I'm a former US Marine fire support specialist, and also worked for about 10 years as a public affairs specialist in the US Army National Guard and Reserves. For that reason I will mostly opine about the "information operations" aspect of current events.
Please see my "about" page for more information.
If you would like to reach out, you can email me at ian.michael@readingjunkie.com
Here’s a movie you haven’t seen, but should. The 1981 movie Lion of the Desert, about the freedom fighter Omar Mukhtar and his 20 year war and martyrdom against the Italian imperialists in Libya.
Philip Pullman’s 1995 book The Golden Compass is actually really good, and unlike some young adult entries, has actual literary value. But reflecting back on it, I can’t read this book again.
This will likely come as a deep disappointment to red-blooded American patriots, but I saw a lot more dissent in Russia against war with Ukraine in 2022 than I see in the US opposing the attack on Iran.
There is no “off ramp” for Trump in the Middle East, even if he wants one. And the reason why is due to his own inability to understand the situation correctly.
I keep hearing this idea that winning the war would make Iran a regional power, this is incorrect. They are already a regional power, and winning the war would make them a world power.
Ian Kummer 
