Global Challenges
Terrorism
Aaron D. Fernando: Terrorism is very much a disease: it is better to take preventive measures to stop it in the first place. The American approach does not take this bigger picture into account. In focusing on killing individuals, the United States is losing the greater war and helping societies to become ever more radicalized. …More
Andrew Walker: In an attempt to prevent another terrorist attack, the US is faced with many difficult choices in combating an adversary that hides in plain sight, targets noncombatants, and has shown a propensity to sacrifice itself in the name of a cause. No matter how effective these choices may be, one should not forget there is a steep price to pay. …More
The incident that has left four Americans including the US Ambassador to Libya dead has been labeled by the White House as a “terrorist attack”. ++ The only problem is that according to the statutory definition of terrorism for an …More
As we reach the eleventh year since the September 11 attacks, the debate over the relevancy of al-Qaeda’s core leadership known as Central al-Qaeda still lingers between officials, analysts, and academics. Following the uprisings that …More
The 9/11 attacks were motivated by an ugly side of nationalism that used religion as its rhetoric. ++ In the Arab Middle East, because of high uneducation, threats to national prestige are presented as threats to Islam to …More
Although Afghanistan remains a hotbed of terrorist activity, NATO will quit the country by 2014. ++ This marks an end to a tragic chapter in the Alliance’s history. ++ But little attention has been focused on Mali which suffered a coup just …More
The CIA has recovered a more sophisticated version of the underwear bomb that was meant to be used to destroy a US-bound airline. ++ Officials say that the bomb originated with al-Qaeda’s organization in Yemen, the AQAP. ++ The …More
There has been a diffusion of power away from governments over the years. ++ Cyberspace is a good case in point. ++ The recent sabotage of Iranian centrifuges is just one example of cyber warfare. ++ Large countries, such as the US, which built the …More
James M Bridger: Western states have recently increased support for the regional governments fighting al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. However, a more coordinated “soft power” approach is required to address this security threat tactfully and effectively. …More
José Costa: Following the massacre in Norway on July 22, alarm bells went off about the rising support of the new European far right. But while the incidents in Oslo and Utoya were shocking and brutal, it would be a mistake to see right-wing extremism as more than an isolated and minor threat. …More
The Iranian assassination plot makes sense when viewed through the lens of domestic political struggles. ++ Competing factions in the Islamic Republic have always put their interests ahead of national interests and been willing to ally …More
An Iranian assassination attempt on US soil should be a wake-up call for neo-isolationists: we have to continue to take the international terror threat seriously. ++ The nature of the plot shows that Iran is a legitimate …More
The recent killing of al-Qaeda cleric and US citizen Anwar Al-Awlaki raises questions about the legality of using drone strikes. ++ Drone strikes have increased dramatically under the Obama administration as a weapon against terror groups, …More
Shanthie Mariet D’Souza & Bibhu Prasad Routray : As more high-ranking Al Qaeda leaders are eliminated, officials in Washington appear increasingly confident about their progress in dismantling the terrorist network. Contrary to this assessment, Al Qaeda remains far from defeat. The US cannot afford to get complacent. …More
The Arab Spring has significantly weakened the influence of militant jihadist groups and delegitimized the use of violence and terrorism to attain political goals. ++ Following the popular uprisings that led to the overthrow of several dictators …More
The US intelligence community’s credibility took a serious hit after the 9/11 attacks, with many accusing intelligence agencies of being too slow to adapt to modern-day threats. ++ Ten years later, the intelligence …More
Alexandra Dobra: The world’s eight biggest oil exporters are ripe for a terrorist attack. Any disruption of the energy supply chain could devastate the world economy, so a new set of policies combining hard power (to secure energy) and soft power (to dismantle terrorist networks) must now be implemented. …More
When terror struck Oslo on July 22, many immediately suspected the Islamic world. ++ But this attack, like most before it on Norwegian soil, came from a white Nordic man on the far right: “not a Muslim, but a Muslim …More
Gábor Iklódy: NATO’s new Emerging Security Challenges Division (ESCD) sends a strong political message and systematically brings together work on the areas that will increasingly affect the security of the Allies on both sides of the Atlantic: terrorism, cyber attacks, threats to energy supply, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. …More
Obama has gained the moral and political capital to end the interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. ++ The killing of bin Laden shows that terrorist threats are more effectively suppressed by special forces than ground troops. ++ The …More
Victoria Naselskaya: As history has shown, national security cannot be achieved by limiting minority rights and invoking terrorist tactics, as this serves to undermine people’s trust in the rule of law. Chechnya provides a useful example of how the use of counter-terrorism tactics accomplishes little more than civilian casualties or exacerbates the problem. …More
While Al Qaeda has been silent during Arab uprisings, they will use disillusionment that follows revolutions to regain upper hand. ++ Its ability to exert influence does not depend on allegiance of every protester and new governments will be …More
Ebba Wiberg: Security threats are only as big as we make them. The counter-terrorism cooperation between the US and the European states suffer from the difference in attitude from the two sides of the Atlantic. This op-ed addresses whether it is better to be paranoid or naïve. …More
Dara Stofenberg: A lack of information sharing in the transatlantic community is increasingly putting us at risk for future terrorist attacks …More
James Cussen: This question is loaded with the baggage of a transatlantic divide on countering terrorism that pre-dates September 11th and at least extends back to the last days of the Clinton presidency. The inadequacies of the American portion of this discussion are challenged for lacking a pragmatic focus. …More
Ottilie Kate Grisdale: National dialogues on Muslim integration have recently become inflamed and thus are a growing security issue requiring an international approach. The media can help play a role in improved discussions, but monitoring radical discourse is ultimately the responsibility of all citizens. …More
Claudia Bernasconi: NATO’s success in combating terrorism thus far should not be overstated. Given the asymmetric nature of terrorism, a major military alliance focused on state based conflict may not be suited for this particular threat to international security. …More
Annina Cristina Buergin: The growing threat of piracy has prompted some nations to hire private security forces to replace military personnel for vessel protection. While this may assist limited military forces, security should not become a private good and many unresolved problems remain with outsourcing international security. …More
Eva Maria Krockow: The EU and US urgently need to shift their focus to terrorist threats in Baluchistan, the volatile Pakistani province bordering Afghanistan. Targeted sanctions will help to support the secular population against Islamabad’s clandestine radicalization policies. …More
Alexandra Lewis: While Yemen is often associated with only terrorism and al Qaeda, its extensive troubles are largely the result of a weak economy and state. The key to overcoming the political and economic instabilities lies, not only in traditional humanitarian and development aid but in establishing a sense of legitimacy between the government and the people. …More
The airport bombing leaves “Russian President Medvedev looking like a daydreamer.” ++ Violence in the North Caucasus continues unabated and even reaches far-away Moscow, heedless of the President’s plans to turn the region into a …More
Olivier Guitta: Al-Qaeda has been raising its profile in North East Africa recently, mainly due to lucrative kidnappings of Westerners. However, a power struggle among various different offshoots in the region is at play. The consequences of this war of succession could threaten to destabilize the surrounding area. …More
“America is a nation of openness, boldness and risk-taking… close this nation… constrict it and you unravel its magic.” ++ Recent over zealous measures taken to increase airport security, including full-body scanners, completely exaggerate …More
Olivier Guitta: Recent terror threats from Al-Qaeda have focused on France. There are many possible reasons for this including the French presence in Afghanistan and the recent banning of Muslim veils. There is also evidence of a convergence between Al-Qaeda and terrorist groups throughout North Africa. …More
The Yemeni bomb plot and the initial lack of urgency on the part of UK authorities betray worrying flaws in its national security apparatus. ++ Contrary to what many in Britain think, having strong, legal security policies do not undermine …More
Osama Bin Laden is again talk of the town with the latest release of his audiotape. ++ US intelligence agencies, along with the military muscle of the entire NATO alliance, have been in search of Bin Laden. ++ Yet, why even after a decade they …More
Recent warnings from the US government towards its citizens travelling in Europe against an expected Al-Qaeda attack have created quite a stir in the international media. ++ The US and western powers can take all the necessary steps to …More
The decision by the US Department of State to issue a warning to its citizens traveling to Europe is an unhelpful overreaction, as Americans were not specifically targeted. ++ The warning shows a lack of solidarity between the US and Europe, as …More
Editorial Team: Counterterrorism officials in France, Germany, Britain, and the United States have given warnings this week about the rising threat of attacks by Al Qaeda and its affiliates, especially in Europe. Are our politicians listening? Are you concerned? …More
Existing international law does not adequately protect civilians during wartime. ++ Governments are not held accountable for collateral damage – clearly, an ethical tragedy. ++ Coalition forces are responsible for 35 percent of …More
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the terrorist organization’s franchise in Yemen, must be countered with a comprehensive strategy that stresses local development along with diplomacy and defense. ++ Understanding the needs of …More
Gregg Dubow: If EU member states take on more detainees, they will not only solidify the EU’s human rights record, but also reduce security threats, while stepping up pressure on the US government to act. Europe’s stature as a beacon of human rights stands to gain as a result. …More
For those about to despair of the British, there is hope: the new British government is recalling those Labor measures that led to “the paradox result” of limiting personal freedoms without “making any headway in the realm of security.” …More
“For a wannabe terrorist shopping for help, Pakistan is a supermarket.” ++ The government has supported Jihadi groups and provided an atmosphere in which aspiring terrorists like Faisal Shahzad can pursue their ambitions largely …More
Kerley Tolpolar: The westernized classes targeted by Mumbai’s attackers and the part played by Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, and its backers in Pakistan, gave rise to voices calling for India to reconsider its non-aligned mentality and join in the global fight against the jihadist movement. …More
Over 100 civilians were killed during last week’s celebrations of the Awami National Party’s renaming of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province. ++ While the renaming was touted as an ideological victory for the majority Pakhtun …More
Kyle Alexander Jarmon: Using the Chechen liberation groups as a case study, this paper will attempt to explain how organized crime and terrorist groups can offer alternative paths of opportunity, hope, material gain, status and justice for those who consider themselves marginalized or bereft of basic rights – real or perceived. …More
Jonathan Laurence: A slew of recent arrests of US citizens plotting terrorist attacks has shattered the notion that American multiculturalism and upward mobility is somehow enough to deter extremism. US-EU counter-terrorism efforts must now accept the reality of the threat of home-grown terrorism on both sides of the Atlantic. …More
Roland Popp: Counter-terrorism operations in Yemen have proven to be difficult. While the West has recognized that a broad civil-military strategy for Yemen is required, strengthening the central government in Sanaa does not lead to a diminished terrorist threat. Western governments should prioritize the country’s regional integration and mediation efforts. …More
Antonio Buttitta: Contrary to the common assumption that terrorism is an irrational and unfathomable threat, having a closer look at the place and nature of the terrorist attacks helps us understand terrorists’ logics. …More
Brian O’Neill: The West needs to address structural problems in Yemen and not just focus on taking out Al-Qaeda. A strategy that fails to address poverty and corruption in the country will fail in the long-term. Any approach to strengthening the central government should take internal conflicts into account. …More
US ambassador in Damascus reveals new American strategy towards Syria recognised as “a player in the Middle East.” ++ Five years after Lebanese president’s assassination, the Cedar revolution is definitely buried away. ++ New American diplomacy …More
Sana, the capital city proves the country is far from the gloomy picture of a terrorists’ homeland. ++ In spite of Al Qaeda’s deterring influence on tourism, there are English-speaking newspapers, N.G.O.s and a Yemeni population willing to …More
Isaac Guillermo Lara: Insecure chemical plants pose one of the gravest threats to national security within the United States. Congress needs to do more to address this issue, particularly by establishing national security standards for chemical facilities. It is critical for the government to acknowledge potential terrorist threats from within the US as much as those in the Middle East. …More
Al Qaeda is gaining momentum in the Arabian Peninsula since launching an offshoot in Saudi Arabia and Yemen in early 2009. ++ The group has claimed responsibility for the September 2008 bombing of a US Embassy and the attempted Christmas Day …More
The wife of last week’s CIA suicide bomber raises the topic of female Jihadi support. ++ Online dissemination of radical ideologies allows women to participate in jihad by overcoming religious dilemmas regarding their inherent inferior status in …More
The Christmas Day terror scare favors the rivival of Bush-style rhetoric. ++ Obama´s refreshing attempt at an open dialogue with Muslims is turning into a classical security response. ++ Though the breach was largely the …More
The terrorist attempt on Christmas Day proves that politics is prevailing over objective analysis. ++ Political assumptions are clouding the process twards developing an effective global counter-terroism policy, causing obvious mistakes …More
Abbas Daiyar: The Taliban and al-Qaeda are achieving their goal of asserting a false sense of their strength, and are increasingly finding wider-outlets to disseminate their message. Furthermore, the US intelligence apparatus is failing to handle the situation. A strong local media campaign to counter that of the terrorists is urgently needed. …More
Treating terrorism as a matter for domestic law enforcement risks undermining intelligence, as Abdulmutallab’s failed attack made painfully clear. ++ US intelligence agents’ ability to prevent attacks is strained by strict rules crafted for …More
Editorial Team: President Obama has moved away from his predecessor’s ‘War on Terror,’ which is now coming under fire. According to conservative’s in the United States, these new, ‘weaker’ policies are to blame for the attempted Christmas Day bombing. …More
With the attempted terrorist attack on Christmas Day, two things are clear: Bush is officially retired as the default fall-guy, and Obama’s grace period is over. ++ If Bush could be blamed for the run-up to 9/11, then so too can Obama …More
Bernhard Lucke: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Afghanistan are the most pressing foreign policy issues of the Obama administration. Good will and nice speeches alone will not make “change” happen. Some bold actions and a break with the Clinton legacy are necessary. …More
Gretchen Peters: The drug trade in Afghanistan is benefiting the insurgency, begging the question: What do Taliban leaders intend to do with the profits? The international intelligence community would be wiser to focus its efforts on identifying and disrupting flows of money to insurgent, extremist, and terror groups. …More
The United States and India have long agreed on an ideal Pakistan: a stable, democratic, civilian-controlled state with a commitment to nonproliferation. ++ However, the roads to achieving this ideal were divergent until the Mumbai …More
Stefanie Jennifer Tetenburg: In the post 9/11 era hard power has been priortised over soft power to deal with the ‘new’ terrorist threat. In this dissertation I therefore investigate whether traditional diplomacy is still relevant. I argue that traditional diplomatic tools remain important, but need to be complemented by new diplomatic tools. …More
Alex Glennie: A more even-handed approach to promoting political reform in the Middle East and North Africa on the part of western policymakers is both a moral necessity and a strategic imperative. As part of this, dialogue with non-violent Islamist parties and movements, alongside other opposition groups in the region, must be prioritised. …More
Algeria, Nigeria and Niger are planning one of the biggest infrastructural projects in Africa: the construction of the worlds longest gas pipeline, which will lead 4000km from the Niger Delta across the Sahara to …More
Shazad Ali: The US led ‘War on Terror’ should not only focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan but also on the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia. Even though the Taliban receive more funding from these states than from both Pakistan and Afghanistan, the US only threatens Saudi Arabia with more privileges. To fight terrorism effectively the US must cut off the Taliban funding lifeline from the Gulf. …More
Abbas Daiyar: The recent insurgency in Kunduz province is due to the arrival of Tahir Yaldosh, the Uzbek Al-Qaeda leader. A lack of allied forces is a major concern and NATO should pay more attention to Kunduz, which is slowly falling under the control of groups linked to Al-Qaeda. …More
Pakistan would gain much more if the public debate focused on crucial issues like crime, poverty, health and education instead of only discussing the guilt of former President Musharraf. ++ The discussion should be guided by the aim …More
The EU Commission’s willingness to allow the US to access European bank data must be questioned. ++ “How much should personal rights be constrained for anti-terror investigations?” ++ No solution to this …More
Just when Indonesia was no longer seen as a dangerous and unstable place, terrorism returned to the country. ++ The recent elections demonstrated Indonesia’s democracy as well-entrenched and the country became internationally perceived …More
Andreas Michael Bock: Terrorism is able to thrive when it has the support of local people. Therefore, in order to win the war on terror, it is vital to win the loyalties and convictions of the people. An initiative outlined by US President Barack Obama in his Cairo speech, intends to strike terrorism at its Achilles’ heel by removing the people’s voluntary support of terrorist groups. …More
Gesine Palmer: The Western world is wracked with anxiety over the fate of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners who have been detained without basic human rights. The US has built up an unrealistic fear of their release, but closing Guantanamo is paramount. We should treat prisoners with generosity rather than anxiety. …More
The US cannot abandon Pakistan and Afghanistan. ++ If the Taliban and al-Qaeda are allowed to triumph, their destabilizing alliance will spread. ++ To ensure that the forces of fanaticism are defeated, we have to succeed not only …More
Shaun R Gregory: Pakistan is one of the most complex and intractable security problems facing the international community. Its importance in relation to two of world’s most pressing security issues – Islamic terrorism and nuclear proliferation – is difficult to overstate, as are the catastrophic consequences, regionally and internationally, which would follow the collapse of the state. …More
In a comparison of worldwide military spending, China has climbed to second place. ++ “The US spent $607 billion on defense, which exceeds the expenditure of the other top 14 states in one year.” ++ The worldwide war on terror has …More
Editorial Team: In his Cairo speech, US President Obama attempted to heal US relations with the Muslim world. But there is increasing controversy surrounding his outreach-focused approach to foreign relations with some commentators claiming that apologizing for past wrongs is dangerous and weakens the US. …More
The opposition from the Taliban to the Pakistani and US troops is increasing. ++ “The support of mainstream political parties and, increasingly, of the civil society” as well as from India, for Pakistan’s military operations means the …More
Barack Obama should stop apologizing for his country because it’s weakening the US and making it more vulnerable to attack. ++ Obama wants to engage enemies through the application of “smart power” but recent missile tests by Iran and …More
Marco Vicenzino: Despite Benjamin Netanyahu being a reluctant peacemaker, the Israel-Palestinian conflict cannot be allowed to continue and a two state solution is the only viable solution for all parties. Despite early expectations, President Obama may not have the political capital to solve the dispute on his own. …More
The Obama Administration’ acknowledgement that the US has not been consistent in its policies towards Pakistan and has engaged selectively to attain specific interests rather than to develop a reliable partnership means …More
Aid alone will not solve the situation in Pakistan. ++ Pakistan is ripe for large-scale public rejection of oppression increasingly popular globally. ++ Its recent democratic movements and the increase in highly organized local civil society groups …More
Elizabeth Zolotukhina: Speaking out on human rights issues in Russia has proved to be dangerous for Russian journalists in recent years. Now that the reset button has been pressed in US - Russian relations, it is time for the the international community to pressure Moscow to halt these killings. …More
President Zardari thinks the Taliban is a monster created by Pakistan’s ISI and the CIA. ++ President Obama’s policy on South Asia is very different from that of his predecessors. ++ His focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan …More
Ulf Gartzke: The SPD’s candidate for chancellor, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is risking public backlash and is taking a reckless gamble with the security of the German nation by supporting an Obama administration plan to resettle Guantanamo Bay prisoners in this country. Steinmeier previously opposed the plan when it was suggested by the Bush Administration. …More
Jordan Michael Smith: Today an international conference in Washington will discuss how national security systems that predated many new threats such as terrorism and pandemics could be updated. To not do so would represent a systematic failure in government. …More
Retaining the Iraqi army in 2003 and less punitive measures against former Ba’ath party members would have allowed the earlier withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. ++ This “alienated Iraq’s Sunni Arabs and opened the door for a strong al-Qaeda …More
Prosecution of the legalizers of torture risk candor in political council and distract from questions of enemy detainees. ++ As warriors, committed to destroying our way of life, law of war and military tribunals remain the venue for …More
After signing the Swat peace deal, Pakistan’s president Asif Ali Zardari will go down in history as the man who succumbed to threats from terrorists, legitimized the Taliban’s activities and handed over a part of the country to them. ++ The …More
Despite UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking of the “tens of thousands” of lives at risk in Sri Lanka, the “international community has barely stirred”. ++ The situation in Sri Lanka is complicated, morally and legally, where both …More
Journalists can become embroiled in geopolitical conflict not of their own doing. ++ Iran
should overturn the conviction of Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi if they “wish to earn the respect President Obama has accorded …More
The debate about water boarding misses a fundamental point: human rights abuses have no place in a democracy, whether they occur once or 183 times.++ Torture is a systematic attempt to break people.++ Amnesty for perpetrators is …More
There are 3 truths about the piracy problem: the lawlessness of Somalia creates a safe haven for criminals; the consequences of an attack are significant for shipping companies, its ships and crews; the coalition naval forces are …More
The love Pakistanis have for their country will mean that the Taliban can never be victorious there. ++ There is a “real and irresistible agenda for reform and renewal in Pakistan’s cities.” ++ The religious right is tone-deaf, and …More
Forgiving agents who may have used torture techniques against detainees accused of terrorism was a wise move by President Obama. ++ The Administration yesterday said such acts could never again be condoned by the US. ++ A 9/11 style …More
Editorial Team: Somali pirates seized six vessels within the last week. With yesterday’s capture of the US cargo ship, whose captain is still being held for ransom, the piracy problem arrested global attention again. Questions arise about how to tackle piracy, and we want to ask you, our readers, about solutions. …More
Parag Khanna: President Obama’s administration may need to look outside of its traditional set of allies in order to secure stability in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the surrounding regions. There will be a cost attached to this cooperation, but the cost of failure may be higher. …More
From the outside it may appear that the situation in Afghanistan is continuing to worsen. ++ US commanders are confident that they can shift the momentum in their favor. ++ This would be a result of increased …More
Colette Grace Mazzucelli: The Mumbai attacks have been described as India’s 9/11, but this analogy is not accurate. Terrorism is one dimension of a larger challenge that India must now confront: the erosion of the pluralist and secular traditions of the country’s founders. …More
Further allegations have been made to the International Red Cross concerning alleged torture of prisoners held in secret CIA prisons. ++The judgement of the Red Cross is very important as its status as a monitor of prisons around …More
The threat of extremists is growing day by day, and at the same time the grip of the current government is slipping. ++ The economy is weakening, prompting concerns
for the future of the country. ++ The latest victims were the touring …More
The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared ex-Prime Minister Sharif unfit to rule due to having fought a military coup in 1999. ++ He tried to prevent the return of Gen. Musharraf, who succeeded in the coup and instituted the court …More
Yasser Abumuailek: If NATO applies global governance principles, it will be able to become the global leader in combating terrorism. Its military expertise and success in security provision, a sense of global legitimacy and its civilian-military approach to security promise success.
…More
Britain has always taken pride in its liberalism: unrestricted individual liberty, a right to privacy, outmost respect for human rights. ++ But the current paranoia with CCTV cameras, data collection and unjustified surveillance threatens to …More
The election of Saudi Arabia’s first female minister is a welcome but small step: Saudi women continue to be denied the right to vote, subjected to childhood marriage and imprisoned for being raped under the guise of religious …More
The anti-antiterror lobby is as dangerous now as before the election, but Obama is not following its lead. ++ He has disguised the fact that his policies on terror are the same as Bush’s. ++ The administration under …More
The US President’s focus on the economy — although sensible — may compromise the opportunity to examine and condemn the use of torture. ++ Obama should create a non-partisan committee responsible for investigating torture cases …More
Following the Mumbai attacks, Indian democracy has come to depend on Indian domestic policy; at no cost should the Indian state encroach upon civil liberties. ++ Rather, India should focus its policies on combating poverty and …More
Pakistan has captured Jamaat-ud-Dawa activists and shut down their camps and a panel is to investigate the Mumbai attacks. ++ What has been done so far should be welcomed and appreciated. ++ Still, India has not managed to make …More
The 9/11 attacks created global solidarity in the fight against a common enemy: terrorism. ++ The response was found in the “war on terror” and sometimes justifies resort to force for the rightness of the cause. ++ However, “the issue is not …More
A few months after the Mumbai terrorist attacks and in a climate of growing suspicion that Pakistani groups are responsible, India is still uncertain of how to respond. ++ The ramifications of the military option could stretch from a negative …More
Israel, America’s protegée, assigns positive value to the policy of the war on terror. ++ Israeli FM Livni has said the country is “part of the free world and fights extremism and terrorism […] you’re with …More
Two attacks against US and NATO convoys near Peshawar in Pakistan have taken place in the last week. ++ The Pakistani army appears to be testing Obama’s will. ++The US and NATO must take adequate steps to respond to these …More
China’s behavior towards Pakistan is the first big pointer as to whether it will become a responsible stakeholder on the international stage. ++ Both the US and China have for too long engaged in a hands-off approach in …More
Populous Muslim countries will be among those hardest hit by the current economic crisis. ++ The Mumbai terrorists were to politics what the Somali pirates are to economics. ++ Iran will either break down or break out into military …More
Five accused planners of the 9/11 attacks have withdrawn guilty-pleas, which were not enough to save them from the death penalty. ++ The trials are a farce, not least because they are being held at “Gitmo.” ++ The terrorists are …More
The failure of governance in Pakistan and Somalia has given rise to both terrorism and piracy. ++ The international response to these challenges has thus far been inadequate and ineffectual. ++ Neo-imperialist intervention has the greatest …More
A recent US report, “World at Risk,” seems to label Pakistan itself as a weapon of mass destruction, but contains solid proposals. ++ Involvement in Central Asian has been characterized by patchwork diplomacy. ++ This …More
The executive excesses and abuses of justice committed by the Bush administration in the name of fighting terrorism are coming to a head in two US court cases. ++ One case, being heard on Tuesday by the US Court of Appeals, involves Maher Arar, …More
The case for a Pakistani link to the Mumbai slaughter is growing stronger by the day. ++ The failure of favorable US policies towards Pakistan under President Bush are evident. ++ Condoleeza Rice has stressed the need for “complete, …More
“Americans are right to express solidarity with India.” ++ Facing Maoist rebels in the east, separatists in the northeast, organized crime and communal violence, India is a world to itself. ++ Unfortunately, the bloodiest …More
India has recently suffered dozens of terrorist attacks with thousands perishing, but is it enough to send her over the “red line?” ++ The latest attack, brazen as it was, shows the weakness of al-Qaeda inspired …More
Assuming Islamist militant groups planned the Mumbai attacks, India’s government will have little choice but to blame Pakistan and would loose domestic credibility if it does not retaliate. ++ This will have massive …More
Obama has pledged to close Guantanamo, yet critical questions must be addressed: what are the rights of detainees? Is preventive detention justified? Do we need a new detention statute with revised standards of proof? ++ Judge Leon’s release order for five …More
A Washington plan to involve the Pakistani government in the War on Terror has failed. ++ To handle the situation, US General Petraeus has given Saudi Arabia control over aid to Pakistan. ++ It is hoped that a series of religious …More
Upon taking office, Obama must immediately close the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison that so dreadfully taints the reputation of the US. ++ Bush’s criticism of the prison might have been truthful, but its closure would …More
19 US missile attacks since September on suspected terrorists are unlikely to win any hearts and minds, will promote ill will, and will do little to dry “the pond that breeds the mosquitoes.” ++ Michael Chertoff’s plea, …More
Obama’s lead in national and global polls might tempt Osama bin Laden to make a public reappearance. ++ Bin Laden wants the US to continue “policies that create the appearance of a clash of civilizations.” ++ An …More
If the US goes ahead with its plan to take the war on terror into Pakistan, Pakistani army will loose its credibility and may end up caught up between American troops and al-Quaeda.++ Weakening Pakistani army would backfire on …More
Asif Ali Zardari is committed to a democratic, moderate and progressive Pakistan. ++ If elected president, he promises to return the constitutional balance the powers of the presidency that were altered by Zia ul-Haq and …More
UN officials and aid workers are frequently killed - both on purpose and accidentally - in Iraq, Algeria, and Afghanistan. ++ In fact, al-Qaeda declared the UN to be a central target. ++ Facing this danger, the UN needs to “nationalize” field operations …More
India is depicted in the media as “a squeaky-clean ally of the United States” and no inconvenient truths are allowed to mar Indian democracy’s supposed success story. ++ A passive receiver of this image will surely be …More
The war on terror has been an utter fiasco: before the US troops arrived in 2001 Afghanistan was much more peaceful and stable, now the insurgency has spread all over the country, become multi-ethnic and more robust. ++ American …More
The Taliban are the most prominent security threat in Afghanistan, but they are not the only one we should worry about. ++ Over the last few years Afghanistan has become a narco-state: it supplies 93 percent of the world’s …More
When Obama visited Europe, he spoke eloquently about needing a US-EU partnership to defeat terrorism. ++ The problem is: the US already have a counterterrorism partnership with the EU and it works efficiently, despite the stereotyping media …More
US presidential candidates have been so busy campaigning they lost sight of the changes taking place in Iraq. ++ For the first time in years, the risk of a massive insurrection has diminished and there are realistic prospects for …More
Yousaf Raza Gilani, the new civilian prime minister of Pakistan, is visiting Washington this week. ++ Talks between the leaders of Pakistan and the US are an opportunity to recast bilateral relations and start a closer cooperation to …More
Even though it is Afghanistan that is the main security threat to the US, the road to improvement in that part of the world starts in Pakistan. ++ Al-Qaeda has found a safe haven in Pakistan’s lawless region near the Afghan border, …More
For the first time, Israelis have been arrested because it is believed that they were members of al Qaeda. ++ Scientists now discuss whether al Qaeda has become a loosely organized network or whether it still has a strong leadership. ++ The crucial role of …More
Failing missile shield negotiations with Poland are a symbol of decline of American influence and attractiveness under Bush. ++ Too much bad blood has been spilled between Washington and Warsaw, and the Poles are no longer prepared …More
Despite the increasingly positive coverage of the war by Western media, the situation in Iraq is constantly deteriorating. ++ Al-Qaeda, the declared enemy of the Bush administration, has become only one of many terrorist groups in Iraq. ++ The …More
Fabian Martin Lieschke: NATO’s nuclear posture is dated and needs to be reconsidered during next year’s review. If NATO withdraws sub-strategic nuclear weapons from Europe it can pursue a leverage strategy to persuade Russia to also eliminate its tactical nuclear weapons. …More
Terrorist groups all over the world benefit from the support of governments. The US State Department draws up a special list of countries considered to be state sponsors of terrorism. Yet Daniel Byman says this list is not …More
A new strategy to stabilize Afghanistan should try to separate al-Qaeda and the Taliban, whereas in the past the opposite was done. ++ A policy is needed that supports anyone who provides stability and does not give asylum to …More
Anatol Lieven: NATO might fail in Afghanistan. Hopes for democracy, development, and progress in Afghanistan are already dead. Even though the situation seems hopeless, the West can and should prevent further deterioration. …More
On Thursday, the US Supreme Court ruled that detainees held at Guantanamo Bay have the right to challenge their detentions in a federal court. ++ This marks the third time the court has made clear that the president has no authority to trash …More
The Pakistani Army no longer fights the counterinsurgency war on their western border. ++ Instead Pakistani troops are deployed at the border to India, where 80% of US aid since 9/11 has been used, although given to fight the Taliban insurgency. …More
The question of whether al Qaeda is engaged in a “leaderless” Jihad or one that is “alive and well” - a fundamental issue when determining US counter-terrorism policy - provides for heated discussions in the US. ++ Al Qaeda is …More
From both the Right and the Left, Western thinkers have failed to grasp that radical Islamism’s strength in Asian countries such as Pakistan and Indonesia is a result of these countries’ general weakness. ++ Although …More
Mark Brzezinski : President George W. Bush travels to Europe this month to participate in the US-European Union Summit and to visit key partners, including France, Germany, Italy and Britain. These summits are likely to produce joint declarations of “bon amie” and official statements that the drift in the trans-Atlantic relationship is diminished. …More
Three American terrorism research organizations concluded that, in contrast to widely held opinion of experts, there was a net decline in terrorist violence around the world last year. ++ Chris Preble, Cato Institute: “Support for al-Qaida …More
Loretta Napoleoni: The truth is that terrorism is a political phenomenon and, as long as it remains in the domain of politics, there are few chances to win. …More
A 30-year lease of the Afghan copper deposits was sold to the China Metallurgical Group for $3 billion, making it the biggest foreign investment in Afghanistan’s history. ++ While critics argue Afghanistan is too …More
Loretta Napoleoni: Democratic free spaces & their subversions are the immediate concerns for internal security of states. Between states like India & the UK - what do we see apart from the obvious differences that exist between the ‘two’ democracies, in their war against terrorism? …More
After a research visit to Israel, former US President Jimmy Carter implores the international community to condemn Israel for what he considers “terrorism” against Palestinians. ++ Recent strikes against civilians, …More
James Jones: While NATO forces are needed in Afghanistan, the real focus should be on fighting narcotics, building up an effective judicial system, increasing Afghan police capabilities, empowering a single individual to represent the international community, and acknowledging regional difficulties. …More
Democratic governance in Pakistan is now a reality and the new government plans to act boldly and clearly in full awareness of the stakes of both success and failure. ++ The government will continue the war against terrorism not because …More
Giuseppe Belardetti: Complex issues with easy priced-solutions do appeal and do have a rationality that is also innocent. Yet, why does someone born and brought up in Britain go to fight a ‘jehadi’ war at Basra? That is the primary question that needs to be understood and answered adequately. …More
Giuseppe Belardetti: If U.S. and European leaders are going to protect their respective homelands together, they need to understand each other’s current strengths and weaknesses. This paper addresses them. …More
Frederik C. Köncke: In an increasingly complex global environment, businesses are seeking a greater understanding of how they are at risk. …More
Washington continues to rely on Musharraf to stop cross-border incursions of terrorist militants into Afghanistan and to keep Karzai’s regime standing. ++ Yet US military and financial aid has been inefficient due to Musharraf’s …More
Manuel David Weitnauer: The United States must adapt its policy to the new political circumstances brought about by the National Assembly elections on February 18, 2008. This translates into reducing backup for Musharraf, altering the form of military aid, and strengthening civil society. …More
Benjamin Lucas Schoo: We have entered an era of political science where traditional security studies have been challenged by a much broader concept, which has come to be known as Human Security, examining the role of non-traditional threats on the security of individuals. …More
Christian Andreas Morris: US aid policy needs to alter dramatically. To achieve UN Millennium Development Goals, developed countries agreed to increase their aid expenditure to 1% of GDP, and yet the only countries to have achieved this are Norway and Sweden. …More
Natasha Doff: Those acting in the name of al-Qaeda are energized by a particular strategy which America and Europe must recognize in order to overcome the growing threat of terrorism. …More
Julianne Smith and Alexander T. J. Lennon: We contend that in the years to come climate change will further disrupt the stability of already volatile regions, which has the potential of producing multitudes of discontented individuals prone to radicalization. …More
The Global Incident Map was created to give the public a new way to visualize, and become instantly aware of terrorism and security incidents across the world.
The constantly updated map was created by the publishers of
www.TerroristWarning.com and www.TransitSecurityReport.com as a continuation of their efforts “to contribute to the Global War on Terrorism.”
The Global Incident Map
Hans Binnendijk: The consequences of failure in Afghanistan would be severe. I offer three points to help European governments make the case for continued participation in the NATO ISAF mission. …More
An invisible front line in the war on terror is running through Europe, writes Timothy Garton Ash for the LA Times. This front line, however, is not a military but a cultural/political one to be fought by winning over the hearts and minds …More
Seymour Hersh: The United States government is now focusing on the Islamic Republic’s role in international terrorism, especially in Iraq, rather than on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The counter-proliferation effort is thus being redefined as a counterterrorism project. …More
Congressman Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) reveals in the Washington Post that hundreds of millions of dollars are pouring into Iran through the World Bank, despite UNSC and IAEA conclusions that Iran has ignored its …More
Since September 11, 2001, the idea that terrorist attacks are planned in distant failed states has snowballed into a new understanding of an omnipresent threat. Silber and Bhatt, two senior intelligence analysts working for the New York …More
Takfirism: The Root of the Problem
In addition to its pursuit of US and European targets in the global jihad, al-Qaeda has sought out “bad Muslims,” and governments that have cooperated with the West. The reasoning comes from al-Qaeda’s …More
In July, the US Department of State announced a new arms deal for the Middle East that included $20 billion for the Saudis, ostensibly to promote stability in the region. Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who rarely travel …More
The military regime in Pakistan is responsible for the escalation of terror in Kashmir, the growth of international jihad extremism and the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, says Grare. By supporting and training those very forces which …More
Business companies now face global risks which change faster and more often than before, making country-by-country interpretation difficult. As a result, the danger that terrorism poses to economic …More
James Andrew Lewis: I use the assault on Estonian computers to explain the difference between real terror and cyber mischief. Governments must take practical steps to minimize disruption in case of an attack. …More
GM Roper: If Germany expects US help in the future, it must stay the course in Afghanistan now. The Bundeswehr should carry its share of the coalition burden without complaint as part of OEF. …More
Matthew Levitt: I argue against reaching out to Hamas. The more pressing questions are those of humanitarian assistance, reform of Fatah, and the rule of law in Gaza. …More
In the face of Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza, the transatlantic community must reassess its conflict management. The Western reaction to this situation will be an important battle in the “war of ideas” that has been going on since the …More
Dr. Isaac Kfir, researcher at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, examines threats to the Pakistani state and international implications relating to Pakistan’s role in the war on terror. Islamic, …More
Anatol Lieven: The political stakes in Pakistan are the highest in 40 years. It is time to create a new, firmer and more institutionalized civilian-military relationship. …More
In May 2007, the Council of Foreign Relations featured an online debate on America’s role in Somalia. The discussion was lead by moderators Terrence Lyons, associate professor at the Institute for conflict Analysis …More
Dr. Matthew Levitt is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute and founding director of their Terrorism Research Program (now renamed as above), …More
Daniel Benjamin writes in Slate that among the many disputed actions taken by the United States government following September 11, those …More
The Aon Corporation’s Political and Economic Risk Map provides a concise visual guide to risk management for international business ventures in 214 countries. Political volatility in individual …More
A comprehensive “all-hazard” approach, incorporating all involved international agencies, is necessary to protect the world’s population from biological harm, argue Andreas Wenger and Sergio Bonin …More
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