Comments on: Good New, Bad News, Part I

By: The Mahablog » Wu Wei

The Mahablog » Wu Wei — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 21:18:37 +0000

[...] I also quoted James Fallows’s “Declaring Victory” article from the September 2006 Atlantic Monthly, which I’m very sorry is available only to subscribers. However, I have blogged about this article here, here, and here, here, and probably elsewhere. In this article Fallows interviews a number of national security experts for their assessment on where the U.S. stands in its counterterrorism efforts. Shortly after this issue of Atlantic Monthly came out, parts of a National Intelligence Estimate of April 2006 were declassified and released, and as I noted here, Fallows’s experts and the NIE came to pretty much the same conclusions. [...]

By: The Mahablog » Unspeakable Truth

The Mahablog » Unspeakable Truth — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:08:20 +0000

[...] The point that Professor Bell only mentions, but which is critical, is that our overreaction is hurting us more than it’s hurting them. Several antiterrorism experts interviewed by James Fallows for this September 2006 Atlantic Monthly article made the same point most urgently. I blogged about this article here, here, and here, and probably elsewhere. Here’s an excerpt: No modern nation is immune to politically inspired violence, and even the best-executed antiterrorism strategy will not be airtight. [...]

By: The Mahablog » News That Isn’t News

The Mahablog » News That Isn’t News — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 18:14:11 +0000

[...] From DeYoung’s and Mazzetti’s articles, it seems the NIE came to the same general conclusions as the experts consulted in James Fallows’s recent Atlantic Monthly article on national security. I blogged about this article here, here, and here, and probably elsewhere. [...]

By: The Mahablog » Know Your Enemy

The Mahablog » Know Your Enemy — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 02:04:17 +0000

[...] Yesterday I posted commentary on James Fallows’s new article in Atlantic, here and here. Here’s another bit: How can the United States regain the initiative against terrorists, as opposed to living in a permanent crouch? By recognizing the point that I heard from so many military strategists: that terrorists, through their own efforts, can damage but not destroy us. Their real destructive power, again, lies in what they can provoke us to do. While the United States can never completely control what violent groups intend and sometimes achieve, it can determine its own response. That we have this power should come as good and important news, because it switches the strategic advantage to our side. [...]

By: The Mahablog » Good New, Bad News, Part II

The Mahablog » Good New, Bad News, Part II — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 02:06:44 +0000

[...] Back to the new James Fallows article in Atlantic, which I discussed here — [...]

By: wmr

wmr — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 01:06:05 +0000

I was heartened by Fallows’ comments on the differences between Muslims in Europe and in the USA. It is good to know that this country continues to be special in that way and that so many American Muslims are capable of seeing past the bullshit which they must endure.

By: Tom Hilton

Tom Hilton — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 20:57:30 +0000

I just started the Fallows article this morning, and it’s fascinating. Fallows is one of the finest long-form journalists in the business–not an expose type guy like Hersh, but a master at synthesizing a clear picture from a whole host of conflicting sources.

By: erinyes

erinyes — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 16:37:56 +0000

OOPS, make that Miami Herald.

By: Swami

Swami — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:52:22 +0000

I concur..we’re doing a heck of a job!

And freedom is on the march! Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!

By: B. Enlightened

B. Enlightened — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:27:35 +0000

Well, the bad news continues to trump any good news.

One bright spot, Sen. Clinton put Rummy on the hot seat at the hearings yesterday. Still, it’s too little too late.