Articles Index
What is Data Mining and What Does it Have to Do With Counterterrorism
The occasional emergence of "data mining" in U.S. news about counterterrorism programs leaves many of us wondering, "what is data mining?" Fine definitions, uses, and the potential applications in counterterrorism here.
Obama National Security Team - Janet Napolitano, Secretary of DHS
Janet Napolitano brings substantial experience with border security and immigration issues to the job of Secretary of Homeland Security.
Obama National Security Team - Eric Holder, Attorney General
Eric Holder Jr. is Obama's pick for Attorney General. If Holder is confirmed by the Senate, he will face substantial challenges returning the Department of Justice to its pre-9/11 credibility levels.
Obama National Security Team - Dennis C. Blair, DNI Director
Former Commander in Chief of U.S. Pacific Command, Dennis C. Blair, is Obama's pick for Director of National Intelligence
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
As the chief advisor to the president on foreign policy, the Secretary of State plays a crucial role in national security issues. As Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton will face some daunting challenges.
Narcoterrorism
The concept of narcoterrorism has evolved since it was folded into the war on terror.
Now that the "War on Terror" is Out
The Global War on Terror, the governing theory of terrorism and foreign policy lens of the Bush era, has evolved into the concept of a global Islamic insurgency
Causes of Terrorism -- Guide to Studies on Psychological Causes of Terrorism
Researchers have tried to identify psychological causes of terrorism since the 1970s, using data on left-wing, right-wing and Islamist terrorism.
Causes of Terrorism Are (Still) Political
The causes of new terrorism are not so different than the causes of the old terrorism, despite suggestions that terrorism has become more lethal, more fanatical and more religious than the old terrorism.
The Causes of Terrorism
The causes of terrorism are a popular topic of discussion, but in fact there are only two that are always present: a sense of perceived injustice and the belief that violence will effectively redress it.
Suicide Bombing
Suicide bombing appears to be a growing phenomenon and one that is difficult to understand.
Guide to the Hamas Fatah Standoff
Hamas' growing power vis-a-vis Fatah was revealed when it won the 2006 parliamentary elections. By 2007 it was in control of Gaza.
Hamas History - Guide to Hamas, Second Intifada and Suicide Bombing
The second intifada, which began in September 2000, was much more violent than the first. Hamas and other groups began to use suicide bombings to achieve strategic advantage against the Israeli military; Israel, in turn, responded with greater violence and broader punitive measures against Palestinian civilians.
U.S. State Department's State Sponsors of Terrorism List
As of January 2007, there are five countries on the U.S. State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism. Find out how states get on--and off-the list.
Hamas Response to the Oslo Accords
Hamas began suicide bombing in 1993, largely to register protest against the framework for Palestinian autonomy worked out in the Oslo Accords.
Obama National Security Team -- Jim Jones, National Security Advisor
James Jones, a retired Marine general, is Obama's selection to be National Security Advisor.
Obama National Security Team -- Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense
Obama's national security team includes Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense. As the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates will be the chief adviser to the president on military and defense issues.
History of Terrorism: Where Did Left Wing Terrorism Go?
The history of terrorism is often described as coming in waves. But can it be that the last wave, left wing terrorism, simply disappeared before religiously inspired terrorism took its place?
Mumbai Terror Attack
The Mumbai terror attack in November 2008 took intelligence officials and analysts by surprise. In its wake, many possible theories of who committed the Mumbai terror attacks were proposed.
War in Afghanistan: Are NATO ISAF Forces Help or Hindrance in Routing Taliban?
NATO Forces are trapped in a Catch-22 in Afghanistan. If they stay, they provoke the Taliban and their deadly attacks, while giving credence to extremist claims about foreign intervention. If they go, the Taliban will likely gain strength, as well, with bad implications for the region.
State Terrorism -- A Definition of State Terrorism
State terrorism, as distinct from other forms of violence carried out by states, is defined here.
Obama Homeland Security and Terrorism Policy
Obama's approach to homeland security and terrorism policy will differ in some substantial ways from that of the Bush Administration, but will not fundamentally uproot the premise that terrorism is a key national security threat.
Terrorist Groups -- A List of Terrorist Groups by Type
Terrorist groups can be categorized according to their goals, from national liberation to socialist revolution, to the creation of a religious state.
1995: Aum Shinrikyo Tokyo Subway Gas Attack
The Aum Shinrikyo Tokyo subway gas attack was one of the most lethal acts of chemical terrorism ever committed.
TSA and Airline Security-TSA's Airline Security Methods Don't Work
The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) was created after the September 11, 2001 attacks to ensure airline security. In 2008, TSA measures appear to amount to little more than "security theater," according to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg.