Proof that Not Only Soldiers in Iraq Show Bravery

While I do not normally cotton to media stories about the media, CNN has up a very interesting story about a Western reporter who for some reason has been chosen by Iraqi insurgents as their "official" courier of information to the West. This guy has let himself be blindfolded by confessed murderers and allowed deep into their camps and safe-houses. It takes guts to walk up to a psychopath and put yourself in his hands.



The other side of this story is the revelation that the Al-Qaeda-like groups within Iraq are not the rank amateurs that some commentators dismissed them as early-on in the War and its aftermath. These groups are taping every moment of their operations, showing complex planning, use of satellite photography, the philosophy behind their attacks, and the eventual aftermath of the attacks. This (1) serves as amazing propoganda for their side and (2) gives us a window into their mindset which may help our profilers and psychologists begin to really understand the terrorist mindset.



Amazing stuff. It would be an incredible irony if what allowed us to beat the terrorists in the end is not our superior firepower, but our ability to get into the mind of our enemy. The terrorists do not understand us, so if we can understand them it would be a huge advantage.