The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn Law

The Failed War on Drugs

The Failed War on Drugs by  James A. Gagliano It is difficult to write these words. But the War on Drugs has been a colossal failure. Recently reflecting on my own participation in this war, as a retired federal agent who was assigned to several counter-narcotics units with the FBI and NYPD during a 25-year law enforcement career, I recently stumbled upon a reckoning. … [Read more...]

Citizenship As a Practice, Not a Status

Citizenship As a Practice, Not a Status by Matt James As a young man, I was fortunate enough to be involved with youth organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America. In the ‘Boy Scouts’, I learned various tasks the public has come to know: camping skills, marksmanship, and community service (those tin bins of popcorn won’t sell themselves!). Specifically, I recall … [Read more...]

Why So Much Hate for Nazis While Socialists and Communists Get a Pass?

Why So Much Hate for Nazis While Socialists and Communists Get a Pass? by Greg Drobny This article first appeared in The Havok Journal in August 2017 Who is the greatest mass murderer in history and the personification of political evil? Everyone knows it’s Hitler, man! ...or is it?  Read on, friends. As we’ve seen from media coverage lately, hating Nazis is pretty … [Read more...]

Careful When Indicting an Entire Group for the Actions of a Few

Careful When Indicting an Entire Group for the Actions of a Few by Jimmy Gagliano This article first appeared in The Havok Journal in August of 2017. How could they be so stupid? I thought to myself, and emitted an audible groan as I took in the image. “Shock-the-senses offensive” would be too benign a description of my initial reaction. I had been lost in the mindless … [Read more...]

Prisoners Built WHAT for the U.S. Military? A Story in Contracting Gone Bad

Prisoners Built WHAT for the U.S. Military? A Story in Contracting Gone Bad by Marshall McGurk Spoiler Alert: This is not an Article 107 News article. The federal government paid over $53 million to two companies to build combat helmets between 2006 and 2009. The cost is not the problem. The problem is almost 150,000 Army and Marine Corps combat helmets were defective. Oh … [Read more...]

Like the Housing Bubble, the “Hysteria Bubble” Is Unsustainable.

Like the Housing Bubble, the "Hysteria Bubble" Is Unsustainable. by Greg Drobny Bubbles burst. That is just what they do. Whether it is a soap bubble, an economic bubble, or some other type, it will eventually reach a point of maximum expansion and pop. Everyone knows this. What we do not always know, however, is what it looks like when a particular bubble bursts. Sure, … [Read more...]

Is the National Debt Stifling Our Economy?

Is the National Debt Stifling Our Economy? by Marty Skovlund, Sr. This article first appeared in The Havok Journal 8 August 2018. Editor's Note: Marty Skovlund Jr. founded The Havok Journal. His father, Marty Sr., an Army veteran and all-around great man, was our #1 fan. He even wrote a few articles for us himself, this being one. He passed away a year ago. RIP Marty … [Read more...]

A Green Beret “Red Teams” a Terrorist Attack on America (Part 1)

A Green Beret "Red Teams" a Terrorist Attack on America (Part 1) This is Part 1 of a three-part series by former Special Forces soldier Loren Schofield. ____ As a Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant (18 Fox), it is part of the job to understand the enemy and learn everything you can about him so you can try to predict what they will do. Part of this is playing Red Team … [Read more...]

Don’t Tell Me How To Do My Job: A Law Enforcement Officer’s Perspective

Don’t Tell Me How To Do My Job: A Law Enforcement Officer's Perspective by Nick Perna I don’t know anything about cars. When something goes wrong with mine or it needs service I take it to a mechanic. Like most people, when I get the oil changed and the service technician comes out and asks me if I want a new air filter for my flux capacitor I flip a coin in my head and … [Read more...]