Category: DailySocotra

Lights Out

I am a sometimes-proud alumni of a little college located in Ann Arbor, as many of you know, and over a couple decades of deep disappointment, thought I had successfully weaned myself off the football program there. Alsas, I regret to say that the antics of the young men in the Maize and Blue have […]

Ice Station ZEBRA

Man, I am toasted from the motion over the weekend that saw Pete haul my sorry butt across southwest Virginia, into the Volunteer State and north to Kentucky and the charming little college town at Berea. And then back the next day. Sandwiched in there was the first Presidential debate, and so I think you […]

Road Trip

As careful readers may have noticed, I have been feeling bad al summer- a sort of car-sick feeing that won’t go away. I was concerned enough about it that I actually figured out my health care arrangements, now that I am a Medicare enrollee. I made the requisite appointments, was told by one specialist that […]

Arrias Speaks: Terror – Again

After the most recent (multiple) terror attacks several commentators were quick to point out that the process from ‘explosion to arrest’ took less than 48 hours and that this demonstrated the great strides made since 2001. The action of the various police and investigative organizations in identifying and tracking down the suspects was excellent police […]

34 Confederates

(The impressive spire of Christ Church Alexandria, attended by George Washington and Robert E. Lee. Photo Socotra). I ran across a bit of news the other day that confirmed that I no longer live in a place I once did. It was about The Rebel, the one who stands at the intersection of South Washington […]

Storm Over Leyte with John Prados

An evening of naval history and the role of intelligence in battle at the International Spy Museum The International Spy Museum (800 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004) is a national treasure of spookery, tradecraft and strange tales. It is a must-see attraction when visiting Your Nation’s Capital, and well worth the trip downtown. Numerous […]

Willow Retrospective

(The Burger Bash 2015 Grand Champion, two in a row for Tracy’s Willow team). I told you last year it would not be the last time I wrote about Willow. In a way, it is always going to be with us. Heather talked about it at Front Page the other night, that the one-year anniversary […]

Pressure Cookers

Linden, New Jersey, can rest a little easier this afternoon. A fellow named Ahmad Khan Rahami was found sleeping in the doorway to a bar, and when awakened, produced a pistol and engaged in a running gun battle with police after shooting a cop in the abdomen. Thankfully the officer was wearing a ballistic vest […]

US Foreign Policy: Off the Rails

A recent commentary opined that, if elected, President Trump must find ‘qualified’ people for key positions; that only a few on his team have the necessary credentials. Another article lauded Mrs. Clinton’s foreign policy acumen, experience and inside knowledge. This was compared to Mr. Trump’s inexperience and lack of inside knowledge, concluding that Mrs. Clinton […]

Toe-tagged

I am in terre incognita here. I wake each morning with the dread feeling that something awful is either about to happen, or already has. I am staying away form the television. The left and the alt.right commentators are savaging each other, and the kick-off for the Michigan game is still an hour and a […]