A Friendly Reminder that Al-Qaeda is Still Strong and Will Likely Become Even Stronger

A fighter from the Al-Nusra Front holds a flag representing the local al-Qaeda branch in Syria. Photo Credit: Rami Al-Sayed, AFP. Prior to and following the withdrawal from Afghanistan, US intelligence and defense officials sounded the alarm regarding al-Qaeda. They specifically flagged al-Qaeda’s ability to reconstitute its capabilities and conduct an attack on US interests … Continue reading A Friendly Reminder that Al-Qaeda is Still Strong and Will Likely Become Even Stronger

Boko Haram: Terrorist Endemic

Boko Haram, a terrorist organization that emerged in northern Nigeria in 2002, continues to pose a significant threat to Nigeria and the broader region, carrying out deadly attacks and engaging in criminal activity. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Boko Haram insurgency has displaced nearly 2.4 million people in the Lake … Continue reading Boko Haram: Terrorist Endemic

Women: Terrorism’s Secret Weapon

Photo Credit: The Institute for Security Studies Recent studies of women’s roles in jihadi terrorism debunk the widely held belief that women are either passive victims or fanatical jihadi brides. Women participate – both willingly and unwillingly – in terrorist activities for a variety of reasons.[1] Women’s participation in jihadi terrorism is not binary, it … Continue reading Women: Terrorism’s Secret Weapon

The Economic Factors of al-Shabaab’s Insurgency

Data from ACLED on attacks perpetrated by jihadists in Mozambique. Photo Credit: The Economist In October 2017, a group of Islamist rebels locally known as al-Shabaab (no affiliation with al-Shabaab in Somalia) sought to spread radical Islam and gain territory in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado. [i] The situation deteriorates as both internal … Continue reading The Economic Factors of al-Shabaab’s Insurgency

ISIS’s Female Morality Police

Photo Credit: NBC News Forty lashes was the standard punishment for women who wore high heels or headscarves with designs on them in areas of Raqqa and Mosul.[1] These lashes were doled out by the Hisbah division of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which focused on strictly enforcing Sharia Law in ISIS conquered … Continue reading ISIS’s Female Morality Police

Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Act and Deteriorating Rule of Law

Photo Credit: Rappler.com The Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 championed by President Rodrigo Duterte is destined for failure. The law, which is meant to take a hardline stance combatting insurgencies in the Philippines, is yet another example of the deteriorating rule of law under the Duterte Administration and the nation’s failure to learn from the … Continue reading Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Act and Deteriorating Rule of Law

The Recent Rise of the Far-Right

Photo Credit: Getty Images The January 6th events at the Capitol were heinous, lethal, and extreme. They were also predictable. For a nation that touts itself as the beacon of a liberal world order, many were left scratching their heads and wondering, “how could this happen here?” The answer to that question has been hiding … Continue reading The Recent Rise of the Far-Right

Purge White Supremacist Extremism from the Military

Photo credit: Australia Broadcasting Service, Emma Machan and Ola Haydar In October, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security released an annual assessment that declared white supremacist violence the “most persistent and lethal threat in the homeland.”[i] That sentiment, echoed by FBI Director Christopher Wray in his February address to Congress, supports the general consensus among … Continue reading Purge White Supremacist Extremism from the Military

The First Step Towards Justice

Photo credit: Reuters The indictment of Alexanda Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, on Wednesday, October 7th represents the first step towards achieving justice for their victims and bringing a measure of solace to their grieving families. As members of ISIS, Kotey and Elsheikh were dubbed “The Beatles” because of their British accents. In … Continue reading The First Step Towards Justice

Reclaiming the Moral High Ground?

The final 40 Guantanamo detainees are still waiting for their day in court, but a recent DC appellate court decision has put the privilege of due process in jeopardy. Can the U.S. regain the moral high ground with these indefinitely detained individuals acting as an indefinite stain on the robes of justice? Photo Credit: Congregation … Continue reading Reclaiming the Moral High Ground?