Thrillers to make you think...- Paul Shemella

The Jungle Rules Trilogy presents thrillers to make you think. In this blog, I would like to talk about the important issues that underlie the page-turning narratives. My view is that we can all learn a lot from fiction, but only if we have a forum for discussing the dialogue that underpins the action. The image of a fence - connected by posts - represents the lines of conversations I'd like to feature in this space. I solicit your comments to help build that metaphorical fence, leading us to a deeper understanding of leadership, loyalty, love, morality, corruption, drugs, terrorism, and other topics I have woven into the stories. Let's get started!

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The Contested Concept of Terrorism

February 4, 2020 by Claire V

The Contested Concept of Terrorism Paul Shemella is a retired Captain of the U.S. Navy SEAL who dedicated most of his military service to planning and executing counter-terrorism operations in regions like Latin America and Europe. Over the last decade, … Read More

international terrorism

Withdrawing from the World, or Not?

January 21, 2020 by pshemella

Withdrawing from the World, or Not? The United States is still the world’s only superpower. China is catching up fast, but it’s not there yet. Russia is just a gas station with nuclear weapons, and the European Union is in … Read More

international terrorism

Bad Moon Rising

January 10, 2020 by pshemella

Bad Moon Rising I see a bad moon rising. I see trouble on the way. My favorite definition of strategy, taken from John Lewis Gaddis’s landmark On Grand Strategy , is “doing the best you can with what you have.” … Read More

Blog

Portraying Drugs and Thugs in Literature

January 6, 2020 by Claire V

As the world progresses, literature also becomes more diverse and daring. To be clear, literature has always been bold. It has been an avenue for social commentaries, propagandas, and even revolutions. However, what distinguishes new literature from the old one … Read More

international terrorism

Navy SEALs: Jedi Knights or Pirates?

December 28, 2019 by pshemella

Navy SEALs have been fighting the nation’s enemies for a long time. Most famously, they killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. But the war against Islamist terrorism, now in its 18th year, has taken a heavy toll. SEALs have gotten … Read More

Introduction

Who is a terrorist and who is not?

December 21, 2019 by pshemella

President Trump wants to label Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. Is this a good idea or a bad idea? On one hand, the designation would open the way—legally—for American military and CIA personnel to attack drug traffickers south of … Read More

international terrorism

The Bias of the American War on Terror

December 4, 2019 by Claire V

For a long time, terrorism has been looming large in the shadows of America. Its threat peaked in the early 2000s when the United States suffered from the intensity of the 9/11 attacks carried out by Al Qaeda. These deadly … Read More

Background | Thriller

Jungle Rules Explained

November 23, 2019 by pshemella

Jungle Rules Explained I was first introduced to the term “Jungle Rules” as a young athlete. Playing by these rules meant playing by no rules at all. As a child, I pushed back against all rules, and roughness in sports … Read More

international terrorism

Christian Terrorists?

November 16, 2019 by pshemella

Now there’s an oxymoron! How is it that a Christian (or any religious person) can justify using violence as a means to create a better world? The “Christian Identity” movement reached a crescendo in the 1990s, but splinter groups still … Read More

Introduction | Thriller

Why Strong Female Characters are Necessary for Thrillers

November 13, 2019 by pshemella

The representation of women in thriller novels has been quite improving over the years. This is in comparison to the old face of thrillers that was entirely masculine, full of machismo and violence against female characters. Women, by then, remained … Read More

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