Author: Steve Balestrieri

In a big move that de-escalated the violence that has been plaguing the country, Bolivian Interim President Jeanine Anez has agreed to “pacify” the country, by withdrawing the military from the protest areas and repealing the law that gave the military broad powers in the use of force.  The deal struck with opposition leaders on […]

Having been a devoted reader of the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan novels since their original release, I’ve also been a fan of the films. Alec Baldwin and then Harrison Ford both did a great job of recreating the character from the novels and added the usual Hollywood touch.  When the Amazon Prime series with John […]

The Russians are trying to expand their influence in Africa. For example take the case of Mozambique: While Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claims that Russia is only trying to forge economic and security ties with the country of Mozambique, the truth tells a different story. Russia is sending proxy troops into the country — and […]

Opinion: We’ve seen the results of shootouts between government forces and para-military that have left thousands dead, including several Americans. This time this isn’t half a world away in Syria, Afghanistan or Sub-Sahara Africa. It is on our own border, in Mexico.  The Mexicans need U.S. assistance, but troops on the ground will not solve […]

The U.S. Women’s Water Polo team is currently ranked #1 in the world and is gearing up for a holiday tournament next month. The U.S. team won the Gold Medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, its second in a row, and has its eyes set for the gold at the Tokyo Olympics in […]

Violent protests between Bolivian forces and indigenous people, loyal to former leftist President Evo Morales, have resulted in at least 30 deaths with no conceivable end is in sight.  Violent protests were held in Cochabamba and Sacaba, right outside of the main town. This is an area where the former President has many supporters.  In […]

With the recent move by President Trump to issue pardons to some U.S. soldiers that were either charged with or convicted of war crimes, it is fitting that the largest war crimes trials in history and the ones that changed how the world treats war crimes began on this day in 1945. These trials would […]

A French Special Operations soldier was seriously injured during an anti-ISIS operation in Mali in which the French stated that they “put five terrorists out of action.” The French Armed Forces Ministry released a statement saying that during a November 16 operation into the Menaka region of Mali, where the Islamic State is growing in […]

On Tuesday, Iranian Quds Forces launched, from Syrian territory, four missiles at targets in Israel. The Israelis’ reaction was swift. They retaliated early on Wednesday morning by attacking dozens of Syrian air defense and Iranian forces targets within Syria.  According to a statement by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Israel’s airstrikes targeted missile launchers, weapons […]

I’ve written in the past about some of the absurd and funny things you see and experience as a Green Beret — this is another one that came to mind. I was in Boston recently and a family of tourists were driving by. As I was crossing the street they stopped to ask for directions. […]

In late November 1863, President Lincoln gave perhaps one of the most important speeches in American history. On the 19th of November that year, the government was dedicating the National Cemetery at Gettysburg Pennsylvania where the bloodiest battle of the Civil War had been fought just a few months before. Between North and South, there […]

Embattled Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, who has maintained a tenuous — and some say illegal — hold on power with the help of the Russians, has begun to purge anew his military. Maduro saw what happened to his closest regional ally, Evo Morales of Bolivia, and moved quickly to consolidate his power.  Maduro announced on […]