That was a good read sir. Uh….. how are you doing?;.)
How did we get to the point in geopolitics where we know an adversary is the one attacking us, but because somebody else pulled the trigger for them, we don’t hold that adversary responsible????
Great question Bolt. I hope you are well. I guess it is a similar question to those faced when the NORKS crossed the 38th parallel or Ho Chi Minh went after Diem (?) in South Vietnam. There were clearly fingerprints of greater power proxies all over those moves, but the consequences of going after that great power constrained our actions. Difference now is that a power of much lesser status is constraining us.
Yeah im tracking. I see a difference between the proxy-ism now and the proxy-ism of the 20th century. 1. It’s in our face due to social media and a constant 24/7 news cycle. Prior to this, you only heard about this stuff during 6 o clock news or read an occasional article in the paper. 2. Huthis are attacking civilian shipping in a strategic choke point. To me, that should’ve been a redline that drove us to confront Iran directly. I don’t think any great power brokers took the leash off their proxies to the point they’re attacking world trade in a strategic choke point. And what we (and the EU thru OP ASPIDES) are doing in response can only be interpreted by Iran as: shutting down an international trade lane is a legit best practice. I don’t see how we can afford to let Iran think that. I understand the consequences of going after a near peer because of what their proxies are doing, but I think we can handle the consequences of going after Iran. I’m not talking BOG, but we can destroy that puddle skipping navy of theirs again. Write me in on your ballot 2024. Seabolt’s Make Iran’s Navy Burn Again (MINBA) Presidential campaign officially kicks off here on your Substack.
I think it as an oversimplification to say Biden said to not retaliate. That's the short term request, and it's not one of appeasement, it's one of planning and coalition building. Something that has achieved notably impressive results in the past.
Second, I notice you fail to mention anything about Russia in this post which seems like a weird oversight given the much more substantial role Russia has played in the decay of the world order, and direct attacks on the US (cyber attacks, election interference etc.).
Third: microchips are critically important to large swaths of US industry and defense, the ability to build microchips in the US, and not rely on factories outside our borders is critical for defense in a declining world order. How can you ignore this and claim that we are sleep walking / ignoring reality?
We must read different press, as "Take the win, Bibi" was all over the stories I was reading. I may not have specifically mentioned Russia, but I talked about the breakdown of the global order and this particular substack (The Conservative Wahoo) is LITTERED with references to the malign influence Russia is wielding in the world. I am on the record from day ONE as saying that the Hamas invasion of Israel goes back to Iran's green light which goes back to Russia's influence to draw our attention. Finally, If you thought I was criticizing microchip manufacturing in the US, I either miscommunicated or you misinterpreted. The criticism there was not the subsidizing of essential capability, but the domestic policy goodies thrown in.
The coalition is already built sir. The coalition shot down the missiles. The best way to expand the coalition is to be decisive and show results. And it’s not an oversimplification. He urged Israel not to retaliate. There’s no oversimplification in that. Doesn’t make it a bad thing or a good thing. It’s a simple accurate fact. In his exchange he told Netanyahu, “You got a win; take the win.” That’s a direct quote. Biden’s long term plan here was simply to tie Israel’s hands as he’s tried to do almost the entire conflict.
Russia wasn’t a topic of the article. Why are you criticizing Bryan for not mentioning Russia, but you didn’t criticize him for not bringing up inflation, the NBA playoffs, the James Webb telescope or a myriad of other millions of topics? I just thought that was bizarre of you to do that. I agree with your thoughts on Russia, but to offer them up as criticism that Bryan didn’t mention Russia is just wrong. Why did you take that tack with the Russia piece.
Concur 1 million percent on your take on microchips, but the question you ask at the end confuses me. You insinuate Bryan is basing his opinion of sleep walking and ignoring reality on our lack of semi conductor expertise/production. You’re cherry picking out individual aspects to attack his opinion. Bryan, in my opinion looks through the holistic lens of “elements of national power”. And if you look through that lens yes we are asleep and yes we’re ignoring reality.
Why didn’t you discuss China’s encroachment (aka slow take over) of the West Philippine sea. Is the US helping the Philippines there??? Nope. Not at all. We’re happy to sit back and watch the PLAN disable Philippine civilian vessels and do nothing about it other than file the occasional demsrche. We are happy to let DPRK ship missiles to Russia. We can actually stop that. We are happy to let Russia assassinate their own citizens in western countries. And we pat ourselves on the back for imposing sanctions. Why didn’t you mention our lack of response to the trend of coups in Africa that are seeing western influence being traded out in favor of Russia and PRC? Yes we are asleep and ignoring reality all over the globe.
The Gathering Storm, ......"Once again Dear Friends into the breech....." will come the call, Who will make it, and how will it be heard.?.....A Leader, who looks and sees forward, must emerge and make the Truth of these self evident national sovereignty statements clear to all.....It's time for the "Bread and Circuses" mindset to end.
international law that makes a nations embassy sovereign territory. I realize the american elite care little for rule of law but without this legal understanding
Well written, addresses seriousness while our nation dithers. But enough about that. Two ships passing in the night...only time enough to grab the speaking trumpet for a brief "Howzit?" or "Wassap?" to complete the auto-reflex social intercourse expected of gentlemen known to each other. You have given me pause, Sir. I think my new salutations will be a mumbled "Eksthlint" or "Twiffick", eyes downcast, feet shuffling, so preoccupied looking that others will hurry on their way out of respect for my important cogitations or fear that the wheels turning inside my head are going to come apart as if a monkey wrench had just been dropped into the reduction gear...maybe I'll be marked a serious man and be left alone in the future.
You notice how when Israel commits a serious international crime (bombing someones embassy is as serious as it gets) the spin to soft peddle it is immense.. Israel has actually been humiliatingly defeated by Iran. All the drones and cruise missiles were expected to be expended so their loss means nothing. The 7 plus hypersonic ballistic missiles NO ONE could stop were the strikes that counted.... Genocide Joe should have never allowed US forces near this...
Israel likely let those missiles land cause they hit a runway and some sheds that are easily fixed. If they shot them all down then it would be too good and they couldn’t hit needed targets in Iran. How can you believe the nonsense you wrote?
For he record, it was not the Embassy that was bombed, it was a counselor building, which is NOT sovereign territory of the sponsoring nation, and is NOT protected by international law.
"You notice how when Israel commits a serious international crime (bombing someones embassy is as serious as it gets) the spin to soft peddle it is immense."
Ever ask yourself WHY, Why they bombed it? Might it have Something to do with Iran being At War with Israel (an The West) since 1979?
I would posit that we are not sleep walking. The course that we have been on for several administrations, with few exceptions, is more along the lines of willfully denying reality. It’s akin to being in an insane asylum run by insane doctors. Society is fraying for a number of reasons. My wife, I believe, hit the nail on the head with her comment that people have it too easy today. Struggle makes people or a people focus on the important matters. There is so much distraction these days with a multitude of events/crisis, some of which are manufactured. There is a lot of serious damage being done to America while our youth continues to become flabby, complacent, irresponsible and ever less informed of the world around them. This isn’t sleep walking. It is something much worse and more dangerous.
The draining and non-replenishment of the SPR, locking up great amounts of strategic natural resources, endless lawfare aimed at out industrial and natural resource extraction industries are just a few examples of issues that are just not recognized by a couple of generations. They have always had everything that they have wanted. Very little adversity makes people soft - in the body and between the ears. They NEED some adversity to inoculate them from their soft lives. My Dad carried the experience of the Great Depression with him throughout his life and some of that, fortunately, rubbed off on me.
Most of the damage to America is self-inflicted, but helped along by our adversaries. Green IS the new Red. Our politicians ARE corrupted by power and access to money that keeps them in power. This NWO/Globalism movement is the beginning of the end of sovereignty if we don’t stop it. And that smartphone that most of us have; it would have been the envy of the Stasi.
That was a good read sir. Uh….. how are you doing?;.)
How did we get to the point in geopolitics where we know an adversary is the one attacking us, but because somebody else pulled the trigger for them, we don’t hold that adversary responsible????
Great question Bolt. I hope you are well. I guess it is a similar question to those faced when the NORKS crossed the 38th parallel or Ho Chi Minh went after Diem (?) in South Vietnam. There were clearly fingerprints of greater power proxies all over those moves, but the consequences of going after that great power constrained our actions. Difference now is that a power of much lesser status is constraining us.
Yeah im tracking. I see a difference between the proxy-ism now and the proxy-ism of the 20th century. 1. It’s in our face due to social media and a constant 24/7 news cycle. Prior to this, you only heard about this stuff during 6 o clock news or read an occasional article in the paper. 2. Huthis are attacking civilian shipping in a strategic choke point. To me, that should’ve been a redline that drove us to confront Iran directly. I don’t think any great power brokers took the leash off their proxies to the point they’re attacking world trade in a strategic choke point. And what we (and the EU thru OP ASPIDES) are doing in response can only be interpreted by Iran as: shutting down an international trade lane is a legit best practice. I don’t see how we can afford to let Iran think that. I understand the consequences of going after a near peer because of what their proxies are doing, but I think we can handle the consequences of going after Iran. I’m not talking BOG, but we can destroy that puddle skipping navy of theirs again. Write me in on your ballot 2024. Seabolt’s Make Iran’s Navy Burn Again (MINBA) Presidential campaign officially kicks off here on your Substack.
"A serious nation would recognize that war is on the horizon, and it would prepare for it. "
Truth.
I think it as an oversimplification to say Biden said to not retaliate. That's the short term request, and it's not one of appeasement, it's one of planning and coalition building. Something that has achieved notably impressive results in the past.
Second, I notice you fail to mention anything about Russia in this post which seems like a weird oversight given the much more substantial role Russia has played in the decay of the world order, and direct attacks on the US (cyber attacks, election interference etc.).
Third: microchips are critically important to large swaths of US industry and defense, the ability to build microchips in the US, and not rely on factories outside our borders is critical for defense in a declining world order. How can you ignore this and claim that we are sleep walking / ignoring reality?
We must read different press, as "Take the win, Bibi" was all over the stories I was reading. I may not have specifically mentioned Russia, but I talked about the breakdown of the global order and this particular substack (The Conservative Wahoo) is LITTERED with references to the malign influence Russia is wielding in the world. I am on the record from day ONE as saying that the Hamas invasion of Israel goes back to Iran's green light which goes back to Russia's influence to draw our attention. Finally, If you thought I was criticizing microchip manufacturing in the US, I either miscommunicated or you misinterpreted. The criticism there was not the subsidizing of essential capability, but the domestic policy goodies thrown in.
The coalition is already built sir. The coalition shot down the missiles. The best way to expand the coalition is to be decisive and show results. And it’s not an oversimplification. He urged Israel not to retaliate. There’s no oversimplification in that. Doesn’t make it a bad thing or a good thing. It’s a simple accurate fact. In his exchange he told Netanyahu, “You got a win; take the win.” That’s a direct quote. Biden’s long term plan here was simply to tie Israel’s hands as he’s tried to do almost the entire conflict.
Russia wasn’t a topic of the article. Why are you criticizing Bryan for not mentioning Russia, but you didn’t criticize him for not bringing up inflation, the NBA playoffs, the James Webb telescope or a myriad of other millions of topics? I just thought that was bizarre of you to do that. I agree with your thoughts on Russia, but to offer them up as criticism that Bryan didn’t mention Russia is just wrong. Why did you take that tack with the Russia piece.
Concur 1 million percent on your take on microchips, but the question you ask at the end confuses me. You insinuate Bryan is basing his opinion of sleep walking and ignoring reality on our lack of semi conductor expertise/production. You’re cherry picking out individual aspects to attack his opinion. Bryan, in my opinion looks through the holistic lens of “elements of national power”. And if you look through that lens yes we are asleep and yes we’re ignoring reality.
Why didn’t you discuss China’s encroachment (aka slow take over) of the West Philippine sea. Is the US helping the Philippines there??? Nope. Not at all. We’re happy to sit back and watch the PLAN disable Philippine civilian vessels and do nothing about it other than file the occasional demsrche. We are happy to let DPRK ship missiles to Russia. We can actually stop that. We are happy to let Russia assassinate their own citizens in western countries. And we pat ourselves on the back for imposing sanctions. Why didn’t you mention our lack of response to the trend of coups in Africa that are seeing western influence being traded out in favor of Russia and PRC? Yes we are asleep and ignoring reality all over the globe.
I prefer “swell” as a meaningless response to a meaningless inquiry. You are 110% right on today.
"We are not serious. And winter is coming." Indeed. Perfect words.
The Gathering Storm, ......"Once again Dear Friends into the breech....." will come the call, Who will make it, and how will it be heard.?.....A Leader, who looks and sees forward, must emerge and make the Truth of these self evident national sovereignty statements clear to all.....It's time for the "Bread and Circuses" mindset to end.
Again..what happened in 1979
is meaningless...what IS relevant is
international law that makes a nations embassy sovereign territory. I realize the american elite care little for rule of law but without this legal understanding
among nations no embassy is secure....
Well written, addresses seriousness while our nation dithers. But enough about that. Two ships passing in the night...only time enough to grab the speaking trumpet for a brief "Howzit?" or "Wassap?" to complete the auto-reflex social intercourse expected of gentlemen known to each other. You have given me pause, Sir. I think my new salutations will be a mumbled "Eksthlint" or "Twiffick", eyes downcast, feet shuffling, so preoccupied looking that others will hurry on their way out of respect for my important cogitations or fear that the wheels turning inside my head are going to come apart as if a monkey wrench had just been dropped into the reduction gear...maybe I'll be marked a serious man and be left alone in the future.
If I was any better I’d be twins
Mike,
Ha —THAT was my old man’s line…Thanks for a gentleman’s stroll down memory lane good sir!
Boys In Girls Bathrooms.
Back in the early 1970's I took a summer class at UCLA.
I stayed in the student dorms.
In the morning I went to the bathroom for the usual stuff.
Showered and dressed and went to shave.
There was a. young woman doing her usual.
I was a bit flustered but she was not so I shaved and left.
Yes. I would quibble that it is not the nation that is unserious, it is the appeasing nebbishes of the Administration.
You notice how when Israel commits a serious international crime (bombing someones embassy is as serious as it gets) the spin to soft peddle it is immense.. Israel has actually been humiliatingly defeated by Iran. All the drones and cruise missiles were expected to be expended so their loss means nothing. The 7 plus hypersonic ballistic missiles NO ONE could stop were the strikes that counted.... Genocide Joe should have never allowed US forces near this...
Israel likely let those missiles land cause they hit a runway and some sheds that are easily fixed. If they shot them all down then it would be too good and they couldn’t hit needed targets in Iran. How can you believe the nonsense you wrote?
For he record, it was not the Embassy that was bombed, it was a counselor building, which is NOT sovereign territory of the sponsoring nation, and is NOT protected by international law.
"You notice how when Israel commits a serious international crime (bombing someones embassy is as serious as it gets) the spin to soft peddle it is immense."
Ever ask yourself WHY, Why they bombed it? Might it have Something to do with Iran being At War with Israel (an The West) since 1979?
Terrific!
Totally agree. We are sleepwalking into a world that is increasingly becoming more unstable.
I would posit that we are not sleep walking. The course that we have been on for several administrations, with few exceptions, is more along the lines of willfully denying reality. It’s akin to being in an insane asylum run by insane doctors. Society is fraying for a number of reasons. My wife, I believe, hit the nail on the head with her comment that people have it too easy today. Struggle makes people or a people focus on the important matters. There is so much distraction these days with a multitude of events/crisis, some of which are manufactured. There is a lot of serious damage being done to America while our youth continues to become flabby, complacent, irresponsible and ever less informed of the world around them. This isn’t sleep walking. It is something much worse and more dangerous.
The draining and non-replenishment of the SPR, locking up great amounts of strategic natural resources, endless lawfare aimed at out industrial and natural resource extraction industries are just a few examples of issues that are just not recognized by a couple of generations. They have always had everything that they have wanted. Very little adversity makes people soft - in the body and between the ears. They NEED some adversity to inoculate them from their soft lives. My Dad carried the experience of the Great Depression with him throughout his life and some of that, fortunately, rubbed off on me.
Most of the damage to America is self-inflicted, but helped along by our adversaries. Green IS the new Red. Our politicians ARE corrupted by power and access to money that keeps them in power. This NWO/Globalism movement is the beginning of the end of sovereignty if we don’t stop it. And that smartphone that most of us have; it would have been the envy of the Stasi.
Well written good sir! To our friends, Sailors, Soldiers, and Airmen in the crucible—Godspeed and Good Hunting!
100% agree. Needs to be said and repeated over and over.