The Day Bin Laden Crossed

Seven years ago to this day, 16 December 2001, Osama bin Laden escaped from Afghanistan by crossing the border into Pakistan and disappeared into Pakistan’s Federally Administer Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP).  The U.S. clean-up operation in Afghanistan would—over subsequent years—gradually turn into a lethal counterinsurgency effort.  This past week, the Department of Defense announced its intention to add three Combat Brigades to the existing force structure in Afghanistan.  As the U.S. draws down combat forces in Iraq, Afghanistan will unquestionably move back into the headlines on a more regular basis.

In light of these events and with a keen eye trained to future threats, I have decided to establish The Berntsen National Security Review (Berntsen NSR), a simple and straightforward website through which I will be posting articles and commentary on a weekly basis and pressing those in positions of authority to pursue sound policies related to a variety of security topics in Afghanistan such as suppressing the Taliban, restoring order, and transitioning responsibility into the hands of the Afghan Security Forces. I also plan to write about an array of other national security concerns that jeopardize vital U.S. interests:

• Al Qaeda
• Iran
• Lebanese Hizballah
• Regional Terrorist Organizations
• International Kidnappings
• Rogue regimes in our hemisphere including Venezuela and Bolivia
• Drug Trafficking Organizations

Monitoring this complex network of threats is no less critical today than it was five, ten, or twenty years ago.  Indeed, for those who assumed an Obama Presidency would bring some level of respite to global terrorist violence, one need only look to the early December 2008 attacks in Mumbai for evidence of continued intentions by militant and terrorist groups.  I will do my best in the months ahead to provide insight into historic and emerging threats and global troubled spots through Berntsen NSR.

To learn more or to register for free weekly email updates, I ask that you visit www.berntsennsr.com.  There you will also find my biography, upcoming and previous media appearances, and information about my recently published books, The Walk-In and Human Intelligence Counterterrorism and National Leadership.

I wish you all a wonderful and safe holiday season and earnestly hope that you will find The Berntsen National Security Review useful and informative.

Very Respectfully,

Gary Berntsen

Comments

[Hren]

Just want to say I've read your book Jawbreaker and really enjoyed it. I learned about it from a reference in the book "Kill Bin Laden," by Dalton Fury. I appreciate you starting a blog like this and really look forward to reading your thoughts and opinions.

[Houston]

Mr. Berntsen,

First and foremost, thank you for the job you did for your country. I sincerely look forward to what information you have to share.