Veterans & Moral Injury – Lima Charlie interviews USC CIR’s Dr. Hazel Atuel
Moral injury is a subject that is widely misunderstood and a key symptom of participating in war and conflict. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes an event considered to be morally injurious as one that… Keep Reading
Catalonia vote to split from Spain approaches amid government crackdown
Barcelona, Spain – The European Union will not intervene over Catalan independence, citing respect for the Spanish Constitution. The Spanish government maintains that the referendum for the state’s independence is illegal, and cracked down on Wednesday,… Keep Reading
Myanmar’s crisis is much more than the Rohingya
The General Assembly of the United Nations is meeting in New York to try and resolve the problem of the expulsion of almost 400,000 Rohingya from the Rakhine region of the country by the Myanmar… Keep Reading
USC ‘State of the American Veteran Conference’ to address critical Veteran issues
The University of Southern California’s Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families kicks off its annual ‘State of the American Veteran Conference 2017’. Los Angeles, California – The Center for Innovation and… Keep Reading
Russia strikes Syrian Democratic Forces near Deir Ezzor
Forces from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were struck by Russian air assets near the Deir Ezzor frontline on September 16th, this according to a statement made by the Combined Joint Task Force –… Keep Reading
Middle East – North Africa News Brief
MENA BRIEF, SITREP September 10 – September 17: Middle East and Northern Africa Regional Low Intensity Conflicts. [HIGHLIGHT]: Qatar The Qatari diplomatic crisis remains ongoing, and several regional sources have indicated that Saudi Arabia will soon… Keep Reading
President Trump remembers the sacrifices of armed forces on POW/MIA Recognition Day
Today marks the 38th POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is observed annually on the third Friday of September. Beginning in 1979, President Jimmy Carter first acknowledged POW/MIA Recognition Day to honor those who were prisoners of… Keep Reading
China’s Surprise Attack Preparations: Defensive Posturing or Strategic Signaling?
Last Wednesday, China reportedly conducted military exercises as a means to cope with a sea-based “surprise attack” emanating from the Korean peninsula. On the surface, the story isn’t all that interesting. However, when one considers… Keep Reading
Zapad 2017 kicks off as Russia’s “West” war games challenge NATO
Russia began its newest round of war games, “Zapad-2017” (the Russian word for “West”), on Thursday. According to Russian officials the exercise will involve 13,000 troops, but some NATO representatives assert that Russia will be… Keep Reading
Russia arms deal marks ever widening gap between NATO and Turkey
Despite, or in spite, of its NATO allies’ objections Turkey has proceeded with the purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. The first downpayment was sent to Moscow late last week. Domestically, the move… Keep Reading
The Final Movement of the Islamic State
The grand symphony of Death and Destruction continues to play itself out across the streets of Deir Ezzor. A mortar round detonates. A curious fluttering and whooshing sound passes, culminating in a sudden, violent crescendo… Keep Reading
DACA Dreamers – my family story
My dad, Jose Louis Perez, was the youngest of 10 children. He was born in Mexico. In the early 60’s, his parents decided that life in Mexico didn’t present the opportunities that America did. It was… Keep Reading
Middle East – North Africa News Brief
MENA BRIEF, SITREP September 3 – September 10: Middle East and Northern Africa Regional Low Intensity Conflicts. [BAHRAIN]: The past week saw an increase in Shia opposition groups calling for nationwide protests. Despite the surge in… Keep Reading
Florida economy, 4th largest US, 18th in the World, braces for Irma impact
Hurricane Irma’s impact on Florida’s economy, the forth largest in the United States, and the 18th largest in the world if ranked by GDP, could be severe as the Category 4 storm surges north bringing… Keep Reading
Syrian Army breaks through ISIS lines at Deir Ezzor
The shadows of the Russian Air Force have been covering the ground of Deir Ezzor, striking Islamic State positions throughout. From moonless nights to full moon, every effort has been made to mercilessly strike the… Keep Reading
‘Rebel in the Rye’ – A Conversation with Hollywood rebel Danny Strong
REBEL IN THE RYE director Danny Strong’s directorial debut is about the birth of a writer and how that writer, a World War II veteran, was transformed by war. The writer, J.D. Salinger, would go… Keep Reading
The solution to North Korea won’t come from a tweet
North Korea (‘DPRK’) announced it has tested a new ‘hydrogen bomb’ as its sixth test to date in the development of a nuclear program. The DPRK also announced that this new bomb was small enough… Keep Reading
Middle East – North Africa News Brief
MENA BRIEF, SITREP August 26 – September 2: Middle East and Northern Africa Regional Low Intensity Conflicts. [GENERAL]: August 30th marked the official beginning of the Hajj pilgrimage, a sacred journey for Muslims worldwide to go… Keep Reading