Over several months last year, in an effort to understand the Islamic State movement, Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East, sought the advice of Defense, intelligence and State experts, and … [Read more...] about The Mystery of the Islamic State*
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The Mystery of the Islamic State
Over several months last year, in an effort to understand the Islamic State movement, Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East, sought the advice of Defense, intelligence and State experts, and … [Read more...] about The Mystery of the Islamic State
The Paris Attack
Cartoon credit: Ruben L. Oppenheimer, 10:23 AM - 7 Jan 2015 President Obama is wrong. Free expression and a free press are clearly not "universal values," as he asserted in his condemnation of the attack on Charlie Hebdo's office in Paris. The … [Read more...] about The Paris Attack
The Terrorist Attack on Charlie Hebdo – First Hand Account*
Left: The latest tweet on Charlie Hebdo’s Twitter account- Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's cartoon:@Charlie_Hebdo_ Follow, Meilleurs vœux, au fait.5:28 AM - 7 Jan 2015 -- If I sound incoherent, it’s because I am shaken. The reasons will be obvious. I had … [Read more...] about The Terrorist Attack on Charlie Hebdo – First Hand Account*
ISIS: Portrait of a Jihadi Terrorist Organization
1. This study examines the nature of the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS), an Islamic Salafist-jihadi terrorist organization founded a decade ago as a branch of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. It established itself during the fighting against the … [Read more...] about ISIS: Portrait of a Jihadi Terrorist Organization
Afghanistan – Recent Developments
Left: Confident of victory, before the first round of Afghan elections. General Abdul Rashid Dostum and Ashraf Ghani. Photo: Dostum's Facebook page More than 100 days in office, Afgan President Ashraf Ghani has missed his promised deadline … [Read more...] about Afghanistan – Recent Developments
The U.S. Polity: A Wonky Fit*
The polls tell us that those Americans interested in politics are split almost evenly into two groups: those who approve of President Barak Hussein Obama’s leadership and those critical of it. Further analysis shows something quite basically … [Read more...] about The U.S. Polity: A Wonky Fit*
Weekly Briefing – January 5-9, 2015
The Mystery of the Islamic State - Rachel Ehrenfeld -- Over several months last year, in an effort to understand the Islamic State movement, Maj. Gen. Michael K. Nagata, commander of American Special Operations forces in the Middle East, sought the … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – January 5-9, 2015
Is The Taliban–Pakistani Alliance on the Rocks?
The bloody attack on an army–run school in December 14, 2014, is considered the most vicious attack ever carried out by the Taliban Movement in Pakistan. Seven Taliban suicide bombers attacked an army-run school auditorium in Peshawar, where children … [Read more...] about Is The Taliban–Pakistani Alliance on the Rocks?
Weekly Briefing – December 28-January 2, 2014/15
Cybersecurity and the 114th Congress - Rachel Ehrenfeld - The Sony hacking served as a national reminder that cybersecurity should be taken more seriously...In May 2010, former National Security Agency Director Keith Alexander lamented, "The scale of … [Read more...] about Weekly Briefing – December 28-January 2, 2014/15