72 Comments
Oct 24, 2023·edited Oct 25, 2023

You've been providing a lot of good reading for our consumption. I appreciate getting the Reader's Digest condensed version of both, long videos, and prose.

This country is weakened morally, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I retired last year from the IC/DOD. My agency, and I'd bet most of DOD and the IC, has spent the last 20 years, or so, focusing on DEI and leadership training to the detriment of training and tradecraft. It was all about getting promoted. No one would ever dare tell the emperor that he had no clothes. In my opinion, we've hollowed out our analytical expertise.

Leaders of the agency all but openly mocked and undermined Trump. Senior leadership cycles between stints as agency SESes (Senior Executive Service) and sitting on boards of companies with which we had massive procurement contracts.

A nation that uses a drag queen to promote the US Navy is not a nation that is forming fighting men. If we really get into the scenarios discussed in MiH, taking on China, Russia, Iran, etc., I fear we are going to find out that we have been resting on our laurels for far too long. My eyes have been opened to how much of a warmonger our country is. Whatever happened to "speak softly and carry a big stick"?

This blog has caused me to change from solidly pro-Israel to realizing that there are two sides to this conflict. Many Jewish commentators that I respect are apoplectic that anyone would dare question if Israel has dirty hands.

I see how the leadership cares about Ukraine and Israel but not about our borders, to say nothing of Maui and East Palestine. Vaccine injuries and deaths are covered over, nothing to see here. Our government, both parties, the media, unions, universities, public grade and high schools, churches and corporations are all compromised. Truth is the casualty.

As we've gotten away from God, we have atrophied. A huge mistake was made in abandoning our industrial base. I wasted 30 years of my life being a Republican and about 40 years of my life being a conservative.

Now I'm learning to think for myself and being content living my vocation as a Chrisitan.

Many thanks for all you do, and to the commenters, as well.

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You're welcome. Most of us have gone through a similar process over the years. Trump, whatever his flaws, accelerated it for many.

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It doesn’t matter that the schools can’t teach, the Universities don’t produce citizens, or that the military, God help us, can’t deter great power wars. What matters is that they promote the uniparty’s interests.

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Mark, you hit a home run, bases loaded, even before the Series starts! Mercouris’ excoriating critique of America’s do-nothing approach to ME/Palestinian problem over the past 70+ years; Helmer’s depiction of our falling into the “trap” laid by Russia, China, Iran militaries; and Tucker’s (Epoch Times) insight into the real reason Jordan cannot become Speaker. In the background we hear the natterings of Mike Allen and co., that insufferable, arrogant partisan of “Old Washington…” I remember way back when Hugh Hewitt (!!) used to have him on in order to please the Beltway commuters and prove his bona fides with the DC in-crowd, I would literally turn off that segment, so revolting were the two of them…no more! But it really is stunning to see them clutching their pearls at this late date and darkest hour…

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Outstanding commentary. All this is explained from the point of view of one American in my new book "Our Country Then and Now"", Clarity Press by Richard C Cook.

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Past Israeli Ground Operations & the Limits of Israeli Military Power

https://youtu.be/JiAi9IXFT2M

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Great find, Mark! Look forward to watching it later.

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http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/8/26/israel-bombing-stunsusofficers.html

Very interesting assessment of 2014 IDF attack on Gaza by stunned US officers:

“The only possible reason for doing that is to kill a lot of people in as short a period of time as possible,” said the senior U.S. military officer. “It’s not mowing the lawn,” he added, referring to a popular IDF term for periodic military operations against Hamas in Gaza. “It’s removing the topsoil.”

“Holy bejeezus,” exclaimed retired Lt. Gen. Robert Gard when told the numbers of artillery pieces and rounds fired during the July 21 action. “That rate of fire over that period of time is astonishing. If the figures are even half right, Israel’s response was absolutely disproportionate.”

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It's even beyond removing up the topsoil; it's blowing up the bedrock.

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So what’s different now? Foreign countries distrust of US.

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And the ME contains countries that can really hit Israel hard.

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Amazing post. Thank you.

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Wow

Washington Post

Ukrainian spies with deep ties to CIA wage shadow war against Russia

https://t.co/dPyMFfLs7f

Use this to view per Elon.,,

https://www.removepaywall.com/

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And in the US military. Exhibit A: Vindman.

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Sounds like CIA/Wapo are joining the effort to persuade the Uniparty to stay the course in Ukraine. See what we can do? Its not over...Now about that $100MM...

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Hey, Cass, I'm sure those doughty Republicans in Congress with their brand new kick-ass speaker will rein in the spending...

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That’s because CIA usual coziness with NYT now impacted by lack of Twitter verification.

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Thanks. No secret that CIA has been involved in Ukraine. Still, it is kind of amazing that these details would be publicized and the speculation about Dugina confirmed. What purpose does it serve and why release it now? Beats me. No question that it was purposely released by the CIA, though (and via their usual channel).

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I think plan A was to subsume into the global hegemony Iraq, Syria, Russia and Iran. Part of me thinks China is a bluff and in the western orbit.

Russian intervention in Syria and annexing Crimea was the turning point.

Plan B was the grand offensive to get Crimea back.

Now we’re onto plan C which involves a lot more actors and can go awry in many more different ways.

There are no hard nosed Kissingers anymore with real world experience. The tension with this elite set now is palpable.

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Per CNN Russia tested a Tsirkon Hypersonic Missile from a sub in 2021. The Russkies said it was successful and they have had two more years to think about it. 1000 km range and speed of Mach 9. Hopefully we can still find their subs lurking near our ships. If we can’t hopefully our ships have a new defense against these weapons that we have not heard about. People in positions to know about these things are stating that the time of surface ships might be over. Hopefully we will not learn this the hard way. Lots of hoping in this comment.

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These missiles probably launch from long distance. It must take a while to get up to speed.

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We'd probably have time to say a last prayer.

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621 mile range. 0 to 60 in .00001 seconds should take about 14 minutes to act on a maneuver.

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Wow, just like that, our axis of enemies goes from Iran, Iraq, and North Korea to Russia, China, and Iran. AA right to the Major Leagues. How could that have been worse managed?

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I've heard we're still okay with Lichtenstein. At least for the time being.

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They're dug in deep into the Alps. We'll need to nuke 'em.

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Ha! I remember reading several years back, Mark, that Lichtenstein had the fastest growing military in the world. It went from about 100 to 600 soldiers. Scary stuff. If Zhou gives me $100bn I'll be very happy to take these evil mothers out.

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Ask Barack. JV team has varsity friends.

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It pains me to say this, as an older American who used to proudly fly Old Glory on the requisite holidays, Uncle Sugar needs/deserves a serious smack in the mouth. And I mean this in a productive way.

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Now don’t bother his weekend beach activities.

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As a younger American who's been flying Old Glory year-round for the past five years, with or without pride... it pains me to agree with you. But you're absolutely right. We need a big national wake-up.

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Oct 23, 2023·edited Oct 23, 2023

The Axios guys say "Former top intelligence officials tell us domestic unrest is one of their biggest fears — whether it's triggered by court rulings against former President Trump or protests over war in the Middle East."

Would any of these officials be the former senior intelligence officials who signed a letter, en masse, telling us that the disclosure of the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop in October 2020 had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation"?

The people staffing "our" intelligence agencies are most worried about their domestic enemies, and not "our" foreign enemies. We really are "two Americas": one filled with hapless Americans and recent immigrants, the other filled with those of a transnational view. Obama was their first president.

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I could really give a rats arse with regard to anything of substance shared by “former senior intelligence officers.

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I can’t believe they are sending a carrier battle group to the Persian Gulf.

It’s a sitting target for Iranian suicide boats, missiles, etc. Oops, I meant “Houthani”.

My guess again trying to project strength and bluff away a confrontation.

I did not realize US forces were in Jordan, but I’m not surprised, sigh.

I wonder if Russia will publicly send more advanced air defense missiles to Iran, or if Russia will deploy Kinzals to Iran (under Russian control). Same can be done in North Korea.

McConnell against Jim Jordan, wow. I wish the eGOP fought as ruthlessly against the Left, as they do tea parties and Maga types.

And more Biden Scandals drop. His brother has had an amazing career.

https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/biden-delaware-way-graft/

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@Ray

The Nation article (which is from 2019) which you link is well worth reading. Even before the Laptop, Biden's corruption was long-standing and well known. It is and has been so well known that the efforts by his supporters and enablers today to cover it up are really laughable.

The only part of the article that I take some issue with is the author's obligatory shot at Trump...the clear implication being that there is an argument that Biden is acceptable because Trump is worse.

To wit: "President Trump’s conflicts may be bigger and bolder and more likely to spark criminal charges or even corrupt US policy. But is this really the best Democrats can do: to point out that Trump is worse? They tried that in 2016—and it didn’t end well."

We've been listening to the 'Trump is worse' narrative since 2016...but other than simply saying Orange Man Bad, what are the details? When you read this Nation article it is clear that Biden has been a corrupt bribe taker for decades, for his entire life, really, with significant negative consequences for Americans...and yet the Democrat response is to say, with no proof whatsover, that Trump is worse? And millions of Americans have bought this line? When in fact the exact opposite is the case?

Really, the Emperor has no clothes.

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This is what I've been saying--Zhou's corruption and influence peddling was the biggest non-secret in DC for years, maybe decades. Anyone who thinks Barr didn't know what kinda man he was helping to install is totally deluded.

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Yup, its even a little exhausting to say it over and over again, here in the echo chamber. But we need to keep saying it.

And yes, Barr is deeply culpable. More than most of them, since he knowingly and intentionally and fraudulently betrayed the nation.

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And where are the Saudi’s when you need them?

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Army NG troops are among those deployed to Jordan.

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When I have a senior moment or say something really old-fashioned, my kids accuse me of being "old school". That's exactly what the whole Biden Regime is: old school. They have no idea that everything - globally, geopolitically and militarily - has changed, and that 3 years ago might as well by the Dark Ages. They are still stuck in their imperial hegemony mode, sending out gunboats and expecting lesser breeds to bow down. They are in for a massive awakening.

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Oct 24, 2023·edited Oct 24, 2023

Actually, Steg, the Biden Regime does know that everything has changed. They have to know. Better than we observers do.

But because they are literally owned by, variously, the Defense Industry/MIC, China, the Neocons, the WEF, MI6, George Soros, the Deep State, the Banks, the CIA, the Donor Class, and the Israel Lobby their hands are hopelessly tied and the web is hopelessly tangled as they fall deeper and deeper into the vortex of catastrophe.

Its exactly like when the Mob owns you. There is no turning around. This is when you find guys (figuratively) mysteriously falling out of windows on the 48th floor. There is no other way out.

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Hey S'21 and Cass! I suggest 'they' know but don't understand. Man tries, but can't be god-like in the end. Original sin just has new faces... Best @ you! (WrH)

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https://youtu.be/xguam0TKMw8?si=hz6Hae0sZ7wyliU2 - Ray Dalio on the changing world order - very interesting look back at how empires rise and fall.

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Take away we need to keep in mind "Slowly at first, then rapidly". *80% of American dollars put in to circulation since 2020*, it's gotten rapid! Thank you Amanda for the link. Best @ you! (WrH)

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You are welcome Wayne. I'm glad you found it useful :)

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Excellent video, Amanda. Thanks for the recommend. Liberals see civilisations in linear terms: we evolve into higher and higher human forms, gradually dispensing with all those horrible MAGA/red neck Neanderthal types. That's why they get so angry and murderous. There are always some "impure" groups stopping them from reaching heaven on Earth. Wise people see societies as cyclical: the same old things repeating themselves throughout history. That's why nothing that is happening now comes as a surprise. It's not pleasant being in the midst of a Fourth Turning, but if you can see what is happening, it increases your chances of coming through the other side.

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You're welcome Steg. I'm glad you found it useful. Yes everything is cyclical. Here's a clip from a podcast that I watch every now and then when it's all a bit overwhelming. It's a reminder that this too will pass.

https://m.facebook.com/Michael.B.Beckwith/videos/for-the-full-episode-with-shawnmodel-go-to-lnktomindset-michael-beckwith-were-in/350902236433441/

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The "lesser breeds" are not only highly unlikely to "bow down"...they look like they are willing to die. Are we?

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Yes, indeed. The "lesser breeds" includes us. And no, we aren't going to go willingly into the good night.

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Yeah that awakening may be brutal, expensive, and very painful for the rest of us.

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Yes, I'm sure they will try to share the pain and include us in the experience! :)

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Dystopian novel. And here we are barely through chapter four of this heavy tome. Buckle up. Many, many more chapters yet to be written.

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Good article. A loss of faith in God is soon followed by loss of faith in the existing society. Some of the comments on the article are interesting. Many MAGA folks still believe the country can hold itself together. I fear they are wrong.

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Let's hope a responsible adult turns up to shove the children back into the playpen.

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