Middle East Perspectives
Rick Francona

An acknowledged Middle East expert, dynamic speaker, author of "Ally to Adversary - An Eyewitness Account of Iraq's Fall from Grace," and NBC News Middle East military analyst, retired USAF intelligence officer and Middle East specialist Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona offers his thoughts and opinions on various Middle East topics.

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by Rick Francona
Northern Iraq - 1996
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ARCHIVES (chronological by country/subject)
Al-Qa'idah - Hizballah/Israel 2006 - Iran - Iraq - Israel - Jordan - Lebanon - Miscellaneous
Pakistan - Politics of Water - Secret Agreements - Saudi Arabia - Syria - Terrrorism

Iraq
Response to New York Times Article on Military Analysts  (April 2008)
Byzantium Revisited – More on Iraqi Politics (April 2008)
NBC News Investigation: Can insurgents buy U.S. military uniforms online? (April 2008)
Byzantine Politics - al-Maliki versus al-Sadr  (April 2008)
The fall of Baghdad: Five years later  (April 2008)
Basra clashes may be the acid test of al-Maliki’s government  (March 2008)
Diario de Noticias Interview  (March 2008)
Al-Sadr extends his ceasefire – good choice, Muqtada (February 2008)
Iran's space program - deja vu (February 2008)
Iraq addressed too late in State of the Union (January 2008)
The Iraqis change their flag - again (January 2008)
Military experience, the Presidential campaign and the war in Iraq (January 2008)
An opportunity for reconciliation (December 2007)
Iraqi politicians far behind the power curve  (December 2007)
OPINION - Murtha and Obey: Committed to defeat in Iraq? (November 2007)
Podesta, Korb and Katulis: Long on complaints, short on solutions (November 2007)
The al-Anbar Shaykhs Ask for Funding (November 2007)
What is the favorite wine over at State Department? (October 2007)
Memo to Baghdad: The Turks are serious now (October 2007)
The California National Guard could have prevented fire damage… (October 2007)
Pete Stark is a disgrace - hold him accountable (October 2007)
Resolution on 1915 Genocide - A Bad Idea (October 2007)
Gen. Sanchez should place the blame on himself (October 2007)
Iraq trivia – the white Oldsmobile Cutlass (October 2007)
Ex-Saddam defense minister set to be executed (October 2007)
NBC Worldblog - from Ally to Adversary (October 2007)
It's time for Blackwater to leave Iraq (October 2007)
Keep U.S. troops in Iraq for the long haul (October 2007)
Italy – you brought this on yourselves (September 2007)
Pick a side, Mr Barzani (September 2007)
The war is about oil but it's not that simple (September 2007)
The Webb Amendment - Good Riddance (September 2007)
MSNBC: Live with Dan Abrams (September 2007)
The Petraeus report will make no difference (September 2007)
Syria and Iran need to rethink their choices (August 2007)
Why are we still talking to Iran? (August 2007)
Turkish Invasion of Northern Iraq?  (July 2007)
Two decades later - it's still about Iran (July 2007)
Attacks strike at the heart of the Shia faith (June 2007)
In Iraq, sometimes death is the only justice (June 2007)
Timing of Iran talks insulting to troops (May 2007)
Should Prince Harry even be in the army? (May 2007)
We already have a 'war czar' (May 2007)
Bremer speaks...again (May 2007)
Iran and North Korea to improve relations? (May 2007)
Do the Shi'a Iraqis want a civil war?  (May 2007)
Another step toward civil war in Iraq? (May 2007)
National Guard not in Kansas anymore? (May 2007)
Iraq: Perhaps al-Maliki is the biggest problem (April 2007)
Karbala - Magnet for Sunni Attacks (April 2007)
Breaking faith with the troops (April 2007)
Wrong message, wrong time (April 2007)
"In the name of God..."  (April 2007)
Attacks a direct challenge to the “surge”   (April 2007)
Muqtada al-Sadr – Isn’t it about time we deal with this guy? (April 2007)
Tour length isn't the problem  (April 2007)
Troubled Waters - the Shatt Al-'Arab  (March 2007)
A withdrawal date - bad strategy (March 2007)
Muqtada al-Sadr - a problem not solved (March 2007)
Making sense of a complex war (March 2007)
The Damascus Option (March 2007)
Meeting in Baghdad - why on arba'in? (March 2007)
What happens in Iraq if Talabani can't serve?  (February 2007)
"To care for him who shall have borne the battle"…?  (February 2007)
Senator Reid - Obviously, you can't spell either (February 2007)
Colonel Murtha – can you spell Vietnam? (February 2007)
Non-binding resolution - A cowardly act (February 2007)
Initial thoughts on the Baghdad security operation (February 2007)
Targeting Helicopters in Iraq (February 2007)
Against all enemies - the case of Lt Ehren Watada (February 2007)
Iraq NIE: The outlook is bleak (February 2007)
NBC Today Show - January 30, 2007
The Kurds: Between Iraq and a Hard Place (January 2007)
Iranian Qods Force in Iraq: Treat them like al-Qaida (January 2007)
'Ashurah - Shi'a holy day...and target for the Sunnis (January 2007) 
Surge in Iraq - Treat the disease, not the symptom (January 2007)
Kirkuk - Tinderbox in the north (January 2007)
"Iraq for Land" - This might work, except... (January 2007)
Muqtada Al-Sadr: He has to go (January 2007)
Hoshyar and I - the Iraqi foreign minister on detention of Iranians (January 2007)
Finally, Al-Maliki steps up to the plate (we hope) (Jaunary 2007)
U.S. Troop Surge in Iraq - Over to you Al-Maliki... (January 2007)
The coming battle with the Al-Sadr militia (January 2007)
Iraq and 9/11 Deaths - Faulty Analogies (January 2007)
Iraq: Halabjah Revisted (January 2007)
Robert Fisk - again (January 2007)
The Burial of Saddam Husayn (December 2006)
After Saddam’s execution, outlook for Iraq grim (December 2006)
A personal note on the execution of Saddam Husayn (December 2006)
The coming month in Iraq (December 2006)
Saddam Husayn - The End is Near (December 2006
Iran - still part of the problem (December 2006)
Iraq Study Group - Iran and Syria part of the problem (December 2006)
Quoted in the St Louis Dispatch  (December 2006)
Iraq Descends into Civil War  (November 2006)
Iraq-Syria: Restoration of Diplomatic Relations (November 2006)
Iraqi Insurgency and the Jihadist Tet?  (October 2006)
Insurgent Parades in Anbar Governorate? (October 2006)
Iraqi prime minister and the militias - ADDENDUM (October 2006)
Iraqi prime minister and the militias (October 2006)
Saddam Husayn Verdict/Sentencing Due November 5  (October 2006)
Declaration of "Islamic Iraq" - ADDENDUM (October 2006)
Declaration of "Islamic Iraq" - precursor to civil war?  (October 2006)
British Army Chief Speaks Out  (October 2006)
Robert Fisk: The Age Of Terror (October 2006)
Kurdistan - Federalism or Independence? (September 2006)
Iraq - Replacement of Iraqi flag with Kurdish flag (September 2006)
No Date for the Insurgents (June 2006)
Two Soldiers Taken Hostage? (Revised) (June 2006)
Al-Qa'idah in Mesopotamia Document (June 2006)
Az-Zarqawi's Fatal Misjudgment  (June 2006)
Haditha and the Sunnis (June 2006)
Baghdad ER: I give it a B- to a B (May 2006)
Iraq's New Government (May 2006)
Saddam Trial - It could get interesting... (May 2006)
Saddam Trial - The Next Phase (May 15) (May 2006)
Iraq: Attack on Shi'a mosque near Ba'qubah (May 2006)
Ramsey Clark on Saddam's Trial (May 2006)
The Az-Zarqawi and Bin Ladin Tapes (April 2006)
Iraq's New Prime Minister - Right Man for the Job? (April 2006)
Saddam Trial - Session 21, April 17 (April 2006)
The Ongoing Trials of Saddam Husayn (April 2006)
Az-Zarqawi Demoted by Al-Qa'idah? (April 2006)
Jill Carroll - Interesting Choice of Words (March 2006)
Iraqi Perspectives Project (March 2006)
Ungrateful Peaceniks Rescued by Coalition Forces (March 2006)
More on Saddam and WMD (March 2006)
"Getting in the way" (March 2006) 
Saddam Husayn Trial: Getting Closer to Actual Evidence (March 2006)
Attack on Major Shi'a Shrine in Samarra' (February 2006)
Saddam Trial - February 14 (February 2006)
Saddam Husayn Trial Resumes (February 2006)
Saddam Husayn - The Trial (February 2006)
Jill Carroll - Perceptions and Reality (January 2006)
Iraqi WMD in Syria? (January 2006)
MSNBC Hardball: War Council (January 2006)
Hardball: American withdrawal and the insurgency (December 2005)
Insurgent Mortar Tactics (November 2005)
Iraqi Demands for American Troops to Depart? (November 2005)
MSNBC - Analysts agree Iraqi vote could be key to future (October 2005)
Francona - Witness for the Defense? (September 2005)
Locals Turn In Az-Zarqawi Fighters (August 2005)
Iraqi Draft Constitution - Sunni Displeasure (August 2005)
MSNBC - Iraqi Prison Camp Escape Tunnel (August 2005)
Constitutional Issues (August 2005)
Saddam Husayn - Martyr for Palestine? (August 2005)
The Chain of Command (August 2005)
Al-Hadithah - Again? (August 2005)
MSNBC - Looking at Saddam's first trial (July 2005)
History and the Charges Against Saddam (June 2005)
Thoughts on the Insurgency – April 2005 (April 2005)
Iraq: Murder along the Rivers (April 2005)
Iraqi Insurgents Watch Al-Jazeera (April 2005)
Al-Jazeera Bureau Office in Iran Closed (April 2005)
Iraq - Abu Ghurayb Attack (April 2005)
My Baghdad (April 2005)
Italy Troop Withdrawal Update (March 2005)
Italy and Iraq – Bad Precedent/Bad Policy (March 2005)
Forming a Coalition Government (March 2005)
Interesting Capture in Iraq (March 2005)
'Ali Al-Sistani - Iraqi Citizen? (March 2005)
Elections, the Sunnis and the Insurgency (January 2005)
It all comes down to oil.... (January 2005)
Disbanding the Iraqi Army - A Mistake (January 2005)
Scowcraft Speaks Out (January 2005)
Elections and Violence (December 2004)
January 2005 Elections Update (December 2004)
Thoughts on the Insurgency (December 2004)
After Al-Fallujah, Before the Elections… (November 2004)
January Elections - Or Not? (November 2004)
Offensive in Samarra' - A Better Plan? (October 2004)
Al-Qa'qa' Explosives - Some Perspectives (October 2004)
"Arabization" Fallout (August 2004)
An-Najaf: Another Lost Opportunity in the Making? (August 2004)
It's not "a" mosque – it's "the" mosque (August 2004)
Prospects for Peace in a Post-Saddam Middle East (May 2003)
Shiite power and Iranian intentions (April 2003)
An Islamic Republic in Iraq? (April 2003)
Iraq’s Shi’a – Prospects for a New Iraq (April 2003)
Once again, the Kurdish wild card (April 2003)
Losing on his own Terms: Saddam's Battle Plan and Why It Didn't Work (April 2003)
Husayn Kamil - Saddam's Son in Law: The Real Story (January 2003)
Iraq – Did the U.S. stop too soon in 1991? (November 2001)
Iran-Iraq: The Role of the Shatt Al-'Arab (June 2001)
Iraq: The Claim to Kuwait (November 1999)

Iran
Peace between Syria and Israel? (May 2008)
Asubtle message to the bad guys....
(February 2008)

Iran's space program - deja vu (February 2008)
Conflicting signals from Tehran? (January 2008)
Israel and the NIE – a different perspective (December 2007)
A bad week for the intelligence community (December 2007)
What role will Syria play at peace conference? (November 2007)
Iran: The new focus of 2008?  (November 2007)
Attack the Iranians? It's about time! (September 2007)
Pick a side, Mr Barzani (September 2007)
Bombs for Syria – a message for Iran (September 2007)
Syria and Iran need to rethink their choices (August 2007)
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'  (August 2007)
Why are we still talking to Iran? (August 2007)
Fear of Iran creates strange bedfellows  (August 2007)
In dealing with Iran, what is Israel's strategy?  (July 2007)
Italian resolve on Iran – who knew? (July 2007)
Two decades later - it's still about Iran (July 2007)
Timing of Iran talks insulting to troops (May 2007)
The real axis of evil (May 2007)
The British detainees – some answers, some questions  (April 2007)
Questions abound after British sailors released  (April 2007)
Troubled Waters - the Shatt Al-'Arab  (March 2007)
Gulf Arabs draw a red line against Iran  (March 2007)
Making sense of a complex war (March 2007)
The Damascus Option (March 2007)
What's in a name? - the Syrian-Iranian car company (March 2007)
Is Iran an "unstoppable train?" (February 2007)
Mr. President, what are you prepared to do? (February 2007)
U.S. policy - Is the focus now on Iran? (February 2007)
Israeli Assassination of Iranian Nuclear Scientist (February 2007)
The Qods Force - Iran's special operations force (January 2007)
Analysis - Israeli plans for attack on Iranian nuclear facilities (January 2007)
Iran and Declining Oil Revenues (December 2006)
Iran - still part of the problem (December 2006)
Iran and Sanctions - UNSCR 1737 (December 2006)
Iraq Study Group - Iran and Syria part of the problem (December 2006)
Iran - "Existential Threat" to the State of Israel - ADDENDUM (November 2006)
Syria and Iran Increase Signals Intelligence Cooperation (October 2006)
The Iran-Hamas Connection - Why? (July 2006)
HAMAS, Israel, Syria, Iran – Pieces of the Same Puzzle (June 2006)
Iran - Badges for Infidels? (May 2006)
Iran - Israel's Air Strike Options (March 2006)
When Diplomacy Fails - Reactions to an Air Strike on Iran (January 2006)
CNBC - Middle East Update (January 2006)
Quoted in The Washington Times (January 2006)
Military Options? (January 2006)
Foreign Policy: With Friends Like These (September 2005)
Syria and Iran Common Front - Nothng New (February 2005)
The Arrow-2 Missile and the Iranian Threat (July 2004)
Iraq: Shiite power and Iranian intentions (April 2003)

Israel
Peace between Syria and Israel? (May 2008)
Carter's Hamas meeting comes at bad time
(April 2008)

Gaza and Israel: This round goes to Hamas (February 2008)
Israelis ask for release of Jonathan Pollard - again (January 2008)
HAMAS seeks a ceasefire - why? (December 2007)
Israel and the NIE – a different perspective (December 2007)
What role will Syria play at peace conference? (November 2007)
The Israeli air strike in Syria - what the target wasn’t.... (September 2007)
Bombs for Syria – a message for Iran (September 2007)
The war is about oil but it's not that simple (September 2007)
Fear of Iran creates strange bedfellows  (August 2007)
In dealing with Iran, what is Israel's strategy?  (July 2007)
Italian resolve on Iran – who knew? (July 2007)
Is Gaza this summer's Lebanon? (June 2007)
Israeli Assassination of Iranian Nuclear Scientist (February 2007)
Analysis - Israeli plans for attack on Iranian nuclear facilities (January 2007)
Israeli Intelligence Agencies - Two Views of Syria (December 2006)
Israel's Nuclear Weapons (December 2006)
Israel Seeks More Aerial Refueling Capability  (November 2006)
Gaza - the next Lebanon? (November 2006)
Iran - "Existential Threat" to the State of Israel - ADDENDUM (November 2006)
Israel's Security Fence (November 2006)
Israel: Is There a Peace Process Anymore? (October 2006)
The Iran-Hamas Connection - Why? (July 2006)
HAMAS, Israel, Syria, Iran – Pieces of the Same Puzzle (June 2006)
Israeli Targeted Killing of Ad-Dahduh (May 2006)
Iran - Israel's Air Strike Options (March 2006)
Israel-U.S.: Larry Franklin Sentenced to 12 Years (January 2006)
Gaza Withdrawal: Mahmud 'Abbas Comments (August 2005)
Israeli Assassination of Hamas Leader in Syria (August 2004)
The Arrow-2 Missile and the Iranian Threat (July 2004)
Early American Support for the Establishment of Israel (July 2001)
Southern Lebanon (from The Politics of Water series, March 2001) 
The Balfour Declaration (from the Secret Agreements series, October 2000)
The Golan Heights (from The Politics of Water series, August 2000)
Jerusalem - Religion and Politics (January 2000) 

Syria
Peace between Syria and Israel? (May 2008)
Carter's Hamas meeting comes at bad time
(April 2008)

What role will Syria play at peace conference? (November 2007)
The Israeli air strike in Syria - what the target wasn’t.... (September 2007)
Bombs for Syria – a message for Iran (September 2007)
Syria and Iran need to rethink their choices (August 2007)
Potential for a new civil war in Lebanon? (May 2007)
The real axis of evil (May 2007)
On the Pelosi-Lantos visit to Syria  (April 2007)
The Damascus Option (March 2007)
What's in a name? - the Syrian-Iranian car company (March 2007)
Senator Nelson in Damascus - what are you thinking? (December 2006)
Iraq Study Group - Iran and Syria part of the problem (December 2006)
Iraq-Syria: Restoration of Diplomatic Relations (November 2006)
Syria and Iran Increase Signals Intelligence Cooperation (October 2006)
Syria - Attack on U.S. Embassy (September 2006)
HAMAS, Israel, Syria, Iran – Pieces of the Same Puzzle (June 2006)
Syria: Has Assad Dodged a Bullet? (April 2006)
Iraqi WMD in Syria? (January 2006)
Ghazi Kan'an Commits Suicide? (October 2005)
Syria-Lebanon: New Syrian Military Intelligence Chief (February 2005)
Syria and Iran Common Front - Nothng New (February 2005)
Rafiq Al-Hariri Assassination - A Syrian Hand? (February 2005)
Israeli Assassination of Hamas Leader in Syria (August 2004)
Syria finds itself wondering aloud (April 2003)
Syria and the Alawites (August 2000)
The Golan Heights (from The Politics of Water series, August 2000
Syria - Bashar Al-Asad: Election of a Prince? (June 2000)
The Arab Socialist Renaissance Party – the Ba’th (May 2000)
The Euphrates River (from The Politics of Water series, November 1999) 
The Arrogance of Power - A Presidential Visit (October 1999)

Israel-Lebanon-Hizballah Conflict (2006)
Lebanon-Israel: Nasrallah Makes it Clear
Israel Agrees to Lift Blockade of Lebanon???
Jesse Jackson, the captured Israeli soldiers, and the Syrians
Lebanon-Israel: And the two captured Israeli soldiers?
"The Sixth War"
The disarming of Hizballah? - (updated)
UNSCR 1701 - Deferment of the Problem
MSNBC.com Articles - August 10
Lebanon-Israel: Shake-up in the IDF; France caves in
Hizballah Air Force Reconnaissance Unit
Lebanese Army to Move South?
Syria - armed forces on alert
Hizballah's Zelzal Rocket - Target: Tel Aviv
Hizballah's Kkaybar-1 Rocket (Update)
IDF Changes Tactics – Finally 
Strange Bedfellows
Israel-Hizballah: What's Next?
Iran-Hizballah-Hamas Coordination
Israel-Hizballah: Moving towards a ceasefire?
The Shaba' Farms - Hizballah's Fig Leaf 
Quoted in the St Louis Post-Dispatch
Israel-Hezbollah: Preparing the battlefield
Hezbollah and Hamas - the Iranian connection
Scarborough Country Special - July 16
Israeli Attempts to Cut Off Route to Iran
And now Hizballah enters the fray....
HAMAS, Israel, Syria, Iran – Pieces of the Same Puzzle

Lebanon
Potential for a new civil war in Lebanon? (May 2007)
Syria-Lebanon: New Syrian Military Intelligence Chief (February 2005)
Rafiq Al-Hariri Assassination - A Syrian Hand? (February 2005)
Southern Lebanon (from The Politics of Water series, March 2001)

Saudi Arabia
The war is about oil but it's not that simple (September 2007)
Saudis less trusting of America these days (August 2007)
Saudi Terrorism Arrests Demonstrate Capabilities (April 2007)
Gulf Arabs draw a red line against Iran  (March 2007)
Gore Decries Treatment of Arabs Post 9-11 (February 2006)
Pre-9/11 Warning to Saudis - Some Perspective (December 2005)
The Saudis: Why They Are Not Liking Us? (September 2005)
Ambassador Prince Bandar Resigns (July 2005)
'Abdullah - The Man Who Will Be King (May 2005)
Saudi Arabia – The Next Target for Al-Qa’idah? (December 2004)
The Conversion of James "Youssef" Yee (October 2003)
Battlefield Conversions (October 2002)
The House of Sa'ud (November 1999)

Jordan
Hamas Operation in Jordan - Why? (April 2006)
The Golan Heights (from The Politics of Water series, August 2000)
Jerusalem - Religion and Politics (January 2000)
Jordan - Historical Perspectives on the Hashemites (May 1999)

The Politics of Water
East and West, Oil and Water (March 2005)
The Nile River (August 2001)
Southern Lebanon (March 2001)
The Golan Heights (August 2000)
The Euphrates River (November 1999)

Secret Agreements - The Legacy of the Middle East
The Balfour Declaration (October 2000)
The Sykes-Picot Agreement (September 2000)
The Husayn-McMahon Correspondence (September 2000)

Pakistan
Charlie Wilson's War (January 2008)
Hopes of democracy dashed in Pakistan (December 2007)
Pakistan singled out for special treatment? (November 2007)
Pakistan – Do we support Musharraf or risk the alternative?  (November 2007)
Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan – a crisis or the solution? (October 2000)
Pakistan’s safe haven may need surge operation (July 2007)
Pakistan - Do you remember Cambodia 1970? (March 2007)
British airliner terror plot: a Pakistani connection (August 2006)
President Bush in Pakistan - Why? (March 2006)
Pakistan: One Bullet Away... (January 2006)
Pakistan and Musharraf: America's Ironic Allies (August 2004)

Terrorism / War on Terror / Al-Qa’idah
TVO - "Interrogating Torture"  (April 2008)
Intelligence Squared Debate - The Video!!  (March 2008)
Yemen - State sponsor of terrorism? (February 2008)
Ban tough interrogations? The stakes are too high (February 2008)
Charlie Wilson's War (January 2008)
John Walker Lindh wants out (December 2007)
HAMAS seeks a ceasefire - why? (December 2007)
A bad week for the intelligence community (December 2007)
Podesta, Korb and Katulis: Long on complaints, short on solutions (November 2007)
Waterboarding: Is it torture and does it work? (November 2007)
Italy – you brought this on yourselves (September 2007)
Quoted on CNBC blog (September 2007)
The bin Ladin video - a unique confluence of events (September 2007)
'The enemy of my enemy is my friend'  (August 2007)
Italian resolve on Iran – who knew? (July 2007)
We already have a 'war czar' (May 2007)
Saudi Terrorism Arrests Demonstrate Capabilities (April 2007)
Tour length isn't the problem  (April 2007)
Afghanistan's hostage slippery slope (April 2007)
"To care for him who shall have borne the battle"…? (February 2007)
Al-Qa’idah moves to Pakistan (February 2007) 
More US troops to Afghanistan - What of NATO? (February 2007)
Iraq and 9/11 Deaths - Faulty Analogies (January 2007)
Al-Qa'idah's "English Brothers" Operation (December 2006)
Al-Qa’idah - an “unintended consequence” of American operations? (December 2006)
Fox Journalists Released - Amateur Hour in Gaza  (August 2006)
British airliner terror plot: a Pakistani connection (August 2006)
Iran-Hizballah-Hamas Coordination (July 2006)
The Iran-Hamas Connection - Why? (July 2006)
Yemen Acquits Al-Qa'idah Members - A Surprise? (July 2006)
Bin Ladin "videotape" - a misnomer (June 2006)
HAMAS, Israel, Syria, Iran – Pieces of the Same Puzzle (June 2006)
The Az-Zarqawi and Bin Ladin Tapes (April 2006)
Hamas Operation in Jordan - Why? (April 2006)
Zacarias Moussaoui and the Fifth Plane (March 2006)
Yemen - Ally in the War on Terror? (February 2006)
NSA Surveillance - Why Was FISA Not Enough? (February 2006)
Az-Zawahri Tape - Andrea Mitchell Blog (February 2006)
“Taliban John” – His Father Speaks Out (January 2006)
The Al-Qa'idah Tapes (January 2006)
The Bin Ladin Tape - Much Ado About Nothing (February 2006)
NBC Nightly News: An interview with a Taliban commander (December 2005)
The USS Cole - A Victim of Bad Policy? (December 2005 – reprint)
NSA Operations Illegal? (December 2005)
NSA - Spying on Americans? (December 2005)
Al-Qa'idah: Newly Published Az-Zawahiri Message (December 2005)
MSNBC Hardball - CIA and Torture (November 2005)
Al-Qa'idah: Letter from Ayman Az-Zawahiri (October 2005)
Al-Qa'idah Ties to London Bombings Confirmed (September 2005)
Usamah Bin Ladin - Wounded in Action? (August 2005)
Assassination - A Foreign Policy Tool? (August 2005)
NBC News - "CD serves as ‘cookbook’ for rogue terrorists" (May 2005)

Miscellaneous
Response to New York Times Article on Military Analysts  (April 2008)
NBC News Investigation: Can insurgents buy U.S. military uniforms online?(April 2008)
Hillary and the snipers (March 2008)
Buying French tankers a poor decision (March 2008)
A subtle message to the bad guys.... (February 2008)
A new D/DNI for Collection - when are we going to learn? (January 2008)
Arab names and homeland security (January 2008)
Military experience, the Presidential campaign and the war in Iraq (January 2008)
Conscientious Objector or Fraud? (January 2008)
An opportunity for reconciliation (December 2007)
The Iran NIE: the British weigh in against American estimate (December 2007)
Israel and the NIE – a different perspective (December 2007)
A bad week for the intelligence community (December 2007)
Podesta, Korb and Katulis: Long on complaints, short on solutions (November 2007)
Sanchez speaks out again (November 2007)
The California National Guard could have prevented fire damage… (October 2007)
Resolution on 1915 Genocide - A Bad Idea (October 2007)
The Webb Amendment - Good Riddance (September 2007)
Dutch Priest - Call God "Allah"  (August 2007)
General Wayne Downing (1940-2007) (July 2007)
New Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (June 2007)
'On behalf of a grateful nation' (May 2007)
Should Prince Harry even be in the army? (May 2007)
National Guard not in Kansas anymore? (May 2007)
Who is an Arab? (April 2007)
Palestinian sense of entitlement (March 2007)
More US troops to Afghanistan - What of NATO? (February 2007)
Against all enemies - the case of Lt Ehren Watada (February 2007)
Former DCI Bob Gates - New Secretary of Defense (November 2006)
Defense Language Institute Hall of Fame (November 2006)
Mike Hayden to be Director, CIA? (May 2006)
MSNBC Hardball - Port Issue (March 2006)
Dubai - Strategic Importance of the UAE (February 2006)
Gore Decries Treatment of Arabs Post 9-11 (February 2006)
Of Actors and Analysts (February 2006) 
MSNBC Hardball: War Council (January 2006)
Gaza Withdrawal: Mahmud 'Abbas Comments (August 2005)
CIA Agent? Let's get the terminology straight... (July 2005)
MSNBC - Francona on Intelligence Sharing (June 2005)
NBC News - "CD serves as ‘cookbook’ for rogue terrorists" (May 2005)
'Ashurah - Shi'a Holy Commemoration (February 2005)
Usamah Bin Ladin - Alive and Well (October 2004)
Afghanistan - Define the U.S. National Interest (August 2004)
Israeli Assassination of Hamas Leader in Syria (August 2004)
Sudan/Darfur: Clearing Up Some Misconceptions (August 2004)
National Intelligence Director – Addendum (August 2004)
A Director of National Intelligence? (July 2004)
Prospects for Peace in a Post-Saddam Middle East (May 2003)
Al-Jazeera - The CNN of the Middle East (October 2001)
The Arab League (September 2001)
Shi'a Islam and Politics (June 2001)
The Gulf Cooperation Council (May 2000)
 

All copyright © 1999-2007 - Rick Francona