Today we talk to CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer Glenn Corn who is calling in from Ukraine and dive into the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with on-the-ground insights and analysis. We touch on Ukrainian concerns about being excluded from international peace talks, the mixed reactions to diplomatic efforts at the Munich Security Conference and in Saudi Arabia, and the potential implications of new Russian intelligence tactics.

We also hit on a new Russian intel covert unit, possible involvement of North Korean troops supporting Russia, recent prisoner swaps, and the evolving role of NATO and U.S. allies in the conflict. Additionally, there's a reflection on the human cost of the war, highlighting the emotional toll on Ukrainian families.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

Today’s Combat Story is with our first Navy Vice Admiral, Mike LeFever, who spent 38 years in uniform supporting US National Security across the world. Rising from an Annapolis wrestler to a surface warfare officer, Mike was selected to command a strike group, would serve at the US Embassy in Pakistan as the head diplomatic officer (during the Bin Laden raid), and finished his military career as the Director of Strategic Operational Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center, within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

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Mike has gone on to write a book about leading through crises titled End Game First: A Leadership Strategy for Navigating a Crisis, and, since leaving service, has stayed very busy with roles as a CEO for a cyber and tech company; a senior advisor and mentor at the McChrystal Group; Performance Ambassador and Speaker for Liminal Collective and Arena Labs; works on the Cipher Brief with friend of the show Glenn Corn and more.

This is a really and insightful discussion with an incredibly senior, accomplished, yet thoroughly humble leader and I hope you enjoy his sense of humor, honest talk, and experiences at the highest levels of both global affairs and military strategy as much as I did.

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Find Mike LeFever Online:

https://nationalsecurity.gmu.edu/mike-lefever/

End Game First: A Leadership Strategy for Navigating a Crisis

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

Today is an amazing Combat Story as we sit down with the legendary retired three star General HR McMaster whose 34 years of service included everything from spearheading the last great tank-on-tank engagement in the famous Battle of 73 Easting to serving as President Trump’s National Security Advisor.

McMaster has been a dream interview for our program for years and it does not disappoint. We cover so much in this episode from exactly what it felt like in the tanks on that fateful day taking on and destroying the Tawalkana Division of the Iraqi Republican Guard in minutes to leading a Cavalry Regiment that successfully and overwhelmingly destroyed Al Qaida in Tal Afar in Iraq in 2006 (it’s an amazing description of combined arms warfare) to chance encounters with world leaders like Henry Kissinger.

We spend some time discussing the General’s most recent book, At War With Ourselves about his time in Trump’s White House. It’s an amazing look inside what the West Wing is really like and the decisions that have to be made and personalities that need to be managed. Fans of this show will love this book.

We get McMaster’s perspective from the Battle of 73 Easting but if you want an even more detailed description of that battle, check out our interview with McMaster’s Platoon Leader Tim Gauthier who was a part of that fight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O10yS95ak5M

I sincerely hope you enjoy this glimpse into one of our country’s greatest and most selfless leaders as much as I did.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

Today we have a fascinating discussion with two CIA legends from the Directorate of Operations: Glenn Corn and Paul Kepp. Both served for over 30 years in the government, most of that with the CIA and both served as Chiefs of Station at some of the most important posts in the world, leading from the frontlines.

Glenn brought Paul on to discuss what’s going on in Africa in terms of Russian and increasing Chinese influence, regional players like Turkey and UAE, and specifically recent flare ups in the Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC with Tutsi militia group M23 taking over Goma.

We cover what that means for the DRC, Rwanda, the people, regional players, global players, and the United States, particularly with a new administration in place.

Please enjoy this deep dive from two legends discussing a topic that both feel deserves our attention globally.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

Today we hear a Combat Story from our brothers across the pond with a veteran and sniper from the UK’s elite Parachute Regiment or Paras, Hugh Keir. Hugh deployed to Iraq twice, Afghanistan three times, in addition to Northern Ireland and the Falklands.

Hugh survived the infamous siege of Musa Qala (you’ll be fascinated to hear about this experience and it will make you appreciate just how brutal fighting can be at times) where he and his unit were infiled into a brutal fighting position in Afghanistan completely surrounded by the Taliban. He was also recognized with a gallantry award for his actions in Helmand Province in 200 in just one of his several Afghan deployments.

Since leaving the military, Hugh has worked as a Close Protection Officer in the Middle East and in the UK, and is the host of the H-Hour Podcast, a long form conversation hosted with guests that have included politicians, actors, psychologists, UFC fighters, authors, campaigners, veterans, and more.

I hope you enjoy this deep dive from our close partners over in the UK as much as I did.

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Find Hugh Keir Online:

🔗 Hugh’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hughkeir

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/hughkeir

🐦 X: https://x.com/hughkeir

📘 Learn more about Hugh: https://charliecharlieone.com/about-h-hour/

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction
00:28 Introduction to Combat Story
00:47 Meet Hugh Heyer: UK Parachute Regiment Sniper
03:43 Growing Up in Wales
09:17 Joining the Military
26:00 Training Challenges and Selection
33:18 Bloody Sunday and Personal Connections
34:46 Marching Season in Ireland
37:34 Experiences in Iraq
42:40 Sniper Training and Promotion
49:20 First Firefight in Afghanistan
58:08 The Siege of Musa Qala
01:07:31 Facing Ammunition Shortages
01:09:35 Enduring Relentless Attacks
01:11:01 Casualties and Morale
01:15:31 Negotiating with the Taliban
01:16:18 The Unexpected Evacuation
01:18:43 Reflecting on the Siege
01:25:57 Gallantry Award and Strike Operations
01:35:28 Starting the H-Hour Podcast
01:38:39 Sentimental Keepsakes and Final Reflections
01:40:42 Conclusion and Podcast Promotion

In this special crossover edition of Combat Story and the Mad Minute, we discuss regional issues in the Middle East with 30 year CIA and State Department legend Glenn Corn. We delve into the significant recent developments in the Middle East, focusing on the ceasefire agreements involving Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah, as well as Lebanon's election of a new president after a prolonged political deadlock.

Israel and Hamas reached a pivotal ceasefire agreement after 15 months of intense conflict. This truce, facilitated by international mediators including U.S. President Joe Biden, President-elect Donald Trump, and Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, aims to end hostilities and initiate the release of hostages and prisoners. The first phase, set to commence on January 19, 2025, includes a six-week truce during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Subsequent phases will address the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the reconstruction of the region under international supervision.

In Lebanon, the political landscape has undergone a transformative change with the election of army commander Joseph Aoun as president on January 9, 2025, ending a two-year vacancy. Aoun secured 99 votes in the parliamentary session, surpassing the required two-thirds majority. His election is seen as a diminishment of Hezbollah's influence, especially following the recent conflict with Israel and the assassination of veteran leader Hassan Nasrallah. In his victory speech, President Aoun emphasized a new phase for Lebanon, commitment to the ceasefire with Israel, and the establishment of a national security strategy. His presidency is viewed as pivotal for the country's postwar reconstruction efforts and economic recovery.

Join us as we analyze the roles of key figures such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas' interim political chief Khalil al-Hayya, and Egypt's General Intelligence Director Hassan Rashad in these negotiations. We also explore the implications of these ceasefires and Lebanon's presidential election on the geopolitical landscape, the challenges in implementing the agreements, and the prospects for lasting peace in the region.

Don't miss this comprehensive discussion on the dynamic and evolving situation in Lebanon and Israel, providing insights into the complex interplay of political and military strategies shaping the future of the Middle East.

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction
00:22 Lebanon's Political Landscape and Recent Changes
02:22 Hezbollah's Influence and Recent Developments
03:07 Impact of Israeli Actions on Hezbollah
08:40 Lebanese Armed Forces and Hezbollah Relations
10:27 Regional Winners and Losers
14:15 Advice for the New Administration
17:47 Personal Reflections on Lebanon
19:19 Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
22:10 Focus on Iran and Regional Dynamics
27:08 Global and Regional Concerns
28:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Today is a special edition of Combat Story where former guest and retired Sniper and Force Recon Marine AJ Pascuiti invited us to spend two days with the Marines of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, some of America’s finest, as they reunited 20 years after the infamous Battle of Fallujah II in November and December 2004.

This episode was designed to be seen on video so feel free to head over to YouTube to watch it here.

Special thanks to AJ for organizing and bringing this together for these Marines from Darkhorse. It’s amazing to think of these men who just walk the streets today with their families like any other American but were once the men we sent into the arguably the hardest fighting of the post-9/11 era to clear rooms and buildings for days on end against a determined enemy.

Thank you to the Marines of 3/5 for what you did in 2004 for the rest of us. Semper Fi.

Today we have a Combat Story first as we hear firsthand from Rob Peters who spent almost 30 years in the Navy on submarines from the mid-1990s to just this year. Rob served on five different subs and commanded twice. In this episode we cover some of the different types of subs, the training, and the mission sets, to include special operations forces support and delivery, attack parameters, missile launches and more.

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We found Rob thanks to a former guest and forever friend of the show Todd Opalski, the Marine sniper and recon operator invited into Delta. He and Rob met in an unusual way and Todd, a decorated combat leader himself at the highest level, suggested I interview Rob not just for some unique and humorous insights from a life underwater, but also for the leadership experiences and learnings Rob shared with Todd. That’s high praise in my book.

With that, please enjoy this deep dive into the deep ocean of submarines with Rob Peters.

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Find Rob Peters:

Instagram: bubblehead_hikes
Youtube: bubblehead_hikes

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🎵 Intro Song: Sport Rock from Audio Jungle

Show Notes:

00:00 Intro
00:46 Meet Rob Peters: A Navy Submariner
01:48 The Unlikely Meeting of Rob and Todd
02:58 Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail
08:36 Rob's Military Background and Family Influence
10:21 Joining the Navy and Discovering Submarines
15:10 Submarine Training and Challenges
27:23 Understanding Submarine Operations
37:29 Qualification Process for Submarine Officers and Enlisted Personnel
40:09 Roles and Responsibilities on a Submarine
41:13 Watch Rotations and Qualifications
42:17 Submarine Systems and Operations
45:32 Practical Jokes and Hazing on Submarines
47:44 Missile Launch Procedures and Experiences
56:00 Challenges of Operating a Submarine in Rough Seas
01:12:13 Training and Preparation for Submarine Missions
01:22:33 3D Battle Space and Torpedo Mechanics
01:24:46 First Command Experience
01:26:43 The Burden of Command
01:28:49 Lessons from a Near Miss
01:36:45 Funny Mishap Stories
01:44:30 Integrating Women on Submarines
01:53:52 AI and the Future of Submarines
01:57:31 Reflections on a Military Career