Wikipedia

Malcolm Nance

Malcolm Wrightson Nance(born 1961)[1]is an American author and media pundit. He is a formerUnited States NavySenior Chief Petty Officerspecializing innaval cryptology.

Malcolm Nance
Born
Malcolm Wrightson Nance[1]

1961 (age 62–63)
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S.
EducationExcelsior University(BA)
Occupations
  • Author
  • counterterrorism and intelligence commentator
Years active1981–present
Known for
Notable work
TitleExecutive Director, Terror Asymmetrics Project on Strategy, Tactics and Radical Ideologies (TAPSTRI)
Military career
Allegiance
Service/ branch
Years of service
  • 1981–2001 (United States)
  • 2022–present (Ukraine)
RankSenior chief petty officer(United States)
Websitetapstri.org

Nance is an intelligence and foreign policy analyst who frequently discusses the history, personalities, and organization ofjihadiradicalizationandal-Qaedaand theIslamic State of Iraq and Levant(ISIS), Southwest Asian and African terror groups, as well ascounterinsurgencyandasymmetric warfare.[2]He has learned Arabic and is active in the field of national security policy[3]particularly, in anti- and counter-terrorism intelligence, terrorist strategy and tactics,tortureand counter-ideology in combating Islamic extremism. In 2016, he published the book,Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe,[4]and publishedThe Plot to Hack Americathe same year.[5]

In 2014, he founded and became the executive director of the Terror Asymmetrics Project on Strategy, Tactics and Radical Ideologies (TAPSTRI), aHudson, New York–basedthink tank.

Early life and education

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Nance was born inPhiladelphia.He attended the city'sWest Catholic Boys High School.He studied Spanish, French, and Latin, and took advantage of free classes in Russian and Chinese offered atSouth Philadelphia High Schoolon Saturdays.[2]In 2011,[6]he received aBachelor of Artsdegree[7]from New York'sExcelsior University.[8]

Military career

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Nance served in theUnited States Navyfrom 1981 to 2001. As a U.S. Navy specialist in Naval Cryptology, Nance was involved in numerous counter-terrorism, intelligence, and combat operations.[9][10][11]He garnered expertise within the fields of intelligence and counterterrorism.[12][13][14]

He was an instructor in wartime and peacetimeSurvival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape(SERE), training Navy and Marine Corps pilots and aircrew how to survive asprisoners of war.[15][16]There, Nance helped to initiate the Advanced Terrorism, Abduction and Hostage Survival course of instruction.[2]

Nance took part in combat operations that occurred after the1983 Beirut barracks bombings,was peripherally involved with the1986 United States bombing of Libya,served onUSSWainwrightduringOperation Praying Mantisand was aboard during the sinking of theIranian missile boatJoshan,served onUSSTripoliduring theGulf War,and assisted during aBanja Luka, Bosnia air strike.[17]

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

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On April 18, 2022, Nance revealed that he had joined theUkrainian Foreign Legionin March 2022.[18][19][20]In an interview with Michael Harriot ofThe Guardian,Nance alluded to African-American military aviatorEugene Bullard's service in theFrench Foreign Legionto his service in Ukraine, hoping to inspire "African Americans and young Americans who have been in the military" and describing the International Legion as "the pantheon of the defense of democracy in the defense of Ukraine".[21]

Post-military career

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Intelligence consulting

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In 2001, Nance founded Special Readiness Services International (SRSI), an intelligence support company. On the morning of9/11,driving to Arlington he witnessed the crash ofAmerican Airlines Flight 77into the Pentagon.[2][17]He acted as a first responder at the helipad crash site where he helped organize the rescue and recovery of victims.[2][17]Subsequently, Nance served as an intelligence and security contractor in Iraq, Afghanistan, the United Arab Emirates and North Africa.[22][23]

Between 2005 and 2007 Nance was a visiting lecturer on counterterrorism in Sydney, Australia atMacquarie University's Centre on Policing, Intelligence and Counter-terrorism (PICT) and atVictoria University of WellingtoninWellington, New Zealand.[24]

Nance now directs a think tank that he founded, the "Terror Asymmetrics Project on Strategy, Tactics and Radical Ideologies", which analyzes counterterrorism.[2][14]Nance is also a member of the advisory board of directors for theInternational Spy MuseuminWashington, D.C.[17]

On March 22, 2019, hours before Attorney GeneralWilliam Barr'scontroversial letterabout theMueller Reporton the 2016 Trump campaign and its connections to Russia was released, Nance said the report could reveal treason exceeding that ofBenedict Arnold.[25][26]

Writing

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In 2007, Nance wrote an article criticizingwaterboardingfor the counterinsurgency blogSmall Wars Journaltitled "Waterboarding is Torture... period."[27][28]Nance wrote: "I know waterboarding is torture—because I did it myself." Nance said he witnessed and supervised waterboarding of hundreds of people.[29]

Republished in thePentagon Early Bird,it set off a firestorm as the first credible description of the torture technique as used in SERE. The article strongly swayed the Pentagon against the use of the waterboard because its misuse would damage America's reputation worldwide. Nance argued that using the torture techniques of America's former enemies dishonors the memory of U.S. service members who died in captivity through torture, and that torture does not produce credible intelligence.[15][16]

Nance was called to testify before theU.S. Congressabout the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques".[15][16]He told theHouse Judiciary Committeethat: "Waterboarding is torture, period... I believe that we must reject the use of the waterboard for prisoners and captives and cleanse this stain from our national honor...water overpowering your gag reflex, and then feel(ing) your throat open and allow pint after pint of water to involuntarily fill your lungs."[15][16]

Nance's books oncounter-terrorismand intelligence include:An End to al-Qaeda,[30]Terrorist Recognition Handbook,[31]The Terrorists of Iraq,[32]Defeating ISIS,[4][33]The Plot to Hack America,[5]andHacking ISIS.[34]In 2018, he publishedThe Plot to Destroy Democracy: How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West.[35]In 2019, he publishedThe Plot to Betray America: How Team Trump Embraced Our Enemies, Compromised Our Security, and How We Can Fix It.[36]

Nance has suggested thatDonald Trumpwas surveilled byRussiaas early as 1977.[37][38]Nance elaborated, "First, you start off as a useful idiot, right? Next is unwitting assets... a person who doesn’t know that there was an intelligence operation around him. The next progression is a witting asset. I have never said the next step. I have never said Donald Trump was an agent of Russia."[38]

Personal life

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Nance was married to Maryse Beliveau-Nance, who passed away fromovarian cancerin 2019.[39]

Filmography

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Bibliography

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References

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  1. ^abValania, Jonathan (April 15, 2018)."How Mount Airy's Malcolm Nance Became a Hero of the Resistance".Philadelphia Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2021.RetrievedJuly 19,2020.
  2. ^abcdefJones, Layla A. (March 10, 2017),"Philly native is media expert on intelligence",The Philadelphia Tribune,archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  3. ^Lipkin, Michael (October 10, 2016),"The Plot to Hack America: How Putin's Cyberspies and WikiLeaks Tried to Steal the 2016 Election",New York Journal of Books,archivedfrom the original on August 4, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  4. ^ab"Malcolm Nance on Defeating ISIS".Washington Journal.C-SPAN.March 13, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on May 30, 2017.RetrievedMay 28,2017.
  5. ^abNance, Malcolm(October 10, 2016),The Plot to Hack America: How Putin's Cyberspies and WikiLeaks Tried to Steal the 2016 Election,Skyhorse Publishing,p. 216,ISBN978-1510723320
  6. ^"Student Rounder".Times Union.Albany, NY. January 28, 2011.Archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2018.RetrievedJune 16,2018.
  7. ^The Conservative Thinker (October 8, 2016)."Malcolm Nance – International Terrorism and Counterterrorism Expert".The Conservative Chronicles 24/7.Archivedfrom the original on June 16, 2018.RetrievedJune 16,2018.
  8. ^"Malcolm Nance to present fall 2016 Manatt-Phelps Lecture in Political Science".Iowa State University.August 23, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on July 7, 2018.RetrievedMay 28,2017.
  9. ^Wolcott, James (March 21, 2017),"5 essential Twitter feeds for keeping up with Trump and Russia",Vanity Fair,archivedfrom the original on June 8, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  10. ^Cabanatuan, Michael (May 21, 2017),"Barbara Lee brings John Dean, Malcolm Nance to town hall meeting",San Francisco Chronicle,archivedfrom the original on June 7, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  11. ^Concha, Joe (February 18, 2017),"Maher: Russian election influence is worst political scandal in US history",The Hill,archivedfrom the original on June 6, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  12. ^Devega, Chauncey (March 14, 2017),"Intelligence expert Malcolm Nance on Trump scandal: 'As close to Benedict Arnold as we're ever going to get'",Salon,archivedfrom the original on June 3, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  13. ^Donahue, Joe (January 5, 2017),"Counterterrorism Expert Malcolm Nance",WAMC,archivedfrom the original on May 29, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  14. ^abHobson, Jeremy (October 12, 2016),"How Hackable Is The Election?",Here and Now,WBUR,archivedfrom the original on August 3, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  15. ^abcdKellman, Laurie (November 8, 2007). "Ex- Navy interrogator: Ban waterboarding".Navy Times.Associated Press.
  16. ^abcd"House Panel Gets Earful On Waterboarding".CBS News.November 8, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on March 7, 2016.RetrievedDecember 22,2016.
  17. ^abcdLamb, Brian(April 28, 2017),"Q&A with Malcolm Nance",C-SPAN(video),archivedfrom the original on August 21, 2017,retrievedJune 7,2017
  18. ^Chaitin, Daniel."MSNBC analyst Malcolm Nance reveals he joined fight in Ukraine".Colorado Gazette.Washington Examiner. Archived fromthe originalon April 18, 2022.RetrievedApril 18,2022.
  19. ^"I'm DONE talking. #JoinTheLegion #StopRussia #SlavaUkraini".Twitter.Archivedfrom the original on April 19, 2022.RetrievedApril 19,2022.
  20. ^Timsit, Annabelle; Bella, Timothy; Barr, Jeremy (April 19, 2022)."Ex-MSNBC analyst joins Ukrainian forces against Russia: 'I'm done talking'".Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedApril 21,2022.
  21. ^Harriot, Michael (April 29, 2022)."Malcolm Nance, TV pundit turned fighter in Ukraine: 'I believe in the defense of democracy'".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on May 2, 2022.RetrievedMay 2,2022.
  22. ^Freeman, Colin (April 19, 2004)."12 U.S. troops die in Iraq; Spain leaving".San Francisco Chronicle.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2004.RetrievedNovember 8,2007.
  23. ^Freeman, Colin (April 4, 2004)."Iraqi police 'were too scared' to help Americans in Fallujah".The Daily Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon August 21, 2004.RetrievedNovember 8,2007.
  24. ^"Sydney ferries a 'soft terrorist target'".The Age.August 30, 2006.Archivedfrom the original on October 23, 2012.RetrievedNovember 10,2007.
  25. ^March 27, 2019MSNBC’s Trump-Russia Ratings Fizzle: ‘Time to Pivot to 2020’ArchivedMarch 28, 2019, at theWayback MachineSeveral hours before Barr’s letter was released, former intelligence officer Malcolm Nance predicted on MSNBC that the report could “technically eclipse Benedict Arnold” in its level of treasonous activity.
  26. ^David Folkenflik (March 26, 2019)."Media Outlets Became A Target After Mueller Probe Results Surfaced".NPR.Archivedfrom the original on March 27, 2019.RetrievedMarch 28,2019.Malcolm Nance: Everyone repeat after me—single most serious scandal in the history of the United States—was the president of the United States an agent of an enemy of the United States? Look. This—it could technically eclipsesBenedict Arnold,who at least did it for money.
  27. ^"Waterboarding is torture... Period".Small Wars Journal.October 31, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on February 16, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 14,2017.
  28. ^Chadwick, Alex(November 1, 2007),"Expert Sheds Light on Waterboarding",Day to Day,National Public Radio,archivedfrom the original on October 2, 2017,retrievedJune 9,2017
  29. ^"Waterboarding is torture – I did it myself, says US advisor".The Independent.November 1, 2007.Archivedfrom the original on January 13, 2019.RetrievedDecember 17,2018.
  30. ^Nance, Malcolm (2010),An End to al-Qaeda: Destroying Bin Laden's Jihad and Restoring America's Honor,St. Martin's Press,ISBN978-0312592493
  31. ^Nance, Malcolm (2013),Terrorist Recognition Handbook: A Practitioner's Manual for Predicting and Identifying Terrorist Activities,CRC Press,ISBN978-1466554573
  32. ^Nance, Malcolm (2014),The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq Insurgency 20032014,CRC Press,ISBN978-1498706896
  33. ^Nance, Malcolm (2016),Defeating ISIS: Who They Are, How They Fight, What They Believe,Skyhorse Publishing,ISBN978-1510711846
  34. ^Nance, Malcolm; Sampson, Chris (2017),Hacking ISIS: How to Destroy the Cyber Jihad,Skyhorse Publishing,ISBN978-1510718920
  35. ^Nance, Malcolm (2018),The Plot to Destroy Democracy: How Putin and His Spies Are Undermining America and Dismantling the West,Hachette,ISBN978-0316484817
  36. ^Nance, Malcolm (2019),The Plot to Betray America: How Team Trump Embraced Our Enemies, Compromised Our Security, and How We Can Fix It,Hachette,ISBN978-0316535762
  37. ^Baragona, Justin (November 12, 2019)."MSNBC's Malcolm Nance: Trump Was on the Russians' Radar as 'Early as 1977'".The Daily Beast.Archivedfrom the original on November 12, 2021.RetrievedNovember 12,2021.
  38. ^abChotiner, Isaac (November 24, 2019)."Malcolm Nance on the Danger of Conspiracy Theories".The New Yorker.Archivedfrom the original on August 30, 2021.RetrievedNovember 12,2021.
  39. ^"Malcolm Nance: 'The Republican party is an insurgent party'".the Guardian.July 28, 2022.
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