This first appeared in The Havok Journal on June 25, 2015. In the wake of the tragedy that occurred in Charleston, South Carolina, amidst ill-timed Continue Reading
Mike Kelvington
Building a Winning Culture: Easy Company, Unit Cohesion & Grit
A group of individuals who came together to become one of the tightest fighting forces in World War II was the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Continue Reading
Ulama in the Kingdom: Useful Pawns or Strategic Partners?
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on April 19, 2017. Prior to reading portions of Nabil Mouline’s The Clerics of Islam I did not see the ulama, Continue Reading
Why the Abu Sayyaf Raid Mattered: A SOF Warfighter’s Perspective
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on May 18, 2015. The day after the bold raid conducted by U.S. Special Operations forces, there was a lot of Continue Reading
Joyriding in the Kingdom: Saudi Arabia’s Lower-Class Gateway Drug
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on April 11, 2017. image source: Pinterest In reading the chapter “Street Terrorism” out of Pascal Continue Reading
Dropping the Mic on a Reality Check: Would the Real God Please Stand Up?
Setting the Record Straight Abraham Lincoln once said, “The problem with internet quotes is that you can’t always depend on their accuracy.”[1] My Continue Reading
Dakhil and Jar: Timeless Hospitality, Asylum, and Treatment of Guests as Neighbors
While the lifestyle of the nomadic Bedouin of the Middle Eastern deserts has largely become extinct, some of their customs and traditions live on. Continue Reading
Why the Islamic State Hates Shrines and Kills Those Who Worship There
This first appeared in The Havok Journal on March 23, 2019. On 16 February 2017, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device that killed at least Continue Reading
Walk In My Combat Boots: A Ranger Review
Patterson, James, 1SG (Ret.) Matt Eversmann, and Chris Mooney. Walk In My Combat Boots: True Stories from America’s Bravest Warriors. New York: Continue Reading
Jihadi Novels: Same Story, Different Medium, Wave of the Future?
Jihadi Novels: Same Story, Different Medium, Wave of the Future? by Mike Kelvington This first appeared in The Havok Journal June 21, Continue Reading
Ikhwan: Harbingers of ISIS
Ikhwan: Harbingers of ISIS by Michael Kelvington This first appeared in The Havok Journal March 27, 2019. An adage often attributed to Mark Continue Reading
Are Jihadi Grinches Trying to Steal Christmas?
“The Whos down in Who-ville like Christmas a lot, But the [Jihadi Grinches] . . . did NOT!”– Dr. Seuss Disturbing trends of global jihadis Continue Reading