Counterterrorism
484 Articles

Responding to the Capitol Attack: Accountability Without Overreaction
There are many indisputable facts about last week’s violent and deadly incursion into the Capitol building. It is beyond debate that the fiasco included multiple criminal acts.…

Pentagon Moves Undermine Counterterrorism Strategy
Instead of acquiescing to the whims of a lame-duck president, Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller should insist upon maintaining sufficient capability to prevent the resurgence…

Military Families are Gunning for Peace this Holiday Season
I share my family’s story to underline the urgency behind avoiding war with Iran. We’ve become a nation that engages in wars of choice. We cannot continue down this current…

Defending Women’s Rights Is Not Terrorism: A Saudi Prosecution on Human Rights Day
UN entities that support and enable counterterrorism, including in cooperation with the Kingdom, must ensure such abuses end.

Addressing Our Whole-of-Government Deficit in National Security
From Russ Travers who retired in July 2020 after a 42-year career in the Intelligence Community, having served in senior positions across multiple intelligence organizations --…

The Risks of Relying on Counterterrorism Laws to Reduce Wartime Sexual Violence
Proponents risk legitimizing abusive laws and procedures and undermining broader efforts to advance equality and human rights protection for women.

Defending Human Rights Is Not Terrorism: The Egypt Arrests as a Case in Point
The UN's global counterterrorism system creates a permissive and enabling environment that sustains and facilitates abuse of rights defenders,

A Path for Renewing Guantanamo Closure
Although closing the 20-year-old detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) may not be a marquee issue among the many significant challenges Joe Biden will face as president…

Plan to Pull U.S. Troops from Somalia is Cold Comfort Amid Civilian Toll of Air War
AFRICOM insists its aim is to ‘degrade’ al-Shabaab. But the US military campaign is taking a heavy toll on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Militarized Counterterrorism in Africa: Moving Beyond a Failed Approach
Leading with a heavy military response, particularly when government partners are repressive, ultimately makes things worse. The need for a new approach is clear. It should focus…

The Necessity of Enforcing Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in the Context of Counterterrorism
International legal norms risk marginalization in the rush to embrace ill-defined counterterrorism standards in multiple settings.

Investigation Highlights Transparency Need on US, UK Roles in Kenyan Counterterrorism
If true, the cases further spotlight the doublespeak by the US and the UK on accountability for security force abuses in Kenya.