Foreign Policy Survey on Terrorism (my answers)
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.
