Pete Nealen

About the author

is a former Reconnaissance Marine and veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. He deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006, and again in 2007, with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Recon Bn. After two years of schools and workups, including Scout/Sniper Basic and Team Leader's Courses, he deployed to Afghanistan with 4th Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, I MEF. He is now the author of the military thrillers Task Force Desperate, Hunting in the Shadows, and Alone and Unafraid. His latest American Praetorians thriller, The Devil You Don't Know, is now available on Amazon.

The US State Department: Twittering In the Face of Tanks

Warning: This post is likely (nay, guaranteed) to get a little profane.  There, you’ve been warned. The photo above is of Jen Psaki, spokesman for the US Department of State.  The gibberish on the paper is part of a new social media campaign launched by the State Department.  You can see the video of the […]

Taiwan Crisis Mirrors Ukraine

On March 18, Taiwanese student protestors took over the Legislative Yuan assembly hall in Taipei, Taiwan, and have been camped out there ever since.  On March 26, President Ma Ying-jeou agreed to meet with the protestors to attempt to end the standoff and get Taiwan’s government back to business as usual. The protests are over […]

USMC’s “Re-awakening” Initiative & A Needed Look in the Mirror

There has been a fair amount of talk lately about Gen Amos’ “Reawakening” initiative, and how it impacts the Marine Corps.  The blow to morale as well as the apparent concerted effort to force good Marines out in favor of poster-boy “yes men” have been extensively discussed elsewhere.  But there is a facet of the […]

A Look at an Al Nusra Terrorist Training Camp

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O05EOkapXHY]   Obviously, this has been put together for propaganda purposes, but some information can be gleaned from it.  While they seem to be concentrating on maneuvers (though their dispersion is still pretty bad), marksmanship doesn’t seem to have made any headway on the list of priorities since the Iraq insurgency. The above video […]

Iraq Update

News out of Iraq has been sparse since ISIS seized Ramadi and Fallujah in January.  Even Middle Eastern news sources largely aren’t covering the renewed violence; Al Akhbar English has nothing on the continuing fighting in Iraq.  It hasn’t abated, however.  It is estimated that over 700 people were killed in fighting in Iraq in […]

Warning Order: Russia and the US – New Cold War, or Same Old Rivalry?

As I mentioned in this post, I’m starting an extensive research project into the end years of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation, the KGB/FSB, and the international actions of Russia in respect to the US and NATO especially.  I’ve been saying for years that Russia is not our friend, no matter how many concerts […]

Russia and Ukraine: No Surprises

As the situation in Ukraine has continued, there’s been less of the “World War III” rhetoric floating around than there was when Russia first became directly involved.  Russian intervention in the Ukraine was immediately seen by many in isolation as Russian aggression against their smaller neighbor.  Seen in the light of events over the last […]

The Marine Corps and Unconventional Warfare

Questions have been raised in certain circles about MARSOC’s future with the US’ role in Afghanistan winding down.  It should be remembered, however, that the Marine Corps has a long history of unconventional warfare and special operations long predating SOCOM itself, never mind MARSOC. On November 29, 1804, Lt. Presley O’Bannon, Midshipman George Mann, seven […]

MCSOCOM Detachment One Part 8: Shifting Missions

On 28 May, 2004, Commander Wilson received the order to cease direct action missions and focus on a new, protective mission.  NSW Squadron One, to include Detachment One, was tasked to provide personal security detachments for the interim Iraqi government.  Task Unit Raider was given the task of protecting Vice President Rowsch Shaways, one of […]

More Talk About Support for Syrian Rebels

In remarks on Monday, Feb 17, Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Russia’s continued support for the Assad regime.  In Jakarta, just before flying to Abu Dhabi, UAE, he said, “They’re, in fact, enabling Assad to double down, which is creating an enormous problem.” US policy has been, for some time now, to push for […]

Autodefensas Reach Agreement With Mexican Government

In February 2013, in the villages of Cheran and Tierra Caliente in Michoacan, two separate self-defense militias began pushing back against the Knights Templar Cartel.  All signs point to the two autodefensas, or communitarios, arising entirely separately from each other, and in fact, they have followed two very different models. Cheran is a majority-indigenous town, […]

Now ISIS Is Working For Assad (Or So Their Rivals Say)

According to a February 12 report from Al Arabiya, the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham is actually in cahoots with the Assad regime, and is part of a plot to undermine the Syrian resistance. The report goes on to say that the Syrian National Coalition has revealed documents showing that several ISIS commanders are […]