The Moynihan Report Seth Harp on drug trafficking and murder in the Special Forces | The Moynihan Report
Aug 15, 2025
Seth Harp, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone and an Iraq War veteran, dives deep into the murky waters of drug trafficking and military operations in his new book. He reveals the shocking connection between special forces and a double murder case linked to Fort Bragg. Harp also discusses the evolution of the Joint Special Operations Command and the ethical dilemmas faced by veterans. Plus, he critiques current U.S. foreign policy and explores the growing isolationist sentiments within the Republican Party, making for a compelling conversation.
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A Separate World Next To Town
- Fort Bragg houses a unique, insular community of special-operations soldiers whose battlefield skills and secrecy shape civilian life nearby.
- Seth Harp says you may shop next to someone who has personally killed a hundred people and few in town fully grasp that reality.
How The Investigation Started
- Seth Harp began investigating after reading a brief article about two bodies found on Fort Bragg and discovered one victim had once killed a friend in a previously ruled justifiable homicide.
- Repeated tip lines claiming a 'cartel' among special operators convinced him the story was real and worth deeper reporting.
How Special Forces Culture Enables Crime
- Several cultural features of special forces combine to enable criminality: secrecy, impunity, adulation, trauma, and proximity to wartime drug economies.
- Harp links secrecy and impunity to a system where operators who 'know too much' rarely face full legal accountability.
