The phone rang and the caller identified himself as an investigator conducting a background check to update a high-level security clearance. He asked if he could speak to me, within the next 24 hours, regarding the “individual concerned.” The investigation had “high priority.” The “individual concerned,” a friend of mine, had fired me a heads-up […]

Egyptians boast that they possess the world’s longest continuously recorded history. Among scholars, the boast spurs lively debate. In 2011, as Egypt’s Arab Spring revolt began, to encourage unified political action, secular and Islamist revolutionary leaders touted the global significance of Egyptian history. As to the precise global significance? Save that chat for later. Later […]

Fifteen years ago, on Aug. 7, 1998, al-Qaida terrorists bombed the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. In August 2013, public officials warn that U.S. intelligence agencies believe al-Qaida intends to attack American embassies and other consular facilities. Al-Qaida “chatter” mentions domestic U.S. targets. San Francisco, Los Angeles and, of course, New York City make […]

Following his conviction this week on at least five counts of espionage and several lesser charges, including fraud and theft, U.S. Army Pfc. Bradley Manning will now do hard time in prison. In certain circumstances, spies deserve capital punishment. Several decades in jail strikes me being as Manning’s criminal due, however. Treason rates the death […]

Late last week, as the Obama administration advanced plans to arm anti-Assad regime Syrian rebels, Sens. Carl Levin and John McCain asked Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey to provide them with an “unclassified assessment” of potential American military intervention options, to include estimates of their costs in time, tax dollars […]