Blog Posts

"Western intelligence agencies are taking increasing notice of dream accounts shared by jihadists on social media sites and in telephone and email exchanges."

“My guess is that before Obama departs, he will adopt some of the more aggressive military options he has been resisting.”

From today’s DOS FOIA release of then Secretary of State Clinton's e-mails. Includes COIN discussion concerning Afghanistan strategy based on a historical perspective.

Fair winds and following seas to you and yours from SWJ...

“What they needed was to do a better job of explaining it. Obama ordered what the official called an ‘uptick in our communications tempo.’”

“The Obama record in 2015 suggests that our struggle to determine how best to shepherd and use U.S. power continues.”

"The Pentagon faces major challenges ahead in 2016 as it works to make good on a pledge to open all U.S. military combat jobs to women."

"A U.N. plan to suspend Syria's nearly five-year-old civil war calls for listing which militant groups may be fought despite an eventual ceasefire."

"Some experts believe that some purported Islamic State internal documents shared online are hoaxes, deliberately designed to deceive."

“An end to male bonding, infidelity in the field, and a sense that the special forces would be 'less elite' were among the worries cited in two recently released studies.”

“General John Campbell will ask Barack Obama to delay the withdrawal of troops for as long as possible as the Taliban offensive gathers strength.”

"Afghans are fleeing to Europe in numbers not seen even under the repressive Taliban regime."

"With Iraqi forces claiming victory in Ramadi, Baghdad finds itself facing a pair of difficult tests."

"Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi visited Ramadi Tuesday after government forces recaptured the government compound in the key western city."

Sponsored and organized jointly by TRENDS Research and Advisory, the UAE and the Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies.

"Calling for integrity in an election year may be a particularly good way to ensure that any resolutions that follow will be broken early and often."

Frequent SWJ contributing author Ben Zweibelson has two military design articles out recently, as design continues to become an international affair.

"The White House has steadily expanded the global missions of American Special Operations troops."

“A surprise visit on Christmas Day between the leaders of India and Pakistan hint at a mutual desire to no longer let historic tensions hinder their drive against poverty.”

"Iraq's army said on Sunday it had defeated Islamic State fighters in a provincial capital west of Baghdad."

SWJ Fire Team in Wedge Formation

"Unlike so many abuses against Afghan women that unfold in private, this killing in March prompted a national outcry."

"The IS released a new message purportedly from its reclusive leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, claiming that his self-styled 'caliphate' is doing well."

"One major problem, according to current and former intelligence and military officials, is that U.S. policy has simply not adjusted to the complex realities on the ground."

"Over the history of the U.S., several big military actions have taken place on Dec. 25. Here are four noteworthy ones."