America Will Regret Withdrawing from Iraq
Drawing on his service in Iraq, Elliot Ackerman examines the latest U.S. withdrawal and the long-term responsibility to preserve stability after war.
Essays
A Turning Point in Ukraine?
After four years of reporting from Ukraine, Elliot Ackerman returned from Kyiv and Kharkiv with a different assessment of the war. Writing in The Free Press, he examines drone warfare,...
Heroes Still Walk Among Us
Twenty-five years after 9/11, Elliot Ackerman reflects on Band of Brothers, his own wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and what he learned about the enduring nature of heroism.
The Cynical Coverage of the USS Lincoln
In this essay for The Free Press, Elliot Ackerman examines coverage of conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln during the Iran war and argues that military suicide and the strain...
The Veterans Who Become Novelists
Elliot Ackerman reflects on Karl Marlantes, war literature, memory, and the enduring relationship between storytelling and combat.
Met Gala 2026: Fashion, Style, and Celebrity Spectacle
In this humorous review of the 2026 Met Gala, Elliot Ackerman and Suzy Weiss examine the night's most memorable looks, from Lauren Sánchez Bezos and Kylie Jenner to Colman Domingo,...
Inside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
When gunshots rang out near the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Elliot Ackerman and his wife took cover beneath their table. What followed revealed just how exposed thousands of attendees had...
Is Trump Asking Troops to Commit War Crimes?
Drawing on his experience as a Marine officer in Iraq, Elliot Ackerman explores whether threats to target civilian infrastructure in Iran could force service members to confront difficult legal and...
The Case Against the War
Drawing on his experience as a Marine officer in Iraq, Elliot Ackerman examines the risks of regime change in Iran, the limits of military power, and the political consequences that...
Watching Future War Unfold
Elliot Ackerman examines Iran, future conflict, authoritarian alliances, and the geopolitical realities explored in 2034.
The ICE Shooter's Trauma Is No Defense
Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, Elliot Ackerman examines the legal standard of objective reasonableness and argues that an officer's past trauma cannot redefine the rules governing the use...
A Man Should Know: How to Speak from the Heart
In the final installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman shares lessons on public speaking, storytelling, rehearsal, and why the most memorable remarks come from speaking honestly and from...
Trump Is Risking Another Forever War
In this Free Press essay, Elliot Ackerman reflects on the U.S. operation against Nicolás Maduro and warns that military success is often the easy part. Drawing on his experiences in...
A Man Should Know: How to Read
In this installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman reflects on his journey as a reader, the value of classic books, and why the most meaningful reading experiences often...
A Man Should Know: How to Wear a Tuxedo
In this installment of A Man Should Know, Elliot Ackerman shares the lessons he learned about wearing a tuxedo, from bow ties and cuff links to the importance of dressing...