Month: August 2013

I started out to write a clever, witty blog to help brighten everyone’s day and to perhaps cause some pleasant introspection. It was not to be. The words did not come and my conscience said I was avoiding what I needed to write. Score one for the conscience. Next time it will be light and witty.

Necessary Assets is a novel where I highlight the importance of human relationships in seeking a solution to what we define as our “terrorist” problem. In Necessary Assets I promote the value of meaningful human relationships within our cities and neighborhoods. That same positive human interaction is needed in all levels of society and particularly in our international conversations.

We have submitted much of the conduct of our personal lives to the world of technology. We allow technology to obscure the value of face to face human interaction. As a result, this shift makes it easier for us to sneer at or demean someone not standing in front of us. I am concerned about the number of times I hear the word Muslim used interchangeably with the word terrorist. I worry when the word Muslim is clearly spoken as a pejorative term.

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A Question About Yemen

Over recent weeks, there seems to be a growing undeclared war taking place in Yemen. This is a country where al-Qaeda chose to move much of its leadership in 2010. Shortly after, it is said, that the Yemen government only controlled two of Yemen’s largest cities. The rest of the country was under al-Qaeda control. A new Yemen regime seems to have taken a more effective stand against their al-Qaeda guests.

Recently the US intercepted a “communication” wherein the AQAP was told by its leader to “do something.” The US responded by shuttering its diplomatic offices in the Mid East and northern Africa and ordering all non essential personnel out of Yemen. Not a pretty sight. Certainly al-Qaeda has learned from this experience one of their communication systems has been compromised. It is also possible that such a message was disinformation to ferret out how good we were at counterintelligence. It created a scene of Americans running out of a country because of an al-Qaeda threat. This plays well on the Arab street.

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I received these comments from a reader I don’t personally know even though we attended the same Xaverian brother high school in Baltimore. For someone to comment mid-book I thought was unusual but I enjoyed what he said so I pass it on.
“Well, when the book is done I will know you as well as I know Tolstoy and Hemingway.
You already have my mouth watering for some of that food you eat. Nice life you live in Boston.
It is interesting and can’t wait to see how it twists and turns. Can you introduce me to Vespa?”

I am not speaking of the Edward Snowden who for recent weeks sat married to a lounge chair in the Moscow airport. He sat alone, we are told, without the warm companionship of any FSB or Russian military agents. The Russians say they are not interested in whatever secret US data Snowden carries in his head, laptop, thumb drive, or carryon. So claimed the Chinese when Snowden first graced Singapore with his presence. Vladimir Putin described Snowden as an “unwelcome Christmas gift.” I think our clever, old KGB leader Putin peeked inside his “gift.” The fate of this unremarkable, self-centered person of little world experience, and even less judgment, has sealed his own fate. He is history. I am talking about the next Edward Snowden (him or her), the one we haven’t yet met. Continue Reading