The Stan R. Mitchell Show

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do two things:

* Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

In this episode, we’ll be discussing several topics, that I think will really interest you, and that I almost guarantee you haven’t seen in the news! This includes:

* A look back at what I think are six of the biggest foreign policy stories for 2022 (one of which, I’ll bet you’re not even aware of!).

* An in-depth look at an interview recently done by the CIA director, which had an impressive amount of news regarding many of the topics we’ve been covering, especially regarding the war in Ukraine against Russia, and the growing threat of an invasion of Taiwan by China.

* The Zelensky visit to America, and three really interesting things from that visit.

* A remarkable bit of reporting from The New York Times and the Washington Post, regarding the invasion of Ukraine, and just how poorly the Russian soldiers were prepped, equipped, and prepared for this horrific fighting.

* A brief look into the horrific murder of an Iranian doctor, who simply tried to help the protestors, and what this might mean for the larger movement against Iran’s government.

* Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And if you love what I’m doing here, please sign up for email notifications. It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time.

Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon or make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are some of the news reports/source notes that I quote from in the podcast, as well as the motivation and wisdom links I read.

Selected source notes for the podcast.

PBS: CIA Director Bill Burns on war in Ukraine, intelligence challenges posed by China

AP: Zelenskyy thanks ‘every American,’ sees ‘turning point’

New York Times: Putin’s War: A Times investigation based on interviews, intercepts, documents and secret battle plans shows how a “walk in the park” became a catastrophe for Russia.

Washington Post: ‘Wiped out’: War in Ukraine has decimated a once feared Russian brigade

CNN: US to send precision bomb kits and Patriot missiles in next Ukraine aid package, officials say

Tehran Doctor Tortured And Killed For Treating Wounded Protesters

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do two things:

* Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

And if you love what I’m doing here, please sign up for email notifications. It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time.

Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon or make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition.

In this episode, I talk about:

* Some potentially HUGE news that’s really good for Ukraine.

* An important thing I’ve never considered about Putin’s mental state, and what that means for all of us — especially Ukraine.

* The U.S. left Afghanistan, but the country is now a growing, festering wound for Pakistan. I talk about the strategic implications of this. And how Pakistan’s dual hand is about to come back to haunt the nation.

* Russia’s growing partnership with Iran, and what that might mean for the Middle East, especially Saudia Arabia.

* Finally, we’ll cover plenty of motivation and wisdom.

Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports/source notes of some of the items that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

Hat tip for the above from @LCpl_X

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do two things:

* Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

And if you love what I’m doing here, please sign up for email notifications. It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time.

Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon or make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy today’s edition. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports/source notes of some of the items that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Russia/Ukraine news

Ukraine war: Russian military airfields hit by explosions

A look at the weapons most-likely used:

American defense news

China

Iran

Kori Schake: Rejecting Authoritarianism

Israel

Germany

Germany arrests 25 accused of plotting coup - BBC News

Tech news

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do two things:

* Work to highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Attempt to unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

And if you love what I’m doing here, please sign up for email notifications. It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time.

Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon or make a donation at Venmo (@authorstanrmitchell).

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy it. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

Every week, I primarily do two things:

* Highlight what our military troops are doing around the world, while also trying to better educate Americans about looming hotspots. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

* Unite our country and remind us of how lucky we are to live in America. (My thoughts on the division in this country...)

Take a listen to the show above. I really hope it resonates with you.

And if you love what I’m doing here, please sign up for email notifications. (It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon.)

Why paid subscriptions help...

Enough of the sales pitch, I hope you enjoy it. Again, you should listen to it from the player above.

And what follows are the news reports that I quote from in the podcast.

Source notes for the podcast.

Iran attacks Kurds in Iraq.

A map of the area:

At the same time, here’s video of more Iranian brutality. Absolute barbarians. At some point, the people have to stop protesting and start fighting.

And here’s a reminder that this is about way more than headscarves.

This brutality might backfire though.

Video of what Nance was referring to.

Opinion | Turkey is playing with fire in Northern Syria

By David Ignatius:

Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke on Wednesday with his Turkish counterpart and warned the Turks against attacking restricted zones around U.S. troops. But a Pentagon official said there was “no sign that [the Turks] are ready to de-escalate.” As the Turkish military assault in northern Syria begins to destabilize the U.S.-led coalition’s fragile control over the murderous remnants of the Islamic State, a reasonable person begins to wonder: What kind of an ally is this?

Notes on Ukraine.

Ukrainian energy systems on brink of collapse after weeks of Russian bombing

U.S. General warns China…

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front podcast. If you just happened to stumble by here, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here (assuming you’ve never heard the show, which you really should just go listen to.)

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

And as a guy who’s been deployed overseas, and who was a big-time history buff even before that, I care a lot about our military, where they're at, where they might be going, what conflicts might be about to occur.

Because these things matter. And as such, every week I report news that you’re not going to easily find anywhere else. 

So, if you’re a military member, a spouse of a military member, or a parent or grandparent of a military member, this is probably a great podcast for you to subscribe to. 

I’ll keep you updated on foreign policy issues, but I won’t do it like you’ll find everywhere else. First of all, the media almost never covers the military or looming hotspots. But if they do, they overhype everything. And they scare you and use lots of B-roll video with explosions and flashing graphics. Their biggest desire is eyeballs and ad dollars. 

I promise you -- and you can check the past year of archived editions -- I do not overhype, exaggerate, or do any of that. If anything, I almost downplay. It’s a steady and calm voice that you’ll find here.

But on the flip side, foreign policy journals that do cover what I do also fall way short in my opinion. 

Their articles are far too long, they’re far too dense, and they’re crammed with big words, technical mambo jumbo, and silly acronyms that only insiders truly know.

I couldn't find a show that met my needs, so I decided to create one.

Once a week, I’ll discuss military matters, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history.

Besides covering this news, and also sharing plenty of motivation at the end of each edition, I also work as hard as I can to unite this country. 

Without question, I feel like our wide division and animosity toward those with whom we disagree is the greatest threat our country faces. 

So, once a week I do my best to bridge this great divide, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this great country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars. 

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always. 

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids. 

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future. 

If you love what I’m doing here, please sign up for email notifications. (It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon.)

Why paid subscriptions help...

Paid subscriptions provide a recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do.

Of course, you can also tell people about my podcast and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend.

But you don’t have to do any of these things. I feel called to do this and I’ve already had tremendous support from people who’ve signed up to chip in a few bucks each month.

Trust me, you can sign up and come and go as you like. As long as I’m making enough to cover the time I put into doing this show, then I’m not going anywhere.

Source notes for the podcast.

Joe Rogan finally admits that school 'furry' litter box hoax

Biden flexes his political muscle abroad at G20 meeting

This is fake news. Posting it so that it remains in my source notes.

This is the real news:

False claim about Iran protester executions goes viral with help from celebrities and politicians

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front newsletter. If you just happened to stumble by here, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

And as a guy who’s been deployed overseas, and who was a big-time history buff even before that, I care a lot about our military, where they're at, where they might be going, what conflicts might be about to occur.

Because these things matter. And as such, every week I publish news that you’re not going to easily find anywhere else. 

So, if you’re a military member, a spouse of a military member, or a parent or grandparent of a military member, this is probably a great newsletter for you to subscribe to. 

I’ll keep you updated on foreign policy issues, but I won’t do it like you’ll find everywhere else. First of all, the media almost never covers the military or looming hotspots. But if they do, they overhype everything. And they scare you and use lots of B-roll video with explosions and flashing graphics. Their biggest desire is eyeballs and ad dollars. 

I promise you -- and you can check the past year of archived editions -- I do not overhype, exaggerate, or do any of that. If anything, I almost downplay. It’s a steady and calm voice that you’ll find here.

But on the flip side, foreign policy journals that do cover what I do also fall way short in my opinion. 

Their articles are far too long, they’re far too dense, and they’re crammed with big words, technical mambo jumbo, and silly acronyms that only insiders truly know.

I couldn't find a show that met my needs, so I decided to create one.

Once a week, I’ll discuss military matters, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history.

Besides covering this news, and also sharing plenty of motivation at the end of each edition, I also work as hard as I can to unite this country. 

Without question, I feel like our wide division and animosity toward those with whom we disagree is the greatest threat our country faces. 

So, once a week I do my best to bridge this great divide, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this great country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars. 

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always. 

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids. 

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future. 

And with that out of the way, let’s get started. 

One quick reminder before we get to the news…

If you haven’t already, please sign up for email notifications. (It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon. Doing this provides a recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do. Of course, you can also tell people about this newsletter, my podcast, and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend. But you don’t have to do any of these things. I feel called to do this and I’ve already had tremendous support from people who’ve signed up to chip in a few bucks each month. Trust me, you can sign up and come and go as you like. As long as I’m making enough to recoup my costs and continue this outreach, then I’m not going anywhere.)

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture at the top of the page; that will take you to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider. (But honestly, I almost always have more details in my podcast, so that’s probably the best way to stay informed and enjoy the experience more.)

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about Ukraine, including the possible terms they’ve laid out (under pressure from the West) to begin some kind of peace talks. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

* News that Russia has pulled its ships into the safety of port after the drone-ship vessel attack a week ago.

* News that Ukrainian advances in the southern part of the country near Kherson have continued, and Russia announced it is withdrawing from the western side of the Dnipro River, which is obviously huge news. (As a reminder, this is the only regional capital that Russia managed to seize during its massive invasion this year.)

* I’ll share what this withdrawal means for the tactical situation, according to one General who’s well-versed in the art of war.

* I’ll share what one retired Army officer has said, who has come out and said that the Russians have already lost the war and have no real options left. I’ll share the reasons he has said this.

* I’ll share video of a horrendous attack that the Russians attempted with an armored thrust on the eastern part of the front in the Donbas region, and how Ukrainian artillery absolutely decimated this attempt.

* I’ll show the aftermath of what happened after Russians blew a damn in the east — yet another atrocity from them — and how they created a man-made natural disaster that emptied a massive lake that was more than 50 miles long and two miles wide. The reservoir is now completely shallow.

* I’ll share a well-structured, well-reasoned argument for why supporting Ukrainian efforts to oust the Russians actually serves U.S. interests, and not just in deterring Russia. How that supporting Ukraine also aligns with U.S. interests in thwarting China's territorial ambitions and expansions.

* I’ll even share a quick, must-read thread about the economics of possibly supporting Ukraine with tanks first.

* I’ll share the balancing act that Ukraine is being forced to walk with China right now, something I wasn’t aware of — and I’ll bet you weren’t either. (This has seriously not been reported anywhere that I’m aware.)

* I’ll share news of a disturbing phone call between China and Russia, which I haven’t seen reported.

* I’ll remind everyone briefly that Nov 10th is the Marine Corps Birthday. It’s 247th Marine Corps birthday.

* Finally, for the news portion, I’ll take about the size of our Navy, remind everyone of how large it used to be in World War II (just to provide some perspective), and share an idea that could be used to help thwart China with smaller ships and more missiles. It’s really quite fascinating how much this has all changed.

* And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

NOTE: This is a lot of news. I HIGHLY STRONGLY suggest listening to the podcast on your drive or while you work, if you can. It’ll be way more relaxing and enjoyable.

The biggest news of late is that Ukraine has laid out possible terms (under pressure from the West) to begin peace talks with Russia.

The bare minimum requirements are the following:

Moving along, Russia is having to pull its ships back to safety after the recent unmanned naval drone/ship attack by Ukraine. Not a good look for them, but their naval forces are about on par with their land forces, which is to say not good.

Similar to this Russian retreat of its ships, there’s some other huge news for Ukraine.

Ukrainian advances in the southern part of the country have continued, and Russia announced it is withdrawing from the western side of the Dnipro River near Kherson, which is obviously huge news. 

As a reminder, this is the only regional capital that Russia managed to seize during its massive invasion this year.

CNN had a pretty good summary of the situation. Here is that reporting.

Retired General Mick Ryan discussed what this retreat will mean, and here is part of what he shared:

Here’s that map above in detail. You can see the river literally cuts the city of Kherson in half.

Continuing his thoughts:

5/ What about Ukraine’s next steps? It is unlikely the Ukrainians will be undertaking a large scale crossing of the Dniepr to the eastern bank anytime soon.

6/ Not only would this be a massive, deliberate operation, it would attack into a dense series of Russian defensive zones.

7/ Consequently, the Ukrainians - who prefer to attack indirectly, attrit enemy logistic and C2, and corrode the Russians from within - will look for other opportunities in other areas to clear the Russians from the south.

8/ Of course, Ukrainian deep strikes will continue. Their recapture of Kherson will expand the area in the south that systems like #HIMARS can reach for shaping and strike activities in support of future offensives.

9/ A second issue: this halts any future Russian designs on Odesa, but puts the Ukrainians a step closer to recapturing the south. Capturing Kherson is also an important enabling operation for a future campaign to recapture Crimea.

10/ A third observation: while this announcement was made by the military, ceding territory is political. There is no way this would have occurred without Putin’s sign off.

11/This is evidence that Putin can recognise reality, and can make rational decisions (as @MaxBoot describes here). But it is also evidence he is setting up the military as the fall guys for the Russian debacle in #Ukraine.

While we’re discussing withdrawals, Here what one retired Army officer has said, who has come out and said that the Russians have already lost the war and have no real options left.

I really think he’s dead on.

Here’s an analogy that I shared with a friend.

Putin is like the bankrupt small business owner who still has the Denali, speed boat, and mansion. The man is drinking and losing sleep because he knows there’s a three-inch stack of certified mail and he’s about to have to give up the toys, but most have no clue.

The employees still have jobs, the courts haven’t authorized seizures, and the man doesn’t hide at church or restaurants or at Rotary meetings. But he’s sweating and the truth will come out soon.

That explains the desire to negotiate, the threat of nukes, and the foolish gambit to break the Ukrainian spirit by attacking the electrical grid instead of military targets. Putin is a cursing, blustering business man, who’s threatening to sue the banks and lying to his wife.

Moving along, I wanted to share a video of a horrendous bloody nose that the Russians received, after attempting an armored thrust on the eastern part of the front in the Donbas region, and how Ukrainian artillery absolutely decimated this attempt.

Hat tip to Chuck Pfarrer, who first highlighted this.

And here’s the full video if you want to watch it.

Continuing our coverage of Ukraine, the atrocities committed by Russia have continued.

Here’s just another example in a long list of them.

the Russians blew up a dam and destroyed a lake that was 50 miles long and two miles wide.

The Oskil reservoir is now completely shallow.

I wanted to make sure I shared the below this week.

This is a well-structured, well-reasoned argument for why supporting Ukrainian efforts to oust the Russians serves U.S. interests, and not just in deterring Russia. Supporting Ukraine also aligns with U.S. interests in thwarting China's territorial ambitions and expansions. (Full thread below.)

Full thread from Twitter:

I have been hearing the idea from some Republicans that Ukrainian resistance comes at a cost to Americans. Nothing could be more wrong. Ukrainian resistance provides extraordinary security benefits to Americans. 1/

In fact, Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s genocidal invasion does more for American security than any American policy does – or could do. It has changed the global balance in a way that makes peace more likely in decades to come. 2/

Republicans present China as America’s real, long-term rival. Democrats agree. The scenario for a U.S.-China war is a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. By resisting a Russian invasion, Ukrainians have shown the difficulty of such operations, making this scenario less likely. 3/

By fighting in self-defense, Ukrainians have thus reduced the risk of a major war and of a nuclear war. This extraordinary achievement is due to the courage and skill of Ukrainians. They do not get much credit for it. They should get more credit, and more support. 4/

For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have failed to formulate a policy that could prevent Russia from weakening and undoing the international order. Russia serves as a cat’s paw, doing what China would not wish to be seen doing. 5/

In defeating Russia’s armed forces and exposing Russia’s weakness, the Ukrainians have both made a larger war in Europe far less likely, and gotten China’s cat’s paw under control. 6/

The Ukrainians have reduced the possibility of Chinese aggression through Russia, and made direct Chinese aggression less likely. They have done all of this just by defending themselves, without making any move against China. 7/

Without the Ukrainians, the United States would lack the policy instruments for this. By resisting, Ukrainians created an opportunity for U.S. policy that would not otherwise have existed. 8/

No American lives have been placed at risk. U.S. assistance to Ukraine amounts to a rounding error in the defense budget. 9/

The gains Ukrainian resistance brings to American security are so enormous that the US national security establishment is embarrassed to speak of them directly. 10/

It is awkward to say that another country is doing so much for us. It is awkward to say that Ukrainian resistance has done more for the safety of Americans than any U.S. policy since the end of the cold war. But it is true and must be said. 11/

Reversing the U.S. policy of aiding Ukraine will undo all of these gains. There is still time to revive Russia and reassure China, which is what ending support of Ukraine will mean. Such a policy reversal would make Americans far less safe and secure. 12/

My concerns about the Russian invasion of Ukraine are the prevention of genocide and the defense of democracy. But those who think first of U.S. interests should acknowledge what Ukrainians are doing for American security. The least we can do is be on our own side 13/13

And while we’re on the topic, here’s a must-read thread about the economics of possibly supporting Ukraine with tanks first. (Full thread below.)

Full thread from Twitter:

A random thought: sooner or later, Ukraine will decide what modern tank to use. With its 40+m population and 2,000km border to post-Russian space it will need not less tanks than Poland (35m population). PL buys 1000 K9 Tanks now. UKR will buy those tank it knows. Huge market /1

To understand: one Leopard2 costs €3-7m. One K9: €3m. One Abrams: €6m. So it is about approximately €4b market only for the tanks and only for the units, without ammo, maintenance etc. The annual turnover of the whole German KMW, the producer of Leo2, is €2bn. /2

The country which sends its tanks to Ukraine first and makes them into the symbol of the victory over the Russian faZZism, will secure the market bigger than anything we know from the last decades. To arm Ukraine could be a recovery program for German economy, and a moral one. /3

Germany has ALREADY lost the €5-6bn order from Poland, it went to Korea. The Polish decision was dictated by the clearly unreliable position of the GER Chancellor and the Defense Minister. These two SPD politicians took German economy €5-6bn and undermined Nato and EU trust. /4

Now it is about what country will help Ukraine to protect its democracy, the peace in Europe, and will be rewarded by fat orders for its economy. The decision is up to our politicians. Who will send to Ukraine the first shipment of modern battle tanks? /5

One bit of news that I wasn’t even aware of is the below.

Politico reported on the balancing act that Ukraine is being forced to walk with China right now.

The complex irony with this view of the conflict is that political realities are forcing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take a cautiously deferential stance toward Russia’s authoritarian partner, China.

Zelenskyy knows full well that he cannot risk antagonizing China, and wants to stop Beijing from offering even more support or sending weapons to Putin. Most significantly, Ukraine abstained from a crucial U.N. resolution vote last month on China’s abuse of the Muslim Uyghur minority. (Kyiv later had a change of heart, but too late to change the voting record.) Diplomats have also noted that China — with its massive infrastructure capabilities — will almost certainly be called upon to help play a frontline role in the reconstruction of Ukraine’s shattered cities.

But we really need to make sure we’re aware of the serious commitment China has with Russia. China does not want to see Putin fall. (See below.)

In a recent phone call between China and Russia, the following message was release by China:

Wang Yi said that the fact that President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to General Secretary Xi Jinping right after the 20th CPC National Congress has reflected the high-level mutual trust and firm mutual support between China and Russia. China will also firmly support Russia in rallying and leading the Russian people under the leadership of President Putin to achieve strategic development goals against all the odds and disturbance, and to further establish Russia's status as a major country on the international stage. Wang noted that both China and Russia are fully entitled to seeking its own development and revitalization, and this is fully consistent with the trend of the times. Any attempt to hold back the progress of China and Russia will end up in failure. China is ready to further deepen exchanges with Russia at all levels, and take China-Russia relations and cooperation in various fields to a higher level, so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and peoples, and contribute more elements of stability to the unstable world.

In other HUGE news, in case you didn’t know, today is like the most important day of the world. lol. (Watch this incredible video if you get a moment.)

Finally, let’s talk some naval thoughts for a moment. Currently, we have about 280 ships that are deployed or could be.

Compare that to the peak of World War II below.

And while the above will never happen again, here’s a thought that might.

Here’s the story link: Bring Back the PT (Missile) Boats. Distribute lethality with small, affordable boats carrying powerful missiles.

Finally, let’s get to the best part of every episode.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

This is the truest thing I’ve seen in some time. If you’re in that empty blank space, don’t you give up.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hey guys,

Welcome to the View from the Front newsletter. If you just happened to stumble by here, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

For those who don’t know, my name is Stan R. Mitchell, and I’m a prior Marine and journalist.

And as a guy who’s been deployed overseas, and who was a big-time history buff even before that, I care a lot about our military, where they're at, where they might be going, what conflicts might be about to occur.

Because these things matter. And as such, every week I publish news that you’re not going to easily find anywhere else. 

So, if you’re a military member, a spouse of a military member, or a parent or grandparent of a military member, this is probably a great newsletter for you to subscribe to. 

I’ll keep you updated on foreign policy issues, but I won’t do it like you’ll find everywhere else. First of all, the media almost never covers the military or looming hotspots. But if they do, they overhype everything. And they scare you and use lots of B-roll video with explosions and flashing graphics. Their biggest desire is eyeballs and ad dollars. 

I promise you -- and you can check the past year of archived editions -- I do not overhype, exaggerate, or do any of that. If anything, I almost downplay. It’s a steady and calm voice that you’ll find here.

But on the flip side, foreign policy journals that do cover what we do also fall way short in my opinion. 

Their articles are far too long, they’re far too dense, and they’re crammed with big words, technical mambo jumbo, and silly acronyms that only insiders truly know.

So, I couldn't find a show that met my needs, so I decided to create one.

Once a week, I’ll discuss military matters, while also adding in a little motivation, wisdom, and history.

Besides covering this news, and also sharing plenty of motivation at the end of each edition, I also work as hard as I can to unite this country. 

Without question, I feel like our wide division and animosity toward those with whom we disagree is the greatest threat our country faces. 

So, once a week I do my best to bridge this great divide, while also reminding each of us that most of us are being played by divisive political and news figures, who are ripping apart this great country just so they can reach a higher office or gain more followers and ad dollars. 

Most Americans are good, and we need to remember this. Always. 

While we face great challenges as a country, America has stood together for more than 240 years, and it’s only by pulling our country closer together that we can pass on a better future for our kids. 

We need to hold and cherish the beliefs that got us here today. Beliefs such as patience, kindness, and a strong belief that our best days lie before us. These are the beliefs that got us to this point. And they’re also the kind of optimistic beliefs that will get us to a brighter future. 

And with that out of the way, let’s get started. 

One quick reminder before we get to the news…

If you haven’t already, please sign up for email notifications. (It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. Or, you can sign up at Patreon. Doing this provides a recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do. Of course, you can also tell people about this newsletter, my podcast, and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend. )

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture to go to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider.

One other quick announcement, which is kind of a big one. After many requests (like so many requests), I’ve created a Patreon page. You can now go there to help support what we’re doing here without having to set up your payment information with Substack.

Now to the news….

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about Saudi Arabia, and what’s happening with the threats from Iran. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

* Lots of news about Ukraine and Russia, including the latest about grain shipments, a surprise attack on Russia’s Navy, an improvement in Ukraine’s satellite communications situation, and what the coming winter means (and why Ukraine is better prepared for this).

* Besides these items, we’ll talk just a bit about how the Russian war plays into the rising tension with China.

* And then we’ll cover just some scary new tech news that involves a flying drone and a robotic dog armed with a machine gun. Trust me, you want to know about this thing.

* And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

The biggest news of late is this out-of-left-field threat from Iran to attack Saudi Arabia.

This is, uh, concerning...

And it makes sense in hindsight. Iran is dealing with internal unrest that it can’t put out, and just last week, they put out a dire warning that the protests have to stop or serious bloodshed would follow. (See below.)

But then things escalated even more, following the warning.

Clearly, it’s impossible to say if this is a serious threat or something to distract from Iran’s problems, but we need to make sure our troops are protected.

I will also say that it’s probably not a bad time to ask if Saudi Arabia might increase oil production upon further consideration.

Because given how they've fought in Yemen... Uh, they might ought to be concerned...

But on a serious note, we have several thousand troops in Saudi Arabia, as well as several thousand in the United Arab Emirates and in Qatar. All would be potential targets that fall within range of Iranian ballistic missiles.

Reminder from just a couple of years ago…

They’ve done it before.

Iran fired missiles at Iraqi bases that the United Statesuses to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.Four of the ballistic missiles broke up in flight;10 hit Al Asad and two hit Irbil, officials said.

Moving along to Ukraine, there’s been a few things I want to share from there.

First, Russia has rejoinedits wartime deal on Ukrainian grain exports. This follows them briefly abandoning the deal following a Ukrainian drone attack against its Black Sea fleet. The drone attack only barely made the news,

But you can see a nice summary of the attack below.

And the attack really did likely make history.

But the grain deal is back in place, so that’s good. And if more Russian assets are required to defend the fleet and naval installation from a similar drone attack, then I say that’s great news for Ukraine and the West.

Moving along, I came across this post and thought it was the perfect summary of what Russia constantly does. (And what Russia has constantly done for the past 10 or 15 years with Putin at the helm.)

Is that dead on or what?

We did make another contribution of aid. See below.

And part of what we sent was really important.

The United States is sending four satellite antennas to Ukraine in a move that will bolster the communication abilities of the Ukrainian Army, after the Russians have hammered the electrical grid (and Elon Musk spoke out about the too-high cost of providing internet through low-flying satellites).

I’ll share just a bit from the story (US sending satellite antennas to Ukraine after Musk’s Starlink U-turn):

“These SATCOMs are not intended to serve as a substitute for a service like Starlink,” she said during a Pentagon briefing. “They help increase communication efforts on the battlefield.”

…

“We’re seeing Ukrainian infrastructure and electrical grids being targeted by the Russians,” Singh said, “and these antennas provide an additional capability on the ground at a critical time when Ukraine’s infrastructure is being hit.”

So, I’m really glad we’ve helped strengthen Ukraine’s communication equipment, because communication is absolutely crucial in the middle of a war obviously.

Speaking of the war and the approaching winter, you really should check out this thread if you have a moment.

General Hertling explains in his thread that NCOs will absolutely make the difference. And that Ukrainian troops will continue to advance throughout the winter.

I want to share two quick political thoughts.

First, there’s this reminder that China is watching how all this goes down and looking to see if Russia succeeds or fails.

Secondly, for those who want the U.S. to seek peace, this is a nice reminder that it’s not that simple.

(Also, if you listen to the podcast, you’ll hear a pretty epic rant and a pretty bold prediction.)

And yes, I’m trying to tease the podcast and get you to listen to it, thanks for asking! lol

Finally, before we get to the motivation and wisdom portion, check out this crazy story as part of our tech news for this week.

An armed, walking dog, delivered by drones.

That’s pretty scarry, right?

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

And if you haven’t already, please sign up for email notifications. (It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time. Also, people are always asking me on social media how to best support my dreams, including getting out future books in some series they love sooner. Believe me, the best way to support me is by signing up for a paid subscription here. It’s recurring, monthly revenue of $5 per month, and it’s the fastest way I’ll be able to return to becoming a full-time author again (my writing journey/curse), which means I’ll have more time to write fiction, cover news, and try to unite the country and motivate others — all things I feel drawn to do. Of course, you can also tell people about this newsletter, my podcast, and my books! And you can also even give a gift subscription to a friend. )

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture to go to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider.

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about China, and there’s two big pieces of news from there. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

* Russia is now (falsely) claiming that Ukraine might use a dirty bomb on its own territory. This, of course, makes no sense. So why are they saying this? We’ll dig into that a bit.

* The Progressive House Caucus issued a letter calling for a negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, but they then withdrew it. I’ll explain why they did, and what I think is the bright spot from this action.

* Russian drones are increasingly raising concerns in Norway. There have been seven arrests already and we’ll explore what’s going on.

* A deadly raid by Israeli troops against a new organization of Palestinian fighters, who also happen to use TikTok, and who are rallying the Palestinian people in a way that hasn’t been seen in years.

* Things are getting pretty ugly in Haiti. If you haven’t heard what’s happening in that island country only a short distance from America, you might want to keep that on your radar. I’ll talk about that for just a bit.

* I’ll also cover a short story to remind us all that the cost of freedom isn’t cheap, even in peace time.

* And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

We start with China…

The biggest news of late is two big announcements regarding China. The first is U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying China is speeding up its potential invasion of Taiwan, and that China has decided it will use force to “reunify” with Taiwan (something it’s never stated in the past). Backing up this news is the appointment of President Xi Jinping to a third term, while also pushing out a couple of rivals.

Let’s begin with the increased threat of an invasion or use of force.

Secretary Blinken made pretty big news when he said China has rejected the status quo in regards to the situation with Taiwan.

From the story:

Blinken said, "What's changed is this: the decision by the government in Beijing that that status quo was no longer acceptable, that they wanted to speed up the process by which they would pursue reunification.”

He added that China has also made decisions on exerting more pressure on Taiwan and holding out the possibility of "using force to achieve their goals" if pressure tactics do not work.

"That is what has fundamentally changed."

Also, making news at a different forum, Blinken stated that "Beijing was determined to pursue reunification (with Taiwan) on a much faster timeline," though he did not specify a date.

Clearly, all of this made quite a bit of news.

But so far at least, this appears to be a bit of an overreach by Blinken. The Pentagon did not seem to be on the same page.

As proof, I’ll share this part from a recent Pentagon briefing.

Question:  Thank you, (inaudible). Two questions on China. Secretary Blinken said yesterday Beijing was determined to pursue (inaudible) unification with Taiwan on a much faster timeline. Does Secretary Austin agree with Secretary Blinken's assessment? And secondly, the U.S. military has assessed that China might have the capability to invade Taiwan by 2027. Is there any change in that assessment?

GEN. RYDER:  So we continue to see China as the pacing threat. I don't have any specifics to -- you know, any comment on Secretary Blinken's comments, specific comments on those other than to say I think within the United States government, we all agree that we need to continue to work closely with our allies and our partners in the region and throughout the world, really, to highlight the fact that China continues to pose a challenge. And so we'll continue to do our part to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific, again, working closely with allies and partners. But beyond that, I don't have anything new to provide. Thank you.

But I don’t want to reduce the tense and quite real possibilities of China using force.

Without question, the leader of China strengthened his hand this weekend to prepare such a possibility.

Xi Jinping begins third 5-year term, elevates several allies along with him

The news coming out of the country is that President Xi pushed out two very-experienced rivals, one of whom was trying to reform the country. The other one could have become the next president.

They’re now both gone.

And John Ruwitch, a NPR correspondant out of Beijing who has covered China for 20-plus years described Xi’s re-appointment and power moves as thus:

John Ruwitch:

“The big headline, as you say, is Xi Jinping getting another term. He's consolidated power in the party and in the military. He's eliminated rivals. The way it all went down this week just bolstered his power. And it surprised a lot of observers, frankly.

…

“The country faces huge challenges, though, particularly in economics and on the global stage. And it's really hard at this point to see who's left in the inner circle to stand up and offer criticism or even just an alternative viewpoint to the way Xi Jinping wants to run things. And that's worrying.”

Let’s move to Russia/Ukraine news now…

As you’ve probably heard, Russia is now (falsely) claiming that Ukraine might use a dirty bomb on its own territory. (Russia's defense chief warns of 'dirty bomb' provocation.) This, of course, makes no sense. So why are they saying this? We’ll dig into that a bit.

Tom Nichols, a retired professor with a deep history involving Russia and nuclear weapons, was all over the story.

Russia’s ‘Dirty Bomb’ Ploy

From the story:

Let’s hope that this is just the Kremlin trying to engage in scare tactics. If, however, Putin and his circle are really considering a dirty-bomb provocation, it is likely because they would see such a plot as solving multiple problems at once. Russia would probably try to flip the script, and go from an aggressor likely guilty of multiple war crimes to the victim of a nuclear “event.” It might then issue an ultimatum to the Ukrainians that elevates the war to a nuclear crisis (which is probably the only way Moscow thinks it can win, now that the Russian army lies in pieces on the battlefield).

The Russians, in such a gambit, would likely be betting that a faked dirty bomb would alleviate the “first use” stain from any Russian decision to attack — or as they would almost certainly say in this scenario, “retaliate” — with a nuclear weapon. With nuclear weapons now in play, the West would have to decide just how much to commit to nuclear deterrence on behalf of Ukraine.

I wanted to share one other bit of news about the war in Ukraine, which I think has a bright spot.

Members of the Progressive House Caucus issued a letter calling for a negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

From the letter:

As the risk of nuclear war increases, fighting in Ukraine escalates, and global economic insecurity deepens, 30 members of Congress urged President Biden to pursue direct diplomacy for a negotiated settlement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In a new letter the lawmakers, while recognizing the “difficulties involved in engaging Russia given its outrageous and illegal invasion of Ukraine,” urge the President to pair the U.S. military and economic support provided to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push to seek a realistic framework for a ceasefire, consistent with the President’s own recognition that “there’s going to have to be a negotiated settlement here.”

The lawmakers propose an approach that could include “incentives to end hostilities, including some form of sanctions relief,” and an international arrangement to “establish security guarantees for a free and independent Ukraine that are acceptable for all parties, including Ukrainians.”

Thank goodness the progressive Democrats withdrew their foolish, misguided letter. (Liberal U.S. lawmakers withdraw Ukraine letter after blowback.) Now let's see the House Republicans who've opposed helping Ukraine step up their support, as well. How anyone could NOT support Ukraine's fight for freedom is a bit beyond me.

That concludes our deep dives for this week, but here are a few stories you should have on your radar.

First, this news out of Norway.

Story link: Fears over Russian threat to Norway's energy infrastructure.

And in the Middle East, I wanted to share this news:

Story link: A new group of TikTok-savvy Palestinianfighters tests Israeli forces in the West Bank

Finally, if you haven’t heard what’s happening in Haiti, you might want to keep that on your radar.

Story link: Nations consider sending troops to Haiti,despite troubled past foreign intervention.

Before we get to the motivation and wisdom portion, let’s remember this: The cost of freedom isn’t cheap, even in peacetime.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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

Hi friends!

Hope everyone is doing well!

There’s a lot to cover, but if you haven’t already, please sign up for email notifications. (It’s FREE. Unless you choose to subscribe and support what I’m doing. It’s $5 per month should you choose that option, and you can cancel at any time. Here’s what I’m trying to do.)

Also, a brief reminder, if you’re reading this edition by email and not listening to the podcast, click the episode headline with today’s date that is under my picture to go to the full webpage. Otherwise, the email will likely be cut off and shortened by your email provider.

We’ll start this episode with the latest news about the Russian drones striking Ukraine’s power stations, and what effect they’ve had to date. Then, we’ll move on to the following:

* What the drones look like, what their range and characteristics are.

* Also, do the drones have a hidden purpose that’s only just now being realized?

* One possible additional effect that the Russians are going for.

* What Russian media are saying back home. True, the drones are knocking out Ukrainian power stations, but this isn’t affecting the frontlines. And things are as bad or worse than they were even a month ago. Wait until you hear what a Russian correspondent on the front line said this week.

* We’ll also cover the latest news on the front in the south, in the region of Kherson.

* We’ll also follow up on the bridge strike that Ukraine pulled off. What consequences are happening because of that.

* Stepping back from the war some, could the Russian drone attacks using drones made by Iran affect how much Israel supports Ukraine?

* Moving away from the war in Ukraine, we’ll touch on the protests happening in Iran.

* We’ll also do an update on the U.S.-Saudi spat.

* And, as always, we’ll end with our motivation and wisdom section.

The biggest news of late are the new drone attacks happening against Ukraine. (See story below.)

Ukraine’s power, water supplies under Russian attack again

From the story:

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Airstrikes cut power and water supplies to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians on Tuesday, part of what the country’s president called an expanding Russian campaign to drive the nation into the cold and dark and make peace talks impossible.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said nearly one-third of Ukraine’s power stations have been destroyed in the past week, “causing massive blackouts across the country.”

“No space left for negotiations with Putin’s regime,” he tweeted.

The new drones Russia is using are from Iran. You can learn more about them here: HESA Shahed 136.

They’re what I’d call mid-sized, 11 ft long with a wingspan of 8.2 ft. They fly pretty slow at 115 mph, and weigh about 400 pounds. Their range has been estimated as up to 1,100 miles.

They’re launched at a slight upward angle with the help of a jet rocket that gets dropped shortly after take off.

Here’s how they’re stacked before they fire, using their rocket engine.

One interesting thing about these drones is how inexpensive they are. Most analysts peg their value at $20,000 to $50,000 each. Unfortunately, many of the weapons systems that shoot them down cost dramatically more.

Just check out his thread if you’re curious. (A hint: the prices start at more than $100,000 for Stinger systems and go up to $500,000 to more than a million dollars a piece for some of the missiles we’re sending over there.)

A quick reminder of just how many kamikaze drones Russia is firing will make you do some pretty startling math in your head.

But it’s not all bad news for Ukraine. The drone attacks against civilian targets might be changing some minds in Israel’s government.

Russia’s Iranian drones complicate Israel’s balancing act

From the story:

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Iranian-made drones that Russia sent slamming into central Kyiv this week have complicated Israel’s balancing act between Russia and the West.

Israel has stayed largely on the sidelines since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last February so as not to damage its strategic relationship with the Kremlin. Although Israel has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, it has refused Kyiv’s frequent requests to send air defense systems and other military equipment and refrained from enforcing strict economic sanctions on Russia and the many Russian-Jewish oligarchs who have second homes in Israel.

But with news of Moscow’s deepening ties with Tehran, Israel’s sworn foe, pressure is growing on Israel to back Ukraine in the grinding war. Israel has long fought a shadowy war with Iran across the Middle East by land, sea and air.

Things are also going badly almost everywhere else for Russia on the frontlines.

Take a listen to this correspondent, if you have a moment.

He bemoans the situation, saying Russian forces near Kherson can only be resupplied by pontoon bridges and ferry crossings.

He says in some frontline areas, Russian troops are outnumbered 4 to 1, and they’re outclassed, too, by units trained abroad to NATO standards with modern, high-precision weapons.

His bottom line assessment:

“There won’t be any good news in Nov or Dec, and Russia will suffer severe territorial losses in the next two months.”

It seems to me the Russian people are being prepared for another big breakout by Ukrainian forces in the south, much as the Ukrainians broke through in the east in the Donbas region last month.

One other bit of great news for Ukraine is the result of the bridge attack.

Look at the delays currently happening.

These kinds of delays would seem to have real strategic impacts as they continue.

Let’s move from Ukraine to the Middle East; to the spat between Saudia Arabia and the U.S.

Things haven’t improved, and now concrete consequences are being put on the table, such as these below by Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat and serious foreign policy guru for the left.

Full image from above:

Moving north, the uprising in Iran continues, but for now, it remains contained.

One important thing to consider is that while many want to see Iran’s government toppled or weakened, not many Muslim countries want to see women fully empowered. (See below.)

All right, we’ve covered a decent amount of news, so let’s end with the motivation and wisdom portion now.

Motivation and Wisdom:

You know, just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. And we all know that opportunities don't happen, you create them.

So, I want to make sure I do my best to feed you mentally. As you’ve probably heard, people often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing, that's why we recommend it daily.” That was said by the great Zig Ziglar, and I’ve found it to be true for sure.

Without further delay, let’s just begin.

And, I always like to end with this one:

And with that, thanks for joining us this week on The View from the Front.

If you can, consider at some point becoming a paid subscriber.

The View from the Front is a reader-supported publication. The best way to support this work and make it sustainable is with a paid subscription. But at the same time, free ones are appreciated, too!

As a reminder, please be kind and try your best to love your fellow Americans.

So many men and women have sacrificed, fought, and died to keep this country together the past 240-plus years. Please work daily to unite our country again. The vast majority of Americans are decent, loving, great people.

Please don’t name-call the other side. They are mothers and fathers and folks not much different than you.🇺🇸🇺🇸

Also, please try to be a better person each and every day. Try to be kinder on social media and how you interact with others with whom you disagree.

Also, if you have a dream kicking around in the back of your mind? Go after it. If you have that friend or family member that you know you should reach out to? Reach out to them.

Finally, and this especially goes to all my awesome military folks listening out there, if you need help, reach out to someone. Please. Call that friend or family member. Do it for us all. We’ve already lost too many of the greatest folks that this country has produced to suicide. So I’m asking you to be brave once more, and show some vulnerability. Take a deep breath, breathe, and call a friend or family member or someone who can help.

I appreciate each and every one of you. Every tweet, every share, every email, etc. I can’t even tell you how much those mean to me, and I love each and every one of you all.

Please join me again in our next episode, and please stay safe until then.

Thanks again, everyone! You guys are the best. As always, don’t forget to check out my books. You can find all 11 of them on Amazon.

And with that, I’m out.

Semper Fidelis,

Stan R. Mitchell

P.S. Don’t forget to check out my books. I’ve written a CIA/Marine sniper series, a detective series, a private investigator series, an action-packed Western, a motivational/biography book about President Obama, and two realistic war novels: one about World War II and one about Afghanistan.

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

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