International

A History of Violence – Does anyone still doubt Iran is a terrorist state?

October 18, 2011

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s announcement that a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and a commander in Iran’s Quds Force had been charged in New York for their alleged roles in a plot to murder the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, represents a brazen escalation in Iran’s struggle for regional dominance. But Iran’s willingness to use brutal means to achieve its foreign-policy goals is nothing new: Since the creation of the Islamic Republic, U.S. intelligence agencies have repeatedly identified terrorism as one of the regime’s signature calling cards.

An Evolution in the National Security Threats from the Mexican Drug Cartels and Iran?

Security Debrief |

October 17, 2011

By Rob Strayer
The arrest of a dual Iranian-American citizen for soliciting a Mexican drug cartel member (who turned out to be a DEA informant) to commit a terrorist act on U.S. soil is notable for what it says about the drug cartels’ use of flagrant violence and the intentions of the government of Iran. This plot confirms long-held fears about transnational narco-trafficking enterprises – that their channels for moving drugs, money, and weapons across the U.S. and other borders could also be used to smuggle terrorists or weapons of mass destruction into the United States.

Mounting Questions on Iran Terror Plot

Media Watch |

October 13, 2011

Mounting Questions on Iran Terror Plot – Council on Foreign Relations Kenneth Katzman, an Iran expert at the Congressional Research Service, says he and many of his peers believe that elements of the plan–such as the alleged intent to use a Mexican drug cartel to carry out the killing–simply don’t comport with what they know […]

Iranian Bomb Plot – What Did the President Know?

admin |

October 13, 2011

According to Reuters, President Obama was briefed on the Iranian bomb plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in June. The White House released its strategy to combat terrorism on June 28. While the White House knew the Iranians had active operations on-going in the United States, it intentionally side-stepped the issue of state-sponsored terrorism in its strategy. How can that make sense?

Social Media Accounts of Violence in Cairo Challenge Official Narrative

Media Watch |

October 12, 2011

Social Media Accounts of Violence in Cairo Challenge Official Narrative – NYTimes.com Although Egypt’s prime minister, Essam Sharaf, hinted darkly that the violence had been orchestrated as part of a foreign plot to inflame sectarian tensions, some witnesses to the mayhem claimed in accounts posted on social media Web sites that the military had used […]

Refugees, Settlers and Borders: Addressing the Core Issues in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Security Debrief |

October 10, 2011

Media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute tends to focus on issues that make for better sound bites. The media latches onto largely meaningless but ostensibly easily understandable concepts such as “peace process.” In fact, the core issue of this dispute has always been and will continue to be, regardless of the size or location of land swaps, whether the Palestinians and the larger Arab World are willing to ultimately accept the existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East or whether peace agreements with that country are really only temporary expediencies on the road towards “righting the historical wrong” of a Jewish state in the region.

Life Lessons on Preventing Terrorism

admin |

October 5, 2011

Last week left us with more than enough object lessons about what is important when it comes to good counterterrorism. Getting Anwar al-Awlaki was important, and degrading transnational terrorist networks should always list as job number one. As a recent briefing at the National Institute Justice makes clear, attacks associated with organized networks result in higher deaths per attack. They are more dangerous than “lone-wolfs” and “self-radicalized” violent extremists.

Anwar al Awlaki – The Killing of "An American Citizen"

Steven Bucci |

October 3, 2011

Ron Paul is probably the most intellectually consistent politician I have ever witnessed, but his stand on the killing of AQAP Leader Anwar al-Awlaki last week is really ridiculous. Becoming a traitor to the United States carries the “punishment” of losing your rights as a citizen. Fighting for the other side in a war does as well. What else would this “cleric” have to do to warrant action against him? Paul said “We don’t know if he ever killed anyone.” Please Mr. Representative, ask the folks at Ft. Hood if al-Awlaki ever killed anyone. Yes he did.

Following al-Awlaki's Death, Questions Remain for Counter-Terrorism Efforts in Yemen

Security Debrief |

September 30, 2011

By Rob Strayer
The headline this morning is that Anwar al-Awlaki was killed by a drone strike in Yemen. He was not the symbolic leader for the al Qaeda movement that Osama bin Laden was, nor was he responsible for orchestrating the deaths of thousands, but in recent years, he played a more significant operational role than bin Laden. At this time, there are several open questions, some of which may be answered in the coming days and weeks.

Hamas Shifts to an Outside-In Operational Strategy

Security Debrief |

September 27, 2011

Historically, Hamas has limited its operational focus to Israel, with almost all of its attacks occurring within the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel proper. Although many non-Israelis have been killed in such attacks, most of them were unintended victims of inherently indiscriminate terrorist tactics. Recently, however, Hamas has expanded its area of operations. Information released by Israeli and American authorities suggests that the group has now extended its logistical efforts and even certain planning and operational activities as far afield as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, and China.

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