What would you like to ask Mr. Anonymous?

Because he’s giving a talk at the Program on International Security Policy, I’m going to have 45 minutes or so to chat one-on-one with Michael Scheuer — a.k.a., Mr. “Anonymous”, a.k.a., author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terrorism. I’ve blogged about the book in the past, but I’ll admit ...

By , a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast.

Because he's giving a talk at the Program on International Security Policy, I'm going to have 45 minutes or so to chat one-on-one with Michael Scheuer -- a.k.a., Mr. "Anonymous", a.k.a., author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terrorism. I've blogged about the book in the past, but I'll admit that I haven't had time to read the book, nor have I been paying much attention to him since the book was released. So, I'm blegging for good questions from loyal readers -- and I'll be sure to post his answers. UPDATE: As the graduate student who escorted him to me whispered into my ear, "What a nice, nice man!" I wasn't able to ask him all of your questions, but here are some quick responses (NOTE: I'm summarizing his views; I'm not saying I necessarily agree with them):

Because he’s giving a talk at the Program on International Security Policy, I’m going to have 45 minutes or so to chat one-on-one with Michael Scheuer — a.k.a., Mr. “Anonymous”, a.k.a., author of Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terrorism. I’ve blogged about the book in the past, but I’ll admit that I haven’t had time to read the book, nor have I been paying much attention to him since the book was released. So, I’m blegging for good questions from loyal readers — and I’ll be sure to post his answers. UPDATE: As the graduate student who escorted him to me whispered into my ear, “What a nice, nice man!” I wasn’t able to ask him all of your questions, but here are some quick responses (NOTE: I’m summarizing his views; I’m not saying I necessarily agree with them):

1) On what he’d change in Imperial Hubris: Scheuer’s biggest regret was that he wasn’t harder on the Saudis. In his opinion, the Saudi lobby is as influential as the Israel lobby in influencing foreign policy. He also acknowledged that taking on the Saudis would have blunted charges of anti-Semitism. 2) On Afghanistan: Scheuer doesn’t think he’s wrong. He argues that the presidential election hardened ethnic cleavages in the country, and the legislative elections in the spring will merely enhance that effect. As for the Taliban, he argues that it took the mujahideen 3-4 years to have the capacity to wage a widespread insurgency against the Soviets. In other words, “Wait a year or two and I’ll be proven correct.” 3) On the popularity of bin Laden: Scheuer believes that satellite TV is proving to be a major asset for bin Laden, and U.S. policy is also a major source of recruitment. The lack of personnel with training in the Middle East has exacerbated this. For example, the post-Iraq invasion removal of U.S. forces from Saudi Arabia has not mollified Islamic traditionalists horrified at the thought of “infidels” near the holy shrines of Mecca and Medina — because U.S. forces are still present in Kuwait and Qatar. Even through they may not be in Saudi territory, to Islamists the the Arabian peninsula is what matters, not the modern political borders of Saidi Arabia. 4) On intelligence reform: He ain’t happy with what’s been proposed — to be more specific, he finds it outrageous that the 9/11 survivors have had so much influence over the process. “Intelligence reform by Oprah” is the way he put it. Historically, it would have been the equivalent of FDR asking the widows of Pearl Harbor servicemen to revamp intelligence bavk in the 40’s.

More later if I get a chance.

Daniel W. Drezner is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and co-host of the Space the Nation podcast. Twitter: @dandrezner

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