Having worked briefly in El Salvador during the Emergency Regime and the War on Gangs, I was keeping track of the building of the mega-prison known as Cecot (the Terrorism Confinement Centre). At the time, I learned and reported that Cecot technically was/is violating the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules…
PMSCs
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A Former CIA Military Advisor’s Perspective About The Hiring of US PMSCs Tasked To Operate In Gaza
A Former Special Forces CIA Advisor shared with me what he thinks about the contracting of two previously unknown American PMSCs (Private Military Security Companies) tasked with running checkpoints in Gaza. The former advisor also has experience working in the PMSC world. Please note that the opinions expressed by the…
The Grey Men of Gaza, Contracting US and Egyptian PMC/PMSC To Manage Checkpoints and Security; Will It Work?
I can understand why hiring PMSCs will be considered beneficial to carry out these duties in Gaza as these are contractors taking no sides in the situation, as they are not part of a military/security government forces. They are the grey men. This is a good option, IMHO… For the…
Africa
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What Happened That Led To The Romanian Mercenaries Surrender and M23’s Advance?
Potra’s Romanian Mercenaries Turning In To M23 Rebels. Image, The New Times News.
The Latest On The Romanian Mercenaries In The DRC
Romanian Horațiu Potra’s PMC men, i.e. mercenaries, have ended their contract and not on their terms. I wonder if the DRC could get a refund? 😁 G4 Media Romania— (Translation) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened the Inter-institutional Crisis Cell after the deterioration of the situation in Congo, where several…
What’s Happend To Horațiu Potra’s Romanian Mercenaries in DRC?
I wasn’t sure what was happening with Horațiu Potra’s mercenaries in the DRC since he’s been very publicly meddling in Romanian elections and politics and getting arrested. Voila, yesterday’s news, his contractors are in the DRC and continue to operate. My understanding is that Potra’s company called ‘Congo Protection’ works…
I Wonder How Much Russia Has A Hand In Instigating The Attacks On Western Embassies In Kinshasa.
Video: French Embassy being attacked in Kinshasa, DRC. The French seem to get it a lot in Africa these days. It is more likely than not that Moscow is behind these attacks on any Western embassies in Kinshasa in some way or another. LinkedIn posting: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/royce-de-melo-39172813_frenchembassy-drc-diplomaticmission-activity-7290079689581174785-7ukt?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Reuters — Summary Also…
A Vote of Confidence From SOF Mag Publisher
Susan Keating, publisher of Soldier of Fortune magazine, has given me a vote of confidence on LinkedIn in her article ‘So You Want To Be a War Correspondent’. I’m very flattered and grateful. LinkedIn link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/susan-katz-keating-4437b07_so-you-want-to-be-a-war-correspondent-activity-7287898864706064385-1D15?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Link to the article, ‘So You Want to Be a War Correspondent’: https://sofmag.com/how-to-be-a-war-correspondent/ –RdM
SHOT Show Activity and Ambience
Had a great meeting and conversations with US Ordnance. It’s a busy booth. I have done work for US Ordnance in Canada. US Ordnance weapon systems are well known worldwide. They are the last makers of the Mk19 automatice grenade launcher, which is extensively used in Ukraine. They also have…
Weapons, Military History
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SHOT Show 2025: DS Arms Reproduction of a T48, Prototype of the US Army FN FAL Rifle.
A DS Arms reproduction of a T48 prototype of the US FN FAL, which the US Army almost adopted as its standard rifle. It’s on display at the DS Arms booth at the SHOT Show. It’s interesting to note that this rifle had a Canadian advisory board because Canada was…