Terrorism

Economic crises and terror attacks reside in different parts of the America brain. The former requires patience and discipline, the latter demands action and decisiveness. Several months ago, it's quite likely the more violent aspects of the American psyche would've sent John McCain to the White House. Then came the financial meltdown. According to exit […]

The pseudo-civil war raging in Pakistan has resulted in a new wave of violence across the troubled-nation.  The Taliban and associates have claimed at least two terror attacks in as many days, while Pakistani military personnel responded with heavy air attacks on suspected militant targets in the northwest frontier.   Thursday, a meeting amongst Tribal […]

For better or worse, America has taken off the gloves in her fight against "Islamic extremism'. Motivations vary. Perhaps George Bush is making his last-ditch effort to "smoke "em out of their caves' before he leaves office, or perhaps an invigorated American command is utilizing some of its political capital gained through the security improvements […]

Afghanistan is standing on the precipice of disaster. Almost seven years after the initial attack on the Taliban (most of which was very successful), Coalition forces are now poised at a crossroads. All interested parties must ask themselves one key question: Are we in or are we out? Just as America double-downed on the surge […]

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, the UK's upper house of Parliament dismissed two key provisions from the government's new Counter-Terrorism Bill. WHY? Political EXPEDIENCY. Ministers base their opposition to the legislation on both human rights and constitutional grounds, but politics is surely the overarching principle of the day; a very dangerous game indeed. […]

As I followed the news over the past several days, I was struck by a fairly distressing thought. Is the current violence and upheaval in Pakistan the best-case scenario for Iraq? Let's examine what has happened over the past several days in Pakistan: A (presumed) suicide attack at an Islamabad counter-terrorism center, a roadside bombing […]

The Iraqi debate continues throughout American politics. Has the "surge' succeeded? Are security gains temporary of permanent? Will the Iraqis continue on the road towards reconciliation? Whatever your opinion, facts are facts. Both proponents and opponents of the "surge' acknowledge that Iraq of 2008 is a far safer place than Iraq of 2005. To claim […]

A presumed car bomb detonated in Tripoli, Lebanon today killing at least 4 and injuring over 30. The attack, similar to those of August 13, targeted Lebanese soldiers as they traveled on a bus towards Beirut. The blast occurred in the Bahsas region, where local officials claim the bomb was concealed in a parked car […]

The NEFA Foundation has posted some interesting documents highlighting the growing rift between the Ansar-al-Islam organization in Iraq. The group, formerly known as the Ansar al-Sunnah Army, has been ravaged by infighting between core members and a breakaway splinter organization 'the Shariah Committee of the Ansar al-Sunnah Army”. Ansar-al-Islam (Partisans or Supporters of Islam) is […]

The Taliban in Pakistan have denied responsibility for the Islamabad Marriott bombing that left over 50 dead and 250 injured. According to Al Jazeera, Talibani senior commander Baitullah Mehsud claims "that their group does not believe in killing so many locals and would never overtly attack civilians.' Mehsud backs this assertion by highlighting the use […]

In an immediate response to the attack on the US Embassy in Yemen, local authorities (with much American aid) have arrested at least 30 people in or around the capital. The terrorist attack, which left 16 dead including the assailants, highlights an increasing trend of small-arms, non-sophisticated explosives, and loosely affiliated individuals targeting immediate "soft-targets'. […]

With every passing explosion in downtown New Delhi, it became more and more clear that America and its western partners are ignoring a valuable ally in their war against Islamic fundamentalism. India has always been regarded as somehow unique to the league of democracies, although there are no legitimate reasons for this exclusion. Perhaps it […]