Why Do Terrorists Like Toyotas?
Militant groups have long employed Toyota pickup trucks as versatile war vehicles, particularly in the Middle East. These trucks, known for their lightweight build, agility, fuel efficiency, and suitability for…
The Toyota War in Chad
The conflict known as the Toyota War, or the Great Toyota War, unfolded in 1987 in Northern Chad and along the Chad–Libya border. This pivotal chapter marked the concluding phase…
Operation Anthropoid: the Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich
Reinhard Heydrich’s car (a Mercedes-Benz 320 Convertible B) after the 1942 SOE Operation Anthropoid assassination attempt in Prague. Heydrich later died from his injuries. Photo: German Federal Archive. Operation Anthropoid…
Operation Mincemeat: How a Corpse Fooled the Nazis
Charles Cholmondeley and Ewen Montagu, two of the British intelligence officers involved in the planning of Operation Mincemeat, shown in front of the vehicle transporting the body of Glyndwr Michael…
Oleg Gordievsky: Cold War Double Agent
Oleg Gordievsky (right) with US President Ronald Reagan in 1987. Photo: Mary Anne Fackelman – Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Oleg Gordievsky was a former colonel of the KGB who became…
Best of/Interesting Culture Faith History LIFE Life and Family MASTERY Opinion PSYCHE Weaponizing the Behavioral Sciences Wisdom
The Other 300
The Other 300 by Donavon L Riley In the annals of military history, there are few stories as iconic and inspiring as that of the 300 Spartans who stood resolute…
The Story of STARS: CIA’s Amazing Airborne Recovery System
Fulton STARS equipped Lockheed MC-130E Combat Talon. Photo: US Air Force. The Fulton surface-to-air recovery system (STARS), also known as the Fulton Skyhook, was a method of retrieving personnel and…
Moe Berg: Baseball Player & Spy
Moe Berg. Photo: Central Intelligence Agency. Berg made himself unique so comparisons were impossible.” ― Nicholas Dawidoff, The Catcher Was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg. Morris (Moe)…
Ten Fascinating Cold War Spy Gadgets
Robot fish “Charlie” Photo: Central Intelligence Agency. Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” ― Mark Twain, Following the…
Best of/Interesting Culture Faith LIFE Life and Family MASTERY Opinion PSYCHE Weaponizing the Behavioral Sciences Wisdom
Into The Furnace: Epictetus, Bushido & Being Tested
Into The Furnace: Epictetus, Bushido & Being Tested by Donavon L Riley Life often throws us into situations where we face challenges, adversity, and uncertainty. It’s in these moments that…