Operation Ghost Stories: Unmasking Russian Spies in America
Russian spy Anna Chapman and an undercover agent meet in a coffee shop in New York, June 26, 2010. Video frame from FBI surveillance video. Federal Bureau of Investigation Operation…
The Mystery of “Donovan of Central Intelligence”: A Classified Comic Strip
Few spy stories are as intriguing as that of “Donovan of Central Intelligence,” a seven-page comic strip from a 1950 issue of Atomic Spy Cases. This comic, which was kept…
Sotol: The Desert Spirit with a Rich History
Photo courtesy Desert Door Texas Sotol. Sotol, often overshadowed by its more famous cousins tequila and mezcal, is a distinctive distilled spirit with a rich history and unique production process.…
The History of the CIA Seal: A Symbol of Strength and Intelligence
CIA seal in entrance of the CIA headquarters lobby. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) seal is one of the most recognizable symbols of American intelligence. Featured prominently on the floor…
Operation Lemon Aid: Unmasking Soviet Espionage in the United States
United Nations General Assembly Hall. The Soviets used the UN as a front for espionage. Photo by Patrick Gruban / CC BY-SA 2.0. In the 1970s, the Cold War between…
William Sebold: Double Agent Who Helped Break the Duquesne Spy Ring
William Sebold and his wife photographed in New York City, 1937. NY Daily News. William G. Sebold, born Gottlieb Adolf Wilhelm Sebold on March 10, 1899, in Mülheim, Germany, played…
Tequila 101: A Guide to Mexico’s Iconic Spirit
Pexels photo by Snapr. Tequila, a distilled spirit made from the blue agave plant, is more than just a drink—it’s a symbol of Mexican heritage and craftsmanship. Tequila’s roots trace…
Prince Serge Obolensky: The Aristocrat Who Joined the OSS
LTC Serge Obolensky and his OSS team. U.S. Archives. Prince Serge Obolensky, born Sergei Platonovich Obolensky Neledinsky-Meletzky on November 3, 1890, in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia, led a life that was…
The Pitfall of Single-Minded Strategy: Lessons from Musashi
Portrait of Miyamoto Musashi. Circa before 1645 (Edo Period). Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art. Recently there have been people getting on in the world as strategists, but they are usually…
The Warrior’s Journey: Integrating Intellectual and Physical Disciplines
The famous duel between the sword master Miyamoto Musashi (left) and Sasaki Kojiro (Ganryu) at Ganryu-jima island. Yoshifusa Utagawa, 1843. It is said the warrior’s is the twofold Way of…