The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn Law

Muslim Veterans Speak Out, Part 2: Women’s Rights and Islam

Muslim Veterans Speak Out, Part 2: Women's Rights and Islam by Christopher Paul Meyer This first appeared in The Havok Journal in January 2017. Author's Note: When it comes to terrorism, U.S. foreign policy and 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 … [Read more...]

Journalist Hollie McKay Profile

Journalist Hollie McKay Profile by David Bruce 2018 was the deadliest year on record for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders. At a time when press patches are used as targets rather than a sign of neutrality, Australian/American Global Conflict Journalist Hollie McKay uses research, instinct, and trusted fixers to capture the story in some of the world’s … [Read more...]

Soleimani Smoked: Did The US Just Kill Iran’s Top Terrorist… In Iraq?

Soleimani Smoked: Did The US Just Kill Iran's Top Terrorist... In Iraq? by Scott Faith When I heard that rockets impacted Baghdad International Airport earlier today, I assumed it was the latest minor skirmish in the tit-for-tat going on between the American military in Iraq, and Iran's terrorist proxy forces.  Up to this point, the most significant development in that … [Read more...]

Benghazi 2.0? U.S. Embassy in Iraq Under Attack

Benghazi 2.0? US Embassy in Iraq Under Attack by Scott Faith The US Embassy in Iraq, a sprawling, $750 million facility housing 5,500 Americans in downtown Baghdad, is under attack. Parts of the compound are in flames, armed and angry locals are roaming the grounds at will, and U.S. personnel have retreated to internally-secure locations. The situation has many Americans … [Read more...]

Leaders: Myth and Reality – A Review

Leaders: Myth and Reality - A Review by Mike Kelvington This first appeared in The Havok Journal December 21, 2018. When many big names in business, politics, and pop culture sit down to pen a new book, they tend to capture personal exploits, successes, accumulation of wealth, awards, and achievements.  In the bestselling release of Leaders: Myth and Reality, GEN … [Read more...]

Help Wanted: Mercenary

Help Wanted: Mercenary by Leonard Benton After the terrorist attack in Paris, fellow writer Pablo James told you how to join the French Foreign Legion if you really wanted to get into the fight. But there are some difficulties with that. You have to learn French for one thing. And it is a sincere commitment: The Legion doesn’t play. However, if you don’t want to … [Read more...]

The Ranger Way: Earning My Combat Scroll

The Ranger Way: Earning My Combat Scroll by James Webb It was my 3rd mission that I bagged my first bad guy. Right out of the bird, I knew we were running up to the top of a hill and just above the target building. To be blatantly honest, all I paid attention to at that point was how far we were walking and if there was a terrain feature or not we had to cross, meaning a … [Read more...]

U.S. – Iran Relations and the “Abu Monroe” Doctrine

U.S. - Iran Relations and the "Abu Monroe" Doctrine by John Chandler This article first appeared in The Havok Journal in October of 2017. It has been republished as the issues discussed are just as relevant today. _____ In recent weeks, an MQ9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down over Yemen, continuing a trend of attacks against US personnel and combat systems … [Read more...]

Israel, Palestine, and the False Hope of “CoExistence”

Israel, Palestine, and the False Hope of "Co-Existence" by Mike Kelvington Editor's Note: Former Army Ranger and longtime Havok Journal writer Mike Kelvington penned this piece for a journal run by the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism in the Interdisciplinary College (IDC) at Herzilya, Israel. We're re-posting an excerpt here, I highly encourage you to read the … [Read more...]