In The News
Gulf States Accept a New Normal in Hormuz: Iran Is in Control
By Summer Said and Benoit Faucon – The Wall Street Journal
Aug 10, 2026
Ongoing Militarization of American Culture
Troops on the street in camo is the new norm?
Armed troops have patrolled D.C. for 1 year now. It’s challenging democratic norms
By Kat Lonsdorf – NPR
Aug 11, 2026
The failings of one extreme political party bring on the next extreme political party.
1 Year Later, Why Is the National Guard Still in D.C.?
Autumn Billings – Reason
Aug 11, 2026
Celebrating USA 250 includes acknowledging the post 911 era.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
The US Armed Forces have been elevated during this time.
The post 911 era has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms.
Thanks For Your Service is a phrase that is now common.
Veterans Day assemblies at public schools are common.
Free meals provided to veterans by major restaurant chains on what used to be Armistice Day has become a tradition.
Veterans parking spots have been put in place at various retail locations.
More here:
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms, the Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Each November, school teachers across America host Veterans Day assemblies– and promote the idea to children that The Troops are in distant lands-fighting for American rights and freedoms-as if the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
In Washington State, these assemblies are mandatory.
The VA tells teachers that The Troops are Defending Liberty and Freedom.
In the 60s & 70s I never attended a Veterans Day assembly at school.
There were none.
Probably enough veterans around to remove most of the mystique, or maybe those veterans thought it was all just an average thing and did not want to be seen as a separate part of American society, or get head of the line parking spots over at the grocery store. Maybe the concept of Armistice Day had not gone completely extinct.
Growing up in the 60s & 70s- veterans were all around- church, school, Boy Scout leaders, family, the neighborhood, etc. It was all just an average thing. These folks weren’t seen as a separate part of American society.
People weren’t stepping over to say “Thanks for your service” to my Dad- who did time in the Navy in the 50s- but looked just like anyone else out in public.
These guys weren’t lining up for free dinner promotions marketed by major restaurant chains.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Any elected official or retired elected official who tells us The Troops were sent to protect American rights and freedoms needs to explain how those rights and freedoms are any different today because US troops were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Fantasy Newsperson Asks
Top TV military analysts, currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
Has blowing up suspected drug boat crews led to any shortage of cartel product in Seattle?
Is the Puget Sound drug situation any different today than it was under Biden?
2026 Seattle street scenes:
The weak-minded culture expects very little from its newspeople.
Fox Business
Paid to say the right things:
Macho Swagger
Watch Secretary of War Pete Hegseth takes thrilling fighter jet ride with ‘Top-Gun’ pilots:
Since 1986 Top Gun:
The US Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911.
We haven’t won a war since.
Made For TV
Various big companies will remind us that they support veterans and The Troops. Always wonder if any of those companies advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars. Maybe these big companies are more about expanding their marketing footprint.
Do traditional veterans organizations advocate for less in the way of undeclared/unwon wars? Would a move in this direction attract more new members?
Have any newspeople ever asked about this?
Related:
Working to stabilize the region since 1990 Operation Desert Shield
The people of Alaska need services in the Middle East
Which DOD Military Operations Were For Defense Of The Constitution?