Operation Ivy Bells: A Cold War Espionage Masterstroke
View of USS Halibut departing San Francisco, likely in the mid 1970s. U.S. Navy photo. Operation Ivy Bells was a top-secret mission during the Cold War, jointly executed by the…
The Theology of Progress
The Theology of Progress by Donavon L Riley The subject of progress is a ubiquitous theme in contemporary discourse — the conversation can be heard everywhere, from gyms to shareholder…
The IUSS: America’s Sentinel Beneath the Waves
U..S. Navy photo (Released) The Integrated Undersea Surveillance System (IUSS) is a crucial component of the U.S. Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities. The system was born out of the Cold War…
The Discovery of the Titanic: A Secret Cold War Navy Mission
View of the bow of the RMS Titanic photographed in June 2004 by the ROV Hercules during an expedition returning to the shipwreck of the Titanic. Courtesy of NOAA/Institute for…
Area 51: A Declassified CIA History
Area 51 seen from Tikaboo Peak. Wikimedia / Public Domain. Area 51 is a mysterious Nevada test site that has been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. The U.S. government’s…
Flying the Covert Skies: The CIA’s Secret Airlines
An Air America Pilatus PC-6 Porter (N355F) over Southeast Asia. Often forced to operate from short, crude and isolated landing strips known as Lima Sites, Air America relied on helicopters…
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Unveiling the Myth of the Machine
Unveiling the Myth of the Machine by Donavon L Riley In a world propelled by the compulsive need for conquest and expansion, the omnipresent force of the Machine, as George…
The Vinh Wiretap: A Pivotal CIA Operation of the Vietnam War
A later model OH-6 Cayuse, modified with black paint, similar to the helicopters used in the operation. Photo: James Dale / CC BY 2.0 DEED. The Vinh wiretap was an…
Agent Zigzag: The Enigmatic Eddie Chapman
Eddie Chapman beside his Rolls Royce. Source: MI5 – UK National Archive declassified documents (over 50 years). Edward Arnold Chapman, known as Eddie Chapman, was born on November 16, 1914,…
French Coffee Culture: The Art of Coffee & Life
Café Procope is the oldest café in Paris. It was established in 1686. Photo by Jean-Marie Hullot / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED. French coffee culture is as rich and diverse…