A makeshift memorial outside the Tree of Life Synagogue on Oct. 29, 2018. Photo Credit: Matt Rourke / AP By: Jodi Brignola, Columnist The Trump administration released its new National Strategy for Counterterrorism (NSCT) last month, just before two major terrorist plots transpired – the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and a series of mail bombs sent to … Continue reading The Fatal Flaws in the Trump Administration’s Counterterrorism Strategy
Category: Terrorism & Transnational Threats
The War of Ideas: Advocating for a Stronger US Information Warfare Capability
The U.S. should establish and adequately resource a 21st century equivalent to the USIA. Above is USIA's 20th Review of Operations from January 1st to June 30th, 1963. By: Benjamin Carsman, Columnist The United States’ enduring challenge countering terrorist propaganda and more recent threats from nation state information operations have highlighted the need for a … Continue reading The War of Ideas: Advocating for a Stronger US Information Warfare Capability
Saudi Arabia’s Naval Blockade on Yemen Increases Animosity Towards the United States
A view of the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Yemen. Photo Credit: Reuters By: Jordan Abu-Sirriya, Columnist The horrendous Yemeni Civil War began in March 2015 as the Houthis—a Shia militia and Iranian proxy—attempted to seize control of the Yemeni government led by President Hadi. Saudi Arabia—the Middle East’s Sunni capital—and other Sunni-majority states hastily entered … Continue reading Saudi Arabia’s Naval Blockade on Yemen Increases Animosity Towards the United States
Canada’s New Strategy to Fight Terrorist Financing
By: Benjamin Aziza, Columnist Photo Credit: Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press Earlier this month, Canada announced plans to drastically change their existing anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) strategies. In their latest report, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international organization responsible for developing policies to combat terrorist financing as well as monitoring member states’ actions … Continue reading Canada’s New Strategy to Fight Terrorist Financing
The False Genealogy of Terrorism: How Islamic Extremists and Their Critics Misconstrue the Roots of Jihadist Ideology
Islamic State fighters march in the Syrian city of Raqqa in an image posted on a militant website on Jan. 14, 2014. Photo Credit: Associated Press By: Krystel Von Kumberg Though Islamic terrorism is not a rootless phenomenon, it also should not be viewed as a legitimate enterprise based on a coherent doctrine. Extremist groups, … Continue reading The False Genealogy of Terrorism: How Islamic Extremists and Their Critics Misconstrue the Roots of Jihadist Ideology
Nigeria’s Misguided Militaristic Strategy Against Boko Haram
By: Alicia Chavy, Columnist Photo Credit: Reuters Despite suffering recent losses of territorial control and military defeats, the Boko Haram threat is far from gone.[i] Since 2015, the Nigerian government has continued to tell its people and the world that the insurgency is under control, while brazen and highly deadly attacks continue to take place … Continue reading Nigeria’s Misguided Militaristic Strategy Against Boko Haram
Avoiding a Self-fulfilling Prophecy In Iraq
Members of the Abbas combat squad, a Shiite militia group, carry a picture of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani during a parade in Basra, Iraq, on September 26, 2015. Photo Credit: Nabil Al-Jurani/ AP By: Taylor Clausen, Columnist The Trump administration recently issued a warning to the new government of Iraq, stating that if Iranian-aligned politicians … Continue reading Avoiding a Self-fulfilling Prophecy In Iraq
Threatening Identity: The Rising Tide of Islamic Terrorism in Indonesia and Malaysia
Indonesian Special Detachment 88, a special forces counter-terrorism unit that has been praised for working with local communities on intelligence gathering. Photo Credit: Associated Press By: Yuri Neves, Columnist Long held as examples of moderate Islamic countries and successful multicultural societies, Malaysia and Indonesia are now facing a resurgent threat from Islamic terrorism. Despite past … Continue reading Threatening Identity: The Rising Tide of Islamic Terrorism in Indonesia and Malaysia
An Unnecessary Evil: Why “Domestic Terrorism” Laws Are A Threat to Civil Rights
White nationalist demonstrators used shields as they guarded the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber By: Lee Walter, Columnist This past January, Marcia Price of the Virginia House of Delegates proposed Virginia House Bill 1601, which would establish a state definition of what constitutes an … Continue reading An Unnecessary Evil: Why “Domestic Terrorism” Laws Are A Threat to Civil Rights
What is the Public’s Role in National Security?
By: Evan Cooper, Columnist Photo Credit: Jeffery Smith for The Atlantic When the security of the American public is at stake, what role does the constituency have in shaping the response to threats? There is a divide between national security leaders and American society on two related fronts: threat prioritization and public mobilization. In a … Continue reading What is the Public’s Role in National Security?