Muse of Fire: World War I as Seen Through the Lives of the Soldier Poets By Michael Korda (Liveright Publications, 381 pages, $30) The First World War saw an outburst of poetic creativity unmatched in European history. Fueled by bitter anger at a war that destroyed the comfortable world of Victorian prosperity and complacency, the so-called “war poets” changed the nature and themes of English poetry forever.  Owens, Korda believes, outshone all the other poets despite the fact that only four of his poems had been published during his lifetime. Michael Korda, author of over 20 books and an influential publisher, now in his 90s, has authored a new book centering on the lives of six of the most quoted and highly regarded of these poets: Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves, Alan Seeger, Isaac Rosenberg, and Wilfred Owen. He divides them into two categories: those like Brooke and Seeger who wrote about war with a sense of innocence and those who bitterly denounced the war and its terrible violence. Brooke, to whom Korda devotes a third of the book, wrote about war in romantic terms and in the lyrical tradition of English poetry: “Now, God be thanked Who has matched us with His Hour,” comparing going to war “as swimmers into cleanness leaping.” Brooke is clearly Korda’s personal favorite among the poets although his innocence about what war means makes his war poetry seems juvenile. He died of an infection before experiencing war and found, as he wrote, the “corner of a foreign field that was forever England.” Seeger, the only American among the group of six and the only one not an officer, lived in France and had a passionate love for the country, one of those about whom Oscar Wilde wrote: “When good Americans die, they go to Paris.” Seeger joined the French Foreign Legion to take part in the war, to have, he wrote in one of his poems, “the rare joy of dying well.” He wrote about going into battle with a naivete that matched Brooke’s. “I am happy and full of excitement over the wonderful days that are ahead.” On July 4, 1916, Seeger found his “rendezvous with death” fighting in a futile and meaningless battle. He was the last of the war poets to glorify death. The remaining four poets had no time for talk about Seeger’s “privilege of dying well.” They were all British, all officers, and all bitter at their experience of war. Robert Graves, to whom Korda devotes the least attention, perhaps because he is the best known due to his popular book of war experiences — Goodbye to All That — and the subsequent fame of his I Claudius stories. The book is filled with tales of seeing the ghosts of his dead comrades, his affection toward his men under his command, and a bizarre story of how after he was wounded his commanding officer wrote his parents that he had died. Graves enjoyed his war, writing that he wanted to be a good officer and win medals, something that comes through in his book. His war poetry hasn’t had the impact that the work of the others did, which explains why his chapter is so flat. Korda’s best chapters revolve around Sassoon, Rosenberg, and Owen. In fact, the one chapter I would single out is that dealing with Sassoon, who Korda regards as having the surest touch with words. His poetry “begs to be read aloud,” something not true of the others. It is also the bitterest with his anger directed at those civilians and military who prolonged the war. “Good morning, good morning!” The General said When we met him last week on our way to the line, Now the soldiers he smiled at are most of them dead And we’re cursing his staff for incompetent swine. “He’s a cheery old card,” grunted Harry to Jack As they slogged up to Arras with rifle and pack.  But he did for them both by his plan of attack.  And yet Sassoon loved the war and its comradery in some ways, denouncing the violence and yet returning to the Army after he had been declared mentally unfit. Like Graves he coveted decorations. Two Special Poets Korda has great respect for the last two of the war poets, Isaac Rosenberg and Wilfred Owen. Rosenberg came from an impoverished Jewish family although he was not much interested in things Jewish, according to Korda. Unlike the other poets he did not find writing easy and labored over his poems. Korda admires his determination to write. His poetry, according to Korda, has “a directness and simplicity” not found in the work of the better educated others. He has not found the audience that the others, except Seeger, have today. Owens, Korda believes, outshone all the other poets despite the fact that only four of his poems had been published during his lifetime. No one better described “the pity of war” (his words) better than Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est.”  My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory,  That old Lie: Duce et decorum est  Pro patria mori There is something profoundly melancholy in these words, given that Owens died in a futile infantry attack less than a week before the war ended. The war poetry is still read today in college and one hopes the high school core. Korda, with his great love for their work, has written a beautiful book in remembrance of them. READ MORE from John Rossi: A Little-Known Film Is a John Wayne Gem Film Noir Made Me Conservative John P. Rossi is a professor emeritus of history at La Salle University in Philadelphia. The post The Soldier Poets Who Knew About War appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Eleven thousand North Korean troops sent by Kim Jung Un to aid his close ally Vladimir Putin in his war against Ukraine, include a significant contingent of Special Forces with recent combat experience in Syria and trained to fight South Korea’s powerful army. Much of the media has been downplaying the threat posed by the North Koreans, describing them as “inexperienced,” “underfed,” and generally unfit by the Wall Street Journal, London Times, and several other major news outlets. Putin doesn’t mind sacrificing hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers to the Ukrainian meat grinder. It’s said that Kim’s troops can’t operate Russian equipment because they are “unfamiliar” with sophisticated weapon systems and the language barrier. According to widely circulated but unverified Ukrainian reports, 18 have supposedly defected and The Guardian quotes cocky Ukrainian soldiers who say they are learning Korean to tell them to surrender after a North Korean unit reportedly came under fire last week. “Never underestimate your enemy” is the first tenet of Sun Tzu’s Art of War and if the widespread public perceptions of the North Koreans deployed to Ukraine are any reflection of U.S. and NATO intelligence assessments, the West may be violating that golden rule. While the bulk of North Korea’s mass conscript army of 1.2 million, the fourth largest in the world, is undoubtedly in poor shape, with many recruits serving as little more than glorified slave labor, its special forces, or 11th Storm Corps selected from about 200,000 elite sections of the armed forces, are highly trained in unconventional warfare, sabotage, deep infiltration, and reconnaissance operations, according to the Defense Intelligence Agency. They have recently fought in Syria as a key ground component of Russia’s large scale support for the regime of Bashir Al Assad against a U.S. backed insurgent coalition. Many North Korean “Storm” officers have operated and trained with Russian Spetsnaz and speak Russian. A 2018 report by the editorial staff of Military Watch magazine revealed that “on March 2016, representatives of the Western backed (Syrian) insurgent forces stated that North Korean military personnel had been deployed for combat operations in the country on Damascus’ behalf.” The head of the High Negotiations Committee named “two North Korean units” which he described as “lethal” at a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, and these Korean personnel have proven an invaluable asset to Syrian government forces. (READ MORE from Martin Arostegui: Swallowing Eastern Ukraine Piecemeal) Deploying special forces to Syria remains an effective means of contributing to Damascus’ war effort, and the latest in a long line of North Korean military interventions to support friendly states against Western aligned adversaries. With anti-government groups deploying some of the latest Western made weaponry, and European and U.S. special forces having been found to operate alongside a number of them in the field, combat in Syria is likely to provide the Korean military with invaluable experience in countering the latest Western arms and tactics — invaluable knowledge which can be passed onto KPA (Korean Peoples Army) units at home in future. Experience in urban fighting and capturing fortified enemy territory, operations which the KPA has seldom performed since the Korean War, is also highly invaluable.” The North Korean military personnel also manned Russian air defense missiles and flew MIG fighters for Syria, according to Military Watch. The Western media mantra about North Koreans not being in combat since the 1950s Korean War is highly misleading. During the late 1960s, North Korean SOF conducted a series of deep infiltration missions into South Korean territory across the heavily fortified DMZ that often involved moving through layers of obstacles, mine fields, watch posts and South Korean patrols. They staged about 700 raids into South Korea, killing hundreds of South Korean personnel and 70 American servicemen, according to the defense magazine Grey Dynamics. While the three year “Quiet War” ultimately failed in the objective of sparking an insurgency in South Korea, it provided the basis for the selection and training of elite North Korean units that formed the 11th Storm Corps now organized into 20 specialized brigades, whose preparation includes use of biological and chemical weapons.  Storm Corps’ light infantry brigades are normally attached to regular units as shock troops, similar to the way that Spetsnaz operate in the Russian army. Storm Reconnaissance and Sniper brigades trained to operate and survive behind enemy lines offer further skills that Putin urgently needs. He has to dislodge Ukrainian forces entrenched in the Russian border region of Kursk, without diverting elite Russian forces from Ukraine’s eastern industrial region of Donbass where they are making steady gains and which he must control before agreeing to peace negotiations being pushed by the incoming U.S. administration of president Donald Trump. According to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, two or three North Korean brigades commanded by their own officers are “making their way to Kursk,” which was invaded last August by elite Ukrainian mechanized and airborne troops that are now struggling to hold onto a 300 — 400 mile perimeter, amidst concerted Russian counter attacks. Locating and destroying control bunkers of Ukraine’s lethal fleet of robotic drones and otherwise eroding Ukrainian rear positions in Kursk was assigned to a Russian naval infantry brigade, recently transferred to the area, which has endured heavy casualties. It’s being reinforced by North Korean special forces which have been undergoing initial joint training with the Russian marines for night-time operations using advanced thermal goggles according to Ukrainian intelligence reports. Korean racial characteristics are similar to Russians from eastern Siberia, allowing them to blend into Putin’s military formations, They are wearing Russian uniforms, armed with the latest AK-12 assault rifles and even issued Russian ID documents, according to reports on the BBC. Ukrainian signals intelligence indicate that the North Korean units are transported to the front in unmarked trucks and called “K battalions” in Russian communications. (READ MORE: Has Latin America Become a Base for Iran’s Terrorism?) According to Western news reports citing Ukrainian sources, the North Koreans are “terrified” and won’t survive Kursk’s plain open battlefields, different from Korea’s hill and mountain terrain to which they are accustomed. Few may be expected to make it back from Kursk but their record of survival under extreme conditions, suicidal devotion to their “divine supreme leader” to whom they swear daily allegiance and mission orientation, should make them a match to Ukraine’s SOF, trained by the U.S. Army’s 10th Special Forces Group and the British SAS. When three members of the North Korean special forces became stranded south of the 38th Parallel during an incursion of South Korea in 1996, they managed to evade several thousand highly trained South Korean soldiers tasked with finding them for 49 days. By the time two of them were finally found and eliminated they had killed twelve South Korean soldiers and caused 27 other casualties. The remaining operative was never found, and is assumed to have successfully returned to North Korea. In a 1983 assassination attempt against South Korean president Chun Doon during a visit to Burma, the clandestine North Korean team that planted explosives which killed his top military aides collectively ingested suicide pills to avoid capture. Putin doesn’t mind sacrificing hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers to the Ukrainian meat grinder and North Korea’s Kim can be expected to care even less about expending a few thousand of his special operatives for what he may get in return from Russia. Few details are known about the “mutual military assistance” pact signed between Putin and Jung last June, but the October 31 launch of North Korea’s new HS-19 ICBM last month, capable of reaching the U.S., may well have been facilitated by upgraded technological support from Moscow which is also backing Pyongyang in the protests raised by the U.S. and South Korea at the UN. The post North Korea Is in the Fight appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

from Rebel News:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Alex Christoforou, The Duran: There’s talk in America about a second Civil War coming, but what’s needed is instead a second Revolutionary War — not like the first one, to overthrow a foreign aristocracy, but to overthrow America’s own aristocracy (the super-wealthy few individuals who control — by the revolving door between public offices and highly […]

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published videos on Sunday found in Gaza that show Hamas torturing local Palestinian residents during the years 2018-2020. The nearly 47-minute video compilation that the IDF uploaded on Sunday shows how Hamas interrogators chained suspects by their wrists and feet to the ceiling and put sacks over their heads during […]

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a historic move toward culturally inclusive healthcare, Medicaid will now fund traditional healing treatments for Native Americans in four states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon. This new pilot program will allow Medicaid to cover Indigenous cultural therapies like sweat lodges, music therapy, and ceremonial rituals, a significant step toward bridging conventional and traditional approaches to health and healing. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the pilot program, which represents a significant victory for Native communities. Roselyn Tso, director of the Indian Health Service (IHS), praised the move, stating, “These practices have sustained our people’s health for generations and continue to serve as a vital link between culture, science, and wellness.” The program will last two years and apply to services provided at IHS facilities, tribal clinics, and urban Indian health organizations. Supporting recovery via tradition Many Native Americans rely on traditional healing practices to manage substance use disorders. These treatments not only aid in physical recovery but also address underlying issues of trauma and spiritual separation. Emery Tahy, a 43-year-old Navajo Nation member, is fully aware of this. Tahy’s journey from addiction and depression to recovery included reconnecting with his roots, which was made possible by traditional healing methods at Friendship House, a Native-led treatment clinic in San Francisco. “I knew immediately that I was in the right place,” Tahy says. He participated in prayers, songs, and sweat lodge sessions, all of which helped him reconnect with his cultural and spiritual roots. “From that day moving forward, I was able to reconnect to my spiritual and cultural upbringing,” Tahy disclosed. Tahy’s experience exposes a broader dilemma in Native communities. Addiction rates among Native Americans are among the highest in the country, with overdose deaths increasing year after year. Experts contend that Western medical methods alone cannot effectively treat these diseases in Native societies. “Traditional practices are, by nature, holistic,” explains Damian Chase-Begay, an American Indian health researcher at the University of Montana. “They treat the person physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. They benefit the whole being, not just the physical symptoms.” The cultural gap in healthcare Historically, Medicaid has not supported Indigenous healing modalities, leaving Native American patients without culturally appropriate care. Though some practices were available through IHS appropriations, tribal monies, or specific grants, formal Medicaid coverage remained out of reach until recently. In California, the new program under Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid arm, is noteworthy. California has the greatest Native American population in the country. Governor Gavin Newsom stated in a press release that the initiative represents the state’s dedication “to healing the historical wounds inflicted on tribes, including the health disparities Native communities face.” The program now covers two types of care. Patients suffering from substance use disorders can seek help from traditional healers who perform cultural ceremonies and rituals, or from trusted figures within tribal communities, such as spiritual leaders and tribal officials, who provide trauma counseling, psychological support, and recovery assistance. Healing historical trauma The inclusion of these techniques meets a critical need for Native Americans, whose health has suffered as a result of years of historical trauma. Chase-Begay sees this as a step toward reconnecting Native Americans with their heritage. “What California is now covering under Medi-Cal is exactly what our Native communities have been asking to be covered for years,” according to him. “This kind of support, had it been in place, could have helped stop some intergenerational trauma and substance use years ago.” For many Native people, incorporating traditional practices into rehabilitation is more than just physical healing; it is a means of recovering cultural identity and resilience. Kiana Maillet, a certified therapist from the Lone Pine Paiute-Shoshone Tribe, noted, “Traditional healing is firmly embedded in our traditions. Without it, we are lacking a component of our identity. The advantages of traditional healing in addiction recovery Research backs up the benefits of combining ancient techniques with modern treatments in addiction rehabilitation. According to studies, cultural practices in treatment programs can promote patient engagement and result in more successful recovery outcomes. Though most research remains qualitative, the results in Native communities demonstrate the significant effects of culturally adapted techniques. The Medicaid expansion is extremely beneficial to Native American health clinics and practitioners. Medi-Cal, which presently covers traditional therapies including medicine and behavioral therapy, will soon reimburse Indian Health Service providers for these services as well. This policy expansion is set to take effect in January 2025 and will be reviewed after two years. Maillet is optimistic about the influence this program will have on Native American communities. “It is vital that we honor our traditional ways of healing,” says one woman. “These methods are more than just treatment; they are a lifeline to our identities.” A long-overdue change For those like Tahy, this innovative program has the potential to improve their lives. Tahy, who found sobriety via traditional healing at Friendship House, currently works as an evaluator for the Native American Health Center in San Francisco and is nearing completion of a Master’s degree in American Indian Studies. He even ran the San Francisco marathon a few months ago, demonstrating his health and strength. The Medicaid expansion is a promising step toward tackling Native health concerns through culturally appropriate care. Chase-Begay notes that it’s “long overdue.” He believes that these inclusive health policies can pave the way for a healthier future for Native communities by respecting and incorporating Indigenous cultural values into modern medical care. Medicaid expansion may only be a pilot program, but for many Native Americans, it represents a critical step toward comprehensive, culturally appropriate healthcare. As Tso points out, this program “serves as a vital link between culture, science, and wellness,” confirming the role of tradition in the pursuit of healing.The post Medicaid expands to cover traditional healing practices for Native Americans in 4 states first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Andy Kim, a Democrat, made history by defeating Republican businessman Curtis Bashaw for New Jersey’s open United States Senate seat. Kim, a three-term Congressman, becomes the first Korean American to serve in the Senate, completing a journey that began with his parents’ decision to immigrate to the United States fifty years ago. Reflecting on his success, Kim stated that it “would validate my parents’ decision to come here,” emphasizing the importance of his family’s journey. Kim has received national recognition for his dedication to public service and humility. He was famously pictured cleaning up the United States Capitol after the January 6th uprising, silently bagging rubbish in the aftermath of the mayhem. Addressing supporters after his victory, he spoke about America’s challenges, saying, “It pains me to my core to see the struggle we are going through. The very foundation of our democracy is rendered fragile.” Kim encouraged Americans to see the forthcoming 250th anniversary of the country’s independence as an opportunity for “healing,” reminding them that “the greatness of America is not what we take from this country, but what we give back.” Overcoming obstacles to win the Democratic Nomination Kim’s path to the Senate was not without challenges. The contest began after Bob Menendez, New Jersey’s previous Democratic senator, resigned due to bribery charges. Kim launched his candidacy shortly after Menendez’s indictment, offering a moral alternative. Menendez refuted the claims, but the Democratic Party eventually withdrew its support, opening the seat for new leadership. The Democratic primary was hotly contested, with New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy entering the campaign and garnering strong establishment support. But Kim remained undeterred. He challenged New Jersey’s ballot design system, which critics claim favors establishment candidates, and obtained an early favorable verdict from a federal judge. Murphy eventually stepped out, paving the door for Kim’s primary triumph and subsequent successful run in the general election. A clear policy vision for New Jersey Throughout his campaign, Kim championed measures that resonated strongly with New Jersey residents. His opposition to tax favors for the wealthiest and support for reproductive rights demonstrated his commitment to fair and progressive ideals. His credentials as a Rhodes Scholar, national security assistant to President Obama, and Oxford Ph.D. holder gave him credibility as a serious, hardworking public worker. His opponent, Curtis Bashaw, conducted a mostly self-funded campaign, giving more than $1 million. Although he won the Republican primary by overcoming a Trump-backed opponent, Bashaw’s lack of experience proved difficult against a seasoned politician such as Kim. Kim’s win strengthens democratic control With Kim’s victory, New Jersey keeps a solidly Democratic seat that supports Governor Phil Murphy’s progressive policies. Murphy has stated that Kim will likely take office early, when the current seat holder, George Helmy, steps aside to make way. Kim’s victory emphasizes New Jersey’s Democratic leadership, despite Republican gains in other districts. Notably, Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. was re-elected to New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, a seat the Democrats had hoped to reclaim. Redistricting added Republican-leaning areas to the district, allowing Kean to win a second term. A legacy of service and unity As he prepares to assume his position in the Senate, Kim delivers a message of strength, humility, and unity. “Let us use that extraordinary milestone as a moment of healing,” he urged, referring to the responsibilities that lie ahead. His journey from dedicated public servant to historic Senate victory exemplifies a dedication to both his family’s tradition and the nation’s aspirations. His ideals of service and devotion provide a positive vision of leadership in an era when Americans are increasingly looking for legislators who prioritize unity and democracy over partisanship.The post Andy Kim wins New Jersey Senate Seat, making history as first Korean American Senator first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

The shock of the scope and magnitude of President Elect Donald Trump’s victory have not yet worn off among the Regime Media. They’ve not yet completed their transition back to Resistance Media. But there are indeed signs that the transition is underway. Watch as Alayna Treene of CNN uncorks an old favorite while discussing Trump’s call for recess appointments: CNN NEWSROOM WITH FREDRICKA WHITFIELD 11/10/24 3:06 PM ALAYNA TREENE: (President Elect Donald Trump) said, quote: “Republican senators seeking the coveted leadership position in the United States Senate must agree to recess appointments in the Senate, without which, we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner.” The post goes on to describe other things. But I want to explain why this is so important. Essentially, Donald Trump is calling for the shattering of norms. Now what this means, a recess appointment, I know this sounds like we're getting in the weeds a bit with the Hill lingo. But recesses are normally avoided in congress. Normally, when they actually go on break, they do something called a pro forma session. Part of that is because if you go to a recess, you actually have to have a vote in the House and the Senate, and Democrats in this case, giving Republicans control of the Senate come next year, would be able to filibuster. But essentially, to get down to it, to really boil down to what this would mean is that Donald Trump is trying to find a way, and use whoever the next Senate leader- Republican leader is, to try and avoid the confirmation process for his top Cabinet officials. And I remind you, a lot of times when different presidential candidates or people are looking to make these hires, and to appoint different people to these different Cabinet roles, a key thing that is always at the top of their minds is whether or not this person can get confirmed in the Senate if they have a controversial background, if they are more conservative, in this case, if they were Democrats they’d be maybe too liberal. But really, the Senate is kind of the last line of defense of who the president could put into office with him. And so this would be a huge change. And I will also argue that really this process that Congress has now about avoiding recess appointments in their entirety started back with George W. Bush and has continued since then under the different presidents with Obama and Trump and now Biden. And so, this again would be a HUGE BREAK from the norms that we currently have. Fred. FREDRICKA WHITFIELD: And again, bucking norms. There is a vast number of stories that were reported over the past quadrennium which could have warranted “norm-shattering” coverage by the media. Some underreported, barely reported, or outright suppressed.  Whether it’s the weaponization of state and federal governments against Trump, the suppression of President Joe Biden’s physical and mental decline, the government’s cooking of all sorts of data (whether jobs, crime or illegal alien encounters: all of these stories qualify as “norm-shattering”. The Biden administration shattered many norms, but we just didn’t hear about it in those terms. No sooner a just-reelected Trump talks about staffing his administration via recess appointments, and the media go nuts. I expect that in the coming days, the media will revert to most, if not all of their hyperbolic practices that they put into place while covering the first Trump Administration. To “norms”, if you will.  

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