Ideas
Sunni Jihad Is Going Local
Future extremists will focus not on exporting violence to the West, but on building influence in their own communities.
Ideas
The Terrorism That Doesn’t Spark a Panic
Americans should react to violence from religious and ethnic minorities with the same sense of proportion they reserve for far-right extremists.
Threats
America Still Doesn’t Know What to Do With Terrorism Suspects
Some pre-9/11 plotters have not yet been brought to justice, even as a new generation of suspects is taking their place.
Policy
Trump Just Killed His Own Defense Strategy
The commander in chief has torn up 17 years of counterterrorism plans, offering instead his strange mix of talking points and lies.
Policy
Trump’s New Africa Plan: Fewer US Troops and Aid, More Investment and Deals
To compete with China in Africa, the White House aims to encourage U.S. investment but will continue a troop drawdown and plans a harsh re-evaluation of foreign assistance.
Ideas
Ep. 31: The true origins of ISIS and the future of counterterrorism with Hassan Hassan
Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.
Policy
The US Military Held an American as an Enemy Combatant for Over a Year. Here’s What That Means.
The case could have upended the entire war on ISIS. Instead, it’s changing how we treat some detainees.
Science & Tech
Social-Media Companies Are Scanning for Potential Terrorists — Islamic Ones, Anyway
Big platforms like Facebook others have come a long way in detecting and preventing the spread of Islamic extremist content and tracking potential Muslim terrorists. Why aren’t they doing more about other kinds?
Ideas
If Not Pipe-Bombs, What Counts as Terrorism in 2018?
There is no consensus—in academia, law, or common usage—on when an attack is more than just a crime.
Ideas
‘Light Footprint’ Operations Keep US Troops in the Dark
With fewer troops to gather intelligence, American forces are vulnerable to locals’ manipulation.
Threats
The 'War on Terror' Still Grows in Somalia
“Drone strikes may have a purpose, but they are no substitute for a political strategy.”
Ideas
Stuck Fighting the Last War
It’s 2011—not 2001—that defines the challenge facing the United States and its allies in combatting jihadism.
Ideas
ISIS Is Ready For a Resurgence
The new recording released by the group’s leader suggested he’s looking to the past to chart a course for the group’s ultimate triumph.
Threats
Boko Haram’s Deadly Impact
A new compilation of data gives insight into the African Islamist insurgency’s reach, tactics, and evolution. It reveals a far higher victim count than previous estimates.
Ideas
An Extraordinarily Expensive Way to Fight ISIS
The tale of a 2017 bombing raid in the Libyan desert that pitted stealth bombers and 500-pound bombs against 70 ragtag fighters.
Ideas
The Secrecy Surrounding the John Doe-ISIS Case Is the Real Threat
An accused terrorist may go free because the Trump administration demanded an end-run around the rule of law.
Threats
With Ceasefire, Afghan President Offers ‘An Opportunity for the Taliban’
Ashraf Ghani has ordered his forces to stand down for a week, but are the insurgents interested?
Ideas
US Officials Just Mislabeled a Syrian Terror Group as al Qaeda. Worse, They’re Missing a Far Bigger Threat
The HTS group is not part of al Qaeda, but at loggerheads with it. Meanwhile, a smaller group is plotting global jihad.
Science & Tech
Is Telegram Secure? French Terror Arrest Raises New Questions About Messaging App
It’s not clear that French police cracked the app’s encryption. But ISIS and other user groups are becoming wary.
Ideas