Summary: Much about 9-11 remains unclear, especially since (as usual) the 9-11 commission was botched. Much relevant material hidden from the Commission (about which they have protested loudly, although we remain deaf). Many important questions remain unasked. Key parts of the story probably false. Unfortunately we have no answers, but understnding the unknowns is progress. Considering how …
Summary: The capture and execution of bin Laden was a powerful act of grand strategy. Did it advance or damage our national interests? There was an alternative to his execution, another of the roads not taken by America since 9-11. Bin Laden borrowed from the ending of Tom Clancy’s Debt of Honor. We could have borrowed the ending …
About the strategic significance of bin Laden’s execution, and the road not taken Read More »
Summary: Our descendents will read about the Af-Pak War and conclude that early 21st century Americans were either fools or insane. As seen in these two stories from today’s news. (1) Michael E. Leiter, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said that the government estimates that there are somewhat “more than 300” al Qaeda leaders and fighters hiding in Pakistan’s …
Today’s news about the Ak-Pak War, about al Qaeda’s strength Read More »
Here reviews of two books, each revealing much about the national defense machinery of western nations. I recommend reading both in full. “Other People’s Mail“, Bernard Porter, London Review of Books, 19 November 2009 — Review of The Defence of the Realm: The Authorised History of MI5 by Christopher Andrew “The Lies They Told“, Jacob Heilbrunn, …
New Books, with insights about our changing world Read More »
We have reached an important moment in the Afghanistan War, a point where citizen involvement can make a difference. If we speak out. And success here might show our strength, and lead to greater victories hereafter. Hawks usually give two justifications for the war: to prevent another 9-11, and to build a stable and “good” Afghanistan …
