Several weeks ago the editors at Foreign Policy asked me (and several other people, most of whom are much smarter than me) to participate in a survey on terrorism. 

The findings have now been released. And they are very interesting.

I have pasted the full survey and my own responses below.  (Note these have been edited to adhere to the order FP used in the final results, not the order I originally answered them in)

Survey Questions.

Q: Almost a decade after 9/11 is the US more or less safe from a terrorist attack? (1 less safe – 10 more safe)

A: Less safe from smaller one-off terrorist attacks: “4”

Q: The world’s most dangerous terrorist is __________ (fill in the blank)?

A: is someone we haven’t heard of yet.

Q: How likely is another terrorist attack in the US or Europe in the next 12 months (1 not likely – 10 very likely)?

A: 6

Q: Al-Qaeda is stronger today than it was on 9/11 (True or False)?

A:The organization is weaker, the ideology is stronger:  “True”

Q: The World is devoting too much time and attention to terrorism (True or False)?

A: False

Q: Which country poses the greatest terrorist threat to the United States?

A: Pakistan

Q: Is it necessary to win the war in Afghanistan?

A: It is not necessary to win the war, but it is necessary to not abandon Afghanistan.  When the west moves out; others move in.

Q: Is it possible to negotiate with the Taliban?

A: Yes it is possible to negotiate with the Taliban while they are harboring al-Qaeda.

Q: Where is Osama bin Laden?

A: Bin Laden is in the AF/PAK region.

Q: From which country are nuclear weapons most likely to wind in the hands of terrorists?

A: Pakistan

Q: The US Drone campaign in Pakistan is ___________ (fill in the blank)?

A: The US drone campaign in NW Pakistan will likely have unintended consequences that we have yet to see.

Q: How Important is it to kill Osama bin Laden (1 less important – 10 very important)?

A: 4

Q: Why hasn’t there been any successful terrorist attacks in the United States since 9/11?

A: A combination of increased security vigilance by the west and the lead time that is necessary for an attack to take place.

Q: If we could have done one thing differently since Sept. 11, we should have _____ (fill in the blank)?

A: ….we should not have invaded Iraq.