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Al Qaida

Al Qaida
commentary
Will al Qaeda Make a Comeback?
Seth G. Jones @SethGJones
Aug 7, 2017
Foreign Affairs
Al Qaeda's revival will likely hinge on its ability to take advantage of opportunities such as the withdrawal of counterterrorism forces from key battlefields, more revolt in the Middle East, U.S. or European policies that feed the perception of Muslim oppression, or the rise of a charismatic jihadist leader.
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Afghanistan
commentary
Trump's Options for Afghanistan: Losing or Not Losing
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Jun 23, 2017
The Cipher Brief
The Trump administration faces the choice of losing quickly by withdrawing from Afghanistan; losing slowly by maintaining America's current, inadequate commitment; or not losing by increasing that commitment enough to maintain a stalemate on the battlefield.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
Is ISIS Leader Baghdadi Still Alive?
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Jun 22, 2017
Foreign Affairs
The Russian military announced that it might have killed the leader of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in an airstrike in Raqqa. Would his death weaken the group or will ISIS continue to adapt, evolve, and expand like al Qaeda did?
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Violence
commentary
Why Aren't There More Terrorist Attacks Like the One in London?
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Jun 7, 2017
Fortune
The number of attacks like the one on London Bridge are low because jihadist ideologies have failed to gain traction in most Muslim countries, and it's difficult to recruit people remotely. Supporting violence and participating in it are two different things.
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Terrorism Threat Assessment
commentary
Attacks on Russia Will Only Increase
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Apr 4, 2017
The Atlantic
As Russia gets more involved with the Syrian civil war, it's likely that Sunni militants will intensify their campaign against Russia. But the key reason why Sunni attacks on Russia proper will increase is the fallout between Sunni jihadists in the Caucasus — namely, the al-Qaeda-linked Caucasus Emirate and the ISIS-linked Wilayat Qawqaz.
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Terrorism Threat Assessment
commentary
Al Qaeda in Syria Can Change Its Name, but Not Its Stripes
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Mar 23, 2017
The Cipher Brief
Al Qaeda in Syria, by any name, remains a dangerous and capable terrorist organization with the ability to conduct attacks in the West. Those seeking to grapple with the threat the group poses should focus less on its names and more on its actions.
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Syria
commentary
Al Nusra Is Stronger Than Ever
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Nov 2, 2016
The Cipher Brief
While the West targets ISIS, Jabhat Fateh al Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al Nusra, is quietly laying the groundwork for al Qaeda's resurgence.
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Al Qaida
commentary
Al Qaeda's Ruthless Pragmatism Makes It More Dangerous Than the Islamic State
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke, Barak Mendelsohn
Oct 27, 2016
Reuters
Al Qaeda presents a graver long-term threat to the West than the Islamic State. It has proved more effective in exploiting U.S. policy in the Middle East to legitimize itself as an armed force and, increasingly, as a viable political player.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
September 11: The Day That Changed My Country (and My Career Path) Forever
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
Sep 11, 2016
Fox News Channel
New York City native Colin Clarke discusses how terrorism has evolved since the September 11 attacks and how the tragedy motivated him to become a terrorism expert.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
Fifteen Years on, Where Are We in the 'War on Terror'?
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Sep 7, 2016
CTC Sentinel
Much has changed since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Counterterrorism efforts have made progress, and Americans are safer. But it's unclear how much further the fight against terrorism has to go.
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Al Qaida
commentary
A Persistent and Resilient Adversary: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Aug 22, 2016
The Cipher Brief
The history of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula catalogues every dimension of frustration in combatting terrorism. But is it possible that the United States and its Gulf allies are finally getting the measure of AQAP?
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
Is the Surge in Terrorist Attacks Coincidence or Coordinated Campaign?
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Jul 11, 2016
The Hill
Whatever the investigations of recent terrorist attacks reveal, the facts may be portrayed (or ignored) to fit narratives written even before the blood has dried.
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The Islamic State (Terrorist Organization)
commentary
In the Event of the Islamic State's Untimely Demise...
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins, Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke
May 11, 2016
Foreign Policy
If they haven't already, the Islamic State's leaders will soon formulate a contingency strategy, a Plan B that the West will then be forced to contend with.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
Five Years After the Death of Osama bin Laden, Is the World Safer?
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
May 2, 2016
The Cipher Brief
What effect did killing bin Laden have on al Qaeda's ability to pursue its jihadist goals? Does high-value targeting contribute to counterterrorist strategy more broadly? Does killing terrorist leaders work?
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Terrorism Threat Assessment
commentary
Could ISIS and Al Qaeda, Two Giants of Jihad, Unite?
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Mar 14, 2016
Fox News Channel
It could take a change in leadership in both Al Qaeda and ISIS and perhaps some compromises on mission and strategy, but there are enough points of confluence to make a united jihadist front a realistic and frightening possibility.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
An Authorization for the Fight Against the Islamic State
Christopher S. Chivvis @CChivvis, Andrew Liepman
Jul 9, 2015
The Hill
The U.S. military is conducting some 2,000 airstrikes a month against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria but progress is slow and the terrorist group has expanded far beyond those two countries. Congress needs now more than ever to take up the issue of authorizing the use of military force.
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Al Qaida

Will al Qaeda Make a Comeback?

Trump's Options for Afghanistan: Losing or Not Losing

Is ISIS Leader Baghdadi Still Alive?

Why Aren't There More Terrorist Attacks Like the One in London?

Attacks on Russia Will Only Increase

Al Qaeda in Syria Can Change Its Name, but Not Its Stripes

Al Nusra Is Stronger Than Ever

Al Qaeda's Ruthless Pragmatism Makes It More Dangerous Than the Islamic State

September 11: The Day That Changed My Country (and My Career Path) Forever

Fifteen Years on, Where Are We in the 'War on Terror'?

A Persistent and Resilient Adversary: Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Is the Surge in Terrorist Attacks Coincidence or Coordinated Campaign?

In the Event of the Islamic State's Untimely Demise...

Five Years After the Death of Osama bin Laden, Is the World Safer?

Could ISIS and Al Qaeda, Two Giants of Jihad, Unite?

An Authorization for the Fight Against the Islamic State

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