Background – Islam – The growing voice of political Islam suggests that the United States faces a much more nebulous enemy in its war on terrorism than a movement of religious zealots.

• New York Times: Radical Islam Gains a Seductive New Voice

Background – History – What qualifies one to be called a hero? An attempt to answer the question by retelling the stories of the U-2 pilots during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During the Cuban missile crisis, Maj. Rudolf Anderson faced the same dangers his fellow U-2 pilots did. But he was the only one to die. Does that make him the hero?

• Washington Post: Into Thin Air