Attentive readers of this blog may have noted the Geopolitical Analysis bar, and perhaps wondered why it's there.
There's an awful lot of talk about politics out there. Some of it even shows up on blogs! Very little is rooted in careful analysis of the actual geopolitical issues that drive the leaders of nations. News reporters only say what happend, not why it happend or how it is related to what happend last month (or last year, or last century). And the news they report is market driven, in the sense that they report those events that they think their readers are most likely to be interested in knowing about (so Brittney Spear's love life usually gets more press than a massacre in Sri Lanka). Editorialists, or pundits, have loads of opinion, and occasionally an argument but almost never more than the most embarassingly oversimplistic analysis of the policy issue they talk about. In contrast to this, Stratfor is a breath of fresh air. It's not just facts, and its not just some guys' opinion. It's positive, rational analysis of why things are happening as they are, and what motivates the players, whether it's Al Qaeda, or the Tamil Tigers, Washington or Moscow.
Knowing what motivates your enemies and your allies (and your potential enemies/allies) is essential for policy making. Stratfor should be required reading for whoever thinks his opinions on national foreign policy are worth airing or printing or posting. The full service costs some money (I expect it's worth the price, though I can't say for sure because I can't afford it even if it is a good deal, and therefore don't read it), but you can sign up for a free newsletter to whet your appetite. Their comments on the London bombings are here With more thorough info at al qaeda cell in london
Posted by mccartney at July 12, 2005 6:17 PM | TrackBack