Recent Posts

Al-Qaida Is Diminished, but Don’t Write Its Obituary Just Yet

Rumors began swirling last fall that al-Qaida chieftain Ayman al-Zawahiri had died of natural causes. With no confirmation, counterterrorism analysts and long-time al-Qaida watchers weighed in with various assessments of what it would mean for the terrorist organization if it had indeed lost its leader. Just last week, al-Qaida’s official …

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What Brought Saudi Arabia and Iran to the Negotiating Table

Saudi Arabia and Iran recently confirmed that they are engaging in direct negotiations to lower tensions between the two rivals and eventually normalize diplomatic relations. Officials from both sides are sounding cautiously optimistic about the endeavor. “We have initiated some exploratory talks. They are at a very early stage but …

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To face Russia and Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden needs a smart strategy

Michael O’Hanlon argues that to reduce tension with Russia, the United States should pursue a new security architecture for Europe whose core concept is “permanent non-alignment for countries of eastern Europe.” This piece originally appeared in USA Today. Four months into his term in office, President Joe Biden needs a …

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Iraq ramps up border security via tunnels, surveillance

Iraq focuses on preventing terrorist organizations from entering its territories, after they have used the border areas to conduct operations and move between Syria and Iraq. Iraqi security authorities announced at the beginning of May that they were digging a trench and employing advanced surveillance technologies along the border with …

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