Monday, March 24, 2014

Why Terrorism Fails--A Couple More Examples (Updated)

     In my weekend post on Why Terrorism Generally Fails, I noted the failure of terrorists to target selected targets. So, I wanted to note an example. Although technically not "terrorism" because the threats came from the government, here is an example of targeting a particular person (a politician running for reelection) to influence the passage of a law:
Prosecutorial discretion—deciding whom to go after and whom to ignore—is an open invitation to corruption. And this corruption can have consequences beyond the individuals involved. Had Senator Ted Stevens not been convicted a week before he narrowly lost reelection in 2008 in a trial that involved “gross prosecutorial misconduct,” he undoubtedly would have been reelected and the Democrats would not have had the sixty votes in the Senate they needed to ram ObamaCare through.
     I had also noted that terrorists fail to map the paths of power, which can sometimes be very direct. For instance, this Hot Air article from last year observes that top CBS, ABC, CNN executives all have relatives working as advisors for the White House. This recent article at the Powerline Blog (discussing the development of the Keystone pipeline) notes:
“Green” energy is also controversial because it has been used to enrich government cronies. Let’s take, for instance, the billionaire Tom Steyer. Steyer has made much of his fortune by using his government connections to secure support for uneconomic “green” energy projects that have profited him, to the detriment of consumers and taxpayers. See, for example, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. As is explained here, Tom Steyer is a bitter opponent of the Keystone Pipeline. His financial interests, in “green” energy and perhaps also in pre-pipeline oil sources like BP, stand to benefit if Keystone is killed.

Haven’t heard much about Tom Steyer, you say? Maybe that’s because he isn’t heavily involved in politics. Heh–just kidding. Steyer, as you probably know, is one of the biggest donors to the Democratic Party and its candidates. This year, he has pledged to contribute $100 million to the campaigns of Democratic candidates, as long as they toe the line on environmental issues–which includes, presumably, taxpayer support for “green” energy and opposition to Keystone.
And then there is this from the same article:
So we have a contrast that couldn’t be clearer: the Washington Post published a false story about support for Keystone because it fit the Democratic Party’s agenda. It covered up a similar, but true story about opposition to the pipeline (and about “green” politics in general) because that, too, fit the Democratic Party’s agenda. I don’t think we need to look any further to connect the dots.

And yet, a still deeper level of corruption is on display here. Juliet Eilperin is a reporter for the Washington Post who covers, among other things, environmental politics. As I wrote in my prior post, she is married to Andrew Light. Light writes on climate policy for the Center for American Progress, a far-left organization that has carried on a years-long vendetta against Charles and David Koch on its web site, Think Progress. Light is also a member of the Obama administration, as Senior Adviser to the Special Envoy on Climate Change in the Department of State. The Center for American Progress is headed by John Podesta, who chaired Barack Obama’s transition team and is now listed as a “special advisor” to the Obama administration. Note that Ms. Eilperin quoted Podesta, her husband’s boss, in her puff piece on Tom Steyer.

Oh, yes–one more thing. Guess who sits on the board of the Center for American Progress? Yup. Tom Steyer.
Tom Steyer understands the importance of mapping paths of power and influencing key officials. Terrorists don't understand this linkage--or if they do, they do not exploit it.

(H/t Instapundit)

Update 3/25/2014: Guerrilla America discusses the concepts of picking targets from a military perspective. Read the whole thing.

Update 5/28/2014: Global Research has published a list of 2014 attendees of the Bilderberg meeting, which is a good example of people of power and influence:
Chairman
FRA Castries, Henri de Chairman and CEO, AXA Group
 
DEU Achleitner, Paul M. Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG
DEU Ackermann, Josef Former CEO, Deutsche Bank AG
GBR Agius, Marcus Non-Executive Chairman, PA Consulting Group
FIN Alahuhta, Matti Member of the Board, KONE; Chairman, Aalto University Foundation
GBR Alexander, Helen Chairman, UBM plc
USA Alexander, Keith B. Former Commander, U.S. Cyber Command; Former Director, National Security Agency
USA Altman, Roger C. Executive Chairman, Evercore
FIN Apunen, Matti Director, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA
DEU Asmussen, Jörg State Secretary of Labour and Social Affairs
HUN Bajnai, Gordon Former Prime Minister; Party Leader, Together 2014
GBR Balls, Edward M. Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
PRT Balsemão, Francisco Pinto Chairman, Impresa SGPS
FRA Baroin, François Member of Parliament (UMP); Mayor of Troyes
FRA Baverez, Nicolas Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
USA Berggruen, Nicolas Chairman, Berggruen Institute on Governance
ITA Bernabè, Franco Chairman, FB Group SRL
DNK Besenbacher, Flemming Chairman, The Carlsberg Group
NLD Beurden, Ben van CEO, Royal Dutch Shell plc
SWE Bildt, Carl Minister for Foreign Affairs
NOR Brandtzæg, Svein Richard President and CEO, Norsk Hydro ASA
INT Breedlove, Philip M. Supreme Allied Commander Europe
AUT Bronner, Oscar Publisher, Der STANDARD Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H.
SWE Buskhe, Håkan President and CEO, Saab AB
TUR Çandar, Cengiz Senior Columnist, Al Monitor and Radikal
ESP Cebrián, Juan Luis Executive Chairman, Grupo PRISA
FRA Chalendar, Pierre-André de Chairman and CEO, Saint-Gobain
CAN Clark, W. Edmund Group President and CEO, TD Bank Group
INT Coeuré, Benoît Member of the Executive Board, European Central Bank
IRL Coveney, Simon Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
GBR Cowper-Coles, Sherard Senior Adviser to the Group Chairman and Group CEO, HSBC Holdings plc
BEL Davignon, Etienne Minister of State
USA Donilon, Thomas E. Senior Partner, O’Melveny and Myers; Former U.S. National Security Advisor
DEU Döpfner, Mathias CEO, Axel Springer SE
GBR Dudley, Robert Group Chief Executive, BP plc
FIN Ehrnrooth, Henrik Chairman, Caverion Corporation, Otava and Pöyry PLC
ITA Elkann, John Chairman, Fiat S.p.A.
DEU Enders, Thomas CEO, Airbus Group
DNK Federspiel, Ulrik Executive Vice President, Haldor Topsøe A/S
USA Feldstein, Martin S. Professor of Economics, Harvard University; President Emeritus, NBER
CAN Ferguson, Brian President and CEO, Cenovus Energy Inc.
GBR Flint, Douglas J. Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc
ESP García-Margallo, José Manuel Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
USA Gfoeller, Michael Independent Consultant
TUR Göle, Nilüfer Professor of Sociology, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales
USA Greenberg, Evan G. Chairman and CEO, ACE Group
GBR Greening, Justine Secretary of State for International Development
NLD Halberstadt, Victor Professor of Economics, Leiden University
USA Hockfield, Susan President Emerita, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
NOR Høegh, Leif O. Chairman, Höegh Autoliners AS
NOR Høegh, Westye Senior Advisor, Höegh Autoliners AS
USA Hoffman, Reid Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, LinkedIn
CHN Huang, Yiping Professor of Economics, National School of Development, Peking University
USA Jackson, Shirley Ann President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
USA Jacobs, Kenneth M. Chairman and CEO, Lazard
USA Johnson, James A. Chairman, Johnson Capital Partners
USA Karp, Alex CEO, Palantir Technologies
USA Katz, Bruce J. Vice President and Co-Director, Metropolitan Policy Program, The Brookings Institution
CAN Kenney, Jason T. Minister of Employment and Social Development
GBR Kerr, John Deputy Chairman, Scottish Power
USA Kissinger, Henry A. Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc.
USA Kleinfeld, Klaus Chairman and CEO, Alcoa
TUR Koç, Mustafa Chairman, Koç Holding A.S.
DNK Kragh, Steffen President and CEO, Egmont
USA Kravis, Henry R. Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
USA Kravis, Marie-Josée Senior Fellow and Vice Chair, Hudson Institute
CHE Kudelski, André Chairman and CEO, Kudelski Group
INT Lagarde, Christine Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
BEL Leysen, Thomas Chairman of the Board of Directors, KBC Group
USA Li, Cheng Director, John L.Thornton China Center,The Brookings Institution
SWE Lifvendahl, Tove Political Editor in Chief, Svenska Dagbladet
CHN Liu, He Minister, Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs
PRT Macedo, Paulo Minister of Health
FRA Macron, Emmanuel Deputy Secretary General of the Presidency
ITA Maggioni, Monica Editor-in-Chief, Rainews24, RAI TV
GBR Mandelson, Peter Chairman, Global Counsel LLP
USA McAfee, Andrew Principal Research Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PRT Medeiros, Inês de Member of Parliament, Socialist Party
GBR Micklethwait, John Editor-in-Chief, The Economist
GRC Mitsotaki, Alexandra Chair, ActionAid Hellas
ITA Monti, Mario Senator-for-life; President, Bocconi University
USA Mundie, Craig J. Senior Advisor to the CEO, Microsoft Corporation
CAN Munroe-Blum, Heather Professor of Medicine and Principal (President) Emerita, McGill University
USA Murray, Charles A. W.H. Brady Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
NLD Netherlands, H.R.H. Princess Beatrix of the
ESP Nin Génova, Juan María Deputy Chairman and CEO, CaixaBank
FRA Nougayrède, Natalie Director and Executive Editor, Le Monde
DNK Olesen, Søren-Peter Professor; Member of the Board of Directors, The Carlsberg Foundation
FIN Ollila, Jorma Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell, plc; Chairman, Outokumpu Plc
TUR Oran, Umut Deputy Chairman, Republican People’s Party (CHP)
GBR Osborne, George Chancellor of the Exchequer
FRA Pellerin, Fleur State Secretary for Foreign Trade
USA Perle, Richard N. Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
USA Petraeus, David H. Chairman, KKR Global Institute
CAN Poloz, Stephen S. Governor, Bank of Canada
INT Rasmussen, Anders Fogh Secretary General, NATO
DNK Rasmussen, Jørgen Huno Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Lundbeck Foundation
INT Reding, Viviane Vice President and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, European Commission
USA Reed, Kasim Mayor of Atlanta
CAN Reisman, Heather M. Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.
NOR Reiten, Eivind Chairman, Klaveness Marine Holding AS
DEU Röttgen, Norbert Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee, German Bundestag
USA Rubin, Robert E. Co-Chair, Council on Foreign Relations; Former Secretary of the Treasury
USA Rumer, Eugene Senior Associate and Director, Russia and Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
NOR Rynning-Tønnesen, Christian President and CEO, Statkraft AS
NLD Samsom, Diederik M. Parliamentary Leader PvdA (Labour Party)
GBR Sawers, John Chief, Secret Intelligence Service
NLD Scheffer, Paul J. Author; Professor of European Studies, Tilburg University
NLD Schippers, Edith Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport
USA Schmidt, Eric E. Executive Chairman, Google Inc.
AUT Scholten, Rudolf CEO, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG
USA Shih, Clara CEO and Founder, Hearsay Social
FIN Siilasmaa, Risto K. Chairman of the Board of Directors and Interim CEO, Nokia Corporation
ESP Spain, H.M. the Queen of
USA Spence, A. Michael Professor of Economics, New York University
FIN Stadigh, Kari President and CEO, Sampo plc
USA Summers, Lawrence H. Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University
IRL Sutherland, Peter D. Chairman, Goldman Sachs International; UN Special Representative for Migration
SWE Svanberg, Carl-Henric Chairman, Volvo AB and BP plc
TUR Taftali, A. Ümit Member of the Board, Suna and Inan Kiraç Foundation
USA Thiel, Peter A. President, Thiel Capital
DNK Topsøe, Henrik Chairman, Haldor Topsøe A/S
GRC Tsoukalis, Loukas President, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy
NOR Ulltveit-Moe, Jens Founder and CEO, Umoe AS
INT Üzümcü, Ahmet Director-General, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
CHE Vasella, Daniel L. Honorary Chairman, Novartis International
FIN Wahlroos, Björn Chairman, Sampo plc
SWE Wallenberg, Jacob Chairman, Investor AB
SWE Wallenberg, Marcus Chairman of the Board of Directors, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB
USA Warsh, Kevin M. Distinguished Visiting Fellow and Lecturer, Stanford University
GBR Wolf, Martin H. Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial Times
USA Wolfensohn, James D. Chairman and CEO, Wolfensohn and Company
NLD Zalm, Gerrit Chairman of the Managing Board, ABN-AMRO Bank N.V.
GRC Zanias, George Chairman of the Board, National Bank of Greece
USA Zoellick, Robert B. Chairman, Board of International Advisors, The Goldman Sachs Group
-
AUT Austria
GRC Greece
BEL Belgium
HUN Hungary
CAN Canada
INT International
CHE Switzerland
IRL Ireland
CHN China
ITA Italy
DEU Germany
NLD Netherlands
DNK Denmark
NOR Norway
ESP Spain
PRT Portugal
FIN Finland
SWE Sweden
FRA France
TUR Turkey
GBR Great Britain,
USA United States of America
 Update (12/30/2014): The Freedom Is Just Another Word blog has Venn diagrams showing the overlap between certain big businesses (big oil, Comcast, GE, Goldman Sachs, big media, Monsanto, and large pharmaceutical companies) and big government--i.e., people that have held high positions in both.

Update (6/19/2015): The Vigilant Citizen has a list of the 2015 Bilderberg attendees:

Castries, Henri deChairman and CEO, AXA GroupFRA
Achleitner, Paul M.Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Deutsche Bank AGDEU
Agius, MarcusNon-Executive Chairman, PA Consulting GroupGBR
Ahrenkiel, ThomasDirector, Danish Intelligence Service (DDIS)DNK
Allen, John R.Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, US Department of StateUSA
Altman, Roger C.Executive Chairman, EvercoreUSA
Applebaum, AnneDirector of Transitions Forum, Legatum InstituteUSA
Apunen, MattiDirector, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVAFIN
Baird, ZoëCEO and President, Markle FoundationUSA
Balls, Edward M.Former Shadow Chancellor of the ExchequerGBR
Balsemão, Francisco PintoChairman, Impresa SGPSPRT
Barroso, José M. DurãoFormer President of the European CommissionPRT
Baverez, NicolasPartner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPFRA
Benko, RenéFounder, SIGNA Holding GmbHAUT
Bernabè, FrancoChairman, FB Group SRLITA
Beurden, Ben vanCEO, Royal Dutch Shell plcNLD
Bigorgne, LaurentDirector, Institut MontaigneFRA
Boone, LaurenceSpecial Adviser on Financial and Economic Affairs to the PresidentFRA
Botín, Ana P.Chairman, Banco SantanderESP
Brandtzæg, Svein RichardPresident and CEO, Norsk Hydro ASANOR
Bronner, OscarPublisher, Standard VerlagsgesellschaftAUT
Burns, WilliamPresident, Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceUSA
Calvar, PatrickDirector General, DGSIFRA
Castries, Henri deChairman, Bilderberg Meetings; Chairman and CEO, AXA GroupFRA
Cebrián, Juan LuisExecutive Chairman, Grupo PRISAESP
Clark, W. EdmundRetired Executive, TD Bank GroupCAN
Coeuré, BenoîtMember of the Executive Board, European Central BankINT
Coyne, AndrewEditor, Editorials and Comment, National PostCAN
Damberg, Mikael L.Minister for Enterprise and InnovationSWE
De Gucht, KarelFormer EU Trade Commissioner, State MinisterBEL
Dijsselbloem, JeroenMinister of FinanceNLD
Donilon, Thomas E.Former U.S. National Security Advisor; Partner and Vice Chair, O’Melveny & Myers LLPUSA
Döpfner, MathiasCEO, Axel Springer SEDEU
Dowling, AnnPresident, Royal Academy of EngineeringGBR
Dugan, ReginaVice President for Engineering, Advanced Technology and Projects, GoogleUSA
Eilertsen, TrinePolitical Editor, AftenpostenNOR
Eldrup, MereteCEO, TV 2 Danmark A/SDNK
Elkann, JohnChairman and CEO, EXOR; Chairman, Fiat Chrysler AutomobilesITA
Enders, ThomasCEO, Airbus GroupDEU
Erdoes, MaryCEO, JP Morgan Asset ManagementUSA
Fairhead, RonaChairman, BBC TrustGBR
Federspiel, UlrikExecutive Vice President, Haldor Topsøe A/SDNK
Feldstein, Martin S.President Emeritus, NBER;  Professor of Economics, Harvard UniversityUSA
Ferguson, NiallProfessor of History, Harvard University, Gunzberg Center for European StudiesUSA
Fischer, HeinzFederal PresidentAUT
Flint, Douglas J.Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plcGBR
Franz, ChristophChairman of the Board, F. Hoffmann-La Roche LtdCHE
Fresco, Louise O.President and Chairman Executive Board, Wageningen University and Research CentreNLD
Griffin, KennethFounder and CEO, Citadel Investment Group, LLCUSA
Gruber, LilliExecutive Editor and Anchor “Otto e mezzo”, La7 TVITA
Guriev, SergeiProfessor of Economics, Sciences PoRUS
Gürkaynak, GönençManaging Partner, ELIG Law FirmTUR
Gusenbauer, AlfredFormer Chancellor of the Republic of AustriaAUT
Halberstadt, VictorProfessor of Economics, Leiden UniversityNLD
Hampel, ErichChairman, UniCredit Bank Austria AGAUT
Hassabis, DemisVice President of Engineering, Google DeepMindGBR
Hesoun, WolfgangCEO, Siemens AustriaAUT
Hildebrand, PhilippVice Chairman, BlackRock Inc.CHE
Hoffman, ReidCo-Founder and Executive Chairman, LinkedInUSA
Ischinger, WolfgangChairman, Munich Security ConferenceINT
Jacobs, Kenneth M.Chairman and CEO, LazardUSA
Jäkel, JuliaCEO, Gruner + JahrDEU
Johnson, James A.Chairman, Johnson Capital PartnersUSA
Juppé, AlainMayor of Bordeaux, Former Prime MinisterFRA
Kaeser, JoePresident and CEO, Siemens AGDEU
Karp, AlexCEO, Palantir TechnologiesUSA
Kepel, GillesUniversity Professor, Sciences PoFRA
Kerr, JohnDeputy Chairman, Scottish PowerGBR
Kesici, IlhanMP, Turkish ParliamentTUR
Kissinger, Henry A.Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc.USA
Kleinfeld, KlausChairman and CEO, AlcoaUSA
Knot, Klaas H.W.President, De Nederlandsche BankNLD
Koç, Mustafa V.Chairman, Koç Holding A.S.TUR
Kravis, Henry R.Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.USA
Kravis, Marie-JoséeSenior Fellow and Vice Chair, Hudson InstituteUSA
Kudelski, AndréChairman and CEO, Kudelski GroupCHE
Lauk, KurtPresident, Globe Capital PartnersDEU
Lemne, CarolaCEO, The Confederation of Swedish EnterpriseSWE
Levey, StuartChief Legal Officer, HSBC Holdings plcUSA
Leyen, Ursula von derMinister of DefenceDEU
Leysen, ThomasChairman of the Board of Directors, KBC GroupBEL
Maher, ShirazSenior Research Fellow, ICSR, King’s College LondonGBR
Markus Lassen, ChristinaHead of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Security Policy and StabilisationDNK
Mathews, Jessica T.Distinguished Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceUSA
Mattis, JamesDistinguished Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford UniversityUSA
Maudet, PierreVice-President of the State Council, Department of Security, Police and the Economy of GenevaCHE
McKay, David I.President and CEO, Royal Bank of CanadaCAN
Mert, NurayColumnist, Professor of Political Science, Istanbul UniversityTUR
Messina, JimCEO, The Messina GroupUSA
Michel, CharlesPrime MinisterBEL
Micklethwait, JohnEditor-in-Chief, Bloomberg LPUSA
Minton Beddoes, ZannyEditor-in-Chief, The EconomistGBR
Monti, MarioSenator-for-life; President, Bocconi UniversityITA
Mörttinen, LeenaExecutive Director, The Finnish Family Firms AssociationFIN
Mundie, Craig J.Principal, Mundie & AssociatesUSA
Munroe-Blum, HeatherChairperson, Canada Pension Plan Investment BoardCAN
Netherlands, H.R.H. Princess Beatrix of theNLD
O’Leary, MichaelCEO, Ryanair PlcIRL
Osborne, GeorgeFirst Secretary of State and Chancellor of the ExchequerGBR
Özel, SoliColumnist, Haberturk Newspaper; Senior Lecturer, Kadir Has UniversityTUR
Papalexopoulos, DimitriGroup CEO, Titan Cement Co.GRC
Pégard, CatherinePresident, Public Establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of VersaillesFRA
Perle, Richard N.Resident Fellow, American Enterprise InstituteUSA
Petraeus, David H.Chairman, KKR Global InstituteUSA
Pikrammenos, PanagiotisHonorary President of The Hellenic Council of StateGRC
Reisman, Heather M.Chair and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.CAN
Rocca, GianfeliceChairman, Techint GroupITA
Roiss, GerhardCEO, OMV AustriaAUT
Rubin, Robert E.Co Chair, Council on Foreign Relations; Former Secretary of the TreasuryUSA
Rutte, MarkPrime MinisterNLD
Sadjadpour, KarimSenior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceUSA
Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, PedroLeader, Partido Socialista Obrero Español PSOEESP
Sawers, JohnChairman and Partner, Macro Advisory PartnersGBR
Sayek Böke, SelinVice President, Republican People’s PartyTUR
Schmidt, Eric E.Executive Chairman, Google Inc.USA
Scholten, RudolfCEO, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AGAUT
Senard, Jean-DominiqueCEO, Michelin GroupFRA
Sevelda, KarlCEO, Raiffeisen Bank International AGAUT
Stoltenberg, JensSecretary General, NATOINT
Stubb, AlexanderMinisters of FinanceFIN
Suder, KatrinDeputy Minister of DefenseDEU
Sutherland, Peter D.UN Special Representative; Chairman, Goldman Sachs InternationalIRL
Svanberg, Carl-HenricChairman, BP plc; Chairman, AB VolvoSWE
Svarva, OlaugCEO, The Government Pension Fund NorwayNOR
Thiel, Peter A.President, Thiel CapitalUSA
Tsoukalis, LoukasPresident, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign PolicyGRC
Üzümcü, AhmetDirector-General, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical WeaponsINT
Vitorino, António M.Partner, Cuetrecasas, Concalves Pereira, RLPRT
Wallenberg, JacobChairman, Investor ABSWE
Weber, VinPartner, Mercury LLCUSA
Wolf, Martin H.Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial TimesGBR
Wolfensohn, James D.Chairman and CEO, Wolfensohn and CompanyUSA
Zoellick, Robert B.Chairman, Board of International Advisors, The Goldman Sachs GroupUSA

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