Dark Laughter
@darklaughtertdb.bsky.social
OIF/OEF vet and Duffel Blog writer. DarkLaughterTDB (at) gmail (dot) com #satire #natsec
Reposted by Dark Laughter
Neon Liberalism #54: Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of "The State and the Soldier," as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking point. www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
Neon Liberalism #54: An Army Is a Dangerous Thing to Play With
Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of The State and the Soldier, as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking p...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Neon Liberalism #54: Join Samantha and guest Kori Schake, author of "The State and the Soldier," as they discuss the history of civil-military relations in America—and how that relationship is being pushed to the breaking point. www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberal...
I don't think we'll ever fully catalog all the ways modern cultures were shaped by WW2-era starvation, but Japan's got to be one of the most straightforward cases.
November 30, 2025 at 2:09 AM
I don't think we'll ever fully catalog all the ways modern cultures were shaped by WW2-era starvation, but Japan's got to be one of the most straightforward cases.
"A Weekend Essay by Mike Johnson"
You’re not weak for avoiding bad news — you’re human. Behavioral science calls it the “ostrich effect,” a reflex to help the mind manage what it can’t control.
Inside the Ostrich Effect: How Ignorance Has Become a Survival Strategy
Research suggests our tendency to ignore bad news isn’t irrational — it’s self-preservation, and could help explain why older people are often happier.
bloom.bg
November 29, 2025 at 8:25 PM
"A Weekend Essay by Mike Johnson"
Reposted by Dark Laughter
You know Star Wars is a fantasy series because someone actually goes to jail for leaking classified information
Sorry, lady, but you were not tight on OPSEC 🔥👊💀⭐
Sorry, lady, but you were not tight on OPSEC 🔥👊💀⭐
May 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
You know Star Wars is a fantasy series because someone actually goes to jail for leaking classified information
Sorry, lady, but you were not tight on OPSEC 🔥👊💀⭐
Sorry, lady, but you were not tight on OPSEC 🔥👊💀⭐
This could be turned into a pretty good Domino's ad.
November 29, 2025 at 7:53 PM
This could be turned into a pretty good Domino's ad.
This reminds me. I know we over-value small unit tactics, but we should reinstitute bonus pay for high rifle quals.
Nov. 29, 1925: Marine Sgt. Emil Blade is not only a crack marksman with the medals to prove it but a craftsman of violins. At the wood shop of the Marine Corps Armory in Philadelphia, where he works, he fashions both rifle stocks and instruments.
November 29, 2025 at 6:08 PM
This reminds me. I know we over-value small unit tactics, but we should reinstitute bonus pay for high rifle quals.
Reposted by Dark Laughter
Does anyone want a survivorship bias shortbread
November 29, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Does anyone want a survivorship bias shortbread
They list basically every brand in the freezer case as being the best at something. But it's moot, because whatever pizza you have, while you might complain about it, you'll still eat it. Because pizza is like sex. Even when it isn't good, it isn't exactly bad.
Frozen pizza is special in its own right. But not every pizza is worth the freezer space. Wirecutter testers tasted 26 widely available frozen cheese and pepperoni pizzas. Here are their favorites: nyti.ms/483c6So
November 29, 2025 at 2:02 AM
They list basically every brand in the freezer case as being the best at something. But it's moot, because whatever pizza you have, while you might complain about it, you'll still eat it. Because pizza is like sex. Even when it isn't good, it isn't exactly bad.
Reposted by Dark Laughter
Ed Whelan was Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for OLC from 2001-2004, so when he suggests that laws of war have been violated by the executive branch, that’s… something
Does Pete Hegseth have a "golden shield" against prosecution in the form of a DOJ OLC opinion? Ed Whelan thinks not.
November 28, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Ed Whelan was Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for OLC from 2001-2004, so when he suggests that laws of war have been violated by the executive branch, that’s… something
Reposted by Dark Laughter
Reposted by Dark Laughter
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:48 PM
To put a finer point on this whole thing: "Two people with direct knowledge of the operation" — presumably uniformed military leaders — are accusing the U.S. Secretary of Defense of personally ordering specific war crimes. That's a historic accusation.
Hegseth: "How can soldiers possibly evaluate whether a given order is illegal?!"
Also Hegseth: "No witnesses."
Also Hegseth: "No witnesses."
November 29, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Hegseth: "How can soldiers possibly evaluate whether a given order is illegal?!"
Also Hegseth: "No witnesses."
Also Hegseth: "No witnesses."
I'm curious about what this really buys France, or what it would buy us if we tried something similar. Russia has DOSAAF so it doesn't really need something like this, and the closest we have is Scouting. For us my guess is all this would do is bleed off guys who would have served a full enlistment.
France on Thursday announced the creation of a paid, voluntary military service for young adults, becoming the latest European country to begin beefing up its armed forces in the face of perceived threats from Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Here's what to know.
Here's what to know.
France Creates Voluntary Military Service as Europe Faces Russian Threat
The effort is aimed at young people and came after an army chief angered many by saying the country must accept the possible loss of children in a future war.
nyti.ms
November 27, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I'm curious about what this really buys France, or what it would buy us if we tried something similar. Russia has DOSAAF so it doesn't really need something like this, and the closest we have is Scouting. For us my guess is all this would do is bleed off guys who would have served a full enlistment.
Reposted by Dark Laughter
Happy Thanksgiving to all! And remember, no lawyer would have given a legal opinion saying it was "ok" to drop live turkeys from a helicopter in the classic WKRP episode "Turkeys Away.”
https://bit.ly/3tKgnVQ
https://bit.ly/3tKgnVQ
Bombed with Lived Turkeys in Cincinnati | The Legal Geeks
thelegalgeeks.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all! And remember, no lawyer would have given a legal opinion saying it was "ok" to drop live turkeys from a helicopter in the classic WKRP episode "Turkeys Away.”
https://bit.ly/3tKgnVQ
https://bit.ly/3tKgnVQ
As an actual Yankee, I support a carve-out for Texans. Not because I'm against irritating them, but for reasons of diplomacy. My experience is that even the most anti-American people's hearts melt on encountering a big stupid Texan. It's a delight usually reserved for children meeting Mickey Mouse.
All people from the U.S. are Yankees. I say this as a person born and raised in The South because pissing off That Specific Kind of Southerner is a moral good.
November 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
As an actual Yankee, I support a carve-out for Texans. Not because I'm against irritating them, but for reasons of diplomacy. My experience is that even the most anti-American people's hearts melt on encountering a big stupid Texan. It's a delight usually reserved for children meeting Mickey Mouse.
I started by trying to appeal, and eight decisions later I somehow got killed by giant ants.
November 26, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I started by trying to appeal, and eight decisions later I somehow got killed by giant ants.
Reposted by Dark Laughter
No bailouts. The US should extort these companies when the crash happens so they get minimal compensation in return for nationalizing the entire panopticon industry and then destroying it once harvested for socially useful parts. It won’t happen but it should
November 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
No bailouts. The US should extort these companies when the crash happens so they get minimal compensation in return for nationalizing the entire panopticon industry and then destroying it once harvested for socially useful parts. It won’t happen but it should
Reposted by Dark Laughter
Wow this speaks volumes. Tragic to see this beat absolutely gutted
“Coverage: whatever is relevant, trending to our readers/community. Forget the ‘newsroom’ concept—we are a simple and honest editorial operation.”
www.cjr.org/feature/mili...
“Coverage: whatever is relevant, trending to our readers/community. Forget the ‘newsroom’ concept—we are a simple and honest editorial operation.”
www.cjr.org/feature/mili...
The vanquishing of Military.com.
Former staffers say a new owner dealt the respected publication a death blow when service members and veterans needed it most.
www.cjr.org
November 26, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Wow this speaks volumes. Tragic to see this beat absolutely gutted
“Coverage: whatever is relevant, trending to our readers/community. Forget the ‘newsroom’ concept—we are a simple and honest editorial operation.”
www.cjr.org/feature/mili...
“Coverage: whatever is relevant, trending to our readers/community. Forget the ‘newsroom’ concept—we are a simple and honest editorial operation.”
www.cjr.org/feature/mili...
Reposted by Dark Laughter
When I worked for Obama, I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times!).
November 26, 2025 at 5:33 PM
When I worked for Obama, I advised him on how to talk to Russian leaders. I never gave the Kremlin advice on how to talk to Obama (and I talked to Ushakov many times!).
Right, just feed the delusion instead of pointing out we had GAO before this bullshit even started.
We all believe in improving efficiency, and a team genuinely focused on that could do a world of good.
But the DOGE we could have had is a far cry from the DOGE we actually got.
But the DOGE we could have had is a far cry from the DOGE we actually got.
November 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Right, just feed the delusion instead of pointing out we had GAO before this bullshit even started.
I suspect it's kind of like Hirohito in WW2, with handlers telling Trump about bigger and bigger victories and hoping he doesn't notice they're getting closer and closer to the home islands.
At this point, I wonder if he isn't lying when he says he has "my highest Poll Numbers, ever" since it's entirely possible that's what his aides are telling him. It's quite likely that there's an entire Potemkin village built around Trump right now.
Trump responds to a detailed report about his waning energy and propensity to sleep through on-camera events by calling the New York Times's Katie Rogers ugly
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
I suspect it's kind of like Hirohito in WW2, with handlers telling Trump about bigger and bigger victories and hoping he doesn't notice they're getting closer and closer to the home islands.
I know many of you fairly well, and every last one of you is going to end up buying this book, first for yourself and then for your friends. Save yourself some time and money by buying it now.
For those who enjoy ebooks on Kindle, it seems that 'Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire' is *massively* discounted today down to $1.99 in the US and £7.99 in the UK. Which feels like a pretty good deal really.
US: www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Ri...
UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Ri...
US: www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Ri...
UK: www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Ri...
November 26, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I know many of you fairly well, and every last one of you is going to end up buying this book, first for yourself and then for your friends. Save yourself some time and money by buying it now.
DOGE cuts responsible for escaped demon
November 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
DOGE cuts responsible for escaped demon