Al Qaeda Growing Stronger By the Minute
Fifteen years to the date after the U.S. launched its invasion of Afghanistan, al Qaeda still remains a force to be reckoned with. And with […] More
Archive for ‘Bennett Seftel’
The World is Watching: The American Election and Iran
For the Islamic Republic of Iran, the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. With a […] More
Al Shabaab: A Persistent Threat
With al Shabaab orchestrating deadly attacks on a near-weekly basis, the terrorist group continues to pose a significant threat to regional stability in the Horn […] More
The World is Watching: The American Election and Saudi Arabia
As we draw closer to November 8 and the U.S. presidential race heats up, countries around the world have focused on how the potential election […] More
Fifteen Years After 9/11: Much Accomplished, Much to be Done
Sunday marks the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11, the date that altered the trajectory of America’s national security apparatus. The country’s focus turned from defending against […] More
Algeria: A Bulwark Against ISIS
With the Islamic State (ISIS) facing imminent defeat in its Libyan stronghold of Sirte, questions have arisen over where the group might seek refuge next. […] More
ISIS' Number Two Killed in Air Strike: Will It Weaken the Terrorist Group?
ISIS’ Amaq News Agency reported that Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, one of the group’s most prominent and longest-tenured leaders, was killed in an air strike on […] More
Boko Haram: The Plague Affecting Nigeria and Beyond
Despite sustained efforts by the Nigerian military to root out Boko Haram from its stronghold in northeastern Nigeria, the terrorist organization continues to plague the […] More
Mounting Security Challenges in Afghanistan
With Taliban and ISIS attacks occurring in Afghanistan almost daily, questions surrounding the direction of the country’s security apparatus loom large. Despite U.S. President Barack […] More
Bourne is Back
Drawing heavily from the fallout of the Edward Snowden affair and packed with non-stop action, Matt Damon returns as an older and grimmer version of […] More
The ISIS-Al Qaeda Rivalry
Jabhat al-Nusra, al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, is “splitting” from the al Qaeda network. During a news conference earlier today, Nusra leader Abu-Muhammad al-Joulani appeared […] More
The Aftermath of the Nice Attack: Is ISIS’ “Prestige” on the Rise?
While details continue to emerge about Thursday’s terrorist attack in Nice, France, one thing remains clear: regardless of whether ISIS orchestrated the attack, inspired it, […] More
Implications of Top Pakistani Taliban Leader’s Death
The leader of one of the deadliest factions within the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), Omar Mansoor, was killed in an airstrike in Afghanistan on Wednesday, U.S. […] More
Hezbollah's Many Faces
Designated by the United States as a terrorist group in 1997, Hezbollah is a Shia extremist organization and political party based in Lebanon that wears […] More
A Coordinated Effort to Combat Wildlife Trafficking
The intelligence community (IC), in coordination with government entities and private organizations, is working together to tackle a growing national security threat: wildlife trafficking. At […] More
The FBI’s Intelligence Mission
In the years since 9/11, the FBI has refocused its efforts beyond law enforcement to include, and even prioritize, intelligence gathering and counterterrorism operations. As […] More
Terrorism in Istanbul: Severe Implications
Tuesday evening’s terrorist attack at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul may have severe implications for Turkey moving forward. Although there have yet to be claims […] More
Jordan: Stability Amidst Chaos
Often hailed as an island of stability amidst a region of chaos, Jordan’s security remains an issue of paramount importance for the United States. Jordan’s […] More
A Rough Patch in U.S.-Saudi Relations
On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, arrived in Washington, D.C. to hold high-level talks with top U.S. officials, […] More
The Push for Kurdish Independence
As Kurdish forces battle the Islamic State (ISIS) on the frontlines in Iraq and Syria and the government in Baghdad struggles to preserve a cohesive […] More
Passing the Torch to the Next Generation of Saudi Leaders
Saudi Arabia is confronting a pivotal moment in its history. While the Kingdom navigates unprecedented regional and economic challenges, the Saudi royal family is orchestrating […] More
Fallout from Taliban Leader’s Death by Drone
This morning, the White House confirmed the death of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike on Saturday […] More
The Value of Special Operations Forces
Last week marked the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) action that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The publicly acknowledged […] More
What Drives ISIS
Broadcasting brutal murder videos, enslaving religious minorities, training and deploying child soldiers, carrying out suicide bombings at crowded intersections – these are just some of […] More