Military Veterans and Patriots

Tag: News

  • Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post Op-Ed is a Remarkable Document

    Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post Op-Ed is a Remarkable Document

    Jeff Bezos’s Washington Post Op-Ed Is a Remarkable Document

    Mark Antonio Wright for National Review

    The most interesting aspect of Jeff Bezos’s op-ed in the Washington Post Monday evening explaining his newspaper’s decision to decline to endorse presidential candidates is that it appears to have been written by an actual human being rather than by an AI chat bot or a crack team of drones at a crisis PR firm, but I repeat myself.

    It turns out that Mr. Bezos — the mega billionaire famous for his monomaniacal drive, who over the last 20 years has quite literally transformed American retail and commerce and inserted himself into the daily lives of almost every last one of my countrymen, and who is ultimately responsible for the artistic murder-suicide that is The Rings of Power — is a human after all. Amazing.

    Jokes aside, Bezos displays a remarkable amount of self-reflection for someone involved in one of the English-speaking world’s most important and most famous news organs. (You may have heard that honest self-reflection isn’t always the legacy media’s strong suit.) If you’re concerned about the long-term trajectory of the American press and the long-term decline in the public’s trust and confidence in institutions that were once extremely important to the functioning of our republic, it’s worth reading.

    “Let me give an analogy,” Bezos writes. “Voting machines must meet two requirements.”

    They must count the vote accurately, and people must believe they count the vote accurately. The second requirement is distinct from and just as important as the first.

    Likewise with newspapers. We must be accurate, and we must be believed to be accurate. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but we are failing on the second requirement. Most people believe the media is biased. Anyone who doesn’t see this is paying scant attention to reality, and those who fight reality lose. Reality is an undefeated champion. It would be easy to blame others for our long and continuing fall in credibility (and, therefore, decline in impact), but a victim mentality will not help. Complaining is not a strategy. We must work harder to control what we can control to increase our credibility.

    Bezos adds: “Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election. No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, ‘I’m going with Newspaper A’s endorsement.’ None. What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”

    I happen to think that decision makes a lot of sense for the Washington Post. If an endorsement at the top of the ticket isn’t changing any minds, and if it’s only serving to solidify a view that the paper is biased against one party, then it seems worth dropping — especially if the goal is to reach a broader audience, as Bezos says it should be. Indeed, Bezos notes that as recently as the ’90s, the Post “achieved 80 percent household penetration in the D.C. metro area.” He doesn’t say what the paper’s reach is these days, but the implication is that the numbers have cratered.

    Now, I’m not against endorsements in all contexts. For example, I find my hometown paper, the Tulsa World, a very useful resource when it endorses in local races. Even if I don’t agree with an endorsement — and I often don’t — a well-written and well-argued endorsement of a city-council, mayoral, or other local race in which information can be relatively scarce can provide some insight that can be tough to come by otherwise. But a presidential race is one that is supercharged and oversaturated with information. And I agree with Bezos in that I don’t think any American is waiting around to be persuaded by what the Washington Post — as an institution — thinks, and it makes a lot of sense for it to keep its powder dry.

    One other thing: It’s notable that Bezos twice mentions that so many Americans “are turning to off-the-cuff podcasts, inaccurate social media posts and other unverified news sources.” Is this a dig at Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk? I find it hard to see how it isn’t.

    There’s no doubt in my mind that, at their best, newspapers — complete with careful editing and fact checking — benefit the public. At their worst, of course, they are next to useless.

    But, on the other hand, I think almost all Americans are beginning to realize that while social media can sometimes break news or highlight undercovered stories that are being ignored by the mainstream press, at its worst, social media is genuinely toxic to the body politic. Say what you will about the Washington Post or the New York Times, but even those sometimes very silly organizations are usually much, much better sources of accurate news than your Uncle Jerry’s Facebook feed or whatever trash the Twitter algorithm serves up on its “For You” feed. In all cases, of course, what’s needed is a layer of discernment on the part of the reader.

    At the end of the day, Jeff Bezos is in the somewhat unique position of owning a major news organization while not needing it to actually make any money. That’s of course different from saying that Jeff Bezos wouldn’t prefer the Post to operate in the black. Naturally, he would. Billionaires don’t become billionaires by developing holes in their pockets. But it does mean that one of the two or three richest men on earth can afford to subsidize an organization dedicated to the pursuit of truth. And it seems that if Bezos is going to continue paying the bills, he’s going to insist that the Post start to change the way it does its work.

    I don’t think there are very many conservatives who think that the Washington Post doesn’t have a long way to go on this front. But Bezos’s forthrightness and openness in explaining himself is as good a start towards the reputational rehabilitation that the Post requires as could be hoped for.

    If Jeff Bezos wants to invest money, time, effort, and prestige into producing a better sort of legacy media organization, one that can reestablish trust across a broad spectrum of the American public, I’m not sure I’d bet the mortgage that he’s going to succeed — but I would at least like to see him try.

    Below is the entirety of his opinion piece.

    Opinion The hard truth: Americans don’t trust the news media
    A note from our owner.

    October 28, 2024 at 7:26 p.m. EDT
    Jeff Bezos is the owner of The Washington Post.

    In the annual public surveys about trust and reputation, journalists and the media have regularly fallen near the very bottom, often just above Congress. But in this year’s Gallup poll, we have managed to fall below Congress. Our profession is now the least trusted of all. Something we are doing is clearly not working.

    Let me give an analogy. Voting machines must meet two requirements. They must count the vote accurately, and people must believe they count the vote accurately. The second requirement is distinct from and just as important as the first.

    Likewise with newspapers. We must be accurate, and we must be believed to be accurate. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but we are failing on the second requirement. Most people believe the media is biased. Anyone who doesn’t see this is paying scant attention to reality, and those who fight reality lose. Reality is an undefeated champion. It would be easy to blame others for our long and continuing fall in credibility (and, therefore, decline in impact), but a victim mentality will not help. Complaining is not a strategy. We must work harder to control what we can control to increase our credibility.

    Presidential endorsements do nothing to tip the scales of an election. No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, “I’m going with Newspaper A’s endorsement.” None. What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one. Eugene Meyer, publisher of The Washington Post from 1933 to 1946, thought the same, and he was right. By itself, declining to endorse presidential candidates is not enough to move us very far up the trust scale, but it’s a meaningful step in the right direction. I wish we had made the change earlier than we did, in a moment further from the election and the emotions around it. That was inadequate planning, and not some intentional strategy.

    I would also like to be clear that no quid pro quo of any kind is at work here. Neither campaign nor candidate was consulted or informed at any level or in any way about this decision. It was made entirely internally. Dave Limp, the chief executive of one of my companies, Blue Origin, met with former president Donald Trump on the day of our announcement. I sighed when I found out, because I knew it would provide ammunition to those who would like to frame this as anything other than a principled decision. But the fact is, I didn’t know about the meeting beforehand. Even Limp didn’t know about it in advance; the meeting was scheduled quickly that morning. There is no connection between it and our decision on presidential endorsements, and any suggestion otherwise is false.

    When it comes to the appearance of conflict, I am not an ideal owner of The Post. Every day, somewhere, some Amazon executive or Blue Origin executive or someone from the other philanthropies and companies I own or invest in is meeting with government officials. I once wrote that The Post is a “complexifier” for me. It is, but it turns out I’m also a complexifier for The Post.

    You can see my wealth and business interests as a bulwark against intimidation, or you can see them as a web of conflicting interests. Only my own principles can tip the balance from one to the other. I assure you that my views here are, in fact, principled, and I believe my track record as owner of The Post since 2013 backs this up. You are of course free to make your own determination, but I challenge you to find one instance in those 11 years where I have prevailed upon anyone at The Post in favor of my own interests. It hasn’t happened.

    Lack of credibility isn’t unique to The Post. Our brethren newspapers have the same issue. And it’s a problem not only for media, but also for the nation. Many people are turning to off-the-cuff podcasts, inaccurate social media posts and other unverified news sources, which can quickly spread misinformation and deepen divisions. The Washington Post and the New York Times win prizes, but increasingly we talk only to a certain elite. More and more, we talk to ourselves. (It wasn’t always this way — in the 1990s we achieved 80 percent household penetration in the D.C. metro area.)

    While I do not and will not push my personal interest, I will also not allow this paper to stay on autopilot and fade into irrelevance — overtaken by unresearched podcasts and social media barbs — not without a fight. It’s too important. The stakes are too high. Now more than ever the world needs a credible, trusted, independent voice, and where better for that voice to originate than the capital city of the most important country in the world? To win this fight, we will have to exercise new muscles. Some changes will be a return to the past, and some will be new inventions. Criticism will be part and parcel of anything new, of course. This is the way of the world. None of this will be easy, but it will be worth it. I am so grateful to be part of this endeavor. Many of the finest journalists you’ll find anywhere work at The Washington Post, and they work painstakingly every day to get to the truth. They deserve to be believed.

    I will give him credit for his effort. Having said that, one wonders if it may be self serving. Should Trump win, imposition of higher tariffs on imports from China would have an outsized impact on Amazon. Of other consideration is his positioning himself to be part of any “business roundtable”. Again, for his personal advantage.

  • Saturday Randomness

    Saturday Randomness

    There are a number of stories I’m following today, but none that warrant their own piece. So, here they are in no particular order.

    We’ll start off in Israel where Iranian proxies are taking credit for a drone strike on the home of the Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu. Bibi being Bibi released a statement within hours of the strike. Watch:

    https://twitter.com/DrEliDavid/status/1847594676888482188

    For those who think it’s just bluster because he was nowhere near Caesarea when the strike happened, you’re wrong. Bibi was a member of Sayeret Matkal, the IDF equivalent of the SAS, for 5 years attaining the rank of Captain.

    It is being reported that Kamala skipped the Al Smith dinner because of its connection to the Archdiocese of New York and the Catholic Church. Apparently it had to do with the Church being pro-life. It may also be related to her campaign’s Muslim outreach. Regardless, it was an unforced error on her part, as some 20% of the adult population in the US are at least nominally Catholic including this editor.

    Then there is this clip. Someone shouted out ‘Christ is King” at a Harris rally and she responded with this:

    https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1847648205376250164

    Full disclosure, while this editor was raised Catholic and still attends St. Brigid’s nearly every week, he is not all that religious as it were. However, the kind of anti Christianity rhetoric coming from the Kamala camp is astounding to me, especially given the numbers.

    The MLB Playoffs continue. As of Saturday morning, here’s where we stand. The New York Yankees are up 3-1 over the Cleveland Indians Guardians in the best of seven ALCS. Game 5 starts shortly after 8 EDT at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

    In the senior circuit, the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the New York Metropolitans 3-2. Game six starts at 8:08 pm EDT tomorrow. Regardless of who wins their respective leagues, the World Series is scheduled to start on the 25th of October.

    Y’all know who I’m rooting for. . .

    https://twitter.com/JSterlingCalls/status/1847482800812798316

    The fine folks in western NC are still suffering from the effects of hurricane Helene almost a month ago. The issue now is that winter is coming. Fortunately, there aren’t any white walkers to deal with, only cold and inclement weather.

    If you feel the need to donate, I highly recommend Samaritan’s Purse. That particular charity is based in Boone NC and has an incredible track record.

    https://twitter.com/SamaritansPurse/status/1846387719322091689

    Finally, there are 17 days till election day. If you can vote early in your state, please do so. You never know what could happen between now and November 5th.

    Try to convince someone you know to vote. Hell, try to convince everyone you know to vote. Offer to take them to the polling place.

    And for God’s sake do not listen to anyone who says your vote doesn’t count or there are issues with the process so don’t bother. You NEED to vote. This needs to be too big to steal.

  • USA Today Attacks Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes for Not Being Political

    USA Today Attacks Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes for Not Being Political

    USA Today Attacks Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes for Not Being Political, Jabs MJ for Good Measure

    by Bryan Chai, The Western Journal Sep. 21, 2024

    You truly don’t despise the establishment media enough.

    That holds especially true when you’re dealing with a shamelessly liberal raglike USA Today.

    The latest reminder about the stark decline of American journalism came on Sept. 13, when USA Today’s Nancy Armour penned one of the most inane, pathetic and infantilizing articles imaginable — the kind you actually have to read to believe.

    The opening line alone deserves a hearty guffaw.

    “Not every athlete can be LeBron James or Megan Rapinoe,” Armour wrote.

    (And thank God for that. Those two are insufferable enough on their own.)

    Armour then took a jab at NBA legend Michael Jordan, who infamously stayed away from politics, even to the chagrin of fellow prominent Chicagoan Barack Obama.

    “Remember Michael Jordan’s comment about Republicans buying shoes?” Amrour continued. “There’s a long history of athletes putting as much space as possible between themselves and controversy, and what Caitlin Clark and Patrick Mahomes did this week was no different.”

    Oh, brother.

    For the blissfully unaware, in the week leading up to Armour’s hit piece, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes both declined to offer any sort of statement on who people should vote for in the forthcoming election.

    Clark was dragged into this conversation when she liked a social media postfrom pop czarina Taylor Swift (Clark is a noted fan) touting her support for Vice President Kamala Harris, the topper of the Democratic presidential ticket. Clark has since declined to actually endorse a candidate.

    Similarly, Mahomes was dragged into this cultural handwringing by virtue of his wife, Brittany Mahomes. She, not unlike Clark, liked a social media post, but in this case, it was a post in support of former President Donald Trump, the top of the Republican presidential ticket. When pressed on the backlash to that, Mahomes — just like Clark — effectively said he doesn’t care about a person’s politics, just how they treat other people.

    These mature, thoughtful responses from Clark and Mahomes, however, don’t quite cut the mustard for Armour, who went seeking validation from David Niven, an associate professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati who teaches a course on sports and politics.

    “It’s more than nothing, but it doesn’t put them on the front lines of the discussion,” Niven said.

    “If you look at all this by the LeBron James standard, somebody who could not have been more outspoken … this looks like a little bit of a retreat,” Niven explained. “If you look at it by Derek Jeter and Michael Jordan’s standards, you’d say there’s still an awful lot of political activism out there.”

    And that’s exactly where political activism should stay in sports, “out there,” because by definition, partisan politics will divide, or “part,” which is literally in the word.

    Why is USA Today trying to encourage pro athletes to drive division?

    Oh right, USA Today hates Trump and everything he stands for. Armour is trying so desperately to shame people for maybe-or-maybe-not supporting Trump, it’s actually somewhat embarrassing for her.

    (And if there’s any question about where Armour’s politics stand, she dedicated entire paragraphs excoriating Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance in her asinine piece.)

    “Elite athletes are born with unique physical gifts and singular dedication,” Armour wrote at the end of her idiotic thesis. “Moral courage is something they have to find for themselves, and this week was a reminder that not many do.”

    Oh, bugger off, Nancy. If Clark and Mahomes are missing “moral courage,” you’re missing “moral intellect” for jeering athletes who want nothing to do with divisive politics.

    As the great Charles Barkley once said, “I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. I am paid to wreak havoc on the basketball court. Parents should be role models.”

    As long as Clark and Mahomes keep playing the way they do, that’s what matters most.

    Leave the ideological and political equivocations out of sports. It’s really that simple, no matter how USA Today screeches about it.

    As many know, I am a big Clark fan. Other than the fact it is no one’s business, another reason for her to stay silent is the fact it could adversely impact the huge influence she is having (financially) for the WNBA. Imagine the furor if she came out for Trump. They would be howling she should not have endorsed anyone.

  • JamesEarl Jones, voice of Darth Vader and ‘Field of Dreams’ star dead at 93

    JamesEarl Jones, voice of Darth Vader and ‘Field of Dreams’ star dead at 93

    James Earl Jones, voice of Darth Vader and ‘Field of Dreams’ star, dead at 93

    By new York post.com Published Sep. 9, 2024, 4:53 p.m. ET

    Getty Images

    James Earl Jones, the voice of ‘Star Wars’ villain Darth Vader, passed away at his Dutchess County, NY, home on Monday, Sept. 9 at the age of 93.

    His reps at Independent Artist Group confirmed his death to Deadline.

    Jones was the recipient of many awards throughout his lifetime, even scoring the rare EGOT honor with an asterisk — he won Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards (including the Tony for Lifetime Achievement in 2017) and earned an honorary Oscar in 2011.

    Born on Jan. 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, Jones’ deep and booming bass brought life to several animated film characters, such as Mufasa in 1994’s Disney-animated smash hit “The Lion King,” Voice Box at Hardware Store in 2005’s “Robots” and The Giant in the 2009 movie retelling of the “Jack and the Beanstalk” fairytale.

    He also starred in 1993 film “The Sandlot” as Mr. Mertle, a former baseball player who was the owner of the famed Hercules and Goliath, and as Pendleton in the 2018 drama, “Warning Shot.” He played the role of King Jaffe Joffer in the 1998 hit, “Coming to America.”

    In 2022, Manhattan’s Cort Theatre on West 48th Street was named The James Earl Jones Theatre to celebrate his contributions to the stage. It was the same place where he performed “Sunrise at Campobello” in 1958, just a year into his Broadway career.

    Jones’ long Hollywood career defied expectations.

    Jones was mute for nearly eight years, until he was 14, as he suffered from a serious stutter that developed after he moved to Michigan at a young age, according to The Stuttering Foundation.

    His stutter was was suspected to be caused by childhood trauma, according to TIME — and it was actually his high school English teacher, poet Donald Crouch, who helped him work to overcome it.
    As Crouch challenged him to memorize poems and recite them in front of his class, Jones was able to speak more clearly.

    “He got me engaged in the debating class, the dramatic reading class and so on,” Jones told The Daily Mail in a 2010 interview. “He got me talking, and reading poetry — Edgar Allan Poe was my favorite.”

    After high school, Jones went to The University of Michigan, initially to study medicine, but found himself falling in love with acting, switching his major to drama.

    He completed service as an Army Ranger before moving to New York to pursue acting. He lived in an apartment that cost $19 per month and did other chores, like scrubbing floors, to make money, according to The Academy of Achievement.

    In 1961, Jones performed in the American premiere of “The Blacks,” a play written by Jean Genet that explored race, inspired by Ghana’s 1957 independence.

    The beloved performer won a Tony for Best Actor in a Play in 1969 for his role as Jack Jefferson in Howard Sackler’s “The Great White Hope,” a devastating story about the first black heavyweight boxing champion. Jones was also nominated for an Academy Award for the 1970 film adaptation.

    In 1987, he won another Tony for playing Troy Maxson in “Fences” by August Wilson. He portrayed a former baseball star who worked as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh.

    This is a developing story…

  • Abbey Gate, Three Years On

    Abbey Gate, Three Years On

    It’s been three years since the chaotic and ignominious retreat from Afghanistan. Today, 26 August, marks the anniversary of the attack on the Abbey Gate outside of Hamid Karzai International airport in Kabul.

    13 US service members lost their lives that day. 11 Marines, a Navy Corpsman and a Soldier.

    • • Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts.
    • • Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, California.
    • • Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
    • • Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California.
    • • Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska.
    • • Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Indiana.
    • • Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas.
    • • Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Missouri.
    • • Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyoming
    • • Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California.
    • • Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California.
    • • Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio.
    • • Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee.

    Remember and Honor them.

    For the first time since the return ceremony, where the Dotard-in-Chief was caught checking his watch multiple times, Joe Biden acknowledged the Men and Women lost at Abbey Gate. With a statement. He couldn’t even get that right, as they left off the last name of Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo.

    https://twitter.com/nickaramaOG/status/1828104744541565288

    He still hasn’t publicly said their names. I’m assuming this statement was released by one of his mid-level staffers, as none of his Cabinet are capable of that kind of thought and Joe is back on vacation. Not that he has that kind of empathy anyway. Or mental acuity.

    Where is Kamala in all this you might ask. Frankly I do not know, other than not talking to the press that is. There is nothing on her official schedule. The same can be said for Mr Stolen Valor err CSM err Head Coach err Governor Tim Walz. Neither could be bothered to attend that ceremony at Arlington this morning commemorating the events at Abbey gate.

    You know who did show up? That’s right, Donald Trump.

    https://twitter.com/greg_price11/status/1828061539212910858

    While there, he spoke with the family members in attendance and spoke with the family of SSG Ryan Knauss by phone as he laid a wreath at Knauss’ headstone.

    https://twitter.com/TimMurtaugh/status/1828081379990733289

  • U.S. Army anti-terrorism..

    U.S. Army anti-terrorism..

    U.S. Army anti-terrorism briefing labels National Right to Life and pro-life groups as “terrorist groups”

    Quick Hit:

    A recent anti-terrorism briefing at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) labeled several pro-life organizations, including National Right to Life and Operation Rescue, as “terrorist groups,” according to analyst Sam Shoemate. 

    Key Details:

    • Analyst Sam Shoemate tweeted, “An anti-terrorism brief was held on Fort Liberty (Bragg) today where they listed several Pro-Life organizations as ‘terrorist organizations.’” This included National Right to Life and Operation Rescue.
    • The slide also featured a screenshot of a license plate with “IM4IT.” Shoemate noted, “They also included a screenshot of a license plate with ‘IM4IT,’ which is a plate many Pro-Life citizens put on their car which implies normal citizens are terrorists if they display this plate.”
    • The briefing falsely accused these organizations of bombing abortion clinics. Shoemate highlighted the seriousness of this misrepresentation: “They also falsely attribute the bombing of abortion clinics to National Right to Life.”

    Diving Deeper:

    According to analyst Sam Shoemate, an anti-terrorism briefing held at Fort Liberty on Wednesday has ignited controversy by labeling several pro-life organizations, including National Right to Life and Operation Rescue, as terrorist groups. Shoemate’s revelations have drawn significant backlash from pro-life advocates who see it as an unjust and extreme characterization of their movement.

    Shoemate pointed out that the briefing, which followed a slide on ISIS, included these pro-life organizations alongside known terrorist groups. The slide not only listed these groups but also included a screenshot of a license plate with “IM4IT.” This plate, often displayed by pro-life citizens, was used to imply that ordinary supporters of the pro-life movement are considered terrorists by the military. “The organizations labeled by the army as terror organizations include National Right to Life and Operation Rescue,” Shoemate tweeted. He also noted the inclusion of the “IM4IT” license plate, stating, “They also included a screenshot of a license plate with ‘IM4IT,’ which is a plate many Pro-Life citizens put on their car which implies normal citizens are terrorists if they display this plate.”

    The slide went on to describe the activities of these organizations, which include being pro-life, opposing Roe v. Wade, demonstrating and protesting (activities protected under the First Amendment), “Truth Displays,” and picketing. Notably, the briefing falsely accused National Right to Life of bombing abortion clinics—a serious and unfounded allegation. “They also falsely attribute the bombing of abortion clinics to National Right to Life,” Shoemate emphasized in his tweet, capturing the frustration and disbelief among pro-life advocates.

    This incident has raised concerns about the Department of Defense’s approach to pro-life organizations. Critics argue that labeling these groups as terrorist organizations, rather than extremist groups, represents a severe overreach and an attempt to silence political dissent.

    https://twitter.com/samosaur/status/1811198101522391419

    Definitive proof that the U. S. Army is completely “woke”. Exactly what action do they plan on taking against these two organizations?

  • Training Accident at JB Lewis-McChord

    Training Accident at JB Lewis-McChord

    Some weirdness took place out at JB Lewis-McChord back on 25 April and it’s just coming out now. A 7th ID trooper was accidentally shot by another soldier on a range run by 1st SFG (A). That trooper sustained non-life threatening injuries and is in stable condition at  Madigan Army Medical Center.

    It seems some live ammo made its way onto the range during an evolution that used blank rounds exclusively. It gets weirder, the weapon involved was an M-249 SAW. Your editor has a tiny bit of experience with that weapons system and has some questions.

    First, how the actual f*ck did live ammo find its way onto a range that used blanks. I can see it happening, at least in the abstract, but how did the range NCOs not notice? Blanks are distinctly different looking compared to a live round.

    Did the operator not realize they had just loaded live rounds? The M-249 is a primarily belt fed machine gun, and I really doubt there was a single live round in a random belt of 5.56. Could the operator have used a magazine with a single live round in it? I suppose, but the 249 is a temperamental beast when running blanks and does not feed well from the magazine at any time.

    My last question concerns the BFA. For those of you who don’t know, a BFA or blank firing adapter, is necessary to run most semi/full auto firearms when shooting blanks. The BFA, at least in the case of the M-16, M-249 M-240 and M-60, creates enough gas pressure to cycle the firearm. The BFA does this by occluding the muzzle, thereby creating the pressure needed. In the case of the 249, there are two versions of the BFA, one for standard, 20″ barrelled guns and one for the 13.5″ barrelled versions.

    L-R, Standard M-249 BFA, Short barrelled M-249 BFA, M-249 BFA installed on flash hider.

    BFAs are hefty chunks of steel that attach to the flash hider. The business end of the BFA completely blocks the end of the barrel. If you fired a live round with a BFA properly attached to your firearm it would be the same as pulling the trigger with an obstructed barrel.

    Yah, it’s a bit over the top, but a good representation of the effects of a barrel obstruction.

    The Army has ordered a 72 hour safety stand down for all units within USASOC. The pause is supposed to allow units to examine their ammunition storage SOPs and make any adjustments needed.

  • Random News and Notes: Pro-Hamass ‘Protest’ Edition

    Random News and Notes: Pro-Hamass ‘Protest’ Edition

    By now you’re all at least aware of the pro-Hamass ‘protests’ plaguing university campuses across the country. Your Editor experienced one first hand this morning. My VA is located adjacent to Syracuse University, and the terrorist sympathizers had set up an encampment there yesterday.

    After a quick appointment at the VA this morning, I took a stroll across campus to see what was what. Admittedly, it was 0930 when I walked through, but there wasn’t much going on. They may be in for a rude awakening later, there are strong thunderstorms in the forecast for this afternoon.

    Anyway, here’s a quick roundup of some of the stories that amused or interested me from the past couple of days.

    Starting on the Messed Coast, some mad lad released a bunch of white lab mice in the pro-Hamass encampment at UCLA. Of course the screeching harpies had to turn it into some Zionist plot.

    https://twitter.com/SuppressedNws/status/1784995824042168535
    https://twitter.com/fuzzychimpcom/status/1785134123213877515

    Also at UCLA, the terrorist simps prevented a group of Jewish students from going to class.

    https://twitter.com/persianjewess/status/1785021873555902744

    The Georgia State Patrol does not mess around. The next few vids are from Emory University in Atlanta GA, where the GSP was called in to break up an encampment.

    https://twitter.com/iLibertyBelle/status/1784267650492781041
    https://twitter.com/TomFitton/status/1784726435959116198

    While I’m sure the first “ow you’re hurting me” was fake, all of them after the trooper picked her (?) up were not. Zip cuffs tend to dig in when they support full body weight like that. . .

    Columbia seems to have capitulated. Overnight, a group of Hamassholes stormed and occupied Hamilton Hall, the main administrative building for the University. The administrators issued a statement this morning.

    https://twitter.com/Columbia/status/1785292054928453718

    This reply sums it up quite nicely:

    https://twitter.com/NiohBerg/status/1785303013482967548

    It also seems Columbia has banned all media from campus. Fewer eyes to see the failure.

    https://twitter.com/FreeBeacon/status/1785343775226712522

    The police dismantling and encampment at ASU used frat boys as manual labor. They seemed to enjoy their work . . .

    https://twitter.com/az_resist/status/1784124442068873232

    Got a protest story you want to share? A comment about one of the stories above? Let us know, that’s what the comment section is for.

  • Random News and Notes

    Random News and Notes

    You may be seeing some headlines about an American tourist that got himself banged up in the Turks and Caicos. Ryan and Valarie Wilson were visiting the TCI when 4 rounds of ammo were found in their baggage. The couple were interrogated, and Ryan was arrested and jailed. A few years back the TCI, a self governing British protectorate, increased the penalties for gun and ammo related offenses. Possession of ammunition now carries a prison sentence of up to 12 years.

    You may be surprised that I have a slightly different take than most commentators. Ignorantia juris non excusat. That is, ignorance of the law is no excuse. It is on you as a traveller to ensure you are following the local laws. And if you run afoul of them, you pay the price for it. Do I feel bad for Ryan, Valarie and their family? Sure, but let’s be clear, this is on him. In the case of the TCI, the State Department issued a travel warning specifically about this law.

    Super Genius Alexandria Occasional Cortex felt the need to weigh in on yet another topic she is not the expert on. This time it was the law enforcement response to the Hamasshole encampments at Columbia and NYU.

    https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1783224425074086256

    Welp, an actual expert on the subject, NYPD Chief of Patrol, John Chell, set her straight.

    https://twitter.com/NYPDChiefPatrol/status/1783446340669677763

    The rest of the post reads:

    . I am sure you would agree that we have to teach them these valuable life skills. Secondly, I was with those “units” last Thursday that you describe as having, “the most violent reputations.” These “units” removed students with great care and professionalism, not a single incident was reported. The only incidents that day on campus were the student’s hateful anti-Semitic speech and vile language towards our cops. I am sure you agree any hateful speech is unacceptable. You should rethink your comments to a simple thank you to the NYPD and hate has no place in our society. Maybe you should walk around Columbia and NYU and listen to their remarks of pure hatred. I will ensure those “units” will protect you as they do for all NYers 24/7/365.

    Lack of accountability = consequences

    Hate from anyone, anywhere has no place in our city and country.

    I’m just going to drop this one without comment. . .

    https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1783181170751992121

    The Supremes are hearing oral arguments on Presidential Immunity as I write. I’d been trying to follow along with some live tweeting of the arguments, but I had to step away, and kinda lost my place. Once the transcripts are available I’ll take the time to read thru them. Until then, I’m going to refrain from offering any thoughts on which way this one is gonna go. I will toss this one thing out there; the attorney for the Special Council, Michael Dreeben is an absolute idiot.

  • Iran Attack, What We Know

    Iran Attack, What We Know

    Shortly after I published this article about the Israel Hamas war yesterday, Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel. Here’s what we know so far:

    The attack consisted of several waves of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles. The first indication that an attack was underway was a 1618 EDT tweet from the IDF. They announced that they were aware of multiple launches from Iran and were tracking the inbound drones and cruise missiles.

    https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1779242779182288964

    185 drones, 110 intermediate range ballistic missiles and 36 cruise missiles were launched. Of all the munitions launched, only 7 IRBMs made it through to impact in Israel. All others missed or were intercepted. As of this writing, early Sunday afternoon, only 1 person is reported to have been injured in the strikes, but it is unclear if the injury was a direct result of the attack. Damage is reported to be minimal.

    https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1779565767815557513
    https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1779366814197116947

    The Israeli air defense system, which includes the Patriot, Iron Dome, Arrow and David’s Sling systems, was not the only defense against the drone and cruise missile swarms. Israeli, US and British fighters were all involved, shooting down dozens of Shahed drones before they entered Israeli airspace, as were US and British warships. As an aside, I have to wonder how many US pilots became ‘aces’ last night. Drone and cruise missile shoot-downs count AFAIK.

    https://twitter.com/JpLawrence3/status/1779562208608801171
    https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1779307659872645623

    Now on to the political situation. It’s beginning to look like the Biden White House gave Iran the green-light for this attack. If that turns out to be true, it’s going to end badly for Biden.

    https://twitter.com/Jerusalem_Post/status/1779512742350635038

    There is also a concerted effort to limit the Israeli response to the attack. Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that nothing of “value” was hit in Iran’s airborne attack Saturday and asserted American forces will not be participating in any offensive against Iran, according to a report.

    The G7 leaders held a teleconference today discussing the matter.

    https://twitter.com/CharlesMichel/status/1779529928834236878

    Let’s be crystal clear here, if this attack happened to any other country there would be zero calls for restraint. But because it’s Israel, well, they need to sit back and take it.

    As I was researching this piece I ran across this tweet from Avi Mayer, the former editor-in-chief for the Jerusalem Post. It breaks down a lot of the mis-and-dis info you’re likely to see regarding this incident.

    https://twitter.com/AviMayer/status/1779336182112878804

    Let’s dispense with a few lies you will likely hear in the coming days: Lie #1: “Israel started this with its airstrike in Damascus.” False. Iran has been maintaining a constant assault on Israel for decades via its proxies in the region – chief among them Hezbollah, which is wholly funded, armed, and controlled by the Iranian regime. That assault has only intensified since October 7. Hezbollah has fired rockets and missiles into northern Israel on a near-daily basis for more than six months, causing the depopulation of much of northern Israel. Tens of thousands of Israelis have not seen their homes in half a year due to this Iranian-directed assault; many of their homes no longer exist, having been destroyed by Hezbollah’s rockets. The Houthis, another Iranian proxy group based in Yemen, have also fired numerous missiles at southern Israel. Finally, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been funded, armed, and trained by Iran for years and the Iranian regime views the Palestinian terror groups as part of its offensive efforts against Israel. There has not been a single day in the past six months in which Iran, via its various proxies in the region, has not attacked Israel. The airstrike in Damascus targeted individuals directly responsible for Iran’s ongoing assault on the Jewish state. Lie #2: “The target of Israel’s airstrike in Damascus was a diplomatic facility.” False. The notion that the target of the Damascus airstrike was a mere “Iranian consulate” is laughable. The building was a local headquarters of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian military that has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and multiple other countries. Those killed were senior figures in the IRGC, including Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the IRGC’s foreign operations unit who was responsible for liaising with Hezbollah, and his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahim. Five other IRGC officers were killed in the airstrike, as were five Iranian-affiliated militiamen, one Hezbollah operative, one Iranian military advisor, and two apparent civilians. The airstrike was aimed at military figures in a military facility and the targets were directly involved in orchestrating attacks on Israel. The fact that the building was adjacent to the Iranian embassy does not change its military character. Lie #3: “Israel carried out the Damascus airstrike in order to provoke a wider war.” False. For months, Israel has limited its military response to the ongoing assault by Iranian proxy groups to tit-for-tat airstrikes and artillery fire directly targeting the sources of the attacks. The reality, however, is that large swaths of northern Israel have been uninhabitable due to the ongoing Hezbollah attacks, which are being directed by the group’s patron, Iran. The only way to force Hezbollah to stop its assault on northern Israel and restore calm is to target the Iranian military officials behind the attacks. That is what the Damascus airstrike was intended to do: to end the impunity enjoyed by Iranian military officials as they oversee ongoing attacks targeting the people of Israel. Lie #4: “Any Israeli response will cause the situation to escalate further.” False. The unprecedented Iranian assault on Israel, which involved hundreds of missiles and drones, was the escalation. It has been roundly condemned around the world. Israel will respond to this unparalleled act of aggression as any sovereign country would, not least in order to deter the Iranian regime from carrying out further attacks against Israeli territory and send the message that Israel will not tolerate massive attacks on its sovereign territory by a foreign state. Lie #5: “The relatively limited damage from the Iranian attack means it’s no big deal and Israel should let it go.” False. The Iranian assault was absolutely unprecedented in its scope and severity. The only reason it didn’t cause widespread damage and massive casualties is because Israel and its allies have, for years, invested billions of dollars in developing sophisticated air defense systems against the threat posed by Iran. Most of the missiles and drones were intercepted before they reached Israel’s borders because Israel and its allies were prepared for them. But make no mistake: this Iranian attack was meant to rain death and destruction on the people of Israel. If Israel doesn’t respond, it will open the door to further and more severe attacks by Iran, which has stated its desire and intention to destroy the Jewish state on numerous occasions. No other country would be asked to put up with that. Neither should Israel.

    So, what’s next? I don’t know. I doubt the Israelis will just lay back and do nothing though. I can tell you what I’d do if I were in Bibi’s or IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi’s shoes. First up, I’d turn the Iranian spy ship in the Red Sea into a reef. I might then take a look at the Iranian oil terminals near Jask on the Gulf of Oman. But that’s me. . .