WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:02.640 Hey, guys, it's Jack. I just wanted to talk to you today 2 00:00:02.759 --> 00:00:06.639 about a way that you can help support the podcast. If you're not already, 3 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:10.480 we would really appreciate it if you guys went and reviewed us on Apple 4 00:00:10.599 --> 00:00:15.080 or Spotify. Those reviews really help people find the podcast and help it get 5 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:18.519 recognized, and you know, if you've been enjoying the show, we really 6 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:23.600 appreciate your support. Another thing that you can do to support the channel is 7 00:00:23.719 --> 00:00:28.600 to become a Patreon member. So we have Patreon memberships that started just five 8 00:00:28.640 --> 00:00:32.479 dollars a month, and when you sign up, you get access to all 9 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:36.280 of our episodes add free. That's the big bonus for that. I mean, 10 00:00:36.280 --> 00:00:41.399 we also do some Patreon bonus episodes for our subscribers, but this is 11 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:47.320 the biggest and best way that you can support the Teamhouse channel and podcast if 12 00:00:47.359 --> 00:00:51.000 you'd like to, and we really appreciate that, So go and check us 13 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:57.119 out at patreon dot com slash the Teamhouse. Hello everyone, Welcome to another 14 00:00:57.159 --> 00:01:00.840 episode of Iizon. I'm Andy Bilbin with me is Jay, some Lions and 15 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.560 Deed Tacos, and we're going to jump right into it today because, much 16 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:08.200 to your relief, we have a limited amount of time, and there's there's 17 00:01:08.359 --> 00:01:11.680 a couple of really big news stories. Do you what do you want us 18 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:15.319 to start off on here? The Moscow shooting. Yeah, I mean that's 19 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:19.000 so I got some fresh gouge on that, and you want to hear it 20 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:26.239 please, yeah, because that's dominating. Okay, So this is quite literally 21 00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:30.519 breaking. I hate to use that term, but this is from Russian telegram 22 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:36.840 accounts in Moscow. I would argue, and I would venture if we release 23 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:40.159 this today, that no one else has all of the information that I'm about 24 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:44.239 to give. That's it sounds a dreadful boast. So let's go ahead, 25 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:49.000 all right, So the the death holl Hey, anyway, back backtrack for 26 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:52.480 a moment. Okay, there was an attack on a Russian on the Russian 27 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:57.359 Croquers City Hall in Moscow. It's it's this massive, it's a large kind 28 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:02.480 of emporium, include some auditorium. There's a train station there. I mean, 29 00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:10.560 it's a it's a showpiece location within Moscow for the young. And so 30 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:17.080 evidently what happened four suspects walked into the foyer of the auditorium and they started 31 00:02:17.080 --> 00:02:22.520 shooting. Interestingly enough, they wish there was a concert, and they walked 32 00:02:22.560 --> 00:02:25.919 in about just as the concert was beginning, and they started shooting at late 33 00:02:25.960 --> 00:02:30.759 comers in the lobby, and they walked into the auditorium itself. As I 34 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:35.639 said, death toll around one point nine. Russians expect that to rise. 35 00:02:36.719 --> 00:02:45.000 Several hundred wounded. Russian special forces were involved, despite though footage shown at 36 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:49.080 the site, no gunmen were killed or arrested at the site. And now 37 00:02:49.159 --> 00:02:53.319 get this, this is where it gets crazy. The Russians are reporting that 38 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:59.159 they've arrested four terrorists in the Bryansk region of Russia. Okay, I'm going 39 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:00.759 to help you guys out here because I had to look it up. That 40 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:06.120 is on the Russian Ukrainian border. So what they're claiming think about this, 41 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:10.319 all right, They're claiming that terrorists were flying back towards Ukraine, right, 42 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:15.800 and that they captured Okay, one of them is saying that he was paid 43 00:03:15.159 --> 00:03:20.439 half a million rubles to carry out the attack, not saying by whom, 44 00:03:20.439 --> 00:03:23.080 but you see what I'm you know, I mean, the Russians clearly are 45 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:27.599 are kind of doing the Dora a piece here, of laying out the breadcrumbs 46 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:30.360 saying, well, look, you know, we don't know who did this, 47 00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:32.240 but they're trying to escape to Ukraine. At the same time, the 48 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:36.360 Islamic State is saying, no, wait a second, we did it, 49 00:03:36.439 --> 00:03:40.520 we did it. US intelligence estimate. US intelligence is saying they don't know 50 00:03:40.599 --> 00:03:45.719 for sure. Islamic States seems like a safe bet, but there are several 51 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:51.280 other potential groups, you know. I mean, remember, Russia has ongoing 52 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:57.240 counterinsurgencies, and not just in Chechhna, but Dagistan too, both places in 53 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:01.639 which they you know, Putin has pissed off a lot of people, and 54 00:04:01.639 --> 00:04:08.280 and of course Syria, you know, and which is the reason why the 55 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:13.520 Islamic State would be would be hitting them. So I will pause there for 56 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:15.879 a moment in case you have any questions. Oh hey, the last thing 57 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:25.040 is the Russians just announced that this is on telegram and it's a Russian telegram 58 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:29.000 channel, I should be more specific, it's a Russian backed telegram channel. 59 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:33.519 And that's claiming that it was the Russian Volunteer Corps. All right, Remember 60 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:39.439 we talked about the Russian Volunteer Corps. That's who they're saying. They that 61 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:43.319 that that's who it is, and that they conducted a purge or rather, 62 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:46.279 they arrested a bunch of them before the incident, and this was a this 63 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:53.000 was a revenge. Anyway, back back to you guys. Yeah, so 64 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:58.199 the questions you have, what I'm being told and what I'm reading is that 65 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:06.040 as little as three days ago US the Embassy warned Moscow that hey, there 66 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:13.240 is something coming. They didn't have specifics, but it was dismissed by Putin 67 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:16.680 as a divisive propaganda, you know, just trying to divide the country up, 68 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:21.399 which is the exact same mistake that the Iranians made not long ago. 69 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:26.240 We tried to warn them about an imminent attack, they dismissed it and it 70 00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:30.680 happened. So, you know, I think that's a part of the at 71 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:34.439 least the intel community that the most citizens don't know about that we do, 72 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:40.680 despite our differences with Russia and Iran, we do share intelligence with them on 73 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:44.079 that level, as you know, if there's an imminent attack coming. Because 74 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:48.160 despite what some people think, while we disagree and we have issue with the 75 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:51.639 Russian and Iranian governments, we don't hate their people. So we don't want 76 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:58.720 to see innocence killed. So well, it's a policy of reprice. It's 77 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:02.040 a prosody too, right, It's like, okay, so even if you 78 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:06.399 guys don't agree to this, we are going to do this, which leaves 79 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:12.360 the door open for collaboration. Absolutely absolutely, And that's a yeah, that's 80 00:06:12.360 --> 00:06:15.040 a great point. Hey, Jason, I just want to say what Putin 81 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:19.759 actually said when when he was warned on March the nineteenth. All this resembles 82 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:26.959 outright blackmail and and an intention to intimidate and destabilize our society. That's from 83 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:31.920 the US warning. I mean once again, you know, how what more 84 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:34.920 example do you need? Yeah, I'm curious to see how it gets walked 85 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:39.399 back that statement now that it's happening. Putin was just talking. He just 86 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:44.800 like addressed the Russia like probably thirty forty minutes ago. It was oh he 87 00:06:44.839 --> 00:06:50.319 has made an official statement. Yeah, yeah, in the the METHODIV. 88 00:06:50.920 --> 00:06:55.560 Who's the deputy head of a you know, Derek colaner of the Russian Security 89 00:06:55.600 --> 00:07:00.959 Council has has is already blaming Ukraine. I mean him specifically, So this 90 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:04.600 isn't just on telegram, he says. Well, he says, I if 91 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:09.399 it is established that these terrorists are connected with the Kiev regime, and he 92 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.240 goes on to issue dire threats, you know, I mean, how much 93 00:07:12.279 --> 00:07:15.199 more die can it get than you've already invaded that country? Right, So, 94 00:07:15.319 --> 00:07:20.000 like the they're getting ready, they're getting ready to put the blame on 95 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:26.519 on Kiev's doorstep, because it certainly serves Russians better to do so than to 96 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:30.959 blame the Islamic state and bring up their whole sorry venture in Syria. Can 97 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.959 we touch on the transformation that Medvedev's gone through when he was the Russian president, 98 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:38.680 like boys with Obama and like, oh, this could be maybe a 99 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:43.160 glimmer of hope, and then he's gone full like black trench coat. No, 100 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:46.319 I don't. I don't think there was any transformation there. I think 101 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.720 they were just always playing us all what I mean, you know, and 102 00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:56.680 and and this is this is where we mix our kind of our own culture 103 00:07:56.839 --> 00:08:01.560 with our attempts at real politic. You know, we want to always always 104 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:07.600 inject the personal level, in in personal relation in these geopolitical relationships. And 105 00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:13.680 these are you know, whether you're you're a head of state, I mean, 106 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:18.439 regardless regardless of where you're a head of state, your country, your 107 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:22.720 national interests come first. And but we in the US, we recognize that 108 00:08:22.839 --> 00:08:30.639 in ourselves, but we demand kind of friendship and loyalty from from foreign diplomat 109 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:35.000 I mean foreign state heads of state, which of course doesn't make sense, 110 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.799 and especially when we're talking about adversaries. So you get things like, you 111 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:43.480 know, George Bush saying about Putin, he seems like a man I can 112 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:48.519 deal with. Yeah, his eyes. And then all the crap that other 113 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:54.159 presidents have talked about both Putin and your members of Rush of the Kremlin. 114 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:58.960 I mean, it's absurd. No, these guys are all very I mean 115 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:03.519 they ship that, you know, former Soviets and if they're not, and 116 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:07.440 they're steeped in that culture. And we never understood that culture anyway, but 117 00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:11.480 we kind of understood it during the Cold War. And what kept us on 118 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:15.799 the good side is we we never got sucked in even at the end to 119 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:18.320 oh hey, listen, Crushet's being nice to us today, so you know, 120 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:24.399 let's start making concessions. Yep. Yeah, it's our it's our own 121 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:28.759 mirror imaging, and it's our own weakness. Geopolitics is a hard game, 122 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:33.759 and and very few US statesmen realized that Kissinger, like him or hate them, 123 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:41.320 did understand that absolutely anything. So all that on Moscow. So watch 124 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:48.360 this space, guys. Very interesting and we will you know, continue to 125 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:52.279 track what Russia, what's being said in in Russia on this Well, what's 126 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:56.720 interesting was like, especially right after the attack, probably like an hour or 127 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:00.600 two after attack, they had that picture of that white van with all Ukrainian 128 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:03.000 plates on it, and it's like, hey, guys, if you can 129 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:07.559 really did this obvious, what are we doing? Like are they really doing 130 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:11.159 that? Like let's let's be serious here, like let's we's running up the 131 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:16.120 Ukraine. Slow the Ukraine stickers on the enemy. An early story I saw 132 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:22.679 too said that during the attack that a Ukrainian flag was raised above the UH. 133 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:26.320 I saw that building and then it disappeared. Then I never saw anything 134 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:31.879 about it again. So I mean they also said they were wearing fake bears, 135 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:35.159 Like guys, what are we doing? Like can we just find out 136 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:39.120 who did this? And you know, and like I mean the Russians, 137 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:43.039 the Russians won't be honest anyway, So yeah, but I mean, you 138 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:46.039 know how these things are. I mean remember the well most recently seven October, 139 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:52.200 and then you remember the UH the attacks in Paris in twenty fifteen, 140 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:58.919 and the initial reports are always low ball unfortunately on the extent of the casualties 141 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:03.240 and how bad the event was. So I think, sadly we're going to 142 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:09.039 see that the casualty numbers rise because you know, reading behind the lines, 143 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:15.720 Russian special forces did not get there on time. And so yes, I 144 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:20.279 don't think this is going to be a story that covers the Russian security services 145 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:22.360 and glory. But that doesn't you know, I mean, we've all made 146 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:28.519 these mistakes, so that isn't me being smug. It's a tragedy regardless, 147 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.399 d yes, before So I really, I mean, you've got two marines 148 00:11:33.440 --> 00:11:41.480 here and I really okay three, Richie, stop reminding me, So I 149 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:46.559 really, you know, today saw another not a tragedy, but a milestone 150 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:50.919 event in a general Gray form of com down the Marine Corps. More importantly, 151 00:11:50.240 --> 00:11:54.559 oh, in general Gray, by the way, easily the most easily 152 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:01.759 the most influential commandant of the last I don't know since leu June John A 153 00:12:01.840 --> 00:12:05.720 lu June probably and some pop would argue the most period. Why was he 154 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:09.279 so influential because he don't worry I'll get rid of him in a moment, 155 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:15.399 not in a bad way, but he's he's got things to say about General 156 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:20.600 Gray obviously, you know General Gray bottom line is he brought the Marine Corps 157 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:31.320 from this kind of woe is Me Vietnam fixated culture, which was very you 158 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:35.320 know, despite what we may say, very hierarchical, very zero tolerance, 159 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:39.200 and it was a very bad time not just in the Marine Corps but in 160 00:12:39.240 --> 00:12:43.360 every service in the seventies post Vietnam, drugs, racial tension, you name 161 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:48.919 it. And Craig came in and did two things. He cleaned house, 162 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:52.799 you know, from top down. The Institute for implemented things like drug testing 163 00:12:52.840 --> 00:12:56.000 and all this stuff, you know, But it was it was a concerned, 164 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.480 compassionate leadership. He was loved by the rank and five in a way 165 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:05.639 that no other commandant has been. And why it wasn't just because he could 166 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:09.320 talk to the Marines and drop the F bomb. It was because he genuinely 167 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:13.559 cared about them and showed it in his policies and proving barracks like blah blah 168 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:18.120 blah. But he you know, at the same time, he raised he 169 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:24.240 raised the standards of Marine Corps. That was internally externally he oh and also 170 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:28.200 internally he emphasized mission command in a way that has not been emphasized by any 171 00:13:28.200 --> 00:13:35.120 other command. Uh you know, for or sense, possibly the current one 172 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:41.159 will be. And so he brought us so all these things about initiative driven 173 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:50.720 command. He brought in uh uh yeah, right to to change our whole 174 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:56.879 doctrine war fighting, right, the war which is not about moving pieces on 175 00:13:56.919 --> 00:14:01.720 the map. It's about mentality, which is always always putting your enemy in 176 00:14:01.720 --> 00:14:05.480 the horns of a dilemma, on the horns of a dilemma, thinking, 177 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:11.799 deciding in a manner that makes your tempo faster than that of the adversary. 178 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:16.960 It was all about the mental game, the three dimensional chess board, as 179 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:22.919 he described it. Gray was also very interestingly a self made man in every 180 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:31.360 sense. He he was a I mean, he was a construction worker, 181 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:35.759 right. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of twenty two, 182 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:39.840 went to Korea, fought for two years in Korea as a rifleman, made 183 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:46.600 sergeant like in a battlefield promotions, and then subsequently was a commissioned as an 184 00:14:46.639 --> 00:14:50.279 officer in Vietnam. Interestingly, when he got a Silver Star, he was 185 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:56.159 on a he was His official title was he was an artillery observer with an 186 00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:03.480 artillery unit, but he was also at the time he's working and intelligence communications 187 00:15:03.519 --> 00:15:07.440 and signals intelligence. He had a communications background. I won a silver Star 188 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:11.200 for bringing Marines out of a minefield. Minefields, So I'm gonna tne over 189 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:16.399 to you because I get to take care of this dog. Yeah, General 190 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:22.080 Gray. I had the pleasure and honor of meeting him. It was long 191 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:26.519 after his retirement. I was at an event and he was there and we 192 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:30.480 got to talking a little bit and mentioned where I was from in New Jersey. 193 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:33.559 And he grew up right next door at a Point Pleasant, New Jersey, 194 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:39.679 from originally from Rahway, New Jersey, and his family moved to Point 195 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:43.039 Pleasant and he played football. I think we played three sports, football, 196 00:15:43.080 --> 00:15:48.879 baseball, and basketball, I believe. And you know, great athlete, 197 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:52.720 really really easy to talk to. And you know, like Andy said, 198 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:58.480 he was a Marines marine, especially enlisted. He is noted for when he 199 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:03.279 would have new officers, he would tell him that your sole reason for raising 200 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:07.799 your hand, Yes, it's to defend the Constitution, Yes it is to 201 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:11.080 defend you know, the nation, but it's also to be first and foremost 202 00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:18.120 there for your enlisted and subordinate Marines. That was his most important his credo. 203 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:23.039 Mike Andy said, maneuver warfare was a big thing with him, and 204 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:27.279 it was pretty timely because of Desert Storm and you know and all of that. 205 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:33.679 But he truly believed in every marine being a rifleman, so much so 206 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:37.360 that he was the first and I don't know if only, but the first 207 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:42.279 commandant to have his official portrait done in his utilities. His camis. Every 208 00:16:42.279 --> 00:16:48.000 other one were in dress uniforms, dress blues, and he was the first 209 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:51.960 to do that to show that every marine is a rifleman. And that really 210 00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:53.919 stood out to me. So he will surely be missed. I mean, 211 00:16:55.240 --> 00:16:56.759 ninety five years old. He lived a hell of a life, so, 212 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:02.440 you know, great, it was active right up to the end too. 213 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:08.519 He was you know, he ran the or instrumental and running the Potomac Institute, 214 00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:12.839 which is a think tank. And but you know, one really interesting 215 00:17:12.880 --> 00:17:17.440 point. I think this will come out. I hope it comes out, 216 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:21.480 and you know, presumably there'll be books about a book about him, But 217 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:26.839 he took over the Marine Corps at a very at a you know, the 218 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:32.119 Marine Corps is in crisis back in the late eighties. People forget about this 219 00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:37.039 or in the eighties, and it was part of it. Was post Vietnam. 220 00:17:37.440 --> 00:17:41.319 You know, the the Army, the Navy can absorb some of the 221 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:47.200 moral the morale problems and all the other things that were going on. But 222 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:51.960 the Marine Corps as a small organization now facing it's just you know, justifying 223 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:59.359 its existence yet again not doing well across the border in none of the services 224 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:02.440 were in particular, the Marine Corps had a hard time in the eighties. 225 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:07.079 Remember in eighty three was Marine Corps bombing that killed two hundred and forty. 226 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:11.680 There was you know, there were all kinds of operational and tactical and it 227 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:18.599 died a strategic level. Decisions that were made that that frankly led to that 228 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:22.680 tragedy, and they weren't all political decisions. A lot of them were made 229 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:26.039 by people in uniform and they were very poor decisions and not a lot of 230 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:32.680 people really were held responsible. But Gray came in no, you know, 231 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:36.799 in the aftermath of that, realizing that yes, Marine Corps had to be 232 00:18:36.839 --> 00:18:41.519 seen to hold its own accountable. And then you know, the same year 233 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:45.359 he came in, we had I know, if you remember Clayton lone Tree, 234 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:52.319 he was he was the primary player in a scandal in Moscow. Barrett 235 00:18:52.319 --> 00:19:00.440 in Moscow at embassy US Embassy Moscow in nineteen eighty seven, he and one 236 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:03.200 of his cohorts, I think two of his cohorts, definitely one another one 237 00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:08.319 went to jail sold secrets they were called in a Russian honey trap, honeypot 238 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:15.519 trap, and continued to give secrets to the Russians for a period of time 239 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:21.720 before they were caught. And then finally, remember Oliver North facing criminal charges 240 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:25.559 for his involvement in the Iran Contra affair. And within the Marine Corps, 241 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:30.279 Oliver North was not regarded as being the hero that the US public was. 242 00:19:30.599 --> 00:19:33.839 You know, there were people who had you know, I'll just say this. 243 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:37.160 Let me put it this way. I don't mean to defame Oliver North. 244 00:19:37.240 --> 00:19:40.839 I just mean to say, yes, he was a very brave man, 245 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:45.559 he was a but and yes he was a hero in Vietnam. But 246 00:19:45.640 --> 00:19:49.160 my point is that there were people within the Marine Corps who were concerned about 247 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:56.480 the way he was acting, concerned that he was violating integrity while wearing uniform. 248 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:59.039 I didn't say he did. I said they were concerned, and Gray 249 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.319 was one of them. So he felt like the Marine Corps had a black 250 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:04.599 eye, and indeed it did, and it. You know, part of 251 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:08.720 what he was doing and people didn't realize this perhaps at the time, was 252 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:14.880 setting the Marine Corps complete on a new course. Remember he's the one who 253 00:20:14.880 --> 00:20:18.680 coined special operations capable for their news. He's like, Okay, we are 254 00:20:18.720 --> 00:20:22.359 going to be a lighter, more agile force. We're going to be closer 255 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:26.559 to special operations. And indeed, look we're doing this again. Now we 256 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:30.559 went through this whole period of going being sucked into as we had to, 257 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:36.599 you know, the counterinsurgencies, the land wars. But now again we're looking 258 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:42.039 at getting kind of moving towards soft in how we operate. Ye. So, 259 00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:48.519 and you mentioned books about him. There is one that had been recommended 260 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:51.799 to me. I still haven't read it. It's called Gratisms and Other Thoughts 261 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:56.960 on Leadership from General Al Gray USMC retired twenty ninth the Marine Corps. It's 262 00:20:56.039 --> 00:21:04.680 by Paul ott Otte and yeah, yeah, Potomac Institute. Yeah, ye, 263 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:08.720 photoste yep. So that looks like a really interesting one. So if 264 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:12.759 anyone's interested, I definitely pick that up. I plan to. Yeah. 265 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:17.079 That's actually it's a great book. I mean I I've just flicked through it 266 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:19.759 because I'm too cheap to report it, but it's a it's got a lot 267 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:23.160 of his quotes, and he has some great quotes. Hey, you know, 268 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:30.839 everyone everyone has this image of him as being and he was like this 269 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:33.519 rough, ready marine, tough guy. And he was all of those, 270 00:21:33.640 --> 00:21:37.480 yes, truly. But but what makes him, what gives him such a 271 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:45.279 legacy as his intellect, really, you know, a brilliant guy, and 272 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:48.599 and and also his I mean they his intellect, what he's done for the 273 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:52.640 Marine Corp, blah blah blah, but but also his compassion, you know, 274 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:56.200 and that's why he was popular. He really you know, we talk 275 00:21:56.279 --> 00:22:00.799 about tough love, tough leadership, but he really exemplified that it wasn't a 276 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:03.920 false boone in his body. And you know, one of the things we 277 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:07.920 laughed about when he, uh, when he and I briefly spoke, was 278 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:12.039 again he went to Point Pleasant Beach High School and I went to Manasquan High 279 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:17.720 School. And we weren't big rivals, uh with sports. We did play 280 00:22:17.720 --> 00:22:21.599 each other in certain sports, but Point Pleasant Borough, which was the town 281 00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:26.039 connected in between his and mine, Uh, they were a big rival and 282 00:22:26.680 --> 00:22:30.079 we used to it was a huge, nasty rival. And football especially, 283 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:33.759 and so one of the things he asked me is, uh, so what's 284 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:36.599 the secret? You know? So what what secrets was? He was like, 285 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:40.079 how did you guys cheat every year and beat you know Borough? And 286 00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:44.480 I just looked at him like, shit is you weren't serious? But he's 287 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:51.279 still holding that crutch from eighty exactly. Yeah. So the other thing, 288 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:55.400 you know, the the other legacy that he has among junior marines is U 289 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:00.720 is a memory of or a habit of a physical assaulting marines. Right, 290 00:23:02.119 --> 00:23:04.559 you know what I mean what would be called physically assaulting? Now? You 291 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:10.519 know he would when if you were standing and I know this from personal experience 292 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:15.119 because I was aying PFC and reached the dizzy heights of lance corporal as a 293 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:22.119 security guard in sink Lant Fleet Headquarters, Norfolk, Virginia, nineteen eighty eight 294 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:26.359 through blah blah. But in nineteen ninety anyway, so junior you know PSC 295 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:32.680 Melbourne are sending outside the opcohon to you know, control headquarters, and he'd 296 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:37.519 go in and out every time he would punch the marine in the stomach, 297 00:23:37.759 --> 00:23:41.319 right, the guy standing guard at para first. And so it didn't matter 298 00:23:41.319 --> 00:23:45.640 who he was with, you know, cno whatever, you're going to get 299 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:49.079 punched. Can you imagine that happening today? And then? And so yeah, 300 00:23:49.119 --> 00:23:52.839 of course you know, and I promise you this is true. There 301 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:56.799 were guys who even put like the log books in under their Charlie shirts, 302 00:23:56.799 --> 00:24:03.240 so he would kind up funding I mean, or and and somebody's he'd walked 303 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:06.880 by you and then just elbow you and the kidneys and it was hot, 304 00:24:07.160 --> 00:24:08.799 you know, I mean, it really was. It's love. Yeah. 305 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:14.759 But but now can you imagine that someone would complain and enough it would be 306 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:18.920 on It would be on security camera, general assaults, you know, Corporal 307 00:24:19.559 --> 00:24:26.559 Snutgross would be appearing on my ribs. Oh stand there at a press conference 308 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:30.000 with his family. Yeah. Oh man, heyde, we're pushing the time. 309 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:33.960 Then, is there anything you want to wrap up with? No? 310 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:40.279 Just uh that putin in his speech. Uh. He also like echoed saying 311 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:44.480 all the terrorists that were apprehended in route to Ukraine trying to cross the border. 312 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:48.359 He said that in his speech. Okay, and I don't think we 313 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:55.640 said it, but Ukraine hashemantly denied any kind of uh anything to do with 314 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:59.319 any of this. Whether or not it's true, I can't say but they 315 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:03.880 immediately he said, it has nothing to do with us. There's there would 316 00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:08.240 be absolutely nothing nothing nothing again, Yeah, a lot to be a lot 317 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:14.720 to be lost, although you know, driving up to the building in a 318 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:18.240 van with Ukrainian flags might be, you know the best, a really good 319 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:22.759 method of doing this, you know, height and playing sign. Yeah. 320 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:29.440 Anyway, all right on that note, everyone, great, great, great 321 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:33.680 talking at you, and we look forward to your comments as usual. In 322 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:37.680 fact, we're going to start reading out some some of our questions and comments. 323 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:42.240 Yeah, d why do you close this out with any any any commercial 324 00:25:42.279 --> 00:25:48.720 words from the shirt little house cleaning, housekeeping. Don't forget to like and 325 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:52.200 subscribe, guys, it's very important. If you're listening to us on the 326 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:57.119 audio platforms, rate and review at five stars. It's also as important check 327 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:03.039 out Andy's book Very good ruck there I get ten cents. Yeah, everyone, 328 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:07.000 that's boring. So check out the Patriot when when the tempest gathers. 329 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:11.000 Yeah, the link will be in the description for everything. Jason doesn't have 330 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.319 a book, he's gonna write one soon and we'll put the link in that 331 00:26:12.599 --> 00:26:15.640 in the description. Then as soon as I get a ghost writer. Yeah, 332 00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:18.960 so don't forget because being engaged is very important. It helps the channel, 333 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:22.839 it helps the shows. Uh, it's very important. So do us 334 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:26.559 a face comment to comment. If you don't like us, I don't give 335 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:30.039 it just comments. Say whatever you want, but don't forget to like, 336 00:26:30.079 --> 00:26:33.599 subscribe, be engaged, Tell a friend too. So and the Patreon patreon 337 00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:37.799 dot com slash the table. Great, great comments from the descriptions people. 338 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:44.880 Great comments on the On the Friends episode from people in France. Yeah, 339 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:48.599 and I mean a great some some of the times reposted. Some of it 340 00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:55.960 was, uh was abusive. Thank you for that. Someone said, uh, 341 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:59.640 you know, how come you don't know that? You know? The 342 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:04.920 nest fund is not called the National I'm sorry, i am not he missed 343 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:08.759 their last meeting. I'm not as steeped in French politics and there is a 344 00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:12.000 reason for that. We try and sorry, I know you guys, You 345 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:15.880 guys don't have to state of the unuperpowers, you know. Anyway, all 346 00:27:17.000 --> 00:27:19.160 right, hey see you in a few days. Guys, all the best. 347 00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:21.039 Thanks everyone,