Non-State Actors

Posted Thursday, October 29, 2009, at 12:39 PM

According to the Defense Intelligence Agency, non-state actors, driven by ideological and political goals, present a threat to the United States because they are not responsive to traditional diplomatic tools. When acting on behalf of sponsor states, they are able to conduct terrorist and other actions that their sponsors can deny. Some have acquired advanced weapons and sophisticated technology, and operate in ungoverned territory or sponsor states. They look like civilians and when not acting as terrorists or insurgents can blend back into the general population. If their power exceeds that of our allies in a region they will cause disruptions that might endanger our interests.

The DIA calls al-Qaida "the most significant threat to U.S. interests worldwide... committed to using violence to displace Western influence across the Islamic world." While developing the best possible force for dealing with al-Qaida and its ilk, we should ask ourselves what about our influence provokes such passionate violence.

But given that non-state actors continue to practice violent measures, that we can properly identify them, and that we are sure their objectives are clearly contrary to our national interest, their threat is real and will have to be dealt with for the foreseeable future--Berkley Bedell and Jim Frost.

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Berkley Bedell--Retirement from the U.S. Congress in 1987, neither dulled my interest in the well-being of the people of the United States nor my worries about our governance. I began work in 2006 on a book outlining the country's problems and offering solutions. Jim Frost--I share Berkley's concerns and in 2007 began the job of researching, editing and assisting with writing his book. By early 2009, after finally weathering George W. Bush and recognizing how much the past eight wasted years have set the world back, our focus changed. We had seen no meaningful progress in the efforts to stem the threat of nuclear weapons, reverse global warming, preserve natural resources, reduce military spending, fight disease and hunger, improve health care, deal with the increasing gulf between rich people and poor people, establish a workable economic system, or clean up the political process. For us, these three things became self-evident: First, the problems are global; the U.S. cannot by itself control or solve them. Second, the perfect storm of worldwide catastrophe is already upon us; what must be said cannot wait. Third, in seeking solutions, the problems must be put before as many people as possible as quickly as possible. This blog is the result. There will be much more. We invite you to participate.

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