This comes from one of my favorite newly discovered blogs: Straight Forward in a Crooked World. The name sais it all. Check them Out. -SF Dark Arts for Good Guys: Break On Through To the Other Side One of the best weapons for getting out of a crisis isn’t necessarily a gun. A decent…
Category: Reference Materials
Texas News: Convention of the States, Part 1
For those of you following this, here is the link to Governor Abbotts 92 page “Texas Plan” which I am currently reading. For all of you out there who are fans of both Constitutional history and it’s inherent application, I urge you to read this. What I find amazing is Gov. Abbott is actually following…
China’s Military Intelligence System is Changing
As American families dined on turkey and stuffing, China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) was hard at work in Beijing hammering out military reforms. These reforms were then announced to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) by President Xi Jinping, who also serves as the CMC chairman. The proposed organizational changes may make this round of reform…
Military History: Napoleon, the First Modern Politican
I have read several Biographies on the military exploits of Napoleon, but this article explores a side of the man rarely discussed: The Political agenda. -SF David A. Bell, Napoleon: A Concise Biography (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2015), 152 pp., $18.95. Michael Broers, Napoleon: Soldier of Destiny (New York: Pegasus, 2015), 608…
Military History: History’s Last Left Hook?
Military Envelopments with Strategic Implications “Left hook” is a boxing term for a short, sideways, inside punch which often lands on an opponent’s jaw. Left hooks generally come as a surprise because for most people it is much harder to punch with their left arm. So, while boxers may continuously jab, cross, and uppercut, the…
Tradecraft: How to Pick Locks and Break Padlocks
The art of picking locks may seem like the stuff of action-movie heroes, rather than a commonly known skill. But with perseverance, an understanding of locks, and the right tools, anyone can become a successful lock pick. Although most advanced and higher-end locks can only be broken with purpose-made picking tools, improvised lock picks can be used to crack low-end…
Crusader Corner #9: Understanding ISIS’ “De-Centralized” Organizational Structure
Decentralization: The Future of ISIS by Nicholas B. Pace With the United States increasingly involved in counter-terror operations across the world, terrorist organizations have had to become more flexible and adaptive to their environment. Centralized, top-down terrorist organizations with ambitions to target the United States and its interests are no longer feasible. The United…
Tradecraft: 9 Secrets to Reading People
The ability to read others will greatly affect how you deal with them. When you understand how another person is feeling, you can adapt your message and communication style to make sure it is received in the best way possible. But what should you be listening for? And what other signs can tip you…
Computer Security: Email Hygiene Tips
Anti-phishing and Email Hygiene Journalists and newsrooms are increasingly the victims of hacking and malware, and often hackers target them through their email. Virtually every “sophisticated” hack of an individual reporter or entire newsroom starts with a relatively simple attack: phishing and spear phishing. Phishing is a social-engineering attack where an adversary crafts an email…
IED Awareness: The Blast Zone
(Note: This is a companion piece to the article I re-posted titled IED Awareness for First Responders and Civilians.) In this companion piece to my previous article, IED Awareness for First Responders, I cover the basics of what every first responder should know about the area around a bomb which is affected by the blast….