How the CIA staged sham academic conferences to thwart Iran’s nuclear program

This is an edited excerpt from “Spy Schools: How the CIA, FBI, and Foreign Intelligence Secretly Exploit America’s Universities,” by senior editor Daniel Golden. The excerpt was co-published with The Guardian. The CIA agent tapped softly on the hotel room door. After the keynote speeches, panel discussions and dinner, the conference attendees had retired for the […]

Secretary of Defense James Mattis releases plans to counter global threats

American Secretary of Defense James Mattis released a force wide memo late last week, underscoring the importance of bringing America’s military back into a state of readiness, while also emphasizing the importance of alliance building and business reform in the Department of Defense. Mattis, who echoed these sentiments in a speech he delivered on Monday, […]

U.S. counter-terror official warns of Hezbollah threat to homeland

The United States is offering millions of dollars in award money for information that could lead to the arrest of two Hezbollah leaders, a senior State Department official said yesterday. Nicholas Rasmussen, head of the National Counterterrorism Center in Washington D.C., also said Hezbollah has actors within the U.S. homeland as part of its ongoing […]

Reports: In retaliation, Iran may treat US as a ‘terrorist country’

Top Iranian officials recently suggested that if the U.S. labels the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), a powerful branch of the Iranian military, as a terrorist organization, Iran may retaliate by naming the U.S. Army a terrorist organization or the entire U.S. as a “terrorist country,” according to Iranian media reports. Speaking to reporters, Iranian […]

War in Syria Has Transformed Hezbollah Into a Regional Power

Hezbollah was borne out of a struggle against Israel and now the large organization has transformed into a much larger force since its experience in the civil war in Syria. Their success in fighting against the Islamic State, or Daesh, as they call it, have them flush with new recruits. But while they have fought […]

Iran Warns US Against Further Sanctions, Terrorist Designation

In a bizarre turn of events that seem to be lost on the powers that be in Tehran, the Iranian government warned the United States that further sanctions against them or labeling Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization could result in attacks against US bases near the Iranian border. In other words, the Iranians have […]

Watch: US Navy opens fire on drone speedboat in mock attack

In recent years, the U.S. Navy has found itself in the precarious position of having to warn away Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard fast attack boats using warning shots in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.  U.S. ships regularly have to traverse this narrow seaway on their way into and out of the Persian Gulf, […]

Mattis says Trump still backs diplomacy with NK, suggests keeping Iran nuclear agreement

Despite his remarks on Twitter over the weekend, President Trump is still backing the pursuit of a diplomatic end to heightening tensions with Kim Jong un’s regime in North Korea, according to Secretary of Defense James Mattis. “President Trump’s guidance to both Secretary Tillerson and me has been very clear that we would pursue the diplomatic […]

U.S. Drone Shot Down Over Yemen by Iranian backed Rebels

The Pentagon has confirmed that an MQ-9 Reaper drone was shot down over Western Yemen on Sunday. This area has been wracked by a civil war between the Saudi Arabian-backed government and Houthi insurgents who are proxies for Iran. Different videos have surfaced purportedly to show the drone being shot down by air defense missiles […]

Afghan teenagers recruited in Iran to fight in Syria, group says

Afghan immigrant children as young as 14 are being recruited in Iran to fight — and die — in Syria, a prominent human rights organization said Sunday. The group, Human Rights Watch, said it had verified the deaths of eight Afghan children in Iran, who were recruited and ultimately died fighting for the Fatemiyoun division in Syria, […]