AP
The CIA painstakingly inserted an agent in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who then foiled a terrorist operation. His identity was blown by an AP story, causing severe harm to American counterterrorism efforts and potentially risking the life of the agent. The AP, upon the urging of the administration, delayed publishing the story, presumably to buy time to get the agent out before being rubbed out. The leak has had to sow distrust among allies that their involvement in operations could be kept secret. The Justice Department has investigated the leaker, but the administration, faithful to the First Amendment, will not prosecute the AP. May 23, 2013
Not Whistleblowing
The New York Times editorialized that the administration acquired AP phone records “in what looks like a fishing expedition for sources and an effort to frighten off whistleblowers.” Nonsense! A whistleblower is someone who reveals illegal or corrupt government actions, not someone who leaks a story that endangers U.S. security or its agents engaged in legal, authorized government operations. May 23, 2013
Iran: Who Is Rational?
May 23, 2013
Nicholas Berry
Iran is holding presidential elections on June 14, replacing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is term limited. It is likely that a candidate will win who will seek to re-engage the Islamic Republic with the international community. All approved candidates but Saeed Jalili, Iran’s super-hardline nuclear negotiator, favor a policy shift, and a policy shift is clearly the voters’ preference. ...more
Drones: Myths and Reality in Pakistan
May 23, 2013
International Crisis Group
Islamabad/Washington/Brussels, 21 May 2013: Drone strikes alone will not eliminate the jihadi threat in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Extension of Pakistani law and full constitutional rights to the region is the only long-term solution....more
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