By Brandon Smith
In all the world the US as a nation is utterly unique in its tradition of citizen rights to self defense. There is no other protection written into any constitution anywhere that is as solid and unapologetic as the 2nd Amendment. Whenever I end up in a debate with a gun control advocate from another country that wants to “educate me” on the level of firearms ownership overseas I have to laugh because these people just don’t get it.
There are many countries where some guns are allowed to be owned by the public, but in every case this is treated as a PRIVILEGE which the government can give and take away anytime it pleases. Only in America is gun ownership an individual right regardless of what the government and the so called “majority” likes or dislikes. The government’s opinions on personal firearms are meaningless. The majority’s opinions on gun rights are meaningless. I own guns because natural law and the constitution says I have an inborn right to self defense. And, if someone wants to take those weapons from me they better be prepared to die in the process.
This is not an attitude shared by most of the rest of the world because most of the world has never fought and defeated a global power to achieve independence. This experience of freedom is not written into their cultural subconscious. In fact, most nations have lived under one level of authoritarianism or another for centuries. Many people inherently want freedom, but very few people have ever risked everything to get it and succeeded.
The only time you will see a mass awakening in favor of public self defense in these places is when a country faces an existential threat, then suddenly people start to question why they are completely disarmed and helpless.
This is a revelation that the Ukrainian people are experiencing today. As I write this the capital of Kiev is being surrounded by Russian forces and the nation’s government is calling on all able bodied citizens to take up arms and repel the invasion. This all sounds rather noble and the media in the west is waxing romantic about it. However, the situation reveals a foolishness that plagues most countries today. Why wasn’t the Ukrainian public ALREADY armed and organized?
Ukraine’s gun laws are not as strict as many in Europe or Eastern Europe, but they are certainly not conducive to civilian defense. It’s generally not legal for anyone to own a pistol for any reason other than special government issue, while a person must be at least 25 years old just to qualify for a permit to get a rifle. The types of arms allowed are select and few, and magazines are limited to ten rounds or less. Overwhelmingly, it is the upper middle class and the rich that obtain most of the permits, as is often the case through the majority of Europe. Middle class and poor people are rarely allowed to own firearms.
I’ll say it again: When some European leftist tries to argue with you online about how there are “gun owners everywhere” in their country despite their strict laws, remind them that firearms ownership is ‘pay to play’ in most countries outside the US. If you are not relatively wealthy you are probably never going to be allowed by the government to get a permit to own a gun. The rich are allowed firearms because the rich are more naturally inclined to support the status quo.
This kind of elitism has left Ukraine with a highly disarmed population, with only 1 in 10 people having access to weapons of any kind, and a majority of these weapons are bolt action rifles and shotguns which are generally not effective for military defense (unless we are talking about bolt action rifles set up for long range shooting, and there are scant few people that have the knowledge to actually use such tactics effectively). In many countries you aren’t even allowed to own military grade scopes or red dots.
The reason for this is easy to figure out and it has nothing to do with preventing crime – Rather, government elites want to ensure there is little chance of the public ever overthrowing them should they implement controls that push the people too far. We have seen this everywhere in the wake of covid mandates and vax passport laws.
There is a reason why these draconian measures were unsuccessful in the US; we are heavily armed and there’s nothing Biden or anyone else can do about it without risking annihilation. It’s the same reason why the US has not seen a major military invasion attempt since the Mexican-American War (I am not counting the minor incursions by the Japanese into Alaska during WWII). An invasion of the US would be a quagmire unlike anything in history and far deadlier than trying to take over a country like Afghanistan.
This is not opinion, this is FACT given the amount of arms, training and combat knowledge common within the American population. The only way the US can be taken over is from within, which is a subject for another article.
One area which Americans have failed to remain secure is in the abandonment of the citizen militia, which is an element of the 2nd Amendment that is just as important as gun rights. For many decades we have allowed the National Guard, which is now basically federalized, to take the place of the militia system. This is completely unacceptable and not a viable replacement in any way. Luckily, there has been a resurgence of local organization in recent years, and though the “M word” has yet to make a major reappearance, this is what will inevitably happen as mainstream systems continue to fail and people look to their own communities for safety instead of the government.
In the Ukraine there used to be a more concerted citizen call-up effort but again, this was a strictly centralized government affair. The only organized militias in the country are among the pro-Russian separatists. Today, as Russia invades, the Ukrainians don’t even have basic measures in place. Their ability to hold off the Russians at all is predicated on American missile systems like the Javelin which are being steadily funneled into the Ukrainian military.
SIDE NOTE: Also, the methods which Ukrainian forces are using to ambush Russian armor columns are rather advanced and familiar. I suspect the possibility that there are outside military “advisers” (perhaps US advisers) on the ground right now in Ukraine. The advanced guerrilla-style ambush tactics and the results look similar to training that is often given to Green Berets or SAS. The UK did send anti-tank weapons along with a small group of “trainers” to Ukraine in January.
Maybe I am mistaken, but if this is the case it would be diplomatically disastrous if such adviser teams were ever discovered to be involved in the fighting.
Despite all the help from the west, large chunks of Ukraine territory are now in the hands of Russia including two major cities so far. The Ukrainian government has offered to arm up any citizen who wants to fight, but the training I have observed in video footage is clearly substandard. Most of these people have never handled military grade arms in their lives, never fired a gun and never shot a 3-5 round group at 100 yards let alone faced the prospect of a two-way firing range and the sheer panic this can cause in untrained men.
Even more disturbing to me is that many of these call-ups for volunteers are peppered with women young and old. Guys bringing along their tiny girlfriends and wives as if the whole thing is a vacation at a Crossfit camp. This is delusional for a number of reasons, including the fact that having a loved one (especially a female) with you in the middle of combat can be a deadly distraction from the mission. Where is the soldier’s attention going to be? On the enemy in front of him, or his wife next to him who is screaming in horror as bullets zip past her head? When she realizes it’s not like the movies where every woman is a natural sniper that can go hand-to-hand with 200 pound men, will she then try to convince her husband to abandon the fight and leave with her?
It boggles the mind! At least make sure the women and children are safe in another place before going to fight.
The reason this desperation is happening at all is because of Ukraine’s complete lack of readiness. I find it hard to believe that president Zelenskyy was really tricked into believing that Putin was bluffing about invasion. Even if he thought that was the case, he should have been preparing defenses anyway and forming citizen militias. He had months of prior warning to do this, yet he did not.
I’m not going to field any theories here on why the Ukraine government was so unprepared (though I have a pretty solid idea), and it’s not my intention to support one side or the other politically. As I have written in previous articles, Ukraine is a globalist engineered distraction from bigger things, including the inflationary decline of the global economy. My purpose here is to examine the reasons why Ukraine was so easily invaded and to use it as a cautionary lesson.
The bottom line is this: If Ukraine had true self defense rights and a militia system in place then Russia may not have been able to invade at all.
I also find it interesting that the political left in the US, which has always been rabidly anti-gun rights for decades, is now cheering the prospect of the Ukrainian government arming civilians to fight a guerrilla war against the Russians. This reveals a dangerous hypocrisy which conservatives have suspected for some time – Leftists are not necessarily “anti-gun”, they are are just anti-gun when it comes to any person that disagrees with their ideology. When crisis strikes they become pro-gun, as long as they are the only people with guns.
The Ukraine event sets an important example for conservatives and moderates in America in that it reinforces the reality that owning guns alone is not enough. Local organization and public militias are the key to the survival of a society under threat. In fact, public militias can even act as a deterrent to future attacks from without AND from within.
Finally, local organization requires time and training. It’s not something you can slap together at the last minute and trying to form public security groups after an attack has already occurred is going to be a mess. One thing that has always bothered me about the Hollywood notion of the Red Dawn scenario and tales of regular people networking to fight foreign invaders is that these unprepared groups rarely if ever actually get very far in a real life fight. Rather, its the groups of people that were ready BEFORE the crisis happened that make the most difference.
You almost never see prepared people portrayed in the movies. I suspect because mainstream society has been conditioned to view preparedness as militancy, and militancy as extremism. God forbid a person is labeled as “extremist,” better to be apathetic and ineffective. It is always the people that step outside the artificial limitations of the mainstream that end up making a difference in the world, and it’s always the people that conform that end up becoming refugee fodder and victims of the historic tides. The Ukrainians are paying the price right now for this kind of attitude, lets not allow the same thing to happen here in America. It’s time to organize.
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Its true. The stigma of preparedness and how social conditioning of being ineffective is ever present over the past decades.
So many leftists argue how it isn’t needed in ‘modern society.’ A default fallacy of Progressives logic.
Train and Organize. Even many Canadians are seeing its a requirement in light of Build Back Better.
You have written another great article.
I’m wondering if you are going to write about the digital ID system that is slowly being implemented while we are all distracted.
They’ve been trying to bring in a universal ID for decades; conservative Americans won’t allow it regardless of what happens with Russia.
RE: “conservative Americans won’t allow it”
Red State Iowa has digital drivers licenses, isn’t that about the same thing? If so, ‘universal’, is just a matter of time, or so it seems.
I read a recent article discussing how vaccine passports of varying kinds are being planned & developed & readying to be issued in a number of States, some, as I recall, were Red States. The article mentioned how digital drivers licenses are, and can be, a part of that. If there’s a big push-back against that, that is great, I just haven’t read about it. Idk.
Iowa’s drivers license is NOT the same as a universal ID. You are misinformed. There is no secret vax passport in place, this is conspiracy theory nonsense backed by no evidence whatsoever. By functional definition a vax passport program can’t be covert because if no one knows about it no one is going to submit to it. This disinformation psyop is clearly designed to diminish the accomplishments of red state conservatives in defeating the mandates. It’s OVER. Period. Ukraine is not a distraction from the vax passport agenda, it’s a distraction from the failure of the vax passport agenda as well as the economic decline.
Here’s a link to the article I read, I’m not saying it is, or is not universal, just doing some reading & thinking & wondering how The SMART Health Card is not another way of saying vax passport. I just don’t know.
https://sonsoflibertymedia.com/while-youre-distracted-the-roll-out-of-unconstitutional-vaccine-passports-is-underway-in-the-us/
Anyway, this sounds good: “the failure of the vax passport agenda”.
Yes, I’ve seen the article, it’s being passed around all over the place. There is no evidence to back its claims. If they can show me where in the country the SMART health cards are being required to do anything, then maybe they would have an argument. If it’s not being enforced, it’s not a vax passport.
It does look like some Red States are going this way but I’m not to sure.
I know that this is from the msm so it could be disinformation.
If it is correct it looks like Montana and Florida are not getting on board.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/future-pulse/2022/02/23/red-states-putting-their-stamp-on-vaccine-passports-00010875
Disinformation. Even blue states are now dropping their pursuit of the vax passports. They will never get the passports after 21 red states blocked the mandates and the Supreme Court ruled against them. Politico is not to be trusted.
Bundy Ranch standoff with support of the people (militia?) does come to mind. Not what the Feds anticipated. Not taking a position of right vs. wrong of the parties involved, but the 2A does work.
“There is no other protection written into any constitution anywhere…”
SWITERLAND ?
Not even close to the US in terms of gun rights, but it’s one of the least restrictive of all the countries in Europe.
thats is a totaly different system mandatory service i think its 3 years id have to check to be shure but it is under government controll who gets what and how much ….here in america i can own what i want as long as i want and i can change my mind and go to a different weapon system if i so choose when i choose its all up to me …
After mandatory Military Service EACH Swiss Citizen is required to KEEP their service rifle, gear and a modicum of ammunition at their legal residence…in perpetuity.
JOH
This is basically true, though as of 2019 the Swiss now officially conform to EU gun law standards and many restrictions have been added to gun ownership. There is a permit process except for hunting rifles which only require a background check. Many gun peripherals are restricted including high capacity magazines, hollow point ammo and some military grade optics. Not more than a few years ago it was actually illegal for Swiss soldiers to have ammunition at home. They could have guns, but no bullets.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/soldiers-can-keep-guns-at-home-but-not-ammo/970614
The laws in Switzerland governing guns can change dramatically with little warning and there is NO guarantee whatsoever or any constitutional protection that ensures the right to bear arms. Whatever you are issued is what you get and the government still OWNS all your gear which means they can take it away anytime they please. Buying personal arms is a process with extra hoops to jump through. Also keep in mind that Switzerland has the largest percentage of wealthy adults in the world, so here again we have a country in which the upper middle class and the rich are the highest per capita and they are allowed to purchase firearms with regularity. It is not the self defense rights paradise it is sometimes made out to be, but I suppose I would rather live there compared to the majority of other nations if I could not be in the US. If I was in any other European country I would be trying very hard to get citizenship in Switzerland.
Ah-hah, thanks for the update Brandon. My last ‘tour of duty’ was 97-01 so it’s been awhile since I had any direct contact with our Swiss Comrades.
As you say, whatever they are required to have is an Issue from Swiss Inventory, hence doesn’t and never did belong to individuals. In the time frame prior to 2001 the specifications I listed were in effect; Switzerland takes it’s defence very, very seriously indeed. Point in fact, no land invasion of them has ever amounted to more than a scant bit of entertainment for the Swiss; kinda like having a Sunday dinner with friends while killing the enemy. My kinda folks.
JOG
go brandon go
“I also find it interesting that the political left in the US, which has always been rabidly anti-gun rights for decades, is now cheering the prospect of the Ukrainian government arming civilians to fight a guerrilla war against the Russians. This reveals a dangerous hypocrisy which conservatives have suspected for some time – Leftists are not necessarily “anti-gun”, they are are just anti-gun when it comes to any person that disagrees with their ideology. When crisis strikes they become pro-gun, as long as they are the only people with guns.”
..
Brandon, great article, and the above quote from you is so true. The problem with Leftists is that they LACK PRINCIPLES, primarily viewing things superficially — they see the written law, but don’t understand the reason it’s there. Without understanding the basic principles of natural law, there is absolutely no way to have a solid philosophy for maintaining a fair society/republic.
..
Also, here in America, you can have all the guns and ammo you want (as long as you pass the criminal background check). My friend has an assortment of 34 pistols, rifles, and shotguns, and a friend of a friend has about 300 guns.
RE: “(as long as you pass the criminal background check)”.
Doesn’t that make it a conditional privilege, rather than a right? Er, at least that’s the approach of the State.
No, it doesn’t. Convicted violent felons give up some of their rights when they commit such crimes. This is just a societal reality, it’s not tyranny. Your rights are only valid so long as you are not directly harming other people. Your position is the same as saying that placing a violent perpetrator in prison is impeding his right to freely travel. Once a person crosses the line into predatory action it may not be feasible to ever allow him certain rights again.
Seems like that’s the issue, “Convicted violent felons give up some of their rights when they commit such crimes.”
Perhaps they shouldn’t be made to “give up” their rights (which supposedly no one can do, is that not the whole idea of rights?) rather, throw ’em in jail & throw away the key. The convict still has his rights, he just cannot exercise them.
If he’s fit enough to be let out of jail, he’s fit enough to exercise all of his rights, otherwise you wind up with a two caste system & the need for digital ID’s & the surveillance state.
RE: “Once a person crosses the line into predatory action it may not be feasible to ever allow him certain rights again.” Problem is, a person can have their gun rights taken away for numerous non-predatory crimes.
I don’t know, not exactly disagreeing, just thinking out loud. I’ll keep reading.
Who said they were fit to be let out of jail? Who said they are fit to be back in society? Just because they are set free from prison because they served the designated time does not mean they aren’t still dangerous and prone to repeat offend. Not all felons lose their gun rights permanently, some are able to get them back depending on the circumstances of the crime. However, they have already proven themselves untrustworthy, so, they should have to prove themselves trustworthy in return. Being let out of prison does not equal automatic redemption.
I agree with Brandon here that “violent felons” shouldn’t be permitted to have gun rights, but I think non-violent, white collar criminals should be free to retain their rights to defend themselves with guns.
Thanks for another brilliant article Brandon! I do have to take exception to your defense of the current legal system regarding prohibited persons, i.e. convicted felons and many misdemeanors as well. These laws are unconstitutional on their face; there is no other right in the Bill of Rights which the government is permitted to strip a person of for life, long after that person has served their sentence and paid their “debt” to society. This is true even for non-violent property and white-collar crimes. If a person can’t be “trusted” with a firearm ever again after a conviction, then why should that person ever be released from custody, since the rationale seems to be that that they are still dangerous, right? If our basic natural rights come from our creator, then how is it that they can be taken away by bureaucrats? Doesn’t make sense. I find nothing in the Constitution or any other founding document which grants government the authority to disarm a citizen for life of their most fundamental right of self-defense. The current system of gun laws is counter-productive and indefensible, and should be abolished. Persons imprisoned for being “prohibited persons” are political prisoners. Our republic deserves better!
The vast majority of people denied gun purchases are previous violent offenders. There are no misdemeanors that I have seen which come with the denial of gun purchases EXCEPT domestic abuse. I would say that people arrested for drug sales should not be denied gun rights, but that is a gray area that sometimes involves organized crime. Also, again, serving one’s sentence does not mean that person is proven trustworthy to own guns after committing a violent and malicious act. And no, it’s not the same as keeping them in prison, that is an exaggeration of the point. Frankly, certain offenders (such as sociopaths and psychopaths) probably should NEVER be released from prison as they cannot be treated or acclimated and are inevitably going to revert to predatory behavior. I’m sorry, but this is where I break from the candy coated fantasies of many anarchists and some libertarians. Law and order is necessary (to a point), and just because an offender is released from prison does not mean he is redeemed and proven safe. I have no problem keeping guns out of the hands of people who are convicted by a jury for beating their families, murdering people, committing rape or pedophilia, etc. I never said ALL criminals should be denied gun rights forever, but many of them deserve it. The ones that commit lesser crimes and prove to be trustworthy over time by not committing further trespasses after release should get a second chance, and many of them do.
Actually, Brandon, the way the federal laws and administrative rules are written and administered, makes it virtually impossible for most felons to have their 2A rights restored, even if their “crime” was possession of hemp over 50 years ago. Most people in prison are there due to drug “crimes.” If someone is a proven threat to society then they should not be released from prison, but that’s not how it works. Instead the prisons are full of non-violent drug and property crime offenders. By the way, can you point me to language in the US Constitution which gives the fedgov the authority to have a national secret police agency like the fbi or atf, cause I just can’t seem to find the legal authority for these agencies to exist, much less be self-policing and non-transparent.
Not relevant to the point. I don’t have to agree with many of the aspects of the FBI or ATF to point out that it is perfectly moral to stop violent offenders from obtaining firearms. Do you think a rapist or a person convicted of armed robbery should be allowed to have guns straight out of prison? If so, then I think you might be suffering from a classic libertarian problem of living within the high minded political theory and ignoring the practicality and morality of implementation. Puritanical libertarianism, like anarchism, doesn’t account for application, it dwells in the world of fantasy. Also, there are many provisions depending on the state to regain gun rights after being released from prison depending on the circumstances. Look it up.
General George S. Patton:
“The difficulty in understanding the Russian is that we do not take cognizance of the fact that he is not a European, but an Asiatic, and therefore thinks deviously. We can no more understand a Russian than a Chinaman or a Japanese, and from what I have seen of them, I have no particular desire to understand them, except to ascertain how much lead or iron it takes to kill them. In addition to his other Asiatic characteristics, the Russian has no regard for human life and is an all out son of bitch, barbarian, and chronic drunk.”
Statement by Patton on 8 August 1945, as quoted in “General Patton : A Soldier’s Life” (2002) by Stanley P. Hirshson, p. 650
Can you imagine the “fallout” if a candy-ass snowflake general (Like Mark Milley) said something like this today?
Keep yer powder dry.
Stay vigilant.
Allow me to make a few corrections to Patton’s statement. Considering the year he made that statement Russia was full blown communist for at least 25 years. Patton’s comments, whether he knows it or not, are directed at murdering communists not Russians. As a factual side note, the majority of the communist leadership was Jewish beginning with Lenin (real name Ulyanov) and Trotsky (real name Lev Bronstein).
The real Russia became the third and final Rome and heir to the Byzantine Empire in 1453. Elder Philoteus’ vision based on the book of Daniel – as told to Czar Basil III in 1510 – states that Russia was to be the final earthly reign of God’s people. St. John of Kronsdat prophesied in 1905 that many of the intellectual class had fallen away from their faith ultimately leading to the murder of the last true Christian monarch Czar Nicholas II.
From 1917 the true Russia ceased to exist and many of the people fled the new communist regime. My family is one who was fortunate to get out.
Of course he was referring to the Comunist bas#@£ds
As you said, Russia was full blown Communist and China was beginning to emerge as a Communist nation.
Some of the Communist leadership might have been of “Jewish” descent but they were godless atheists with no regard for human life, not Bible believing Torah observant Jews. There were many real Jews who fought along side the Allies under the command of General Patton against the Axis powers. My uncle was one of them.
If Patton had his way, he would have marched all the way to Moscow.
With all that being said, that’s neither here nor there. I think we both can agree to keep Communism (and all of it’s associated “isms”) the hell out of our country.
We will certainly agree that the US (or anywhere else) does not need more communism. Sadly it’s slowly creeping in wearing a different hat. I call it communism 2.0.
Let’s go Brandon !
thanks for the article , insightful.
The reluctance of Europe to foot it ‘fair share’ of the NATO Defense tab is – IMHO – symptomatic of an underlying belief that the Horrors of the Past were safely relegated to same. As the events in Ukraine CLEARLY demonstrate, nothing could be further from the truth.
Simply throwing Arms at a group of people who have never trained with them – or EACH other – is the absolute finest method of getting afull of such skilled extremely dead.
I noted today via ZH that all the bluster on the part of the EU about sending top-notch front line aircraft just went up in smoke – WOW, color me so very suprised.
Brandon has – time after time after time – stressed the necessity to train with your ordinance, but more so, with EACH OTHER. Until you have at least a notion of what you’re crew will actually do once engaged with another force you are actually more of a danger to yourselves than you are to your adversary. The study of Small unit Tactics are of paramount importance in bending the odds in you favor. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply a “Dead Man Walking” when push comes to shove.
JOG
The next push for Global ID will be the Climate, Carbon pandemic.
At least according to Mr. Klaus Martin Schwab . Its amazing how they tell you what they are going to do in advance.
Brandon, do you really think it’s a real invasion? Why would Russia with all its military power take days? when in reality it would be a day at the latest 2 if they really wanted
This is a theater and the lies of the media are bought by the same ones who lied to them for 2 years, also just when the covid narrative collapses
If I may here,
Putin is offering himself ti NOT turn things in Ukraine into an out and out slaughter of Civilians. But for that, yes, the prosecution of the “War” (if you can even call it that) would proceed MUCH more rapidly.
Why is Vladimir concerned about Civilians? Simple, “Optics”…if Russia is seen to slaughtering innocents right and left the upsell Globally against him would be significant, extreme even.
JOG
Geez, frickin Auto-Correct…
“Putin is efforting himself to NOT…”
“innocents right and left the upswell Globally…”
I absolutely LOATHE these new, ever-so-helpful OS’s which can’t spell their way out of a wet paper bag.
JOG
I think you overestimate the Russian military, for one. They are not as competent as some people think; I have seen multiple and fatal errors in some of their tactics (Airborne troops dropping in broad daylight over occupied targets where snipers could easily take them out, for example). Beyond that, it depends on what you mean by “real invasion.” If you mean people dying on both sides, then yes, it is a real invasion of Ukraine. But the people at the very top between Putin and NATO are not really at odds, they are all puppets of the globalists. Just because a war is engineered does not mean thousands of people are not going to die in the process. I wrote about this extensively in my last article. Did you not read it?
@Brandon, agreed. The war is meant to cover up the collapse, but I think it is also the new thing to cause extreme fear and shock the world. Russia is bombing civilian structures, laying waste to cities, and committing atrocities and shocking the world’s conscience. The news media is stressing the “the Ukrainians look just like us, this could happen to anyone!” and I think a tactical nuke strike and/or cyber attack will be the final event to cause extreme fear to ease us to the point of authoritarian control. The pandemic wasn’t scary enough, and no one cares anymore. Enter the threat of nuclear war.
I actually haven’t seen many examples of atrocities from the Russians (the main one I can think of is the Russian tank that deliberately drove over a civilian car). I’ve seen more from the Ukrainians, including the shelling of civilian areas containing their own people (people that support the separatists). The bombings are happening in some civilian areas because that is where Ukrainian military elements are operating. I think it’s important not to exaggerate the circumstances of what is happening here. It’s VERY important to be accurate. There is WAY LESS damage to Ukraine infrastructure and way less civilian deaths right now than there was in Iraq when the US invaded. Also, the only reason we are getting all the videos and reports we are getting from Ukraine is because the Russians have not decided to take out their electrical grid yet. Why? I don’t know, it would be one of the first things I would do strategically, but I have some theories. The main one being that this war is meant to be prolonged. If it goes too fast the elites won’t have enough time to con Americans and Europeans into supporting a military build-up against Russia. There won’t be a global nuclear war because the globalists aren’t going to decimate the control grid they’ve spent decades building, but yes, as long as the threat exists this will give them political capital to push through more authoritarian controls. I don’t support either side, Putin is a long time ally of the globalists. That said, clearly Russia is being used as the Frankenstein monster to scare the crap out of the western public and trick us into submitting to draconian measures and possible military intervention in a situation that has nothing to do with us.
Atrocities are the destruction and bombing of civilian structures. Kharkiv, the second largest city, is rubble. It used to be a beautiful city of parks and culture. This is happening all over. I have family there, and they have experienced this first-hand. I also have friends who had to flee from Kharkiv. The Russian soldiers on the ground aren’t doing much, but the missile strikes are leveling civilian buildings, multi-story flats, etc. They aren’t limiting their destruction to military sites.
I am sure the purpose of this wanton destruction is to shock our sensibilities, shock the world, make us all afraid of this “madman”, and finally, to create a narrative where his tactical nuke or cyber attacks are not completely unexpected, though they will be a final shock that the elite hope will allow them to usher in the final authoritarian global control in order to “prevent this ever happening again!”
I know this war is a cover for something larger. But the Russians are committing atrocities and their invasion is completely immoral. Obviously both sides at the top are working together. And I don’t advocate we let the shock cause us to forget this. But it is instructive to once again see what the globalists are willing to do (though we did already know – 9/11, etc.) but I think when the fight comes here – expect no quarter or restraint, not for women, or children, or mercy. This fight will be to the death, and for the final say for humanity for the next 1000 years.
I don’t view the destruction of buildings as atrocities, only the wanton destruction of innocent people. And so far there has been considerable restraint by the Russians, at least compared to the US invasions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Why do they still have electric power and internet? These utilities could EASILY be taken out by a handful of special operations soldiers or a targeted missile strike (or drone strikes – Notice that we’ve seen very limited use of drones in this war? It’s weird…). I’m sure things will get much worse over time, but to say “atrocities” have been committed in Ukraine is simply not true. If you want to see atrocities, look back at the events in Bosnia, for example, or ISIS in Syria. Again, war is terrible and people get hurt, but lets not exaggerate the situation. I’m not saying that war crimes will not be committed by the Russians, but so far this is one of the most walk-on-eggshells invasions of a country I have ever seen. It’s almost as if Putin is TRYING to drag things out for longer than he needs to.
A funny trend I’ve seen on Twitter is a lot of the people condemning the invasion of Ukraine are also the same people that were clamouring for forced vaccinations and continuing the covid lockdowns.
There is also a major push among certain GOP neo-cons to trick liberty conservatives into supporting military action against Russia. Clearly, the elites want to put boots on the ground near or in Ukraine. If we support it, we fall into the false paradigm trap. If we don’t support it, we must be “pawns of the Russians” and “cheerleaders for Putin.” This is the con game I have been warning about for a decade and now it’s here.
I don’t think it’ll work. A lot of us are burned out from one pointless conflict and we’re not interested in getting involved in another, especially since the fight over there doesn’t even concern us. And besides, I don’t think we’re in any condition to get involved in another war anyhow given the state the state of our economy.
I agree. They have to get a LARGE portion of conservatives on board to make a conflict plausible. That said, be sure to check out my article being published tomorrow. I believe a false flag event is imminent.
@Greg B
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Many people refuse to consider that Putin is on board with the NWO plans.
They wrongly make the “connection” you refer to, i.e. : People who supported jabs support Ukraine; jabs are bad so Ukraine is bad and Putin is good.
This is a typical Non Sequitur tactic, combined with the Reductio Ad Absurdum tactic.
Injection mandate pushers used the same tactic: “People who believe the jab is unsafe also believe the earth is flat”.
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False allegation, false connection, connection of something sensible to something ridiculous.
They deliberately conflate two separate issues.
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The two situations are different. They are not logically connected on merit. The only “connection” is that both events are orchestrated by the same parasites.
Militia,here in the U.S. ? The mere mention of the word will get you put on a watch list of the FBI. Including the SPLC.
We have much bigger problems to worry about. The FBI is a minor nuisance and the SPLC is a joke in comparison. Also, there are many militias in the US, the more there are the safer everyone is from government reprisal.
No bill passed by both chambers is law until also ratified by the people.
In this way we can prevent the chipping away at 1A and 2A.
Good article.
It is much more difficult to break a country where the population has weapons. In another line, what is your opinion about a possible nuclear conflict? I personally did not believe that Russia would go so far to the capital of Ukraine. But now it is a fact. Russia, too, has spoken of its nuclear power as a possible intervention in the conflict. It seems to me that it pushes the war dynamic too far. But who knows ?
Brandon,
In your last article you countered someone presenting some nihilism and you mentioned your strong distaste for such. I wanted to bring up something I find relevant. As I am sure you can surmise as I also have, you have a fair number of readers who subscribe to some sort of Christian faith. I am one of those. These people will almost assuredly be believing that things will unavoidably get worse and merge with Tribulation events described in the Bible. People of this belief do not believe that any human actions taken can alter the future foretold in the Bible. Now, I do subscribe to this and prepare in order to survive through the Tribulation. I don’t subscribe to a nihilism philosophy as although the long-term outcome has been foretold and will come to pass there does seem to be some value in resistance for the purpose of community organization and attempting to bring others to faith before it’s too late. So any thoughts you have on that are appreciated. And I hope you may have some enlightenment in a “know your audience” type of fashion.
I don’t believe in rapture doctrine. It is primarily a product of recent history starting with evangelical groups in the 1800’s. Through the early 1900’s those same groups predicted the end of the world and the 2nd coming multiple times and nothing happened. Great wars, world wars and economic collapses happen ALL THE TIME, it doesn’t mean the end of the world has arrived. There are a couple of passages in the bible which could be interpreted to suggest that Christians will “rise to heaven” at the return of Christ, but that could mean a lot of things. There is NOTHING in the bible that says Christians should do nothing in the face of evil. In fact it says quite the opposite in many stories. It is my belief that elements of the church (especially the Pope) are controlled and they spread an unsupported interpretation of rapture doctrine in order to con Christians into not fighting back against the evil that is happening. Some evangelicals have been convinced that A) It won’t matter because they are going to be whisked off to the heavens and saved from any tribulation, or B) Fighting back against the NWO would be the same as “going against God’s plans.” This is NOT in the bible anywhere. It’s a psyop.
I highly agree. I have a close friend who taught me a saying years ago, you can $hit in one hand, and you can hope/pray in the other, and see what happens first. So no offense to God (rather the contrary), and He knows that I believe in Him, but I believe he created and gifted us with brains, senses, and limbs so we can take care of and defend ourselves, so that’s my plan A, and plan B is to hope/pray that he comes to the rescue if plan A fails. Unless you’re a child, one should never let someone else (even God) saving you be your plan A.
I agree, the concept of the rapture ain’t Bible. It’s origins can be traced to the Scofield bible circa 1900, which was a rewriting of the book funded by the globalists. Pastor Chuck Baldwin has written a lot about this heresy over the years at his website http://www.ChuckBaldwinLive.com. At this point the majority of the church, including the evangelicals, has been compromised and has fallen away from sound teaching and doctrine, exactly as the Bible predicted would happen in the endtime. You are correct, it’s a psyop.
Oh Brandon, you are so right on with this!
The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine is a false teaching primarily believed by soft, privileged Western Christians that recoil the idea of any kind of real tribulation. Verses used to “prove” this doctrine are pulled out of context, and clearly refer to the second coming of Christ near the end of the Great Tribulation.
We should be preparing to endure, rather than expecting to escape. This attitude is extremely dangerous, and is likely one of many causes of the Great Apostasy (or “falling away”) that occurs when the final antichrist is revealed.
The Great Tribulation will be the refining fire that prepares the bride for the Bridegroom. This great martyr witness was foretold by Christ Himself in Matthew 24 – 25. If anyone reading this is a pre-tribber, read those chapters again and notice the King’s tone. Steel yourself for what is to come, do not look for an easy way out of this.
Agreed. The idea of being whisked away before the real calamity hits because you were a good little girl or little boy is only designed to appeal to people’s cowardice. Life does not work like that.
Thank you to Brandon and all readers who comment. I feel at home here. There are not many places where people are level-headed, care about the truth, and keep the focus on the ball (big picture and real enemy) without getting carried away by emotions. Thank you all.
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@Chris B
Please consider:
Luk 22:36-38 Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Rev 2:20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
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We will need to fight to make it through the tribulation. Great Tribulation means the battle will be extemely hard, it does not mean there is no sense to fight.
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(Agreed. No pre-trib rapture. It is written clearly. It is encouraging to see informed people commenting.)
Special Forces and CIA are most certainly on the ground in Ukraine right now and have been for years. Also, US based defense companies are probably on the ground as well; GRS, Triply Canopy, Garda, Dari Concepts, etc. Something fishy is going on in Ukraine that is part of the plan of the globalists. No Russian invasion would involve a miles long convoy that could be easily ambushed and produce a mass casualty event.
As far as being armed, the US can never allow itself to become like Ukraine in its preparedness. Luckily we have 20 years of war experience under our belt and shitloads of weapons and small unit tactics training. Who knows what’s really going on in Ukraine, but it’s most likely a psyop or propaganda aimed at focusing our attention to keep us not looking at something else.
Stay alert, stay alive. We will win in the end.
https://linktr.ee/doublethoughtdimension1
I was driving about 15 years ago with Christian radio in background. It was a very popular program. Topic was Tribulation/eschatology and how will unfold. Not specifics, but general criteria that we always hear about, including rapture, false prophet, antichrist, etc. I don’t typically listen to Christian radio. At the time, although I had some Christian faith, I was no kind of church or prayer person.
With that in mind, things got very weird for me in the next few minutes. While listening, it occurred to me that some of the dialogue seemed awkward. A few parts felt scripted. When I made that realization, a brief thought flashed into my head: “How can this tribulation message be proclaimed so clearly around the world, in such a prescriptive manner, and I’m supposed to believe that Lucifer is going to follow the plot, chapter and verse, and walk into his own failure and demise?” That thought surprised me because it jumped out of nowhere. I immediately asked myself “what if popular tribulation theory is a deception?” As I said, I wasn’t much of a prayer person at that time, so the next thing was out of character for me: I said a brief prayer asking God to protect my family and myself, in either case, whether tribulation was real or a deception.
What happened next is where it got VERY weird. The moment I concluded the prayer, I felt a powerful feeling come over me, almost like an instant chemical sensation that hit every part of my body at the same time. It was a combination of warmth and tingling, and I even had tears flooding down. At the very same moment, I had an overwhelming sensation of awareness that rapture theology was utilized by Lucifer as a deception to deceive Christians into worshipping him, because the Jesus who comes in glory to defeat the antichrist (in fulfillment of rapture theology) will actually be Lucifer asserting himself over the world on the throne of Christ. Everyone drawn into rapture theology will then be openly worshipping Lucifer, after believing that Jesus has returned in victory over the antichrist. The thought seemed more like an imprint than a thought, because it came as a flash, almost like flashing bold caps in my head, as I experienced the physical sensations.
It’s one of the strangest things that I’ve ever experienced and I’ll never forget it. And no, it wasn’t some sort of Tim Leary moment. I was commuting home from work, no prescriptions or substances, and was in full control of my faculties etc.
Because I value my own faith system, I certainly won’t argue with anyone who’s faith tells them that popular rapture theology is real. That’s your belief and I fully respect that. For me, I had a very strange and powerful personal experience that I can’t explain. Do I reject rapture theology? No, I don’t. But I have an open mind to the possibility that rapture theology may be a deception. I don’t plan on worshipping or following anyone on a throne in Jerusalem (or anywhere else) if events unfold in alignment to rapture theology.
In case my previous post seems out of place, it was meant to be in reply to
Chris B
March 3, 2022 At 5:53 Am
He mentioned tribulation etc. I’m not sure why the post didn’t fall under that thread, so apologies for any confusion!
Hey Concerned, I have a close friend who says that the Bible itself may be a psyop written by the satanic globalist Zionist Jesuits to lull us into passivity. See my other comment above.
The bible was definitely edited by the Council of Nicaea and certain books were removed from official doctrine, including books that were just as old or older than the four Gospels. Nicaea was around 300 years after the death of Christ, so think about how our history is often rewritten by the elites only decades after events, not centuries. Look at how they are now trying to rewrite the entire history of American Independence and the Founding Fathers. A hundred or more years pass and everyone who remembers is dead, so who is left to argue from a position of authority? All that is left are opinions on the writings of other people. This is not to say that the bible is a psyop; I think the teachings directly attributed to Jesus are of timeless value which is why I constantly defend Christianity against the more agnostic or atheist portions of the liberty movement. My primary concern is centralized religious institutions and the ways they can be manipulated or controlled. You don’t have to question the bible, but you should always question the assertions of institutions built by men. They may be working against the very principles they claim to love.
Brandon,
I do appreciate that although you may not believe exactly the same in regard to the Bible as myself or others, you clearly have enough knowledge to “meet them where they are” so to speak and I would also use the same argument you brought up about not being passive and standing up to evil. So thank you for that.
To everyone else not sure about the formation of the Bible or questioning it’s editing or intended purpose by man: Just know that it is the only writing that has ever very clearly and without question predicted numerous very specific future events. This could not have been accomplished without God’s help. The best example being the nation of Israel being scattered throughout the world and then 1900 years later coming to be a nation again in their original land. Never has it happened before in the history of the planet and it was all predicted ahead of time.
Gauntlet33 – I’ve seen and heard similar comments. I’m on the same page as Brandon with this one. Constantine presided over the Council of Nicaea, well before he was ever baptized a Christian. Over 40 years after his death, Christianity became the official state religion of the Roman Empire. I’ve often questioned why a secular leader would preside over the council of bishops, and why the resulting doctrine would eventually be made a mandatory state religion. To me, both activities – presiding over the council and mandating a state religion, are aspects of control, not faith. From that perspective, I wouldn’t be surprised if the message of the bible was distorted or aspects fabricated. For example, there’s much debate on Gospel references to trading your cloak for a sword, etc. I don’t know the answer, but it wouldn’t surprise me if early edits to the bible removed aspects of physical defense and self-preservation in the face of evil. I’m also aligned with Brandon on the universal truths of the Gospel, especially Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, &7). Again, I’m not much of a church person. But those three chapters speak to the entire human condition – and to human healing – in plain, distinct, and clear language. This message demonstrates why Jesus was (and is) so hated by those who crave power and division, whether they were revolutionaries, faith leaders, royalty, or administrative governors.
I agree with your friend’s thoughts and your comment. 🤨 It’s taken me years of research and soul searching to be set free of the lies I believed in the Bible. I was institualized into Catholicism at birth. Gotheart
My comment is directed to Gauntlet33.
Concerned,
I don’t want to turn this into a long eschatology discussion but I do agree with you. The current thought of a rapture PRIOR to the Tribulation is a false teaching invented in the mid-1800s by a man named John Darby. And that is how Satan/Lucifer/antichrist works. Deviate just a little bit from the truth and after enough time, you are light years apart. This can also be seen with Catholicism as an example. Remember, the Bible says that “powerful delusions” will be sent so people will believe a lie because they had pleasure in their own desires. We are witnessing the “wars, and rumors of wars” described by Jesus as the birth pains. More is coming.
Hey Brandon, thank you for this article. Your right it’s time to organize. The Ukrainians are paying the price right now for this kind of attitude, lets not allow the same thing to happen here in America. It’s time to organize.
The Real Backdrop Nobody Will Discuss
https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/international-news/russia/the-real-backdrop-nobody-will-discuss/
Excellent article. Of course, the globalists know we’re armed to the teeth, so their strategy must be multi-pronged – illness (Covid), war, and famine are the usual means. If they want my guns, they’ll get my ammo first..
@Misty, totally agree and I like your avatar. In the past I’ve said that to them it’s very much like a game of chess…meaning they won’t just attack with their rook or bishop. No, we’ll be seeing coordinated attacks coming from all angles: economic, political, psychological, propagandized media, medical, etc…we gotta’ be ready on all fronts. But the most important is to maintain your sanity and keep your hopes/faith up throughout this process as our actions will flow from there.
@Brandon – how long do you think we have until grid down?
I agree that if the citizens of Ukraine had personal weapons and training they might have resisted the US led overthrow of their elected government in 2014, thereby avoiding the openly Nazi, puppet government and 8 years of war against the two seceding, Russian speaking provinces in the Donbas (eastern) region of Ukraine. The seceding provinces invited Putin and see him as ending 8 years of constant artillery bombardment and the broken Minsk agreement.
And they would also be able to repel any invasion by a globalist controlled Putin. Either way, an armed citizenry is a safer and more free citizenry.
@Dennis
I know from many people I know in Ukraine that the support for Maidan in 2014 was to get rid of corrupt politicians and oppression. Other forces co-opted it into “Euro”-Maidan. The Ukrainian people WANTED to be rid of their “democratically elected” Yanukovich, just like you might wish to be rid of your “democratically elected” Biden.
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The biggest disarmament of Ukraine was of course to give up their nukes, achieved with the “Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances” in 1994 under the guarantee by Russia, the UK and the USA, who gave security assurances against threats or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine. Now, and with the earlier invasion of Krimea and the Eastern areas, Russia broke that assurance and the USA and the UK has no good intentions toward the people of Ukraine either. That was disarmament was achieved by internal treason. Swopping weapons for promises of safety…
The “New Mass Media Event”: Ukraine VS Russia! And in the same time…:
https://dailyexpose.uk/2022/03/01/russia-distraction-uk-gov-revealed-triple-vaccinated-account-9-in-10-covid-deaths/
IMPORTANT review of the MEGA chaos and strife in the world today!!
URGE read, and fill up all your gas tanks NOW.
“The smell of tyranny is in the air. The level of propaganda, disinformation, and mistruth has reached astounding heights, as the ruling oligarchy/Deep State/globalist cabal are thrashing about violently because their frauds are being exposed on a daily basis.”
https://www.theburningplatform.com/2022/03/02/will-there-be-a-2024-presidential-election/
Another VERY different and interesting analysis about “the war” in Ukraine:
https://rumble.com/vwkbrv-top-army-colonel-puppet-zelensky-putting-his-people-at-unnecessary-risk-608.html
@ursel doran, I fully agree with you: “The level of propaganda, disinformation, and mistruth has reached astounding heights…”
This does not bode well for the coming weeks and months.
Indeed, Get ready to face more and more hard times.