Podcast Episode 12-14-23. (Includes video.)

Welcome to The View from the Front podcast. My name is Stan and this is the Dec. 14th edition. 

You can listen to the podcast by clicking the blue button above. Or, you can watch the video below on YouTube.

I really hope you get something out of it.

Please note: There is also an un-edited, AI-generated transcript, that you can find by clicking the Transcript button at upper right, under the podcast player device.

Or, you can find the podcast on your favorite channel below:

Questions? Comments? You are welcome to comment below. I read all comments and answer most of them. You can also reach out privately at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com. (You can say “hi,” vent, or send news tips! I love all three of those things!)

If you just happened to stumble by, let me say a quick word about what we’re doing here.

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

Every week, I primarily do three things with my podcast:

* Cover emerging hotspots and foreign policy news that you absolutely should know. (Why I focus on foreign policy...)

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

* And finally, I always share plenty of motivation and wisdom at the end of each episode.

Take a listen to the podcast. I really hope you get something out of it.

Selected source notes for podcast and transcript above.

* Official Says 2023 Was 'Most Transformative' for DOD in Indo-Pacific

* DOD Seeks to Quell Violent Extremism in Africa's Sahel Region

* Chiefs Discuss Military Recruiting Challenges at Committee Hearing

Text skeleton/structure to use to send to your Congressman or Senator:

Dear Congressman/Senator,

I’m writing to respectfully request that you vote to pass new aid to Ukraine. It’s a very small percentage of our budget, and you know that 90 percent of it is spent in the United States. This is crucial, because as The Atlantic wrote, For the West to abandon Ukraine now would allow Russia and its authoritarian friends in China, Iran, and North Korea to believe that the 21st century is moving their way — into a future of brutal armies, frightened populations, and endless lies.

Please help save countless lives inside Ukraine -- as well as help honor the agreement we made in 1994 when the U.S., the U.K., and Russia guaranteed Ukraine's security if it gave up its nuclear weapons (as a part of the Budapest Memorandum).

Sincerely yours,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Additional source notes:

Poland pushed back against authoritarianism and its new government will help Ukraine substantially.— Story 1: In sea change for Poland, new gov