Awlaki/Snowden/ISIS

Just wanted to post a couple of links with renewed relevance.

First, my January comments on The McLaughlin Group concerning the difficulty of preventing al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula inspired lone wolf attacks. Newly relevant because CNN is now reporting that the Chattanooga shooter was inspired by Anwar al-Awlaki. Incidentally, this kind of impact explains why the drone strike on Awlaki was justified. Inspiration = strategic effect in the world of terrorism. My thoughts on drones can be found here, here and here.

Second, my two articles - on Edward Snowden - and on ISIS/Islamic State - from last year, in which I outlined the ways in which the Islamic State had learned from Snowden. Relevant because the New York Times reported that same assessment yesterday.