarian aid.

Timestamp: 34:18. Motivation and encouragement, just for you. As well as the honoring of a special Medal of Honor recipient.

Timestamp 49:29. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Supplemental Bill Becomes Law, Provides Billions in Aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

President Joe Biden today signed into law a bill that provides much-needed security assistance to American partners, including Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

"It's going to make America safer. It's going to make the world safer. And it continues America's leadership in the world," Biden said during a briefing following the signing ceremony. "It gives vital support to America's partners so they can defend themselves against threats to their sovereignty and the lives and freedom of their citizens."

The president said that the security supplemental, worth about $95 billion, is not just an investment in the security of U.S. partners around the world, but also in U.S. security at home and abroad.

"This is directly in the United States' national security interest," Biden said. "If Putin triumphs in Ukraine, the next move of Russian forces could very well be a direct attack on a NATO ally."

If that happened, Biden said, the U.S., as a NATO partner, would be bound to assist.

"We'd have no choice but to come to their aid, just like our NATO allies came to our aid after the September 11 attacks," he said. "That's why we're supporting and surging support now to Ukraine, to stop Putin from drawing the United States into a war in Europe."

Among expenditures in the security supplemental package is more than $60 billion for support to Ukraine. Biden said that assistance will begin to flow immediately, initially as part of a new package of security assistance through presidential drawdown authority, which involves military equipment pulled from existing U.S. inventory.

"I'm making sure the shipments start right away," he said. "In the next few hours — literally, a few hours — we're going to begin sending in equipment to Ukraine for air defense munitions, for artillery, for rocket systems and armored vehicles."

Shortly after the president spoke, the Defense Department released details of a $1 billion security assistance package for Ukraine which includes, among other things, RIM-7 and AIM-9M missiles; Stinger anti-aircraft missiles; tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided, or TOW, missiles; ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System; 155 mm and 105 mm artillery shells; and a variety of combat vehicles.

The bill also includes some $14.1 billion for funding to support Israel, Biden said.

Earlier this month, on April 13, Iran and its proxy groups launched more than 300 airborne weapons at targets in Israel, but the U.S., Israeli and partner forces destroyed a significant portion of them before they reached their targets. The president said the U.S. remains committed to Israeli security.

"My commitment to Israel, I want to make clear again, is ironclad," Biden said "The security of Israel is critical, and we'll always make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Iran and the terrorists it supports."

The supplemental security bill, Biden said, helps Israel replenish its air defense capabilities and also provides for additional defense needs.

The supplemental funding also provides $9.5 billion for humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine and other populations caught in conflict zones across the globe.

The US secretly sent long-range ATACMS to Ukraine — and Kyiv used them

Haiti is kind of, sort of holding it all together for the moment. I honestly expected it to spiral worse, but for the the moment, it seems stable-ish (like boards standing on loose gravel and sand and mud or something).

U.S. Military Aircraft transports US Embassy Port-au-Prince Support and Security Personnel

In support of the Department of State, U.S. Southern Command transported support and security augmentation personnel for the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. A U.S. Air Force C-130 flew into Toussaint Louverture International Airport today for the planned rotation of personnel. This mission is a testament to the efforts of the Haitian National Police, the Armed Forces of Haiti, and the International Airport administrators and stakeholders. The security and support personnel who arrived in Haiti will help ensure the U.S. Embassy remains open, and operations continue. This airlift mission is consistent with the standard practice for Embassy security augmentation worldwide.

The U.S. embassy remains focused on advancing U.S. government efforts to support the Haitian people, including mobilizing support for the Haitian National Police, the Armed Forces of Haiti, and creating conditions for free and fair elections.

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

More than 1 million Americans have died in war getting us to this place and time.

And I think it’s always important we remember it, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split because of culture war or what tax rate we should have or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our forefathers and foremothers would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. It’s a great way to help support this writing journey I’m on. To date, I’ve written 12 of them: 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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the April 18th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:18. A couple of small requests.

Timestamp: 7:42. Iran attacked Israel. Brief recap, with one important larger point that i wanted to cover.

Timestamp: 11:45. The Iran attack was stopped cold by Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, Jordan, and other allies. But this brings up a larger point about the horrific, daily attacks Ukraine is trying to survive from Russia.

Timestamp: 25:45. The latest on the prospects of additional Ukraine funding. And four reasons for why I think it will actually pass this time.

Timestamp: 40:20. Germany to send additional Patriot air defense battery to Ukraine.

Timestamp: 41:12. The United States has responded to China’s aggression in the South China Sea by deploying a new missile launcher to the Philippines.

Timestamp: 48:37. Motivation and encouragement, just for you. As well as the honoring of a special Medal of Honor recipient.

Timestamp 1:01:50. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Israel, U.S., Partners Neutralize Iranian Airborne Attacks

In case you missed it, my emergency update from the weekend… (includes details of weapons systems used.)

Fox News opinion piece: Marjorie Taylor Greene is an idiot. She is trying to wreck the GOP

U.S. Army Deploys New Missile Launcher To The Philippines

Never, ever give up segment links:

I call it the "Never, ever give up segment” because we must never ever give up as a country (though we face great division, a massive debt burden, and probably future problems that none of us could even predict. But we must never give up as a country.

And I believe we must stay united.

And also as individuals, we must never, ever give up. We’ve got family and friends counting on us, so in this section, I’m going to share some motivation to help encourage you.

I’d like to begin by honoring a Medal of Honor recipient.

If you don’t know, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration you can possibly earn in the military, and it’s awarded to service members who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.

The medal is typically awarded by the President of the United States, upon the recommendation of the Armed Services.

I share these Medal of Honor stories to remind us of the sacrifices that have been made through the nearly 250 years of American history.

More than 1 million Americans have died in war getting us to this place and time.

And I think it’s always important we remember it, particularly when we have people regularly saying we face a potential civil war. Or that we should split because of culture war or what tax rate we should have or any other number of silly reasons.

I think our forefathers and foremothers would be dumbfounded to think we could rip apart this great nation over such trifling issues.

Now, let’s share some motivation to make sure that we never, ever give up in our own personal lives.

Of course, if you’re a regular listener, you know I also speak about never giving up when I discuss PTSD at the end of the show.

But for now, let’s just talk about some motivation.

And we’ve got some great ones this week.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90‬:‭1‬-‭4‬, 10, ‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT

“Lord, through all the generations you have been our home!

Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.

For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours.

Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. … Take pity on your servants!

Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.

Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good.

Let us, your servants, see you work again; let our children see your glory.”

‬‬https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.90.1-17.NLT

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. It’s a great way to help support this writing journey I’m on. To date, I’ve written 12 of them: 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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the April 11th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 4:45. Update on Ukraine aid in the House.

Timestamp: 11:46. Could the two discharge petitions succeed? And why are extreme members of the fringe, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, so powerful?

Timestamp: 17:10. What are my personal thoughts on Ukraine aid in the House passing under Mike Johnson’s leadership?

Timestamp: 21:15. Ukraine gained some crucial air defense funding this week with an emergency sale of some medium-range missiles from the United States. Here are the details of that deal.

Timestamp: 23:29. The United States has transferred confiscated weapons intended for Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels to Ukraine, according to the U.S. Central Command. Ukraine will receive over 5,000 AK-47 rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, RPG-7s, and 500,000 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.

Timestamp: 26:20. The way Russian media and opinion leaders talk about obliterating cities in France, Poland, and Germany on a nightly basis ought to be astounding (and frightening) to anyone with half a brain. This is about more than Ukraine.

Timestamp: 34:23. U.S. Special Ops is making its case for the future.

Timestamp: 41:15. China and U.S. military hold additional talks to prevent an accidental escalation, and President Biden and President Xi have a rare phone call.

Timestamp 55:13. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Confirmation link.

U.S. news:

Is Russia propaganda infecting the Republican Party?

U.S. announces $138 million in emergency military sales of Hawk missile systems support for Ukraine

The way Russian media and opinion leaders talk about obliterating cities in France, Poland, and Germany on a nightly basis ought to be astounding (and frightening) to anyone with half a brain. This is about more than Ukraine.

Special Ops Builds on Strengths as it Charts Future

China news:

U.S., Chinese Military Officials Resume Talks on Operational Safety

Never, ever give up segment links:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. It’s a great way to help support this writing journey I’m on. To date, I’ve written 12 of them: 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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the April 4th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:51. Am I overplaying the situation between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea? A prior Marine Corps officer who’s familiar with the situation shares his feedback.

Timestamp: 5:28. I need to make a small correction from last week’s episode after some feedback from a listener.

Timestamp: 9:44. Ukraine aid from the United States is finally starting to look like it might move when the House comes back into session next week. I go into the details of what that might look like and the Congressional balancing act that Speaker Mike Johnson must maintain.

Timestamp: 15:06. Israel bombed Iran’s Consulate in Syria, killing several important Iranian generals. That has heightened tensions in the region.

Timestamp: 17:52. 60 Minutes has released new Havana Syndrome evidence that suggests who may be responsible for mysterious brain injuries, and I really don’t want to give it away, but it looks like it’s Russia.

Timestamp: 31:49. The Navy is going to help with the bridge collapse in Baltimore.

Timestamp: 33:08. Russia launches its largest tank attack of the war since the initial invasion, and it doesn’t go well.

Timestamp: 36:31. France announces that it will send new surface-to-air missiles and armored vehicles to Ukraine.

Timestamp: 37:41. WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich has now been in Russian detention for a full year, and Russia just extended his sentence.

Timestamp: 39:26. Motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 48:30. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Long-Delayed U.S. Aid To Ukraine May Soon Take Shape

Ukraine urgently needs air defenses as Russia decimates power grid

Ukraine news:

France to provide new missiles, used armored vehicles to Ukraine, defense minister says

Never, ever give up segment links:

Motivation and encouragement:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because this book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And I hope by sharing a few, it might encourage you to get into the Bible yourself. Because I think it’ll really help you.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the March 28th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 4:59. The Ukraine military aid bill that’s stuck in the House. What’s the latest on this? Where’s it at? How did we get here?

Timestamp: 11:28. Let me share the scariest thing I’ve heard yet from a Congressional reporter… Could there really be no Ukraine aid until the election?

Timestamp: 13:48. Also, just as scary. Are the two discharge petitions just symbolic? Fake little appearances of action, that won’t even be acted on?

Timestamp: 20:13. A Republican makes the case for why Republicans should pass Ukraine aid for Trump’s own good, in case Trump is elected, since Russia could very well be in the middle of its final steps of finishing off the conquering of Ukraine as Trump takes office.

Timestamp: 28:17. Russia has carried out its most successive attacks against Ukraine in the past week, as depleted air defenses inside Ukraine are unable to knock down the incoming ballistic and cruise missiles.

Timestamp: 34:57. Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s oil refineries are starting to make a dent on the country led by Putin.

Timestamp: 37:38. ISIS hits Moscow theater, killing more than 150. What are the implications of this attack, and will there be more?

Timestamp: 46:47. Contrary to popular belief on the far Right, there’s only one way Russia can win the war in Ukraine. I cover that in brief.

Timestamp: 50:25. While the United States dithers on Ukraine aid, a few European countries have stepped up yet again in the past week.

Timestamp: 53:41. Is America at its most dangerous point militarily speaking in 40 years? It is according to at least one currently serving four-star admiral, who testified in front of Congress.

Timestamp: 58:34. China has again taken dangerous actions against lawful Philippine operations in the South China Sea, injuring Filipino service members and significantly damaging their vessel.

Timestamp: 1:05:36. Motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 1:12:28. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S./Ukraine news:

Opinion — Free gift link: If Ukraine falls, it will be the GOP’s Afghanistan

Learn more about the Bucha massacre

Russia attacks Ukrainian electrical power facilities

Kharkiv thermal power plant will take years to rebuild

Exclusive: Russia increases gasoline imports from Belarus as domestic supplies shrink

Never, ever give up section:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the March 21st edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:51. Two announcements/updates about the show.

Timestamp: 14:29. Haiti has gone from bad to worse. And the pull to insert American troops grows stronger by the day.

Timestamp: 21:01. The latest about Ukraine aid from the United States — and the necessity of it.

Timestamp: 36:22. Not all is bad in Ukraine. Here are two positive stories that have come out the past week. The first is Ukraine has hit two more oil refineries, deep inside Russia. And Russia appears powerless to stop the attacks.

Timestamp: 40:15. The second positive story is that Ukrainian forces continue to hang onto a bridgehead across the Dnipro River.

Timestamp: 46:54. Motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 54:06. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Ukraine news:

Embattled Marines on Dnipro Bridgehead Gain New Foothold Despite Swarms of Russian Drones

Never, ever give up segment links:

Crossing of the Delaware

George Washington Crosses the Delaware

10 Facts about Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the March 14th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:08. As Haiti spirals into chaos, the United States has sent Marines to help secure the embassy. And while the Biden Administration continues to try to NOT send troops into the area, and I discuss these valiant efforts to date, it seems to me that the United States will not be able to avert its gaze forever as Haiti burns.

Timestamp: 8:51. Members of the XVIII Airborne Corps scrambled to deploy to the Middle East in less than two days after getting the call. Once they arrive off the coast of Gaza, they will build a pier that will be capable of delivering up to 2 million meals per day.

Timestamp: 13:46. Biden administration announces new weapons package for Ukraine.

Timestamp: 23:05. Here are several important stories that you need to know.

Timestamp: 26:36. Motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 35:17. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

U.S. Marines deployed to Haiti amid escalating crisis

Specialized Army Unit Underway to Support Humanitarian Aid Delivery to Gaza

Once operational, the pier will be capable of delivering up to 2,000,000 humanitarian aid meals per day.

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder previewed the capability Friday during a briefing at the Pentagon following Biden's State of the Union Address.

"This is part of a full-court press by the United States to not only focus on working on opening up and expanding routes via land, which are the optimal way to get aid into Gaza but also by conducting air drops," Ryder said.

DOD Able to Send Additional Assistance to Ukraine Using Unexpected Army Savings

Lawmakers begin efforts to move around House Speaker, force vote on Ukraine aid(Gift link to Wash Post article.)

Jeffries pressures Johnson to bring up Ukraine aid for vote next week

Ukraine news:

Ukraine launches new wave of strikes against Russia’s oil facilities. (Gift link to Wash Post article.)

Cameron: London ready to loan Ukraine all frozen Russian assets in UK

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron said on March 5 that London is prepared to loan Kyiv all the assets of the Russian central bank frozen in the U.K. on the basis that Moscow will be forced to pay reparations to Ukraine after the all-out war, the Guardian reported.

Denmark earmarks over $300 million for artillery to Ukraine

Never, ever give up segment links:

'Damn the Torpedoes – Full Speed Ahead': Navy’s First Admiral Was Hispanic Hero

'Damn the Torpedoes'(Much deeper details about the complicated battle.)

And, I always like to end each week’s notes with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the March 7th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link above. There is also an AI-generated transcript that you can find above. Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and encouragement at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

The latest update on funding for Ukraine from the U.S. And is a crucial pro-Ukraine voice in the House GOP sounding less urgent? You tell me. I also explore just how important this aid for Ukraine is, quoting an admiral who’s trying to stare down China and a foreign leader who says, “Do we really want Japan to create nuclear weapons?” (Links below.)

Today: McCaul: "I do" think Speaker will get Ukraine funding done

Same man, almost three weeks ago: GOP House chair: Johnson has no way out of Ukraine floor vote

Ukraine Aid Will Help Deter China in Indo-Pacific, Admiral says

Comments of Malcolm Turnbull, who served as the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018.(Comments are at the 44:45 mark.)

Other news of note:

Ukraine says it sank a Russian warship off Crimea in much-needed victory

Ukraine’s Allies Line Up Funds for 800,000 Artillery Shells

U.S. Participates in Second Humanitarian Airdrop for Gaza

Motivation and encouragement:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Feb 29th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:42. U.S. forces continue their dangerous role in the Red Sea, shooting down missiles and attacking targets inside Yemen.

Timestamp: 5:16. The Department of Defense has released an unclassified summary of a 30-day review into the circumstances surrounding the hospitalization last month of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin. I share a few brief remarks on this.

Timestamp: 6:28. Russia seizes more villages in Ukraine, raising fears of growing momentum. I also update you on the latest news out of Congress about the aid package for Ukraine.

Timestamp: 9:53. Did French President Emmanuel Macron really talk about sending troops to Ukraine?

Timestamp: 14:46. Did you hear the absolute smackdown delivered by Poland’s Foreign Minister last week? You’ve seriously got to hear it. And since it’s a little hard to understand, I’ll read it for you. It’s that good. Believe me.

Timestamp: 22:20. Countries of the EU have agreed to procure $1.5 billion worth of ammunition for Ukraine, according to Bloomberg News. This could lead to Ukraine receiving approximately 800,000 shells within a few weeks.

Timestamp: 24:40. Three short news items about Ukraine that should lift your spirit.

Timestamp: 28:04. Four headlines you need to know about.

Timestamp: 29:35. Motivation and encouragement, just for you.

Timestamp 35:02. Some final words of unity and a few special words for those vets out there (and non-vets, too) who are struggling with PTSD or are just in a really low valley right now. I think it’s really important to discuss this topic in every single show since veterans are at 57% higher risk of suicide than their peers of the same age groups who haven't served. Please listen to this if you are struggling.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

DOD Takes Steps to Restore Stability in Red Sea Area

Department Releases Unclassified Review Summary Following Austin's Hospitalization

Ukraine news:

Russia seizes more villages in Ukraine, raising fears of growing momentum

NATO troops in Ukraine? From The Washington Post:

“Nothing should be ruled out,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in comments that triggered a mini continental uproar. Macron was briefing reporters on the sidelines of a Monday meeting with 25 European leaders in Paris on their continued support for Ukraine as it resists Russia’s invasion. Kyiv has suffered recent battlefield setbacks as it grapples with shortages in munitions and workforce. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, whose views are more sympathetic to the Kremlin than many of his peers, had earlier suggested that there were European countries “prepared to send their own troops to Ukraine” — a revelation that was put to other European officials in attendance.

Officials from the United States, Germany, Poland, Spain, the Czech Republic and a number of other NATO countries all dismissed the suggestion that they were considering sending troops. But Macron chose “strategic ambiguity” and stressed the importance of not allowing Russia to win the war. “I remind you that two years ago, many around this table were saying: ‘We’re going to offer sleeping bags and helmets,’” he told reporters at the Paris meeting. “Today they’re saying: ‘We’ve got to go faster and harder to get missiles and tanks.’ They have the humility to realize that we have often been six to 12 months behind schedule. That was the aim of tonight’s discussion. So anything is possible if it helps us achieve our goal.”

The epic smackdown of Russian propaganda.

Bloomberg article: Europe Looks Abroad to Get Ukraine Weapons With Russia Advancing

Denmark confirms Ukraine set to receive first F-16 jets this summer

World stories in brief you need to know:

Hungary approves Sweden’s bid to join NATO

Biden Urged to Seize $300 Billion in Russian Assets, Give It To Ukraine

Australia to more than double naval surface fleet, grow defense budget

China is stepping up naval surveillance around Taiwan

Motivation and encouragement:

Now, let‘s move to some motivation and wisdom.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Feb 22nd edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

US and Ukraine news:

NYTimes gift link: Hundreds of Ukrainian Troops Feared Captured or Missing in Chaotic Retreat

Hundreds of Ukrainian troops may have been captured by advancing Russian units or disappeared during Ukraine’s chaotic retreat from the eastern city of Avdiivka, according to senior Western officials and soldiers fighting for Ukraine, a devastating loss that could deal a blow to already weakening morale.

The Russian capture of Avdiivka has emerged as a significant symbolic loss for Ukrainian troops, a sign of the battlefield impact of the failure of the U.S. Congress, so far, to approve more military assistance as dwindling supplies of artillery shells make it even harder to hold the line.

Estimates of how many Ukrainians were captured or missing vary, and a precise count may not be possible until Ukraine solidifies new defensive lines outside the city. But two soldiers with knowledge of Ukraine’s retreat estimated that 850 to 1,000 soldiers appear to have been captured or are unaccounted for. The Western officials said that range seemed accurate.

Opinion (gift link): Ukraine faces a valley of death. There’s a way Biden can help it get across.

Russian troops are grinding forward using their two great national resources — warm bodies and coldblooded patience. That’s how Russia fights its wars, from Napoleon to Hitler to now. “They are crazy, they are raging … tens of thousands of their soldiers. That’s what they have,” Zelensky told the conference. Ukraine, in contrast, was struggling to protect its troops, whom he described as “our main weapon.”

Putin can keep sending troops not just because of Russian stoicism, but because he has cleverly drawn his forces from the poorest and most disadvantaged areas of the country. Those dying are disproportionately ethnic minorities from backwaters such as Chechnya and Dagestan, U.S. analysts say. The pay for soldiers at the front is three times what they would normally earn, and the families of dead soldiers receive a bonus worth more than $50,000, noted the European ambassador. “The war has brought a kind of prosperity for poor Russians,” he said.

Navalny’s death displayed Putin’s calculus. He doesn’t care about elite public opinion because it doesn’t threaten his control. Demonstrators laying flowers or staging small marches don’t faze him. “Anything below a million we can handle,” a Kremlin official told the European ambassador several years ago. The message, the diplomat told me, was that “thousands of demonstrators are a drop in the ocean.”

A comment from The Washington Post that should inspire us all to move and do more.

Motivation and inspiration:

Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Feb. 15th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Senate passes $95 billion foreign aid bill. But the funding faces long odds in House.

The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill early Tuesday, capping a lengthy battle that highlighted deep foreign policy rifts within the Republican Party.

The 70-29 vote kicks the funding bill over to the House, where House Speaker Mike Johnson has said his chamber will not consider the legislation because it does not include border security provisions. The package would appropriate $60 billion to support Ukraine, which has been battling Russia since February 2022.

It would also send $14 billion in military assistance to Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza and elsewhere, and nearly $5 billion to defend Taiwan.

Proponents of the legislation – including most Democrats and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – see Russian President Vladimir Putin as a threat to democracy in Europe. An investment in Ukraine’s effort to hold Russia at bay would prevent the involvement of American troops down the line, they argued, should Russia succeed and feel emboldened to attack a NATO ally.

Trump advisers rush to spin ‘off the cuff’ NATO remarks

Why the Navy says its Red Sea and Gulf of Aden battles are historic

The Navy’s ongoing battles with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have resulted in destroyers shooting down 14 anti-ship ballistic missiles “for the first time in history,” the Navy’s top officer said Tuesday at the annual West 2024 conference here.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October, the warships Carney, Gravely, Laboon, Mason and Thomas Hudner have destroyed more than 70 drones and seven Houthi cruise missiles, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti said.

Anti-ship ballistic missiles are designed to hit vessels like Navy destroyers, and their deployment by the Houthis against military and commercial ships in the region is believed to be the first time such munitions have been used in a conflict.

Ukraine news:

Ukraine's commander-in-chief is out

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday that he has fired Valerii Zaluzhnyi from the role of the military’s commander-in-chief. His dismissal is the most high-profile change in leadership in Kyiv since Russia’s invasion.

“The time for renewal is now,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “I proposed to General Zaluzhnyi to remain part of the team,” he added. The commander of Ukraine’s land forces, Oleksandr Syrsky has been appointed as the new military leader.

“2024 will bring new changes for which we must be ready. New approaches, new strategies are needed,” Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in a Facebook post, thanking Zaluzhynyi for his time leading the army.

Syrskyi: Ukraine shifts to defense to drain Russian troops

Ukrainian troops have switched from offensive to defensive posture and aim to exhaust advancing Russian forces, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview with German ZDF channel, published on Feb. 13.

Stocks of shells for Ukrainian air defense will only last until March of this year.

According to The New York Times, although the Armed Forces of Ukraine have a new commander-in-chief, the problems remain the same. General Syrskyi, having taken office, may soon again be faced with the grim calculations that have accompanied the war for two years: “when the cost of defending territory outweighs any benefit obtained from harming the enemy.”

According to the newspaper, Ukrainian troops are exhausted, they lack weapons and ammunition, and air defense systems are depleted, while US assistance is still in question.

Western officials and military experts warn that without American help, the Armed Forces of Ukraine will face a “rapid collapse” on the front line this year, writes the NYT.

CNN: Ukraine says it has sunk another warship, disabling a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet

Ukraine claims it has now disabled a third of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet after its military intelligence said it sank another Russian warship in a sea drone attack off the coast of Crimea on Wednesday.

Russia’s landing ship Caesar Kunikov was attacked with “MAGURA” V5 drones that punctured “critical holes” on its left side before sinking, the Ukrainian military intelligence agency said on Telegram.

“Ukraine has disabled a third of the Russian Black Sea Fleet during the large-scale invasion,” the country’s armed forces told CNN after Wednesday’s attack.

That aligns with Ukrainian claims last week that they had disabled about 33% of Russia’s warships, amounting to 24 disabled ships and one submarine. The landing ship Caesar Kunikov would be the 25th disabled ship, according to Ukraine’s count.

Motivation and inspiration:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

mil #podcast #military #ukraine #china #russia #RussiaUkraineWar #motivation #inspiration #Bible #usmc #army #navy #airforce #politics #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Feb 8th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Let’s begin with some good news/timeline cleanser

About 1,000 manatees piled together in a Florida park, setting a breathtaking record

Their final tally – 932 – didn’t just set a record. It rocketed past previous records, even the 736 they counted on New Year’s Day. It’s a far cry from the single-day record of 49 manatees celebrated 40 years ago and more than twice as many manatees as the single day record set just 10 years ago.

U.S. news:

In case you missed it…

Ukraine gets massive funding win; also sinks Russian warship

U.S. begins its response to the death of three American soldiers by hitting more than 85 targets

Gift link: Inside the crucial mission of U.S. troops at Tower 22

Tower 22, where about 350 U.S. personnel are stationed, almost all in noncombat roles. These troops work with Jordanian forces, and Tower 22 supports a U.S. garrison with about 200 soldiers called al-Tanf just over the nearby border with Syria.

So why not just bring them all home? In the short term, that would give Iran exactly what it wants: to drive U.S. forces out of the region and dominate a huge swath of territory from Tehran to Beirut. And over the longer term, the United States would be abandoning the mission of Tower 22 and the other U.S. bases there: fighting the Islamic State and protecting civilians.

“The small footprint of these bases is very important. The main mission is cutting off the supply routes for weapons and fighters for ISIS between Iraq, Syria and Lebanon,” he said. “This is the best way to prevent the resurgence of ISIS in this area.”

Tower 22 and al-Tanf are part of a network of small bases that also complicate Iran’s ability to ship weapons and supplies to groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Another benefit is that the Syrian civilians living near the bases are protected from the militias and from the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Austin apologizes for mishandling communication around his cancer treatment

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday admitted he mishandled communication around his treatment for prostate cancer and apologized to his colleagues and the American public in his first news conference since returning to work.

“I want to be crystal clear: We did not handle this right. And I did not handle this right. I should have told the president about my cancer diagnosis. I should have also told my team and the American public, and I take full responsibility,” Austin said. “I apologize to my teammates and to the American people.”

“As a rule, I don’t talk about conversations with my boss, but I can tell you I have apologized directly to President Biden. And I’ve told him that I’m deeply sorry for not letting him know immediately that I received a heavy diagnosis and was getting treatment,” Austin said. “And he has responded with a grace and warm heart that anyone who knows President Biden would expect.”

Ukraine news:

Ukrainian president confirms he’s thinking about dismissing the country’s military chief

“A reset, a new beginning is necessary,” Zelenskyy said. The review is “not about a single person but about the direction of the country’s leadership.”

“I’m thinking about this replacement, but you can’t say here we replaced a single person,” Zelenskyy said. “When we talk about this, I mean a replacement of a series of state leaders, not just in a single sector like the military. If we want to win, we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory. We cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall. We must have the right positive energy.”

Motivation and inspiration:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Feb 1st edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

NBC news: Biden says he has decided on response to deaths of U.S. soldiers in Jordan

President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he has made a decision on how to respond to the drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers and injured dozens of others at a base in northeast Jordan.

Biden vowed Sunday to retaliate and “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner [of] our choosing" for the deadly attack, which injured more than 30 soldiers.

Asked whether he holds Iran responsible for the attack, he said he does “in the sense that they’re supplying the weapons to the people who did it.”

Kyiv Independent: CIA director: Failing to pass Ukraine aid would be mistake 'of historic proportions'

Republicans in the U.S. Senate previously blocked a funding bill that included $61 billion in aid for Ukraine, insisting that any further military aid must include major significant domestic border changes. While in December, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban vetoed a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) aid package from the EU.

Progress has been made in attempting to securing support for additional military funding but the fate of both aid packages remains uncertain.

In a deal that is expected to be unveiled as early as next week, U.S. Senate negotiators have agreed on a deal that significantly restricts illegal migrant crossings at the southern border while also unblocking assistance for Ukraine. The bill is likely to face stiff opposition in the House of Representatives, where Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly warned it would be "dead on arrival."

Hungary has also begrudgingly signaled its willingness to drop its opposition to a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) aid package if concessions be made for the EU to review the funding package on a yearly basis. Still, some EU countries have expressed skepticism at the proposal, insisting Hungary would block the funding year-over-year while seeking further concessions. A special summit of the European Council will be held on Feb. 1 to further discuss funding.

Ukraine news:

CNN: Zelensky set to announce dismissal of Ukraine’s top commander within days as rift grows over war, source says

Ukraine’s popular army chief Valery Zaluzhny was called to a meeting at the president’s office on Monday and told he was being fired, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN, following weeks of growing speculation over tensions between Volodymyr Zelensky and his top commander.

A formal announcement has not been made, meaning Zaluzhny was still in post as of Wednesday evening, however, a presidential decree is expected by the end of the week, one of the sources told CNN, in what would be the biggest military shakeup by Zelensky since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion almost two years ago.

Rumors of the meeting, and Zaluzhny’s dismissal, exploded around Kyiv on Monday evening, lent credibility by a rift widely understood to have opened up between the president and his commander-in-chief following the failure of the Ukrainian counteroffensive last year.

Washington Post: U.S. war plans for Ukraine don’t foresee retaking lost territory

Still smarting from last year’s failed counteroffensive in Ukraine, the Biden administration is putting together a new strategy that will de-emphasize winning back territory and focus instead on helping Ukraine fend off new Russian advances while moving toward a long-term goal of strengthening its fighting force and economy.

The emerging plan is a sharp change from last year, when the U.S. and allied militaries rushed training and sophisticated equipment to Kyiv in hopes that it could quickly push back Russian forces occupying eastern and southern Ukraine. That effort foundered, largely on Russia’s heavily fortified minefields and front-line trenches.

“It’s pretty clear that it will be difficult for them to try to mount the same kind of major push on all fronts that they tried to do last year,” a senior administration official said.

Wash Post: Russia, Ukraine trade POWs with no new word of passengers on downed plane

Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners Wednesday, exactly a week after Russia accused Ukraine of shooting down a military plane that Moscow claimed was carrying dozens of Ukrainian POWs being transported to a swap later that day.

Ukraine has not denied shooting down the aircraft, an Ilyushin Il-76, but says that Russia has provided no evidence that POWs were on board. The incident raised concerns that future exchanges of POWs would be suspended.

But in a surprising announcement Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 195 Russian soldiers had been exchanged for “exactly” the same number of Ukrainian soldiers.

China news:

Top U.S. officials warn Congress of China's hacking powers

Threat level: China has shown a new interest in preparing and launching destructive cyberattacks against U.S. electricity systems, water utilities, military organizations and other critical services, officials told lawmakers Wednesday.

That's a divergence from the Chinese government's historical focus on stealing state secrets and espionage.

Officials fear that China is laying the foundation for cyberattacks that could hinder the United States' ability to help Taiwan during a potential invasion.

Some perspective from the 1/11 episode.

Hicks: U.S. Aims to Prevent Conflict in Space, Other Domains Through Deterrence

From 2019 to 2023, China doubled its number of annual space launches and more than tripled how many payloads it put into orbit. That's real growth, she said.

But over that same time, American space launches per year more than quadrupled, while U.S. payloads launched increased by nearly 13 times, she said.

In 2023, China launched 240 payloads to orbit while the U.S. lofted over 2,500 payloads, she said.

"As DOD invests more in space, the whole of America's lead will only grow," she said.

World stories in brief you need to know:

  • Change in ISIS Threat Means Evolution in Long-Term U.S.-Iraq Relationship

  • U.S.-Vietnam Cooperation Growing, Maturing, DOD Official Says

  • Pakistan accuses India of assassinations on its soil

  • France has transferred 2 additional M270 LRU rocket launchers to Ukraine

  • Infrastructure ministry says new water pipeline 95% ready

  • Taiwan begins year-long military service amid rising China tensions

Motivation and inspiration:

That’s it for this edition! Here’s some motivation and wisdom to send you off with.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

Hebrews 10:23-24

James 4:8.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Jan. 25th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Search ends for Navy SEALs lost at sea on mission to seize Iranian arms

The U.S. military has ended its search for two Navy SEALs lost at sea during a mission to intercept Iranian weapons bound for militants in Yemen, officials said on Sunday, underscoring the risks to the United States of spiraling violence across the Middle East amid Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

U.S. officials said the two service members, identified Monday as Christopher J. Chambers, 37, and Nathan Gage Ingram, 27, had not been located during a 10-day search and rescue operation. “Their status has been changed to deceased,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement announcing the effort’s suspension. “We are now conducting recovery operations.”

The SEALs disappeared during a dangerous nighttime operation that occurred on Jan. 11 in the Arabian Sea near the coast of Somalia, an area known for piracy and weapons smuggling. Troops were dispatched from a floating base, the USS Lewis B. Puller, to inspect a vessel suspected of carrying illicit arms. As they attempted to board, one of the SEALs slipped from a ladder and the second, having witnessed their comrade fall into the water, dove in to help, officials have said. Both were swept away by the powerful swells.

A search and rescue mission was launched as other personnel boarded the suspect vessel. They discovered ballistic and cruise missile warheads, propulsion and guidance systems, and air defense components, military officials said, describing the equipment as an Iranian resupply of Houthi militants in Yemen.

Multiple strikes against the Houthis

Attacks were conducted inside Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen.

As a reminder, the Houthis are Iranian-backed, and the attacks were conducted by the U.S. and U.K, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands

The Defense Department assesses that since January 11, the U.S. and partners have destroyed or degraded over 25 Houthi missile launch and deployment facilities, more than 20 missiles and an additional number of unmanned aerial vehicles, coastal radar and air surveillance capabilities and weapons storage areas.

US personnel injured in attack on Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq

US personnel were injured in a ballistic missile attack on Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq on Saturday, two US officials said.

The attack was one of the largest-scale ballistic missile attacks to date that the US has seen carried out by Iran-backed militias in Iraq, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Monday. Two US service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries and have since returned to duty, she said.

US Central Command confirmed the attack Saturday evening.

Multiple ballistic missiles and rockets targeted the base and, while most were intercepted by the base’s air defenses, some made impact, the CENTCOM statement said.

The use of more powerful ballistic missiles, far rarer than rockets or one-way attack drones, comes at a time of growing tension in the region as the Israel-Hamas war passes 100 days.

Strikes in Iraq

Centcom also announced that the U.S. had today conducted strikes in Iraq against the Iranian-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah. That strike was in response to attacks made by the group this past weekend, including at al-Asad Airbase in western Iraq.

According to Centcom, the strikes were against three facilities used by the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia group and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq.

"These strikes targeted KH headquarters, storage and training locations for rocket, missile and one-way attack UAV [unmanned aerial vehicles] capabilities," the Centcom release said.

5th Fleet boss: Iran ‘directly involved’ in Houthi rebel ship attacks

Iran is “very directly involved” in ship attacks that Yemen’s Houthi rebels have carried out during Israel’s war against Hamas, the Navy’s top Mideast commander told The Associated Press on Monday.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. 5th Fleet, stopped short of saying Tehran directed individual attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Michael Hayden, the former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, said he thought there was only a one-in-five chance of actual conflict with Iran.

Austin released from hospital after cancer surgery complications

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was released from the hospital on Monday, after spending two weeks there to treat complications from surgery for prostate cancer he kept secret from senior Biden administration leaders and staff for weeks.

Austin will be working from home as he recovers, and his doctors said he “progressed well throughout his stay and his strength is rebounding.” They said in a statement the cancer was treated early and his prognosis is “excellent.”

Ukraine news:

'Incredibly stark': Biden aides give lawmakers a grim assessment of Ukraine without more aid

President Joe Biden’s top aides bluntly told lawmakers in a private meeting on Wednesday that if Congress fails to authorize additional military aid for Ukraine in the coming days, Russia could win the war in a matter of weeks — months at best, according to two people familiar with the meeting.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan and the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the lawmakers that Ukraine will run out of certain air defense and artillery capabilities in the coming weeks, according to the people familiar with the meeting.

The grim assessment, which one White House official described as “incredibly stark,” was delivered as the future of Ukraine aid has never been more uncertain. It also comes as White House officials are increasingly alarmed at the prospect of Biden failing to follow through with his promise that the U.S. will be there for Kyiv “as long as it takes.”

We cannot help Ukraine with repairs of previously provided equipment without funding – Pentagon

The Pentagon has indicated that the lack of funding not only affects the US's ability to send weapons to Ukraine but also to help repair the equipment it has already provided.

Source: Patrick Ryder, spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, during a briefing

Details: The official stressed that due to insufficient funding, the Pentagon cannot draw down weapons from its own stockpiles, which hinders "meeting Ukraine's most urgent battlefield needs to include things like artillery rounds, anti-tank weapons, air defence interceptors".

"Also, without additional funding, it prevents us from being able to provide systems and equipment to meet both their medium- and longer-term requirements and help them sustain systems that we've previously provided to them," Ryder stressed.

The official added that the Pentagon would further cooperate with Congress and urge it to pass a decision on additional funding as soon as possible.

WSJ: EU creates fresh plan for $22 billion in military support for Ukraine

EU members have argued over reimbursement rates and the use of the EPF to offset purchases. Hungary has blocked an eighth tranche of funding to compensate EU countries for supplies. Ukraine has not received funds from the EPF for six months as a result, although individual member states have pledged military aid in the interim period.

The new proposal would seek to approach the deadlock with a plan to disburse the $22 billion back to EU member states over the next four years in compensation for funds they have spent on military aid for Ukraine.

A Ukrainian drone attack on an oil depot inside Russia causes a massive blaze, officials say

A Ukrainian drone struck an oil storage depot in western Russia on Friday, causing a massive blaze, officials said, as Kyiv’s forces apparently extended their attacks on Russian soil ahead of the war’s two-year anniversary.

Four oil reservoirs with a total capacity of 6,000 cubic meters (1.6 million gallons) were set on fire when the drone reached Klintsy, a city of some 70,000 people located about 60 kilometers (40 miles) from the Ukrainian border, according to the local governor and state news agency Tass.

The strike apparently was the latest in a recently intensified effort by Ukraine to unnerve Russians and undermine President Vladimir Putin’s claim that life in Russia is going on as normal before its March 17 presidential election.

Russia accuses Ukraine of shooting down military plane, killing all 74 on board

Russia accused Ukraine of downing a Russian military plane near the Ukrainian border Wednesday, saying all 74 people on board were killed including dozens of Ukrainian servicemen being transported for a prisoner swap.

Ukraine’s military command said it regarded Russian military aircraft approaching Belgorod as legitimate targets but stopped short of acknowledging it fired at the plane.

In a carefully worded statement, the General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said recent attacks on the city of Kharkiv, which lies just 18 miles (30 km) from Russia, are being facilitated by Russian cargo planes bringing weapons close to the border.

“The recorded intensity of the shelling is directly related to the increase in the number of military transport aircraft that have recently been heading to the Belgorod airfield,” the statement said.

US, France to lead artillery coalition for Ukraine

Ukraine ordered six Caesar howitzers from Nexter in December that will be delivered in coming weeks.

The company is capable of manufacturing an additional 72 of the truck-mounted guns for Ukraine this year, for total potential production of 78, he said. Nexter, part of KNDS, has increased output of the howitzer from two a month at the start of 2022 to six per month by last fall.

France has freed up €50 million ($54 million) that Lecornu says will buy 12 Caesar guns for Ukraine. The country is appealing to its coalition allies to chip in about €280 million for another 60 howitzers, including the costs of personnel training, operation and ammunition.

French production of the 155-millimeter shells shells fired by the Caesar and other NATO-standard artillery will accelerate to 3,000 a month from January, after having already doubled last year from 1,000 a month before February 2022.

Pentagon expects Ukraine to receive first F-16s this year

The Pentagon expects Ukraine to receive its first F-16 fighters and the accompanying spare parts and infrastructure this year.

Source: Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, as reported by European Pravda

Quote: "We are working as a coalition on [the F-16 program]; we are aiming to bring Ukraine’s F-16 program to initial operating capability in 2024."

Details: Wallander said that this programme includes the aircraft themselves, pilot training, technician training, and spare parts and ammunition.

Background: During the 18th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (Ramstein) on 23 January, Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair announced the participation of Canadian instructors in training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

At the end of December 2023, the first six Ukrainian pilots completed basic training with the UK’s Royal Air Force and were learning to fly F-16s in Denmark.

Turkish parliament approves Sweden’s NATO membership bid

The Turkish parliament voted Tuesday to approve Sweden’s NATO membership bid, bringing the Nordic country one step closer to joining the military alliance after months of delays.

Motivation and inspiration:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Jan. 18th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

U.S., Partners' Forces Strike Houthi Military Targets in Yemen

U.S. and partners' forces conducted defensive strikes against military targets in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen yesterday following a series of attacks launched by the armed rebel group against commercial ships operating in the Red Sea.

The joint strikes were carried out by the U.S. and United Kingdom with nonoperational support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands. They targeted Houthi missile, radar and unmanned areal vehicle capabilities used to carry out attacks against vessels operating in international waters.

President Joe Biden said the strikes serve as a "a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world's most critical commercial routes."

"I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce, as necessary," he said in a statement following the strikes.

In a follow-up announcement, the Dept of Defense stated:

Those targets included command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems used by the Houthi's to carry out attacks against vessels operating in international waters.

What Yemen’s Houthis gain through their Red Sea strikes

The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, or the “partisans of God,” are a rebel movement that seized control of Sanaa in 2014. Their thin ideological and tactical links to the theocratic regime in Iran have grown thicker in the years since, as Yemen buckled under a brutal civil war that saw the Houthis mostly stave off a Saudi and Emirati-led coalition that was also armed and backed by the United States.

While ordinary Yemenis still cope with economic collapse and a sprawling humanitarian calamity, the Houthis hold sway over large swaths of the country, actively threaten Gulf neighbors with missile and drone strikes and can project their power over one of the world’s most strategic maritime passageways.

Analysts contend that this new phase of hostilities may strengthen the Houthis, rather than weaken them. The aftermath of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on southern Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas has seen Israel conduct an operation unprecedented in its scale and ferocity, reducing much of Gaza to rubble, killing more than 23,000 people and immiserating Gaza’s population. The Houthis are part of the so-called “axis of resistance,” a network of Iran-aligned militant groups around the Middle East. While militias like Lebanon’s Hezbollah seem to want to avoid a direct escalation with Israel, the Houthis thrust themselves into the spotlight by taking up the mantle of the Palestinian cause. They insist their actions in the Red Sea will stop when Israel ceases its bombardments.

“They are gaining what they want, which is to appear as the boldest regional player when it comes to confronting the international coalition, which is largely in favor of Israel and does not care for people in Gaza,” Laurent Bonnefoy, a researcher who studies Yemen at Sciences Po in Paris, told my colleagues. “This generates some form of support for them, internationally as well as internally.”

Houthis redesignated as 'global terrorists' by Biden

U.S. forces recovered Iranian warheads in Navy SEAL mission gone awry

American military personnel recovered Iranian-made missile warheads and related components during a ship-boarding mission near Somalia last week that disrupted the weapons resupply of militants in Yemen but left two elite Navy SEALs lost at sea, U.S. defense officials said.

A massive search-and-rescue operation is ongoing in the Arabian Sea, where the incident occurred Thursday.The SEALs moved to board the vessel, described by officials as a dhow, a type of trading vessel sometimes used by smugglers to carry illicit weapons. The dhow lacked proper identification, raising suspicions that it was smuggling arms.

As The Washington Post and other media previously reported, Thursday’s nighttime operation, backed by helicopters and drones, took place in rough seas. When one of the SEALs slipped from a ladder while attempting to climb aboard the dhow, the second, having witnessed their comrade fall into the water, dove in to help, officials have said. Both were swept away by the powerful swells. Neither has been publicly identified.

Inspector General Initiates Review of DOD Procedures Following Austin Hospitalization

" assess whether the DOD's policies and procedures are sufficient to ensure timely and appropriate notifications and the effective transition of authorities as may be warranted due to health-based or other unavailability of senior leadership," the memorandum said.

During a briefing today, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said the department welcomes the review and will cooperate with the IG to ensure its success.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, in late December for surgery to treat prostate cancer. He returned home the following day.

On Monday of last week, the secretary was again admitted to Walter Reed with complications related to that earlier surgery. Those complications included nausea, along with abdominal, hip and leg pain. In response to those complications, Austin underwent additional treatment at Walter Reed, and he remains there recovering from those additional procedures.

After Austin's admission to Walter Reed last week, the Defense Department failed to properly notify appropriate parties, including President Joe Biden, about the secretary's condition.

Ryder also told reporters that while certain notifications hadn't been made while Austin was in the hospital, the Defense Department's command and control was not at risk.

"This is an important point, that during this situation at no time was there a gap in command and control for the Department of Defense," he said. "At all times, national security was in good hands and either the secretary or the deputy defense secretary were at the helm."

Middle East news:

Iranian strikes in Iraq stoke fears of further Middle East escalation (gift link)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired ballistic missiles at what it said were members of the Islamic State group in Syria and an Israeli spy site in Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdistan region, according to statements published by state media.

In Iraq, the missiles struck the “espionage headquarters” of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency that had been used to plan “terrorist” acts against Iran, the Revolutionary Guard statement said. Iraqi and Kurdish officials denied the claims. The Israeli prime minister’s press office declined to comment on Iran’s assertions.

On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the attack on Irbil “an act of aggression against Iraq and a setback to the historical relationship with Iran.” He pledged to “take all legal and diplomatic response measures.”

Ukraine news:

Germany, already Europe's biggest supporter of Ukraine, has unveiled plans to double its military aid to Kyiv for 2024

Britain pledges over $3 billion for Ukraine military aid in 2024

France to give Ukraine more cruise missiles, plans security pact

France will supply Ukraine with about 40 more Scalp-EG cruise missiles and hundreds of bombs in coming weeks, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a press conference Tuesday evening.

Military intelligence: Railways in western Russia hit by sabotage attacks

Railway tracks in Russia's Saratov, Yaroslavl, and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts have been targeted in sabotage attacks, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on Jan. 17.

"Unknown opponents of Putin's regime once again burned several relay cabinets on the railway" and other parts of the track used for military logistics, the HUR said.

The agency shared a video compilation of what appeared to show multiple arson attacks on relay boxes and other parts of track infrastructure.

As a result of the reported sabotage, railway traffic on certain track sections was "paralyzed," according to the HUR.

While the HUR did not state whether it was involved in the attacks, a number of incidents on Russian railways have been linked to Ukrainian intelligence services in recent months.

Latvian-led coalition to arm Ukraine with 'thousands' of drones

European Parliament to vote on resolution on stripping Hungary of EU voting rights

U S supplied humvee anti-drone system seems to be working

US Bradleys Are Killing It on Ukraine Frontlines

China news:

Gift link: After attempts to meddle in Taiwan’s elections fail, China takes stock

For Beijing, Lai’s victory is a loss that deepens anxiety about its ability to bring Taiwan under its control, a long-held goal of the ruling Communist Party and a key part of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s legacy. The result gives Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which Beijing refuses to engage with, an unprecedented third term.

“A Lai win will mean that Xi loses face,” said Chen Fang-Yu, assistant professor of political science at Soochow University in Taipei. “It means his Taiwan policy has failed. So now he must do something to show his muscle.”

[Taiwan elects Lai Ching-te as president. China calls it a dangerous choice.]

In the months ahead, Beijing is expected to dial up its efforts to intimidate Taiwan using familiar coercive tactics including military harassment and economic pressure.

But actual conflict or invasion is unlikely — at least for now — officials and analysts in Taiwan and the United States say. China’s immediate actions will be tempered by a desire to maintain recently stabilized relations with Washington.

Motivation and inspiration:

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

Proverbs 2: 1-11

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

That’s it for this edition.

Dealing with PTSD? Emotionally or mentally at rock bottom? Here’s the link that I mention in each podcast: Be like Ozzie; go near your master. (The power of prayer. Part 1.)

Love my moderate, optimistic view of politics and want to know more about how I see things?

Go here:

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Jan. 11 edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

I got a HUGE compliment this week!

U.S. news:

Pentagon Officials Host Chinese Counterparts for High-Level Talks

Senior U.S. and Chinese military officials met at the Pentagon this week for discussions focused on U.S.-China defense relations.

The two-day meeting marked the resumption of the U.S.- People's Republic of China Defense Policy Coordination Talks last held in September 2021. This was the first time the dialogue has been held in-person since January 2020.

Michael S. Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan and Mongolia, led the U.S. delegation in hosting Chinese army Maj. Gen. Song Yanchao, deputy director of China's Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation. The talks are designed, in part, to set the agenda for further exchanges between the U.S. and China for the remainder of the calendar year.U.S. defense officials said resuming the talks, which were once held annually, was an important step toward reopening lines of communication between the two sides.

"Dr. Chase highlighted the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication in order to prevent competition from veering into conflict," the meeting summary stated.

The meeting also provided a forum for the two sides to discuss regional and global security issues.

During the discussion, Chase underscored the importance of maintaining operational safety across the region and "reaffirmed that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows," according to the meeting summary.

Chase also underscored the United States' commitment to allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region and across the globe.

Self-Defense Strike in Iraq Kills Terrorist Leader

U.S. forces in Iraq today conducted a self-defense strike which killed Mushtaq Jawad Kazim al-Jawari, a leader of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba terrorist group that is operating both in Iraq and Syria, said the Pentagon press secretary.

Al-Jawari, also known as Abu Taqwa, was actively involved in planning and carrying out attacks against American personnel. Abu Taqwa, along with another member of Harakat al-Nujaba, were both killed in a strike that took place around noon, Jan. 4, in Iraq, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a briefing today.

"It is important to note that the strike was taken in self-defense, that no civilians were harmed, and that no infrastructure or facilities were struck," Ryder said.

The U.S. currently has a military presence in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve. The CJTF-OIR mission is to advise, assist and enable partnered forces in the defeat of ISIS within designated areas of Iraq and Syria. Inside Iraq, the U.S. works in partnership with both the Iraqi Security Forces and the Kurdish Security Forces to carry out that mission.

"U.S. forces are in Iraq at the invitation of the government of Iraq," Ryder said. "They're there for one reason, which is to support the defeat-ISIS mission. We'll continue to work very closely with our Iraqi partners when it comes to the safety and security of our forces. When those forces are threatened, just like we would anywhere else in the world, we will maintain the inherent right of self-defense to protect our forces."

The mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria has been ongoing for nearly a decade, and Ryder said the successes of CJTF-OIR are worth maintaining.

"It was 10 years ago this coming summer that ISIS was approximately 24 kilometers outside of Baghdad, when we kicked off the counter-ISIS mission after they had subsumed large swaths of Syria and Iraq," Ryder said. "No one wants to see a return of ISIS ... our focus is going to continue to remain on the defeat-ISIS mission. But again, we're not going to hesitate to protect our forces if they're threatened."

Reuters: Iraq prepares to close down US-led coalition's mission

Politico: Iraqi officials privately signal they want US forces to stay

Iraq’s prime minister privately told American officials that he wants to negotiate keeping U.S. forces in the country despite his recent announcement that he would begin the process of removing them from the country.

Senior advisers to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani told U.S. officials that his declaration was “an attempt to satisfy domestic political audiences” and that Sudani himself “remained committed” to negotiating the coalition’s future presence in Iraq, according to a Jan. 6 State Department cable obtained by POLITICO.

Iraq’s willingness to keep U.S. troops in the country is critical for the Biden administration. The U.S. sees its presence in Iraq as important for not only preventing a resurgence of ISIS but also for countering Iranian influence in the region. Any decision by al-Sudani to kick American forces out of the country could also undermine the administration’s effort to prevent the war in Gaza from widening.

While U.S. officials have been told that Iraq is willing to discuss keeping American forces in the country, it is possible that political machinations inside the Iraqi parliament force him to take steps to remove American forces.

Hicks: U.S. Aims to Prevent Conflict in Space, Other Domains Through Deterrence

U.S. Space Command is crucial in helping to develop, innovate, promote and practice supporting the safety, stability, security and sustainability of the space domain, said Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

"I want to be clear: Conflict is not inevitable in space or anywhere else. And the United States of America is committed to preventing conflict through deterrence by making clear to our competitors that the costs of aggression would far outweigh any conceivable benefits," Hicks said.

Hicks pointed out how the Defense Department has launched an ever-growing constellation of smaller, more resilient, lower-cost satellites than were ever previously deployed.

"America's dynamic commercial space industry enables it and also enables the United States to significantly outpace growth in space launches and payloads over the last five years," she said.

From 2019 to 2023, China doubled its number of annual space launches and more than tripled how many payloads it put into orbit. That's real growth, she said.

But over that same time, American space launches per year more than quadrupled, while U.S. payloads launched increased by nearly 13 times, she said.

In 2023, China launched 240 payloads to orbit while the U.S. lofted over 2,500 payloads, she said.

"As DOD invests more in space, the whole of America's lead will only grow," she said.

Sexual Assault Now Tried Outside Military Chain of Command

Beginning today, the decision to prosecute sexual assault and several other serious crimes has moved from an accused service member's chain of command to new Offices of Special Trial Counsel, which have general or flag officer leaders who report directly to the secretaries of the military departments. 

This military justice reform is an important step in restoring faith that the system is fair, just and equitable, said senior Defense Department and military officials, who emphasized that the offices will be staffed by specially trained, independent military attorneys uniquely qualified to address complex cases. The OSTCs will handle cases professionally, applying the best practices and procedures of civilian prosecution offices, a senior DOD official said.

The covered offenses that fall under the authority of the new OSTCs include: murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, domestic violence, stalking, child pornography and most sexual assault and sexual misconduct.  

Sexual harassment will become a covered offense on Jan. 1, 2025, for crimes committed after that date where a formal complaint is made and substantiated. 

Ukraine news:

Gift link: Ukraine marines recount deadly mission to free towns east of Dnieper River

Motivation and inspiration:

And here’s some more motivation for your soul.

If you have someone like this, try to spend some more time with them in the next couple of weeks. Because people like that don’t come along very often.

I always like to share a few from the Bible, because that book has become such a source of strength and wisdom and calm for me during the past year.

Here’s the first one:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Here’s the second one:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Jan 4th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

Finding out the hard way…

Houthis find out the hard way that Americans are FAR MORE skilled at war than the Saudis.

Middle East news:

Iran showcases its reach with militia attacks across Middle East (gift link to The Washington Post)

The Gaza war has given Iran the opportunity to showcase the capacity of its newly restructured network of allied militias, demonstrating Tehran’s strategic reach while allowing it to keep a distance from the fight, according to members of the groups and military analysts.

On any given day since the Oct. 7 Hamas assault on Israel, one or other of these militias has carried out an attack somewhere in the Middle East — and on some days several in different places. The Houthis in Yemen are targeting ships in the Red Sea; Kataib Hezbollah and other Iraqi groups are hitting U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria; and Lebanon’s Hezbollah is engaged in daily exchanges of fire with Israeli forces across the Israel-Lebanon border.

The attacks can seem random, but they are the fruit of a carefully calibrated strategy forged in the wake of the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani, leader of Iran’s elite Quds Force, to bring cohesion to the loosely formed alliance of militias — designated by Tehran as the “axis of resistance.”

Ukraine news:

Russia and Ukraine stage big POW exchange after UAE mediation

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday announced their first exchange of prisoners of war for nearly five months, with more than 200 freed by each side after what Moscow said was a complex negotiation involving mediation by the United Arab Emirates.

Some great analysis on the massive missile attack on Ukraine by Russia.

Second great piece on the strategy of Russia’s missile attacks. And what the chances are of those working. (Free article.)

Ukraine, Stalled on the Front, Steps Up Sabotage, Targeting Trains (gift link to New York Times article)

The saboteurs managed to place four explosives on a Russian freight train carrying diesel and jet fuel, roughly 3,000 miles from the Ukrainian border. But more important than the destruction of the train, Ukrainian intelligence officials said, was the timing of the blast.

They needed it to blow up as the 50 rail cars were traveling through the nine-mile-long tunnel through the Severomuysky mountains, the longest train tunnel in Russia.

The Ukrainians were hoping to compromise a vital conduit for weapons being shipped to Russia from North Korea, at a moment when Ukrainian forces on the front are struggling to stave off relentless Russian assaults. Trains can be replaced and tracks quickly repaired. But serious damage to this tunnel, which took decades to build, might not be so easy to fix.\

China news:

Taiwan reports China sent 4 suspected spy balloons over the island

By The Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said that China sent four balloons over the island, three of which passed near a key air force base.

The reported incursions on Tuesday come as China has been upping its threat to use force to annex the self-governing republic.

Taiwan is holding elections for its president and legislature on Jan. 13, and China has used its military, diplomatic and economic power to influence voters to back candidates favoring unification between the sides. Despite that, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party is leading in most polls, reaffirming the electorate’s backing for the status of de-facto independence from mainland China.

Motivation and wisdom:

That’s it for this edition.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Dec. 28th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

U.S. news:

U.S. strikes Iran-backed militias in Iraq after troops are wounded in drone attack

About 3,500 U.S. troops remain in Iraq and Syria to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State extremist group. Iran has long backed militias in an effort to dislodge the U.S. presence in the region.

In a statement Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani condemned the drone attack and the U.S. response, which he said killed one Iraqi service member and injured 18 others, including civilians.

“This constitutes a clear hostile act. It runs counter to the pursuit of enduring mutual interests in establishing security and stability, and it opposes the declared intention of the American side to enhance relations with Iraq,” he said.

DOD Announces Aid Package for Ukraine

The Defense Department today announced a security assistance package for Ukraine valued at up to $250 million.

The package includes air defense capabilities, artillery and antitank weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine in its continued fight to counter Russia's unprovoked invasion.

The security assistance package announced today is likely the last until Congress authorizes additional funds.

Included in it were:

The Pentagon revealed what was included in the new package of military aid to Ukraine

🔹additional ammunition for the NASAMS air defense system;

🔹 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles;

🔹components of the air defense system;

🔹additional ammunition for HIMARS;

🔹artillery shells of caliber 155 mm and 105 mm;

🔹TOW missiles;

🔹 Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems;

🔹more than 15 million cartridges for small arms;

🔹 explosive ammunition for clearing obstacles;

🔹spare parts, medical equipment, maintenance and other auxiliary equipment.

DOD Gives More Detail on How Operation Prosperity Guardian Will Work

A few notes on the latest news out of the Pentagon on this from the Pentagon Press Secretary, Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder:

Operation Prosperity Guardian will work and Ryder called on the Houthis, an Iranian proxy group, to cease targeting international commerce.

Between 10 and 15 percent of global shipping flows through the Red Sea.

These attacks are impacting global trade and commerce, negatively impacting the economies of nations around the world and costing commercial shipping firms billions of dollars

To date more than 20 nations have signed on to participate, Ryder said. "In the days ahead, the United States will continue to consult closely with our allies and partners who share the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation, and we expect to see the coalition continue to grow," he said.

"It's very important to understand that the Houthis aren't attacking just one country, they're really attacking the international community," Ryder said. "They are attacking the economic well-being and prosperity of nations around the world. So in effect, they really become bandits along the international highway that is the Red Sea."

To further this analogy, the forces assigned to Operation Prosperity Guardian, will serve the highway patrol in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden "to respond to and assist as necessary commercial vessels that are transiting this vital international waterway," the general said. "It's a defensive coalition meant to reassure global shipping and mariners that the international community is there to help with safe passage."

The area is large, roughly the distance between Boston and Washington, D.C., and the operation will work to assure safe passage all along the way.

"Last thing I'd say on this is that the Houthis need to stop these attacks, and they need to stop them now," Ryder said. "That's clear and simple. They really need to ask themselves if they've bitten off more than they can chew, when it comes to taking on the entire international community and negatively impacting billions and billions, billions of dollars in global trade, economic prosperity and international law."

US Navy shoots down more than a dozen drones, missiles in Red Sea

United States military leader finally talks with China’s military leader

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. held talks today with his Chinese military counterpart, People's Liberation Army Gen. Liu Zhenli, for the first time since Brown became chairman.

The two leaders discussed a range of global and regional security issues as Brown reaffirmed the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communications, according to a summary of the video teleconference.

"Gen. Brown discussed the importance of working together to responsibly manage competition, avoid miscalculations, and maintain open and direct lines of communication," the summary reads. "Gen. Brown reiterated the importance of the People's Liberation Army engaging in substantive dialogue to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings."

The last talks between U.S. and Chinese counterparts at this level occurred in July 2022.

Defense officials have repeatedly raised concerns over China's lack of communication with U.S. military leaders, noting that Beijing has consistently denied or ignored U.S. requests for defense engagements at multiple levels.

Those concerns have been amplified as U.S. officials observe increasingly provocative and risky behavior on the part of China's military.

Defense officials have noted a steep rise in China's risky and aggressive intercepts of U.S. aircraft operating in international airspace in accordance with international law.

According to the most recent China Military Power Report, the U.S. has documented more than 180 coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region between 2021 and 2023.

That is more risky intercepts in the past two years than in the past decade, according to the report.

After Tough Year, Military Recruiting Is Looking Up

It's no secret that 2023 was a tough year for military recruiting, but that situation is looking up, said Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during news conference yesterday.

Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said recruiting will remain challenging, but the services are adapting to the challenging environment and there's reason to be optimistic.

Last fiscal year, only the Marine Corps and the Space Force made their recruiting goals.

Still, there are concerns. Only 23 percent of young people between 17 and 24 even qualify to join the military. Even fewer have expressed the "propensity" to enlist, officials said.

Also working against the recruiting environment is the fact that the military is smaller and in fewer places. Many young people do not know anyone who has enlisted and they do not see service members in their communities or even on a regular basis.

Some of the things they’re trying:

The Army has a program to help recruits qualify for enlistment, and the service works with potential enlistees to meet the enlistment standards. Army officials said 95 percent of those in the program have successfully completed it.

The Air Force has aviation camps where young people get to experience life in the service and the various aviation jobs available to them, Ryder said.

Ukraine news:

CNN: Ukraine claims it destroyed Russian tank landing ship

Free Wash Post article with map: Ukraine attacks Russian landing ship in Crimean port

Ukraine says it took out 5 Russia war planes in a 3-day killstreak

Motivation and wisdom:

Here’s my faith blog/substack link that I mentioned in the show:

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Dec. 21st edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Corps identifies Marine killed in amphibious combat vehicle rollover

The Marine Corps has identified the Marine who was killed in a tactical vehicle rollover Tuesday.

Sgt. Matthew K. Bylski died after the amphibious combat vehicle flipped during training on land at Camp Pendleton, California, according to a news release Thursday from I Marine Expeditionary Force, the Corps’ West Coast-based force.

Fourteen other Marines were in the vehicle when it flipped and were taken to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment. Only one remains in the hospital, and that Marine is in good condition, according to the release.

USS Carney takes out drone swarm in the Red Sea

The men and women of the Navy destroyer Carney continued to show and prove in the Red Sea Saturday when they shot down a barrage of 14 attack drones, according to U.S. Central Command, the latest incident involving American warships intercepting such barrages in recent months as the region teeters on the brink of a broader war spilling out of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In the early morning hours local time, Carney “successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems launched as a drone wave from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” the command said in a brief statement. “The [drones] were assessed to be one-way attack drones and were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries. Regional Red Sea partners were alerted to the threat.”

US unveils international force to defend Red Sea. Here’s what we know.

To date, Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched at least 100 attacks with one-way drones and ballistic missiles, targeting 10 merchant vessels that represent more than 35 different nations, according to a readout of a virtual meeting between security group participants.

“Operation Prosperity Guardian is bringing together multiple countries to include the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain to jointly address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, with the goal of ensuring freedom of navigation for all countries and bolstering regional security and prosperity,” Austin said Dec. 18.

He noted this effort will fall under the purview of the Combined Maritime Forces — a multinational maritime partnership based in Bahrain — and its Task Force 153. The CMF is made up of 39 nations, and its various task forces help secure the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Some task forces also focus on countering piracy across the region as well as and training and partner-building activities.

About 20,000 commercial vessels transit the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden every year, according to the French Navy. Task Force 153 specifically covers the Red Sea and was established in 2022 to address human trafficking and smuggling of both legal materials like coal and illegal weapons and drugs, Defense News previously reported.

UK to sign 10-year pact on naval security commitments for Ukraine

U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said in October that Ukraine's attacks against the Black Sea Fleet had led to the "functional defeat" of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will contain provisions for improving naval capabilities by providing ships, equipment, naval-based missiles like the brimstone, and training of Ukrainian naval forces. Due to security reasons, the specifics of the weapons provisions could not be clarified.

Intelligence sharing is one of the key elements of the MoU, officials said.

Military proposes to mobilize 450,000-500,000 new soldiers

Ukraine's military leadership proposed to mobilize 450,000-500,000 additional conscripts, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Dec. 19, noting that the plan has yet to address several key issues before he can support it.

Zelensky said in November that he had instructed Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to present a new mobilization plan.

"This is a serious number. I said I need more arguments to support this direction," Zelensky said during a press conference.

Estonia to send $88 million in military aid to Ukraine

The Estonian government approved on Dec. 14 a military aid package of 80 million euros ($88 million) for Ukraine, containing Javelin anti-tank missiles, ammunition, and other aid, the ERR national broadcaster reported.

The Baltic country, with a population of 1.3 million, is one of the leading military donors to Ukraine in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) shares, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

NATO budget jumps 12% in 2024

NATO on Dec. 13 announced its 2024 military budget will increase by 12% to 2.03 billion euros and its civil budget by 18.2% to 438.1 million euros.

Ukraine has long sought to join the 31-member-bloc, but Brussels has not offered Kyiv a concrete roadmap to full membership.

Gift link: Ukrainian Marines on ‘Suicide Mission’ in Crossing the Dnipro River

China continues to test the Philippines (a treaty partner of the United States)

Reminder: The United States has a Mutual Defense Treaty with the Phillipines, which was signed back more than 70 years ago, back in 1951. This Mutual Defense Treaty includes the disputed area mentioned in the article above in the South China Sea.

Chinese Maritime Militia Swarms Second Thomas Shoal as Manila Mulls Contingency Plans

Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, called the move “unprecedented” and an escalation from China.

These actions follow a series of incidents in the South China Sea, which saw three developments between Philippine and Chinese vessels occur over three days across Manila’s exclusive economic zone. Three Philippine vessels were damaged and a civilian-led Christmas convoy was turned back as a result of Chinese water cannon attacks and dangerous maneuvering.

“The Philippines and the U.S. are going to have to start having some very direct conversations about what constitutes an “armed attack” on a public vessel, and make sure they communicate clearly to Beijing how close China is coming to triggering far more serious consequences,” said Powell.

Powell emphasized that without an adequate response, China will think that “it has more room to escalate than it does.”

“The lack of tangible consequences for its recent aggression is an invitation to more aggression.”

DOD Officials Underscore 'Ironclad' Commitment to Philippines After China's Unsafe Maneuvers

Chinese vessels carried out unsafe maneuvers against Philippine vessels operating outside the Scarborough Reef on Saturday and again near the Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday.

During the encounters, the Chinese vessels employed water cannons and forced a collision which caused damage to Philippine vessels undertaking official supply missions.

Chinese military ships operating near the Scarborough Reef also used acoustic devices to incapacitate Filipino crew members.

"By impeding the safe operations of Philippine vessels carrying provisions to Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC interfered in lawful Philippine maritime operations and in Philippine vessels' exercise of high seas freedom of navigation," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement on Sunday. "Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability."

The latest maneuvers are a continuation of the Chinese military's increasingly provocative and risky behavior in the region.

Defense officials have also noted a steep rise in risky and aggressive intercepts by China's military of U.S. aircraft operating in international airspace in accordance with international law.

According to the most recent China Military Power Report, the U.S. has documented more than 180 coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region between 2021 and 2023.

That is more risky intercepts in the past two years than in the past decade, according to the report.

Motivation and wisdom:

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Dec. 14th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

  • Official Says 2023 Was 'Most Transformative' for DOD in Indo-Pacific

  • DOD Seeks to Quell Violent Extremism in Africa's Sahel Region

  • Chiefs Discuss Military Recruiting Challenges at Committee Hearing

Text skeleton/structure to use to send to your Congressman or Senator:

Dear Congressman/Senator,

I’m writing to respectfully request that you vote to pass new aid to Ukraine. It’s a very small percentage of our budget, and you know that 90 percent of it is spent in the United States. This is crucial, because as The Atlantic wrote, For the West to abandon Ukraine now would allow Russia and its authoritarian friends in China, Iran, and North Korea to believe that the 21st century is moving their way — into a future of brutal armies, frightened populations, and endless lies.

Please help save countless lives inside Ukraine -- as well as help honor the agreement we made in 1994 when the U.S., the U.K., and Russia guaranteed Ukraine's security if it gave up its nuclear weapons (as a part of the Budapest Memorandum).

Sincerely yours,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Additional source notes:

Poland pushed back against authoritarianism and its new government will help Ukraine substantially.— Story 1: In sea change for Poland, new government is sworn in.— Story 2: New Polish PM Donald Tusk vows “full mobilization” of West to help Ukraine.

Biden just announced $200 million in new aid yesterday. (Biden Administration announces new security assistance for Ukraine.)

And Sweden announced $120 million yesterday, as well, as part of a winter package.

Ukraine strikes deal to get 2 Royal Navy minehunters from UK

South China Sea: Philippine and Chinese vessels collide in contested waters

Some 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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Dec. 7th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

US Navy ship attacked in Red Sea by Houthi militants:

Stalemate: Ukraine’s failed counteroffensive: Gift link: https://wapo.st/486ZxCL

Military intelligence: Budanov's wife poisoned

And finally some motivation. Because that’s what half of you are paying for, right?!

A quick reminder that there are so many good Americans out there, and that we are so good as a people (despite the loud and obnoxious ones who scream the loudest).

(Hat tip on the previous video to Atticus Finch, who said, “Despite it all, most Americans are still stand up people. The kind of people who help each other without thinking twice. Good job to these folks!”)

Okay, one or two more, because I’m relentless, just as you should be.

On this note, there is this, from a man who lost his father to suicide 22 years ago.

Todd, who gave me permission to share this, said, “Over the years I’ve battled my own issues, particularly after tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. I just want everyone to know — even in the darkest of times, there are people who will drop everything to be there for you.”

An important message for sure. If you’re struggling, reach out to someone. If you’re not, reach out to someone who might be that you haven’t heard from in a while.

Okay, now let’s end on a lighter note.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

ukraine #RussiaUkraineWar #UkraineWar #russia #china #iran #israel #defensenews #OSINT #theviewfromthefront

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Nov 30th edition.

In this episode, we’re going to cover the following subjects:

In U.S. news, American troops were in action at sea, and I also wanted to highlight some service that American troops have done that you’ve probably not heard about.

In Ukraine news, Russians are suffering some horrendous casualties that I want to discuss. I also want to give a quick update on funding from the United States, as well as share an update on those long-range ATACM missiles. After all, it’s been 40 days since they were last used. What does this mean? What is it saying?

In China news, a first has happened in the South China Sea that I want to cover.

And then in tech news, I want to share a couple of news stories about drones and their rapidly increasing advances.

Finally, we will share plenty of motivation and wisdom.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine aid’s best-kept secret: Most of the money stays in the U.S.A.

Here is the best-kept secret about U.S. military aid to Ukraine: Most of the money is being spent here in the United States. That’s right: Funds that lawmakers approve to arm Ukraine are not going directly to Ukraine but being used stateside to build new weapons or to replace weapons sent to Kyiv from U.S. stockpiles. Of the $68 billion in military and related assistance Congress has approved since Russia invaded Ukraine, almost 90 percent is going to Americans, one analysis found.

House Speaker Mike Johnson discusses the Ukraine funding bill below:

Russian casualties have skyrocketed, to the highest levels of the war.

Video proof of those losses. (Viewer discretion advised on next two videos.)

And in Russia, they’re now bragging about taking Europe and awaiting a flood of American “migrants.” 🤣

Finally, where are the ATACMs?!

  • PHILLIPS P. OBRIEN says it’s been 40 days since we’ve last seen them. What gives? (Link below; also an excellent resource to further your knowledge on Ukraine.)

Tech news:

Drones coming to carriers at sea.

Video of a drone carrying a drone.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I try to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Nov. 22nd edition.

In this edition, we primarily cover an attack on U.S. troops in the Middle East, lots of stuff about Ukraine, and a little about China.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Nov 16th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Frontline report: Ukrainian troops widen bridgehead east of Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime — I to monitor those. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the November 9th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 0:15. The news out of Gaza and Israel is ugly and depressing and emotionally taxing. I talk about why we need to remember some higher-level realities, and that we should keep our our health, emotions, and families at the top of our minds. We also shouldn’t lose our self-control or react without discipline, kindness, and hope in our social media comments.

Timestamp: 6:42. My plan for covering the war in Gaza and Israel and why I plan to avoid covering it.

Timestamp: 18:42. An update on drone attacks against U.S. forces in the Middle East, and where I see the current threat level.

Timestamp: 22:27. The most important fight in Ukraine in the coming days and weeks won’t be on their frontlines — it’ll be in the halls of Congress as the leaders of both chambers grapple and struggle with whether the United States will continue its military and financial support to Ukraine. I go into the weeds of this fight and do my best to offer some possible predictions.

Timestamp: 33:10. In news I’d rather not mention, Donald Trump disgraces himself with shameful comments in a public speech, saying he would not honor treaty obligations signed with NATO if Russia invaded that country. I don’t like to cover politics, but these comments directly impact our national security posture. As such, I do my best to show in an bi-partisan way why they are so irresponsible and how we out to deal with our treaty obligations if we’re wanting to change them.

Timestamp: 40:25. The Commandant of the Marine Corps had a heart attack this week, and it’s quite possible that working two jobs helped make that happen. Here’s more evidence of how Senator Tommy Tuberville is wrecking our current national security.

Timestamp: 45:03. Finally, motivation and wisdom, just for you.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the October 26th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Please note: There is an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 15:47. The importance of passing funding for Israel and Ukraine. From the words of President Biden and Republican U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, the Minority Leader of the United States Senate.

Timestamp: 20:44. Will Israel launch a ground war and fall into the trap (and plans) of Hamas? Increasing numbers of people are trying to stop this from happening. And here’s why Israel needs to be super cautious about what it does.

Timestamp: 35:19. How is the Arab world in the Middle East reacting to Israel and this crisis? (Note: Surprisingly, it’s not how you expect. This time, the crisis is different for Israel, and for once, the entire Arab world is not united against them. Things have changed.)

Timestamp: 42:46. The threat isn’t just to Israel, of course. A total of 21 US service members reported “minor injuries” as a result of drone and rocket attacks on coalition military bases in Iraq and Syria last week, the Pentagon has now disclosed.

Timestamp: 47:37. In Ukraine, the Russians are foolishly attempting to counter-attack in Avdiivka. (Spoiler alert: it’s not working and they’ve lost perhaps as much as a brigade of equipment, according to some news sources.) In other news, Ukrainian Marines have secured what could be a serious foothold on the Dnipro River left bank, holding ground almost a mile from the river near three communities.

Timestamp: 54:04. Motivation and wisdom. Some encouragement for you as you move along in your journey.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Oct. 19th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

I really hope you get something out of it.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Free article: Blasting Bullhorns and Water Cannons, Chinese Ships Wall Off the Sea.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Oct 5th edition.

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 6:07. Modern Europeans are a people of peace? It’s a joke, people. And we need to start with a joke before we get to something deadly serious.

Timestamp: 9:04. American political dysfunction and propaganda from Russia are beginning to threaten political support in the U.S. and Europe for Ukraine.

Timestamp: 24:50. The latest updates on the advances of the Ukrainian forces in its counteroffensive against Russian-occupied forces.

Timestamp: 25:56. Russia gets a taste of its own medicine as Ukraine launches small drone attacks on Russian electrical substations.

Timestamp: 29:59. Ukrainian forces are increasingly conducting raids in Russian-occupied Crimea.

Timestamp: 32:31. Ukrainian special operations forces soldiers locate a reserve unit on its way to the front and destroy it with artillery fire.

Timestamp: 34:59. Russia’s artillery woes continue to worsen, as this video demonstrates.

Timestamp: 35:48. Greece says it’s willing to help transport grain from Ukraine using two of its ports.

Timestamp: 36:49. Russia relocates the bulk of its fleet from occupied-Ukraine on the Crimean Peninsula to Russia itself.

Timestamp: 39:51. Does Vladimir Putin have a serious — and growing — problem with his police forces?

Timestamp: 42:59. Motivation and wisdom, just for you.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

The two substack websitess I reference in the podcast.

Biden says he's worried about Ukraine aid. The Pentagon warns it's running low

Entire Russian BMP Unit Destroyed 20 Miles Behind Front Line

Russia police crisis: Burned out, disappointed and demoralised

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Sept 28th edition.

Timestamp: 1:28. Reader mail! A reminder on the importance of family and time with them, as well as some reader feedback on the war in Ukraine.

Timestamp: 9:12. The latest on Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Real gains in two separate areas; and a whole host of problems for Russia to deal with.

Timestamp: 23:33. First U.S.-made M1 Abrams tanks arrive in Ukraine to join the fight.

Timestamp: 30:09. Russia loses an expensive aircraft, and probably a lot of troops, in crash in west Africa.

Timestamp: 34:04. The great debate about what to do about Turkey.

Timestamp: 43:28. The motivation and wisdom section.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast above.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Forbes: The War In Afghanistan Cost America $300 Million Per Day

ISW report mentioned:

Video Shows Wagner Transport Plane Explode in Mali

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Sept 21st edition.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 8:01. Has Russia made a mistake with its defensive strategy in the south?

Timestamp: 17:07. New U.S. military aid package to Ukraine won’t include ATACMS missiles, or Army Tactical Missile System. (For more about ATACMS, make sure you check out last week’s episode, beginning at timestamp: 13:49.)

Timestamp: 21:06. Japan makes a move that upsets China and threatens potential repercussions.

Timestamp: 26:17. Biden’s efforts to court India as counter-weight to China challenged by assassination claim inside Canada.

Timestamp: 33:37. Motivation and wisdom, just for you.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Russia’s southern mistake — Surovikin lines, Gerasimov tactics

US plans $325 million Ukraine aid announcement for Zelenskiy visit, official says

Exclusive: Japan elevates Taiwan security ties in move likely to rile China

Free gift article: Biden’s efforts to court India challenged by assassination claim

Images from my baseball motivational story.

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Sept 14th edition.

Timestamp: 1:47. Does the Ukrainian counteroffensive have a new name? Or a name that hasn’t really been shared until now?

Timestamp: 4:55. Is it nothing short of a miracle that the Ukrainians have managed any success in the counteroffensive?

Timestamp: 13:49. The U.S. is on the verge of sending Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) to Ukraine. What are they? What do they do?

Timestamp: 19:52. Ukrainian forces conducted devastating missile strikes on occupied Sevastopol, Crimea.

Timestamp: 23:21. Ukrainian naval forces retake Black Sea Oil Rigs.

Timestamp: 25:55. Russia faces domestic fuel crunch, and braces for more shortages.

Timestamp: 28:20. UK jets protect ships carrying Ukrainian grain.

Timestamp: 31:54. U.S. shifts forces inside Niger, Pentagon official says.

Timestamp: 33:38. Senate confirmation still in limbo for 301 military leaders.

Timestamp: 38:14. The pivot continues toward the Indo-Pacific and China, and real results are starting to happen.

Timestamp: 42:19. Motivation and wisdom, just for you.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

Ukraine may have a better chance to win in 2024, a retired U.S. general says

Ukraine Creates 'Naval History' by Retaking Black Sea Oil Rigs: Expert

Boyko Towers under control: What are they, where are they located, and why are they important for Ukraine

Russia faces domestic fuel crunch, braces for more shortages

UK jets protect ships carrying Ukrainian grain from Russian forces

U.S. Shifting Forces Inside Niger, Pentagon Official Says

Senate Confirmation Still in Limbo for 301 Military Leaders

DOD Expert Says U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy Is Seeing Successes

Super Garuda Shield: U.S., Partners Train in Indo-Pacific

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.

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front. By Stan R. Mitchell. at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Sept 7th edition.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 1:27. Vladimir Putin descends to the embarrassing position of having to beg North Korea for help.

Timestamp: 3:24. Ukraine has officially broken through the first line of defense against Russia, and the details of what Russia has left to stop the Ukrainian advance are not real encouraging if you’re Vladimir Putin.

Timestamp: 7:59. Russia is fielding less-effective conscripts, and far fewer officers and sergeants in its forces. And this is resulting in weaker combat power per unit.

Timestamp: 10:39. Russia is losing its edge and dominance on the artillery front, and this bodes poorly for the once artillery-dominant titan.

Timestamp: 18:50. Adam Kinzinger bemoans U.S. officials anonymously leaking out that the Ukrainians are too casualty averse. Kinzinger also argues that it isn’t the Biden administration slow-walking weapons; it’s the bean counters in the Pentagon.

Timestamp: 31:16. Motivation and wisdom, just for you.

Selected source notes:

  • Trent Telenko thread on Twitter regarding less effective Russian conscripts and leadership, as well as a growing artillery weakness among Russian forces that the Ukrainians finally surpassed.

  • Ukraine is firing two artillery fire missions for every Russian fire mission for the first time in this war.

  • Separate source, supporting much of what Telenko is saying above.

  • Some video footage of artillery dominance by Ukraine these days.

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Aug. 31st edition.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Timestamp: 1:00:39 seconds. Motivation and wisdom section.

Source notes:

Is Russia in more trouble in Ukraine than most people know? And could time actually be on Ukraine's side? Plus, six interesting things worth pointing out.

Opinion: Ukraine is crossing Russia’s ‘red lines’ with impunity. It’s a lesson for Biden.

It seems hard to remember now, but at the beginning of this conflict, the West — and the White House, in particular — was desperately worried that attacks inside Russia would cross a “red line” that would lead Russian President Vladimir Putin to dramatically up the ante, perhaps even to employ nuclear weapons. More recent experience suggests that, for all his bluster, Putin is rational enough not to escalate a limited war that he is already losing into a wider war with NATO that he cannot possibly win.

China hoped Fiji would be a template for the Pacific. Its plan backfired.

How to Address the Racism at the Heart of Japan-South Korea Tensions

Statement from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on United States Trilateral Summit with Japan and the Republic of Korea

US Marines identify 3 killed in Osprey aircraft crash in Australia

Ospreys are safer than you think (story halfway down page).

Terrorist groups are expanding in Mali as peacekeepers leave, U.N. experts warn

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Aug. 24th edition.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 12:07. Russia's most powerful mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed as having been on board a plane that crashed in Russia. I share the latest of what’s known about it as of Wendesday evening, 8/23/23.

Timestamp: 15:02. Ukraine will finally get the F-16s that they have wanted.

Timestamp: 17:29. Ukraine destroys a S-400, one of Russia’s premiere air defense systems.

Timestamp: 22:50. Russian helicopter pilot defects with helicopter AND spare jet parts.

Timestamp: 24:26. Ukraine drone strike reportedly destroys Russian supersonic bomber.

Timestamp: 28:01. The great debate. What is going on with Ukraine’s counteroffensive? Is it stuck and mired down? Or is it about to pay off? Two competing views

Timestamp: 37:15. General Mark Hertling’s views of the counter-offensive, and a small prediction from him.

Timestamp: 42:49. Why a peace deal with Russia is just a really bad idea right now.

Timestamp: 46:16. Debunking 10 of the most common myths about America’s financial support for Ukraine.

Timestamp: 52:07. Motivation and wisdom, just for you.

Source notes:

Podcast link: S400 destroyed; audio from The Telegraph’s Ukraine: The Latest podcast.

Russian military pilot reportedly defects to Ukraine with helicopter.

Ukraine drone strike reportedly destroys Russian supersonic bomber.

Ukraine’s hopes for maximal victory look remote.

The counterview of the offensive that I quote from (by Jonathan Sweet and Mark Toth).

Russia’s central bank raises interest rates to 12% after the ruble plunges.

General Hertling’s thread on Twitter that I quote from.

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the Aug 17th edition.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 4:19. The latest on Ukraine’s counteroffensive across the front.

Timestamp: 10:33. Insights and updates on the war from renowned reporter Christopher Miller.

Timestamp: 27:40. The motivation and wisdom section.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Previous newsletter from Monday for those who missed it: Ukrainian counteroffensive achieves ‘tactically significant’ progress in its counteroffensive

The latest maps that I reference regarding the counter-offensive, all from the non-profit Institute for the Study of War.

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the August 10th edition.

Today, we are talking about several topics that I think will interest you!

We’ve been exploring what exactly is happening with the Ukrainian offensive. Last week, we explored four possibilities. And this week, there’s been some new information that’s come out that I want to cover. I think you’ll find this new information really interesting, to say the least.

I’ll also talk about the Ukraine war from a strategic level some, as well. Because that also matters.

And then I’ll flip it and look at it a moment from the Russian side or perspective.

We’ll talk about an incident that happened between China and the Philippines.

And then we’ll move to our own military.

There are three really important things going on with our military this week, including the deployment of Marines off the coast of Iran. Something you definitely need to hear about.

Finally, at the end, we’ll cover some motivation and wisdom as always. And I’ll do make sure we have timestamps included, so you can jump to certain sections or tell your friends about parts they really need to listen to.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:52. The latest possibilities on what’s really going on with Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Timestamp: 18:48. Three positive things that have happened that has to have Vladimir Putin worried.

Timestamp: 23:53. A look at the Russian invasion from the strategic perspective. What is probably going through Putin’s mind right now?

Timestamp: 30:29. China again tries to intimidate a neighbor. This isn’t just about the U.S. and China out in the Pacific.

Timestamp: 33:41. There are three really important things going on with our military this week, including the deployment of Marines off the coast of Iran. Something you definitely need to hear about.

Timestamp: 45:37. Motivation and wisdom, just for you.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Source notes:

Ukraine's war of attrition can break Russia—and it won't take years

‘It’s Not a Sprint,’ Ukraine’s Marines Insist. ‘It’s a Marathon.’

Western allies receive increasingly ‘sobering’ updates on Ukraine’s counteroffensive: ‘This is the most difficult time of the war’

Bridge attack links:

  • https://www.threads.net/@kyivindependent_official/post/CvoLGAAMNOK/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

  • https://www.threads.net/@thestudyofwar/post/CvoGbJVsJZd/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

David Ignatius column: Putin chokes on the Ukrainian ‘porcupine’

China ship incident with Philippines:

  • https://www.threads.net/@aljazeeraenglish/post/Cvop-OSgu1H/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Military news about American forces.

U.S. Forces Arrive to Support Deterrence Efforts at Strait of Hormuz

U.S. moves to put Marines on commercial ships to stop Iranian seizures

U.S.-Iraq work on security cooperation

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the August 3rd edition.

Today, we are talking about what is going on with the Ukrainian counteroffensive that was hyped last week, which obviously didn’t happen. I’ll share four possibilities. Plus, we’ll talk about the situation in Israel.

We’ll also have a:

  • Segment on bipartisanship/America working/good news.

  • And a segment in which we highlight a U.S. military unit that’s serving (or has served) somewhere in the world.

  • And of course, we’ll cover some motivation and wisdom at the end.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 3:02. The latest on Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Timestamp: 9:28. So if no massive Ukrainian breakthrough didn’t happen, what exactly happened here?

Timestamp: 35:11. The staggering descent and out-of-control spiral that Israel is on, and what that’s doing for U.S. support for this small Middle Eastern country.

Timestamp: 41:16. Highlighting just a few members and units of our U.S. military.

Timestamp: 46:30. Some good news for the week! The story of two strangers. How a super conservative man and super liberal man struck up a conversation and created a friendship.

Timestamp: 56:30. Motivation and wisdom, just for you.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Source notes:

“We had not seen any evidence of a battalion-level attack and certainly no brigade-level attacks. If the Ukrainians are indeed committing full battalions and brigades now as reported, that would mark a clear new phase of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.” George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War – a Washington-based group – told CNN.

Source notes regarding a potential stalemate.

Video damage to Chongar Bridge (must view on phone since links are from Facebook/Meta Threads.)

https://www.threads.net/@nafo_fella_woopinx/post/CvWKVioq5Kg/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

https://www.threads.net/@nafo_fella_woopinx/post/CvWKVioq5Kg/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Column mentioned: I don’t recognize the intolerant, illiberal country Israel is becoming. (By Max Boot.)

DOD photos from select units for this week’s show.

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Source notes to podcast:

Links to other news stories:

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian defense minister on military cooperation

NATO will step up security in Black Sea region after Russia declares parts are unsafe for shipping

Iran gives ‘detailed answers’ to UN inspectors over 2 sites where manmade uranium particles found

Russian fighter jet strikes another American drone over Syria in the sixth incident this month

DOD photos from this week’s show.

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the July 20th edition.

Today, we are talking about three big things you need to know about the war in Ukraine this week.

We’ll also have a segment in which we highlight what our military is doing, and this week, that involves three things you probably haven't heard about our military that happened in the past seven days.

And of course, we’ll cover some motivation and wisdom at the end.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 3:33. Three big things you need to know about the war in Ukraine this week.

Timestamp: 23:30. The latest on Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Timestamp: 31:35. The motivation and wisdom section.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Source notes and links from the podcast above:

  • Ukraine claims responsibility for new attack on key Crimea bridge

  • Your must-read article for the week from The Washington Post. Jam-packed with facts you probably haven’t seen. This is a gift-article link. Feel free to share. Gift link: The biggest obstacle to Ukraine’s counteroffensive? Minefields.

  • US Completes Chemical Weapons Stockpile Destruction Operations

  • Russia Destroys Last Chemical Weapons

  • OPCW Executive Council and Director-General Review Progress on Destruction of Abandoned Chemical Weapons in China

  • 'Helping Our State': Vermont Guard Responds to Severe Flooding

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hey guys!

Welcome to The View from the Front. My name is Stan and this is the July 13th edition.

Today, we are talking about seven big stories involving Ukraine that you have to know about…

Of the seven, you probably haven't heard half of them. We’ll also have a:

  • Segment on bipartisanship/America working/good news.

  • And a segment in which we highlight a U.S. military unit that’s serving (or has served) somewhere in the world.

And of course, we’ll cover some motivation and wisdom at the end.

Timestamps:

Timestamp: 2:35. Seven big stories involving Ukraine that you have to know about....

Timestamp: 27:13. Segment on bipartisanship/America working/good news.

Timestamp: 32:45. Highlighting the service of our men and women in the armed forces. This week, I honor Centcom.

Timestamp: 42:13. The motivation and wisdom section.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Three visuals mentioned in the pod:

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

The slow Ukrainian counteroffensive, and three reasons that's a good thing.

In my podcast above, I talk about this subject. Below are merely the source notes. You should really listen to the podcast. It’s short, fast-moving, and enlightening.

Ukraine’s costly counteroffensive must produce results before NATO summit – Zelenskyy

"We must show results before the (NATO) summit (on July 11-12), but every meter comes at a cost of lives," said Zelenskyy.

The president revealed that the plans for Ukraine's counteroffensive have been slowed down in recent months due to heavy rains. He called on partners to continue supporting Ukraine with weapons. Zelenskyy noted that during the autumn 2022 counteroffensive, "with respect to our allies," the supply of artillery was “too late.”

"We had to stop because we couldn't advance; advancing would have meant losing more people, and we didn't have artillery," he emphasized, reiterating that Ukraine values the lives of its troops above all.

Earlier on June 30, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi said he is “irked” when people complain about the counteroffensive being “slower than expected,” reminding that "every meter liberated by Ukrainian forces is paid for with blood."

Don’t second-guess the Ukrainian counteroffensive. It’s just starting.

The Ukrainian counteroffensive is less than a month old and already the murmurs of defeatism are starting, with unnamed “Western officials” telling CNN that it is “not meeting expectations on any front.” Even Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky concedes that the counteroffensive is going “slower than desired.”

In truth, the plodding pace of the advance should not be a surprise or a cause for serious concern, yet.

Very few offensives advance as swiftly as Operation Desert Storm — and that was only possible because of the massive technological advantage that the United States and its allies enjoyed over Iraq. Before the ground war even began in 1991, allied forces spent more than five weeks pummeling Iraqi forces with everything from Tomahawk cruise missiles to B-52 bombers. Then, after the unrelenting attacks from the air, allied ground forces were able to stage a giant “left hook” through the sands of Saudi Arabia to go around the fortified Iraqi positions in Kuwait.

A slow Ukrainian counteroffensive can’t prompt a Western retreat

Nearly 20 percent of Ukraine’s territory remains occupied by Russian troops, who had months to dig multiple tiers of deep trenches and prepare other defensive obstacles along the length of a 600-mile front line. That frontier is now among the world’s most heavily mined strips of land — more than 75,000 square miles of Ukrainian territory has been seeded with explosives, according to Mr. Zelensky — and is also stitched with antitank obstacles, made of reinforced concrete, known as dragon’s teeth.

What’s more, there are thought to be several hundred thousand Russian soldiers in Ukraine, considerably more than Ukraine can muster. Kyiv’s forces lack the 3-to-1 numerical advantage generally thought needed for attacking soldiers to overcome dug-in defenders such as Russia’s.

Yet hand-wringing over Ukraine’s stuttering advance, which began in early June, is premature. It ignores not just the gains that have been made — more than 100 square miles of territory liberated, according to the British Defense Ministry — but also the fact that the real fight has not begun. When it does, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told the Financial Times, “everyone will see everything.”

America, and our beautiful experiment in democracy as a republic, is actually working.

Every week, I like to do a segment on bipartisanship or America working or some good news. This week, I want to focus on….

The incredible and speedy rebuild of the I-95 bridge

Again, please listen to the podcast for my thoughts on this.

Military unit of the week:

Every week, I like to highlight some unit from one of the branches. This week, I’m highlighting the USS McFaul, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. Please listen to the news about the unit in the podcast. What follows are simply the source notes.

The USS McFaul was critical in preventing the seizure of two commerical oil takers on July 5th.

You can see video and photos of the event below.

U.S. Prevents Iran from Seizing Two Merchant Tankers in Gulf of Oman

Thank you to all the men and women serving around the globe, who are helping to keep us safe.

Motivation and Wisdom:

Let’s end this edition with plenty of motivation and wisdom. (Honestly, you should listen to this part, as well, but I’ll throw the text in on the off-chance that you can’t. 🤣)

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.

You know, I once read, if you don’t think you’re powerful, think of your most important relationship with that person who’s depending on you.

Maybe it’s a son or daughter. Maybe it’s a parent you’re caring for. Maybe it’s your spouse.

If you don’t think you’re important, if you think you don’t matter, imagine if suddenly you went away.

Who would care for that person? Who would check on them, love them, care for them, help them?

We are all way more powerful and important than we think, and the work we are doing — even that work we forget about and sometimes complain about — it’s important.

You can have an impact. You ARE having an impact, and now that you’re paying attention, let’s share a few more items to help feed you and make you stronger!

'Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ' Psalms 51:10

'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. '

Philippians 4:8

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

This week, the entire show is on the podcast, for reasons I explain in that podcast. lol.

But I’ll share the motivation and wisdom links below.

Motivation and Wisdom:

Let’s end this edition with plenty of motivation and wisdom.

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.

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

Don’t forget: You can comment anytime, and I’ll answer quickly! You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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: 2:19. The latest on Ukraine’s counteroffensive.

Timestamp: 5:02. On the one hand, there’s much to celebrate. On the other, it’s like this is but the smallest taste of what’s to come.

Timestamp: 6:01. As Ukraine’s counteroffensive heats up, Washington holds its breath.

Timestamp: 8:48. To date, more than 50 countries have sent aid to Ukraine in this unprovoked war started by Russia.

Timestamp: 12:19. Even though limited land has been taken to date, major successes truly are occurring, as evidenced in the video below.

Timestamp: 15:56. Just to piggy-back on that point, this Ukrainian commander dispels several myths about the counteroffensive.

Timestamp: 19:05. Two pieces of broader, world news you need to know about.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

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 send a tip through 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:

One administrative note: There will not be a podcast next week, as I’ll be on vacation, but I plan to continue to provide newsletter updates as big news breaks.

Russia and Ukraine news:

Ukraine says it has retaken 100 square kilometres of land in counteroffensive

Ukraine has regained control of over 100 square kilometres, or 38 square miles, of territory in its counteroffensive against Russian forces, a senior Ukrainian military commander said on Thursday.

He confirmed that in the early stages of the offensive, which Ukraine said had begun last week, seven settlements had been liberated in the eastern region of Donetsk and in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.

On the one hand, there’s much to celebrate. On the other, it’s like this is but the smallest taste of what’s to come.

War Mapper provided the most up-to-date assessment of how deep into the Russian defenses that Ukrainian forces have driven.

As Ukraine’s counteroffensive heats up, Washington holds its breath

As Ukraine launches its long-awaited counteroffensive against entrenched Russian occupiers, both Kyiv and its backers are hoping for a rapid retaking of strategically significant territory. Anything less will present the United States and its allies with uncomfortable questions they are not yet prepared to answer.

With this year’s flow of billions of dollars’ worth ofadvanced Western weaponry to Ukraine, “everybody’s hopeful that, you know, you’d see overwhelming success,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters lastweek. But, he said, adding a note of caution, “I think most people have a realistic outlook on this.”

The stakes for President Biden are high.

As he heads into next year’s reelection campaign, Biden needs a major battlefield victory to show that his unqualified support for Ukraine has burnishedU.S. global leadership, reinvigorated a strong foreign policy with bipartisan support and demonstrated the prudent use of American military strength abroad.

Allies in NATO and beyond have bought heavily into Biden’s case. “Let no one doubt U.S. leadership — and resources — are the decisive contribution,” visiting British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday at a news conference in Washington with Biden.

To date, more than 50 countries have sent aid to Ukraine in this unprovoked war started by Russia.

  • Japan in talks to provide artillery shells to U.S. to help Ukraine, Wall Street Journal reports. The Asian nation is considering supplying 155-mm. artillery shells under a 2016 pact to share ammunition as part of its long-standing security alliance with the United States, the paper added, citing people familiar with the matter.

Even though limited land has been taken to date, major successes truly are occurring, as evidenced in the video below.

Wow. Ukraine took out five self-propelled howitzers of Russia. This is huge because they fire and move quickly and are usually hard to target.

You can see video of it below.

By forcing Russian forces to react, you can get them in the open and target them.

Here’s a picture of what the Msta-S looks like, and not to state the obvious, but this thing can fire 6 to 8 rounds per minute, which travel up to 15 miles, and then scoot away so that counter-battery fire doesn’t hit it.

Just to piggy-back on that point, this Ukrainian commander dispels several myths about the counteroffensive.

Pressure builds to get Sweden in NATO.

Story: GOP senator blocks arms sale to Hungary for stalling Sweden’s NATO bid

China news:

Blinken to visit China this week

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China to meet with Beijing’s senior officials this week, the State Department announced Wednesday.

During the trip, he’ll discuss the “importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage” the relationship between the two countries, the statement said.

Blinken, who will leave on Friday and return Wednesday, will become the first secretary of State to visit China in five years and the first Cabinet-level official to do so in four years.

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.

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Enjoy what you’re reading but don’t want to subscribe? Send me a small tip on Venmo(@authorstanrmitchell). The more tips I get, the more I produce. 🤣

P.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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hey guys,

Just sending out a short announcement so that those who are solely subscribed through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc, are aware of the daily updates I’m doing since Ukraine kicked off its counteroffensive operations this week.

It appears a Ukrainian breakthrough is happening as we speak, but I need to nail down more of the details regarding this before I can announce it with confidence.

As such, I’ll post an update later today or early evening.

I will make all of these FREE, so please feel free to share.

Also, if you can you support the show by becoming a paid subscriber, that will allow me to devote more time and resources to what I’m trying to do here.

You can sign up for free or as a paid subscriber at the blue button/link below.

Thanks!

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Below are the three updates of the opening moves of the Ukrainian counteroffensive that I’ve already shared this week (in case you missed them).

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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: 1:27. Since it’s the episode after Memorial Day, I wanted to honor two special people who gave their lives in service of our country.

Timestamp: 4:49. Erdogan wins new election in Turkey run-off race.

Timestamp: 6:34. Correction to last week’s reporting: new video emerges showing that three sea drones that attacked the Russian intelligence gathering ship, the Ivan Khurs, actually succeeded in hitting it. At least one of them did, that is.

Timestamp: 11:32 ‘It’s Time’: Ukraine’s Top Commander Says Counteroffensive Is Imminent.

Timestamp: 22:40. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s capital has been under relentless drone and missile attacks the past few days.

Timestamp: 24:02. But Ukraine — or some internal foe of Putin inside Russia — has hit back. Moscow grapples with drone strikes on residences, hours after another attack on Kyiv.

Timestamp: 25:46. Putin continues to seem unconcerned with it all. Barely noting war in public, Putin acts like time is on his side.

Timestamp: 27:33. The price of natural gas in the EU hits a two-year low.

Timestamp: 29:26. US says Chinese jet conducted ‘unnecessarily aggressive maneuver’ intercepting US spy plane over South China Sea.

Timestamp: 31:29. China rejects U.S. request for a meeting of the defense chiefs.

Timestamp: 33:01. Afghanistan sends additional troops to the border after fighting flares up with Iran.

Timestamp: 35:23. The best part of the show. The motivation and wisdom part.

Timestamp: 46:38. 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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

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:

Hey guys,

Since it’s the day after Memorial Day, I wanted to honor two special people who gave their lives in service of our country.

The first one was a big reason I ended up joining the Marine Corps.

Bobby Fisher, who retired as a Gunnery Sergeant in the Marine Corps, was a man I looked up to as a young boy. He was probably the only Marine I really knew before joining, and I recognized and respected how different he was. He was a quiet man, who always stood tall and pulled his share of the load, while never boasting or talking big.

Gunnery Sergeant Fisher served in Desert Shield and Desert Storm and while he survived the combat, he’d struggle with and eventually succumb to a blood disease related to Gulf War Syndrome. (Some may quibble and say he didn’t die in service or combat, but this man left Grainger County a strong man and upon his return, soon found himself struggling with an undiagnosed disease, losing weight and strength and unable to work or do anything physical. He’d die at the young age of 47, and believe me when I say his last years were miserable. I don’t care what anyone says, this man was killed by the war no differently than someone who took a bullet over there.)

The second man I’d like to honor is Lance Corporal Andre Foster, who I served with in Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. Lance Corporal Foster died in a dangerous stream crossing we were doing as part of our training at the Jungle Warfare Training Center in Okinawa.

I’ll post a tribute one of his close friends wrote about him below. But just like with Gunnery Sergeant Fisher, I can say I knew Lance Corporal Foster and he was a great man.

Turkey news:

Erdogan wins new election in Turkey run-off race

After securing a strong new mandate in a runoff presidential election, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan could temper some positions that have irritated his NATO allies. But observers predicted that the country’s longtime strongman leader is unlikely to depart from his policy of engaging with both Russia and the West.

Erdogan won reelection Sunday with more than 52% of the vote, extending his increasingly authoritarian rule into a third decade. He must now confront skyrocketing inflation that has fueled a cost-of-living crisis and rebuild in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 50,000 people and leveled entire cities.

After failing to secure victory outright in the first round of voting on May 14, Erdogan defeated opposition challenger, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who had promised to put Turkey on a more democratic path and improve relations with the West.

Russia and Ukraine news:

New video emerges of the damage to the Ivan Khurs ship

‘It’s Time’: Ukraine’s Top Commander Says Counteroffensive Is Imminent

Ukraine’s top military commander signaled on Saturday morning that the nation’s forces were ready to launch their long-anticipated counteroffensive following months of preparations, including recently stepped-up attacks on logistical targets as well as feints and disinformation intended to keep Russian forces on edge.

“It’s time to get back what’s ours,” Ukraine’s supreme military commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, wrote in a statement.

The blunt statement, accompanied by a slickly produced video of Ukrainian troops preparing for battle and released on social media, appeared intended to rally a nation weary from 15 months of war and to deepen anxiety within the Russian ranks. But General Zaluzhnyi offered no indication of where and when Ukrainian forces might try to break Russia’s hold on occupied territory.

And if you want to see that video, you can watch it here:

Translated transcript of Ukrainian war video

Commander: 'Ukraine is my motherland. Lord our father who is in heaven. Bless me.'

Troops: 'Bless us.'

Commander: 'I am going to destroy.'

Troops: 'The enemies of my dear country, the murderers of my brothers, the rapists of my sisters.'

Commander: 'May my hand be firm.'

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.'

Commander: 'May my eyes be clear.'

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.'

Commander: 'Let my weapon be in good order.'

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.'

Commander: 'Let my will be of steel.'

Troops: 'To slay our enemies.'

Commander: 'Ukraine my native motherland.'

Troops: 'Lord our heavenly father, bless us. Our decisive offensive, our sacred vengeance, our holy victory.'

Text then says in Ukrainian: 'Join those who will raise the banner of our victory.'

Ukraine’s counteroffensive plan ‘impressive,’ Sen. Graham says

The Russians are “in for a rude awakening” when the Ukrainian counteroffensive begins, Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-S.C.) told NatSec Daily following a weekend trip to Kyiv.

The lawmaker received a “deep dive” briefing on Ukraine’s military plans from President VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY and his team, he said in a phone interview during his return home. “In the coming days, you’re going to see a pretty impressive display of power by the Ukrainians.”

Zelenskyy announced Monday that “decisions have been made” about when the troop movements will begin.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s capital has been under relentless drone and missile attacks the past few days.

Russia targets Kyiv with third wave of strikes in twenty-four hours

A month of relentless assaults on the capital has shaken a weary populace. Local officials said there had been 17 attacks in 30 days, rivaling some of the city’s worst moments since the invasion. Ukrainian officials have said the concentrated attacks were aimed at confusing and incapacitating its air defense systems, and at intimidating and exhausting civilians.

Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv military administration, said the early morning attacks were the third wave aimed at the capital in 24 hours. A rare daytime barrage of ballistic missiles on Monday had sent residents, including schoolchildren carrying their backpacks, running for cover as the city’s air defense system shot down missiles.

The city was targeted with 11 ballistic missiles shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday, according to Ukrainian officials. There were no known deaths from the earlier attacks; one woman was injured, according to officials. Russia said Monday’s strikes had been aimed at air bases rather than civilians. Ukrainian officials said an airfield in western Ukraine was hit.

But Ukraine — or some internal foe of Putin inside Russia — has hit back.

Moscow grapples with drone strikes on residences, hours after another attack on Kyiv

In a rare attack deep inside Russian territory, at least two residential buildings in Moscow were hit by drones Tuesday morning, Moscow’s mayor said on Telegram. No one was seriously injured, the mayor said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed without providing evidence that Ukraine was behind the drone strikes, which it called a “terrorist attack.” Kyiv denied involvement. The Washington Post was unable to independently verify the claims.

The strikes came after Russia conducted its third aerial attack on Kyiv in 24 hours. Falling debris killed at least one person and wounded at least four people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. The air raid was the 17th this month, he said.

Putin continues to seem unconcerned with it all.

Barely Noting War in Public, Putin Acts Like Time Is on His Side

Pro-Ukrainian fighters stormed across the border into southwestern Russia this past week, prompting two days of the heaviest fighting on Russian territory in 15 months of war. Yet President Vladimir V. Putin, in public, ignored the matter entirely.

He handed out medals, met the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, hosted friendly foreign leaders and made televised small talk with a Russian judge about how Ukraine was not a real country.

In managing Russia’s biggest war in generations, Mr. Putin increasingly looks like a commander in chief in absentia: In public, he says next to nothing about the course of the war and betrays little concern about Russia’s setbacks. Instead, he is telegraphing more clearly than ever that his strategy is to wait out Ukraine and the West — and that he thinks he can win by exhausting his foes.

To mount a major new offensive, Western officials and analysts say that Mr. Putin would need to find new sources of ammunition — and impose a politically risky, second military draft to replenish his depleted troops. Still, the U.S. director of national intelligence, Avril D. Haines, told Congress this month that the chances that Mr. Putin would make any concessions in talks this year were “low,” unless he were to feel a domestic political threat.

China news:

US says Chinese jet conducted ‘unnecessarily aggressive maneuver’ intercepting US spy plane over South China Sea

A Chinese fighter jet conducted an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver” during an intercept of a US spy plane in international airspace over the South China Sea last week, the US military said in a statement Tuesday.

The Chinese J-16 fighter cut directly in front of the nose of the US RC-135 Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft on May 26, forcing the US plane to fly through the wake turbulence of the intercepting aircraft. In video of the incident released by the US military, the turbulence is evident as it disturbs the US aircraft along its flight path.

The RC-135 was conducting “safe and routine operations” in international airspace, US Indo-Pacific Command said.

China’s military said on Wednesday that a US spy plane “deliberately intruded” into China’s training area.

China rejects U.S. request for a meeting of the defense chiefs

Afghanistan news:

Motivation and Wisdom:

Let’s end this edition with plenty of motivation and wisdom.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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: 1:27. Erdogan wins endorsement for Turkish election runoff from third-place candidate Ogan.

Timestamp: 3:31. U.S. will help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.

Timestamp: 5:26. Russia warns giving Ukraine F-16's is a “colossal risk." President Biden has an epic reply.

Timestamp: 6:52. F-16s Would Make No ‘Fundamental Change’ in Ukraine’s War Effort, USAF Secretary Says

Timestamp: 11:22. Russia TV celebrates as it reports the capture of Bakhmut, comparing it to Berlin in 1945.

Timestamp: 13:02. Zelenskyy denies Ukrainian city of Bakhmut occupied by Russian forces.

Timestamp: 14:44. Russia controls Bakhmut, for now, but holding it will be difficult.

Timestamp: 18:01. Could Bakhmut be Russia’s Stalingrad?

Timestamp: 23:57. Could the land bridge be Ukraine’s big spring offensive target?

Timestamp: 29:49. Russia alleges border incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs; Kyiv claims they are disgruntled Russians.

Timestamp: 33:37. Fresh From Attack on Russian Soil, Raiders Taunt the Kremlin.

Timestamp: 35:39. Biden Administration announces new $375 million aid package.

Timestamp: 37:43. Japan to provide Ukraine with 100 vehicles, 30,000 dry rations. In addition, Japan will receive wounded Ukrainian soldiers for the first time at the Central Self-Defense Hospital.

Timestamp: 39:14. An Iranian nuclear facility is so deep underground that US airstrikes likely couldn’t reach it.

Timestamp: 43:40. The Taliban laughs at Iran’s threats about water demands from a shared river.

Timestamp: 49:02. The best part of the show. The motivation and wisdom part.

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:

  • Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Work to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

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:

Turkey election news:

Erdogan wins endorsement for Turkish election runoff from third-place candidate Ogan

The third-placed contender in the Turkish presidential elections formally endorsed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday for the second-round runoff vote to be held on May 28.

The nationalist presidential candidate Sinan Ogan, 55, has emerged as a potential kingmaker after neither Erdogan nor his main challenger, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, secured the majority needed for a first-round victory on May 14.

Ogan, a former academic who was backed by a far-right anti-migrant party, won 5.17% in the May 14 vote and could hold the key to victory in the runoff now that he’s out of the race.

I mentioned this in the last podcast. Check out this image below:

Russia and Ukraine news:

F-16s to Ukraine are now definitely one closer step forward.

U.S. will help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets

The Biden administration will approve European allies providing American made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. The U.S. will also support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots. Ukraine has been asking for those jets since early in the war with Russia, but until now, the U.S. has refused

In a press gaggle, a reporter told Biden: that the Russians are saying giving Ukraine F-16's is a “colossal risk."

Biden replied: “It is. For them.”

F-16s Would Make No ‘Fundamental Change’ in Ukraine’s War Effort, USAF Secretary Says

Sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would make no “fundamental change” to the war, the U.S. Air Force secretary said.

“It will give Ukrainians an increment of capability that they don't have right now, but it's not going to be a dramatic game-changer, as far as I'm concerned, for their total military capabilities,” Frank Kendall told reporters Monday during a Defense Writers Group event.

While manned and unmanned aircraft are flying above Ukraine every day, Kendall said airpower has not been a decisive factor since Russia’s invasion because neither side has been able to gain control of the skies.

“Both sides have most generally used aircraft for fairly limited operations. And part of that has been the efficacy of ground-based air defenses, on both sides, so with small numbers of aircraft and with not a full suite of capabilities, more modern capabilities, it's hard to overcome those systems. And that's one of the fundamental limitations here,” he said.

Russia TV celebrates as it reports the capture of Bakhmut, comparing it to Berlin in 1945

Russian TV went into a full frenzy of celebration as it reported Moscow’s capture of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. There were comparisons to the Red Army liberating Berlin in 1945, congratulations relayed from President Vladimir Putin and announcers emphasizing the victory by using the city’s nearly century-old Soviet name of Artyomovsk.

“The myth that Artyomovsk is an unassailable fortress has been crushed,” an anchor said Sunday night on Channel One, Russia’s most popular state broadcaster. “Those are historic events.”

A report from the smoldering city in eastern Ukraine followed, showing Russian fighters yelling “Victory!” and placing two flags -- the Russian tricolor and the black flag of the private military contractor Wagner -- atop a tall, partly destroyed building.

Zelenskyy denies Ukrainian city of Bakhmut occupied by Russian forces

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Russian forces weren’t occupying Bakhmut, casting doubt on Moscow’s insistence that the eastern Ukrainian city had fallen.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the status of the city at the Group of Seven summit in Japan, Zelenskyy said: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today.”

“We are not throwing people (away) to die,” Zelenskyy said in Ukrainian through an interpreter. “People are the treasure. I clearly understand what is happening in Bakhmut. I cannot share with you the technical details of what is happening with our warriors.”

Oleksandr Syrskyi, a spokesman for the military’s eastern command, said Ukrainian forces control the outskirts of the city, and “defense forces continue offensive actions on the flanks near Bakhmut.”

Russia controls Bakhmut, for now, but holding it will be difficult

Russia now effectively controls Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, where thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers died in the war’s longest and bloodiest battle. But it is unclear that Moscow’s disjointed forces will be able to hold the decimated city amid a Ukrainian counterattack that has already begun.

Russia’s victory celebration may be brief, military analysts said, with Bakhmut potentially following the fate of Izyum, Lyman, Kherson and other cities occupied by Russia only to be retaken by Ukraine. Moscow’s fighting forces are stretched thin after months of significant losses and riven by internal rivalries.

“The story of Bakhmut is not yet finished. There are a lot of Ukrainian forces that are still on the outskirts, and Russia’s position in Ukraine is not particularly stable right now,” said Dara Massicot, a senior researcher at the Rand Corp.

Could Bakhmut be Russia’s Stalingrad?

Yep, I think all that Russia has done is lose a ton of men and left the rest in a hot barrel, where they’ll soon be encircled and captured.

Could the land bridge be Ukraine’s big spring offensive target?

“The Russians don’t exactly know where the counteroffensive is going to start, and based on where the majority of their forces are, they seem particularly concerned about Zaporizhzhia and the land bridge being cut,” Massicot said, referring to the land bridge Russia established earlier in the war to link Crimea, illegally annexed in 2014, to mainland Russia.

Russia alleges border incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs; Kyiv claims they are disgruntled Russians

Russian officials claimed that Ukrainian military saboteurs launched an attack across the border Monday, wounding eight people in a small town. Kyiv officials denied any link with the group and blamed the fighting on a revolt by disgruntled Russians against the Kremlin.

Neither version of events could be independently verified in an area that has witnessed sporadic spillover from the almost 15-month war in Ukraine.

The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, said that a Ukrainian Armed Forces saboteur group entered the town of Graivoron, about five kilometers (three miles) from the border. The town also came under Ukrainian artillery fire, he said.

Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said eight people were wounded and most residents had left the area, but the situation remained “tense.”

Anti-Putin militias mount cross-border incursion in western Russia

Russian officials said Tuesday that a counterterrorism operation has expelled saboteurs from the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, after militias made up of Russians fighting on Ukraine’s side in the war mounted an attack on a border post and targeted a building of the Federal Security Service, or FSB.

The governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said Tuesday that one woman died while being evacuated during the attack and eight others were injured.

One of the militia groups, the Legion of Free Russia, insisted on Tuesday evening that its fighters had not been expelled and were still in control of some Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday afternoon that security forces killed 70 fighters and destroyed four infantry vehicles and five pickup trucks.

The initial incursion involved two tanks, an armored personnel carrier, and nine other armored vehicles.

Groups dispute casualties and losses

Who are the armed groups that 'penetrated Russia?'

Fresh From Attack on Russian Soil, Raiders Taunt the Kremlin

Two goals seem to be to divert Russian troops and embarrass Putin

Fresh from leading a military incursion into Russian territory, commanders of anti-Kremlin armed groups on Wednesday taunted the Russian Army for its slow response and threatened Moscow with more raids to come.

Russia, they told reporters at a news conference in a forest clearing in northern Ukraine near the border, should now understand that any section of the long frontier may become a new place that Moscow will be compelled to defend.

Military analysts suggested that the cross-border attack in the region of Belgorod on Monday and Tuesday had twin goals, military and political.

It appeared aimed at forcing Russia to divert badly needed troops from the front in eastern and southern Ukraine, even as Ukraine prepares a counteroffensive. And it threatened to embarrass President Vladimir V. Putin’s government by showing Russia’s vulnerability.

Biden Administration announces new $375 million aid package

It includes additional ammunition for U.S.-provided HIMARS, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities, and critical enablers valued at up to $375 million that Ukraine is using on the battlefield to push back against Russia's unprovoked war of aggression. The capabilities in this package include: • Additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);• 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;• Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;• Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;• Laser-guided rocket system munitions;• Demolition munitions;• Armored bridging systems;• Armored medical treatment vehicles;• Trucks and trailers to transport heavy equipment;• Logistics support equipment; • Thermal imagery systems;• Spare parts and other field equipment.

Japan to provide Ukraine with 100 vehicles, 30,000 dry rations. In addition, Japan will receive wounded Ukrainian soldiers for the first time at the Central Self-Defense Hospital.

Middle East news:

An Iranian nuclear facility is so deep underground that US airstrikes likely couldn’t reach it.

Near a peak of the Zagros Mountains in central Iran, workers are building a nuclear facility so deep in the earth that it is likely beyond the range of a last-ditch U.S. weapon designed to destroy such sites, according to experts and satellite imagery analyzed by The Associated Press.

The photos and videos from Planet Labs PBC show Iran has been digging tunnels in the mountain near the Natanz nuclear site, which has come under repeated sabotage attacks amid Tehran’s standoff with the West over its atomic program.

With Iran now producing uranium close to weapons-grade levels after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers, the installation complicates the West’s efforts to halt Tehran from potentially developing an atomic bomb as diplomacy over its nuclear program remains stalled.

Completion of such a facility “would be a nightmare scenario that risks igniting a new escalatory spiral,” warned Kelsey Davenport, the director of nonproliferation policy at the Washington-based Arms Control Association. “Given how close Iran is to a bomb, it has very little room to ratchet up its program without tripping U.S. and Israeli red lines. So at this point, any further escalation increases the risk of conflict.”

World news briefs:

Motivation and Wisdom:

Let’s end this edition with plenty of motivation and wisdom.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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: 1:32. Trump won’t commit to backing Ukraine in war with Russia.

Timestamp: 11:30. The lure of isolationism, and why it’s wrong.

Timestamp: 17:01. Biden forced to cut foreign trip short because of failed negotiations regarding the debt ceiling.

Timestamp: 20:50. Turkey’s longtime president to face down main rival in runoff as uncertainty looms.

Timestamp: 25:05. A far-right nationalist politician may decide Erdogan’s political fate.

Timestamp: 25:45. Why is Erdogan still popular?

Timestamp: 29:23. Ukraine achieving some success in besieged Bakhmut.

Timestamp: 32:45. Germany to supply Ukraine with largest aid package yet, worth nearly $3 billion.

Timestamp: 34:41. Wagner chief offered to give Russian troop locations to Ukraine, leak says.

Timestamp: 37:14. Russia may have just lost four aircraft in one day. Here’s what we know.

Timestamp: 38:54. Strikes in Russian-held Luhansk showcase Ukraine’s longer-range missiles.

Timestamp: 40:08. A former U.S. Army general predicts 'successful' Ukrainian offensive.

Timestamp: 41:35. Opinion | I’ve never seen the Kremlin so rattled.

Timestamp: 45:46. Russian attack damages Patriot system and Russia agrees to extend Ukraine grain deal in a boost for global food security.

Timestamp: 49:10. China sentences 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison on spying charges.

Timestamp: 50:38. Iran’s leaders are asking for trouble.

Timestamp 52:05. Attack on U.S. convoy in Nigeria.

Timestamp: 53:30. The best part of the show. The motivation and wisdom part.

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:

Trump won’t commit to backing Ukraine in war with Russia

Former President Donald Trump would not say Wednesday night who he thinks should prevail in Russia’s war against Ukraine, instead telling New Hampshire GOP primary voters that he wants “everybody to stop dying.”

“I want everybody to stop dying. They’re dying. Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying,” Trump said at CNN’s town hall moderated by “CNN This Morning” anchor Kaitlan Collins. “And I’ll have that done in 24 hours.”

Biden forced to cut foreign trip short because of failed negotiations regarding the debt ceiling.

The three-nation trip had been meant as a triumphant global leadership showcase, and instead threatened to become a truncated reminder of how partisan disagreements have undercut U.S. standing on the global stage.

“I’ve cut my trip short in order to be here for the final negotiations and sign the deal with the majority leader,” Biden said in remarks before departing the White House. “I’ve made clear America is not a deadbeat nation, we pay our bills.”

Turkey election news:

Turkey’s longtime president to face down main rival in runoff as uncertainty looms

Conservative Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a runoff with his main rival in two weeks that will decide who leads a country struggling with sky-high inflation and hosting Syrian refugees as it plays a key role in the Middle East and in NATO expansion.

Election officials said Monday that the May 28 second round will allow Turks to decide if their nation remains under the increasingly authoritarian president’s firm grip for a third decade, or if it can embark on the more democratic course that Kemal Kilicdaroglu has claimed he can deliver.

Erdogan faced electoral headwinds due to a cost-of-living crisis and criticism over the government’s response to a devastating February earthquake. But with his alliance retaining its hold on the parliament, Erdogan is now in a good position to win in the second round.

A far-right nationalist politician may decide Erdogan’s political fate

Until Sunday, Sinan Ogan was a fringe, ultranationalist Turkish politician virtually unknown outside Turkey. But for the next two weeks, he may become the most important figure in Turkish politics, potentially deciding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s political fate.

Ogan, the third candidate, received 5.17%, enough to swing the runoff vote in favor of either of the candidates. With that, he found himself as the kingmaker in the most important elections in modern Turkey’s history.

Why is Erdogan still popular?

By many measures, things aren’t great in Turkey right now.

Inflation is at 44% (down from 85% in October), and analysts say it’s likely higher than official numbers suggest. Meanwhile, the lira, Turkey’s currency, is tanking, having fallen 76% during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest term in office (since 2018).

That’s to say nothing of the 1.5 million people left homeless by February’s devastating earthquake, which killed 50,000 in the country’s south and exposed the depths of Ankara’s cronyism and corruption. The list goes on.

But Gabrielle Debinski writes in GZero

  • Offered cheap housing loans.

  • Implemented a debt-relief program for millions

  • Passed a law allowing more than 2 million Turks to retire immediately.

  • Raised the minimum wage for the private sector by 94% year-on-year in Jan. 2023.

  • Managed to appeal to Islamic conservatives, while also not imposing harsh Islamic laws on non-religious Turks.

Russia and Ukraine news:

Ukraine achieving some success in besieged Bakhmut, Russia says

Russian and Ukrainian forces are engaged in heavy fighting in Bakhmut, the eastern city where Ukrainian soldiers have held out against a months-long assault by the Russian army, officials of both countries said Thursday. But accounts differed on whether it’s the start of Kyiv’s much-anticipated spring counteroffensive.

Yevgeniy Prigozhin, head of the mercenary group Wagner, a key element of the Russian assault on Bakhmut, said the Ukrainian operation was “in full swing” and its forces were attacking his flanks.

“Unfortunately, in some places they are successful,” Prigozhin said in an audio message posted to Telegram. “All the units that have received the necessary training, weapons, equipment, tanks, everything else — they are already fully engaged.”

Later Thursday, he said the attack was “shaping up according to the worst of the predicted scenarios.”

More confirmation and details.

Germany to supply Ukraine with largest aid package yet, worth nearly $3 billion

Germany announced on Saturday that it would supply Ukraine with an aid package worth nearly $3 billion to strengthen the country’s defense, marking Berlin’s largest pledge in military aid since the start of the war.

The German Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the package may include a variety of military hardware, including armoured personnel carriers, 30 Leopard tanks, reconnaissance drones and ammunition.

“With this valuable contribution of urgently needed military material, we are once again showing that Germany is serious about its support,” Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy is in Germany for the first time since Russia invaded

It is his first visit to Berlin since the start of the war and comes a day after the German government announced a new package of military aid for Ukraine worth more than 2.7 billion euros ($3 billion), including tanks, anti-aircraft systems and ammunition.

Zelenskyy thanked Scholz for Germany's political, financial and military support, saying the country is now second only behind the United States in providing aid to Ukraine — and joked that he is working to make it the biggest donor.

Scholz made clear that Kyiv can expect German aid to keep flowing.

"We will support you for as long as necessary," he said, adding that it is up to Russia to end the war by withdrawing its troops.

Wagner chief offered to give Russian troop locations to Ukraine, leak says

In late January, with his mercenary forces dying by the thousands in a fight for the ruined city of Bakhmut, Wagner Group owner Yevgeniy Prigozhin made Ukraine an extraordinary offer.

Prigozhin said that if Ukraine’s commanders withdrew their soldiersfrom the area around Bakhmut, he would give Kyiv information on Russian troop positions, which Ukraine could use to attack them. Prigozhin conveyed the proposal to his contacts in Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate, with whom he has maintained secret communications during the course of the war, according to previously unreportedU.S. intelligence documents leaked on the group-chat platform Discord.

Prigozhin has publicly feuded with Russian military commanders, who he furiously claimshave failed to equip and resupplyhis forces, which have provided vital support to Moscow’s war effort. But he is also an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who might well regard Prigozhin’s offer to trade the lives of Wagner fighters for Russian soldiers as a treasonous betrayal.

Wagner boss denies Washington Post report he offered Russian intelligence to Kyiv in exchange for territory

But the head of the Russian paramilitary group speculated the story could have been planted by his enemies, according to an audio message posted to his Telegram channel on Monday.

“I can say with confidence, if we’re being serious, that I have not been in Africa at least since the beginning of the conflict, but in fact a few months before the start of the SMO (Special Military Operation),” Prigozhin said, referring to Moscow’s euphemism for the war in Ukraine.

“Therefore, I simply could not meet with anyone there physically.”

In his message, Prigozhin asked rhetorically, “Who is behind this? I think that either some journalists decided to hype, or comrades from Rublyovka have now decided to make up a beautiful, planted story.” Rublyovka is the name of an affluent neighborhood in Moscow along the Rublyovo-Uspenskoye highway, which is known for its luxurious residential estates and mansions for the Russian elite.

Russia may have just lost four aircraft in one day. Here’s what we know

Russia’s air force may have just suffered one of its worst days since the Ukraine war began. Unconfirmed reports say that four of its aircraft were shot down within Russian territory, in what would mark a significant coup for Ukraine.

There are conflicting accounts about how many planes and helicopters may have been brought down inside the Russian region of Bryansk, but one Russian media outlet says that at least two combat aircraft – an Su-34 and an Su-35 – and two Mi-8 helicopters crashed.

Social media videos geolocated by CNN show at least one helicopter crashing near the town of Klintsy in Bryansk, which is 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

Strikes in Russian-held Luhansk showcase Ukraine’s longer-range missiles

An explosion rocked the occupied eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk early on Monday morning, the latest in a barrage of strikes in recent days that show Kyiv using new, longer-range weapons to hit deep inside Russian-held territory.

Luhansk, controlled by Russian-backed separatists since 2014, sits 60 miles east of the front line and has been out of reach of most Ukrainian weapons, making it a place of relative calm. Since Friday, however, it has come under regular attack.

The Russian Defense Ministry has linked the explosions in Luhansk to Storm Shadow cruise missiles, recently supplied to Ukraine by Britain, which have a range of 155 miles, as well as infrared targeting and stealth capability.

A former U.S. Army general predicts 'successful' Ukrainian offensive

Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, a former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe: “I actually expect, however, that they will be quite successful. They've been training hard. The West has provided a lot of very good equipment, but also the Ukrainians have worked hard to build up several armored brigades that will be used to penetrate these long, linear Russian defenses.

Opinion | I’ve never seen the Kremlin so rattled

A mysterious drone attack on the Kremlin. A car bombing that wounded a key advocate of the invasion of Ukraine. Four military aircraft shot down in a single day — inside Russia’s borders.

If the Ukrainians and their allies wanted to rattle the Russian leadership, it’s working.

Never, in more than two decades of covering Vladimir Putin’s regime, have I seen it in such an obvious state of chaos and disarray. These days, Kremlin-watchers don’t have to read tea leaves or decode cryptic utterances from the leadership to spot the signs of intrigue — it’s all out in the open, thanks to Putin confidant Yevgeniy Prigozhin.

Russian attack damages Patriot system

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky again called on allies to provide more air defense assets following a barrage of Russian airstrikes on Kyiv. Ukraine’s military shot down 18 missiles during the attacks on the capital, Zelensky said, but more support is needed to protect the entire country. “We need additional air defense systems and missiles,” he said. “We also need modern fighter jets.”

The Patriot air defense system damaged by Russian fire in the vicinity of Kyiv suffered an indirect hit but is still mission capable, a U.S. defense official said Wednesday, though the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Russia agrees to extend Ukraine grain deal in a boost for global food security

China news:

China sentences 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison on spying charges

China sentenced a 78-year-old United States citizen to life in prison Monday on spying charges, in a case that could exacerbate the deterioration in ties between Beijing and Washington over recent years.

Details of the charges against John Shing-Wan Leung, who also holds permanent residency in Hong Kong, have not been publicly released.

Leung was detained April 15, 2021, by the local bureau of China’s counterintelligence agency in the southeastern city of Suzhou, according to a statement posted by the city’s intermediate court on its social media site. His detention came after China had closed its borders and imposed tight domestic travel restrictions and social controls to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Middle East news:

Iran’s leaders are asking for trouble

But Iran’s conservative government now sees that it’s much easier to use tried-and-true methods to beat back demonstrators than to force all women and girls to wear the hijab in public. After all, many are simply ignoring the rules.

So, authorities have authored a new law and are using new tactics. Women who flout the state’s dress code can be kept out of school and denied services. Businesses that welcome them can be fined or shut down. Last month, cameras were installed in many city streets to boost enforcement. The next ugly confrontation ending in violence and public fury is all but inevitable.

Africa news:

Motivation and Wisdom:

Let’s end this edition with plenty of motivation and wisdom.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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: 1:42. Britain prepares to send long-range missiles to Ukraine. Or have they already? Also, what are these missiles? What can they do? And what is their range?

Timestamp: 7:31. Britain wasn’t the only country announcing new weapons deliveries. The U.S. provided a $1.2 Billion package for air defense and artillery support.

Timestamp: 8:19. Also, Ukrainian President Zelensky said his country needs still more time before launching its counter-offensive.

Timestamp: 10:11. Senior Ukrainian officials fear counterattack may not live up to hype.

Timestamp: 13:33. Russians running already? Appears so, in at least two major instances.

Timestamp: 19:58. Russia launches 'biggest' kamikaze drone attack to date.

Timestamp: 21:50. As an update to last week’s story, the following has already happened, but I still felt the need to report it. The head of Wanger, Yevgeny Prigozhin, apparently got the ammunition he needed and said the assault on Bakhmut would continue. But that was before Ukraine pushed back more Russian troops and Prigozhin ended up screaming about it, as documented above.

Timestamp: 23:28. Russia held its big annual parade and celebration, celebrating the end of World War II, and wow, was that a dud.

Timestamp: 27:49. Ukraine says its newly fielded U.S. Patriot system downed a Russian hypersonic missile.

Timestamp: 30:20. The United States and China held a series of high-level meetings this weekend. I’ll share both the good and bad news from that.

Timestamp: 35:11. Arab League readmits Syria as relations with Assad normalize

Timestamp: 37:04. I cover five news briefs that you need to keep your eyes on for the coming days.

Timestamp: 40:11. The best part of the show. The motivation and wisdom part.

Timestamp: 48:49. 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:

Russia and Ukraine news:

Britain prepares to send long-range missiles to Ukraine

Britain, which has prided itself on being ahead of its Western allies in introducing new weapons systems to Ukraine, now appears poised to send Kyiv the long-range missiles the Biden administration has long denied it.

The missiles would have a range of up to nearly 200 miles … and Ukraine guaranteesthat they would not be used in attacks on the Russian territory.

Most likely, the news involves the missiles known as Storm Shadow missiles, which are cruise missiles that can be mounted on Ukraine’s Soviet-made jets. As a reminder, the much-vaunted HIMARS (or High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) has a range of about 50 miles.

Additionally, the Storm Shadow missiles have a warhead of 990 pounds compared to the HIMARS warhead weight of 200 pounds (in most cases).

But does Ukraine already have them?

CNN Exclusive: Britain has delivered long-range ‘Storm Shadow’ cruise missiles to Ukraine ahead of expected counteroffensive, sources say

The United Kingdom has supplied Ukraine with multiple Storm Shadow cruise missiles, giving Ukrainian forces a new long-range strike capability in advance of a highly anticipated counteroffensive against Russian forces, multiple senior Western officials told CNN.

“The UK has previously said that it will supply Ukraine with long-range weapons, this will now include a number of Storm Shadow missiles. The British Government has been clear that this is only in response to Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilian national infrastructure and is a proportionate response,” a Western official told CNN.

U.S. Provides Ukraine $1.2 Billion for Air Defense, Artillery

  • Fact sheet for everything provided to date.

Zelensky says Ukraine needs more time for counter-offensive

Speaking at his headquarters in Kyiv, President Zelensky described combat brigades, some of which were trained by NATO countries, as being "ready" but said the army still needed "some things", including armoured vehicles that were "arriving in batches".

"With [what we already have] we can go forward, and, I think, be successful," he said in an interview for public service broadcasters who are members of Eurovision News, like the BBC. "But we'd lose a lot of people. I think that's unacceptable. So we need to wait. We still need a bit more time."

Senior Ukrainian officials fear counterattack may not live up to hype

The Ukrainian military has spent nearly 15 months exceeding the world’s expectations. Now, senior leaders are trying to lower those hopes, fearing that the outcome of an imminent counteroffensive aimed at turning the tide of the war with Russia may not live up to the hype.

“Theexpectation from our counteroffensive campaign is overestimated in the world,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in an interview this past week. “Most people are … waiting for something huge,” he added, which he fears may lead to “emotional disappointment.”

The planned counterattack — made possible by donated Western weapons and training — could mark the most consequential phase of the war, as Ukraine seeks to snatch back significant territory and prove it is worthy of continued support.

Offensive military operations typically require overwhelming advantage, and with Russian forces dug into heavily fortified defenses all across the 900-mile-long front, it is hard to gauge how far Ukraine will get.

Russians running already?

It also appears Russia is evacuating some towns as the approaching Ukrainian offensive nears. (It’s almost like Russia knows it’s about to get hammered.)

From the CNN story:

Polohy is one of over a dozen frontline settlements that occupying forces announced Friday would be emptied of civilians. A Russian occupation official, Yuri Balitsky, said “we cannot risk the safety of people and will provide funds for organized travel, lump sum payments, accommodation and meals.” He added children would undergo rehabilitation and rest in children’s camps,” echoing the language of previous incidents that Ukraine has dubbed forced deportation and on which the International Criminal Court based a war crimes indictment against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian officials have said the evacuations are being used to provide cover for the departure of Russian troops, and claimed civilians are being sent to the coastal town of Berdyansk, and Russian soldiers to the heavily destroyed city of Mariupol.

It is as yet unclear what impact these evacuations – which on Sunday Russian occupation officials said amounted to 1,600 people – will have on Moscow’s ability to hold frontline towns. But it is a sign of possible weakness, and in during past Ukrainian offensives, Russian positions have collapsed very suddenly, even as their spokespeople were articulating their avowed defense. At the best, these mass departures are recognition by Russian forces that the fight ahead of them will likely be intense.

While we’re on the topic of Russian troops running…

Wagner boss fumes that Russian brigade ‘fled’ from Bakhmut area

Russia launches 'biggest' kamikaze drone attack to date

From the story:

The Ukrainian military said the latest Russian raids - which lasted for more than four hours and were launched shortly after midnight - saw Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones swarm across the country.

Kyiv's Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said nearly 60 drones had been launched by Russia, describing it as the "biggest" such attack so far.

He added that all 36 drones had been destroyed over Kyiv, but five people had been injured by falling debris from downed drones.

The following below already happened and already failed since the last podcast, but I did feel the need to mention it.

Moving from the capitol of Kyiv to the eastern front in the Donbas region, the head of Wanger, Yevgeny Prigozhin, apparently got the ammunition he needed. (Or perhaps it was all a ploy.)

Regardless, he’s now saying they will continue their assault on Bakhmut – the strategically unimportant city where Russians have squandered thousands of lives trying to take.

Russia is trying to take the city before its big annual parade and celebration, celebrating the end of World War II.

Speaking of parades and celebrations…

Putin's 'one-tank' military parade was an embarrassment for Russia, analysts say

Russia's 'Victory Day' Parade Featured Just 1 Tank and No Paratroopers

Ukraine says its newly fielded U.S. Patriot system downed a Russian hypersonic missile

From the story:

Ukraine said Saturday that a U.S.-supplied Patriot battery was used to intercept an incoming Russian hypersonic missile over the capital, Kyiv, in what is believed to be the first downing of the sophisticated Russian weapon and Ukraine's first use of the U.S. defense system.

In a post on Telegram, Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said the Patriot destroyed the Kinzhal, a type of missile that can travel up to ten times the speed of sound to evade air defenses.

Oleshchuk said the Russian missile was shot down during a night-time attack on Kyiv earlier this week. "Yes, we shot down the 'unique' Kinzhal," he wrote, adding that it had been launched from a Russian MiG-31K aircraft.

China news:

The United States and China held a series of high-level meetings this weekend.

I looked on the Department of State website, but couldn’t find any press releases or releases of any official remarks. Just this from Twitter, so I think this silence pretty much speaks volumes:

On the other hand, China seems intent on pinning all blame on the United States, according to this AP article.

China tells US to ‘reflect deeply’ over downturn in ties

China’s foreign minister told the U.S. ambassador on Monday that Washington is responsible for the downturn in relations between the two countries and must “reflect deeply” before ties can return to a healthy track, an official said.

Qin Gang’s comments follow a suspension of serious dialogue on a range of issues between the world’s largest economies, increasingly at odds over tariffs, attempts by Washington to deprive China of cutting-edge technology, and China’s claims to self-governing Taiwan and large parts of the South and East China Seas.

China’s Foreign Ministry quoted Qin as telling Ambassador Nicolas Burns that a “series of erroneous words and deeds by the U.S.” since a meeting in November between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping “have undermined the hard-won positive momentum of Sino-U.S. relations.”

The Washington Post reminded readers of the history of the damage to date, as well as what future steps might be a possibility.

From the story:

The meeting may pave the way for more senior-level exchanges after high-level contacts between Beijing and Washington were frozen following the discovery of a suspected surveillance balloon floating over the United States in February.

The balloon, which Beijing claimed was for scientific purposes, caused Secretary of State Antony Blinken to cancel a trip to Beijing that was seen as a key step in arresting a worsening rivalry between the two countries. Beijing and Washington have been at odds over Taiwan, U.S. curbs on Chinese technology and Beijing’s partnership with Moscow throughout the war in Ukraine.

Middle East news:

Arab League readmits Syria as relations with Assad normalize

From the story:

The Arab League readmitted Syria on Sunday after more than a decade of suspension, consolidating a regional push to normalise ties with President Bashar al-Assad in a move criticised by Washington.

The decision said Syria could resume its participation in Arab League meetings immediately, while calling for a resolution of the crisis resulting from Syria's civil war, including the flight of refugees to neighbouring countries and drug smuggling across the region.

While Arab states including the United Arab Emirates have pressed to end Assad's isolation, some have been opposed to full normalisation without a political solution to the Syrian conflict, seeking conditions for Syria's return.

World news briefs:

  • Ukraine’s occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant faces possible staffing crunch

  • Sudan peace talks make progress, mediation source says: Reuters

  • Hundreds of rockets fired at Israel amid deadly IDF airstrikes in Gaza

  • Pakistan on edge as ex-PM Imran Khan charged with corruption

  • Tributes pour in for an AFP journalist killed in Ukraine

Motivation and Wisdom:

Let’s end this edition with plenty of motivation and wisdom.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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.

Two U.S. Air Force commanders were suspended in the Air National Guard unit of the accused intelligence leaker.

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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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: 5:05. Special forces swiftly evacuate US embassy staff from Sudan.

Timestamp: 10:17. Did President Biden “abandon” 16,000 Americans in Sudan? The accusations have already begun…

Timestamp: 19:30. Update on the current situation in Sudan.

Timestamp: 21:42. Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is upbeat after talk with China’s Xi Jinping.

Timestamp: 24:38. Russia can fund war in Ukraine for another year despite sanctions, leaked document says.

Timestamp: 27:43. A recently-released campaign assessment provided some juicy tidbits about the upcoming potential Ukrainian offensive.

Timestamp: 34:21. Ukraine’s Azov brigade races to rebuild ahead of fateful fight.

Timestamp: 39:25. Russia’s influence has actually expanded in Africa, with its Wagner Group, spreading across the continent as U.S. influence fades, leak reveals.

Timestamp: 44:440 Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Timestamp: 50:51. 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! T

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 daily edition that comes out each weekday 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:

Special forces swiftly evacuate US embassy staff from Sudan

From the story in the AP:

U.S. special operations forces carried out a precarious evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Sudan on Sunday, sweeping in and out of the capital with helicopters on the ground for less than an hour. No shots were fired and no major casualties were reported.

With the final embassy employee out of Khartoum, the United States shuttered its diplomatic mission indefinitely. Remaining behind in the East African nation are thousands of private American citizens. U.S. officials said it would be too dangerous to carry out a broader evacuation operation.

Battles between two rival Sudanese commanders had forced the closing of the main international airport and left roads out of the country in control of armed fighters. The skirmishes have killed more than 400 people.

The Department of Defense provided quite a bit of detail about the operation:

U.S. forces evacuated just under 100 American staff of the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan yesterday, U.S. government officials said.

President Joe Biden gave the order to evacuate the embassy from the embattled country. A small number of allied diplomats were also evacuated, State Department officials said in a telephonic news conference.

The Defense Department had deployed troops and capabilities to Djibouti just in case there was an order to evacuate the embassy in Khartoum, said Army Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, the Joint Staff's director of operations. "[Yesterday], the U.S. military evacuated those personnel in support of the State Department closing operations at the Embassy in Khartoum," Sims said. "[Yesterday] at 9 a.m. Eastern, a contingent of U.S. forces lifted off from Djibouti and landed in Ethiopia. The aircraft — including three MH-47 Chinooks refueled in Ethiopia before flying approximately three hours to Khartoum.

"The evacuation was conducted in one movement via rotary wing," Sims continued. "The operation was fast and clean, with service members spending less than an hour on the ground in Khartoum. As we speak, the evacuees are safe and secure."

Sims said there were just over 100 special operations personnel conducting the operation. The U.S. Marine Embassy guards were also evacuated.

"I am proud of the extraordinary commitment of our embassy staff, who performed their duties with courage and professionalism and embodied America's friendship and connection with the people of Sudan," Biden said in a written release. "I am grateful for the unmatched skill of our service members who successfully brought them to safety."

Biden also thanked the governments of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia who aided the U.S. evacuation operation.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said the evacuation was under command of U.S. Africa Command and conducted in close coordination with the U.S. State Department. "I'm proud of our extraordinary service members who executed and supported this operation with outstanding precision and professionalism," he said.

Two other important points from the Dept of Defense.

First, the Marines protecting the embassy have probably had an extremely challenging week, if you want to read into this statement some.

Christopher Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity warfare, praised the Marines who protected and defended the embassy during the past week. "Our Marines who protect many of our embassies overseas do not often get the credit they deserve," he said. "Their courage under duress represents America as its best again in this instance."

Also, this seems relevant: more Americans remain.

There are still American citizens in Sudan. "In the coming days, we will continue to work with the State Department to help American citizens who may want to leave Sudan," Maier said. "One of those ways is to potentially make the overland routes out of Sudan potentially more viable. So, DOD is at present considering actions that may include use of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to be able to observe routes and detect threats."

Most news outlets are stating that 16,000 American citizens — many of them dual nationals, who do not work for the government — remain in Sudan.

Many other countries are trying to evacuate its citizens, including France, Germany, Egypt, China, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and other countries.

The situation remains tenuous as fighting continues in Sudan.

The Washington Post reported that U.S. officials remain anxious.

“I am concerned about the safety and security of U.S. nationals who’ve been serving in humanitarian missions or in other ways across the country,” Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.) said Sunday on CBS News’s “Face the Nation.”

“There are quite a few U.S.-Sudanese dual nationals in the country, and the U.N. and the U.S. and a number of other countries will do their best to help return to civilian rule to end the fighting to support a stabilization in Sudan.”

The Post also went into further detail on what led to the government collapse in Sudan.

The scramble to evacuate foreign nationals and diplomatic staff followed Sudan’s collapse into civil conflict, after political tensions between rival generals erupted into violence on April 15. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — widely referred to by his nickname, Hemedti — heads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group whose origins trace back to the Janjaweed militias that terrorized Darfur. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is the commander of Sudan’s armed forces and the country’s de facto head of state.

Together, the two men seized power in Sudan in 2021, toppling a civilian-led government. In December, under intense diplomatic pressure, they agreed to a draft deal aimed at returning the country to civilian rule. But they clashed over power-sharing and a timeline to integrate Hemedti’s forces into the military; Hemedti wanted a longer timeline to maintain his power base. The final deal was due in April, but instead the two generals went to war.

Now, already, this entire situation has become political.

But here’s the thing. Situations like this can spiral very quickly. And the United States helped arrange a temporary cease-fire. Even more complicating, often the U.S. citizens refuse to leave until it’s almost too late. (Humans always expect it won’t be as bad as it often gets.)

Could the State Department and our military have done more? Sure they could’ve. (And they may still do so.)

But here’s a list of warnings and updates about Sudan from the State Department website. Read it before you go assigning blame. (Just click the link and see how long it is…)

These things are never simple, so don’t listen to the bloviating opinion news host or your loud-mouthed friend.

As an update to the original reporting, there’s a ceasefire in place and hundreds of Sudanese are amassing at the borders of Sudan.

From the story:

Taking advantage of relative calm, many residents in Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman emerged from their homes to seek food and water, lining up at bakeries or grocery stores, after days of being trapped inside by the fighting between the army and a rival paramilitary group. Some inspected shops or homes that had been destroyed or looted.

Russia and Ukraine news:

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy upbeat after talk with China’s Xi

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he and Chinese leader Xi Jinping had a “long and meaningful” phone call Wednesday, their first known contact since Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, and Beijing appointed an envoy to pursue a “political settlement.”

The hour-long call came two months after Beijing, which has long been aligned with Russia, said it wanted to act as a mediator and a month after Xi visited Moscow. The call also coincided with indications that Ukraine is readying its forces for a spring counteroffensive.

Russia can fund war in Ukraine for another year despite sanctions, leaked document says

U.S. intelligence holds that Russia will be able to fund the war in Ukraine for at least another year, even under the heavy and increasing weight of unprecedented sanctions, according to leaked U.S. military documents.

The previously unreported documents provide a rare glimpse into Washington’s understanding of the effectiveness of its own economic measures, and of the tenor of the response they have met in Russia, where U.S. intelligence finds that senior officials, agencies and the staff of oligarchs are fretting over the painful disruptions — and adapting to them.

While some of Russia’s economic elites might not agree with the country’s course in Ukraine, and sanctions have hurt their businesses, they are unlikely to withdraw support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an assessment that appears to date from early March.

It looks like the Ukrainian spring offensive is still days or weeks away, but I wanted to talk about that a bit.

The Institute for the Study of War released a campaign assessment on Sunday that had some juicy tidbits about the upcoming potential Ukrainian offensive.

The short of it is two important facts:

  • First, the offensive could be twice as large as the one that took so much land around Kharkiv (in Eastern Ukraine) back in September 2022. (As a reminder, that offensive recaptured 7,500 miles of territory for Ukraine.)

  • Second, the Russians have deployed most of their front-line troops to the line and appear to have almost no reserves to deal with break throughs. That is HORRIBLY bad if you’re on the Russian side.

From the report:

This reportassumes, in particular, that Ukraine will be able to conduct a coordinated multi-brigade mechanized offensive operation making full use of the reported nine brigades being prepared for that operation. That task is daunting and larger than any offensive effort Ukraine has hitherto attempted (four Ukrainian brigades were reportedly used in the Kharkiv counter-offensive, for example). It also assumes that Ukraine will have integrated enough tanks and armored personnel carriers of various sorts into its units to support extended mechanized maneuver, that Ukrainian mechanized units will have sufficient ammunition of all sorts including artillery, and that Ukraine will be able to conduct long-range precision strikes with HIMARS and other similar systems integrated with and supporting maneuver operations as it has done before. It further assumes that Ukrainian forces will have the mine-clearing and bridging capabilities needed to move relatively rapidly through prepared defensive positions. ISW sees no reason to question any of these assumptions given the intensity with which Ukraine has reportedly been preparing for this operation and the time it has taken to do so, as well as the equipment reportedly delivered to Ukrainian forces by Western countries.

Russian forces in Ukraine are operating in decentralized and largely degraded formations throughout the theater, and the current pattern of deployment suggests that most available units are already online and engaged in either offensive or defensive operations.

Ukraine’s Azov brigade races to rebuild ahead of fateful fight

The Azov brigade, hailed by Ukrainians for its tenacity during Russia’s siege of Mariupol, is scrambling to rebuild from heavy combat losses as it seeks to play a muscular role in Ukraine’s next major assault.

The high-profile unit is hoping to recruit 6,500 new fighters who will provide restored combat heft even as its leaders push for the return of more than 1,000 brigade troops who remain in Russia as prisoners of war.

“We are ready to liberate territory,” Maj. Bohdan “Tavr” Krotevych, who is the brigade’s interim commander and is leading the rebuilding effort after his release from Russian captivity in the fall, said in an interview.

Wagner Group surges in Africa as U.S. influence fades, leak reveals

The Wagner Group is moving aggressively to establish a “confederation” of anti-Western states in Africa as the Russian mercenaries foment instability while using their paramilitary and disinformation capabilities to bolster Moscow’s allies, according to leaked secret U.S. intelligence documents.

The rapid expansion of Russia’s influence in Africa has been a source of growing alarm to U.S. intelligence and military officials, prompting a push over the past year to find ways to hit Wagner’s network of bases and business fronts with strikes, sanctions and cyber operations, according to the documents.

U.S. officials depict Wagner’s expanding global footprint as a potential vulnerability. … One document in the trove lists nearly a dozen “kinetic” and other options that could be pursued as part of “coordinated U.S. and allied disruption efforts.” The files propose providing targeting information to help Ukraine forces kill Wagner commanders, and cite other allies’ willingness to take similar lethal measures against Wagner nodes in Africa.

Motivation and Wisdom:

I truly hope these help pick up your spirits, revive your hopes, and make you a better person.

Your life is only as good as the beliefs you hold about it.

Take a small step, everyday.

Kindness is free. Sprinkle it everywhere.

Mistakes are painful when they happen, but years later a collection of mistakes is what is called experience.

Don’t worry about the things you can’t control. Focus on the things that you can.

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

Your journey will be much lighter and easier if you don't carry your past with you.

Worry less, smile more. Don't regret, just learn and grow.

If you wished to be loved, love.

Don't wait for approval. Not everyone will understand your vision.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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

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 daily edition that comes out each weekday 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.

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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

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 daily edition that comes out each weekday 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.

Short announcement regarding publication schedule

I wanted to make a short announcement regarding the future publication schedule of The View from the Front.

From this point forward, I’ll be putting out the podcast on Thursdays and publishing on Mondays the news update that I call “The View from the Front Extended.”

I had originally planned to do The View from the Front Extended periodically, but being the overly-ambitious person that I am, I changed that to each weekday, Monday through Friday (even on Thursdays when I put out the podcast, because yes, I’m that foolish).

I did this because of “goals” and “dreams” and all that. And even Monday through Friday wasn’t enough for my overly-optimistic brain so I made it mornings, as well, because why not? lol.

I think I secretly hoped a regular schedule with so much content would skyrocket the growth of the endeavor and get me closer to my dreams — and out of the day job.

It helped the growth a small amount, but nowhere near what I thought it might. (Believe me: I’m a used car salesman's dream customer. You can get me to believe anything in my head sometimes!)

As you could probably guess, this high level of production wasn’t sustainable with my current life circumstances, which my wife warned me about weeks ago as I blundered into this quicksand of my own making, lol. But like so many men, sometimes we can be hardheaded, obtuse, and poor of hearing.

Regardless, from this point forward, The View from the Front Extended newsletter will come out on Mondays for paid subscribers (with a short preview to free subscribers) and the podcast will come out on Thursdays as a free edition for everyone.

Thank you for your patience, support, and understanding. (And if you want to pile on in the comments about the foolishness of men and the wisdom of women, I grant you that right. Believe me, I recognize women have been more wise and perceptive than men for centuries. lol.)

Love and peace,

Stan R. Mitchell

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.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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

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 daily edition that comes out each weekday 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:

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.

From the story:

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.

From the story:

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.

From the story:

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.

From the story:

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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

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 daily edition that comes out each weekday 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:

US launches airstrikes in Syria after drone kills US worker

A strike Thursday by a suspected Iranian-made drone killed a U.S. contractor and wounded five American troops and another contractor in northeast Syria, the Pentagon said. American forces said they retaliated soon after with “precision airstrikes” in Syria targeting facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, with activist groups saying they killed at least four people.

The attack and the U.S. response threaten to upend recent efforts to deescalate tensions across the wider Middle East, whose rival powers have made steps toward détente in recent days after years of turmoil.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the American intelligence community had determined the drone was of Iranian origin, but offered no other immediate evidence to support the claim.

Things continue to remain tense with U.S. forces in the region of Syria and Iraq.

There was some reporting and video showing additional attacks by Iranian forces against the U.S. base on Friday. (See below.)

But I couldn’t find wider corroboration of that attack, and by Saturday, all I could find was this:

Nothing seems to have happened since then, but I’ll keep you posted.

I will add one other thing. In some of the discussions that happened with readers, one asked:

The answer to that is that this a continuation of the fight against ISIS.

He then asked a great follow-up question:

The reality is that this goes back to Trump, then Obama before Trump, and then probably on back to Bush before that.

This is one of those classic missions that just kind of keeps on going. If we had a Congress that did its job, there’d be discussion about our larger goals, why we’re there, who we’re fighting, etc, but you’re not seriously expecting Congress to do its job are you?!

Still, on a serious note, this is deadly dangerous. The risks of wider escalation are real.

Iran’s govt has a desire to escalate tensions and fighting following the protests inside its country, to rally public support against the “evil West and America.”

At the same time, Biden’s going to be looking to show strength following the Afghan withdrawal.

So, both sides will not be afraid to strike back to look strong, and this wouldn’t be the first time where something like that escalated into a conflict larger than either side initially intended.

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.

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.

And Russia continues to play silly games.

This is remarkably dangerous and stupid.

In other news, I came across this by chance this weekend and thought it really was a great statement for what the United States stands for.

Russia and Ukraine news:

The AP had a great story about Zelenskyy, which involved a series of interviews they had with him as he toured various parts of the country — including the frontline — by train.

Obviously, the trip was secret and the interviews weren’t published until after the trip ended.

But the story is remarkable and absolutely worth the read.

Here are just a few nuggets from it:

On why Bakhmut had to be defended…

If Bakhmut fell to Russian forces, their president, Vladimir Putin, would “sell this victory to the West, to his society, to China, to Iran,” Zelenskyy said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.

“If he will feel some blood — smell that we are weak — he will push, push, push,” Zelenskyy said in English, which he used for virtually all of the interview.

On what might happen in the spring and in the future of the war…

The president makes few predictions about the biggest question hanging over the war: how it will end. He expressed confidence, however, that his nation will prevail through a series of “small victories” and “small steps” against a “very big country, big enemy, big army” — but an army, he said, with “small hearts.”

On what has happened to Ukraine as a country since it was invaded more than a year ago…

While Zelenskyy acknowledged that the war has “changed us,” he said that in the end, it has made his society stronger.

“It could’ve gone one way, to divide the country, or another way — to unite us,” he said. “I’m so thankful. I’m thankful to everybody — every single partner, our people, thank God, everybody — that we found this way in this critical moment for the nation. Finding this way was the thing that saved our nation, and we saved our land. We are together.”

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…

Russia definitely appears to be on its back foot, anticipating a brutal Ukrainian attack in the coming weeks and months.

Here’s an example of the defensive positions being dug in Crimea, the southern part of Ukraine.

And here’s how that peninsula might be attacked, since this is the current reality of the place:

The answer:

In other news, we’ve been talking about this for a bit, but the first MIGs from Slovakia have arrived!!

The rest may have to be transported by rail. But a team of Ukrainian support staff and pilots went to evaluate and fly four of them back.

The others will need to be repaired and probably worked on inside Ukraine where there are still trained MIG repair folks who can fix them. (As a reminder, once the Russian technical folks left Slovakia, Slovakia no longer had the ability to repair and maintain them. Thus, Slovakia is now waiting on F-16s from NATO.)

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

Moving along, Putin continues to do a great job of uniting Europe against him.

Nordic countries move toward linking their air forces: 250 planes.

From the story:

The first of its kind between the Nordic states, the declaration was signed March 16 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany by the commanders of the Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish and Danish air forces.

The concept of a joint Nordic air force, comprising about 250 modern front-line combat aircraft, has been the subject of periodic discussions between the regional governments since the mid-1990s.

Sweden’s and Finland’s unaligned status remained an impediment to advancing talks and joint initiatives. But with the two countries primed to join NATO, Nordic governments find themselves on more solid ground to discuss a common action plan to create a so-called mini-NATO that would deliver a formidable and unified air force capability.

And even before the ink is dry on the above story, there’s talk about this:

Also, Putin tried to threaten the world again: Putin says Russia will station tactical nukes in Belarus.

But that was knocked down pretty fast by new friend and ally China.

China news:

China Threatens Consequences over US Warship's Actions

China threatened “serious consequences” Friday after the United States Navy sailed a destroyer around the disputed Paracel Islands in the South China Sea for the second day in a row, in a move Beijing claimed was a violation of its sovereignty and security.

The warning comes amid growing tensions between China and the United States in the region, as Washington pushes back at Beijing's growingly assertive posture in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway it claims virtually in its entirety.

These islands — occupied by China — are also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

The U.S. Navy called the ship’s movement a “freedom of navigation operation."

The U.S. position is summed up in this statement from the story:

“Unlawful and sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea pose a serious threat to the freedom of the seas, including the freedoms of navigation and overflight, free trade and unimpeded commerce, and freedom of economic opportunity for South China Sea littoral nations,” U.S. 7th Fleet spokesperson Lt. j.g. Luka Bakic said in an emailed statement.

And we just talked about this last week on the podcast…

US F-22s land in Philippines for first time, furthering defense ties

Two U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors landed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines last week in a move signaling increased defense efforts between the two countries.

During the exercise, U.S. pilots from the Alaska-based 525th Fighter Squadron joined aviators from the Philippine Air Force’s 5th Fighter Wing for low-altitude flyovers, air combat maneuvering, formation training, and, with help from a KC-135 Stratotanker, air-to-air refueling over the heavily contested South China Sea.

“This was the first time that F-22s, or any fifth-generation aircraft, have landed on and operated out of the Philippines,” Capt. Karl Schroeder, one of the Raptor pilots, said in a release. “This milestone with a regional ally aids in providing stability and security to the Indo-Pacific.”

U.S. wants allies to line up against China. Europe is starting to listen.

In Biden’s alliance of democracies, Europe has been at best ambivalent on China. Some of the most important countries, such as France and Germany, have worried that decoupling from China would cause too much economic pain.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Europeans are starting to pay more attention to Biden’s message about the dangers of dependence on dictatorships. With urgency like never before, they are restricting exports of chip-making equipment to China, banning TikTok on government devices and pushing protectionist trade policy. Even long-time holdout Germany, the European Union’s biggest economy and a heavy investor in China, is starting to question its business-first ethos.

Something that Pentagon planners are probably looking at (and maybe increasingly Congress, too):

Middle East news:

In other news, in case you haven’t heard, things are getting pretty ugly in Israel as massive protests against the current government under Benjamin Netanyahu continue.

This was earlier this week:

These numbers were massive, as indicated below.

More context.

The protests are against a plan for judicial reform, which critics say would make Netanyahu too powerful and protected from prosecution.

As the political crisis escalated, Netanyahu fired his defense minister.

That set off even larger protests, with some military reservists pledging to pull out of their service in opposition to the plans.

The unrest continues, but it looks as though the protests have worked.

This should relieve some tension in Israel.

Although foreign policy expert Richard Haass says this is about oh-so-much more than simply the judicial plans.

Here’s more reporting on the whole commotion.

Opposition to Netanyahu plan mounts as unions launch a broad strike across Israel

Tech news:

For big fans of the A-10 Warthog — note, I am one of them lol — this could be some great news.

It looks like the A-10 may have found another potential mission, other than ripping anti-tank missiles at armored columns or shredding troops and vehicles with its 30 mm cannon.

From the story:

The saying ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ apparently does not apply to the A-10 Warthog, because an A-10 squadron proved last month that the vaunted close air support platform can also be used to confuse enemy air defenses so friendly bombers can attack targets without as high a risk of being shot down.

The new tactic revolves around the ADM-160 Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD), a 300-pound aircraft that can be launched mid-air and duplicate the signature and flight profile of other aircraft. Since they mimic actual aircraft on a radar screen, MALDs make it more difficult for enemy air defense operators to decide which blips on their radar are actual threats. This has the effect of “inducing confusion and noise into the enemy air defense picture and complicating their tactical decision-making,” Maj. Maurice “SPAWN” Grosso, an A-10 pilot, wrote in an essay for Task & Purpose in May.

Note: an A-10 can carry up to 16 MALDs below its wings.

This might be something that could extend the life of A-10s, which have already nearly been decommissioned and phased out dozens of times.

Motivation and Wisdom:

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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

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 daily edition that comes out each weekday 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:

Russia and Ukraine news:

In life, actions have consequences.

Just a few days after Russia again upped the ante on their aggression by downing an American drone in international air space, the NATO of country of Poland has expedited some of its plans.

And as I discussed as a possible option two weeks ago on the podcast, Slovakia is moving forward to donate its fleet of 13 MIGs.

All-in-all, Ukraine can expect to receive around 20 MiG-29s from Poland, as well as the 13 that Slovakia will provide.

While we’re talking about weapons…

This won’t matter in the short term, but this will be pretty big news in the fall.

U.S. will speed transfer of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, Pentagon says

From the story:

The Pentagon, in a significant shift, said Tuesday that it will send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine by the fall, after facing scrutiny for initially saying it could take a year or two to procure the powerful weapons and get them to the battlefield.

The new plan calls for refurbishing tank hulls already in the U.S. arsenal, officials said. President Biden, under intensifying pressure from Ukrainian officials, agreed in January to pledge 31 M1 tanks as part of a long-term arrangement that afforded German leaders political cover so that they could approve the immediate provision of Leopard battle tanks.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is finally moving back in the right direction on the issue of Ukraine (which used to be his original position).

A quick reminder of his past positions:

DeSantis has a history of supporting U.S. aid to Ukraine. As a member of Congress in 2014, DeSantis voted for the Ukraine Support Act, which authorized President Obama to send arms to Ukraine to repel Russia’s occupation of Ukraine’s Crimea region.

The following year, 2015, DeSantis said on Bill Bennett’s radio show that “We in Congress have been urging the President … to provide arms to Ukraine. They want to fight their good fight. They’re not asking us to fight it for them.”

And last year, in the early days of the war, he called on Biden to get tough with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “This is a guy who basically is an authoritarian gas station attendant — OK?” he was reported as saying, and he advised Biden to “hit him where it counts.”

And even though it’s clearly a walk-back, it’s the right position. I’ll take what we can get, especially if he can stabilize support for Ukraine on the right.

In other news, I wanted to share something that isn’t the biggest news, but to me, this is SUCH a moving (and inspiring) video.

In other news, most worried Russia would succeed in destroying Ukraine’s energy system this winter with the relentless attacks on the energy grid.

But now, not only are air defense system better, but so too is the country’s ability to repair its electric grid.

From the story:

"It tested the tenacity of energy planners for the 15th time this winter. But with most of the country swiftly brought back on line, it did not change the fundamentals; Ukraine is still winning a battle in which few had expected it to prevail."

Finally, here’s more talk about the must-discussed spring offensive by Ukraine.

From the story:

Instead, U.S. officials are more focused on getting Ukraine ready for a major spring offensive to retake territory, which they expect to begin by May. Hundreds of Western tanks and armored vehicles, including for the first time eight armored vehicles that can launch bridges and allow troops to cross rivers, are en route to Ukraine for the offensive. The U.S. and European partners are also flowing massive amounts of ammunition and 155mm shells, which Ukraine has identified as its most urgent need.

U.S. aid packages “going back four or five months have been geared toward what Ukraine needs for this counteroffensive,” said one U.S. official, who was granted anonymity due to the administration’s ground rules.

While U.S. officials are careful not to appear to tell Kyiv how to fight the war, Pentagon leaders said Wednesday that the equipment and training being provided will enable Ukraine to win the war — where and when it chooses to do so.

China news:

China’s leader Xi Jinping is in Russia for a three-day visit. Day one included a four-and-a-half hour meal and NOT meeting Jinping at the airport, because that’s official Russian protocol (Is this not MORE proof that the Russians are a cold-hearted people? I jest. But only a little. lol.)

The Washington Post stated that Putin and Xi appear to be positioning themselves as the leaders of a new global order opposed to U.S. power.

Interestingly, Japan’s leader is in Kyiv to back Ukraine as China’s Xi visits Russia.

Putin may be glad to finally have a friend, so to speak, in the short term, but he may regret the imbalance between China and Russia. As Russia’s economic and military might crater further, Putin will soon find China using its clout with the Kremlin to extract further political concessions, including Chinese access to Arctic naval bases owned by Russia or pressuring Russia to alter its own dealings with China’s regional rivals, such as India, argues a group of experts in an analysis piece of The Washington Post.

This comment, by esteemed analyst David Ignatius, reinforces the above point: that China is increasingly becoming the dominant partner between these two.

From The Washington Post column:

A strong China is bolstering a weak Russia. That’s the real headline that describes the showy meetings in Moscow this week between the two countries’ leaders. The Chinese aren’t providing weapons (yet), but Xi certainly offered moral and psychological support in what might be described as a get-well visit to an ailing relative. White House spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday rightly called Putin a “junior partner.”

The paradox of the Ukraine war is that Putin’s bid for greater power in Europe has made him weaker. This diminished Russia will fall increasingly under China’s sway — unless there’s an unlikely turn post-Ukraine and a Western-leaning leader replaces Putin. Maybe that’s the biggest reason for Xi’s fraternal visit: He is bolstering a flank against America and the West.

Perhaps the most shocking thing is how quickly this is already happening.

As Patrick Fox states, China is already starting to influence and lead former Soviet satellite states.

Here’s an update and a bit more on the submarine deal between the US, UK, and Austraila.

From the story:

Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines will help deter a foreign adversary from launching a shipping blockade which could cut off the country’s trading routes from the rest of the world.

With 99 per cent of Australia’s trade coming from ships, Marles says the nation is very reliant on trade by sea and that needed to be protected.

Without naming China or any other country, Marles said the nation needs a “capability which would give any adversary pause for thought about disrupting the trading routes to Australia and the way in which we connect to the world”.

Moving along, I had a great question from a reader, that I wanted to answer here.

Thomas D stated:

As far as China goes, I love the sub deal. However, I've heard the straight where the Taiwan invasion would take place is pretty much impervious to submarines due to the shallow depths.

So, that’s a great question.

And here was how I answered that.

Those are great points about the straight. I think it's not to get there and actually block with the subs, but to have platforms that can launch Tomahawk cruise missiles. Those have a range of 1,300-plus miles, and the subs are a platform not easily destroyed by China's ballistic missiles or air force if the subs remain undetected.

Also, here’s an update from news from a couple of weeks ago about a new base the US will use.

From the story:

The United States and the Philippines started rehabilitating the runway of the Basa Air Base in Pampanga on the island of Luzon, one of the five original Philippine military sites identified to host rotating American troops and their equipment under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

And then, in the category of absurdity, check out this video below.

This video is pretty much a synonym for every dictatorship in the world. Let us just blow you away with our military parades and complete shallowness and huff puffery.

And you better be awed and afraid, do you hear me?

DO YOU HEAR ME?!

I'll pass.

Afghanistan news:

We all TOTALLY saw this coming. (Hat tip @aida74432322)

U.S. Commander: ISIS in Afghanistan 6 Months Away From Foreign Attack Capability

This is of course why one of the big reasons to keep a force of a couple of thousand American soldiers in country was made by so many, including me. (Also, that it wasn’t that big a burden to the military, it kept a somewhat pro-Western government in place, it helped protect women’s rights there, it helped show the world Western resolve, and the importance we place on protecting and supporting allies.)

Tech news:

In tech news, how cool is this?

Motivation and Wisdom:

Be unique and don’t feel like you have to conform:

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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

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 daily edition that comes out each weekday 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:

Russia and Ukraine news:

A few updates regarding the American drone downing by Russia.

First, it wasn’t just pilots acting on their own, as we correctly predicted and stated in yesterday’s Extended edition.

Newstory from NBC news: Russian leadership approved aggressive actions of jets that damaged U.S. drone, U.S. officials say

From the story:

Three U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence said the highest levels of the Kremlin approved the aggressive actions of Russian military fighter jets against a U.S. military drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.

Secondly, Russia tried lying saying they hadn’t done anything wrong and were not to blame for the drone crashing.

So, the American military released drone footage showing otherwise, proving yet again that the Russian government lies says things that are not true.

In some of the video clips, if you pause them in the right spot, you’ll see the damaged propeller on the drone.

Finally, there was this.

Russia to try to salvage wrecked US drone; Gen. Milley says 'not a lot to recover'

From the story:

Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a Pentagon briefing that the drone sank into water that's 4,000-5,000 feet deep, making its recovery very difficult.

"It probably broke up. There's probably not a lot to recover, frankly,'' Milley said. "As far as the loss of anything of sensitive intelligence, etc., as normal we would take and we did take mitigating measures, so we're quite confident that whatever was of value is no longer of value.''

Military analysts on social media said the United States would have remotely removed classified software from the MQ-9 Reaper drone before it crashed into the Black Sea to prevent Russia from obtaining classified information. CNN later reported this.

In other Russia/Ukraine news, this is worrying if you care about the fate of Ukraine…

Ron DeSantis says Ukraine war not US priority, aligns closer to Trump

From the story:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had largely avoided staking out a specific policy position on the war in Ukraine until Monday.

He also referred to Russia's unprovoked invasion as a "territorial dispute."

Moving along…

Russian advance stalls in Ukraine’s Bakhmut, think tank says

From the story:

Russia’s advance seems to have stalled in Moscow’s campaign to capture the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a leading think tank said in an assessment of the longest ground battle of the war.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War said there were no confirmed advances by Russian forces in Bakhmut. Russian forces and units from the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary Wagner Group continued to launch ground attacks in the city, but there was no evidence that they were able to make any progress, the ISW said.

The founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said Sunday on the Telegram messaging app that the situation in Bakhmut was “difficult, very difficult, with the enemy fighting for each meter.”

China news:

China shows some increasing might in the Middle East and proves it’s a continually growing and expanding power.

Truce between Iran and Saudi Arabia, brokered by China, raises some concern for U.S.

From the story:

After years of hostility, Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed to reestablish relations. This tentative peace was brokered by China after it was announced that officials from the three countries had met in Beijing for several days prior to negotiating the deal. This announcement from the three countries marks a new beginning of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern powers and the reopening of embassies in Tehran and Riyadh within the next two months. China's involvement in the deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia comes as a surprise and concern to some as U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and China have been strained in recent years.

The AP noted that this is a new position for China: Iran-Saudi Arabia deal casts China in unfamiliar global role

In other news, China is also STILL considering sending lethal aid to Russia for use in Ukraine.

The Washington Post warned against this rash move in an editorial on Sunday: Opinion — For China, arming Russia would be folly

From the editorial:

For Beijing to depart from its policy of pro-Russian neutrality would accelerate its spiraling hostility toward the United States and reposition China not only as a U.S. rival but also as a threatening adversary in the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. Whatever else Beijing thinks it might achieve by replenishing Moscow’s depleted arsenals, it is clear that new weapons and munitions would enable Russia to spill more blood, pulverize more infrastructure, raze more cities and lay waste to more lives in Ukraine, the victim of Russia’s unwarranted aggression.

It would also play havoc with China’s commercial relationships across the world, likely triggering a cascading series of punitive responses by Western countries that would compound Beijing’s already daunting economic problems. The Biden administration and its European allies have warned of such a response.

Moving along, in other China news, the deal regarding nuclear submarines between the U.S., U.K., and Australia got a lot of coverage this week.

The long-term deal will allow Austrailia to finally have conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines.

What’s the point of this?

To deter and possibly oppose China, of course. Nuclear submarines can stay at sea for extremly long periods of time and are very diffeicult to detect or counter. So, conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines could go far toward wrecking China’s growing naval ambitions and desire to retake Taiwan.

You can read about the deal here.

Iran news:

I discussed the widespread school poisonings happening in Iran in last week’s podcast. (I actually discussed it quite extensively, if you missed it. Timestamp: 42:45.)

The short of it is that this affected thousands of school girls across dozens of provinces. Who could be behind this? And what does this say about the strength of Iran’s government at the moment?

Previous article, to help you get caught up on it:

Well, since that happened, Iran has arrested more than 100 people. It’s still not clear who this is behind this. There are two main possibilities.

From the story:

While Iranian politicians have suggested the girls could have been targeted by hardline Islamist groups, activists believe that the poisonings may be linked to the nationwide protests that erupted last September over the death of Mahsa Ami. Many schoolgirls have been active in the protests, removing their mandatory headscarves in classrooms, tearing up pictures of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and calling for his death.

Medics, parents and teachers have accused the Iranian government of attempting to silence the victims.

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.

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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:

  • 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.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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! This includes:

  • Timestamp: 2:42. Did you know Russia is now claiming Ukraine launched the war? And that Russia did NOT invade Ukraine? Yes, this was said by Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and he was completely covered with laughs of mockery in a public forum. I briefly remind folks of the true history, and of how hard the West, NATO, and the United States worked to prevent the invasion by Russia before it began.

  • Timestamp: 8:03. The battle of Bakhmut. So much has happened here since last week. Initially, Ukrainian forces appeared to be withdrawing, blowing up bridges and pulling back to better positions. But then several days later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine would reinforce around Bakhmut and hold the city. It’s my opinion this was strictly for reasons of perception, and it was also for these reasons that Zelenskyy stated he was going public with internal discussions from him and his senior advisors.

  • Timestamp: 14:14. Has the Russian Winter offensive and plans to tire out and wear down Ukraine failed? Yes, it appears it has. And it’s not just me saying it. Take a listen to what one foreign policy expert is saying, as well as one of Russia’s leading analysts.

  • Timestamp: 22:32. It’s time for a quick update on Ukraine getting jets or tanks from the West.

  • Timestamp: 27:02. Is the U.S. seriously considering retiring the F-22, one of the world’s premier fighter jets? Yes. Yes, it is.

  • Timestamp: 27:02. China is preparing for the upcoming conflict with the West as it continues to prepare to invade Taiwan. Take a look at what China’s leading strategists, researchers, and military minds are concerned about. And in that same line of thinking, some naval minds realized the United States is overlooking one important resupply issue that could prove to be America’s Achilles heel if it’s not corrected.

  • Timestamp: 42:45. Iran is currently dealing with some serious school poisonings that is affecting thousands of school girls across dozens of provinces. Who could be behind this? And what does this say about the strength of Iran’s government at the moment?

  • Timestamp: 42:45. In tech news, we’ll look at three different topics this week: the rules for autonomous weapons to engage a target with lethal force, the concept behind a massive, flying seaplane that the Pentagon wants, and a design flaw that makes all the difference between American and Russian tanks.

  • Timestamp: 54:05. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

  • Timestamp: 1:01:46. 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.

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.

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.

What follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

Russia and Ukraine news:

Timestamp: 2:42. Did you know Russia is now claiming Ukraine launched the war? And that Russia did NOT invade Ukraine? Yes, this was said by Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and he was completely covered with laughs of mockery in a public forum. I briefly remind folks of the true history, and of how hard the West, NATO, and the United States worked to prevent the invasion by Russia before it began.

Timestamp: 8:03. The battle of Bakhmut. So much has happened here since last week. Initially, Ukrainian forces appeared to be withdrawing, blowing up bridges and pulling back to better positions. But then several days later, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine would reinforce around Bakhmut and hold the city. It’s my opinion this was strictly for reasons of perception, and it was also for these reasons that Zelenskyy stated he was going public with internal discussions from him and his senior advisors.

But then, after the media jumped on the story, Ukraine altered course.

And Ukraine is displaying some skilled tactics and strategic chops.

Besides the limited — or lack of — success in Bakhmut, overall the Russian winter offensive has been a complete failure.

Timestamp: 14:14. Has the Russian Winter offensive and plans to tire out and wear down Ukraine failed? Yes, it appears it has. And it’s not just me saying it. Take a listen to what one foreign policy expert is saying, as well as one of Russia’s leading analysts.

And Russians are starting to grow nervous. It’s taken a year, but they’re finally growing concerned.

Timestamp: 22:32. It’s time for a quick update on Ukraine getting jets or tanks from the West.

Last week, we discussed Slovakia possibly sending jets to Ukraine. But there’s been no new reporting on this since last week.

But help on the ground is well on its way.

And long-term, the talk of F-16s coming to Ukraine again advanced this week.

Two Ukrainian pilots are in the U.S. for training assessment on attack aircraft, including F-16s

U.S. News:

Timestamp: 27:02. Is the U.S. seriously considering retiring the F-22, one of the world’s premier fighter jets? Yes. Yes, it is.

China news:

Timestamp: 27:02. China is preparing for the upcoming conflict with the West as it continues to prepare to invade Taiwan. Take a look at what China’s leading strategists, researchers, and military minds are concerned about. And in that same line of thinking, some naval minds realized the United States is overlooking one important resupply issue that could prove to be America’s Achilles heel if it’s not corrected.

Iran news:

Timestamp: 42:45. Iran is currently dealing with some serious school poisonings that is affecting thousands of school girls across dozens of provinces. Who could be behind this? And what does this say about the strength of Iran’s government at the moment?

Tech news:

Timestamp: 42:45. In tech news, we’ll look at three different topics this week: the rules for autonomous weapons to engage a target with lethal force, the concept behind a massive, flying seaplane that the Pentagon wants, and a design flaw that makes all the difference between American and Russian tanks.

Motivation and Wisdom:

Timestamp: 54:05. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

Timestamp: 1:01:46. 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.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

And with that, I’m out.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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! This includes:

Timestamp: 2:07. Could Ukraine get fighter jets from somewhere other than the United States?

Timestamp: 6:15. Has Russia suffered more combat deaths in a year of war with Ukraine than it’s suffered in all the years since World War II? Yes, it actually has. Here’s an approximate historical look at casualties in previous wars.

Timestamp: 11:11. In war, cities are important — even the ones with no military value. So says two analysts who have studied the Ukrainian War intently. And the fighting the past year certainly validates their views. I discuss.

Timestamp: 18:07. Update on China. Is it arming Russia with lethal munitions yet?

Timestamp: 20:21. Forget Hunter Biden or Jan. 6. China is now in Congress’s crosshairs.

Timestamp: 24:50. Speaking of strong warnings for China, check out this one from the Deputy Secretary of Defense. But while all these threats are being tossed out, why are U.S. businesses announcing all these expansions in China? What is going on here?

Timestamp: 29:10. In tech news, it certainly seems robot dogs are here for good.

Timestamp: 35:37. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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.

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.

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).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

What follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

Russia/Ukraine news:

From the story:

Amid renewed appeals to Western countries for fighter jets, Slovakia is considering giving Ukraine 10 of its 11 Soviet-made MiG-29 planes — with the 11th reserved for a Slovakian museum, according to Defense Minister Nad.

It grounded its MiGs in the summer due to a lack of spare parts and maintenance experts after Russian technicians returned home. But Ukraine’s air force, which flies MiG 29s, would be happy to have them.

“We will never use the MiGs anymore,” Nad said. “They have no real value for us. If we give them to Ukraine, they can help save their lives.”

The information above is from CSIS. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is a bipartisan, nonprofit policy research organization dedicated to advancing practical ideas to address the world’s greatest challenges.

TWELVE MONTHS OF WAR IN UKRAINE HAVE REVEALED FOUR FUNDAMENTAL LESSONS ON URBAN WARFARE

In war, cities are important—even the ones with no military value.

Yet not all cities are strategically or operationally significant; many, in fact, do not even offer much tactical value from a strictly military perspective. Cities such as Severodonetsk, which Russia seized in June, and Bakhmut, where the fighting continues today, represent little military value on their own. Controlling them does not offer either side a marked military advantage. Yet the fighting for both was—and in the case of Bakhmut, remains—extremely intense.

Why are the militaries of each nation fighting so hard for seemingly insignificant terrain? It is because they are symbolically important, and their control consequently has political value. Ukraine does not want a city of seventy thousand (Bakhmut) or one hundred thousand (Severodonetsk) to fall into Russian hands. Likewise, Russia wants to seize these cities to demonstrate progress in a war that has not gone well. Seizing thousands of rural square miles in the Zaporizhzhia region simply does not have the same political effect. Because war is inherently political, these seemingly insignificant pieces of terrain become tactically and operationally important and yet another reason why fighting in urban areas cannot be avoided.

China news:

Last week, I covered that China might start arming Russia with lethal weapons. Here’s the latest on that.

But now Congress is getting more involved with the threat from China.

Bipartisan lawmakers warn of China threat at select committee's first hearing

Bipartisan lawmakers warned of the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party on Tuesday during the first hearing of the House select committee on China, a rare demonstration of unity across the aisle in a Congress increasingly divided along partisan lines.

The panel’s chairman, Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, described the stakes in sweeping and dire terms at the outset of the hearing, saying, “This is an existential struggle over what life will look like in the 21st century – and the most fundamental freedoms are at stake.”

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, the panel’s top Democrat, argued that working across the aisle is critical for the US to counter the threat. “We must practice bipartisanship,” he said. “We must recognize that the CCP wants us to be fractious, partisan and prejudiced,” a reference to the Chinese Communist Party.

The Washington Post is impressed. Here’s part of an editorial that praises the Committee’s work so far:

It is all too rare these days to see House members working across the aisle with a shared — and serious — sense of purpose. So we should applaud even tentative signs that it’s still possible.

Tech news:

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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! This includes:

Timestamp: 2:21. U.S. troops wounded in raid against ISIS in Syria.

Timestamp: 6:20. How much did it cost to shoot down those three balloon objects last week?

Timestamp: 12:00. We’ve got you covered on several Ukraine news items that you may not have heard about.

Timestamp: 30:38. Did the United States greenlight an attack by Israel on Iran’s nuclear facilities? It sure seems like they did.

Timestamp: 41:18. Four quick bits of China news that you probably didn’t hear about.

Timestamp: 46:55. In tech news, we discuss this topic: Is there such a thing as a fast-moving robotic dog with a deadly assault weapon on its back? Why, yes. There is such a thing.

Timestamp: 49:14. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Timestamp: 1:03.43. 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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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.

Again, you should 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.

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).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

U.S. Military news

I may be in the minority, but I keep seeing these stories pop up, and I’m sorry, but I don’t care. No one in a defense situation asks what the cost of a munition is. They were ordered to down the object. They downed it. I think there are far more important stories out there.

Ukraine and Russia news:

Statement from President Joe Biden on travel to Kyiv, Ukraine

As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I am in Kyiv today to meet with President Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

When Putin launched his invasion nearly one year ago, he thought Ukraine was weak and the West was divided. He thought he could outlast us. But he was dead wrong.

Today, in Kyiv, I am meeting with President Zelenskyy and his team for an extended discussion on our support for Ukraine. I will announce another delivery of critical equipment, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars to help protect the Ukrainian people from aerial bombardments.

Part of a Washington Post opinion piece:

If the fighting somehow ended today, would anyone have a doubt about who won and who lost? Whatever tactical territorial gains Putin might hold when this phase of intense war stops, no one will have any doubt about the fact that Putin’s war was a grave strategic blunder. He succeeded in achieving precisely the opposite of what he intended. Ukrainians’ sense of identity and confidence that they can build a viable modern nation has never been stronger. NATO has never been more unified and its European members far more willing to invest in their own military capabilities than in a generation or more. By re-creating a vivid Russian threat, Putin has condemned his country to a new Cold War against a united transatlantic adversary whose combined economy is more than 20 times its size.

Israel and Iran are increasingly in the news

Secretary of State response to questions about the above comments:

SECRETARY BLINKEN: John, the second part of your question first with regard to notifying Russia of the President’s travels. Yes, we did in order, of course, to deconflict and to avoid any potential for accidents or danger. Beyond that I can’t comment.

With regard to Ambassador Nides, I haven’t seen the full comments that my friend Tom made. I’m sure they were notable, as they usually are. From what I’ve heard, because I just got a brief description before, he reiterated what we have consistently said. We’re committed to Israel’s security. We are committed together to the proposition that Iran never acquire a nuclear weapon. That’s not exactly news. The President’s been very clear that every option is on the table to do that. And we’re also working to deepen our cooperation and coordination with Israel, as well as with other countries to deal with the multiplicity of challenges that Iran poses, including advances in its nuclear program.

At the same time, we’ve also been clear that the Iran nuclear deal, the so-called JCPOA, is not now on the table. We spent many months to seeing if we could revive it and return to mutual compliance. There was a proposal put forward by the European Union some months ago that was endorsed by everyone – China, Russia, as well as the United States – and Iran would not go forward with that.

In the meantime, of course, we’ve seen the provision by Iran of drones to Russia to enable its aggression in Ukraine. We’ve seen the renewed repression throughout the streets of Iran against its own citizens simply for trying to speak their minds. And we see Iran also engaging, for example, in plots to assassinate those who oppose the regime in third countries, including in the United States.

We continue to believe that, with regard to the nuclear program, the most effective, sustainable way to deal with the challenges it poses is through diplomacy. But in the – in this moment, those efforts are on the back burner because Iran is simply not engaged in a meaningful way. But the door is always open to diplomacy going forward, but a lot depends on what Iran says and does, and whether or not it engages.

QUESTION: Does Israel have a green light to attack Iran?

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Countries will make sovereign decisions for their own security. And of course, that’s no different when it comes to Israel or any country. We can’t make those decisions for them.

China news:

President Marcos says Philippines 'will not lose an inch' of territory

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Saturday that the country "will not lose an inch" of territory, his remarks coming on the heels of continuing maritime tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.

The Southeast Asian nation this week protested what it called as Beijing's "aggressive activities" that have stoked a long-running territorial dispute over the South China Sea.

"The country has seen heightened geopolitical tensions that do not conform to our ideals of peace and threaten the security and stability of the country, of the region and of the world," Marcos said in a speech at a military alumni homecoming event.

Tech news:

(Hat tip to the above story goes to Travis Hord.)

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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! This includes:

Timestamp: 2:28. A bit of a intro/preamble to all the objects being shot down in the United States.

Timestamp: 5:08. Why the U.S. is shooting these objects down now?

Timestamp: 6:21. Could it be UFOs? What’s my take on that?

Timestamp: 8:53. Will the Biden Administration be honest about this with the public?

Timestamp: 11:49. Internet provider Starlink, which is closely associated with Elon Musk, admits blocking Ukrainian troops from using satellite technology in some instances. What is happening there?

Timestamp: 16:24. Ukraine has begun training its troops on German Leopard tanks in Poland. Hear my take on that and what it could mean for the war.

Timestamp: 21:32. A new report has come out that lays out the specifics of Russia's vast program to take Ukraine's children from their families or legal guardians, relocate them across borders, and "re-educate" them to be pro-Russia. I’ll share just a couple of snippets from that.

Timestamp: 23:36. In other Ukraine news, a Washington Post story details the barbarity and inhumanity of Russian tactics in the southern part of th country in a recently recaptured city. The title of the story, “Ukraine liberated Kherson city. Now, Russia is destroying it.,” mostly captures what’s happening. But I remind listeners of Russia said prior to exiting the city about wanting to spare it, and show yet again that you cannot take the Russians at their word.

Timestamp: 26:46. I predicted that Ukrainians might modify their defenses against loitering munitions several months ago, after an accidental camouflage net and some tree branches saved the lives of several Ukrainians. Turns out, I was right about that, so I’ll give you a quick update on defenses against loitering munitions/kamikaze drones.

Timestamp: 31:07. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley, has declared that Russia has "lost" the war in Ukraine. I cover this statement and attempt to explain.

Timestamp: 33:30. Moving away from Russia to the growing tension with China, I cover what Japan said on Tuesday, when it stated that it “strongly” suspects three Chinese spy balloons entered its airspace between 2019 and 2021. It also provided an ominous warning to its long-term foe, who it fought with in the 1940s.

Timestamp: 35:40. Staying on the subject of China, I shared that the United States has renewed its commitment in a sharply-worded warning that it'll defend the Philippines after China uses a military-grade laser to briefly blind sailors in the South China Sea.

Timestamp: 40:07. On this same topic, the US Military gained access to 4 more Philippine bases in a pre-emptive move to better counter China.

Timestamp: 41:33. At the same time that base announcement was happening, the US also announced a new base on the island of Guam, which could eventually house 5,000 troops to counter China.

Timestamp: 43:24. Finally, I briefly bring up during the most-recent tension between China and the U.S., when we shot down a Chinese balloon last week, the US-China hotline went unanswered. ‘It just rang.’

Timestamp: 44:54. Moving to the Middle East, I’ll provide a quick update on the uprising in Iran. The short take? It appears to be mostly over.

Timestamp: 47:03. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Timestamp: 57:23. 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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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.

Again, you should 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.

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).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

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! This includes:

Timestamp: 2:28. A bit of a intro/preamble to all the objects being shot down in the United States.

Timestamp: 5:08. Why the U.S. is shooting these objects down now?

US defends decision to shoot down 3 unidentified objects

From the story:

The White House defended the shootdowns of three unidentified objects in as many days even as it acknowledged that officials had no indication the objects were intended for surveillance in the same manner as the high-altitude Chinese balloon that traversed American airspace earlier this month.

The three objects, including one shot down Sunday over Lake Huron, were unmanned and traveling at such a low altitude as to pose a risk to civilian commercial air traffic, said White House national security spokesman John Kirby. And though the Biden administration does not yet have evidence that they were equipped for spying purposes, officials have not ruled that out either, he said.

Timestamp: 6:21. Could it be UFOs? What’s my take on that?

Timestamp: 8:53. Will the Biden Administration be honest about this with the public?

Ukraine news:

Timestamp: 11:49. Internet provider Starlink, which is closely associated with Elon Musk, admits blocking Ukrainian troops from using satellite technology in some instances. What is happening there?

SpaceX admits blocking Ukrainian troops from using satellite technology

From the story:

The president of SpaceX revealed the company has taken active steps to prevent Ukrainian forces from using the critical Starlink satellite technology with Ukrainian drones that are a key component of their fight against Russia.

“There are things that we can do to limit their ability to do that,” Gwynne Shotwell told reporters on Wednesday, referencing reports on Starlink and drone use. “There are things that we can do, and have done.”

Starlink was never meant to be used militarily in the way that it has, Shotwell argued, saying the company didn’t foresee how profoundly – and creatively – Ukrainian forces would rely on the technology.

Timestamp: 16:24. Ukraine has begun training its troops on German Leopard tanks in Poland. Hear my take on that and what it could mean for the war.

Timestamp: 21:32. A new report has come out that lays out the specifics of Russia's vast program to take Ukraine's children from their families or legal guardians, relocate them across borders, and "re-educate" them to be pro-Russia. I’ll share just a couple of snippets from that.

From the link above:

This latest report, prepared by program partner Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, is available in its entirety on the Conflict Observatory’s website . It identifies 43 facilities to which the Russian government has relocated Ukraine’s children—for some, thousands of miles away from their homes. The report provides evidence of the Russian government’s systematic efforts to sever communication between the taken children and their relatives at home in Ukraine, prevent the children’s return to Ukraine, and “re-educate” them to become pro-Russia. It also describes the taking of children from Ukraine and placing them for adoption by families in Russia.

Timestamp: 23:36. In other Ukraine news, a Washington Post story details the barbarity and inhumanity of Russian tactics in the southern part of th country in a recently recaptured city. The title of the story, “Ukraine liberated Kherson city. Now, Russia is destroying it.,” mostly captures what’s happening. But I remind listeners of Russia said prior to exiting the city about wanting to spare it, and show yet again that you cannot take the Russians at their word.

From the story:

Residents who survived nine months of Russian occupation say that now that their city is back under Ukrainian control, they face a painful reality: If Russia can no longer have the city, it seems hellbent on destroying it.

Timestamp: 26:46. I predicted that Ukrainians might modify their defenses against loitering munitions several months ago, after an accidental camouflage net and some tree branches saved the lives of several Ukrainians. Turns out, I was right about that, so I’ll give you a quick update on defenses against loitering munitions/kamikaze drones.

Timestamp: 31:07. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley, has declared that Russia has "lost" the war in Ukraine. I cover this statement and attempt to explain.

Video of the comments:

China news:

Timestamp: 33:30. Moving away from Russia to the growing tension with China, I cover what Japan said on Tuesday, when it stated that it “strongly” suspects three Chinese spy balloons entered its airspace between 2019 and 2021. It also provided an ominous warning to its long-term foe, who it fought with in the 1940s.

Timestamp: 35:40. Staying on the subject of China, I shared that the United States has renewed its commitment in a sharply-worded warning that it'll defend the Philippines after China uses a military-grade laser to briefly blind sailors in the South China Sea.

Timestamp: 40:07. On this same topic, the US Military gained access to 4 more Philippine bases in a pre-emptive move to better counter China.

US Military Gets Access to 4 More Philippine Bases

The United States and the Philippines announced a deal Thursday to give US troops access to another four bases in the Southeast Asian nation, as the longtime allies seek to counter China's military rise.

The agreement to expand cooperation in "strategic areas of the country" was made during a visit by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

It comes as the countries seek to repair ties that were fractured in recent years. Previous Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte favoured China over his country's former colonial master, but the new administration of Ferdinand Marcos has been keen to reverse that.

Timestamp: 41:33. At the same time that base announcement was happening, the US also announced a new base on the island of Guam, which could eventually house 5,000 troops to counter China.

Timestamp: 43:24. Finally, I briefly bring up during the most-recent tension between China and the U.S., when we shot down a Chinese balloon last week, the US-China hotline went unanswered. ‘It just rang.’

Iran news:

Timestamp: 44:54. Moving to the Middle East, I’ll provide a quick update on the uprising in Iran. The short take? It appears to be mostly over.

Motivation and Wisdom:

Timestamp: 47:03. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

Timestamp: 57:23. 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.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Timestamp 18:48. The earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the much larger thing that should remind all Americans of.

Timestamp 25:11. China flew a balloon over the United States. You may have heard about it. But here are quite a few things you probably didn’t know about that situation.

Timestamp 49:03. Three quick news items regarding Ukraine and the Russian war, that you probably didn’t hear about. One of these involves a deeper, political angle that I think is starting to emerge and what that might mean for the 2024 Presidential elections here in America. This isn’t something I’ve seen anywhere else, and I’m wondering if you might agree — or disagree — with my analysis of this.

Timestamp 54:02. There have been two ongoing U.S. military operations that you’ve probably forgotten about. I’ll share links to them in the notes below.

Timestamp: 57:35. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Timestamp: 1:14:58. About me, my hope for the country (and for those listening), and about the 11 books I’ve written.

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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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.

Again, you should 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.

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).

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

I have completed Nick Woods 5!

Writing has often been called the loneliest profession in the world, and it's absolutely true.

Your victories are birthed in private, and they're often agonizing, painful, and not as easy as they make it out in the movies.

But three years after starting Nick Woods 5 -- and seven years since Nick Woods 4 (Nigerian Terror) dropped — I have FINALLY completed this beast.

I'll still have to deal with edits, the cover, and a dozen other small tasks, but that's all easy gravy.

I have finally slain this beast after so many starts and stops and restarts and massive amounts of deletions.

Nick Woods rides again.

Shield, Safeguard, and Shelter (better known as S3) goes from being decommissioned to evolving into something smaller, with just Nick Woods, Red, and Allen Green.

NickWoods #S3

And here is the tweet I reference in the podcast that so inspired me to keep pushing on this project.

Now go inspire and help uplift others, as well.

Hope fading as deaths in Turkey, Syria quake pass 11,000

China releases a balloon over America and all hysteria breaks out here

(Notes on the points I make in the podcast.)

Thread I quote from.

Video I quote from:

Ukraine/Russia news

Norway looks to donate $7.3 billion in aid to Ukraine

Biden Calls Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine a ‘Test for the Ages’

“Putin’s invasion has been a test for the ages, a test for America, a test for the world,” Biden said Tuesday night in his State of the Union address to Congress. “Such a defense matters to us because it keeps the peace and prevents open season” for “would-be aggressors to threaten our security and prosperity.”

With Ukraine’s ambassador to the US, Oksana Markarova, watching from the gallery, Biden said the US was united in its support for Ukraine almost a year after Russia’s invasion began, even as some Republican lawmakers have called for scaling back assistance or applying stricter oversight that could slow the distribution of weapons and aid.

Zelenskyy tells UK ‘freedom will win,’ pushes for warplanes

The visit comes as Sunak announced that Britain will train Ukrainian pilots on “NATO-standard fighter jets.” Ukraine has urged its allies to send jets, though the U.K. says it’s not practical to provide the Ukrainian military with British warplanes.

Operations happening that aren’t making the news

Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Somalia Operation

US troops conducted 313 missions and killed 686 ISIS fighters in 2022

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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! This includes:

Timestamp: 5:52. Some good news for America, that I wanted to share.

Timestamp: 9:45. I was recently interviewed on the That’s Criminal Podcast, by fomer FBI Agent and Author John Stamp. You can find that interview here: https://t.co/9TTDmWTacr.

Timestamp: 11:30. We’ll start off with Ukraine won’t get F-16s from America, Biden says. But some folks in the Pentagon are skeptical about this and see a path forward. I’ll talk about this and how it relates to the so-called “Deep State,” and hopefully dispel a myth or two about this.

Timestamp: 21:12. Israel launched a drone strike against an Iranian facility. The damage seems to be pretty severe, and I’ll explain one big reason for why that’s significant.

Timestamp: 30:46. Afghanistan’s wounds spill over into Pakistan.

Timestamp: 53:43. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Timestamp: 1:11.24. About me, my hope for the country (and for those listening), and about the 11 books I’ve written.

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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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.

Again, you should 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.

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).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

Some good news for America:

Some personal news I wanted to share!

Had a GREAT interview with John Stamp Author Page. We covered so much, including...

Want to hear about my time in the Marines? The background for what kicked off the Nick Woods story/series? And what it feels like to be on top -- and at the bottom -- as an author?

In addition to all of that, I name the absolute book you must read if you want to be an author, while also explaining my writing process.

And then I also talk about my mystery/detective book Danny Acuff (series starts with book 1 Take Down), as well as my podcast The View from the Front and what I’m trying to achieve with that.

That and so much more is in this incredible interview done by John Stamp, who served as a former Special Agent with the FBI and NCIS, and who’s written seven novels himself!

Link to interview: That’s Criminal Podcast

Ukraine/Russia news:

Israel/Iran news:

Israel appears to have been behind drone strike on Iran factory, U.S. official says

Afghanistan/Pakistan news:

Timestamp was 27:30 on the episode from two months ago.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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! This includes:

Timestamp: 21:10. Ukraine is finally getting tanks, both Abrams from America and Leopards from Germany. How many are they likely getting in total. What effect will it have? And why some have irked me with their reaction to the news.

Timestamp 29:10. A reminder about why now is not the time for Ukraine to begin peace talks, which again has popped up in the news.

Timestamp 34:22. Why I think Ukraine is getting pushed back some in the East, in the Donbas region.

Timestamp 40:58. I talk about China, and how their aggressive actions are turning even the massive (mostly peaceful) country of India against them.

Timestamp 49:08. An update on the revolution happening in Iran, and how it’s not stopping, and what that means for the country.

Timestamp 57:03. We’ll also cover two items in tech news and how that affects modern warfare, and both of those items involve drones, so I think you’ll find that super interesting.

Timestamp 1:05. Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Timestamp 1:12. About me, my hope for the country (and for those listening), and about the 11 books I’ve written.

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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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.

Again, you should 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.

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).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

U.S. to send Ukraine more advanced Abrams tanks — but no secret armor

Story link: Negotiations? Putin’s word in peace talks would be worthless

China news:

Story link: India Sees China as Greatest Threat.

China’s rise in recent years has provoked a change in India’s strategic threat calculations—a shift now reflected in public sentiment. This week, a Morning Consult poll revealed that Indians see China as India’s “greatest military threat.” Forty-three percent of respondents named China, while only 13 percent cited Pakistan, India’s long-standing rival. Strikingly, 22 percent of respondents said the United States was India’s greatest threat.

The survey, based on interviews with 1,000 Indian adults last October, reflects a shift in Indian perspectives—including among Indian officials—on the country’s long-term strategic challenges. Since its independence, India has fought three full-scale conflicts and one limited war with Pakistan, and bilateral relations remain tense. But growing threats from China, coupled with recent Indian foreign-policy moves, show that New Delhi’s focus has shifted toward Beijing.

Iran news:

(Story link: The Women of Iran Are Not Backing Down.)

From the story:

Protests are not a new phenomenon in Iran. They’ve flared up over the years — over election fraud, economic woes, civil liberties. But this time is different — an unprecedented revolution led by women, with support from men, encompassing a wide variety of grievances, all laid out in the heart-wrenching Persian lyrics of Shervin Hajipour’s song “Baraye,” or “Because of.” It’s become the anthem of the revolution, striking such a nerve around the world that backlash after Hajipour’s arrest led to his release.

This is a spontaneous civil rights movement made up of people at their wit’s end — unable to afford basic life necessities while forced to adhere to the oppressive rules of a religious autocracy that promised to take care of its people. What’s more dangerous than a mob with nothing to lose? See: The French Revolution.

Tech news:

Story link: Is This New Microwave Weapon the Answer to Iranian Drones?

Russia’s frequent drone attacks on Ukraine mirror a challenge that is growing for the U.S. military in almost every operational environment: How do you defeat drone swarms without wasting expensive surface-to-air missiles? The U.S. Army is working with a California company to develop microwave weapons that can fry airborne electronics

On Monday, counter-drone company Epirus announced that they had won a $66 million prototyping contract from the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office for its experimental Leonidas counterdrone microwave weapon. The Army will “transition Leonidas into a future program of record after successful demonstration of the prototypes,” according to the company’s statement.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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! This includes:

  • Plenty of news about the Ukraine/Russia conflict, we’ll debunk the top five myths about the Russian invasion, we’ll cover a new defense treaty that Japan signed with Britain (as well as some of the behind-the-door reasons that Japan is stepping out of its passive state), and then we’ll cover two bits of cool tech news: lasers on ships and an unmanned fleet of 100 U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf region.

  • Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom, as we all do.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

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.

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).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

Ukraine/Russia news:

UK defence minister sets out further military aid package to Ukraine

Moscow to mobilize 500,000 new conscripts, Kyiv military intelligence says

Ukrainian intelligence officials are warning that the Kremlin plans a new mobilization wave for up to 500,000 men to fight in Ukraine starting in mid-January.

The new conscription drive, which would be larger than last autumn’s Russian draft of 300,000, would include a push in big cities, including some strategic industrial centers in Russia, Andriy Cherniak, an official with the Main Military Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, told POLITICO on Saturday.

“This time the Kremlin will mobilize residents of big cities, including the strategic industries centers all over Russia,” Cherniak said. “This will have a very negative impact on the already suffering Russian economy.”

Russia plans to mobilize 500,000 soldiers in days. If they don't deliver victory, then 'Putin will collapse,' says Ukrainian spy chief.

Russia’s new commander reflects Putin’s plan to push for victory in Ukraine

The leadership changes, whatever their true purpose, highlight that Putin never expected to be in such a disastrous situation. He is now nearly a year into an invasion that some Russian commentators predicted would end successfully within days, with victorious Russian troops parading through Kyiv.

“Putin loves to cut the legs out from under whoever is tallest at the moment, and I think this is a part of that,” McKew said in an interview. “It is a signal that these internal power struggles that everybody has been microanalyzing and that we focus on so much are under control.”

Whatever the internal machinations, one thing remains clear: The war is not going to plan. McKew said the reshuffling reflected preparation for new offensives. “I think it signals an escalation, of commitment to advancing and sustaining the war, which no one’s really been that certain of from the Russian side, because they were planning on winning so quickly,” McKew said.

Top Five Russian Myths Debunked

China/Taiwan news:

A menacing Russia and China pull Japan out of its past

Why is Japan taking this step toward remilitarization? One galvanizing moment for Japanese leaders, U.S. officials say, was when China and Russia flew six heavy bombers near Japan in a joint exercise on May 24, as Tokyo was hosting a meeting of the “Quad” partnership of Australia, India, Japan and the United States.

Japan expressed “serious concerns” about the flights. But China and Russia did it again in late November, sending two Chinese heavy bombers and two Russian planes over the Sea of Japan. This time Tokyo expressed “severe concerns,” again with no apparent response.

Another wake-up call came in August, when China fired five missiles into Japan’s “exclusive economic zone” during a spasm of military exercises after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) visited Taiwan. “We have protested strongly through diplomatic channels,” said Nobuo Kishi, Japan’s former defense minister who now serves as a special adviser to the prime minister. The lesson was that “nothing in the Taiwan Strait stays in the Taiwan Strait,” Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Tokyo, told me in an interview.

Britain and Japan sign major defence agreement in London

Earlier this month, US, Australian, British and Japanese paratroopers conducted joint parachute training from Japanese aircraft.

Additionally, the Vigilant Isles (pictured above) joint UK-Japanese exercise, which began in 2018 and other than US forces, was the first time foreign troops had conducted military exercises on Japanese soil, was held for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic in December, with soldiers from the British Army’s Royal Artillery and their Japanese counterparts practising island defence capabilities and improving their interoperability.

Tech news:

From the story (Story link: Here comes the Navy’s laser fleet):

Developed under a 2018 contract with Lockheed, the HELIOS consists of a 60-kilowatt laser and optical dazzler package designed to knock out unmanned aerial vehicles, “burn the boats,” and disrupt both airborne and shipborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sensors, according to the Congressional Research Service.

As swarms of drone aircraft, watercraft, and anti-ship missiles pose growing threats to surface vessels, laser weapons systems have proven an ideal low-cost, near-unlimited ammo countermeasure to deter potential attacks.

Story link: U.S.-Led Drone Fleet Starting To Come Together in Middle East

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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! This includes:

  • Plenty of Ukraine and Russia news. Lots of big news to discuss in this regards.

  • Some news regarding military recruiting news in the U.S., which had dropped dangerously low.

  • Moving to China, we’ll cover several big things that have happened there, including a war game simulation on an invasion of Taiwan, what our military has decided to do with a bunch of Marines in Okinawa, and some other news.

  • We’ll also update you on the latest in Iran, and the now months’ long uprising that has been happening there.

  • Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

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.

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 make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

Ukraine/Russia:

Clearly Putin not only made a huge mistake invading Ukraine, but he has compounded it of late with a giant miscalculation in attacking energy infrastructure. This has accelerated Western resolve and support.

Ukraine to get upgraded T-72 tanks from Czech Republic

U.S. Military news:

Applications to Air Force Academy Bounce Back After Plummeting During Pandemic

  • Applications to join the Air Force Academy's class of 2027 skyrocketed last year, following a year when the school saw a dive in applications from young men and women during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • More than 10,000 students had applied to be part of the class of 2027 as of the Dec. 31 deadline. That's a 21% increase from the more than 8,300 applicants who wanted to join the class of 2026 the year before, according to Air Force Academy spokesman Dean Miller. The school said last year's low application numbers were due, in part, to the pandemic limiting how many in-person events it could hold for high school students.

China/Taiwan:

Full report here: The First Battle of the Next War. Wargaming a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan

U.S., Japan set to announce shake-up of Marine Corps units to deter China

From the story:

  • This week, the two allies will announce the repurposing of a Marine Corps regiment based in Okinawa to be able by 2025 to rapidly disperse to fight in austere, remote islands, according to several U.S. officials. The Marine Corps plans to equip the regiment with advanced capabilities, such as anti-ship missiles that could be fired at Chinese ships in the event of a Taiwan conflict.

  • This is one of the most significant advances in U.S. force posture in the region in at least a decade, said the officials. “Japan is substantially improving its capacity, but also providing more capacity for the United States,” said the administration official. “This reflects a Japan that is much less ambivalent, a Japan that is prepared to play a more substantial role in its own defense.”

  • In the past, the administration official said, Japan would have resorted to “a kind of checkbook diplomacy, and basically asked the United States to take care of” security in the region. “What they’re doing now is something quite different and quite substantial, which is essentially to say, ‘Count us in.’ And that’s a big deal.”

Iran:

Uprising continues, from The Economist

  • Iran hanged two men accused of killing a member of the Basij, a volunteer militia that is part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to state-affiliated media. Iran has now executed four demonstrators involved in the months-long protests sparked by the killing of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman, in police custody. As many as 41 others have also been sentenced to death.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

  • And I always make sure at the end of the episode to share plenty of motivation and wisdom, 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! This includes:

  • Ukraine will be getting a new weapon system from the United States, as our country plans to send over Bradley Fighting Vehicles to help drive out the Russians. That’s the topline news, but we’ll spend a few minutes going into the details of the Bradley, what it can do, and what makes it such a potential game-changer for Ukraine.

  • Hundreds of Russians died in what is probably one of the most successful deep strikes of Ukraine to date. We’ll cover how that happened, why that happened, and even how the Russians were warned about it and ignored those warnings.

  • We’re going to share the latest message that Russia is putting out, as it tries to spin the facts on the war, and then remind people what the truth is.

  • We’re going to talk briefly about Radio Free Europe, and the role it plays around the world, but especially for 11 million Russians who are tuning in and getting the truth about the war.

  • We’ll wrap up our coverage of Ukraine by visiting the Kherson torture rooms that were recently discovered, and what the Russians were doing to Ukrainians in that city before it was liberated.

  • From there, we’ll move to the friction between China and Taiwan and explain a generous offer that has been made by Taiwan, as China deals with the growing death toll from COVID, which we warned about several weeks ago.

  • We’ll end the news section by discussing the LongShot project to develop an air-launched unmanned air vehicle that can employ multiple air-to-air weapons, and how I think this could revolutionize warfare in the air.

  • Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

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.

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 make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

Ukraine:

Biden weighs sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine

From the article:

The Bradley is a medium armored combat vehicle that can serve as a troop carrier. It has tracks rather than wheels, but the vehicle is lighter and more agile than a tank. It can carry about 10 personnel, or be configured instead to carry additional ammunition or communications equipment.

Incredible thread about the Bradley below:

Dozens of Russian soldiers killed in massive Donetsk missile strike

Without claiming responsibility for the attack, Kyiv’s military command said that at least 400 soldiers were killed in the strike in Makiivka, a city in eastern Ukraine under Russian occupation, and that at least 300 soldiers were injured. Russia’s Defense Ministry put the death toll at 63.

Moscow authorities, pro-Kremlin war bloggers and Telegram channels acknowledged the attack but provided inconclusive and contradictory death tolls.

Economist article on the strike:

The early-morning strike, courtesy of at least four himars high-precision missiles, killed scores of (mostly newly mobilised) soldiers. Russia has said that more than 90 died; Ukraine says the figure is at least 400. Igor “Strelkov” Girkin, the eccentric former intelligence officer largely responsible for the outbreak of war in the Donbas region in 2014, said he had warned Russian generals about the likelihood of himars strikes on barracks. “They [the generals] are untrainable in principle,” he barked.

Radio Free Europe source clip:

Radio Free Europe FAQs: https://pressroom.rferl.org/frequently-asked-questions

Taiwan/China news:

From the CNN article:

  • China’s U-turn on its Covid policy caught citizens and the medical system off guard, with some pharmacy shelves swept empty of cold and fever medicines and hospitals scrambling to cope with an unprecedented jump in infections.

Tech news:

From the story:

The objective is to develop a novel UAV that can significantly extend engagement ranges, increase mission effectiveness, and reduce the risk to manned aircraft.

Current air superiority concepts rely on advanced manned fighter aircraft to provide a penetrating counter air capability to effectively deliver weapons. It is envisioned that LongShot will increase the survivability of manned platforms by allowing them to be at standoff ranges far away from enemy threats, while an air-launched LongShot UAV efficiently closes the gap to take more effective missile shots.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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 two things:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

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! This includes:

  • What a prominent retired General says Ukraine needs, and whether he thinks Belarus will invade Ukraine alongside Russian forces.

  • News that Russia is now ready to resume sending natural gas to Europe.

  • The Pentagon is saying Russia could run out of reliable rockets and artillery shells early next year.

  • How Russian troops are fighting (and being slaughtered) on the eastern front in the Donbas region.

  • The possibility that American troops might train Ukrainian troops for the first time on American soil, and what type of weapons system they might be trained on.

  • An accidental, and ingenious, manner might have been discovered in Ukraine to stop slow-moving, but deadly loitering munitions.

  • Taiwan has decided to extend mandatory military service because of the Chinese threat; we’ll cover for how long and the details on that.

  • South Korea has released a new defense strategy. We’ll briefly discuss how they tread a fine line with the threat from China, and how America reacted to their new strategy.

  • And in tech news, we’ll cover the announcement that the Navy is looking to purchase a drone that can fly for a week without refueling.

  • Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

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.

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 make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

Ukraine/Russia news:

Russia ready to resume gas supply to Europe via Yamal-Europe gas pipeline

Russia Could Run Out Of Reliable Rockets, Artillery Shells Early Next Year, Pentagon Says

'We Fight With Our Brains. They Fight With Numbers': Ukrainian Paratroopers On The Battle For The Donbas City of Kreminna

Taiwan extends mandatory military service to combat Chinese threat

South Korea Barely Mentions China in New Indo-Pacific Strategy

The Navy is eyeing a drone that can fly for a week without refueling

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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 two things:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

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! This includes:

  • A look back at what I think are six of the biggest foreign policy stories for 2022 (one of which, I’ll bet you’re not even aware of!).

  • An in-depth look at an interview recently done by the CIA director, which had an impressive amount of news regarding many of the topics we’ve been covering, especially regarding the war in Ukraine against Russia, and the growing threat of an invasion of Taiwan by China.

  • The Zelensky visit to America, and three really interesting things from that visit.

  • A remarkable bit of reporting from The New York Times and the Washington Post, regarding the invasion of Ukraine, and just how poorly the Russian soldiers were prepped, equipped, and prepared for this horrific fighting.

  • A brief look into the horrific murder of an Iranian doctor, who simply tried to help the protestors, and what this might mean for the larger movement against Iran’s government.

  • Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

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.

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 make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

PBS: CIA Director Bill Burns on war in Ukraine, intelligence challenges posed by China

AP: Zelenskyy thanks ‘every American,’ sees ‘turning point’

New York Times: Putin’s War: A Times investigation based on interviews, intercepts, documents and secret battle plans shows how a “walk in the park” became a catastrophe for Russia.

Washington Post: ‘Wiped out’: War in Ukraine has decimated a once feared Russian brigade

CNN: US to send precision bomb kits and Patriot missiles in next Ukraine aid package, officials say

Tehran Doctor Tortured And Killed For Treating Wounded Protesters

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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 two things:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

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.

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 make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition.

In this episode, I talk about:

  • Some potentially HUGE news that’s really good for Ukraine.

  • An important thing I’ve never considered about Putin’s mental state, and what that means for all of us — especially Ukraine.

  • The U.S. left Afghanistan, but the country is now a growing, festering wound for Pakistan. I talk about the strategic implications of this. And how Pakistan’s dual hand is about to come back to haunt the nation.

  • Russia’s growing partnership with Iran, and what that might mean for the Middle East, especially Saudia Arabia.

  • Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports/source notes of some of the items that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

Hat tip for the above from @LCpl_X

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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 two things:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

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.

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 make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports/source notes of some of the items that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Russia/Ukraine news

Ukraine war: Russian military airfields hit by explosions

A look at the weapons most-likely used:

American defense news

China

Iran

Kori Schake: Rejecting Authoritarianism

Israel

Germany

Germany arrests 25 accused of plotting coup - BBC News

Tech news

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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 two things:

  • Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

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.

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 make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy it. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

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 two things:

  • Highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots.(Why I focus on foreign policy...)

  • Unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America.(My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

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. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love 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.)

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy it. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Iran attacks Kurds in Iraq.

A map of the area:

At the same time, here’s video of more Iranian brutality. Absolute barbarians. At some point, the people have to stop protesting and start fighting.

And here’s a reminder that this is about way more than headscarves.

This brutality might backfire though.

Video of what Nance was referring to.

Opinion | Turkey is playing with fire in Northern Syria

By David Ignatius:

Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart and warned the Turks against attacking restricted zones around U.S. troops. But a Pentagon official said there was “no sign that [the Turks] are ready to de-escalate.” As the Turkish military assault in northern Syria begins to destabilize the U.S.-led coalition’s fragile control over the murderous remnants of the Islamic State, a reasonable person begins to wonder: What kind of an ally is this?

Notes on Ukraine.

Ukrainian energy systems on brink of collapse after weeks of Russian bombing

U.S. General warns China…

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. If you just happened to stumble by here, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here (assuming you’ve never heard the show, which you really should just go listen to.)

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

And as a guy who’s been deployed overseas, and who was a big-time history buff even before that, I care a lot about our military, where they're at, where they might be going, what conflicts might be about to occur.

Because these things matter. And as such, every week I report news that you’re not going to easily find anywhere else.

So, if you’re a military member, a spouse of a military member, or a parent or grandparent of a military member, this is probably a great podcast for you to subscribe to.

I’ll keep you updated on foreign policy issues, but I won’t do it like you’ll find everywhere else. First of all, the media almost never covers the military or looming hotspots. But if they do, they overhype everything. And they scare you and use lots of B-roll video with explosions and flashing graphics. Their biggest desire is eyeballs and ad dollars.

I promise you -- and you can check the past year of archived editions -- I do not overhype, exaggerate, or do any of that. If anything, I almost downplay. It’s a steady and calm voice that you’ll find here.

But on the flip side, foreign policy journals that do cover what I do also fall way short in my opinion.

Their articles are far too long, they’re far too dense, and they’re crammed with big words, technical mambo jumbo, and silly acronyms that only insiders truly know.

I couldn't find a show that met my needs, so I decided to create one.

Once a week, I’ll discuss military matters, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history.

Besides covering this news, and also sharing plenty of motivation at the end of each edition, I also work as hard as I can to unite this country.

Without question, I feel like our wide division and animosity toward those with whom we disagree is the greatest threat our country faces.

So, once a week I do my best to bridge this great divide, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this great country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars.

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always.

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

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. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love 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.)

Why paid subscriptions help...

Paid subscriptions provide a recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do.

Of course, you can also tell people about my podcast and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend.

But you don’t have to do any of these things. I feel called to do this and I’ve already had tremendous support from people who’ve signed up to chip in a few bucks each month.

Trust me, you can sign up and come and go as you like. As long as I’m making enough to cover the time I put into doing this show, then I’m not going anywhere.

Source notes for the podcast.

Joe Rogan finally admits that school 'furry' litter box hoax

Biden flexes his political muscle abroad at G20 meeting

This is fake news. Posting it so that it remains in my source notes.

This is the real news:

False claim about Iran protester executions goes viral with help from celebrities and politicians

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front newsletter. If you just happened to stumble by here, 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.

And as a guy who’s been deployed overseas, and who was a big-time history buff even before that, I care a lot about our military, where they're at, where they might be going, what conflicts might be about to occur.

Because these things matter. And as such, every week I publish news that you’re not going to easily find anywhere else.

So, if you’re a military member, a spouse of a military member, or a parent or grandparent of a military member, this is probably a great newsletter for you to subscribe to.

I’ll keep you updated on foreign policy issues, but I won’t do it like you’ll find everywhere else. First of all, the media almost never covers the military or looming hotspots. But if they do, they overhype everything. And they scare you and use lots of B-roll video with explosions and flashing graphics. Their biggest desire is eyeballs and ad dollars.

I promise you -- and you can check the past year of archived editions -- I do not overhype, exaggerate, or do any of that. If anything, I almost downplay. It’s a steady and calm voice that you’ll find here.

But on the flip side, foreign policy journals that do cover what I do also fall way short in my opinion.

Their articles are far too long, they’re far too dense, and they’re crammed with big words, technical mambo jumbo, and silly acronyms that only insiders truly know.

I couldn't find a show that met my needs, so I decided to create one.

Once a week, I’ll discuss military matters, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history.

Besides covering this news, and also sharing plenty of motivation at the end of each edition, I also work as hard as I can to unite this country.

Without question, I feel like our wide division and animosity toward those with whom we disagree is the greatest threat our country faces.

So, once a week I do my best to bridge this great divide, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this great country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars.

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always.

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

And with that out of the way, let’s get started.

One quick reminder before we get to the news…

If you haven’t already, 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. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love 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. Doing this provides a recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do. Of course, you can also tell people about this newsletter, my podcast, and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend. But you don’t have to do any of these things. I feel called to do this and I’ve already had tremendous support from people who’ve signed up to chip in a few bucks each month. Trust me, you can sign up and come and go as you like. As long as I’m making enough to recoup my costs and continue this outreach, then I’m not going anywhere.)

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture at the top of the page; that will take you to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider. (But honestly, I almost always have more details in my podcast, so that’s probably the best way to stay informed and enjoy the experience more.)

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about Ukraine, including the possible terms they’ve laid out (under pressure from the West) to begin some kind of peace talks. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

  • News that Russia has pulled its ships into the safety of port after the drone-ship vessel attack a week ago.

  • News that Ukrainian advances in the southern part of the country near Kherson have continued, and Russia announced it is withdrawing from the western side of the Dnipro River, which is obviously huge news. (As a reminder, this is the only regional capital that Russia managed to seize during its massive invasion this year.)

  • I’ll share what this withdrawal means for the tactical situation, according to one General who’s well-versed in the art of war.

  • I’ll share what one retired Army officer has said, who has come out and said that the Russians have already lost the war and have no real options left. I’ll share the reasons he has said this.

  • I’ll share video of a horrendous attack that the Russians attempted with an armored thrust on the eastern part of the front in the Donbas region, and how Ukrainian artillery absolutely decimated this attempt.

  • I’ll show the aftermath of what happened after Russians blew a damn in the east — yet another atrocity from them — and how they created a man-made natural disaster that emptied a massive lake that was more than 50 miles long and two miles wide. The reservoir is now completely shallow.

  • I’ll share a well-structured, well-reasoned argument for why supporting Ukrainian efforts to oust the Russians actually serves U.S. interests, and not just in deterring Russia. How that supporting Ukraine also aligns with U.S. interests in thwarting China's territorial ambitions and expansions.

  • I’ll even share a quick, must-read thread about the economics of possibly supporting Ukraine with tanks first.

  • I’ll share the balancing act that Ukraine is being forced to walk with China right now, something I wasn’t aware of — and I’ll bet you weren’t either. (This has seriously not been reported anywhere that I’m aware.)

  • I’ll share news of a disturbing phone call between China and Russia, which I haven’t seen reported.

  • I’ll remind everyone briefly that Nov 10th is the Marine Corps Birthday. It’s 247th Marine Corps birthday.

  • Finally, for the news portion, I’ll take about the size of our Navy, remind everyone of how large it used to be in World War II (just to provide some perspective), and share an idea that could be used to help thwart China with smaller ships and more missiles. It’s really quite fascinating how much this has all changed.

  • And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

NOTE: This is a lot of news. I HIGHLY STRONGLY suggest listening to the podcast on your drive or while you work, if you can. It’ll be way more relaxing and enjoyable.

The biggest news of late is that Ukraine has laid out possible terms (under pressure from the West) to begin peace talks with Russia.

The bare minimum requirements are the following:

Moving along, Russia is having to pull its ships back to safety after the recent unmanned naval drone/ship attack by Ukraine. Not a good look for them, but their naval forces are about on par with their land forces, which is to say not good.

Similar to this Russian retreat of its ships, there’s some other huge news for Ukraine.

Ukrainian advances in the southern part of the country have continued, and Russia announced it is withdrawing from the western side of the Dnipro River near Kherson, which is obviously huge news.

As a reminder, this is the only regional capital that Russia managed to seize during its massive invasion this year.

CNN had a pretty good summary of the situation. Here is that reporting.

Retired General Mick Ryan discussed what this retreat will mean, and here is part of what he shared:

Here’s that map above in detail. You can see the river literally cuts the city of Kherson in half.

Continuing his thoughts:

5/ What about Ukraine’s next steps? It is unlikely the Ukrainians will be undertaking a large scale crossing of the Dniepr to the eastern bank anytime soon.

6/ Not only would this be a massive, deliberate operation, it would attack into a dense series of Russian defensive zones.

7/ Consequently, the Ukrainians - who prefer to attack indirectly, attrit enemy logistic and C2, and corrode the Russians from within - will look for other opportunities in other areas to clear the Russians from the south.

8/ Of course, Ukrainian deep strikes will continue. Their recapture of Kherson will expand the area in the south that systems like #HIMARS can reach for shaping and strike activities in support of future offensives.

9/ A second issue: this halts any future Russian designs on Odesa, but puts the Ukrainians a step closer to recapturing the south. Capturing Kherson is also an important enabling operation for a future campaign to recapture Crimea.

10/ A third observation: while this announcement was made by the military, ceding territory is political. There is no way this would have occurred without Putin’s sign off.

11/This is evidence that Putin can recognise reality, and can make rational decisions (as @MaxBoot describes here). But it is also evidence he is setting up the military as the fall guys for the Russian debacle in #Ukraine.

While we’re discussing withdrawals, Here what one retired Army officer has said, who has come out and said that the Russians have already lost the war and have no real options left.

I really think he’s dead on.

Here’s an analogy that I shared with a friend.

Putin is like the bankrupt small business owner who still has the Denali, speed boat, and mansion. The man is drinking and losing sleep because he knows there’s a three-inch stack of certified mail and he’s about to have to give up the toys, but most have no clue.

The employees still have jobs, the courts haven’t authorized seizures, and the man doesn’t hide at church or restaurants or at Rotary meetings. But he’s sweating and the truth will come out soon.

That explains the desire to negotiate, the threat of nukes, and the foolish gambit to break the Ukrainian spirit by attacking the electrical grid instead of military targets. Putin is a cursing, blustering business man, who’s threatening to sue the banks and lying to his wife.

Moving along, I wanted to share a video of a horrendous bloody nose that the Russians received, after attempting an armored thrust on the eastern part of the front in the Donbas region, and how Ukrainian artillery absolutely decimated this attempt.

Hat tip to Chuck Pfarrer, who first highlighted this.

And here’s the full video if you want to watch it.

Continuing our coverage of Ukraine, the atrocities committed by Russia have continued.

Here’s just another example in a long list of them.

the Russians blew up a dam and destroyed a lake that was 50 miles long and two miles wide.

The Oskil reservoir is now completely shallow.

I wanted to make sure I shared the below this week.

This is a well-structured, well-reasoned argument for why supporting Ukrainian efforts to oust the Russians serves U.S. interests, and not just in deterring Russia. Supporting Ukraine also aligns with U.S. interests in thwarting China's territorial ambitions and expansions. (Full thread below.)

Full thread from Twitter:

I have been hearing the idea from some Republicans that Ukrainian resistance comes at a cost to Americans. Nothing could be more wrong. Ukrainian resistance provides extraordinary security benefits to Americans. 1/

In fact, Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s genocidal invasion does more for American security than any American policy does – or could do. It has changed the global balance in a way that makes peace more likely in decades to come. 2/

Republicans present China as America’s real, long-term rival. Democrats agree. The scenario for a U.S.-China war is a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. By resisting a Russian invasion, Ukrainians have shown the difficulty of such operations, making this scenario less likely. 3/

By fighting in self-defense, Ukrainians have thus reduced the risk of a major war and of a nuclear war. This extraordinary achievement is due to the courage and skill of Ukrainians. They do not get much credit for it. They should get more credit, and more support. 4/

For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have failed to formulate a policy that could prevent Russia from weakening and undoing the international order. Russia serves as a cat’s paw, doing what China would not wish to be seen doing. 5/

In defeating Russia’s armed forces and exposing Russia’s weakness, the Ukrainians have both made a larger war in Europe far less likely, and gotten China’s cat’s paw under control. 6/

The Ukrainians have reduced the possibility of Chinese aggression through Russia, and made direct Chinese aggression less likely. They have done all of this just by defending themselves, without making any move against China. 7/

Without the Ukrainians, the United States would lack the policy instruments for this. By resisting, Ukrainians created an opportunity for U.S. policy that would not otherwise have existed. 8/

No American lives have been placed at risk. U.S. assistance to Ukraine amounts to a rounding error in the defense budget. 9/

The gains Ukrainian resistance brings to American security are so enormous that the US national security establishment is embarrassed to speak of them directly. 10/

It is awkward to say that another country is doing so much for us. It is awkward to say that Ukrainian resistance has done more for the safety of Americans than any U.S. policy since the end of the cold war. But it is true and must be said. 11/

Reversing the U.S. policy of aiding Ukraine will undo all of these gains. There is still time to revive Russia and reassure China, which is what ending support of Ukraine will mean. Such a policy reversal would make Americans far less safe and secure. 12/

My concerns about the Russian invasion of Ukraine are the prevention of genocide and the defense of democracy. But those who think first of U.S. interests should acknowledge what Ukrainians are doing for American security. The least we can do is be on our own side 13/13

And while we’re on the topic, here’s a must-read thread about the economics of possibly supporting Ukraine with tanks first. (Full thread below.)

Full thread from Twitter:

A random thought: sooner or later, Ukraine will decide what modern tank to use. With its 40+m population and 2,000km border to post-Russian space it will need not less tanks than Poland (35m population). PL buys 1000 K9 Tanks now. UKR will buy those tank it knows. Huge market /1

To understand: one Leopard2 costs €3-7m. One K9: €3m. One Abrams: €6m. So it is about approximately €4b market only for the tanks and only for the units, without ammo, maintenance etc. The annual turnover of the whole German KMW, the producer of Leo2, is €2bn. /2

The country which sends its tanks to Ukraine first and makes them into the symbol of the victory over the Russian faZZism, will secure the market bigger than anything we know from the last decades. To arm Ukraine could be a recovery program for German economy, and a moral one. /3

Germany has ALREADY lost the €5-6bn order from Poland, it went to Korea. The Polish decision was dictated by the clearly unreliable position of the GER Chancellor and the Defense Minister. These two SPD politicians took German economy €5-6bn and undermined Nato and EU trust. /4

Now it is about what country will help Ukraine to protect its democracy, the peace in Europe, and will be rewarded by fat orders for its economy. The decision is up to our politicians. Who will send to Ukraine the first shipment of modern battle tanks? /5

One bit of news that I wasn’t even aware of is the below.

Politico reported on the balancing act that Ukraine is being forced to walk with China right now.

The complex irony with this view of the conflict is that political realities are forcing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take a cautiously deferential stance toward Russia’s authoritarian partner, China.

Zelenskyy knows full well that he cannot risk antagonizing China, and wants to stop Beijing from offering even more support or sending weapons to Putin. Most significantly, Ukraine abstained from a crucial U.N. resolution vote last month on China’s abuse of the Muslim Uyghur minority. (Kyiv later had a change of heart, but too late to change the voting record.) Diplomats have also noted that China — with its massive infrastructure capabilities — will almost certainly be called upon to help play a frontline role in the reconstruction of Ukraine’s shattered cities.

But we really need to make sure we’re aware of the serious commitment China has with Russia. China does not want to see Putin fall. (See below.)

In a recent phone call between China and Russia, the following message was release by China:

Wang Yi said that the fact that President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to General Secretary Xi Jinping right after the 20th CPC National Congress has reflected the high-level mutual trust and firm mutual support between China and Russia. China will also firmly support Russia in rallying and leading the Russian people under the leadership of President Putin to achieve strategic development goals against all the odds and disturbance, and to further establish Russia's status as a major country on the international stage. Wang noted that both China and Russia are fully entitled to seeking its own development and revitalization, and this is fully consistent with the trend of the times. Any attempt to hold back the progress of China and Russia will end up in failure. China is ready to further deepen exchanges with Russia at all levels, and take China-Russia relations and cooperation in various fields to a higher level, so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and peoples, and contribute more elements of stability to the unstable world.

In other HUGE news, in case you didn’t know, today is like the most important day of the world. lol. (Watch this incredible video if you get a moment.)

Finally, let’s talk some naval thoughts for a moment. Currently, we have about 280 ships that are deployed or could be.

Compare that to the peak of World War II below.

And while the above will never happen again, here’s a thought that might.

Here’s the story link: Bring Back the PT (Missile) Boats. Distribute lethality with small, affordable boats carrying powerful missiles.

Finally, let’s get to the best part of every episode.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

This is the truest thing I’ve seen in some time. If you’re in that empty blank space, don’t you give up.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front newsletter. If you just happened to stumble by here, 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.

And as a guy who’s been deployed overseas, and who was a big-time history buff even before that, I care a lot about our military, where they're at, where they might be going, what conflicts might be about to occur.

Because these things matter. And as such, every week I publish news that you’re not going to easily find anywhere else.

So, if you’re a military member, a spouse of a military member, or a parent or grandparent of a military member, this is probably a great newsletter for you to subscribe to.

I’ll keep you updated on foreign policy issues, but I won’t do it like you’ll find everywhere else. First of all, the media almost never covers the military or looming hotspots. But if they do, they overhype everything. And they scare you and use lots of B-roll video with explosions and flashing graphics. Their biggest desire is eyeballs and ad dollars.

I promise you -- and you can check the past year of archived editions -- I do not overhype, exaggerate, or do any of that. If anything, I almost downplay. It’s a steady and calm voice that you’ll find here.

But on the flip side, foreign policy journals that do cover what we do also fall way short in my opinion.

Their articles are far too long, they’re far too dense, and they’re crammed with big words, technical mambo jumbo, and silly acronyms that only insiders truly know.

So, I couldn't find a show that met my needs, so I decided to create one.

Once a week, I’ll discuss military matters, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history.

Besides covering this news, and also sharing plenty of motivation at the end of each edition, I also work as hard as I can to unite this country.

Without question, I feel like our wide division and animosity toward those with whom we disagree is the greatest threat our country faces.

So, once a week I do my best to bridge this great divide, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this great country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars.

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always.

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

And with that out of the way, let’s get started.

One quick reminder before we get to the news…

If you haven’t already, 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. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love 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. Doing this provides a recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do. Of course, you can also tell people about this newsletter, my podcast, and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend. )

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture to go to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider.

One other quick announcement, which is kind of a big one. After many requests (like so many requests), I’ve created a Patreon page. You can now go there to help support what we’re doing here without having to set up your payment information with Substack.

Now to the news….

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about Saudi Arabia, and what’s happening with the threats from Iran. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

  • Lots of news about Ukraine and Russia, including the latest about grain shipments, a surprise attack on Russia’s Navy, an improvement in Ukraine’s satellite communications situation, and what the coming winter means (and why Ukraine is better prepared for this).

  • Besides these items, we’ll talk just a bit about how the Russian war plays into the rising tension with China.

  • And then we’ll cover just some scary new tech news that involves a flying drone and a robotic dog armed with a machine gun. Trust me, you want to know about this thing.

  • And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

The biggest news of late is this out-of-left-field threat from Iran to attack Saudi Arabia.

This is, uh, concerning...

And it makes sense in hindsight. Iran is dealing with internal unrest that it can’t put out, and just last week, they put out a dire warning that the protests have to stop or serious bloodshed would follow. (See below.)

But then things escalated even more, following the warning.

Clearly, it’s impossible to say if this is a serious threat or something to distract from Iran’s problems, but we need to make sure our troops are protected.

I will also say that it’s probably not a bad time to ask if Saudi Arabia might increase oil production upon further consideration.

Because given how they've fought in Yemen... Uh, they might ought to be concerned...

But on a serious note, we have several thousand troops in Saudi Arabia, as well as several thousand in the United Arab Emirates and in Qatar. All would be potential targets that fall within range of Iranian ballistic missiles.

Reminder from just a couple of years ago…

They’ve done it before.

Iran fired missiles at Iraqi bases that the United Statesuses to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.Four of the ballistic missiles broke up in flight;10 hit Al Asad and two hit Irbil, officials said.

Moving along to Ukraine, there’s been a few things I want to share from there.

First, Russia has rejoinedits wartime deal on Ukrainian grain exports. This follows them briefly abandoning the deal following a Ukrainian drone attack against its Black Sea fleet. The drone attack only barely made the news,

But you can see a nice summary of the attack below.

And the attack really did likely make history.

But the grain deal is back in place, so that’s good. And if more Russian assets are required to defend the fleet and naval installation from a similar drone attack, then I say that’s great news for Ukraine and the West.

Moving along, I came across this post and thought it was the perfect summary of what Russia constantly does. (And what Russia has constantly done for the past 10 or 15 years with Putin at the helm.)

Is that dead on or what?

We did make another contribution of aid. See below.

And part of what we sent was really important.

The United States is sending four satellite antennas to Ukraine in a move that will bolster the communication abilities of the Ukrainian Army, after the Russians have hammered the electrical grid (and Elon Musk spoke out about the too-high cost of providing internet through low-flying satellites).

I’ll share just a bit from the story (US sending satellite antennas to Ukraine after Musk’s Starlink U-turn):

“These SATCOMs are not intended to serve as a substitute for a service like Starlink,” she said during a Pentagon briefing. “They help increase communication efforts on the battlefield.”

“We’re seeing Ukrainian infrastructure and electrical grids being targeted by the Russians,” Singh said, “and these antennas provide an additional capability on the ground at a critical time when Ukraine’s infrastructure is being hit.”

So, I’m really glad we’ve helped strengthen Ukraine’s communication equipment, because communication is absolutely crucial in the middle of a war obviously.

Speaking of the war and the approaching winter, you really should check out this thread if you have a moment.

General Hertling explains in his thread that NCOs will absolutely make the difference. And that Ukrainian troops will continue to advance throughout the winter.

I want to share two quick political thoughts.

First, there’s this reminder that China is watching how all this goes down and looking to see if Russia succeeds or fails.

Secondly, for those who want the U.S. to seek peace, this is a nice reminder that it’s not that simple.

(Also, if you listen to the podcast, you’ll hear a pretty epic rant and a pretty bold prediction.)

And yes, I’m trying to tease the podcast and get you to listen to it, thanks for asking! lol

Finally, before we get to the motivation and wisdom portion, check out this crazy story as part of our tech news for this week.

An armed, walking dog, delivered by drones.

That’s pretty scarry, right?

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

And if you haven’t already, 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. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. It’s recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do. Of course, you can also tell people about this newsletter, my podcast, and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend. )

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture to go to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider.

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about China, and there’s two big pieces of news from there. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

  • Russia is now (falsely) claiming that Ukraine might use a dirty bomb on its own territory. This, of course, makes no sense. So why are they saying this? We’ll dig into that a bit.

  • The Progressive House Caucus issued a letter calling for a negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, but they then withdrew it. I’ll explain why they did, and what I think is the bright spot from this action.

  • Russian drones are increasingly raising concerns in Norway. There have been seven arrests already and we’ll explore what’s going on.

  • A deadly raid by Israeli troops against a new organization of Palestinian fighters, who also happen to use TikTok, and who are rallying the Palestinian people in a way that hasn’t been seen in years.

  • Things are getting pretty ugly in Haiti. If you haven’t heard what’s happening in that island country only a short distance from America, you might want to keep that on your radar. I’ll talk about that for just a bit.

  • I’ll also cover a short story to remind us all that the cost of freedom isn’t cheap, even in peace time.

  • And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

We start with China…

The biggest news of late is two big announcements regarding China. The first is U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying China is speeding up its potential invasion of Taiwan, and that China has decided it will use force to “reunify” with Taiwan (something it’s never stated in the past). Backing up this news is the appointment of President Xi Jinping to a third term, while also pushing out a couple of rivals.

Let’s begin with the increased threat of an invasion or use of force.

Secretary Blinken made pretty big news when he said China has rejected the status quo in regards to the situation with Taiwan.

From the story:

Blinken said, "What's changed is this: the decision by the government in Beijing that that status quo was no longer acceptable, that they wanted to speed up the process by which they would pursue reunification.”

He added that China has also made decisions on exerting more pressure on Taiwan and holding out the possibility of "using force to achieve their goals" if pressure tactics do not work.

"That is what has fundamentally changed."

Also, making news at a different forum, Blinken stated that "Beijing was determined to pursue reunification (with Taiwan) on a much faster timeline," though he did not specify a date.

Clearly, all of this made quite a bit of news.

But so far at least, this appears to be a bit of an overreach by Blinken. The Pentagon did not seem to be on the same page.

As proof, I’ll share this part from a recent Pentagon briefing.

Question: Thank you, (inaudible). Two questions on China. Secretary Blinken said yesterday Beijing was determined to pursue (inaudible) unification with Taiwan on a much faster timeline. Does Secretary Austin agree with Secretary Blinken's assessment? And secondly, the U.S. military has assessed that China might have the capability to invade Taiwan by 2027. Is there any change in that assessment?

GEN. RYDER: So we continue to see China as the pacing threat. I don't have any specifics to -- you know, any comment on Secretary Blinken's comments, specific comments on those other than to say I think within the United States government, we all agree that we need to continue to work closely with our allies and our partners in the region and throughout the world, really, to highlight the fact that China continues to pose a challenge. And so we'll continue to do our part to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific, again, working closely with allies and partners. But beyond that, I don't have anything new to provide. Thank you.

But I don’t want to reduce the tense and quite real possibilities of China using force.

Without question, the leader of China strengthened his hand this weekend to prepare such a possibility.

Xi Jinping begins third 5-year term, elevates several allies along with him

The news coming out of the country is that President Xi pushed out two very-experienced rivals, one of whom was trying to reform the country. The other one could have become the next president.

They’re now both gone.

And John Ruwitch, a NPR correspondant out of Beijing who has covered China for 20-plus years described Xi’s re-appointment and power moves as thus:

John Ruwitch:

“The big headline, as you say, is Xi Jinping getting another term. He's consolidated power in the party and in the military. He's eliminated rivals. The way it all went down this week just bolstered his power. And it surprised a lot of observers, frankly.

“The country faces huge challenges, though, particularly in economics and on the global stage. And it's really hard at this point to see who's left in the inner circle to stand up and offer criticism or even just an alternative viewpoint to the way Xi Jinping wants to run things. And that's worrying.”

Let’s move to Russia/Ukraine news now…

As you’ve probably heard, Russia is now (falsely) claiming that Ukraine might use a dirty bomb on its own territory. (Russia's defense chief warns of 'dirty bomb' provocation.) This, of course, makes no sense. So why are they saying this? We’ll dig into that a bit.

Tom Nichols, a retired professor with a deep history involving Russia and nuclear weapons, was all over the story.

Russia’s ‘Dirty Bomb’ Ploy

From the story:

Let’s hope that this is just the Kremlin trying to engage in scare tactics. If, however, Putin and his circle are really considering a dirty-bomb provocation, it is likely because they would see such a plot as solving multiple problems at once. Russia would probably try to flip the script, and go from an aggressor likely guilty of multiple war crimes to the victim of a nuclear “event.” It might then issue an ultimatum to the Ukrainians that elevates the war to a nuclear crisis (which is probably the only way Moscow thinks it can win, now that the Russian army lies in pieces on the battlefield).

The Russians, in such a gambit, would likely be betting that a faked dirty bomb would alleviate the “first use” stain from any Russian decision to attack — or as they would almost certainly say in this scenario, “retaliate” — with a nuclear weapon. With nuclear weapons now in play, the West would have to decide just how much to commit to nuclear deterrence on behalf of Ukraine.

I wanted to share one other bit of news about the war in Ukraine, which I think has a bright spot.

Members of the Progressive House Caucus issued a letter calling for a negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

From the letter:

As the risk of nuclear war increases, fighting in Ukraine escalates, and global economic insecurity deepens, 30 members of Congress urged President Biden to pursue direct diplomacy for a negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In a new letter the lawmakers, while recognizing the “difficulties involved in engaging Russia given its outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine,” urge the President to pair the U.S. military and economic support provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire, consistent with the President’s own recognition that “there’s going to have to be a negotiated settlement here.”

The lawmakers propose an approach that could include “incentives to end hostilities, including some form of sanctions relief,” and an international arrangement to “establish security guarantees for a free and independent Ukraine that are acceptable for all parties, including Ukrainians.”

Thank goodness the progressive Democrats withdrew their foolish, misguided letter. (Liberal U.S. lawmakers withdraw Ukraine letter after blowback.) Now let's see the House Republicans who've opposed helping Ukraine step up their support, as well. How anyone could NOT support Ukraine's fight for freedom is a bit beyond me.

That concludes our deep dives for this week, but here are a few stories you should have on your radar.

First, this news out of Norway.

Story link: Fears over Russian threat to Norway's energy infrastructure.

And in the Middle East, I wanted to share this news:

Story link: A new group of TikTok-savvy Palestinianfighters tests Israeli forces in the West Bank

Finally, if you haven’t heard what’s happening in Haiti, you might want to keep that on your radar.

Story link: Nations consider sending troops to Haiti,despite troubled past foreign intervention.

Before we get to the motivation and wisdom portion, let’s remember this: The cost of freedom isn’t cheap, even in peacetime.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

There’s a lot to cover, but if you haven’t already, 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. Here’s what I’m trying to do.)

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture to go to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider.

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about the Russian drones striking Ukraine’s power stations, and what effect they’ve had to date. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

  • What the drones look like, what their range and characteristics are.

  • Also, do the drones have a hidden purpose that’s only just now being realized?

  • One possible additional effect that the Russians are going for.

  • What Russian media are saying back home. True, the drones are knocking out Ukrainian power stations, but this isn’t affecting the frontlines. And things are as bad or worse than they were even a month ago. Wait until you hear what a Russian correspondent on the front line said this week.

  • We’ll also cover the latest news on the front in the south, in the region of Kherson.

  • We’ll also follow up on the bridge strike that Ukraine pulled off. What consequences are happening because of that.

  • Stepping back from the war some, could the Russian drone attacks using drones made by Iran affect how much Israel supports Ukraine?

  • Moving away from the war in Ukraine, we’ll touch on the protests happening in Iran.

  • We’ll also do an update on the U.S.-Saudi spat.

  • And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

The biggest news of late are the new drone attacks happening against Ukraine. (See story below.)

Ukraine’s power, water supplies under Russian attack again

From the story:

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Airstrikes cut power and water supplies to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians on Tuesday, part of what the country’s president called an expanding Russian campaign to drive the nation into the cold and dark and make peace talks impossible.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said nearly one-third of Ukraine’s power stations have been destroyed in the past week, “causing massive blackouts across the country.”

“No space left for negotiations with Putin’s regime,” he tweeted.

The new drones Russia is using are from Iran. You can learn more about them here: HESA Shahed 136.

They’re what I’d call mid-sized, 11 ft long with a wingspan of 8.2 ft. They fly pretty slow at 115 mph, and weigh about 400 pounds. Their range has been estimated as up to 1,100 miles.

They’re launched at a slight upward angle with the help of a jet rocket that gets dropped shortly after take off.

Here’s how they’re stacked before they fire, using their rocket engine.

One interesting thing about these drones is how inexpensive they are. Most analysts peg their value at $20,000 to $50,000 each. Unfortunately, many of the weapons systems that shoot them down cost dramatically more.

Just check out his thread if you’re curious. (A hint: the prices start at more than $100,000 for Stinger systems and go up to $500,000 to more than a million dollars a piece for some of the missiles we’re sending over there.)

A quick reminder of just how many kamikaze drones Russia is firing will make you do some pretty startling math in your head.

But it’s not all bad news for Ukraine. The drone attacks against civilian targets might be changing some minds in Israel’s government.

Russia’s Iranian drones complicate Israel’s balancing act

From the story:

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Iranian-made drones that Russia sent slamming into central Kyiv this week have complicated Israel’s balancing act between Russia and the West.

Israel has stayed largely on the sidelines since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February so as not to damage its strategic relationship with the Kremlin. Although Israel has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, it has refused Kyiv’s frequent requests to send air defense systems and other military equipment and refrained from enforcing strict economic sanctions on Russia and the many Russian-Jewish oligarchs who have second homes in Israel.

But with news of Moscow’s deepening ties with Tehran, Israel’s sworn foe, pressure is growing on Israel to back Ukraine in the grinding war. Israel has long fought a shadowy war with Iran across the Middle East by land, sea and air.

Things are also going badly almost everywhere else for Russia on the frontlines.

Take a listen to this correspondent, if you have a moment.

He bemoans the situation, saying Russian forces near Kherson can only be resupplied by pontoon bridges and ferry crossings.

He says in some frontline areas, Russian troops are outnumbered 4 to 1, and they’re outclassed, too, by units trained abroad to NATO standards with modern, high-precision weapons.

His bottom line assessment:

“There won’t be any good news in Nov or Dec, and Russia will suffer severe territorial losses in the next two months.”

It seems to me the Russian people are being prepared for another big breakout by Ukrainian forces in the south, much as the Ukrainians broke through in the east in the Donbas region last month.

One other bit of great news for Ukraine is the result of the bridge attack.

Look at the delays currently happening.

These kinds of delays would seem to have real strategic impacts as they continue.

Let’s move from Ukraine to the Middle East; to the spat between Saudia Arabia and the U.S.

Things haven’t improved, and now concrete consequences are being put on the table, such as these below by Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat and serious foreign policy guru for the left.

Full image from above:

Moving north, the uprising in Iran continues, but for now, it remains contained.

One important thing to consider is that while many want to see Iran’s government toppled or weakened, not many Muslim countries want to see women fully empowered. (See below.)

All right, we’ve covered a decent amount of news, so let’s end with the motivation and wisdom portion now.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hey guys!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Just wanted to put up a brief announcement today. I’m going to be changing things up a tad on here.

We’re going to be going to one day a week, publishing on Thursdays.

There are a number of reasons for the change.

For starters, I’ve been researching the most successful publications, and almost every one of them is once a week. (Same thing for podcasts. The most successful ones that you find on Apple, Spotify, etc, are once a week — with the great exception being re-broadcasts of television cable shows, or in news situations where it’s a full-time enterprise).

Also, I know that once a week would be of better quality, allowing for higher-quality writing and recording.

Finally, I have reached out to many of my paid subscribers and even some of them have admitted that they get behind or skip/miss editions with it being twice a week. I know people are super busy, and I get that. But if even my paying folks aren’t reading/listening to every edition, then twice a week is too much.

So, for all of these reasons, I’m going to move to a once-a-week publication on Thursdays.

I also wanted to say that I’ve become convinced based on my research of talking with other creators and my own paid subscribers that people convert to paying subscribers based on a patronage/support reason; not for some benefit such as unlocking a day early, commenting as a paid subscriber, or receiving exclusive paid-post-only editions.

So the posts will be free to everyone on Thursdays.

This once-a-week schedule will have one added advantage, besides simply quality. That advantage is that by moving to once a week, I’ll be able to put out occasional breaking news editions, instead of just waiting a day or two for the Tuesday or Friday edition, when the news by that point was already stale.

The bottom line is I think that once-a-week releases will allow for higher-quality writing and podcasting, as well as occasional breaking news alerts that are timely.

As always, I am super appreciative of everyone’s support!

If you have any questions, please free to reach out to me. And if I don’t hear from you, you’ll see the next episode in two days! I’m already hard at work on it!

Thanks!

Stan R. Mitchell

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

There’s a lot to cover, but if you haven’t already, 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. Here are three reasons why you should.)

We’ll start this episode with President Biden naming the country’s two biggest national security threats, then, we’ll move on to the following:

  • Besides discussing the two national security threats that Biden named, I’ll also talk about a big one I think he missed.

  • Ukraine’s advances in the south near Kherson are causing Russia to urge residents to evacuate.

  • NATO is talking about delivering increased numbers (and quality) of anti-air weapons to Ukraine.

  • SpaceX, which has been providing critical internet for Ukraine, announced it can no longer pay for those services, and is asking the United States to cover those costs.

  • And, as always, end with our motivation and wisdom section.

The biggest news of late was President Biden laying out the country’s two largest security threats.

Biden’s National Security Strategy Focuses on China, Russia and Democracy at Home

From the story:

President Biden declared on Wednesday that the overwhelming challenge for the United States in the coming years would be “outcompeting China and restraining Russia” while focusing on restoring a damaged democracy at home.

In his 48-page national security strategy, which every new administration is required to issue, Mr. Biden made clear that over the long term he was more worried about China’s moves to “layer authoritarian governance with a revisionist foreign policy” than he was about a declining, battered Russia. More than six months after the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military appears less fearsome than it did when the first drafts of the document circulated in the White House in December.

Honestly, it’s kind of hard to disagree with these two threats. Though I’m certain if things heat up with Iran (or some kind of terrorist threat happens), then conservatives will pounce on those things not being named. (I am on vacation, as I had said, and couldn’t fully scrutinize the document, but I didn’t see Iran mentioned in a quick scan.)

You can scan the open-source document yourself here: full national strategy.

One of the items that I’m surprised wasn’t discussed more was our wide-spread division and the surprisingly-high reality of internal strife/conflict.

I found only a single sentence, unless I’m missing something:

And at the same time, we are standing up to threats to our democracy such as domestic terrorism by implementing our nation’s first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism.

Not to state the overly-obvious, but…

We’ve had protestors fighting in the streets during the BLM protests, we’ve had plans to abduct a governor (in Michigan), and we’ve had a mob storm the capital (with an uglier back-up plan that included weapons from some groups).

Commentators and political figures from the right routinely talk about increasingly aggressive actions to take back the country, and it’s not even rare to hear discussions of a looming civil war.

This is one of the main reasons I’ve been doing this newsletter; this division is real, it’s nasty, and it’s dangerous. It’s arguably lethal to our country, if you study the history of other countries.

But I also know President Biden likely hesitated highlighting these threats further because such a thing would be taken by the right as proof that the federal government would use its powers to attack its opposition.

Always a balancing act for sure, and often, the art of politics is discretion and biting your tongue.

Moving along…

Ukraine continues to advance in the south, gaining new ground near Kherson. It’s gotten so bad that Russia has said it will help civilians evacuate from the area to Russian territory, though I have no idea why anyone in their right minds would want to do that.

At the same time, the Russian missile attacks against civilian structures in Ukraine are galvanizing support for better anti-air weapons.

Somewhat worrying, this news broke as well:

I’m going to wrap things up there for today on the news portion. It’s vacation and I probably SHOULD be relaxing more (always a struggle for me). Lol

Having said that, let’s end with Motivation and wisdom portion now.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

There’s a lot to cover, but if you haven’t already, 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. Here are three reasons why you should.)

We’ll start this episode with Ukraine’s attack on the only bridge that connects Crimea to Russia, then, we’ll move on to the following:

  • Russia’s large-scale retaliation for the bridge strike.

  • Ukraine’s reaction to the ramped-up Russian terror.

  • The latest way Ukraine is helping Russian soldiers to surrender.

  • Some news about arctic operations for America.

  • News about what a Republican win in November during midterm congressional elections would mean for the military.

  • And end with our motivation and wisdom, as always.

The biggest news of late is the following:

Blast on sole bridge linking Crimea with Russia deals blow to Moscow’s war effort.

From the story:

A fireball consumed two sections of the only bridge linking the occupied Crimean Peninsula to Russia on Saturday, disrupting the most important supply line for Russian troops fighting in southern Ukraine and dealing an embarrassing blow to the Kremlin, which is facing continued losses on the battlefield and mounting criticism at home.

The blast and fire sent part of the 12-mile Kerch Strait bridge tumbling into the sea and killed at least three people, according to Russian authorities, who said a Ukrainian truck bomb had caused the blast.

Here’s an older map that shows how the bridge connects Russia to Crimea, but remember it’s not showing the

Most analysts believe the attack was from a truck bomb, and Ukraine is saying Ukrainian intelligence services were behind the attack.

In the video below you can actually see the explosion, which was just massive.

If you remember, the Ukrainians had taunted the Russians with destroying the bridge previously. In the 8-23-22 edition, I shared the below tweet from Ukraine’s armed forces.

As a reminder, this bridge is a new construction, built to connect Crimea with Russia. It’s the longest bridge in Europe, and it’s also the longest bridge ever constructed by Russia. The importance of the bridge is hard to overstate, as it includes a four-lane road and a double-track railway.

Of course, it didn’t take long for Putin to avenge the act.

Putin claimed the massive missile strike was revenge for the strike on the bridge. Russia only targeted civilian targets, including electrical stations, according to Ukraine.

But the large missile strike was blunted by the success of Ukraine’s improving anti-air defense. Ukraine knocked 43 of the 83 missiles out of the sky, Reuters reported.

Ukraine remained defiant despite the attack, which knocked the power out in many places. They quickly posted the following reactions:

While Russia may be able to still hit civilian targets, its strength on the war front continues to deteroiotate. And visiting reporter described how much better things are now compared to when he visited months ago.

Moving along, I shared a video in the last episode of Russian soldiers surrendering their tank.

I wanted to share the video below, as well, which shows a hotline Ukraine set up for soldiers to call into and surrender to. (Hat tip to Aida.)

As stated, more than two thousand Russians have called to discuss surrender. And they are promised safety under the Geneva Conventions, the meals a day, and even phone calls home to their families.

Let’s move now to something happening in our side of the hemisphere.

DOD Establishes Arctic Strategy and Global Resilience Office

From the story:

The United States is an Arctic power, and the Defense Department has established an office to ensure U.S. strategy and policy protects U.S. interests in that crucial region. 

Iris A. Ferguson is the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Arctic and global resilience, a new position that signifies the importance U.S. leaders place on the region. 

Russia is only 55 miles away from the United States at the Bering Strait. Russian officials maintain their bases and assets in the Arctic are defensive, yet they arm their icebreakers with Kalibr-K missiles, defense officials have said. "We're increasingly watching the amount of activity that's happening in the Arctic region from them," she said.  

China, the United States' other strategic competitor, is thousands of miles from the Arctic. Yet, Chinese leaders have "been trying to insert themselves into the Arctic," she said. "They have called themselves a near-Arctic nation, even though they aren’t even remotely near the Arctic." 

….

The Arctic is often overlooked, "but it's a place where we have immense territorial equity, actually, for our homeland defense needs, our ability to monitor and respond to threats, and our capacity to project power," Ferguson said.  

The Air Force has based its top-of-the-line aircraft in Alaska because they can be easily deployed to respond to crises throughout the Indo-Pacific. It's also a key refueling stop for aircraft. The Army has established the 11th Airborne Division in the region to develop expertise in Arctic mobility and extreme cold weather operations.

Let’s move to our own matters for a moment. I try not to cover too much as far as politics, but since this affects our military, I wanted to share this for sure.

Republicans Vow to Put 'Woke' Military in Crosshairs if They Win November

Republicans will have more opportunities to take aim at Biden administration defense policies they've decried as "woke," including the military's COVID-19 vaccine mandate, if they take control of Cess in November's midterm elections.

"I think it's one of our very top priorities to clean up the mess the administration has made with the excessive and dangerous COVID mandates on our troops at a time where we have historically low recruitment," said Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in the House.

Any legislation would have to be signed by President Joe Biden. Additionally, Democrats “are favored to maintain control of the Senate, according to election prediction models,” The story said, “which would likely block such bills from making it to Biden's desk in the first place.”

Moving on to some tech news, I thought this seemed cool and worth sharing.

So, with that, let’s move to the motivation and wisdom portion now.

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

There’s a lot to cover, but if you haven’t already, 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, and you can cancel at any time. Here are three reasons why you should.)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber

We’ll start this episode with the decision by OPEC to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day, then, we’ll move on to the following:

  • Ukraine.

  • A little bit about the leadership situation in Russia, and what might happen there.

  • A little bit about what elections in November might mean for the military.

  • The latest on the reaction to North Korea firing a ballistic missile over Japan.

  • A raid the U.S. conducted in Syria.

  • The latest news about the tensions in China and Taiwan.

  • Some news about arctic operations for America.

  • And end with our motivation and wisdom.

The biggest news of late is the following:

OPEC, allies move to slash oil production, eliciting blistering White House response

A coalition of oil-producing nations led by Russia and Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday it will slash oil production by 2 million barrels per day, in a rebuke to President Biden that could push up gas prices worldwide, worsen the risk of a global recession and bolster Russia in its war in Ukraine.

The move by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners prompted a blistering reaction from White House officials and reverberated almost immediately through domestic and global financial markets, threatening higher energy costs for the United States and European countries already grappling with inflation and economic instability.

In another article, Biden said the move was “a disappointment, and it says that there are problems” in the U.S.-Saudi relationship.

Possible countermoves by the U.S. include:

  • A move by Congress to repeal a long-standing exemption to federal antitrust law that allows OPEC to align prices.

  • Removal of American forces from Saudia Arabia. (Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) has already said he’d introduce a bill to do so.)

President Biden is taking serious heat for the situation.

Here are just a few examples:

Also, this, from Senator Chris Murphy, who’s a Democrat and member of the Foreign Relations Committee.

Finally, there’s this from retired CIA member and author, Marc Polymeropoulos, who appears on news segments and is on the @AtlanticCouncil.

We’ll see where this goes from here, but clearly Saudi relations are on shaky ground.

Moving along, I wanted to share this article from Defense One.

The article, Just How Long Should the US Send Aid to Ukraine?, was written by Erik Swabb, who served as a U.S. Marine infantry officer in Iraq and in the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia. He also served as General Counsel of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

He wrote the following:

Should future U.S. assistance be measured in months, or at most a few years, especially if Ukraine is no longer in danger of being overrun by Russia?

The short answer is no. If the United States provides long-term assistance—likely for more than 10 years, not only could Ukraine secure its future against a revanchist Russia, Washington could gain a first-rate military partner. Because of its legitimate government, capable leaders, level of socio-economic development, highly motivated public, and combat experience, among other factors, Ukraine has a strong foundation on which to build. As a result, U.S. support could have an exponential impact on Ukrainian military capabilities. The United States would be a major beneficiary, allowing U.S. forces to focus on potential conflicts outside of Europe over the coming years.

Initially, my thoughts on helping Ukraine were about stopping a bully. About wrong and right, and which side we come down on.

But as Swabb explains, there’s a lot more benefit that we’re getting than we’re even thinking about.

Moving along, here are some questions for Putin to consider…

But Putin’s message isn’t completely being bought by the soldiers he’s sent. See this surrender video below.

As the losses mount, so does the pushback against Moscow. Such as this:

Blunt Criticism of Russian Army Signals New Challenge for Putin

An official in a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine suggested Russia’s defense minister should shoot himself because of his army’s failings, an unusually blunt and public rebuke of Kremlin leadership.

And also this:

As his troops retreat, Russian defense chief comes under pressure at home

The growing, strident criticism of the Russian military command is drive hard-line nationalists

Shoigu, 67, has no military background but has served as defense minister for nearly a decade, and has been part of Putin’s leadership team since he was elevated to the presidency on Dec. 31, 1999. Until the war, Shoigu was among the country’s most popular politicians, and was often tipped as a potential successor to Putin.

He is one of Russia’s longest-serving ministers, going back to 1991, when President Boris Yeltsin named him minister for emergency situations. Over the years, Shoigu has remained close to Putin, sometimes accompanying the president on trips to the Siberian taiga.

And the pressure on Putin is continuing to grow, as well. See this:

As Ukraine war falters, Russians ask a risky question: Could Putin fall?

Putin, who turns 70 on Friday, came to power himself through a quasi-legal succession process — appointed as deputy prime minister and then acting prime minister by President Boris Yeltsin, who resigned within five months, catapulting his handpicked successor into the presidency.

Names mentioned as potential successors include the Security Council secretary, Nikolai Patrushev; former president Dmitry Medvedev; longtime Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin; and Patrushev’s son, Dmitry, now agriculture minister.

I told you I’d keep up with any news about the aftereffects of North Korea launching a ballistic missile over Japan.

Well, here’s the latest on that.

Allies Conduct Naval Defense Exercises Following North Korea Missile Launches

In response to this provocation, the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group, joined by two Japanese navy destroyers and one South Korean destroyer, arrived yesterday in the Sea of Japan to conduct trilateral ballistic missile defense exercises, Ryder said.

"These exercises send a clear message of allied unity between our nations and enhance the interoperability of our collective forces," he said.

"The exercises also demonstrate the deep strength of our trilateral relationship with Japan and the Republic of Korea, which is resolute against those who challenge regional stability," he said.

And moving to the Middle East, the United States conducted a risky in-person raid in Syria two days ago.

Let’s now move to China and Taiwan.

Hat tip to Joshua Hughes for sharing the next story.

From the story (U.S. Aims to Turn Taiwan Into Giant Weapons Depot):

American officials are intensifying efforts to build a giant stockpile of weapons in Taiwan after studying recent naval and air force exercises by the Chinese military around the island, according to current and former officials.

The exercises showed that China would probably blockade the island as a prelude to any attempted invasion, and Taiwan would have to hold out on its own until the United States or other nations intervened, if they decided to do that, the current and former officials say.

But the effort to transform Taiwan into a weapons depot faces challenges. The United States and its allies have prioritized sending weapons to Ukraine, which is reducing those countries’ stockpiles, and arms makers are reluctant to open new production lines without a steady stream of long-term orders.

Along those same lines, I wanted to share a couple of stories below, just because they show the increasingly aggressive words of American leaders toward China.

U.S., Australian Defense Leaders Stress Importance of Alliance System

The two discussed their unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the challenges to that ideal.Both Australia and the United States are dedicated to the premise that all countries should be free to choose their own destinies. Further, the international, rules-based order is based on the idea that nations should respect international laws and resolve disputes peacefully, Austin said.

"These shared convictions run deep, and they are the foundation of our unbreakable alliance," the secretary said. "The region and the world face a growing challenge from autocratic countries attempting to change the status quo through threats, coercion and provocative military activities and even naked aggression," Austin said. "We're deeply concerned by China's aggressive, escalatory and destabilizing military activities in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere in the region."

Nations around the world are uniting to oppose Russia's unprovoked and cruel invasion of Ukraine. "The United States and Australia are united in opposing actions that threaten peace, stability and the rules-based international order," he said.

Indo-Pacific Component Commanders Stress Importance of Partners

"Clearly, China wants to be the world's only superpower, and they actually believe that everybody else has to be a loser, and they can be the only winner," Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said. (He’s the commander of Pacific Air Forces.) "It's clear that they want to impose their will on the world, especially their close neighbors. And that's, that's counter to our objective of [being] free and open."

Pitch Black exercise hosted by Australia. As the name implies, it is an exercise that emphasizes operating in low light. "There were 17 countries flying," he said. "And often when you have that many countries flying in one exercise, you actually have to reduce the complexity of the exercise so that everybody can participate."

I know I had said earlier I’d cover the artic command and Republican plans for Congress regarding the military, but this newsletter has gotten too long, so I’ll do my best to do that in the next edition.

So, with that, let’s move to the motivation and wisdom portion now.

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

There’s a lot to cover, but if you haven’t already, 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, and you can cancel at any time. Here are three reasons why you should.)

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We’ll start this edition with the war in Ukraine. We discussed in the last edition that Ukrainian forces were surrounding the city of Lyman, and that Putin had told Russian forces to hold at all costs. I shared the image below in the previous episode:

Shortly after publishing that episode, Putin ordered the retreat of Russian forces to prevent them from being captured. And since that announced retreat, you can see from the link below just how much progress Ukraine has made since Friday.

The Washington Post described the news in an article as follows:

Zelensky said the town of Lyman, which Russian troops used as a key logistics hub in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region since their arrival this spring, was completely “cleared of the Russian occupiers” as of midday local time, the Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

The president’s statement came a day after the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged it had been forced to withdraw troops from Lyman “to more advantageous lines.”

Ukraine not only shocked analysts in the eastern part of the country in the Donbas region, with its seizure and breakthrough of Lyman, it also caused ripples of excitement when news broke that a breakthrough had occurred in the south; in the region of Kherson.

Here’s a look at what the breakthrough looked like, according to quite a few pro-Ukrainian analysts on social media. (Please note: these are from sources who are not unbiased, but the information aligns with numerous sources that I trust. And I trust this information enough to share it here.)

The goal is to achieve an encirclement, as was done last week at Lyman. (See below.)

So far, the Institute for the Study of War hasn’t updated its maps to reflect the latest advances. Their maps are currently reflecting shorter thrusts by Ukraine.

But mainstream media such as The New York Times are now reporting the breakthroughs.

In Retreat on Ukrainian Fronts, Russia Shows Signs of Disarray

Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged on Monday that Ukrainian tank units had penetrated its line of defense in part of the region (of Kherson), a fertile part of southern Ukraine that Russian forces seized in the first weeks of the war.

Russia’s troops are in a precarious position in the Kherson Region. The bulk of the Kremlin’s forces are deployed west of the broad Dnipro River, in and around the city of Kherson, while their supplies and logistical support are mostly on the river’s east bank.

Ukrainian forces have largely destroyed the crucial bridges needed to continue to supply troops with ammunition and equipment. Though the Russians are well dug in after many months in control of the territory, a concerted attack could tax their limited supply lines and possibly force — and complicate — a retreat across the river.

At this point, very little — if anything — is going Russia’s way. So, Putin has again worked hard to scream about the threat of using a nuclear weapon, in the hopes of backing down the West.

And while I really wanted to not discuss this over-the-top ultimatum, events have simply given me no choice.

So we begin with this article from The New York Times, which sums up the situation nicely.

Russia’s Small Nuclear Arms: A Risky Option for Putin and Ukraine Alike

For all his threats to fire tactical nuclear arms at Ukrainian targets, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is now discovering what the United States itself concluded years ago, American officials suspect: Small nuclear weapons are hard to use, harder to control and a far better weapon of terror and intimidation than a weapon of war.

The primary utility, many U.S. officials say, would be as part of a last-ditch effort by Mr. Putin to halt the Ukrainian counteroffensive, by threatening to make parts of Ukraine uninhabitable. … The targets could be a Ukrainian military base or a small city.

Still, the risks for Mr. Putin could easily outweigh any gains. His country could become an international pariah, and the West would try to capitalize on the detonation to try to bring China and India, and others who are still buying Russian oil and gas, into sanctions they have resisted.

Attempting to flesh out some of the same lines of thinking, Axios discussed some of the options Putin might take, as well as their consequences.

U.S. grapples with risk of nuclear war over Ukraine

If Putin does use nuclear weapons, he could seek a "demonstration effect" — perhaps by detonating a nuclear weapon over the Black Sea or in the Arctic — or deploy a smaller-yield "tactical" nuclear weapon on the battlefield, says Andrea Kendall-Taylor of the Center for a New American Security.

The U.S. would not likely go nuclear in response, but it could conduct a conventional military strike on Russian soil — perhaps targeting the site or unit behind the Russian launch — and pursue non-military steps like permanently seizing Russian central bank reserves, Kendall-Taylor says.

Retired general Ben Hodges, who commanded U.S. forces in Europe, has said if Russia conducts a nuclear attack in Ukraine, the U.S. could destroy Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Stating the obvious here perhaps, but both of these would be horrendous consequences for Russia.

And then I wanted to share one third and final thing regarding Putin possibly using nuclear weapons, because this is just so informative.

The Atlantic published a long, in-depth piece on the threat of Russia using nuclear weapons.

WHAT IF RUSSIA USES NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN UKRAINE?

First, the article explains there will be a lot of warning time.

According to Pavel Podvig, the director of the Russian Nuclear Forces Project and a former research fellow at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, now based in Geneva, the long-range ballistic missiles deployed on land and on submarines are Russia’s only nuclear weapons available for immediate use. If Putin decides to attack Ukraine with shorter-range, “tactical” nuclear weapons, they will have to be removed from an Object S site—such as Belgorod-22, just 25 miles from the Ukrainian border—and transported to military bases. It will take hours for the weapons to be made combat-ready, for warheads to be mated with cruise missiles or ballistic missiles, for hydrogen bombs to be loaded on planes. The United States will most likely observe the movement of these weapons in real time: by means of satellite surveillance, cameras hidden beside the road, local agents with binoculars.

Presumably, at a minimum, once these actions are seen, some phone calls will be made to government officials. Possibly even military commanders. But if the U.S. can’t stop them from being used, the U.S. will humiliate Russia almost immediately. Such responses include, according to the article:

The number of Ukrainian casualties should determine the severity of the American response—and any escalation should be conducted solely with conventional weapons. Russia’s Black Sea fleet might be sunk in retaliation, and a no-fly zone could be imposed over Ukraine, even if it meant destroying anti-aircraft units on Russian soil.

And that is the response based solely on the weaker/softer side. All of this leads me to continue to believe that Putin is bluffing.

He’s the loudmouth bully on the playground, who’s finally been beaten up after running his mouth the entire school year, and while his classmates laugh and point, he’s now threatening to run home and get a knife to use. But it’s all a lie because the bully knows if he pulls a knife — or even brings it to school — he’ll end up in juvenile or jail; and that’s best case scenario.

So, while I might be wrong, I continue to believe that Putin is bluffing. And I continue to believe that the West should not appease him by backing down.

If we back down now, he will just threaten to use nuclear weapons again further down the road, but maybe next time it’s the demand that Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, surrender or else. Or maybe Putin threatens an invasion of some other country?

Appeasement has been shown throughout history that it never works. And at some point, you have to stand up to bullies. The West needs to remain defiant and steadfast in its convictions.

I do not believe Putin will risk the military humiliation that will occur if he uses nuclear weapons. Nor do I believe he can surrender the oil and gas deals he currently has with China, India, and what few remaining trading partners he still has.

The West must hold firm and not blink.

Let’s move briefly away from nuclear threats back to regular fighting on the ground.

I’m going to share one final thing that I’m dying to share, but that also might be too hopeful and too much conjecture.

And yet.

And yet this guy has been right about so much regarding the war. And what he is predicting he is claiming would happen this week. So, if I’m going to share it, it has to be now.

So, I’m going to share it because it’s the most mind-blowing, earth-shattering thing I’ve seen since probably the beginning of the war. And it’s the ONLY thing I’ve seen that could end the war in weeks and months; instead of years and years.

With all of that out of the way, I present to you what could be the death blow to Russia’s third invasion of Ukraine.

It’s the final thrust labeled as number three in the image above. First, there was number 1, up in the east, in the Donbas region.

Then there was number 2, in the south, in the Kherson/Crimea region, which we discussed earlier in this edition.

And Dr. Mike Martin is predicting a number 3 thrust. A strategic reserve that hits the middle and cuts the Russian forces into two pieces. It would sever the land bridge and remove any connection between Russian forces, destroying their ability to reinforce and move troops from flank to flank.

Now, I have no idea if Ukraine has a strategic reserve that could pull this off. But like I said, you can’t un-see this. It’s absolutely brilliant.

You pull the Russians to their right, trying to stop the advances near Lyman. You’ve already pulled them left, to defend Kherson, which was talked about for months and was perhaps the biggest threat up to that point.

And after the Russians put their best troops in the South around Kherson, you rip apart their flank in the Lyman area, you keep them pinned in Kherson, and then you drive right through the middle.

Dr. Martin predicts this will happen this week.

It’s a stunningly aggressive prediction, and I almost hesitate to share it. But I also don’t want to NOT share it in case it does happen.

(And at this point, there’s literally nothing the Russians could do if it’s going to happen this week. They’re pinned down, and lack the time or logistics to move forces to prevent it from happening.)

Using a football analogy, the ball has been hiked, the play is already started, and there’s not time to move your linemen around. There’s a giant gap that the Ukrainians could drive through, and let’s hope that they do.

Let’s move from Ukraine back to the subject of crazy escalations…

North Korea alarmed world leaders and made national news on Monday, when it sent a ballistic missile over Japan, forcing the American ally to sound sirens before the missile landed in waters beyond the 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

In a story published by The New York Times, Japan Warns Residents to Take Shelter as North Korea Launches Missile, the international incident was described like this:

North Korea on Tuesday fired a ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years, the South Korean military said, prompting a rare warning by the Japanese government for residents in two northern prefectures to seek shelter.

The launch represented a major escalation by North Korea, which has conducted a flurry of missile tests in recent days as the United States and its allies held military drills in the region.

The U.S. response from the White House was as follows:

The United States strongly condemns the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) dangerous and reckless decision to launch a long-range ballistic missile over Japan. This action is destabilizing and shows the DPRK’s blatant disregard for United Nations Security Council resolutions and international safety norms. Tonight, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke with his Japanese and Republic of Korea (ROK) counterparts, Secretary General Akiba Takeo of the National Security Secretariat of Japan and National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han of the ROK. In both calls, the National Security Advisors consulted on appropriate and robust joint and international responses and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reinforced the United States’ ironclad commitments to the defense of Japan and the ROK. The United States will continue its efforts to limit the DPRK’s ability to advance its prohibited ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs, including with allies and UN partners.

I’ll definitely keep an eye on this in the coming days and weeks.

Moving to Iran, we had discussed the protests that had broken out there last week. And so far, nothing much has changed. President Biden released a statement yesterday condemning the attempts by Iran to clamp down on the demonstrations.

To me, it seems the U.S. will likely be dropping additional sanctions on some Iranian officials and groups. I’ll keep an eye out on this and keep you apprised of any additional developments.

Moving from Iran to Africa, American forces bombed militants in Somalia on Monday. (Web link: https://bit.ly/3SvWDzP)

Back in December, we discussed that the U.S. Navy had charged a sailor in the case of the fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard.

It turns out that case wasn’t much of a case. Like, not a case at all.

Here are some of the ugly details from that case from NPR, which it sounds like the Navy should have never charged or tried.

A sailor has been acquitted of setting a fire that destroyed a massive ship

"I can say that the past two years have been the hardest two years of my entire life as a young man," he said. "I've lost time with friends. I've lost friends. I've lost time with family, and my entire Navy career was ruined. I am looking forward to starting over."

Prosecutors presented no physical evidence during the nine-day trial that the sailor set the ship on fire, while the defense chipped away at the credibility of a key witness, XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX, who changed his account over time.

Gary Barthel, a former Marine judge advocate who represented Mays at a preliminary hearing, said undercutting Velasco's credibility was key. Barthel has said the judge in the preliminary hearing recommended against a court martial, but Vice Adm. Steve Koehler, former commander of the San Diego-based U.S. 3rd Fleet, had the final say.

It upsets me the Navy proceeded with such a case, and I apologize to the sailor for even announcing the charges. Obviously, I definitely wanted to correct the record, as well.

Finally, I am quite embarrassed and horrified at the Navy’s actions in this case.

They have certainly wrecked one man’s life unnecessarily.

Okay, that was a dark topic.

Let’s move to something more positive.

Motivation and wisdom:

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hey guys, welcome to the View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist, who twice a week discusses military matters, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history. I do my best to cover our military: where’s it at, what they’re doing, where they might be going, and any conflicts and hotspots that could lead to military intervention.

Besides covering this news, I also try to share some motivation and wisdom with each episode, while also working as hard as I can to unite this country. Without question, I feel like our wide division and animosity toward those with whom we disagree is the greatest threat our country faces.

So, twice a week I do my best to bridge this great divide, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this great country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars.

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always.

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

And with that out of the way, let’s get started.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time. I hope you enjoy the podcast above.):

America’s throwaway spies; How the CIA failed Iranian informants in its secret war with Tehran

The Russian men fleeing mobilization, and leaving everything behind

summarize:

180,000 Russians have fled

To escape fighting in Ukraine, the 42-year-old Russian construction worker flew through two countries in four days, spending so much on tickets, so quickly, he lost track of it all. Finally, he ended up in Turkey, where it was safe. As he stopped to breathe Tuesday, on plastic seats in the airport arrival hall, he conceded he had no idea where to go next.

One person quoted, from the story above:

The government, he said, was enlisting men “en masse.” Neighbors and friends had been called up. “I had no choice. I can’t go to war and kill people in Ukraine. And if I stayed, there was no other option.” He and his wife decided he should leave on the day Putin announced the mobilization.

“In one day, I quit my job, took the money from the bank, took my wife and the baby to my parents. My entire life is breaking apart,” he said.

I don't think you can beat men like this, God bless them.

“A happy fighter is a dangerous fighter.” -- Mike Tyson.

What to know about Russia’s annexations

Russia is proposing to annex four provinces — Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — in the south and the east of Ukraine where intense fighting continues. Moscow hastily put the plan in motion after a humiliating battlefield defeat drove the Russian Army out of another province, Kharkiv, in early September and the Ukrainian advance appeared to be gathering force.

The Kremlin plans to declare the land where battles are raging in all four regions to be Russian territory and to assert that it is defending, not attacking, in the war in Ukraine.

Curtis Moore knows both worlds. He grew up in the small town of Bishop, Calif., and spent his summers packing mules in the Eastern Sierras. Later, he cowboyed at a nearby ranch before becoming a lawyer who deals with natural resource conflict resolution. He likes to cite Aldo Leopold, who wrote, “Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth?”

News about China and Taiwan:

Motivation and wisdom:

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

And 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hey guys, welcome to the View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist, who brings you the latest military and defense news twice a week, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history. I’m also a nice guy, who’s working as hard as I can to unite this country. I feel like our division and animosity toward the other side, so to speak, is the greatest threat our country faces.

Every week I do my best to bridge this great divide that separates our incredible country, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars.

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always.

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

And with that out of the way, let’s get started.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time. I hope you enjoy the podcast above.):

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

News about U.S. national strategy

Iran news:

Iran protests: Death toll rises to 76 as crackdown intensifies - rights group

The 22-year-old Kurdish woman from the north-western city of Saqez had been visiting the capital, Tehran, on 13 September when she was arrested by morality police officers for allegedly violating the strict law requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf.

She collapsed after being taken to a detention centre to be "educated" and died in hospital following three days in a coma.

The police said Ms Amini died after suffering sudden heart failure, but her family have dismissed that and alleged that she was beaten by officers.

Ukraine-Russia news:

Kyiv’s western allies boost nuclear deterrence after Putin’s threats

The logistics of deploying nuclear weapons is complex, time-consuming and would be easily picked up by western intelligence satellites. That means that Putin can intensify the nuclear threat by taking several steps before getting to the point of actually using the weapons. It would also allow the west to adjust its preparedness.

“Russian nuclear weapons are staged in hardened shelters across the country . . . The process of transitioning to readiness, mating warheads to delivery platforms, would generate a great deal of observable phenomena for US intelligence,” said Simon Miles, an assistant professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. “And, an opportunity for Washington to make it explicit to the Kremlin just how bad an idea that would be.”

The horrendous mobilization news coming out of Russia

A recruitment officer was wounded in the latest attack on a Russian draft office.

A gunman apparently distraught over Russia’s chaotic military mobilization opened fire at a draft office in Siberia on Monday, seriously wounding a recruitment officer, as the Kremlin for the first time acknowledged errors in the call-up of hundreds of thousands of civilians to bolster Russia’s struggling army in Ukraine.

With Mr. Putin having in effect outlawed dissent against the war, attacks against draft offices have risen since Russia’s invasion began. At least 54 recruitment centers and administrative buildings have been set on fire since then, according to Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet. Seventeen attacks have occurred since the call-up was announced last Wednesday.

Photos show 10-mile line at Russian border as many flee mobilization

A traffic jam at Russia’s border with Georgia has stretched for nearly 10 miles after President Vladimir Putin’s partial military mobilization order, satellite images show.

The line of cars and trucks trying to leave formed at a crossing point on the Russian side of the border, according to U.S.-based firm Maxar Technologies, which released the photos on Monday. “The traffic jam likely continued further to the north of the imaged area,” the U.S.-based firm said. Aerial photos from the company show vehicles snaking into another long line near Russia’s border with Mongolia.

An explanation for why Russia is actually doing the call-up/mobilization?

In Ukraine’s South, Fierce Fighting and Deadly Costs

The fighting is grinding, grueling and steep in casualties, perhaps the most heartbreaking battle in Ukraine right now.

Russian forces are deeply dug in here … the Russians have built formidable defenses: trenches zigzagging along irrigation canals; fortified bunkers; pillboxes; foxholes; even tank trenches carved out of the earth by bulldozers and covered with concrete slabs that enable the Russians to blast shells from positions that are very difficult for the Ukrainians to hit.

Despite the high stakes, there is little face-to-face combat between the two sides, like there was in the early days of the war in the suburbs of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Each Ukrainian soldier along the southern front carries an assault rifle, but few have fired their weapon.

From CNN video below: A senior military official says US tanks are on the table to send to Ukraine. Brig. Gen. Steve Anderson (Ret.) explains why he thinks the US should continue meeting Ukraine's requirements and whether the country should put contractors on the ground to help with logistics.

Tech news:

Motivation and wisdom:

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

And 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time. I hope you enjoy the podcast above.):

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Ukraine-Russia news:

Putin Raises Stakes in the War, With Direct Challenge to the West

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia accelerated his war effort in Ukraine on Wednesday, announcing a call-up of roughly 300,000 reservists to the military, while also directly challenging the West over its support for Ukraine with a veiled threat of using nuclear weapons.

Biden threatens a consequential response if Russia uses unconventional weapons

“You think I would tell you if I knew exactly what it would be? Of course I’m not going to tell you. It’ll be consequential,” Mr. Biden said, according to an excerpt from the interview. “They’ll become more of a pariah in the world than they ever have been. And depending on the extent of what they do will determine what response would occur.”

His warning was in response to an interviewer’s question, not in light of any newly released intelligence suggesting that the threat had changed.

U.S. has sent private warnings to Russia against using a nuclear weapon

The attempt by the White House to cultivate what’s known in the nuclear deterrence world as “strategic ambiguity”

The State Department has been involved in the private communications with Moscow, but officials would not say who delivered the messages or the scope of their content.

Biden administration officials have emphasized that this isn’t the first time the Russian leadership has threatened to use nuclear weapons since the start of the war on Feb. 24, and have said there is no indication Russia is moving its nuclear weapons in preparation for an imminent strike.

More on the mobilization:

Some men flee Russia, fearing they could be called up to fight.

Since President Vladimir V. Putin’s announcement on Wednesday of a new troop call-up, waves of Russian men who had previously thought they were safe from being forced to the front lines have realized they could not count on staying out of their country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Some have left the country in a rush, paying rising prices to catch flights to countries such as Armenia, Georgia, Montenegro and Turkey that allow them to enter without visas.

Putin faces fury in Russia over military mobilization

As women hugged their husbands and young men boarded buses to leave for 15 days of training before potentially being deployed to Russia’s stumbling war effort in Ukraine, there were signs of mounting public anger.

More than 1,300 people were arrested at anti-mobilization protests in cities and towns across Russia on Wednesday and Thursday, in the largest public protests since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Russia, Ukraine announce major surprise prisoner swap

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the swap - which involved help from Turkey and Saudi Arabia - had been under preparation for quite a long time and involved intense haggling. Under the terms of the deal, 215 Ukrainians - most of whom were captured after the fall of Mariupol - were released.

In exchange, Ukraine sent back 55 Russians and pro-Moscow Ukrainians and Viktor Medvedchuk, the leader of a banned pro-Russian party who was facing treason charges.

"This is clearly a victory for our country, for our entire society. And the main thing is that 215 families can see their loved ones safe and at home," Zelenskiy said in a video address.

The Icon of Ukrainian Resistance: Azovstal Defenders Released From Captivity

… crack troops of the Azov Battalion who led the long defense of Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks, which became an icon of Ukrainian resistance.

The defenders of Azovstal have become an example of invincibility and courage for the whole world and the worst enemies for Russia and its propaganda machine. Azov Regiment soldiers and other military personnel held the Azovstal and Mariupol plant defense for three months.

Under constant shelling and severe wounds, they held back the enemy to the last despite living in terrible conditions.

The evacuation of military personnel from Azovstal began on May 16. The commanders of the units located at the plant were ordered by the Ukrainian authorities to save the lives of the personnel, so the army was evacuated to territory not controlled by Ukraine, but by Russia.

These Ukrainian soldiers were held captive for more than four months. Some of them did not manage to return as they died as a result of the terrorist attack on Olenivka, when Russia launched a missile attack on the isolation ward where the Ukrainian military, including the defenders of Azovstal, were located.

John Hudson, who covers diplomacy and national security for @WashingtonPost, shared the following thread:

Motivation and wisdom:

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

And 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Thank you so much for joining us today on The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan R. Mitchell and in a nice guy, who’s working as hard as I can to unite this country. This show is mostly about military and defense news, and I’ll explain in a moment why I think it’s important we stay informed on this topic, but the show also includes plenty of motivation, which I hope inspires you and helps you in your daily journey toward your goals.

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar.

And I may not be the great Zig Ziglar, but my friends say I’m pretty motivating.

But this show is about more than just trying to help you as you confront whatever struggles you’re dealing with. This show is about a bigger issue confronting us, and that’s the great division that we face in America.

A house divided cannot stand, and I will not remain silent while politicians and media personalities throw gas on a dangerous fire. These hotheads and extremists are simply seeking their own personal gain, and with every waking moment of their day, they’re doing their best to tear this country apart. And they're doing it so that they can advance to a higher office, or so that they can get more followers and advertising dollars.

These hotheads and extremists are a danger to our country -- a serious one -- but I don’t think they speak for most Americans. Most Americans are good people, who would help you in a heartbeat. I’ve been helped out in the country, and I’ve also been helped in major cities.

My friends, most Americans are good. And I think you need to hear this said out loud on a regular basis.

Let’s not let the loud, angry politicians and media personalities darken our hearts. And let’s also not let them rip apart this country that we all love.

I fully understand how frustrated most Americans feel at how divided we are, and it’s time for a better way.

That’s why I’m doing this. I couldn’t find a podcast designed for people who love their country, and for people who are tired of their news being over-the-top and scary, so I decided to create one.

This is a show designed for people who are also tired of hysterical, over-the-top politicians and media pundits, who manipulate and take advantage of an under-informed public.

It’s a show for average citizens, who I know are too busy to really study all of the issues that confront us. I’ll do my absolute best to explain things as simply as I can.

I feel I need to say just a bit about why I’m convinced that foreign-policy decisions matter. Foreign policy decisions can be tragic and heartbreaking, and it’s important that we get them right. When we get them wrong, such as we did during the Vietnam War, our very country can be ripped apart by division and chaos. It’s also crucial that when we get them wrong, as we did in Vietnam, then the faster we can course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

America is the world’s leading power, and we mostly lead the world from a position of moral authority, showing other countries how they should behave in regards to ethics, restraint, and providing freedom for their citizens.

We are a force of good for the world, although I will acknowledge that we are not perfect.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I know that our democracy doesn’t work without informed voters. And I also know we need to grow closer together and show more patience and kindness.

I strongly believe that more unites us than divides us, and while we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years.

It’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids, and we need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

So, let’s get a little better informed, which I’ll do my best to help you do, while also keeping it interesting and brief. And let’s also work to get a little more united as a people.

And with that, let’s get started.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time.):

Ukraine-Russia news:

An important reminder, lest we forget.

India Prime Minister Modi tells Russia’s Putin that now ‘is not an era of war’

“I know that today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this,” Modi told Putin at a televised meeting in the ancient Uzbek Silk Road city of Samarkand.

As Modi made the remark, Russia’s paramount leader since 1999 pursed his lips, glanced at Modi and then looked down before touching the hair on the back of his head.

Putin told Modi that he understood the Indian leader had concerns about Ukraine, but that Moscow was doing everything it could to end the conflict.

“I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, the concerns that you constantly express,” Putin said. “We will do everything to stop this as soon as possible.”

India has become Russia’s No. 2 oil buyer after China as others have cut purchases following the invasion.

Hat tip to Doc (@docinkc) for the next video and footage. He’s a veteran, who mostly tweets about geopolitics and national security, so go follow him if you’re on Twitter.

From the story:

When Russian President Vladimir Putin held the final meeting of his Security Council before launching the invasion of Ukraine, one Kremlin hawk seemed to dominate the room.

Nikolai Patrushev, the powerful Security Council secretary and close Putin ally from their days together at the KGB in St. Petersburg, told the Russian president that the United States was behind tensions in eastern Ukraine and seeking to orchestrate Russia’s collapse. “Our task is to defend the territorial integrity of our country and defend its sovereignty,” Patrushev said in broadcast remarks.

Patrushev, whose position is equivalent to the U.S. national security adviser, was expressing a Cold War view that has driven Putin’s war.

News about China and Taiwan:

Tech news:

Motivation and wisdom:

Jaylen Watson (born September 17, 1998) is an American football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ventura College before transferring to Washington State.

Watson began his college career at Ventura College. As a sophomore, he recorded 43 tackles with 13 pass breakups, four interceptions, and one fumble recovery.[1] Watson initially committed to transfer to USC, but did not enroll at the school and did not play in 2019. Watson later decommitted and signed to transfer to play at Washington State.[2]

Watson became an immediate starter at cornerback for the Washington State Cougars and was named honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference after recording 13 tackles, two passes broken up, a forced fumble and one recovered fumble in three games during the team's COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.[3] He repeated as an honorable mention All-Pac 12 selection in his final season.[4]

Watson was a 7th round draft selection in the 2022 NFL draft.

Watson recorded his first career interception and touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. He returned the interception 99 yards for a touchdown.[7]

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

For those who want to know just a little bit more about me, here’s the short version.

I’m from Knoxville, Tenn., and I left home to join the Marine Corps at the age of 17. I was also crazy enough to demand that the Marine Corps put me down for guaranteed infantry, even though the recruiter lied and said they didn’t have any infantry slots. He was trying to get me into intelligence because I managed to somehow score high on the ASVAB test. Maybe he would have gotten a bonus if he’d been successful.

But I was a persistent little SOB and I started talking to the Army and even did a weekend training drill with their recruiters. They told me I could get infantry with them with a chance to become a Ranger. I was just about to sign when lo and behold, my Marine recruiter somehow found a guaranteed infantry slot.

It’s been said that I don’t usually stop when I make my mind up to make something happen, and I suppose that’s true to this day. I served four years in the infantry, saw enough danger to decide I no longer had anything else to prove, and exited military service in 1999.

I earned a degree from the University of Tennessee in journalism and spent ten-plus years in the news business. I worked initially as a reporter, but then went on to start a weekly newspaper. What can I say? Anyone crazy enough to start a weekly newspaper at the age of 27 is probably a dreamer and an optimist, and I confess that I’m both.

I owned that weekly newspaper for nine years, from 2004 to 2013, but once it was clear that owning a newspaper wasn’t the best path to financial security, I went on to become an author. To date, I’ve written eleven books, and while I still have my sights set on the tallest peaks in the writing world, I’m now here, as well, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news.

And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

Well, I’ve talked enough about me. I really hope you’ll consider at least signing up to be a free subscriber. It sounds cheesy, but every new subscriber I get — and I promise you I get an email for each one — they really do help make my day.

And if you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email, so you’ll never miss a show.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

So, 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

My friends, thank you so much for joining us today on The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan R. Mitchell and in a nice guy, who’s working as hard as I can to unite this country. This show is mostly about military and defense news, and I’ll explain in a moment why I think it’s important we stay informed on this topic, but the show also includes plenty of motivation, which I hope inspires you and helps you in your daily journey toward your goals.

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar.

And I may not be the great Zig Ziglar, but my friends say I’m pretty motivating.

But this show is about more than just trying to help you as you confront whatever struggles you’re dealing with. This show is about a bigger issue confronting us, and that’s the great division that we face in America.

A house divided cannot stand, and I will not remain silent while politicians and media personalities throw gas on a dangerous fire. These hotheads and extremists are simply seeking their own personal gain, and with every waking moment of their day, they’re doing their best to tear this country apart. And they're doing it so that they can advance to a higher office, or so that they can get more followers and advertising dollars.

These hotheads and extremists are a danger to our country -- a serious one -- but I don’t think they speak for most Americans. Most Americans are good people, who would help you in a heartbeat. I’ve been helped out in the country, and I’ve also been helped in major cities.

My friends, most Americans are good. And I think you need to hear this said out loud on a regular basis.

Let’s not let the loud, angry politicians and media personalities darken our hearts. And let’s also not let them rip apart this country that we all love.

I fully understand how frustrated most Americans feel at how divided we are, and it’s time for a better way.

That’s why I’m doing this. I couldn’t find a podcast designed for people who love their country, and for people who are tired of their news being over-the-top and scary, so I decided to create one.

This is a show designed for people who are also tired of hysterical, over-the-top politicians and media pundits, who manipulate and take advantage of an under-informed public.

It’s a show for average citizens, who I know are too busy to really study al of the issues that confront us. I’ll do my absolute best to explain things as simply as I can.

I feel I need to say just a bit about why I’m convinced that foreign-policy decisions matter. Foreign policy decisions can be tragic and heartbreaking, and it’s important that we get them right. When we get them wrong, such as we did during the Vietnam War, our very country can be ripped apart by division and chaos. It’s also crucial that when we get them wrong, as we did in Vietnam, then the faster we can course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

America is the world’s leading power, and we mostly lead the world from a position of moral authority, showing other countries how they should behave in regards to ethics, restraint, and providing freedom for their citizens.

We are a force of good for the world, although I will acknowledge that we are not perfect.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I know that our democracy doesn’t work without informed voters. And I also know we need to grow closer together and show more patience and kindness.

I strongly believe that more unites us than divides us, and while we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years.

It’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids, and we need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

So, let’s get a little better informed, which I’ll do my best to help you do, while also keeping it interesting and brief. And let’s also work to get a little more united as a people.

And with that, let’s get started.

The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Ukraine-Russia news:

Rapid loss of territory in Ukraine reveals spent Russian military

Moscow’s rapid loss of more than 2,300 square miles of territory in northeastern Ukraine has raised the prospect that the Russian military is spent as an offensive force for the foreseeable future, which could limit Russian President Vladimir Putin to defending the Ukrainian territory he already holds while leaving him open to additional defeats, according to military analysts.

The situation is a sobering reality for Putin, whose forces barreled into Ukraine on Feb. 24 on a mission to “demilitarize” and “denazify” the country but retreated from Kyiv just over five weeks later to concentrate on expanding control over Ukraine’s east through artillery warfare.

As Ukrainian forces roll back those eastern gains, Putin faces obstacles in replenishing the battered ranks and degraded equipment of his military to any degree that would allow Russia to again take the initiative on the battlefield. The result is an opportunity for Ukrainian forces, which despite significant losses of their own, are hoping to make more territorial gains before winter conditions harden battle lines. Further gains by Ukraine — particularly around the southern city of Kherson — would deal additional blows to Russian morale and increase pressure on Putin, who is already facing calls by hard-line Russians to announce a general mobilization that could be politically toxic for his regime.

Ukraine’s Coming Winter of Decision, by Richard N. Haass, a long-time analyst and foreign-policy advisor.

With Russia cutting off gas supplies, Ukraine’s recent military success will make it easier for European governments to justify economic and personal sacrifice during what promises to be a difficult winter.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive is having a powerful impact on Russian politics as well. Putin, facing growing criticism from conservative, nationalist forces at home, will have to decide whether to double down on the war effort and, if so, how to go about it. Doing more and asking more of the Russian people is not without domestic political risks, but arguably it could be less risky for him than a course of action that leads to additional, cascading military defeats.

For now, there is the prospect of several more months of intense fighting in the northeast and south of the country. Eventually, though, the scale will diminish as a result of frigid weather and the inability of either side to sustain large military operations.

‘The Russians are in trouble,’ U.S. official says of latest war analysis

“The Russians are in trouble,” one U.S. official said bluntly. “The question will be how the Russians will react, but their weaknesses have been exposed and they don’t have great manpower reserves or equipment reserves.”

The officials were skeptical that Putin, who has resisted calling up additional forces, would resort to extreme tactics such as the use of chemical or tactical nuclear weapons. For all their shortcomings, the Russians still have the capability to regroup and hit back hard, some officials cautioned.

Hat tip on the below goes to Steven Pifer, former US ambassador to Ukraine.

Putin Alludes to China’s ‘Concerns’ as Xi Stays Quiet on the War

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Thursday that Moscow understood that China had “questions and concerns” about the war in Ukraine — a notable, if cryptic, admission from Mr. Putin that Beijing may not fully approve of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

And his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping — in his first face-to-face meeting with Mr. Putin since the invasion began — struck a far more subdued tone than the Russian president, and steered clear in his public comments of any mention of Ukraine at all.

Taken together, the remarks were a stark sign that Russia lacks the full backing of its most powerful international partner as it tries to recover from a humiliating rout in northeastern Ukraine last week.

Why the Russian Military Brutalizes Ukraine

Nick Gvosdev: At all levels of Russian society, from the cab driver in the street to the Kremlin insider, there was a strongly held belief that Russian forces would be greeted as liberators, especially in the Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine. Indeed, the initial Russian military plan was based on the assumption that Ukrainian soldiers would refuse to fight and Ukrainian politicians would defect. This turned out not to be the case. Even more striking, it was the two largest Russian-speaking cities in Ukraine—Kharkiv and Odesa–which proved to be focal points of the successful blunting of the Russian invasion. … almost all the atrocities we’ve seen have targeted people precisely in those parts of Ukraine that are part of the Russian-speaking world. There does appear to be a strong undercurrent of giving these “traitors” their due recompense.

China news:

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Call With Philippines Senior Undersecretary and Officer in Charge of the Department of National Defense Jose Faustino, Jr.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Philippines Senior Undersecretary and Officer in Charge of the Department of National Defense Jose Faustino, Jr. on the phone today to discuss opportunities to further modernize and strengthen the U.S.-Philippines alliance. This was their first phone call since Senior Undersecretary Faustino assumed his current roles.

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Philippines alliance, especially in light of changing regional dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Secretary Austin noted that the U.S. commitment to Philippine security is ironclad, and that U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty commitments extend to Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft in the South China Sea. Secretary Austin and Senior Undersecretary Faustino agreed to continue close operational coordination in the region.

Both leaders noted the importance of enhancing the posture of the alliance to address new and emerging challenges, including by deepening cooperation under the Visiting Forces Agreement and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. Secretary Austin also expressed his thanks for the Philippines’ support for the people of Ukraine.

The Secretaries closed the call by underscoring the importance of a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Readout of U.S.-Vietnam Defense Policy Dialogue between Assistant Secretary of Defense Ely Ratner and Vietnam Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien

Department of Defense Spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout:

Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. Ely Ratner co-chaired the 2022 U.S.-Vietnam Defense Policy Dialogue (DPD) with Vietnam Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien in Hanoi, Vietnam on September 12, 2022. The U.S.-Vietnam DPD is the highest-level forum for advancing bilateral defense cooperation.

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Vietnam comprehensive partnership, especially in light of changing regional dynamics in the Indo-Pacific. Dr. Ratner noted that the U.S. commitment to a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam is enduring, and also highlighted continued U.S. support for ASEAN centrality. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the rules-based international order and agreed to work collectively and with like-minded partners to peacefully address and resolve disputes in the region.

The two leaders underscored the importance of practical cooperation between the United States and Vietnam. Dr. Ratner and LTG Chien highlighted the importance of collective efforts to recover remains of both U.S. and Vietnamese missing personnel, and Dr. Ratner noted the Department’s enduring commitment to dioxin remediation efforts. Dr. Ratner shared new data, collected by Harvard University, to help identify missing Vietnamese personnel. Looking forward, the two leaders agreed to focus on enhanced cooperation on defense trade, maritime security, information sharing, cyber security, and military medicine.

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Call with Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh today to discuss a range of recent security developments of shared interest, including in East Asia, the Indian Ocean Region, and beyond. Their call came on the heels of a productive set of engagements in New Delhi last week for the 2+2 Intersessional and Maritime Security Dialogues.

The Secretary congratulated Minister Singh on the commissioning of the INS Vikrant, noting the significance of the event for India’s role as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific. In light of the evolving regional security environment, the two defense leaders committed to expanding information-sharing and logistics cooperation as the U.S. and Indian militaries operate and coordinate more closely together. Secretary Austin expressed his support for additional mid-voyage repairs of U.S. Navy ships in India following the historic visit of the USNS Charles Drew to Chennai in August.

They agreed to initiate a dialogue later this year to deepen bilateral collaboration in space, cyber, artificial intelligence, and other new defense domains. Secretary Austin and Minister Singh highlighted their commitment to strengthening defense technology and industrial cooperation to support India’s rise as an industry leader and regional security provider.

They also underscored the value of advancing cooperation through the Quad partnership to sustain regional peace, stability, and prosperity, including through coordinated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

The two leaders committed to an ambitious set of initiatives leading up to the 2+2 Ministerial in India early next year, as the United States and India work to swiftly expand the depth and breadth of their cooperation. They concluded the call by reaffirming the centrality of the U.S.-India defense partnership to their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Learn more about RIMPAC here: https://www.cpf.navy.mil/RIMPAC.

Motivation and wisdom:

I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

For those who want to know just a little bit more about me, here’s the short version.

I’m from Knoxville, Tenn., and I left home to join the Marine Corps at the age of 17. I was also crazy enough to demand that the Marine Corps put me down for guaranteed infantry, even though the recruiter lied and said they didn’t have any infantry slots. He was trying to get me into intelligence because I managed to somehow score high on the ASVAB test. Maybe he would have gotten a bonus if he’d been successful.

But I was a persistent little SOB and I started talking to the Army and even did a weekend training drill with their recruiters. They told me I could get infantry with them with a chance to become a Ranger. I was just about to sign when lo and behold, my Marine recruiter somehow found a guaranteed infantry slot.

It’s been said that I don’t usually stop when I make my mind up to make something happen, and I suppose that’s true to this day. I served four years in the infantry, saw enough danger to decide I no longer had anything else to prove, and exited military service in 1999.

I earned a degree from the University of Tennessee in journalism and spent ten-plus years in the news business. I worked initially as a reporter, but then went on to start a weekly newspaper. What can I say? Anyone crazy enough to start a weekly newspaper at the age of 27 is probably a dreamer and an optimist, and I confess that I’m both.

I owned that weekly newspaper for nine years, from 2004 to 2013, but once it was clear that owning a newspaper wasn’t the best path to financial security, I went on to become an author. To date, I’ve written eleven books, and while I still have my sights set on the tallest peaks in the writing world, I’m now here, as well, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news.

And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

Well, I’ve talked enough about me. I really hope you’ll consider at least signing up to be a free subscriber. It sounds cheesy, but every new subscriber I get — and I promise you I get an email for each one — they really do help make my day.

And if you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email, so you’ll never miss a show.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

So, 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast, a show about military and defense news, designed for serious people who love their country more than they love their political party. It’s a show for moderates, who are tired of their news being from the left or the right, or being over-the-top and scary. I fully understand how frustrated most Americans feel at how divided we are, and I am the very opposite of most news organizations, who often write articles that are too alarming.

My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After joining the Marine Corps at the age of 17 to serve four years in the infantry, I exited military service, earned a degree, and spent ten-plus years in the news business; initially as a reporter, but then going on to start a weekly newspaper. What can I say? Anyone crazy enough to start a weekly newspaper at the age of 27 is probably a dreamer and an optimist, and I confess that I’m both.

I owned that weekly newspaper for nine years, from 2004 to 2013, but once it was clear that owning a newspaper wasn’t the best path to financial security, I went on to become an author. To date, I’ve written eleven books, and while it’s true I’m still writing, I’m now here, as well, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news.

And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

If you were to ask anyone who lived in Oak Ridge during the nine years that I owned that weekly newspaper, they would tell you that I sought to downplay controversy, I worked hard to understate headlines, and I did my absolute best to never create panic, which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act).

I plan to do these same things with my podcast. I love the news, and we need the news, but we need to have news that’s less over-the-top. News that folks don’t dread to hear, because it’s too scary. And news that isn’t so blown-out-of-proportion and fear-based, that it was clearly written to be shared and scare the devil out of people. The news shouldn’t be a game intended to grab eyeballs and monetize dollars.

It is an absolute fact that our democracy doesn’t work if we don’t have informed voters, and since we’re talking about the news and informed voters, let me say this: I’m convinced that foreign-policy decisions are the most important decisions that we face as a country.

They lead to greater consequences on the world stage, and they can lead to tragic deaths. Either because we shouldn’t have intervened somewhere. Or perhaps because we should have. America is the world’s leading power, and we mostly lead the world from a position of moral authority, showing other countries how they should behave in regards to ethics, restraint, and providing freedom for their citizens.

Foreign policy decisions can be tragic and heartbreaking, and it’s important that we get them right. It’s also crucial that when we get them wrong, such as when we did in the Vietnam War, then the faster we can course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do think much can be gained from discussing these issues, and creating a community where we intelligently discuss the troubles confronting us, and where we work to come closer together and respect each other’s views with more patience and kindness.

A house divided cannot stand, and I strongly believe that more unites us than divides us. I will not remain silent while politicians seeking their own personal gain try to throw gas on a dangerous fire, doing their best to tear apart this country so that they can advance to a higher office. I will also not remain silent when we have media organizations doing great harm to our country by scaring people or creating panic.

We face great challenges as a country, but America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only together that we can pass on a better future for our kids. So, let’s get a little better informed. And let’s work to get a little more united as a people.

Thank you for being patient and allowing me to share that monologue. I think it’s important people hear what I’m about before they listen for too long. And I think it’s also important my regular listeners hear this message enough that it sinks in. That it affects what they believe. That it affects how they act.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience. Kindness. And a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

Thanks again for your patience on this intro. I know it’s not the sort of fast-paced, really hip, Twitter-friendly, Tik-tok cool intro that fits most podcasts that go viral, but maybe we’ve got a few too many podcasts that are like that. Maybe we need to go back to something deeper. To something firmer and more solid. To something we can build a foundation from. And that’s what I’m offering.

And with, let’s get started.

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write-ups, as well.

The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell 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 by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time.):

Ukraine:

Ukranian forces have sliced through Russian defenses and now threaten to encircle and cut off conscript defenders around Izium. (See map below.)

Reuters

Ukraine has retaken 6,000 sq km of land - Zelenskiy

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Monday that Ukrainian forces had retaken 6,000 square km. (2,400 square miles) of Russian-held territory since the beginning of the month.

"Since the beginning of September and up to today, our fighters have liberated more than 6,000 square km of the territory of Ukraine in the south and in the east," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video. "The advances of our forces continue."

Russia confirms big retreat near Kharkiv as Ukraine offensive advances

The retreat represents one of the biggest setbacks for Russia since President Vladimir V. Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.

“In order to achieve the goals of the special military operation, a decision was made to regroup troops in the areas of Balakliya and Izyum in order to build up efforts in the Donetsk direction,” the Russian military statement said.

Although Russian officials sought to spin the developments — saying “a powerful fire was inflicted on the enemy using aviation, missile troops and artillery” as they withdrew — it was clear their troops were retreating to avoid being encircled. Ukrainian officials said the Russians had left behind equipment and ammunition.

Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plant Shutdown Cuts Risks

Thread link to share on European aid.

Motivation and wisdom:

Final three, and then we’re done:

And then I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email, so you’ll never miss a show.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

So, 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast, a show about military and defense news, designed for serious people who love their country more than they love their political party. It’s a show for moderates, who are tired of their news being from the left or the right, or being over-the-top and scary. I fully understand how frustrated most Americans feel at how divided we are, and I am the very opposite of most news organizations, who often write articles that are too alarming.

My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After joining the Marine Corps at the age of 17 to serve four years in the infantry, I exited military service, earned a degree, and spent ten-plus years in the news business; initially as a reporter, but then going on to start a weekly newspaper. What can I say? Anyone crazy enough to start a weekly newspaper at the age of 27 is probably a dreamer and an optimist, and I confess that I’m both.

I owned that weekly newspaper for nine years, from 2004 to 2013, but once it was clear that owning a newspaper wasn’t the best path to financial security, I went on to become an author. To date, I’ve written eleven books, and while it’s true I’m still writing, I’m now here, as well, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news.

And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

If you were to ask anyone who lived in Oak Ridge during the nine years that I owned that weekly newspaper, they would tell you that I sought to downplay controversy, I worked hard to understate headlines, and I did my absolute best to never create panic, which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act).

I plan to do these same things with my podcast. I love the news, and we need the news, but we need to have news that’s less over-the-top. News that folks don’t dread to hear, because it’s too scary. And news that isn’t so blown-out-of-proportion and fear-based, that it was clearly written to be shared and scare the devil out of people. The news shouldn’t be a game intended to grab eyeballs and monetize dollars.

It is an absolute fact that our democracy doesn’t work if we don’t have informed voters, and since we’re talking about the news and informed voters, let me say this: I’m convinced that foreign-policy decisions are the most important decisions that we face as a country.

They lead to greater consequences on the world stage, and they can lead to tragic deaths. Either because we shouldn’t have intervened somewhere. Or perhaps because we should have. America is the world’s leading power, and we mostly lead the world from a position of moral authority, showing other countries how they should behave in regards to ethics, restraint, and providing freedom for their citizens.

Foreign policy decisions can be tragic and heartbreaking, and it’s important that we get them right. It’s also crucial that when we get them wrong, such as when we did in the Vietnam War, then the faster we can course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do think much can be gained from discussing these issues, and creating a community where we intelligently discuss the troubles confronting us, and where we work to come closer together and respect each other’s views with more patience and kindness.

A house divided cannot stand, and I strongly believe that more unites us than divides us. I will not remain silent while politicians seeking their own personal gain try to throw gas on a dangerous fire, doing their best to tear apart this country so that they can advance to a higher office. I will also not remain silent when we have media organizations doing great harm to our country by scaring people or creating panic.

We face great challenges as a country, but America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only together that we can pass on a better future for our kids. So, let’s get a little better informed. And let’s work to get a little more united as a people.

Thank you for being patient and allowing me to share that monologue. I think it’s important people hear what I’m about before they listen for too long. And I think it’s also important my regular listeners hear this message enough that it sinks in. That it affects what they believe. That it affects how they act.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience. Kindness. And a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

Thanks again for your patience on this intro. I know it’s not the sort of fast-paced, really hip, Twitter-friendly, Tik-tok cool intro that fits most podcasts that go viral, but maybe we’ve got a few too many podcasts that are like that. Maybe we need to go back to something deeper. To something firmer and more solid. To something we can build a foundation from. And that’s what I’m offering.

And with, let’s get started.

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write-ups, as well.

The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time.):

Ukraine:

Ukraine's success in Kherson, Kharkiv encouraging -Pentagon chief

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Ukrainian forces in Kharkiv and Kherson have recaptured more than 270 square miles of territory in the south and in the east, where they advanced up to 31 miles into Russian lines and have retaken more than 20 villages.

President Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday argues that the West had failed in its “economic, financial and technological aggression” against Russia

“We have not lost anything and will not lose anything,” Mr. Putin said at an economic conference in the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok.

Showing no sign of stopping the invasion, now in its seventh month, an ever-defiant Mr. Putin said that Moscow had raised its international stature and rid itself of “harmful” elements inside the country. He also reasserted his interpretation of the war in Ukraine as the culmination of his effort to subvert an unjust world order led by the United States.

U.S. dials up shipments of radar-hunting missiles for Ukraine

The Biden administration is sending the Ukrainian military more radar-hunting missiles, U.S. officials said Thursday, a move intended to bolster its aerial-attack capabilities against invading Russian forces.

The weapons, known as high-speed, antiradiation missiles, or HARMs, are part of a $675 million arms package that President Biden has newly approved for transfer to the government in Kyiv. The military aid also includes additional rounds for rocket artillery systems that Ukraine has used against Russian positions hundreds of times, remote-detonated antitank mines and 105mm howitzer cannons and rounds for them.

“Ukraine is fighting for its life,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a news conference at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he announced the latest weapons transfer at a meeting of several countries supporting Ukraine’s war effort. “It’s fighting for its sovereign territory, and its democracy and its freedom. But the stakes reach far beyond the front lines. They affect us all.”

Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder Holds an On-Camera Press Briefing

As far as your first question, yes, we do have indications that Russia has approached North Korea to request ammunition. I'm not able to provide any more detail than that at this point in time, but it does demonstrate and is indicative of the situation that Russia finds itself in terms of its logistics and sustainment capabilities as it relates to Ukraine. Certainly, as has been said, we assess that things are not going well on that front for Russia, so the fact that they're reaching out to North Korea is a sign that they're having some challenges on the sustainment front. Thank you.

Q: Just a quick follow then. You talked about they're in a process getting these weapons. Does that mean they have, like, sent the money over? They're waiting for the shipment? Have they not sent money over? What part of the process are they in?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, so the information we have is that they have approached North Korea, but beyond that, I don't have any further details to provide.

Q: And just to follow up, why declassify this information now? Is it because you received it now, or because the process of declassification took awhile? I guess why now?

GEN. RYDER: So what I would say, Idris, is that as this campaign has unfolded, we've tried to make an effort to ensure that the public and the international community understand the situation that Russia finds itself as they, again, continue to wage their campaign in Ukraine. This information is relevant to the fight in the sense that, again, it's indicative of the situation that Russia finds itself in and shows the fact that they are trying to reach out to international actors like Iran and North Korea that don't have the best record when it comes to international stability.

Q: Just to follow up on that, we heard from Colin Kahl a couple of weeks ago that there were no new assessments that China was going to invade Taiwan any sooner than we've previously thought. Is that now that a couple of weeks have passed since these exercises happened and we've seen China, you know, continuing to violate Taiwan's airspace, is there any new assessments going on about the prospect of this happening in the next five, 10 years?

RYDER: Yes, I'm not aware of any new assessments.

Sea drones captured by Iran:

Q: Hey, yes, Liz Friden with Fox News. Thanks for taking my question.

As far as the Iranian capturing the sea drones last week, there were two different incidents in the Middle East. Does the U.S. make anything of this happening suddenly, as the Iran negotiations are ongoing with the nuclear deal?

And is this part of a greater trend?

GEN. RYDER: Yeah, thanks for the question, Liz.

So we do not see the two as connected. Again, as you're aware, in the case of the saildrones, we did recover the drones and it's just another example of Iranian activity in this region that is unprofessional and problematic.

And so certainly we'll continue to keep an eye on that front, but again, to answer your question, we do not see those two as connected.

Q: Oh, okay, sorry. Look, going back to the Saildrones, can you say on what basis these were recovered, what demands did you -- did the U.S. Navy make to the Iranians, and was there a threat leveled, was there a kinetic force considered?

And stepping back more broadly, can you say how many of these have you deployed in the Gulf and are they only there or is the Navy using them in such a large number elsewhere in the world?

RYDER: Sure. To answer your first question -- so as I understand it, the Iranian Navy held these Saildrones on their deck of their ship overnight and returned them the next morning. In terms of how long they've been operating in the vicinity or in this area, these drones are operated as part of 5th Fleet's Task Force 59.

They've been operating in the region since the beginning of the year, so January of 2022. And they are a way that we are able to provide information to NAVCENT quickly, as far as safely transiting the area, providing information in terms of potential issues or threats in the area, but bottom line is that, again, there was no situation in which forces were, as you put it, hostile. They took them and then the two U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers that were operating in the vicinity responded, moved into the area, but then shortly after, like I said, overnight, the Iranians released them. Thank you.

Watch Iran try (and fail) to kidnap an American drone boat at sea

NY Times: ‘Playing With Fire’: U.N. Team Calls for No-Fire Zone at Ukraine Nuclear Plant

On Tuesday, the inspectors reported having found Russian military equipment parked inside buildings, as well as damage to buildings housing fresh nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Plant operators, they said, were being denied access to some parts of the facility, including the cooling ponds. And even the on-site emergency center has been compromised, and is now being used by Russian military personnel, the inspectors said.

For Europeans alarmed at the prospect of a Chernobyl-like nuclear disaster in the heart of the continent, the visit by the inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency and the report that resulted made it only clearer that there is little the world is able — or willing — to do. Not only is the agency powerless to stop the fighting around the plant, the shelling persisted even while they were there, at one point forcing inspectors to take cover.

Bonus material:

Iran thought it had impunity until Albania reacted- analysis

Motivation and wisdom:

Final three, and then we’re done:

And then I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email, so you’ll never miss a show.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

So, 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast, a show about military and defense news, designed for serious people who love their country more than they love their political party. It’s a show for moderates, who are tired of their news being from the left or the right, or being over-the-top and scary. I fully understand how frustrated most Americans feel at how divided we are, and I am the very opposite of most news organizations, who often write articles that are too alarming.

My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After joining the Marine Corps at the age of 17 to serve four years in the infantry, I exited military service, earned a degree, and spent ten-plus years in the news business; initially as a reporter, but then going on to start a weekly newspaper. What can I say? Anyone crazy enough to start a weekly newspaper at the age of 27 is probably a dreamer and an optimist, and I confess that I’m both.

I owned that weekly newspaper for nine years, from 2004 to 2013, but once it was clear that owning a newspaper wasn’t the best path to financial security, I went on to become an author. To date, I’ve written eleven books, and while it’s true I’m still writing, I’m now here, as well, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news.

And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

If you were to ask anyone who lived in Oak Ridge during the nine years that I owned that weekly newspaper, they would tell you that I sought to downplay controversy, I worked hard to understate headlines, and I did my absolute best to never create panic, which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act).

I plan to do these same things with my podcast. I love the news, and we need the news, but we need to have news that’s less over-the-top. News that folks don’t dread to hear, because it’s too scary. And news that isn’t so blown-out-of-proportion and fear-based, that it was clearly written to be shared and scare the devil out of people. The news shouldn’t be a game intended to grab eyeballs and monetize dollars.

It is an absolute fact that our democracy doesn’t work if we don’t have informed voters, and since we’re talking about the news and informed voters, let me say this: I’m convinced that foreign-policy decisions are the most important decisions that we face as a country.

They lead to greater consequences on the world stage, and they can lead to tragic deaths. Either because we shouldn’t have intervened somewhere. Or perhaps because we should have. America is the world’s leading power, and we mostly lead the world from a position of moral authority, showing other countries how they should behave in regards to ethics, restraint, and providing freedom for their citizens.

Foreign policy decisions can be tragic and heartbreaking, and it’s important that we get them right. It’s also crucial that when we get them wrong, such as when we did in the Vietnam War, then the faster we can course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do think much can be gained from discussing these issues, and creating a community where we intelligently discuss the troubles confronting us, and where we work to come closer together and respect each other’s views with more patience and kindness.

A house divided cannot stand, and I strongly believe that more unites us than divides us. I will not remain silent while politicians seeking their own personal gain try to throw gas on a dangerous fire, doing their best to tear apart this country so that they can advance to a higher office. I will also not remain silent when we have media organizations doing great harm to our country by scaring people or creating panic.

We face great challenges as a country, but America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only together that we can pass on a better future for our kids. So, let’s get a little better informed. And let’s work to get a little more united as a people.

Thank you for being patient and allowing me to share that monologue. I think it’s important people hear what I’m about before they listen for too long. And I think it’s also important my regular listeners hear this message enough that it sinks in. That it affects what they believe. That it affects how they act.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience. Kindness. And a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

Thanks again for your patience on this intro. I know it’s not the sort of fast-paced, really hip, Twitter-friendly, Tik-tok cool intro that fits most podcasts that go viral, but maybe we’ve got a few too many podcasts that are like that. Maybe we need to go back to something deeper. To something firmer and more solid. To something we can build a foundation from. And that’s what I’m offering.

And with, let’s get started.

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write-ups, as well.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time.):

Ukraine:

Ukraine making progress in the south toward Kherson, and also (improbably) in the east in the Donbas region.

  • “The Ukrainian counteroffensive is making verifiable progress in the south and the east,” according to the Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank. ISW analysts said “Ukrainian forces are advancing along several axes” to the west of the Kherson region and “have secured territory” in Donetsk, one of two eastern regions that make up the Donbas area. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday after a meeting of Ukraine’s defense, military and intelligence chiefs that “Ukrainian flags are returning to the places where they should be by right.”

China:

  • A long-awaited UN report condemns China’s actions in Xinjiang

From the column:

So what changes in our policy would accrue to the benefit of Taiwan’s security? First, we certainly should mobilise and expedite more arms deliveries to Taiwan. Congress can authorise Taiwan, long a buyer of American weapons, to receive military assistance grants to increase its purchasing power. Specifically, we should authorise the large sale of weapons such as Javelins, Stingers, sea mines and portable Harpoon missiles that are difficult for the People’s Liberation Army to target.

Second, Congress can grant the president new authority to mete out crushing sanctions against Chinese decision-makers should they move against Taiwan.

Third, through assistance programs, we should double down on our investments overseas to counter Chinese influence campaigns designed to undermine Taiwan’s democracy or coerce allies like Lithuania from working with Taiwan. We should deepen our trade ties with Taiwan to help lessen its dependence on China and more fully integrate its supply chains with ours. Educational and military exchanges should be ramped up to increase people-to-people ties and to continue building capacity and professionalism in Taiwan’s armed forces—while further reinforcing our shared values of civilian control of these forces and respect for human rights.

Fourth, we should push for Taiwan’s representation in international bodies and multilateral institutions, countering China’s attempts to isolate the island diplomatically.

China has changed its approach to Taiwan and American policy must evolve as a result. But in an environment where the stakes are high and risks of miscalculation even higher, we have to make changes carefully and thoughtfully—serving both American values and American security interests, making democratic Taiwan safer and avoiding a catastrophic war with China.

Military news:

Bonus material:

(Hat tip on this lead goes to Aida, https://twitter.com/aida74432322.)

Motivation and wisdom:

Final three, and then we’re done:

And then I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email, so you’ll never miss a show.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

So, 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi friends!

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast, a show about military and defense news, designed for serious people who love their country more than they love their political party. It’s a show for moderates, who are tired of their news being from the left or the right, or being over-the-top and scary. I fully understand how frustrated most Americans feel at how divided we are, and I am the very opposite of most news organizations, who often write articles that are too alarming.

My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After joining the Marine Corps at the age of 17 to serve four years in the infantry, I exited military service, earned a degree, and spent ten-plus years in the news business; initially as a reporter, but then going on to start a weekly newspaper. What can I say? Anyone crazy enough to start a weekly newspaper at the age of 27 is probably a dreamer and an optimist, and I confess that I’m both.

I owned that weekly newspaper for nine years, from 2004 to 2013, but once it was clear that owning a newspaper wasn’t the best path to financial security, I went on to become an author. To date, I’ve written eleven books, and while it’s true I’m still writing, I’m now here, as well, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news.

And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

If you were to ask anyone who lived in Oak Ridge during the nine years that I owned that weekly newspaper, they would tell you that I sought to downplay controversy, I worked hard to understate headlines, and I did my absolute best to never create panic, which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act).

I plan to do these same things with my podcast. I love the news, and we need the news, but we need to have news that’s less over-the-top. News that folks don’t dread to hear, because it’s too scary. And news that isn’t so blown-out-of-proportion and fear-based, that it was clearly written to be shared and scare the devil out of people. The news shouldn’t be a game intended to grab eyeballs and monetize dollars.

It is an absolute fact that our democracy doesn’t work if we don’t have informed voters, and since we’re talking about the news and informed voters, let me say this: I’m convinced that foreign-policy decisions are the most important decisions that we face as a country.

They lead to greater consequences on the world stage, and they can lead to tragic deaths. Either because we shouldn’t have intervened somewhere. Or perhaps because we should have. America is the world’s leading power, and we mostly lead the world from a position of moral authority, showing other countries how they should behave in regards to ethics, restraint, and providing freedom for their citizens.

Foreign policy decisions can be tragic and heartbreaking, and it’s important that we get them right. It’s also crucial that when we get them wrong, such as when we did in the Vietnam War, then the faster we can course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do think much can be gained from discussing these issues, and creating a community where we intelligently discuss the troubles confronting us, and where we work to come closer together and respect each other’s views with more patience and kindness.

A house divided cannot stand, and I strongly believe that more unites us than divides us. I will not remain silent while politicians seeking their own personal gain try to throw gas on a dangerous fire, doing their best to tear apart this country so that they can advance to a higher office. I will also not remain silent when we have media organizations doing great harm to our country by scaring people or creating panic.

We face great challenges as a country, but America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only together that we can pass on a better future for our kids. So, let’s get a little better informed. And let’s work to get a little more united as a people.

Thank you for being patient and allowing me to share that monologue. I think it’s important people hear what I’m about before they listen for too long. And I think it’s also important my regular listeners hear this message enough that it sinks in. That it affects what they believe. That it affects how they act.

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience. Kindness. And a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the beliefs that will get us to a brighter future.

Thanks again for your patience on this intro. I know it’s not the sort of fast-paced, really hip, Twitter-friendly, Tik-tok cool intro that fits most podcasts that go viral, but maybe we’ve got a few too many podcasts that are like that. Maybe we need to go back to something deeper. To something firmer and more solid. To something we can build a foundation from. And that’s what I’m offering.

And with, let’s get started.

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write-ups, as well.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time.):

Ukraine:

From the story, which quoted Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency:

The goal of his multiday inspection was to set up a permanent monitoring mission at the plant and assess the safety situation there. It is unclear how extensive his team’s access will be after his departure.

The nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, is controlled by Russian forces but operated by Ukrainian engineers. Over the past few months, it has experienced a frightening array of artillery barrages, uncontrolled fires and power outages with a skeleton crew of workers sometimes held at gunpoint.

Grossi had been negotiating a visit to the plant since March, when Russian forces first seized the facility. A proposal to enter through Russian-occupied Crimea was rejected by Ukraine, which viewed that itinerary as an affront to its sovereignty.

From the story:

Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told CNN that “the United States has routine military-to-military dialogue at multiple levels with Ukraine. We will not comment on the specifics of those engagements. Generally speaking, we provide the Ukrainians with information to help them better understand the threats they face and defend their country against Russian aggression. Ultimately, the Ukrainians are making the final decisions for their operations.”

From the column:

The Russian military is disoriented because of the pounding they’ve received, U.S. officials believe. Analysts estimate that Russia has lost thousands of officers, including hundreds of colonels and dozens of generals. The relentless attacks have forced Russian commanders to keep moving headquarters posts, adding to their command and logistical problems.

Ukraine’s other big advantage in this new phase of the war is the “partisan” campaign behind the lines against the Russian occupiers. U.S. military commanders warned their Russian counterparts to expect this brutal irregular warfare, based on the U.S. experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. Russian officials didn’t listen, and now they’re facing attacks they don’t see coming and can’t root out, despite all their firepower. Every Ukrainian with a cellphone is an artillery spotter or intelligence collector.

From the story:

The chairman of Russian oil and gas giant Lukoil — which spoke out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine — has died after falling out of a hospital window, state news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS reported Thursday.

Ravil Maganov died at the Central Clinical Hospital west of Moscow, according to the reports, which cite the hospital and law enforcement sources.

"The incident occurred around 07:00 am Moscow time in the Central Clinical Hospital ... The man fell out of the sixth-floor window and died as a result of his injuries," a source told TASS.

Lukoil confirmed Maganov’s death in a statement published on its website, saying only that the executive died "following a severe illness" and making no mention of a fall.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen Hicks Provides Virtual Keynote Remarks to the DARPA Forward Conference, Fort Collins, Colorado

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE KATHLEEN HICKS:

As you've probably gathered over the last day and a half, in the Department of Defense, there's no shortage of big challenges that we're thinking about every day. We face a pacing challenge in the People's Republic of China, which is today the most consequential strategic competitor to the United States on the global stage. We face in Russia an acute threat to the international system, as illustrated by its ongoing, brutal war of choice against Ukraine. We face persistent regional threats, like those emanating from North Korea, Iran, and violent extremist organizations. And we face threats that transcend national and regional borders, including pandemics like COVID-19 and climate change.

To be clear, the United States faces these many challenges with many strategic advantages, and you're one of them. All over America, we have an incredibly vibrant innovation ecosystem that is the envy of the world. DARPA's part of it and so are all of you.

Because of this innovation ecosystem, which also draws strength from our partnerships with like-minded friends and allies around the world, we're able to figure out some really wicked problems, like how to resupply and reinforce Army and Marine Corps units spread out on islands across half a hemisphere with capabilities like distributed additive manufacturing and proliferated low signature delivery systems so they can operate and be sustained no matter what an enemy does or how contested the logistics environment gets, or how we integrate sensors and fuse data across every domain while leveraging cutting edge decision support tools to enable high tempo operations, a Joint All-Domain Command and Control approach that will make us even better than we already are at joint operations and combat integration.

DR. HICKS: First of all, AUKUS is right at the top of that, and for those who may not be aware, AUKUS is the U.S., Australia and Great Britain coming together in an intentional way to focus on how we can achieve mutual advantage by sharing on the research and development, and ultimately, production side on technology. There are a couple of different aspects of that. The -- the -- the one big -- pillar one, it's called -- one big area is undersea warfare capability and making sure we can mutually strengthen our undersea capabilities. Again, that's an area of advantage for the United States and its Western allies. So making sure we can keep that as an enduring advantage will require us to continue staying at the cutting edge of that technology.

But we don't stop there. We have many other bilateral, trilateral, and even in the case of Asia, a quad approach where we're constantly working with others on the operational challenges they face. I'll say again, some of our Asia-Pacific partners are focused more than anything on climate change. So sometimes it's something like that where their defense communities are very focused on the existential risk, if they're island nations, for instance. And sometimes it's all the way up at the higher end of potential warfare, making sure that they can protect themselves against anything from hypersonic missile systems to nuclear capabilities that could be put forward, and everything in between. We need allies and partners where they are on the things they want to work on together. There's a lot of opportunity in that. And we also, by taking that approach, by focusing on ensuring stability in the region rather than trying to increase tensions, we become the partner of choice for many in the region. That protects us economically and it protects us in our security realm.

Motivation and wisdom:

Final three, and then we’re done:

And then I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email, so you’ll never miss a show.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

So, 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The View from the Front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi friends! Welcome to The View from the Front podcast, a show about military and defense news, designed for people who are serious about their love for this country, and who love their country more than they love their political party. It’s a show for moderates, who are sick of their news being from the left or the right, or being over-the-top and scary. I am the very opposite of most click-bait news, and I fully understand how frustrated most Americans feel at how divided we are. I feel the same way.

My name is Stan R. Mitchell and I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After joining the Marine Corps at the age of 17 to serve four years in the infantry, I exited military service, earned a degree, and spent ten years as a journalist and newspaper publisher, learning about how our government truly works. After nine years of owning a weekly newspaper, I went on to become an author and have written eleven books to date, and now I’m here, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news. And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

It is an absolute fact that our democracy doesn’t work if we don’t have informed voters, and I’m convinced that foreign-policy decisions are the most important decisions that we face as a country.

It’s crucial that we get our foreign-policy decisions right, and that we avoid our isolationist tendencies as a country. It’s also crucial that when we get them wrong, such as when we did in the Vietnam War, then the faster we can course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do think much can be gained from discussing these issues, and creating a community where we intelligently discuss the troubles confronting us, and where we work to come closer together and respect each other’s views with more patience and kindness.

A house divided cannot stand, and I strongly believe that more unites us than divides us. I will not remain silent while politicians seeking their own personal gain try to throw gas on a dangerous fire, doing their best to tear apart this country so that they can advance to a higher office. Our country has stood together for more than 240 years and it’s only together that we can pass on a better future for our kids.

With that small opening out of the way, let’s get to today’s edition.

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write-ups, as well.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time.):

Ukraine:

International inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors are expected to visit the nuclear power plant in Ukraine where fighting is happening; occupied by Russians, but being operated by Ukrainian workers. CNN: IAEA to visit Zaporizhia nuclear plant 'in next few days,' as Ukraine officials hand out iodine pills

From the story above:

A senior Chinese official told the UN on Friday that just one incident might cause a serious nuclear accident “with irreversible consequences for the ecosystem and public health of Ukraine and its neighbouring countries”.

Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative at the UN, pointedly called on all parties involved “to exercise maximum restraint strictly abide by international law and minimise the risk of accidents”, adding: ”We must not allow the tragedies of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear accidents to be repeated.”

From the story above:

When Putin launched his all-out invasion of Ukraine in February, the Crimea-based fleet was at the center of the action, launching Kalibr cruise missiles at military and civilian targets deep into the country, blocking access to the country’s ports, and threatening an amphibious landing on Odesa.

Since those early days, however, Kyiv has seized the initiative as missile strikes and mysterious explosions have wreaked havoc on the Russian fleet, sinking several vessels — including its flagship cruiser the Moskva — and devastating its Crimea-based air wing in a dramatic attack this month.

Not only is the cruiser Moskva sitting at the bottom of the Black Sea, but days of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes on the Russian-occupied Snake Island in May and June damaged or destroyed several smaller landing and transport ships the Russians had docked on the strategic island 22 miles off Ukraine’s southwest coast. The strikes also took out several modern air defense and radar systems, essentially ending Russia’s dominance of the sea and air and returning a key piece of land to Kyiv’s control.

From the story:

After a few weeks in the field, the decoys drew at least 10 Kalibr cruise missiles, an initial success that led Ukraine to expand the production of the replicas for broader use, said the senior Ukrainian official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

The use of rocket system decoys, which has not been reported previously, is one of many asymmetrical tactics Ukraine’s armed forces have adopted to fight back against a bigger and better-equipped invading enemy. In recent weeks, Kyiv’s operatives have blown up rail and electricity lines in occupied Russian territory, detonated explosives inside Russian arms depots and assassinated suspected collaborators.

U.S. defense officials say Russia’s stockpile of precision-guided missiles has been running low, and U.S. export controls on microchips are making it “a lot harder” for Russia to replenish those munitions, Colin Kahl, undersecretary of defense for policy, said earlier this month.

Eric K., who served 22 yrs in the Army, pointed out the following story to me.

You can find him at @father4girls on Twitter Iraq:

China:

Tech news:

Web link: AFSOC to finally mount a laser weapon on an AC-130 gunship

Notes to delete: AC-130 gunship sometime in fiscal year 2022

in a 2017 article, per National Defense:

“Without the slightest bang, whoosh, thump, explosion, or even aircraft engine hum, four key targets are permanently disabled. The enemy has no communications, no escape vehicle, no electrical power and no retaliatory” abilities.

i read a bit of the struggles they were dealing with in 2017, and at that time, they were having troubles focusing the laser and not having it difused by atmospherics.

Gunzinger also noted that AFSOC will likely have to start with a smaller laser, perhaps between 60 to 100 kilowatts in power, before it can move to more destructive ones around 150 kilowatts or greater.

current one would be 60 kw

directed energy weapons are legal;

however, weapons intended to blind are illegal, according to the 1995 Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons.

Motivation and wisdom:

From the story:

TID states that the project will also serve as a "proof of concept" to further study "solar over canal design." The agency cites a 2021 University of California, Merced study, which showed that covering all of the approximately 4,000 miles of public water delivery system infrastructure in the state with solar panels could save an estimated 63 billion gns of water annually, as well as result in significant energy and cost savings.

"According to the study, the 13 gigawatts of solar power the panels would generate each year would equal about one-sixth of the state's current installed capacity," TID wrote on its website.

And then I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email, so you’ll never miss a show.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country.

So, 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.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hello everybody, this is Stan R. Mitchell and you’re listening to The View from the Front podcast, a show about military matters happening around the world, followed by some motivation at the end of each episode! Because who doesn’t need all the motivation they can get?! At least once or twice a week!

Every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

I am your host, and I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After joining the Marine Corps at the age of 17 to serve four years in the infantry, I exited military service, earned a degree, and spent ten years as a journalist, learning about our government and how it works.

I went on to become an author and have written eleven books to date, and now I’m here, a twice-a-week podcaster, who’s still in love with both this country and the news. And I see this podcast as a small way to continue serving our country, doing my best to inform and unite us in a time that we’re as divided as we’ve probably been in a hundred years.

Thanks so much for joining us today! I really enjoy talking about military matters and motivation, and I truly am honored that you’re here.

I will also say our democracy doesn’t work if we don’t have informed voters, and that I think foreign-policy decisions are the most important decisions that we face as a country.

They lead to greater consequences: more deaths, higher spending, etc. Foreign policy decisions can be tragic and heartbreaking, and it’s important that we get them right. And when we get them wrong, such as we did in Vietnam, then the faster we course correct, the faster we can reduce how many lives we lose.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do think much can be gained from discussing this, and creating a community where we all talk about these issues twice a week and do our best to make the correct decisions.

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write-ups, as well.

Source notes follow below, with subject heading in bold. (I again apologize for not being able to do full write-ups at this time.):

Ukraine:

Link to thread by retired General Mick Ryan.

China:

From the story (hat tip to David Mitchell):

Taiwan’s geography leaves it vulnerable to a blockade. Its population, industry and ports are concentrated on its western flank, closest to China.

China could impose a blockade, by sending ships and submarines to prevent vessels from entering or leaving Taiwan’s ports. It could use warplanes and missiles to dominate the skies.

Syria:

Questions are good.

Afghanistan:

And if you missed the previous podcast, where I talk about the Afghanistan withdrawal and you can actually hear the emotion in my voice, see below (or go to this link):

Bonus material:

The US military is still missing 6 nuclear weapons that were lost decades ago

Motivation and wisdom:

And then I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email or in iTunes, Stitcher, or your other favorite channel, so you’ll never miss a show.

While you’re at it, if you found value in this show, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes – or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would help us out too. And if you really want to really show us some love, throw a few bucks in the hat by subscribing. That will get you the Tuesday edition without the one-day delay, and it’ll also help us grow and improve the show. And if you dig military matters as much as me, make sure you check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

What’s going on, guys?! Hope everyone is doing well!

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. (I’ll talk about the show below.)

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find the source notes here on my substack.

On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom to reach those notes. Otherwise, not all of them will show up, as tweets don’t appear in the text-only summary of the podcast apps.

And I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write ups, as well.

With that out of the way, welcome to the View from the Front!!

A podcast about military matters happening around the world, followed by some motivation at the end! Because who doesn’t need all the motivation they can get?! At least once or twice a week!

Every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

I am your host, and my name is Stan R. Mitchell. I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After spending ten years as a journalist, I became an author and have written eleven books to date!

Source notes:

Ukraine:

How much grain is being shipped from Ukraine?

We've been debating what the attack on the air base was for the past two podcast editions. (Long-range missiles or saboteurs, as The Washington Post claimed.)

This seems to be a VERY strong case for loitering ammunition, explained below.

Great thread.

Video of General McCaffrey saying that Russia is facing “a growing desperation” that the Ukrainians are fighting a deep battle using HIMARs, special operations, and partisan operations.

“I think the Russians are in trouble,” he said.

Recruiting news:

US Air Force grounds Osprey fleet after dangerous clutch

Bonus material:

Motivation and wisdom:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email or in iTunes, Stitcher, or your other favorite channel, so you’ll never miss a show.

While you’re at it, if you found value in this show, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes – or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would help us out too. And if you really want to really show us some love, throw a few bucks in the hat by subscribing. That will get you the Tuesday edition without the one-day delay, and it’ll also help us grow and improve the show. And if you dig military matters as much as me, make sure you check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

What’s going on, guys?! Hope everyone is doing well!

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. (I’ll talk about the show below.)

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find the source notes here on my substack.

On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom to reach those notes. Otherwise, not all of them will show up, as tweets don’t appear in the text-only summary of the podcast apps.

And I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write ups, as well.

With that out of the way, welcome to the View from the Front!!

A podcast about military matters happening around the world, followed by some motivation at the end! Because who doesn’t need all the motivation they can get?! At least once or twice a week!

Every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

I am your host, and my name is Stan R. Mitchell. I’m a prior infantry Marine, who dropped the sword and picked up the pen. After spending ten years as a journalist, I became an author and have written eleven books to date!

Source notes:

Ukraine:

CNN: Russian vehicles seen inside turbine hall at Ukraine nuclear

The one-year anniversary of our Afghan withdrawal notes:

A U.S. Marine, a curious Afghan boy, an unfathomable moment

The Marine Corps:

Motivation and inspiration:

The world's smallest sea turtle nests in Louisiana for the first time in 75 years

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

Make sure to visit our website, stanrmitchell.substack.com, again, that’s stanrmitchell.substack.com. From there, you can subscribe to the show by email or in iTunes, Stitcher, or your other favorite channel, so you’ll never miss a show.

While you’re at it, if you found value in this show, we’d appreciate a rating on iTunes – or if you’d simply tell a friend about the show, that would help us out too. And if you really want to be a rock star, throw a few bucks in the hat by subscribing. That will get you the Tuesday edition without the one-day delay, and it’ll also help us grow and improve the show. And if you dig military matters as much as me, make sure you check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

What’s going on, guys?! Hope everyone is doing well!

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. (I’ll talk about the show below.)

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find the source notes here on my substack.

On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom to reach those notes. Otherwise, not all of them will show up, as tweets don’t appear in the text-only summary of the podcast apps.

And I apologize that I don’t have time to type up well-written, full episodes as I used to do. I’m still working a full-time job and squeezing in my research and recording the episodes as best I can. Maybe in the future I’ll be able to do full write ups, as well.

About me: I am a prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997, and I love doing this podcast twice a week.

For those who don’t know, every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.

That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.

So, if you believe in what we’re doing, and you want to be a part of this community, I’d be honored if you signed up. Either as a free or paid subscriber.

So, that’s what I’m trying to do here. I don’t claim to know the answers, but I think we can ask the questions, seeks the answers, and make a difference.

And this concept is why I do all of this from a moderate perspective. I believe with we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious dignity and weight to our politics.

So, please, join what we’re trying to do. Sign up for free at a minimum. And chip in a few bucks if you can.

Source notes:

What’s up with the Crimea water crisis? (EXPLAINER)

Why a regiment of Belarusian dissidents is fighting for Ukraine from The Economist

Tech News:

Motivation and inspiration:

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need to bring back more decency to our politics. We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious gravity to the matters before our country.

So, please, try to be a better person yourself each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

And, please, if you haven’t already, sign up for free episodes at a minimum. We’d be proud to have you join us here.

And if you love what you’re we’re doing, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

And also, if you have two seconds, drop a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. I think we only have a few ratings, so a little love there might help us grow the show a little better.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

What’s going on, guys?! Happy Friday!

Hope everyone is doing well!

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. (I’ll talk about the show below.)

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find the source notes here on my substack.

On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom to reach those notes. Otherwise, not all of them will show up, as tweets don’t appear in the text-only summary of the podcast apps.

About me: I am a prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997, and I love doing this podcast twice a week.

For those who don’t know, every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.

That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.

So, if you believe in what we’re doing, and you want to be a part of this community, I’d be honored if you signed up. Either as a free or paid subscriber.

So, that’s what I’m trying to do here. I don’t claim to know the answers, but I think we can ask the questions, seeks the answers, and make a difference.

And this concept is why I do all of this from a moderate perspective. I believe with we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious dignity and weight to our politics.

So, please, join what we’re trying to do. Sign up for free at a minimum. And chip in a few bucks if you can.

Source notes

Russia:

David Ignatius on Morning Joe, 8/12: 98 percent of Ukrainians believe they’re going to win the war. And that’s up from 96 in the previous poll.

Economist story quoted from: Ukraine’s allies gather in Copenhagen

I discussed several weeks ago in my podcast that Somalia was going to start heating up, and sure enough, here beith some proof of that.

Motivation and inspiration:

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

Let’s all work together to unite this country. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need to bring back more decency to our politics. We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious gravity to the matters before our country.

So, please, try to be a better person yourself each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

And, please, if you haven’t already, sign up for free episodes at a minimum. We’d be proud to have you join us here.

And if you love what you’re we’re doing, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

And also, if you have two seconds, drop a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. I think we only have a few ratings, so a little love there might help us grow the show a little better.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

What’s up, guys?! Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone is doing well!

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. (I’ll talk about the show below.)

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find the source notes here on my substack.

On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom to reach those notes. Otherwise, not all of them will show up, as tweets don’t appear in the text-only summary of the podcast apps.

About me: I am a prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997, and I love doing this podcast twice a week.

For those who don’t know, every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.

That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.

But I do want to keep the option there (and the incentive there) for you to support this effort with a paid subscription. I’m doing this for several reasons.

First, I believe in the mission of this. Of trying to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. We want to avoid those places we should avoid. We also want to avoid unplanned mission creep, such as we did in Afghanistan or in Vietnam. These decisions mattered when they were made, and the decisions being made now matter as well. I am passionate about this topic because I’ve been the scared, young rifleman, who went into a foreign land and had the wits scared out of him, while dodging bullets for a few days in a foreign land. The bottom line is foreign policy really matters. (What are the details of your military career?)

Second, I know that as our support grows, so, too, can the depth, quality, and reach of the show. This, given the mission I just mentioned above, is really important to me.

Finally, I also know that this isn’t a broad topic that 80 percent of the country is excited to hear about. Foreign policy news is a tiny, very-small subject, and I’m not kidding myself into believing that I can somehow single-handedly make half the country care about it.

So for all of these reasons, I need your support. If you’re a free subscriber, please tell others who might be interested. Or share some of the podcasts on facebook or Twitter. And for those who can, and who really believe in what we’re trying to do, I’d greatly appreciate it if you can throw a few bucks in the hat. It’s $5 a month to subscribe, and if you do so, you’ll get the Tuesday edition without the one-day delay. (Plus, any locked, paid-only special episodes that I drop from time-to-time.)

So, if you believe in what we’re doing, and you want to be a part of this community, I’d be honored if you signed up. Either as a free or paid subscriber.

So, that’s what I’m trying to do here. I don’t claim to know the answers, but I think we can ask the questions, seeks the answers, and make a difference.

And this concept is why I do all of this from a moderate perspective. I believe with we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious dignity and weight to our politics.

So, please, join what we’re trying to do. Sign up for free at a minimum. And chip in a few bucks if you can.

Source notes

China:

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/05/pentagon-china-calls-taiwan-00050175

Morning Joe interview.

Russia:

Motivation and inspiration:

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

We have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious gravity to our politics.

So, please, try to be a better person yourself each and every day.

And, please, if you haven’t already, sign up for free episodes at a minimum. We’d be proud to have you join us here.

And if you love what you’re we’re doing, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

And also, if you have two seconds, drop a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. I think we only have a few ratings, so a little love there might help us grow the show a little better.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

What is up, guys?! Happy Friday!

Hope everyone is doing well!

What follows are the source notes for this podcast. (I’ll talk about the show below.)

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find the source notes here on my substack.

On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom to reach those notes. Otherwise, not all of them will show up.

About me: I am a prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997, and I love doing this podcast twice a week.

For those who don’t know, every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.

That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.

But I do want to keep the option there (and the incentive there) for you to support this effort with a paid subscription. I’m doing this for several reasons.

First, I believe in the mission of this. Of trying to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. We want to avoid those places we should avoid. We also want to avoid unplanned mission creep, such as we did in Afghanistan, where we went from removing the Taliban and pursuing Osama bin Laden, to then trying to create a thriving democracy in one of the poorest, least-educated parts of the world. I could also mention our invasion of Iraq. Or our intervention in Vietnam. These decisions mattered when they were made, and the decisions being made now matter as well. I am passionate about this topic because I’ve been the scared, young rifleman, who went into a foreign land and had the wits scared out of him, while dodging bullets for a few days in a foreign land. The bottom line is foreign policy really matters. (What are the details of your military career?)

Second, I know that as our support grows, so, too, can the depth, length, and reach of the show. This, given the mission I just mentioned above, is important to me. And it’s also something that’s hard to achieve while continuing to work a full-time job, as I’m currently doing. Not to mention trying to be as awesome of a husband and step-dad as I can possibly be.

Finally, I also know that this isn’t a broad topic that 80 percent of the country is excited to hear about. Foreign policy news is a very-small, niche subject, and I’m not kidding myself into believing that I can somehow single-handedly make half the country care about it.

So for all of these reasons, I need your support. If you’re a free subscriber, I need you telling others who might be interested. Or sharing some of the podcasts from time-to-time. And for those who can, and who really believe in what we’re trying to do, I’d greatly appreciate it if you can throw a few bucks in the hat. It’s $5 a month to subscribe, and if you do so, you’ll get the Tuesday edition without the one-day delay.

So, if you believe in what we’re doing, and you want to be a part of this community, I’d be honored if you signed up. Either as a free or paid subscriber.

So, that’s what I’m trying to do here. I don’t claim to know the answers, but I think we can ask the questions, seeks the answers, and make a difference.

And this concept is why I do all of this from a moderate perspective. I believe with we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious gravity to our politics.

So, please, join what we’re trying to do. Sign up for free at a minimum. And chip in a few bucks if you can.

Source notes

China:

Pelosi, Congressional Delegation statement on visit to Taiwan press release.

Nancy Pelosi has left Taiwan. The real crisis may be just beginning. From The Economist.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/08/05/us-summons-china-ambassador/

China sends missiles flying over Taiwan https://www.economist.com/china/2022/08/04/china-sends-missiles-flying-over-taiwan from @TheEconomist

Russia:

Russia’s faltering invasion. http://espresso.economist.com/44b8b1b5c2c259df31d9d9b0f53be68b from @TheEconomist

Africa:

Story link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/20/michael-langley-africom-marines-general/

In tech news, I wanted to cover:

Previous news on unmanned ships in my newsletter:

Motivation and wisdom:

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

We have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

We need compromise, respect for the other side, and a more serious gravity to our politics.

So, please, try to be a better person yourself each and every day.

And, please, if you haven’t already, sign up for free episodes at a minimum. We’d be proud to have you join us here.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

And also, if you have two seconds, drop a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. I think we only have a few ratings, so a little love there might help us grow the show a little better.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday!

What follows are the source notes for this podcast.

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, you’ll find these items below.

On the other hand, if you’re on Apple Podcast or one of the other podcast apps, you’ll need to click the “episode website” button at the bottom. Otherwise, not all of the source notes (which are often tweets) will show up.

If you enjoy the show, here’s how you can sign up and/or help support it. (Both free — and paid — subscriptions are very much appreciated.)

The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

For those who don’t know, every Tuesday and Friday, I discuss military and defense news, as well as some history, motivation, and wisdom. (And I do all of this from a moderate perspective.)

Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.

That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.

But I do want to keep the option there (and the incentive there) for you to support this effort with a paid subscription. I’m doing this for several reasons.

First, I believe in the mission of this. Of trying to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. We want to avoid those places we should avoid. We also want to avoid unplanned mission creep, such as we did in Afghanistan, where we went from removing the Taliban and pursuing Osama bin Laden, to then trying to create a thriving democracy in one of the poorest, least-educated parts of the world. I could also mention our invasion of Iraq. Or our intervention of Vietnam. Or a number of other things. These decisions mattered, and decisions being made now matter as well. I am passionate about this topic because I’ve been the scared, young rifleman, who went into a foreign land and had the wits scared out of him, while dodging bullets for a few days in a foreign land.

Second, I know that as our support grows, so, too, can the depth, length, and reach of the show. This, given the mission I just mentioned above, is important to me. And it’s also something that’s hard to achieve while continuing to work a full-time job, as I’m currently doing. Not to mention trying to be as awesome of a husband and step-dad as I can possibly be.

Finally, I also know that this isn’t a broad topic that 80 percent of the country is excited to hear about. Foreign policy news is a very-small, niche subject, and I’m not kidding myself into believing that I can somehow single-handedly make half the country care about it.

So for all of these reasons, I need your support. If you’re a free subscriber, I need you telling others who might be interested. Or sharing some of the podcasts from time-to-time. And for those who can, and who really believe in what we’re trying to do, i’d greatly appreciate it if you can throw a few bucks in the hat. It’s $5 a month to subscribe, and if you do so, you’ll get the Tuesday edition without the one-day delay. And you’ll also eventually get some in-depth, single-topic podcasts that I’ve been wanting to do. These will only be for paid subscribers, but I’m not going to share too much about those. Honestly, I’m a big believer in under promise, over achieve. So, if you’re going to subscribe, do it because you support what we’re doing and you want ot be a part of this community.

Source Notes follow (motivational tweets at bottom):

China:

Ukraine:

Ukraine gets more U.S., German rocket launcher systems.

With these three from Germany, that will increase the number that they have up to 19. (Since we’ve sent 16, as I reported in the July 22 episode.)

Afghanistan:

Saudia Arabia: How to deal with despots from The Economist.

Motivation and wisdom:

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

I believe with every fiber of my being that we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

I’m not sure how we do this, but it certainly starts with each of us being nice to our fellow Americans. And understanding what the great Abraham Lincoln said.

Lincoln, who is one of my absolute favorite people to look up to and study, said that a house divided cannot stand.

It’s also worth remembering that Lincoln had approximately one year of schooling. He was self-educated, learning through books and reading that he did. And yet he proved to be one of the wisest leaders we ever had.

I think his example is one we should all follow. So, stay engaged on the issues and be kind when you talk about them, especially online.

And, please, sign up for free episodes at a minimum. We’d be proud to have you join us here.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi friend,

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has had a great week! And that you also have some great weekend plans!

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve created both a written and audio edition. But I’ve got to face reality and admit that I don’t have to do both the written and audio edition. So from this point forward, you’ll see the audio edition above. And I’ll paste the source notes below.

But it won’t be nearly as well-written.

I apologize I can’t do both, but the reality is that I simply don’t have time to do both while working a full-time day job.

One benefit of this is I think doing this will allow me to record longer podcast versions, which I’m hearing is what most of you want.

So, if you just happen to be stopping by on the internet, or you’ve arrived here from the Apple Podcast, here is how you sign up.

The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

If you’re on Apple Podcast, click the “episode website” button at the bottom. Otherwise, not all of the source notes (which are often tweets) will show up.

Source Notes follow (motivational tweets at bottom):

On the topic of Russia, I cited, quoted from, etc, the following:

Russia is ‘About to Run Out of Steam,’ MI6 Chief Says. (From Defense One.)

On the topic of China, I cited, quoted from, etc, the following:

Pentagon Official: Chinese Military Actions Against Foreign Ships, Aircraft Are No Accidents — They’re Policy

Now, let‘s move to some motivation and wisdom.

That’s it for this edition.

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

I believe with every fiber of my being that we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

I’m not sure how we do this, but it certainly starts with each of us being nice to our fellow Americans. And understanding what the great Abraham Lincoln said.

Lincoln, who is one of my absolute favorite people to look up to and study, said that a house divided cannot stand.

It’s also worth remembering that Lincoln had approximately one year of schooling. He was self-educated, learning through books and reading that he did. And yet he proved to be one of the wisest leaders we ever had.

I think his example is one we should all follow. So, stay engaged on the issues and be kind when you talk about them, especially online.

And, please, sign up for free episodes at a minimum. We’d be proud to have you join us here.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi friends!

Sorry for the interruption!

Just wanted to let you know that yesterday’s podcast has been unlocked, and below is the entire edition. (The email you received — unless you are a paid subscriber — had a paywall about halfway through it, and the audio wasn’t included.)

This, however, is the entire episode, including audio.

Thanks in advance for your continued support!

Much love from Knoxville,

Stan

P.S. And I think next week, I figured out a way to avoid having to email you twice about the Tuesday post. (Big-time learning curve happening over here. lol)

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

I wanted to start this edition with a bit of an update on China, which is something we’ve discussed in the past, but also often gets pushed to the background because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

There are a couple of things that really bring China back into focus for this edition. (Okay, technically, I wanted to cover this in Friday’s edition, but that ended up getting rushed and cut short because I had to go catch a flight.)

Nonetheless, the first item that brings China back into the news was the item below.

NBC News reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray, standing alongside the director of Britain’s MI5, the U.K.’s domestic intelligence agency, argued that China was taking steps to protect its economy following an attack or invasion.

“In our world, we call that kind of behavior a clue,” Wray said, adding that were an invasion to happen, “it would represent one of the most horrific business disruptions the world has ever seen.”

So, the first point is you’ve got the FBI Director saying he’s seeing intelligence that China is making some moves to protect its economy. And oh, by the way, he makes this comment on foreign soil next to one of America’s staunchest allies.

To me, that’s no accident.

At the same time, we need to re-visit the news that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be visiting Taiwan.

I originally shared this in the July 19th edition. And as a reminder, Pelosi will be the first House speaker to visit Taiwan since Speaker Newt Gingrich did back in 1997.

But in the week that has passed since the news broke, there’s been a lot of increasing pressure for Pelosi NOT to visit.

This includes pressure from President Joe Biden and members of America’s highest military staff, which The Washington Post reported. (Hat tip to Derek Grossman for sharing it.)

From The Post story:

President Biden himself on Wednesday told reporters that “the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now” that Pelosi travels to Taiwan. Distrust between Washington and Beijing is at a heightened level, as China has acted with increased aggressiveness in recent encounters with the United States and allied military forces in the region.

And then on the flip side, you can already see that Biden and Pelosi are already being boxed in from folks saying they shouldn’t back down from China. Such as the tweet below:

And even this interview from the former Secretary of Defense under former President Donald Trump. Mark Esper, the Secretary of Defense under Trump, said in an interview on CNN that China should not have any say over where American officials travel. (See video below.)

And this minor debate over the Pelosi visit (or non-visit) brings up the bigger question.

Will China eventually invade, as the FBI Director warns they’re potentially preparing to do? And if so, when?

And on that impossible set of questions, I thought I’d shared a couple of things.

The first being an excellent column by Derek Grossman, who I mentioned earlier.

Grossman, who served over a decade in the Intelligence Community, and who is now a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation focused on national security and Indo-Pacific security issues, wrote a column in a Japanese newspaper that says Taiwan should be safe until 2027, unless one specific thing happens.

The full column is free to read, and if you really dig China issues (and want to get in the weeds on this), you should totally go check it out.

Grossman digs into the history of the issue by saying that Taiwan should have six years before it's invaded, if you believe the outgoing commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson.

Davidson stated in March during open Congressional testimony that China might invade 2027, since that is apparently the 100th anniversary of the founding of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

But Grossman points out that despite the unprecedented number of warplanes flying near Taiwan, China has actually been less aggressive than it was in the 90s. He said as just one example that during the 1995-96 Taiwan Strait Crisis, China launched ballistic missiles near Taiwan; something that China hasn’t repeated since then.

Grossman also goes into detail about how Taiwan isn’t being mentioned in enough speeches and propaganda, something he thinks would ramp up significantly to rally the country before a war would be launched.

And while he acknowledges they could be keeping all this quiet as part of some surprise effort, Grossman reminds readers of all the serious challenges of amphibious landings. And also many of the short comings of China’s navy.

But there is one huge caveat to his prediction. Grossman says that if Taiwan elects a seriously anti-China candidate to the presidency, then China might act.

And apparently Taiwan has a current and tremendously popular vice president who could push China toward an attack, if he were to continue his rise to power.

Like I said, this is a great column that I highly recommend if you have a moment.

But there’s something else other than an all-out invasion that could soon happen.

Hal Brands, a professor of global affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, who also serves as a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, writes that a clash or crisis is more than due for the United States and China.

Brands wrote a fantastic Twitter thread on this, and was generous enough to say I could share it in its entirety, which you’ll see below.

FULL THREAD: All the hubbub surrounding Pelosi's potential trip to Taiwan is making one thing very clear: We are, alas, probably overdue for a major political-military crisis in US-China relations.

Not a crisis over trade, or COVID, or someone else's war (as in case of Ukraine), but crisis that brings two sides face to face in an area where both have highly important, perhaps vital, security interests.

And whether that happens over Pelosi's visit or something else, Taiwan is likely focal point, because it is where the two sides' security interests most directly conflict. It is also where Beijing feels that its military leverage is increasing...

But worries that its political leverage is decreasing, due to changes in Taiwanese public opinion and Taipei's tightening relations with Washington and other countries. That is a recipe for assertive behavior. If and when the crisis comes...

It will reveal a lot about the competition: How the two sides perceive their relative strength or weakness, how willing they are to take risks, how capable they are of managing and de-escalating potentially dangerous tensions. Crises tend to be both terrifying and clarifying.

Such a crisis will also reveal whether the US can manage more than one major global security crisis at a given time. In sum: We are entering what is likely to be a very fraught period in the U.S.-China relationship. I doubt, unfortunately, that it will end anytime soon.

Okay, that was a lot on China. Let’s move to Africa. Or, more specifically, Somalia.

Somalia is starting to make the news, such as this “An attack on a military base in Somalia shows al-Shabab’s deadly power.”

From the story:

The May 2 assault claimed more than 50 lives, according to local officials andWestern security personnel in Somalia, making it the deadliest strike on the U.S.-backed peacekeeping mission here in six years. Its successunderscored the resurgence of al-Shabab and the challenges that African and American troops will face in containing the group.

This is going to be something to watch, as President Biden already approved sending 450 troops to Somalia back in May.

And there’s also this pretty big fact:

All right, enough news. Let’s share some motivation and wisdom.

First, I’m always looking for the positive or good news out there. And with ugly fires, drought, etc, and with all the talk of global warming and how powerless we can often feel against it, I saw two news items that were at least a bit inspiring.

First, this:

And then also this:

And with that out of the way, here are some other tweets worth sharing.

That’s it for this edition.

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

I believe with every fiber of my being that we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

I’m not sure how we do this (though I have some ideas), but it certainly starts with each of us being nice to our fellow Americans. And understanding what the great Abraham Lincoln said.

Lincoln, who is one of my absolute favorite people to look up to and study, said that a house divided cannot stand.

It’s also worth remembering that Lincoln had approximately one year of schooling. He was self-educated, learning through books and reading that he did. And yet he proved to be one of the wisest leaders we ever had.

I think his example is one we should all follow. So, please, sign up for free at a minimum. And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

View Details

Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a great weekend!

I wanted to start this edition with a bit of an update on China, which is something we’ve discussed in the past, but also often gets pushed to the background because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

There are a couple of things that really bring China back into focus for this edition. (Okay, technically, I wanted to cover this in Friday’s edition, but that ended up getting rushed and cut short because I had to go catch a flight.)

Nonetheless, the first item that brings China back into the news was the item below.

NBC News reported that FBI Director Christopher Wray, standing alongside the director of Britain’s MI5, the U.K.’s domestic intelligence agency, argued that China was taking steps to protect its economy following an attack or invasion.

“In our world, we call that kind of behavior a clue,” Wray said, adding that were an invasion to happen, “it would represent one of the most horrific business disruptions the world has ever seen.”

So, the first point is you’ve got the FBI Director saying he’s seeing intelligence that China is making some moves to protect its economy. And oh, by the way, he makes this comment on foreign soil next to one of America’s staunchest allies.

To me, that’s no accident.

At the same time, we need to re-visit the news that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be visiting Taiwan.

I originally shared this in the July 19th edition. And as a reminder, Pelosi will be the first House speaker to visit Taiwan since Speaker Newt Gingrich did back in 1997.

But in the week that has passed since the news broke, there’s been a lot of increasing pressure for Pelosi NOT to visit.

This includes pressure from President Joe Biden and members of America’s highest military staff, which The Washington Post reported. (Hat tip to Derek Grossman for sharing it.)

From The Post story:

President Biden himself on Wednesday told reporters that “the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now” that Pelosi travels to Taiwan. Distrust between Washington and Beijing is at a heightened level, as China has acted with increased aggressiveness in recent encounters with the United States and allied military forces in the region.

And then on the flip side, you can already see that Biden and Pelosi are already being boxed in from folks saying they shouldn’t back down from China. Such as the tweet below:

And even this interview from the former Secretary of Defense under former President Donald Trump. Mark Esper, the Secretary of Defense under Trump, said in an interview on CNN that China should not have any say over where American officials travel. (See video below.)

And this minor debate over the Pelosi visit (or non-visit) brings up the bigger question.

Will China eventually invade, as the FBI Director warns they’re potentially preparing to do? And if so, when?

And on that impossible set of questions, I thought I’d shared a couple of things.

The first being an excellent column by Derek Grossman, who I mentioned earlier.

Grossman, who served over a decade in the Intelligence Community, and who is now a senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation focused on national security and Indo-Pacific security issues, wrote a column in a Japanese newspaper that says Taiwan should be safe until 2027, unless one specific thing happens.

The full column is free to read, and if you really dig China issues (and want to get in the weeds on this), you should totally go check it out.

Grossman digs into the history of the issue by saying that Taiwan should have six years before it's invaded, if you believe the outgoing commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Philip Davidson.

Davidson stated in March during open Congressional testimony that China might invade 2027, since that is apparently the 100th anniversary of the founding of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA).

But Grossman points out that despite the unprecedented number of warplanes flying near Taiwan, China has actually been less aggressive than it was in the 90s. He said as just one example that during the 1995-96 Taiwan Strait Crisis, China launched ballistic missiles near Taiwan; something that China hasn’t repeated since then.

Grossman also goes into detail about how Taiwan isn’t being mentioned in enough speeches and propaganda, something he thinks would ramp up significantly to rally the country before a war would be launched.

And while he acknowledges they could be keeping all this quiet as part of some surprise effort, Grossman reminds readers of all the serious challenges of amphibious landings. And also many of the short comings of China’s navy.

But there is one huge caveat to his prediction. Grossman says that if Taiwan elects a seriously anti-China candidate to the presidency, then China might act.

And apparently Taiwan has a current and tremendously popular vice president who could push China toward an attack, if he were to continue his rise to power.

Like I said, this is a great column that I highly recommend if you have a moment.

But there’s something else other than an all-out invasion that could soon happen.

Hal Brands, a professor of global affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, who also serves as a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion, writes that a clash or crisis is more than due for the United States and China.

Brands wrote a fantastic Twitter thread on this, and was generous enough to say I could share it in its entirety, which you’ll see below.

FULL THREAD: All the hubbub surrounding Pelosi's potential trip to Taiwan is making one thing very clear: We are, alas, probably overdue for a major political-military crisis in US-China relations.

Not a crisis over trade, or COVID, or someone else's war (as in case of Ukraine), but crisis that brings two sides face to face in an area where both have highly important, perhaps vital, security interests.

And whether that happens over Pelosi's visit or something else, Taiwan is likely focal point, because it is where the two sides' security interests most directly conflict. It is also where Beijing feels that its military leverage is increasing...

But worries that its political leverage is decreasing, due to changes in Taiwanese public opinion and Taipei's tightening relations with Washington and other countries. That is a recipe for assertive behavior. If and when the crisis comes...

It will reveal a lot about the competition: How the two sides perceive their relative strength or weakness, how willing they are to take risks, how capable they are of managing and de-escalating potentially dangerous tensions. Crises tend to be both terrifying and clarifying.

Such a crisis will also reveal whether the US can manage more than one major global security crisis at a given time. In sum: We are entering what is likely to be a very fraught period in the U.S.-China relationship. I doubt, unfortunately, that it will end anytime soon.

Okay, that was a lot on China. Let’s move to Africa. Or, more specifically, Somalia.

Somalia is starting to make the news, such as this “An attack on a military base in Somalia shows al-Shabab’s deadly power.”

From the story:

The May 2 assault claimed more than 50 lives, according to local officials andWestern security personnel in Somalia, making it the deadliest strike on the U.S.-backed peacekeeping mission here in six years. Its successunderscored the resurgence of al-Shabab and the challenges that African and American troops will face in containing the group.

This is going to be something to watch, as President Biden already approved sending 450 troops to Somalia back in May.

And there’s also this pretty big fact:

All right, enough news. Let’s share some motivation and wisdom.

First, I’m always looking for the positive or good news out there. And with ugly fires, drought, etc, and with all the talk of global warming and how powerless we can often feel against it, I saw two news items that were at least a bit inspiring.

First, this:

And then also this:

And with that out of the way, here are some other tweets worth sharing.

That’s it for this edition.

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

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friend,

Happy Friday! Hope everyone has had a great week!

I wanted to briefly discuss the response to the last podcast, which totally blew me away! We had several new free subscriptions, plus a new paid subscriber, and quite a few shares, which obviously helps us get the word out to others who have no idea what we’re doing here.

So, thank you, thank you, thank you for all of that.

And if this is your first time listening, here’s what we’re doing. Every Tuesday and Friday, I write about conflicts and military matters that are happening throughout the world, while also sharing some motivation and wisdom at the end (because who doesn’t need a couple of doses of that each week?!).

Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.

That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.

But I do want to keep the option there (and the incentive there) for you to support this effort with a paid subscription. Partly, it’s because there’s so much more I want to be doing with this each week, but I need your help to get there.

The reality is this is what I’d like to be doing full-time, along with my fiction writing, long-term. And right now I’m balancing this out with a full-time job, which is preventing me from making this as incredible (or in-depth) as I’d like.

But also, I’ve seen that most advertising-only efforts can only succeed if you’re like Joe Rogan or some big name. And I’m most certainly not Joe Rogan or some big name. And also, foreign policy isn’t an in-demand, large-audience subject, unfortunately.

So to sustain the time I’m putting into this, I’d really appreciate it if you threw a few bucks into the hat and signed up.

All right, with that out of the way, let’s get started. We’ve got a ton to discuss.

In big news, the United States has announced that it’s sending four more of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine.

That will increase the number that we’ve sent from 12 to 16.

While we’re on the subject of HIMARS, that leads us into the next topic I wanted to discuss.

Ukraine is getting closer to launching an offensive in Kherson (pronounced kehr·saan).

The Economist had a story about a week back that described Kherson as the gateway to Crimea, which as you recall, is the peninsula that Russia formally seized in 2014.

Kherson is the only regional capital that Russia achieved success in conquering since this most recent invasion.

And The Economist states that not only is the gateway to Crimea, it’s also “an agricultural powerhouse,” and thus Ukraine is prioritizing its efforts to retake it. (See story below.)

But back to the HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, Ukraine has been using these weapons to hit one of two bridges that are behind Kherson. And you can see this in the video that I’ve linked to below.

Already, one of the bridges are down to one lane.

And the Russians have nothing that can intercept the HIMARS rockets. None of their anti-air missiles seem to be able to hit them.

Now, Dr. Mike Martin, an analyst and author, shared a thread on Twitter about the coming offensive. And he made two points that go along with what I’m getting to.

Speaking of the bridges, he says this:

And while we’re talking about the coming offensive in Kherson, The Kyiv Independent wrote a great article about the coming attack. (The article is free and the link is below.)

But one of the things in the article that I think is key is that it mentions the Russians are holding a number of defensive positions, primarily at road junctions, small towns, etc.

And the advantage the Ukrainians will have is that they can use what we used to call in the Marine Corps as “maneuver warfare.” And thus, the Ukrainians can pin down certain positions, but then mass larger forces to overpower individual positions.

With luck, these attacks will lead to a spreading of the fear running through the Russian forces already, and it’s likely going to break their will and cause them to want to retreat. If not all-out flee.

While we’re on the subject of Ukraine, let’s talk about three more quick things.

First, the U.S. is starting to hint again about potentially arming Ukraine with fighter jets (possibly European models). Huge shoutout to Joshua Hughes, who first alerted me to this.

And then shortly after pointing out the Defense One story on it, (see below), The Washington Post also reported on it.

I want to be very, very clear that nothing is definite on this.

The second quick thing I wanted to mention is that while I worried to no end about the brave defenders of the steel plant in Mariuopol (the Azovstal steel plant), it appears at least some of them are being released/traded for Russian prisoners. (See below.)

I want to stress that this is not something that seems to be something that either Ukraine or Russia wants to talk about, and it’s probably not happening for all the defenders (especially the leaders), but at least some of them are being freed.

The third thing I wanted to share was the item below, because it’s yet more proof of the horrors that Russia is propagating in Ukraine.

Moving to the Middle East, Putin recently flew to Iran to meet with Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The main thing I wanted to share with that Khamenei said the West and NATO was dangerous, and that if Russia hadn’t invaded Ukraine, then Ukraine and NATO would have invaded Russia.

One other thing real quick on this topic is that Turkish leader embarrassed Putin while he was there.

This is probably only the second thing that I appreciate that Erdogan has done in years. (The other being selling Bayraktar drones to Ukraine.)

All right, enough news. Let’s share some motivation and wisdom.

I wanted to start by sharing just these incredible images below.

And here’s the other pieces of motivation and wisdom that I wanted to share.

That’s it for this edition.

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

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friend,

Happy Tuesday!

Hope you had a great weekend. Wanted to say two quick things before we get to the news today.

First, I’m amending a bit how the paid versus free subscriptions work.

I’ve decided I don’t want to keep folks from getting the Tuesday edition, if they’re not paid subscribers. So, Tuesday posts will be available to everyone, but they’ll be delayed by one day unless you’re a paid subscriber.

That way, it will encourage folks to support what we’re doing here if they can, but also doesn’t really penalize you if you can’t make that $5 a month payment. At most, you’re waiting an additional day for the content.

But I do want to keep the option there (and the incentive there) for you to support this effort. Partly, it’s because this is what I’d like to be doing full-time, along with my fiction writing, long-term.

And right now I’m balancing this out with a full-time job, which is preventing me from making this as well (or in-depth) as I’d like.

But also, I’ve seen that most advertising-only efforts can only succeed if you’re like Joe Rogan or some big name. And I’m most certainly not Joe Rogan or some big name.

So to sustain the time I’m putting into this, I’d really appreciate it if you threw a few bucks into the hate and signed up.

But if you can’t, or don’t want to, no sweat. And no pressure. I’m glad to have you listening/reading, because I really do believe keeping up with foreign policy is crucial.

I know most Americans don’t care about foreign policy. It’s complicated, it’s happening over there (we say), and let’s face it, most Americans are terrible at geography.

But foreign policy matters. It can be the difference between whether we foolishly invade Iraq (as we did in 2003), or whether we try the impossible task of making Afghanistan (one of the world’s poorest and least literate countries) a democracy.

Having well-informed voters on both sides of the aisle is important, and this means a lot to me because I’ve been the tip of the spear. I’ve been the young man who carried a weapon into a scary foreign land.

This stuff matters, and it’s not nearly as complicated as we think it is.

I remember thinking how stupid it was we were going to invade Iraq in 2003, when we hadn’t even nabbed Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan or Pakistan yet. Why would we divide our efforts like that? And on such horrible intelligence?

Just as large a question? Why, after toppling the Taliban in Afghanistan with the help of the Northern Alliance and not many troops on the ground, would we suddenly shift to trying to build a thriving democracy in one of the poorest and least literate countries? Especially when Pakistan, our so-called ally, is playing all kinds of cute games and essentially supporting the Taliban behind our backs?

These questions came to me when I didn’t even follow foreign policy 1/10th as much as I do now. They are common sense questions, and it’s a shame more Americans didn’t ask them. Perhaps, we could have saved thousands of lives if we had.

And it’s for these reasons above that I’m beyond passionate about foreign policy matters. And I think historically, if you look at the Vietnam War, or the invasion of Iraq or mission creep in Afghanistan, you’ll see that making a mistake early on in regards to foreign policy leads to disastrous consequences for our country.

So, that’s what I’m trying to do here. I don’t claim to know the answers, but I think we can ask the questions, seeks the answers, and make a difference.

And this concept is why I do all of this from a moderate perspective. I believe with every fiber of my being that we have to pull this country together. We have to stop hating those on the other side of the aisle and we have to stop rewarding the loudest (and most angry) voices on either side.

I’m not sure how we do this (though I have some ideas), but it certainly starts with each of us being nice to our fellow Americans. And understanding what the great Abraham Lincoln said.

Lincoln, who is one of my absolute favorite people to look up to and study, said that a house divided cannot stand.

It’s also worth remembering that Lincoln had approximately one year of schooling. He was self-educated, learning through books and reading that he did. And yet he proved to be one of the wisest leaders we ever had.

I think his example is one we should all follow. So, please, sign up for free at a minimum. And chip in a few bucks if you can.

We start this edition by mentioning the heat wave in Europe.

You’ve probably heard this by now, because it seems to be all over the news, but it’s so hot that runways are melting in the United Kingdom. (See below.)

It’s also leading to melted tires, as you can also see.

So just how hot is it?

In France, it’s a 109 degrees, according to The Washington Post.

Britain was supposed to hit 106 degrees, also according to The Washington Post.

Few homes have air conditioning in Europe, because they don’t typically see this kind of heat. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure I could manage long with 100-degree heat with no air conditioning.

I’ve done it, in the Mojave Desert training, but it wasn’t fun. And I for sure didn’t sleep much.

I also was much younger, and Axios is reporting that to date, 1,100 people have died in Spain and Portugal alone.

So, the heat wave is a pretty serious event happening in Europe right now.

Moving to Ukraine, news broke that Russia is going to buy hundreds of drones from Iran for use in Ukraine.

On the one hand, this is quite worrying. But on the other, I think Ukrainian air defenses are much better than they were even a few months ago, so I think the impact of these drones will be mitigated to some degree.

Moving away from Ukraine, we haven’t talked about China in a bit, but they’re not too happy with the news that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be visiting Taiwan.

You can never tell how upset China really is, since they regularly get upset over things the United States is doing, but this does seem like a pretty big deal.

The Washington Post is reporting that Pelosi will be the first House speaker to visit Taiwan since Speaker Newt Gingrich did back in 1997.

As a reminder, Taiwan is a roughly 14,000-square-mile island that has nearly 24 million people, according to the CIA World Factbook.

China claims Taiwan, while the people of Taiwan seem to not want to be any part of China.

One thing I looked up is what exactly we’ve said we’d do as a country.

We’re currently operating under the US Taiwan Relations Act of April 1979.

This states that the US “shall provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character and shall maintain the capacity of the US to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan (2022).”

But, as a reminder, President Joe Biden has three different times made the wrong comment regarding whether America would defend Taiwan.

My personal view on the topic is the following:

I think Biden making the same mistake three times is not an accident. I think our government is telling allies that he absolutely means it. That this is the stubborn, cranky Biden that means it. The one with the backbone that left Afghanistan no matter what how bad that destroyed his poll numbers.

But while they’re saying this to allies to re-assure them of American commitment to Asia, I think these same administration folks are telling China and the media that the statements are nothing. That Biden is just a gaffe machine and we shouldn’t sweat what he’s saying. That he “mis-spoke.”

Doing this accomplishes a couple of things. First, it keeps China from being pushed over the edge in the short term into attacking Taiwan pre-maturely. At the same time, it buys our country some runway, so that America can continue its pivot and re-alignment to counter the great dragon in the East.

What do you all think? Am I crazy? (Or am I dead on the mark like the time I got lucky predicting a possible solution to breaking up the Russian blockade?)

I welcome any comments below or by email or social media.

Moving away from Asia to the Middle East, I wanted to discuss a column I came across.

Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress and former U.S. ambassador to Austria, wrote a great column on Israel in The Washington Post that discussed an issue I had read about probably five or ten years ago, but frankly, it had kind of slipped my mind.

I’ll mention the problem that slipped my mind in just a moment, but let me set up the situation first.

Lauder said that despite a strong economy and signed peace treaties with six Arab League nations, that Israel faces a couple of big threats in the years to come.

The first is the potential that Iran could build a nuclear weapon. This is obviously something that a lot of people have been discussing.

But the second thing, which had slipped my mind, is that a growing Palestinian population in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip could cause long-term problems for Israel.

Lauder says that if nothing changes, and if Israel continues to rule over the West Bank, it will soon face a serious challenge from the Palestinian population.

His fear, and I quote here, is that, “If it gives Palestinians full citizenship — and therefore full rights — it will no longer be Jewish. If it doesn’t do so, it will no longer be democratic. Either way, Israel, as a Jewish democratic state, will cease to exist.”

So, this will definitely be something to keep an eye on, as well.

All right, enough news. Let’s share some motivation and wisdom.

The first comes from my wife, so I have no idea who to credit for it. But it’s a photo someone had shared on facebook.

That’s it for this edition.

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

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

The view from the front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to make this work sustainable, and to help improve it, is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

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/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe

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Hi friend,

Happy Friday! Hope you’ve had a great week!

One quick administrative note: the last newsletter is unlocked and no longer paywalled, for those who missed it. You can read it here: The view from the front for 7/12/22.

Also, up above the header, you’ll an audio upload, so you can now listen to the edition instead of just reading it.

We’re going to begin today’s edition with Ukraine.

As you may recall, in the Tuesday edition, I shared quite a bit of video and analysis from Twitter about the way our HIMARS rocket system.

HIMARS stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and these have been absolutely wrecking Russian forces now that they’ve arrived in Ukraine.

I collected lots of data and shared it in the Tuesday post, which supports this analysis. But low and behold, The Economist published an impressive piece on this same topic.

Am I saying that because I live on Twitter, searching for scraps of the tiniest imaginable data, that I covered something before The Economist? Yes, I am.

Yes, I am.

Am I also saying that The Economist covered that same issue with better clarity and authority than I did? Oh, I’m absolutely saying that.

But a subscription to The Economist will cost you four times as much as my newsletter, so there’s that. lol

Nonetheless, The Economist notes that the HIMARS are popping ammunition depots like some adult pops balloons at the county fair.

Nineteen ammunition depots have been hit to date, and they’ve also taken out several command posts, killing several Russian colonels and generals in the process.

And if Russia moves the new ammunition depots further back, it’s going to further strain the logistical nightmare for its army. Russia’s trucks will have to drive farther, and these trucks will increasingly become targeted as the linchpin that is holding the Russian Army together.

Moving away from the frontline of Russia to its larger picture, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius notes the following:

Ignatius also added the following:

The best evidence that sanctions are working, albeit slowly, comes from Russian officials themselves. “The situation is not easy,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged last month. Herman Gref, the head of Sberbank, Russia’s largest, warned: “We may need around a decade to return [the] economy to the 2021 levels.” He told journalists recently that cargo shipments to Russia had fallen sixfold because of Western sanctions.

This is going to eventually affect Russia’s military and oh-so-much more. As Ignatius writes:

“We’re playing the long game, too,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told me on Thursday. The United States assembled a coalition of three dozen countries to support the sanctions, she noted, with this satisfying result: Exports of semiconductors to Russia have fallen 74 percent compared with a year ago. “You can’t sustain a modern military without semiconductors,” Raimondo observed.

Speaking for myself, I don’t know if the citizens of Russia are quite as spoiled as we are here in America, but once you can’t buy a new iPhone or other electronic device that you’re craving, I think that’s when Putin is really going to feel the internal pressure.

But the internal pressure might actually already be building.

Russian expert Fiona Hill recently spoke about this in the below video.

Hill, who’s a former official at the U.S. National Security Council specializing in Russian and European affairs, and who’s also a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, made the following points in the interview.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was supposed to be up for re-election in 2024, but he signed an executive order in 2020 that changed the Russian Constitution to allow him to run for two additional six-year terms.

That means he’s now there until 2036.

Hill says in the interview that President Putin is less popular than most know, and that as his unpopularity grows, there's more incentive for those around him to maneuver against him.

As such, Hill made a couple of other points. She speculates that Putin wants to seem popular, and that he wants to end the conflict in Ukraine.

She ends by saying that locking up Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is not a sign of someone who’s confident.

My take on what Hill says is that barring some kind of overthrow at home for Putin, it leaves the Ukraine situation in a complete and total mess.

Because even if Putin wants peace, he would need to negotiate to hang onto what Russia has captured.

But numerous Ukrainian officials have said that they won’t stop fighting until they’ve taken back every inch of Ukrainian soil. And that includes the peninsula of Crimea, which Russia formally seized that in 2014.

So for now, the war will grind on unfortunately.

Moving to the Middle East, President Joe Biden has traveled there and is meeting with Saudi Arabia today.

He started the trip in Israel, and the AP had a wonderful summary of the situation that he entered.

During a visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Friday, President Joe Biden offered compassion and financial assistance for hope-starved Palestinians but also delivered a blunt acknowledgment that the “ground is not ripe” for new attempts to reach an elusive peace.

Political uncertainty in Israel, which is holding another round of elections in November, and the weakness of Palestinian Authority leadership has dimmed any chance of restarting negotiations that broke down more than a decade ago.

According to the White House fact sheet following the visit, Biden pledged “new contributions totaling $316 million to support the Palestinian people. This is on top of the more than half a billion dollars the United States has provided to the Palestinian people since the Biden Administration restored much-needed funding to the Palestinians,” according to the fact sheet.

Israel has also committed to upgrading wireless networks in the West Bank and Gaza.

Biden left Israel and the West Bank and visits with Saudi Arabia today.

CNN reports that “while oil production is not expected to be the main topic of the meeting, US officials do expect the topic to arise.”

The United States hopes that Saudia Arabia will boost production.

But Biden says he’s traveling to Saudi Arabia as part of a "much broader" agenda to promote US interests.

He also plans to meet with leaders from Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan.

CNN quoted Biden as saying “he has an opportunity to fix the "mistake" of "walking away from our influence in the Middle East," a reference to the Trump administration.

From the story, which quoted Biden:

"There are so many issues at stake that I want to make clear that we can continue to lead in the region and not create a vacuum -- a vacuum that is filled by China and or Russia, against the interest of both Israel and the United States and many other countries," Biden said.

I’m definitely glad that Biden is staying engaged in the Middle East, and I’m most certainly hoping Saudia Arabia turns on the gas pump.

Let’s end with some motivation and wisdom.

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.

And if you love what you’re reading, throw a couple of bucks in the hat by subscribing below.

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.

Get full access to The view from the front by Stan R. Mitchell at stanrmitchell.substack.com/subscribe