Today, the Center for American Progress and Foreign Policy magazine released the latest edition of their annual “terrorism index” survey. I’ll let the authors explain for themselves:

But is it making the United States safer? To find out, each year Foreign Policy and the Center for American Progress survey the very people who have run America’s national security apparatus during the past half century. Surveying more than 100 top U.S. foreign-policy experts—Republicans and Democrats alike—the Foreign Policy / Center for American Progress Terrorism Index is the only comprehensive, nonpartisan effort to poll the highest echelons of the country’s national security establishment for its assessment of how the United States is fighting the war on terror. First released in July 2006, then again in February and September 2007, the index attempts to draw definitive conclusions about the war’s priorities, policies, and progress. Its participants include people who have served as national security advisor, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, senior White House aides, top Pentagon commanders, seasoned intelligence professionals, and distinguished academics.

There’s a lot in there, but one noteworthy thing is a general trend in the direction of optimism as things settle down in Iraq. On the other hand, the surveyed experts continue to grow increasingly alarmed by American policy toward Tehran, which has neither improved relations between the U.S. and Iran nor done anything to impede the Iranian nuclear program. Other noteworthy results include the finding that 69 percent of surveyed experts recommend withdrawing most U.S. forces from Iraq over the next 18 months and 80 percent say that the United States has focused too much on Iraq and not enough on Afghanistan.

M.B. writes in, with regard to vacant property lock-in:

Matt – just thought I would point out that DC does have a policy mechanism to deal with vacant real estate. They tax vacant property at a much higher rate. The place I recently bought was listed as vacant and the property tax rate was almost five times higher than non-vacant property (its like $5 for every $100 of assessed value, compared to $0.85 per $100). Not sure what the property tax rate is for commercial real estate, but the vacant tax policy is definitely a deterrent to just hanging on to property. Still it is curious why these properties stay vacant for so long.

Well, that sounds like a pretty good idea to me, but looking around the city it doesn’t actually seem to work especially well. I think part of the issue for commercial property is that commercial leases are typically pretty long — someone opening a business wants that kind of security — which makes people extra-hesitant to lease something out if they think the price will be higher in twelve months.

A renewal of Cold War-style conflict between the US and Russia would be a disaster for the citizens of the United States, the citizens of Russia, and the citizens of most of the world but it would certainly be good news for the manufacturers of Cold War era weapons systems like the F-22 who lately have been feelings the squeeze and Robert Gates and others suggest reorienting our spending priorities toward 21st century issues or even — shudder — domestic priorities. Matthew Blake reports for the Windy that John Murtha and other friends of contractors are swinging into action arguing that events in the Caucasus show the need for the F-22 and other costly systems aimed at a peer competitor opponent.

Just like everyone else, John McCain’s had statements out today praising Pervez Musharraf’s decision to step down as President of Pakistan. But it’s worth noting that back in December when Pakistan was in the news because of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, McCain distinguished himself for taking a much more pro-Musharraf line than most other prominent U.S. politicians. Here he is talking to Anderson Cooper:

COOPER: Is there any other option but Musharraf?

MCCAIN: I think that the new chief of staff of the army is a person who’s clearly going to be a player, because the army will play a role in whatever and however any unrest is addressed. But I think Musharraf, as the president of the country, is probably — and he has stepped down from his military position, as you know. Is probably also a key element.

Alex MacGillis reported for The Washington Post that McCain was “outspoken in defense of Musharraf,” saying “I continue to believe Musharraf has done a pretty good job” whereas “Benazir Bhutto and [former prime minister Nawaz] Sharif presided over failed states, there was corruption, there was a failed state in Pakistan when Musharraf took charge.” By contrast, as Jason Zengerle points out, Barack Obama issued a clear call for Pakistani democracy.

It’s also worth reading the December 2007 coverage in the last of last week’s Georgia coverage just as a reminder of how much McCain relished a crisis mentality. He thinks that scary things happening in the world are good for him politically notwithstanding the fact that he’s associated with the policy approach that leads to the scary happenings.

All DC’s abuzz today with talk of Joe Biden as a Vice Presidential nominee. I think putting someone who voted for the 2002 Iraq AUMF on the ticket may be more politically problematic than people realize — Obama has cited his opposition to that bill as key evidence of his good judgment, but presumably you’d want to put Biden forward as a knowledgeable and experienced foreign policy person, thus setting up a problematic contradiction. But that vote aside, Biden really is someone who’s genuinely knowledgeable about foreign policy questions rather than simply being “strong on defense” or some BS. What’s more, from a Heads in the Sand perspective, picking Biden would signal a clear intention to engage with McCain on national security issues rather than try to dodge away from them, which is definitely a decision I support.

A neglected aspect of the Biden record, however, is that his ascendancy would be excellent news for the SUPERTRAIN. Biden commutes back-and-forth from Delaware to Washington regularly on the Acela, so he appreciates what high-speed rail can do. What’s more, Wilmington recently lost its scheduled air service making Delaware a plane-free state that depends on rail for its connectivity. Biden spends a lot of time on foreign policy and Judiciary Committee business, so he’s not as much of a legislative leader on these topics as his fellow Delawarian Tom Carper, but he’s still one of the best friends rail has in the Senate. Beyond that, Biden’s son sits on the Amtrak board and unlike some of Amtrak’s leadership (which besides Biden is heavily dominated by Republicans) is actually a forceful advocate for Amtrak and for improving rail.