Foreign Policy Survey on Terrorism (my answers)
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Several weeks ago the editors at Foreign Policy asked me (and several other people, most of whom are much smarter than me) to participate in a survey on terrorism.
The findings have now been released. And they are very interesting.
I have pasted the full survey and my own responses below. (Note these have been edited to adhere to the order FP used in the final results, not the order I originally answered them in)
Survey Questions.
Q: Almost a decade after 9/11 is the US more or less safe from a terrorist attack? (1 less safe – 10 more safe)
A: Less safe from smaller one-off terrorist attacks: “4”
Q: The world’s most dangerous terrorist is __________ (fill in the blank)?
A: is someone we haven’t heard of yet.
Q: How likely is another terrorist attack in the US or Europe in the next 12 months (1 not likely – 10 very likely)?
A: 6
Q: Al-Qaeda is stronger today than it was on 9/11 (True or False)?
A:The organization is weaker, the ideology is stronger: “True”
Q: The World is devoting too much time and attention to terrorism (True or False)?
A: False
Q: Which country poses the greatest terrorist threat to the United States?
A: Pakistan
Q: Is it necessary to win the war in Afghanistan?
A: It is not necessary to win the war, but it is necessary to not abandon Afghanistan. When the west moves out; others move in.
Q: Is it possible to negotiate with the Taliban?
A: Yes it is possible to negotiate with the Taliban while they are harboring al-Qaeda.
Q: Where is Osama bin Laden?
A: Bin Laden is in the AF/PAK region.
Q: From which country are nuclear weapons most likely to wind in the hands of terrorists?
A: Pakistan
Q: The US Drone campaign in Pakistan is ___________ (fill in the blank)?
A: The US drone campaign in NW Pakistan will likely have unintended consequences that we have yet to see.
Q: How Important is it to kill Osama bin Laden (1 less important – 10 very important)?
A: 4
Q: Why hasn’t there been any successful terrorist attacks in the United States since 9/11?
A: A combination of increased security vigilance by the west and the lead time that is necessary for an attack to take place.
Q: If we could have done one thing differently since Sept. 11, we should have _____ (fill in the blank)?
A: ….we should not have invaded Iraq.