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A person crosses the street at nearly empty Times Square on April 20, 2020, in New York City.

Terrorism During a Pandemic: Assessing the Threat and Balancing the Hype

Since the onset of the pandemic, the terrorist threat may have changed – but that change has not been an unmitigated increase, despite reports suggesting the contrary.
Security personnel inspect a damaged Sikh-Hindu Temple

How Terrorist Groups Will Try to Capitalize on the Coronavirus Crisis

Terrorist groups will try to capitalize on the raging pandemic, the public’s increased fears, and the lack of confidence in governments by engaging in future targeted attacks.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar shake hands after signing a peace agreement during a ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha on February 29, 2020.

Peace in Afghanistan: Showmanship over Substance

It is clear why it is in the best interests of both the Taliban and the Trump administration to maintain the masquerade despite ongoing Taliban and Haqqani attacks targeting both…
Trump speaks from the White House on January 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. Pence, Esper and others stand around him.

The President, His Relationship with Intelligence, and the Soleimani Strike

When it comes to intelligence, like with so much else, President Donald Trump likes big names. It’s this focus on celebrity, headlines, and immediate gratification -- versus …
An Afghan National Army officer, right, informs his U.S. Army counterparts from the 4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, left and center, about ANA troop movements May 6, 2013 while pursuing Taliban fighters in Babus, Afghanistan.

Part III: The Muddy Middle: A New Framework for Use of Force

We may not have wanted to land in this muddy middle between peace and war that we currently find ourselves in, but this is the reality of the current moment in the counterterrorism…
A picture taken near the Iraqi city of Qaim at the Iraqi-Syrian border on November 11, 2018, shows US Army vehicles patrolling the Syrian side of the border.

Part II: The Muddy Middle: Challenges of Applying Use of Force Policy Guidance in Practice

In part two of a three-part series, the authors explain how new operational models for both why and how the U.S. used force outside areas of active hostilities created tensions…
A US Predator unmanned drone armed with a missile stands on the tarmac of Kandahar military airport on June 13, 2010.

The Muddy Middle: The Disappearing Lines in America’s Counterterrorism Wars and How to Restore Order

In three articles, the authors explain how the lines have blurred between U.S. military operating procedures for use of force in hot war zones versus outside areas of active hostilities…
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives to announce the creation of the "Iran Action Group" during a press briefing at the State department in Washington, DC, August 16, 2018.

Unpacking the State Dept Acknowledgment that 2001 and 2002 AUMFs Don’t Authorize War Against Iran

An analysis of State Dept's major concession, whether the one stated exception is a loophole for military action, and what Congress should now do.
The State Department's director of policy planning and head of the Iran Action Group, Brian Hook, shakes hands with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after the announcement of the "Iran Action Group" during a press briefing at the State department in Washington, DC, August 16, 2018.

Asking the Right Question on Iran, Al-Qaeda and the AUMF

The President and senior members of his administration are trying to skew a critical public debate by framing it inaccurately. The stakes—including a potential new war in the…
An 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief launches a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft during Exercise Operation Varsity 19-01 on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 28, 2019.

Legal Explainer: German Court Reins in Support for U.S. Drone Strikes

Unpacking the legal issues discussed in this major decision by German court.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, White House National Security Advisor John Bolton and Vice President Mike Pence listen to President Donald Trump announce his decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in the Diplomatic Room at the White House May 8, 2018 in Washington, DC.

About that Trial Balloon on Using 9/11 AUMF to Authorize Strikes on Iran

Monday’s Washington Times included a breathless “Exclusive” report titled “Iran-al Qaeda Alliance May Provide Legal Rationale for U.S. Military Strikes.” In the piece,…
Yemeni women and children wait during food distribution in the province of Hodeida on May 30, 2018.

Avoiding the Next Yemen: Applying Hard Lessons for Security Partnerships

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen, wrought by a conflict entering its fourth year, has called into question the nature and purpose of American security partnership with Saudi Arabia.…
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