1785: Muslim Pirates Attack American Ships In THE LAST PATRIOT, Anthony Nichols shares with Scot Harvath and Tracy Hastings little known history dating back to the 18th century, when Thomas Jefferson was America’s Minister to France and Muslim pirates terrorized the Mediterranean Sea. In July of 1785, Algerian pirates captured two American ships, Maria and Dauphin, off the Barbary Coast,...
BUD/S and SQT We learn in THE FIRST COMMANDMENT about Scot Harvath’s acceptance to the U.S. Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL school (BUD/S) as well as SEAL Qualifying Training (SQT). The grueling BUD/S training takes place at the Naval Special Warfare Training Center in Coronado, California and includes: 8 weeks of physical conditioning, 8 weeks of diving, and 9 weeks of...
LDN Architects Eilean Aigas House, Scotland In TAKEDOWN, we learn that “The Troll” is the Lord of Eilean Aigas House on the northern end of a private island in the River Beauly set in the Scottish Highlands. The real-life estate is located on more than 500 wooded acres and spans 28,000 square feet. Scotland’s national newspaper reported the sale of...
CIA Counter Terrorism Center In SPYMASTER, one of Reed Carlton’s most highly regarded achievements is having helped to establish the CIA’s Counter Terrorism Center (CTC). In real life, the CTC was established in 1986, “to prevent and disrupt terrorist threats” around the world. NATO/ Article 5 Brad opens SPYMASTER with a passage from the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty. Later in...
BURNING MAN FESTIVAL A week-long summer solstice festival held in the Black Rock Desert outside Reno, Nevada, Burning Man draws a crowd estimated at more than 70,000 “burners.” The over-the-top gathering is designed to celebrate “Ten Principles,” or cultural values, and extend them throughout the world. In USE OF FORCE, the festival serves as the backdrop for the dramatic opening...