Obama or Trump: Who is the real ‘drone president?’

Obama or Trump: Who is the real ‘drone president?’

In his first two years in office, President Donald Trump has authorised 238 drone strikes against terrorist groups, surpassing his predecessor President Barack Obama. Despite his statements, Obama had been quite aggressive and eager to use armed drones as a foreign policy tool. Between 2009 and 2010, Obama authorised 186 drone strikes. Both presidents’ strikes have […]

The Niger Ambush After Action Review: What Really Happened?

The Niger Ambush After Action Review: What Really Happened?

In the aftermath of the deadly ambush that killed four American soldiers near Tongo Tongo, Niger, we outlined the context and background of U.S. Special Forces in Africa and specifically in Niger, examined what happened during the ambush to the best of our ability, and detailed the attempted rescue mission to repatriate La David Johnson. […]

Op-Ed: Put the brakes on turning Niger into another Benghazi

Op-Ed: Put the brakes on turning Niger into another Benghazi

This is a preemptive call to the media and Democrats — a plea — to not try to turn this month’s Special Forces operation in Niger into another Benghazi-style controversy.  What happened to the fallen Special Forces men in Africa is not comparable to what happened in Benghazi.  Nor should what happened in the course […]

Navy sidesteps Congress and exonerates, promotes, and gives backpay to retired SEAL Admiral

Navy sidesteps Congress and exonerates, promotes, and gives backpay to retired SEAL Admiral

In a startling reversal of fortune for retired U.S. Navy Admiral (SEAL) Brian Losey, a little-heralded Navy office, alongside former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, together defied Congress and reversed a ruling by the Department of Defense inspector general in stating that Losey was unfairly treated in an IG investigation that concluded that he had punished […]

Mission Impossible: Keeping Track of US Special Ops in Africa

Mission Impossible: Keeping Track of US Special Ops in Africa

The Defense Department’s own Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a research institution dedicated to the analysis of security issues on that continent, drew attention to skyrocketing terrorism fatalities there in recent years. It also published a map of “Africa’s Active Militant Islamist Groups” that showed 22 organizations menacing the continent