Attorney General William P. Barr defended federal response to protests at an oversight hearing before the House Judiciary Committee. Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla via The New York Times. The Argument As protests over police violence against Black people and systemic racism continue across the U.S., many still wonder how and when justice will be served. While … Continue reading Racial Justice Requires Domestic Terrorism Laws
Category: Terrorism & Transnational Threats
The Europe Desk Interview: Audrey Kurth Cronin on Counterterrorism and Emerging Technologies
Audrey Kurth Cronin. Photo Credit: Audrey Kurth Cronin/Twitter. In March, Audrey Kurth Cronin, professor of international security in the School of International Service at American University, sat down for an interview with Emily Traynor Mayrand and Alistair Somerville from The Europe Desk podcast at Georgetown’s BMW Center for German and European Studies. She is an … Continue reading The Europe Desk Interview: Audrey Kurth Cronin on Counterterrorism and Emerging Technologies
The Deradicalization Dilemma
Armed police at London Bridge responding to multiple stabbings by Usman Khan, a paroled and ‘deradicalized’ terrorist, on November 29, 2019. Photo Credit: Dominic Lipinski/AP. London’s recent knife attacks highlight the challenges of current deradicalization programs. On November 29, 2019, Usman Khan stabbed to death two practitioners at an event near London Bridge that was … Continue reading The Deradicalization Dilemma
Russian Counterinsurgency Doctrine During The Second Chechen War 1999-2009
Russian troops in action during the Second Chechen War. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons. The Bear subjugating the Wolves Before the Russian people became a nation, Russia was an empire. This has severe implications for the Kremlin’s counterinsurgency doctrine, as Russia can best be described as a state-nation rather than a nation-state. Given Russia’s unique identity, … Continue reading Russian Counterinsurgency Doctrine During The Second Chechen War 1999-2009
The Far-Right and Domestic Terrorism: Legislation’s Day in the Sun?
Propaganda image used by The Base. Photo Credit: Telegram. The recent arrest of members from “The Base,” a neo-Nazi militant group, highlights the continued threat of domestic terrorism in the United States. Three individuals were arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on January 16, 2020 and are now facing federal firearms, conspiracy, and … Continue reading The Far-Right and Domestic Terrorism: Legislation’s Day in the Sun?
The Fluctuation of Radicalization and the Fluidity of Extremist Belief-Systems
A group of white nationals marching. Photo Source: Mykal McEldowney/AP. Radicalization is difficult to fully grasp because of its complex historic milieu, geographic peculiarities, and individualistic idiosyncrasies. Frank Furedi, a sociologist best known for his work on the psychology of fear, argues that a government’s portrayal of radicalization usually has a “fantasy like character,” designed … Continue reading The Fluctuation of Radicalization and the Fluidity of Extremist Belief-Systems
Counterinsurgency as an Approach to Organized Crime in Latin America
Brazilian security services. Photo Credit: Getty Images By: Yuri Neves, Columnist The growing complexity and capabilities of criminal organizations in Latin America necessitate a new approach to fight crime in the region. The conditions that give rise to insurgencies, are similar to those that allow organized crime groups to prosper. Furthermore, both entities utilize similar … Continue reading Counterinsurgency as an Approach to Organized Crime in Latin America
A Nuclear (em)Powered Middle East: Why the United States Cannot Afford a Counterterror Only Approach to the Region
The Barakah nuclear power plant in United Arab Emirates is seen in an undated photo released by the state-run WAM news agency. Photo Credit: Arun Girija/Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation/WAM/AP By: Taylor Clausen, Columnist The most recent National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy heralded the return of great power competition. Before the documents’ release, Elbridge … Continue reading A Nuclear (em)Powered Middle East: Why the United States Cannot Afford a Counterterror Only Approach to the Region
Don’t Discount the Threat Posed by Female Foreign Fighters
ISIS' all-female al-Khansaa brigade, a morality police, ensures women in the caliphate adhere to Islamic norms. Photo Credit: The Strait Times. By: Alicia Chavy, Columnist In December, the U.S. announced that it would withdraw its troops from Syria, to which Syrian rebel groups responded by threatening to release thousands of captured Western European and American … Continue reading Don’t Discount the Threat Posed by Female Foreign Fighters
Why Counterterrorism Efforts Against Salafi-Jihadists Should Emphasize Information Warfare
The Islamic State extensively employs social media to spread its message. Photo Credit: The Week By: Kevin Truitte, Columnist The United States and its Western allies have been fighting the Salafi-jihadist movement for more than a quarter of a century. This war has largely been fought on physical battlefields – from the mountains of Afghanistan … Continue reading Why Counterterrorism Efforts Against Salafi-Jihadists Should Emphasize Information Warfare