The Cult of Special Operators: Then and Now
When I started my career in intelligence and operations four decades ago, the special operator for the most part was a lean, quiet professional. Efficiency, discipline, and adaptability defined them more than appearance or ego. Fast forward to today, and it seems something has changed. Today, the special operator is often portrayed as a larger-than-life […]
Lessons from History: What Modern Intelligence Can Learn from Covert Operations of the Cold War
As someone who has spent decades working in intelligence and security, I’ve always found the Cold War to be an endless source of lessons. Beyond the politics, beyond the ideological battles, there was a quiet war being waged in shadows—covert operations, espionage, and clandestine actions that shaped the world without ever making headlines. Today, as […]
Why “We Don’t Win Wars” Is a Dangerous Myth
There’s a phrase I’ve heard a lot over the years—from pundits, politicians, and even some veterans: “The U.S. doesn’t win wars anymore.” It’s usually said with frustration, sometimes with bitterness, and often with a tone of resignation. I understand where the sentiment comes from. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan—these are complicated, messy conflicts that didn’t end with […]
Latin America’s Crossroads: Why the U.S. Can’t Afford to Lose Ground to China
The Backyard We’ve Ignored I spent a good portion of my intelligence career watching countries shift alliances, and not because of conventional warfare. Not overnight, not with fanfare, but quietly, incrementally, through trade deals leading to favorable votes at the UN, infrastructure projects, and economic entanglements. Nowhere is this more evident than in Latin America. […]