Seymour Hersh

Seymour Hersh's Substack covers global political and military affairs with a focus on secret operations, geopolitical dynamics, and the United States' role in international conflicts. It offers deep dives into covert actions, critiques of foreign policy decisions, and revelations about intelligence operations.

Geopolitical Conflicts US Foreign Policy Military and Intelligence Operations Political Dynamics and Leaders Covert Operations and Secrecy Media and Journalism Historical Political Events

The hottest Substack posts of Seymour Hersh

And their main takeaways

BIDEN'S BIBI PROBLEM

54 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Conflict Leaders Negotiations International relations Military Strategy
  1. President Joe Biden may face challenges winning re-election unless he retracts initial support for Israel and stands up to Netanyahu to push for a ceasefire and substantive peace talks.
  2. Lessons from Eugene McCarthy's anti-war stance can be applied to current political situations, emphasizing the importance of clear purpose and moral leadership in times of conflict.
  3. Potential peace terms for resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict include surrender of Hamas leaders, disarmament, release of hostages, humanitarian relief, and self-government for Gaza.

THE SEALS AND THE DHOW

94 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Military Intelligence Middle East Conflict
  1. A Navy SEAL mission in the Gulf of Aden went wrong, resulting in two deaths and one critical injury due to a risky boarding attempt on a dhow suspected of carrying weaponry.
  2. The decision to proceed with the mission in rough seas, despite safety concerns, led to tragedy and prompted questions about the reasoning behind it.
  3. The outcome of the mission revealed outdated cargo not matching the initial intelligence, sparking criticism and calls for accountability within the SEAL community.

THE GENERAL WHO WOULD NOT BE SILENCED

48 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Intelligence Cold War Foreign Relations
  1. James C. Pfautz had a successful military career, flying combat missions in Vietnam and holding high-ranking positions in Air Force intelligence.
  2. Pfautz was known to push his staff hard, aiming for excellence in the intelligence work they produced.
  3. An intriguing story revolves around the 1983 shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by a Soviet pilot, highlighting the critical question of whether the pilot knew he was targeting a commercial airliner.
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IT'S BIBI'S WAR

44 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Israel Middle East Conflict National Security
  1. The post discusses the concept of 'Bibi's War' in a broader context beyond just one individual's agenda.
  2. The importance of Israeli Air Force generals in providing insights and understanding the truth behind various issues in Israel.
  3. The post highlights the value of seeking information from reliable sources, even if it means going off the record for background information.

How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline

688 HN points • 08 Feb 23
  1. The United States executed a covert sea operation to take out the Nord Stream pipeline.
  2. The operation was kept secret until recently revealed by Seymour Hersh.
  3. The U.S. Navy's Diving and Salvage Center played a key role in the covert operation.

A REPORTER'S LAWYER

71 implied HN points • 25 Dec 23
📰 News Obituary Memory Journalism
  1. The post is a remembrance for a lawyer named Michael Nussbaum.
  2. The writer reflects on the importance of family and friends, especially during the holiday season.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial.

NORD STREAM AND GERMANY’S SHRINKING ECONOMY

58 implied HN points • 22 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Joe Biden
  1. The German economy has been affected by the lack of cheap Russian gas due to the Nord Stream pipeline disruption by Joe Biden.
  2. German politics is leaning towards the right, potentially influencing Western Europe.
  3. The rise of the German right may be linked to the consequences of actions on Nord Stream pipelines.

‘NETANYAHU IS FINISHED’

92 implied HN points • 12 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Military Diplomacy Conflict Security Nationalism
  1. The belief that Netanyahu could control Hamas has led to a compromise in Israeli security.
  2. Decades ago, there was a policy of American presidents looking the other way as Israel built an atomic bomb.
  3. The post discusses recent events in Israel from the perspective of someone with inside knowledge of national security.

THE MYSTERIES OF OCTOBER 7

81 implied HN points • 24 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Middle East Conflict Terrorism
  1. Hamas released hostages and Israel bombed Gaza causing ongoing questions.
  2. A US Army colonel assigned to Jerusalem consulate couldn't travel to Gaza for his reporting mission.
  3. There are mysteries surrounding why Hamas attacked on October 7 and why were only a few Israeli soldiers on duty that morning.

TORTURE AT ABU GHRAIB

36 implied HN points • 02 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics War Torture
  1. The post discusses torture at Abu Ghraib prison.
  2. The story is a painful recollection of US army soldiers losing control in Iraq.
  3. The article includes an image of an Iraqi threatened with electrocution.

YOU CAN’T TALK TO A PRESIDENT THAT WAY!

53 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Assassination Vietnam War Cold War Nuclear Weapons Diplomacy
  1. President John F. Kennedy's legacy was overshadowed by his support for the war in South Vietnam.
  2. The Vietnam War saw devastation with millions of tons of bombs dropped, escalating under President Lyndon Johnson.
  3. Kennedy's diplomatic success with Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis was overshadowed by subsequent decisions made by Johnson during the Vietnam War.

THE LABYRINTH WAR

58 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Israel Hamas Military conflict
  1. Israeli forces are engaged in a comprehensive war against Hamas in Gaza City, involving air, ground, and underground operations.
  2. The death toll from the conflict includes thousands of residents of Gaza, Israeli military personnel, and Americans, with many still missing.
  3. The Israeli Defense Force is intensifying its ground operations by sending tanks into Gaza City to target Hamas's defensive perimeter and central bunkers.

AFTER AL-SHIFA

42 implied HN points • 17 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Israel Hamas Gaza U.S. Nuclear Weapons
  1. Secret talks between Hamas, Israel, and the US are ongoing during the Gaza conflict
  2. Historical involvement of American presidents in Israel's nuclear program remains revealing
  3. Challenges persist in current administrations being transparent about critical matters

SUMMER OF THE HAWKS

87 implied HN points • 17 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Ukraine Saudi Arabia Russia France Africa
  1. Wishful thinking persists in Biden's foreign policy team amidst Ukraine conflict
  2. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan led an inconsequential peace summit in Saudi Arabia
  3. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland dealt with a coup in Niger with potential East-West implications

THE HIPPIE LIEUTENANT

65 implied HN points • 31 Aug 23
💾 History Vietnam War
  1. The post discusses a soldier's experience in the Vietnam War.
  2. The author shared a previous dispatch about General Tony Taguba and Abu Ghraib prison.
  3. Readers can access the full post archives with a 7-day free trial subscription.

OPERA BUFFA IN UKRAINE

80 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics War Intelligence Ukraine Russia
  1. The Ukrainian attacks on the Russian Kerch Bridge were significant events in the ongoing conflict.
  2. The Biden administration played a vital role in supporting Ukraine in these attacks.
  3. Concerns exist in the American intelligence community about potential Russian retaliation to the Ukrainian drone attacks.

FEAR AND LOATHING ON AIR FORCE ONE

83 implied HN points • 13 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Democratic Party
  1. There are concerns in the Democratic Party about the 2024 Presidential election, including scenarios involving Trump and Biden.
  2. Joe Biden managed to secure Turkish support for NATO membership by offering financial aid, highlighting diplomatic maneuvers.
  3. Turkey faces significant financial challenges, including a potential crisis with its foreign exchange reserves and a need to avoid default.

THE NORD STREAM GHOST SHIP

113 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics CIA
  1. The CIA creates cover stories for covert operations.
  2. The agency used a false tale involving a mythical yacht named Andromeda.
  3. The BND, Germany's intelligence service, supported the cover story.