counterterrorism
Brennan Will Be White House Counterterrorism Czar
One thing that’s not conference-related: The New York Times reports that John Brennan, the controversial ex-CIA official who abruptly withdrew as Barack Obama’s CIA director in November, will become White House director of counterterrorism. Brennan came under fire from Salon’s Glenn Greenwald for statements that took a soft line on rendering terrorism detainees to the [...]
The Third Lebanese War Won’t Be in Lebanon
There’s no sugarcoating this. Israel is looking like a country that is quickly losing its mind. Consider this statement:
In an interview Tuesday, Ambassador Gabriela Shalev said Israel’s main goal is to “destroy completely” what she called a “terrorist gang.”
I truly truly hope this is empty rhetoric. Because the evidence is accumulating that Israel is determined [...]
In a ‘Society of Resistence,’ Peace Is Hell
Reflecting on today’s New York Times story about how Hezbollah’s youth corps are part of a planned holistic “society of resistance” built by the Shiite Lebanese militant group, Andrew “Abu Muqawama” Exum has a really profound insight:
Progressive Counterterrorism, Cont’d: Omnibus Edition
Progressive counterterrorism perspectives are like Frito-Lays products to me. Why stop? Here are some interesting ideas emailed to me by some of your favorite bloggers.
The Seminal’s Alex Thurston:
More From the Progressive Counterterrorism Files: Brandon Friedman
In addition to Moira Whelan, here’s Brandon Friedman of VoteVets, an Army veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, on the components of a progressive counterterrorism agenda. Taking what he calls a “long-term” view, Brandon is kicking around an idea for “an ROTC-like program throughout colleges and universities for the intelligence sector and State Department,” in order [...]
Recasting the War on Terrorism
Liberal groups see a successful counterterrorism strategy doing more than ending torture, closing Guantanamo Bay, restricting CIA interrogation practices and curbing domestic spying. It must restore America’s moral stature in the world, and one way to do that is help resolve Arab-Israeli conflicts. The new administration seems receptive to the need for change.
More on Zawahiri and Racism
In the brief period since the release of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s “House Negro” tape, bloggers have gone crazy celebrating the U.S.’s free-of-charge good fortune. Over at TAPPED, Adam Serwer calls it an Al Qaeda “Epic Fail” — proving himself knowledgeable of all internet traditions — and succinctly remarks:
Maddow Asks — and Obama Dodges — on Afghan Mission
To follow on Ari’s post about Rachel Maddow’s interview with Obama, Maddow asked a question about the U.S. mission in Afghanistan. Obama has consistently argued for a larger troop presence there, but what’s the mission, exactly? And how would more troops accomplish it?
Obama dodged this one like he was Harry Whittington seeing Dick Cheney cleaning [...]
Afghan Cop Murders U.S. Servicemember
This just came to my inbox from USFOR-A, the new consolidated U.S. military command in Afghanistan:
One U.S. servicemember was killed today when an Afghan National policeman attacked a dismounted patrol in Bermel District, Paktika province.
The ANP member opened fire from a tower and threw a hand grenade toward the troops who were returning to a [...]
Back To The Future
Peter Spiegel has a really good piece in The Los Angeles Times today about Special Forces in the Philippines:
