Al Qaeda
200 Articles

Dispelling Myths: How Classification and Declassification Actually Work
Must the president follow any specific procedures when declassifying government information? The answer is a resounding no.

Death by Drones: Does the Pentagon Always Know Who it is Killing?
As U.S. officials grapple with the fallout from the latest drone strike, Congress and senior administration officials should demand answers.

Time for the United States to Rethink its Strategy for Afghanistan
The United States must rethink its strategy toward Afghanistan and prevent the Taliban from gaining a stronger foothold.

Remembering the Iraq War: Has Washington Really Learned the Lessons?
Unless lessons from the Iraq War are fully understood and retained, the United States runs the risk of blundering again.

Opaque Transparency on the Use of Force: Observations on the 2022 “1264” Report
The 2022 report illustrates the limits of congressionally mandated reporting requirements on matters of war and peace and the need for Congress to be more proactive in informing…

Missed Opportunities and Minor Progress: The FY 2023 National Defense Bill and War Powers
One big disappointing omission and otherwise a mixed bag from the standpoint of winding down the United States’ forever wars -- despite leaders of both parties having proclaimed…

The Last, Best Chance for Accountability at Guantanamo? A Negotiated Plea for the 9/11 Defendants
The U.S. should finally resolve the single most important 9/11 case with a plea deal that provides finality for victims' families.

The Biden Drone Playbook: The Elusive Promise of Restrained Counterterrorism
The new policy guidance on direct action is welcome, but more work is needed to fulfill the promise of restrained counterterrorism.

The Road to a Better Future for Afghanistan Starts with Women’s Education
At one end of Afghanistan lies an unending reality of instability and terror and death. At its other is the potential of a dream now denied.

Five Years After “Unite the Right”: Reflections on Charlottesville for Today’s Threat Landscape
Charlottesville was a watershed moment in US politics and a wake-up call to the counterterrorism community. What lessons have been learned on how to counter white supremacist extremism?

What Was the International Legal Basis for the Strike on al-Zawahiri?
Serious questions need to be addressed in order to establish that both the killing of Zawahiri, and the use of force against Afghanistan, were not violations of international law.

Top Experts Raise Questions Regarding Legal Basis of Zawahiri Strike
A note from co-editors-in-chief Tess Bridgeman and Ryan Goodman: Although Just Security is on hiatus this week, we wanted to be sure to examine and reflect on the U.S. airstrike…