Stephen Russell, a former airborne infantryman with a decade of military service, brings a unique perspective shaped by his deployment with Bco 1/12 3HBCT 1st Cav DIV to Baqubah, Iraq, during the surge in 2006-2007. Beyond the battlefield, he’s a versatile artist, created the comic series Tales of Nihilism, and is open for traditional art commissions. He believes the U.S. hasn’t fully reckoned with the aftermath of 9/11, emphasizing the need to confront our collective anger and hate. His memoir, Troublemakers: The Greatest Dog and Pony Show in Iraq, is a compelling exploration of the nature of war and its lasting impact on current events—a moral imperative to illuminate the foundations shaping our world today.