I am cleaning up my Bookmarks on X… here are some quick X threads I found interesting. This post is also an open thread. I welcome any readers to post comments or additional links related to national security or history, even if unrelated to the links below.
IDF: In response to Hamas’ violation of the ceasefire, the IDF carried out strikes on dozens of Hamas targets across Gaza.
🎯 Targets hit:
• Senior terrorists: 3 battalion commanders, 2 deputies, and 16 company commanders
• Observation posts
• Weapons manufacturing sites… https://t.co/OAzFw3R3x0 pic.twitter.com/VMBTPTgUSI— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 29, 2025
Things are moving pretty fast still in the Israel-Hamas conflict. It looks like the IDF is making the most of brief interruptions in the ceasefire.
Talk Where You Can, Prepare Where You Must: Japan’s Quiet Shift from Deterrence to Defense
Japan’s security situation right now is tense, and it’s not just about one flashpoint, it’s about a slow, constant tightening of pressure across the region. What’s happening around the… https://t.co/lWbphBlW9v
— EndGame Macro (@onechancefreedm) October 29, 2025
Japan’s shift from deterrence to defense. I’ve been reading about the Japan-China dispute around the Senkaku Islands for quite some time, all the way back to the NightWatch Newsletters I used to get about 15 years ago! We need allies to do their part, and Japan is doing it by building up their defense and deepening our economic ties. Very good news.
🇮🇹🎒 THE ROMAN SARCINA – THE BACKPACK THAT CARRIED AN EMPIRE
In ancient Rome, conquest didn’t start on the battlefield… it started with logistics.
The sarcina – the soldier’s backpack – was more than just gear. It was a symbol of discipline, autonomy, and the terrifying… pic.twitter.com/b2AVOygyC8
— MindVoyager (@Karol1669024) July 12, 2025
This is a really good thread on what the Roman Infantry carried. Interestingly, during the initial period of female integration in special operations, I had to write a presentation in defense of the weight we carried for ruck marches. The weight we use today is really close to the average weight a Roman soldier carried 2000 years ago! We did not change our weight, slow our pace or lower any standard despite pressure during the initial attempts at integration.
🇮🇹🎒 THE ROMAN SARCINA – THE BACKPACK THAT CARRIED AN EMPIRE
In ancient Rome, conquest didn’t start on the battlefield… it started with logistics.
The sarcina – the soldier’s backpack – was more than just gear. It was a symbol of discipline, autonomy, and the terrifying… pic.twitter.com/b2AVOygyC8
— MindVoyager (@Karol1669024) July 12, 2025
This is a really good thread on Afghanistan. If you are on X and do not follow Green Beret Nap Time, you should. Always has interesting stuff.
Dull Knife (Morning Star): The Cheyenne Chief Who Defied an Empire
Dull Knife, known to his people as Morning Star, was one of the most courageous and respected chiefs of the Northern Cheyenne Nation. A fierce warrior in his youth and a wise leader in his later years, he stood… pic.twitter.com/j4BYPv6fos
— WindTalker (@nmlinguaphile) October 30, 2025
We’ll wrap things up today with a little history. There is something about Native American history, the quiet strength, resistance, and the tragedy. Every story is both inspiring and sad.