Ideas
UN's Purpose Questioned in a 'Post-Nation' World
At the UN Charter's 70th anniversary, some ambassadors question its purpose in a world of empowered and agile non-state actors.
Ideas
Why Terrorists Want To See the End of Tunisia
Tunisia’s struggles to counter terrorism and nurture democracy are intertwined and, at times, mutually destructive.
Threats
Why the Obama Administration Changed Its Hostage Policy
A candid explanation from Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes at the Aspen Ideas Festival.
Ideas
A Jordanian Man's Journey From the Arab Spring to al-Qaeda Foot Soldier
After pro-democracy protests failed in Jordan, one teenager's determination to make a difference led him into the arms of al-Qaeda in Syria.
Threats
The Inequality of War
A new report confirms that more than ever across the globe, peace begets peace and violence more violence. And without significant change, the inequality will only worsen.
Threats
Is ‘Whack-A-Mole’ Working Against al Qaeda?
The terror group’s No. 2 was killed in Yemen, reportedly by a U.S. strike. But are such killings bringing the U.S. any closer to “degrading and ultimately defeating” terrorism?
Threats
Al Qaeda's Middle Management Problem
Recent strikes against the group’s top officials in Libya and Yemen illustrate its organizational weaknesses.
Threats
What the US Should Do About ISIS Now
More than a dozen experts and scholars weigh in on how the U.S. should regroup as the coalition nears the end of its first year of fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
Threats
To Beat Boko Haram, Nigeria Must Craft a Future for Its Child Soldiers
Boko Haram has anywhere between 7,000 and 10,000 regular fighters, and no military campaign against them can—or should—envisage killing them all.
Policy
As More US Troops Head to Iraq, New Congressional Approval Isn’t Going Anywhere
Despite some legal experts' claims that the U.S. shouldn't fight ISIS on the authority to fight al-Qaida, the issue is a political hot potato in almost every corner of Washington.
Threats
It's Nearly Impossible to Understand What Motivates Terrorists
Asking how people join terrorist groups is more worthwhile than asking why.
Ideas
Forget Ivory, Africa's al-Shabaab Terrorists Are Getting Rich on Coal in Somalia
False portrayals of the terrorist group's role in the ivory trade could leave us with both more terrorists and fewer elephants in Africa.
Threats
Boko Haram and Nigeria's Army Are in a Human Rights Abuse Feedback Loop
Just as the White House wants to escalate its role in Nigeria's war with Boko Haram, Amnesty International says Abuja's army has a disturbing abundance of human rights abuses all its own.
Threats
How Not To Fix Airport Screening
A rush to add layers to airport security and screen more passengers will make the system less safe.
Threats
ISIS Sets Its Sights on Saudi Arabia, and That’s Bad News for Washington
Nothing the terror group has done so far would be so menacing to U.S. interests.
Threats
How Terrorism Prolongs Conflict But Loses the War
Rebel groups that employ the tactic in civil wars seldom win or gain concessions—but they tend to make ending a conflict much more difficult, a new paper finds.
Threats
This Is What Bin Laden Was Reading Just Before He Was Killed
The English-language books in particular present a fascinating picture of the terrorist's interests, including journalist Bob Woodward’s account of president Obama’s wars.
Threats
Is US Foreign Policy Ignoring Homegrown Terrorists?
U.S. intelligence officials say the most likely terror threats facing American citizens come from 'home-grown' extremists. So why is it largely absent from debate in Washington?
Threats
How Terrorist Bounties Are Calculated
Osama Bin Laden had a $25 million prize on his head, and even that might have been undervalued.
Threats
In Pakistan’s War on Terror, Ordinary People Are Increasingly Vulnerable
Militants, stung by government operations in tribal areas, are refocusing their attacks on citizens.
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