"Bunch of guys obsessed with Ancient Sparta can't beat the Persians at sea" was probably one of the known-knowns, come to think of it.

I am morbidly interested in hearing Trump try to name an *innocent* person hurt by Mueller other than Donald J Trump.

Wife just told me this one: What’s the difference between Iran and Vietnam? Trump had a plan to get out of Vietnam.

“Mister President, Sir, we have determined your opponent is GAY” is exactly the level of rigour and analysis I would expect Trump would want to hear in the PDB. apple.news/AjlwkPIXuTDy...

Search your camera roll for 'Hell'

For this weeks #histbookchat, #photofriday and #booksky, I’m in the middle of “25 Days to Aden” by Michael Knights, which describes operations against the Houthis in Yemen by UAE SOF in 2015 ( which does seem a bit topical at the moment)1/3

This is obviously true and insightful, but I do wonder if part of of Trump’s inexplicable (to me) appeal is that he is completely and obviously unburdened by any thought or motivation more complex than his own self interest?

The longer this goes on, USSOCOM will be looking for a piece of the action and Army and the USMC will - for a range of reasons like justifying roles and budgets - want to find a role for manoeuvre forces as well. And Hegseth will want helmet cam snuff footage from his alpha-male operators as well.

One was a fitter and turner for Queensland Rail and a RAAF NCO during WW2. The other was variously a labourer, merchant seaman, dockworker, farmhand, taxi driver, hotel doorman and finally a parking warden. Oh, and a British Army infantryman in WW1 (WIA and a POW) and Australian Army NCO IN WW2.

That’s not true. But Australian PM Harold Holt swam into rough surf and disappeared at Cheviot Beach just to avoid being interviewed by Chotiner.

Rules of Engagement are woke and gay and would only stop you doing cool warrior things like killing kids at school or having friendly fire incidents.

I expect that the collateral damage guidance issued by Hegseth to CENTCOM is pretty loose. And as for the Israelis…

Early in my military career (Balkans, early on in Afghanistan) I would often hear British officers smugly quoting the Harold Macmillan line about the British being the cultured Athenians to the brutal and arriviste US Romans 1/2

I’m not ruling out a genuine error (although carelessness or indifference to CDE is a strong possibility), but “who puts a school there anyway” is a loathsome argument. Look at any major US military base on google maps, search for ‘elementary school’ or ‘middle school’, and see what turns up.

For this weeks #histbookchat, #photofriday and #booksky, “The Penguin History of Modern Spain: 1898 to the Present” by Nigel Townson. I don’t know a lot about modern Spain’s history apart from the Civil War. I’m just up to the start of the Second Republic, looking forward to the post-Franco period

This is the core truth about the appeal of Trump, MAGA, and their imitators elsewhere (including my own country). It’s selling freedom from consequences, responsibility and accountability. Certainly, the racism, misogyny, cruelty, etc, is appealing to many - because you can get away with it.

The Wordle Company is not a reliable curator of news or opinion, and should no longer be thought of that way.

IIRC, the *warriors* and *operators* were convinced they were on top of it all in Afghanistan. “Just one more HVI capture/kill CONOPS, bro, I promise, bro, just one more”

When decent Americans take their country back, there needs to be real consequences for this sort of cruelty. Not “let’s draw a line under this and return to normalcy”, this people doing and enabling this deserve jail time, financial ruin and social ostracism.

For this weeks #histbookchat, #photofriday and #booksky. “The Team” by Ian McNeill is an excellent account of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, combining the attributes of an impartial official history with the personal touch and anecdotes of a regimental association’s account 1/2

Honestly it doesn't surprise me that Greg has never tried beaver.

Checks out, I guess?

Art.

This is good, with a lacerating, scalpel-like precision in expressing contempt for those who deserve it in spades.

Some poor intern or work experience kid somewhere in the media world being told they HAVE to go and review it. “You want to work with us? Got to suck it up and pay your dues like we had to, kid”

Pretend tough guys who love the idea of violence against the defenceless but don’t understand actual courage in the slightest. bsky.app/profile/pete...

Here. I couldn't think of anything better to say. othermeans.io/p/on-being-a...

“This guy thinks he’s better than us, just like that b**** the other week. We’ll show him who’s boss”

Even more than Renee Good’s murder, this is absolutely, 100%, “you think you’re better than me, you c***? Think you don’t have to be frightened of me? I’ll f****** show you!”

It’s all pretend tough guy stuff at pretend enemies who they think can’t hit back. It’s the magic SOF fantasy of the GWOT that was all night raids with cool soundtracks on unsuspecting targets and no IEDs, dead and maimed kids, or dealing every day with a fearful and enraged populace.

More reinforcement for my view that the US is not going to fight the PRC in defence of Taiwan or anyone else unless the PRC kicks off with sinking a CVN or LHA, killing a lot of dependents at Kadena or Guam, or striking the mainland US and the US public is completely enraged 1/5

As an example of the venal cruelty inherent in ICE, this is competing strongly with: 1. Shoot a suburban mum in the face and deny her first aid 2. Kidnap a 5YO child to use as bait for his parent 3. Have a meal at a restaurant, then detain the people who served you…

For some reason, these days I find myself thinking a lot about how SimCity players would eventually get bored and start triggering disasters.

Such a clear and concise example of the median Trump/MAGA/far right low-information voter. “Oh, awesome, he’s going to hurt someone else I casually hate (in this case, LBGTQ) even though they have no actual negative effect on my life. He will always look out for ME and my interests, though.”

Many years ago, I wrote a couple of papers for my MA (Defence Studies) comparing Canadian and Danish post-WW2 defence policy and how they balanced European NATO commitments, UN/out of area ops, and Arctic sovereignty. My professor told me it was quixotically niche, but my time has finally come.

I always thought Bernie would be worthless as a US President because he was oblivious to anything outside of his domestic policy fixations (however worthy they may be). Whatever Hilary’s failings, she at least knew the rest of the world wasn’t just NPCs depriving Americans of jobs and healthcare.

A personal connection to this weeks #histbookchat, #photofriday and #booksky entry. David Wilson’s “Alfresco Flight” is a decent history of RAAF operations in support of Australian exploration and scientific activities in Antarctica to about 1990. 1/2

Short interlude at Queenstown, NZ

The thing about the Trump admin is that you can ask historians "who was the most crooked person to ever run [pick any federal dept/agency/office]" and nobody even has to debate it anymore, it's almost always the Trump pick. A whole genre of historic trivia Qs wiped out just like that.

An articulate and measured critique of ICE profile and conduct by someone who has done some real soldiering, not cosplaying as an unaccountable tough guy amongst his own citizens. I don’t know if he was regular or reserve, but he reminds me of great Minnesota NG guys I served with in Afghanistan.

Rep. @AOC: I understand that Vance believes shooting a young mother of three in the face three times is an acceptable America that he wants to live in, and I do not. That is a fundamental difference between Vance and I. I do not believe that the American people should be assassinated in the street.

Reposting this in light of current events.

The Trump administration is seeking the approval of the “no mouthy bitch tells me what to do” MAGA supporters. And to frighten everyone else into submission.

Going to make a start on this tonight. Seems relevant. #histbookchat #booksky

Ambitious stakeholder manipulates US SOF to do a capture/kill on an inconvenient rival or boss they want out of the way? Never would have happened in the GWOT… 🤔

Yep, GWOT cult of the SOF HVI raid. Just knock this dude over, it will be cool, no way someone else steps up to take his place, definitely not the person who gave us the HUMINT on the HVI…

“Just do a really cool capture/kill on a HVI, bro, and don’t worry- everything will fall into place” Peak GWOT cult of the operator brain.

I wouldn’t really say I have a favourite music now, but the 16YO version of me was VERY keen on Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible”. Can’t imagine why. youtu.be/SoHpSY3IoAI?...

Getting into the Christmas presents for #histbookchat and #photofriday and learning a bit about two continents I haven’t been to yet. “Patria” maybe has a bit TOO much of the authors prior opinions, and “Ancient Africa” is perhaps a bit dry and textbook-like, but both are interesting reads.