The latest assessment from the US point of view Country Reports on Terrorism 2017 is submitted in compliance with Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f (the “Act”), which requires the Department of State to provide to Congress a full and complete annual report on terrorism for those countries and groups meeting the… Read More State of Terrorism 2017

There are lots of opinions about the status of America’s longest war. Few pundits and “experts” actually get their insights from the Afghans themselves. Since 2002 I’ve watched Afghanistan and occasionally worked in Afghanistan. I read Afghan news and social media everyday. I’ve spent time working on Afghanistan from military, diplomatic, and intelligence perspectives. I… Read More The Future of Afghanistan

I’m Worried About My Country, But Not Afraid Jason Criss Howk 17 August 2018 As I sit on a porch at ~3800 feet and watch the sun slowly shed light on Grandfather Mountain today, I am concerned. I feel my country is becoming more divided and am troubled that so many people with the power… Read More I’m Worried About My County, But Not Afraid

#Russia #policy #respectfulDisagreement Read this book. The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War Nicholas Thompson, 2009 Reviewed by Jason Criss Howk Read this book. 1. You probably don’t understand the Soviet-US Cold War as well as you think you do. 2. America has forgotten how to… Read More Book review (ish) The Hawk and the Dove

A great piece by the Afghanistan Analysts Network team as they gathered a diverse sampling of Afghans and discussed what the recent truce-cease fire between the Afghan government forces and the Taliban. Best thing you’ll read this month about Afghanistan Article link

A review of The Koran in English : A Biography Author, Bruce B. Lawrence Princeton University Press, 2017 Five-star book, worth your money. “The world is certainly full of shadows.” -Arberry Let Bruce B. Lawrence shed some light on the Koran’s various English translations. Lawrence has written a valuable study of many of the English… Read More Book review: The Koran in English

Our nation has a SecState that can score touchdowns and a President that calls daring plays. (When does SEC football start…) This statement is a better than many would’ve guessed possible. Now can they carry it through. Let’s hope so. Damn good start.