• commentary

    Fight Terrorism With Intelligence, Not Might

    Fight terrorism with intelligence, not might.

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    Dec 26, 2003

    Christian Science Monitor

    Sara A. Daly

  • commentary

    From 'White' Christmas to 'Orange' Christmas

    From 'white' Christmas to 'orange' Christmas

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    Dec 25, 2003

    San Diego Union Tribune

    Brian Michael Jenkins

  • commentary

    Why U.S. History Holds a Lesson for Europe

    Published commentary by RAND staff.

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    Dec 19, 2003

    Financial Times

    James A. Thomson

  • commentary

    Saddam Is Ours. Does Al Qaeda Care?

    Is Iraq really the central battleground in the terrorism struggle, or is it diverting our attention while Al Qaeda and its confederates plan for new strikes elsewhere?

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    Dec 17, 2003

    New York Times

    Bruce Hoffman

  • commentary

    My Dog Ate My Argument

    Today's emblem of terror is Osama bin Laden. If bin Laden were a fictional villain created by Hollywood, his death or capture would end the reign of terror he has visited upon the world. Al-Qaida would fold its tent. The violent jihad that bin Laden has endeavored to inspire and direct would fade away. And, as a result, the world would return to quieter and less threatening times.

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    Dec 11, 2003

    Los Angeles Times

    Brian Gill, Steven L. Schlossman

  • commentary

    Leaving Iraq Too Soon Leads to Failure

    If the United States wants to succeed in rebuilding Iraq, history shows it will need to keep forces stationed there for at least five to seven years - maybe longer.

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    Dec 10, 2003

    Newsday

    Seth G. Jones

  • commentary

    Democracy is Best Weapon Against Terrorists in Pakistan

    The increasingly unstable situation in Pakistan demonstrates that terrorism will continue to flourish until serious democratic reforms are undertaken there.

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    Dec 6, 2003

    Chicago Sun-Times

    Rollie Lal, Sara A. Daly

  • commentary

    Killing bin Laden, et al, Is No Help

    Today's emblem of terror is Osama bin Laden. If bin Laden were a fictional villain created by Hollywood, his death or capture would end the reign of terror he has visited upon the world. Al-Qaida would fold its tent. The violent jihad that bin Laden has endeavored to inspire and direct would fade away. And, as a result, the world would return to quieter and less threatening times.

    Read More »

    Dec 3, 2003

    Newsday

    Brian Michael Jenkins

  • commentary

    The Changing Face of Chinese Diplomacy

    One of the most curious and underexamined aspects of the evolving North Korean nuclear crisis is the active and leading role played by China in the last nine months. Breaking with years of traditional Chinese passivity on global-security challenges, Beijing has helped to walk both Pyongyang and Washington back from the brink, surprising even China's critics.

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    Nov 25, 2003

    Asian Wall Street Journal

    Evan S. Medeiros, Taylor Fravel

  • commentary

    Exposing the Myths

    An international obsession with the Chinese currency appears to be deflating. This passion began with Japanese accusations that China's undervalued currency was causing its deflation, continued with Europeans blaming it for slow European Union growth, hit full power with a vast US National Association of Manufacturers' campaign blaming it for job losses, and reached its pinnacle when Michigan's governor, Jennifer Granholm, declared she would back a presidential candidate based solely on the issue.

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    Nov 17, 2003

    South China Morning Post

    William H. Overholt

  • commentary

    Postwar Rebuilding: Pick the UN's Best for a Wider Iraq Role

    Depending on whom you talk to, the United Nations is either an obstacle to more effective security and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, or an opportunity to advance precisely these goals.

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    Nov 13, 2003

    International Herald Tribune

    Charles Wolf, Jr.

  • commentary

    In the Calculus of Fear, Terrorists Have an Edge

    WASHINGTON — "It is no secret that warding off the American enemy is the top duty after faith and that nothing should take priority over it," said the terrorist leader. "Crusader military forces" of the United States and Britain, he warned, had established a beachhead in the Muslim world to impose a new imperialism on the Middle East and gain control of the region's oil.

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    Nov 2, 2003

    Los Angeles Times

    Bruce Hoffman

  • commentary

    Breach of Airline Security Is Nothing to Panic About

    The arrest of Nathaniel T. Heatwole on charges of smuggling box cutters, bleach and matches aboard two commercial airliners reminds us that, despite significant improvements since Sept. 11, our security systems are not perfect. They never will be.

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    Oct 21, 2003

    Los Angeles Times

    Brian Michael Jenkins

  • commentary

    How Much Is Enough?

    As bipartisan arguments for larger military forces surface among commentators and political leaders, it is important to place these arguments into some meaningful analytical context. It is also wise to hearken back to the 2003 National Defense Authorization Act—and the September 2002 U.S. National Security Strategy that shaped it. In that act, Congress clearly stated that active-duty strengths should be increased over the long term.

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    Oct 14, 2003

    Washington Times

    Ralph Masi

  • commentary

    Terrorism in India is Not Just an Internal Threat

    The car bombs that last month killed 52 people and wounded more than 150 in Mumbai are the latest and deadliest manifestation of a widening Islamic terrorist campaign in India. The campaign may signal an important new centre of terrorist activity and needs to be closely watched by governments around the world.

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    Sep 30, 2003

    Financial Times

    Rollie Lal