Hello, readers.
I’m saying goodbye to my friends today.
You don’t have much time, so let’s keep this brief.
Mark Kelly Wants to Go to Jail
Right now, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly made headlines on CBS by discussing the state of U.S. munitions—some classified info, apparently.
He stated:
Margaret Brennan: CBS reported that the economic strain from the Iran war is at least $50 billion. You’ve asked the Department of Defense to disclose the usage of ammunition during this conflict. You seem concerned about how the U.S. could handle a potential conflict with China. So, what’s the status on our depleted munitions?
Sen. Mark Kelly: Yes, Margaret, we’ve tracked that closely. The Department of Defense has provided briefings on specific munitions. The details are quite intricate—think Tomahawks, ATACMS, SM-3, THAAD bullets, and Patriot missiles. To be honest, the figures are alarming. It’s concerning how deep we’re delving into our reserves. The current administration got us involved without a clear strategy, and we’re using a lot of munitions, which means the American public is less safe. This impacts not just potential conflicts in the Western Pacific but also globally; our ammunition supplies are dwindling. You may recall my inquiries to the Secretary of Defense about the replenishment timelines—which could take years.
Kelly further expressed that this depletion poses serious risks, suggesting it could severely limit the U.S.’s ability to sustain a conflict. Surprisingly, the answer came quickly.
Since Kelly spoke, right-leaning commentators have shifted their stance. Pete Hegseth, among others, is notably upset.
Criticism ranges from calls for Kelly’s resignation to suggestions that he deserves investigation.
The accusation is that he disclosed classified information, along with details on U.S. capabilities.
However, flaws in this critique are evident. First off, nothing Kelly shared is new. Mainstream media has been discussing depleted stockpiles since the onset of the Iran conflict. In fact, discussions around U.S. supply chains began during the Ukraine war and are ongoing.
Moreover, anyone can view updates about the war on platforms like YouTube and Twitter. We’re aware of the regular expenditure rates.
The second significant issue is Kelly’s apparent desire to face accountability, maybe even jail.
His approach isn’t particularly complex. Following a video that suggested military personnel should “disobey illegal orders,” it’s become clear that Kelly aims to spark unfounded investigations and potential prosecutions.
Interestingly, this tactic seems to mimic strategies that worked for Trump.
A booking photo inspired by this could actually benefit Kelly. He’d embrace that.
Thirdly, there’s the matter of Kelly being Obama’s initial choice for Kamala’s position in 2024.
There are various Democrats eyeing a run in 2028, but Kelly raises eyebrows. I feel for Buttigieg and Kamala, but there’s just too much baggage from governors in several states. Who else could step up? AOC? Just a thought.
What Kelly possesses that others might lack is a relatively clean history, strong support from the Obama circle, and crucially, he’s quite competent.
He may indeed opt for some controversial decisions, which could be troubling.
Kelly poses a significant risk to the national conservative agenda—maybe even more than we realize.
It’s important to keep that in mind the next time he pulls a stunt like this. He’s dancing dangerously close to a prison sentence—perhaps he understands that this could lead to a nomination race.
We should disregard his outrageous claims.
Other links
Even top Democrats doubt Biden’s appointees are ready for major roles.
I can’t handle the pressure.
Ignore Mr. Talarico’s extreme ideology; his choice in tacos could disqualify him from the Senate.
There’s just nothing quite like Texas tacos (and beef).
An Asian professor claims discrimination after being mislabeled as ‘white’ by a university.
Shaking my head over that one.
