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Marcus Aurelius: US Special Forces Train Mexican Assassins

U.S. Special Forces Training Mexican Assassination Squads to Battle Cartels Public Intelligence.Net, 2 September 2011 A small but growing proxy war is underway in Mexico pitting US-assisted assassin teams composed of elite Mexican special operations soldiers against the leadership of an emerging cadre of independent drug organizations that are far more ruthless than the old-guard …

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Berto Jongman: Iraq Suicide Bombing Results + RECAP

Open source assessment of a devastating terrorist tactic. Free But Must Register or full PDF 2011-09-03 Iraq Suicide Attack Study 200 coalition soldiers were killed in 79 suicide bomb events during 2003–10. More Iraqi civilians per lethal event were killed than were coalition soldiers (12 vs 3; p=0·004). Suicide bombers in Iraq kill significantly more …

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Review: Top Secret America – The Rise of the New American Security State

Dana Priest and William M. Arkin 5.0 out of 5 stars 6 Stars–A Nation-Changing Public Mind Opener of a Book,September 2, 2011 I generally take a very jaundiced view of books that emerge from Washington Post columns I have already read, but this book surprised, engages, and out-performs the columns by such a leap that …

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Review: A First-Rate Madness – Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness

Nassir Ghaemi 5.0 out of 5 stars One Huge Point, Many Smaller Insights,August 28, 2011 When I am torn between a 4 and a 5 I read all the other reviews. I rate this book a five because it advances appreciation for the integration of psychology with history, and contributes somewhat–not the last word–to the …

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Marcus Aurelius: Al Qaeda Ricin, USG, Israel, Nuts

From the underpants bomber to exploding print cartridges to ricin bombs… Qaeda Trying to Harness Toxin for Bombs, U.S. Officials Fear By ERIC SCHMITT and THOM SHANKER The New York Times, August 12, 2011 WASHINGTON — American counterterrorism officials are increasingly concerned that the most dangerous regional arm of Al Qaeda is trying to produce …

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