Foreign Policy News and Commentary Update September 12, 2007

RAPID REACTION: RELIGION AND REALISM AFTER 9/11 - J. PETER PHAM (NATIONAL INTEREST ONLINE, SEPTEMBER 11): http://www.nationalinterest.org/PrinterFriendly.aspx?id=15494

VIRTUALLY IMPOTENT - TOMMY TIMES (CASCADA OBSERVER, SEPTEMBER 11): http://cascadaobserver.blogspot.com/2007/09/virtually-impotent.html

PEACE AMID THE RUINS: AFTER MY RECENT VISIT TO IRAQ, IT?S CLEAR THAT THE WAR TODAY IS A VERY DIFFERENT CONFLICT FROM THE WAR OF YEARS PAST. MOST NOTABLE: THE ENEMY HAS BECOME OUR ALLY, AND IN MANY CASES, OUR ALLIES HAVE BECOME THE ENEMY - RALPH PETERS (USA TODAY, SEPTEMBER 11): http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/09/peace-amid-the-.html
SEE ALSO
http://radamisto.blogspot.com/2007/09/very-stupid-but-serious-people.html


GINGRICH: A LITTLE BIT KOOKY, A LITTLE BIT ... LIBERAL?: - JOSH PATASHNIK (NEW REPUBLIC, SEPTEMBER 10): Former Republic Congressman Newt Gingrich gave a speech at American Enterprise Institute in which he presented an "alternative history" of the war on terror as he would have conducted it. Gingrich faulted Bush for not dedicating enough resources to first responders, for not waging an aggressive public-diplomacy campaign to improve the U.S.'s standing in the world, and for maintaining a visa system that makes it all but impossible for many foreigners to visit or study here.
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the_plank?pid=141808
SEE ALSO
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=22332


BEYOND FOOD AND TOYS, CHINA STRUGGLES WITH ITS GLOBAL REPUTATION: FROM CLIMATE CHANGE TO DARFUR, PUBLIC OPINION POLLS REVEAL A GLOBAL UNEASE WITH THE GROWING SUPERPOWER - PETER FORD (CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, SEPTEMBER 12): to http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0912/p01s06-woap.html

WHAT DO ARABS REALLY THINK OF AMERICA? ASK THEM: ARABS HAVE BEEN LARGELY NEGLECTED IN THIS DEBATE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE US AND THE ARAB WORLD - MOHAMED ELMENSHAWY (CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, SEPTEMBER 11): US policies, more than anything, are the source of animosity toward America. In fact, Arabs, for the most part, recognize the difference between America's citizens and its policies, citing their grievances with the superpower not in regard to the "American way of life," but to the Iraq war, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and America's double standards in promoting democracy. The lack of indigenous Arab voices in Washington limits the quest for mutual understanding.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0911/p09s02-coop.html


THE REAL LESSONS OF 9/11: THE ATTACKS EXPOSED GRAVE WEAKNESSES IN OUR NATION'S DEFENSES, OUR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND ULTIMATELY OUR NATIONAL CHARACTER - GARY KAMIYA (SALON, SEPTEMBER 11): Bush's, and America's, response to 9/11 was fundamentally flawed for two reasons: It was atavistic and instinctive, and it was based on a distorted, ignorant and bigoted view of the Arab/Muslim world. America's Israel-centric stance has helped determine the way we see the Arab-Muslim world.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/kamiya/2007/09/11/911_lessons/print.html


WHY THEY HATE US: IT'S BECAUSE OF OUR FREEDOM - JOSEPH LOCONTE (WEEKLY STANDARD, SEPTEMBER 11): Religious ideals are held by numerous Muslim states -- including Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan?with deep wells of anti-Americanism. The freedom deficit in the Islamic world not only has inflamed the Muslim mind. It has rendered many minds devoid of charity, and made them unfit for the faith to recognize what is noble, decent and humane--the only kind of faith worth having.
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/014/093kbcsc.asp
SEE ALSO
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/09/10/forever_the_victims?mode=PF


RED TERROR, GREEN TERROR: ANTI-AMERICANISM IS THE COMMON THREAD - BRET STEPHENS (OPINION JOURNAL FROM THE WALL STREET JOIURNAL EDITORIAL PAGE, SEPTEMBER 11): Islamism is a political doctrine no less than it is a religious one, and in its critique of Western society it is indistinguishable from the rhetoric of radical chic of Germany's Red Army Faction. Anti-Americanism is the common thread between them.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/bstephens/?id=110010588


WHAT IRAQIS THINK, AGAIN MARC LYNCH (ABU AARDVARK, SEPTEMBER 11): Iraqis overall, and especially Sunnis, are more opposed to the American presence than ever, do not think the surge has accomplished either its military or its political goals, and have dwindling confidence in the US forces.
http://abuaardvark.typepad.com/abuaardvark/2007/09/what-iraqis-thi.html


REACTIONS TO PETRAEUS: FOR IRAQIS, GENERAL'S REPORT OFFERS BITTER TRUTH - ALISSA J. RUBIN (SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL): Following Gen. Petraeus' report to Congress, 20 Iraqis from across the political and ethnic spectrum shared their responses. Most were optimistic but felt vulnerable and caught between their need for the Americans and their desire for them to leave.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,druck-505220,00.html


TO UNDERSTAND SHEIKS IN IRAQ, MARINES ASK 'MAC'; SELF-TAUGHT, HE SERVES AS CORPS' TRIBAL EXPERT; A GENERAL'S OUTBURST - GREG JAFFE (WALL STREET JOURNAL, SEPTEMBER 10): The intense focus on not offending Iraqis, who are products of a passionate, volatile and violent tribal culture, makes U.S. troops look passive, say the Marines' resident expert on tribal culture, William "Mac" McCallister.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118938557263322137.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone


THE 2016 SCENARIO EDITORIAL (BALTIMORESUN.COM, SEPTEMBER 11): The point is that the disposition of Iraq is ultimately a question for the Iraqis, and it doesn't matter that they are not likely to answer it in a way that Americans would feel good about. General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker seemed blind to that yesterday. That's why their optimism is so out of place.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.iraq11sep11,0,3256421.story


THE FAKERY OF GENERAL PETRAEUS: WHAT IRAQIS THINK ABOUT THE SURGE - PATRICK COCKBURN (COUNTERPUNCH, SEPTEMBER 11): The propaganda effort by the White House now underway may have a more malign impact than most propaganda exercises. It claims that victory is possible where failure has already occurred. It manipulates figures and facts to produce a picture of Iraq that is not merely distorted but substantively false.
http://www.counterpunch.org/patrick09112007.html


DENYING THE TRUTH: PETRAEUS, IRAQ, AND OUR PONTIUS PILATE PRESS - ARIANNA HUFFINGTON (HUFFINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 10): The driving force of the White House's approach to this war has been the belief that saying something is so makes it so. That truly is the first commandment of the Bush administration. But it wasn't true when the war started and it's not true now.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/denying-the-truth-petrae_b_63799.html


BUSH NOT SWAYED BY IRAQ REALITY - ANDREW GREELEY (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12/COMMON DREAMS): General Petraeus had come home from Iraq with the news that the the president?s new strategy had worked, as the president knew he would. Petraeus was the ultimate standard. No one else. No other report mattered.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/12/3784/


THE GENERAL LIES - ROBERT SCHEER (TRUTHDIG, SEPTEMBER 12): Of course, Gen. David Petraeus predicts success in the Iraq war. What wonders couldn't generals achieve with more troops and more time? The battle is always going well until it is lost, and then they blame defeat on the politicians and the public.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20070911_scheer_column_9_12_07/


PEACHES TIGHTENS THE GIRDLE - MAUREEN DOWD (NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12): The Surge Twins [Petraeus and Crocker] seemed competent and more realistic than some of their misbegotten predecessors, but just too late to do any good. They?re like two veteran pilots trying to crash land the plane.
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/opinion/12dowd.html?hp=&pagewanted=print


TEAM BUSH'S FALSE OPTIMISM - H.D.S. GREENWAY (BOSTON GLOBE, SEPTEMBER 11): As soldier-scholar Andrew Bacevich has written: "the cult of David Petraeus exists not because the general has figured out the war, but because hiding behind the general allows the Bush administration to postpone the day when it must reckon with the consequences of its abject failure in Iraq."
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/09/11/team_bushs_false_optimism?mode=PF


SURGE 2 - STANLEY I. KUTLER (NATION, SEPTEMBER 12/COMMON DREAMS): Bush can count on maintaining his surge, if not beyond.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/11/3769/


'SIX MONTHS' WITHOUT END - EUGENE ROBINSON (WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 11): It's clear by now that playing for time is the real White House strategy for Iraq.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002066_pf.html


BUSH POLICY TO BEQUEATH IRAQ TO SUCCESSOR: THE PRESIDENT PLANS TO END HIS TERM WITH A STRONG U.S. MILITARY IN THE COUNTRY AND LEAVE THE ISSUE OF EXITING TO HIS SUCCESSOR - PAUL RICHTER (LOS ANGELES TIMES, SEPTEMBER 11)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-iraqpolicy11sep11,0,6658607.story?coll=la-home-center


THE PETRAEUS CHALLENGE - E.J. DIONNE JR. (BOSTON GLOBE, SEPTEMBER 11): The surge has bought more political time in Washington, bringing Bush closer than ever to reaching one of his main objectives: keeping large numbers of troops in Iraq beyond Election Day 2008.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/09/11/the_petraeus_challenge?mode=PF


CAN GEN. PETRAEUS AND RYAN CROCKER SAVE THE NEXT DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT? - JUAN COLE (INFORMED COMMENT: THOUGHTS ON THE MIDDLE EAST, HISTORY, AND RELIGION, SEPTEMBER 12): ?Despite what the pundits will say, I fear the testimony of Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on the Hill Monday and Tuesday is not a turning point, does not give Bush breathing room, and is largely irrelevant ... from the moment Bush went into Iraq, Americans were screwed. And that includes the Democratic Party, which is being set up to take the fall.?
http://www.juancole.com/2007/09/can-gen-petraeus-and-ryan-crocker-save.html


THAT'S MORE LIKE IT!THE SENATE GRILLS PETRAEUS AND CROCKER - FRED KAPLAN (SLATE, SEPTEMBER 11): Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and his fellow witness, Ambassador Ryan Crocker, did their best all day and yesterday to put the most hopeful face on the grimness before them. But, to their credit, they stopped short of lying. The hearings will almost certainly not result in action or change.
http://www.slate.com/id/2173737/pagenum/all/#page_start


WHY YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO GENERAL, AMBASSADOR TRUDY RUBIN (BALTIMORESUN.COM, SEPTEMBER 11): The strategy General Petraeus and Mr. Crocker offer could be the best holding action until the White House occupant changes. In the end, that may be the best we can achieve.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.rubin11sep11,0,4699278.story


PETRAEUS TAKES THE BELTWAY REVIEW & OUTLOOK (WALL STREET JOURNAL, SEPTEMBER 12): The success of the surge so far has bought Mr. Bush more time and support to press the initiative in Baghdad and the larger Middle East. He owes it to General Petraeus and U.S. troops to exploit this opening on every front -- including Syria and Iran.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118955899109124548.html?mod=opinion_main_review_and_outlooks


THE IRAQ CLOCK: THE PETRAEUS-CROCKER REPORTS MAY HELP GIVE IRAQIS TIME TO HEAL THEIR DIFFERENCES BEFORE A PULLOUT EDITORIAL (CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, SEPTEMBER 12): Victory has many faces for Iraq, but none is more important than time and peace for Iraqis to work out their differences. Petraeus's able leadership, and maybe Bush's too, may give them that hope.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0912/p08s01-comv.html


THE ASSAULT ON PETRAEUS - MICHAEL GERSON (WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 12): Despite real military progress, the situation in Iraq remains difficult. Gen. Petraeus is a skilled leader, but we do not know if even he can win. We know, however, one thing: If he is slandered, his advice is dismissed and Congress cuts off funding for the troops he commands, defeat in Iraq will be certain.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091101921_pf.html


AFTER THE HILL SURGE: THE IRAQ DEBATE NOW - PETER WEHNER (NATIONAL REVIEW, SEPTEMBER 12): Fortunately we seem to be past the danger point, when Members of Congress can recklessly undo what General Petraeus, Ambassador Crocker, and the remarkable men and women of our armed forces have achieved.
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTI1ZjBkNDc3NmIzNDNjMTg4M2FmMDFiYWIzMjM2ZDI=


WASHINGTON'S SERIOUS STARS: US FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS WHO GOT THE IRAQ WAR BADLY WRONG ARE STILL SOMEHOW HOLDING SWAY - MICHAEL TOMASKY (INDEPENDENT, UK, SEPTEMBER 10/COMMON DREAMS): Petraeus in fact has only a limited role to play in seeing to it that the US continue its mad engagement. The stars of that dispiriting drama will be the phalanx of foreign policy experts based in Washington, who will, in the wake of the general's testimony, fan out across the cable channels and op-ed pages, arguing that giving the surge one more chance is the only 'serious' option.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/10/3729/


IMPERIAL AUTISM: THE PETRAEUS MOMENT BLOTS OUT THE WORLD - TOM ENGELHARDT (TOMDISPATCH, SEPTEMBER 11): For official Washington, the world is Washington-centered; all interests that matter are American ones. Nothing else exists, not really. Think of this as a form of imperial autism and the Petraeus moment as the way in which the White House and official Washington have, for a brief time, blotted out the world.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174835/the_petraeus_moment

THE PETRAEUS REPORT - STAN GOFF (COUNTERPUNCH, SEPTEMBER 12): Behind all the panting about the "heroism" of US troops, and the "sacrifices" of military families who see that dreaded military in the driveway, the whole dog-and-pony show in Congress regarding Iraq this is mostly about political ambition and the family feud over which party will run the executive committee for Wall Street and the defense industries.
http://www.counterpunch.org/goff09122007.html


IRAQ: STRATEGY'S ARCHITECT ASSESSES U.S. 'SURGE' PROGRESS (RFE/RL INTERVIEW): Frederick Kagan, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and a former professor of military history at the U.S. Military Academy At West Point, is regarded as the chief intellectual architect of the military "surge" in Iraq.
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/09/9b4159c3-fa09-4b01-8b0b-b0679d41b4b7.html


OUR NEW NATIONAL DIVIDE - OWEN WEST (WALL STREET JOURNAL, SEPTEMBER 12): Whether or not the decision to invade Iraq was correct, whether or not our presence created al Qaeda in Iraq or attracted them or emboldened other enemies, we now face the complex task of securing America while living up to some responsibility in Iraq.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118955933611724574.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries



THE ROAD TO PARTITION - DAVID BROOKS (NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 11): It would be foolish to weaken U.S. support for the sane sectarians just when they are striving to create a segregated yet inhabitable Iraq.
http://select.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/opinion/11brooks.html?pagewanted=print


A WAR STILL SEEKING A MISSION - GEORGE F. WILL (WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 11): The end of the war will be bitter for Americans, partly because the president's decision to visit Iraq without visiting its capital confirmed the flimsiness of the fallback rationale for the war -- the creation of a unified, pluralist Iraq.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002065_pf.html


A LONG VIEW: AMERICA'S MILITARY COMMANDER AND AMBASSADOR IN IRAQ SEE PROGRESS -- AND THE NEED FOR A PROLONGED COMMITMENT EDITORIAL (WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 11): The surge was intended to give Iraqis the opportunity to resolve that competition peacefully -- and by that measure it has failed. Mr. Crocker suggests that with more time it may yet succeed. Still, the question remains: If the political reconciliation the president expected is not possible in the near future, should the missions of American forces remain unchanged? That's a question that the president must answer.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002097_pf.html


BUSH GETS NO SURGE FROM PETRAEUS: THE TOP GENERAL FAILED BEFORE CONGRESS TO CLARIFY HOW AMERICA WILL EXIT THE DEBILITATING WAR IN IRAQ - WALTER SHAPIRO (SALON, SEPTEMBER 11)
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/09/11/petraeus/print.html


EMPTY CALORIES - EDITORIAL (NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 11): General Petraeus admitted success in Iraq would be neither quick nor easy. Mr. Crocker claimed that success is attainable, but made no guarantee. With that much wiggle room in the prognosis, one would think American leaders would start looking at serious alternative strategies -- like the early, prudent withdrawal of troops that we favor. The American people deserve more than what the general and the diplomat offered them yesterday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/opinion/11tue1.html?pagewanted=print


WHAT BUSH AND PETRAEUS WON'T ADMIT - LAWRENCE KORB (HUFFINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 10): It is time to admit that the purpose of the surge, which was supposed to provide space for the Iraqi politicians to undertake political reconciliation, has failed. Let us not use it to provide cover for those who got us into this mess in the first place. Let's begin a phased withdrawal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-korb/what-bush-and-petraeus-wo_b_63796.html


SOME WITHDRAWAL - DAN FROOMKIN (WASHINGTONPOST.COM, SEPTEMBER 12): Pentagon officials have repeatedly said they didn't have the manpower to maintain his "surge" beyond then anyway. That context makes it clear that the likely conclusion by next summer of the temporary troop escalation barely qualifies as a withdrawal at all -- and it's certainly not an indication that the U.S. presence in Iraq is winding down. The vast majority of American troops won't be going anywhere. And for them, there's still no end in sight.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2007/09/12/BL2007091201390_pf.html


NO CHOICE -- WITHDRAWAL STARTS IN '08: THE U.S. SIMPLY DOESN'T HAVE THE MILITARY MANPOWER TO SUSTAIN CURRENT TROOP LEVELS IN IRAQ - GRAHAM ALLISON AND KEVIN RYAN (LOS ANGELES TIMES, SEPTEMBER 11)
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-allison11sep11,0,3257356.story?coll=la-opinion-center


IRAQ FOREVER: THE POWERFUL LOGIC OF CONSTANT INTERVENTIONISM - MATT WELCH (LOS ANGELES TIMES, SEPTEMBER 11): No matter what you may hear on the campaign trail between now and November 2008, the U.S. troop deployment in Iraq will likely be an issue in the 2012 election and beyond. To paraphrase that old country song, we ain't going nowhere.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-welch11sep11,0,3006667.story?coll=la-opinion-center


THE OTTOMAN SWEDE ? ROGER COHEN (INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 12): If the United States meets its responsibilities and the region can be coaxed to help rather than hinder, we may get there over 16 years from Saddam's fall: that would be 2019.
http://iht.nytimes.com/protected/articles/2007/09/12/opinion/edcohen.php


HOW SECURE ARE YOU?: PETRAEUS' EMPTY WORDS AND THE REAL TERROR THREAT - CAMILLE PAGLIA (SALON, SEPTEMBER 12): ?I had no interest whatever in Gen. David Petraeus' predictable report this week of the success of the troop surge in Iraq. Words and more words -- what's new? Just get our troops the hell out of there -- now! A phased withdrawal, requiring the removal of massive amounts of supplies and equipment, will take months.?
http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2007/09/12/craig/print.html


WHEN SOLDIERS MUTINY... ONLY THOSE FIGHTING THE WAR CAN END IT - WILLIAM BLUM (COUNTERPUNCH, SEPTEMBER 12): Only those fighting the war can end it. By laying down their arms and refusing to kill anymore, including themselves.
http://www.counterpunch.org/blum09122007.html


WHAT WE'VE LOST: SINCE SEPT. 11, 2001, THE GUIDING LIGHT OF U.S. LIBERTIES AND VALUES HAS BEEN DIMMED AT HOME AND ABROAD EDITORIAL (LOS ANGELES TIMES, SEPTEMBER 11): No matter how much he insists otherwise, President Bush lacks a fundamental belief in American freedom. As a result, his war has not only subverted U.S. military interests but has undermined the liberties that make this a nation worthy of emulation.That is the tragic and true cost of these past six years.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-war11sep11,0,5040527.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail


ANOTHER $100 BILLION FOR IRAQ? ELEVEN MORE MONTHS OF SURGE WOULD MEAN $100 BILLION THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE - EDITORIAL (LOA ANGELES TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12)
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-iraq12sep12,0,3113495.story?coll=la-opinion-center


HENRY KISSINGER: REALIST, OR NEOCON? ? PHILIP GIRALDI (ANTIWAR.COM, SEPTEMBER 11): During Bush's last year there will be a major effort to resolve the Iranian nuclear challenge using whatever means are necessary.
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/giraldi.php?articleid=11586


AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE HYPES IRAN 'THREAT' - KHODY AKHAVI (ANTIWAR.COM, SEPTEMBER 11)
http://www.antiwar.com/ips/akhavi.php?articleid=11596


RATIONALIZING ISRAEL OUT OF EXISTENCE - RICHARD COHEN (WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 11): For the United States to remain Israel's wingman can hardly be characterized as being in our self-interest. There are factors, though, that move the scale not at all but have an incalculable weight nonetheless. Who and what are we as a nation if we measure everything by self-interest? Who and what are we as a nation if we abandon our friends, blowing empty kisses to them as we cut them loose? Who and what are we as a nation if we don't calculate the incalculable: Values? Principles?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002074_pf.html


PAKISTAN, ACT TWO: ENTER THE AMERICANS - EDWARD GOMEZ (WORLD VIEW, SF GATE, SEPTEMBER 12)
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/indexn?blogid=15


RUNNING ON EMPTY - EDITORIAL (NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 12): If Gen. Pervez Musharraf won't listen to his own people, Washington needs to tell him the facts of Pakistan's increasingly precarious political life.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/opinion/12wed1.html?_r=1&oref=slogin


AL-QAEDA'S RETURN: THE TERRORISTS HAVE A SANCTUARY ONCE AGAIN EDITORIAL (WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 11): We agree with former Sept. 11 commission co-chairmen Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, who wrote in this newspaper two days ago: "Pakistan should take the lead in closing Taliban camps and rooting out al-Qaeda. But the United States must act if Pakistan will not."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002104_pf.html


TOUGHNESS AFTER SEPT. 11 EDITORIAL (BOSTON GLOBE, SEPTEMBER 11): There has not been a successful attack on American soil since 2001, and the overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan was at least initially a triumph. But more Americans have died in Iraq and Afghanistan than were killed on Sept. 11, not to mention the tens of thousands of civilians dead. Bush's version of toughness, in short, has had tragic and unpredictable consequences.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2007/09/11/toughness_after_sept_11?mode=PF


BIN LADEN'S MORTGAGE CALCULATION - ANNE APPLEBAUM (WASHINGTON POST, SEPTEMBER 11): Bin Laden will sooner or later die or be captured. But he, or someone close to him, is trying to ensure that his ideology lives on. And he, or someone else, wants it to survive in a form that will appeal to Americans and other Westerners disillusioned with their own political systems.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091002064_pf.html


BIN LADEN'S LATEST MESSAGE - EDITORIAL (BOSTON GLOBE, SEPTEMBER 11): When an American president inflates the threat from Al Qaeda to superpower status, he is merely lending credence to bin Laden's delusions.
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2007/09/11/bin_ladens_latest_message?mode=PF


'AMERICA THE UGLY' - NORMAN PODHORETZ (WALL STREET JOURNAL, SEPTEMBER 11): It is impossible at this point to predict how and when the battle of Iraq will end. But from the vitriolic debates it has unleashed we can already say for certain that the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, did not do to the Vietnam syndrome what Pearl Harbor did to the old isolationism. The Vietnam syndrome is back and it means to have its way.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118945986419623004.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries



ADVERSARIES WILL CAPITALIZE ON A DISTRACTED AMERICA - MUBASHAR JAWED AKBAR (WASHINGTON POST): With America unable to play the natural leadership role of a sole superpower, competing powers including rising China, resurrecting Russia and semi-deferential, semi-ambitious regions like the European Community are expanding their global influence.
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/mj_akbar/2007/09/adversaries_will_capitalize_on.html