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| Current Topic: War on Terrorism |
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The 9/11 Report: A Dissent |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
1:31 pm EDT, Aug 28, 2004 |
Judge Richard Posner, of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, offers his criticism of the 9/11 Commission Report. The article is not short, but it is well reasoned and realistic. If you want to look beyond the 30-second flyovers of the cable news networks, or the mindless repetition and boosterism of TV's talking heads, it's worth the read. The 9/11 Report: A Dissent |
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Waging the War of Ideas in the Global War on Terror |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
11:32 pm EDT, Aug 19, 2004 |
On Thursday, August 19, Condoleeza Rice, National Security Advisor to the President, spoke about the challenges of waging the war of ideas in the global war on terror at the US Institute of Peace. Streaming video and audio are available from this site, and a link to the full transcript is also provided. Waging the War of Ideas in the Global War on Terror |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
12:43 am EDT, Aug 3, 2004 |
The definition of victory in the war on terrorism is when nothing happens. It is not paranoia when they are out to get you. Suspicious Minds |
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US Warns of High Risk of Qaeda Attack |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
8:56 am EDT, Aug 2, 2004 |
The Bush administration on Sunday declared a high risk of terrorist attacks against financial institutions in the New York City and Washington areas after receiving what it described as alarming information that operatives of Al Qaeda had conducted detailed reconnaissance missions at certain sites. "This information is about as specific as you can get ... chilling in its scope, in its detail, in its breadth." Suspects were found with blueprints and may have conducted a "test run" for an attack in recent days, collecting information on the flow of pedestrian traffic, possible escape routes, elevator schedules, neighborhood landmarks, the patterns and number of security personnel, details on surveillance cameras and relevant architectural details. The elevation of the threat level for the financial institutions was set off by the recent arrest of Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, a 25-year-old Pakistani computer engineer, who had used and helped to operate a secret Qaeda communications system where information was transferred via coded messages. A companion article reports: "One senior American intelligence official said the information was more detailed and precise than any he had seen during his 24-year career in intelligence work." It continues: "Since his arrest, Mr. Khan has described an elaborate communications system that involves the use of high and low technology." Several episodes in the United States have recently drawn scrutiny from counterterrorism officials, including reports from passengers on a recent flight to Los Angeles about odd activity by a group of Syrian musicians. NYT finally mentions Flight 327 but says it was not a factor in raising the orange alert. NYT's David Rohde is now reporting from Karachi, Pakistan. US Warns of High Risk of Qaeda Attack |
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High Qaeda Aide Retracted Claim of Link With Iraq |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
1:58 pm EDT, Jul 31, 2004 |
The American officials now say still-secret parts of the separate report by the Senate Intelligence Committee, which was released in early July, discuss the information provided by Mr. Libi in much greater detail. The Senate report questions whether some versions of intelligence reports prepared by the C.I.A. in late 2002 and early 2003 raised sufficient questions about the reliability of Mr. Libi's claims. Mystery resolved: it is highly likely that Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi was the subject of the redacted portion of the Senate report blogged here earlier this month. That is, Libi is the "third man" along with KSM and Abu Zubaydah. http://www.memestreams.net/users/jlm/blogid4220286 If you haven't yet read "The Man in the Snow White Cell", I highly recommend it as a companion to this article. http://www.memestreams.net/users/nw/blogid4240453 High Qaeda Aide Retracted Claim of Link With Iraq |
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Pakistan Arrests Suspect in Embassy Bombings |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
9:05 pm EDT, Jul 29, 2004 |
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, an Al Qaeda operative who is on the FBI's most-wanted terrorist list and had a $25 million reward for arrest, has been arrested in Pakistan. "He's a very bad man, and his arrest is good news." A series of Pakistani military operations in the northwest frontier province has forced some foreign militants to flee the tribal areas and seek shelter in Pakistani cities. "This is a big achievement of the Pakistani agencies and a key success in Pakistan's effort against terrorism. It is very important to find the networks and linkages of the terrorists operating in Pakistan." Social network analysis saves lives. Pakistan Arrests Suspect in Embassy Bombings |
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3 Hours Over 4 Nights With 1 Fear |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
9:00 am EDT, Jul 26, 2004 |
Fear rules. Fear rocks. Fear is a weapon of mass distraction. 3 Hours Over 4 Nights With 1 Fear |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
5:12 pm EDT, Jul 25, 2004 |
You may not be interested in war,
but war is interested in you. -- Trotsky |
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Honorable Commission, Toothless Report |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
4:19 pm EDT, Jul 24, 2004 |
So what now? News coverage of the commission's recommendations has focused on the organizational improvements. There are other changes that would help more. First, we need not only a more powerful person at the top of the intelligence community, but also more capable people throughout the agencies. Second, the analysts need real independence. Even more important than any bureaucratic suggestions is the report's cogent discussion of who the enemy is and what strategies we need in the fight. Unanimity has its value, but so do debate and dissent in a democracy facing a crisis. Richard Clarke offers his commentary on the 9/11 report. Honorable Commission, Toothless Report |
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| Topic: War on Terrorism |
2:32 pm EDT, Jul 24, 2004 |
The appropriate response to the Sept. 11 commission's report is to be found in its statement that "countering terrorism" is "the top national security priority of the United States." This means that the challenge cannot be handled by continuing to bury it in either the usual bureaucracies and boondoggles, or in new ones. Fighting terrorism and ameliorating its sources must be the main business of our country, as if we are fighting a world war or the cold war, although we will need new rules and techniques. This should take precedence over our other national cares. If it doesn't, the terrorists will become stronger, and our other cares will pale by comparison. It really is a battle for civilization. In another letter, an NYT reader shares my complaint with the commission's selective recall of history: The 9/11 report does not go far enough back in time to tell the whole story. The seeds of 9/11 were sown in the Reagan years when that administration trained and financed terrorist movements like the mujahedeen in Afghanistan against nationalist governments the administration identified as Soviet proxies. Where are the historical, connect-the-dots details of these so-called "proxy" wars? Get Your Hawk On |
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