Christopher Dickey has an interesting article up. It's centered on an interview with counter-terrorism expert Michael Sheehan. Main message: al Qaeda is dangerous, but not nearly as dangerous as they're often made out to be, and the worst thing we can do in combating them is to overreact.
Probably I liked the article so much because it preaches to my beliefs. But you might like it, too.
(h/t: Kevin Drum)
2 comments:
Al-Qaeda is our analog for George Orlwell's Emmanuel Goldstein, manufactured as a focus for our rage and anxiety, a useful tool for the GOP to marshal the troops and generate hysteria. It's why we've never captured or killed Osama bin Ladin and never will - he's far too valuable as a glow-in-the-dark bogeyman.
Glad to hear from someone else not hiding under the bed.
I sometimes wonder, though, whether anything would change if we caught bin Laden. Might make it even easier for the fear-mongers if the threat were more nebulous, rather than having to admit the top dog is hiding in a cave.
Also, don't forget about the infinite supply of "number two" and "number three" men in al Qaeda.
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