The fight against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) is, in part, a war of ideas. ISIS pushes a radical ideology that claims to justify murder, rape and other atrocities. In the United States, we must counter this narrative. As a part of that effort, fellow Security Debrief contributor Erroll Southers and I have been working on a Countering Violent Extremism project in Minneapolis.
By Dr. Doron Pely
In the wake of the recent wave of Islamists-led terror attacks around the world, there is a palpable sense of despair amongst Western experts and citizens who are all asking: “Where do we go from here in our relations with Islam?” It seems that we are running out of options, and the only way forward is outright conflict, but before we cross that Sambation, here is an alternative proposal that may show some promise.
On Sunday, after a terrorist attack that murdered a dozen French citizens, 4 million people gathered in Paris to stand together and say they would not be afraid. While leaders from around the world came to Paris to join in the rally, noticeably absent was a recognizable face from the United States. For reasons I don’t understand, President Obama was not there.
By Robert Connors
Kaci Hickox – you should have called me. We could have chatted about your situation: how you feel and how unfair it is to be in quarantine when you aren’t sick. After you got everything off your chest, I’d point out that there is a legitimate fear of Ebola, and that counts for something.
The first person to be diagnosed with Ebola on U.S. soil has died. The case of Thomas Eric Duncan, coupled with the fact that there is no known cure or vaccine for Ebola, raises questions about the threat from bioterrorism.
Al-Shabaab remains a major recruiter of U.S. citizens, particularly in Minnesota. One man, Mohamed Ahmed, is doing his part to counter the terrorist messages, offering an alternative view of what really happens when someone joins a jihadist group.
September 21 marks the one-year anniversary of the Nairobi Westgate Attack in Kenya. The brutal terrorist and hostage attempt carried out by al-Shabaab terrorists killed 65 people and included a standoff that lasted four days. Kenya has turned a corner in the global battle against terrorism, and there are lessons here for the United States.
By Kevin McCarthy
Less then a month ago, a second massive tragedy struck Malaysia Airlines – the shoot down of MH17 over Ukraine. Was MH17 targeted specifically, an indiscriminate act of violence, or a major tactical error with global consequences? Is this a new global threat that should keep us up at night?
There are no words to describe the horror of the video showing the execution of American journalist James Foley at the hands of ISIS. Today, radicalization is spreading, and religious, civic, and cultural leaders on every continent have a responsibility to step forward to address it. Sadly, those voices don’t seem to be as loud or as savvy as the video we all saw last week.
The self-titled Islamic State (aka ISIS) continues its push against targets in Iraq, Syria and even Lebanon, while U.S. airstrikes begin to degrade their capabilities. Is it enough? Here are some important questions we should be asking about the situation in Iraq and the threat from ISIS.
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