Category: War

RISKY BUSINESS: Operation Valhalla

Around 2000, we were flying into Somalia in a big old four-turboprop converted Russian cargo plane from Yemen. We had just heard that the USS Cole had been hit. We heard the pilot say, “We are getting ready to land in five minutes, put everything away and put on your seat belts. Please make sure your livestock is tied down. We will be spiraling down for a landing and coming in quickly to avoid Surface-to-Air Missiles.” As we spiraled down, we could hear the chickens and goats screaming. Five minutes later, we were down on a desert strip whose … Continue readingRISKY BUSINESS: Operation Valhalla

GOLD – Echoes of War: How Financial Dependency Shapes Global Power – From WWII to Ukraine

Upon researching my other post about Fort Knox, I stumbled upon a tale so peculiar it could make a banker blush and a politician whistle innocently. Turns out, Great Britain—once the mighty empire where the sun never set—managed to fight World War II not just with courage and stiff upper lips, but by shipping its gold across the Atlantic to the United States. Yes, while soldiers battled in the trenches, Britain’s wealth sailed quietly to Fort Knox, never to return in its entirety. Now, here’s where it gets interesting—Ukraine, in its fight against Russia, seems to be following a … Continue readingGOLD – Echoes of War: How Financial Dependency Shapes Global Power – From WWII to Ukraine

The Growing Threat of AI-Driven Influence Operations

“Truth is a precious thing, but in the age of AI, it’s been taken hostage, wrapped in deepfakes, and sold to the highest bidder.” We’ve long known that people will believe anything if it’s said with enough confidence. But now, thanks to artificial intelligence, that confidence comes in the form of perfectly crafted propaganda, spun by machines and served up by bad actors from Beijing to Tehran. Once upon a time, a good lie required effort—a con artist had to weave a tale, sell it with a silver tongue, and hope the audience was gullible enough to buy it. … Continue readingThe Growing Threat of AI-Driven Influence Operations

Pain – The Weight of War

Lieutenant Jack Calloway was very familiar with pain. He had known it in every form—sharp and immediate, like the searing bite of a bullet; explosive and deafening, like the shockwave of an IED hurling him into the dust; slow and agonizing, like the broken ribs he once had to set himself in the middle of a firefight. He had seen pain on the faces of his brothers-in-arms as they bled out in the dirt, their hands gripping his like he could hold them to life. He had seen it in the eyes of his enemies—some defiant, some pleading, some … Continue readingPain – The Weight of War

EXPOSE IT ALL: THE ART OF MANIPULATION AND PSYOPS IN MODERN SOCIETY

  The world is not as it seems. We live in a time where narratives are engineered, information is selectively distributed, and emotions are weaponized. Whether in politics, media, corporate advertising, or social movements, the goal is often the same—to control public perception, behavior, and decision-making. Governments, corporations, and influencers all employ psychological operations (PSYOPs) or perception management techniques to engineer consent, sway opinions, and manipulate reality in ways that most people never recognize. The question is: Can you see it? Or are you being played? What Is a PSYOP? A psychological operation (PSYOP) is a strategy used to … Continue readingEXPOSE IT ALL: THE ART OF MANIPULATION AND PSYOPS IN MODERN SOCIETY

Why the World still Studies Sun Tzu

Introduction: Why the World Studies Sun Tzu he Art of War is a guide written by Sun Tzu, a master strategist and philosopher who walked the path of wisdom during China’s Warring States period. His teachings arose not merely from the need to triumph in battle but from an understanding that true mastery lies in outmaneuvering conflict altogether. Sun Tzu was not merely a general; he was a student of human nature. Through his writings, he offered more than strategies for warfare—he revealed principles for navigating the complexities of life itself. The Art of War is not a book … Continue readingWhy the World still Studies Sun Tzu

The Devil in the Mirror – the Nature of Real Evil

You can tell a lot about a person by the kind of evil they believe in. Some see it as a devil with horns, lurking in shadows, whispering temptations. Others see it in their neighbor, their rival, or a politician on the evening news. And then there are those rare few who dare to glance in the mirror and wonder if maybe, just maybe, the call is coming from inside the house. Now, I don’t claim to be a philosopher or a saint, but I do know one thing: humanity has been trying to pin the blame for its … Continue readingThe Devil in the Mirror – the Nature of Real Evil

The Art of Business: Why Supply Lines Win Wars

They say soldiers fight wars, but it’s logistics that wins them. Just ask Putin. The bravest army in the world can only go as far as its fuel, food, and ammunition will take them. Without those essentials, even the most fearless fighters are left stranded. In business, the battlefield might look different, but the lesson is the same: success depends on your supply lines. Whether it’s cash to fuel operations, people to carry out the mission, or tools to get the job done, you can’t win if you’re outpaced by your own ambitions. Growth is thrilling, but it’s no … Continue readingThe Art of Business: Why Supply Lines Win Wars

WAR is evil, but like removing Cancer may be necessary

Foreign policy is a mighty fine mess of morality and practicality, like trying to juggle a candle and a bucket of water. A nation’s first job, of course, is sticking around—survival, plain and simple. And when it comes to the United States, survival’s not just about staying put; it’s about keeping the hope of the world burning bright. For better or worse, we’re the ones holding the line against tyranny, waving the flag for freedom, and telling bullies to back off—so long as we’ve got the gumption and means to do it. But here’s the rub: surviving at the … Continue readingWAR is evil, but like removing Cancer may be necessary

A Ukrainian and Russian in 2050

Two old men sat in a corner booth of a quiet bar, the kind where the jukebox croaked out songs no one cared to remember. Their faces, lined with years and regrets, betrayed stories that would never be told in full. Each nursed a drink with the solemnity of a man performing a sacred rite. Once upon a time, these men had been enemies. Not the kind of enemies who spat curses across a picket fence, but real, dyed-in-the-wool enemies—pawns of nations that used them as chess pieces in a game they didn’t ask to play. One had sent … Continue readingA Ukrainian and Russian in 2050

The Wilderness of Mirrors – Lies, Truths, Half-Truths and WAR that you encounter every day

Well, you see, any good story is like a river—there’s what you can see on the surface, and then there’s all the swirling currents down below, hidden from view. And this is doubly true for stories about war. There’s the war we all recognize, the one with cannons roaring, flags waving, and brave souls marching off to glory or ruin. It’s loud and clear, full of winners and losers, and more graves than anyone cares to count. But don’t be fooled into thinking that’s the whole of it. No, sir, because right alongside that noisy parade is another war … Continue readingThe Wilderness of Mirrors – Lies, Truths, Half-Truths and WAR that you encounter every day