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

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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.

OPERA BUFFA IN UKRAINE

80 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics War Intelligence Ukraine Russia National Strategy
  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.
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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.

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.

MY FIFTY YEARS WITH DAN ELLSBERG

107 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Investigative Journalism War reporting Intelligence Presidential elections
  1. Seymour Hersh had a close and impactful relationship with Dan Ellsberg for over 50 years, centered around Vietnam War discussions and shared experiences.
  2. Dan Ellsberg played a crucial role in leaking the Pentagon Papers and exposing White House abuses during the Vietnam War era.
  3. Ellsberg's dedication to truth and exposing secret operations, even at personal risk, left a lasting impact on those around him.

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.

BLINKEN’S BATTLE HYMN

76 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Diplomacy Conflict International relations
  1. US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken emphasizes no ceasefire in Ukraine to avoid legitimizing Russia's actions.
  2. Blinken advocates for a lasting peace solution in Ukraine, critiquing the idea of a ceasefire that could benefit Russia.
  3. Blinken appears to have a strong anti-Russian stance, prioritizing support for Ukraine against Russia.

THE UKRAINE REFUGEE QUESTION

80 implied HN points • 17 May 23
🌍 World Politics Ukraine Refugees Europe Russia Military
  1. Ukraine's neighbors are urging President Zelensky to pursue peace to handle the influx of displaced individuals into Europe.
  2. Zelensky's intentions for military action against Russia are a matter of concern, even though the White House believes he has not violated any agreements.
  3. Countries like Poland are pressuring Zelensky to end the war and start rebuilding Ukraine, even hinting at the possibility of his resignation if necessary.

RUSSIAGATE'S MISSING PIECES

76 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Investigations Election Intelligence Government Campaign
  1. John Durham's report suggests that Russiagate was initiated by the Clinton campaign and aided by political reporters and senior FBI officials.
  2. Durham's inquiry reveals that the Clinton campaign might have funded the Steele Reports and Alfa Bank allegations to smear a political opponent.
  3. The focus of Durham's report was on who knew about the alleged Clinton Plan intelligence, indicating a potential political smear campaign.

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.

DOES IT TAKE A WAR?

95 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Presidents Wars Leadership History
  1. There is a gap between what a president tells us about a war and the reality on the ground.
  2. President John F. Kennedy struggled to understand the war in South Vietnam six decades ago.
  3. Even amidst struggles, President Kennedy and his wife Jackie were admired for their glamorous life in the White House.

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

PARTNERS IN DOOMSDAY

63 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Ukraine Russia Biden administration
  1. Ukraine launching a counter-offensive while Russia hints at a renewed nuclear threat.
  2. Potential panic at the US State Department over the resignation of Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman and the possible replacement with Victoria Nuland.
  3. Victoria Nuland's hawkish stance on Russia aligns with President Biden's views.

THE FALL OF JAMES JESUS ANGLETON

63 implied HN points • 10 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Intelligence Foreign Relations Nuclear Weapons Government History
  1. The article discusses the refusal of the Biden administration to declassify 48-year-old Senate testimony by James Angleton, the notorious onetime head of CIA counterintelligence.
  2. Pervez Musharraf criticized US efforts to monitor Pakistan's nuclear arsenal due to the US policy of denying Israel's membership in the global nuclear club.
  3. The text mentions Seymour Hersh's encounter with James Angleton, who was in charge of the CIA's illegal domestic spying program and part of Washington's Old Boys network.

THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE BOMBS

45 implied HN points • 03 Aug 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Military Senate Bipartisanship Foreign Relations
  1. The Senate Armed Services Committee prioritizes culture war over the war in Ukraine during a hearing for the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  2. Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., the first African American to lead a branch of the US Armed Forces, is nominated to be the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  3. The Senate committee expressed a hard-line stance, focusing on China as the primary competitor and addressing other threats like Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

CONFESSIONS OF A POLITICAL FLACK

55 implied HN points • 26 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics
  1. President Biden has been avoiding unscripted exchanges with the press to prevent missteps and confusion.
  2. The lack of press conferences has been noted in a recent report by the New York Times.
  3. Subscribe to Seymour Hersh for access to the full post archives and a 7-day free trial.

THE FIRE ANTS OF GUANTÁNAMO BAY

45 implied HN points • 24 May 23
🌍 World Politics Torture Counterterrorism
  1. Hambali, a detainee at Guantánamo Bay, has been a controversial figure for the US due to his alleged ties to terrorism.
  2. Hambali's arrest and detention led to key intelligence on Al Qaeda's operational activities in Southeast Asia.
  3. The interrogation tactics used on Hambali raised concerns and became a point of contention within the CIA.

THE BOOK I NEVER GAVE DAN ELLSBERG

40 implied HN points • 21 Jun 23
📚 Literature Vietnam War Novel Author Memoir Friendship
  1. Dan Ellsberg dedicated his life to working for peace and wrote about the dangers of nuclear weapons.
  2. Dan Ellsberg and Seymour Hersh bonded over their shared condemnation of the Vietnam War and its impacts.
  3. The two friends rarely discussed novels or memoirs about the war, focusing instead on the realities of the conflict.

A YEAR OF LYING ABOUT NORD STREAM

18 HN points • 26 Sep 23
  1. The Biden administration has not taken responsibility for the pipeline bombing or explained the sabotage's purpose.
  2. The post discusses a gas leak from the exploded Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea.
  3. Author mentions a lack of understanding about covert CIA operations.

Why Substack?

16 HN points • 08 Feb 23
  1. The author discusses the reasons for choosing Substack as a platform to share their content.
  2. There is a personal message for the readers about the author and their connection with Substack.
  3. The post includes a historical account from the author's career as a freelancer in Vietnam.

THE COVER-UP

13 HN points • 22 Mar 23
  1. The Biden Administration is accused of concealing their involvement in the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines.
  2. The destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines led to a surge in natural gas prices in Europe, affecting industries and economies.
  3. President Biden's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in early March involved discussions about a cover story for the pipeline allegations.

THE CRAP ON THE WALL

5 HN points • 15 Feb 23
  1. The author discusses a dangerous decision by Joe Biden regarding the Nord Stream pipelines.
  2. The author reflects on the challenges faced when trying to publish explosive stories based on unnamed sources.
  3. The author recounts his experience trying to publish the My Lai massacre story and the reluctance of major magazines to pick it up.

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY

3 HN points • 12 Apr 23
  1. Ukraine is buying fuel from Russia while at war with them, leading to corruption and embezzlement.
  2. American taxpayers are unknowingly funding the diesel fuel payment for Ukraine's army.
  3. Corruption in Kiev involves kickbacks from export contracts with private arms dealers globally.