I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately. The man on the bridge. That cursed bridge. I’d put him out of my mind for Continue Reading
Middle East
When War Reveals What Endures
The war in Iraq was ugly, but the country was not. I’ve never seen a more perfect sunset than when I was in the turret of a gun truck. The horizon Continue Reading
A Fighter Pilot’s Perspective from the Skies of Iraq
Robert G. Ray Jr., Lt Col (Retired), ALANG On March 21st, 2003, I was a flight leader of two ship F16C-Plus Block 30 aircraft OIF combat sortie Continue Reading
Shared Humanity and Mutual Benefit
by Brig Gen (ret) John “Dragon” Teichert Life is not a solo sport; neither is leadership or innovation. We all need the equipping, encouraging, and Continue Reading
Media and Propaganda Strategies of Al-Qaeda and ISIS
[Editor's Note: the original in-text citations included by the author were removed to improve readability and flow--see references] The rise of Continue Reading
Afghanistan: A Woman, Just Like Me
by Kaitlyn Trevathan On Saturday, September 11, 2021, my dad shared a post reflecting on his memory of 9/11. He wrote, “In the coming hours Continue Reading
Coming Home from Afghanistan
by Chris Fitzmaurice The following is part of a collection of short stories titled Insha’Allah: Short Stories of the Long War in Afghanistan." Continue Reading
Five Seconds on a Bridge
There is a pedestrian bridge that crosses over Lincoln Memorial Drive in Milwaukee. It connects Brady Street to Veteran’s Park on Lake Michigan. Two Continue Reading
My First Engagement with the Enemy
I don't always know what will trigger a flashback of my deployment to Afghanistan, but today, it happened to be the song at the end of the 2020 Mulan Continue Reading
Peace Enforcement is Not the Same as Peacekeeping
by an anonymous former Special Forces officer Peace enforcement is a much more difficult kind of operation than peacekeeping.-Harri Continue Reading
Pecuniam Infinitum, Belli Infinitum: The Aid You’re Giving Gaza is Making the Conflict Worse
In the timeless crucible of conflict, the old adage “nervos belli, pecuniam infinitam”—the sinews of war, infinite money—has never been more keenly Continue Reading
Afghanistan and the Sound of Silence
For many, silence is peace, and the sound of breaking waves off the coast of Carmel California is the most relaxing sound. It brings the inner peace Continue Reading