The Back Brief: The Airborne Mafia, The Mission, and the Ft. Bragg Cartel

Three new books reviewed covering JSOC, the CIA, and the Airborne Infantry

Aug 19 • 

Jack Murphy

16

1

July 2025

The Unit That Didn’t Exist

How the CIA’s elite Afghan spies tried to recruit one of Daniel Pearl’s killers

Jul 31 • 

Jack Murphy

 and 

Sean D. Naylor

46

4

June 2025

The CIA-directed sabotage cells setting Russia ablaze

The story the CIA doesn't want you to read

Jun 27 • 

Jack Murphy

24

May 2025

Court document hints at details behind former CIA officer’s fall from grace

Feds say Dale Bendler abused his position to help DC lobbying firm clients

May 15 • 

Jack Murphy

 and 

Sean D. Naylor

19

1

April 2025

Army Special Ops Slated to Lose Thousands of Paid Airborne Positions

Move amounts to $1,800 pay cut for those affected

Apr 15 • 

Jack Murphy

 and 

Sean D. Naylor

12

3

March 2025

‘Lambs to the slaughter’ (Part 1)

How the CIA failed its officers in Cuba and the FBI failed them at home

Mar 10 • 

Jack Murphy

 and 

Sean D. Naylor

65

17

February 2025

Speakers at SOF conference tiptoe around Trump on Ukraine, allies

Almost no-one mentions “the elephant in the room”

Feb 23 • 

Sean D. Naylor

26

December 2024

Delta Force article disappears - at SOCOM's request

The Army quietly removed an online article about women in the elite unit (but we saved a copy for you).

Dec 14, 2024 • 

Jack Murphy

 and 

Sean D. Naylor

42

2

October 2024

Men under "downward pressure"

The leaders at the Army’s special operations schoolhouse explain how they are trying to fight through a tightening budget and a recruiting crisis to…

Oct 31, 2024 • 

Sean D. Naylor

14

2

Two new jobs, but too few people (and robots)

The Green Berets try to adapt to the new way of war

Oct 29, 2024 • 

Sean D. Naylor

18

2

September 2024

In The Kill Zone: The Life and Times of Willie Merkerson (Part 7)

Exfiltration

Sep 13, 2024 • 

Sean D. Naylor

 and 

Jack Murphy

24

2

August 2024

In The Kill Zone: The Life and Times of Willie Merkerson (Part 6)

Part 6: In The Wind

Aug 27, 2024 • 

Sean D. Naylor

 and 

Jack Murphy

20