Delta Force and SEAL Team 6 operators on the loose?

How far would the CIA and the military’s elite Special Operations units go to avoid political oversight for their covert activities? To the end of the world, it seems. Congress is suspecting that the CIA and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) haven’t been transparent when it comes to briefing lawmakers about their covert operations. […]

Book Review: “A Woman of No Importance” excellent bio of Virginia Hall

As anyone who has read about the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and SOE (Special Operations Executive) of World War II knows, Virginia Hall is one of the true rock stars of the clandestine services for both Britain and the United States.  In the outstanding book, “A Woman of No Importance,” Sonia Purnell tells a […]

Underwear, an informant, and $25 million: The hunt for the leader of ISIS

On Saturday night, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi chose suicide over death or capture at the hands of the Delta operators of A Squadron. The operation, however, had begun months before the Delta shooters came in knocking at the leader of ISIS’ door. The story behind the tracking of the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS) is […]

What exactly is Delta Force? Here’s everything you need to know

Last Saturday, 70 operators hailing from Delta Force’s A Squadron and the 75th Ranger Regiment stormed a compound in the Idlib Province of Northeast Syria, successfully neutralizing one of history’s most despotic leaders, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The story made headlines around the world, but among those who aren’t as well versed in the makeup of […]

Back-to-back operation kills another ISIS big shot (Graphic content)

In an almost simultaneous operation with the raid against the leader of the Islamic State (ISIS), American forces also targeted and killed the terrorist group’s spokesperson. According to reports, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) drone struck the convoy that was carrying ISIS’ spokesperson US on the early morning hours of Sunday, resulting in his death. […]

Cold War comedy: Read the CIA’s classified list of official jokes about the Soviet Union

The CIA webpage is an oft under-appreciated gem in the U.S. government’s suite of dry, formal websites.  There’s no formal decree that mandates government sites have to be boring, but something about the need to exude inoffensive professionalism throughout every corner of these sprawling domains has sanitized everything .GOV into the digital version of the […]

Breaking: Delta Force raid kills leader of ISIS

A Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) operation in Syria has resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State and one of the most wanted men in the world. The operation took place on Saturday in the Syrian province of Idlib. Sources with intimate knowledge of the operation confirmed to […]

The Pic of the Day: Special Forces operator who pioneered HALO capability

According to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), “Special Forces Noncommissioned Officer and CIA officer Wilfred “Squeak” Charette (nicknamed after the squeak his jump boots made when he walked) who was a pioneer in the development of the High-Altitude Low-Opening (HALO) parachute capability. Charette participated in training the first HALO class from SEAL Team Two […]

Top 5 qualifications for the CIA’s clandestine service

I am an unapologetic believer in our nation’s national security apparatus, and not just because I was a part of it as an officer in both the U.S. military and the Central Intelligence Agency. I also witnessed, firsthand, the dedication of those in the intelligence- and security-agency trenches, and saw them put their considerable skills to […]

How the CIA recruits from elite schools: Part III

One of the perks of studying at an elite U.S. university is that top companies, organisations, and agencies congregate in search of talent. What follows is my experience attending a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) recruiting brief and simulation session at the Johns Hopkins University. Names have been altered to preserve personal security. You can read part […]