Introducing The Flash Point Blog

Last autumn, we watched as Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, announced emergency rule in order to combat extremists. The news was reported, faithfully, that Musharraf faced a radical threat and his actions were necessary to preserve order. But the images on television told another story. The men running from police only to be caught and dragged away were not wearing Islamic dress. Their faces were not covered with well grown beards. They wore western dress, dark suits with neckties. They were lawyers. Radicals were not under attack, the democrats were, as well as the civil society they embody.

In the following weeks, ASP released an analysis of the situation in Pakistan by South-Asia expert Timothy Hoyt and we discussed how to bring the insights we shared around the conference table to a broader audience more rapidly than traditional think-tank analyses.

The Flash Point Blog is one answer.

The Flash Point Blog will bring timely, critical analysis to the national security news of the day. As a bipartisan organization whose mission is to raise the public’s understanding of these issues, our contributors will not demonize anyone, but we will speak candidly and honestly about national security issues. We will offer rapid analysis of events, regular comment on press coverage of the issues, and continuing analysis of issues critical to America’s national security.

We invite you to join us by posting comments, reacting to stories—whether you agree or disagree—and creating a community of Americans willing to move beyond partisan, sound-bite analyses of these vital issues.

In a time when the definition and means to achieving our security are changing, when security can no longer be measured by counting the number of bomber aircraft in a nation’s arsenal, the need for honest discussion and debate is vital. We hope that The Flash Point Blog will be a resource to you and a dynamic community for people dedicated to advancing this debate.

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