Foreign Policy Essay
Political Islam and Islamist Terrorism in Bangladesh: What You Need to Know
C. Christine Fair Sun, Jan 28, 2018, 10:00 AM
The United States should be more concerned about jihadism in Bangladesh.
Latest in Al Qaeda
Terrorism
Divisions Within the Global Jihad: A Primer
Daniel Byman Fri, Sep 29, 2017, 9:46 AM
Jihadist organizations disagree on an array of matters, from how to handle those who fall short of "true" Islam to whether such groups should push to establish a caliphate.
Terrorism Trials: Civilian Court
Justice Department Prosecutes Al Qaeda Suspect in Federal Court
Matthew Kahn Fri, Jul 21, 2017, 3:33 PM
The Times reports that a grand jury has indicted an Al Qaeda suspect in a federal court in Philadelphia.
Al Qaeda
Judging Al Qaeda’s Record, Part II: Why Has Al Qaeda Declined?
Daniel Byman Wed, Jun 28, 2017, 9:56 AM
The most consequential reasons for al Qaeda's decline include its underestimation of the U.S.-led counterterrorism campaign and the associated loss of its haven and global infrastructure; its killing of Muslim civilians; and the lack of a strong base among the people it claims to represent.
Al Qaeda
Judging Al Qaeda’s Record, Part I: Is the Organization in Decline?
Daniel Byman Tue, Jun 27, 2017, 3:30 PM
Al Qaeda’s power and influence have fallen considerably from its peak in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. The question is whether the group remains strong and may resurge, or whether the decline is for real and may even be permanent.
Book Reviews
The Center of the Jihadist Universe
Ken Watkin Mon, Jul 11, 2016, 7:30 AM
A review of Charles Lister's The Syrian Jihad: Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and the Evolution of an Insurgency (Oxford, 2015).
War Powers
The War Against ISIS is Unconstitutional
Bruce Ackerman Thu, May 5, 2016, 2:10 PM
An outline of the key points in the complaint submitted by Captain Nathan Smith challenging the legality of President Obama's war against the Islamic State.
Terrorism
What Does it Mean to Sponsor Terrorism?
Daniel Byman Thu, Apr 21, 2016, 10:14 AM
In different ways, many countries have allowed terrorism to flourish. It’s easy, and correct, to call Iran a sponsor of terrorism—but should Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and even Belgium be on the list?
The Lawfare Podcast
The Lawfare Podcast: Lisa Monaco on America’s Counterterrorism Strategy against ISIS and Al Qaeda
Cody M. Poplin Sat, Mar 12, 2016, 1:30 PM
Lisa Monaco speaks at the Council on Foreign Relations and makes news by announcing that the White House will release long sought data on the U.S. drone program.
Counterterrorism
ODNI Releases Second Tranche of Abbottabad Documents
Cody M. Poplin Wed, Mar 2, 2016, 8:50 AM
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence today released a second set of documents recovered during the raid of Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.