The Realignment 580 | Jake Tapper: How to Fight and Prosecute Forever Wars from Al Qaeda to Venezuelan Strikes and Mexican Drug Cartels
Nov 4, 2025
Jake Tapper, CNN anchor and author of Race Against Terror, discusses his investigations into national security and terrorism. He reveals the dramatic story of an Al-Qaeda fighter's confession to Italian authorities that sparked a U.S. investigation. The conversation dives into the challenges of closing Guantanamo Bay and questions whether military or civilian means are better for combating terrorism. Tapper also explores the implications of labeling drug cartels as terrorists and the danger of military strikes on drug trafficking, pondering the evolving landscape of U.S. foreign policy.
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Confession On A Refugee Ship
- A refugee on a cruise ship to mainland Italy confessed to an Italian Green Beret that he fought Americans in Afghanistan and was with al-Qaeda.
- The Italians called U.S. authorities, triggering a rush to build a criminal case before the man could be relocated or escape.
Prosecutor's Baseball Comparison
- Prosecutor Dave Bitcower compared the terrorist's courtroom confession to Ron Darling recounting a college no‑hitter because both remembered and relished their deeds.
- The comparison highlighted the terrorist's pride and sense of purpose in recalling violent acts.
Unique Legal Path For Battlefield Terrorists
- This is the only foreign terrorist tried in U.S. criminal court for killing service members on a battlefield, and such prosecutions remain rare.
- Obama couldn't close Guantanamo partly because some detainees were too dangerous to release but had evidence too tainted for prosecution.
