Iraq: Intelligence or Policy Failure?
The author received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Northeastern University. He worked at the CIA for 26 years. Members of the George W. Bush administration, including the former president, continue to maintain that the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was an intelligence failure. This article refutes that contention and argues that […]
Reflections on General David D. McKiernan’s September 20th Address
When retired General David D. McKiernan thanked faculty and students for giving up a Friday evening to join him in Northeastern University’s packed Raytheon Amphitheater, no one mentioned it was Thursday. Former commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, as well as leader of all ground forces during the 2002-2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom, Gen. […]
An Un-United Nations: How the International Body Is Failing the Syrian People
The deterioration of the human condition through violence mars history. Crimes such as slavery, forced deportation, and genocide have extinguished and defined populations. Unfortunately, crimes against humanity are not exclusive to ancestral pasts; humanity continuously faces grave challenges. During the first ten days of December 2011, one thousand Syrians lost their lives to political persecution. […]
Symptoms of Cold Warfare Between Saudi Arabia and Iran: Part 3 of 3
This is the final installment in a three-part series that examines the historical foundations, current dynamics, and future prospects of the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Parts I and II provided historical and contemporary accounts of the two countries’ often turbulent relationship since 632 and 1979, respectively; part III is an analysis of the […]
An Incident NOT Blown Out of Proportion: A Response to Marines Urinating on Taliban
The media response to the Marines-peeing-on-dead-Afghans incident was, in my opinion, not harsh enough. In his “Incident Blown Out of Proportion,” piece, Michael Fox argues that Americans should not waste their time feeling moral outrage for dead terrorists. It is clear that the soldiers in question wanted to humiliate the deceased, even into death. The […]
Powder Keg in the South China Sea
With the launch of China’s newest naval vessel, a 1000 foot – 67,500-ton ex-Soviet aircraft carrier, it becomes a member of an elite group of nations. Only nine other nations operate these capital ships, of which only 20 exist worldwide. All nations on the United Nations Security Council, including China’s rival, India, operate and maintain […]
America, in the Age of Drones: Reconfiguring International Relations
The recent loss of a United States RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Pakistan’s removal of a United States UAV base in its territory have brought the issue of remotely piloted drones to the forefront of international relations. New developments in drone capabilities, including longer flight distances, the […]
Incident Blown Out of Proportion: A Deeper Look into U.S. Policy Abroad
As video recently surfaced showing four U.S. Marines urinating over the bodies of three deceased Taliban fighters, U.S. government officials became concerned that this could incite anti-American sentiment around the world. This public outcry made me realize just how flawed some American’s outlook on the world really is. This fear is especially focused on Afghanistan […]
Symptoms of Cold Warfare Between Saudi Arabia and Iran: Part 2 of 3
This is Part II in a three-part series that examines the historical foundations, current dynamics, and future prospects of the relationship between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Part I provided a historical account of the relationship between the two countries and their people from 632 until the Iranian Revolution in 1979; Part II examines the relationship […]
Rethinking an Active U.S. Military Policy
As the Obama administration concludes a long overdue disengagement from Iraq and attempts to bring about a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan, it is imperative that policy makers not lose sight of the crucial role that an active foreign military policy plays in supporting and sustaining Washington’s vital interests. Coupled with a domestic economic crisis, the […]