Counterterrorism
512 Articles

The Inevitable Day of Reckoning in Syria
President Trump's decision to disengage with the YPG and ultimately side with Turkey was rash and immoral, yet fundamentally inevitable.

Nearly 20 Years Later: It’s Time to Reset Our Approach to Countering Terrorism
With the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi another terrorist leader has been taken off the battlefield, but while a notable military and intelligence success, the threat posed by the…

The US Mission Tied to Syrian Oil Fields May Prove the Worst of All Strategic Options
"What seems like a well-intentioned effort to mitigate a mess of Trump’s own making ultimately could make matters worse."

How Trump Could Really End “Endless Wars”
If Trump were serious about his professed desire to end endless wars, he would offer a responsible plan for repealing the statutory authorization that three successive administrations…

Keeping Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism in Focus at the UN
Egypt has for years sought to undermine UN consensus on norms for human rights in countering terrorism. It's time for UN members to take a principled stand.

Trump’s Communications Malpractice Mars His Victory Lap on al-Baghdadi
The president politicized the raid’s aftermath and jeopardized our foreign policy and military operations in the process.

How Trump’s Gilding the Lily on Baghdadi Death Will Return to Haunt Americans
I handled State Dept’s public messaging after we killed bin Laden. I know the risks.

Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism’s ‘Transparency Report’ Raises More Questions Than Answers
The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism doesn’t go far enough in allaying concerns about the negative impacts on freedom of expression facilitated by this opaque, private…

What’s the New Terror Financing Executive Order All About?
Last week, the Trump administration updated E.O. 13224 to expand both State and Treasury’s ability to wield sanctions against terrorists. What are the practical implications…

Why a Judge’s Terrorism Watchlist Ruling is a Game Changer: What Happens Next
Leading expert and author of a book on the subject, Jeffrey Kahn explains what happens now that a court declared a major terrorist watchlist unconstitutional.

Q&A on Court Decision Invalidating Administration’s Terrorism Watchlist
Expert Backgrounder on the big questions coming out of the court's ruling. The case involved US citizens. How might the ruling affect foreign nationals? What were the judge's key…

The Tit-for-Tat Dynamics of 21st Century Extremism
After two decades of focus on militant jihadist terrorism, a broader understanding is developing of another form of extremism – that of the violent far-right or ultra-nationalist…