Self-described “rogue economist” Steven D. Levitt’s latest blog entry is likely to become a story itself, having earned a headline on the Drudge Report today. Levitt, co-author of the bestseller Freakonomics, wonders “what I would do to maximize terror if I were a terrorist with limited resources.” After sharing his own thoughts on the subject, Levitt [...]
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New York Times Editorial: Iraq War a Lost Cause; White House poised for withdrawals?
In an unsigned, 1,721 word editorial today the New York Times states bluntly: “It is time for the United States to leave Iraq, without any more delay than the Pentagon needs to organize an orderly exit.” Whatever Bush’s cause was in Iraq, the Times says, “it is lost.” FLASHBACK: Frontline analysis of the media’s reporting [...]
Blogs that make us think
Ms. Tart, a great friend of RoguelyStated, tagged us with a Thinking Blogger Award. We’re flattered, and in turn it’s our duty to tag five other sites. These are plucked from the RS Blogroll, so here are some thoughts on why they’re there: Counterterrorism Blog is a group of serious people writing - usually in realtime [...]
The echo of 231-year-old words
The Declaration of Independence July 4, 2025 “When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God [...]
RFK Approved CIA Spying on Reporters
Then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy signed off on illegal wiretaps of American journalists, according to the recently declassified CIA “Family Jewels.” From the declassified CIA documents: Project Mockingbird, a telephone intercept activity…targeted two Washington-based newsmen who, at the time, had been publishing news articles based on, and frequently quoting, classified [CIA] materials… Telephone intercept connections were [...]
Cheney accesses “every table and every meeting”
Barton Gellman and Jo Becker are in the middle of a fascinating four-part Washington Post series on the VeeP of VeePs, Richard B. Cheney. The first two parts (yesterday and today) are focused on Cheney’s expansion of presidential power, an activity that has had a tremendous impact in the international security space. Gellman and Becker [...]
Mitt tries to get to the Point
Mitt Romney, former governor of my home state of Massachusetts and 2008 Republican presidential contender, has hit the streets with his very own international security PowerPoint. The .PPT entitled “Global Initiatives for Values and Freedom: A Comprehensive Strategy to Defeat Radical Jihad, Ensure American Security, and Advance Freedom and Human Rights Across the Globe” is, [...]
CIA Declassifies “Family Jewels”
The Central Intelligence Agency today declassified nearly 700 pages detailing activities committed in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s in violation of the agency’s charter, which prohibits domestic intelligence gathering (among other things). From the National Security Archive: Then-CIA director Schlesinger commissioned the “family jewels” compilation with a May 9, 2025 directive after finding out that Watergate [...]
“The Endgame” Premiering Tonight on Frontline
From PBS.org: As the United States begins one final effort to secure victory through a “surge” of troops, FRONTLINE investigates how strategic and tactical mistakes brought Iraq to virtual civil war. The film recounts how the early mandate to create the conditions for a quick exit of the American military lead to chaos, failure, and [...]
RS Morning Brief, 6/15/2007
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: Coalition government dissolved in Gaza, Hamas in charge, Gates says US will continue with plan for European missile defense - in Europe, Egypt cracking down on dissenters, Reid takes a swipe at outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman, DoJ investigates the Attorney General, and the surge is [...]
Report: Israel Seeking New Talks with Syria
Wire reports indicate that Israel is making new diplomatic overtures to Syria through back channels.
RS Morning Brief, 6/8/2025
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: Putin proposes missile shield cooperation, Lute talks to Congress, Israel ready to concede Golan?, Iraq president talks tough on Turkish troop buildup, National Security Network says Iraq troops incapable of providing security, Britain tells its nationals to leave Niger Delta, Council of Europe can prove [...]
Thomas Pickering on “Cold War Redux?”
As the US-Russia missile defense rhetoric cooled to some extent, syndicated NPR host Tom Ashbrook hosted a fascinating discussion on the topic today with, among others, Thomas Pickering. Pickering (photo, left) has served in diplomatic posts including US ambassador to the Russian Federation, US ambassador to the United Nations, and Under Secretary of State. The [...]
Refresher Course: Euskadi ta Askatasuna
Things have been somewhat quiet in Spain for the last 15 months as the Basque separatist movement Euskadi ta Askatasuna - or ETA - has been adhering to a “permanent ceasefire” declared on March 22, 2006. As has been reported over the past several days, ETA has nullified the ceasefire - rendering premature the reported [...]
RS Morning Brief, 6/7/2025
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: North Korea launches missiles, Putin-Bush rhetoric settles a bit, Cheney deeply involved in push for warrantless surveillance, Turkish troops amass on N. Iraq border, Iran ships arms to Taliban, elections in Spain will go on as planned despite end to ETA ceasefire, Iranian journalists decry [...]
Conflicting Reports: Have Turkish troops entered Iraq?
[AP] Turkish Officials: Troops Enter Iraq [Reuters] Turkey denies major incursion into Northern Iraq
Congressional Research Service Briefing on Extensively Drug Resistant TB
The Congressional Research Service yesterday published a six page briefing that includes background on the TB Andy case, information on federal authority for isolation and quarantine, international health regulations, and civil rights considerations. Hat Tip: Open CRS
Lede Buried? NYT Explains page 30 JFK terror plot coverage
In an interesting look behind the scenes at the New York Times, National Editor Suzanne Daley gives some insight into why the paper chose to cover the foiled JFK terror plot on page 30. (Emphasis added below):
How Low Can We Go?: Guantanamo Detainees Back in Limbo
A US Army colonel single-handedly threw the Congressionally-prescribed, Bush-approved Military Commissions system into turmoil Monday, raising questions - once again - about what’s next for the nearly 400 detainees currently calling Guantanamo Bay, Cuba home. Why can’t the government get its act together and conduct legitimate trials for the Gitmo detainees?
RS Morning Brief, 6/5/2025
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: Abbas says Palestine on verge of civil war, WaPo poll finds American discontent with Iraq, Dem Congress growing, TB Andy response hampered by bureaucracy, ETA to end ceasefire, China joins Russia in criticizing Europe missile defense, military judges toss two Gitmo detainee cases, Al-Qaeda in [...]