Today, we will honor the life and legacy of Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper Sergio Romero in Childress.
Though his time with us was far too short, Trooper Romero’s dedication to serving others and protecting his fellow Texans will never be forgotten. Please continue to keep his family, friends and colleagues and in your thoughts as they navigate this tremendous loss.
Watching the right debate over Iran is depressing.
My own position from the beginning has been the following:
-Iran is a threat.
-I don’t know what intel Trump has.
-I generally trust Trump when it comes to deployment of the US military.
-I don’t support another ground war/nation building operation in the middle east.
-I would love to see the Iranian regime toppled, but it has to be through an organic uprising, which can be supported by outside forces but cannot be the main effort.
-I recognize that Trump laid out objectives none of which was regime change.
-This conflict will be judged based on the ability to achieve stated objectives.
Since the MOU has come out my position has been the following:
-I don’t love this MOU but it’s a framework for negotiation not a final deal.
-I don’t trust the Islamic government of Iran, but it’s clear at this point that the regime is probably not going to fall due to an internal uprising.
-A negotiated peace which includes necessary and transparent safeguards against Iran having nuclear weapons and which greatly diminishes their support of proxies would be a significant achievement. (But that remains to be seen.)
-It appears to me that the internal conditions necessary to successfully replace the Islamic government do not currently exist but could be developed over years.
-While Israel has every right to defend itself against attacks, it will have to consider its security interests against current objectives and the US desire to extricate itself from the conflict.
-The US midterms play a significant role in the overall strategy because they will have the ability to impact not only this conflict but the rest of the Trump term.
There’s more, and I’ve done several podcasts on the topic, but each time I have tried to be fair and intellectually honest in my assessment balancing my belief that Iran is a threat to American interests and my desire to avoid more foreign conflicts and address systemic issues at home.
Reasonable people can disagree on my analysis and conclusions and I have no problem with good faith debate on the topic of which I have had many.
But once again I am watching as the right begins to adopt the tactics of the left to try and make their points.
Instantly accusing anyone who disagrees as being a “paid shill.” Automatically assuming ill intentions. Ad hominem attacks.
And the political equivalent of allowing a disagreement over a “non doctrinal topic” to become grounds for excommunication and claims of betrayal, treachery and heresy.
Sentiments like : I agree with you on almost everything, but now you’re just a hack.
Are becoming common.
Think about that statement. It equates to “Nick, I have watched and listened to your analysis on just about every topic and agreed with you…but because I disagree with you on this topic, IT MUST BE that you are actually just a huge shill and horrible person.”
Or…and just hear me out…it could be that generally like minded people sometimes do have serious disagreements on certain topics. In such cases it is usually a question of data, perspective or priorities, not ill intention.
Which is to say it is not a fundamental difference of opinion on truth or ultimate objectives, but primarily one of perspective.
The real question is whether or not the analysis they used to get to their conclusions or opinions is reasonable.
If the right proves incapable of honest debate without immediately turning on one another or adopting the tactics of the left in how we adjudicate disagreement, we are in a great deal of trouble.
We aren’t just traveling on this trip for the heck of it. In conjunction with this Sea to Shining Sea marathon madness, we raising funds for the expansion at The Gettysburg Museum Of History.
15,000 people have watched today’s video so far. If each person who watched kicked in $5, we’d be over our goal for this trip!
Thanks to those who have donated and who have been sharing the videos from the trip. It’s much appreciated!
This is for you @LeifBabin. Thank YOU…..when you sent him a copy of Extreme Ownership, he took it seriously.
My nephew just graduated with even a big promo to E-3
Welcome to the Navy