The Swans Were Not Saved by Their Cries
The Swans Were Not Saved by Their Cries by Donavon L Riley Freedom, in its abstract form, is a distant god, cold and indifferent. It makes a very stupid god.…
The CIA Directorate of Operations: The Heart of American Intelligence
Aerial view of the CIA headquarters, Langley, Virginia. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the United States’ premier intelligence organization, has a long and storied history. One of its most critical…
Does The Warrior Still Exist?
Does The Warrior Still Exist? by Donavon L Riley Until recently, it was typical for societies to exalt the warrior class to the apex of their hierarchies. However, today, in…
The OSS Morale Operations Branch: Pioneers of Psychological Warfare
The OSS Gallery at the CIA Museum at the George Bush Center for Intelligence, Virginia. All warfare is based on deception.” — Sun Tzu, “The Art of War.” The Morale…
Quintus Fabius: Rome’s Champion of Attrition Warfare
Statue of Fabius Cunctator (Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus), Schönbrunn gardens, Vienna. Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, also known as Cunctator, meaning “the Delayer,” was a pivotal figure in Roman history and…
Hidden History: The OSS’s Secret Base on Catalina Island
Santa Catalina Island satellite image. In the annals of World War II history, the role of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) stands out as a testament to the power…
Awareness Best of/Interesting Faith LIFE Opinion Prepping & Survival PSYCHE Weaponizing the Behavioral Sciences Wisdom
The Digital Devil at the Heart of the Machine
The Digital Devil at the Heart of the Machine by Donavon L Riley What if the power and authority of political realms was taken captive to the devil? According to…
The Maquis: French Resistance in World War II
Members of the Maquis in La Trésorerie (a hamlet part of Wimille, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, France). 14 September 1944. Donald I. Grant, Department of National Defence. Library and Archives of Canada.…
Marcus Aurelius: The Philosopher King
Bust of Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, is often referred to as the “philosopher king”. His reign was marked by wisdom, virtue, and…
Socrates: The Soldier-Philosopher
“Alcibiades Receiving Instruction from Socrates”, a 1776 painting by François-André Vincent, depicting Socrates’s daimon. Socrates, born around 470 BC in Athens, Greece, is often regarded as the founder of Western…