So You Want to Be a Mercenary (Pt. 1)

I am not, nor was I ever, a mercenary, and the few times that people felt sorry enough to give me a few dollars, it was always far short of delaying my imminent 2015 bankruptcy, and was geared toward providing rations outside of standard chow.

Know Your Enemy: Daesh, the Islamic State (Pt. 1)

A ragtag group of backwater extremists have risen to international media heights and challenged the peace of mind and collective safety of the free world. Generally speaking, most people know little about them. A dangerous position, and if one man is historically noted as an expert on that point, it is Sun Tzu. In his classical […]

Kurdish Coalition Liberates Sinjar From ISIS

A coalition force of approximately 7,500 Peshmerga-led Kurdish soldiers launched a coordinated assault in the Sinjar region against ISIS fortified positions on 12 November, 2015, supported by U.S. and British air strikes.

Understanding Paris: Why Was Paris Attacked?

From the Bataclan Theatre in Paris, one of the first quoted attackers was overheard saying, “I am from ISIS” and IS on Twitter is saying that this is France’s September 11th. If this is Daesh, or simply another reckless claim from them, it is unclear and will be for some time. Daesh, or IS and Al […]

Wearing Your Uniform In Public: Act of Defiance or Tactical Faux Pas?

The contemporary global security climate is entering an extremely complex and equally alarming phase. Extremist political, religious, and ethno-nationalistic enablers of modern terrorism have found no shortage of ecumenical audiences in which to spread their brutal and lethal messages to. There also appears to be no shortage of individuals willing to carry out indiscriminate acts […]

Potential Boots on the Ground in Iraq and Syria: Key Terrain

As the U.S. and allies falsely advertise restraint for a boots-on-the-ground initiative in Iraq and Syria, we can be assured that much more is going on behind the scenes—preparations are undoubtedly in the works for a full-scale operation. Currently, there are approximately 1,500 U.S. troops in Iraq aiding the Iraqi military in objectives as far-reaching as the ISIS-controlled […]