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February 3, 2009 at 12:51:47

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Promoted to Headline (H3) on 2/3/09:

Leading Counter-Terrorism Expert and Former High-Level Official Slams War on Terror and Questions 9/11

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By George Washington (about the author) Page 1 of 5 page(s)

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Terrell (Terry) E. Arnold was the number 2 counter-terrorism official at the U.S. State Department, and is one of the world's leading experts on terror.

Arnold served as the Deputy Director, Office of Counter-Terrorism and Emergency Planning, at the U.S. State Department. He is also the former Chairman of the Department of International Studies at the National War College.

Arnold has worked as a crisis management consultant for several Federal agencies, including The State Department, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Customs Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He is the author of numerous books on terror*. Arnold is a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean war.

I spoke with Arnold by phone.

GW: Your essay It is Vital to Move Beyond 9/11 is insightful and hard-hitting, and I agree with virtually everything you say. I have previously written on many of the topics you touch on, such as false pretenses for war, torture and illegal spying.

Initially, you write:

"As an alleged post 9/11 defense, the War on Terrorism is a gigantic fraud."

I agree with you completely, and have written several essays arguing that the War on Terror is a hoax (see this, this and this).

As a leading counter-terrorism expert, I am curious to hear why you believe this.

Terry Arnold: The military approach doesn't cover all of the elements of the problem. We need to capture and confine the individuals who are up to doing mischief. That's a law enforcement issue.

Also, using only a military approach does nothing to recognize the grievances around the world. People are unhappy, and are so willing to commit acts of terrorism, or are willing to support terrorism.

Any approach to terrorism which lacks a mechanism for dealing with "outgroups" will not be successful. Each society has to engage the "outgroups" by itself. No international organization can do that.

For example, the Kurds could be given their own state - Kurdistan. The surrounding states have to recognize that they are part of the problem. Dealing with the Kurds is therefore a regional problem.

War

GW: Do you think that starting "elective" or "preemptive" wars against states which do not pose an imminent threat to America's national security decreases or increases the threat of terrorism?

Terry Arnold: It increases the threat because it injures more people. One of the principal causes of terrorism is injuries to people and families.

What we're watching in the Middle East is Israel committing suicide [Arnold explained that, by killing and injuring so many people in Gaza, Israel is destroying its own security, and creating a huge group of people who wish Israel harm. Through the Gaza war, Israel is sewing the seeds of its own destruction]. You will make enemies you will not even know about until it is too late.

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64 comments

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Thank you George by William Whitten on Tuesday, Feb 3, 2009 at 2:37:19 PM

Nice Work GW, by Mike Baldwin on Tuesday, Feb 3, 2009 at 7:45:15 PM

A thought for non-conspiracy folks by Perry Logan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:13:05 AM

Dear Mr. Troll ... your logic again is as vapid as all your by Mr M on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 8:28:18 AM

Logan, Logan, Logan by Intelitary Milligence on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 2:10:45 PM

When did Bush by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:06:16 PM

Thanks for the link, Perry by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 3:29:01 PM

Alburry by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 3:40:10 PM

Military Intel assets must be well paid for their time. by Richard Lee on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 8:53:13 PM

There's no law against ignorance, by albury smith on Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 at 7:08:14 AM

Obama's a political realist and opportunist. (Kucinich and by Richard Lee on Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 at 9:29:16 PM

Your worst enemy by albury smith on Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 at 10:10:02 PM

Great Theory by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:09:33 PM

Thanks for the link Perry... by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:29:19 PM

no is yes no? by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 3:29:16 PM

Lets Not Get Too Rational by arlen custer on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 1:58:49 PM

No Faked Evidence? by George Washington on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 2:03:43 PM

Nice job of mangling the truth, by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:37:16 PM

So you're saying by George Washington on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:42:00 PM

No, "George," by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:16:34 PM

Question by George Washington on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:57:47 PM

Your "experts" by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 7:09:53 PM

Your link by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:26:17 PM

Great Point Albury by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:32:41 PM

Experts in their fields... by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:00:41 PM

Aircraft Accident Investigator for US Air force by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:05:45 PM

Lt. Col. US Marine Corps Fighter Pilot by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:16:26 PM

Lt Col. US Air Force Fighter Pilot Aerospace Engineer by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:28:58 PM

Nice spamfest, by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:46:11 PM

Heres the situation hat shot: by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:17:31 PM

Reality check, "hat shot" by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:34:48 PM

Pilot who actually flew two of the actual planes by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:11:17 PM

Former NORAD Officer by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:15:11 PM

Military Historian, US Army War College by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:23:57 PM

Able Danger by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:28:23 PM

So all bury you chew on these awhile... by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:37:28 PM

You are Failing your quiz all bury.......... by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:44:49 PM

Civil Engineer & Fire Protection Engineer by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 5:52:56 PM

all bury by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:29:04 PM

"inadequaite [sic] and irrelivant [sic]" by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 7:26:45 PM

Actually it does sound rational by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:37:57 PM

You mean no government paycheck this month? by Richard Lee on Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 at 9:42:45 PM

No, I don't recall that memo, by albury smith on Friday, Feb 6, 2009 at 6:23:46 AM

all bury, you are not keeping up! by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:01:42 PM

Live TV Coverage by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:12:02 PM

Which building? by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 7:34:56 PM

No explosives in the WTC? by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:55:00 PM

Why are you asking William? by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 10:58:44 PM

jet fuel/kerosene by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:23:40 PM

What a bunch of crap by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 7:57:43 PM

Demolitions Expert by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:37:43 PM

LOL by albury smith on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:59:01 PM

Nice talking to ya... by William Whitten on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 8:06:49 PM

albury by arlen custer on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 9:09:34 PM

Here are some legitimate questions for you, by albury smith on Thursday, Feb 5, 2009 at 1:06:29 PM

albury you are truly something. But what? by arlen custer on Friday, Feb 6, 2009 at 9:14:36 AM

The last place you want to go by albury smith on Friday, Feb 6, 2009 at 10:42:29 AM

How much time will I waste on You? by arlen custer on Friday, Feb 6, 2009 at 6:10:12 PM

It never ceases to amaze me by albury smith on Friday, Feb 6, 2009 at 9:23:47 PM

My Last Word To All You Official Theororists by arlen custer on Saturday, Feb 7, 2009 at 12:22:04 PM

Frank A. DeMartini by Aurora on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 7:15:54 PM

Leslie E. Robertson by albury smith on Friday, Feb 6, 2009 at 12:31:23 PM

More than 660 Engineers and Architects by Aurora on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 7:24:22 PM

Apparently so... by David Ryan on Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009 at 11:03:46 PM

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