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Political realism

Unintelligent Design

In the wake of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, Americans cried out for catharsis. The 9/11 Commission delivered. What we are left with is an ill-conceived bureacracy in the guise of reform.

American Jihad

Al-Qaeda has accomplished the unthinkable: establishing an embryonic recruitment, radicalization and operational capacity on our shores. Our current strategy risks another 9/11.

On War and Choice

It has long been said that there are wars of necessity and wars of choice. But enemies always adapt, especially in our world of terrorists, failing states and delinquent regimes. Every war is a war of choice.

The Kremlin Begs To Differ

One doesn’t need to be a Russian domestic radical or a foreign Russophobe to see major flaws in the way Russia is ruled. The population, however, is satisfied with the status quo...for now.

Shades of Abu Ghraib

The grisly subject of torture is back with us again. A look back at the dark days of de Gaulle's struggle to hold onto Algeria reveals consequences that echo loudly in our newest fight to retain what it means to be civilized.

Detention Nation

George W. Bush’s policies toward terror detainees were perhaps some of his most jaw-dropping. Barack Obama came to office promising to change course. So far, he has done little. It remains to be seen whether the president can—or wants to—develop a

Commentary

Osama at the Top of His Game

Bin Laden is in vintage form with his new message threatening France.

The Threat at Home

The attempted Times Square attack is just the latest in a line of plots that shows Washington doesn’t have a strategy to prevent homegrown terror.

Tokyo Rising

China’s growing strength is making its neighbors nervous—and less fearful of a fully rearmed Japan.

Blogs

Dan Drezner Is (Partly) Wrong about Realism

Realists may still exist in the academy, but in Washington they are few and far between.

The Wisdom of Henry Kissinger and George F. Kennan

We fail to heed the words of these two wise men at our peril.

Henry Farrell Should Know Better

Why Farrell's caricature of realist thought is incomplete, incorrect and downright silly.

Books & Reviews

The Willing Misinterpreter

Despite Goldhagen's extraordinary claims, he himself concedes in his unwittingly revealing afterword that he is not presenting much in the way of original research.

The Laws of War

Stopping torture and changing the policies of the Bush administration may not be enough. With a whole new type of terrorist bred from extraordinary rendition and torture, the last eight years may well prove inescapable.

A Ticking Bomber

There is no simple answer to the causes of terrorism. But three books offer insight into the complexities of man and his motivation to kill. These explanations come not from academic tomes, nor expositions by the burgeoning cottage industry of ter

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February 12, 2012