Worldfocus blogger S. Azmat Hassan writes how mankind has engaged in violent extremism since Biblical times. Terrorism is propaganda by deed, since terrorism is theater. So, Hassan argues, al-Qaeda succeeds every time it plants fear and uncertainty in our hearts and minds.

Worldfocus presents the year's highlights from our online "Perspectives" section, which features the work of regular contributors to the broadcast and website. Read their most compelling personal accounts and commentary from 2009, touching on subjects ranging from the seemingly-endless war in eastern Congo to pop culture in North Korea.

Worldfocus blogger S. Azmat Hassan argues that U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan will not succeed in helping the Pakistani government take on the Taliban. Hassan outlines the different Taliban groups on either side of the border and explains the Pakistani reluctance to take on the Afghan Taliban.

After an unusually lengthy and public deliberative process, President Obama has decided to induct a further 30,000 troops in war-torn Afghanistan. He further stated that the U.S. would start withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan in July 2011. But he left open the timeline for total withdrawal, writes contributing blogger S. Azmat Hassan.

Contributing blogger S.Azmat Hassan, a former Pakistani diplomat, writes about the current impasse in the Middle East peace process. He argues that the Obama administration should be tougher on both sides to break through the current stalemate.