Fighting Terrorism "Indirectly" - Thomas Henriksen

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2008/06/11/Thomas_Henriksen_American_Power_After_the_Berlin_Wall

Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Thomas Henriksen argues that indirect diplomatic and military support are a more effective strategy for fighting terrorism abroad than are large-scale military actions.

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Since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the United States has been involved in a string of conflicts, from the Persian Gulf War to Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and the Iraq war.

What are the connections between these various interventions? What common themes emerge through analysis? What missteps were made?

Henriksen notes the use of containment, interventions, regime changes, and even humanitarian assistance as responses to rogue states, civil strife, and militant Islam.

He will also analyze the transformation from Washington's stability-first policy to its democracy-promotion agenda in the Middle East, which threatens this crucial region with instability, he says, necessitating a new grand strategy to confront terrorism - The Commonwealth Club of California

Thomas H. Henriksen is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. His current research focuses on American foreign policy in the post-Cold War world, international political affairs, and national defense. Henriksen specializes in the study of U.S. diplomatic and military courses of action toward terrorist havens, such as Afghanistan, and the so-called rogue states, including North Korea, Iraq, and Iran. He also concentrates on armed and covert interventions abroad.

Henriksen's most recent book is American Power after the Berlin Wall (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007), which examines for the first time, in a single volume, U.S. foreign policy from 1989 to the present through the prism of America’s interventions around the world.

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• terrorists
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[neotoy]

I agree with the general strategy. Furthermore I'd say that attacking terrorism directly will only make it stronger. Ultimately terrorism is nothing more than a desperate attention getting mechanism, with only the weakness of society giving it any power at all.

[Ugnetator]

terrorism does not exist

[xxashyy]

What this guy is preaching sounds like more neoconservative bullshit. The US government should mind its own fucking business and stay OUT of other peoples business. Promoting "democracy" directly or indirectly is dumb. Also there is no such thing as a "moderate muslim". Either your true to the faith or not. Besides moderate muslims are looked at in most parts of the arab world as traitors working for the west. A moderate Muslim reminds me of "compassionate conservative" it doesnt exist.

[Hooya2]

"name 1 weapon...that Russians don't have better of."

Bombs, planes, carriers, tanks, submarines, and guns. America has better, and more, of each. That's the advantage $400 billion gives.

"...Russia beats US by about 8000 [nukes]."

So? It only takes 100 to end all mankind; anything beyond that is just redundancy. The US and Russia's armament programs are both wasteful.

"And half of Russian technology is in secret."

Hardly half--The cutting edge is secret, but then so is America's.

[Hesam0000]

American army is far better armed?

name 1 weapon Americans have that Russians don't have better of.

The number of soldiers are equal.

The number of nukes Russia beats US by about 8000.

Soldiers toughness US guys must have AC-cooled tents, girl shows, direct cell phones, etc, Russians work in snow-covered mountains.

US has Stealth Russia has T-160 and anti-stealth(watch: Tu-160, Russian Silver Bullet).

And half of Russian technology is in secret.

[Hooya2]

"Size does not matter, quality matters."

Hesam, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. The American army may be about the same size as the Russian army, but they are FAR better armed. About $400 billion better armed, to be more precise.

Unless all the Russian soldiers have super-powers, they'd get creamed in a battle with the US.

[Hesam0000]

Don't underestimate the power of mind and guts.

Size does not matter, quality matters.

Bruce lee and Porsche 911 turbo are both made in small package.

If I was a weapon I would have been a lethal one but lucky you I'm just a nice guy :)

[Hesam0000]

Hooya2,

Russia made the first landing on the moon on Luna9 in 1966. After hearing that Russia made it there US said they made it there and opened up a restaurant in 1969. :))

Watch:"MSNBC Debates Moon Landing Hoax (2002)" at time: 5:07 then tell me that's gravity!

You know by now who's really stupid.

Stealth Jets? Old technology.

[Hesam0000]

Yes, by militia I mean the people who decided to defend their country against the American terrorists(aka army).

The only way that you don't see a criminal intent is to bury your head in sand as you seem to do.

Iraq did nothing to America during or after 9/11. Nothing whatsoever. But Saddam cut dollar from it's oil-deals and tried to assasinate father Bush as they said. Bush concentrated 300,000 troops in Iraq,where the oil was and just a few troops in Afghanistan where the 9/11 terrorist was!

[Hooya2]

"I am 1 person, if I was a bad guy I could cause more damage than 50 bulldozers put together."

Yeah, I'm sure you're a lethal weapon there Hes. I'm sure that if you were trained, given a lot of heavy explosives, and equipped with a tank, you could really do some damage.

If only there was a group of well-trained individuals armed with explosives and tanks--that would be epic!

[Hooya2]

"A few decades ago Russia sent men to the moon."

Russia never made it to the moon...

"(wind blew their flag, in the moon where there's no air!)"

The flag wasn't moving because of air, it was settling due to gravity. Honestly, are all conspiracy nuts this stupid?

"Military strategy and correct plans."

All the strategy in the world can't stop a fleet of American stealth jets from blowing everything else out of the air before they even appear on radar.