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

Terrorists Are Going to Use Artificial Intelligence

Machine-learning technology is growing ever more accessible. Let’s not have a 9/11-style ‘failure of imagination’ about it.

Ideas

The Difference Between a Killer and a Terrorist

Two mass murders reveal how difficult—and important—it is to correctly identify terrorism when it occurs.

Science & Tech

The Pentagon Is Making a Ray Gun to Stop Truck Attacks

A device that resembles an old phonograph may soon be used to jam and shut down vehicles like the one that killed 10 people in Toronto.

Policy

The Politics of Hating (And Loving) France

From freedom fries to fast friends, after the Macron visit will Republicans who choose to stand with Trump continue to stand with France? The war on terrorism may depend on it.

Ideas

Time to Get Out of Syria

The national security 'blob' who warn departure would be a disaster are wrong.

Ideas

Saudi Crown Prince: Iran's Supreme Leader 'Makes Hitler Look Good'

In a wide-ranging conversation, Prince Mohammed bin Salman also recognized the Jewish people’s right to “their own land.”

Threats

Is Peace on the Horizon for Afghanistan?

An offer of talks by the Ghani government was met with silence from the Taliban. That, in itself, could be a good sign.

Science & Tech

The Pentagon Wants AI To Reveal Adversaries’ True Intentions

The U.S. military is looking to enlist game theory and artificial intelligence to fight tomorrow’s unconventional warfare tactics.

Ideas

Russia's Favorite Syrian Warlord

Brigadier General Suheil al-Hassan has won over Putin and played a central role in the assault on eastern Ghouta.

Threats

‘We're Finding It Difficult to Hold’ Territory in Somalia: Senator

Somali government forces, African partner nations, and half a thousand U.S. troops are having trouble holding off the extremists of al Shabaab.

Ideas

Talk About Extremists, But Don't Politicize the Debate

Singer's call to focus on right-wing extremists is dangerous to a profession that needs to remain above partisan politics.

Ideas

Whatever Happened to Trump's Counterterrorism Strategy?

His approach borrows from his predecessors’, while exacerbating their worst, most counterproductive tendencies.