Understanding the Threat of Terrorism
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-10-12/understanding-threat-terrorism
As the U.S. enters its tenth year of war in Afghanistan, Al Qaeda remains a major threat. Understanding the recent European terrorism alerts and the evolving network of Islamic insurgents around the world.
Guests
Peter Bergen
CNN national security analyst, Schwartz senior fellow at the New America Foundation; research fellow at New York University's Center on Law and Security; author of "The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al Qaeda's Leader."
Eric Schmitt
terrorism correspondent, The New York Times.
Christopher Preble
director of foreign policy studies, the Cato Institute; co-editor of "Terrorizing Ourselves: Why U.S. Counterterrorism Policy Is Failing and How to Fix It."
Comments
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Tough question for your guests - which has done more damage, this band of terrorists or bankers and the recent world financial crisis? Second tough question - who benefits from perpetual war and endless fear mongering? The real dangers are smoking being in a car, and corporate abuses in my opinion..
My concern is with the way the war on terror is harming our right to dissent -- especially against U.S. foreign policy. Recently the FBI raided the homes of about two dozen activist looking for evidence of 'material support for terrorism'. Can your guests comment on the very expansive definition of material support, especially in light of the recent Humanitarian Law Project Supreme Court decision?
Did the creation of a new department, the Dept. of Homeland Security, truly help in our struggle against terrorism?
Good show Diane.
Let's not forget the part the media plays in terrorism, especially the American media. The BBC did an investigation of the media reporting in America and Europe during the latest threat in Europe. The result was that the American media reporting was far more sensationalized than the European media. I believe the media is a tool of terrorism, a very effective tool.
in peter bergen's book the "osama bin laden i knew", he wrote about how the taliban leaders didn't want osama bin laden or any of his followers in afghanistan. in fact they saw him as being a "bad thing"... why then did the bush admin take out the taliban, why did we start a war with them? why are we fighting the taliban now/
It will take time for people to regain their common sense.
One of the biggest mistakes we made with the terrorists was to treat them like "warriors." Rather than treating them as the criminals they are, we used all kinds of militant rhetoric when discussing our "war" on terrorism. We elevated their status in the eyes of their followers. We allowed them to become the "enemies" of the most powerful nation on Earth.
If so-called Islamic terrorism died down our Oligarchs would have to revive it. It is the boogeyman keeping their income stream strong. 9/11 was as engineered as a Moon landing, and Marvin Bush was the pilot. "One small atrocity for hijackers: One giant leap for worldwide Faschism." If they can hide the truth about the Wall Street Meltdown, hiding the money path and stand-downs in 9/11 would be no problem at all.
If Osama bin Laden is living, he is probably in a CIA safehouse near Santa Fe (ElDorado is the development) , NM.
Diane, I love your work.
I disagree with that you cut out the caller named madeline who expressed concern over U.S. corporate activity to manipulate foreign lands and how it has inspired blowback both on our own shore and at our embassies across the globe.
The actions of these companies along with those of World Bank and International Monetary Fund which encourage impoverished countries to privatize (for instance) publically owned assets in exchnge for lowns, along with private military operations, and U.S. military actions themselves, increase global dissent and damage the U.S. brand.
Just think what a difference it would have made if the George W. Bush administration had deliberated, and not charged guns smoking like it did. The United States at that moment had global sympathy. Which was quickly dashed.
I think Madeline's point was not off the mark.
Yep, BrandonRoss, as much as I've grown to love Diane Rehm, she made a bad error in judgment by shorting Madeline. Protecting guests comfort came at a high price for democratic discourse. Open the choke a little, Mrs. Rehm.