Guns, Games, and Videos- a Marine Sniper Talks On Violence and Killing February 19, 2024
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: christmas, deadpool, grossman, gun control, Hitman, Marine, Ohio State University, OSU, SEALS, shannon watts, sniper, video games
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Recently a man attacked and wounded 10 people at Ohio State University. As we approach the holiday seasons where gifts are exchanged I am hopeful that I can shed some light on killing and violence and the real issues that influence violence in our society.
“I left the sky in the middle of the night
I hit the deck and I’m ready to fight.
Colt .45 and Kabar by my side
These are the tools that make men die.”
-Infantry Cadence
This post is not a position on gun control rather it is intended give some insight into a side of the issue few outside of specialized jobs probably recognize or acknowledge. That of the human weapon.
There is an expression every Marine learns in Basic Training. “The most dangerous weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle.” Without justifying the statement (we Marines are very good at self-promotion), the statement is insightful and applies equally to the Rangers, Airborne, SEALS, RM Commandos or any other combat troop. (more…)
President Trump and the Goldwater Rule February 15, 2024
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Article 25, Dr. Lee, Goldwater, Hillary, Javits, Mental Health, Rule, Trump
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Originally posted in 2018 but, given the current events, I have updated with a podcast to discuss Goldwater and Biden…
On December 8th, 2017 the President opened the doors to allow press to watch the bipartisan discussion over immigration. Dr. Brandy Lee of the Yale School of Medicine conducted apparently watched the testimony and conducted an interview in which the resulting article was titled “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump” . In this gripping article, the esteemed Dr. Lee (notice I use the honorific while she excludes such courtesy when talking about the President of the United States). In her interview Dr. Lee sounds alarm bells about President Trump’s mental fitness to be president, etc. etc.
In fact, Dr. Lee was invited to “brief” members of congress on December 5th and 6th. The group included “at least 1 Republican who they would not name.” No doubt.
This is on course with the current Democratic position of applying the 25th Amendment to remove the President from Office. As one example, in May 2017, the NY Times (surprise) wrote an article extoling the virtues of leveraging the 25th Amendment to remove President Trump from office (and not doubt try to replace with Hilary).
In May 2017, the same Dr. Lee was commented in an article on Liberal Outpost (no kidding) titled: “Yale Psychiatrist says Trump (again..no honorific) has a grave ________disability”. Interestingly (to those of us who care about the rule of law and actual process) the article begins with the following:
“Psychiatrists in the United States are blocked from commenting on the psychological wellness of politicians due to the 50 year old Goldwater Rule, which states that they cannot openly diagnose the mental health of public figures who they have not personally examined.
However, the case of President Donald Trump is so extreme and potentially consequential that some noted psychiatrists have felt compelled to speak out despite the rule.”
Then, in an admitted violation of the Goldwater Rule, Lee (honorific removed) states definitively:
“This situation has come to such a critical level. In fact, a state of emergency exists and we could no longer hold back. We have an obligation to speak about Donald Trump’s mental health issues because many lives and our survival as a species may be at stake.”
So what is the Goldwater Rule? For a short history, (thank you Wikipedia) Barry Goldwater was running for President in 1964 when a magazine named Fact published an article The issue arose in 1964 when Fact published the article “The Unconscious of a Conservative: A Special Issue on the Mind of Barry Goldwater”.[3][5] The magazine polled psychiatrists about U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater and whether he was fit to be president.[6][7] The editor, Ralph Ginzburg, was sued for libel in Goldwater v. Ginzburg where Goldwater won $75,000 (approximately $592,000 today) in damages.[3]
Does this sound familiar? There are experts trying to “diagnose” a sitting president for no other reason than their adorned queen did no win and ascend to the presidency. This is nonsense. Now…the “argument” by those on the left are that the Dr. is not making a “diagnosis” under the DSM rather is simply expressing an opinion that any citizen can express. Let me ask you. If I said someone was crazy would you give it the same weight as a professor of Psychiatry from Yale with a DM and who has briefed congress? Of course not. This is nonsense and we all know it.
I will be at the Javits center next week. (where Hillary was to have her coronation…sorry…her “acceptance speech”)…I will look up at the large glass ceiling and thank God (yes GOD) that it was not Hillary that broke that ceiling.
“Dr” Heal Thyself or at least go…..”something” thyself.
New PodCast- Anocracy, Democracy and the US! February 13, 2024
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Biden, Chris Mark, Constitution, democracy, elections, polity, Republic, tyranny of the majority
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Below is my latest podcast. It discusses democratic governance in the context of the United States being a Constitutional Republic. There is, I think, a lot of good information contained in the podcast but I may be biased! ;) I hope you enjoy!
New PodCasts! “A Sniper’s Perspective” February 9, 2024
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: Chris Mark, cybersecurity, Podcast, politics, Reconnaissance, sniper, Ukraine
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I recently took some friends’ advice and began podcasting. I seem to have a lot to say so decided to become the next Joe Rogen ;) Hopefully, I will sound more like Joe Rogen than Joe Biden!! I invite you to listen to my podcast, A Sniper’s Perspective on Spotify, Youtube, PocketCast or just right here! Below is a fun podcast I recorded yesterday on becoming a ScoutSniper.
Chinese Cyber Attacks and Unrestricted Warfare February 1, 2024
Posted by Chris Mark in Uncategorized.Tags: ai, artificial-intelligence, asymmetric threats., china, Chris Mark, cyber war, cybersecurity, technology, unlimited warfare, War
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I first wrote about this phenomenon in 2012. It is becoming reality. The recent cyber-attacks attributed to the Chinese government on American infrastructure can be analyzed within the conceptual framework of “unrestricted warfare,” a doctrine developed by two PLA Colonels, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, in response to the perceived military superiority of the United States. This doctrine signifies a strategic shift from traditional, kinetic warfare to a multifaceted approach incorporating a broad spectrum of tactics including economic, political, and PR maneuvers to conduct ‘sub wars’ and ‘pseudo wars’.
At the core of unrestricted warfare is the recognition that the principles of war have evolved. As the authors state, “If we acknowledge that the new principles of war are no longer ‘using armed force to compel the enemy to submit to one’s will,’ but rather are ‘using all means including armed force and non-armed force, military and non-military, lethal and non-lethal means to compel the enemy to accept one’s interests’”[1]. This perspective broadens the scope of warfare to encompass non-traditional methods such as economic manipulation, cyber-attacks, and disinformation campaigns, transcending the conventional battlefield.
The Chinese cyber-attacks on the U.S. infrastructure, as reported in the aforementioned sources, align with this doctrine. These attacks represent a strategic choice to exploit vulnerabilities in critical systems to cause disruption and potential societal panic, without resorting to open military confrontation. This approach fits into the broader pattern of asymmetric threats.
Asymmetric threats, characterized by a disparity in the means and methods between different adversaries, are further defined by three criteria: the involvement of a tactic that one adversary could and would use against another, the unique ability or willingness of the adversary to use such means, and the potential for serious consequences if these means are not countered. In the cybersecurity realm, these threats take on a significant role. A minor actor with basic hacking tools can compel major entities to invest heavily in defense, illustrating the asymmetry in resources and efforts between attackers and defenders.
The Chinese strategy, as evidenced by the cyber-attacks, meets these criteria of asymmetric warfare. It involves tactics that the Chinese government is capable and willing to employ, which the U.S. would not mirror. The potential consequences of these attacks are severe, necessitating significant defensive measures.
Further aligning with the principles of unrestricted warfare, the authors note that unconventional methods can be formidable weapons in modern conflict. They observe, “As we see it, a single man-made stock-market crash, a single computer virus invasion, or a single rumor or scandal that results in a fluctuation in the enemy country’s exchange rates or exposes the leaders of an enemy country on the Internet, all can be included in the ranks of new-concept weapons”[2]. This recognition of non-traditional tactics as weapons underscores the expanded battlefield that now includes economic, political, and technological realms.
In conclusion, the Chinese cyber-attacks on U.S. infrastructure, as part of their broader strategic approach, are indicative of the principles of unrestricted warfare. They represent a calculated move to use asymmetric tactics to undermine U.S. strengths and exploit vulnerabilities, extending the battlefield into the cyber realm. This strategy exemplifies a modern approach to warfare, where the lines between military and non-military means are blurred, and the battleground extends into multiple domains.
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References:
- Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, “Unrestricted Warfare.”
- Ibid.
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