10 Conflicts to Watch in 2017

The world is on the start of a uncertain year for foreign policy. Too many new players in the game create a feeling that things can go either way on a variety of hot bed issues. -Vasilis Chronopoulos The world is entering its most dangerous chapter in decades. The sharp uptick in war over recent […]

Photo essay: Mass-casualty exercise near Mosul, Iraq

The following is a photographic essay documenting a mass-casualty training exercise at a U.S. military base in the vicinity of Mosul, Iraq. The U.S. Navy’s Role II medical facility on the base took the lead in the exercise, which focused on a simulated vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attack at an entry control point on […]

KBR defeats appeal in U.S. over Nepal, Iraq trafficking claims

A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday refused to hold KBR Inc (KBR.N) liable for alleged human trafficking, in connection with the 2004 kidnapping and murder by insurgents of 12 Nepali men being transported in Iraq to work for a subcontractor at a U.S. military base. By a 2-1 vote, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of […]

Theories, Principles, and Realities of Army Interrogations: Conclusion (Part 4)

As I have discussed before in parts one, two, and three, proper military interrogations require a substantial degree of personal insight, training, certifications, and techniques. As a result, this series was not intended to be an all-encompassing guide for every type of scenario an interrogator may face. Rather, it should be viewed as a very […]

Combat Surgeon and Special Operations Forces Hero: Dr. John Holcomb

The scene is the American Civil War, August of 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia. Confederate and Union armies numbering close to 100,000 total men engaged in a fierce three-day fight called the Second Battle of Bull Run, or the Battle of Second Manassas.  Upon the completion of the fighting on August 30th, thousands of […]

Iraqi Forces Shift Tactics in Mosul as Forces Advance on New Fronts

Iraqi security forces began a dramatic shift in tactics Thursday in their stalled offensive to retake Mosul, Islamic State’s last major stronghold, advancing on new fronts and bringing federal police into the battle after counterattacks inflicted heavy casualties. Iraq’s military announced a multi-sided offensive on the city’s northern, eastern and southeastern neighborhoods in an attempt […]

German military flew nearly 700 missions against ‘Islamic State’ in 2016

The Bundeswehr has flown hundreds of reconnaissance missions in Syria and Iraq since January as part of its contribution to the international efforts against the so-called “Islamic State” (IS), according to figures from its operational command center circulated on Wednesday by news agency dpa. Beginning early last year, Germany had supported coalition airstrikes against IS in the two […]

Spare Vipers and Iraqi Heat

By Nate S. Jaros As most of the country is currently in a deep freeze, I thought it would be fun to reflect back to a particular time in my F-16 career where heat, and extreme temperatures was the norm. And how we as fighter pilots dealt with it, or almost didn’t. It was August […]

Which of these SEAL Navy Cross recipients will receive the Medal of Honor?

As reported in USA Today on December 5, 2016, two U.S. Navy sailors — both likely SEALs — will have their Navy Cross awards upgraded to Congressional Medals of Honor, following a review conducted by the Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus, upon the order of Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Per the article in USA […]

Marine veteran and reporter takes heat for shooting at ISIS

A Marine veteran turned journalist has been recalled from Iraq after tweeting a picture showing him shooting at ISIS fighters. On Thursday, Jason Buttrill tweeted a picture of him with a sniper rifle along with the the message: “Major bucket list completed. Shoot at #ISIS ? Check!” Buttrill also tweeted that he fired six shots […]

The secret, hypocritical gay world of ISIS

The murder of a 15-year-old teenager, thrown to his death by ISIS for being gay, not only reveals—yet again—the terror group’s murderous homophobia, but also the hypocrisy that exists alongside it. A senior commander of the so-called Islamic State, named in reports as Abu Zaid al-Jazrawi, was having some kind of relationship with this as-yet-nameless […]

Defense Secretary Ash Carter: U.S., partners need to stay in Iraq after ISIS defeat

The American military, along with its international partners, will need to remain in Iraq even after the expected defeat of the Islamic State group, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Saturday. Carter said the U.S. and its coalition partners must not stop after completing the current campaign to expel ISIS from Mosul. He said the militants […]