![](\"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Arrias.jpg\")
January 1st 2024 to January 1st 2025<\/p>\nJanuary 1st 2024 to January 1st 2025<\/p>\n
,<\/p>\n
Here a win, there a loss,<\/p>\n
History seemed to be repeating<\/p>\n
As we stumbled closer to chaos.<\/p>\n
We started off with a bang,<\/p>\n
Navy Helos gunned some pirates,<\/p>\n
Got to wonder \u2018bout the Houthis<\/p>\n
Seem to be tempting the fates.<\/p>\n
But tragedy in east Asia,<\/p>\n
A horror for beast or man,<\/p>\n
Buildings shook and fell,<\/p>\n
As the earth rumbled in Japan.<\/p>\n
Jeffrey Epstein back in the news,<\/p>\n
Took a bunch of A-Listers on a wild ride,<\/p>\n
But Jeffrey is no longer with us,<\/p>\n
I\u2019m sure it was just suicide\u2026<\/p>\n
Then we conducted strikes into Yemen,<\/p>\n
Navy raids led by the Air Force<\/p>\n
No wonder things are all messed up,<\/p>\n
The Joint world, of course, of course.<\/p>\n
Some cases were thrown out of court,<\/p>\n
And Trump was fined a bunch,<\/p>\n
It will all be overturned on appeal,<\/p>\n
At least I have a hunch.<\/p>\n
And of course there was the border,<\/p>\n
2.5 million folks were able<\/p>\n
To cross the border illegally,<\/p>\n
Maybe they just want better cable.<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s no reason for worry,<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve been told it\u2019s all under control,<\/p>\n
The White House knows what they\u2019re doing,<\/p>\n
On November 5th we\u2019ll take a poll.<\/p>\n
No budget from Congress and the White House,<\/p>\n
Still looking for a solution,<\/p>\n
I have a little suggestion,<\/p>\n
Try reading the Constitution.<\/p>\n
We learned we should safeguard secrets,<\/p>\n
As officers we tried to avoid debt,<\/p>\n
And properly handle certain material,<\/p>\n
You know, don\u2019t store it in a Corvette.<\/p>\n
And still the wars do grind on,<\/p>\n
And another seems to be brewing,<\/p>\n
But I\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be okay,<\/p>\n
The Adults know what they\u2019re doing!<\/p>\n
We must send more guns east,<\/p>\n
The Ukrainians must restore order!<\/p>\n
The White House is not to sure about Rafah,<\/p>\n
And not a penny for our border.<\/p>\n
Got to hand it to the New York judges,<\/p>\n
Always so calm and self composed,<\/p>\n
But maybe they misread the Rules,<\/p>\n
Excessive fines Shall Be imposed?<\/p>\n
In the trenches Avdiivka fell,<\/p>\n
That poor country taking a beating,<\/p>\n
The Russians grinding forward,<\/p>\n
The Ukrainians were retreating.<\/p>\n
McConnell – finally decided,<\/p>\n
He would just retire,<\/p>\n
But will serve out his term,<\/p>\n
Presuming he doesn\u2019t expire\u2026<\/p>\n
Haley came and Haley went,<\/p>\n
Gone in the night – like a bump,<\/p>\n
And all that was left after she was gone<\/p>\n
Was a smiling Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Some very dear friends passed away,<\/p>\n
There is no humor in there,<\/p>\n
But we were truly better for knowing them,<\/p>\n
From those left behind: we offer a prayer.<\/p>\n
Now build a port in Gaza,<\/p>\n
For a poorly defined vision,<\/p>\n
Election year politics<\/p>\n
Driving a shaky military mission.<\/p>\n
So off go some grunts and sailors,<\/p>\n
And I\u2019ll bet you a fiver,<\/p>\n
They\u2019ll get it done despite Washington,<\/p>\n
And that five thousand mile screw-driver.<\/p>\n
And now Ukraine attacks Russian refineries,<\/p>\n
The war takes on another dimension,<\/p>\n
Rumor says the administration now wanted peace,<\/p>\n
Lest oil prices affect the election.<\/p>\n
And then a terror attack in Moscow,<\/p>\n
We can\u2019t get any more on the plate\u2026<\/p>\n
Oh, wait, that just ain\u2019t true.<\/p>\n
Not when so many seemed ruled by hate.<\/p>\n
A tragic accident in Baltimore<\/p>\n
As the ship Dali set sail,<\/p>\n
Six poor souls lost, and billions gone,<\/p>\n
No sea and anchor detail?<\/p>\n
Down in sunny Ecuador<\/p>\n
Things took a turn quite dramatic,<\/p>\n
But Mexico wasn\u2019t amused,<\/p>\n
Thought it was quite undiplomatic.<\/p>\n
Some astronomical events of note,<\/p>\n
An eclipse and a Green Comet,<\/p>\n
A nice diversion from things political,<\/p>\n
Those things that make me want to vomit.<\/p>\n
The sky grew dark, the world was quiet,<\/p>\n
Just what might it portend?<\/p>\n
Not much at all, just simple physics,<\/p>\n
Thank God, the world did not end!<\/p>\n
Still the wars go on and on,<\/p>\n
Still no end in sight,<\/p>\n
Lots of chances for folks to protest,<\/p>\n
So sad they didn\u2019t get it right.<\/p>\n
Ivy League was leading again,<\/p>\n
In praise of butchery and Hamas,<\/p>\n
And some of the professors also spoke,<\/p>\n
Jackass after jackass after jackass.<\/p>\n
And then the boys in the West Wing,<\/p>\n
Each a foolish political ham,<\/p>\n
Thought they\u2019d punish Netanyahu,<\/p>\n
And not give him any JDAM.<\/p>\n
Of course the people that really hurts,<\/p>\n
The Gazan\u2019s already living in debris,<\/p>\n
Without the use of JDAM<\/p>\n
Say good-by to decent CEP.<\/p>\n
In New York arises a new Solon,<\/p>\n
Who appears to take the greatest delights<\/p>\n
Not in upholding the law,<\/p>\n
But in denying the accused his rights.<\/p>\n
And a new attack near Kharkiv,<\/p>\n
Violence continues unalloyed,<\/p>\n
But there is no stopping this war<\/p>\n
As a country is destroyed.<\/p>\n
Iran had to get a new president,<\/p>\n
A new foreign minister also at hand,<\/p>\n
Thing about helicopters<\/p>\n
In bad weather you can simply land\u2026<\/p>\n
A lunatic verdict and a power hungry judge,<\/p>\n
How will this all end?<\/p>\n
Are there any judges left<\/p>\n
With the moral courage not to bend.<\/p>\n
Maybe it\u2019s just another sign of Global Warming,<\/p>\n
Those charges had to stick,<\/p>\n
A Kangaroo court in Manhattan,<\/p>\n
New York is now a Banana Republic.<\/p>\n
And now that pier has gone away,<\/p>\n
Another brilliant idea from some civilian,<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s really not a big deal,<\/p>\n
Didn\u2019t even cost a billion.<\/p>\n
But Osprey – there\u2019s a tale,<\/p>\n
A good idea on paper,<\/p>\n
A helicopter and an airplane,<\/p>\n
\u201cGood ideas\u201d are often vapor.<\/p>\n
Started flying 35 years ago,<\/p>\n
In the fleet since Oh Seven,<\/p>\n
But for too many folks,<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a ticket to heaven.<\/p>\n
They called it a real debate,<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not sure that\u2019s fair,<\/p>\n
A real old guy sort of looked a fool,<\/p>\n
And for my country I despair\u2026<\/p>\n
In Bolivia General Zuniga thought<\/p>\n
That he had a much better plan,<\/p>\n
Things didn\u2019t quite work out,<\/p>\n
It was over almost as soon as it began.<\/p>\n
And the country turned 248,<\/p>\n
Still an awful lot of good get\u2019s done,<\/p>\n
I suppose we could be much better,<\/p>\n
If we could just get rid of Washington\u2026<\/p>\n
And one July day in western PA,<\/p>\n
A shot was taken, an ear was nicked,<\/p>\n
One good man died, one cretin as well,<\/p>\n
What happened next was hard to predict.<\/p>\n
A surge in the polls, a president bows out,<\/p>\n
One party in disarray,<\/p>\n
Conspiracy theories bloom in an instant,<\/p>\n
So close, but no civil war we pray.<\/p>\n
And now the VEEP is the anointed one,<\/p>\n
Oh, My, how the money flows!<\/p>\n
She did such a great job with the border,<\/p>\n
So it makes sense, I suppose\u2026<\/p>\n
And a few more evil Hamas leaders<\/p>\n
Appear to have met their fates,<\/p>\n
I\u2019m pretty sure it\u2019s not a martyr\u2019s paradise<\/p>\n
That for them awaits\u2026<\/p>\n
And the Man from Minnesota<\/p>\n
Proud as a peacock, I\u2019ll wager,<\/p>\n
Brought up into the Big Show<\/p>\n
But was he really a Sergeant Major?<\/p>\n
And Ukrainians invading Russia,<\/p>\n
Near Kursk, in German tanks,<\/p>\n
Last time that didn\u2019t end so well,<\/p>\n
I think I\u2019d say \u201cNo, thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
But for a time they did okay,<\/p>\n
Just so long as Vlad ain\u2019t lost his head,<\/p>\n
And pulls out the really big guns,<\/p>\n
And then we might all be dead\u2026<\/p>\n
And Z-Man still wants big rockets,<\/p>\n
Wants to blow up Russian stuff,<\/p>\n
Convinced that if he does so,<\/p>\n
Russian people will say \u201cEnough!.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, there is another view point,<\/p>\n
One that in history is often missed,<\/p>\n
When you drop bombs on people,<\/p>\n
They often end up pissed.<\/p>\n
From Terence Mann to Darth Vader,<\/p>\n
Sergeant Major Nelson in Garden of Stones,<\/p>\n
He entertained us for 60 years,<\/p>\n
Farewell and thanks, Mr. Jones.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in the Mid East,<\/p>\n
The Israelis used a tactic few would wager,<\/p>\n
Reached out and touched Hezballah,<\/p>\n
Terror from a trusty pager.<\/p>\n
And on the campaign trail,<\/p>\n
Folks trying to ignore what the VP sez,<\/p>\n
It all seems so insipid, and besides,<\/p>\n
Seems we already had a woman Prez.<\/p>\n
The President had a cabinet meeting,<\/p>\n
But it was Constitutionally quite unguided,<\/p>\n
The President was absent,<\/p>\n
And Dr. Jill presided.<\/p>\n
In Lebanon the IDF took action,<\/p>\n
But there was little need for surgeons,<\/p>\n
Just a bunch of Hezballah dudes<\/p>\n
Sent off to look for virgins.<\/p>\n
Back home in the south-east,<\/p>\n
A nasty change in weather,<\/p>\n
Helene and Milton stormed in,<\/p>\n
Two hurricanes made us work together.<\/p>\n
Not that everyone got it quite right,<\/p>\n
Some folks in DC must have overslept,<\/p>\n
State and local folks working hard,<\/p>\n
But FEMA stutter-stepped.<\/p>\n
And months later down in Appalachia,<\/p>\n
Some bad decisions, help delayed,<\/p>\n
Lots of folks still hurting,<\/p>\n
Lots of folks still need some aid.<\/p>\n
And back in Iran the mullahs<\/p>\n
Just incurred some new expenses,<\/p>\n
After the Israelis broke<\/p>\n
A major slice of their air defenses.<\/p>\n
And then along comes November,<\/p>\n
No one thought that he could win,<\/p>\n
Harris was gonna\u2019 take it,<\/p>\n
The same ole\u2019 crowd agin\u2026<\/p>\n
But then something surprising happened,<\/p>\n
A trifecta was the Trump show,<\/p>\n
Taking both the House and Senate,<\/p>\n
Where did those 18 million go?<\/p>\n
Things look to be exciting,<\/p>\n
In the coming year,<\/p>\n
Lots of new folks in,<\/p>\n
DEI out on its ear.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the wars don\u2019t really stop,<\/p>\n
Joe B took off the last restraint,<\/p>\n
Vlad answered with a big missile,<\/p>\n
De-escalation this ain\u2019t.<\/p>\n
But Orange man has harrumphed,<\/p>\n
And in less than one night,<\/p>\n
Mexico and Canada<\/p>\n
Seem to have seen his light\u2026<\/p>\n
And now a ceasefire in Lebanon,<\/p>\n
Come the sun and the rain,<\/p>\n
And Assad is looking shaky,<\/p>\n
And maybe peace talks in Ukraine?<\/p>\n
Assad was looking shaky,<\/p>\n
But then the end finally came,<\/p>\n
In a flash he was gone,<\/p>\n
As they reopened Notre Dame!<\/p>\n
And off the coast of New Jersey<\/p>\n
And a bunch of other places, too,<\/p>\n
Drones appeared in the sky,<\/p>\n
But Kirby said \u201cNothing New!\u201d<\/p>\n
The Old Admiral said it was nothing,<\/p>\n
But he couldn\u2019t say what it was,<\/p>\n
Is he just incompetent?<\/p>\n
Or he doesn\u2019t trust us with the buzz?<\/p>\n
Really quite annoying<\/p>\n
Really more than simple fuss,<\/p>\n
All these jackasses keep forgetting,<\/p>\n
In the end they work for us\u2026<\/p>\n
And the BLS gave us some numbers,<\/p>\n
Which from the people they did pull,<\/p>\n
They really did look pretty,<\/p>\n
But turned out to be pure bull.<\/p>\n
Never mind what the numbers say,<\/p>\n
Even though the budget is written in vermillion,<\/p>\n
Employment is looking simply grand,<\/p>\n
Well\u2026 give or take a million\u2026<\/p>\n
But Joe B is still in the seat,<\/p>\n
And some court decisions will be ignored,<\/p>\n
As he wields his pen and demonstrates<\/p>\n
It\u2019s mightier than the sword.<\/p>\n
Lots of folks got pardons,<\/p>\n
And everyone said it was such a surprise,<\/p>\n
He pardoned his son Hunter,<\/p>\n
Who really thought otherwise?<\/p>\n
But now we finally have a President<\/p>\n
After a seeming four year vacancy.<\/p>\n
He hasn\u2019t yet been sworn in,<\/p>\n
But he\u2019s awake as we all can see.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s awake and doing things,<\/p>\n
A bunch of stuff that just makes good sense,<\/p>\n
But the stupidity that awaits\u2026 Geeez!<\/p>\n
It really is immense.<\/p>\n
And what about them Russkies,<\/p>\n
Lost 4 ships in just two weeks,<\/p>\n
I think they need to take a look<\/p>\n
At all their maintenance techniques.<\/p>\n
And as for good old Naval Aviation,<\/p>\n
We all know it\u2019s always been risky,<\/p>\n
But I didn\u2019t think you\u2019re supposed to worry<\/p>\n
About being shot down by Alpha Whiskey.<\/p>\n
So here\u2019s another Christmas<\/p>\n
Truly a reason to celebrate,<\/p>\n
Despite all that has gone wrong,<\/p>\n
Truly our blessings are great.<\/p>\n
And in Korea a horrible bird strike,<\/p>\n
179 souls Dear Lord forgive,<\/p>\n
They arrived too soon at heaven\u2019s gate,<\/p>\n
Tis a miracle that two lived.<\/p>\n
Mr Carter was no one\u2019s favorite president,<\/p>\n
Not even in the Hood,<\/p>\n
But with Habitat for Humanity<\/p>\n
He did some real good.<\/p>\n
Rest in peace, President Carter,<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll speak no ill of the dead,<\/p>\n
But you were an humanitarian,<\/p>\n
So we\u2019ll thank you for that instead.<\/p>\n
And so we welcome a New Year,<\/p>\n
And a New President and Congress to boot,<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s pray they do what\u2019s right for our country,<\/p>\n
\u2018Tis the same flag that we all salute.<\/p>\n
But they\u2019re bringing in some new blood,<\/p>\n
Things will probably get exciting,<\/p>\n
They will try to shake things up a lot,<\/p>\n
The Deep State may go down fighting.<\/p>\n
And we still have wars in Ukraine,<\/p>\n
The Mid East and Burma – and Africa, too,<\/p>\n
And a bunch of feckless governments,<\/p>\n
Who don\u2019t know what to do.<\/p>\n
So everyone fasten your seat belts,<\/p>\n
It\u2019s gonna be another bumpy ride,<\/p>\n
The Donald\u2019s gonna make us great again,
\nWith Vivek and Elon by his side.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2025 Arrias<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
January 1st 2024 to January 1st 2025 , Here a win, there a loss, History seemed to be repeating As we stumbled closer to chaos. We started off with a bang, Navy Helos gunned some pirates, Got to wonder \u2018bout the Houthis Seem to be tempting the fates. But tragedy in east Asia, A horror […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arrian"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31510"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31510\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31513,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31510\/revisions\/31513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vicsocotra.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}