Norwood

We were sailing into the sky, the loud buzz of the plane engine beating against the air. We flew over a vast desert that stretched in front of us. My god, it was beautiful. My colleague, a lifetime adventurer, leaned over and asked, “Aren’t you going to miss it?” He knew the answer, and I […]

The ISOF has been such a success that it ought to be widely known and a source of national pride. It’s time to feel good about our work. ISOF is doing the heavy lifting of U.S. Foreign Policy in Iraq. We’ve sent a great many service members over, but they aren’t in the fight. The […]

The Marine Corps is creating a new fitness job to pad their ranks and protect Marines from injury via prevention, something we’ve enjoyed in SOF. It made a huge difference to me. I think this is a great new trend in the conventional ranks. What’s your fran time? What’s your bench? These are couple of […]

ISOF is the greatest force in the Middle East and it’s because of U.S. Special Forces, unconventional warfare and Foreign Internal Defense (FID). FID isn’t sexy – you aren’t going to somersault towards a target, jump to your feet and kick in a door Chuck Norris style. But you might make a lasting difference for […]

A friend of mine, and previous colleague, spent a couple years learning and mastering his Arabic language skills. He honed those skills living in Damascus. He had an interesting experience to say the least. But there were some take aways more profound than others. For one, Assad isn’t universally hated. By some, he’s liked – […]

Russia and the USA are two fundamentally different countries in how engage in the world. It seems that we can’t get along and Russia is gaining on us. Maybe, in the long term, we’ll have a more envious position. But, it’s difficult to deny that’s something has gone awry with our Russian policy. We’ve lost […]

Reports have emerged claiming that a veteran spy has handed over information to the FBI alleging a Russian operation to cultivate Donald Trump. There isn’t a lot of authority behind this claim and media development. But is there a direct connection, relationship, between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump? Probably not. Trump’s connection to Putin may […]

The role of diplomacy and the function of embassies is extremely complex. Now, more than ever, the function of diplomacy abroad is coming into question. Other than insiders, many critical roles and individuals who are in the foreign service of nations including our own, are unknown. It’s an overt role – and an important one. […]

Turkey is re-emerging to the Middle Eastern scene playing an actual role in the coming solutions. Whether or not those work for the best and persist is anyone’s guess. The Ottoman Empire comprised most of the areas that are in turmoil in the Middle East, today. One thing can’t be denied – they ruled an […]

The Islamic State relies on religious precedence to absolve responsibility for the individual and group. As such, they’re finding authority to run from the battle. Nearly everything that the Islamic State does, in their view, has some kind of canonical precedent. They wish to create their own currency, based on the Quranic meaning of currency, […]

Recent coverage around the OSS award has become widespread. The Washington Post repoted that the “Bill that would honor World War II’s secret commandos can’t seem to pass in Congress.” A great many are outraged, unsure, and making assumptions as to why. However, the reasons are more pragmatic and less vindictive. People aren’t entirely sure […]

We have a second chance to do right in Iraq, both in the fight for Mosul and the political and societal strife sure to follow in its wake. The Iranian client state formerly known as Iraq might be confused about its loyalties right now. But that doesn’t mean we ought to be. We’ve done so […]