Never Forget

Survivors 9/11

The events of 9/11/01 were the largest attack against the US since the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the most destructive single act of terrorism in history. The responsibility for masterminding, planning, organizing, and executing the operation lay with members of Al Qaeda (the Base). The extremist Islamic group had spent years organizing, coordinating, and conducting terrorist attacks on western interests, particularly the US, since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.

Abbey Gate +5

The events of 9/11/01 were the largest attack against the US since the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor in 1941, and the most destructive single act of terrorism in history. The responsibility for masterminding, planning, organizing, and executing the operation lay with members of Al Qaeda (the Base). The extremist Islamic group had spent years organizing, coordinating, and conducting terrorist attacks on western interests, particularly the US, since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.

Declaring and Securing Independence

Gettysburg National Military Park

The Declaration of Independence is rightly celebrated as the foundational document for the rights of all free people. However, it was merely a document formalizing the dedication of the colonists to secure freedom and independence from overbearing British rule.

The lessons from 1775

The Battle of Bunker Hill provided several lessons for the Continental Army and George Washington. The main lesson of the battle was that the militiamen and minutemen of the colonies could stand toe-to-toe against the largest, best equipped, and most well-trained army in the world.

The Legacy of the Commandos

Boer War Commandos 1899

Commandos fought in every theater and in nearly every allied army during WWII. The legacy of the commandos extends to the modern-day Special Forces, Rangers, SAS, SBS, and other specialized units in nearly every standing army. Several of the most highly decorated soldiers of the war were commandos. The SOE and OSS led directly to the development of the CIA and influenced the future of MI5 and MI6 in Great Britain.

Persia, Iran, and the Great Game

Battle of Fallujah

The Islamic Revolution of 1979 changed the calculus of international relations across the middle east. Fundamentalist philosophy dominating the new Iran created an enmity between the west and Iran that persists.

Human Weakness

photo showing Aldrich Ames leaving the courthouse after receiving a life sentence (credit: Getty images)

History is replete with human conflict. Territorial disputes, vanquishing new lands, enslaving neighbors, lust for gold and other treasures drive the desire for conquest. In many conflicts, the victor is determined by having a larger army, better weapons, or more skilled battlefield leaders. In other cases, the winner is determined through subterfuge, deception, traitors, or espionage.

The Consequences of Kinetic Diplomacy

photo: Point Lay Alaska DEW Line

On June 22, 2025, US forces, augmented by Israeli Defense Forces, conducted Operation Midnight Hammer, a raid on suspected Iranian nuclear weapons sites. The attack consisted of sea-launched cruise missiles, fighter aircraft from both Israel and the US, drones, and B-2 bombers that flew a non-stop mission from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. The entire mission lasted 37 hours…