CFR.org - Terrorism

Escaping Nigeria's Cycle of Violence

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:44:13 -0400

A state of emergency in Nigeria's northeast signals that Islamist violence and the government's brutal response have rendered the region ungovernable, says CFR's John Campbell.

Hearing at the U.S. House of Representatives: "Benghazi: Exposing Failure and Recognizing Courage," May 2013

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:50:44 -0400

Three State Department officials testified at the Committee for Oversight and Government Reform on May 8, 2013.

Benghazi Truths vs. Washington Politics

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 08 May 2013 10:01:55 -0400

Elliott Abrams discusses the latest House hearing on the Benghazi embassy attack of September 11, 2012.

Why America Gets a B+ in Counterterrorism

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:46:03 -0400

Stewart Patrick and Alexandra Kerr make recommendations to improve the counterterrorism efforts of the United States and its allies, in conjunction with CFR's Global Governance Report Card, published by the International Institutions and Global Governance program.

CTC: Hizb Allah Resurrected: The Party of God’s Return to Tradecraft

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:20:34 -0400

The article also provides a detailed case study of Hossam Yaacoub—the convicted Hizb Allah operative now serving time in a Cypriot prison for his role in a plot targeting Israeli tourists—to show how Hizb Allah has resurrected its terrorist capabilities. Drawn from the police depositions of interviews with Yaacoub after his arrest, the case provides unique insights into how Hizb Allah recruits and trains new operatives.

Domestic Intelligence and the Boston Bombings

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:10:31 -0400

The Boston Marathon bombings illustrate the stresses on domestic intelligence gathering and counterterrorism in a democratic system, says CFR's Richard Falkenrath.

Boston Consequences

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 09:11:38 -0400

Julia Sweig reflects on implications of the Boston Marathon bombings in the midst of debates on gun control and immigration reform.

What Is the Why

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:20:55 -0400

Micah Zenko reflects on the purpose and implications of investigating motivations behind terrorist attacks.

Rise of the Lone Wolves--the New Faces of Jihad

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:10:49 -0400

According to Ed Husain, "the answers to countering the appeal of radicalism among some Muslims in the West rests in more, not less, debating of religion, pluralist politics and integrating immigrants."

America's Greatest Asset Against Radicalisation: Muslim Americans

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:01:01 -0400

Ed Husain writes, "Boston will not be the last homegrown terror attack. Bombastic statements and burying our heads in the sand do not prepare us for future attacks."

CRS: U.S.-EU Cooperation Against Terrorism

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:24:56 -0400

U.S.-EU cooperation against terrorism has led to a new dynamic in U.S.-EU relations by fostering dialogue on law enforcement and homeland security issues previously reserved for bilateral discussions. Nevertheless, some challenges persist in fostering closer U.S.-EU cooperation in these fields. Among the most prominent are data privacy and data protection concerns.

Foreign Government Request to FBI for Information on Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:15:54 -0400

The FBI released several documents and updates on their investigations on the Boston Marathon bombings, including a 2011 request from a foreign government on information about Tamerlan Tsarnaev.

The Futility of Terrorism

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:55:16 -0400

In light of the terrorist attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon, Max Boot writes, "Keep calm and carry on."

Getting On With Life After Terror Hits

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:24:29 -0400

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon reflects on the terrorist bombing at the Boston Marathon.

Film Screening: "Manhunt"

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:27:25 -0400

A panel of experts discuss the new HBO documentary film, Manhunt, which details the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

President Obama's Statements on Boston Marathon Bombing Investigation

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:13:28 -0400

President Obama gave a speech on April 15, 2013, after explosions went off near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. In a second speech on April 16, he said the case will be investigated as an "act of terrorism" and on April 19, he discussed the federal and local coordination in locating and taking into custody one of the suspects and in collecting intelligence.

Special Ops Global Whack-a-Mole

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:05:45 -0400

Linda Robinson writes that the upcoming anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death highlights the continued need for a "more comprehensive approach to special operations as part of U.S. national security policy."

NYT: Rise of the Predators

Council on Foreign Relations — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 10:35:36 -0400

"While it was not the first country where the United States used drones, [Pakistan] became the laboratory for the targeted killing operations that have come to define a new American way of fighting, blurring the line between soldiers and spies and short-circuiting the normal mechanisms by which the United States as a nation goes to war."

Seeking Daylight on U.S. Drone Policy

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:08:48 -0400

What is the Obama administration's legal justification for targeted killings? CFR national security expert John Bellinger explores this question as well as others with significant implications for U.S. counterterrorism.

Syria’s European Jihadis

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:42:36 -0400

Elliott Abrams forecasts "trouble ahead" in Europe, once its passport-holding jihadis return home from fighting in Syria.

CTC: AQIM’s Playbook in Mali

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:57:08 -0400

As the French-led military forces retake northern Mali, [AQIM emir Abdelmalek] Droukdel's eight month old letter should resonate as an ominous warning as it points to a long-term strategic plan to outlive the intervention and sets the stage for a potentially successful return. Clearly, under Droukdel's leadership, AQIM has no intention of relinquishing northern Mali.

Tracking the Iraq War

Council on Foreign Relations — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 10:35:56 -0400

Trace the Iraq war campaign through ten CFR meetings that assembled some of the leading foreign policy analysts and news figures of the past decade.

Al-Qaeda in Iraq

Council on Foreign Relations — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:07:45 -0400

In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal, a resurgent al-Qaeda in Iraq, allied with jihadist fighters in neighboring Syria, constitutes a considerable threat to regional security, explains this Backgrounder.

UN Special Rapporteur Emmerson's Statement on Meetings in Pakistan about Drones, March 2013

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:13:58 -0400

UN Special Rapporteur on Human rights and Counterterrorism Ben Emmerson released this statement on March 14, 2013, following his meetings in Pakistan with victims of drone strikes.

NYT: How a U.S. Citizen Came to Be in America’s Cross Hairs

Council on Foreign Relations — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:47:32 -0500

This account of what led to the [Anwar al-]Awlaki strike, based on interviews with three dozen current and former legal and counterterrorism officials and outside experts, fills in new details of the legal, intelligence and military challenges faced by the Obama administration in what proved to be a landmark episode in American history and law.

USIP: Pakistan and the Narratives of Extremism

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:50:18 -0500

This report looks at why extremist strategic communications in Pakistan have been so successful and what it would take for the government and its allies to reverse the gains of what is sometimes called "the al-Qaeda worldview." Like all good communications campaigns, extremist messaging is grounded in a reality. In this case, that reality is the views and emotions—and the narratives that articulate them—that were born out of the establishment and subsequent conduct of the state of Pakistan.

Assessing U.S. Drone Strike Policies

Council on Foreign Relations — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:04:03 -0500

A panel of experts discusses U.S. drone policy.

A Conversation with Ambassador Frederick Barton

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:00:54 -0500

Ambassador Fredrick Barton assesses challenges facing his bureau stemming from conflicts around the world.

A Conversation with Ambassador Frederick Barton

Council on Foreign Relations — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:00:20 -0500

Ambassador Fredrick Barton assesses challenges facing his bureau stemming from conflicts around the world.

British Foreign Secretary Hague's Remarks on Counterterrorism at Royal United Services Institute, February 2013

Council on Foreign Relations — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:16:20 -0500

British Foreign Secretary William Hague gave these remarks about counterterrorism and the threat of al-Qaeda at the Royal United Services Institute on February 14, 2013.