By: Antonia Ward, Reporter Photo Credit: Georgetown University Center for Security Studies (CSS) January 26th-27th witnessed a convergence of academics and practitioners from across the world descend upon Georgetown University to offer policy lessons and advice to the new administration of President Donald Trump on the pressing issue of terrorism and counterterrorism in a seminal … Continue reading Academics and Practitioners Give Open Advice to President Trump on ‘Eradicating’ Terrorism
Category: Intelligence
Tensions and Torture in Flynn’s National Security Council
By: Andrew Swick, Columnist Photo Credit: Politico Just weeks into Donald Trump’s presidency, significant signs of tension emerged in the management of the National Security Council (NSC) by former Army general Michael Flynn. Particularly, questions persist as to the role of cabinet officials and the authority of Mr. Flynn himself. Early debates over issues like … Continue reading Tensions and Torture in Flynn’s National Security Council
Disinformation and Reflexive Control: The New Cold War
By: Annie Kowalewski, Columnist Photo Credit: NPR Nearly four months after the election, US policymakers and political researchers remain puzzled by Russia’s potential involvement and the impact of “fake news” and other forms of disinformation that plagued the campaigns. With confusion swirling around “alternative facts,” the effects of disinformation and Russian meddling are just beginning … Continue reading Disinformation and Reflexive Control: The New Cold War
A New Development in the Fight Against Online Extremism
Photo Credit: Vocativ By: Nicole Magney, Columnist Over the past several years, tech and social media companies have struggled to provide a comprehensive response to the problem of terrorism-related content posted online. In early December, Twitter, Facebook, Microsoft, and YouTube announced a new initiative to share databases of online “hashes” in an effort to curb … Continue reading A New Development in the Fight Against Online Extremism
Old Tricks, New Targets: Russia’s Involvement in the 2016 Elections and the US Response
Photo Credit: Fortune.com By: Emily Kangas, Columnist While the United States’ 2016 presidential election can be described as anything but ordinary, perhaps one of the most controversial aspects was Russia’s alleged involvement in the election process.[i] This month, new evidence of Russian meddling emerged, with recent reports accusing Russia of coordinating a campaign of “botnets,” … Continue reading Old Tricks, New Targets: Russia’s Involvement in the 2016 Elections and the US Response
Time to Police INTERPOL
Photo Credit: The Independent By: Annie Kowalewski, Columnist At the 85th session of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) General Assembly in November 2016, Chinese Vice Minister of Public Security Meng Hongwei was elected President.[i] His appointment raises concern about whether he will abuse INTERPOL’s resources to crack down on Chinese political dissidents abroad, particularly … Continue reading Time to Police INTERPOL
Drone Policy, International Law, and the Next Administration
Photo Credit: CNN.com By: Jake Howry, Columnist As the United States prepares for the transition to the next administration, we should grapple with the fact that the next President of the United States will inherit multiple wars, both overt and covert. Perhaps the defining aspect of President Obama’s counterterrorism legacy is the dramatic expansion of … Continue reading Drone Policy, International Law, and the Next Administration
CRISPR—A Rogue One?
Photo Credit: MIT Technology Review By: Paul Kumst, Columnist Released in February 2016, the Annual Worldwide Threats Assessment of the US Intelligence Community categorized gene editing as a potential weapon of mass destruction (WMD).[i] It expressed concern about the malicious potential stemming from the "accelerated pace of development" of genetic engineering. Although the report does not … Continue reading CRISPR—A Rogue One?
NATO’s Cyber Capabilities Are Only Defensive Without Cyber ‘Red Lines’
Photo Source: NATO Industry Cyber Partnership By: William Haynes, Columnist The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) ability to respond offensively to cyber attacks is hindered by its previous inaction and inherent difficulties surrounding cyber defense. During the 2016 NATO Warsaw Summit, NATO officially recognized cyberspace as an operational domain of warfare alongside air, sea, and … Continue reading NATO’s Cyber Capabilities Are Only Defensive Without Cyber ‘Red Lines’
Cyber Warfare: Chinese and Russian Lessons For US Cyber Doctrine
Photo: Personnel at the USAF component of Cyber Command By Sebastian J. Bae, Columnist Cyber warfare invokes images of rogue hackers stealing information or computer viruses crippling nations. Unsurprisingly, US cyber doctrine emphasizes network security and the weaponization of software. Yet, the victors in cyberspace will not be the states with the best technology, but those … Continue reading Cyber Warfare: Chinese and Russian Lessons For US Cyber Doctrine