The Limitations of al Qaeda’s New English Webzine
Al Qaeda announced this weekend the forthcoming publication of a new Englis...
Anwar al-Awlaki
The Real Moazzam Begg
Ex-Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg was arrested earlier today as part of raid conducted by counterterrorism officials in the UK. Begg has spent most of his time living in the UK following his re...
Op-eds
Al Qaeda’s Expansion in Egypt Implications for U.S. Homeland Security
Chairman King, Ranking Member Higgins, members of the committee, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss al Qaeda’s presence in Egypt. The uprisings throughou...
Congressional Testimonies
The Arab Spring and Al-Qaeda’s Resurgence
Chairman McKeon, Ranking Member Smith, distinguished members of the committee, it is an honor to appear before you to discuss the state of al-Qaeda, its affiliates, and associated groups. My test...
Congressional Testimonies
The Arab Spring and Al-Qaeda’s Resurgence
Download the full testimony (PDF). Chairman McKeon...
Congressional Testimonies
Major Hasan’s ‘Martyrdom’
At Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009, 13 American military men and women were killed and more than 30 wounded by a man who proudly regarded himself as a “...
Op-eds
The Cuban in the Desert
In April 2011, a post appeared on the leading jihadist web forum Shumukh al-Islam authored by a little known writer called Abu As...
Op-eds
‘Core’ Al Qaeda Closes US Diplomatic Facilities
On Friday, the State Department announced that 21 diplomatic facilities (now updated to 22), from North Africa...
Op-eds
Global al Qaeda: Affiliates, Objectives, and Future Challenges
Chairman Poe, Ranking Member Sherman and members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the threat posed by al Qaeda. We have been asked to “examine the nature of...
Congressional Testimonies
See No Evil
During his speech at the National Defense University on May 23, President Obama sought to reassure Americans that they are “safer” because of the administration’s “efforts...
Op-eds
Night at the Newseum
Inspire is a glossy, English-language, online magazine published by al-Qaeda. It was conceived by Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-born cleric and al-Qaeda leader, who also contributed edit...
Op-eds
Self-Radicalization Chic
The president has described the Boston terrorists as “self-radicalized,” and his voice is but one in a great chorus insisting that we face a major threat from Americans gone bad, almo...
Op-eds
John Brennan and the Bin Laden Files
During a speech at the Woodrow Wilson Center on April 30, 2012, John Brennan, President Obama’s nominee to head the CIA, discussed “The Ethics and Efficacy of the U.S. Pres...
Op-eds
AQAP Releases 10th Copy of Inspire; Features Adam Gadahn
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has released the 10th edition of Inspire, its English language propaganda magazine that is marketed to Westerners. The magazine features an article by Adam Gadah...
Op-eds
The ‘Targeted-Killing’ Memos
Why shouldn’t the public get to read them?
Op-eds
The Challenges of Gun Control: Denying Firearms to Terrorists
Co-authored by Daniel Trombly Following several tragic mass shootings, the U.S. is embroiled in a debate about gun control. The central question for many involved in this d...
Op-eds
Taliban, IMU Form Ansar al Aseer to Free Jihadist Prisoners
The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan announced the formation of the Ansar al Aseer, a unit tasked to free jihadist prisoners and support their families....
Op-eds
Yemeni Military Launches Operation to Free Western Hostages Held by AQAP
The Yemeni Army launched an offensive against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in the central Yemeni province of Al Baydah in an effort to free three Western hostages who were kidnapped by tribe...
Op-eds
US Drone Strikes Kill Jordanian, Yemeni AQAP Operatives
The US targeted al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula fighters in the first reported drone strikes in Yemen in seven weeks. In the first stirke, a Yemeni and a Jordanian AQAP operative are s...
Op-eds
Perceptions of the “Arab Spring” Within the Salafi-Jihadi Movement
Co-authored by Tara Vassefi “The popular uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain have not only shaken the foundation of the authoritarian order in the...