Clayton Swisher

Payback, Served Cold

There is no doubt America would have rather this day come sooner. Coupled with the phenomenal popular waves of change sweeping the Arab world, 2011 stands to be a watershed year, one that will hopefully allow more people to live their lives free of autocratic and dictatorial rule. 

Let us not forget al-Qaeda's recruiting-well of the 9/11 attacks could be found, at least in part, in the subterranean torture rooms of Egypt under Hosni Mubarak (who in a striking irony might himself become a resident of those very jails before long).

For now, a few quick thoughts on the killing of bin Laden in Pakistan by US operatives:

-Senior Obama Administration officials say a mansion had been under watch in Abbotabad since August 2010. It is clear great planning and, above all else, patience, went into identifying and attacking this target.

Suleiman selection reassures Western allies

Omar Suleiman is many things to Egypt: spy chief, eminence grise to President Hosni Mubarak, point man for Egypt's secret relations with Israel, and the bulwark between the Muslim Brotherhood and all the security services that stand in its way.  

Now he is Egypt's unelected vice president.

Here I am in a photo next to General Suleiman circa spring 2005 when I was director of programs at the DC-based Middle East Institute. Standing with us are Egyptian ambassador to the US Nabil Fahmy and my boss at the time (and former US ambassador to Egypt) Ned Walker.   

General Suleiman was our guest of honor for a breakfast event. It was a coup that we were able to get him to speak, albeit amongst a closed, hand-selected audience of Washington's foreign policy "I love Egypt" elite.  

This was a first, Ambassador Fahmy reminded me, and looking back I understand why. Suleiman hates cameras and does his best to avoid media.

Afghanistan's serious questions (Part 3)

Since my last installment focused on the failure of US command leadership in running America's longest ever war, I couldn't help but follow up with a small but important sign of hope that some senior military officers get it. 

Afghanistan's serious questions (part 2)

This installment focuses on some problems fighting this war from within the senior US military leadership.

Back in December 2009, I covered General McChrystal’s briefing on the Obama Afghan Surge inside a tent filled with senior US, Afghan, and ISAF officers at Kandahar Air Field.  

Since this week has been about reflection, a couple things stand out in my mind, starting with the awkwardly long moment of silence among the military’s top brass when McChrystal finished his presentation and asked the standing room only crowd if there were any questions on the future of the war (more on that in a moment).