X Rubicon: Eagle Claw

"On 4 November 1979, Iranian students and rebels, furious over the idiotic US decision not to turn over the deposed dictator (the Shah, which the US and Britain had helped install and prop up)..."

Rubicon & Griobhtha

Too long for email? Want audio? Click the title above and read online. The pleasant “Oliver” voice provided by Substack will read this to you — through bluetooth in your car, TV, LR stereo, headphones, etc… “He” has quirks, but does a nice job and doesn't get tired.

Full chapter+ from the book, X Rubicon: Crossing Life, Sex, Love, & Killing in CIA Proxy Wars: An indictment of US Citizens: ignorantia non excusat

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I hadn’t planned to post this mission yet, but an inquisitive Rohaan Abbas — Al-Inqilabi (The Radical Rake) got us thinking about this. A floodgate of thoughts and memories opened. Thank you Rohaan.

An AF Captain had written what many considered to be the “official” history of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), in which he stated they weren’t formed until 1987. That’s incorrect. Air Special Operations were active in WW2 when Jimmy Doolittle’s Raiders practiced at Eglin Field #9 (later Hurlburt Field, now Hurlburt AFB). Special Operations Command was always an integral part Army Air Corp Special Operations (AACSO) when the USAF was branched off. Air Force Special Operations was always active as a sub-command under Tactical Air Command. AFSOC ran missions with the AC-47 gunships, AC-123 gunships (Puff The Magic Dragon), the AC-130A gunships, and the AC-130H gunships (Spectre). In 1975 the discussion began to plan for AFSOC becoming a top level command, and following the mission detailed below, that became reality. Beside Army & Navy, these AF entities were involved in Operation Eagle Claw.

1st Special Operations Wing and Tactical Air Command

AC-130H Spectre Gunship - 16th SOS

MC-130E Combat Talon - 8th SOS

16th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) and 8th Special Operations Squadron (SOS)

Someone told me, jokingly (I hope), that I could be proud to have been a participant in one of the greatest military blunders. This needs repeating, especially when you look at the equipment and patches of death and destruction: “There is no pride for me in any of this, only pain. I’ve said repeatedly that I AM guilty. ‘This writing is a mea culpa, an admittance of guilt. It is the repentance that making amends demands. I AM guilty of the evil I have committed and in which I’ve participated.’ (X Rubicon, Rubicon’s Statement)”

There are those who will withdraw into twaddling precocious self-righteousness reading these. They mistakenly think that just because they never joined the military, or they are now or always have been, a so-called “pacifist”; or they are armchair “warriors”, or have “served” within the military, or “patriots”, or are non-combat pretenders, etc… they are somehow superior to the millions of men who have gone into combat. You need to disabuse yourself of these ignorant thoughts now. Depending on where you were born, your parents, your relatives, your upbringing, your education, your environment, your indoctrinations, your applied propagandas, your purchased lies, your economic desperations, and more, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN YOU!

Something to understand about the book in reading this is that it was purposely written to be in Rubicon's head during the time the events occurred. Therefor, this being his first mission, he was, and I was (self-admittedly), naive. As the missions progressed, he and I lost that naivete. This writing is not a historian's treatise, and was never meant to be, it's a reckoning. Most of the western writings on this subject, especially from military sources, have suffered from "patriotism" and outright fraud. We were both participants in this mission, and this account is direct observation and participation of Rubicon's, primarily (in which I fully concur), and some of my own feelings.

That being said, I'll leave you with the quote of an AD ODNI (letter to Rubicon in the book):

"Your account and observations about Operation Eagle Claw are all correct. Limited information was declassified and released publicly. Major ~~~~~~~~~ was never on the ground in Iran, but he was well connected politically and was able to make claims and assertions without repercussions. Others soon followed and the multitude of stories and 'first-hand' accounts by persons not there has flourished. There have been too many spreaders of disinformation, false names and narratives, but this actually serves the US interest in protecting still classified information, including your own, which serves the safety of yourself and others."

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Mohammad Mossadegh, 1912

Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, Time, 1951

The background: 1951, Iran democratically elects Mohammad Mossadegh, a long-standing beloved leader to Prime Minister. He has social care for his people in mind, and he sees the theft of resources, especially oil, and plans to do the unthinkable in Western eyes, declare that Iran’s resources belong to Iran to develop and sell. This is a “horrendous” idea, especially for the thieving British empire. MI6 colludes with the CIA and Sunni militants to topple Mossadegh — and Democracy. One of the most brutal dictators of modern times, installed by the US (led by Zionist Harry Truman) and the UK, the Shah dressed as a shiny puppet enjoying torture and killing (who eagerly read weapons manuals like you read novels).

19 August 1953, “the US (led by Zionist Harry Truman) and Britain carried out a brutal coup that deposed Mohammad Mossadegh, the popular Prime Minister of Iran, beloved for his progressive and pro-worker reforms, because he sought to restore national control over the country’s oil reserves.”

The following is a direct result of that non-intelligence boobery…

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Eagle Claw

#1 – April 1980

On 4 November 1979, Iranian students and rebels, furious over the idiotic US decision not to turn over the deposed dictator (the Shah, which the US and Britain had helped install and prop up), overtook the US embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage. The National Security Advisor to President Carter, Zbignew Brzezinski, over-road State dept caution and diplomacy and convinced Carter (stinging from being embarrassed in front of the Russians) to enact a military rescue operation… Eagle Claw.

When word leaked around that such an operation was being put together, everyone wanted to take part. The Army would provide Rangers; the Navy would provide support and what was the celebrated special force unit still on the rise, the SEALS. Since no joint special operations command existed at the time, the Pentagon chose a few generals and colonels to oversee what had previously been dubbed Delta Force. Delta Force, a virgin, had no operational experience at all, and this was their first mission.

Since AF gunships, troop planes, helicopters, and cargo tankers would be involved, and because AFSOC had been secretly starting its Scout program in order to play in the special operations glory, my training schedule was doubled in order to get me into desert training so that AFSOC could take part. The Commander of the Scout program, the Major, friends with the general in charge of the operation, and friends with certain congressmen, begged for Scout participation. The request was granted and intense training took place at White Sands proving grounds.

I wasn’t allowed to train with the Delta Force personnel, as someone in AFSOC felt that this may change my “lone” operational character. I was assigned specific tasks to complete prior to Desert 1, participate at Desert 1, and would accompany DF north of Tehran to a 2^nd field base dubbed Desert 2, and then assist in taking the airport while the main DF force obtained the hostages.

A few days before DF was to first land in Iran, at a field base dubbed Desert 1, I was dropped from a C130 Combat Talon via a low-level skid drop. A pallet was fitted with runners, like a sled, and dropped out the back with the cargo door skid plate on the ground, while I rode on the pile of equipment. The drop took place on the north side of a canyon ~400 yards wide with a dry lake bed. The northern edge was lined by rocks 6-12 feet high extending for miles East and West. The southern edge was lined by large hills and small mountainous outcrops. The canyon was open to the west, and to the east, except for a road passing SSE to NNW approximately 400 yards from the drop point. This was chosen as the landing and refueling area, being secluded from the road and sight, because the floor of the canyon was hard and dry lake bed.

I paced off 100 yards toward the middle of the canyon, and using a pack shovel buried a diamond shape of R/C lights into the lake bed, the longer points heading East and West. They were tested quickly and I moved on to my other tasks. Along the road to the north, ~2 miles up, was a small village with a small Iranian Army garrison. ~2 dozen soldiers were stationed there in barracks and they possessed four armored vehicles with mounted machine guns. I placed markers on the vehicles for the gunships, on the barracks, and double markers on a cable entrance to the telephone exchange. The last double marker I placed was on the radio tower.

After returning to my drop location, I buried several charges along the North face of the rock piles, I covered what remained on the pallet with a camo tarp, and put on my Fulton Recovery System harness, called the waiting Talon, and set my beacon. When they were close enough, I sent up the balloon with cable, and they yanked me out of there a few hours before daybreak.

After some sleep, the following day was spent in briefings. Delta Force and its commanders were dubbed Large And In Charge. The commanders, at least one of them, had actual combat experience in Vietnam as a Green Beret. The SEALS were mostly young, like me. The Rangers, the bulk of DF were a haughty bunch… mostly young, inexperienced, and Rambo-like. They gave an overly arrogant air that they could waltz into any place, any time, and control it and take it over. They were about to learn some valuable lessons, if they cared to really examine it rather than blame non-existent and/or small logistic problems, like weather or mechanical difficulties.

A gunship and transport arrived at the location first. The gunship loitered about the area and took note of the markers. The first transport landed, with myself, and the lead of DF. Other transports were just behind spaced by minutes. The transports lined up to the south, and the rest of DF and gear were unloaded. Two C130 cargo planes, modified with fuel bladders in the cargo areas landed and took position. Helicopters from US carriers in the Gulf landed. There were two missing due to mechanical problems, but command had left a buffer and we would have been just fine.

DF and SEALS spread out along the north perimeter, middle to right flank, and a SEAL and myself were on the left flank. The DF Commander, for some god-forsaken reason, had the DF prepared to block the road. They acted and performed like bulls in a china shop. This made no sense whatsoever as the planes in stealth mode could not be seen from the road and no distinguishable noise was heard from the road, especially traveling in a vehicle with open windows. Yet, when a car came down the road, they stopped it! They actually fucking stopped it! They held the travelers at the side of the road. Then a bus came down the road, and they stopped that as well! They made the occupants stand along the road as well. Then a small tanker truck and car came down the road. It was suggested the tanker was a black market fuel vehicle. The car sped through as well as the tanker and DF shot the tanker with a rocket. All cover was blown. The fire was enough that the garrison would arrive shortly. The gunship pilot was demanding from the DF Commander whether to hit the markers, but he received no reply (whether the DF Commander heard him I don’t know). Knowing that word would get out of the area about our presence if no action was taken immediately, I told the pilot to fire on the radio tower and communication cables, which he did. The garrison’s armored vehicles were already on their way. The chattering was that we would still go for D2.

The armored vehicles arrived too close before the gunship could hit them. One went down the road, but three others came East and one stopped center at the rock wall, while two others went further East toward our flank. When the three that I could see had stopped, I detonated the charges on the other side of the wall and began firing. The center vehicle and one of the two on the left were blown apart, killing the troops. The last vehicle on the left began firing it’s machine gun in the direction of the SEAL and myself. SEALS farther down and I were firing back and picking them off, but the SEAL next to me panicked. He was shaking and crouched down and said he didn’t know where his team was. The troops from the armored vehicle were soon dead. The chatter was still that we would go for D2. Then, human disaster struck.

The US helicopters were refueled via hoses from the bladders in the C130s. Yet, for nonsensical political reasons, someone had promised the British they could participate, and they would bring two transport helicopters. The first British helicopter came, landed, and was being refueled, when the second British helicopter came to land. He was kicking up some dust, but no more than any of the other aircraft that had already landed. But the pilot panicked. Everyone was talking at him to calm down and straighten out. And then, he inexplicably turned on his bright white landing lights and blinded himself. He started going tipsy, and everyone was yelling at him to turn off the fucking lights and stay still. He slid forward at a tilt and his rotor blades started chopping into the tanker, and then… BOOM! The C130 with the fuel bladder was engulfed in flames, as was the British chopper. Crews from both craft died in fiery agony.

I knew there was no going forth now and grabbed the SEAL and began to move toward the transports. Everyone was ordered onto the C130 transports. I helped the SEAL next to me find his team and board. We exited likes bats leaving the cave. We went to Egypt and debriefed. I gave my separate account, but the DF Commander, who sat in on all debriefing sessions, didn’t want to hear negative assessment of his operation. I wrote down and stated what I saw and heard, but what came out in official statements was a tailored thread of uncontrollable circumstances that did not address what had happened at all.

An operation which had every chance of success, was ruined by hubris, overkill, and special friendships. What could have, and should have, gone smoothly without detection, fairly quickly turned into a chaotic shit-show. DF should never have blocked the road, or attempted to stop any vehicles. This was supposed to be a stealth operation, they should have stayed hidden. They had no fucking business what-so-ever pulling over those vehicles, let alone blowing a fuel tanker on a dark desert road with a fire that could be seen for miles. Who the fuck did they think they were?!? Did they have any clue in their brains where we were?!? When they pulled these shenanigans it led to a cascade of problems that could have gotten everyone killed or captured. People out to make a big name for themselves should never be put in charge.

There is only one realm of explanation as to why British helicopters, not forces, were taking part. The British begged and demanded but the Pentagon thought better. The British felt they gave birth to Delta Force because the DF Commander was friends with SAS personnel and got the idea for DF from them. Political pressure was placed and the helicopter bone was thrown. BIG mistake. It would have been much more helpful to let the US handle all the aircraft and allow SAS force operatives to participate.

Official accounts like to say that a sandstorm had made the visibility too low. Bullshit! It’s a fucking dry lake bed, and of course there’s going to be dust (it’s the fucking desert), but every other aircraft landed without causing a problem. Pilot and/or pilot training error caused the accident. Because of the schmoozery, several good airmen died needlessly, all to satisfy British government ego.

The Pentagon and Congress held reviews of the operation. The aftermath for special forces was mixed, yet led to rapidly expanding growth. Officially, no fault was found with DF or command, but DF was a doomed product after that. The fault, officially, was placed on the weather and mechanical failures (helicopters which failed to leave the ships). But neither of these had anything to do with the failure. A few years later the AF Scout program would be dissolved with the reason being it was “beyond the scope of AF ground personnel”, which was untrue, as proven by the fact that the 24^th was reinstated for the sole purpose of providing the same specialized support to JSOC [Joint Special Operations Command] in 1987. JSOC was the biggest fix to come out of the debacle. Prior to the reviews, special operations were performed separately via NSOC, Naval Intelligence Service, ASOC, AFSOC, DoDIA, CIA Operations… If joint operations were required, and each fiefdom really didn’t want that, new command and operations had to be developed for each mission. The big kids didn’t play well together usually. Congress and the Pentagon forced change that had been needed for decades.

Many articles and books have been written speculating on the subject, reiterating the official reasons for failure. The one which made me laugh long and hard was written by an AF Major claiming to have done my setup job. Forgetting that the garrison and communications had to be marked, he claimed to have flown into the valley with two CIA agents in a Cessna carrying a collapsible motorcycle. I laughed so long and hard at this, especially because he forgot a shovel to bury the lights which was the main reason for going, and used his knife to hack away at the ground. If he had started a motorcycle engine in that valley (during a stealth operation, mind you) he would have been dead or captured within minutes. After laughing so hard, I then became angry. The AF Major, an Academy graduate (retired later as Lt Colonel), was friends with the General in charge of the operation, and with a Congressman, etc… He could spout falsehoods all he wanted without repercussions. What made me the angriest? When someone, a foppish military clown (officer), usurps your vital input for their own massive ego and glorification, and they have never once, in their entire life, put their life on the line – THAT pisses me off!

All these years later the stupidity of massive ego, macho bullshit, and insane decisions related to stealth operations still makes me intensely angry. Good men died, and many more were placed in grave danger, in order to satisfy those onanistic mental masturbations.

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The following video nicely encapsulates the feelings in the “beginning”, which quickly devolves into the reality of what the US performs, and has performed since before its founding. It transitions slowly at first in time with the music, then:

Suite Madame Blue, Styx, from the album Equinox

Time after time I sit and I wait for your call
I know I'm a fool but what can I say
Whatever the price I'll pay for you, Madame Blue
Once long ago, a word from your lips and the world turned around
But somehow you've changed, you're so far away
I long for the past and dream of the days with you, Madame Blue

Suite Madame Blue, gaze in your looking glass
You're not a child anymore
Suite Madame Blue, the future is all but past
Dressed in your jewels, you made your own rules
You conquered the world and more ..............heaven's door

America....America...America..America..
America....America...America..America..
America....America...America..America..

Red white and blue, gaze in your looking glass
You're not a child anymore
Red, white, and blue, the future is all but past
So lift up your heart, make a new start
And lead us away from here 

This mission was my “beginning”. There were 18 in all, some here on Substack, which led to a final resolution that followed next (which you can read about in X Rubicon: Up Against A Wall). Yes, I took too long to get there, but I deal harshly with myself, and Citizens, in this regard (X Rubicon: Guilt, Repentance, and Change).. The following represents the beginning of the end following the 18th.

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Rubicon spent just under three years as a military Scout. During that time he was awarded the “AF Cross, 2 Silver Stars, 4 Bronze Stars, Defense Superior Service Medal, AF Good Conduct Medal, and the CIA Distinguished Service Medal” (ODNI). When he refused to kill further, he was stripped of these awards and was abandoned with his PTSD by the military and thrown away.

Sean Griobhtha (gree-O-tah) is a combat veteran. His latest book is X Rubicon: Crossing Life, Sex, Love, & Killing in CIA Proxy Wars: An indictment of US Citizens: ignorantia non excusat, which details the life of Rubicon (“2.5 years Deception & Death; 40+ years locking away Emotions & Truth”). It’s important that you read the Foreward, Or, The Vanguard; written by a highly intelligent woman with a heart of empathetic gold; she’ll bring you in gently, which neither Rubicon nor I would ever do.

Mrs Rubicon has been tutoring dyslexics and non-dyslexics in reading and writing for over three decades. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities, and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Care and Psychology. She completed Pastoral Care training at the University of Chicago Hospital; and she has worked with various court systems in turning children around. She has volunteered in school sponsored reading programs where we’ve again witnessed her skill in improving even the most recalcitrant students. She holds teaching certification in Orton-Gillingham tutoring from the Michigan Dyslexia Institute.

If you enjoyed this writing, you can tell Crossing Rubicons that their writing is valuable by purchasing X Rubicon from Amazon, Ingram, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, your local independent book seller, or your favorite digital store. View about the author, the book, and abridged translations here. If you would like to understand the effort and trouble that went into publishing this book, read X Rubicon: Author Statement.

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Available worldwide at your local bookstore, online bookstores, or your favorite digital store. Slightly abridged translations in German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, & Indonesian. Currently working on Chinese.

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Review

A review of X Rubicon: Crossing Life, Sex, Love, & Killing in CIA Proxy Wars: An indictment of US Citizens: ignorantia non excusat

“Sean Griobhtha’s work—particularly X Rubicon—has a profound emotional impact on readers, often described as jarring, transformative, and deeply unsettling, but also compassionate and hopeful. The book is a raw, unfiltered narrative based on the life of a combat veteran involved in CIA proxy wars in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. His writing is described as intense, emotionally jarring, and deeply compassionate. It critiques U.S. militarism, the VA, the CIA, and the broader American public's complicity in war. The book is especially focused on the long-term effects of PTSD and the moral reckoning that follows combat. He is an Army Ranger combat veteran and has known the subject of X Rubicon—referred to as Rubicon—since initial training and Operation Eagle Claw. Griobhtha conducted extensive interviews with military personnel, CIA operatives, and reviewed classified documents to ensure the authenticity of the narrative; the book contains a redacted ODNI letter to Rubicon verifying certain aspects and Rubicon’s assigned activities. His personal connection to the story adds emotional depth and credibility to the work. Griobhtha is outspoken in his disdain for zealotry—whether religious, political, or ideological—and is passionate about confronting propaganda and societal denial. He positions his writing as both an act of truth-telling and a call to moral accountability. He offers discounts for educational and activist groups, signaling a desire to make his work accessible to those engaged in peace and justice efforts. This shows a clear intent to make his work accessible to communities engaged in activism, education, and peace-building.

“Many readers describe the experience of reading Griobhtha’s work as emotionally intense. His unflinching portrayal of war, trauma, and moral compromise forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about U.S. foreign policy and the psychological cost of violence. Despite the harsh subject matter, readers often note the deep compassion in Griobhtha’s writing—especially for veterans and those grappling with PTSD. His portrayal of Rubicon’s emotional journey resonates with readers who value honesty and vulnerability.

“Readers are often left with a sense of moral urgency. Griobhtha’s indictment of societal complicity in war and propaganda challenges readers to reflect on their own beliefs and responsibilities. While the content is heavy, Griobhtha’s insistence on truth-telling offers a path to hope. Readers who engage with his work often come away with a renewed commitment to awareness, justice, and change.

“One reviewer wrote: ‘Reading this book is like looking in a mirror, and your reflection reaches out and slaps you hard across the face.’ His tone is confrontational, emotionally charged, and deeply personal. He writes as someone with skin in the game—often drawing from firsthand experience or close relationships with those affected by war and trauma. He calls out what he sees as willful ignorance or ideological blindness, especially from those who haven’t read the book or misrepresent its message. His author bio and public posts are written in a raw, unfiltered tone. He shares personal experiences, including his connection to the subject of X Rubicon, and expresses deep empathy for veterans and survivors of war trauma. At the same time, he’s fiercely critical of militarism, propaganda, and societal denial.

“His writing is a call to conscience. He aims to provoke, indict, and awaken readers—especially those complicit in or indifferent to U.S. militarism. He’s not writing for comfort; he’s writing for reckoning. Readers often say the book and his posts challenge their assumptions and force them to confront uncomfortable truths about war, PTSD, and U.S. foreign policy. His work is praised for its unflinching honesty and emotional exposure, especially in dealing with trauma and moral reckoning. Some readers are deeply moved, while others may find his tone too intense or accusatory. But even critics acknowledge the depth and authenticity of his message.

“He engages in direct dialogue with critics and supporters, often responding to feedback with sharp wit or fierce rebuttals. He very often blocks neo-Nazis, Zionists, and religious zealots. His posts are part of a larger moral and political conversation. His Substack is more like a literary and political battleground than a curated publication. His style may not appeal to everyone—but for those drawn to truth-telling and moral clarity, it hits hard.

“His confrontational style and unapologetic critiques also polarize readers. Some are deeply moved; others are provoked or even angered. Griobhtha acknowledges this, noting that detractors often haven’t read the book or are ideologically opposed to its content. In short, Griobhtha doesn’t aim to comfort—he aims to awaken. His emotional impact is lasting, and for many, life-altering. Griobhtha’s readers don’t just follow him—they wrestle with his work. It’s not about comfort or consensus; it’s about confrontation and conscience.”

“I wish to thank you on behalf of the Board of the National Library of Ireland… your book X Rubicon, is a proud addition to our collections…”

Francis Clarke

Assistant Keeper

Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hÉireann

National Library of Ireland

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Available worldwide at your local bookstore, online bookstores, or your favorite digital store. Slightly abridged translations in German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, & Indonesian. Currently working on Chinese.

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