Wayne E. Lee
@milhistlee.bsky.social
World military historian at UNC. Veteran. Archaeologist. Blacksmith. Traveler. Archer. I try to limit my posts to military history/security policy. Mostly. Current President of the Soc. for Military History. Officially here: https://waynelee.web.unc.edu/
I can only assume that all those general contractors and real estate developers (and farmers) out there did not vote for this (my eyes are rolling so hard I could barely see to type this)
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Immigration crackdown turns Triangle construction sites into ‘ghost towns’
In just a few days, the disruption has triggered labor shortages and delayed homebuilding projects across the region.
www.newsobserver.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:32 PM
I can only assume that all those general contractors and real estate developers (and farmers) out there did not vote for this (my eyes are rolling so hard I could barely see to type this)
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
www.newsobserver.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
For what it’s worth, as a commander and officer it was my duty, moral obligation, and legal requirement to first question and then to not obey any illegal order I was given.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
November 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
For what it’s worth, as a commander and officer it was my duty, moral obligation, and legal requirement to first question and then to not obey any illegal order I was given.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
The same is true for everyone who swear their oath.
Hope that clears things up.
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
TEN MONTHS IN:
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
November 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
TEN MONTHS IN:
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
All of us need reminders of our better selves. Thus the need for a drumbeat.
Very few people know as much as I do (historically speaking) about the history of military coups and this country's founding fear of them.
But we also allow and demand that citizen soldiers resist the illegal.
Very few people know as much as I do (historically speaking) about the history of military coups and this country's founding fear of them.
But we also allow and demand that citizen soldiers resist the illegal.
To everyone saying that people in our military already know not to follow unlawful orders, how do you explain almost 100 civilians murdered on fishing boats in the Caribbean so far?
November 21, 2025 at 4:18 AM
All of us need reminders of our better selves. Thus the need for a drumbeat.
Very few people know as much as I do (historically speaking) about the history of military coups and this country's founding fear of them.
But we also allow and demand that citizen soldiers resist the illegal.
Very few people know as much as I do (historically speaking) about the history of military coups and this country's founding fear of them.
But we also allow and demand that citizen soldiers resist the illegal.
Drumbeat. They are illegal. And people ordering them should go to jail.
Important dissention on the legality of strikes
Top military lawyer raised legal concerns about boat strikes
The lawyer at U.S. Southern Command, which oversees the operations against alleged drug-smuggling boats near Venezuela, disagreed that the strikes are legal and was overruled, according to six sources...
www.nbcnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Drumbeat. They are illegal. And people ordering them should go to jail.
I dont often share George Will's opinion, but every sarcastic word of this is true.
Trumpty Dumpty and the Venezuelan boat strikes
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Trumpty Dumpty and the Venezuelan boat strikes
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Trumpty Dumpty and the Venezuelan boat strikes
Drugs or chemical weapons? War or hostilities? Trying to define an ill-defined policy.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I dont often share George Will's opinion, but every sarcastic word of this is true.
Trumpty Dumpty and the Venezuelan boat strikes
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Trumpty Dumpty and the Venezuelan boat strikes
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Because of a talk I once gave, I have a fondness for Memento Mori. This is part of a medieval rosary set (currently at the Morgan Library in NYC)
November 17, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Because of a talk I once gave, I have a fondness for Memento Mori. This is part of a medieval rosary set (currently at the Morgan Library in NYC)
In early 2000s I worked in Albania as archaeologist and was stunned by police checkpoints with masked police. At time the state was too weak to protect police from gangs (I was told)
If this is you in US now, you're an asshole. You hide your face because what you're doing is illegal and you know it
If this is you in US now, you're an asshole. You hide your face because what you're doing is illegal and you know it
November 17, 2025 at 3:29 AM
In early 2000s I worked in Albania as archaeologist and was stunned by police checkpoints with masked police. At time the state was too weak to protect police from gangs (I was told)
If this is you in US now, you're an asshole. You hide your face because what you're doing is illegal and you know it
If this is you in US now, you're an asshole. You hide your face because what you're doing is illegal and you know it
More. The White House legal claims are literally " because I said so"
November 16, 2025 at 1:47 PM
More. The White House legal claims are literally " because I said so"
Can't say it enough. This is only one reason the strikes are illegal: Interception is possible. Its also a reason why strikes are stupid ( no Intel from crew and the missiles used cost more than the cargo).
Trump Says Stopping Suspected Drug Boats Doesn't Work. But the US Reports Record Cocaine Seizures www.military.com/daily-news/2...
Trump Says Stopping Suspected Drug Boats Doesn't Work. But the US Reports Record Cocaine Seizures
Under Trump, the U.S. military has blown up 20 suspected drug boats, resulting in 80 deaths, in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
www.military.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Can't say it enough. This is only one reason the strikes are illegal: Interception is possible. Its also a reason why strikes are stupid ( no Intel from crew and the missiles used cost more than the cargo).
This is where we are.
Diplomats bearing gold bars.
And an aesthetic horror show on the mantels of the White House (and walls. and fireplace screens. and chairs. and ballrooms.....)
Diplomats bearing gold bars.
And an aesthetic horror show on the mantels of the White House (and walls. and fireplace screens. and chairs. and ballrooms.....)
November 15, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This is where we are.
Diplomats bearing gold bars.
And an aesthetic horror show on the mantels of the White House (and walls. and fireplace screens. and chairs. and ballrooms.....)
Diplomats bearing gold bars.
And an aesthetic horror show on the mantels of the White House (and walls. and fireplace screens. and chairs. and ballrooms.....)
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
The Kremlin disguised a nearly $100 mn payment to Trump in the form of a brokered real estate deal... and both Jeffrey Epstein and William Pulte were involved in the deal. That's very interesting.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The Kremlin disguised a nearly $100 mn payment to Trump in the form of a brokered real estate deal... and both Jeffrey Epstein and William Pulte were involved in the deal. That's very interesting.
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
“Christianity will be respected again.”
- Donald Trump
- Donald Trump
November 15, 2025 at 3:02 AM
“Christianity will be respected again.”
- Donald Trump
- Donald Trump
Drumbeat continues. These are illegal strikes. With fake legal cover.
The author(s) of this memo will come out and they should be shunned the rest of their careers in the law. (Seeing as how John Yoo is a law professor, I’m not getting my hopes up)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Drumbeat continues. These are illegal strikes. With fake legal cover.
Please take note folks in DoD. It is still DoD. DoW is an optional nickname (literally; that's what the White House said). So opt out.
Hegseth throwing away taxpayer money so he can sound like a tough guy with a new title.
November 13, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Please take note folks in DoD. It is still DoD. DoW is an optional nickname (literally; that's what the White House said). So opt out.
They are illegal. The UK is correct. This drumbeat must continue. There is no imminence. There is no AUMF. There is no terrorism (and that is a slippery slope all by itself). And, there has been no attempt to intercept and capture.
"The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal" edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM
They are illegal. The UK is correct. This drumbeat must continue. There is no imminence. There is no AUMF. There is no terrorism (and that is a slippery slope all by itself). And, there has been no attempt to intercept and capture.
When you've lost John Yoo....
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
In a classified memo, the Trump administration’s Office of Legal Counsel said that U.S. troops would not be liable for participating in boat strikes on alleged narco-traffickers.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
When you've lost John Yoo....
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
U.S. troops not liable in boat strikes, classified Justice Dept. memo says
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
I think we all sorta knew this, but it's amazing to now have all the minor and local roads added to the maps. I've walked a bunch of these over the years.
Roman road network was twice as large as previously thought, new mapping project finds | Live Science
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
www.livescience.com/archaeology/...
Roman road network was twice as large as previously thought, new mapping project finds
The new digital map increases the Roman road network by nearly 100%.
www.livescience.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I think we all sorta knew this, but it's amazing to now have all the minor and local roads added to the maps. I've walked a bunch of these over the years.
I'm going to pile in some more good news
November 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I'm going to pile in some more good news
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
Gorsuch finally starting to understand what they have unleashed
November 5, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Gorsuch finally starting to understand what they have unleashed
This guy's staff sucks.
Oh wait. No. It's just an occasional glitch when normally he'd just lie.
Oh wait. No. It's just an occasional glitch when normally he'd just lie.
We've got you 👍
November 3, 2025 at 9:33 PM
This guy's staff sucks.
Oh wait. No. It's just an occasional glitch when normally he'd just lie.
Oh wait. No. It's just an occasional glitch when normally he'd just lie.
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
Louisiana — the red state that Mike Johnson nominally represents — has the second highest percentage of residents enrolled in SNAP in the nation.
They’re pushing this fantasy about these being “Democrat programs” used only in blue states but that’s a PR fantasy divorced from reality.
They’re pushing this fantasy about these being “Democrat programs” used only in blue states but that’s a PR fantasy divorced from reality.
Mike Johnson: "These blue states have abused the SNAP program just like they've abused Medicaid and so many other government programs."
November 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Louisiana — the red state that Mike Johnson nominally represents — has the second highest percentage of residents enrolled in SNAP in the nation.
They’re pushing this fantasy about these being “Democrat programs” used only in blue states but that’s a PR fantasy divorced from reality.
They’re pushing this fantasy about these being “Democrat programs” used only in blue states but that’s a PR fantasy divorced from reality.
I know the tan suit thing is old, but still. The performative outrage never ceases to amaze me. And of course, now, it's performative silence.
November 3, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I know the tan suit thing is old, but still. The performative outrage never ceases to amaze me. And of course, now, it's performative silence.
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
Reposted by Wayne E. Lee
A message to all government civil servants and DoD now…
November 1, 2025 at 12:31 AM
A message to all government civil servants and DoD now…