Al-Qaeda

Latest in Al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda Today, 18 Years After 9/11

Bruce Riedel Wed, Sep 11, 2019, 8:37 AM

The terrorist group is a shell of its former self, but it has dramatically changed how terrorist groups operate and countries respond.

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Al-Qaeda’s Continuing Challenge to the United States

Asfandyar Mir Sun, Sep 8, 2019, 10:00 AM

The terrorist group's goals haven't changed, and it now appears poised to take advantage of a more permissive strategic environment.

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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.

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Threat Analysis and Multilateral Counterterrorism

Barak Mendelsohn Sun, Oct 4, 2015, 10:09 AM

Barak Mendelsohn examines the quality of the counterterrorism threat analysis work done by the UN's 1267 Committee, also known as the Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee.

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The Lawfare Podcast: Gregory Johnsen Answers "What is a Houthi?"

Cody M. Poplin Sat, Sep 26, 2015, 2:15 PM

On this week’s Lawfare Podcast, Gregory Johnsen outlines the current state-of-play in Yemen. Johnsen, who is a writer-at-large for Buzzfeed News, a doctoral candidate at Princeton University, and an all-things-Yemen-expert, walks Ben through the byzantine power politics in Sanaa that led to the conflict now engulfing Yemen and he explains why the war shouldn’t be viewed as just another Sunni-Shia fight.

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Foreign Policy Essay

Should the United States Negotiate with Terrorists?

Clint Watts Sun, Aug 16, 2015, 10:53 AM

Clint Watts argues the U.S. should try to fracture the al-Qaida-affiliated Nusra Front in Syria and then negotiate with the splinter groups as a way to secure a more viable ground force against Assad and the Islamic State and halt al-Qaida's advance in Syria.

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Al-Qaeda

He's back: Al-Qaida's Leader Resurfaces in a Video Message

Bruce Riedel Thu, Aug 13, 2015, 5:12 PM

After an unprecedented 11 months of silence, Ayman al-Zawahri, the emir of al-Qaida, this week issued a video message proclaiming his loyalty to the new head of the Afghan Taliban, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor. The almost 10-minute long message dramatically reaffirms the alliance between al-Qaida and the Taliban, a setback for efforts to bring the Taliban into a political process.

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Al-Qaeda

Where in the world is al-Qaida's leader?

Bruce Riedel Tue, Aug 11, 2015, 3:43 PM

The emir of al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahri, has not made any public statements since September 2014. His now 11-month long absence is unprecedented. Next month will be a key test for Zawahri: the anniversary of 9/11—a milestone he has spoken out on for years.

Al-Zawahri was chosen by Osama bin Laden to be his successor. A veteran of 35 years of terrorist plotting, the Egyptian has legitimacy and experience. But he has a lot of other baggage too. He is a poor speaker, prone to ideological fights, and lacks bin Laden's charisma.