American Prestige Bonus - Fort Bragg and U.S. Special Operations Post-9/11 w/ Seth Harp
Jan 2, 2026
Seth Harp, a journalist and author of The Fort Bragg Cartel, shares riveting insights into the realm of U.S. special operations. He discusses the drastic rise of covert military actions post-9/11 and the role of JSOC in assassination campaigns. Harp also explores how frequent deployments lead to deep local ties—sometimes resulting in drug trafficking links—and the effects of military culture on families. With a background in conflict reporting, he highlights the troubling overlap between military actions and the drug trade, revealing a hidden world of secrecy and dysfunction.
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JSOC's Post‑9/11 Rise
- Special operations expanded massively after 9/11 and became central to U.S. covert warfare strategy.
- The Iraq surge functioned largely as a nighttime assassination program run by JSOC that validated and fueled JSOC's growth.
Covert Authority Shifted To The Military
- After the Church Committee, authority over covert action shifted from the CIA to the military where congressional oversight is weaker.
- That transfer helped normalize large-scale military covert operations under JSOC and related units.
Secrecy Breeds Disconnection And Impunity
- Special operators become socially and politically disconnected because they wage secret wars with limited public oversight.
- That separation fosters entitlement, impunity, and cover‑ups when operators commit crimes stateside.
