Wesley Morgan
@wesleymorgan.bsky.social
Writing about America’s post-9/11 wars
https://linktr.ee/wesleysmorgan
Author of THE HARDEST PLACE
https://tinyurl.com/yh9kbh5f
Please be either informative or funny in your replies
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https://linktr.ee/wesleysmorgan
Author of THE HARDEST PLACE
https://tinyurl.com/yh9kbh5f
Please be either informative or funny in your replies
Signal wesmorgan.01
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Wesley Morgan
@wesleymorgan.bsky.social
· Feb 25
My Afghanistan war book THE HARDEST PLACE is approaching its four-year anniversary.
Since I’ve mostly migrated from Twitter to Bluesky, over the next few months I’m going to recreate here a long thread of photos that many readers have enjoyed scrolling through as an accompaniment to the book.
Since I’ve mostly migrated from Twitter to Bluesky, over the next few months I’m going to recreate here a long thread of photos that many readers have enjoyed scrolling through as an accompaniment to the book.
Thread of photos illustrating THE HARDEST PLACE, sorted by chapter:
If you took one of these photos, let me know! Most were shared with me by unit commanders as part of big dumps of deployment photos, but I’d love to credit the individual veterans who took them.
If you took one of these photos, let me know! Most were shared with me by unit commanders as part of big dumps of deployment photos, but I’d love to credit the individual veterans who took them.
Although he was from Khost, the DC shooter was a veteran of the CIA’s Kandahar CTPT surrogate unit, known in the early years as the QSF or KSF and later as NSU-03.
Here is a 2021 WaPo story I wrote about 03’s escape from Kandahar into collapsing Kabul, where they helped secure the HKIA evacuation.
Here is a 2021 WaPo story I wrote about 03’s escape from Kandahar into collapsing Kabul, where they helped secure the HKIA evacuation.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Although he was from Khost, the DC shooter was a veteran of the CIA’s Kandahar CTPT surrogate unit, known in the early years as the QSF or KSF and later as NSU-03.
Here is a 2021 WaPo story I wrote about 03’s escape from Kandahar into collapsing Kabul, where they helped secure the HKIA evacuation.
Here is a 2021 WaPo story I wrote about 03’s escape from Kandahar into collapsing Kabul, where they helped secure the HKIA evacuation.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
No idea why an Afghan refugee shot National Guard soldiers within walking distance of the White House, but this new USCIS directive was revealed on Monday. Worth noting.
The folks at @afghanevac.bsky.social have in hand a new USCIS directive which largely targets Afghan refugees who fled the Taliban in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
In case you needed a reminder that the most loathsome people in the world work for DHS.
In case you needed a reminder that the most loathsome people in the world work for DHS.
November 27, 2025 at 5:19 AM
No idea why an Afghan refugee shot National Guard soldiers within walking distance of the White House, but this new USCIS directive was revealed on Monday. Worth noting.
Terrible.
Lakanwal is a name suggesting a family origin in Khost Province, where thousands of Afghans worked with the US government over the years in many capacities that made them SIV- or P1-eligible—civil society, provincial government, interpreters, the CIA’s Khost Protection Force, and so on.
Lakanwal is a name suggesting a family origin in Khost Province, where thousands of Afghans worked with the US government over the years in many capacities that made them SIV- or P1-eligible—civil society, provincial government, interpreters, the CIA’s Khost Protection Force, and so on.
2 National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C.; suspect in custody, identified as 29-year-old Afghan national, sources say
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot a few blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., and a suspect is in custody, identified as a 29-year-old Afghan national, sources say.
www.cbsnews.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Terrible.
Lakanwal is a name suggesting a family origin in Khost Province, where thousands of Afghans worked with the US government over the years in many capacities that made them SIV- or P1-eligible—civil society, provincial government, interpreters, the CIA’s Khost Protection Force, and so on.
Lakanwal is a name suggesting a family origin in Khost Province, where thousands of Afghans worked with the US government over the years in many capacities that made them SIV- or P1-eligible—civil society, provincial government, interpreters, the CIA’s Khost Protection Force, and so on.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Well, crap.
CBS is reporting the suspect ID-ed as 29 year old Afghan national who entered US in 2021.
The path of likely demagoguery seems obvious from here.
www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
The path of likely demagoguery seems obvious from here.
www.cbsnews.com/live-updates...
2 National Guard members shot in Washington, D.C., suspect in custody, officials say
Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot a few blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C., and a suspect is in custody, officials say.
www.cbsnews.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Well, crap.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
“It’s hard to find anyone outside Mr. Trump’s inner circle of solicitous advisers who considers the killings legal. The administration has notably declined to publicly disclose the memo that purports to advance a legal rationale for the strikes.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
Opinion | Mark Kelly Is Being Investigated for Telling the Truth
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:36 PM
“It’s hard to find anyone outside Mr. Trump’s inner circle of solicitous advisers who considers the killings legal. The administration has notably declined to publicly disclose the memo that purports to advance a legal rationale for the strikes.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/o...
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
AC-130 gunships lasing targets. Griffin missiles captured fractions of a second before impact. RQ-4 Global Hawk drones filming it all. Seeing beyond the redactions in the Pentagon’s attack videos w/ @docubrent @carolrosenberg @cjchivers www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
What the Pentagon’s Attack Videos Reveal About the Boat Strikes at Sea
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
AC-130 gunships lasing targets. Griffin missiles captured fractions of a second before impact. RQ-4 Global Hawk drones filming it all. Seeing beyond the redactions in the Pentagon’s attack videos w/ @docubrent @carolrosenberg @cjchivers www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
My unit relentlessly mocked the HTT’s findings. One of them died performing the research and it was still a punchline.
November 24, 2025 at 11:07 PM
My unit relentlessly mocked the HTT’s findings. One of them died performing the research and it was still a punchline.
I have a copy of one of these studies from the Helmand HTT, and it basically says exactly what @brasidas.bsky.social summarizes below and the portions of it about endemic child abuse are quite disturbing
(Also, funny that they didn’t learn the correct name of the Marine unit they were supporting)
(Also, funny that they didn’t learn the correct name of the Marine unit they were supporting)
November 24, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I have a copy of one of these studies from the Helmand HTT, and it basically says exactly what @brasidas.bsky.social summarizes below and the portions of it about endemic child abuse are quite disturbing
(Also, funny that they didn’t learn the correct name of the Marine unit they were supporting)
(Also, funny that they didn’t learn the correct name of the Marine unit they were supporting)
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Congress complaining about this requires a gigantic hot dog guy suit
I don't know if SOCOM needs to go away entirely, but MFP-11 sure does and we need a hard honest conversation about whether JSOC should exist and if so what it should look like
I don't know if SOCOM needs to go away entirely, but MFP-11 sure does and we need a hard honest conversation about whether JSOC should exist and if so what it should look like
SOF are too big and have too many overlap across the services. SOF have developed a 5th branch mentality, funding, and authorities.
Reorganization is required across the services and reduction in overlapping missions is essential. With that is a required reduction in personnel.
Reorganization is required across the services and reduction in overlapping missions is essential. With that is a required reduction in personnel.
November 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Congress complaining about this requires a gigantic hot dog guy suit
I don't know if SOCOM needs to go away entirely, but MFP-11 sure does and we need a hard honest conversation about whether JSOC should exist and if so what it should look like
I don't know if SOCOM needs to go away entirely, but MFP-11 sure does and we need a hard honest conversation about whether JSOC should exist and if so what it should look like
Two things can both be silly/dumb at once:
• A former SEAL specifying that he was in D Co at Army jump school rather than A, B, or C Co like that’s a flex
• The idea of *GWOT* paratroopers being “used to being behind enemy lines”
• A former SEAL specifying that he was in D Co at Army jump school rather than A, B, or C Co like that’s a flex
• The idea of *GWOT* paratroopers being “used to being behind enemy lines”
November 22, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Two things can both be silly/dumb at once:
• A former SEAL specifying that he was in D Co at Army jump school rather than A, B, or C Co like that’s a flex
• The idea of *GWOT* paratroopers being “used to being behind enemy lines”
• A former SEAL specifying that he was in D Co at Army jump school rather than A, B, or C Co like that’s a flex
• The idea of *GWOT* paratroopers being “used to being behind enemy lines”
Imagining if he was rapping here
November 21, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Imagining if he was rapping here
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Here’s a couple of immediate contenders by @wesleymorgan.bsky.social and Simon Akam (I don’t think he’s on BlueSky?)
November 20, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Here’s a couple of immediate contenders by @wesleymorgan.bsky.social and Simon Akam (I don’t think he’s on BlueSky?)
Disagree! Clancy loved Russians and hated the USSR. Russians were the only opponents he wrote somewhat three-dimensionally and with empathy. The moment he could after the fall of the USSR (DEBT OF HONOR onward), he switched them from noble opponents to natural US geopolitical allies against China.
If he was alive, he'd be like Kristol and every one of his books would be lambasting the admin. Dude hates Russians and would be out of the GOP after Trump suggested they hack Hillary.
November 19, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Disagree! Clancy loved Russians and hated the USSR. Russians were the only opponents he wrote somewhat three-dimensionally and with empathy. The moment he could after the fall of the USSR (DEBT OF HONOR onward), he switched them from noble opponents to natural US geopolitical allies against China.
Yes. The issue is how Americans have come to view terrorism over past 25 years—from a criminal problem that might occasionally require US military response when it poses a threat to US, to something many assume *always* justifies/demands US military force. That’s what the admin is capitalizing on.
Cartels employ terrorism routinely. They kill journalists, mayors and mayoral candidates, and all manner of civilians to terrorize the rest into tolerating them. There are 99 problems with what we’re doing about them but calling them “narco-terrorists” ain’t one.
November 19, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Yes. The issue is how Americans have come to view terrorism over past 25 years—from a criminal problem that might occasionally require US military response when it poses a threat to US, to something many assume *always* justifies/demands US military force. That’s what the admin is capitalizing on.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Brings back memories of visiting mass graves and forensic labs in Bosnia.
A grim and complicated task ahead.
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
A grim and complicated task ahead.
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
Bodies Keep Turning Up in Syria, Haunting New Leaders
In the months after the fall of the Assad regime, Syrians have continued to discover large-scale burial sites, sometimes by chance.
www.wsj.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Brings back memories of visiting mass graves and forensic labs in Bosnia.
A grim and complicated task ahead.
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
A grim and complicated task ahead.
www.wsj.com/world/middle...
Peru continuing to impress as far as vultures
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Peru continuing to impress as far as vultures
I like a country that treats its Gatorade and Gatorade derivatives with respect
November 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I like a country that treats its Gatorade and Gatorade derivatives with respect
Initial impression of Lima—incredibly impressive density of vultures. Standing in this one spot in the Plaza Mayor, I counted 80+ in about three minutes (mostly airborne)
Those are practically crow numbers
Those are practically crow numbers
November 17, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Initial impression of Lima—incredibly impressive density of vultures. Standing in this one spot in the Plaza Mayor, I counted 80+ in about three minutes (mostly airborne)
Those are practically crow numbers
Those are practically crow numbers
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
As at Want, US soldiers died because senior officers had a hard time accepting withdrawal.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
May 2, 2025 at 3:13 AM
As at Want, US soldiers died because senior officers had a hard time accepting withdrawal.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
2-503 could’ve left the Waygal without consolidating at Want. 1-327 could’ve left the Pech without a risky Watapur pilgrimage.
But selling the pullout involved compromises—which cost lives too.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Bulldog Bite killed 7 Americans—the worst US KIA toll in the area since Want—and an ANA officer, and 100+ insurgents.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
May 2, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Bulldog Bite killed 7 Americans—the worst US KIA toll in the area since Want—and an ANA officer, and 100+ insurgents.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
Ryan said it showed the enemy they weren't safe even in Gambir.
But it was also about reassuring US generals in Bagram and Kabul of that, as Ryan pitched pulling out of the Pech.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Team Darby (from 1/75 Rangers) flew up from Paktika and inserted outside Gambir along with TF East's 2/75 platoon.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
May 1, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Team Darby (from 1/75 Rangers) flew up from Paktika and inserted outside Gambir along with TF East's 2/75 platoon.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
1/75 squad leader Kevin Pape was killed in the ensuing firefight, after which the Rangers holed up and pounded the mountains with air strikes—two AC-130s stayed into daylight.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Abu Company was spent, so Ryan called for help from SOF. A Green Beret A-team and ANA Commando company (pictured) helped clear Katar, but SIGINT showed the enemy retreating up the mountainside to Gambir.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
May 1, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Abu Company was spent, so Ryan called for help from SOF. A Green Beret A-team and ANA Commando company (pictured) helped clear Katar, but SIGINT showed the enemy retreating up the mountainside to Gambir.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
For that, the JSOC task force (now renamed TF 310) committed a Ranger unit, Team Darby.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
These photos were taken in a house in Katar that one of the Abu Company platoons searched after entering the village the next day. The one on the right appears to show a rifle being fired at a Chinook (not sure what the boat is doing there below it).
May 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
These photos were taken in a house in Katar that one of the Abu Company platoons searched after entering the village the next day. The one on the right appears to show a rifle being fired at a Chinook (not sure what the boat is doing there below it).
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Five Abu Company soldiers were killed in the attack, in which the upper platoon—the one in the forest—was nearly overrun before air support could help.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
May 1, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Five Abu Company soldiers were killed in the attack, in which the upper platoon—the one in the forest—was nearly overrun before air support could help.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
These USAF Pave Hawks flying out of Asadabad put PJs on the ground in the forest under fire and hoisted out the WIAs and KIAs.
Reposted by Wesley Morgan
Katar was only a mile and a half north of Tsangar along the mountainside, but getting there took Abu Company two days.
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield:
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield:
May 1, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Katar was only a mile and a half north of Tsangar along the mountainside, but getting there took Abu Company two days.
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield:
On the outskirts of Katar on Nov. 14, insurgents attacked from uphill, in the forest, where the drones overhead couldn't spot them. This is the battlefield: