Travis Reese (One of Many-Gravity's Rainbros)
@ctreese2.bsky.social
Small town kid. Joined the military. Stuck w/ it for 21 yrs. Stayed in defense. Planner & strategist. Inventor of the coffee egg cream & mocha coffee egg cream
Pinned
"The opinion also states that drug cartels are selling drugs to finance a campaign of violence and extortion, according to four people." That would be remarkable, since it's not how drug cartels work. They use violence to protect their business--selling drugs. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
In a classified memo, the Trump administration’s Office of Legal Counsel said that U.S. troops would not be liable for participating in boat strikes on alleged narco-traffickers.
www.washingtonpost.com
Every time I read what is happening in the Caribbean I think: "In what material way is smuggling drugs into the country any different than Prohibition bootlegging in terms of the rules around law enforcement. This is like saying because whiskey was made in Canda or Scotland, then the governments of<
This is just one long list of quotes so worthy of consideration that you need to watch.
youtu.be/UoR807KZIH4?...
youtu.be/UoR807KZIH4?...
Venezuela, the Failure of the Democrats, and the History of Resistance
YouTube video by Tad Stoermer
youtu.be
January 6, 2026 at 2:12 AM
This is just one long list of quotes so worthy of consideration that you need to watch.
youtu.be/UoR807KZIH4?...
youtu.be/UoR807KZIH4?...
Yes, all this and read it twice.
Here. I wrote about American threats against Greenland and the fate of NATO.
othermeans.io/p/the-next-g...
othermeans.io/p/the-next-g...
The Next Great Crisis
Greenland and the Fate of NATO
othermeans.io
January 6, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Yes, all this and read it twice.
They are clearly hopped up on Venezuela juice thinking it's an unmitigated success and that they can do what they will. Worse is that if Europe and the rest of NATO have to turn to watching the U.S., Ukraine is left alone on Russia. This sucks.
TAPPER: Can you rule out the US is going to take Greenland by force?
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO
T: So force is on the table?
M: Nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over future of Greenland
January 6, 2026 at 1:34 AM
They are clearly hopped up on Venezuela juice thinking it's an unmitigated success and that they can do what they will. Worse is that if Europe and the rest of NATO have to turn to watching the U.S., Ukraine is left alone on Russia. This sucks.
This is dumb because it fundamentally misunderstands the purpose of LSM. INLS is an invaluable set of connectors that need investment, especially if we want to replicate WWII era ANBs and EABs on islands w/ little infrastructure. LSM ≠ INLS.
The Navy and Marine Corps continue to search for new littoral logistics platforms but overlook what they already own. usni.org/magazines/p...
The Navy Is Overlooking Its Most Versatile Logistics Tool | Proceedings - January 2026 Vol. 152/1/1,475
The Navy and Marine Corps continue to search for new littoral logistics platforms but overlook what they already own.
www.usni.org
January 6, 2026 at 1:18 AM
This is dumb because it fundamentally misunderstands the purpose of LSM. INLS is an invaluable set of connectors that need investment, especially if we want to replicate WWII era ANBs and EABs on islands w/ little infrastructure. LSM ≠ INLS.
It's fascinating that the U.S. helped fight a war 80 yrs ago to prevent Europe from being conquered. After that war we helped to dismantle the system of colonialism and Imperial privilege. Now, DJT would like to conquer the territory of an allied European power and extract its resources as a colony.
January 6, 2026 at 1:11 AM
It's fascinating that the U.S. helped fight a war 80 yrs ago to prevent Europe from being conquered. After that war we helped to dismantle the system of colonialism and Imperial privilege. Now, DJT would like to conquer the territory of an allied European power and extract its resources as a colony.
Just to be clear, apparently oil companies with no security clearances were coordinated with/notified of action in VZ (presumably to confirm it's a good investment for the U.S., *read* Trump pals) but Congress wasn't notified because this is ultra top secret & the Admin couldn't risk a leak?
MILLER: The US is using its military to secure our interests unapologetically in our hemisphere. We're a superpower. It's absurd we'd allow a nation in our backyard to become a supplier of resources to our adversaries
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
TAPPER: Sovereign countries shouldn't be able to do what they want?
M: *yells*
January 6, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Just to be clear, apparently oil companies with no security clearances were coordinated with/notified of action in VZ (presumably to confirm it's a good investment for the U.S., *read* Trump pals) but Congress wasn't notified because this is ultra top secret & the Admin couldn't risk a leak?
With Mike Walz trying to promote this as a law enforcement action at the UN, Ukraine has the chance to rendition Putin and declare it wasn't an action associated with war but a legal action to face charges at the Hague endorsed by other nations. Walz's statements invite absurd things like that.
Remember kids, nothing about Venezuela constituted an emergency that met the standards for a war powers action. Great, Maduro had a long-delayed legal action. So does Putin. Regardless all prior action against VZ were illegal and nothing takes that away.
January 5, 2026 at 10:27 PM
With Mike Walz trying to promote this as a law enforcement action at the UN, Ukraine has the chance to rendition Putin and declare it wasn't an action associated with war but a legal action to face charges at the Hague endorsed by other nations. Walz's statements invite absurd things like that.
Even weirder is Hegseth declaring that his actions were seditious. Really? That's a legal charge that has to be proven. SCOTUS told Colorado that they couldn't remove Trump from the ballot in 2024 on that basis because it hadn't been proven in a court and the state could not just declare it so.
Which is even more weird given that none of this conduct can be traced to any activities while in uniform and if they try, what is the record going to show? Combat veteran and astronaut speaks out on policy while in elected office. That's like trying to pull this on John Glenn.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action
January 5, 2026 at 9:52 PM
Even weirder is Hegseth declaring that his actions were seditious. Really? That's a legal charge that has to be proven. SCOTUS told Colorado that they couldn't remove Trump from the ballot in 2024 on that basis because it hadn't been proven in a court and the state could not just declare it so.
Remember kids, nothing about Venezuela constituted an emergency that met the standards for a war powers action. Great, Maduro had a long-delayed legal action. So does Putin. Regardless all prior action against VZ were illegal and nothing takes that away.
January 5, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Remember kids, nothing about Venezuela constituted an emergency that met the standards for a war powers action. Great, Maduro had a long-delayed legal action. So does Putin. Regardless all prior action against VZ were illegal and nothing takes that away.
Which is even more weird given that none of this conduct can be traced to any activities while in uniform and if they try, what is the record going to show? Combat veteran and astronaut speaks out on policy while in elected office. That's like trying to pull this on John Glenn.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will face administrative action
January 5, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Which is even more weird given that none of this conduct can be traced to any activities while in uniform and if they try, what is the record going to show? Combat veteran and astronaut speaks out on policy while in elected office. That's like trying to pull this on John Glenn.
Oh look, the Senate plans to vote on the authorities a President can exercise in conflict resolution. 👌. What's their plan when he inevitably violates that legislation and uses the position to enrich himself and his friends again? Impeach? Yeah, they've been solid on their Constitutional duties 🤨.
January 5, 2026 at 9:31 PM
Oh look, the Senate plans to vote on the authorities a President can exercise in conflict resolution. 👌. What's their plan when he inevitably violates that legislation and uses the position to enrich himself and his friends again? Impeach? Yeah, they've been solid on their Constitutional duties 🤨.
Reposted by Travis Reese (One of Many-Gravity's Rainbros)
The comparison collapses because it ignores history, law, and basic comparative politics.
What remains is not analysis, but sycophancy dressed up as analogy.
When loyalty substitutes for analysis, you don’t get strategy—you get embarrassment.
What a waste of time.
What remains is not analysis, but sycophancy dressed up as analogy.
When loyalty substitutes for analysis, you don’t get strategy—you get embarrassment.
What a waste of time.
Making this sort of asinine comparison does not in any way help.
January 5, 2026 at 1:03 PM
The comparison collapses because it ignores history, law, and basic comparative politics.
What remains is not analysis, but sycophancy dressed up as analogy.
When loyalty substitutes for analysis, you don’t get strategy—you get embarrassment.
What a waste of time.
What remains is not analysis, but sycophancy dressed up as analogy.
When loyalty substitutes for analysis, you don’t get strategy—you get embarrassment.
What a waste of time.
To Mike and Brian's whole exchange, I think often on @kschake.bsky.social 's framing of civ-mil relationship. Our problem is we have no political class that will protect the military from these actions which is the dual responsibility of civilian control. Both the party in power and the one out<
The counter to this whole line of discussion is we have a documented case of an order being given to restrike a boat with noncombatants who were also definitionally hors de combat (if they'd been combatants), the order being followed unquestioningly, JAGs repeatedly signing off on it...
There is no scenario where some mid-tier officer boldly refuses the order and is feted for saving the republic. That person will probably get relieved and court martialed.
And in 999 cases out of 1000, that will be the right response so you have a military that follows its constitutional role.
And in 999 cases out of 1000, that will be the right response so you have a military that follows its constitutional role.
January 4, 2026 at 10:38 PM
To Mike and Brian's whole exchange, I think often on @kschake.bsky.social 's framing of civ-mil relationship. Our problem is we have no political class that will protect the military from these actions which is the dual responsibility of civilian control. Both the party in power and the one out<
As I think about, NATO would dissolve over this as would FVEYES and every bilateral agreement with Europe, Canada, and the other Commonwealth countries at a minimum. Japan & Philippines would be hard pressed to look past this too. India would tell us to get bent. Sorry, only CENTCOM survives.
Don't kid yourself, invading Greenland is no less aggressive and illegal than the charges levied against Russia for invading Ukraine. It's not about population as much as it is about territory and sovereignty. I wouldn't blame Europe for reinforcing it now as a deterrent & insisting limits of<
January 4, 2026 at 8:30 PM
As I think about, NATO would dissolve over this as would FVEYES and every bilateral agreement with Europe, Canada, and the other Commonwealth countries at a minimum. Japan & Philippines would be hard pressed to look past this too. India would tell us to get bent. Sorry, only CENTCOM survives.
Still my favorite primer video on the challenges and outcomes of recognizing and refusing an illegal order from a former Marine artillery officer/ JAG. The answer is also "yes, but it's complicated".
youtu.be/TwPLqGkYnBA?...
youtu.be/TwPLqGkYnBA?...
Can The Military Refuse Trump's Orders?
YouTube video by LegalEagle
youtu.be
January 4, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Still my favorite primer video on the challenges and outcomes of recognizing and refusing an illegal order from a former Marine artillery officer/ JAG. The answer is also "yes, but it's complicated".
youtu.be/TwPLqGkYnBA?...
youtu.be/TwPLqGkYnBA?...
Don't kid yourself, invading Greenland is no less aggressive and illegal than the charges levied against Russia for invading Ukraine. It's not about population as much as it is about territory and sovereignty. I wouldn't blame Europe for reinforcing it now as a deterrent & insisting limits of<
January 4, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Don't kid yourself, invading Greenland is no less aggressive and illegal than the charges levied against Russia for invading Ukraine. It's not about population as much as it is about territory and sovereignty. I wouldn't blame Europe for reinforcing it now as a deterrent & insisting limits of<
According to Rubio (on NBC as he does is angry wind up lecturing) Venezuela is not allowed to be in the free market and sell it's oil to anyone we don't like. More of the MAGA command economy. They are still going with "imported gang members" too. Rubio thinks the indictment is full of facts.
January 4, 2026 at 3:17 PM
According to Rubio (on NBC as he does is angry wind up lecturing) Venezuela is not allowed to be in the free market and sell it's oil to anyone we don't like. More of the MAGA command economy. They are still going with "imported gang members" too. Rubio thinks the indictment is full of facts.
Hey hey, did you know Venezuela is on another continent? So is Iran. Oh you mean hemisphere? Okay then. Since this regime likes finding fights I just want to be sure we're not talking about only Canada. So lame. Okay, go back to your 3 jobs but let us know when we do diplomacy again for some good.
Rubio on Russia-Ukraine: "It's not our war. It's a war on another continent."
January 4, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Hey hey, did you know Venezuela is on another continent? So is Iran. Oh you mean hemisphere? Okay then. Since this regime likes finding fights I just want to be sure we're not talking about only Canada. So lame. Okay, go back to your 3 jobs but let us know when we do diplomacy again for some good.
I've lived long enough to see the end of Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Libya twice, every other GWOT associated action, 5 combat tours of my own and I'm supposed to be impressed by this? Although kudos for being overtly criminal w/ a fig leaf of law enforcement that I can't wait to see a judge shred.
January 4, 2026 at 12:29 AM
I've lived long enough to see the end of Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Libya twice, every other GWOT associated action, 5 combat tours of my own and I'm supposed to be impressed by this? Although kudos for being overtly criminal w/ a fig leaf of law enforcement that I can't wait to see a judge shred.
Me to the youngest;
"Son, I want you to hear this from me first...apparently we kidnapped the head of a foreign country and may technically be at war."
Him: "It happens."
"Son, I want you to hear this from me first...apparently we kidnapped the head of a foreign country and may technically be at war."
Him: "It happens."
We just did what in Venezuela?
January 3, 2026 at 11:47 AM
Me to the youngest;
"Son, I want you to hear this from me first...apparently we kidnapped the head of a foreign country and may technically be at war."
Him: "It happens."
"Son, I want you to hear this from me first...apparently we kidnapped the head of a foreign country and may technically be at war."
Him: "It happens."
No, we are going straight to some preemptive pardon for oil and mineral concessions...and for a few lucky people, a cut of European drug trafficking.
Ah, good, so we can move directly on to the charges and trial, famously two of this administration's greatest strengths.
Holy shit trump says they captured Maduro
January 3, 2026 at 11:43 AM
No, we are going straight to some preemptive pardon for oil and mineral concessions...and for a few lucky people, a cut of European drug trafficking.
Reposted by Travis Reese (One of Many-Gravity's Rainbros)
Ah, good, so we can move directly on to the charges and trial, famously two of this administration's greatest strengths.
Holy shit trump says they captured Maduro
our traitor president is saying we have captured the president of venezuela
January 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Ah, good, so we can move directly on to the charges and trial, famously two of this administration's greatest strengths.
We just did what in Venezuela?
January 3, 2026 at 11:39 AM
We just did what in Venezuela?
CBS goes to all man in the street interviews where the person being interviewed has no idea what the details are they are just asked to react to topic and give advice to fellow Americans. No real requirement for knowing things or facts. In a couple of weeks it will just be DJT alone saying things.
I truly cannot wait for these incredibly stupid people to find out what happens when you try to wave the flag harder than Fox News
January 3, 2026 at 1:42 AM
CBS goes to all man in the street interviews where the person being interviewed has no idea what the details are they are just asked to react to topic and give advice to fellow Americans. No real requirement for knowing things or facts. In a couple of weeks it will just be DJT alone saying things.
Metaphorical Spain today. Arroz con Bacalao a la Riojana. Fun to do. Spain on a Fork gets credit for this recipe.
January 2, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Metaphorical Spain today. Arroz con Bacalao a la Riojana. Fun to do. Spain on a Fork gets credit for this recipe.