Aaron Blitz

Bio

Received M.A. in Counter-terrorism but takes the moderate, rational point of view when analyzing topics of interest such as African security, Defense, and Failed States.

Bashar Al-Assad: Sectarian Violence Is a Fact Of Life in Syria
By Aaron Blitz
Two years have passed since the beginning of the increasingly brutal Syrian civil war, and the debate over whether the United States should intervene continues. Historically speaking, all one has to do to see how the next decade in Syria might play…
Pakistan Elections 2013: Free Elections Don't Mean a Free Country
By Aaron Blitz
By most accounts, Nawiz Sharif will become the next prime minister of Pakistan following general elections held this weekend. This is certainly a positive step for Pakistan, but we must remember that elections do not equal democracy. Before the…
Slacktivism: Westerners Can't Just "Like" Away Problems in Africa
By Aaron Blitz
Last week, British academic and noted Sudan expert Alex de Waal wrote an important piece lamenting the current state of activism, specifically related to the African continent. De Waal's writing was inundated with his frustrations, which for anyone…
Hamas-Fatah Peace: Religious Crackdowns in Gaza Will Kill Chances for Unity
By Aaron Blitz
Recent reports have indicated that young men in Gaza have been arrested, beaten, and had their hair forcibly shaved by Hamas police. The news is not entirely surprising considering the history of Hamas in Gaza and its attempts to enforce its strict…
Mali Civil War: French Embassy Bombing Comes After France Asserts Bigger African Role
By Aaron Blitz
The bombing of the French embassy this week was somewhat of shock considering its location. Libya's capital of Tripoli has largely been spared the violence faced by other parts of the country. Although officially no one has claimed responsibility…
Boston Bombing: Would Drones Over Boston Have Been Useful?
By Aaron Blitz
President of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) Micheal Toscano was recently quoted in an article in U.S. News as claiming drones could have aided first responders and law enforcement in the immediate aftermath of…
U.S. Military Deploys 200 Troops to Jordan As it Prepares For the Worst in Syria
By Aaron Blitz
Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told Congress that the Pentagon has ordered 200 soldiers to be deployed to Jordan in light of the deteriorating situation in neighboring Syria. The move is not the first instance of the deployment of…
Boston Marathon Explosion: What Does the Attack Mean?
By Aaron Blitz
Less than 24 hours after the attack that killed at least three people and injured over a hundred in Boston, speculation has begun on whom may be responsible for this terrible act. However, the White House has stated it is treating the attack as an…
North Korea War: What Would It Look Like?
By Aaron Blitz
Following weeks of heightened rhetoric,  Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's recent statement, and the news that new North Korean missile testing could take place any day now, tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain at a historic high. If a war were…