Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
"All intelligence services rely on convincing the public that there is a monster out there in the big wild world waiting to grab them." The truth is more complicated, as KGB founder Felix Dzerzhinsky could tell us
US military think-tank studies 17 documents captured in raid on Al Qaeda leader's compound last year. Main theme: Bin Laden's frustration with his inability to exercise effective control over regional jihadi groups (PDF)
Compared with the Global War on Terror, the Cold War was almost cosy. It made sense. "Who had the best symphony orchestras? Ballets? Chess masters? Decathletes?" We don't even understand Al-Qaeda's game, let alone how to win it
Decisions you take in the 10 minutes after detonation are the most important. Find shelter immediately; basements of tall buildings are good. Don't be tempted to flee. Fallout is at its most radioactive now but drops off quickly
Correspondence from Bin Laden's compounds shows he thought al-Qaeda had lost its war. Killing of Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere was fundamental error. Should have concentrated on American targets, non-Islamic countries
"Nothing in Nigeria is what it seems. Beneath a confusing, disorderly surface lie networks of association and obligation." Where those committed to fighting extremism can have a vested interest in keeping it going
Bizarre tale of the "Waffle House terrorists". "There is no way for us, as militiamen, to save this country, to save Georgia, without doing something that's highly illegal. Murder." Said Fred, 73, to his "geriatric jihadists"
Ten years on it's still open, despite President Obama's promise to shut it. Dozens of people associated with Guantánamo—lawyers, soldiers, diplomats, former detainees—tell the story of the US detention centre, in their own words
Today's torture and interrogation techniques are remarkably similar to those of the medieval Inquisition. Except Bush administration's threshold for when an act of torture begins is point at which Inquisition said it must stop
Shocking, depressing, compelling in equal measure. Life story of Chadian boy born in Saudi Arabia, arrested in Pakistan, sold to US as al-Qaida terrorist, imprisoned in Guantanamo, freed seven horrible years later
On the life and "career" of David Headley, spy, militant. Pakistani-American, born Daood Giliani. Revealed Pakistani intelligence role in Mumbai attacks. Slid among different cultures with ease. Life a mass of contradictions
First there was the implausibility. Now there appear to be significant holes in the legal case presented against Manssor Arbabsiar, the used-car salesman accused of plotting to blow up the Saudi ambassador in Washington
Image by Amir Farshad Ebrahimi on Flickr
Fran Lebowitz, on post-9/11 security
"All you would hear was: 'safety, safety, safety'. I think there is nothing more dangerous than constantly thinking about safety"
