The Havok Journal

The Voice of the Veteran Community

West and Dunn

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...]

One Hell of a Ride Back to the FOB

One Hell of a Ride Back to the FOB by Carlos Techera There I was laying on my back in a ditch. Everything flashing before my eyes, in an empty silence. "What just happened, no way did that just happened. Shit, we crashed... we crashed," my inner voice yelling at me open your eyes. There the silence subsided, my senses restarted I gasped for air, "I am alive." … [Read more...]

“Regime Change in Iran: We Can & We Must”

“Regime Change in Iran: We Can & We Must” by Lily Stewart This first appeared in The Havok Journal June 13, 2015. In one sense, Iran is a country—a geographic place—with a border and a government and its own economy. But in another sense, Iran is community of people that transcends borders and reaches to every corner of the world. Iran is a culture, a birthplace, a … [Read more...]

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, 2017. In reading “A Guest on This Earth: Humam al-Balawi and the Birth of Jihadist Fiction” by Nadav Samin, the content struck me as both contemporary and historical. On one hand, the subject of the story, doctor and author turned … [Read more...]

The Radicalization Trap: “If you ain’t a Muslim you deserve to die”

The Radicalization Trap: “If you ain’t a Muslim you deserve to die” by Ayman Kafel It was a cold night in early 2000 as I sat inside a mosque after Friday prayer. I was waiting for a couple of friends, and decided to hang out in the common area. Several chairs and tables were scattered across the room. It was noisy from the various conversations going on. There were all … [Read more...]

The Top Five Weird Books On Osama Bin Laden’s Bookshelf

The Top Five Weird Books On Osama Bin Laden's Bookshelf by Chris Otero “Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda.….” – President Barack Obama On 1 May 2011, the President of the United States announced the death of terrorist mastermind Osama bin … [Read more...]

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...]

A Middle Eastern Veteran’s Struggle with His Own Community

A Middle Eastern Veteran’s Struggle with His Own Community by Aymen Kafel My squad drives along MSR (main supply route) Dover, en-route to Camp Anaconda. I am standing in the gunner’s position, wearing my face mask and goggles. Dust hits my face and uniform as the sweat from the desert heat trickles down my face and back. I'm wearing 50-pound IBA (individual body armor) … [Read more...]

Ulama in the Kingdom: Useful Pawns or Strategic Partners?

Ulama in the Kingdom: Useful Pawns or Strategic Partners? by Mike Kelvington This first appeared in The Havok Journal April 19, 2017. Prior to reading portions of Nabil Mouline’s The Clerics of Islam I did not see the ulama, or Islamic clerics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as anything more than religious pawns for the royal Saudi family to use when they needed to … [Read more...]