Terrorism

On This Day in 1983, Marine Barracks in Beirut is Truck Bombed

During the Lebanese Civil War of 1983, two suicide trucks laden with explosives are driven into the barracks at Beirut’s airport where the Multi-National Force in Lebanon (MNF) peacekeepers were staying. A total of 307 people are killed. 241 Americans, 58 French, 6 civilians and the two bombers. A terrorist group calling themselves Islamic Jihad […]

Russian Spetsnaz Take Out Terrorists in Dagestan

Much of what we post here is based on preparing the potential Special Operations candidates for what they will face in the various Selection or qualification courses. But sometimes it is good to change things up a bit and delve into our shared history to learn and respect where we come from. Other times, like […]

SF Working By, With, Through Bolivian Rangers Capture Che Guevara

In the 1960s, Che Guevara was an iconic figure, especially among those who thought that the young revolutionary was hip, chic and achieved almost rock star status. He was young, handsome and very well educated. In fact, Che is now probably more popular in the country responsible for his death, Bolivia, by people who have […]

The CIA is shifting emphasis away from terrorism and back toward nation-level foes

While a great deal of discussion has been afforded to the U.S. military’s near two-decade long anti-terrorism and counter-insurgency efforts, it wasn’t the only facet of the American national security apparatus that saw a distinct shift in operational strategy following the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. The CIA, America’s covert intelligence gathering service with […]

EU reconsiders African foreign aid after policy investigation

Brussels, Belgium—The European Union must revise its African foreign, security, and financial aid policy. The European Court of Auditors (COA), an official body that monitors EU public spending, has just released an investigation of EU’s policies and initiatives in Africa. The COA has concluded that the Commission, the EU’s executive branch, and the European External […]

Year anniversary of the Parsons Green bombing

One year ago today, on September 15, 2017, at just past 0800 local time, a bomb exploded at London’s Parsons Green Underground train station. The blast injured thirty people. 18-year-old Ahmed Hassan was arrested the next day at the Port of Dover. Hassan, an Iraqi, arrived in the United Kingdom illegally in October 2015. Although […]

Europe struck: A timeline of terrorist events since 9/11

The unprecedented terrorist attacks of 9/11 were only the prologue of a sad tale that has yet to end. Indeed, they set a twisted pattern that may never end. America hasn’t been the sole target of terrorists. Citing cooperation with the “Great Satan” or other such similar nonsense to justify their honourless and cowardly attacks, […]

Where Were You on 9/11? A Dark Day for the US

Like many of us, we can remember exactly where we were on 9/11, like the generation before us could recall where they were when JFK was shot in Dallas. The memories of that awful day and the days that followed will forever be burned into our memories and it shaped our national policy for years […]

Four American industries changed by the September 11, 2001 attacks

Just about everyone alive at the time remembers where they were when they first heard about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. I was 11 years old, sitting in my 6th-grade Social Studies class when someone said something vague about a plane hitting a building in New York City. As the day went on, […]

9/11 in Pictures: The tragic day that changed the course of history

The terror attacks of September 11th, 2001 marked that date in all history as a watershed moment for modern civilization. It’s difficult to overstate the changes that followed the deadliest attack on American soil in the modern era, as the reverberating social, political, and economic effects compounded in ways that will be analyzed for decades […]

Elite German federal police unit expands to meet terrorist threat

Berlin, Germany—The GSG 9 is expanding. The elite counter-terrorism unit of the German federal police is looking to increase its numbers by a third. “We’re talking about around a third of the current strength of the unit,” said GSG 9 commander Jérome Fuchs. He did stress, however, that recruiting the right officers will be a […]

Amazon’s ‘Jack Ryan’ may not be totally realistic, but it is good television

As a kid, I loved the Jack Ryan movies because they seemed like they offered more realism than Ryan’s British counterpart over at MI6. While Bond was bedding women and drinking martinis, Ryan was sitting at conference room tables, using Harrison Ford’s trademark pointing gesture or Alec Baldwin’s steely blue eyes to convey the drama […]