"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated" -- Mark Twain. If we don't get to see a photo, how will we know with certainty that Osama bin Laden isn't simply living in a retirement community with Hitler, Jim Morrison, Elvis, Andy Kaufman, Tupac, Princess Diana, and Michael Jackson? I hear that they mostly talk about the good old days, the JFK assassination, and the 2004 election results in Ohio. Personally, I'll be satisfied when I see the...
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Thoughts on Bin Laden, #47
I'll make it quick.1. He's dead. But that won't stop the vast, academic industry around this war. We academics really have done very well out of the war on terror for the most part. We have a strong professional interest in not facing up to the raw strategic reality, that Al Qaeda has become largely a third-order nuisance, dangerous but mainly in terms of baiting us to do stupid things, and a diversion from much more difficult and serious...
Was “Justice” Served?
In the wake of the jubilant response to bin Laden's killing, it is heartening to see such a quick discussion erupt over its legality. The State Department has released its legal rationale for the operation here. The Atlantic Wire summarizes various arguments. Ken Anderson considers what the debate itself tells us about international law development.My views on extrajudicial execution are well known, but I'm not sure I agree with Paul Campos...
Tere bin Laden
"You Americans, you think when something dies, it goes away." - Robin Williams in the play "Tiger"In Urdu/Hindi the phrase "Tere bin Laden," which was also the title of last year's hit Bollywood comedy about the American War on Terror, is a play on words which can be read as "Your bin Laden" or "Without you, Laden." The phrase succinctly captures the current reality in which bin Laden is both absent and polysemic.As Faisal Devji has argued,...
Canadian Spring
If Stephanie can blog about Canadian politics as an ex-pat who cannot vote because residing in the UK, why cannot I comment on the election as an American ex-pat who cannot vote despite residing in Quebec? I am not an expert on Canadian politics, but, as my blog testifies, a lack of expertise has never stopped me before. So, here are my thoughts on the second night of surprises this week. I will explain the title later, but first consider...
Local Game Theorist Afraid of Credible Commitment, Girlfriend Says
The Canard"All the fake news that is fit to print"Rochester--Local game theorist Zofran Economakis is afraid of making a credible commitment to his longtime girlfriend, Lisa Johnson, his girlfriend reports. "He tells me that he loves me," Johnson told the Canard, "but how do I know he means it? He has incentives to dissemble. I need a credible signal of his love for me. Like a big fat diamond engagement ring. And he better engrave my name on...
Politics of Potter
Alyssa Rosenberg has a good discussion of the anti-torture themes in the Harry Potter series. But she neglects two other ways in which J.K. Rowling critiques the US conduct of the war on terror: Azkaban and arbitrary detention. Harry's disdain for the ministry in The Half-Blood Prince focuses on their detention of Stan Shunpike in Azkaban -- Stan's obvious innocence doesn't deter Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour from scapegoating the young...
Osama Dead: Are We There Yet?
My reaction to the news was essentially that of a five year old after a long car ride -- can we be done now? I am very tired of the war on terror, on multiple levels.First, the obvious irritations. The airport security with two children, whose liquids must be regarded a priori as toxic substances. The shoes and the belts. Can't I at least keep my coat on? Don't we have scanners that can pick out an explosive device from my inside pocket? This...
First Reactions to the Big News, Steve’s turn
There will be a lot of time to think about Bin Laden's death, but I thought I would add a few quick thoughts while I catch up on the coverage online. There are a bunch of surprises and non-surprises.First, in retrospect, the non-surprises are:Seal Team 6 (the super-special operations forces) did the job, not a drone. This is not a surprise, because the US always wanted to have complete proof that it was Bin Laden and that he was dead. A...
White House: Osama Bin Laden Is Dead.
POTUS speaking to the nation this evening:11:40: "They took care to avoid civilian casualties." Hmm. No word as to whether they succeeded.11:41: "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims." That was good.11:43: "Today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of the American people." I see. Killing this individual is on par with walking on the moon. We can all be very proud. The "war" will continue. My immediate...
The 2011 Canadian Election: Lessons Learned and Mindless Amateur Speculation
Canadian democracy rests in this man's hands. Yesterday I provided a fully superficial background and survey of developments regarding the 2011 Canadian Election. The short version is 1) We’ve had a series of minority governments. 2) Stephen Harper probably thought he could get a majority, and now that does not seem likely though it is still possible. 3) The NDP has ‘surged’, probably at the Liberal’s expense, but also very much at the expense...
“Too Fat to Fight”
Mission: Readiness, a collection of retired generals, admirals and other senior military officers issued their latest report this week and the accompanying press release should draw the attention of IR scholars interested in the Copenhagen School and securitization: "Childhood Obesity Endangers National Security." The news was particularly bad for my state: ...obesity rates among children and young adults in Kentucky are significantly higher...