Motives for 9/11 I didn’t "get" September 11. It was worthy of a Hollywood summer blockbuster in terms of spectacle, and had immense symbolic value, but I was never sure exactly what bin Laden was up to. .... I had to start from the premise that bin...

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Escalation vs. Exit: The Costs of Both

"Nitwit pundits and Sunday morning television sages, with that faked look of thoughtfulness which is their trademark, talk about an exit strategy – as if it were just one more Mapquest printout. But any such exit strategy will lead us only on a short path to...

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Psyops In Fourth Generation War

I recently received an invitation to speak at a conference at Ft. Bragg on psychological operations, or psyops. Regrettably, a schedule conflict prevented me from accepting, but the invitation got me thinking: what are psyops in Fourth Generation war (4GW)? It is...

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Talking to Terrorists Can Work

There is much talk of terrorists, and little talking to them. But a bold move in Yemen to open a dialogue with branded terrorists is bringing unexpected results. The dialogue has been initiated by the Theological Dialogue Committee set up by the Yemeni government to...

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Emigrés Caught Between Bush and Castro

Once again, a U.S. government seems to be achieving exactly the opposite of what it says it is aiming for with its Cuba policy. Many of the more than 500 moderate Cuban emigrés taking part in the third Nation and Emigration Conference, hosted by the Cuban government...

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US Offers Iraq ‘Sovereignty Lite’

The United States and Britain are asking the U.N. Security Council to transfer political and administrative power to Iraq while holding back sovereign power that legitimately belongs to the Iraqi people, say critics of the move proposed Monday. A five-page draft...

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Neocons Go Macho on Iraq

Despite a tidal wave of bad news from the Iraq occupation they did so much to promote, neoconservatives are calling for U.S. President George W. Bush to pursue a military solution against resistance fighters there. "Crush the Insurgents in Iraq," screamed a column in...

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‘I Know Americans Are Very Friendly People’

Decades of smiles have left crinkles on his face that belie the sadness deep within his eyes. His hope and love for America has turned to a despair he is unable to express. "I want to talk to an American general or judge," says Nihad Munir. "I will give them my...

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