{"id":2649317,"date":"2026-08-25T12:22:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T16:22:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-stolen-missiles-to-marine-one-the-thriller-writer-who-predicts-todays-fears\/"},"modified":"2026-08-25T13:53:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T17:53:10","slug":"from-stolen-missiles-to-marine-one-the-thriller-writer-who-predicts-todays-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/from-stolen-missiles-to-marine-one-the-thriller-writer-who-predicts-todays-fears\/","title":{"rendered":"From stolen missiles to Marine One: The thriller writer who predicts today&#8217;s fears"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ffrom-stolen-missiles-to-marine-one-the-thriller-writer-who-predicts-todays-fears%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2649317&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article features an interview with thriller novelist Simon conway, who discusses his latest book, *The British Agent*, wich explores urgent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-got-it-newsmax-reporter-emerald-robinson-national-security-source-confirms-a-piece-of-hardware-has-been-secured-in-germany\/\" title=\"We Got It! - Newsmax Reporter Emerald Robinson: National Security Source Confirms &quot;A Piece of Hardware Has Been Secured&quot; in Germany\">national security<\/a> themes such as weapon transfers to Ukraine and airspace protection for U.S. presidents. Conway reflects on his military background and his experiences in Ukraine,where he encountered a downed Russian attack helicopter and learned about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-u-s-commander-we-must-assume-very-real-possibility-that-we-may-need-to-use-nukes-against-china-russia\/\" title=\"Top U.S. Commander: We Must Assume \u2018Very Real Possibility\u2019 That We May Need To Use Nukes Against China, Russia\">advanced missile systems<\/a> like the British Starstreak. These experiences inspired his novel\u2019s plot, which involves a female SAS agent named Chuff investigating missile security in Ukraine. The story weaves through various global locations, including Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Washington, D.C., culminating in a tense confrontation involving a MAGA militia in Florida. Conway emphasizes authenticity in portraying political extremism and military operations, drawing on his research and insights from experts.The novel tackles contemporary issues of arms proliferation and political violence, set against a richly detailed backdrop of Washington\u2019s landscapes. Additionally, the article briefly covers legal developments involving journalist Karen Attiah, and offers suggestions for lunchtime reading on political topics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Welcome to Tuesday\u2019s <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>. We sat down with thriller writer Simon Conway to hear about his new novel, <\/em>The British Agent<em>. It touches on two very real questions about national security: How can you be sure that weapons sent to Ukraine won\u2019t be used for nefarious ends, and how well can you protect the U.S. president when he is in the air? (Donald Trump being smuggled off Air Force One last month for fear that Iran might shoot down the presidential jet could almost be a plot point in the novel.<\/em><\/strong>)<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simon Conway was having his morning coffee, gazing out from his new Georgetown apartment across the Potomac in 2022, when three helicopters bearing the Marine One livery flew into view.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4698752\/simon-conway-british-agent-thriller-writer-predict-todays-fears\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>From stolen missiles to Marine One: The thriller writer who predicts today\u2019s fears<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4696038\/iowa-focus-group-warning-republicans-farm-tariff-pain-cost-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Iowa focus group\u2019s warning to Republicans: Farm tariff pain could cost you the Senate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4694819\/white-house-report-card-republican-strategists-say-no-good-news-this-week\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House report card: Even our Republican strategists say there\u2019s no good news this week<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They followed the line of the river. The tower blocks of Arlington on the far side framed the presidential helicopter and its two escorts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It took Conway back to his time in the British Army and his days plotting ambushes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou just had that sense of proximity to power, and that was kind of fascinating,\u201d he told <em>Secrets<\/em>. \u201cBut it did also make me think, my God, that\u2019s quite a vulnerable point.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The kernel of an idea was planted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fast forward a matter of weeks, and Conway was in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\">Ukraine <\/a>working for the Halo Trust. The mine clearance charity was surveying territory briefly held by Russian troops before they were forced back from Kyiv. His job was to help secure safe access for aid agencies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe kind of kicker for this book was that we came across a downed helicopter in a field,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a Russian KA-52 alligator helicopter, an attack helicopter. It had been taken down by a surface-to-air missile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ukrainians were using <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/586914\/victory-is-in-sight-but-biden-is-failing-to-give-ukraine-the-help-it-needs\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/586914\/victory-is-in-sight-but-biden-is-failing-to-give-ukraine-the-help-it-needs\/\">British Starstreak missiles<\/a>. They are an extraordinary piece of kit. The missiles can accelerate to Mach 4. They are not fooled by infrared countermeasures, and they have no emissions for anti-radar missiles to lock on to.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFired at short range in a city at a helicopter traversing in front of you \u2026 There\u2019s not much you could do against that,\u201d said Conway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He had the plot for his eighth novel. What if one of those missiles fell into the wrong hands?<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">Simon Conway (left), the author of The British Agent (provided to the Washington Examiner by Simon Conway)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/simon-conway-british-agent-e1787669615952.jpg?1787657222&#038;w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Simon Conway (left), the author of The British Agent (provided to the Washington Examiner by Simon Conway)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two strands of Conway\u2019s original inspiration weave together as \u201cChuff,\u201d a female Special Air Service technical expert and the British Agent of the title. She is dispatched to Ukraine in an effort to check that the Starstreak systems are still in friendly hands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three quickly go missing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What follows is an edge-of-your-seat romp through warzones, centers of espionage, and\u00a0Make America Great Again\u00a0swamps, via Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Scotland, Florida, London, Cape Cod, and Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The missiles eventually reach a MAGA militia at its Florida base. The group is intent on revenge against the forces they believe stole the 2020 election, even as they become pawns in a much bigger game.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conway worked hard to avoid the trap of many writers who reach for stereotypes and cliches when it comes to conjuring up a right-wing militia.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI effectively red-pilled myself,\u201d he said, describing how he pored over online message boards, borrowing language to make sure that his militia members sounded real.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He also used the expertise of Robert Moore, a British journalist with ITV News. Moore distinguished himself on Jan. 6, 2021, by being the only broadcaster to follow the rioters inside the Capitol building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe told me this amazing tale about going down to Volusia County, in Florida, where there\u2019s this large space that is effectively an ungoverned space,\u201d said Conway. \u201cThe police chief told him they won\u2019t go in there because there\u2019s only one road in, which means the road you go in on is the road you\u2019ve got to come back out on, which is an invitation to an ambush.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is a look inside planning for a second American Civil War \u2014 or the Boogaloo, or the Day of the Rope \u2014 which carries the ring of authenticity. Many of the characters, like their real-life counterparts, come from troubled lives and places of abuse, said Conway, giving a sense of some of the injustice and anger that can lead to exploitation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And then there is the city of Washington, which emerges as a character in its own right during the energetic third act.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conway has lived here for the past four years. During an earlier stint, he spent hours exploring its parks and river trails with his dog.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can walk about the city, through various parks, including Rock Creek Park, without seeing a building,\u201d he said, explaining how the climactic moments involve Chuff traversing the city in secret.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey get from Georgetown up to the British Embassy with only crossing two roads.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result is a rollercoaster of a novel that grapples with real-world conundrums about how to pour weapons into a hot war without letting them come back to haunt you (just look at the Trump administration\u2019s hesitation about licensing Patriot missile technology to Ukraine), all underpinned by Conway\u2019s military experience and love for Washington\u2019s hidden byways.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0241814081\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0241814081\"><em>The Secret Agent<\/em><\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0241814081\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0241814081\">is published by Penguin.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-does-karen-attiah-even-want-to-go-back-to-the-washington-post\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does Karen Attiah even want to go back to the <em>Washington Post<\/em>?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4697954\/washington-post-ordered-rehire-karen-attiah-charlie-kirk-posts\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4697954\/washington-post-ordered-rehire-karen-attiah-charlie-kirk-posts\/\">independent arbitrator yesterday ordered<\/a> the <em>Washington Post <\/em>to reinstate opinion columnist Karen Attiah and award her back pay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attiah was fired last year after posting about the assassination of Charlie Kirk, saying that she would not be mourning \u201cwhite men who espouse hatred and violence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So would she even want to go back to work for a news organization that fired her? She was asked that question when she appeared on NPR this morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat is the big question. I mean, my attitude is I was very proud of the work that I was able to do, and very proud of being able, especially as an editor, to platform other voices. And when it comes to that work as a journalist, I\u2019m ready and willing to go back to that work. And right now, I mean, the <em>Washington Post <\/em>has a standing marching order from the arbitrator, so the ball is in their court.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Right. That, of course, is exactly what you say, whether or not you want to go back.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/how-washington-ruined-the-american-hamburger\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/how-washington-ruined-the-american-hamburger\"><strong>How Washington ruined the American hamburger<\/strong><\/a>: Chef Bard Hutchins, of Butterworth\u2019s infamy, on why Trump\u2019s tax break for Argentinian ground beef solves nothing \u2014 and why he only sometimes has a burger on the menu.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/gift\/de31dacefbc74810\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/gift\/de31dacefbc74810\"><strong>Tucker Carlson is ready to destroy the Republican Party<\/strong><\/a>: And what it means for his pal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"7658\">JD Vance<\/a>. Josh Hammer sees a presidential run coming, even if it is doomed to failure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#d6a5b3b5a4b3a2a596a1b7a5bebfb8b1a2b9b8b3aeb7bbbfb8b3a4f8b5b9bb\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"5320363021362720132432203b3a3d34273c3d362b323e3a3d36217d303c3e\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestion<strong>s. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thriller author Simon Conway discusses his new novel, The British Agent, exploring national security concerns like weapon misuse in Ukraine and presidential protection<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2649318,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/simon-conway-british-agent-e1787669615952.jpg?1787657222&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[12646,4505,12999,25026,24260],"class_list":["post-2649317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-espionage","tag-military","tag-prediction","tag-suspense","tag-thriller"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/simon-conway-british-agent-e1787669615952.jpg?1787657222&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2649317"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649317\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2649362,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2649317\/revisions\/2649362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2649318"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2649317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2649317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2649317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}