Category Archives: JSOC

The Drone Papers Digested: The “Assassination Complex”

Posted on January 8, 2016 by understandingempire

In what follows, I want to summarize the main findings from the release of the “drone papers” by the Intercept in late 2015. These documents, from a 2013 Pentagon report, offer a snapshot of U.S. manhunting by JSOC Special Forces … Continue reading →

Posted in CIA, Jeremy Scahill, JSOC, Middle East, Terrorism and Counterterrorism, White House Politics | Leave a comment

The U.S. Military’s Ongoing Securitization of Africa

Posted on January 6, 2016 by understandingempire

U.S. Marines simulate a riot during a crowd control training exercise with soldiers from Burkina Faso. Source. In what follows, I want to explore, and summarize, four articles–written by Nick Turse–that were released in 2015 about the U.S. military’s presence … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Baseworld, Drone Technology, JSOC, Special Forces, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dirty Wars: A Review, Part 3: Lawfare, or “Operational Preparation of the Battlespace”

Posted on June 17, 2013 by understandingempire

Law exacerbates and enables war. For the most part it provides a code or system for legitimizing state violence. At least, this is the case with US Special Forces operating around the globe. It’s partly misleading to characterize their activities … Continue reading →

Posted in Empire, Jeremy Scahill, JSOC, Law and Lawfare, Special Forces | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Dirty Wars: A Review, Part 2: The Rise of JSOC

Posted on June 14, 2013 by understandingempire

Dirty Wars: A Review, Part 2: The Rise of JSOC Scahill’s book is first and foremost a book about the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Critics of America’s dirty wars usually focus on the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). And there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Jeremy Scahill, JSOC, Special Forces | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments