“One of America’s strengths in this war lies in being able to rally other nations to its side by upholding universal principles. That same strength also weakens terrorists. The jury may well find Padilla guilty, but it may also see the injustice done in his case, and decide otherwise. Victory in war is sometimes a victory simply for the rule of law.†– Christian Monitor Editorial on the Jose Padilla case
- A Verdict on Padilla – and the US (Christian Science Monitor)
- Beyond Padilla Terror Case, Huge Legal Issues (Christian Science Monitor)
Despite some changes to the TSA’s terrorism-watch list, skeptics still see the program as an both ineffective and an invasion of privacy; a Washington Post editorial also argues that a practical balance between extreme secrecy for the sake of security and respect for civil liberties should be upheld when ruling on the NSA wiretapping:
- Airport Screening Raises Privacy Issue (Christian Science Monitor)
- Sense on Secrecy (Washington Post)
US will add powerful Iranian “Revolutionary Guard Corps†to its list of terrorist organizations in order to go after its financial network, however some analysts fear this will further undermine ongoing talks with Tehran:
- Iranian Unit to Be Labeled ‘Terrorist’ (Washington Post)
Middle East expert Juan Cole analyzes the recent deaths of over 200 Kurdish Yazidis as the beginning of a major territory war between Sunnis and Kurds and provides a compilation and analysis of other major events in Iraq:
- Bombing of Yazidis, Summit Fizzles (Informed Comment Blog)
Noting change in Mu’ammar Qaddafi’s ideology and engagement with Western states, one international relations expert sees this shift as an opportunity for rapprochement and creating a potential alliance in the War on Terrorism:
- Gaddafi’s Libya: An Ally for America? (Washington Post)
The benefits of economic liberty provides catalyst for incremental, but important social and political reforms in Saudi Arabia:
- A Tipping Point in Saudi Arabia (Christian Science Monitor)
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