Arete is a hand-picked weekly list of the most thought-provoking articles, essays, and links I come across—curated for mountain and tactical athletes. Not always the newest, but always worth your time. It’s what I’d forward to a sharp teammate or training partner.
— Rob Shaul
MILITARY | NATIONAL SECURITY
Cuba says 32 Cuban fighters killed in US raids on Venezuela, Al Jazeera
News organizations held off on reporting Venezuela raid, Semafor
U.S.’s Greenland Policy Faces Crosswinds, Bumpy Landing, Real Clear Defense
U.S. Special Ops Aircraft Arriving In UK Could Point To Looming Oil Tanker Boarding Operation, War Zone
The Chinese Military’s Rotten Core, Real Clear World
Danish PM: NATO Is Done if Trump Invades Greenland, Politico
Destruction Seen At Caracas Base That Was A Focus Of The U.S. Military Operation, The War Zone
Here is to a Quarter Century of US Military Havoc, Al Jazeera
The Trump Corollary is officially in effect, Atlantic Council
150 aircraft, cyber effects and ‘overwhelming force:’ How the Venezuela operation unfolded, Breaking Defense
Hegseth aims to dock Sen. Kelly’s pension for illegal-orders video, Defense One
Cuba on the Brink, Foreign Affairs
Two GOP senators caution Hegseth on punishing Kelly, Defense News
Rubio: Venezuela strikes ‘a law enforcement operation,’ not ‘invasion’, Defense News
The End of Audacity? Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Command, Modern War Institute
The Message North Korea Sends by Rotating Its Troops in Russia, Reall Clear Defense
Stop Building Battleships, Start Building Fear, American Spectator
Coming Soon: The Iran Civil War of 2026?, 1945
Pentagon orders review on ‘effectiveness’ of women in infantry, other combat arms jobs, Task & Purpose
White House floats military action to take Greenland, Defense One
NATO Leaders Push Back Against Trump’s Greenland Threats, Foreign Policy
Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Wants to Buy Greenland, NY Times
Merz Vindicates Trump’s Approach to Europe, The National Interest
This is the best infographic on the Maduro raid that I’ve seen to date, SNAFU
Japan govt approves record budget, including for defence, Spacewar
What the Venezuela Attack Means for China, Foreign Policy
In Paris, Witkoff dodges hard US commitment to Kyiv, Morning Defense
Delta Force, other special operations soldiers carried out Venezuela raid, Task & Purpose
Did The U.S. Use Kamikaze Drones To Strike Venezuela?, The War Zone
U.S. Special Forces to seize tanker near Europe, UK Defense Journal
The Burn and the Choke: Why Semiconductor Controls Will Outlast China’s Rare Earth Weapon War on the Rocks
It’s All in the Packaging: The Engineering Behind MRE Freshness, Soldier Systems
FIRST RESPONDER | HOMELAND SECURITY | WILDLAND FIRE
Coast Guard Awards $3.3 Billion In Polar Icebreaker Contracts To Bollinger And Rauma, Defense Daily
Alaska Ski Resort Offering Free Skiing To First Responders, Unofficial Networks
Officers injured during Jan. 6 Capitol response reflect on pardons, public perception 5 years later, Police1
BWC: Man who fired shots at LAPD helicopter taken into custody after SWAT standoff, Police1
If You Want That Tattoo Erased It’s Going to Hurt and It’s Going to Cost You, FirefighterNation
Chilling warning that bloodthirsty Venezuelan migrant gangsters hiding in your city could be ‘activated’ after Maduro’s capture, Australia Home
Secret Service detains man suspected of vandalizing J.D. Vance’s Ohio home, Police1
N.J. water rescue turns violent after man attacks firefighter, FireRescue1
Over 100 firefighters battle Denver apartment construction site blaze, FireRescue1
FIVE FDNY FIREFIGHTERS INJURED IN QUEENS FIRE, Firefighter Close Calls
Elderly Couple Die After Being Removed From OH House Fire, FireEngineering
Fire Destroys Section of North Coast CA Downtown, FireEngineering
TEXAS FIREFIGHTER SEVERELY BURNED IN ROOF COLLAPSE, Firefighter Close Calls
Agency shake-up for Southern California firefighting aircraft program, Wildfire Today
MOUNTAIN | OUTSIDE | GEAR
Mount Everest Climbers Will Soon Pay $4,000 ‘Clean-Up Fee’, GearJunkie
25 Men’s Footwear Brands Similar To Lems Shoes, The Coolector
1-Ski Quivers: Reviewers’ Selections (25/26), Blister
2027 Ram TRX Regains Apex Predator Status: Less Money, More Power Than Raptor R, GearJunkie
2025 GearJunkie Adventure Vehicle of the Year Awards, GearJunkie
$80 Ball Cap: I Was a Hater, Until I Tried It Myself, GearJunkie
Telemark Gear Has Improved Dramatically Over Time. But Some Insiders Think It’s Getting Too Stiff, Powder
The Victims of the Arizona Helicopter Slackline Crash Have Been Named, Outside
Opinion: Amidst Telluride Strike Over Value of Ski Patrol Experience, Mammoth Reminds Us What Patrollers Risk, SnowBrains
I’m a Full-Time Professional Cowboy. Here’s What It’s Really Like., Outside
“Today Was All-Time”—Palisades Tahoe Skiers Had a Day To Remember, Powder
Alpine Surf Sessions: The New Contest That Aims to Unite The U.S. Powsurf Community, SnowBrains
5 New Sports at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Men’s Health
Multiple Mountain Lion Incidents Occurred Just Before a Fatal Attack in Colorado, Outside
Why You Should Climb the Famous Devils Tower in 2026 Gripped
Quit Expecting Every Hunter to Be So Hardcore. We Need Casual Hunters, Too, Outdoor Life
Do You Wear a Ski Helmet? We Asked Over 8,000 Skiers for Their Opinion, Powder
2 Skiers Buried by Large Avalanche After Ducking Rope into Backcountry Outside Brighton Resort, UT, SnowBrains
SnowBrains Forecast: 4 Feet of Snow to Hammer the PNW This Week, SnowBrains
49 Days on Trango Tower and an Epic Survival Story, Gripped
[VIDEO] “I Lost My Job…So I’m Going All In on YouTube,” Says Pro Skier Stan Rey on Being Let Go From Solomon, SnowBrains
I Drew an Incredible Sheep Tag. It Turned into the Hunt from Hell, Even Before Our Truck Caught Fire, Outdoor Life
The Best EDC Knives, Budget to Unobtanium Tested, Outdoor Life
Woman Killed by Mountain Lion in Colorado; 2 Animals Euthanized, SnowBrains
California’s 6’7″ Skier Bryce Bennett Will Have an Edge at The Winter Olympics, Powder
FITNESS | NUTRITION | HEALTH
The Very Best Fitness Gear, NY Times
Here is the Navy’s new fitness test for SEALs and other combat jobs, Task & Purpose
Airmen can now swap out the 2-mile run on both yearly fitness tests, Task & Purpose
Navy rolls out twice-a-year fitness tests, Task & Purpose
Who We Become Through Repetition, Uphill Athlete
What Happens When Your Brain Is 22 and Your Body Absolutely Is Not, Outside
Flu surges in 45 states, as doctor visits reach highest level in 30 years, NBC News
Kennedy Set to Release New Nutrition Guidelines, NY Times
Weight Loss: What I Wish I’d Known Before Taking Compounded Semaglutide, Healthline
Effects of a 90‐Min Nap on Time‐Motion Metrics and Psychophysiological Responses During Small‐Sided Games in Professional Soccer Players, Scandivavian Journal of Medicine
Everything You Need to Know About the New Wegovy Weight Loss Pill, Men’s Health
Effects of Orthotic Insoles on Gait Biomechanics in Runners With Flatfoot Under Different Gait Loads, Scandanavian Journal of Medicine
We Hit PRs in the Industry’s Best Weightlifting Shoes. These Earned Their Place on the Platform, Men’s Journal
Deadlift Standards by Skill Level and Weight, Generation Iron
We Tested Adjustable Kettlebells Through Heavy Swings and High-Rep Circuits. These Are Indispensable, Men’s Journal
What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Too Much Sugar, Eating Well