Foreign Policy

Mattis an impressive person but is he right for SOF and the future of War?

The Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) is the principal defense policy advisor to the President. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary exercises authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense is not a Joint Chiefs of Staff on steroids. It’s a policy implementation role, final authority, and principal liaison to the […]

Iran vows ‘firm response’ unless Obama stops sanctions renewal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani demanded on Sunday that Barack Obama block an extension of sanctions passed by the U.S. Congress, saying Tehran would otherwise “firmly respond”. In a speech to parliament, Rouhani denounced legislation passed by the U.S. Congress to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) for 10 years as a violation of Tehran’s nuclear […]

House adds codification of Joint Training Exercises

Washington, D.C. – House members pass a provision within the recently-introduced Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization that would make permanent joint training exercises led by special operations forces. This provision within the NDAA was pushed by House Democrats. The NDAA and the House Armed Services Committee continues to be a bi-partisan and professional environment despite […]

Military report expands management powers of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SOLIC)

Washington, D.C. – House leaders introduced the final conference report for the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act Nov. 30 containing a provision to reorganize Special Operations Command and provide its assistant secretary with increased powers to oversee its activities. Under its report for the fiscal year 2017 NDAA, the Senate Armed Services Committee empowers the […]

Putin’s national address takes jabs at the US, but calls for cooperation

Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, delivered his annual state of the nation address on Thursday, in which he called for international cooperation, but emphasized that the nation would “not tolerate that our interests are either neglected or infringed.” Tensions have been high between the Russian Federation and Western powers in recent months, due in large part […]

CIA chief warns Trump: Scrapping Iran deal ‘height of folly’

The director of the CIA has warned US President-elect Donald Trump that ending the Iran nuclear deal would be “disastrous” and “the height of folly.” In a BBC interview, John Brennan also advised the new president to be wary of Russia’s promises, blaming Moscow for much of the suffering in Syria. In his campaign, Mr […]

How Iranian weapons are ending up in Yemen

Weapon shipments intercepted in the Arabian sea by Australian, French and U.S. warships this year contained large quantities of Russian and Iranian weapons, some of which had markings similar to munitions recovered from Houthi fighters in Yemen, according to a new report released by an independent research group Wednesday. In October, U.S. officials claimed to have captured […]

EU may be hedging their bets on NATO, announce Joint Defense Fund

The European Union has announced a new plan to increase defense spending across the continent, in what some are calling a precursor to a larger EU Defense Union. The European Defense Action Plan calls for a dramatic increase in funding for joint military assets among member nations.  The proposal includes increasing immediate expenditures from twenty-five […]

Germany is wary of the French presidential frontrunner’s cozy attitude to Russia

Berlin (AFP) – Francois Fillon, frontrunner to become France’s next president, has sparked unease in Germany with his friendly attitude toward Russia, which could make him an uncomfortable ally for Chancellor Angela Merkel. Fillon secured the nomination of the French conservative Republicans on Sunday with a resounding victory over his more moderate challenger Alain Juppe. […]

Knife attack at Ohio State University and the Refugee Ceiling

Law enforcement killed a suspected assailant who injured nine people at Ohio State University after plowing a car into a campus crowd and attempting to stab survivors with a butcher knife, news services reported Nov. 28. Law enforcement officials have reported the suspect’s name is Abdul Artan, an 18-year-old Somali refugee, and student at the […]

Fidel Castro and his unique history with US Special Operations Forces

In the 1960’s, the United States was forced to deal with a communist regime 90 miles away from its shores.  Due to the threat of mutually assured destruction with a direct war with the Soviet Union, Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson had to tread carefully concerning Fidel Castro and Cuba.  Neither administration wanted […]