AJ Rossmiller

It can be all too easy to separate ourselves – mentally, emotionally, physically – from those we perceive as our enemies. We classify them as “other,” as monsters or psychopaths or subhuman, in part because doing so helps us process some of the terrible actions in the world. Aberrance at that level requires no explanation, we think, only condemnation. But this distance can prevent an understanding of the context of evil, and impede the processes by which we might comprehend and combat it in its various forms. Jean Sasson therefore does us a tremendous service in her new book, Growing Up bin Laden, by showing us the contours of lives far beyond our experience, uncovering the realities of individuals and circumstances we rarely get to see.

People often ask me how they can learn more about national security and foreign policy — in particular, how the U.S. has gone so far astray in those critical areas of governance and leadership. The problem is, a good overall examination of these issues, an explanation for neophytes as well as political junkies, has been hard to find.

Social Movements Come In Waves

People have been asking me about the big picture: when will we start winning?

Well, just to let you know, we already have, in a small way. From Chris Bowers:

I would like to point out that Republicans still haven’t won anything new on the electoral front since 2004.