Podcasts about Diplomatic Security Service

Can You Segway?Book 3 in 18 parts, By FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.So exactly who was going to be sympathetic to their plight, who we cared about?Beyond my fevered dream of making a difference there was a pinch of reality. See, the Cabindans and the people of Zaire were both ethnic Bakongo and the Bakongo of Zaire had also once had their own, independent (until 1914) kingdom which was now part of Angola. The Bakongo were major factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) -(formerly for a short time known as the nation of Zaire, from here on out to be referred to as the DRC and in the running for the most fucked up place on the planet Earth, more on that later)- and Congo (the nation) yet a minority in Angola. Having an independent nation united along ethnic and linguistic lines made sense and could expect support from their confederates across international boundaries.The Liberation Air ForceThe Earth & Sky operated under one constant dilemma ~ when would Temujin make his return? Since they didn't know and it was their job to be prepared for the eventuality if it happened tomorrow, or a century down the line, they 'stockpiled', and 'stockpiled' and 'stockpiled'.That was why they maintained large horse herds and preserved the ancient arts of Asian bowyers, armoring and weapons-craft. That was why they created secret armories, and sulfur and saltpeter sites when musketry and cannons became the new ways of warfare. They secured sources of phosphates and petroleum when they became the new thing, and so on.All of this boiled over to me being shown yet again I worked with clever, creative and under-handed people. The Khanate came up with a plan for a 'Union' Air Force {Union? More on that later} within 24 hours, and it barely touched any of their existing resources. How did they accomplish this miracle? They had stockpiled and maintained earlier generation aircraft because they didn't know when Temujin would make his re-appearance.They'd also trained pilots and ground crews for those aircraft. As you might imagine, those people grew old just as their equipment did. In time, they went into the Earth & Sky's Inactive Reserves ~ the rank & file over the age of 45. You never were 'too old' to serve in some capacity though most combat-support related work ended at 67.When Temujin made his return and the E&S transformed into the Khanate, those people went to work bringing their lovingly cared for, aging equipment up to combat-alert readiness. If the frontline units were decimated, they would have to serve, despite the grim odds of their survival. It was the terrible acceptance the Chinese would simply possess so much more war-making material than they did.Well, the Khanate kicked the PRC's ass in a titanic ass-whooping no one (else) had seen coming, or would soon forget. Factory production and replacement of worn machines was in stride to have the Khanate's Air Force ready for the next round of warfare when the Cease-fire ended and the Reunification War resumed.Always a lower priority, the Khanate military leadership was considering deactivating dozens of these reserve unit when suddenly the (Mongolian) Ikh khaany khairt akh dáé (me) had this hare-brained scheme about helping rebels in Africa, West Africa, along the Gulf of Guinea coast/Atlantic Ocean, far, far away, and it couldn't look like the Khanate was directly involved.They barely knew where Angola was. They had to look up Cabinda to figure out precisely where that was. They brought in some of their 'reservist' air staff to this briefing and one of them, a woman (roughly a third of the E&S 'fighting'/non-frontline forces were female), knew what was going on. Why?She had studied the combat records and performance of the types of aircraft she'd have to utilize... back in the 1980's and 90's and Angola had been a war zone rife with Soviet (aka Khanate) material back then. Since she was both on the ball, bright and knew the score, the War Council put her in overall command. She knew what was expected of her and off she went, new staff in hand. She was 64 years old, yet as ready and willing to serve as any 20 year old believer in the Cause.Subtlety, scarcity and audacity were the watchwords of the day. The Khanate couldn't afford any of their front-line aircraft for this 'expedition'. They really couldn't afford any of their second-rate stuff either. Fortunately, they had some updated third-rate war-fighting gear still capable of putting up an impressive show in combat ~ providing they weren't going up against a top tier opponents.For the 'volunteers' of the Union Air Force, this could very likely to be a one-way trip. They all needed crash courses (not a word any air force loves, I know) in Portuguese though hastily provided iPhones with 'apps' to act as translators were deemed to be an adequate stop-gap measure. Besides, they were advised to avoid getting captured at all cost. The E&S couldn't afford the exposure. Given the opportunity ~ this assignment really was going above and beyond ~ not one of these forty-six to sixty-seven year olds backed out.No, they rolled out fifty of their antiquated aircraft, designs dating back to the 1950's through the mid-70's, and prepared them for the over 10,000 km journey to where they were 'needed most'. 118 pilots would go (72 active plus 46 replacements) along with 400 ground crew and an equally aged air defense battalion (so their air bases didn't get blown up). Security would be provided by 'outsiders' ~ allies already on the ground and whatever rebels could be scrounged up. After the initial insertion, the Indian Air Force would fly in supplies at night into the Cabinda City and Soyo Airports.The composition,14 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 jet fighters ~ though she entered service in 1959, these planes' electronics were late 20th century and she was a renowned dogfighter. 12 were the Mig-21-97 modernized variant and the other two were Mig-21 UM two-seater trainer variants which could double as reconnaissance fighters if needed.14 Sukhoi Su-22 jet fighter-bombers ~ the original design, called the Su-17, came out in 1970, the first 12 were variants with the 22M4 upgrade were an early-80's package. The other 2 were Su-22U two-seat trainers which, like their Mig-21 comrades, doubled as reconnaissance fighters. The Su-22M4's would be doing the majority of the ground attack missions for the Cabindans, though they could defend themselves in aerial combat if necessary.6 Sukhoi Su-24M2 supersonic attack aircraft ~ the first model rolled off the production lines in the Soviet Union back in 1974. By far the heaviest planes in the Cabindan Air Force, the Su-24M2's would act as their 'bomber force' as well as anti-ship deterrence.8 Mil Mi-24 VM combat helicopters ~ introduced in 1972 was still a lethal combat machine today. Unlike the NATO helicopter force, the Mi-24's did double duty as both attack helicopter and assault transports at the same time.4 Mil Mi-8 utility helicopters, first produced in 1967. Three would act as troop/cargo transports (Mi-8 TP) while the fourth was configured as a mobile hospital (the MI-17 1VA).4 Antonov An-26 turboprop aircraft, two to be used as tactical transports to bring in supplies by day and two specializing in electronic intelligence aka listening to what the enemy was up to. Though it entered production in 1969, many still remained flying today.2 Antonov An-71M AEW&C twin-jet engine aircraft. These were an old, abandoned Soviet design the Earth & Sky had continued working on primarily because the current (1970's) Russian Airborne Early Warning and Control bird had been both huge and rather ineffective ~ it couldn't easily identify low-flying planes in the ground clutter so it was mainly only good at sea. Since the E&S planned to mostly fight over the land,They kept working on the An-71 which was basically 1977's popular An-72 with some pertinent design modifications (placing the engines below the wings instead of above them as on the -72 being a big one). To solve their radar problem, they stole some from the Swedish tech firm Ericsson, which hadn't been foreseen to be a problem before now.See, the Russians in the post-Soviet era created a decent AEW&C craft the E&S gladly stole and copied the shit out of for their front line units and it was working quite nicely ~ the Beriev A-50, and wow, were the boys in the Kremlin pissed off about that these days. Whoops, or was that woot?Now, the Khanate was shipping two An-71's down to Cabinda and somewhere along the line someone just might get a 'feel' for the style of radar and jamming the Cabindans were using aka the Swedish stuff in those An-71's. The Erieye radar system could pick out individual planes at 280 miles. The over-all system could track 60 targets and plot out 10 intercepts simultaneously. NATO, they were not, but in sub-Saharan Africa, there were none better.Anyway, so why was any of this important?Why the old folks with their ancient machines? As revealed, since the Earth & Sky had no idea when Temüjin would return, they were constantly squirreling away equipment. World War 2 gave them unequaled access to Soviet military technology and training.Afterwards, under Josef Stalin's direction, thousands of Russian and German engineers and scientists were exiled to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan who were then snatched up (reportedly died in the gulags/trying to escape) and the E&S began building mirror factories modeled on the 'then current' Soviet production lines.So, by the early 1950's, the E&S was building, flying and maintaining Soviet-style Antonov, Beriev, Ilyushin, Myasishchev, Mikoyan-Gurevich, Sukhoi, Tupolev and Yakovlev airplanes. First in small numbers because their pool of pilots and specialists was so small.The E&S remedied this by creating both their own 'private' flight academies and technical schools. They protected their activities with the judicious use of bribes (they were remarkably successful with their economic endeavors on both side of the Iron Curtain) and murders (including the use of the Ghost Tigers).By 1960, the proto-Khanate had an air force. Through the next two decades they refined and altered their doctrine ~ moving away from the Soviet doctrine to a more pure combined-arms approach (the Soviets divided their air power into four separate arms ~ ADD (Long Range Aviation), FA (Front Aviation), MTA (Military Transport Aviation) and the V-PVO (Soviet Air Defenses ~ which controlled air interceptors).).It wasn't until the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the various former SSR's that the E&S program really began to hit its stride. Still, while Russia faltered, China's PLAAF (Peoples' Liberation Army Air Force) began to take off. Since the Chinese could produce so much more, the E&S felt it had to keep those older planes and crews up to combat readiness. The younger field crews and pilots flew the newer models as they rolled off the secret production lines.Then the Unification War appeared suddenly, the E&S-turned Khanate Air Force skunked their PLAAF rivals due to two factors, a surprise attack on a strategic level and the fatal poisoning of their pilots and ground crews before they even got into the fight. For those Chinese craft not destroyed on the ground, the effects of Anthrax eroded their fighting edge. Comparable technology gave the Khanate their critical victory and Air Supremacy over the most important battlefields.What did this meant for those out-of-date air crews and pilots who had been training to a razor's edge for a month now? Their assignment had been to face down the Russians if they invaded. They would take their planes up into the fight even though this most likely would mean their deaths, but they had to try.When Operation Fun House put Russia in a position where she wasn't likely to jump on the Khanate, this mission's importance faded. The Russian Air Force was far more stretched than the Khanate's between her agitations in the Baltic and her commitments in the Manchurian, Ukrainian, Chechen and Georgian theaters.With more new planes rolling off the production lines, these reservist units began dropping down the fuel priority list, which meant lowering their flight times thus readiness. Only my hare-brained scheme had short-circuited their timely retirement. Had I realized I was getting people's grandparents killed, I would have probably made the same call anyway. We needed them.The KanateThe Khanate's #1 air superiority dogfighter was the Mig-35F. The #2 was the Mig-29. No one was openly discussing the Khanate's super-stealthy "Su-50", if that was what it was, because its existence 'might' suggest the Khanate also stole technology from the Indian defense industry, along with their laundry list of thefts from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the PRC, Russia and half of NATO.Her top multi-role fighters were the Su-47, Su-35S and Su-30SM. The Su-30 'Flanker-C/MK2/MKI were their 2nd team with plenty of 3rd team Su-27M's still flying combat missions as well.Strike fighters? There weren't enough Su-34's to go around yet, so the Su-25MS remained the Khanate's dedicated Close Air Assault model.Medium transport aircraft? The An-32RE and An-38. They had small, large and gargantuan transports as well.Bombers? The rather ancient jet-powered Tu-160M2's and Tu-22M2's as well as the even older yet still worthwhile turboprops ~ from 1956's ~ the Tu-95M S16.Helicopters? While they still flew updated variants of the Mil Mi-8/17 as military transports, the more optimized Kamov Ka-52 and Mil Mi-28 had replaced them in the assault role.Bizarrely, the Khanate had overrun several Chinese production lines of the aircraft frames and components ~ enough to complete fairly modern PLAAF (Peoples Liberation Army Air Force) FC-1 and J-10 (both are small multi-role fighter remarkably similar to the US F-16 with the FC-1 being the more advanced model, using shared Chinese-Pakistani technology and was designed for export,).They did have nearly two dozen to send, but they didn't have the pilots and ground crews trained to work with them, plus the FC-1 cost roughly $32 million which wasn't fundage any legitimate Cabindan rebels could get their hands on, much less $768 million (and that would just be for the planes, not the weeks' worth of fuel, parts and munitions necessary for what was forthcoming).Meanwhile, except for the An-26, which you could get for under $700,000 and the An-71, which were only rendered valuable via 'black market tech', none of the turboprop and jet aircraft the Khanate was sending were what any sane military would normally want. The helicopters were expensive ~ the 'new' models Mi-24's cost $32 million while the Mi-17's set you back $17 million. The one's heading to Cabinda didn't look 'new'.The Opposition:In contrast, the Angolan Air Force appeared far larger and more modern. Appearances can be deceptive, and they were. Sure, the models of Russian and Soviet-made aircraft they had in their inventory had the higher numbers ~ the Su-25, -27 and -30 ~ plus they had Mig-21bis's, Mig-23's and Su-22's, but things like training and up-keep didn't appear to be priorities for the Angolans.When you took into account the rampant corruption infecting all levels of Angolan government, the conscript nature of their military, the weakness of their technical educational system, the complexity of any modern combat aircraft and the reality that poor sods forced into being Air Force ground crewmen hardly made the most inspired technicians, or most diligent care-takers of their 'valuable' stockpiles (which their officers all too often sold on the black market anyway), things didn't just look bleak for the Angolan Air Force, they were a tsunami of cumulative factors heading them for an epic disaster.It wasn't only their enemies who derided their Air Force's lack of readiness. Their allies constantly scolded them about it too. Instead of trying to fix their current inventory, the Angolans kept shopping around for new stuff. Since 'new'-new aircraft was beyond what they wanted to spend (aka put too much of a dent in the money they were siphoning off to their private off-shore accounts), they bought 'used' gear from former Soviet states ~ Belarus, Russia and Ukraine ~ who sold them stuff they had left abandoned in revetments (open to the elements to slowly rot) on the cheap.To add to the insanity, the Angolans failed to keep up their maintenance agreements so their newly fixed high-tech machines often either couldn't fly, or flew without critical systems, like radar, avionics and even radios. Maybe that wasn't for the worst because after spending millions on these occasionally-mobile paperweights, the Angolans bought the least technologically advanced missile, gun and rocket systems they could get to put on these flying misfortunes.On the spread sheets, Angola had 18 Su-30K's, 18 Su-27, 12 Su-25's, 14 Su-22's, 22 Mig-23's, 23 Mig-21bis's and 6 Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano (a turboprop aircraft tailor-made for counter-insurgency operations), 105 helicopters with some combative ability and 21 planes with some airlift capacity. That equated to 81 either air superiority, or multi-role jet fighters versus the 12 Union Air Force (actually the Bakongo Uni o de Cabinda e Zaire, For as Armadas de Liberta  o, For a Area ~ Liberation Armed Forces, Air Force (BUCZ-FAL-FA) Mig-21-97's.It would seem lopsided except for the thousands of hours of flight experience the 'Unionists' enjoyed over their Angolan rivals. You also needed to take into account the long training and fanatic dedication of their ground crews to their pilots and their craft. Then you needed to take into account every Unionist aircraft, while an older airframe design, had updated (usually to the year 2000) technology lovingly cared for, as if the survival of their People demanded it.A second and even more critical factor was the element of surprise. At least the PRC and the PLAAF had contingencies for attacks from their neighbors in the forefront of their strategic planning. The Angolans? The only country with ANY air force in the vicinity was the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and they had ceased being a threat with the end of Apartheid and the rise of majority Black rule in that country nearly two decades earlier.In the pre-dawn hours of 'Union Independence Day', the FAL-FA was going to smash every Angolan Air base and air defense facility within 375 miles of Cabinda (the city). Every three hours after that, they would be hitting another target within their designated 'Exclusion Zone'. Yes, this 'Exclusion Zone' included a 'tiny' bit of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) territory. The DRC didn't have an air force to challenge them though, so,Inside this 'Exclusion Zone', anything moving by sea, river, road, rail, or air without Unionist governmental approval was subject to attack, which would require neutral parties to acknowledge some semblance of a free and independent B U C Z. Worse for Angola, this 'Zone' included Angola's capital and its largest port, Luanda, plus four more of their ten largest urban centers. This could be an economic, military and humanitarian catastrophe if mishandled.The Angolan Army did not have significant anti-aircraft assets. Why would they? Remember, no one around them had much of an air force to worry about. The FAL-FA in turn could hit military convoys with TV-guided munitions 'beyond line of sight', rendering what they did have useless. It got worse for the Army after dark. The FAL-FA could and would fly at night whereas the average Angolan formation had Zip-Zero-Nadda night fighting capacity.Then geography added its own mountain of woes. As far as Cabinda was concerned, there was no direct land line to their border from Angola. Their coastal road only went as far as the port of Soyo where the Congo River hit the South Atlantic Ocean. Across that massive gap was the DRC where the road was not picked back up. Far up the coast was the DRC town of Muanda (with an airport) and though they did have a road which went north, it did not continue to the Cabindan border.Nope. To get at Cabinda from the south meant a long, torturous travel through northeastern Angola, into the heart of the DRC then entailed hooking west to some point 'close' to the Cabindan frontier before finally hoofing it overland through partially cleared farmland and jungle. Mind you, the DRC didn't have a native air force capable of protecting the Angolans in their territory so,In fact the only 'road' to Cabinda came from the Republic of Congo (Congo) to the north and even that was a twisted route along some really bad, swampy terrain. This had been the pathway of conquest the Angolans took 39 years earlier. The difference being the tiny bands of pro-independence Cabindan guerillas back then couldn't hold a candle to the Amazons fighting to free Cabinda this time around in numbers, zeal, training and up-to-date equipment.Next option ~ to come by sea. They would face a few, stiff problems, such as the FAL-FA having ship-killer missiles, the Angolan Navy not being able to defend them and the Unionists having no compunction to not strike Pointe-Noire in the 'not so neutral' Republic of the Congo if they somehow began unloading Angolan troops. It seemed the Republic of the Congo didn't have much of an Air Force either.Before you think the FAL-FA was biting off more than they could chew, Cabinda, the province, was shaped somewhat like the US State of Delaware, was half the size of Connecticut (Cabinda was 2,810 sq. mi. to Conn.'s 5,543 sq. mi.) and only the western 20% was relatively open countryside where the Angolan Army's only advantage ~ they possessed armed fighting vehicles while the 'Unionists' did not (at this stage of planning) ~ could hopefully come into play.Centered at their capital, Cabinda (City), jets could reach any point along their border within eight minutes. Helicopters could make it in fifteen. To be safe, some of the FAL-FA would base at the town of Belize which was in the northern upcountry and much tougher to get at with the added advantage the Angolans wouldn't be expecting the FAL-FA to be using the abandoned airfield there, at least initially.Where they afraid attacking Angolan troops in the DRC would invite war with the DRC? Sure, but letting the Angolans reach the border unscathed was worse. Besides, the DRC was in such a mess it needed 23,000 UN Peacekeepers within her borders just to keep the country from falling apart. Barring outside, read European, intervention, did "Democratically-elected since 2001" President (for Life) Joseph Kabila want the FAL-FA to start dropping bombs on his capital, Kinshasa, which was well within reach of all their aircraft?Congo (the country), to the north, wasn't being propped up by the UN, or anything else except ill intentions. In reality, it hardly had much of a military at all. Its officer corps was chosen for political reliability, not merit, or capability. Their technology was old Cold War stuff with little effort to update anything and, if you suspected corruption might be a problem across all spectrums of life, you would 'probably' be right about that too.If you suspected the current President had been in charge for a while, you would be correct again (1979-1992 then 2001- and the 'whoops' was when he accidently let his country experiment with democracy which led to two civil wars). If you suspected he was a life-long Communist (along with the Presidents of the DRC and Angola), you'd be right about that as well. Somehow their shared Marxist-Leninist-Communist ideology hadn't quite translated over to alleviating the grinding poverty in any of those countries despite their vast mineral wealth,At this point in the region's history, little Cabinda had everything to gain by striving for independence and the vast majority of 'warriors' who could possibly be sent against her had terribly little to gain fighting and dying trying to stop them from achieving her goal. After all, their lives weren't going to get any better and with the Amazons ability ~ nay willingness ~ to commit battlefield atrocities, those leaders were going to find it hard going to keep sending their men off to die.And then, it got even worse.See, what I had pointed out was there were two oil refineries in Angola, and neither was in Cabinda. Cabinda would need a refinery to start making good on their oil wealth ~ aka economically bribe off the Western economies already shaken over the Khanate's first round of aggressions.But wait! There was an oil refinery just across the Congo River from Cabinda ~ which meant it was attached to mainland Angola. That had to be a passel of impossible news, right?Nope. As I said earlier, it seemed the people of northern Angola were the same racial group as the Cabindans AND majority Catholic while the ruling clique wasn't part of their ethnic confederacy plus the farther south and east into Angola you went, the less Catholic it became.But it got better. This province was historically its own little independent kingdom (called the Kingdom of Kongo) to boot! It had been abolished by Portugal back in 1914.The 'good' news didn't end there. Now, it wasn't as if the leadership of Angola was spreading the wealth around to the People much anyway, but these northerners had been particularly left out of this Marxist version of 'Trickle Down' economics.How bad was this? This northwestern province ~ called Zaire ~ didn't have any railroads, or paved roads, linking it to the rest of the freaking country. The 'coastal road' entered the province, but about a third of the way up ran into this river, which they'd failed to bridge (you had to use a single track bridge farther to the northeast, if you can believe it). It wasn't even a big river. It was still an obstacle though.How did the Angolan government and military planned to get around? Why by air and sea, of course. Well, actually by air. Angola didn't have much of a merchant marine, or Navy, to make sealift a serious consideration. Within hours of the 'Union Declaration of Independence' anything flying anywhere north of the Luanda, the capital of Angola, would essentially be asking to be blown out of the sky.Along the border between Zaire province and the rest of Angola were precisely two chokepoints. By 'chokepoints', I meant places where a squad (10 trained, modernly-equipped troopers) could either see everything for miles & miles over pretty much empty space along a river valley and the only bridge separating Zaire province from the south, or overlook a ravine which the only road had to pass through because of otherwise bad-ass, broken terrain.Two.Zaire Province had roughly the same population as Cabinda ~ 600,000. Unlike Cabinda, which consisted of Cabinda City plus a few tiny towns and rugged jungles, Zaire had two cities ~ Soyo, with her seventy thousand souls plus the refinery at the mouth of the Congo River, and M'banza-Kongo, the historical capital of the Kingdom of Kongo, spiritual center of the Bakongo People (who included the Cabindans) and set up in the highlands strategically very reminiscent of Điện Biàn Phủ.Of Zaire's provincial towns, the only other strategic one was N'Zeto with her crappy Atlantic port facility and 2,230 meter grass airport. The town was the northern terminus of the National Road 100 ~ the Coastal Road. It terminated because of the Mebridege River. There wasn't a bridge at N'Zeto though there was a small one several miles upstream. N'Zeto was also where the road from provinces east of Zaire ended up, so you had to have N'Zeto ~ and that tiny bridge ~ to move troops overland anywhere else in Zaire Province.So you would think it would be easy for the Angolan Army to defend then, except of how the Amazons planned to operate. They would infiltrate the area first then 'rise up in rebellion'. Their problem was the scope of the operation had magnified in risk of exposure, duration and forces necessary for success.The serious issue before Saint Marie and the Host in Africa were the first two. They could actually move Amazons from Brazil and North America to bolster their numbers for the upcoming offensive. Even in the short-short term, equipment wouldn't be a serious problem. What the Amazons dreaded was being left in a protracted slugfest with the Angolan Army which the Condottieri could jump in on. The Amazons exceedingly preferred to strike first then vanish.There was reason to believe a tiny number could have stayed behind in Cabinda to help the locals prepare their military until they could defend themselves. They would need more than a hundred Amazons if Cabinda wanted to incorporate Zaire. The answer was to call back their newfound buddy, the Great Khan. While he didn't have much else he could spare (the Khanate was ramping up for their invasion of the Middle East after all, the Kurds needed the help), he had other allies he could call on.India couldn't help initially since they were supposed to supply the 'Peace-keepers' once a cease-fire had been arranged. That left Temujin with his solid ally, Vietnam, and his far shakier allies, the Republic of China and Japan.First off ~ Japan could not help, which meant they couldn't supply troops who might very well end up dead, or far worse, captured.. What they did have was a surplus of older equipment the ROC troops were familiar with, so while the ROC was gearing up for their own invasion of mainland China in February, they were willing to help the Chinese kill Angolans, off the books, of course.The ROC was sending fifteen hundred troops the Khanate's way to help in this West African adventure with the understanding they'd be coming home by year's end. With Vietnam adding over eight hundred of her own Special Forces, the Amazons had the tiny 'allied' army they could leave shielding Cabinda/Zaire once the first round of blood-letting was over.To be 'fair', the Republic of China and Vietnam asked for 'volunteers'. It wasn't like either country was going to declare war on Angola directly. Nearly a thousand members of Vietnam's elite 126th Regiment of the 5th Brigade (Đặc cáng bộ) took early retirement then misplaced their equipment as they went to update their visas and inoculations before heading out for the DRC (some would be slipping over the DRC/Cabindan border).On Taiwan, it was the men and women of the 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade, 871st Special Operations Group and 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion who felt the sudden desire to 'seek enlightenment elsewhere, preferably on another continent'.They too were off to the Democratic Republic of Congo, man that country was a mess and their border security wasn't worth writing home about, that's for damn sure, via multiple Southeast Asian nations. Besides, they were being issued fraudulently visas which showed them to be from the People's Republic of China, not the ROC/Taiwan. If they were captured, they were to pretend to "be working for a Communist Revolution inside Angola and thus to be setting all of Africa on fire!" aka be Mainland Chinese.There, in the DRC, these Chinese stumbled across, some Japanese. These folks hadn't retired. No. They were on an extended assignment for the UN's mission in, the DRC. OH! And look! They'd brought tons of surplus, outdated Japanese Self Defense Forces' equipment with them, and there just so happened to be some Taiwanese who had experience in using such equipment (both used US-style gear).And here was Colonel Yoshihiro Isami of the Chūō Sokuō Shūdan (Japan's Central Readiness Force) wondering why he and his hastily assembled team had just unloaded,18 Fuji/Bell AH-1S Cobra Attack helicopters,6 Kawasaki OH-6D Loach Scout helicopters,12 Fuji-Bell 204-B-2 Hiyodori Utility helicopters,6 Kawasaki/Boeing CH-47JA Chinook Transport helicopters and4 Mitsubishi M U-2L-1 Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft.Yep! 46 more aircraft for the FAL-FA!Oh, and if this wasn't 'bad enough', the Chinese hadn't come alone. They'd brought some old aircraft from their homes to aid in the upcoming struggle. Once more, these things were relics of the Cold War yet both capable fighting machines and, given the sorry state of the opposition, definitely quite deadly. A dozen F-5E Tiger 2000 configured primarily for air superiority plus two RF-5E Tigergazer for reconnaissance, pilots plus ground crews, of course.Thus, on the eve of battle, the FAL-FA had become a true threat. Sure, all of its planes (and half of its pilots) were pretty old, but they were combat-tested and in numbers and experience no other Sub-Saharan African nation could match.The Liberation Ground Forces:But wait, there was still the niggling little problem of what all those fellas were going to fight with once they were on the ground. Assault/Battle rifles, carbines, rifles, pistols, PDW, SMGs as bullets, grenades and RPG's were all terrifyingly easy to obtain. The coast of West Africa was hardly the Port of London as far as customs security went. They were going to need some bigger toys and their host nations were going to need all their native hardware for their upcoming battles at home.And it wasn't like you could advertise for used IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles), APCs (armored personnel carriers) and tanks on e-Bay, Amazon.com, or Twitter. If something modern US, or NATO, was captured rolling around the beautiful Angolan countryside, shooting up hostile Angolans, all kinds of head would roll in all kinds of countries, unless the country,A) had an Executive Branch and Judiciary who wouldn't ask (or be answering) too many uncomfortable questions,B) wasn't all that vulnerable to international pressure,C) really needed the money and,D) didn't give a fuck their toys would soon be seen on BBC/CNN/Al Jazeera blowing the ever-living crap out of a ton of Africans aka doing what they were advertised to do and doing it very well in the hands of capable professionals.And politics was kind enough to hand the freedom-loving people of Cabinda & Zaire a winner, and it wasn't even from strangers, or at least people all that strange to their part of the Globe. If you would have no idea who to look for, you wouldn't be alone.That was the magic of the choice. See, the last three decades had seen the entire Globe take a colossal dump on them as a Nation and a People. They were highly unpopular for all sorts of things, such as Crimes Against Humanity and 'no', we were not talking about the Khanate.We would be talking about Република Србија / Republika Srbija aka Serbia aka the former Yugoslavia who had watched all their satellite minions (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia) slip away. Despite being reduced to a tiny fraction of their former selves thus fighting two incredibly brutal and bloody World Wars for nothing, Serbia insisted on maintaining a robust armaments industry.Mind you, they didn't make the very best stuff on the planet. That didn't stop them from trying though. Of equal importance was their geographic location and the above mentioned desire for some hard currency without asking too many questions. The geography was simple, you could move even heavy gear unnoticed from central Serbia to the Montenegrin port of Bar by rail and load them up on freighters and off to the Congo you went.The Serbians produced an APC called the BVP M-80A's which weren't blowing anyone's minds away when they started rolling off the production lines back in 1982, plus some over-eager types on the Serbian Army's payroll sweetened the deal by offering 'the rebels' some BVP M-80 KC's and a KB as well.Then they slathered on the sugary-sweet Maple syrup by upgrading a few of the M-80A's to BVP M-98A's. Why would they be so generous? The KC's and KB were the Command & Control variants, so that made sense (C = company & B = battalion commander). The -98A had never been tested in the field before and they were kind of curious how the new turrets (which was the major difference) would behave. 'Our' procurement agents didn't quibble. We needed the gear.Besides, these Slavic entrepreneurs gave them an inside track on some 'disarmed/mothballed' Czech (introduced in 1963) armored mobile ambulances and Polish BWP-1 (first rolled out in 1966) APC's which were either in, or could be quickly configured into, the support variants those ground-fighters would need. The 'disarmed' part was 'fixable', thanks to both the Serbians and Finland. The 'missing' basic weaponry was something the Serbians could replace with virtually identical equipment.It just kept getting better. Unknown to me at the time, the Finnish firm, Patria Hágglunds, had sold twenty-two of their 'most excellent' AMOS turrets ~ they are a twin 120 mm mortar system ~ then the deal fell through. Whoops! Should have guarded that warehouse better. Those bitches were on a cargo plane bound for Albania inside of six hours.The ammunition for them was rather unique. Thankfully, it was uniquely sold by the Swiss, who had no trouble selling it to Serbia, thank you very much! Twenty-two BWP-1's became mobile artillery for the Unionist freedom fighters, though I understood the ship ride with the Serbian and Chinese technicians was loads of fun as they struggled to figured out how to attach those state-of-the-art death-dealing turrets to those ancient contraptions.To compensate, the Serbians added (aka as long as our money was good) two Nora B-52 155 mm 52-calibre mobile artillery pieces and one battery of Orkan CER MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) for long-range artillery, two batteries of their Oganj 2000 ER MRLS for medium range carnage and six batteries of their M-94 MRLS for 'close support' as well. More field-testing new gear for the "freedom fighters" We also managed to 'purchase' ten M-84AS Main Battle tanks plus an M-84A1 armor recovery vehicle. It should have been twelve tanks, but two had 'loading issues'.Not to be deterred, our busy little procurement-beavers discovered four tanks no one was using, in neighboring Croatia. Why wasn't anyone immediately keen on their placement? They were two sets of prototypes, Croatia's improvements on the M-84; the M-95 Degman which was a 'failed redesign' and the M-84D, which was a vast up-grade for the M-84 line which had been sidelined by the 2008 Global economic collapse, after which the project stagnated.It seemed they were all in working order because late one night 'my people' exited a Croatian Army base with them, never to be seen again, until two weeks later when an intrepid news crew caught the distinctive form of the M-95 sending some sweet 125 mm loving the Angolan Army's way. Whoops yet again! At least they hit what they were aiming at and destroyed what they hit, right?By then, millions of other people would be going 'what the fuck?' right along with them as Cabinda's camouflage- and mask-wearing rebel army was laying the smack-down on the Angolans. That was okay; over a million 'free Cabindan Unionists' were in the same boat. Over a thousand Asians with their mostly-female militant translators were right there to prop up their 'Unionist Allies', but then they were the ones with the tanks, armored vehicles, planes and guns, so they were less worried than most.To pilot these tanks, APC, IFV and man this artillery, they had to go back to the Khanate. Sure enough, they had some old tankers used to crewing the T-72 from which the M-84's and -95 Degman were derived. They'd also need drivers for those BVP M-80A's and Polish BWP-1's and OT-64 SKOT's... who were, again, derived from old Soviet tech (just much better). The Serbian artillery was similar enough to Soviet stuff, but with enough new tech to make it 'more fun' for the reservists to 'figure out' how to use.More volunteers for the Liberation Armed Forces! More Apple sales, great apps and voice modulation software so that the vehicle commanders would be heard communicating in Portuguese if someone was eavesdropping. As a final offering the Turkish Navy spontaneously developed some plans to test their long range capabilities by going to, the South Atlantic.On the final leg they would have six frigates and two submarines, enough to give any navy in the region, which wasn't Brazil, something to think about. This was a show of force, not an actual threat though. If anyone called their bluff, the Khanate-Turkish forces would have to pull back. These were not assets my Brother, the Great Khan, could afford to gamble and lose.If someone didn't call that bluff, he was also sending two smaller, older corvettes and three even smaller, but newer, fast attack boats, a "gift" to the Unionists ASAP. The frigates would then race home, they had 'other' issues to deal with while the submarines would hang around for a bit. The naval gift was necessitated by the reality the Unionists would have to press their claim to their off-shore riches and that required a naval force Angola couldn't hope to counter.As things were developing, it was reckoned since a build-up of such momentous land and air power couldn't be disguised, it had to happen in a matter of days ~ four was decided to be the minimum amount of time. More than that and the government of the Democratic Republic might start asking far too many questions our hefty bribes and dubious paperwork couldn't cover. Less than that would leave the task forces launching operations with too little a chance of success.Our biggest advantage was audacity. The buildup would happen 100 km up the Congo River from Soyo, the primary target of the Southern Invasion, in the DRC's second largest port city, Boma. Though across the river was Angolan territory, there was nothing there. The city of roughly 160,000 would provide adequate cover for the initial stage of the invasion.There they grouped their vehicles & Khanate drivers with Amazon and Vietnamese combat teams. The Japanese were doing the same for their 'Chinese' counterparts for their helicopter-borne forces. Getting all their equipment in working order in the short time left was critical as was creating some level of unit dynamic. Things were chaotic. No one was happy. They were all going in anyway.What had gone wrong?While most children her age were texting their schoolmates, or tackling their homework, Aya Ruger ~ the alias of Nasusara Assiyaiá hamai ~ was getting briefings of her global, secret empire worth hundreds of billions and those of her equally nefarious compatriots. She received a very abbreviated version of what the Regents received, delivered by a member of Shawnee Arinniti's staff.When Aya hopped off her chair unexpectedly, everyone tensed. Her bodyguards' hands went to their sidearms and Lorraine (her sister by blood), also in the room on this occasion, stood and prepared to tackle her 'former' sibling to the ground if the situation escalated into an assassination attempt. No such attack was generated, so the security ratcheted down and the attendant returned her focus to her Queen. Aya paced four steps, turned and retraced her way then repeated the action three more times."How many people live in the combined areas?" she asked."The combined areas? Of Cabinda and Zaire?""Yes.""I," the woman referenced her material, "roughly 1.1 million.""What is the yearly value of the offshore oil and natural gas production?""Forty-nine billion, eighty hundred and sixty-seven million by our best estimates at this time,""How many live in Soyo City proper?""Roughly 70,000.""We take Soyo," she spoke in a small yet deliberate voice. "We take and hold Soyo as an independent city-state within the Cabindan-Zaire Union. From the maps it appears Soyo is a series of islands. It has a port and airport. It has an open border to an ocean with weaker neighbors all around.""What of the, Zairians?""Bakongo. As a people they are called the Bakongo," Aya looked up at the briefer. "We relocate those who need to work in Soyo into a new city, built at our expense, beyond the southernmost water barrier. The rest we pay to relocate elsewhere in Zaire, or Cabinda."By the looks of those around her, Aya realized she needed to further explain her decisions."This is more than some concrete home base for our People," she began patiently. "In the same way it gives our enemies a clearly delineated target to attack us, it is a statement to our allies we won't cut and run if things go truly bad.""In the same way it will provide us with diplomatic recognition beyond what tenuous handouts we are getting from Cáel Wakko Ishara's efforts through JIKIT. Also, it is a reminder we are not like the other Secret Societies in one fundamental way, we are not a business concern, or a religion. We are a People and people deserve some sort of homeland. We have gone for so long without.""But Soyo?" the aide protested. "We have no ties to it, and it backs up to, nothing.""Northern Turkey and southern Slovakia mean nothing to us now as well," Aya debated. "No place on Earth is any more precious than another. As for backing up to nothing, no. You are incorrect. It backs into a promise from our allies in the Earth & Sky that if we need support, they know where to park their planes and ships."Aya was surrounded with unhappy, disbelieving looks."The Great Khan is my mamētu meáeda," she reminded them, "and I have every reason to believe he completely grasps the concept's benefits and obligations."The looks confirmed 'but he's a man' to the tiny Queen."Aya, are you sure about this?" Lorraine was the first to break decorum."Absolutely. Do you know what he sent me when he was informed of my, ascension to the Queendom?""No," Lorraine admitted."We must go horse-riding sometime soon, Daughter of Cáel, Queen of the Amazons."More uncertain and unconvinced looks."He didn't congratulate me, or send any gifts. He could have and you would think he would have, but he didn't. He knew the hearts of me & my Atta and we weren't in the celebratory mood. No. The Great Khan sent one sentence which offered solace and quiet, atop a horse on a windswept bit of steppe."Nothing.Sigh. "I know this sounds Cáel-ish," Aya admitted, "but I strongly believe this is what we should do. We are giving the Cabindans and Bakongo in Zaire independence and the promise of a much better life than what they now face. We will be putting thousands of our sisters' lives on the line to accomplish this feat and well over two hundred million dollars.""What about governance of the city ~ Soyo?" the aide forged ahead."Amazon law," Aya didn't hesitate. "We will make allowances for the security forces of visiting dignitaries and specific allied personnel, but otherwise it will be one massive Amazon urban freehold.""I cannot imagine the Golden Mare, or the Regents, will be pleased," the attendant bowed her head."It is a matter of interconnectivity," Aya walked up and touched the woman's cheek with the back of her small hand. "We could liberate then abandon Cabinda with the hope a small band could help them keep their independence. Except we need the refinery at Soyo so the people of Cabinda can truly support that liberty.""So, we must keep Soyo and to keep Soyo, we must keep Zaire province. There is no other lesser border which makes strategic sense ~ a river, highlands, a massive river, an ocean ~ those are sustainable frontiers. You can't simply keep Soyo and not expect the enemy to strike and destroy that refinery, thus we must take Zaire province.""But the Bakongo of Zaire cannot defend themselves and will not be able to do so for at least a year, if not longer. That means we must do so, and for doing so, they will give us Soyo and we will be honest stewards of their oil wealth. We cannot expect any other power to defend this new Union and if we don't have a land stake we will be portrayed as mercenaries and expelled by hostile international forces.""So, for this project to have any chance of success, we must stay, fight and have an acknowledged presence, and if you can think of an alternative, please let me know," she exhaled."What if the Cabindans and Bakongo resist?""It is 'us', or the Angolans and they know how horrible the Angolans can be. Didn't you say the average person their lives on just $2 a day?""Yes.""We can do better than that," Aya insisted."How?" the aide persisted. "I mean, 'how in a way which will be quickly evident and meaningful?'""Oh," Aya's tiny brow furrowed. Her nose twitched as she rummaged through the vast storehouse of her brain."Get me in touch with William A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He should be able to help me navigate the pathways toward getting aid and advisors into those two provinces ASAP.""I'll let Katrina know," the attendant made the notation on her pad."No. Contact him directly," Aya intervened. "We established a, rapport when we met. I think he might responded positively to a chance to mentor me in foreign relations.""Really?" Lorraine's brows arched."Yes," Aya chirped."Are you sure, Nasusara?" the attendant stared. She used 'Nasusara' whenever she thought Aya had a 'horrible' idea instead of a merely a 'bad' one."Yes. He owes me. Last time we met I didn't shoot him.""Didn't?" the woman twitched."Yes. I drew down on him with my captured Chinese QSW-06. I didn't want to kill him, but I felt I was about to have to kill Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken and he was the only other person in the room both armed and capable of stopping me.""Why is he still alive?""Cáel Ishara saw through my distraction and then took my gun from me, asked for it actually," she shyly confessed."Would you have shot him?" the aide inquired."What do you think?" Aya smiled.And Then:So, given t

Rescue and patchwork relationship.B Book 3 in 18 parts, y FinalStand. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels.Loving your enemy is easy, you know precisely where both of you stand(Right where we left off)The closest Marine had been waiting for me to finish my bonding moment with Menner before speaking. He walked and talked like an officer."You are certainly Mr. Cáel Nyilas," he nodded. "I'm Lt. Robeson, United States Marine Corps. I would like to take you and your party home. What is the situation?""Lieutenant, this young lady is Aya Ruger. She was kidnapped along-side me and managed to kill over twenty of our enemies, so be careful around her." I was deadly serious about what I said. Aya should get proper credit for all the people she sedated then drowned. Dead was dead, even if it was accidental."These two," I pointed to Zhen and Mu, "are Lúsìla ninda and Amar, Taiwanese nationals suffering some shock from the abrupt crash landing of the aircraft. They don't seem to know why they were kidnapped, but they were instrumental in aiding Aya and me making it to shore during the typhoon.""If you say so, Sir," he nodded. He did believe me, yet a soldier was taught to be skeptical of anything a civilian told him about a military situation. "The bodies?""Those are the corpses we found after the storm. I decided we should attempt to place them in your custody so you can figure out who they are," I suggested."Sir, I don't think we can let civilians keep their weapons aboard the flight," the Marine Lt. stated since I had both a pistol and submachine gun, Aya had her pistol and Zhen had her and Mu's blades. A Marine NCO sent a party to gather the dead."Marine, I am Cáel Nyilas, Irish diplomat, freebooter and Champion of the worst possible causes," I began my spiel."You probably have some orders concerning bringing me in alive. I am not so constrained and am more than willing to steal this aircraft and fly back to Hawaii without you. My team keeps their weapons, or you give me your best shot, right now," I met his gaze. He mulled over his options. Two Romanians and two Marines were starting to load the ad hoc body bags aboard the C-37B."Normally I don't take that kind of crap from a civilian and I don't want you to think I'm making an exception because of your Security Clearance. I'll let your people keep your weapons, but if something goes wrong, I'm shooting you first," he assured me."Done deal," I offered my hand and he shook it."Oh and Happy Tibetan Independence Day," he congratulated me."What?" I gasped. Rescue and patchwork relationships{6 pm, Sunday, August 17th ~ 22 Days to go}{11 pm Sunday, Aug. 17th (Havenstone Time)}{And just this once, 11am Monday, Aug. 18th Beijing Time}"Oh and Happy Tibetan Independence Day;, nice work.," the Marine congratulated me."What?""How is that possible?" muttered Mu."Yippee!! No more burning monks," Aya fist-pumped. Personally, I think she did that for the enjoyment of our guardians and to piss off Zhen and Mu just a tiny bit more.(Mandarin) "Brother," Zhen studied her brother's pained expression. "What has gone wrong?"(Mandarin) "The province of Tibet apparently has broken away," he groused. In English, to the Marine Lieutenant he repeated, "How is this possible?""I take it you didn't know Peace Talks had broken out?" he grinned. I doubted the Lt. bought my 'these are my two Taiwanese cobelligerents' story, but belief was above his pay grade, so he didn't give a shit."Yes," Mu mumbled, "we knew of the proposed cease-fire.""Yes, you mean both sides actually honored it?" I added. I really had been out things for a while."Nearly two days ago, noon, Peking Time, the People's Republic of China and the Khanate put a six month cease-fire into effect which has remained intact for forty-one," he looked at his watch, "forty-one and a half hours." He was being a cock to the petulant Mu. No one called Beijing 'Peking' anymore. I had even ordered Beijing Duck on several menus. Peking was the height of Western Imperialist thinking, or so it looked to Mu.(Mandarin) "He is yanking your chain, Mu," I explained. "You are looking pissed off at being rescued, which isn't doing my alibi for you much good.""My apology," Mu nodded to the lieutenant. "Is there any news from the Republic of China? Are they free as well?" That was nice of Mu to call Taiwan by its pet name, the ROC."Not yet," he patted Mu's unwounded leg, "but with the utter shellacking the Khanate put on the People's Navy (really the People's Liberation Army Navy, but the Marine was getting his shots in) it is only a matter of time."I had been translating in a low voice to the V nători de munte in order for them to keep up with the conversation. They all started laughing. The Marines joined in. There was a huge joke here that we had missed out on while stranded.(Romanian) "So, ask them if they know where their aircraft carrier is," Menner chuckled. Most Romanians had grown up knowing of only one China.Me: (Romanian) "What!"A Naval Corpsman who didn't know Romanian, but knew 'aircraft carrier' just fine jumped in: "Oh yeah, the missing Chinese Aircraft carrier," she chortled.Mu: "What!"I'd only been gone two and a half days. What the hell had been going on?(What had transpired in my absence and the subsequent consequences)(Notes:P R C = People's Republic of China; PLA = People's Liberation Army;P L A N = People's Liberation Army Navy;P L A A F = People's Liberation Army Air Force;R O C = the Republic of China {aka Taiwan, aka Chinese Taipei, aka the "other China"};The First Unification War {aka what the Khanate did to China in 2014};Truce lasts from August 16th 2014 until February 15th, 2015 = 183 days)There are several classic blunders grownups should know to avoid: never fight a land war in Asia, never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line, and, if you are going to cross a master thief, first make sure you have nothing of value. For the land war in Asia, check with my partner, the Khanate. Substituting Black Hand for Sicilian ~ check with Ajax, use an Ouija board. So far, destiny was batting .500.The last blunder I created entirely on my own, but I felt it was the true and right response for the circumstances. So witness the Six Families of the Ninja and the greatest theft in all of recorded history.In the closing hours of the First Unification War, as in many wars, some serious theft was going on; mainly it was the People's Republic getting fleeced.The most obvious and immediate blows came in the Spratlys and Parcel Islands where Khanate forces (actually, elements from all the JIKIT players) seized the key island in the Parcel chain, Woody Island, and secured the P L A N base the Chinese had created there, including the 2,700 meter runway built there in the 1990's. The 1,443 Chinese civilians and 600 military inhabitants in the area were incidental complications and the survivors were about to be 'repatriated' to the mainland anyway; the Khanate didn't want them hanging around as they prepared for the inevitable end of the six-month truce.Yes, the Khanate had stolen the most important island airfield ~ an unsinkable carrier really ~ in the South China Sea. It was also the northern end of the potential People's Republic of China's stranglehold on the east-west sea lanes between East Asia and the rest of the World, i.e., roughly 25% of all global trade.The southern end? That would be the Spratlys. There are few 'real' islands in that 'island group' and only two worth having: the artificial one the P L A N was building and the one the ROC has a 1200 meter airfield on. That artificial island and every other PRC/P L A N outpost in the region was also stolen by the Khanate between 4 a.m. and noon of that final day of active conflict.Every geological feature that had been the basis for the PRC's claims to all of the South China Sea was now in Khanate hands. Considering how much the P L A N had bullied everyone else in that portion of the globe, the Khanate taking over their geopolitical position was incredibly awkward. It was going to get worse.Technically, the Khanate hadn't stolen the P L A N 'South Sea Fleet' (SSF); they'd blown the fuck out of it, including sinking the sole fully-functioning P L A N carrier Liaoning as well as five of the nine destroyers and six of the nineteen frigates in her battle group. The Liaoning and one destroyer had died in those last few hours as the SSF was racing for the relative safety of Philippine waters ~ so close, but no cigar.So the Khanate had stolen the ability of the P L A N to project power in the South China Sea until February 15th, 2015 when the U N brokered truce ended. But that was not the epic theft, though. That distinction went to the Ninja. What did they steal? A semi-functional Chinese nuclear powered super-aircraft carrier still under construction.The beast had no official name yet, but she was a 75,000 ton engine of Global Domination laid down in 2011 and clearly complete enough to float and to be steered under her own power. (To be on the safe side, the Ninja included stealing four tugboats to help in their getaway.) So, you may be asking yourself, how does one 'steal' a nuclear-powered, 1000 foot long, 275 foot wide and ten-story tall vessel?For starters, you need a plan to get on board the sucker. We had begun with the Black Lotus. They wanted to sneak onboard, exit the dockyard the ship was being built in, then sink it off the coast so it couldn't be easily salvaged. That was plan A.Enter the Khanate and their plans; they too wanted to sink this vessel, and destroy the dry docks while they were at it. That was plan B. Actually, the Khanate desire was to contaminate that whole section of the port city with fallout from shattered reactors. They knew they would have to apply overkill when they smashed that bitch of a ship because the PLAN had hurriedly put on board its defensive weaponry ~ ensuring that the Khanate couldn't easily destroy it. For their approach, Temujin's people wanted the Black Lotus' help with the on-the-ground intelligence work. But the Black Lotus didn't want to help anyone irradiate Chinese soil.Enter JIKIT as referee. All those islands the 'Khanate' was busy stealing were actually part of a larger JIKIT mission called Operation Prism. Another object that was a part of the overall plan was Operation Wo Fat, the sinking of the Liaoning ~ again GPS direction and distance to be courtesy of the Black Lotus.JIKIT absolutely needed the Black Lotus. The Black Lotus wouldn't help anyone planning on poisoning any part of China for the next thousand years. Sinking the unnamed and incomplete vessel off the coast in deep waters meant no nuclear leakage and plenty of post-war time to salvage the wreck before it did start to hemorrhage. The Khanate wanted to kill this potential strategic nightmare no matter what it cost the Chinese ecology.JIKIT went to the Ninja to help them adjudicate the issue. All the lights flared brightly in Ninja-Town when they heard of that delicate dilemma. They could make everybody happy and send a clear message to the Seven Pillars expressing how unhappy the six surviving families were about the 7P's trying to annihilate them when all of this 'unpleasantness' began.The Khanate was already going to blast the shipyards and docks, the Black Lotus was already going to sail the ship into deep waters, so why not take it one step further, sail the ship into Japanese waters and declare it Khanate property as a colossal Fuck You! to the PRC, PLAN and specifically the Seven Pillars, all at the same time?Now normally, you can't steal a ship that big. The owners will notice it is missing and come looking for it. And you can't sell or hide the damn thing. So, you steal it at the tail end of a war before the players can capture, or sink it. It just so happened the Ninja had access to a war and such a time table.The next problem: where do you put it? The Khanate's closest safe haven was 8,000 km away at the Eastern Mediterranean Seaport of Izmir.But wait!The Khanate was about to steal an island airbase with its own (albeit small) harbor. The Khanate was confident that a few weeks after the truce, an alternate port, or two, would become available for the two-to-three year process it would require to prepare the vessel so it could be commissioned as the true warship it was meant to be.So, how do you steal a well-guarded, humongous ship with its skeleton crew of 500? You need a distraction ~ a big one. Remember those Khanate airstrikes? They intended to destroy the dockyards anyway. Now all they had to do was 'miss' the carrier.They could do that. If you recall, to dissuade the Khanate from sinking the ship in the final days of the war, the PLAN had hastily put teeth on the thing by giving it all its pre-designed defensive weaponry and added jury-rigged radar and sonar systems. The carrier could defend itself if needed. With the new plan (C), the airstrikes could avoid those teeth, thus reducing the risk of losing their precious planes and pilots.A series of bombing runs and missile hits near the carrier would convince the PLAN admiral in charge to hurriedly put some distance between the ship and shore, Not out to sea. That would be stupid. Within the harbor, his weaponry could adequately defend his ship. And if she took serious damage, he could run her aground, so the vessel wouldn't really sink.The only problem was that out in the harbor, with everything exploding, he was away from the only ground security support available. That was when the Amazons, Black Lotus, Ninja and JIKIT mercenaries would make their move. How could they sneak up on such a big, important ship? By using the submarines the US Navy, the British Royal Navy and Japanese Defense Force were providing, of course.Note: As I stated earlier, Lady Fathom, Addison and Riki had wandered way off the reservation . By this time, if you were a Japanese, British, or American submarine commander in the Yellow Sea and you weren't part of this madness, you were insanely jealous of those who were.The missions JIKIT was sending them on were:-definitely Acts of War if they were ever discovered,-far more dangerous than any war game exercise they'd ever been part of, and-the ultimate test of their crews and equipment.These people weren't suicidal. They believed they were the best sneaks under the Seven Seas and now they could prove it ~ in 50 years when this stuff was declassified (if it ever was).For the one American, two British and four Japanese submarines inserting the assault teams, this whole mission had a surreal feel to it. They were transporting a packed assortment of women of Indian, Malaysian and Indonesian descent along with some very lithe Japanese ladies and gents, none of who talked a whole lot.There was a third group with the spooky women and spookier Japanese teams, and that group was scared shitless about the sudden turn their lives had taken. They were all former American and British servicewomen (to not tick off the Amazons too much) with carrier and/or nuclear reactor experience who had been RIFed (Reduction in Force, aka fired) in the past five years from their respective national navies.Around a week ago, they had all answered an advertisement by a logistics support corporation that was going to do a 'force modernization' in an unnamed country. They all knew that mean the Khanate. The job had been laid out as 'basically your old job with the addition of training the natives' and it included the promise of no combat.It was a guaranteed five year contract with an option for a year-to-year extensions for another five years if you desired to stick around. For that, you received your 'pay grade upon retirement + 20%', free room and board, private security, judicial protections and a $10,000 to $10,900 signing bonus. For many struggling military families, it was manna from Heaven and thousands were signing up.Then 72 hours ago, a different group from the same company came knocking on the women's doors. If you could come with them right then and there, they had a satchel of money, $100,000 to $109,000, tax free, and a Non-disclosure Agreement for you to sign. Sure, the deal sounded shady, but the money was very real.Twenty-four hours later those who accepted the money found themselves in a small fishing village on Ko Island, Japan. There some rather fiercely intense people outlined the job they were needed for. From a submarine, the assault teams would sneak aboard the carrier, neutralize the crew and then the new crew (them) would sail it to Jeju, Jeju Island, South Korea.At that point they would be allowed to stay with the vessel (preferred), or depart for a non-war zone of their choice. Both options came with another $100,000 to $109,000 payment. Anyone who declined this particular job would remain incognito on Ko Island for another 48 hours then be allowed to leave without the need to return their initial payment.Of the 312 job applicants, 293 volunteered for both the first and second parts of the assignment. With the technical and linguistic expertise of the Amazons and 9 Clan members that would be enough to get their prize to Jeju Island's temporary safety and then make the last leg to Woody Island and a more permanent anchorage.Besides the airstrikes to goad the carrier away from the wharves, all the Khanate had to do with the carrier was put three or four clearly Mongolian faces onboard when the various nations of the world came calling. After all, what was the public going to believe:, the Khanate had pulled off yet another daring (i.e., mostly JIKIT) Special Forces coup, just as they'd managed to do throughout this short war, or that 'Ninjas stole my Battleship, umm, carrier' stuff some PRC leaders were claiming? Forty-eight hours later the whole globe was able to watch the newly named Khanate supercarrier, the  z Beg Khan, passing through Japanese territorial waters while being escorted by South Korean and Japanese warships.The PRC did complain to the United Nations over the 'theft' of both the carrier and 'their' islands, but the Security Council, led by the UK, could and would do nothing about the 'latest round of injustices heaped upon the People of China'. By the time the UN got around to doing nothing, the next round of JIKIT diplomacy was causing the PRC even greater headaches.That greatest theft, while remarkable in its own right, was really a sideshow to the reordering of the political order in Southeast Asia. The big winner wasn't the Khanate. And it certainly wasn't the mainland Chinese. No, the nations to immediately prosper were an unlikely pair, the Republic of India and the People's Republic of Vietnam (PRV). The Republic of China (R O C) was also getting its own small boost as well.By gambling their precious navy, India had become the largest power broker in the South China Sea's resource bonanza. She went from a minimal presence to being the critical ally of the Khanate and the 'big stick' (naval-wise) of Asia's new dynamic duo. The Indians had the only two functional aircraft carriers in the region and the Khanate had Woody Island with a mega-carrier number of planes sitting on it.Their combined naval aviation was not something any of the others powers wanted to mess with. The duo then sealed their supremacy by making the duo a trio. That third member was the PRV. Vietnam was the land-based logistical anchor of the three regional powers.Not only did Vietnam gain the prestige denied it for over two centuries, it redressed the P L A N humiliating treatment of their own navy for the past thirty years. The Khanate's naval aviation would shield Vietnam's economic exploitation of the Parcel Islands. The Indian Navy could counter anything the P L A N South China fleet could come at them with.Yes, the P L A N had two other fleets, the Northern and Eastern, but both had been put through their own 1001 levels of Hell by the Khanate's air power, plus they had to protect the Chinese heartland from Russia and North Korean ambitions. The South Koreans and Japanese were suddenly a very real threat from the East too. But for the time being, the Indians had the decisive edge.The final location for the  z Beg Khan was an old familiar haunt for some Americans, Da Nang, PRV. It had the facilities, courtesy of the US military from the 1960's and 70's, to be the new base for the Khanate's Eastern Fleet and logistical hub for their naval aviation forces in the Parcel Islands.The Vietnamese were thinking with more than their testicles, as were the Indians. Sure, geopolitical clout was nice, yet that was only the icing on the economic cake that was the Parcel Island Accords. That hasty bit of JIKIT backroom dealings gave a 50% stake in the Parcels to the PRV.India got 20% of something she had 0% in a month ago. The Khanate gained a 20% stake for their audacity and the ROC gained 10% because the other three would protect its share from the PRC. Something was better than nothing and the three legitimate powers agreed to the deal because in less than six months, the PRC would be back in the game.The Indians and Vietnamese wanted the Khanate to stay interested in the region and the Taiwanese wanted to forge closer ties to the Khanate. That treaty was a 'no-brainer'. Within one week, the Vietnamese were strutting like peacocks and internal political opposition to the Indian intervention into the South China Sea in the Indian parliament was silent.The Spratly Islands was a tougher deal to work out within the six month timetable. There were more players ~ the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand (who had a non-functional carrier). The JIKIT deal gave everyone but the Indians a 10% piece of the huge natural gas, oil and fisheries pie and the Indians got 20% once more.The Philippines and Malaysia were both very opposed to this treaty; they believed they deserved a far larger portion of those regional resources. Indonesia and Thailand also felt they could hold out for a bigger slice and weren't happy with India getting so much for basically having a double handful of ships (34 actually) sailing about.That 'handful of ships' was the point JIKIT was trying to make. If the PRC beat the Khanate next year, did any of the players think the PRC would give them anything, even if they promised them more right now? Really? When the PLAN had the biggest guns, they hadn't respected any other claims to the region. Why would that change in the future?The reality was this: India would only stick around if they had the economic incentive to remain. Vietnam, the Khanate and the ROC were watching the clock and realized this was the best deal they would get. Brunei and the Philippines were also coming to that understanding. Brunei was tiny (thus easy to defend), very rich already and a good ally of the British.The Philippines had a very weak navy and a non-existent naval air force. They couldn't even enforce their current claims versus Brunei, much less confront the PLAN, or any other nation's current military. The Philippines was, sadly, relatively big and very poor. Its big traditional ally was the United States, and the US was currently busy doing 'not much' about the South China Sea situation.The world's biggest navy was partially taking up its traditional (and treaty bound) role of interposing itself between the North Koreans, PLAN/PLAAF and Russians arrayed near Japan and South Korea, or busily not 'ratcheting up tensions' in the region by sending more forces into the front lines.President Obama was urging dialogue and 'stepping back from the brink' even though every country in Southeast Asia felt the brink had already dissipated the moment the PRC was forced to accept the cease-fire. In this context, the Philippines had good reason to be feeling lonely at the moment.Bizarrely, both New Delhi and Hanoi were singing the praises of US Secretary of State John Kerry and the Rt. Honorable Phillip Hammond, Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for the UK, for their deft handling of the crisis, thank you, Riki Martin and Lady Yum-Yum.Riki wasn't expecting any thanks. She was certain she'd be fired and imprisoned for the rest of her life. Lady Fathom Worthington-Burke was sure she'd get two additional knighthoods out of the deal, which would look very nice engraved on her tombstone. Javiera had long ago decided to face the music and go down with the ship, so to speak.The CIA's Addison Stuart already had her exit strategy. She was going to go work for the Khanate, building up their clandestine service when this whole mad scheme collapsed into recriminations and 'extreme sanctions'. Mehmet, Air Force Sr. Master Sgt. Billings and Agent-86 had all decided to go with her. Katrina had their escape plane on standby. Mehmet's family was already 'vacationing' in Canada.Anyway, the Republic of India, the Khanate, the Republic of China, the People's Republic of Vietnam (the Vietnamese were happy to already be getting half of the Parcel Island windfall), the Sultanate Brunei (Lady Fathom 'knew' some people and the Sultan was an autocratic Muslim ruler, just like the Great Khan) and the Philippines (because they had no other true choice) were all coming around to signing the Spratly Accords.Indonesia and Thailand were kind of waiting for a better deal. Malaysia was downright hostile, having gravitated toward the PRC over the past decade and been assured by the PRC a better apportionment would be their reward for upsetting the treaty process.The Great Khan's answer was simple. He publically threatened the Malaysian Federation in general and both the King (Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah) and Prime Minister of Malay (Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak) in particular with military action if they kept dragging their feet.He even told them how he'd do it. He'd butcher or expel every living thing in the states of Perlis and Kedah (~ 2.1 million people) and give those empty lands to Thailand to settle along with the added sweetener of Malaysia's 10% of the Spratlys. He would also invade Eastern Malaysia, taking the island state of Labuan for himself while giving Sarawak to Indonesia and Sabah to the Philippines if those to states agreed to the split.He'd also decimate their navy & air force before devastating every port city, just like he'd done to China. He'd already killed more than two million Chinese. What was another two million Malays to him? Also, Indonesia wanted Sarawak and the Philippines had claims on Sabah. While they were openly and publically defying the Great Khan's plan, could Malaysia really take the chance?What would India and Thailand do while this was going on? Thailand stated that it would protect its territorial integrity, whatever that meant. India wasn't returning Malaysia's phone calls while showing their populace re-runs of Malaysian violence against their Hindu minority, the bastards!To the world, the Indian Navy proclaimed it would 'defend itself and its supply lines' which was a subtle hint that they would shepherd any Khanate invasion force to their destination. Why would the Indians be so insensitive? The Malaysians were screwing up their deal to get 20% of both the Parcel and Spratlys wealth, that's why.If the Khanate went down, there was no way India could defend their claims (which they'd won by doing nothing up until now). Oh yeah, Vietnam began gathering up warplanes, warships, transport ships and troops for the quick (710 km) jaunt across the Gulf of Thailand to north-eastern Malaysia to kill Malaysians because Vietnam needed the Khanate to ensure their own economic future as well.That military prospect had a cascade effect, especially among the Indonesian military. If the Indian Navy remained active, the vastly more populous Western Malaysia couldn't reinforce the state of Sarawak. Sure, the Philippines was unlikely to conquer Sabah on their own, but all the Indonesians needed was for Sabah to be kept pre-occupied while their army took their promised territory, fulfilling a fifty year old dream of conquest/unification.The United Nations blustered. It wasn't that they didn't care, they did. They also cared about the deteriorating situations in Libya, Nigeria, Syria and Ukraine. The situation was complicated by the unwillingness of the permanent members of the Security Council, namely the PRC and Russia, to recognize the Khanate.In reverse, when those two tried to stick it to the Khanate, the UK stoically vetoed them. Why? Well, more on that later. Let's just say the Khanate was good for business in the European Union in general and the United Kingdom in particular because the Khanate was prepared to economically befriend the British. Ireland was being treated in a promising manner too. The United States,the United Nations?Let's just say that in the two months following the cease-fire, the Khanate bloodily and brutally solved the ISIS conundrum and the Donbass Crisis. When the smoke cleared, the Khanate had reintroduced the practice of impalement to the modern battlefield, driven the separatists from the Ukraine and was on the border with Israel and Jordan.Sure, the Ukrainians were stun-fucked by the Khanate's 'peace-keepers' going on a bloody rampage through the eastern rebellious regions, but they had delivered up peace by mid-September. Yes, the Russians were in an uproar about the impalements.As the Khanate spokesperson said, 'if they aren't your people, then it is not your problem' and 'there are no more Russians left alive in the Ukraine'. In fact, fewer than a thousand people, all armed insurgents, were executed in such a manner, but the terror created by the highly publicized killings had the effect of sending a hundred thousand people stampeding over the frontier into Russia proper.Next, the Khanate said it wanted to 'reexamine' the Crimean situation. There were Turcoman in that area and they weren't being treated well, or so it was claimed.Even as Russia and the Khanate were posturing in the Donbass, the Khanate struck in the Middle East. By the end of September, Syria and Lebanon had ceased to exist as organized entities. Most of those two countries as well as portions of western Iraq became Turkish provinces in the Khanate infrastructure. Northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq became the Khanate state of Kurdistan.It was a campaign reminiscent of the 13th century Mongol conquest, not a modern military struggle. Whole villages were eradicated. The entire Arab population of Mosul was exiled to the new territories in the East. The city was repopulated with Kurds from Turkey. Back in Turkey, those Kurds were replaced by Armenians from Azerbaijan, cauterizing another internal issue within the Khanate.Jordan was cautiously hopeful. Israel? "We don't seem to be having problems with Hezbollah anymore," with a shrug and "it could be worse." As for ISIS; there really was an Islamic State controlling more than half of Iraq and all of Syria now and it allowed no other pretenders to that distinction. By the time the world woke up to that reality though, the Great Hunt had happened and I was dealing with the consequences of that.A larger ideological and political matter was occurring in the United States, the United Kingdom (and to a limited extent Australia and Canada). The Ramshackle Empire (aka the Khanate) was just that ~ a Frankenstein nation fueled more by nationalistic pride and nostalgia for a Super-State (that only two living people had firsthand experience with) than an integrated armed forces and infrastructure.It may have been built upon more than a 13th century creation and two hundred years of real and imagined oppression. It did have long term planning and real genius driving it forward. Having throttled the PRC into giving them six precious months of peace to 'tidy up the backyard' (aka the Middle East and Russia) and forge a true nation, the Khanate was now hiring experts to aid them in the task.First and foremost, Temujin and the Earth & Sky had envisioned an armed state built upon military principles and discipline. Fate had delivered to them the means of their own salvation in the form of NATO's policy of disarmament and 'Reduction-In-Force' levels (RIFed).The US and UK had trained tens of thousands of male and female volunteers in their Armed Forces in infrastructure creation and management for the Afghanistan and Iraq campaigns. From 2010, those militaries had informed those experts that their services were no longer required. Unlike the shrinking militaries of the 1990's, there was no private sector to 'soak up' the majority of those personnel.The Earth & Sky had been working on the problem of nation-building on a time table and they kept coming up short. They had to fight to create their state first, so the all-important after-battle had been something their leaders dreaded. Temujin had been understanding about not everything being 100% ready. Few wars were fought that way.Then a young male Amazon of mixed Magyar ancestry talked history with the Earth & Sky representative to a seemingly inconsequential personage's funeral. A few critical E&S leaders (a minority, to be sure) immediately sought ways to cultivate this man into what was a ten year plan to open doors to the Amazons. Then that man saved the Great Khan's life and everything changed.Before the E&S had even remotely considered directly approaching the Amazons for help, the Amazons came knocking on their door. The Seven Pillars of Heaven had tried to kidnap a camp full of Amazon children ~ an assault on their future. The two secret societies were bound by one unique, fortunate idiot and a mutual thirst for vengeance.They were also directed by two incredibly foresighted, ambitious and brilliant people. In Katrina of Epona, the E&S elders found someone who equaled their hope to see the Seven Pillars humbled and humbled immediately. Moreover, these were the Amazons they were dealing with. Amazons always sought both lightning decisions and long term solutions.From the moment Iskender left his third meeting with Cáel Nyilas, Katrina put the fruits of the First Directive (the Amazons efforts to recruit militant outsider women) into overdrive. Havenstone had the apparatus in place to screen potential inductees. All they had to do was add a "can you suggest any other people who might be interested in this line of work" box to their employment forms.That brought men into the process in surprising numbers. The market was flush with military veterans having trouble readjusting to the civilian community. The Khanate wasn't hiring killers. They wanted ex-military and civilian police officers to create a national police force.They also wanted engineers and builders, cadres for their cadet corps and a whole range of specialist in jobs most of the Western World took for granted. The money came from off-shore accounts funded by Havenstone International. The employment opportunities came from Earth & Sky front companies operating in the UK and the US (and Israel, but that was another matter).They had already started hiring scores of civilian English-speaking experts to help build their newborn nation's infrastructure before the first blow landed. English hadn't been chosen out of any cultural bias. Relying on Russian and Chinese sources wasn't feasible, the Khanate wasn't overly linguistically gifted where distant tongues were concerned and, as pointed out, the English-speaking world had a glut of applicants.Now to the problem, there were people in the US and UK who weren't happy with their citizenry going to the Khanate and helping them to survive and thrive. These power groups wanted the Mongol-Turkish Empire to keep the resources flowing to the West, without any reciprocal commitment on their part.Imagine their surprise when some wonks at the State Department and Foreign Ministries found bundles of expedited passport requests to the (former) nations of Turkmenistan, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Mongolia (and later Afghanistan and Iraq). The Department of Defense  Ministry of Defense were discovering their former military personnel and civilian contractors with Security Clearances were heading the same way.Of all those destinations, only Mongolia and Kazakhstan were under any kind of 'Restricted Travel' advisories. Barring any coherent anti-Khanate strategy from their administrations, the bureaucracies were doing their jobs, with Havenstone exerting just enough influence to get the job done while flying beneath the radar.After JIKIT was created, the group had a US Senator greasing the wheels to get the requests expedited. In England, Lady Worthington-Burke shamelessly used the people at the other end of the O'Shea hotline to get the job done overseas. She did have to sell out a teammate, but that was what good boys were for ~ taking one for the team. (That would be me, if there was any misunderstanding.)When Cáel Nyilas was kidnapped under the watchful eye of the FBI (I wasn't sure how they got that bum-wrap), the whole situation exploded. The PRC didn't have me, yet promised they might produce me if certain concessions were made. According to Addison, I was worth 5,000 barrels a day of refined fuel oil and 50 tons of coal a month, and the Great Khan agreed to pay! Woot! I was loved by somebody who was a somebody.All that attention drove home some salient points. I was a noble scion of Ireland, Romania, Georgia and Armenia (in no particular order) and they all wanted to know why the US had let me be kidnapped. Didn't my president know I was a sacred national treasure? After JIKIT tracked down the bribes and clandestine activities to Chinese shell corporations, those powers wanted to know what sanctions would be applied.'But wait, wasn't I a private citizen?' my national leaders pleaded. Then the PRC made a case which boiled down to 'I had it coming for being a fiancé to Hana Sulkanen and a brother to the Great Khan', while ignoring me being snatched in the territorial US of A. Of course, they didn't claim to have actually done the kidnapping.Javiera was waiting on that one; 'What was their excuse for kidnapping a little US girl to force my compliance?' The furious Federal authorities even found two dead adult bodies and two digits from said child to add to the media frenzy. To prove I had migrated to fantasy land, the CNN journalist got it right ~ they had tortured the girl and I had killed two of them for it. Just ask the Romanian Army how lethal I could be.In a rare comment, Temujin informed the international press that he believed I was still alive. Why did he believe that? If I wasn't, they would have been able to spot the pile of dead enemy around me and my 'boon companion' (go Aya!) from orbit. Until they discovered this carnal pit from Hell, I was surely still alive.Just at the cusp of turning publically against the Mongol barbarians, the world suddenly got angry with their enemy, the PRC. The principal two Western regimes were paralyzed with indecision until my miraculous cry for help from the middle of the Pacific showed the world I was alive, had punished my enemies and rescued others from under the opponent's cruel thumb.Clearly if I started ranting against the People's Republic of China, my government would be rather peeved with me. I hadn't screwed a dozen poli-sci majors to miss out on that obvious situation. I behaved and hoped they wouldn't make me die from an embolism, or some other equally implausible cause.(DC is a marvel. 9 pm, Monday, August 18th. 21 days)I'd been dragged to DC, to honor promises made in Rome a week ago. I had another choice; I could have justifiably said I was still getting over my kidnapping ordeal. But that choice fucked over Javiera Castello, my boss at JIKIT (Joint International Khanate Interim Task force).That was how I ended up in a 'secret and secure' meeting with Tony Blinken, Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) and his experts. He was someone I didn't know. The rest, I'd had a verbal run-in with them after the Romanian bloodbath. I'd been cranky. I would hardly consider us to be on good terms now.All four experts were from the US State Department. They were foregoing their usual group of flunkies because this meeting wasn't really happening. All the participants were officially somewhere else, mostly not even in D.C. Had this soiree 'really happened', the Congressional sub-committees would have been able to request the minutes of Tony's meeting with members of JIKIT and:·         Victoria Nuland, Ass. Sec. of State for European & Eurasian Affairs (ASSEEA)·         Robert O. Blake Jr., Ass. Sec. of State for S & C Asian Affairs (ASSCAA)·         Daniel R. Russel, Ass. Sec. of State for E. Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASSEAP)·         Bill A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) (aka Big Willy)We made stiff, formal introductions (which signaled the utter lack of trust in the room.) Javiera hadn't wanted to put me through an interrogation this soon after my near-death experience, considering my snarky nature when stressed. The White House was putting the squeeze on her. The main player was Tony, who talked with the Leader of the Free World on a weekly, if not daily, basis.The Diplomatic Security Service people had successfully peeled off Pamela and my SD Amazons only after they agreed I could keep Aya. They tolerated me keeping the nine-year old girl despite the obvious fact she had gone through worse hardships than I had endured and was still packing her Chinese QSW-06 suppressed pistol.I had already fabricated and submitted my report on how I'd overcome a plane-full of rogue delinquents from the Forumi i Rinis  Eurosocialiste t  Shqip ris  (Euro-socialist Youth Forum of Albania) bent on recruiting impressionable European socialites by accessing my Twitter account.That's right, the Albanians had it out for me. I reiterated that critical bit of data to the Department of Homeland Security when they questioned me on the veracity of my memories. The two ethnic Chinese I was found with? I thought they were from Taiwan, and they both appeared to be suffering from amnesia.I was already suffering repercussions from my pathological refusal to take life seriously. Javiera believed I was about to get a formal apology from Ferit Hoxha, Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations. Damn it! Now I had to do something nice for the Albanians. Maybe I'd offer them membership in the Khanate, full-statehood with an economic package to sweeten the deal.Yes, that was how Albania and Kosovo joined the Khanate, a product of my love for exaggeration and a little post-Ottoman solidarity over Tarator (cold soup made of yoghurt, garlic, parsley, cucumber, salt and olive oil with a side of fried squids), Tav  Kosi (lamb meatballs) and Flia & Kaymak (a dessert I highly recommend).We had toasted the Pillars of Kanun (Albanian oral law and tradition): ~ Nderi (honor), Mikpritja (hospitality), Sjellja (Right Conduct) and Fis (Kin Loyalty), ~ and he promised to tell his people that I had Besa which was an Albanian-ism for being a man who would honor his word of honor (despite us being brought together by my lie). The shit-ton of financial and military aid I asked the Great Khan to sweeten the pot with might have helped as well.Later, Lady Yum-Yum told me that the military leaders of NATO called it a 'master-stroke' in neutralizing Comrade Putin's Russian-backed 'Greek threat

After Romania, one night in Rome.By FinalStand. Listen to the Podcast at Explicit Novels.When our ancestor committed the first murder, was it rage, or fear that drove them to the deed?(Evening near the Metropole, Roma, Italia)"I think you've done well," Riki congratulated me as she terminated her phone call. Word had come down that her replacement was on the way. Our profile had been updated back at State and they clearly wanted to bring in the 'real professionals'. There also had been a miscommunication. I was far too stressed to be reasonable now.Some undeserving smuck was about to be at the receiving end of my wrath for no better reason than I was at my limit of accepting any further alterations to my life. In hindsight, I was being totally irrational. At that moment in time, I didn't care whose day I was ruining. Sometimes I can be a jerk and an idiot at the same time.The US State Department apparently thought I couldn't dictate who was, or wasn't, a member of 'Unit L', we now had our own designation within Javiera's expanding task-force. The government had a random name generator for this shit and we got the letter 'L'. Maybe that device didn't think we were going to last long enough to matter. Anyway, I took the phone and hit redial. Riki gave me an 'I'm puzzled' look."Who am I talking to?" I inquired."Ms, who are you?" he demanded, since my caller ID said Riki and, unless I used my high, squeaky voice, I obviously sounded like a guy."I'm Cáel Nyilas. Who is this?" I replied."I'm Bill A. Miller, Director of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. What seems to be the problem, Mr. Nyilas?" He was rather uptight about the call-back."Since we are working together, why don't you call me Cáel?" I politely requested. "I'll call you Willy.""My name is Bill, but you can call me Director Miller," he corrected me. "The reason for your call is?""It is Willy, or Dick; your choice," I countered. "I don't call my boss 'Director' and I worship the ground she walks on. You are not even in her league. Also, I've had bad experiences with guys named Bill which are too painful to explain right now."That was true. One was friend taking a shower and leaving me alone with his mother. The other was early on in my career when I confused a girl named Bonnie with her real name 'Bill'. I was my own personal 'The Crying Game'. I didn't handle that episode well."Besides, I didn't call to discuss name-calling. I want to know how many agents work for you.""What does that have to do with anything?" he grumbled."You are quick with the questions while painfully bereft of answers," I snorted. "Don't make me Google this too.""Over two thousand," he stopped being a total ass. "Is there anything else I can tell you that Miss Martin should have been able to tell you?" Ooops, Back to being an ass."Riki's being physically restrained from taking her phone back by some of my educationally-challenged, illegal alien, unskilled labor force of questionable loyalty," I outrageously lied. It was an odious habit of mine that I'd cultivated vigorously over the past few weeks. "Two thousand humans, thanks. Is Riki's replacement a guy, or a girl? Wait, who cares? Just send their picture and I'll let you know where to send their replacement.""Are you threatening my people?" he simmered."No. That would make me an uncooperative and nefarious nuisance," I evaded. "Of course, when a person sticks their hand into a functioning garbage disposal, you don't blame the device. You blame the moron who stuck their hand in." From the perspective of our relationship, I was the garbage disposal."That definitely sounds like a threat," he responded. He was going to stick his hand in anyway."Your inability to comprehend the nuances possible with the English language is not why I called and not something I feel I can educate you about, given my current time constraints. Just have one of your insipid flunkies send me the picture. I need to purchase duct tape and an out-of-the-way storage space," I informed him."By the way, in the spirit of legal chicanery, could you tell me how long it will take for Riki Martin's name to come back up in the rotation? Let's figure 36 hours between each hot-shot leaving DC and their eventual inability to return phone calls," I wanted to make sure he knew I was taunting his pompous self. (Me being pompous and unhelpful didn't cross my mind at that moment.)"Let me make myself clear, Mr. Nyilas," he repeated. "Not only can you not dictate terms to the US government, you are not even the team's designated leader." I wasn't? Fuck him. I had tons of useless members of the Alphabet Mafia in front of my name, all loudly proclaiming my numerous accolades.Of everyone on the team, I had the most: NOHIO (Number One House Ishara Official), HCIESI-NDI, (Havenstone Commercial Investments Executive Services' Intern -- New Directive Initiative, I didn't make that one up, I swear), MEH (Magyarorszag es Erdely Hercege) and UHAUL (Unpaid Honcho Assigned to Unit L). I liked that last one, so that was how I was going to sign off on all my reports now."First off, I AM in charge, Willy. Without me, there is no Unit L. I quit, and then what? In case you missed it, I can't be drafted or threatened by you. If you think you can replace me, please do so right now and let me get back to my life -- you know, the thing that actually puts money in my pocket.Besides, I am not refusing to take anyone you see fit to put on MY team. I'm just not going to tell you where I'm going to take them to. I suspect they are adults and can find their way home, eventually, Willy.""Mr. Nyilas, you are an unbelievably fortunate amateur and novice intellectual in a situation that demands experience and professionalism. It is time for you to step back and let the people who know what they are doing take over. Just play your part and we'll make sure you get due credit for following orders and behaving," he unleashed his fair-smelling bile."I am following your orders; your procedures dictate that a member of the State Department will be on this team," I kept my calm. "As one of the people who actually has experience with this situation, I'm letting you know how things work in the field. Every person you send will be misplaced, thus you will have to send someone else. Alerting you to the need to stay on top of your job -- sending someone else -- sounds to me like common sense advice in this circumstance.""That is not going to happen, Nyilas. If something happens, " he got out."Willy, duct tape is plentiful and cheap. Kidnapping -- thus hostage keeping -- is virtually a religion in Southern Italy. And though I am already wired into the local criminal underground, I'm just not going to be able to help you, or them. I'll make up some implausible excuses as the need arises. So now you know the score. The next move is yours," I smiled."The next words out of your mouth had better be 'I'll behave', or the State Department will revoke your passport and have stern words with the Republic of Ireland over your diplomatic status," Willy warned me."I'll behave," I fibbed. Riki snatched the phone out of my hand."Sir -- Director Miller, I want you to know I had nothing to do with Mr. Nyilas' tirade," Riki apologized. "He stole my phone.""I did." and "oww!" I hollered in the background. "She ground her heel into my instep. the fiery little minx." I was propping up her excuse because I owed her for verbally taking a dump on her boss, the ass-heap back in Romania. Riki punched me."Ms. Martin, do we need to reconsider your employment, or can we rely on you to re-organize Unit L before Ms. McCauley (her replacement) arrives?" Willy lectured."Director Miller, ""Call him Big Willy," I whispered to her. "He loves that 'Big Willy' style."This time she hit me in the thigh. My ballistic vest had gotten in the way of her first hit, but she was a quick learner."How can you know a song from 1997, yet not know that Russia invaded Georgia in 2008?" Riki put her hand over the phone and hissed at me."Ah," Pamela teased. "Somebody is a Will Smith fan." Riki looked away.I wasn't sure what to make of the Will Smith -- Ricky Martin combo forming in my mind. Will was one of my manly icons. Hey, he was a stud, scored numerous hotties in his film career and married Jada Pinkett Smith. What's not to love? Growing up, I wanted to be like Will Smith. When/if I ever finished growing up, I wanted to be like George Clooney."Director Miller," Riki tried again. "He's lying. From my personal observations and with supporting personality profiles provided by other members of the task force, I can guarantee you that Mr. Nyilas is unreliable and untrustworthy. Sir, I've watched Romani males hide their wallets and their daughters when he walks by." Okay, wasn't that last bit a lie?"that last bit a lie?es hide their wallets and their daughters when he walks by. provided by other members However, unless she has been cross-trained as a waitress at a gang-affiliated nightclub, a day-care worker for the criminally insane, plus consistently wins at Texas hold 'em, she's going to be out of her element here.""No sir, but Mr. Nyilas likes me, I'm not sure why," she glared at me. I poked her in the boob to help clarify the matter. Riki slapped my hand. Virginia punched me in the shoulder. I decided to poke Virginia in her ballistic-covered breast, hoping she was jealous for the attention. I was wrong. They both hit me again.Had this been sexual harassment, they would have hated this job and despised me. Since this was me being my painfully childish self, well, I was still annoying, but also adorable. Put it this way: if a woman could not only pepper spray a man making cat-calls at her, and was even encouraged to do so, wouldn't that de-stress the situation?"Director Miller, I don't want to stay on this assignment, yet I'd be remiss if I didn't explain some of the numerous pitfalls of working with Unit L. Every one of them is comfortable being a walking arsenal. I'm on my way to have a ballistic vest tailored for me because I'm the only one in the unit without one. I have no doubt that any of them could kill me with their bare hands in less than 5 seconds if they so desired," she explained."You would think they would want a more effective combatant with them," Miller grew icy, suspecting duplicity on Riki's part -- moron. She looked at me over the phone."Sir, I think they like me because I know I don't belong in a firefight. They can count on me to cower behind cover while the bullets are flying. That allows the rest to kill unimpeded by having to keep an eye on me," she said.Pause."One of them did show me how to recognize and start various grenades. She said if I was ever the last one alive, it would give me 'options'."Pause."Ms. Martin, don't cancel your flight back to DC yet. I'm going to give Ms. Castello a call to see what her assessment of the situation is," Willy allowed. "Good-bye.""I can't believe I talked him into making me stay with you people," Riki moaned.Our little caravan was slowing to a stop outside the Metropole Hotel. It was Hana's choice for a Roman meeting location. A restaurant and a hotel room, all in one location. Rachel and Wiesława were ahead of us, checking things out. Hana had informed us that the Illuminati had two people watching her. This was going to be my last bit of time with Rachel for a while.(Meanwhile, Back At The Ranch, )Two new members of House Ishara were on their way to Rome. They'd be joined by two members of the House Guard of Andraste from Britain. The two Isharans were the first members of the House Guard of Ishara in over a thousand years. I didn't expect them to be the martial equals of Rachel, or Charlotte. Not yet. And anyway, that didn't matter. What mattered to me was that they'd volunteered for the task and Buffy felt they were the best we had.Another nomadic pack of House Hylonome Amazons had taken in the traumatized Zola. She had to stay in Romanian until the authorities finished up her part of the investigation. A mixed group from House Živa and Ishara (led by Helena) would handle security for Professor Loma, his family and the Lovasz sisters during their trip to New York.Aliz, his wife, was officially in House Ishara's custody. That was my best play at making sure she avoided summary justice for her 'betrayal' of House Hylonome. The whole group would be handed over to House Epona as soon as the Romanians cleared them for foreign travel. It helped my case that Aliz appreciated my warnings about the danger that both families were in from House Illuyankamunus.The occult nitpicking that allowed me to leverage this maneuver was accomplished by me doing yet another rarely done feat. In the name of Alkonyka Lovasz, House Ishara was sponsoring a new Amazon house. I could testify to the existence and matronage of the Goddess SzélAnya (without her permission), which was one of the stepping stones for acceptance.Vincent was going to stay in Germany for two days, then he was off to his home and daughters in Arlington Virginia, with a long convalescence and a rumored promotion. Mona and Tiger Lily were already on their way to New York as honor guard for Charlotte's body, courtesy of the US Air Force. The Amazons needed the USAF to do it because that was the only way we could get the Romanians to release her body.The Hylonome dead, they would be buried in a private plot after all the autopsies were done. I was absolutely sure the Hylonome would steal the bodies in due time and give them a 'proper' burial. Of the Mycenaeans, Red and one of his buddies still remained at large. Of Ajax's half-brother, Teucer, and the other previously wounded Greek warrior, there was no sign. Kwen and the other POWs remained in Romania to face a laundry list of charges. Her fate was unknown to me.My bodyguard was reduced, yet no one minded. The twin reasoning was that the Black Hand in Italy would provide some protection for me. The other was that I was in the birthplace of the Condottieri. Selena's sources strongly suspected that their HQ was close to Rome itself. I could have had more security by recruiting among the 'natives'.Various sources, some inside Italy, had suggested that the Carabinieri, Italy's military police force, had 'offered' to provide some protection. That was prompted by events surrounding my visits to Budapest  and  Mindszent, Hungary and the 'action' south of Miercurea Ciuc, Romania (no one wanted to call it a battle, even though the fight involved over 1000 Romanian Land Forces troops and half a squadron of the Romanian Air Force).My refusal of the offer caused a 'disruption'. This was a polite way of saying the Italians did not want me to enter their country. I wasn't being a jerk this time. Selena and Aunt Briana were both of the opinion that the Condo's recruited heavily from European military and paramilitary units -- particularly Western Europe. And that not all their 'new hires' had left active duty either.A peculiar circumstance then developed. The pretext for denying me entry was undercut by Hungary and Romania erasing me from their official investigation. I wasn't a threat (despite the burnt landscape and tombstones sprouting up in my wake.) Romania didn't want me to stay, Hungary decided they didn't want me back -- at the moment -- and the US/UK/Ireland were telling the Italians that I was a peach, or whatever implied that in diplomatic speech.There was a compromise finally reached by Riki and shadow forces that I couldn't put names to. I could come to Italy as long as my itinerary was relayed to Carabinieri. We could keep our side arms in holsters and our big guns as long as they weren't on our persons. I could go around without a Carabinieri bodyguard as long as I ignored them floating around me at a discreet distance. A liaison officer would meet me at the hotel to maintain the illusion that I was just a paranoid tourist.Delilah had to touch base with the British again, probably for the same reasons that the US wanted to replace Riki. While both Delilah and Chaz were military and seconded to MI-6, they weren't considered Intelligence Experts by the people at the helm. For that matter, they weren't even sure how Delilah had ended up at my side, killing multi-national terrorists in three separate countries inside of one month. That was very cinematic, not realistic. The idea of governments with shadow operatives 'sanctioning' people was not something that anyone in the 'know' wanted to talk about.Whether it was before the media, a US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, or a UK Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Select Committee this wasn't what these Department Heads wanted to discuss. Less anyone forget, my Congress and my President didn't, umm, get along.In my favor, I was an orphan from New Hampshire, both my US Senators were women and I'd worked on their campaigns or dated some of their volunteers. It might do me some good to call Dr. Kimberly Geisler at Bolingbrook to see what she could do politically. All that could wait.(Finishing Up)Selena Jovanović had the first of our two dark blue Alfa Romeo 159s, the one that disgorged Rachel and Wiesława. She, Saku and Odette would circle the block in case there was any trouble. Pamela had the driver's seat in my car. No one wanted me or Odette to drive because we didn't understand urban Italian street etiquette. It was Virginia, me and Riki in the backseat with Chaz up front with Pamela.Rachel gave the preliminary order to disembark. That meant the lobby was partially clear -- there were armed types about that seemed to be either Carabinieri, or understandable private security. Rome wasn't as dangerous as Mexico City (kidnap-wise), but events in London, Budapest and the Hungarian and Romanian countryside were putting people on edge. And those with enough money could buy some emotional comfort in the form of armed private contractors.Chaz took his H and K UMP-45, stock folded, out of the bag at his feet and secured it inside the right-side of his jacket. Three spare clips went inside a harness on his left. It was dreamlike as Virginia and I went through a similar, less heavily armed process. For FBI Girl, it was a 'carry-on' with flash-bang, concussion and smoke grenades, plus a few extra clips/mags for everyone.For me, it was a tomahawk, a second Gloc-22 and a bullet for everyone in the hotel, if that became necessary. As the car came to a stop in front of the main doors, I worked my way over Riki so that I would be the second person to exit the car. Chaz would be the first. Virginia got out on her side. Pamela would stay at the wheel -- Riki had an appointment with a tailor to keep.I felt it then, that sympathetic spiritual harmony I was one-third of. I looked up into the 'clear' Rome night. There she was, Bellatrix, the Amazon star in the Constellation of Orion. According to the Egyptian Rite, the Weave of Fate was nearly invisible by day, but by night, you could make out its strands in the motion of the stars. That was not something Alal had ever truly mastered. Still,I had a new phone since the charred remains of my old one were in some evidence locker in Budapest by now. That didn't mean I wanted to use it. I was getting squirrely about people I didn't want finding me, finding me. Chaz was in the lead, I was in the middle and Virginia covered my back. Rachel caught sight of us, gave a quick nod, and then she and Wiesława went for the elevators.Rachel would want to check out Hana's room before I got there -- if I got there. I called Odette."Hey Babe," Odette beamed excitement my way. She was in Rome and we had a guaranteed 24 hour layover. For a girl who thought her great adventure in life was going to end up being a high school trip to Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell, she was in Nirvana."Hey to you too, Odette. I need a favor," I began."Sure," she chirped."In five minutes from, right now make sure Sakuniyas comes to see me and Hana in the restaurant by herself," I requested. Odette hesitated, taking in her knowledge of 'Cáel-speak'."No problemo Jeffe," she answered. She knew I was in some undefined trouble. We both knew that her body language would convey that unease to Saku, which was what I needed. See, I had a plan. I tapped Chaz, slowing him and thus allowing Virginia to bunch up with us."Do either one of you remember the movie 

Rossen Hristov is the Director of Training for Tactical Performance Center After 7 years in U.S. Diplomatic Security Service, Rossen continued his career as a lead instructor, providing firearms marksmanship development and tactical training in several key international projects in the Middle East. He designed a methodology and was part of a project for training and development of a specialized counter-terrorism unit in the region. He worked together with experts from all over the world including top Israeli instructors, former Royal Dutch Marines, British SAS instructors, specialists from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Rossen also trained contractors from Nepal for a period of one year. He is a USPSA Grandmaster in the world of practical shooting sports and part of the CZ-USA shooting team. The "Angery American Nation Podcast," hosted by Chris Weatherman, known as Angery American, along with panelists like Bob "T" Toombs, Seaux Larreau, Imri Morgenstern, and Donnie Dunn, has become a platform where discussions on world and national news are intertwined with themes of self-reliance and community.

Years of Service: 1986-PresentSteve has had a long line of service, starting in 1986 when he joined the United States Army. He eventually found his way to the Diplomatic Security Service in 1999 where he was assigned to the Washington D.C. Office.Steve has had a long career with assignments domestically to include D.C., Orlando and Miami Florida, Glynco, Georgia, and Honolulu, Hawaii. In between these domestic assignments, Steve has served internationally in hotspots in Algeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan.During this interview, Steve discusses how to become a DSS Agent and the qualities that make a good DSS Agent.Steve is the author of “Afghans Never Smile: Reflections of a DSS Agent from Both Sides of the Durand Line” and much of this interview revolves around his time spent overseas in areas of the world that most people would not consider safe.

Mel Harrison is an amazing author whose story will inspire and uplift you. Don't miss this special episode as we dive  into “overcoming adversity as an author” After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Economics, Mel Harrison joined the US Department of State Foreign Service, spending the majority of his career in the Diplomatic Security Service. Over the next 28 years, he served in American embassies as either a Special Agent/Regional Security officer or Economic Officer in Saigon, Quito, Rome, London (twice), Islamabad, and Seoul. While in Islamabad, as the Senior Regional Security Officer, he won both the State Department Award for Valor, and its worldwide Regional Security Officer of the Year Award. Following government retirement, Mel spent ten years in corporate security and consulting work with assignments often taking him throughout Latin America and the Middle East. Mel met his wife, Irene, while both served in Quito. Irene, a Foreign Service Management Specialist, and Mel married in Rome, beginning their lifelong love of travel and all things Italian. They now reside in Florida. Mel can be contacted at melharrison.author@gmail.com

In the shadows of the U.S. visa system, a sinister world of human trafficking and organized crime thrives. Join us for this podcast as we talk with special guest John Freeman who spent 21 years as a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. State Department. He worked domestically and internationally protecting dignitaries, securing major events, conducting criminal investigations and leading the creation of an anti-human trafficking portfolio for the agency. In this analysis we travel to the dark side of global immigration, where desperation and deception converge. From the streets of Eastern Europe to the halls of power in Washington D.C., we expose the shocking truth behind the exploitation of vulnerable populations and the cunning tactics used by traffickers to manipulate the system. Listen as experts and survivors share their stories and insights, and discover the hidden dangers lurking in the world of visa fraud and human trafficking.

In this episode of The Iron Sights After Dark Podcast, I'm joined by my friend Adriana, who works for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). You can find her on Instagram at @AdrianaOverseas. Adriana shares her experiences from several years working in this field and what it's like to protect diplomats. Whether you're curious about the DSS or considering a career path in this area, this episode offers valuable insights into the bureau's vital work.Enjoy the show!Timestamps:00:00 Intro07:24 General Overview Of DSS16:47 How The DSS Operates25:46 Security31:49 Protection Of DSS40:16 DSS and MSD49:45 How To Qualify For The DSS57:44 How To Be Successful In The DSS01:07:20 A Career In The DSS01:16:09 Government Support for DSS Agents01:33:23 How The DSS Should Evolve01:36.41 How To Learn More About DSSRed Dot Fitness Training Programs:rdfprograms.comOnline Membership (Full Access To All Programs & Virtual Coaching):https://www.reddotfitness.net/online-membershipVirtual Coaching:https://www.reddotfitness.net/virtual-coachingSelf-Guided Programs:https://www.reddotfitness.net/Self-Guided-Programs1Connect With Us:Website - https://ironsightspodcast.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ironsightspodcast/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/

Three interviews in this show paint a picture of a chaotic week in Middle East. Ben Francke, who lives near Tel Aviv reflects on Iran's missile strike. Vedant Patel, the State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson talks about US efforts to stop the conflict from spreading. And Fred Burton, former Deputy chief of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service says he's shocked at how deeply Israeli intelligence penetrated Hezbollah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three interviews in this show paint a picture of a chaotic week in Middle East. Ben Francke, who lives near Tel Aviv reflects on Iran's missile strike. Vedant Patel, the State Department's Principal Deputy Spokesperson talks about US efforts to stop the conflict from spreading. And Fred Burton, former Deputy chief of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service says he's shocked at how deeply Israeli intelligence penetrated Hezbollah. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gharun Lacy has an unusual job. He's the head of cybersecurity at the State Department, responsible for securing computers and their users in every embassy and consulate and responsible for making sure senior diplomats can communicate securely even in the most forbidding overseas environments. In a wide-ranging conversation, he sat down with Lawfare's Benjamin Wittes to talk about the challenging work of the Diplomatic Security Service generally and its work in the cyber and technology security area particularly.To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/c/trumptrials.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2024 is another banner year for fans of Mark Greaney-his most recent Gray Man thriller, CHAOS AGENT, just came out in February and was an instant New York Times bestseller. And now, readers can start their excitement for a SECOND Mark Greaney novel this year: SENTINEL (on sale June 25), the second in his new Armored series.Greaney is known for keeping an eye on the current world political stage, and his stories are rooted in real world events. He's also traveled to over 35 countries to extensively to research each novel's location, as well as gotten firsthand experience in firearms training, scuba diving, stunt driving, SWAT training, Navy fighter plane flying, field medical training, and more.If you're a fan of Greaney's Gray Man series or action-packed of spy thrillers, Greaney's Armored series features a very different kind of action thriller hero: Joshua Duffy, a Close Protection Agent-a professional bodyguard-one of the world's elite operatives. That is, he was, until his last mission in Lebanon. Against all odds, Josh got his principal out alive, but the cost was high. Josh lost his lower left leg. This makes Josh Duffy a different kind of protagonist than Jack Ryan, Court Gentry, Mitch Rapp, or Pike Logan. With a substantial injury, a wife, kids, and a mortgage, Josh is one of the most realistic characters in this genre.ARMORED (the first in the series) began as a script for an audio play that Audible produced and gave away to its listeners; it was so popular Mark decided to turn it into a full-length novel.In SENTINEL, an African coup may force Josh Duffy to choose between his mission and his family. Josh Duffy and his wife Nikki are both working for the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service providing protection for diplomats in the field. They've been sent to Ghana with a team of US embassy personnel who are there to highlight American commitment to the construction of a new dam.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Join us in this episode where Chuck Randolph sits down with Nathan Ackerman, the CEO of Riley Risk Inc., a leading international risk advisory firm. With over two decades of experience in the United States Marine Corps, federal law enforcement, and the Diplomatic Security Service, Nathan brings unparalleled expertise in security management. Discover his journey to security leadership at Riley Risk and gain knowledge of the unique security challenges faced by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operating in high-risk environments. Nathan's extensive background in threat analysis, risk mitigation, and strategic planning offers invaluable lessons for anyone interested in advanced security strategies and risk management practices. Listen in for an engaging discussion on how to enhance safety and mission success in some of the world's most challenging locations.Tune into Chuck Randolph's discussion with Nathan Ackerman to hear:How Nathan's dynamic career trajectory shaped his expertise in security management. Unique security challenges faced by NGOs operating in high-risk environments. Advanced risk mitigation tactics and strategic planning methodologies to safeguard personnel and assets. Related Resources: Nathan Ackerman Linkedin ProfileRiley Risk: WebsiteRiley Risk: Linkedin PageCompany Capabilities Overview here. Book a Meeting w/Riley Risk here.Request Information/Support from Riley Risk here. RileySENTINEL: Website (Geopolitical & Security Reporting Platform) RileySENTINEL Foreign Agent Law: Special ReportForeign Agent Law Special Report: PDF VersionHaiti: Strategic Assessment Report: PDF Version Department of State: Intl Travel Advisories 

Greaney is known for keeping an eye on the current world political stage, and his stories are rooted in real world events. He's also traveled to over 35 countries to extensively to research each novel's location, as well as gotten firsthand experience in firearms training, scuba diving, stunt driving, SWAT training, Navy fighter plane flying, field medical training, and more. If you're a fan of Greaney's Gray Man series or action-packed of spy thrillers, Greaney's Armored series features a very different kind of action thriller hero: Joshua Duffy, a Close Protection Agent-a professional bodyguard-one of the world's elite operatives. That is, he was, until his last mission in Lebanon. Against all odds, Josh got his principal out alive, but the cost was high. Josh lost his lower left leg. This makes Josh Duffy a different kind of protagonist than Jack Ryan, Court Gentry, Mitch Rapp, or Pike Logan. With a substantial injury, a wife, kids, and a mortgage, Josh is one of the most realistic characters in this genre. ARMORED (the first in the series) began as a script for an audio play that Audible produced and gave away to its listeners; it was so popular Mark decided to turn it into a full-length novel. In SENTINEL, an African coup may force Josh Duffy to choose between his mission and his family. Josh Duffy and his wife Nikki are both working for the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service providing protection for diplomats in the field. They've been sent to Ghana with a team of US embassy personnel who are there to highlight American commitment to the construction of a new dam. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

A conversation with NY Times bestselling author, Mark Greaney on his latest military thriller, Sentinel. About Sentinel: An African coup may force Josh Duffy to choose between his mission and his family in this intense thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Gray Man series. Josh Duffy and his wife Nikki are both working for the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service providing protection for diplomats in the field. They've been sent to Ghana with a team of US embassy personnel who are there to highlight American commitment to the construction of a new dam. Since Ghana is a stable democracy, the Duffy children have come along for a short vacation. But stability proves to be fleeting when a Chinese plan to embarrass the US means the destruction of the dam. Now Josh and his protectees are on the run caught between a Chinese hit squad and a rebel army. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-child/support

Years of Service: 2008-2018During this interview, Cody discusses the functions of a DSS Special Agent including investigations into passport and visa fraud, protecting personnel, facilities and information, and protecting the U.S. Secretary of State and visiting foreign dignitaries. As a DSS Agent, Cody served domestically in Houston and foreign posts in Iraq and Vietnam. Cody provides details about serving in high threat areas and discusses the facts surrounding the Kayla Mueller kidnapping who was the first American female to be held hostage by ISIS. Cody hosts The Off the X Podcast and is the author of “Agents Unknown”. Cody was also a former U.S. Marine who served from 1998-2003.

Husband of missing Florida women arrested at Miami airport by FBI FORT LAUDERDALE — The estranged husband of a Florida woman who disappeared three months ago in Spain has been charged by U.S. federal agents with her kidnapping. The FBI and other federal agents arrested David Knezevich at Miami International Airport on Saturday. The Fort Lauderdale resident is charged in connection with the Feb. 2 disappearance of his 40-year-old wife, Ana Knezevich, from the Madrid apartment where she had been staying since shortly after their separation last year. David Knezevich, a 36-year-old business owner originally from Serbia, briefly appeared in Miami federal court Monday and will have a bond hearing Friday. “The Spanish National Police, Customs and Border Protection, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the FBI continue their investigation. Because this is an ongoing investigation, no further information will be released,” the FBI said in a statement.

Retired senior intelligence officer Nick Eftimiades discusses China's whole of society approach to espionage and its impact on national security. He highlights the methods used by China, such as theft of technology, trade secrets, and covert influence operations. Eftimiades explains the reasons for ignoring Chinese espionage in the past and the need for a fundamental restructuring of the approach to counter it. He emphasizes the importance of spreading awareness and education in critical infrastructure industries and the need for an integrated national response to China's activities. Eftimiades concludes by urging listeners to take the long-term security interests of the country seriously.Nicholas Eftimiades is a nonresident senior fellow at theForward Defense practice of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. Eftimiades currently holds an appointment with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, National Intelligence Council, and has held appointments with the Defense Science Board and the Homeland Security Advisory Council's Subcommittee on Economic Security. He is also a professor at the Penn State University Homeland Security Programs and is a member of the graduate faculty teaching homeland security, intelligence, and national security policy. He conducts research on China's economic espionage and emerging space threats.Eftimiades retired from a thirty-four-year government career including employment at the US Central Intelligence Agency, the Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service, and Defense Intelligence Agency. He is widely regarded for his expertise on China and national security space issues. As a subject matter expert, he has testified before congressional committees and briefed numerous senior US and foreign officials, members of Congress, and staff.Socials:Follow on Twitter at @NucleCastFollow on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nuclecastpodcastSubscribe RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/Rate: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nuclecast/id1644921278Email comments and topic/guest suggestions to NucleCast@anwadeter.org

The act of Swatting has been around for years (back in the early 2000s), but an increase in the frequency of calls that are happening and the proliferation of different targets has placed it under the spotlight in recent months. Swatting is the act of placing a hoax call to emergency services with the intention of triggering a swift and intense response. This malicious practice has been increasingly directed towards prominent figures such as politicians, judges, and celebrities. Scott Stewart, Vice President at TorchStone Global, sheds light on why we are seeing more of these events in the headlines and what protection teams can do to prevent them from happening. Stewart brings 35 years of analytical, investigative, and security experience, including being a member of Michael Dell's executive protection team and serving ten years as a special agent with the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. Stewart is a popular speaker on security topics and is frequently interviewed by journalists from leading news outlets, including the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and NPR.Key topics of Stewart's discussion with host Fred Burton include:How a swatting event can occur, and what the social media conundrum has to do with it. (hint: It doesn't happen out of the blue.)Advice for protection teams on mitigating this type of threat and what to look for in terms of early warning signs.Why it's critical to have strong relationships with authorities at all levels and have an open dialogue so authorities can put context around any calls coming in that target a VIP.For more information, check out Torchstone Global's article on the topic: Preparing for the Next Swatting Attack Key takeaways:03:25: Scott Stewart: Having a good liaison at all levels - state, local, and federal level is critical because you want to have those connections ahead of an event. Obviously, it's much more difficult to make connections in the midst of ah you know of an emergency. So if you give them a little bit of advanced notice — we've got some aggrieved people that are focused on us, or they've doxed us, etc. — it can really help them place the call into context. 10:33: Fred: So if you're that protection team out there with responsibility for the executive crew, you have to make sure that you have a good finger on the pulse.10:42: Scott Stewart: I mean let's face you you need to have that no matter what threat actor we're talking about — unstable individuals, stalkers, activists, terrorists, criminals. You know we always need to remain alert to all these various threat actors and this is just one more to throw in the hopper. The good news is it is something that can be foreseen as we follow these grievances, and watch their communications. We see things like doxing denunciation. That allows us to see the progression along the Social Media Threat Continuum. We talk about things like the pathway to violence or the attack cycle, looking at the Social Media Threat Continuum then just gives us a guide that helps us understand where we were where we are in relation to these threat actors.

It comes as no surprise that the standards and terminology in the security profession vary depending on where you are in the world. However, when you work for a company that operates in 74 countries, keeping track of these nuances is vital to efficiently addressing threats and quickly arriving at a solution.Bruce Mills is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Hyatt Corporation. In his role, he oversees over 160,000 associates and nearly 1,400 hotels and resorts in 74 countries. Mills is responsible for all security and life safety programs and initiatives, including physical and technical security, emergency preparedness and crisis management, travel safety and internal investigations, and brand protection activities. Before moving to the private sector, he spent nearly 25 years with the Diplomatic Security Service, attaining the rank of Special Agent-in-Charge serving all over the world.Key topics of Mills' discussion with host Fred Burton include:The cultural differences in security — you can have global standards for a company's security program but there are always cultural nuances.How to manage a security presence when the doors are always open.Communicating with leadership when you have multiple bosses, and the importance of identifying risk and providing steps to mitigate it.The role of technology in the success of his role in the business and how standardization across locations is essential to staying ahead of threats.Key takeaways:04:50: Fred: How has your sector evolved from a security perspective over the last say five years or so?04:58: Bruce Mills: In the hospitality sector it's a little bit different from the defense sector or even the government sector and even in certain commercial enterprises you you build a hardened presence. You build very strong concentric rings of security and you try to keep people out and to keep people safe. In hospitality think about it this way — we never close our doors or we certainly don't lock our doors. We are an open, welcoming environment. So it poses a whole series of concerns.You'd be surprised at how we've incorporated some of the physical securities pieces into the hospitality industry. You might not see it but behind the scenes, you'll have X-ray machines and explosive itemizers and different environmental factors to control vehicles. You need to monitor delivery people and separate them from employees versus visitors and so on. So a lot of similar mitigations but doing so in a more of an open environment. It's a very difficult work environment because you just literally have to keep the front door open.10:31: Fred: Bruce, how have you found success in proving the business value of your security program to your 1,600 bosses in this case or to your c-suite? 10:46: Bruce Mills: I oftentimes will remind my leadership why I'm here. Our model at Hyatt is that we have safety and security at the forefront of our mission and so I remind our leadership that it's important to walk the walk not just talk to talk. I explain that these elements and actions can incrementally make our guests and colleagues safer and our properties more secure. It's in our best interest and safety and security have to be a core component of how we do business. Hyatt has had a longstanding culture in which safety is critically important and woven into the business. So I'm carrying that flag and continuing the effort.

Aflyttet har været til Digital Tech Summit i Øksenhallen på Vesterbro i København og har blandt andet mødt en lommepsykolog i form af en kunstig intelligensdrevet terapeut, en bilsælger og en studerende der tror på fremtiden. Og så har jeg talt med Susanne Skov Diemer,. hun er sikkerhedsekspert og tidligere sikkerhedskoordinator i Diplomatic Security Service, DSS, under det amerikanske udenrigsministerium, har arbejdet med sikkerhed i 30 år og er CEO i det internationale sikkerheds- og efterretningsfirma Praesidio Group. Hun er bekymret over Danmarks mangel på rettidig omhu. For det digitale kommer ikke til at redde os i en krise. LINKS: Digtal Tech Summit: https://www.version2.dk/fokus/digital-tech-summit-2023 Lommepsykologen fra TETATET: https://tetatet.ai/ Praesidio: https://praesidiogroup.com/ Mere: https://bevarkontanter.dk/kontante-mennesker-sikkerhedsekspert-husk-kontanterne-som-analog-backup/

Imagine being a medical professional on the front lines of not just war but diplomacy as well. Our guest, Dr. Andrew Hyatt, has lived this life and is here to share his incredible journey from an Army Family Medicine physician to a Regional Medical Officer for the Department of State, serving in over 50 countries. He provides a behind-the-scenes look at his deployment in Hungary during Operation Joint Endeavour, where his medical skills were tested in the midst of Europe's transformation in the mid-90s. His story provides a unique lens into the world of Military Medicine and its instrumental role in foreign service.        Transitioning from combat boots to diplomatic corridors, his responsibilities expanded to providing primary care to U.S. diplomats and their families across the globe. As he navigates us through these roles, Andy highlights the unique challenges of practicing medicine in unstable regions and the protocols that ensure the safety of medical personnel. He provides an illuminating look into the protocols and challenges of coordinating care with the Military system and even evacuating patients when necessary—ever wondered how the State Department ensures the safety of its medical personnel in dangerous locations? Dr. Hyatt's firsthand accounts give you an insider's understanding of the intricate network of Diplomatic Security Service, Marine Security Guards, and host nation protection that all work in unison to guarantee safety. Join us for this riveting discussion that takes you on an enthralling adventure into the life of a physician in the Department of State.   Chapters: (0:00:00) - Military Medicine and Transition to the Department of State (0:14:17) – Foreign Service Medical Care in the State Department (0:27:46) - Safety in Dangerous Locations   Chapter Summaries: 0:00:00) - Military Medicine and Transition to the Department of State (14 Minutes)    Dr Andrew Hyatt shares his experiences of deploying to Hungary with the 67th CSH to support Operation Joint Endeavour, and then his subsequent deployments around the globe. He talks about the opportunities available for foreign medical service with the State Department and how prior service in Military Medicine provides an excellent preparation experience. We also discuss the state of Europe in the mid-90s, particularly as Military Medicine was poised to help the country.   (0:14:17) - Foreign Service Medical Care in the State Department (13 Minutes) Dr. Hyatt relates his experiences as a Regional Medical Officer (RMO) for the Department of State, providing primary care to U.S. diplomats, family members, and other personnel in over 50 countries. He describes the different types of health care providers employed by the Department of State, as well as the protocols for evacuating a patient for specialty care. He also discusses the challenges of coordinating care with the military system when necessary.   (0:27:46) - Safety in Dangerous Locations (12 Minutes) Dr. Hyatt served as a supervising Regional Medical Officer in Ukraine, and his Family Medicine background helped him recognize and manage mental health issues. He shares the complexity of providing medical care in unstable and dangerous areas and how the Department of State ensures the safety of its medical personnel and their families. Challenges of providing medical care in these contexts include the Diplomatic Security Service, Marine Security Guards, and host nation protection, all playing a role in keeping personnel safe.   Take Home Messages: Military Medicine often serves as excellent preparation for roles in the diplomatic field, offering experiences in diverse environments and emergency situations. As a Regional Medical Officer, one provides primary care to U.S. diplomats, their families, and other personnel in multiple countries. This position also involves coordinating care with the military system when necessary. Transitioning from Military Medicine to diplomatic medicine involves changing roles from active combat to providing healthcare in diplomatic corridors. However, both roles require resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to serving others. A Regional Medical Officer's role extends beyond primary care to include investigating relationships with local medical colleagues and assessing local facilities for the benefit of U.S. diplomats and their families. In places with limited local specialty care, the Regional Medical Officer may need to arrange for patient evacuation to a location with the necessary medical facilities, even back to the U.S if necessary. Working as a Regional Medical Officer involves decision-making about where a patient's needs will be best met, considering local capabilities, the urgency of the situation, and the patient's condition. Diplomatic medical personnel are often stationed in unstable regions. Their safety is ensured through coordination with the Diplomatic Security Service, Marine Security Guards, and host nation protection. The unique challenges of practicing medicine in unstable regions include coordinating with different security services and ensuring the safety of medical personnel and their families. Providing medical care in dangerous areas often involves working with a small, close-knit group, which can foster a strong sense of camaraderie. The experience can be rewarding, despite the potential risks. The interplay of medicine, military, and diplomacy provides unique opportunities and challenges. It's a testament to the adaptability and resilience of the medical field and those who choose to serve in these roles. Episode Keywords: Military Medicine, State Department, Operation Joint Endeavor, Regional Medical Officer, Primary Care, US Diplomats, Foreign Medical Service, Europe, Mid-90s, Mental Health, Diplomatic Security Service, Marine Security Guards, Host Nation Protection Hashtags: #wardocs #military #medicine #podcast #MilMed #MedEd #MilitaryMedicine #DiplomaticMedicine #GlobalHealthcare #MedicalJourney #CombatToCorridors #MedicineOnTheFrontlines #MedicalDiplomacy #BattlefieldMedicine #HealthcareHeroes #MedicineAcrossBorders     Honoring the Legacy and Preserving the History of Military Medicine   The WarDocs Mission is to honor the legacy, preserve the oral history, and showcase career opportunities, unique expeditionary experiences, and achievements of Military Medicine. We foster patriotism and pride in Who we are, What we do, and, most importantly, How we serve Our Patients, the DoD, and Our Nation.   Find out more and join Team WarDocs at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/ Check our list of previous guest episodes at https://www.wardocspodcast.com/episodes Listen to the “What We Are For” Episode 47. https://bit.ly/3r87Afm   WarDocs- The Military Medicine Podcast is a Non-Profit, Tax-exempt-501(c)(3) Veteran Run Organization run by volunteers. All donations are tax-deductible and go to honoring and preserving the history, experiences, successes, and lessons learned in Military Medicine. A tax receipt will be sent to you.   WARDOCS documents the experiences, contributions, and innovations of all Military Medicine Services, ranks, and Corps who are affectionately called "Docs" as a sign of respect, trust, and confidence on and off the battlefield, demonstrating dedication to the medical care of fellow comrades in arms.     Follow Us on Social Media Twitter: @wardocspodcast Facebook: WarDocs Podcast Instagram: @wardocspodcast LinkedIn: WarDocs-The Military Medicine Podcast

This week Justin welcomes repeat guest Fred Burton. Fred is the former Deputy Chief of the Counter-Terrorism and Protective Intelligence Division for the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, and is currently the executive director of the Onyx Center for Protective Intelligence. He's also the author of four non-fiction books about counterterrorism and intelligence matters. Today, Fred discusses the murder of CIA Station Chief William F. Buckley in Hezbollah's War Against America. A CIA officer and Special Forces veteran, Bill was kidnapped and murdered in Lebanon in the 1980s in an event that changed the Central Intelligence Agency and US policy towards Lebanon forever.Connect with Fred:officialfredburton.comTwitter: @fred_burtonIG: @officialfredburtonFred's book, Beirut Rules, here on Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Beirut-Rules-Station-Hezbollahs-Against/dp/1101987464Connect with Spycraft 101:Check out Justin's latest release, Covert Arms, here.spycraft101.comIG: @spycraft101Shop: spycraft-101.myshopify.comPatreon: Spycraft 101Find Justin's first book, Spyshots: Volume One, here.Download the free eBook, The Clandestine Operative's Sidearm of Choice, here.SLNT Protect your data and devices. Use code SPYCRAFT101 to save 10% off your order.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

On December 11, 2022,  Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi (Mas'ud), the suspected bomb maker in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, was arrested by the U.S. Department of Justice and brought to the United States for prosecution. In this episode we are joined by two distinguished guests, Fred Burton and Mark Zaid, who discuss counterterrorism, the intelligence community, the Lockerbie investigation spanning more than three decades, and the quest for American justice.Due to the sensitivity of these topics, listener discretion is advised. Fred Burton is a former police officer, special agent for the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. State Department, and a New York Times best-selling author.  He's served on the front lines of high-profile investigations like the attempted hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan in 1986, the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, the hunt for and arrest of the mastermind behind the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993; the 1988 plane crash that killed a U.S. Ambassador and the President of Pakistani; and the search for Americans kidnapped by Hezbollah in Beirut, Lebanon.His best-selling books include his personal memoir GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent and his other books Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent's Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice, Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi and Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah's War Against America.He was selected by Security Magazine as one of the Most Influential People in Security in 2021 and his non-fiction books have been featured in fictional thrillers by Brad Thor, Jack Carr and Tom Clancy's Target Acquired by Don Bentley.  Fred's website is www.officialfredburton.comMark Zaid is an American attorney, based in Washington, D.C., with a practice focused on national security law, freedom of speech constitutional claims, and government accountability.Many of his cases are very well known, such as suing Libya for the 1988 terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which resulted in a $2.7 billion settlement, the largest of its kind against a foreign government for terrorist activities. Mark often represents former and current federal employees, intelligence and military officers, whistleblowers and others who have grievances or have been wronged by agencies of the United States Government or foreign governments. He also regularly represents members of the media. Mark's website is www.markzaid.com

Join the Geopolitical Pivot cast as we interview Retired Diplomatic Security Special Agent Cody Perron in a blockbuster episode highlighting his impressive background in the Marines and Diplomatic Security, education background, current geopolitical trend analysis and implications of the Russia-Ukraine war, and Perron's current Bureau of School Security initiative for domestic school security, and his book entitled "Agents Unknown: True Stories of Life as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service".Definitely an interview you do want to miss! Definitely recommend giving a follow and taking a listen to Cody Perron on his podcast and Instagram "Off The X", join his patreon, and give a Twitter follow!The Geopolitical Pivot thanks Cody Perron for his time to join us for this episode! Enjoy!

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 25 of the 3%ers Business Coaching podcast. This latest episode is an interview with Ronald Holloway, and boy is he an interesting guy!

Description:  NOTE: In the coming weeks, Jack is releasing a series of “best of” collections from the Danger Close archives. Each episode contains portions of past interviews, all centered around a theme or topic. Today's episode features conversations with current and former members of the intelligence community and intelligence analysts. FEATURED INTERVIEWS: DOUGLAS LONDON Douglas London is a retired senior CIA operations officer. Today, Doug is an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University's Center for Security Studies. Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/danger-close-with-jack-carr/id1557814875?i=1000538426102 RIC PRADO Ric Prado is a retired CIA operations officer who specialized in paramilitary, counter-terrorism and special/clandestine operations. He is also the New York Times bestselling author of Black Ops. Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/ric-prado-black-ops/id1557814875?i=1000558891242 CLINT EMERSON Clint Emerson is an author, an entrepreneur, survival expert, podcast host, and former SEAL. He is the author of theThe Rugged Life and the 100 Deadly Skills series and hosts Can You Survive This Podcast? Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clint-emerson-living-the-rugged-life/id1557814875?i=1000569047146 SAMUEL KATZ Samuel Katz is an expert on the Middle East, counterterrorism, and special operations. He has written more than 20 books including The Ghost Warrior, No Shadows in the Desert, and Beirut Rules. Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/samuel-katz-no-shadows-in-the-desert/id1557814875?i=1000552241030 MARC POLYMEROPOULOS Marc Polymeropoulos retired from the CIA in 2019 after 26 years of service. He is the author of the book Clarity in Crisis.  Currently, Marc serves as senior fellow in the Forward Defense practice of the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.  Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/gh/podcast/marc-polymeropoulos-clarity-in-crisis-at-the-cia/id1557814875?i=1000549795436 FRED BURTON Fred Burton is a former police officer, Diplomatic Security Service special agent, author, and security consultant. During his career, Fred was involved in some of the most notable terrorism investigations in law enforcement history. Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fred-burton-protective-security-specialist-author-and/id1557814875?i=1000516096247 DAVID KILCULLEN David Kilcullen served in the Australian military for more than 20 years before being recruited as the Chief Strategist in the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism for the U.S. State Department. He was also a counterinsurgency adviser to NATO and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-david-kilcullen-a-student-of-warfare/id1557814875?i=1000525709471 KARA FREDERICK Kara Frederick serves as the director of The Tech Policy Center at The Heritage Foundation. She previously served as a counterterrorism analyst at the Department of Defense and was a Senior Intelligence Analyst for a U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command.    Full Interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/kara-frederick-big-techs-totalitarianism/id1557814875?i=1000576378628   Sponsors: Navy Federal Credit Union: Today's episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org   Black Rifle Coffee Company: Today's episode is also brought to you by Black Rifle. Purchase at http://www.blackriflecoffee.com/dangerclose and use code: dangerclose20 at checkout for 20% off your purchase and your first coffee club order! SIG: This episode is sponsored by SIG Sauer. You can learn more about SIG here. KC Cattle Company: Check out the Jack Carr Bundles: https://shop.officialjackcarr.com/collections/jack-carr-x-kc-cattle

Eric Parker is back again this episode, and we continue our conversation from last week. We begin with the pardoning of the men at Nisour Square by President Trump, and get into other exciting stories from Eric's background including working under Hillary Clinton. Eric's background includes being a Army special operations veteran with a deployment to Mogadishu, Somalia, contracting with Blackwater in Afghanistan, and then working in Diplomatic Security Service. He is now the President of Red Variable Concepts - http://www.red-variable.com/ and the Founder of Select-International Training Institute http://www.the-select-few.com . As you'll hear in the episode, Eric's businesses are currently hiring guys for private protection if you have the background that they're looking for. You can also follow Eric on Instagram @bodhiblacktoes Pick up the official Battleline Podcast shirt and be sure to tag us on Instagram: https://tanto-apparel.myshopify.com/collections/apparel/products/battleline-podcast Follow us: http://instagram.com/battlelinepodcasthttp://twitter.com/battlelinepod Become the best version of yourself and get 15% off Ned products at http://helloned.com/battleline For 15% off all Fort Scott Munitions products go to http://fsm.com & use promo code: Battleline Photonis Defense is the global leader in night vision solutions providing more high-quality night vision capabilities than anyone. Hunters, shooters, boaters and outdoor enthusiasts rely on Photonis Defense systems to make their adventures safer and more successful. Visit http://photonisdefense.com for more information; or look for Photonis Defense product options from your night vision dealer. We are currently running a contest with great prizes from Fort Scott Munitions and more for those that subscribe to our Youtube channel. All you need to do is hit subscribe to be automatically entered: https://www.youtube.com/c/BattlelinePodcast

On September 16, 2007, seventeen Iraqi civilians were killed in an incident involving contractors working for Blackwater. Years later, in 2020, the men involved in Nisour Square were pardoned by President Trump. Eric Parker was with the Tactical Support Team when this took place and gives us the inside story of what really went down. Eric's background includes being a Army special operations veteran with a deployment to Mogadishu, Somalia, contracting with Blackwater in Afghanistan, and then working in Diplomatic Security Service. He is now the President of Red Variable Concepts - http://www.red-variable.com/ and the Founder of Select-International Training Institute http://www.the-select-few.com . As you'll hear in the episode, Eric's businesses are currently hiring guys for private protection if you have the background that they're looking for. You can also follow Eric on Instagram @bodhiblacktoes **Note: This episode was recorded prior to PayPal updating their policy, so our comments on that issue during our intro segment are not up to date information. Pick up the official Battleline Podcast shirt and be sure to tag us on Instagram: https://tanto-apparel.myshopify.com/collections/apparel/products/battleline-podcast Follow us: http://instagram.com/battlelinepodcasthttp://twitter.com/battlelinepod  For 15% off all Fort Scott Munitions ammo & gear go to http://fsm.com & use promo code: Battleline For 20% off all Bubs Naturals gear and products including collagen protein and MCT oil powder, go to https://bubsnaturals.myshopify.com/discount/BATTLELINE .. All purchases help to support the Glen Doherty Memorial Foundation A veteran owned company that gives back to the community through a different veteran charity every month, BeardVet. They have a variety of products including their American made coffee, roasted in Omaha, Nebraska. Check them out now: http://beardvet.com - For 10% off you can now use promo code Tanto We are currently running a contest with great prizes from Fort Scott Munitions and more for those that subscribe to our Youtube channel. All you need to do is hit subscribe to be automatically entered: https://www.youtube.com/c/BattlelinePodcast

The State Department is launching two new fellowships meant to bring on a diverse next generation of hires into the ranks of its Civil Service and Diplomatic Security Service. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that the department will launch the Colin Powell Leadership Program, which will recruit college students and recent graduates to join the Civil Service.

Join me as I chat with Special Agent Chris Kopeck about his two decades in the Diplomatic Security Service serving in the New York Field Office, U.S. Embassy Muscat Oman, Resident Office St. Louis and at multiple TDY assignments.

On today's episode, I was fortunate enough to speak with former United States Marine and former Diplomatic Security Service agent Cody Perron to discuss his work around the globe as a member of the law enforcement arm of the State Department, and his book "Agents Unknown". Cody's book paints a vivid portrait of life as a DSS agent. From running ops with local PDs in Houston, Texas, to wining and dining (and karaoke singing) top Vietnamese brass in Ho-Chih-Minh City, and being mortared in Iraq while then-Vice President Biden was on location, Cody's life has been full of adventure, intrigue, and high-level investigations. One such investigation involved the kidnapping and murder of Arizona native Kayla Mueller by ISIS. I could have spent hours talking with Cody, and I plan to have him back on the show in the future because I owe him a glass of bourbon.   Follow Cody on Instagram @offthex_inc, and find his website and store at www.codyperron.com. Keep your eyes out for a re-release of Cody's book with additional stories and updated information.

Listen in as retired DSS Supervisory Special Agent and Author of Afghans Never Smile - Reflections of a DSS Agent from Both Sides of the Durand Line, Steve Silva, discusses his time in Peshawar Pakistan, Bagram, Afghanistan, working at the Joint Terrorism Task Force and more. 

Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent Fred Burton spent most of his career focused on counter terrorism.  Among his more notable cases, he investigated the assassination of Israeli Prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. He was part of the investigation of the FIRST World Trade Center Bombing and was involved in the arrest of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind behind that attack.  He was also part of a special team set up to locate and free western hostages in Beirut. He is recognized as one of the foremost experts in the country and last year was named among the most influential people in the security field.  Fred currently serves as the Executive Director for the ONTIC Center for Protective Intelligence where he also hosts a great podcast. He has also written several bestselling books drawn from his time in the DSS. The Diplomatic Security Service traces its history back to 1916 when the State Department established the Office of the Chief Special Agent. The DSS has the largest global reach of any US Federal Law Enforcement Agency. We discuss the emergence of modern day terrorism in the 1970's with a particular focus upon the Iranian revolution in 1979 and their affiliation with Hezbollah.  Fred's book “Beirut Rules” tells the story of the kidnapping and murder of CIA Station Chief William Buckley.  He sees the attacks in Beirut and the 2012 assaults in Benghazi as both out of the "same playbook". Fred emphasizes that when you have a lack of human intelligence combined with lack of tactical analysis it usually leads to disaster. TAKEAWAY: Fred's father was a military policeman and played a role in the Nuremberg trials following World War II. Fred will never forget his father's words: “Son, there is evil in this world. There always has been and there always will be.”

DSS Supervisory Special Agent Kala Bokelman tells us about her career, delivers information and instruction about the 2022 Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent Vacancy Announcement. 

On this special, two-part edition of Danger Close, Jack looks back at some of his favorite conversations of 2021.  In part one, we hear from former Green Beret and FieldCraft Survival CEO, Mike Glover; former police officer, Diplomatic Security Service special agent, author, and security consultant, Fred Burton; acclaimed actor and audio book narrator, Ray Porter; retired Navy SEAL and Cleared Hot podcast host, Andy Stumpf; author, retired SEAL, Can You Survive This Podcast? host, and founder of the security consulting company Escape the Wolf Clint Emerson, Clint Emerson; journalist, war correspondent, Oscar-nominated filmmaker, and author, Sebastian Junger; retired Navy SEAL, bestselling author, host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast, and Echelon Front CEO, Jocko Willink; women's rights activist, free speech advocate, and author Ayaan Hirsi Ali; former operator in Great Britain's Special Boat Service, security consultant, adventurer, endurance athlete, and author, Dean Stott; and President and Director of Thunder Ranch and Marine Corps veteran, Clint Smith. It's a packed episode, with some of the best moments of the year on Danger Close.  Part 2 drops on Friday. Today's episode is presented by SIG Sauer. If you want to hear any of the full conversations, you can find the links to the full length episodes below: Featured Episodes: Jocko Willink: Discipline Equals Freedom   Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Human Rights Activist    Clint Emerson: Violent Nomad, 100 Deadly Skills Author    Andy Stumpf: Former SEAL and ‘Cleared Hot' Host    FieldCraft Survival Founder Mike Glover: Veteran Entrepreneur    Thunder Ranch Founder Clint Smith on Serving in Vietnam    Dean Stott: British Special Boat Service    Sebastian Junger: War Correspondent and Bestselling Author     Fred Burton: Protective Security Specialist, Author, and Former DSS Special Agent

The US Department of State Diplomatic Security service protects State Department employees, facilities, and US citizens around the world. They also investigative US Passport and Visa Fraud, as well as provide dignitary protection.In this episode of the Go Law Enforcement Podcast, Diplomatic Security Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Porter discusses partnering with host nation security counterparts and working with the US Military.Check out the Largest Listing of Law Enforcement Jobs on GoLawEnforcement.com

From the farm to the executive office of the 100 Club of Arizona, Angela Herrolle has made service the cornerstone of her life. A desire to travel and explore the world, led her on a journey away from the family farm in Minnesota and down a path that introduced excitement, family, tragedy,  grief and love. This journey has woven her life into the tapestry of Public Safety family in Arizona and landed her in the office of the 100 Club of Arizona – whose purpose is to support the families of the men and women standing behind the badge. In episode 66 we discussed this journey, and much more, give it a listen and enjoy. A little about our guest… I was raised in rural Minnesota and I strived to see the world. This vision led me to Arizona State University where I obtained my B.S. in Justice Studies and Business in 1997. I was then able to obtain a position with the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service as a Special Agent where I completed domestic and international investigations related to visa and passport fraud. During this time I was also assigned to the United States Secretary of State's executive protection detail where I traveled to 34+ countries and later became the Asst. Regional Security Officer for the U.S. Embassies in Chile, Haiti and Mexico. I came to be the CEO of The 100 Club of Arizona in an unconventional way. After meeting my husband, Bruce Harrolle and having a child I resigned from my position as a Special Agent and moved into a position as a contract Special Investigator to provide more stability for our growing family. Bruce worked as a police officer and paramedic for the Arizona Department of Public Safety while I opened FedRealty, a real estate brokerage that focuses on the residential relocation of government employees. Life took an unexpected turn in October 2008 when my husband and father to my two young children was killed in the line of duty. I then worked closely alongside the Arizona Department of Public Safety on “Harrolle's Law”, this law provides surviving families with lifetime health insurance benefits following a line of duty death. I later became the CEO of The 100 Club of Arizona, a non-profit organization that provides statewide assistance for public safety agencies, officers, firefighters, EMT/Paramedics and their families. As a 501(c)(3), the 100 Club of Arizona is dedicated to standing behind the men and women who stand behind the badge. I also continue my aforementioned work in addition to being a partner in several local restaurant concepts such as CHoP Chandler, The Living Room, and Humble Pie at La Encantada.     You can find the Fireground Fitness podcast wherever great podcasts are located. So, search it out and subscribe. Your feedback is powerful, and greatly appreciated. Go to apple podcasts, subscribe, rate and review the podcast or shoot me an email! If you would like to contact today's guest... IG: 100clubaz IG: angelica922 FB: 100 club of Arizona WWW.100club.org Memorial Motorcycle Run | 100 Club of Arizona   Your host can be reached at: IG: @firegroundfitness FB: @fireground fitness Twitter: @firegroundfit Email: raynegray@firegroundfitness.com

More than 50 special agents with the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service joined the surge of first responders who rushed to the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. In the days and weeks that followed, they went supported emergency workers and federal colleagues at Ground Zero. Federal News Network's Jory Heckman spoke with two of them. Diplomatic Security Service Supervisory special agent Christopher Gu. And, the voice you'll hear first, the assistant special agent in charge of the New York Field Office of Diplomatic Security, Elizabeth McAleer

The U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service has the largest global reach of any US law enforcement agency. They provide a security support for major international events, including the Olympics. Wonjoon Eric Song is a Special Agent with the Diplomatic Security Service. In this episode of the Go Law Enforcement Podcast, Special Agent Song discuss providing security at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.If you are looking for a job in law enforcement, check out the largest listing of law enforcement jobs on GoLawEnforcement.com

Steve Silva served with DSS and is the author of Afghans Never Smile: Reflections of a DSS Agent From Both Sides of the Durand Line. Today's sponsors:

Noriko Horiuchi is a Special Agent with the US Diplomatic Security Service in Santiago, Chile. In this episode of the Go Law Enforcement Podcast, Agent Horiuchi discusses a case of illegal ivory trafficking, and what it's like to be on the protective detail for the US Secretary of State.Largest listing of law enforcement jobs on GoLawEnforcement.com

Listen in as active duty Special Agent Adrian Diaz of the Diplomatic Security Service shares the stories of his 17 years of service at assignments across the globe including Monrovia Liberia, Tallil Iraq, Sao Paolo Brazil, MSD, ATA and others.  Sponsored By: Liberty RisQ Apparel (www.libertyrisq.com) - We Go Above and Beyond. 

Special Agent Grajales discusses the rescue of Americans abducted and held captive in Kenya. Óscar Grajales is a Special Agent with United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service. Agent Grajales was interviewed from San Jose, Costa Rica. View photos of those rescued herehttps://golawenforcement.com/articles/americans-held-captive/

It's 5:30am, and Kala Bokelman of the Diplomatic Security Service is one of many staking out a professional photographer named Sulano's house on a skinny on a dead-end street in Costa Rica. Together with Costa Rican security, the DSS helps bust a child pornography ring resulting in 757 years in prison (that's right, 757) for the perpetrators.  

On this episode of Danger Close, Jack sits down with former police officer, Diplomatic Security Service special agent, author, and security consultant Fred Burton. Throughout his career, Fred served as a key figure in some of the most notable investigations in modern law enforcement history. He was on the frontlines of the search for and the arrest of terrorist Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind behind the first World Trade Center bombing. He served in the investigation of the 1988 plane crash that resulted in the death of the U.S. Ambassador Arnold Raphel and Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Fred also played a critical role in the search for the Americans kidnapped by Hezbollah in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as many other high-profile cases.  Today, Fred is a New York Times bestselling author and a consultant to Fortune 500 companies on security-related issues as the Executive Director of the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence. He also hosts The Ontic Protective Intelligence Podcast. His books include his memoir GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent, Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent's Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice, Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi and Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah's War Against America. During their conversation, Jack and Fred talk about some of his most high-profile cases, his early days in law enforcement, and a lot more. Presented by SIG Sauer. More About Fred: https://www.officialfredburton.com/ Follow Fred:  https://twitter.com/fred_burton https://www.instagram.com/officialfredburton/ Subscribe to The Ontic Protective Intelligence Podcast: https://ontic.co/podcasts/  Spotlighted Gear: Smith & Wesson 340 PD FieldCraft Survival Notebook

On this episode of Task Force Talks, we speak with Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Andrew Parker from the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami field office who shares with our listeners how DSS investigates human trafficking cases. Listeners are provided with information on what exactly is the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, they will hear about cases investigated by DSS, and how they can work collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies and community organizations to combat human trafficking in South Florida and abroad. 

Listen in to Jeff Carlson and I as we discuss his first-ever interaction with a president of the United States, his time serving as a Diplomatic Security Special Agent in Tripoli, his close relationships with the DSS Special Agents serving in Benghazi during the attack, and his work in Counter-Intelligence at US Embassy Kabul. 

The United States Diplomatic Security Service is the law enforcement security arm of the Department of State, working in over 160 foreign counties and has the mission to protect the Secretary of State, personnel overseas, and foreign dignitaries coming into the US. Patrick Mills is the Special Agent in Charge of the Diplomatic Security Service's Chicago Field Office. In this episode of the Go Law Enforcement Podcast, Special Agent in Charge Mills discusses the mission of the Diplomatic Security Service, how they work to accomplish that mission, and, how to join the Diplomatic Security Service.Find out how You can Pass the Police Exam https://golawenforcement.com

Tune in as Diplomatic Security Special Agent Julie Cabus, a member of the Senior Foreign Service, discusses her career at multiple diplomatic assignments on the continent of Africa, within Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and several domestic assignments. Julie is the first active-duty special agent and the first female agent on the Off The X Podcast.

Scott Stewart, Former DSS agent and now corporate security expert, checks the bus for possible breeches in security this week. Plus, he talks about his time at the Diplomatic Security Service (providing security for U.S. consulates and embassies around the world—as well as protecting visiting dignitaries) and his role in high-level corporate security (think Ryan Reynolds in “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” …or Denzel Washington in “Man on Fire”). Really, really cool interview – lots of great info and an extremely articulate guest. Don’t miss this one!

Join Special Agent Michael Perkins as he discusses his 27 years serving as a Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent. In this episode he discusses his time protecting Princess Diana, protecting US Embassy personnel in the midst of the Sri Lankan civil war, and leading the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) - San Salvador, among other things. Michael's assignments include the DSS Washington Field Office, U.S. Secretary of State Protection Detail, US Embassy Guatemala City, Mobile Security Deployments, US Embassy Lusaka, US Embassy Lima, US Embassy Colombo, ILEA San Salvador and the DS Houston Field Office.

From responding to the Marriott bombings in Islamabad, Pakistan to the protection of Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens in Benghazi, one year before the attack on Benghazi, John Fluker discusses his 12 years serving as a Special Agent in the U.S. State Department's Diplomatic Security Service. Assignments: New York Field Office, Mobile Security Deployments, US Embassy Islamabad Pakistan, Office of Professional Responsibility, Houston Field Office, US Embassy Lima Peru and International Programs.

This week we talk to former US Department of State Diplomatic Security Service Agent Fred Burton, best selling author of "Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent". Fred's career spans some of the most interesting times and terror events in history. We talk to Fred about the evolution of protective security and protective intelligence throughout the years and what we should look for in the future as well and technology's impact on security. Fred is a wealth of knowledge. Listen in as he shares with us. Feedback: protectiontalk@outlook.com GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent's Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah's War Against America https://www.officialfredburton.com @fred_burton Twitter @officialfredburton Instagram

Fred Burton, one of the world's foremost authorities on security and terrorism, tells the harrowing story of the hunt for William Buckley - CIA station chief abducted by Hezbollah in Beirut on March 16th, 1984. Mr. Burton was deputy chief of counterterrorism at the Diplomatic Security Service, where he was in charge of preventing and investigating attacks against diplomatic personnel and facilities. During his 14-year career, Mr. Burton was involved in many other high-profile investigations including: the search for and arrest of Ramzi Yousef, mastermind of the first World Trade Center bombing; the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin; the killing of Rabbi Meir Kahane and al Qaeda's New York City bombing plots before 9/11; and the deaths of U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Raphel and Pakistani President Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.Mr. Burton is the author of four books, including the best-selling memoir, GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent , in which he tells the story of his role in the fight against the burgeoning terrorist threat in the 1980s and beyond. His second book, Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent's Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice), follows his 35-year quest to solve the case of an Israeli diplomat assassinated in Mr. Burton's childhood neighborhood. Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi, is a New York Times best-seller and provides the first detailed account of the infamous assault in Libya in September, 2012. Beirut Rules is his fourth book.Fred currently oversees Stratfor's analysis of global security developments and consults with clients on security-related issues affecting their business assets or personal safety. Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah's War Against America Daniel Pearl FoundationOther works mentioned: Agents of Innocence  by David IgnatiusThe Good Spy  by Kai BirdNo Shadows in the Desert  by Sam KatzRise and Kill First  by Ronen BergmanIf you've enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider signing up as a contributing patron and join the community for exclusive commentary, and content.  A $10 a month donation will really keep us going ---> https://www.patreon.com/thelivedropAlternatively, if you would like to help make Season Three operational you could offer a one time donation of any amount right here ---> https://www.paypal.me/thelivedropThank you for listening and your support,Mark ValleyCreator/Host Get bonus content on Patreon Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special Agents of the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) have been on the front lines of securing diplomacy for over a century. From the Fall of Saigon to the U.S. embassy bombings in east Africa, and the Iranian Hostage Crisis to the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, special agents of the DSS have relentlessly put their lives on the line to protect their fellow diplomats around the globe. Agents Unknown reveals the story of Cody Perron, a former Special Agent of the DSS, and his journey through the Middle East and Southeast Asia, negotiating international fugitive returns, interviewing ISIS hostages, and protecting the highest level U.S. government officials in some of the most volatile places in the world. Raw and unfiltered, Perron offers the perspective of a ground level agent revealing the unconventional duties and accomplishments as one of many “agents unknown.” Cody also offers his experience as a US Marine posted at the US Embassy in Moscow during the 911 attacks and Vladmir Putin's rise to power.  Episode 034Agents Unknown: True Stories of Life as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service   by Cody Perron On camera interview with KUSI San DiegoFor more information on the author go to  codyperron.comIf you've enjoyed this episode and would like to hear more, please consider signing up as a contributing patron and join the community for exclusive commentary, and content.  A $10 a month donation will really keep us going ---> https://www.patreon.com/thelivedropAlternatively, if you would like to help make Season Three operational you could offer a one time donation of any amount right here ---> https://www.paypal.me/thelivedropThank you for listening and your support,Mark ValleyCreator/Host Get bonus content on Patreon Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

GRP 138-For this week's podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Fred Burton. Mr. Burton is one of the world's foremost authorities on security and terrorism. He oversees Stratfor's analysis of global security developments. Before joining Stratfor, Mr. Burton served as a counterterrorism agent with the U.S. State Department from 1985 to 1999. Mr. Burton was deputy chief of counterterrorism at the Diplomatic Security Service, where he was in charge of preventing and investigating attacks against diplomatic personnel and facilities. During his 14-year career, Mr. Burton was involved in many high-profile investigations, including the search for and arrest of Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the first World Trade Center bombing, and the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Fred is a New York Times Best Selling Author. We discussed his fourth book, Beirut Rules: The Murder of a CIA Station Chief and Hezbollah's War Against America (Penguin Random House, 2018) recounts the 1980s kidnapping and murder of CIA Station Chief William Buckley in Lebanon. We talked about transnational terrorism, the role Iran played in the abduction of westerners during the 1980s, and much more. Enjoy. 0:00-Intro to Fred Burton 8:37-The development of modern terrorism. Black September and the Mossad 32:15-The assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin 37:58-Bengazi, and the story of William Buckley, the CIA station Chief of Beirut, who was kidnapped and tortured to death. Follow Global Recon below:   www.Globalrecon.net https://www.instagram.com/igrecon https://www.instagram.com/globalreconpodcast www.twitter.com/igrecon https://www.facebook.com/GlobalReconPodcast/   Chantel Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/mission_critical https://www.instagram.com/altern8rv

Diplomatic security is a serious business for the State Department. To bolster efforts to protect staff members working around the world, the Diplomatic Security Service recently opened an extensive training facility at an Army National Guard complex in Virginia. The Assistant Secretary of State for diplomatic security, Michael Evanoff, joined Federal Drive with Tom Temin for details on the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw... what more is there to say?Blood pumping car chases & action scenes that'll leave you sore in the morning, it's a thrill ride through & through!Official Synopsis: "Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America's Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015's Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they've tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever — and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown's Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw's sister — these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves." Stream our SequelQuest Back Catalogue from the links below or find the show on the NEW TRN Feed on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Podbean, SoundCloud and more.NEW! Now on Spotify as well! https://spoti.fi/2IrmZOFiTunes http://apple.co/2qJQwuxGooglePodcasts http://bit.ly/2qwIkl7Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2p28pILTuneIn http://bit.ly/2pKRWWfStitcher http://bit.ly/2BJaBGmPodbean http://bit.ly/2nqSQHzCredits:Intro MusicMusic: "Let's Go Back" performed by Donovan RaittMusic: Bensound.com "Instinct"Exit MusicMusic: "Let's Go Back" performed by Donovan RaittMusic: “Next Level” by A$ton Wyld on the Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) buy it here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/next-level/1473851032?i=1473851126Technical Producer: Jeramy HubbardSocial Media Producer: Adam Pope & Jeramy HubbardWebsite: http://theretronetwork.comWebsite: http://sequelquestpod.comTwitter: @SQPodTwitter: @TRNsocialInstagram: @ SequelQuestFacebook: SequelquestAll rights to the individual Intellectual Properties discussed on SequelQuest are under the ownership of their respective current owners, no copyright infringement is intended.

Main Review: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America's Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015's Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they've tried to take each other down. But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever — and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (The Crown's Vanessa Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw's sister — these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves. Scores - Ben - 5, Trevor - 4, Jack - 6,  Overview- 5/10 Check us out on itunes or on our website at www.tsucanshed.com Music: http://www.bensound.com

After eight movies and eigthteen years, The Fast and the Furious franchise delivers its first spin-off - Hobbs & Shaw. Directed by David Leitch, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw follows the titular characters Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who become unlikely allies who are forced to team up. Hobbs, a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service, and Shaw, a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7. They talk smack and punch each other – they are not friends. When cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Idris Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever, Hobbs and Shaw partner up, along with Shaw's sister (Vanessa Kirby), to bring down this greater threat.

For the first time on the show, we welcome on a former Special Agent of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Cody Perron.  He is also a former Marine as well as an author of the book "Agent Unknown" detailing his time as a DSS agent.  Cody shares what exactly a DSS Agent is and the duties that come with the job, some of the toughest spots he's been assigned to detail, including an excellent story about his time spent in Erbil, Iraq.  He shares what kind of counter intelligence is done on the job, some of the more surreal locations he's been able to see, and the positive experiences he's been fortunate enough to experience in his time as an agent.  Cody shares whether on not his Cajun roots were able to help with any language barriers he faced, as well as a great piece of advice for anyone looking to become a DSS agent.  You can follow Cody on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram.  Let him know what you think of his book. Jack and Dennis open the show with Jack's recount of his speech in San Diego and why it was such an honor to speak with chapter 48 of the Special Forces Association.  While in San Diego, Jack took his daughter to Sea World where they encountered a former sailor, while his daughter provides us the highlights from the trip.  The guys also discuss bearded culture and an unfortunate helicopter accident taking place mere blocks from the studio.  Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast, let us know what you think of the show and purchase Jack's book "Murphy's Law" where you can find wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers

On this episode of The Critical Hour, Dr. Wilmer Leon is joined by Ivan Eland, senior fellow at the Independent Institute and director of the institute's Center on Peace & Liberty; and Whitney Webb, staff writer at MintPress News.The Trump administration has been on high alert in response to what military and intelligence officials have deemed specific and credible threats from Iran against US personnel in the Middle East. But US President Donald Trump is frustrated with some of his top advisers, who he thinks could rush the United States into a military confrontation with Iran and shatter his long-standing pledge to withdraw from costly foreign wars, according to several US officials. Trump prefers a diplomatic approach to resolving tensions and wants to speak directly with Iran's leaders. All of this while my first guest warns that with the beat of Washington's war drums continuing to grow, particularly following the Monday reports of a government plan to send as many as 120,000 troops to counter Iran, the threat of an “accidental” provocation or a “false flag” is also becoming increasingly likely.Four activists who had been protesting in the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, DC, for more than a month were arrested Thursday and forcibly removed from the building. Medea Benjamin, co-founder of anti-war organization Code Pink, told the Associated Press that police entered the building early in the morning to arrest the protestors. The US Secret Service confirmed officers had helped agents from State Department's Diplomatic Security Service execute arrest warrants against people inside the embassy: Kevin Zeese, Margaret Flowers, Adrienne Pine and David Paul.Carlos Ron, deputy foreign minister for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government, tweeted Thursday that US officials entering the building “is an unlawful breach of the Vienna Convention,” an international treaty that created a legal framework for diplomacy between countries. All of this action is taking place in Washington, DC, while it is reported that the Venezuelan government and opposition are preparing to negotiate. After months of protests and a failed opposition attempt to overthrow Maduro, government and opposition representatives are meeting in Norway for talks, Venezuela's ambassador to the United Nations said Thursday. It was unclear whether the sides would meet directly to explore resolutions for the political crisis in the South American nation or if Norwegian officials would serve as intermediaries.US President Donald Trump announced a new immigration plan in a speech Thursday afternoon, the latest attempt by the administration to follow through on a campaign promise to overhaul America's immigration system. "We are proposing an immigration plan that puts the jobs, wages and safety of American workers first," Trump said. "Our proposal is pro-America, pro-immigrant and pro-worker. It's just common sense." What are we to make of the president's description?GUESTS:Carlos Castaneda — Attorney at Garcia & Garcia. Lilly Tajaddini — Iran Campaign coordinator for Code Pink.Ricardo Vaz — Writer and editor at Venezuelanalysis.com.Ivan Eland — Senior fellow at the Independent Institute and director of the Independent Institute's Center on Peace & Liberty.Whitney Webb — Staff Writer at MintPress News.

Today host @d_twit welcomes a self-avowed #POOLIGAN who just so happens to have spent a lifetime protecting others. Michael tells us about his life-long career in law enforcement, from his beginning as a police office in Louisiana to finding his calling at the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service. From his insights into the many places he visited, to his unique insights into what happend and who was at fault in Benghazi, to his view on today's State Department -- you'll be riveted by this very special guest and his impressive life of service.

Cody Perron is a former Marine and Diplomatic Security Special Agent, a nationally certified women’s self-defense instructor and a Department of Homeland Security trained Use of Force Instructor. He's also the author of "Agents Unknown – True Stories of Life as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service." Cody shares self-defense tips, stories from his life as a special agent and how he remains positive and happy in light of being involved some very high-stress situations. Cody's website: https://www.agentsunknown.biz/ You can also purchase Cody's book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ID7qW5 For more on the D.A.D. self-defense alert device Cody talks about go to: https://tigerlight.net/ Follow Deanne on Instagram at www.instagram.com/deannestagram or on facebook www.facebook.com/deannegoodman If you have an inspiring story or know someone who does email highlightpositivepodcast@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Lincoln Osiris is back from Pipe Hitters Union, with his guest Cody Perron, here to review and discuss  Agents Unknown – True Stories of Life as a Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service   Can be purchased on Amazon in paperback and…

Meet Mike Lonetto Chairman of the 82nd Airborne Division Association. He has been in the 82D Airborne Division Association since he got to the division as a paratrooper in 1984. In 2008 he became affiliated with the Washington DC chapter and really started getting involved with all the activities in the chapter about 5 years ago. This year he was elected Chairman of the Washington DC chapter.    He joined the Army at the age of 17 years old and has quite a career within the Army and he will tell us all about that career. He went into the reserves and then from there the Diplomatic Security Service and served as an agent on the Secretary of State’s Protective Detail and traveled to over 50 countries. Mike transitioned to the Department of Health and Human Services to serve on a cabinet protection detail. He has been at HHS for 18 years where he is the Special Agent in Charge of the Protection Operations Branch.    82nd Airborne Motto -- "All the way!", "Death from above"  

Fred Burton, former deputy chief of counterterrorism at the Diplomatic Security Service and the author of GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent, Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent’s Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice, and Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi joined me shortly after the attack on Sergei […]

As South Korea prepares to host the 2018 Winter Olympics just a short drive from its border with North Korea, we sit down to discuss security at the games in this episode of the podcast.From heightened political tension with North Korea to the ongoing security threats facing every iteration of the games, Stratfor Chief Security Office Fred Burton shares his experience working security at the Olympics during his time with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. He’s joined by Stratfor Worldview Contributor Austin Duckworth, a doctoral student in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at The University of Texas at Austin. Duckworth’s work focuses on the intersection of security, international politics and sports.Read our latest analysis on this topic and more at Stratfor Worldview. If you’re not already a Worldview member, you can subscribe today at: https://worldview.stratfor.com/subscribeRelated Reading: Korea’s Place in History by Rodger Baker: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/koreas-place-historyWho Will Protect the Next Olympics From North Korea by Austin Duckworth: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/who-will-protect-next-olympics-north-koreaThreat Lens 2018 Annual Forecast - An Excerpt: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/threat-lens-2018-annual-forecast-excerptLearn more about Stratfor Threat Lens: https://www.stratfor.com/products/threatlensHave a question or comment for the Stratfor Podcast? Leave us a message and we may include your comment in a future episode. You can leave a message for our podcast team at 1-512-744-4300 x 3917 or email us at podcast@stratfor.com.

Protecting the British royal family is incredibly difficult. Fred Burton, former deputy chief of counterterrorism at the Diplomatic Security Service and the author of GHOST: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent, Chasing Shadows: A Special Agent’s Lifelong Hunt to Bring a Cold War Assassin to Justice, and Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in […]

John Eustace retired from the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security in late July. On Target USA, he warns that unless the "leadership" wakes up, a tragedy like the one in Benghazi that left a U.S. ambassador and three others dead is going to happen. Money is the issue. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security is being asked to trim its budget at the worst possible time. "The world is on fire, " Fred Burton, former deputy secretary for counterterrorism at the Diplomatic Security Service, told Target USA, and diplomats are the first line of defense.

The State Department quietly launched a new Cyber and Technology Security (CTS) directorate, which falls within the Diplomatic Security Service, to address threats and vulnerabilities for embassies, consulates and foreign affairs officers.

In today's Federal Newscast, a former State Department special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service has appeared in federal court on charges of giving top-secret documents to a Chinese agent.

Cole Smith is the Co-Founder and CEO of Tresit Group LLC. Cole has earned his experience in the global fields of security, military and management. He enlisted into the U.S Army as a Human Intelligence Specialist and now serves as an Intelligence Officer in the Army National Guard. The remainder of his time was with Diplomatic Security Service as a Special Agent. There, he received various awards including a Superior Honor Award for his missions to Somalia. He was a member of a six-man team that responded to civil unrests during the Arab Spring in Tunis and Egypt. His education consists of a Master in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts and Associate’s Degree in Intelligence Operations and Arabic.

This talk will cover the Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3), our mission and capabilities. The DC3 is one-stop shopping for cyber crime related support. We have approximately 160 people assigned in 3 main organizations: * The Defense Computer Forensics Lab - probably the largest digital forensics lab in the world and the leader in handling large datasets. One case averages 75 terabytes. * The Defense Computer Investigations Training Program - the most high-tech classrooms in the world, training all of the DoD criminal and counterintelligence agents on the techniques to investigate cyber crime. FBI, Secret Service and Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service actually buy our courses for their agents due to the quality. * The Defense Cyber Crime Institute - my organization, responsible for research and development of new digital forensics tools as well as the validation, test and evaluation of these tools. Since crime labs now are moving to accreditation so that their evidence will be admissible in court, all of the tools used in a crime lab must first be independently tested and validated. You can't download the latest and greatest tool from the Internet or purchase it and use it without validating it first. Digital forensics is now a recognized forensic discipline just like, ballistic, serology, DNA, handwriting analysis, and finger print analysis. As such, there are best practices that must be adhered to. The discipline is on the cusp, moving from adhoc to certified professionals. The institute would like to be the consumer reports for digital forensics tools someday. Check out our website, www.dc3.gov.

This talk will cover the Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3), our mission and capabilities. The DC3 is one-stop shopping for cyber crime related support. We have approximately 160 people assigned in 3 main organizations: * The Defense Computer Forensics Lab - probably the largest digital forensics lab in the world and the leader in handling large datasets. One case averages 75 terabytes. * The Defense Computer Investigations Training Program - the most high-tech classrooms in the world, training all of the DoD criminal and counterintelligence agents on the techniques to investigate cyber crime. FBI, Secret Service and Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service actually buy our courses for their agents due to the quality. * The Defense Cyber Crime Institute - my organization, responsible for research and development of new digital forensics tools as well as the validation, test and evaluation of these tools. Since crime labs now are moving to accreditation so that their evidence will be admissible in court, all of the tools used in a crime lab must first be independently tested and validated. You can't download the latest and greatest tool from the Internet or purchase it and use it without validating it first. Digital forensics is now a recognized forensic discipline just like, ballistic, serology, DNA, handwriting analysis, and finger print analysis. As such, there are best practices that must be adhered to. The discipline is on the cusp, moving from adhoc to certified professionals. The institute would like to be the consumer reports for digital forensics tools someday. Check out our website, www.dc3.gov.