Spencer Ackerman

Author of REIGN OF TERROR: HOW THE 9/11 ERA DESTABILIZED AMERICA & PRODUCED TRUMP. Pulitzer/National Magazine Award/etc winning journalist. WALLER VS WILDSTORM for DC Comics, IRON MAN for Marvel.

The War Abroad

As Xi Visits Saudi Arabia, U.S. Tells Mideast Allies Not To Comparison Shop

How to wage two Cold Wars at the same time? With security architecture that works like a walled garden. Would the Gulfies buy a Mac when all their stuff runs on Windows?

Newsletter

Until The Twitter Ban Takes Us

No one knows if or when the purge will come for us, but there's an enriching and affordable way to reject it—a FOREVER WARS subscription.

The War Abroad

Blaming The Afghans One Last Time

U.S. watchdog SIGAR told true stories about the trees of the Afghanistan war. It avoided talking about the forest—and the people trying to survive the changing ecosystem.

The War Abroad

U.S. Intelligence Begins To Rethink Its Analysts' Emirati Career Path

A War-on-Terror retirement plan for U.S. intelligence officers grows into an espionage problem. PLUS: WALLER VS. WILDSTORM is delayed, but not canceled! AND: A note on trans panic and the midterms.

The War at Home

The Department of Homeland Security Is Still Lying To Congress About Its Portland Protest Surveillance

A knowledgeable former DHS official refutes a misleading claim in a recent DHS report. PLUS: Let's talk about antisemitism.

Paid-members only

Talleyrand Quotes Set To Crass Beats, f/Mike Duncan of Revolutions

The War Abroad

Joe Biden's Disposition Matrix

The Obama administration created a bureaucratic entity with life-or-death power to "dispose" of suspected terrorists. A senior official confirms that Biden has brought it back.

Paid-members only

Chromium Cover

Friend of Jim Lee

So I couldn't tell you last week that I was on a panel with the comics heroes of my youth, but here’s video of it. Subscribers only, so subscribe!

The War at Home

Guantanamo Bay in The January Sixer Imagination

It turns out jail isn't what they thought it would be. You'll never guess what they think Guantanamo is. PLUS: Checking in on The Woke Military

Comics

Me and WALLER VS. WILDSTORM at New York Comic Con

I kind of can't say more than that right now? But come say hi if you're there this week.

Comics

Reading 'Lazarus' in the Year Minus-X

I'm not writing this because Greg Rucka recommended REIGN OF TERROR in the backmatter of Lazarus: Risen #7, out now from Image Comics. But I'm not not writing this because Greg Ru

The War at Home

The 'Woke Military' Will Let You Join The Oath Keepers

Current Pentagon policies against far right or white supremacist extremism in uniform are "absolute milquetoast," according to a senior Pentagon official.

Afghanistan

U.S. Rejected Taliban Seat on Board of Fund Controlling Afghanistan's Wealth

Now the Taliban, which is the government, opposes the Afghan Fund. A U.S.-appointed Afghan trustee is warning Washington against weaponizing it.

The Spoils of War

REIGN OF TERROR Wins A 2022 American Book Award

I know, it's tacky to talk about your awards. But if you don't, no one will recognize. Read this post in Ric Flair's voice.

The War at Home

CNN Hires Ex-Cop Who Defended NYPD's Mass Violation of Muslim Civil Rights

John Miller recently slipped into apparent perjury about mosque surveillance before the City Council, but he's trustworthy enough for CNN. PLUS: China accuses the NSA of data theft

weapons

The Kalashnikov of Drones, Kinda Sorta

Turkey's Bayraktar-2 is not a liberation tool favored by guerillas. But for states looking to engage in some drone warfare of their own, it sure lowers the barrier to entry.

The War at Home

But Without Debt, Who Will Fight Our Wars?

Usually politicians deny that there's a Poverty Draft in the "All-Volunteer Military." But even a meager amount of student-debt forgiveness has the mask flying off.

Afghanistan

The War on Terror Isn't Over, According to Biden's Justice Dept.

Edited by Sam Thielman SINCE THE U.S. MILITARY departed Afghanistan a year ago, the Justice Department under President Biden has asserted in at least four cases that the end of that war has no bearing on the broader War on Terror. Crucially, these are the cases of four people

Comics

WALLER VS. WILDSTORM Is The REIGN OF TERROR of Comics

In November, DC Comics will publish a book I wrote along with my friend Evan Narcisse and drawn by the brilliant Eric Battle. I can't wait for you to see this dream of mine come true.

The War at Home

When Reactionaries Fight Alphabet Boys

For socialists, FBI vs MAGA looks like an Iran-Iraq War, as those that work forces face hostility from those that burn crosses. But if MAGA doesn't actually start shooting, history suggests a detente

Afghanistan

First Impressions on the Execution of Ayman al-Zawahiri

Like Obama with Osama bin Laden, Biden did not portray Zawahiri's death as an end to the War on Terror, but instead as a kind of a kind of proof of concept. But what did it prove, and what is the concept?

The Ghost Era of FOREVER WARS Begins

FOREVER WARS is no longer a Substack. PLUS: Biden's Mideast apology tour. AND FINALLY: merch!

Chromium Cover

Forever Wars #100

That's how many editions Sam and I produced in the past 52 weeks. Time for some anniversary journalism. Like all anniversary journalism, this edition will be lazy.

Newsletter

United Nations Warns of Yemen's Next Disaster

As President Biden attempts to reset relations with Riyadh, the U.N. details the limits of the ceasefire in Yemen—and says it's "about to get much worse."

Newsletter

Matt Bors' JUSTICE WARRIORS Puts Comics in an Illegal Chokehold

The GOAT political cartoonist talks to FOREVER WARS about bringing his critique of our collapsing society to comic books, the medium he was born to work in. Sorry to Mr. Gotcha.