“Mystic Chords of Memory”

Military History Historian. Retired USAF. I enjoy discussing diplomatic/political/military history. Also, a devoted SF Giants fan.

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

A must-read article by @HooverInst Stephen Kotkin illustrating how to meet the challenges of today’s authoritarian regimes by using history as a guide. The good news is that those challenges can be overcome.

https://t.co/M805ef0SSt

[Daniel Fried @AmbDanFried]

1) absolutely right.
2) Europe’s fate and the free world’s security were critical to America on D-Day and remain so today.
3) the US did not fight alone in Normandy then and is not alone now. We had and have Allies.

[alex kershaw @kershaw_alex]

The first wave is closing on Omaha Beach. This is why, as a Brit, I tell my American son always to hold his head high. Most of the men in this photo will be killed or wounded in the next couple of hours. My freedom is not free. See more on Substack: https://t.co/EEg00P06y6

[War Times @wartirnes]

D-Day in Color: Reinforcements Continue to Pour Into Normandy 🇺🇸🇬🇧

Allied troops wade ashore during the Normandy landings as more waves of infantry, vehicles, and supplies arrive behind the initial assault.

LCIs ferry fresh troops from transport ships while LSTs unload jeeps, trucks, and equipment onto smaller landing craft just offshore.

An endless flow of men and machinery that kept the invasion moving after the initial landings.

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

It was a fun baseball game to watch with regards to the hitting.

Ray had no FB command, and how he escaped without giving up a run is some voodoo shit. This speaks more to the Cubs inability to do damage when the opportunity presented itself.

As you stated, the bullpen is a mess and more to that, the rotation isn't exactly hitting on all cylinders. The Giants have dug themselves a very difficult hole to escape from, just to get to .500. They will go as the pitching goes, and it doesn't bode well for the rest of the season.

[Rush Doshi @RushDoshi]

This is an interesting question. My take: I do not quite accept the notion that China did not seek to "weaponize" rare earths and instead stumbled into a position of advantage. For at least 16 years, and likely more, the purpose has been an economic weapon. This is not like, say, solar or EVs, where excess capacity is sort of an accident.

Here, for example, is a semi-authoritative book cited by @JohnF_Sullivan on rare earth strategy written in 2011 for the state China Economic Publishing House the year after the Japan situation:

"What magical quality do rare earths possess that makes the usually arrogant and domineering Americans so furious? What magical quality do rare earths posses that leaves the usually wealthy and arrogant Japanese grief-stricken? China is the only country in the world capable of supplying all 17 rare earth elements, particularly holding a larger share of heavy rare earths that have prominent uses in military applications. To change China’s international position in the rare earth industry, since 2009, the Chinese government has launched a vigorous rare earth defense war, adopting a series of rectification measures including suspending approval of mining rights, controlling total mining volume, reducing export quotas, raising export tariffs and and severely cracking down on rare earth smuggling."

A key purpose of these post-2009 steps, which PRECEDE China's weaponization against Japan in 2010, was to hone a better coercive instrument.

Then there is some empirical evidence suggesting PRC action in this sector was about leverage.

First, most obviously, China used this as a coercive instrument in 2010. That shows, for at least 16 years, they have understood it as a critical leverage point.

Second, China's government has for decades manipulated the price of rare earths to prevent anyone else from achieving scale - dropping the price to kill foreign investment. Why did they do this when they already had 90% market dominance? The logic is toward control, not profit, and it is not the result of disaggregated independent Chinese market actors (which do not exist in this sector).

Third, related to that point, if this industry operated on economic logic, we would probably see more fragmentation. Indeed, for a brief time, we did see that before 2010. But then the PRC sharply consolidated the rare earths industry into state-backed companies. They shut down, arrested, harassed, and outright expropriated private actors. This was partly to ensure greater state control over external flows - the better to maintain leverage. The quote above refers to that effort.

Fourth, I do not think China's controls on rare earth minerals were modeled off U.S. controls. For example, the October controls went far beyond any U.S. controls. China's idea was any product, anywhere in the world, with .1% value coming from Chinese produced rare earths, required a license to be sold to anyone else in the world. The closest analogy -- and Chinese scholars have said this directly -- is to U.S. financial sanctions, not export controls.

Fifth, this is not a case where "there are many different actors, and they often overperform in search of particular targets." The industry has for a long time just been a few actors, tied to the state, acting at the state's direction. China's cultivation of leadership in this sector dates back to the 1960s, accelerating in the 1980s, with direct involvement of Deng's family in the 1990s and Premier Wen in the 2000s.

The empirical evidence seems to indicate a conscious desire to dominate this sector. One can debate whether or not such an intention was justifiable given U.S. control over chokepoints like finance.

But I think it is hard to advance the claim this was just the independent action of market participants that happened to accidentally create a position of extreme concentration and dominance.

[OSINTdefender @sentdefender]

Explosions and air defense activity reported within the last hour from Iran’s Kharg Island in the Northern Persian Gulf.

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

Who the F* are these @SFGiants guys?! More importantly, where have they been?

@Coach_Yac @gggiants

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@Coach_Yac Zero FB command. It doesn’t bode well. Not giving up any runs has been impressive though.

Just can’t keep going to the bullpen well over and over. It’s already bad and will only get worse.

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@amramsfan1 @Coach_Yac You speak the truth!

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@Coach_Yac Not much different in the 2nd. I expect to see Seymour some time in the 5th. Possibly sooner

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@thenewarea51 Maybe Clint is behind the stick…

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@gggiants

[Sal Mercogliano (WGOW Shipping) 🚢⚓🐪🚒🏴‍☠️ @mercoglianos]

The Battle of Midway is often told through the lens of aircraft carriers and dive bombers, but behind the tactical victory was a massive logistical feat. In this video, we dive into the "Four Rs"—Replenishment, Repair, Reinforcements, and Replacements—to show how the U.S. Navy sustained the fight and secured the Pacific.

We take a look at the "forgotten" ships and crucial logistical hurdles that defined the campaign:

Replenishment: Why the USS Kaloli (AOG-10) was vital for Midway's fuel stores and how Admiral Spruance faced a critical fuel shortage.
Repair: The story of the USS Vireo (AT-144) and the desperate attempt to salvage the USS Yorktown.
Reinforcements: How the USS Kitty Hawk and USS Nashville fortified the atoll with aircraft and Marine Raiders.
Replacements: The role of the USS Saratoga in rebuilding the air groups of Enterprise and Hornet immediately following the battle.

If you’re a fan of naval history or want to see the Battle of Midway from a perspective that almost never gets discussed, this deep dive is for you.

🚨This video is a clip from the larger Early U.S. Logistics in the Pacific, 1941-42🚨

Video: https://t.co/wJ6VV4XPbR

[Mike Nelson @mikenelson586]

Holy shit, they hit the CAOC?

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@mikenelson586 Reminds me of ancient Egypt Pharaoh’s. Leaving remembrances of themselves once they’re gone.

Moreover, I think attention to more important matters would be a welcome reprieve from this diversion.

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@DrRadchenko When the camera red light turns on, he loses his mind.

To your point, this term has been wild, and not in a good way.

After listening to him speak 👇

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

The administration is complicating the complicated in the ME by demanding adherence to the Abraham Accords from Gulf Stares.

The need for well thought out diplomacy by those who understand the region is paramount. Self-aggrandizing will accomplish nothing.

Excerpt below 👇

“The Trump administration appears to have absorbed far too little of this regional picture when it comes to pushing Abraham Accords expansion. The rhetoric around expansion has less to do with reestablishing regional stability and more to do with boosting Trump’s image as the preeminent dealmaker, who brought the accords about in his first term. It’s understandable why Trump would seek to do so. What is less clear is why anyone would expect the Gulf states to come along for the ride.”

[War on the Rocks @WarOnTheRocks]

Trump pressed Arab and Muslim leaders to expand the Abraham Accords last month. The silence on the other end of the call was hardly surprising. https://t.co/CanQp3XLUt

[Guy Elster גיא אלסטר @guyelster]

#BREAKING Explosions hit oil terminals in Oman after a suspected drone attack: Reuters

[“Mystic Chords of Memory” @MasterHistory23]

@FoulTerritoryTV