Why Helping Iran Would Not Lead the US into a New Quagmire
Iran is already a thoroughly integrated and educated nation-state under the repressive rule of the ayatollahs.
Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin
Does Hezbollah’s Silence Link the Attack on Safed to Israel’s Strike on Nabatiyeh?
Last Thursday, Israel reportedly attempted to assassinate two high-ranking Hezbollah members: Ali Karaki, identified by media outlets as a “Hezbollah military commander” but, more significantly, “the...
Op-eds
Iran attacked Syria with long-range missile in message to Israel
Iran is openly admitting that it used these missiles to send a message to the US and Israel and that it basically targeted northwest Syria just to show off.
Op-eds
Taliban appoints Kabul Attack Network commander as provincial governor
A notorious Taliban commander who organized attacks in and around the capital of Kabul, including deadly attacks on U.S. soldiers and civilians, was appointed by the Taliban to serve as the governor of...
Op-eds
Taliban’s government includes designated terrorists, ex-Guantanamo detainees
The Taliban has announced the formation of an “interim government” to rule over Afghanistan. The Taliban’s regime will be known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. This is entirely unsurprising....
Op-eds
Osama bin Laden’s security chief triumphantly returns to hometown in Afghanistan
The man who served as Osama bin Laden’s security chief at the battle of Tora Bora triumphantly returned to his home in eastern Afghanistan today, less than two weeks after the country fell to the Taliban....
Op-eds
Five of the Most Dangerous Taliban Commanders in U.S. Custody Exchanged for American Captive
The Obama administration announced today that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who has been held by the Taliban for several years, has been freed from his captors. Reading the stories of his newfound...
Op-eds
Pro-Taliban Pakistani Islamist Leader Targeted in Suicide Attack
The former leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a political party that supports the Taliban, was the target of a female suicide bomber in Pakistan's violence-ridden northwest. Qazi Hussai...
Op-eds
Female Suicide Bomber From Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin Strikes in Kabul
Hizb-i-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) has claimed credit for a suicide attack in Kabul today that targeted foreigns and was executed by a female. At least 12 people, mostly foreign workers, were killed i...
Op-eds
Pakistan’s ISI Supports Taliban, al Qaeda in Nuristan, Says Afghan Parliament
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate continues to support the Taliban and al Qaeda in the northeastern province of Nuristan, according to the Afghan parliament's Security...
Op-eds
Don’t Stay the Course
He couldn’t name a single one. In this tense campaign season, al-Qaeda is very much in the front of the Obama administration’s mind. In fact, admini...
Op-eds
Afghan Taliban Announces New ‘Political Office’ in Qatar
The Taliban announced today that it is opening a "political office" in Qatar. According to a translation of the Taliban's message by the SITE Intelligence Group, the office is intended to "s...
Op-eds
Taliban Seek Freedom for Dangerous Guantanamo Detainees
The Obama administration is considering repatriating some Guantanamo detainees to Afghanistan as part of a diplomatic effort to engage the Taliban,...
Op-eds
Fantasyland Peace Talks with the Taliban
The Obama administration is still pursuing negotiations with the Taliban, even if it doubts a viable negotiating partner sits across the table. And, as part of this ad hoc diplomatic eff...
Op-eds
COIN is Dead. Long Live COIN?
By Bill Ardolino On a warm August afternoon, two dozen US and Afghan soldiers trudged through sticky corn fields to the village of Majiles in the contentious district of Sabari...
Op-eds
Al Qaeda IED Cell Leader Denied Habeas Petition
A DC district court released its opinion denying Guantanamo detainee Bostan Karim's petition for a writ of habeas corpus yesterday. The opinion is dated Oct. 12, but the unclassified version...
Op-eds
Early Warnings Ignored
September 11: A Decade Later
Op-eds
Ex-Gitmo Detainee Killed in Afghanistan
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) announced today that...
Op-eds
The Hidden Hand
The Obama administration finally highlights Iran’s key role in supporting al Qaeda
Op-eds
The al Qaeda- Taliban Connection
Obama takes his eye off the ball.