Tag Archives: CFR

Issue Guide: The Domestic Surveillance Debate

by Jessica Poarch

The Council on Foreign Relations recently published an Issue Guide for the on-going debate surrounding the NSA’s surveillance policies. It provides links to articles detailing the arguments on both sides of the issue along with back ground information and primary sources.

The Guide begins: “Media reports of the Obama administration’s domestic surveillance activities have provided new grist for the debate over privacy and national security. The White House and many lawmakers from both parties have defended the counterterrorism programs–many of which were greatly enhanced after the September 11, 2001 attacks–as effective, legal, and limited. Opponents have decried some of the activities, like the National Security Agency’s so-called PRISM program that mines troves of data related to U.S. citizens, as government overreach. The following materials provide background and analysis on the debate. …”

To continue reading click here.

Invisible Armies: A book and interactive timeline

by Jessica Poarch
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NIAC style warfare -armed conflict that is not between two governments with uniformed soldiers – has been around since ancient times. In his new book, Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the Present, Max Boot attempted to write a “one-stop destination…for the general reading public interested [in the subject of guerrilla warfare]*.” He begins the book by discussing the origins of guerrilla warfare and ends with current conflicts.* 

For more information on the book and an overview of the text visit the Council on Foreign Relation’s website.

Also on the CFR’s website is an interesting interactive timeline/ tracker that shows conflicts from 1775-2012. Here the reader can sort by Region, Country or Outcome to explore conflict through the centuries.

*Page xxi of Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the Present by Max Boot