Military Matters

Thirteen years ago Army infantryman Bowe Berghdal walked off of Observation Post Mest near the town of Yahya Kheyl in the Paktika Province of Afghanistan. He was held captive for almost five years. Jack Murphy sat down with Michael Ames, co-author of "American Cipher: Bowe Bergdahl and the U.S. Tragedy in Afghanistan." Is there more to the story of Bowe Bergdahl's capture and detention? Over a dec...

Check out last week's episode on the death of intelligence professional Michael Froede. Jack Murphy and Rod Rodriguez discuss the secret world of intel, secrets and suicide, and some of the strange issues surrounding Froede's death. --- This Episode is brought to you by Tekto Gear. TEKTO Gear is giving 15% off the entire purchase.  Go to Tektogear.com and use discount code, Stripes.

Michael Froede was a US Army Human Intelligence (HUMINT) collector working in clandestine special operations programs. After struggling with hallucinations and depression related to PTSD and TBIs, he jumped to his death from a parking garage. His death has left many unanswered questions for his mother, who remains skeptical about the circumstances of her son's death. Then, retired senior intellige...

Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss the war in Ukraine, how a former SOF Commander is making a difference, and what the presence of contractors in a war against Russia could mean for us all.

Why is the former Deputy Commander of Special Operations Central (SOCCENT) in Ukraine? Jack Murphy brings us an incredible interview with Col. (R) Andrew Milburn about why he decided to join the fight and how his company The Mozart Group is helping "build sustainable capacity in the Ukrainian military and territorial defense units so that Ukraine can defend itself from Russia's invasion."

Rose Thayer and Rod Rodriguez discuss last week's episode about the insane corruption that is military housing. We talk about the lethargy some folks feel about this topic, a 'strongly worded letter' to the SECDEF, and how many homes could the government have purchased for the price of a general's home in Austin (just curious)?

Commanders are taking the side of Military housing companies against their own service members. Children are falling out of military housing windows at an alarming rate and the fix is not economical for housing companies. If you're in a wheelchair in government housing you're screwed, and much much more. This episode was written and reported by Stars and Stripes reporter Rose Thayer. --- This epis...

Next week, Stripes reporter Rose Thayer gives us an update on the tenant bill of rights and whether its working. Before then though, we suggest you listen to two other episodes to help prime you for that update. We suggest "Black mold and lead in military housing, and the law letting it happen" and this episode, which you're about to hear. Is the military just bad at environmental testing, or is t...

Jack Murphy and Rod Rodriguez discuss last week's episode on the effects of sanctions against Russia, oil, and cryptocurrency. Do we have to tell you the conversation goes off the rails? Check out last week's episode!

Russian commodities analyst Nick Trickett talks with Jack Murphy about sanctions against Russia, the squeeze on European oil, and what role China plays in Russia's down-trending economy. Then cybersecurity and cryptocurrency expert Rick Jordan talks with us about the role cryptocurrency is playing in today's world economy and what any of that matters in war. Guest Links Nick Trickett - TW: @ntrick...

Before you decide to volunteer for the Ukraine Foreign Legion, listen to our conversation with Marine veteran and experienced overseas contractor Tim Lynch about what you need to know before making that commitment. There's more at stake than you might realize... --- This Episode is brought to you by Tekto Gear. TEKTO Gear is giving 15% off the entire purchase. Go to Tektogear.com and use discount...

The Russian perspective on the war in Ukraine, the Russian army in urban warfare, and can Putin survive a failed invasion? GUESTS Dr. Rita Konaev is an Associate Director of analysis at the Center for Security and Emergent Technology. Twitter: @RitaKonaev Dr. Golfo Alexopoulos, professor at the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies at USF and director of the USF Institute on Russia. Twitter:...

Military Matters hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy talk about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to the U.S. Congress, war tourists, and do YOU think Zelenskyy should have worn a suit? Send your comments to militarymatters@stripes.com or find us on Twitter @stripesmmpod

Tanks, Spetsnaz, "Little Green Men" and information warfare. Jack Murphy takes us beyond the headlines and into Russia's military, strategy, and how they envision victory. This is part two of our Future War series on Russia. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Military Matters hosts Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's episode on the Russia/Ukraine crises. How the collapse of the Soviet Union has everything to do with this war, Putin's slipping power, and whether nukes could play a role in this. Subscribe today. Part 2 of our Future War Series on Russia coming soon!

The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has sent shockwaves throughout the world resulting in the highest tensions between the East and the West since the Cold War.  Russia analyst Nick Trickett and former Russian FSB Officer Jan Neumann explain how Russia got to this point, what this war could mean for Russia's leader Vladimir Putin, and what could happen next. Leave us a review on Apple Podcas...

This is our final ICYMI before we kick of season 5! Former U.S. Special Forces service member and current intelligence professional shares an insider's view of the Taliban's takeover of the country, the chaos at the US embassy, and how it all went so wrong.  Follow Military Matters on Twitter and Facebook

The recent deaths of Army Delta Force member William J. Lavigne and Army Veteran Timothy Dumas are being investigated as homicides. Their deaths have brought attention back to another fatal shooting Lavigne was involved in, the shooting of his best friend and Special Forces soldier Mark Leshikar. Jack Murphy takes us into the life and death of Mark Leshikar. We talk with his sister and widow, unco...

We are revisiting our Qanon episode, in which we explored the murky world of QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory that falsely claims President Donald Trump is fighting a shadowy cabal of Satanist pedophiles. To find out how child pedophilia rings, Pizzagate, and the existence of a deep state made their way into the mainstream consciousness, and also to learn about the conspiracy theory's links...

The story of Vanessa Guillen rocked the military and lead to drastic changes not only at Fort Hood but throughout the DOD. The passing of the Vanessa Guillen bill was one of those major changes that came out of this tragedy. Stars and Stripes reporter Rose Thayer walks us through what the Vanessa Guillen bill is and an update to the Vanessa Guillen case. Then we're revisiting our Season 2 episode,...

It's our season 4 wrap-up! Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss the stories covered this season from the Afghan evacuation to our "woke" military story. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and send us your thoughts and story suggestions to militarymatters@stripes.com

Mick Mulroy is a former CIA Paramilitary Operations Officer and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East. In this interview with Jack Murphy, Mick discusses the CIA's efforts to rescue Afghan allies as the Taliban reseized the country and why it was so important to the agency to do so.

Retired Special Forces officer Scott Mann shares the incredible story of veterans helping their Afghan partners find their way out of Afghanistan as the Taliban retake the country. These veterans accomplished this harrowing task from their kitchens, cars, and front rooms! Find out how in this episode of Military Matters! For more information on Task Force Pineapple go to www.taskforcepinapple.org...

Rod Rodriguez and Jack Murphy discuss last week's episode about the broken State Department visa program that foreshadowed the debacle that was their NEO operation. Also, the Tim Kennedy situation and why did the military need civilians to do their job for them? Share your ideas or hit us up with a tip at MilitaryMatters@Stripes.com.

With the Taliban now in control and U.S. forces withdrawing, Afghans desperate to find a way out turned to U.S. veterans they had served alongside for help. Some of those veterans heeded their call and went to their rescue. Save Our Allies Coalition's Chad Robichaux, Nick Palmisciano, and The Diplomat's Catherine Putz take us into the story of a broken immigrant visa program, a high stakes rescue...