The Stan R. Mitchell Show

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: [email protected]. (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 

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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 

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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 

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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.

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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.

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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.

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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.

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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.

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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.

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

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: [email protected]. (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: [email protected]. (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.

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