Sean D. Naylor
@seandnaylor.bsky.social
Co-founder of @thehighside.bsky.social; author of "Not a Good Day to Die" and "Relentless Strike;" previously a staff writer at Army Times, Foreign Policy and Yahoo News; other work in The New York Times and Newsweek.
Pinned
Sean D. Naylor
@seandnaylor.bsky.social
· Mar 10
‘Lambs to the slaughter’ (Part 1)
How the CIA failed its officers in Cuba and the FBI failed them at home
thehighside.substack.com
Burglaries, surveillance, state-actor-level phone hacking. Havana Syndrome victims returned to the USA, only to be targeted again in an intimidation campaign that the FBI and CIA seemed to have little interest in solving. By @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and me
thehighside.substack.com/p/lambs-to-t...
thehighside.substack.com/p/lambs-to-t...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
New: Alleged traffickers killed by the US military in a strike on September 2 were not heading toward the US, Adm Bradley told lawmakers yesterday, per people briefed.
Instead they were heading to link up with another vessel that was bound for Suriname. www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/p...
Instead they were heading to link up with another vessel that was bound for Suriname. www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/p...
Exclusive: Boat at center of double-tap strike controversy was meeting vessel headed to Suriname, admiral told lawmakers | CNN Politics
The alleged drug traffickers killed by the US military in a strike on September 2 were heading to link up with another, larger vessel that was bound for Suriname — a small South American country east ...
www.cnn.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:08 PM
New: Alleged traffickers killed by the US military in a strike on September 2 were not heading toward the US, Adm Bradley told lawmakers yesterday, per people briefed.
Instead they were heading to link up with another vessel that was bound for Suriname. www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/p...
Instead they were heading to link up with another vessel that was bound for Suriname. www.cnn.com/2025/12/05/p...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
Full pardon for the convicted drug trafficker who helped move 400 tons of cocaine. Death by airstrike for the guys on the boat www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Ex-Honduras president, convicted of drug trafficking, freed on Trump pardon
A former DEA agent called the release “devastating”: “It means any attempt to work your investigations to the highest levels is meaningless.”
www.washingtonpost.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Full pardon for the convicted drug trafficker who helped move 400 tons of cocaine. Death by airstrike for the guys on the boat www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
In California, no less?
December 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM
In California, no less?
Another happy paid subscriber to @thehighside.bsky.social. @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I are interested in "super-secret ninja black ops stuff" too, Shea! E.g., thehighside.substack.com/p/gaza-hosta... (JSOC/Israel) and thehighside.substack.com/p/red-menace... (Green Berets' backpack nukes).
December 5, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Another happy paid subscriber to @thehighside.bsky.social. @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I are interested in "super-secret ninja black ops stuff" too, Shea! E.g., thehighside.substack.com/p/gaza-hosta... (JSOC/Israel) and thehighside.substack.com/p/red-menace... (Green Berets' backpack nukes).
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
This is a must read. Some in the military thought COSVN was little more than a myth. Frank says one of the CIA's most prolific spies during the war was in that command, and was handled by John Stockwell at one point.
CIA Okays Release of the “Last” Vietnam Spy Story
open.substack.com/pub/snepp/p/...
open.substack.com/pub/snepp/p/...
CIA Okays Release of the “Last” Vietnam Spy Story
CIA censors are known to work in slow and wondrous ways, even when the subject is ancient history.
open.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:21 AM
This is a must read. Some in the military thought COSVN was little more than a myth. Frank says one of the CIA's most prolific spies during the war was in that command, and was handled by John Stockwell at one point.
The main @thehighside.bsky.social article @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I discuss in the podcast: thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
Others include: thehighside.substack.com/p/lambs-to-t..., thehighside.substack.com/p/gaza-hosta... and thehighside.substack.com/p/in-the-kil...
Others include: thehighside.substack.com/p/lambs-to-t..., thehighside.substack.com/p/gaza-hosta... and thehighside.substack.com/p/in-the-kil...
New Eyes On podcast with me and @seandnaylor.bsky.social discussing our recent article about the CIA potentially having positive identification of Bin Laden in 2005.
youtu.be/1gOcnn2d2_A
youtu.be/1gOcnn2d2_A
Bin Laden Sighted in Pakistan in 2005
YouTube video by EYES ON GEOPOLITICS
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The main @thehighside.bsky.social article @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I discuss in the podcast: thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
Others include: thehighside.substack.com/p/lambs-to-t..., thehighside.substack.com/p/gaza-hosta... and thehighside.substack.com/p/in-the-kil...
Others include: thehighside.substack.com/p/lambs-to-t..., thehighside.substack.com/p/gaza-hosta... and thehighside.substack.com/p/in-the-kil...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
New Eyes On podcast with me and @seandnaylor.bsky.social discussing our recent article about the CIA potentially having positive identification of Bin Laden in 2005.
youtu.be/1gOcnn2d2_A
youtu.be/1gOcnn2d2_A
Bin Laden Sighted in Pakistan in 2005
YouTube video by EYES ON GEOPOLITICS
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 3:04 PM
New Eyes On podcast with me and @seandnaylor.bsky.social discussing our recent article about the CIA potentially having positive identification of Bin Laden in 2005.
youtu.be/1gOcnn2d2_A
youtu.be/1gOcnn2d2_A
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
"In many ways McChrystal, Flynn, McRaven, and their subordinates had designed and built the perfect hammer for the National Command Authority. The risk was that as a result, successive administrations would continue to view too many national security problems as nails."
From Relentless Strike
From Relentless Strike
November 30, 2025 at 12:48 PM
"In many ways McChrystal, Flynn, McRaven, and their subordinates had designed and built the perfect hammer for the National Command Authority. The risk was that as a result, successive administrations would continue to view too many national security problems as nails."
From Relentless Strike
From Relentless Strike
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
SEAL Team 6 is usually thought of as an organization of on-the-ground/in-the-water operators, which it is. But its headquarters, and those of its squadrons, have extensive experience running (congressionally authorized) JSOC drone strike campaigns in northeastern Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia.
November 28, 2025 at 8:33 PM
SEAL Team 6 is usually thought of as an organization of on-the-ground/in-the-water operators, which it is. But its headquarters, and those of its squadrons, have extensive experience running (congressionally authorized) JSOC drone strike campaigns in northeastern Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia.
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
That quote is from Rep. Seth Moulton, the former Marine infantry captain with four Iraq tours and a Bronze Star with valor device for the 2004 battle of Najaf.
“Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder.”
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:08 PM
That quote is from Rep. Seth Moulton, the former Marine infantry captain with four Iraq tours and a Bronze Star with valor device for the 2004 battle of Najaf.
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
SCOOP: For the Trump admin's Sept. 2 strike targeting 11 men on a boat suspected of ferrying drugs, SecDef Hegseth gave an order, officials say, to kill them all. When two men were still alive, orders were given to strike again, finishing them off.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:03 PM
SCOOP: For the Trump admin's Sept. 2 strike targeting 11 men on a boat suspected of ferrying drugs, SecDef Hegseth gave an order, officials say, to kill them all. When two men were still alive, orders were given to strike again, finishing them off.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
Another happy paid subscriber w/ a message we can certainly get behind. Thanks MC! Our latest exclusive, about an episode in the bin Laden hunt, here: thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi.... Interested in Zero Units? Read here: thehighside.substack.com/p/zeroed-out... cc @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Another happy paid subscriber w/ a message we can certainly get behind. Thanks MC! Our latest exclusive, about an episode in the bin Laden hunt, here: thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi.... Interested in Zero Units? Read here: thehighside.substack.com/p/zeroed-out... cc @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social
If you were busy eating leftovers or doing Black Friday shopping, here's the story (+ photos!) @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I pub'd in @thehighside.bsky.social Friday on how 2 CIA men were sure they got pics of bin Laden in a remote Pakistani valley in '05: thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
November 30, 2025 at 3:05 PM
If you were busy eating leftovers or doing Black Friday shopping, here's the story (+ photos!) @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I pub'd in @thehighside.bsky.social Friday on how 2 CIA men were sure they got pics of bin Laden in a remote Pakistani valley in '05: thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
A CIA outfit nicknamed the Marco Polos (started by Billy Waugh) got eyes on Bin Laden in Pakistan in 2005, confirmed by CTC initially, but later refuted. I sat on this story for about a decade but here it is, with help from @seandnaylor.bsky.social
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
Hunting bin Laden on 'the roof of the world'
How an encounter in a remote Pakistani bazaar prompted a search for the al-Qaida leader
thehighside.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
A CIA outfit nicknamed the Marco Polos (started by Billy Waugh) got eyes on Bin Laden in Pakistan in 2005, confirmed by CTC initially, but later refuted. I sat on this story for about a decade but here it is, with help from @seandnaylor.bsky.social
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
In 2005 a CIA team in a remote valley in Pakistan got eyes on Bin Laden, confirmed above 90% certainty by the analysts...but was it really him? Controversial within the CIA and unreported until now.
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
November 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
In 2005 a CIA team in a remote valley in Pakistan got eyes on Bin Laden, confirmed above 90% certainty by the analysts...but was it really him? Controversial within the CIA and unreported until now.
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
thehighside.substack.com/p/hunting-bi...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
We appreciate the sentiment from this new paid subscriber to The High Side! Check out our work here: thehighside.substack.com and if you like what you see, please become a paid subscriber. And while you're at it, show @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and @theteamhouse.bsky.social boys some love too.
November 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
We appreciate the sentiment from this new paid subscriber to The High Side! Check out our work here: thehighside.substack.com and if you like what you see, please become a paid subscriber. And while you're at it, show @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and @theteamhouse.bsky.social boys some love too.
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
This is a great read
November 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
This is a great read
Lots of talk today about the "Zero Units" in Afghanistan. @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I discussed them in our article on @thehighside.bsky.social about JSOC's Omega teams. Zeroed Out: How JSOC’s Omega teams enabled the CIA’s Afghan militias: thehighside.substack.com/p/zeroed-out...
Zeroed Out: How JSOC’s Omega teams enabled the CIA’s Afghan militias
The joint CIA/JSOC hunter-killer teams stalked Afghanistan for nearly twenty years
thehighside.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Lots of talk today about the "Zero Units" in Afghanistan. @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I discussed them in our article on @thehighside.bsky.social about JSOC's Omega teams. Zeroed Out: How JSOC’s Omega teams enabled the CIA’s Afghan militias: thehighside.substack.com/p/zeroed-out...
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
Veterans of the war in Afghanistan, particularly those who fought in Kunar and Nuristan, will want to read this one. Years after leaving these valleys, an important story is told about Bin Laden’s post-9/11 life
Highly recommended piece from @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social & @seandnaylor.bsky.social
Highly recommended piece from @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social & @seandnaylor.bsky.social
November 28, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Veterans of the war in Afghanistan, particularly those who fought in Kunar and Nuristan, will want to read this one. Years after leaving these valleys, an important story is told about Bin Laden’s post-9/11 life
Highly recommended piece from @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social & @seandnaylor.bsky.social
Highly recommended piece from @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social & @seandnaylor.bsky.social
Reposted by Sean D. Naylor
Our latest story by @seandnaylor.bsky.social
and @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social about how a chance sighting in a Pakistani bazaar prompted some in the CIA to believe that for the first time in years they'd picked up bin Laden's trail. And then someone told the head of the ISI...
and @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social about how a chance sighting in a Pakistani bazaar prompted some in the CIA to believe that for the first time in years they'd picked up bin Laden's trail. And then someone told the head of the ISI...
Driving through a remote Pakistani village near "the roof of the world" in 2005, two CIA men were convinced they saw bin Laden and had pictures to prove it. @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I tell you what happened next. And yes, we have the pics. Only on @thehighside.bsky.social
Hunting bin Laden on 'the roof of the world'
How an encounter in a remote Pakistani bazaar prompted a search for the al-Qaida leader
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Our latest story by @seandnaylor.bsky.social
and @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social about how a chance sighting in a Pakistani bazaar prompted some in the CIA to believe that for the first time in years they'd picked up bin Laden's trail. And then someone told the head of the ISI...
and @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social about how a chance sighting in a Pakistani bazaar prompted some in the CIA to believe that for the first time in years they'd picked up bin Laden's trail. And then someone told the head of the ISI...
Driving through a remote Pakistani village near "the roof of the world" in 2005, two CIA men were convinced they saw bin Laden and had pictures to prove it. @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I tell you what happened next. And yes, we have the pics. Only on @thehighside.bsky.social
Hunting bin Laden on 'the roof of the world'
How an encounter in a remote Pakistani bazaar prompted a search for the al-Qaida leader
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Driving through a remote Pakistani village near "the roof of the world" in 2005, two CIA men were convinced they saw bin Laden and had pictures to prove it. @jackmurphyrgr.bsky.social and I tell you what happened next. And yes, we have the pics. Only on @thehighside.bsky.social