The Political Conundrum!

At the eve of the this year's anniversary of 9/11, World Defense Review (WDR) conducted an interview with me on the current debate about al Qaeda and its Jihadi nebulous. The conversation took place with Thomas Smith, military expert and writer, based on an initial interview with el Publico, a daily in Portugal, which published some of my comments. The questions focused on the central question of how to analyze the war with al Qaeda, hence on the conclusions drawn in the ongoing debate within the expert, academic and political communities. My answers to the Ten Questions asked by WDR and by el Publico are certainly not exhaustive but tried to address the general directions of the current studies provided by a number of think tanks and colleagues in the field. Based on my more comprehensive analysis covered by my last three books, the points addressed the essence of the conflict with the Jihadists, the accuracy of identification of the ideology and the movement, and the strategic reasons for dissidence within the Jihadi realm. These remarks are a contribution to the discussion which is taking place during this 7th anniversary of the attacks of September 11. Following is the text of the interview.

More than 60 service members who have lost limbs have been able to return to active duty status in recent years, and one of them -- a below-the-knee amputee who is about to go for the gold at the Paralympics in Beijing -- believes it's time the military considered enlisting people who already have these kinds of injuries.

A US navy flagship began delivering aid to Georgia on Friday at a port close to Russian military positions, as Moscow angrily questioned why Washington chose a warship as transport.

An official says at least three U.S. Coast Guard crewmembers were killed when their helicopter crashed in waters about five miles south of Honolulu, and another crewmember is missing. The helicopter crashed Thursday night as the crew was conducting search and rescue drills.

Terrorist attacks plotted by a German cell of an al-Qaida linked group were intended to kill as many Americans as possible, and members had looked into bombing restaurants, pubs, discos and airports, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Two-thirds of a century ago, Kathleen Wyman drove her brother to California to join the Navy. From there, he shipped out to the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor.

Lockheed Martin's F-22 production line will face serious disruptions, resulting in layoffs in Texas, unless Congress quickly authorizes $523 million toward the purchase of additional F-22s, two Republican senators warned Thursday.

Soldier suicides this year could surpass the record rate of last year, say Army officials, who are urging military leaders at all levels to redouble prevention efforts for a force strained by two wars.

A military judge in the case of a Canadian captive at Guantanamo has again banned a general at the Pentagon from acting as a legal advisor because of a perception that he favors the prosecution.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama said Sept. 4 that the escalation of U.S. troops in Iraq, which he had opposed, has succeeded in reducing violence "beyond our wildest dreams."