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Hello, everyone.
At a time of surging militarism, especially in the United States, there are also questions about whether extremism is gaining ground within the US military. At the same time, the Trump administration has defunded counter-extremism programs. As a result, Inkstick regular contributor Tyler Hicks [ [link removed] ]reports [ [link removed] ], the country’s armed forces are in the midst of a “dehumanization crisis.”
Meanwhile, the instability that comes with regime change often leads to a spike in illicit arms trafficking. Syria is no exception: The country’s weaponries were looted on a massive scale in the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s flight from power in December, according to an [ [link removed] ]in-depth analysis [ [link removed] ] by Michael E. Picard, Sarah Hartley, and CalibreObscura.
That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on [ [link removed] ]LinkedIn [ [link removed] ], Threads [ [link removed] ], Facebook [ [link removed] ], Instagram [ [link removed] ], [ [link removed] ]Bluesky [ [link removed] ], and YouTube [ [link removed] ].
“Inside the US Military’s ‘Dehumanization’ Crisis Under Trump [ [link removed] ]” by Tyler Hicks (June 30)
As the second Trump administration slashes counter-extremism programs, veterans worry about the risks of emboldening extremism within the ranks of the military. Part of extremism, they say, is the dehumanization that comes with it.
Bluesky this [ [link removed] ]. Link this [ [link removed] ].
“‘Every Gun Was Taken’: Syria Could Fuel Arms Trafficking Crisis [ [link removed] ]” by Michael E. Picard, Sarah Hartley, & CalibreObscura (July 1)
Open-source data, supplemented by local social media, shows the extent of the proliferation of weapons in post-Assad Syria. Between early December 2024 and March 31 this year, there were at least 121 reports of major arms seizures or surrenders in Syria and 32 in Lebanon.
Bluesky this [ [link removed] ]. Link this [ [link removed] ].
“When the Border Was a Buffer Zone, a Baton, a Bullet [ [link removed] ]” by Patrick Strickland (July 2)
An excerpt from my new book, You Can Kill Each Other After I Leave (Melville House [ [link removed] ]), recounts the stories of refugees and migrants who made the dangerous journey by land or sea to Greece years after the 2015 refugee crisis.
Bluesky this [ [link removed] ]. Link this [ [link removed] ].
“Deep Dive: Is the US Safe from Cognitive Warfare? [ [link removed] ]” by Inkstick (July 3)
The Army’s Strategic Studies Institute has published a report that explores the views of military leaders, homeland security officials, and academic experts on how to address the growing threat of cognitive warfare and the urgent need to reframe homeland defense strategies.
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