(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Last night in comments Poe Larity informed all of us that Colonel (ret) Pat Lang died last Tuesday. I do not have it in me to write two posts tonight and I’ve promised that I will do a Ukraine war update every night no matter what. So if you will all indulge me, I’d like to begin tonight’s update with a short tribute to Pat.
Many of you know, but some don’t, that Pat was one of my professional mentors. For the national security work I do he was one of my two original primary mentors. I met Pat in 2007 at FT Leavenworth. My teammates and I were in training for our deployment in Iraq and Pat was one of the subject matter experts brought in to teach some of the courses. He and I hit it off and he saw something in me that he decided was worth nurturing. He told me that if we needed anything to email or even call from Iraq. He asked me to send back brief summaries, as operational and informational security permitted, letting him know what and how we were doing. And when I got back he asked me to come to DC and give him a full briefing on what and how we had done. With the permission of my bosses, I did so. He then asked me to write for his site and then to help him moderate and administer it.
Pat was my mentor and my friend. I learned things from him about how to approach problems and problem sets, to consider them, to frame and scope them that I would not have learned otherwise. He taught me that what we do is as much artisanry as it is science. And Pat insisted I read Bernard Fall, which has made a tremendous difference in my understanding of how to conceptualize and deal with the issues I work on every day. In August 2015, when Pat was dealing with an earlier bought of illness and not feeling his best, something trivial I said to him in an email really upset him and he told me to go. I honored his wishes, which is how I was available to write full time here. I lost both a friend, a senior colleague, and my mentor and I have missed all three of those relationships every day since then. I cannot tell you how many times over the past eight years I’ve thought: I should ask Pat what he thinks of this; this being whatever I was working on. Pat invested in me. I would not be the national security professional I am, nor the person I am, without the time he gave me and for that I will be eternally grateful. May his memory be for a blessing!
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, while they’ve now posted the link to the video the English transcript is not yet up on the presidential website yet, so I’m going to copy and paste a machine translation of the Ukrainian transcript after the jump:
Yesterday President Zelenskyy instituted official Iftar dinners in Ukraine. Iftar is the evening fast breaking for Muslims obsrrving Ramadan.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Iftar was held in 🇺🇦 for the first time on the official level, with the participation of the President, Muslim soldiers, diplomats & the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People.@ZelenskyyUa promised that it would become a tradition starting this year pic.twitter.com/8iZLKCPiPQ
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 8, 2023
Here is the video of his address to Ukrainian Muslims and the English write up from the presidential website is below it:
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Today we are starting the tradition of Iftar at the official level manifesting that Ukraine values every community
7 April 2023 – 23:06
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy together with Ukrainian Muslim soldiers, leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, and representatives of the Muslim clergy, took part in the Iftar, a dinner held during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.
The event took place on the territory of the Crimean Tatar cultural center Birlik in Kyiv region.
Together with the Head of State, Iftar was shared by Ukrainian Muslim servicemen, who are currently fighting in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Crimean Tatars, Azerbaijanis, Volga Tatars, and Ukrainians who have converted to Islam. In particular, these are chaplains, paramedics, volunteers and others.
Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, his deputies Andriy Sybiha and Roman Mashovets, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Tamila Tasheva, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov and members of the Mejlis, Chairman of the State Property Fund of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova, Deputy Director General of the Ukrainian Institute Alim Aliev, singer Jamala, representatives of the public and diplomatic institutions also took part in the Iftar.
“Today, we are starting such a tradition for Ukraine – Iftar – precisely at the official level. Together with our soldiers, with our heroes, with the present Muslim soldiers, together with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, together with representatives of the entire Muslim community of Ukraine. And with this, we manifest that Ukraine values every person, values every community. Diversity backed by respect is part of the character of an independent Ukraine. And may our character always be strengthened and spurs the people on to good deeds. Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of our country and to everyone in the Muslim community of the world who, like us, want peace and protection from evil,” the Head of State said, addressing the audience.
As the President said, Ukraine will always remember the heroism of those who fight for freedom and security on all Ukrainian lands.
The President reminded that Russia’s attempt to enslave Ukraine and other peoples of civilized Europe began precisely with the occupation of the Ukrainian Crimea, with repressions on the peninsula against the Crimean Muslims.
“Unfortunately, evil, humiliation, repression, murders, and war reign on the land of Crimea now, under the Russian tricolor… But where the path of evil began, that is where victory awaits us – victory over this evil. The de-occupation of Crimea has no alternative, not only for Ukraine but also for the whole world,” Zelenskyy said.
According to him, while respecting the territorial integrity of all states of the world, Ukraine expects respect for its territorial integrity as well – from Polissia to the coast of the Black and Azov seas – because each of our people deserves to live freely.
“It is what we are fighting for, it is what our people are praying for. We will return to Crimea. And then peace will return to the world because the aggressor will lose. Everything else can only inflame Russia’s thirst for war. Let the aggressor feel that no one is allowed to ruin the lives of nations and rob nations, no one is allowed to spread evil and ruins in the world. The victory of our state, of each of us, the victory of Ukraine will mean the victory of life – the life of all of us, all Ukrainians, of absolutely all denominations, of different origins, but with one dream and one faith – faith in goodness,” the President said.
Those present observed a moment of silence in memory of the soldiers who gave their lives defending the Ukrainian state and citizens.
“May the holy Ramadan, despite the sadness and pain of war, be bright for you! May Iftar bring consolation to everyone in the world, in the Muslim community, no matter where you happen to be now. The big world Muslim community, every nation, every state can always rely on Ukraine because we have respect and solidarity,” Zelenskyy said.
In his address, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Jemilev, said that the most bloody and large-scale battles since the Second World War are currently ongoing in our country, and Ukrainian citizens of all faiths, including Muslims, – each to the best of their abilities – are fighting for freedom, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the liberation of the occupied territories from the aggressor.
“Under these circumstances, our Supreme Commander-in-Chief, the Head of State finds the time and opportunity to organize this Iftar and thereby expresses his respect for Islam and all citizens who practice Islam in our country,” Jemilev said.
He also reminded that it was by the decision of President Zelenskyy that Muslim holidays became national, for which not only Muslims of Ukraine but also everyone in the Islamic world are grateful.
“I would like to express my gratitude to all countries, in particular some Islamic states, which in these difficult times for our country have provided and continue to assist in repelling armed aggression with finances and weapons, with hospitably receiving our citizens who were forced to leave Ukraine seeking to save their children from Russian bombings. We will never forget this,” Jemilev said.
The leader of the Crimean Tatar people said that this war cannot be ended until the last meter of the territory of Ukraine, including Crimea, is liberated.
“I hope the Islamic countries will overcome their fear of the aggressor country, whose fangs have already been thoroughly knocked out by the Ukrainian army, and take a more active position in Ukraine’s opposition to the aggressor. The more active Muslims are on the side of goodness and justice, the greater will be the authority of Islam in the world,” he said.
The President presented state awards to Ukrainian troops. Zelenskyy awarded the defenders with the Orders For Courage of the III degree and Orders For Merit of the III degree, and medals For Military Service to Ukraine and Defender of the Motherland.
In response, the troops presented chevrons and a book to the Head of State.
The head of the Religious Administration of the Muslims of Crimea, Aider Rustemov, said the Iftar prayer, which symbolizes the end of the fast of this day.
As part of the event, a photo exhibition was organized about the events in Crimea, which reveals the issues of human rights violations on the peninsula, political persecution of the Crimean Tatars and their families, and tells about the Muslim soldiers who are currently fighting at the front.
Here is a machine translation of the most recent operational update from the Ukrainian MOD. It is, once again, in two parts:
! Operational information as of 18.00 08.04.2023 regarding the Russian invasion
🔊Glory to Ukraine! The four hundred and ninth days of large-scale armed aggression by the Russian federation against our state continue.
During the day, the enemy struck 2 missile and 34 air strikes, fired more than 36 from volley jet systems.
The probability of the task of missile and aviation strikes remains high throughout Ukraine.
The enemy continues to focus on the main efforts to carry out offensive actions in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyevsky and Marjinsky directions – more than 35 attacks by the enemy are repulsed.
In the Volynsky, Polissya, Seversky and Slobozhansky directions, the operational situation without significant changes, signs of formation of offensive groups of the enemy were not detected. During the day, the enemy fired on the settlements of the Kremlin of the Chernihiv region; Mid-Buda, Baranovka, Besalivka, Wolfin, Turia, Vyske Sumy region, as well as settlements Veterinarna, Vilhivka, Ternova, Vovchansk, Karaychna and Chugunivka in Kharkiv region.
In the Kupyansky direction, enemy shelling was carried out by Kolodazny, Krasne First, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Krokhmalne, Kindrashivka, Pishchane and Berestov, Kharkiv region.
In the Lyman direction during the day, the enemy led unsuccessful offensive actions in the area south of Kuzminy and Upper Kamen. Artillery shelling was carried out by Cherneschyna in the Kharkiv region; Makiyivka, Nevsky, Dibrova, Belogorivka, Luhansk Oblast and Yampolivka, Torske, Sieversk, Spirne in Donetschina.
In the Bakhmut direction, the enemy continues to lead offensive actions, tries to take full control of the city of Bakhmut, fighting continues. During the day, the enemy led unsuccessful offensive actions in the area of the village of Bogdanivka. Defense forces repulsed about 10 enemy attacks on the front. Vasyukivka, Minkivka, Rakhnyanske, Orykhovo-Vasylivka, Markov, Grigorivka, Bakhmut, Khromove, Chas Yar, Ivanovske, Stupochki, Bila Gora and Druzhba of the Donetsk region suffered from enemy shelling.
In the Avdiyevsky and Mariinsky directions, the enemy led unsuccessful offensive actions in the Novokalinov, Severny, Pervomaisky and Marinka districts. The fiercest fighting on this part of the front continues behind Marinka, where more than 10 enemy attacks have been repulsed. At the same time, the enemy was shelled by Novokalinove, Kamyanka, Stepove, Orlivka, Avdiyivka, Severne, Netailove, Krasnyrovka, Marynka, Pobeda and Paraskovyivka of the Donetsk region.
In the Shakhtar direction during the day, the enemy did not carry out offensive actions. He fired on the settlements of Novomikhailovka, Shakhtar, Novoukrainka, Velyka Novosilka, Vugledar, Prechistivka, Zolota Niva and Novomayorske, Donetsk region.
In the Zaporizhia and Kherson directions, the enemy continues to increase in fortification defensive boundaries and positions. He fired on settlements bordering the battle line. Among them – Vremivka, Novopil of the Donetsk region; Novosilka, Olgivsky, Malinovka, Red, Gulyaypole, Charming, Small Tokmachka of the Zaporizhia region; Dudchani, Kachkarivka, Berislav, Kozatske, Mykolayivka, Mykil, Dniepervsk Herson, as well as Herson.
Russian invaders continue to suffer significant losses. To replenish them with the leadership of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, it was decided to hold early releases from the higher military educational institutions of the aggressor country in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kostroma, Penzi, Omsk, on April 29 this year, Tyumen, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Volsk and Blagoveshchensk. At the same time, issues from the university, which train specialists for military units of strategic missile troops, air and space forces and the naval forces of the Russian Federation, will be conducted in accordance with previously planned schedules.
During the day, the Defense Forces aircraft struck 8 strikes on the areas of concentration of the occupiers. An enemy reconnaissance UAV was also shot down.
Here is a machine translation of Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk’s, the Commanding General of the Ukrainian Air Force, explanation for why he needs F-16s:
🔵 THE BEST PROTECTION OF THE BACK REGIONS On average, our air defense destroys about 75% of cruise missiles and attack drones. But 25% still reach their goals! Civilians die, infrastructure is destroyed. F-16s can effectively destroy these air threats even at the borders, preventing missiles and drones from reaching our cities.
🔵 ADVANTAGE IN THE AIR – RELIABLE COVERAGE OF THE FRONTLINE Russian aviation outnumbers Ukrainian by many times, and most importantly, the occupiers have a technological advantage. The Air Force does not have enough forces and assets, both ground and air, to effectively protect the airspace, troops on the front lines and civilians in the front-line zone from the daily terror of enemy attack aircraft and helicopters. F-16 will allow to gain air supremacy, significantly weakening the enemy, saving many lives every day.
🔵 THE MOST EFFECTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST THE USE OF GUIDED AIR BOMBS Increasingly, the enemy is using guided aerial bombs weighing 500 kg along the entire front line. There are signs of preparation for the mass use of 1,500 kg KABs! Russian planes do not enter the zone of damage of our air defense, striking remotely at the front line and near-frontline cities. Peaceful residents in the northern, southern, and eastern regions are suffering. The F-16 is armed with air-to-air missiles with a range of up to 180 km. This will make it possible to drive enemy aircraft away from our borders and the line of combat, which minimizes the likelihood of using guided aerial bombs and other air-based weapons.
🔵 POWERFUL KICK IN ANSWER The wide range of modern high-precision weapons of the F-16 will allow for high-precision strikes on Russian troops during counter-offensive actions. It is necessary to stop the offensive actions of the enemy, to gain superiority in the air, to destroy the means of supply of equipment, ammunition and manpower of the enemy. F-16 will be able to perform these tasks!
🔵 CONTROL OF THE SEA The Black Sea is still under the control of the Russian fleet. F-16s are armed with powerful anti-ship missiles that can easily drive the entire enemy fleet either to ports or to the bottom of the sea. Ukraine needs to ensure freedom of navigation and protection of “grain corridors”.
🔵 PILOTS ARE HOSTAGES OF OLD TECHNOLOGIES The available equipment and armament of Soviet aircraft turns all the missions of our pilots into mortally dangerous ones, which causes irreparable losses of the best sons of Ukraine. Only modern technologies will make their work effective and safe. Our pilots are trained and motivated to learn. And they are enough to fight and study at the same time. Our pilots dream of F-16, they deserve to fly on the best planes!
🔵 SERVICEABILITY, SPARE PARTS Ukraine uses 40-year-old aircraft. Some planes are twice as old as their pilots! It becomes more and more difficult to maintain their serviceability every day. Own stocks of spare parts are running low, and allies have none either. Many issues are closed through the so-called “cannibalization”, but this cannot last forever. You can’t wait until all aviation stops completely. Thanks to the transfer of aircraft from Slovakia and Poland, it will be possible to restore the MiG-29 aircraft fleet of several air brigades to a certain extent, and strengthen the capabilities of fighter aircraft to perform current combat missions. However, to achieve superiority in the air, to win, we need modern aircraft!
🔵 STOCKS OF AMMUNITION Stocks of even outdated and ineffective Soviet ammunition for the existing aircraft fleet are steadily decreasing. Even with a sufficient number of serviceable planes and trained pilots, at a certain point our aviation will be left without weapons. Switching to the F-16 or another Western platform with a wide range of modern weapons is the only way out!
Chuck Pfarrer has not posted any battlespace assessment updates today.
Crimea:
First footage. pic.twitter.com/Mi8L4Q1PsH
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 8, 2023
Russian sources say they shot down a rocket over Feodosia and show this wreckage piece.
The nearest Ukrainian controlled area is roughly 250km away. Unlikely it's a rocket. pic.twitter.com/bmtMwVSknP
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 8, 2023
/2. In Russian media, fragments of an allegedly downed Ukrainian missile over Feodosia appeared. But these are parts of an air defense missile fired presumably from the S-300. pic.twitter.com/MHnGNgfeWS
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) April 8, 2023
Bakhmut:
Provisional field hospital of Ukrainian 67th Mechanized Brigade in the vicinity of Bakhmut. pic.twitter.com/ZEyywR8y0G
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 8, 2023
Avdiivka:
Marines from the 36th brigade together with the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion made it very unpleasant for the Russians in Avdiivka. pic.twitter.com/3qyObgEqSM
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 8, 2023
Marinka:
Maryinka. A wounded soldier is evacuated from the battlefield by his brothers in arms from the 79th Air Assault Brigade. For more than a year, the battle for Maryinka has been nonstop. There isn't a single surviving structure in the city. However, the fortress holds. pic.twitter.com/9NfDqTbByh
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 8, 2023
For Omnes, though I’m not sure exactly where in Ukraine this took place:
The 45th artillery brigade is waltzing through the enemy 🎶🕺 pic.twitter.com/wh33lVi72b
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 8, 2023
Yasynuvata:
Arrival pic.twitter.com/QizRt1T6FT
— NOËL 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) April 8, 2023
That’s enough for tonight.
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If you can help, I will be very grateful ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2LfNqYhGmy— Patron (@PatronDsns) April 8, 2023
— Patron (@PatronDsns) April 8, 2023
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Open thread!
MagdaInBlack
It’s weird, isn’t it, Adam, how friendships can just blow up and end like that. I’m sorry for your loss, both then and now.
And as always, thank you for these posts.
John Cole
My CO made me read a bunch of books when I was his driver/loader/gunner on the tank and HMMWV driver. Bernard Fall, Mangold’s the Tunnels of Cu Chi, Hackworth’s About Face, the Killer Angels, and a number of others.
PJ
My condolences on the loss of your mentor, Adam. Sometimes these losses are harder when there was no reconciliation among former friends.
MomSense
I’m really sorry for your loss, Adam.
Another Scott
My condolences to you as well, Adam. Thanks for letting us know a little more about him and you.
Best wishes,
Scott.
PaulB
Ditto to Magda’s comments. That was exactly what I came here to say.
Joy in FL
Adam, my condolences for the loss of Col. (ret) Pat Lang. He did a good thing when he saw and encouraged your potential.
It’s a hard loss, and I feel for you.
Dca
I started reading his blog probably 20 years ago and found it and him a thoughtful and instructive read. He fully deserved this eulogy.
Andrya
Condolences on your loss, Adam.
Jay
I used to read Col. Pat Lang’s site regularly and sometimes comment. It went kinda bugnuts like many other “conservative” Milblog sites and aggregators, all at the same time.
Ohio Mom
My deepest sympathies.
Jay
Suzanne
My condolences on the loss of your friend and mentor.
Ihop
I’m sorry for your loss. His blog was a regular read. Please take care.
CaseyL
I am sorry for your loss, Adam. It might hurt all the more for not having been able to re-connect with Col. Lang.
Jay
Another Scott
They’re not kidding about mud…
Cheers,
Scott.
Sanjeevs
Sorry to hear your news Adam. RIP.
planetjanet
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend. Your memories honor him. Please accept my condolences.
KrackenJack
Sorry for your loss, Adam. Even under the circumstances, his memory remains a blessing.
raven
Sorry
delphinium
Sorry about the loss of your mentor and friend.
John Revolta
Sorry to hear about your friend Adam. Thanks for keeping up the nightly posts though!
Chag Pesach Sameach BTW!
zhena gogolia
I’m sorry. I had no experience of him but he sounded like an interesting character.
trollhattan
Very sorry to hear about Mr. Lang, Adam. To echo your noting May his memory be for a blessing! the knowledge and guidance he gave you make this very tangible. We should all be so impactful.
Adam L Silverman
I want to thank everyone for the kind words. He was 82. He survived his tours of Vietnam and elsewhere as a Green Beret. And despite being ill on and off for the better part of the past decade or so, he led a hell of a life.
Redshift
My condolences, Adam.
Jay
mvr
My condolences Adam. This is a second loss on top of the first and has to be extra hard because of that. I hope you can take comfort in everyone’s well wishes.
Wyatt Salamanca
Adam,
My condolences for your loss. For several months following the start of the first Iraq War, Col. Pat Lang was a regular guest on the PBS NewsHour. I was grateful for Col. Lang’s expert analysis of that war and I’m grateful for your expert analysis of the Ukraine war.
Ixnay
Indeed, may he RIP. Every time you ask yourself, What would Pat say about xyz? The answer will be part you and and part him. I tip my hat to both of you. As always, many thanks for these posts.
NutmegAgain
Adam, I’m so sorry for your loss. He sounds really important in your life, so the loss must be all the deeper. Holding you, and his family & friends in consoling warmth and light.
Sebastian
Please accept my sincere condolences, Adam.
Chetan Murthy
I never read Col. Lang’s later writings (that people have said were so awful); I read him back around the start of the GWOT, and he was pretty enlightening and educational (esp. for someone who didn’t know much about our military and military adventures). I’m sorry for your loss, Adam.
Wombat Probability Cloud
Adam, you honor him by who you have become. Thank you for offering us some of his wisdom through these posts.
strange visitor (from another planet)
adam, i’m sorry you lost your friend and then lost your friend. thank you for all your hard work. i find your incredibly informative updates to be required reading.
Mr. Bemused Senior
Adding my condolences. Be well, Adam.
lee
FWIW: I’ve got a friend who is an incredibly caustic British fellow. In the 30 years I’ve known him he has alienated 4 different other friends. He refers to my wife & I as ‘his last and only friends’.
He deeply regrets losing those other friends.
Not sure if that helps or hurts.
Thanks for what you do.
Steeplejack
Adam,
Condolences on the loss of your mentor. 🙏
ema
I’m sorry for your loss, my condolences.
NotoriousJRT
My condolences on your loss, Adam.
way2blue
Adam, I’m sorry you were never able to reconcile with Pat Lang after the inadvertent comment that angered him. I always appreciated his commentary, in part, because he shares my mother’s (Danish) family name.
cintibud
I am sorry for your loss Adam
frosty
Adam, I’m sorry for your loss, and more sorry that your friendship ended the way it did, so abruptly.
The Moar You Know
I spent a bit of time at Col. Lang’s blog. Goddamn that guy was smart, and he knew more than anyone at State about how nations really worked, especially how the Middle East worked.
It broke my heart that he pretty much lost his shit after Obama was elected. He banhammered me after, as per Adam’s experience, something trivial. Unlike Adam, I did not have a relationship with the man that mattered in any substantive way.
But again, the man was smart, and we lost a significant mind when we lost him. It’s a fucking shame.
StringOnAStick
My condolences; what he recognised in you has been a gift to those of us lucky enough to read your posts here.
Paul in NC
Your story about your banishment from Pat Lang’s website sounds familiar. I used to read it regularly and once made some anodyne comment. I received a harsh response telling me to get lost. It’s no way to attract eyeballs but he didn’t care apparently. Never met him but he was obviously a prickly guy. I think its one of the reasons he stopped appearing as a guest on McNeil-Lehrer (or whatever it was called 20 years ago).
Noskilz
Sorry for your loss.
Sister Golden Bear
My condolences, I’m so sorry for your loss.
The Moar You Know
Someone let Raven know. He used to post over there as well.
Hangö Kex
I’m sorry for your loss.
YY_Sima Qian
My condolences for your loss, Adam.
Medicine Man
I’m sorry for your loss, Adam. Col Lang was a knowledgeable man. He had a significant affect on my thinking, even absent a personal connection like the one you shared with him. I hope the gentleman finds his rest.
Medicine Man
A complete aside: Good Lord, Sic Semper Tyrannis is weighed down with Russian sympathizers. It is good to see The Twisted Genius is over there fighting the good fight but he is very busy.
The last time I checked in on Turcopolier, I was happy to see Pat Lang take a very dim view of Putin and Russia’s actions in Ukraine. I think I was privately worried that I’d find Lang had gone down the same hole a lot of right-leaning people have, but happily his take was pure Reagan-era Republican gold. He was scathing. I had to stop visiting his blog years ago for my own sake but I still occasionally missed checking in on the Colonel’s opinions on things like that.
I really am sorry, Adam.
Chief Oshkosh
Thread’s probably dead, but Adam, what is your take on The Leak?
Miss Bianca
I am sorry for your loss. My condolences.
Bill Arnold
@Chief Oshkosh:
Adam will answer, but this thread has some useful links and isn’t too laden with speculation/opinion:
Note: threadreaderapp appears to be broken with revoked API access. Perhaps Musk has shot it in his ongoing War on Twitter In Service of Fascism; don’t know, haven’t dug yet. (See https://twitter.com/threadreaderapp/status/1644127596119195649 )
Be sure to check this thread out. Alex has done what looks to be reasonable forensics:
Bellingcat link for twitter refusers: From Discord to 4chan: The Improbable Journey of a US Intelligence Leak (April 9, 2023, Aric Toler, Bellingcat)
Note: is is very possible (as in professionally negligent if not) that the NSA and/or some other western-aligned entities has/have been regularly crawling Discord servers and related platforms and has all the activity archived and indexed. (With automation so that human minds aren’t contaminated.)
Torrey
Like Chethan Murthy and Wyatt Salamanca, I first encountered Col. Lang at the start of the first Iraq War on the NewsHour. He struck me as very sensible, and there’s no question, he knew his stuff. In fact, in terms of sheer knowledge and clear, concise presentation, he always ran rings around the political types they sat him down with. I can’t recall where I read it, but I think he said that he stopped accepting invitations to appear on PBS because of what we would call both-sider-ism: the fact that they simply wanted him on to represent an opinion and not to actually shed light based on his expertise. (Human memory is lousy, so take that with the appropriate amount of salt.) I watched PBS a lot during that period and missed his input greatly. At least during that period, he was a model of how to think and how to present information.
I’m sorry for your loss.
Isua
I suck at praying but he and you are in my prayers. He means a great deal to you, and your writing means a great deal to me, and I honor you both.
KenK
Adam, sorry that you lost your mentor – twice… Emotional very trying.
Delosgatos
@John Cole: I read The Tunnels of Cu Chi. Excellent read. Military Book Club FTW.