WTF is Happening with Venezuela? | EYES ON GEOPOLITICS

In this episode, the discussion revolves around the escalating tensions in Venezuela, particularly concerning U. S. military presence and actions against drug trafficking. The conversation delves into the legal and ethical implications of military strikes, the role of intelligence in military operations, and the potential shift in U. S. military strategy towards domestic issues. The participants also explore the growing influence of China in global politics and its implications for U. S. foreign policy, as well as the complexities of Venezuela's role in the global drug trade. Subscribe to our new newsletter!!!! https://teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join Support the show on Patreon:⬇️ https://www.patreon.com/TheTeamHouse New merch, patches, and stickers! ⬇️ https://theteamhouse-shop.fourthwall.com Find Mick Mulroy here: Fogbow ⬇️ https://fogbow.com/ Lobo Institute ⬇️ https://www.loboinstitute.org/ Twitter ⬇️ https://x.com/mickmulroy?s=21&t=-Ze3F_Ix2vlJ18KFvORTCA LinkedIn ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-patrick-mulroy-31198b52/ Bluesky ⬇️ https://bsky.app/profile/mickmulroy.bsky.social Mick’s publications ⬇️ https://www.loboinstitute.org/publications/publications-of-michael-mick-patrick-mulroy/ Find Andy Milburn here: Twitter ⬇️ https://twitter.com/i/flow/login?redirect_after_login=%2Fandymilburn8 LinkedIn ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilburn2023 Substack ⬇️ https://amilburn.substack.com/ Andy’s book ⬇️ https://www.amazon.com/When-Tempest-Gathers-Mogadishu-Operations Bluesky ⬇️ https://bsky.app/profile/andy-milburn.bsky.social Find Jason Lyons here: LinkedIn ⬇️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-lyons-666873316?u Bluesky ⬇️ https://bsky.app/profile/bgsilverback73.bsky.social "Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio" 00:00 Escalating Tensions in Venezuela 07:09 Legal and Ethical Implications of Military Strikes 17:57 Shifts in U. S. National Security Strategy 30:05 The Future of U. S. Military Engagement 33:57 Military Competence and Political Influence 38:48 The Future of Military Engagement 43:53 Shifts in National Defense Strategy 51:44 China's Growing Influence and Military Preparedness 55:53 Venezuela: A Complex Geopolitical Landscape Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-team-house--5960890/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Speaker 00

  She's been thinking about this sleepover all week, but I think about her food allergies all the time. Fortunately, her doctor prescribed Zolair, omalizumab. It's proven to significantly reduce allergic reactions if a food allergy accident happens.

• 0:13Speaker 01

  Zolir 150mg is a prescription medication used to treat food allergy in people one year of age and older to reduce allergic reactions due to accidental exposure to one or more foods. While taking Zolir, you should continue to avoid all foods to which you are allergic. Don't use if you are allergic to Zolir. Zolir may cause a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Tell your doctor if you ever had anaphylaxis. Get help right away if you have trouble breathing or if you have swelling of your throat or tongue. Zolir should not be used for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Zolir is for maintenance use to reduce allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, while avoiding food allergens. Serious side effects such as cancer, fever, muscle aches and rash, parasitic infection, or heart and circulation problems have been reported. Please see zolir.com for full prescribing information. Ask an allergist about Zolir. This is an advertisement for Zolir

• 0:58Speaker 01

  paid for by Genentech and Novartis.

• 1:00Speaker 02

  It's big, spooky, and wicked. Spinquest.com. Grab a handful of Halloween treats like blackjack, bubble craps, and slots. All your freaking faves in one beautiful place. Spinquest.com. And right now, new monsters get $30 coin packs for 10. Visit spinquest.com or download the app tonight.

• 1:24Speaker 03

  Spinquest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

• 1:41Speaker 04

  Hey, everybody. Welcome to another episode of Izanzon Geopolitics. I'm joined today with Mick Mulroy in his suit as always. I think he goes to sleep in that suit. Jason Lyons and myself. Next week, we're all wearing blazers. I'm wearing a blazer no matter what, even if Mick's in his regular, like, you know, running outfit. Lot going on as usual. So we're gonna lead off with Venezuela and what's going on there over the last week. We've parked a slew of destroyers, 2,200 Marines and MEU around or near the coast of Venezuela, probably just patrolling the Caribbean.

• 2:20Speaker 04

  It escalated a bit. We bombed a drug trafficking boat, an alleged drug trafficking boat that I think has been proven that it was killing 11 people. I saw the video. The video didn't look like there was 11 people there, but I don't know. Maybe somebody was underneath. In response, Venezuela used two F-16s to buzz our destroyers. So things are heating up and ramping up. They've, we've also designated the, what's the cartel's name? I haven't. Hold on.

• 2:48Speaker 05

  Trendi Aragua.

• 2:50Speaker 04

  Thank you.

• 2:50Speaker 05

  Well, the new, the new ones too.

• 2:52Speaker 04

  Trendi Aragua was the boat. The other one is, yeah.

• 2:55Speaker 05

  It's not us, just so everybody knows. It's not, it's not Lobo Institute.

• 2:59Speaker 04

  No, of course. Yeah. Los Solos, Los Solos cartel, a terrorist group. And it kind of seems like the war on terror and the war on drugs is kind of like getting together and making a baby. And this is what it looks like. Where are you guys at with this? What are you guys tracking?

• 3:19Speaker 05

  Well, first of all, I'm wearing this because I was on ABC. Most people don't roll around Montana in a sport jacket, just so you know. So to start with, they designated the two drug cartels, Trendi Aragua and

• 3:40Speaker 04

  Los Solos.

• 3:41Speaker 05

  Los Solos, Los Solos, yeah. As terrorist organizations back in February. So once that happened, I imagine there was a surge in intelligence capabilities and efforts. Both on the overt and covert side. And this was the result. So they've probably been collecting information on who's who in the zoo, who's in charge, how they're getting their drugs to the United States. And of course, drug trade's always been a bad thing to be the United States, but now with fentanyl, it's even worse.

• 4:17Speaker 05

  And, and generally put them on notice publicly that this was going to happen. So from my perspective, although one could question the immediate threat of that vessel. But one could also say, well, if they would have let it get to the United States with drugs in it, that would have killed the Americans. So I think that's what they're going to hang their hat on. I'll leave I'll leave the legal scholars to say which one's accurate, but I think I think this was something we saw coming. And I also would point out that the military and the CIA would go through their own intelligence review of whether this was a drug trafficking boat, who was in the boat,

• 5:00Speaker 05

  etc., before it even got up to the point of getting approval from, you know, the Commander in Chief. So I don't think they, you know, they just randomly pointed at a boat and said, just make a statement here. So I would say that there is fidelity. I don't know for sure because I don't have access, but there is fidelity on who was on that boat, what they were doing. The response, of course, is concerning. Maduro both said, one, it's AI. So it didn't happen. And then was outraged by it, which in a plain way is very inconsistent. And then buzzed, and I think they've done it twice, the USS Jason Dunham, named after

• 5:40Speaker 05

  Marine Medal of Honor recipient, twice with F-16s. And the Venezuelans have anti-ship missiles that are air launched, sea launched, and land launched. So that's very risky because they could have shot at these aircraft and shot them down. That I think is in with within their rules of engagement. And now President Trump has said from the Oval Office, they do it again. That could happen. Now, that would have to be transmitted down the chain of command for it to be a direct order. But I think it's fair to say that when you're flying directly at a ship, when we know you have anti-ship missiles, that the rules of engagement say you could engage. So that's where we are now. There's a lot of stuff

• 6:24Speaker 05

  on social media. There's about eight vessels, right, guided missile destroyers, a guided missile cruiser, nuclear submarine. You've already mentioned the Marine Expeditionary Unit, which has been training off the coast of Puerto Rico. They've moved 10 F-35s to Puerto Rico. They have apparently moved Reapers to Puerto Rico. So this doesn't seem to be over. Unclear what.

• 6:53Speaker 05

  What we intend, how we intend this to go, but of course, some of that's up to Maduro. And it all also, and I know we're getting into it later. It is in line with what is being leaked as the next national security and national defense strategy, which is a whole other topic, but I think this is going towards something that could escalate pretty quickly.

• 7:14Speaker 06

  I mean, there's not much more to add. It, I think that, like you said, it's in line with what's being leaked for our national security, national defense strategy. But I'm curious as to know where this shift came from, where it happened, especially given the fact that, which, you know, I guess it's nitpicking, but it's like, we just renamed the national, or Department of Defense, Department of War. And, but now we seem to be turning inward more towards defense. So, again, it's might be nitpicking, but it's just kind of strange to me. Also too, and I, I do first right off the bat, whole hardly believe that drug dealers get what they deserve.

• 7:57Speaker 06

  And in the case of that boat, absolutely, you get what you deserve. And I, I agree that there had to have been, or I'm assuming there was some sort of fixed intelligence that pinpointed this particular vessel as, you know, having fentanyl, something on it. That was a threat to the homeland. But I guess the other part of me questions, what is the use of the Coast Guard? If this is what we're going to do then, that's what they do. And we've seen the amazing videos of their interdiction crews, you know, hopping on submarines, you know, on a cartel submarines. So I, I believe, this is me personally, that this was just a, you know, hey, we've got the toys.

• 8:42Speaker 06

  Let's use them kind of thing. So, yeah, that's where I'm at. Andy, you got anything?

• 8:48Speaker 04

  Andy Milburn's joining us. Hi, Andy. What are your thoughts on this?

• 8:52Speaker 07

  So I've, actually I've got, you know, I wish we had a, it's the only time I've ever said this. I wish we had a Jag on the show because I would love to know what the legal ramifications are of that particular strike. You know, I'm, I'm with Jay in the sense that, look, you know, we've all been involved in so many strikes overseas.

• 9:17Speaker 07

  And I'm pausing before saying this because I'm basing it on legal rather than as well as ethical grounds, but you know, so we, the point, the rationale, I understand the rationale. We have struck targets that have far more nebulous, far more of a nebulous threat in the United States than an inbound boat carrying drugs, but my concerns are simply that, you know, intelligence, we can always get the intelligence wrong and the ramifications are making the wrong decision so close to our shores while it may seem as though there is no ethical legal difference between that and Afghanistan and Iraq, there's a world

• 10:02Speaker 07

  of difference because we are operating under AUMF in Afghanistan and Iraq and we're not, we're in my mind, in uncharted waters when we're doing strikes offshore. Now, from the purely ethical standpoint, yeah, I'm with Jay. I mean, if, if there is, if I'm convinced, if I could be convinced that everyone on that boat was a bad actor and they were indeed smuggling fentanyl in the United States, no crocodile tears for them. But I just feel as though legally, we may be on a slippery slope and I'd love to hear the opinion of a, of a Jag on that.

• 10:36Speaker 05

  So that's a good point, Andy. I mean, I think, I don't know if you're on what I was talking, I, I didn't have a problem with the strike for reasons both you and Jay said, but when it comes to, at least from the Title X, the military doing strikes overseas on Al Qaeda and Al Qaeda linked organization, it does come from the authorized use of military force as passed by Congress.

• 10:59Speaker 05

  There's no similar authorization to go after drug cartels. So maybe that's why they're, well, they designated them a terrorist organization. The question is, does that just designate any, anything, even if you're not connected to Al Qaeda, connect it back to the statutory authorized use of military force to strike terrorists. See, see what I'm saying? So if you're just designated a criminal organization as a terrorist, then does that count? So, and it goes to a much broader question on, on, you know, the War Powers Act and, you know, the legality and constitutionality of that.

• 11:37Speaker 05

  I don't know, but nobody's crying about, you know, drug smugglers. But that is going to be an issue and it's something that's never resolved, right? So we have a War Powers Act that no president has agreed actually is constitutional. They abide by some of it, right? And sometimes they decide not to, right? They didn't brief, for example, the alleged operation off of North Korea. But they did brief this because, well, they published the video, right? So they obviously had to. But it is a broader question. But I don't think it's going to keep them from driving on with this. I think they're gonna, they're gonna look to continue these type of strikes. They can do stuff under Title 50, right? That they don't have to report. And I'm sure, I don't know, but I'm sure that there's something going on there too.

• 12:22Speaker 05

  But, and this could get worse. And by all the reports, reporters that talked to me, some that's already out there is there's talks about taking strikes inside Venezuela. So then it would be, you know, an act of war, I suppose. And then we're going to see this escalate. And then, of course, although Venezuela's military can't match the United States and no country really can. They do have some things that could be problematic to us, which include these anti-ship missiles, right? So we put in a sizable amount of naval vessels, Marines and sailors out there. They have a threat. And if we did something like land the Marines, their military isn't that big. But they have a militia that's apparently like four million people.

• 13:06Speaker 05

  So we all know how that goes, right? I mean, I don't think that's where we're going. I can't imagine we would try to actually invade Venezuela.

• 13:16Speaker 07

  Return to the banana wars of the 30s.

• 13:19Speaker 05

  The banana wars and completely contrary to the concept that we're getting out of wars, right? We just plunge ourselves into, I don't think that's where it's going. So, you know, we should give them some credit. Maybe this is just a, an amping up a military interaction with trying to stem the drug flow in the United States.

• 13:38Jack Murphy?

  Hey guys, it's Jack. I just want to talk to you for a moment about how you can support the show if you've been watching it, enjoying it, but you'd like to get a little bit more involved and help us continue to do this. You can check out our Patreon. It is patreon.com/the Team House. And for $5 a month, you can get access to all of these episodes of The Team House ad-free. The same goes with our affiliated podcast Eyes On with Andy Milburn, Jason Lyons, McMulroy. That one, you will also get all of those episodes ad-free. And you support the channel and the show, and we really appreciate it. The Patreon members are literally what has

• 14:18Jack Murphy?

  helped this company, this small business survive, especially during our early years. And you are what continues to help this thing going even as we navigate the turbulent world of YouTube advertising. So we really appreciate all of you guys. There's going to be a link down in the description to that Patreon page. And there is also going to be a link to our new merch shop. So if you guys want to go and get some Team House merchandise, we got stickers, and we also have patches. And I should mention, if you sign up for Patreon at $10 a month, we will mail you this patch as well. So we really appreciate that. But they're also for sale on the merch shop.

• 14:59Jack Murphy?

  And additionally, they got t-shirts up there, water bottles, a tote bag, coffee mugs, all that good stuff. So please go and check them out and support the show. We really appreciate it, guys. Thank you.

• 15:14Speaker 09

  Migraine makes me miss out on the moments that matter. So I asked my doctor about saying yep to VYPT, eptinezumab, JJMR, an IV infusion given every three months that helps prevent migraine attacks in adults.

• 15:26Speaker 10

  Don't receive if allergic to VYPT. Get help right away for allergic reactions like rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, hives, or facial redness. Tell your doctor if you have constipation that is severe or associated with severe or constant belly pain or swelling, vomiting, or bloating. If you have increased blood pressure or color changes, pain, or numbness in fingers or toes. Common side effects are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and allergic reactions.

• 15:48Speaker 09

  Tap the ad to see how many migraine-free days you might reclaim and see the full prescribing information at vypt.com.

• 15:59Speaker 02

  Forget whatever plans you have this weekend because you're staying at home and playing on Spinquest. And there's never been a better time to sign up than right now. New users get $30 coin packs for just $10. All the table games you love with hundreds of slot games and real cash prizes. That's at spinquest.com. S.P.I.N.Q.U.E.S.T. com.

• 16:21Speaker 03

  Spinquest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

• 16:26Speaker 11

  This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the platform responsible for a rapidly spreading condition known as podcast brain. Symptoms include buying microphones you don't need, explaining RSS feeds to confused relatives, and saying things like, "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm editing audio." If this sounds familiar, you're probably already a podcaster. The good news is Spreaker makes the whole process simple. You record your show, upload it once, and Spreaker distributes it everywhere people listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and about a dozen apps your cousin swears are the next big thing. Even better, Spreaker helps you monetize your show with ads, meaning your podcast might someday pay for, well, more microphones.

• 17:09Speaker 11

  Start your show today at spreaker.com. Spreaker, because if you're going to talk to yourself for an hour, you might as well publish it.

• 17:17Speaker 07

  I think there was certainly an element of showmanship. It was kind of a demonstration, hey, this is what we can do with drug traffickers. Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how this develops. We had that conversation back in January on going after the cartels, and you know, our consensus was, I think, looking back, that, you know, there was certainly some sympathy for a policy like that because we've all been involved in operations overseas where the connection with, direct connection with US national interest was pretty nebulous, let's be honest.

• 17:58Speaker 07

  And we're all victims in a sense, or unhappy observers of what happened in Afghanistan. So using the military with a direct correlation to preventing bad things coming to the United States ostensibly does not seem like a bad thing. I'm not wringing my hands about it. But again, the legal ramifications are tough. Hey, I've got a question for you, though, Mick, on... You know, we you talk we talking about what needs to be declared to Congress. So something like what happened in North Korea. So I understand under Title 50, there are things, of course, that that don't have to be declared. But then the the Church Commission.

• 18:44Speaker 07

  The the outcome outcome of the Church Commission was that intelligence operations have to be briefed to Congress, right? Where is the cutoff point?

• 18:53Speaker 04

  At least a gang of eight, right?

• 18:55Speaker 05

  Yeah, so the the question, the issue really comes to complete deniability. Right? So if a military operation happens under Title 10 and the report in New York Times guy asked the spokesman at the Pentagon, did that happen? They can say no comment.

• 19:13Speaker 05

  If if the president's asked about a CIA operation, they he or she or anybody else in his government can say it did not happen. Never happened. It's they can deny it. Both have to be briefed to Congress. So the intelligence community have our own, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. If this was a Title 50 operation, for example, and it could have been, I think, and I'm not validating this happened, I have no idea. I'm just, this is what the New York Times reported.

• 19:48Speaker 05

  They still would have to brief it to their Oversight Committee. They might be able to make the argument that it's only the chairman and deputy chairman. Right? Because of the sensitivity of it. But that counts for both as briefing. And like Dee said, maybe the gang eight. But there there isn't a requirement of who necessarily just has to be briefed. So that's that's problematic if they didn't brief, especially a Title 10 operation. I don't know that, you know, right now that's going to be made an issue because of the unwillingness to buck anything the president did does now or did then.

• 20:24Speaker 05

  And it's not approval, by the way. It's just it's just informing. They can say this was a terrible idea, it's a great idea. And they do that often with, you know, CIA operations. But it's just it's just an actual informing. So they know what happened and they can be part of the dialogue potentially in the future on similar operations. But they don't have the the ability necessarily to block operations, just the funding.

• 20:52Speaker 07

  They they're informed beforehand.

• 20:56Speaker 05

  They don't necessarily have to be informed beforehand. It can come after, right? Because they don't have a veto. So being informed. Now, oftentimes, we do when it's going to be a big overt strike, right? Like when we did the strikes in Syria or when they used chemical weapons, the Assad regime did, we briefed, that was part of my job, not only the key members of the Senate and House, but also key allies. Just saying that was going to happen. Because once it happens, I mean, you could brief them afterwards, but I mean, they could just turn on.

• 21:31Speaker 04

  Yeah, and this one, we didn't hear anything about the SEALs in North Korea.

• 21:38Speaker 05

  Right, go ahead. Yeah.

• 21:40Speaker 07

  Well, it just seems like rather a powerless obligation. I mean, you know, so you brief, the Church Commission requires that brief. But if the people briefed have no power of veto and they can't talk about it, it's, you know, it's almost, it's almost worthless.

• 21:59Speaker 05

  The only thing that I've seen that they have the ability to do is if it's an ongoing thing, they can cut funding for it. Like, say, we're gonna overthrow, and by the way, the CIA doesn't come up with this stuff by itself. Like, this rogue element stuff hasn't been the case since, as Andy mentioned, the Church Commission. Like, the president says, do this to the CIA, and the CIA, you know, does its best to carry out the mission, just like the military. But it's not, it's not a CIA coming up with, like, we're going to overthrow a regime or something. It's done by the president. If, I'm just using that as a hypothetical, the CIA's task, overthrow country X, it would be briefed to the hipsey and the sissy. They could disagree with it, right?

• 22:44Speaker 05

  And then they could essentially cut off funding for it. So if it's a long campaign, they have the ability. Then there is a right to it. To affect. Yeah.

• 22:54Speaker 04

  Was there anything in, like, the thought process of not informing at least the top, the chairmans of the, of the committees that were supposed to be informed?

• 23:04Speaker 04

  Because it was 2019, right, when this went down? The, at least the SEAL mission in North Korea. It was it must have been Title 50, right? I mean, if it's

• 23:15Speaker 05

  Unnecessarily. They could do it under Title 10. So I don't want to again, I don't know that it's true. I have no idea. I didn't have anything to do in North Korea, by the way. So I just want to put that out there.

• 23:27Speaker 04

  So my my point now I was trying to make was like, the reason why they didn't inform anybody in Congress, you know, even one or two people was because some of the at 2019 at that point, you know, Democrats controlled the House and the chairmans were Democrats. Were they worried about a leak or something like that? Like, was it more political in nature for not telling them? Because yeah, even if it doesn't have any effect where they can't veto it, you know, we're still a democracy, right? We should inform the people's representatives about what we're doing and like whether it's covert operations or overt operations. At least I think.

• 24:04Speaker 05

  So I don't know that it wasn't briefed. We're just going on what the report says.

• 24:07Speaker 04

  Sure.

• 24:08Speaker 05

  But if that's accurate, I don't see the excuse for not briefing it. It was either if you're concerned about leaks, that's when you only brief it to certain people. And obviously, if it comes out, you know, but it did come out, right? They didn't even brief it. It seems to me a lot of people jumped on the idea that it was and yes, I'm biased. You know, my business partners from that unit and I have a ton of friends from that unit. They're like, oh, it must have been somebody who was on the operation. No, not necessarily. Not necessarily. I mean, those those guys have a a very good reason not to leak any of those type of things because, you know, I mean, think about it, their task to do it again. Right? You don't think that, you know, the Hermit Kingdom, the totalitarian state of North

• 24:51Speaker 05

  Korea isn't going to do something based on this report? So I wouldn't be, I would, I would push back against people to assume it was somebody on that operation. It could have been somebody for political reasons that found out later. But I don't, I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't have been.

• 25:05Speaker 04

  Reading the article, it seemed like they got their hands on like an AAR. And I could be wrong because I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. But it really does seem like somebody got their hands on that. And like,

• 25:17Speaker 07

  Well, that was an investigation.

• 25:20Speaker 07

  Conducted by a three, a three star general. So it could, it could well have been.

• 25:27Speaker 05

  And then somebody.

• 25:28Speaker 04

  Circle kept getting bigger and bigger.

• 25:30Speaker 05

  Yep.

• 25:30Speaker 04

  I mean, listen, it would have been pretty cool as shit if they got it done.

• 25:34Speaker 05

  Yeah, I think it's also gonna have a relooking at how we do sensor replacement. I mean, we've got unmanned everything now, just throwing it out there.

• 25:46Speaker 07

  I was gonna say, it, it, it just seems a crazy way to do that. I, I can't, I, I just can't think of the rationale. I mean, you know, Mick and Jason, you know more about this than I do, but

• 26:00Speaker 07

  from a technical standpoint, I just can't imagine a situation where you have to put people in, in that way in order to unplace it. And I'm wondering, I'm wondering how much of this was an argument from, say it, but from JSOC or the SEAL community from within SEAL Team Six to, that they were the guys to do this.

• 26:25Speaker 05

  Well, certainly if, if this was needed, humans to do it, they are the guys to do it. I don't, I don't know the debates. I don't, or the specifics of why they had to use this level of force.

• 26:40Speaker 05

  But that's, you know, in the broader picture, it should have been briefed. I can't think of a reason why it wouldn't have.

• 26:47Speaker 04

  Me speculating again a little bit, reading the article, it seemed like the SDV team and the SEAL Team Six team were kind of like pointing at each other like it was your fault. No, it was your fault. At least how the article reads, right? That's all I'm saying. I'm not saying that's the case, obviously. Um, it could just be what they read on like the investigation that was done and stuff, but that's what it felt like, it read like anyway. And I don't know anything about anything, so.

• 27:15Speaker 04

  I only know what Mick tells me offline.

• 27:17Speaker 05

  Well, again, on the macro level.

• 27:20Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 27:21Speaker 05

  Apparently, we're not interested in North Korea anymore. If the leaks on the national security strategy and national defense strategy are accurate, that we're shifting from looking at China and Russia and, of course, as the first tier concern for the national security of the United States, Iran and North Korea as the second tier. And now we're focused on domestic, which is kind of crazy, considering the US military is not supposed to have much of a role in domestic, you know, operations, nor is the agency, for that matter, and Latin America, right? So that's, that's, if that would be an entire sea change from every administration passed,

• 28:04Speaker 05

  including the first Trump administration, if it's accurate, they were, and against a lot of people that would be, I think, writing this right now, would have had to completely change their position.

• 28:19Speaker 05

  Since when I was involved, you know, in my role before, the national security strategy, the defense strategy, and the regular warfare annex, which all focused on what we called at the time, the air peer competitors, now strategic competitors, or whatever we call them, maybe we don't call them that anymore, since we don't seem to put them highest on the list. Now, we got to wait till it actually comes out, there will be a public version, so if this is just inaccurate, then I withdraw my previous.

• 28:49Speaker 07

  Be interesting to see if Canada is up there.

• 28:52Speaker 04

  I mean, in my opinion, they're enemy number one, let's be honest.

• 28:57Speaker 05

  I can't say that. They're just there, the right thing.

• 28:59Speaker 04

  Yeah. How dare they with their maple syrup and their free healthcare, like, how dare they?

• 29:07Speaker 07

  Ratcheting down China from our national security strategy, national military strategy.

• 29:14Speaker 04

  Andy, can you get a little bit closer to the camera?

• 29:16Speaker 07

  Yeah. I was just saying, kicking China down a notch on those strategies has potential implications for Taiwan.

• 29:28Speaker 07

  You know, I mean, having, having China up there, whether, I mean, we've always played this ambiguity, right? On whether or not we would go to the defense of Taiwan, because honestly, I don't think any administration can really answer that question, although I think it ostensibly seems unlikely that we would, because of the nature of such a conflict, would almost be a fait accompli, and it would be us trying to dislodge China after an amphibious landing. Hard thing to justify to, to the American public. But, but as a deterrent, we always had China up there as a threat, and we always ostensibly

• 30:13Speaker 07

  talked, I mean, we trained and talked about the defense of Taiwan. But if it's no longer in our national military strategy, what message are we sending to China? I mean, is that, is that going to be a green light across the straits?

• 30:29Speaker 06

  Yeah, I mean, and it's not just Taiwan either, but I mean, look at Japan, they're, they're in chaos right now, their, their prime minister just resigned, you know, he's only been, I think it's less than a year, he's been in, and they're going through all that turmoil and trying to figure out who's next, and then now we, now this happens, if it's true, you know, we kind of do an about face with the Pacific, you know, everybody, Philippines, everybody, they're all going to be wondering, you know, what, what's next? Who do we turn to for this? So it's going to be interesting.

• 31:00Speaker 05

  Absolutely, and this comes at the same time, we just saw this Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit at China, right, which should have scared the bejesus out of all the policymakers and warfighters, quite frankly, in, in Washington DC, they should be saying, oh, okay, so now they are openly conspiring to dethrone the United States world order, the one we created, which is advantageous to ourself, no surprise there, and they're doing so not just with the normal bad actors, the China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, but they have what should be, could be, and should be, one of the most important strategic

• 31:45Speaker 05

  partners of the US in the 21st century, India. Right? And here they're laughing it up, chumming it up. They're agreeing to do things like this, this SCO Development Bank, which is going to do what? It's going to replace that we left, right? Certainly with USAID IMF, the world, the world bank. And they're not doing it for, you know, benevolent reasons. They're trying to basically get their sphere of influence broader and our sphere of interest influence lesser, right? So they're doing that. They're doing things together on AI, security, the development of new technologies. You name it, they're doing it and they're doing it with about 20 countries. It started as a very regional

• 32:30Speaker 05

  thing and now has gotten significant. And, and the president recognized it. It's literally said that they're conspiring against the United States in a, you know, in a social media post. So we have apparently a national security strategy that totally pivots internally to the domestic and to the south of us at the same time that our adversaries are building their sphere of influence all around the world to include Europe, the Middle East, Europe, well, he's close to Europe. Turkey was there, as part of point out, a NATO ally was at this conference. And of course, all throughout the Middle East, Africa and Dando Pacific. Big problem. Put it together. We've got

• 33:16Speaker 05

  a significant shift in worldwide influence.

• 33:21Speaker 04

  Mick, riddle me this. I mean, so the president tweets about, you know, China trying to curry influence with the SCO, right? Presidential actual, it's a statement, right? From the president, the chief guy in terms of our foreign policy and the national defense strategy is going to start pivoting to regional and domestic. How does that? How does what the president say and what they're doing with the national defense strategy even jive? Even seem like a coherent strategy in any way, shape or form?

• 33:54Speaker 05

  Well, if it comes out, and again, there's a public national security and national defense strategy usually, there's also, you know, classified versions. Um, I think China and the rest of the SCO is going to say, perfect. This is exactly what we wanted them to do. Have them, uh, any, and of course, our, this isn't just military, right? We're talking about the defense strategy, but the national security strategy is diplomatic, economic, it's everything. It's everything around the world, uh, and how it affects us. It's how we trade with other countries. So it's how, it's how they decide who they're going to have the most favorite trading partners with, who they're going to partner with if there's a conflict.

• 34:37Speaker 05

  And we need to have partner countries to, you know, to actually, uh, hope it doesn't happen, but go to war again. Right? This is all, this plays into everything. It's, it's, it's the dime, right? It's everything. And, uh, they're looking at it for a way to seize control, turn it to what they call a multipolar world. And of course, what they mean is when they dominate, uh, together, you know, the, especially the big two, um, and, and, and have control over, over us. And so I think there's going to be a lot of talk, there already is a lot of talk from both sides of the aisle on the SCO, uh, summit. And if this comes out the way it's being reported, that's just going to add to the,

• 35:18Speaker 05

  I think, uh, loudness of the conversation in Washington DC on just where we're going with our foreign policy.

• 35:25Speaker 07

  I'm trying to figure out if our foreign policy now is focused, I mean, this sounds like an anomaly, if it's now focused more domestically. What does that look like as far as employment of the military?

• 35:39Speaker 05

  I don't know, National Guard in the streets of major cities?

• 35:43Speaker 07

  I mean, are we talking domestic, domestic? Mick mentioned, you know, the, the border, but, and beyond the border, uh, but I'm just trying to think what there is.

• 35:54Speaker 07

  I, you know, I get it aside from the problem of illegal immigration, aside from the problem with drugs, but it it just doesn't seem to me as though those problems require, how big is our military? Three million? Three and a half million, not counting reserves? No, I mean, counting reserves, sorry.

• 36:14Speaker 04

  I think it's like one, three, uh, active, one point three active.

• 36:18Speaker 05

  Counting reserves. Right. And this, of course, the national security strategy, certain defense strategies written for the National Guard. National Guard's part of it, right? But think about the rest of the active forces, which generally don't have a role inside the United States, you know, posse comitatus and all sorts of restrictions. So I don't, again, it hasn't been published yet, so maybe we should wait before we criticize something that, you know, might not be accurate as reported. But certainly, if that is the case, it's going to cause, uh, big issues. Uh, you know, we're going to focus all of our military efforts on Venezuela.

• 36:52Speaker 04

  Right.

• 36:53Speaker 07

  Yeah. I, you know, I often wonder, I, I retired six years ago now, and, you know, when I retired, O I R was still going on. Uh, but I wonder now what it is like in the military because, you know, for most of us, all our memories in the military were of war, right? I mean, there was a fallow period in the nineties when, when we weren't at war, but even then there were pop up things. But now it's been, I mean, you know, essentially conventional troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 2014, right? So it's been a long period

• 37:34Speaker 07

  where people have gone in and out and now people late in their careers have never experienced combat. And I, I'm, I'm wondering what, how that has affected morale. I know it hasn't affected recruiting that much, right? I mean, recruiting seems, certainly the Marine Corps meeting recruiting goals, I don't know how, but, uh, but it's in, and now they're just, I mean, at least, at least, look, I'm not getting nostalgic about this, but, you know, at least during the wars, right? The war on terror, whatever we're calling it now, Iraq and Afghanistan, there was a proximate purpose to what we were doing. We were training up, we were deploying and, uh, and, and, you know, I, I get it. I just can't imagine being

• 38:19Speaker 07

  in the military now, year after year, where you are. Just training to do nothing.

• 38:26Speaker 07

  That makes me sound like a wall monger, but.

• 38:28Speaker 05

  Yeah, well, I mean, that's why we have a military is to be ready, right? We don't want to be in a constant state of war, but I I hear you. Most of our careers were in in in a state of war, right? The global war on terror. I would point out is, you know, people are talking about the military and, you know, get back to, you know, this war ethos. I don't think the military ever left the warrior ethos. So just because, you know, political people weren't in charge at the time, I'd like to do a little sticking up for the military.

• 38:58Speaker 07

  Yeah.

• 38:59Speaker 05

  We took down the Taliban and toppled them in Afghanistan in about six weeks. We took down a very sizable military and modern in Iraq in 26 days, right? The US military with the help of the agency, the US military predominantly. And, you know, whether we should have done Iraq, whether we, how we left Afghanistan or should have left Afghanistan, that wasn't up to the military, man. That was that was political decisions, policy decisions. So the idea that we've lost our our warrior ethos and our ability to fight wars is just, I think, factually incorrect and it's it's disrespectful for the people who fought those wars and ups.

• 39:44Speaker 05

  Anyway, want to point that out because this idea that, you know, until a certain political entity gets in charge, whether it's right or left or whatever, that that's all of a sudden, the military becomes competent or not, it's just.

• 39:56Speaker 07

  Yeah.

• 39:56Speaker 05

  It defies logic and it's disrespectful for the people who, you know, serve apolitically, which is the should be the entire military under any administration, and they're always preparing for the defense of our country.

• 40:12Speaker 07

  Yeah, I mean, I I think the Marine Corps was a far better organization when I got out than when I came in. No, that had nothing to do with me, like my period of service, but it just, you know, it was Marines were better trained. I mean, a lot of factors came into play there. There's natural progression, the fact that wars do force improvement and adaptation. And I, you know, I I think the Marine Corps adapted very well and very quickly to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan at the at the tactical level very well. And, you know, I'm I'm. Generally very proud of having been a Marine and seeing performance there and that isn't me just chest beating because I can also be very critical. But I think the way

• 40:54Speaker 07

  that we in a short period of time trained and deployed individuals and units to to go to an Iraq and the way that they behaved responded to a very difficult situation, a counterinsurgency says a lot for the US military. And yeah, I agree with you, Mick. I don't buy the fact that we lost lethality along the way at all. I really don't. You know, I think that's I didn't see it during my time there. You know, I just saw, in fact, Marines were tougher. They were fitter, they were tougher. NCOs were better, you know,

• 41:34Speaker 07

  across the board. And I'm sure it's continued to, you know, the Marine Corps continued to progress in that regard in the last few years. I just hope that we're not now facing a period where the military is going to be misused.

• 41:50Speaker 06

  Yeah, I think that's the biggest.

• 41:51Speaker 04

  One second, Jay. This segment is brought to you by the United States Marine Corps. Go to UMC, USMC.com. Go ahead, Jay. Sorry.

• 42:00Speaker 06

  No, it's all good. Now I was gonna say, I think probably, and this is just me mind reading, the biggest question in the mind.

• 42:08Speaker 09

  Migraine makes me miss out on the moments that matter. So I asked my doctor about saying yep to VYAPT, eptinezumab, JJMR, an IV infusion given every three months that helps prevent migraine attacks in adults.

• 42:20Speaker 10

  Don't receive if allergic to VYAPT. Get help right away for allergic reactions like rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, hives, or facial redness. Tell your doctor if you have constipation that is severe or associated with severe or constant belly pain or swelling, vomiting, or bloating. If you have increased blood pressure, or color changes, pain, or numbness in fingers or toes. Common side effects are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and allergic reactions.

• 42:42Speaker 09

  Tap the ad to see how many migraine-free days you might reclaim and see the full prescribing information at VYAPT.com.

• 42:53Speaker 02

  Hanging out at the pool is great. Relaxing and playing Vegas-style games on my phone at the same time. Drinking one hand and a blackjack in the other. It's all at Spinquest. Over a thousand games, including your favorite slots and table games. Be cool with this summer special. New players get $30 coin packs for 10 at spinquest.com.

• 43:16Speaker 03

  Spinquest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

• 43:23Speaker 11

  This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the platform responsible for a rapidly spreading condition known as podcast brain. Symptoms include buying microphones you don't need, explaining RSS feeds to confused relatives, and saying things like, "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm editing audio." If this sounds familiar, you're probably already a podcaster. The good news is Spreaker makes the whole process simple. You record your show, upload it once, and Spreaker distributes it everywhere people listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and about a dozen apps your cousin swears are the next big thing. Even better, Spreaker helps you monetize your show with ads, meaning your podcast might someday pay for, well, more microphones. Start your show today at spreaker.com.

• 44:06Speaker 11

  Spreaker, because if you're going to talk to yourself for an hour, you might as well publish it.

• 44:11Speaker 06

  ... of these young kids, and it's crazy that I can call them kids, in the military today is probably, like you just said, what you just finished with, Andy, is, what are we gonna be used for next? You know, it's like they're trained up, and I do believe, I agree with both of you, that they've stayed lethal throughout, despite everything else external that's going on, you know, politics or whatever.

• 44:33Speaker 02

  I hate that term, by the way.

• 44:35Speaker 06

  I do too, but you know what? I had to use it. Um, I believe that their, yes, their warrior ethos has always been there in the men and women of the armed forces. I don't defend it at all. Yes, but I think Sounds like a coffee company. Yeah, it does. There's an idea. Write that down. I think it's more a question of where are we going to be used, especially now if, and going back to what Mick said, we don't know. But if it is published and becomes public that yes, we are turning inward towards, and our focus is domestic. There, you know, it's like, am I going to Los Angeles? Am I going to get that Los Angeles deployment ribbon? Am I going to Birmingham, Alabama? What's going to happen with me? You know, this is not what I signed up for.

• 45:20Speaker 06

  And I'm not saying that that's what they're saying, because some of them probably wouldn't care. It's like, you tell me where to go and I'm going to go. But from the outside looking in, I think that that's probably our biggest concern is going to be where we're training these kids to fight and be, you know, to use that warrior ethos. But if you're talking, and when you start using that word domestic, now you're starting, two things are starting to butt up against one another. You know, lethality, sorry, had to use it again, and domestic. And we know how that turns out. You know, Kent State, you know, things like that. So I think that's probably what's on their mind. I should say the, the leader, leadership, whereas the young Lance Corporal and the Corporal, probably, you know, Lance Corporal's PFCs,

• 46:05Speaker 06

  stuff like that, they're probably like, just send us wherever you need us to go. You know, they're ready to do their jobs.

• 46:11Speaker 07

  Well, if they change, if the national military strategy does downplay China, that's a huge, that, that's a, that's a big deal for the Marine Corps. Because their last few years, the Marine Corps-

• 46:25Speaker 06

  War design is all about that, right?

• 46:27Speaker 07

  Yeah. And, and so, you know, there's a lot of, a lot of planets on the Marine Corps who are going to be scratching their heads and figuring out, okay, what do we do now?

• 46:38Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 46:39Speaker 05

  I belong to a group called the Vandenberg Coalition, right? And Vandenberg was a senator who said that, you know, politics should stop at the water's edge. I think that's the motto of the group. And it's got people that were in it, like Senator McCain, obviously passed away and

• 46:59Speaker 05

  Who's the, uh, sorry, his name escaped me now, but he, he was almost his running mate. He's a Democrat, he's really close to

• 47:06Speaker 07

  Lieberman.

• 47:07Speaker 05

  Lieberman, there you go. So it has both sides. It's a bipartisan group. And the point being that there's a reason why we want our foreign policy to be nonpartisan. Because if you have a strategy that doesn't last beyond four years, it's not a strategy.

• 47:22Speaker 07

  Right?

• 47:23Speaker 05

  It's, it's wild shifting back and forth and it's, uh, it's inconsistent and essentially ineffective to even have a strategy. So having a combined one where you invite both sides to actually discuss what's best for the U. S. In foreign policy to push back against China and Russia. And obviously the priorities itself is what's best for the U. S.

• 47:47Speaker 07

  And that, and that was, that, that was certainly, that was the, the way things were obviously during the Cold War. The strategy was a single strategy. It was containment. That, and that continued, you know, regardless of, of which party was in power. And it continued, it really did continue through the, I hate to use the term war on terror. It doesn't make sense, but it continued during that period. Right? There, there was, but it was more a kind of, uh, it was, it was more kind of a disinterest. It was, it was, it was a hands off view of the war on terror and no one really questioned what the, the policy goals there or whether we were achieving them. So it kind of had a

• 48:32Speaker 07

  negative aspect. But yes, now it seems as though we're in the potential era of whiplash. And that's why, uh, this with China is a great example and, and the Marine Corps all in pursuit of Force Design 2030, uh, which by the way, for those of our listeners, uh, watchers who not familiar with it, it, it basically about, um, 10 years ago, right? Started looking at China as what was called a piecing threat. And how China was, how the Marine Corps was going to counter China in the Pacific. And I'm, and I'm making this very, very simple.

• 49:11Speaker 07

  But it, it came down to that Marines were there to enable surveillance, right? And to enable long range precision strike using anti-ship missiles to set up kill zones using the island chains. Uh, and, and, um, and in doing so, uh, pursuing a very distributed, uh, mode of warfare, all right, both, you know, in, in the terms of, of how the Marine Corps was a raid and how it was going to supply itself. And that's why we got rid of our tanks.

• 49:51Speaker 07

  And I believe we got rid of a number of our artillery units and we went all in on, uh, what we call the Marine littoral regiments. Uh, that whose purpose would be to enable, um,

• 50:06Speaker 07

  long range surveillance, uh, and, and also long range precision strike. Thank you, guys, correct me if I'm off target there. And, and it created a great deal of controversy in the Marine Corps, especially among the retirees, senior officers. And it was, uh, one of the only times that I have seen, uh, former Marines, senior Marines go after each other publicly, uh, in the media and on social media. Um, the commandant at the time, General Berger, came, it was the subject of a good deal of, uh, uh, what to say, uh,

• 50:46Speaker 07

  a good deal of criticism to include from former commandants in public and the current commandant too, for their support of Force Design 2030. So, and now, I mean, everything shifted towards that particular strategy for the Marine Corps, to include the acquisition programs, training, organization, everything across dot MPLF. And so if, if China is no longer the pacing threat, it's very, it's going to be very interesting. I mean, are we going to get our tanks back? What's gonna, what's going to happen? And there's going to be a good deal of chest beating in the media from from those who've been who've been getting very emotional and critical of force design 2030.

• 51:34Speaker 05

  And just so the, I mean, some of the audience might know, but the national defense strategy is like the overall policy for the DOD and then out of it, the national military strategy is how the military meets that strategy, right? And the policy is put out. So if this comes out, again, we keep saying if because we're just reading reports, but it's all over the place now, that we're focusing on domestic and, you know, this hemisphere, then the national military strategy is going to react to it. They're going to shift resources to Andy's point. If you're following the strategy, right? Domestic in in this Western hemisphere. So they're going to shift forces out of the Indo-Pacific and I assume the Middle

• 52:18Speaker 05

  East and Europe to match the priorities as stated by the president and the White House. So it's it's going to do a big number on force design and the entire plan for a whole branch of service. That's going to be a pretty big shift.

• 52:40Speaker 06

  Taking it down to the micro view, what does that do to that Lance Corporal Corporal Sergeant who have been training to fight the Chinese or fighting the Pacific? You know, now mentally they have to shift focus and you use that same, I would assume those same strategies, tools, TTPs to now focus on a domestic and a regional stage, you know, that's got to have some kind of psychological effect on that. I'm not saying it's going to drive them crazy, but it's got to be confusing to them, you know, to, you know, have that zero six formation and say, hey, we're changing tactics. You can throw those Mandarin or,

• 53:25Speaker 06

  you know, whatever books away on, you know, phrases. Now we're going to give you some Spanish phrases to learn and stuff like that. It's it's got to be, you know, pretty frustrating for them. Again, if it happens.

• 53:39Speaker 07

  I think fortunately the the slow.

• 53:43Speaker 07

  The reluctance of the Marine Rifle Squad Platoon to to adapt in that sense is going to be a huge advantage. And my my direct experience is a little bit dated, it's a few years old, but until I left for Ukraine in 2022, I was covering the Marines warfighting exercises in 29 Palms, where they were supposed to be training for peer-on-peer engagement, i.e. going against the Chinese. And I will say that the way that Marine Corps Rifle Squad operated had changed not at all. And you know, and for better and for worse, I mean, the tactics that they were training to close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver

• 54:25Speaker 07

  remained exactly the same. Their organic weapons remained the same. The way they used them remained the same as they did when I was in Lance Corporal. So and they were slow to adapt. I mean, they were slow for a number of reasons. It just seemed culturally difficult to get them to use drones in the way, for instance, that a Marine in Maasok that we use drones. And I'm, you know, partly because the drones that they were issued were kind of pieces of shit. But but also, I mean, it was just so embedded in the culture for Marines to do what they've always done. So I don't think there'll be so much of a change there. But but there will

• 55:06Speaker 07

  at, you know, the planet level. And and again, you know, we've already got the Marine Corps, the Doral Regiment, and we've we no longer have artillery. We no longer, I mean, we do have artillery, I'm sorry, but we I believe we scaled down on our artillery. And we got rid of our tanks, which was a very emotional issue for a lot of Marines, not just tankers. So it'll be interesting to see how that how that changes. What else? We got something rid of. We got rid of something else that that I hadn't realized the other day. You guys?

• 55:39Speaker 07

  Ability wise. So ringing a bell with you guys.

• 55:43Speaker 04

  The Marines?

• 55:45Speaker 07

  Yeah.

• 55:45Speaker 06

  Did we get rid of stay platoons? Are they gone?

• 55:49Speaker 07

  Uh, we got rid of sniper. Yeah.

• 55:51Speaker 06

  Snipers.

• 55:51Speaker 05

  We got rid of snipers. That's right. Which makes no sense to me.

• 55:56Speaker 04

  Why would they do that?

• 55:58Speaker 05

  And then they're gonna probably rename somebody that gets additional training and how to be a long range marksman and then they'll.

• 56:04Speaker 06

  Yeah. What if the army is like deserting?

• 56:08Speaker 05

  It's like, so you just got rid of one of the most, you know, storied MOSs in the US Marine Corps. And you're gonna recreate them. You are. I mean, it's gonna happen.

• 56:16Speaker 07

  Yeah. And there were intangible benefits to having snipers. I mean, it was the ethos, but, but the thing is that sniper, that shooting was about 10% of what they did. You know, I mean, you, so, so the guys that did well and and became snipers and got through sniper school. Yes, they had the skills of shooting and stalking and all that other stuff that may seem archaic, but no, but they had observation skills. They were savvy. They were good technically and all of those things mean that they could have adapted very well to operating drones and using drones, you know, to, to the both for, for strike and, and surveillance to the greatest effect.

• 56:59Speaker 07

  Um, I, I think, uh, yeah, that, that to me made getting rid of them made no sense. It didn't save the Marine Corps a ton of money, I'm sure, either.

• 57:09Speaker 05

  Army didn't get rid of them. SOCOM didn't get rid of them. JSOC didn't get rid of them.

• 57:13Speaker 07

  Yeah. But I think no one's really aware that the army ever had snipers in the first place. So it was easy just to.

• 57:20Speaker 05

  But the skill set, what they want.

• 57:22Speaker 07

  Sniper in the army has just passed their qualification course.

• 57:28Speaker 06

  Comments are just gonna light up.

• 57:30Speaker 04

  This is brought to you by the United States Marine Corps.

• 57:35Speaker 06

  That was his long way of saying that the Navy should have gotten rid of carriers. That was his roundabout way.

• 57:42Speaker 04

  If we're if we're shifting to domestic and regional, see you later, carriers.

• 57:47Speaker 07

  No, no.

• 57:49Speaker 04

  No.

• 57:49Speaker 05

  Is this gonna last three years and then the next administration, be it Republican or Democrat, goes back to what I would say is the traditional view of American foreign policy.

• 58:03Speaker 07

  Carrier's, you know, the justification was not in conflict against China. In fact, the greatest criticism of carrier groups was that they were so vulnerable in a war against China. But they're great for force protection. I mean, you want to put a carrier off, I don't know, Venezuela or Latin America. I mean, it's the modern version of gunboat diplomacy, right? That's why, that's why you always read in the papers, you know, the United States has now sent three carriers to the Middle East. I mean, it's really kind of a statement, isn't it? I mean, and in the war on terror, they were a great platform for close air support

• 58:46Speaker 07

  because they were relatively invulnerable. So I'm afraid that a shift away from China will see a resurgence of those who love carriers. A 12 million bucks a pop.

• 58:58Speaker 04

  Billion, yeah.

• 58:59Speaker 07

  But we did get rid of snipers, right?

• 59:01Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 59:02Speaker 05

  Well, we saw, we saw China's.

• 59:05Speaker 07

  $500,000.

• 59:07Speaker 05

  We saw China's parade, right? So there's a lot of new weapon systems rolled out there. Laser weapon systems from space, from ship, I believe. A lot of hypersonic missiles, new drones, land, sea, air.

• 59:22Speaker 05

  Probably all of it stolen from US defense contractors to make. Yeah, but that's a concern, right? I mean, they're gearing up to fight us and we're gearing down to fight them. So think about. If we're not there, we're not studying the enemy, we're not preparing for a conflict with them. And as we've seen in history, it's not always up to us whether we enter a war or not. A la Pearl Harbor. So our most considerable adversaries. One is building up their forces substantially and building up their alliances. The other is actively at war with a European country.

• 1:00:01Speaker 05

  It's showing zero interest in stopping and has, and we're having zero effect on their calculation to enter negotiations. So shifting away from those could seriously be at the US peril. And I think you're going to hear a lot about it if this is the way we're going with our national security strategy.

• 1:00:24Speaker 07

  Yeah, putting all these tariffs on China is going to do no good if China takes Taiwan, right? I mean, we're going to see, we're going to see a, a.

• 1:00:37Speaker 07

  And it's, I don't want to say a tsunami effect against our economy if that happens, but it is, you know, there's. There's as far as companies like Taiwan Semiconductor, I mean, they provide the chips or they provide technology that fuels Nvidia and so many other US companies. That the, that there's bound to be a tremendous effect on the US economy if China takes Taiwan. And aside from just if for those who care anymore, our credibility in the world. But it's difficult to imagine now, if we, if we are indeed pivoting away from the Pacific.

• 1:01:21Speaker 07

  Us providing a deterrent, certainly no means of forcing our way back in without taking high casualties that would be unacceptable to the US public if China and, and you know. Xi has said that that is his goal. I mean, he's been out quite up, up front with it, right? When it's going to happen, who knows, but it's certainly a possibility.

• 1:01:48Speaker 05

  Headed in that direction, right? So 40% of the world's population was represented by the 20 countries that went to the summit in China. 40% of the world's population, only 20 countries. Right? So the more they get them under their influence, the more we show an indifference to Ukraines in supporting them. And the strategic shift away from putting China as a priority is only to Andy's point, bold in China to do something in Taiwan. As long as they feel they can do it, and that we're not going to do anything, or nobody else is, because nobody's going to do anything if we don't. Right? So it's either us to

• 1:02:29Speaker 05

  build an alliance that would do it, then we know where this is headed.

• 1:02:38Speaker 05

  God, God, I want a feel good story. Good God. Give us some Irish propaganda, something for God's sakes.

• 1:02:49Speaker 05

  Feel good Irish propaganda?

• 1:02:53Speaker 04

  Yeah, that might be a tall order. All right. So just to button up the Venezuela thing, a couple of like facts, just for folks to understand, two thirds of the drugs that come into the United States are from the Pacific coast. Venezuela doesn't like produce cocaine or heroin. They are transit point, much like Mexico is, for the most part, Mexico also does produce their own stuff. But most of the cocaine that comes into the country is from like Colombia, Peru. So it's not exactly like, in the terms of like, really affecting the war on drugs, I don't think going after these like cartels in Venezuela really is going to put a dent in money things. So I think that needs to just be understood by

• 1:03:36Speaker 04

  everybody too, because it's like, you know, kind of missing the forest for the trees here.

• 1:03:44Speaker 05

  There'll be empirical statistics to show if this works.

• 1:03:48Speaker 04

  Yeah. Yeah. I think the hope, the wishful thinking, the hope is that like, you know, uh, stepping up to Venezuela like this is gonna embolden their military to overthrow Maduro. Which Maduro is obviously a piece of shit. Like, he's not a good guy. Um, you know, stole his election essentially.

• 1:04:06Speaker 05

  Absolutely did.

• 1:04:07Speaker 04

  Yeah. So he's a straight up autocrat who's definitely making money from like the narco trade, but I feel like it's wishful thinking, hoping that somehow, some way the military is gonna step up and their Venezuelan opposition party is all giddy about this and I get it, why? But, you know, let's be a little pragmatic here. Also, we made a deal with Venezuela recently about Chevron selling us oil. And now we're bombing stuff and bombing their narco traffickers and calling them a terrorist state. So, go ahead. I'm sorry, Andy.

• 1:04:38Speaker 07

  Yeah, we, I was just gonna say, we don't have a good track record when it comes to overthrowing autocrats.

• 1:04:45Speaker 07

  I mean, we can, we can do it, but what, we can't control what happens next.

• 1:04:49Speaker 04

  I said, we gotta let loose the CIA. I'm not even saying that because Mick's here. Like, you know, do some covert stuff, try to get a coup going backwards. That's what we're, that's like perennially what we're good at. Or, you know.

• 1:05:00Speaker 06

  Going back to what Andy just said, doesn't always work.

• 1:05:03Speaker 04

  Yeah, well, sure, that's fair.

• 1:05:06Speaker 04

  But we have some experience in that.

• 1:05:08Speaker 07

  Iran, um, Chile.

• 1:05:11Speaker 05

  Sometimes the coup works out, it just the results aren't the, uh, yeah, it turns out to be, you know, that's part of the consequences, but it should be part of the foreign policy strategy, you know, incorporate the concern in the past from the agency is when they go, oh, we can't figure out how to do whatever it is they want to do. Diplomacy's failed, we're not gonna use the military, toss it over the agency. Well, that's not the way you want, you want to start with, you know, the dumpster fire and say good luck to you. It needs to be like incorporated at the beginning as a topic for another.

• 1:05:46Speaker 04

  Also with Venezuela, I mean, clearly China and Russia want to, uh, exert, assert influence there, right? Cause Venezuela is selling their oil to China. Um, yeah. So, you know, how do they react?

• 1:06:00Speaker 05

  China's coming to their, at least rhetorical defense.

• 1:06:04Speaker 04

  All right. Anything else, boys?

• 1:06:06Speaker 07

  At the very least, I think you need to know more about what's going on in Venezuela. Maybe send in SEAL Team Six to plant some sensors.

• 1:06:16Speaker 06

  Had to get that last one in.

• 1:06:18Speaker 04

  Yeah. So you're saying, what you're saying, Andy, is that like Marines should flood BUDs? And take over? Is that what you're saying?

• 1:06:27Speaker 07

  Oh, no, no, no, no. I wouldn't. I wouldn't. I wouldn't.

• 1:06:32Speaker 04

  Or if you want to become a SEAL, you need to go to Marine boot camp instead of Navy boot camp.

• 1:06:36Speaker 07

  It's not a.

• 1:06:37Speaker 05

  Every unit has its place, man. We never know what's going to be the most important, right?

• 1:06:43Speaker 07

  Yeah.

• 1:06:46Speaker 04

  All right. So guys, this show is brought to you by the USMC, uh, Semper Fi. Check them out at usmc.gov or wherever their website is. I'm sending them a fucking invoice. I'm not, you think I'm kidding?

• 1:06:58Speaker 05

  As they say, the Army and the Navy are traditional military organizations. The Air Force is a corporation, but the Marine Corps is a religion. It's, we can't help it. We can't help it. I think that was meant as a, a criticism, actually.

• 1:07:16Speaker 04

  But of course Marines took that, Marines took that as a compliment. Yes.

• 1:07:23Speaker 04

  All right, boys. This was great as usual. Awesome talk. Uh, don't forget to hit up all the guys. Links are in the description. Check them out there. Andy's book, of course, Mix Organizations, Jason's socials, everything's down in the description. And of course, patreon.com slash the Team House. You get both the Team House and Eyes On ad free and early. And you help support the show. So we really appreciate that. Thanks again, guys.

• 1:07:47Speaker 06

  Bye, fellas. Take care, buddy.

• 1:07:50Jack Murphy?

  Hey, guys. I want to tell all of you today about a new newsletter that we're launching that encompasses both the Team House podcast, the Eyes On podcast, and the High Side news outlet, which I run with Sean Naylor. Uh, the newsletter is going to be once a week. It's going to come into your inbox and you're going to get the most current podcasts on Eyes On and the Team House and whatever's topical or current on the High Side. So it's another way for us to get the information out to you as social media algorithms are pretty iffy and you never really know what you're going to get. Um, so this is a once a week email. It'll slide into your inbox and it will have, you know, the greatest hits of that week.

• 1:08:30Speaker 05

  It's really good, man. I'm checking it out.

• 1:08:34Jack Murphy?

  The website for it is teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join. Teamhousepodcast.kit.com/join. Go there and you enter into your email list or you enter your email into the little thing on the website and you're good to go and that'll be it. So we really appreciate your support and hope you'll consider signing up.

• 1:08:57Speaker 05

  Where's the link?

• 1:08:58Jack Murphy?

  The link will also be down in the description if you're looking for it there.

• 1:09:02Speaker 05

  And that's teamhousepodcast.kit, K-I-T, Kilo India Tango, dot com backslash join.

• 1:09:12Speaker 09

  Migraine makes me miss out on the moments that matter. So I asked my doctor about saying yep to VAEPTI, eptinezumab, JJMR, an IV infusion given every three months that helps prevent migraine attacks in adults.

• 1:09:24Speaker 10

  Don't receive if allergic to VAEPTI. Get help right away for allergic reactions like rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, hives, or facial redness. Tell your doctor if you have constipation that is severe or associated with severe or constant belly pain or swelling, vomiting, or bloating. If you have increased blood pressure or color changes, pain, or numbness in fingers or toes. Common side effects are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and allergic reactions.

• 1:09:46Speaker 12

  Tap the ad to see how many migraine-free days you might reclaim and see the full prescribing information at VAEPTI.com.

• 1:09:53Speaker 13

  Say yep to VAEPTI. Hey guys, Lady Luck here. I just love the fall season. Cris mornings, pumpkin spice latte, and it's the best time to cozy up and play Spin Quest. They have over a thousand different slots in all my favorite casino-style games and they're running a deal for all new players. A $30 coin package for just $10. So this fall, grab your favorite blanket, visit spinquest.com, and download the app today.

• 1:10:20Speaker 03

  Spin Quest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit spinquest.com for more details.

• 1:10:26Speaker 11

  This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the platform responsible for a rapidly spreading condition known as podcast brain. Symptoms include buying microphones you don't need, explaining RSS feeds to confused relatives, and saying things like, "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm editing audio." If this sounds familiar, you're probably already a podcaster. The good news is Spreaker makes the whole process simple. You record your show, upload it once, and Spreaker distributes it everywhere people listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and about a dozen apps your cousin swears are the next big thing. Even better, Spreaker helps you monetize your show with ads, meaning your podcast might someday pay for, well, more microphones. Start your show today at Spreaker.com.

• 1:11:09Speaker 11

  Spreaker, because if you're going to talk to yourself for an hour, you might as well publish it.

• 1:11:15Speaker 09

  Migraine makes me miss out on the moments that matter, so I asked my doctor about saying yep to VYEPTI, eptinezumab J.J.M.R., an IV infusion given every three months that helps prevent migraine attacks in adults.

• 1:11:35Speaker 10

  Don't receive if allergic to VYEPTI. Get help right away for allergic reactions like rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, hives, or facial redness. Tell your doctor if you have constipation that is severe or associated with severe or constant belly pain or swelling, vomiting, or bloating. If you have increased blood pressure, or color changes, pain, or numbness in fingers or toes. Common side effects are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and allergic reactions.

• 1:11:57Speaker 09

  Tap the ad to see how many migraine-free days you might reclaim and see the full prescribing information at VYEPTI.com.

• 1:12:03Speaker 13

  Say yep to VYEPTI. Hey guys, Lady Luck here. I just love the fall season. Cris mornings, pumpkin spice latte, and it's the best time to cozy up and play Spin Quest. They have over a thousand different slots in all my favorite casino-style games, and they're running a deal for all new players: a $30 coin package for just $10. So this fall, grab your favorite blanket, visit SpinQuest.com, and download the app today.

• 1:12:32Speaker 03

  Spin Quest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit SpinQuest.com for more details.

• 1:12:37Speaker 11

  This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the platform responsible for a rapidly spreading condition known as podcast brain. Symptoms include buying microphones you don't need, explaining RSS feeds to confused relatives, and saying things like, "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm editing audio." If this sounds familiar, you're probably already a podcaster. The good news is Spreaker makes the whole process simple. You record your show, upload it once, and Spreaker distributes it everywhere people listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and about a dozen apps your cousin swears are the next big thing. Even better, Spreaker helps you monetize your show with ads, meaning your podcast might someday pay for, well, more microphones. Start your show today at Spreaker.com.

• 1:13:20Speaker 11

  Spreaker, because if you're going to talk to yourself for an hour, you might as well publish it.

• 1:13:33Speaker 09

  Migraine makes me miss out on the moments that matter, so I asked my doctor about saying yep to VYEPTI, eptinezumab, JJMR, an IV infusion given every three months that helps prevent migraine attacks in adults.

• 1:13:44Speaker 10

  Don't receive if allergic to VYEPTI. Get help right away for allergic reactions like rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, hives, or facial redness. Tell your doctor if you have constipation that is severe or associated with severe or constant belly pain or swelling, vomiting, or bloating. If you have increased blood pressure, or color changes, pain, or numbness in fingers or toes. Common side effects are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and allergic reactions.

• 1:14:07Speaker 09

  Tap the ad to see how many migraine-free days you might reclaim and see the full prescribing information at VYEPTI.com.

• 1:14:17Speaker 13

  Hey, everybody, Lady Luck here. I just love the holiday season, spending time with family, sharing stories, and having some holiday cheer. But sometimes, when the kids get a little crazy, I love to break away, cozy up, and play some Spinquest.com. They have over 1,000 different slots in all my favorite casino-style games. And they're running a deal for all new players: a $30 coin package for just $10. So go to Spinquest.com and download the app today.

• 1:14:41Speaker 03

  Spinquest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit Spinquest.com for more details.

• 1:14:47Speaker 11

  This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the platform responsible for a rapidly spreading condition known as podcast brain. Symptoms include buying microphones you don't need, explaining RSS feeds to confused relatives, and saying things like, "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm editing audio." If this sounds familiar, you're probably already a podcaster. The good news is Spreaker makes the whole process simple. You record your show, upload it once, and Spreaker distributes it everywhere people listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and about a dozen apps your cousin swears are the next big thing. Even better, Spreaker helps you monetize your show with ads, meaning your podcast might someday pay for, well, more microphones. Start your show today at Spreaker.com.

• 1:15:30Speaker 11

  Spreaker, because if you're going to talk to yourself for an hour, you might as well publish it.

• 1:15:42Speaker 09

  Migraine makes me miss out on the moments that matter, so I asked my doctor about saying yep to VYEPTI, eptinezumab, JJMR, an IV infusion given every three months that helps prevent migraine attacks in adults.

• 1:15:53Speaker 10

  Don't receive if allergic to VYEPTI. Get help right away for allergic reactions like rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, hives, or facial redness. Tell your doctor if you have constipation that is severe or associated with severe or constant belly pain or swelling, vomiting, or bloating. If you have increased blood pressure, or color changes, pain, or numbness in fingers or toes. Common side effects are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and allergic reactions.

• 1:16:16Speaker 09

  Tap the ad to see how many migraine-free days you might reclaim and see the full prescribing information at VYEPTI.com.

• 1:16:26Speaker 13

  Hey guys, Lady Luck here. I just love the fall season. Cris mornings, pumpkin spice latte, and it's the best time to cozy up and play Spin Quest. They have over a thousand different slots in all my favorite casino-style games, and they're running a deal for all new players: a $30 coin package for just $10. So this fall, grab your favorite blanket, visit SpinQuest.com, and download the app today.

• 1:16:50Speaker 03

  Spin Quest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit SpinQuest.com for more details.

• 1:16:56Speaker 11

  This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the platform responsible for a rapidly spreading condition known as podcast brain. Symptoms include buying microphones you don't need, explaining RSS feeds to confused relatives, and saying things like, "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm editing audio." If this sounds familiar, you're probably already a podcaster. The good news is Spreaker makes the whole process simple. You record your show, upload it once, and Spreaker distributes it everywhere people listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and about a dozen apps your cousin swears are the next big thing. Even better, Spreaker helps you monetize your show with ads, meaning your podcast might someday pay for, well, more microphones. Start your show today at Spreaker.com.

• 1:17:39Speaker 11

  Spreaker, because if you're going to talk to yourself for an hour, you might as well publish it.

• 1:17:51Speaker 09

  Migraine makes me miss out on the moments that matter, so I asked my doctor about saying yep to VYEPTI, eptinezumab, JJMR, an IV infusion given every three months that helps prevent migraine attacks in adults.

• 1:18:03Speaker 10

  Don't receive if allergic to VYEPTI. Get help right away for allergic reactions like rash, swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, hives, or facial redness. Tell your doctor if you have constipation that is severe or associated with severe or constant belly pain or swelling, vomiting, or bloating. If you have increased blood pressure, or color changes, pain, or numbness in fingers or toes. Common side effects are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and allergic reactions.

• 1:18:25Speaker 09

  Tap the ad to see how many migraine-free days you might reclaim and see the full prescribing information at VYEPTI.com.

• 1:18:35Speaker 02

  Happy birthday, America! It's time to celebrate and play your favorite Las Vegas casino games by American-owned SpinQuest.com. What's better than fireworks and American pie? Hitting a blackjack in the palm of your hand, and you won't lose your fingers. Over 1,000 games, including slots and live dealers, and $30 coin packs are on sale for 10. SpinQuest.com: buy American players for American players.

• 1:19:00Speaker 03

  SpinQuest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit SpinQuest.com for more details.

• 1:19:06Speaker 11

  This episode is brought to you by Spreaker, the platform responsible for a rapidly spreading condition known as podcast brain. Symptoms include buying microphones you don't need, explaining RSS feeds to confused relatives, and saying things like, "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm editing audio." If this sounds familiar, you're probably already a podcaster. The good news is Spreaker makes the whole process simple. You record your show, upload it once, and Spreaker distributes it everywhere people listen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and about a dozen apps your cousin swears are the next big thing. Even better, Spreaker helps you monetize your show with ads, meaning your podcast might someday pay for, well, more microphones. Start your show today at Spreaker.com.

• 1:19:49Speaker 11

  Spreaker, because if you're going to talk to yourself for an hour, you might as well publish it.

• 1:19:54Speaker 00

  She's been thinking about this sleepover all week, but I think about her food allergies all the time. Fortunately, her doctor prescribed Zolair, omalizumab. It's proven to significantly reduce allergic reactions if a food allergy accident happens.

• 1:20:07Speaker 01

  Zolair 150mg is a prescription medication used to treat food allergy in people one year of age and older to reduce allergic reactions due to accidental exposure to one or more foods. While taking Zolair, you should continue to avoid all foods to which you are allergic. Don't use if you are allergic to Zolair. Zolair may cause a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Tell your doctor if you ever had anaphylaxis. Get help right away if you have trouble breathing or if you have swelling of your throat or tongue. Zolair should not be used for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Zolair is for maintenance use to reduce allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, while avoiding food allergens. Serious side effects such as cancer, fever, muscle aches and rash, parasitic infection, or heart and circulation problems have been reported. Please see Zolair.com for full prescribing information. Ask an allergist about Zolair.

• 1:20:51Speaker 01

  This is an advertisement for Zolair, paid for by Genentech and Novartis.

• 1:20:54Speaker 02

  It's big, spooky, and wicked. Spinquest.com. Grab a handful of Halloween treats like blackjack, bubble craps, and slots. All your freaking faves in one beautiful place. Spinquest.com. And right now, new monsters get $30 coin packs for 10. Visit Spinquest.com or download the app tonight.

• 1:21:19Speaker 03

  Spinquest is a free-to-play social casino. Void where prohibited. Visit Spinquest.com for more details.

• 1:21:25Speaker 14

  Monday night brings one more big matchup to settle into. And when every play matters, the last thing you want to do is step away to figure out dinner. That's where DiGiorno comes in. Get a DiGiorno pizza ready before kickoff, then enjoy restaurant-quality taste fresh from your own oven while you stay locked into every play. Stock up on DiGiorno over the weekend so when Monday night rolls around, the only thing you sweat is the game. Shop now at the link in the episode description. It's not delivery, it's DiGiorno.