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THE SHAME OF DROPPING BOMBS

Seymour Hersh • 45 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Unopposed air wars have no real glory and are morally hollow; striking pre-selected, unprotected targets is essentially a 'turkey shoot.'
  2. US and Israeli air campaigns against Iran and Gaza, after defenses were degraded, are striking largely unchallenged targets and have caused large-scale civilian death and injury.
  3. Political leaders and media are celebrating these unopposed strikes with wartime rhetoric, echoing old propaganda and helping to normalize and glorify mass violence.

Weekend Update #172: Is Ukraine Causing More Russian Losses Than Putin Can Replace?

Phillips’s Newsletter • 291 implied HN points • 15 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Recent data suggest Russia lost more troops than it could replace in Dec 2025–Jan 2026, creating roughly a 25% shortfall; if that trend holds or Ukraine raises the pressure, Russian advances could stall.
  2. A major Western speech at Munich omitted any mention of Russia or Ukraine and emphasized seeking a negotiated end acceptable to Moscow, highlighting how many European leaders still rely on US support and have not built a strong, independent European defence pillar.
  3. A senior Ukrainian strategist says durable peace is impossible while Putin sets the terms, so Ukraine should aim for a long, stable positional stalemate that blocks Russian gains, minimizes rear terror, and increases pressure on the Kremlin.

March 11, 2026

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 12 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. President Trump says the war with Iran is nearly over, but Iran is resisting, rejecting ceasefires, and shows no sign of accepting an immediate end.
  2. Iran’s mining of the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on oil infrastructure have raised global energy prices and disrupted shipping and supply chains for many industrial goods.
  3. The conflict is already costly and chaotic — with U.S. casualties, heavy munitions use, likely civilian harm from a school strike, and no clear U.S. endgame as allies disagree on how long to fight.

Live: The U.S. and Israel Strike Iran

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 102 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The U.S. and Israel carried out joint air strikes on multiple Iranian military sites, and initial reports claim Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has been killed.
  2. Iran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel and other sites across the Middle East, and Israeli authorities have instructed residents to stay in bomb shelters.
  3. The crisis risks major regional escalation and global consequences, and experts are convening live to analyze how events may unfold.

Trump Moves Closer To War With Venezuela, And Other Notes

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1322 implied HN points • 18 Dec 25
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Trump is escalating toward open confrontation with Venezuela by ordering a total blockade and targeting oil tankers, which risks direct military clashes.
  2. The administration has labeled fentanyl a “weapon of mass destruction” and accused Venezuela despite evidence the country doesn’t produce it, repeating the tactic of using dubious pretexts for intervention.
  3. U.S. foreign policy and much of the media treat unilateral sanctions and regime‑change rhetoric as acceptable, empowering warmongers and crowding out peaceful options like neutrality.
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Do Not Buy Weapons, Build Capacity

Phillips’s Newsletter • 164 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Buying lots of foreign weapons can make a country look strong but leaves it dependent, fragile, and sometimes weaker when war actually comes.
  2. Countries should invest in their own capacity to build, adapt, and sustain weapons—industry, logistics, and mobilization matter more than just owning hardware.
  3. History shows that even militarily advanced forces with foreign-made kit can face near-disaster if they lack domestic production, maintenance, and rapid mobilization systems.

Does Netanyahu Have Spies in the White House?

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 90 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Netanyahu appears to have people close to or inside the U.S. administration who pass back information about possible communications with Iran. He used that intel to ask the White House directly whether talks were happening.
  2. Figures close to Trump, especially Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are in frequent contact with Israeli leaders, creating informal channels that could relay sensitive messages. Those personal ties make it easier for information to flow outside official lines.
  3. Israeli officials fear the U.S. might seek a ceasefire before Israel achieves its goals, and there is rising talk that American forces could be drawn in as the conflict escalates. That concern drives rapid coordination and monitoring of U.S. moves.

Viral satellite imagery of U.S. military assets around Iran NOT taken by Chinese satellites: Hu Bo

Pekingnology • 132 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. A private firm released high-resolution satellite photos showing U.S. military assets near Iran, which drew wide attention and speculation about where the images came from.
  2. Independent imagery analysts say the pictures match the orbital data and resolution of U.S. and European commercial satellites, so they likely did not originate from Chinese government satellites.
  3. Commercial providers like Maxar/Vantor, Planet, and Sentinel can supply such imagery, so a Chinese company publishing analysis does not by itself mean the source data was Chinese, and firms may publish these images to gain visibility.

Why America Is Out of Ammunition

BIG by Matt Stoller • 55463 implied HN points • 20 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. The Pentagon lacks oversight in tracking defense contractors, leading to issues in weapon production
  2. The defense industrial base is facing challenges due to prioritization of cash out over production
  3. The Government Accountability Office highlighted the lack of tracking defense-related mergers in the Pentagon, posing risks to national security

The Precipice

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 42 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Direct US military action has made World War III less likely right now because rivals like Russia and China look less willing or able to take on American forces.
  2. Private US defense innovation—like quickly building improved kamikaze drones—shows America's industrial advantage and makes adversaries think twice about engaging.
  3. The campaign's outcome matters for global power: success could reinforce the dollar and US dominance, while failure could cause heavy domestic fallout and enable rivals to reshape the world order.

LEAKED: Keir Starmer’s Memos Responding to Trump’s Request for Help Opening the Strait of Hormuz

I Might Be Wrong • 6 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. European leaders largely rebuffed President Trump’s request for help reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
  2. There’s a clear rift between President Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with Trump publicly singling him out for criticism.
  3. Leaked drafts show Starmer personally wrote and revised multiple memos in response, and only the final version was officially transmitted with timestamps documenting the edits.

The Iran War: Our Complete Coverage

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 37 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🌐 International Military
  1. The Iran war is a fast-moving, world-shaping crisis that the United States is deeply involved in and that divides political opinion at home and abroad.
  2. The conflict’s outcome is unclear—experts debate regime change, who will lead Iran next, and whether groups like the Kurds will shape the country’s future.
  3. The war has big practical consequences: it threatens energy supplies and trade routes, raises the risk of wider regional or global escalation, and sparks legal and humanitarian debates.

The Ukraine war is ultimately about Poland

Noahpinion • 36647 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is deeply tied to Russia's historical rivalry with Poland and its desire to extend its influence over East Europe.
  2. Ethnic imperialism, where a country seeks to dominate a region due to linguistic and cultural similarities, is a core motivation behind Russia's actions in Ukraine.
  3. Poland's economic success and strategic autonomy pose a threat to Russia's dominance in East Europe, fueling Putin's desire to maintain control and influence in the region.

Special Anniversary Report: The Future of the SMO [Part 1]

Simplicius's Garden of Knowledge • 5195 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The author has written over 1 million words in a year, equivalent to more than 10 novels, showing a high output of well-researched content.
  2. The report delves into Ukraine's potential to turn the conflict around and the strategies of the US and allies to catch up in the evolving modern battlefield.
  3. The author's previous articles on Russia's offensive strategies provide valuable insights into the current state of the conflict and future developments.

Powder & Stone. Or, Why Medieval Rulers Loved Castles.

1517 Fund • 909 implied HN points • 11 Dec 25
💾 History Military
  1. Early medieval castles were cheap, quickly built motte-and-bailey earth-and-timber forts that armies could throw up fast to secure conquered land.
  2. Castles acted as forward operating bases and supply hubs spaced about a day’s march apart, letting armies resupply, garrison territory, and project power despite limited logistics.
  3. Owning a castle concentrated military, judicial, and economic control, so castles crystallized local authority and helped centralize power even when rulers spent heavily to build them.

Divided America is Vulnerable in War

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5251 implied HN points • 23 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Divided opinions in America make the country weaker when it comes to dealing with war. It’s hard to focus on fighting when people can't agree.
  2. Trump's recent military action in Iran has raised concerns about his decision-making and whether it fits with his past promises of avoiding new conflicts.
  3. America's ability to go to war now faces more challenges than before, as internal disagreements may prevent a united front in global matters.

Decline and Fall

The Chris Hedges Report • 621 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. The U.S. risks repeating the British Empire’s decline as widespread physical and social deterioration, complacent elites, and increasing militarism weaken the nation and raise the risk of catastrophic conflict.
  2. A modern eugenics-like push is reemerging through pronatalist policies, harsher immigration controls, and tech-driven embryo selection, concentrating decisions about who is considered "fit" to belong to society.
  3. Political leaders ignore systemic poverty and blame the poor while turning to force, spectacle, and hypernationalism, which deepens inequality, corrodes democracy, and accelerates national decay.

Weekend Update #170: Russian Advances Are Slower Than The Battle Of The Somme

Phillips’s Newsletter • 274 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Russia is suffering extremely high casualties while gaining very little territory, so its offensive is grinding forward at a slow and costly pace.
  2. Russia’s economy and technological base are weak and losing steam, making it hard for Moscow to sustain a successful long-term war effort.
  3. The U.S. president’s public closeness to Putin and optimistic portrayal of talks is giving Russia political cover, undermining tougher action and feeding Ukrainian mistrust.

Patiently Waiting to Strike

imetatronink • 3950 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. US/NATO's ISR assets are crucial in the Ukraine War.
  2. Russia has restrained from attacking US/NATO ISR assets to manage escalation.
  3. Russian military strength has grown, and they have bold objectives in the Ukraine region.

Big Trouble Ahead in Iran

John’s Substack • 49 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The United States was pulled into the Iran war largely because of Israeli influence, and Iran did not pose a direct threat to the US.
  2. For the US and Israel to truly 'win' they'd need to remove Iran's leaders and install a government that answers to them, which is very unlikely.
  3. Iran only needs to survive politically to succeed; even heavy military damage won't matter if the regime endures or is replaced by a government that won't kowtow to the US and Israel.

Will China’s Latest Purge Come for Xi Jinping?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 264 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. A top military leader was abruptly removed and accused of corruption and leaking nuclear secrets, marking a dramatic fall from grace.
  2. The move appears to be part of a wider anti-corruption campaign that can also be used to sideline rivals and tighten Xi Jinping’s grip on power.
  3. These purges raise questions about internal stability and possible factional battles at the top, with serious implications for military cohesion and international relations.

Bill introduced in New Hampshire State to halt geoengineering

2nd Smartest Guy in the World • 3970 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🔬 Science Military
  1. Bill introduced in New Hampshire to prevent deliberate geoengineering activities like cloud seeding and stratospheric aerosol injection.
  2. Weather modification history includes declassified projects like 'Project Popeye' during the Vietnam War.
  3. There have been a large number of weather modification-related patents issued since the ban on military use in 1978.

TGIF: Gratitude Edition

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 959 implied HN points • 27 Nov 25
😂 Humor Military
  1. Be thankful for people who step up and act like the grown-ups in the room, such as the National Guard. They help keep ordinary life safe and steady.
  2. Value a workplace community that shows up with small kindnesses, like coworkers making cards for people in need. Those moments reveal how much people support each other.
  3. Appreciate a partner who makes you better and fights for what matters alongside you. They bring laughter, practical help, and steady companionship.

I Served in the CIA’s Zero Units in Afghanistan

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 922 implied HN points • 28 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. The CIA’s Zero Units were teams of Afghan recruits trained and run directly by the U.S. to hunt senior al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders, carrying out dangerous missions like night raids.
  2. A person from that program has been accused of a brutal attack, but one individual's actions should not be used to demonize all Afghan partners.
  3. These units created close, complicated ties between U.S. operatives and Afghan fighters and played a central role in counterterrorism efforts after 9/11.

The Shadow Army Edition

Why is this interesting? • 723 implied HN points • 02 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. The U.S. has a history of using local paramilitary groups to do secretive and dangerous tasks during conflicts. These groups often operate without public acknowledgment.
  2. When conflicts end, the fighters from these groups don't just disappear; they need support and integration into society. However, many have not received this help and struggle with their new lives.
  3. The consequences of using paramilitary forces can last long after the fighting stops. Great powers often overlook what happens to these fighters, leading to unforeseen issues in the future.

New Issue Of JOHNSTONE: Secretary Of Perpetual War

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 754 implied HN points • 07 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. The US military is portrayed as a Department of Perpetual War that rarely defends the country and instead uses pretexts like “narco terrorists” to justify aggressive interventions and alleged extrajudicial killings, with a recent scandal and mocking meme exposing that hypocrisy.
  2. The newsletter attacks institutions like the empire, mainstream media, AI companies, and capitalism for making things worse and eroding truth. It also criticizes Israeli policies and warns that people’s mental sovereignty is under threat.
  3. Readers are urged not to wait for leaders to save humanity but to resist imperialism and take responsibility for change. The publication is reader-funded, freely shareable, and collects many essays on geopolitics, AI, and social critique.

An Epoch of Great Changes Is upon Us

imetatronink • 3871 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Russia is predicted to win the war in Ukraine and become more powerful.
  2. The US military hasn't won a war since WW2 and is weakened compared to major adversaries like Russia, China, and Iran.
  3. The conflict in Ukraine is expected to accelerate the decline of the American Empire and the credibility of NATO and the EU.

Israel Is So Evil That It Has A Military Unit Dedicated To Excusing Atrocities

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 2612 implied HN points • 17 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Israel has a special military unit that tries to justify its actions, especially concerning violence against journalists. This suggests they are aware that their actions are questionable.
  2. The author feels very strongly about the moral issues surrounding Gaza and is uncompromising in their stance, rejecting any attempts to see multiple sides on this matter.
  3. Public outcry has forced governments and media to start paying attention to the situation in Gaza, showing that people's voices can create change. It's important to keep speaking up about it.

Netanyahu Says It's Antisemitic For Israeli Soldiers To Describe Their Own Atrocities

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 3772 implied HN points • 28 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Israeli leaders are saying it's antisemitic for soldiers to talk about the bad things they did in Gaza. This is a strong reaction to reports that claim Israeli soldiers were ordered to shoot at unarmed civilians.
  2. Soldiers shared their experiences of being told to use lethal force on people seeking humanitarian aid. They said there was no real danger, yet they were ordered to fire on unarmed crowds.
  3. The Israeli government is defending its military by calling these reports false and harmful. They argue that the claims aim to damage the reputation of the Israeli Defense Forces, which they consider very moral.

The Unfolding Disaster in the Gulf

John’s Substack • 13 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The Gulf is heading into a growing disaster because of the war with Iran, and the region faces serious consequences.
  2. The Iran war was mishandled, creating major strategic and humanitarian problems.
  3. Historical patterns suggest the conflict is likely to worsen unless leaders make different choices.

Empty Quiver

imetatronink • 4324 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Russian air defenses have demonstrated the ability to shoot down most types of strike missiles from the US/NATO.
  2. US/NATO precision-guided systems provided for Ukraine are the best they have, but not enough against Russian defenses.
  3. Pentagon must realize that conventional strike missile packages may not assure success against Russian defenses.

CROSSPOST: ADRIAN MONCK: The End of China’s Central Military Commission

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 169 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Xi has purged most of the PLA's senior uniformed leaders, effectively gutting the Central Military Commission and leaving the top command largely beheaded.
  2. Xi believes a corrupt army is no army and has built an ongoing purge-driven system to root out corruption, even when that means removing close allies and princelings.
  3. That belief is reinforced by Russia's battlefield failures and espionage fears, but the sweeping purges risk destroying institutional continuity and undermining the PLA's combat effectiveness.

The Jig Is Up

imetatronink • 5837 implied HN points • 14 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Russia will achieve a decisive conclusion to the war on terms they dictate.
  2. NATO is shattered as a military alliance, also politically coming apart.
  3. US armaments supremacy myth exposed; decline of the empire accelerates.

Not Ready for the Big Leagues

imetatronink • 3007 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Protection of US Air Force bases is crucial in conflicts with certain countries.
  2. US stockpile of PAC-3 interceptors could be depleted quickly in a high-intensity conflict.
  3. The US military may not be adequately prepared for 21st-century high-intensity conflicts.

Poll and open thread on the Iran war

Unreported Truths • 44 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. U.S. forces eliminated Iran's top leaders and the opening days of the conflict have gone well from a military standpoint, though four American troops were killed.
  2. Iran so far seems unable to defend itself or mount meaningful counterattacks, and stocks rose as investors bet the war won't disrupt oil supplies or trigger a recession.
  3. The situation is only a few days old and highly uncertain, so a public poll and an open discussion are being offered to gather readers' views; the poll is open to all while comments are for subscribers.

A Victory Strategy For Ukraine

Phillips’s Newsletter • 180 implied HN points • 30 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Make "victory" the clear, explicit objective for Ukraine because the words leaders use shape strategy, morale, and public expectations.
  2. Recent shifts in U.S. politics and messaging have emphasized Russian strength and possible Ukrainian collapse, and that defeatist narrative weakens support and pushes toward concessions.
  3. Ukraine needs clear, concrete victory goals tied to military and diplomatic plans; ambiguity and defeatism erode its negotiating leverage and chances of a favorable outcome.

Open Defiance

imetatronink • 4029 implied HN points • 01 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Major geopolitical players are openly defying the 'rules-based international order'.
  2. Russia has emerged as a formidable military force through economical destruction of NATO-armed armies.
  3. New alliances are forming, pushing back imperial rule and repudiating the empire's debt notes.

Stuck In Another Disastrous Middle East War: Ron Paul

QTR’s Fringe Finance • 29 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. The U.S. launched a surprise, pre-planned strike on Iran during ongoing negotiations, killing top leaders and undermining trust in diplomacy.
  2. The attack backfired quickly: Iran retaliated, U.S. service members and equipment were lost, bases and embassies were attacked, and the conflict risks becoming a costly, prolonged war.
  3. The advocated solution is to end the intervention now by returning U.S. bases to their host countries, bringing troops home, and respecting that Congress — not foreign leaders — should decide on war.