Building an RDD is relatively straightforward and ISIS does possess competent bomb makers. This much of the claim can be considered true: if the terror organization possesses the material then they have the ability to create a dirty bomb, and they do possess radioactive material.
Read more "Rumors of an ISIS “Dirty Bomb”."The State Department comments regarding ISIS terrorism being an outgrowth of local unemployment is patently wrong, with plenty of legitimate research saying otherwise. ISIS is not some loose collection of muggers and bandits but an international consortium of ideologically-linked terrorists with a concrete goal, willing to destroy any facet of the old world in order to bring out the purifying fires of battle that will elevate them to martyrs while casting holy judgment upon their enemies. Recruits (including foreign fighters) flock to ISIS to fulfill personal grievances perceived as being ignored, stymied, or persecuted in their home, often leaving behind families and middle class societies to embrace the organization’s ideology.
Read more "Refuting Marie Harf’s Jobs For Radicals."I have a couple pieces planned for the immediate future. First up is a response to reports (largely ignored in mainstream media) about ISIS building a dirty bomb with material from Mosul University. Before I could start work on this, however, I needed to do a quick post explaining dirty bombs and how they work. […]
Read more "Upcoming Projects"What is a “dirty bomb?” Americans have an almost unnatural fear of radioactive materials, to the point where words like “nuclear” and “radiation” trigger immediate emotional response. This fear is easily manipulated by would-be terrorists hoping to create panic among the public. Most simply put, a “dirty bomb,” also known as a radiological dispersal device […]
Read more "A Brief Primer on Dirty Bombs"A lot of material I post here is lengthy, representing a lot of research. There are also shorter pieces, often written for special projects or under word count restrictions. These short posts condense complex questions into limited space, but I try not to sacrifice facts in the process. They’re just faster to read and give […]
Read more "Quickies: Short Blogs"Suicide bombing, as reprehensible as it seems, is ultimately the act of a rational being making rational decisions, employed as a weapon by a rational organization. This “quickie” post explores the origin of the claim, importance of testing the claim, and cites evidence for the conclusion. (800 words).
Read more "Quickie: Rationality of Suicide Bombers"Growing Iranian influence in the Middle East presents a question for American policy makers, especially regarding security and nuclear issues. This paper was drafted in 2012 to look at various recommendations for American policy regarding Iran. Developments over the last two years have answered some of the questions presented, and progress on the nuclear weapons […]
Read more "Policy Questions Regarding Iran’s Nuclear Program."Regional nuclear safeguards regimes offer a unique way for countries to partner with each other to ensure nuclear security and prevent proliferation. Such regimes act as check and balances between potential nuclear competitors, offering a means of cooperation rather than an arms development race that can spiral into conflict. These partnerships allow more peaceful research, […]
Read more "Regional Safeguards Regimes: ABACC and Nonproliferation in the Southern Cone"As the US military ramps up the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, some pundits suggest the need for a new Surge policy like that of 2007 which helped stabilize an Iraq torn by civil war. Indeed, the first Surge allowed Coalition troops to effectively target and degrade the capabilities of al Qaeda in […]
Read more "Iraq Surge 2.0?"“If you want to destroy my sweater, hold this thread as I walk away.”
In their 1994 hit song “Undone”, California indie rockers Weezer related a simple recipe for destroying wool cardigans. Some twenty years later, the song could equally apply to the state of Cold War-era international arms control agreements.
Stuff That Goes Bang 