Western spies are failing against Russia and China: time for a spycraft revolution

Western spies are failing against Russia and China: time for a spycraft revolution

Western models of spycraft are failing. Traditional models of spycraft seek to inform decision-making based on predictive analysis, but this is no longer effective in today’s environment. By nature, closed and authoritarian regimes, such as Russia and China, have an easier job of spying on their more progressive and open adversaries — the United States […]

The top 4 things you need to know about intelligence gathering and use

The top 4 things you need to know about intelligence gathering and use

Inscribed on the CIA’s original headquarters in Langley is a passage from the Gospel of St. John: “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” This unofficial Agency motto alludes to the truth and clarity that intelligence provides to decision-makers, similar to the “knowledge is power” mantra. But what happens […]

Russia’s Afghan bounties isn’t the most alarming part of the case

Russia’s Afghan bounties isn’t the most alarming part of the case

Last Friday, in an exclusive story, the New York Times reported that a Russian military intelligence unit had been offering bounties to militias linked to the Taliban for the killing of American and Coalition troops in Afghanistan. They did so in an attempt to derail the peace talks between the U.S and the Taliban. At […]

Russia sentences former US Marine to 16 years in prison for espionage

Russia sentences former US Marine to 16 years in prison for espionage

Paul Whelan, a U.S. citizen who is also a citizen in the U.K., Ireland, and Canada, has been found guilty in Russia in a closed trial and sentenced to 16 years in prison for espionage. He had been arrested in Moscow in 2018 by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). The verdict was read in […]

Op-Ed: Are Generals Mattis and Petraeus patriots or revolutionists?

Op-Ed: Are Generals Mattis and Petraeus patriots or revolutionists?

The following Op-Ed was written by Fred Galvin (USMC retired). Generals Mattis and General Petraeus collaborated and published the U.S. Army’s Field Manual 3-24 on counterinsurgency operations (COIN) in 2006; it later became Joint Publication 3-24. The publication contained the lessons the generals learned from nearly 19 years of operations in Afghanistan and 16 years […]

Top US general calls accompanying Trump to church photo op a mistake

Top US general calls accompanying Trump to church photo op a mistake

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley recorded a short video that aired soon after the General appeared at a church with President Donald Trump that had just been cleared of protestors. In the video, he called his presence at the church “a mistake.” Milley and Defense Secretary Mark Esper had joined the president […]

Russia & China employ disinformation to degrade US democracy

Russia & China employ disinformation to degrade US democracy

This article seeks to explore the concept of disinformation, its impact on current events, and how average citizens can be cognizant of, recognize, and learn to avoid its harmful effects. Specifically, we will discuss the growing trend of state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, their goals, and several recent examples of them. This is an expansive and incredibly […]

Why the US will never fully back an independent Kurdistan

Why the US will never fully back an independent Kurdistan

The ongoing ethnic and religious strife in Iraq creates an opportunity for Kurdish nationalists to realize their aspirations and declare independence. Although the Kurds are a nation with a common culture, a shared identity, and have civic organizations that pursue nationalistic-type goals, they still do not have an internationally recognized state. And as we shall […]

Taliban cry foul play and demand that the US stops bombing them

Taliban cry foul play and demand that the US stops bombing them

The Taliban are accusing the Americans of breaking the peace agreement struck between the two sides at the end of February by continuing to bomb Taliban targets. The two sides met to discuss how to resolve the situation. The meetings took place in Doha, Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office. The Taliban’s chief […]