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October 15, 2005
Threat Assessments - Introduction
A few months ago, I entered into a venture with two other bloggers whereby we were going to start a new site, dedicated to tracking threats to our country. The enterprise didn't work out, but we did write several "Threat Assessment" papers, and when we parted it was agreed that we could each publish the documents. Over the next few weeks, I am going to post those papers on this site.
The assessments were jointly written by the three of us, which much editing and back-and-forth. After each is posted, therefore, due credit will be given to all three of us, as I want to make clear that they are not my work alone. However, since I am a co-author on each piece, and since I agreed to the final result, I take full responsibility for their content. Further, we were not able to finalize each one before parting. Feel free, therefore, to direct your comments to me alone.
Here is a list of the countries and areas of concern for which a Threat Assessment document was produced:
Sudan China North Korea Syria Afghanistan Islamic Terror
Here is an outline of our characterizations, or how we evaluated each country or area of concern
Characterizations
Military – The threat associated with a particular country, organization or entity in the form of conventional or non-conventional weaponry or war.
Terror – The threat or likelihood of terrorism associated with a particular country, organization or entity in the form of terrorism, attacks on combatants or non-combatants by combatants not aligned with, representing or serving the military interests of a recognized national government or regularly formed militias.
Economic – The potential to assert a nations economic interest through policy, trade, or other means. Generally limited to the actions directly aimed at weakening the economic credibility or influence of other global players in a particular market or industry.
Civil – How the citizens, or subsets of them, are treated within a nation or system of governance – ideology; focusing on civil and human rights, property, political and economic liberties, and religious freedom.
Posted by Tom at October 15, 2005 09:24 PM
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Comments
Interesting stuff.
Another paper on Iran would be so as well. Are there plans to make a paper on that country?
Posted by: Peter Fleming at October 20, 2005 03:40 AM
Peter
Iran was on our list, but we hadn't gotten to it when the enterprise disbanded. I might do one on my own, though. It is an important country and is deserving of attention.
Posted by: Tom at October 20, 2005 08:25 AM
