NEW ABILITY ACHIEVED. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE INDOPACIFIC, THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SUCCESSFULLY FIRED THE AGM-179 JOINT AIR-TO-GROUND MISSILE, HITTING AND SINKING A MOVING VESSEL NEAR OKINAWA, JAPAN.

THE JAGM WAS FIRED BY A USMC AH-1Z VIPER ATTACK HELICOPTER DURING AN EXPEDITIONARY STRIKE TRAINING MISSION BY THE 31ST MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT.

THE JAGM IS BUILT BY LOCKHEED MARTIN, AND REPLACES THE HIGHLY TOUTED AND EXTREMELY CAPABLE HELLFIRE MISSILE. IT’S BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE WITH PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING THAT CAN LAUNCH HELLFIRES LIKE JETS, HELICOPTERS AND GROUND VEHICLES.

THE MARINES SAY THE 114 POUND, 6 FOOT LONG JAGM IS A ‘TRUE FIRE AND FORGET’ WEAPON CAPABLE OF DESTROYING STATIONARY OR MOVING TARGETS, WHETHER ON LAND OR AT SEA. IT HAS A PUBLISHED RANGE OF JUST UNDER FIVE MILES, ABLE TO REACH THAT DISTANCE THANKS TO A SOLID ROCKET MOTOR. THE MISSILE EMPLOYS A MULTIPURPOSE WARHEAD WITH A SHAPED-CHARGE PACKED INSIDE
MAKING IT EFFECTIVE AGAINST VEHICLES, AIR DEFENSE EQUIPMENT, BUILDINGS AND BUNKERS.

A USMC CAPTAIN SAID IN THE PACIFIC, THE MARINES WILL USE THE JAGM TO DEFEND KEY MARITIME TERRAIN AGAINST A WIDE RANGE OF TARGETS FROM ARMORED VEHICLES TO MARITIME PATROL CRAFT DURING CONFLICT.

THE MARINES AREN’T THE ONLY SERVICE BRANCH LOOKING TO THE JAGM TO REPLACE ITS HELLFIRES. THE US ARMY IS AS WELL, AND WILL ALSO BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PUT AS MANY OF THE MUNITIONS IN THE PACIFIC AS POSSIBLE.

CHINA CONTINUES TO ACT AGGRESSIVELY TOWARDS US ALLIES, LIKE RAMMING PHILIPPINE VESSELS IN DISPUTED SEAS AND ENCIRCLING TAIWAN IN A SERIES OF EVER MORE PROVOCATIVE MILITARY EXERCISES.

AS I’VE REPORTED EXTENSIVELY, THE US AND ITS PACIFIC ALLIES ARE WARY OF THE CHINESE, AND THEIR LEADER XI JINPING’S POTENTIAL PLANS TO INVADE TAIWAN AND TAKE OVER TRADE ROUTES IN THE EAST AND SOUTH CHINA SEA BY 2027.

TO DO THAT, THE PLAN IS EXPECTED TO EMPLOY A HOST OF MANNED AND UNMANNED MARITIME VESSELS, AS WELL AS A SLEW OF ROCKETS AND MISSILES.

SO, A HIGHLY CAPABLE, RESILIENT AND POWERFUL WEAPON LIKE THE JAGM IS NEEDED TO COUNTER THAT THREAT, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER ANTI-SHIP AND AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS THE US AND ITS ALLIES ARE PUTTING UP TO KEEP CHINA LOCKED IN THE FIRST ISLAND CHAIN.
FOR MORE OF OUR REPORTING ON THE MARINES AND THE US MILITARY’S PIVOT TO THE PACIFIC TO COUNTER CHINA, BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY OR LOG ON TO SAN.COM.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M RYAN ROBERTSON.

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE F-D-A IS REVOKING A REGULATION THAT ALLOWED FOR A CERTAIN ADDITIVE TO BE USED IN FOOD ITEMS – SAYING IT’S NO LONGER SAFE.

BROMINATED VEGETABLE OIL – OR B-V-O – IS USED IN DOZENS OF PRODUCTS – MOSTLY SODAS.

IT’S VEGETABLE OIL THAT’S MODIFIED WITH THE CHEMICAL BROMINE – WHICH IS FOUND IN FIRE RETARDANTS – TO KEEP CITRUS FLAVORING FROM FLOATING TO THE TOP IN DRINKS.

AFTER CONDUCTING SOME STUDIES WITH THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH – THE F-D-A FOUND B-V-O COULD BE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL TO HUMANS.

ONE F-D-A STUDY IN 20-22 FOUND B-V-O CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE BODY – LEADING TO NERVOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE, HEADACHES, SKIN IRRITATION, AND LOSS OF MUSCLE COORDINATION AND MEMORY.

B-V-O WAS REMOVED FROM THE F-D-A’S “GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE” LIST IN 19-70… AND ITS USE HAS BEEN REGULATED SINCE THEN – BUT THIS NEW RULE WILL BAN ITS USE COMPLETELY.

THE RULE IS SET TO TAKE EFFECT ON AUGUST 2-ND – BUT COMPANIES WILL HAVE UP TO ONE YEAR AFTER THAT TO TWEAK THEIR FORMULAS, RE-LABEL PRODUCTS, AND DEPLETE THEIR CURRENT B-V-O STOCK. 

[KARAH RUCKER]

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S SENTENCING IN HIS NEW YORK CRIMINAL TRIAL HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO AT LEAST SEPTEMBER.

THE JUDGE’S DECISION COMES A DAY AFTER THE U-S SUPREME COURT HANDED Trump A BIG WIN — RULING HE HAS SOME IMMUNITY FROM BEING CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTING TO OVERTURN THE 20-20 ELECTION.

TRUMP’S SENTENCING IN NEW YORK WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR *NEXT* THURSDAY — JULY 11.

NOW, THE JUDGE OVERSEEING THE TRIAL — SAYS TRUMP WILL BE SENTENCED ON SEPTEMBER 18-TH IF that’s still NECESSARY.

THAT’S AN IF” BECAUSE TRUMP’S LAWYERS SAY THE SUPREME COURT RULING SHOULD NOT ONLY DELAY THE SENTENCING — BUT LEAD TO TOSSING OUT HIS CONVICTION COMPLETELY.

TRUMP TAKING TO TRUTH SOCIAL AFTER THE DECISION CAME DOWN… SAYING THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION AWARDED HIM “TOTAL EXONERATION” IN THIS AND OTHER CRIMINAL CASES HE FACES.

TRUMP BECAME THE FIRST FORMER PRESIDENT TO BE CONVICTED OF A FELONY IN MAY — WHEN THE MANHATTAN JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF 34 COUNTS OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS.

THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION *HAS* CAST DOUBT ON SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH’S INDICTMENT OF TRUMP ON ELECTION SUBVERSION CHARGES… AND A TRIAL BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

THE RULING COULD ALSO IMPACT TRUMP’S INDICTMENTS IN THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AND GEORGIA ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASES.

[KARAH RUCKER]

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND HIS TEAM ARE TAKING THIS HOLIDAY WEEK TO REASSURE SUPPORTERS THAT HIS DECISION TO REMAIN IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE IS THE RIGHT ONE — AFTER HIS PERFORMANCE DURING LAST WEEK’S DEBATE LEFT SOME IN HIS PARTY QUESTIONING HIS CANDIDACY. 

DURING A CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER EVENT IN VIRGINIA TUESDAY – BIDEN BLAMED HIS POOR PERFORMANCE ON JET LAG FROM BACK-TO-BACK EUROPEAN TRIPS – TELLING DONORS THAT “HE WASN’T VERY SMART” AND “DIDN’T LISTEN” TO HIS STAFF. 

REPORTS SAYING BIDEN ADDED THAT HE ALMOST QUOTE “FELL ASLEEP DURING THE DEBATE” – 

TO WHAT EXTENT THE PRESIDENT WAS JOKING IS NOT CLEAR. 

PREVIOUSLY BIDEN’S CAMPAIGN HAD SAID THE PRESIDENT HAD A COLD GOING INTO THE DEBATE. 

WEDNESDAY – THE PRESIDENT WILL SPEAK WITH DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS AND PARTY LEADERS AS HE LOOKS TO CALM THEIR FEARS. 

THE WHITE HOUSE REPORTEDLY WILL ALSO BE HOLDING AN ALL-STAFF MEETING WHICH THE AP DESCRIBES AS A “MORALE-BOOSTER.”   

BIDEN HAS ALSO AGREED TO SIT DOWN FOR AN INTERVIEW ABC NEWS ON FRIDAY. 

WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY KARINE JEAN-PIERRE SAYING THE ADMINISTRATION REALLY WANTS TO TURN THE PAGE ON THIS TOPIC WITH BIDEN HEADING TO WISCONSIN AND PENNSYLVANIA IN THE COMING DAYS. 

BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP REPORTERS FROM PRESSING THE ISSUE. 

ANDREW FEINBERG | THE INDEPENDENT 

“I think the American people need to get a yes or no answer on this does President Biden at 81 years old have Alzheimer’s any form of Dementia or degenerative illness that would cause these sorts of lapses and it’s a yes or no question and if you don’t know why don’t you as one of his senior staff members know.” 

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE | WHITE HOSUE PRESS SECRETARY 

“I have an answer for you are you ready for it it’s a no and I hope you’re asking the other guy the same exact question.” 

THIS ALL COMES AS SOME MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ARE SPEAKING OUT FOR BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE. 

CONGRESSMAN LLOYD DOGGETT (DOG-IT) OF TEXAS BECAME THE FIRST SITTING DEMOCRAT IN CONGRESS TO CALL ON BIDEN TO WITHDRAW FROM THE RACE – SAYING THE PRESIDENT MUST MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO WIN IN NOVEMBER. 

REP. LLOYD DOGGET | D-TX 

“I thought it was time for me to speak up, not for any self-gain, but because I think the risk to our country is so great we need to have the strongest candidate possible in order to ensure that the value that we hold for our democracy are not traded for an authoritarian strongman bent on revenge against his opponents.” 

AND IN A NEWSWEEK OPINION COLUMN – FORMER OHIO CONGRESSMAN AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TIM RYAN PROMOTED THE IDEA FOR VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TO REPLACE BIDEN ON THEIR PARTY’S TICKET. 

SPEAKING TO CBS NEWS AFTER LEAVING A FUNDRAISER IN CALIFORNIA – THE VICE PRESIDENT CONFIRMING PRESIDENT BIDEN REMAINS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE. 

VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS 

“Look, Joe Biden is our nominee. We beat Trump once and we’re going to beat him again. Period.” 

“Are you ready to lead the country if necessary?” 

“I am proud to be Joe Biden’s running mate. Thank you.” 

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S SENTENCING IN HIS NEW YORK CRIMINAL TRIAL HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TO AT LEAST SEPTEMBER. 

THE JUDGE’S DECISION COMING A DAY AFTER THE U-S SUPREME COURT HANDED THE FORMER PRESIDENT A BIG WIN — RULING HE HAS SOME IMMUNITY FROM BEING CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTING TO OVERTURN THE 20-20 ELECTION. 

TRUMP’S SENTENCING IN NEW YORK WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR *NEXT* THURSDAY — JULY 11-TH.  

NOW, THE JUDGE OVERSEEING THE TRIAL — SAYS TRUMP WILL BE NOW SENTENCED ON SEPTEMBER 18-TH QUOTE “IF SUCH IS STILL NECESSARY.” 

THAT’S AN IF” BECAUSE TRUMP’S LAWYERS SAY THE SUPREME COURT RULING SHOULD NOT ONLY DELAY THE SENTENCING — BUT LEAD TO TOSSING OUT HIS CONVICTION COMPLETELY. 

TRUMP TAKING TO HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TRUTH SOCIAL AFTER THE DECISION CAME DOWN… SAYING THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION AWARDED HIM “TOTAL EXONERATION” IN THIS AND OTHER CRIMINAL CASES HE FACES. 

TRUMP BECAME THE FIRST FORMER PRESIDENT TO BE CONVICTED OF A FELONY IN MAY — WHEN THE MANHATTAN JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF 34 COUNTS OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS. 

THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION *HAS* CAST DOUBT ON SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH’S INDICTMENT OF TRUMP ON ELECTION SUBVERSION CHARGES… AND A TRIAL BEFORE THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY NOW. 

THE RULING COULD ALSO IMPACT TRUMP’S INDICTMENTS IN THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AND GEORGIA ELECTION INTERFERENCE CASES, TOO. 

FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI HAS BEEN DISBARRED IN NEW YORK AFTER A MANHATTAN APPEALS COURT FOUND HE REPEATEDLY MADE FALSE STATEMENTS ABOUT FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S LOSS IN THE 2020 ELECTION… THE COURT SAYING HE QUOTE “FLAGRANTLY MISUSED” HIS POSITION. 

GIULIANI — A ONETIME LEGAL ADVISER TO TRUMP — HAS BEEN BANNED FROM PRACTICING LAW IN “ANY FORM” IN NEW YORK. 

GIULIANI’S LAWYER SAYING HIS LEGAL TEAM WAS DISAPPOINTED BY THE COURT’S DECISION.  

AND GIULIANI’S LEGAL ISSUES CONTINUE AS HE COULD ALSO LOSE HIS LAW LICENSE IN WASHINGTON, D-C — AFTER A BOARD RECOMMENDED IN MAY THAT HE BE DISBARRED. 

HE IS ALSO FACING BANKRUPTCY AFTER BEING ORDERED TO PAY NEARLY 150 MILLION DOLLARS FOR DEFAMING TWO GEORGIA ELECTION WORKERS. 

AS HURRICANE BERYL HURTLES TOWARD JAMAICA — THE COUNTRY’S PRIME MINISTER PREEMPTIVELY DECLARED THE WHOLE ISLAND A DISASTER AREA AND INSTATED AN ISLAND-WIDE CURFEW FOR TODAY. 

BERYL HAS BEEN DOWNGRADED TO A CATEGORY 4 STORM NOW — BUT IT’S ALREADY CAUSED AT LEAST SIX DEATHS IN THE CARIBBEAN. 

BERYL IS FORECAST TO WEAKEN MORE AS IT GETS CLOSER TO JAMAICA, BUT IS STILL EXPECTED TO BE A MAJOR HURRICANE — AT LEAST A CATEGORY 3 — WHEN IT HITS… BRINGING LIFE-THREATENING WINDS AND STORM SURGE. 

THE F-D-A HAS APPROVED A NEW DRUG FOUND TO MODERATELY SLOW THE PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE — THE SECOND OF ITS KIND TO BE APPROVED.  

ELI LILLY’S DRUG HAS BEEN SHOWN IN CLINICAL TRIALS TO SLOW A DECLINE IN MEMORY AND THINKING ABILITIES IN PEOPLE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE DISEASE. 

THE DRUG — WHICH WILL BE SOLD IN THE COMING WEEKS UNDER THE BRAND NAME KISUNLA — IS AN INFUSION GIVEN EVERY FOUR WEEKS THAT TARGETS A PROTEIN BUILDUP IN THE BRAIN –CONSIDERED TO BE THE MAIN INDICATOR OF ALZHEIMER’S. 

ACCORDING TO THE ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION — AN ESTIMATED 6 POINT 7 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U-S 65 AND OLDER WERE LIVING WITH ALZHEIMER’S LAST YEAR. 

THAT NUMBER’S EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 13 POINT 8 MILLION BY 20-60. 

THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY IS ALMOST HERE – AND WHILE YOU GET SET TO CELEBRATE AMERICA’S INDEPENDENCE – YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF HAVING TO FACE TWO SEPARATE ISSUES – THE WEATHER AND THE ROADS. 

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION SAYING THE BRIEF BREAK FROM THE HEAT IN THE EASTERN U.S. IS OVER – WITH HEAT AND HUMIDITY PUSHING THROUGH NEW ENGLAND. 

IN CALIFORNIA AND PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHWEST – TRIPLE-DIGIT TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY WEEK.   

MEANWHILE IN THE MIDWEST — NOAA SAYING RAIN COULD SPOIL THE COOKOUTS. 

THEN THERE’S THE JAM-PACKED ROADWAYS – TRIPLE A PROJECTING A RECORD 60 POINT 6 MILLION PEOPLE WILL DRIVE OVER THE JULY 4TH WEEK – THAT’S NEARLY 3 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR. 

AND THIS YEAR’S NUMBER SURPASSING 2019’S PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS – WHEN AROUND 55 MILLION TRAVELED BY CAR. 

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

HELLO AND WELCOME TO WEAPONS AND WARFARE. FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS I’M YOUR HOST RYAN ROBERTSON. THIS WEEK WE’RE TAKING A DEEP DIVE INTO A CENTURIES OLD PROBLEM THAT ONLY RELATIVELY RECENTLY HAS BEGUN TO GET THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MORAL INJURY. 

ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A SERVICE MEMBER FEELS THEY HAVE VIOLATED THEIR CONSCIENCE OR MORAL COMPASS IN SOME WAY. THIS WEEK WE’LL HEAR FROM EXPERTS ON WHAT’S BEING DONE, AND WHAT YET NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN THE SPECIAL FORCES COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.

PLUS, IN HONOR OF INDEPENDENCE DAY, WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT SOME OF AMERICA’S MOST PATRIOTICALLY NAMED VESSELS, VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT IN OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK.

BUT FIRST, HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME HEADLINES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.

AS TENSIONS CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE PACIFIC A BULLETIN FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE WARNS THAT CHINA IS WORKING TO RECRUIT AMERICAN MILITARY PILOTS, AS WELL AS AVIATORS FROM NATO AND ALLY COUNTRIES, IN A STATEMENT FROM DIRECTOR MICHAEL CASEY HE WRITES… 

“To overcome their shortcomings, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been aggressively recruiting Western military talent to train their aviators, using private firms around the globe that conceal their PLA ties and offer recruits exorbitant salaries.”

IN JANUARY U.S. AND NATO OFFICIALS MET AT RAMSTEIN AIR BASE IN GERMANY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THEY IDENTIFIED PILOTS, MAINTAINERS, AIR OPERATIONS CENTER PERSONNEL, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER TECHNICAL EXPERTS AS POTENTIAL TARGETS FOR RECRUITING. IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN CONTACTED YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO REACH OUT TO YOUR SERVICE BRANCHES’ INVESTIGATIVE OFFICE OR THE FBI.

——————————-

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD AUSTIN CRITICIZED RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AFTER THE RUSSIAN LEADER PROMISED TO “IMMEDIATELY” ORDER A CEASE-FIRE IN UKRAINE AND BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS IF KYIV STARTED WITHDRAWING TROOPS FROM THE FOUR REGIONS ANNEXED BY MOSCOW IN 2022 AND RENOUNCED PLANS TO JOIN NATO.

[Lloyd Austin, U.S. Sec. of Defense]

“He is not, in my view – not in a position to dictate to Ukraine what it must do to pursue peace. Putin can end this war today.””

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

LLOYD’S COMMENTS COME AS HE REAFFIRMED THE TOTAL SUPPORT OF THE U.S. AND NATO TO UKRAINE IN ITS FIGHT AGAINST RUSSIA, AS THE ALLIANCE APPROVED ON FRIDAY A PLAN TO PROVIDE RELIABLE LONG-TERM SECURITY AID AND MILITARY TRAINING.

——————————-

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE GREAT MARK TWAIN ONCE TOLD AN ENGLISH REPORTER “THE REPORTS OF MY DEATH ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED.” IT’S A LINE THAT’S PROBABLY BEEN UTTERED ON BOARD THE U.S.S.  DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER LATELY.  THAT’S FOLLOWING REPEATED ONLINE CLAIMS BY YEMEN’S HOUTHI REBELS THAT THEY HAVE HIT OR EVEN SUNK THE CARRIER IN THE RED SEA AS IT LEADS THE U.S. RESPONSE TO THE REBELS’ ONGOING ATTACKS TARGETING COMMERCIAL VESSELS AND WARSHIPS.

[Capt. Christopher “Chowdah” Hill, Commander, USS  Dwight D. Eisenhower]

“I think it’s been about two or three times in the past six months we’ve allegedly been sunk, which we have not been. It is almost comical at this point. They’re attempting to maybe inspire themselves through misinformation but it doesn’t work on us.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

TO COUNTER THE MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN CAPTAIN HILL HAS TURNED TO HIS OWN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT WITH A TROVE OF POSTS TO SHOW THAT LIFE, AND THE MISSION, CONTINUE ON THE EISENHOWER. 

FROM HIGHLIGHTING CREW MEMBERS, TO PROVIDING UPDATES ABOUT DEMO, A LABRADOR-GOLDEN RETRIEVER MIX WHO ROAMS THE SHIP AS A SUPPORT ANIMAL, HE SEES HIS CONTENT AS AN EASY WAY TO KEEP THE CREW’S FAMILY MEMBERS CONNECTED IN THE FACE OF MISINFORMATION.

[Capt. Christopher “Chowdah” Hill, Commander, USS  Dwight D. Eisenhower]

“What I intend to do is just continue to communicate like I normally do, regardless of what’s going on. So we’re going to celebrate Taco Tuesdays because it’s my absolute favorite day of the week. That will never end.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

FOR NOW, THE EISENHOWER CONTINUES ITS PATROL THAT’S BEEN EXTENDED TWICE ALREADY.

——————————-

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THIS WEEK, WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT SOMETHING CALLED MORAL INJURY. IT’S BEEN AROUND FOR AS LONG AS PEOPLE HAVE ENGAGED IN COMBAT. EXAMPLES CAN BE FOUND IN THE EXPLOITS OF GILGAMESH, AS WELL AS THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY.

MORE RECENTLY WE SAW AN ONSCREEN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WRESTLING WITH MORAL INJURY IN CILLIAN MURPHY’S PORTRAYAL OF J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER.

[CLIP FROM OPPENHEIMER] 

BYRNES: Dr Oppenheimer if what you say about the Soviets is true, we have to build up Los Alamos, not shut it down.

OPPENHEIMER: Mr President, I feel that I have blood on my hands. 

TRUMAN: You think anyone in Hiroshima or Nagasaki gives a shit who built the bomb? They care who dropped it. I did. Hiroshima isn’t about you.

TRUMAN:  Don’t let that crybaby back in here.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

IN THE 1940s DR. OPPENHEIMER DID WHAT HIS COUNTRY ASKED HIM TO DO. ONLY ONCE HIS WORK WAS ACTUALLY PUT TO USE, DID HE BEGIN TO FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE OUTCOME OF HIS ACTIONS. 

IT’S ONLY RELATIVELY RECENTLY THE TERM MORAL INJURY WAS GIVEN A NAME, AND STARTED TO BE UNDERSTOOD. 

PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE LESS THAN 15% OF ENLISTED MILITARY PERSONNEL EVER SEE COMBAT. THAT’S ACCORDING TO RESEARCH FROM THE NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER. THE PERCENTAGE OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS TO SEE COMBAT IS EVEN SMALLER. BUT FOR THOSE THAT DO IT IS OFTEN A LIFE-ALTERING EVENT. 

WHILE WAR’S PHYSICAL WOUNDS ARE EASIER TO SEE AND TREAT, IT’S THE TRAUMA THAT CAN’T BE SEEN, OFTEN POSING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO THOSE AFFECTED AND THOSE CHARGED WITH CARING FOR THEM. 

WHILE MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, OR PTSD, FEWER KNOW ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS OF MORAL INJURY. 

KARI THYNE, AN AIR FORCE VETERAN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES AT THE JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIVERSITY DEFINES MORAL INJURY AS 

“The suffering when things go wrong, and stakes are high​.” These are invisible wounds but, nonetheless, harm from something seen or done or from something done to us​. The effects challenge trust in others, ourselves, or both​. Moral injuries result in emotions such as anger, guilt, shame, self-blame, and sorrow​. The effects can remain dormant for weeks, months, years, or even decades; they will not remain dormant forever.

THE TOPIC IS GAINING TRACTION WITH MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND EVEN INSIDE THE SPECIAL FORCES COMMUNITY. AT THIS YEAR’S SOF WEEK IN TAMPA, A PANEL OF FOUR EXPERTS SPOKE ON THE SUBJECT AND HOW IT’S BEING ADDRESSED..

[Dr. Kari Thyne, Assoc. Prof. of Interdisciplinary Studies, Joint Special Operations University]

“So what are we doing institutionally to prepare SOF operators and those who support them to not only survive in this environment but to thrive? Not really enough because I can’t articulate a robust program that we have, cobbled together to address the problem. So that in itself is a problem, we need an awareness of the complexity of the sof environment.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

DESPITE BEING SOME OF THE MOST WELL-TRAINED AND SKILLED SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE WORLD, THERE ARE INEVITABLY THINGS THAT AREN’T ACCOUNTED FOR. DOCTOR THYNE SAYS, LIKE OPERATING A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, IT TAKES TRAINING. 

[Dr. Kari Thyne, Assoc. Prof. of Interdisciplinary Studies, Joint Special Operations University]

“You have to teach people what they don’t know. Or they can be excused for not knowing what they need to know when the time comes. Because you never took the time to teach them.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

PART OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN IN A VENN DIAGRAM OF PTSD AND MORAL INJURY, SHOWING HOW THE SYMPTOMS OF ONE OR THE OTHER CAN OVERLAP. DR. ERIN MCFEE, A PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE AT THE PERRY CENTER FOR HEMISPHERIC DEFENSE STUDIES, SAYS THAT CAN MAKE DIAGNOSING AN ISSUE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

[Dr. Erin McFee, Prof. of Practice at the Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies

“It’s not a binary Oh, wait, yes, I have moral injury or No, I don’t have moral injury, it’s very difficult to sort of suss out, you know, what isn’t isn’t. And that confusion can sort of add to the distressing nature of it. And that is also part of the phenomenon.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

OF COURSE, A LARGE PART OF THE MORAL INJURY PROBLEM CAN BE THE VERY NATURE OF THE WORK DONE BY SPECIAL OPERATORS. 

[Dr. Kari Thyne, Assoc. Prof. of Interdisciplinary Studies, Joint Special Operations University]

“Moral codes, a lot of times, they just seem like an unnecessary burden. They slow us down, they get in the way. And in worst case scenario, they could put us in harm’s way and cost us our lives, if we’re paying attention to what we should or shouldn’t be doing when we need to be acting. And so that is part of the complexity of the challenges facing SOF operators and those who support them”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

IN A PIECE FOR BRAIN LINE, AN ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION RESOURCE, ARMY VETERAN TOM VOSS DESCRIBES HIS EXPERIENCE WITH MORAL INJURY.

[Tom Voss, Army Veteran]

“You don’t really understand it while you’re in the dangerous situation because you’re in fight or flight, right? When you come back from experience of war or combat, you start to think where we justified in our actions that participate in person can be forgiven or my community accept me if they’ve ever find out what I participated in. So these are the questions that are associated with moral injury. Which is grief, guilt, shame, real core wounds to the soul..”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

SO WHERE DOES CHANGE BEGIN? DR THYNE (Tine) SAYS LEADERSHIP IS A KEY COMPONENT. WHETHER IT’S IN TRAINING, OR IN THE ACTUAL BATTLESPACE. 

[Dr. Kari Thyne, Assoc. Prof. of Interdisciplinary Studies, Joint Special Operations University] 

“Help people understand that they have to protect what is good about themselves, because if they don’t protect what’s good about themselves, they may find it disappearing. People can take it from them. So understand, help them understand that aspect of it as well.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ANOTHER ELEMENT, ACCORDING TO DR. JOHN EDGAR CATERSON, IS UNDERSTANDING AN INDIVIDUAL’S OWNERSHIP OF THEIR EXPERIENCES. 

[Dr. John Edgar Caterson, Faculty Master Instructor, Joint Special Operations University]

“Dr. Mark Charles Egersund, who was one of the authors in the monograph, and it’d be in the next book, he basically is probably one of the leading virtual ethicist in the world. But he said, individual perception is key, you cannot tell an individual how they feel or what the traumatic experience means to them. It is their experience. And they are the own expert of their own individual soul root wounds, invisible wounds, whatever label you want to put on it, but they are the experts of that. And then we didn’t put in there. But the next paragraph that basically says they will live with this the remainder of their days, it’s just what it comes down to.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL THAT IS KNOWN, OR STARTING TO BE BE UNDERSTOOD, ABOUT MORAL INJURY, SUICIDES AMONG THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED, CONTINUE AT ALARMING RATES. DEPENDING ON THE FACTORS CONSIDERED, ANNUAL NUMBERS OF VETERANS COMMITTING SUICIDE CAN VARY FROM 17 TO 44 LIVES LOST EVERY DAY. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR HEALTH, PEER MENTORSHIP IS ONE AVENUE FOR PREVENTION.

Dr. Kari Thyne, Assoc. Prof. of Interdisciplinary Studies, Joint Special Operations University  

“So creating actually more intentional pathways for population groups that might not have access to mentors to get access to those mentors. And maybe then just like being a bit hands off and letting it emerge organically, only so much of this could be structured in a productive manner.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

 ULTIMATELY THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS WHEN IT COMES TO TREATING MORAL INJURY, BUT EXPERTS TELL US  IT STARTS WITH INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES. IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, IS STRUGGLING WITH MORAL INJURY, YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO THE RESOURCES ON YOUR SCREEN IN THE STORY BELOW.

————————————

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

TIME NOW FOR OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK, AND AS AMERICA CELEBRATES ITS 248TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FUN TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE U.S. MILITARY’S MORE PATRIOTICALY THEMED VESSELS, VEHICLES AND WEAPONS. 

BRIAN, CAN I GET SOME PROPERLY PATRIOTIC MUSIC, PLEASE?

PERFECT, LET’S GET TO IT. 

FIRST UP THE USS CONSTITUTION, ALSO KNOWN AS OLD IRONSIDES! THE WORLD’S OLDEST COMMISSIONED WARSHIP, STILL AFLOAT, WAS LAUNCHED IN 1797 AND NAMED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON. RETIRED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE IN 1881, SHE MOST RECENTLY OPERATED UNDER HER OWN POWER IN 2012. 

SPEAKING OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, MEET THE USS WASHINGTON, NAMED AFTER OUR COUNTRY’S 42nd STATE THIS VIRGINIA CLAS NUCLEAR-POWERED ATTACK SUBMARINE IS THE SEVENTH CRAFT TO CARRY THE NAM ITS MOTTO IS PRESERVING PEACE, PREPARED FOR WAR. 

NEXT UP THE USS AMERICA. COMMISSIONED IN 2014, THIS AMERICA CLASS AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP IS THE FOURTH NAVYSHIP  TO SAIL UNDER THE NAME. BUILT TO LEAD AN EXPEDITIONARY STRIKE GROUP, SHE MEASURES 844 FEET AND CAN CARRY NEARLY 1,700 MARINES. 

CRUISING RIGHT BEHIND IS THE USS FREEDOM. WITH A HOME PORT IN SAN DIEGO, THE FREEDOM IS THE THIRD SHIP TO CARRY THE NAME. LAUNCHED IN 2008, THIS LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP SAILED FOR 13 YEARS BEFORE BEING DECOMMISSIONED IN 2021 AND PLACED IN RESERVE STATUS.  

OF COURSE, WHERE THERE’S FREEDOM, THERE ARE PATRIOTS AND THIS IS THE U-S-S PATRIOT. THIS AVENGER CLASS MINE COUNTERMEASURES SHIP WAS LAUNCHED IN 1990 AND COMMISSION IN ‘91. DUE TO ITS VERY SPECIFIC MISSION, THE FREEDOM’S HULL IS MADE OF WOOD AND FIBERGLASS, SO IT DOESN’T TRIGGER MAGNETIC MINES. 

WHILE THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ARE THE MOST PROLIFIC WITH THE PATRIOTIC THEME, THE AIR FORCE AND ARMY HAVE A FEW TO THEIR CREDIT AS WELL.

WITH A PRODUCTION PERIOD OF JUST FOUR YEARS, THE B-24 LIBERATOR LEFT ITS MARK ON AMERICAN HISTORY. USED PRIMARILY OVER THE SKIES OF EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC IN WORLD WAR TWO, THE B-24 WAS A HEAVY BOMBER AND STILL HOLDS THE RECORD AS THE WORLD MOST PRODUCED MULTI-ENGINE BOMBER, WITH MORE THAN 18 THOUSAND ROLLING OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE.

FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS, AND THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F-15 EAGLE FILLS A LARGE ROLE IN AMERICA’S DEFENSE PLANS. BORN FROM LESSONS LEARNED EARLY IN THE VIETNAM WAR, THE EAGLE IS A TWIN-ENGINE ALL-WEATHER FIGHTER JET. DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR, THE EAGLE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 36 OF 39 AIR FORCE AIR-TO-AIR VICTORIES OVER IRAQI FORCES.

FINALLY, WE END WITH ANOTHER PATRIOT, THIS ONE IS THE ARMY’S M-I-M 1-OH-4 PATRIOT. A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SYSTEM. BUILT BY RAYTHEON, THE PATRIOT IS ONE OF THE D-O-D’S FIRST DEFENSE SYSTEMS TO USE LETHAL AUTONOMY. FOR MOST AMERICANS, THEIR INTRODUCTION TO THE PATRIOT CAME IN 1991 WHEN IRAQ LAUNCHED DOZENS OF SCUD MISSILES AT SAUDI ARABIA AND ISRAEL, AND THE PATRIOT INTERCEPTED 41 OF 42 TARGETS. 

AND THOSE ARE OUR WEAPONS OF THE WEEK. FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS JUST A PARTIAL ACCOUNTING, SO IF WE MISS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES, BE SURE TO LET US KNOW AND SEND A NOTE TO WEAPONS AND WARFARE AT SAN DOT COM. 

—————————————–

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

TIME NOW FOR COMMS CHECK, AND WE’RE HEADED BACK TO A PLACE AND A CONFRONTATION WE’VE COVERED BEFORE. CHINESE AND FILIPINO FORCES CLASHING IN DISPUTED WATERS OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.

THIS TIME IN MID-JUNE AS THE PHILIPPINES ATTEMPTED TO RESUPPLY A TERRITORIAL OUTPOST AT THE SECOND THOMAS SHOAL. VIDEO FROM THE CONFRONTATION SHOWS THE CHINESE REPEATEDLY RAMMING, THEN BOARDING PHILIPPINE VESSELS. CHINESE PERSONNEL CAN BE SEEN BRANDISHING MACHETES, KNIVES, AXES, AND HAMMERS, AT ONE POINT SLASHING THE INFLATABLE BOATS, RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE.  ACCORDING TO FILIPINO OFFICIALS, ONE OF THEIR SAILORS LOST HIS RIGHT THUMB, AND SEVERAL OTHERS WERE INJURED. 

[Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, DOD Press Secretary]

This kind of behavior, it’s provocative, it’s reckless, it’s unnecessary. It’s also antithetical to the PRC’s claims about respect for sovereignty. And so again, the Philippines should have the right to be able to operate within their legal maritime claims. Those need to be protected. So again, we continue to stand by our ally, the Philippines, and we’re going to continue to call out this kind of irresponsible and reckless behavior when we see it.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THE HEAD OF THE PHILIPPINE ARMED FORCES LIKENED THE INCIDENT TO PIRACY. 

FOR MORE ON OUR PREVIOUS COVERAGE JUST CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW.

——————————————

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ALRIGHT –IT’S TIME NOW FOR OUR WRAP…AND WITH THE SHOW PUBLISHING SO CLOSE TO INDEPENDENCE DAY… WE HERE AT WEAPONS AND WARFARE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT PATRIOTISM.

ASIDE FROM THE FOURTH OF JULY,  VETERANS AND MEMORIAL DAY–

YOU REALLY DON’T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF UNIFIED DISPLAYS OF PATRIOTISM

SURE, LOTS OF FOLKS FLY AMERICAN FLAGS–AND THERE’S THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BEFORE SPORTING EVENTS

BUT THERE AREN’T REALLY THAT MANY OCCASIONS WHEN AVERAGE AMERICANS DEMONSTRATE THEIR PATRIOTISM TOGETHER.

HISTORY TEACHES US ABOUT TIMES WHEN AMERICANS CERTAINLY PUT ASIDE DIFFERENCES AND STOOD UNITED…UNFORTUNATELY, IT’S USUALLY AFTER A TRAGEDY. 

PEARL HARBOR UNIFIED THE NATION INTO JOINING A WAR…IN MY OWN LIFETIME, THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING AND 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS GALVANIZED THE COUNTRY AGAINST OUR ENEMIES–BOTH FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. 

BUT IT SHOULDN’T TAKE A TRAGEDY TO MAKE AMERICANS REALIZE WE PROBABLY HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH EACH OTHER BEYOND WHAT WE SEE IN OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIVES.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT FEELS LIKE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE ALLOWING POLITICS TO SHAPE NOT ONLY THEIR PATRIOTISM… BUT HOW THEY VIEW IT IN OTHERS. 

INSTEAD OF EACH SIDE RECOGNIZING POLITICAL DIFFERENCES AS JUST THAT, DIFFERENCES, PEOPLE ARE CHANGING HOW THEY VIEW OTHERS BASED ON THOSE DIFFERENCES. 

DEPENDING ON YOUR SIDE, YOU’RE NOW SEEN AS EITHER A GOOD PATRIOT OR A BAD PATRIOT– BASED SOLELY ON WHAT SIDE OF A POLITICAL ISSUE YOU STAND ON…

RATHER–WE SHOULD BE RECOGNIZING WE ALL STAND ON THE SAME GROUND, 

NO MATTER WHERE THE LINE FALLS. 

POLITICS SHOULDN’T DEFINE PATRIOTISM. INSTEAD, THE FACT PEOPLE CARE ENOUGH TO HAVE AN OPINION IS, IN ITSELF, PATRIOTIC. AND WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN EACH OTHER.

WE’RE ALL TEAM USA WHEN IT’S THE U.S. AGAINST THE RUSSIANS IN ICE HOCKEY, BUT YOUR THOUGHTS ON WELFARE…OR FREE LUNCHES FOR KIDS…OR HOW OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE POLICY IS CARRIED OUT SHOULDN’T MAKE YOU ANY MORE OR LESS PATRIOTIC–

ESPECIALLY IN THE EYES OF THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS. 

BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT–

BOTH SIDES CARE AND HAVE REASONS FOR THEIR POSITION. 

THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE TO LIKE IT, BUT IT ALSO DOESN’T MEAN THE OTHER SIDE IS ANY LESS PATRIOTIC.

SO AS YOU TAKE TIME TO SPEND WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS ON THIS MOST AMERICAN OF HOLIDAYS, REMEMBER… POLITICS ISN’T PATRIOTISM; IT’S POLICY. 

AND WITH THAT, WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS…PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SOCIAL FEEDS SO YOU STAY UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST FROM THE WORLD OF WEAPONS AND WARFARE. 

FOR SENIOR PRODUCER BRETT BAKER, VIDEO EDITOR BRIAN SPENCER, AND GRAPHICS DESIGNER DAKOTA PITEO… I’M RYAN ROBERTSON WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, SIGNING OFF.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

TIME NOW FOR OUR WEAPON OF THE WEEK, AND AS AMERICA CELEBRATES ITS 248TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE FUN TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE U-S MILITARY’S MORE PATRIOTICALLY THEMED VESSELS, VEHICLES AND WEAPONS. 

BRIAN, CAN I GET SOME PROPERLY PATRIOTIC MUSIC, PLEASE?

PERFECT, LET’S GET TO IT. 

FIRST UP THE USS CONSTITUTION, ALSO KNOWN AS OLD IRONSIDES! THE WORLD’S OLDEST COMMISSIONED WARSHIP, STILL AFLOAT, WAS LAUNCHED IN 1797 AND NAMED BY GEORGE WASHINGTON. RETIRED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE IN 1881, SHE MOST RECENTLY OPERATED UNDER HER OWN POWER IN 2012. 

SPEAKING OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, MEET THE USS WASHINGTON, NAMED AFTER OUR COUNTRY’S 42nd STATE THIS VIRGINIA CLAS NUCLEAR-POWERED ATTACK SUBMARINE IS THE SEVENTH CRAFT TO CARRY THE NAM ITS MOTTO IS PRESERVING PEACE, PREPARED FOR WAR. 

NEXT UP THE U-S-S AMERICA. COMMISSIONED IN 2014, THIS AMERICA CLASS AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP IS THE FOURTH NAVYSHIP TO SAIL UNDER THE NAME. BUILT TO LEAD AN EXPEDITIONARY STRIKE GROUP, SHE MEASURES 844 FEET AND CAN CARRY NEARLY 1,700 MARINES. 

CRUISING RIGHT BEHIND IS THE USS FREEDOM. WITH A HOME PORT IN SAN DIEGO, THE FREEDOM IS THE THIRD SHIP TO CARRY THE NAME. LAUNCHED IN 2008, THIS LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP SAILED FOR 13 YEARS BEFORE BEING DECOMMISSIONED IN 2021 AND PLACED IN RESERVE STATUS.  

OF COURSE, WHERE THERE’S FREEDOM, THERE ARE PATRIOTS AND THIS IS THE USS PATRIOT. THIS AVENGER CLASS MINE COUNTERMEASURES SHIP WAS LAUNCHED IN 1990 AND COMMISSION IN ‘91. DUE TO ITS VERY SPECIFIC MISSION, THE FREEDOM’S HULL IS MADE OF WOOD AND FIBERGLASS, SO IT DOESN’T TRIGGER MAGNETIC MINES. 

WHILE THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS ARE THE MOST PROLIFIC WITH THE PATRIOTIC THEME, THE AIR FORCE AND ARMY HAVE A FEW TO THEIR CREDIT AS WELL.

WITH A PRODUCTION PERIOD OF JUST FOUR YEARS, THE B-24 LIBERATOR LEFT ITS MARK ON AMERICAN HISTORY. USED PRIMARILY OVER THE SKIES OF EUROPE AND THE PACIFIC IN WORLD WAR TWO, THE B-24 WAS A HEAVY BOMBER AND STILL HOLDS THE RECORD AS THE WORLD MOST PRODUCED MULTI-ENGINE BOMBER, WITH MORE THAN 18 THOUSAND ROLLING OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE.

FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS, AND THE MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F-15 EAGLE FILLS A LARGE ROLE IN AMERICA’S DEFENSE PLANS. BORN FROM LESSONS LEARNED EARLY IN THE VIETNAM WAR, THE EAGLE IS A TWIN-ENGINE ALL-WEATHER FIGHTER JET. DURING THE FIRST GULF WAR, THE EAGLE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 36 OF 39 AIR FORCE AIR-TO-AIR VICTORIES OVER IRAQI FORCES.

FINALLY, WE END WITH ANOTHER PATRIOT, THIS ONE IS THE ARMY’S M-I-M 1-OH-4 PATRIOT. A SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE SYSTEM. BUILT BY RAYTHEON, THE PATRIOT IS ONE OF THE DOD’S FIRST DEFENSE SYSTEMS TO USE LETHAL AUTONOMY. FOR MOST AMERICANS, THEIR INTRODUCTION TO THE PATRIOT CAME IN 1991 WHEN IRAQ LAUNCHED DOZENS OF SCUD MISSILES AT SAUDI ARABIA AND ISRAEL, AND THE PATRIOT INTERCEPTED 41 OF 42 TARGETS. 

AND THOSE ARE OUR WEAPONS OF THE WEEK. FOR THE RECORD, THIS IS JUST A PARTIAL ACCOUNTING, SO IF WE MISS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES, BE SURE TO LET US KNOW AND SEND A NOTE TO WEAPONS AND WARFARE AT S-A-N DOT COM. 

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THIS WEEK, WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT SOMETHING CALLED MORAL INJURY. IT’S BEEN AROUND FOR AS LONG AS PEOPLE HAVE ENGAGED IN COMBAT. EXAMPLES CAN BE FOUND IN THE EXPLOITS OF GILGAMESH, AS WELL AS THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY.

MORE RECENTLY WE SAW AN ONSCREEN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WRESTLING WITH MORAL INJURY IN CILLIAN (Kill-ian) MURPHY’S PORTRAYAL OF J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER.

[FROM OPPENHEIMER]

BYRNES: Dr Oppenheimer if what you say about the Soviets is true, we have to build up Los Alamos, not shut it down.

OPPENHEIMER: Mr President, I feel that I have blood on my hands. 

TRUMAN: You think anyone in Hiroshima or Nagasaki gives a shit who built the bomb? They care who dropped it. I did. Hiroshima isn’t about you.

(meeting awkwardly concludes)

TRUMAN:  Don’t let that crybaby back in here.
(The door of the Oval Office closes)

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

IN THE 1940s DR. OPPENHEIMER DID WHAT HIS COUNTRY ASKED HIM TO DO. ONLY ONCE HIS WORK WAS ACTUALLY PUT TO USE, DID HE BEGIN TO FEEL THE WEIGHT OF THE OUTCOME OF HIS ACTIONS. 

IT’S ONLY RELATIVELY RECENTLY THE TERM MORAL INJURY WAS GIVEN A NAME, AND STARTED TO BE UNDERSTOOD. 

PART OF THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE LESS THAN 15% OF ENLISTED MILITARY PERSONNEL EVER SEE COMBAT. THAT’S ACCORDING TO RESEARCH FROM THE NATIONAL PERSONNEL RECORDS CENTER. THE PERCENTAGE OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS TO SEE COMBAT IS EVEN SMALLER. BUT FOR THOSE THAT DO IT IS OFTEN A LIFE-ALTERING EVENT. 

{TRANSITION STINGER}

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

WHILE WAR’S PHYSICAL WOUNDS ARE EASIER TO SEE AND TREAT, IT’S THE TRAUMA THAT CAN’T BE SEEN, OFTEN POSING THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO THOSE AFFECTED AND THOSE CHARGED WITH CARING FOR THEM. 

WHILE MOST OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TERM POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, OR P-T-S-D, FEWER KNOW ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS OF MORAL INJURY.

KARI THYNE (Tine), AN AIR FORCE VETERAN AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES AT THE JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIVERSITY DEFINES MORAL INJURY AS 

“The suffering when things go wrong, and stakes are high​.” These are invisible wounds but, nonetheless, harm from something seen or done or from something done to us​. The effects challenge trust in others, ourselves, or both​. Moral injuries result in emotions such as anger, guilt, shame, self-blame, and sorrow​. The effects can remain dormant for weeks, months, years, or even decades; they will not remain dormant forever.

THE TOPIC IS GAINING TRACTION WITH MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND EVEN INSIDE THE SPECIAL FORCES COMMUNITY. AT THIS YEAR’S SOF WEEK IN TAMPA, A PANEL OF FOUR EXPERTS SPOKE ON THE SUBJECT AND HOW IT’S BEING ADDRESSED..

[KARI THYNE]

“So what are we doing institutionally to prepare SOF operators and those who support them to not only survive in this environment but to thrive? Not really enough because I can’t articulate a robust program that we have, cobbled together to address the problem. So that in itself is a problem, we need an awareness of the complexity of the sof environment.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

DESPITE BEING SOME OF THE MOST WELL-TRAINED AND SKILLED SERVICE MEMBERS IN THE WORLD, THERE ARE INEVITABLY THINGS THAT AREN’T ACCOUNTED FOR. DOCTOR THYNE (Tine) SAYS, LIKE OPERATING A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, IT TAKES TRAINING. 

[KARI THYNE]

“You have to teach people what they don’t know. Or they can be excused for not knowing what they need to know when the time comes. Because you never took the time to teach them.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

PART OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE SEEN IN A VENN DIAGRAM OF P-T-S-D AND MORAL INJURY, SHOWING HOW THE SYMPTOMS OF ONE OR THE OTHER CAN OVERLAP. DR. ERIN MCFEE, A PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE AT THE PERRY CENTER FOR HEMISPHERIC DEFENSE STUDIES, SAYS THAT CAN MAKE DIAGNOSING AN ISSUE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

[ERIN MCFEE]

“It’s not a binary Oh, wait, yes, I have moral injury or No, I don’t have moral injury, it’s very difficult to sort of suss out, you know, what isn’t isn’t. And that confusion can sort of add to the distressing nature of it. And that is also part of the phenomenon.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

OF COURSE, A LARGE PART OF THE MORAL INJURY PROBLEM CAN BE THE VERY NATURE OF THE WORK DONE BY SPECIAL OPERATORS. 

[KARI THYNE]

“Moral codes, a lot of times, they just seem like an unnecessary burden. They slow us down, they get in the way. And in worst case scenario, they could put us in harm’s way and cost us our lives, if we’re paying attention to what we should or shouldn’t be doing when we need to be acting. And so that is part of the complexity of the challenges facing SOF operators and those who support them”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

IN A PIECE FOR BRAIN LINE, AN ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION RESOURCE, ARMY VETERAN TOM VOSS DESCRIBES HIS EXPERIENCE WITH MORAL INJURY.

[TOM VOSS]

“You don’t really understand it while you’re in the dangerous situation because you’re in fight or flight, right? When you come back from experience of war or combat, you start to think where we justified in our actions that participate in person can be forgiven or my community accept me if they’ve ever find out what I participated in. So these are the questions that are associated with moral injury. Which is grief, guilt, shame, real core wounds to the soul..”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

SO WHERE DOES CHANGE BEGIN? DR THYNE (Tine) SAYS LEADERSHIP IS A KEY COMPONENT. WHETHER IT’S IN TRAINING, OR IN THE ACTUAL BATTLESPACE. 

[KARI THYNE]

“Help people understand that they have to protect what is good about themselves, because if they don’t protect what’s good about themselves, they may find it disappearing. People can take it from them. So understand, help them understand that aspect of it as well.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ANOTHER ELEMENT, ACCORDING TO DR. JOHN EDGAR CATERSON, IS UNDERSTANDING AN INDIVIDUAL’S OWNERSHIP OF THEIR EXPERIENCES. 

[JOHN EDGAR CATERSON]

“Dr. Mark Charles Egersund, who was one of the authors in the monograph, and it’d be in the next book, he basically is probably one of the leading virtual ethicist in the world. But he said, individual perception is key, you cannot tell an individual how they feel or what the traumatic experience means to them. It is their experience. And they are the own expert of their own individual soul root wounds, invisible wounds, whatever label you want to put on it, but they are the experts of that. And then we didn’t put in there. But the next paragraph that basically says they will live with this the remainder of their days, it’s just what it comes down to.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL THAT IS KNOWN, OR STARTING TO BE BE UNDERSTOOD, ABOUT MORAL INJURY, SUICIDES AMONG THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED, CONTINUE AT ALARMING RATES. DEPENDING ON THE FACTORS CONSIDERED, ANNUAL NUMBERS OF VETERANS COMMITTING SUICIDE CAN VARY FROM 17 TO 44 LIVES LOST EVERY DAY. ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR HEALTH, PEER MENTORSHIP IS ONE AVENUE FOR PREVENTION.

[KARI THYNE]

“So creating actually more intentional pathways for population groups that might not have access to mentors to get access to those mentors. And maybe then just like being a bit hands off and letting it emerge organically, only so much of this could be structured in a productive manner.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

 ULTIMATELY THERE ARE NO EASY ANSWERS WHEN IT COMES TO TREATING MORAL INJURY, BUT EXPERTS TELL US  IT STARTS WITH INFORMATION AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES. IF YOU, OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, IS STRUGGLING WITH MORAL INJURY, YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO THE RESOURCES ON YOUR SCREEN IN THE STORY BELOW.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

16 YEARS LATER — NEWLY RELEASED GRAND JURY TRANSCRIPTS SHOW FLORIDA PROSECUTORS KNEW JEFFREY EPSTEIN RAPED TWO TEENAGED GIRLS TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY OFFERED HIM A NOW HEAVILY CRITICIZED SECRET LENIENT PLEA DEAL.

CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE LUIS DELGADO ORDERED THE SURPRISE RELEASE OF THE DOCUMENTS AFTER FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNED A LAW IN FEBRUARY PERMITTING THE RECORDS BE MADE PUBLIC. 

JUDGE DELGDO WROTE THAT THE RECORDS SHOW EPSTEIN IS “THE MOST INFAMOUS PEDOPHILE IN AMERICAN HISTORY.”

POLICE IN PALM BEACH, FLORIDA BEGAN INVESTIGATING THE LATE MULTI-MILLIONAIRE FINANCIER IN 2005 – AFTER A WOMAN CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, ACCUSING EPSTEIN OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER 14-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AT HIS WEST PALM BEACH MANSION.

THE WOMAN SAID EPSTEIN PAID THE TEENAGER $300 FOR A MASSAGE IN HER UNDERWEAR.

THE ACCUSATION SPARKED A TWO YEARS-LONG INVESTIGATION, WHICH INVOLVED THE FBI. THEY FOUND EPSTEIN ABUSED SEVERAL TEENAGED GIRLS AND PAID THEM TO RECRUIT AND BRING HIM MORE VICTIMS. 

THE GRAND JURY TESTIMONY RECORDS REVEAL: PROSECUTORS SOUGHT TO UNDERMINE THE VICTIMS’ CREDIBILITY – ACCUSING THEM OF THE CRIME OF PROSTITUTION. 

THE PROSECUTOR ASKING ONE OF THE 14-YEAR-OLD VICTIMS IF SHE KNEW SHE HAD COMMITTED A CRIME SINCE EPSTEIN PAID HER MONEY AFTER SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER.

THE PROSECUTORS ALSO ASKED THE TEENAGE VICTIMS WHAT THEIR HOME LIVES WERE LIKE – IF THEIR FATHERS KNEW ABOUT THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS THEY HAD ACQUIRED –AND IF THEY HAD POSTED PICTURES TO THEIR MYSPACE ACCOUNTS SHOWING THEMSELVES WEARING “SKIMPY ATTIRE” AND “DRINKING ALCOHOL”.

THE PROSECUTORS HAVE NOT RESPONDED TO THE RELEASE OF THE TRANSCRIPTS. 

EPSTEIN WAS INDICTED IN 2007 – AND THE US ATTORNEY NEGOTIATED A SWEETHEART PLEA DEAL.

INSTEAD OF FACING CHARGES FOR SEX TRAFFICKING AND RAPE IN 2008 – EPSTEIN PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO FELONY PROSTITUTION CHARGES AND SERVED 18 MONTHS IN A FLORIDA PRISON ON A WORK-RELEASE PROGRAM. HE WAS ABLE TO LEAVE HIS CELL EVERYDAY TO GO TO HIS PALM BEACH OFFICE AND HOME.

CRITICS SAY EPSTEIN’S TIES TO THE WEALTHY AND FAMOUS – INCLUDING FORMER PRESIDENTS BILL CLINTON AND DONALD TRUMP – AND EVEN BRITISH ROYALTY SUCH AS PRINCE ANDREW – ALLOWED HIM TO SKIRT A HARSHER PUNISHMENT AND CRITICIZED AS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT.

CRITICS ALSO CALLED THE SENTENCE A “SLAP ON THE WRIST” ALLOWING EPSTEIN TO CONTINUE HIS ABUSES AGAINST YOUNG GIRLS. 

HE WAS ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING DOZENS OF UNDERAGE GIRLS AT HIS HOMES IN MANHATTAN, PALM BEACH AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — AND PAYING THEM TO BRING HIM MORE CLIENTS.

EPSTEIN WAS AGAIN ARRESTED IN 2019 AFTER A MIAMI HERALD INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE SECRET PLEA DEAL AND AS HE WAS AWAITING TRIAL – HE WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS NEW YORK PRISON CELL.

INVESTIGATORS SAID HE HAD KILLED HIMSELF.

“FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, THE STORY OF HOW JEFFREY EPSTEIN VICTIMIZED SOME OF PALM BEACH COUNTY’S MOST VULNERABLE HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MUCH ANGER AND HAS AT TIMES DIMINISHED THE PUBLIC’S PERCEPTION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM,” DELGADO WROTE.

EPSTEIN’S ESTATE HAS PAID $121 MILLION IN RESTITUTION TO NEARLY 135 VICTIMS.

FOR SAN, I’M LT.

[RAY BOGAN]

Democrats are renewing their calls to expand the Supreme Court in the wake of the justices’ decision on presidential immunity. 

Senator Tina Smith posted on social media that the Supreme Court is broken and the remedy is clear, expand the court. 

Representative Hank Johnson called on the House to pass the judiciary act which would expand the court to 13 seats. It does not change the presidential nomination process. 

It’s not clear exactly what Democrats will try and ultimately be able to accomplish. But it’s clear they are going to make another effort at court reforms after the 6-3 decision stated presidents have presumptive immunity for official acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts. 

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement: House Democrats will engage in aggressive oversight and legislative activity with respect to the Supreme Court to ensure that the extreme, far-right justices in the majority are brought into compliance with the Constitution. 

The Democratic Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee stated: Until Chief Justice Roberts uses his existing authority to enact an enforceable code of conduct, I will continue to push to pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act.”

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she intends to file articles of impeachment when the House returns next week, but she did not specify against whom. 

She said in a statement: Today’s ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture.

Everything Democrats are proposing, whether it be legislative or impeachment, would require a bipartisan vote in both the House and Senate, something that isn’t going to happen. They’ve also tried each of the legislative proposals already, and failed to get them across the finish line. 

Straight Arrow News will be on Capitol Hill covering this when Congress returns from their fourth of July recess. So for factual reporting straight from DC, download the straight arrow news app. 

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

NEW SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS CHINA MAY BE EXPANDING SOME ELECTRONIC SPYING STATIONS IN CUBA–
THE ISLAND IS JUST 90 MILES SOUTH OF FLORIDA, GIVING IT AN IDEAL POSITION TO MONITOR SENSITIVE U-S COMMUNICATIONS AND MARITIME ACTIVITY IN THE REGION.

THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS LAST YEAR’S DENIAL BY THE PENTAGON OF A REPORTED AGREEMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND CUBA TO CONSTRUCT AN ELECTRONIC EAVESDROPPING FACILITY ON CUBA. AT THE TIME, THE PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY GENERAL PAT RYDER LABELED THE REPORT AS ‘INACCURATE.’

JUNE 8, 2023
MAJ. GEN. PAT RYDER
PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY
“I can tell you based on the information we have that is not accurate. We are not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy station.”

DESPITE THE DENIALS, THERE IS GROWING EVIDENCE SUGGESTING A CHINESE INTEREST IN USING CUBA AS A SURVEILLANCE HUB, DIRECTLY CHALLENGING U.S. DOMINANCE IN THE REGION.

CHINA’S GOAL TO EXPAND ITS MILITARY PRESENCE GLOBALLY IS WELL DOCUMENTED, AND AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER–
CUBA OFFERS AN IDEAL FOOTHOLD FOR THE PEOPLE’S LIBERATION ARMY IN THE CARIBBEAN. ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, CUBA IS ONE OF SEVERAL COUNTRIES WHERE CHINA AIMS TO SET UP MILITARY BASES.

DESPITE OFFICIAL SECRECY SURROUNDING CHINA’S ACTIVITIES, THE RECENT IMAGERY OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT FOUR ACTIVE SITES LIKELY USED FOR ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS.

THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES RECENTLY RELEASED A REPORT ABOUT ONGOING CONSTRUCTION NEAR THE U.S. NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY, SIGNALING DEEPENING DEFENSE AND INTELLIGENCE TIES BETWEEN CHINA AND CUBA.

CHINESE INVOLVEMENT IN CUBA’S TECHNOLOGY SECTOR IS EXTENSIVE, WITH TECH GIANTS HUAWEI AND ZTE PLAYING PIVOTAL ROLES IN SHAPING CUBA’S TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE. BOTH OF THE COMPANIES ARE BLACKLISTED BY THE U.S. FOR ESPIONAGE RISKS—

A NOTABLE NEW SITE AT EL SALAO HOUSES A SOPHISTICATED ANTENNA ARRAY, DESIGNED FOR SIGNAL INTERCEPTION—A TECHNOLOGY STILL VALUED BY CHINA EVEN AFTER ITS ABANDONMENT BY THE U.S. AND RUSSIA POST-COLD WAR.

OTHER SITES LIKE BEJUCAL AND CALABAZAR ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UPGRADED, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF LARGE DISH ANTENNAS THAT ENHANCE CHINA’S SPACE COMMUNICATIONS AND SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES.

THE CSIS REPORT EMPHASIZES THE STRATEGIC USE OF CUBA’S PROXIMITY TO THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. FOR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING BY CHINA.
THE EXPANSION MEANS CHINA COULD INTERCEPT COMMUNICATIONS FROM U.S. MILITARY BASES, SPACE-LAUNCH FACILITIES, AND COMMERCIAL SHIPPING ROUTES.

I’M RYAN ROBERTSON

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