Exum on Maddow

Andrew Exum was on Rachel Maddow this past week talking about his TNR column on terrorist safe havens. Video is below and is well worth watching. As I've discussed previously, Exum's concerns are valid and need to be considered, but at the same time the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan demands that the US address the problem of terrorist safe havens. Thus, while the precedent such haven-denying action could set is problematic, I'm not sure we have a choice given the situation on the ground in Central Asia.

On a related note, Exum has linked to Mike Innes' critigue of the TNR column. Innes argues that Exum overstates the ability and influence of the internet and is too general when discussing physical havens. He sees the internet as a messaging vehicle--useful but only if you have the set up to utilize it correctly. Innes sees the larger problem as one of dispersed transnational terror networks which utilize disparate small safe havens in multiple areas where their belief strucuture is supported. Here's the whole thing.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy