The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

Sean Parnell

Saudi Women and the War on Terror

Saudi Women and the War on Terror by Mike Kelvington In the masculine-driven nation of Saudi Arabia, women are subordinate men and the state, yet, in the eyes of both, they serve as an important role within their society.  Historically and contextually, the Saudi government sees women as weak and “depicted as needing to be protected, controlled, and guided within an … [Read more...]

Importing the Muslim Brotherhood: Creation of the “Sahwa” in Saudi Arabia

Importing the Muslim Brotherhood: Creation of the “Sahwa” in Saudi Arabia by Mike Kelvington A movement known as the Islamic Awakening (al-Sahwa al-Islamiyya) or Sahwa quickly established itself as a counter-culture to the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia over the course of only a few decades, starting in the mid-1950s.[1]  During this time, the Muslim Brotherhood … [Read more...]

“No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor” Part 2: Combat Losses

"No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor" Part 2: Combat Losses by Gunnery Sergeant L. Christian Bussler Editor's Note: These excerpts are from the multi-award winning book “No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor” and were provided by the book's author, Gunnery Sergeant L. Christian Bussler, who retains the copyrights. This an exclusive look into the world of a how the Marine Corps … [Read more...]

National Identity Crisis in the Gulf States? A Puzzle For The Future

In reading a chapter titled, “The Oil-Driven Nation-Building of the Gulf States After the Second World War” from The Emergence of the Gulf States, I was struck by how fast the Gulf States have changed and evolved since 1971.  By that year, all the Gulf States had earned their independence, mostly from Britain. During that same period, there was an oil boom beginning in … [Read more...]

“Never Forget”: Rising Up to Call Genocide ‘Genocide’

I’ll never forget standing outside the gates of the Mathhausen concentration camp to tour the prison camp at noontime. The tour guards said, “We’re closing for lunch. You can come back after lunch or if you want to tour Mathhausen right now, we’ll lock you in while we go eat lunch.” On a tight deadline to arrive at our evening destination, we said, “That works for us.” We … [Read more...]

Generations at War

The mind of the young is malleable and we can condition children to limit their feelings, harden their revulsion, and we can teach them to hate.  Nowhere is this more evident than in the Middle East. Prior to the 1920’s the Middle East had been relatively unchanged for over 400 years.  The stability of the Ottoman Empire ruled then entire area and while it might not have … [Read more...]

“No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor” Part 1: Into the Fray Once Again

"No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor" Part 1: Into the Fray Once Again by Gunnery Sergeant (retired) L. Christian Bussler Editor's Note: These excerpts are from the multi-award winning book “No Tougher Duty, No Greater Honor” and were provided by the book's author, Gunnery Sergeant (retired) L. Christian Bussler, who retains the copyrights. This an exclusive look into the … [Read more...]

Muslim Veterans Speak Out, Part II: Women’s Rights and Islam

When it comes to terrorism, US foreign policy, US military operations, the true nature of Islam and the extent of Islamic radicalization, there are no shortages of opinions. As a survivor of the 9/11 attacks and a former US soldier, I certainly had my own. But when it came to discussing Islam intelligently, I had more questions than answers. Frustratingly, most interviews I’ve … [Read more...]

Trump, Mattis, Middle East Policy, and “One World Government”

Trump, Mattis, Middle East Policy, and "One World Government" by Nathan Player If the press is to be believed, America’s adventurism in the Middle East is winding down. Agree or disagree on the policy, this should surprise no one. This has always been the current administration’s goal. It has also been the stated policy objective of politicians on both sides of the aisle … [Read more...]