RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, February 04, 2010, The Daily Beast
In recent Hill testimony, directors of U.S. intelligence agencies stated a new terrorist attack against the United States is possible in the next six months. In response to this forecast, Bruce Riedel explains why the Obama administration should increase pressure on al Qaeda's core in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Yemen. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel L. Byman, February 03, 2010, The Daily Beast
In recent Hill testimony, directors of U.S. intelligence agencies stated a new terrorist attack against the United States is possible in the next six months. Although groups like al Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula are rightly claiming the attention of U.S. national security officials, Dan Byman argues that Pakistan remains the locus of terrorist activity and that any solutions have to begin there. Read More
PAST EVENT
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC
Due to inclement weather Brookings is closed on February 9 and this event is cancelled. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Mwangi S. Kimenyi, February 03, 2010, The Brookings Institution
For the last few years, Somalia has held the top spot in both the Index of Failed States and the Fragile States Index. Mwangi Kimenyi discusses the number of factors that make Somalia an increasingly volatile country and urges for a broad international mandate to build a new state. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon and Hassina Sherjan, February 02, 2010, The Daily Beast
At the International Conference on Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai issued a prominent call for reconciliation with the Taliban. However, as troops on the ground work to strengthen Afghan forces and local leadership, Michael O’Hanlon and Hassina Sherjan argue that an agreement with the Taliban could prove detrimental to security and stability in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel and Aysha Chowdhry, February 01, 2010, The National Interest
After the reported death of Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud by a CIA drone attack, Bruce Riedel and Aysha Chowdry explain that while this may seem to be a positive development in the fight against the Taliban forces, Mehsud’s death is unlikely to have a significant effect on the Taliban’s established, wide-reaching terror network in Pakistan. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, January 28, 2010
10:15 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
From the troop increase in Afghanistan to the uptick in violence in Iraq to the relief mission in Haiti, the U.S. Army enters 2010 with an already robust agenda. On January 28, the 21st Century Defense Initiative at Brookings hosted General George Casey, chief of staff of the U.S. Army and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for a discussion of the state of the U.S. Army and the challenges it faces this year. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vanda Felbab-Brown, January 28, 2010, The Brookings Institution
At the International Conference on Afghanistan on January 28, leaders from Afghanistan, the United Kingdom and Japan presented their options for reconciliation with the Taliban. Vanda Felbab-Brown evaluates these developments, arguing that, when it comes to negotiating with the Taliban, the content, costs and benefits of each approach must be measured carefully to reach a successful outcome. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel and Aysha Chowdhry, January 27, 2010, The Daily Beast
In recent months, terrorist plots at home and abroad have heightened international alarm regarding global terrorist networks. While the attempted Northwest Airlines Christmas bombing and the mass shooting at Fort Hood remain high on the U.S.’s radar, Bruce Riedel and Aysha Chowdhry argue that a foiled plot by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba also deserves significant attention, both from the United States and the global community. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Anthony Popiel and Charles McLean, January 26, 2010, The Brookings Institution
From healthcare to Afghanistan to the U.S. economy to counter-terrorism policies, President Obama will likely cover several critical issues in his first State of the Union address. Anthony Popiel and Charles McLean argue that Obama's message will resonate best with Americans if the president "keeps it simple" and focuses on a few key priorities. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, January 25, 2010
1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Washington, DC
For many policymakers, counterinsurgency and counternarcotics policy are two sides of the same coin. However, eradication-focused counternarcotics campaigns typically fail to bankrupt belligerent groups and may even strengthen insurgents. On January 25, the 21st Century Defense Initiative hosted Vanda Felbab-Brown and Dr. Wendy Chamberlin for a discussion of Felbab-Brown’s new book Shooting Up: Counterinsurgency and the War on Drugs. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Benjamin Wittes, Robert M. Chesney and Rabea Benhalim, January 22, 2010, The Brookings Institution
On January 22, 2009, President Obama set a one-year deadline for closing the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. With the facility still open and the president’s decision not to seek additional legislative authority for detentions there—combined with Congress’s lack of interest in the task—judges must write the rules governing military detention of terrorist suspects, write Benjamin Wittes, Robert Chesney and Rabea Benhalim. Read More
VIDEO
Benjamin Wittes, January 21, 2010
Within days of his inauguration, President Obama signed an executive order that called for closing of the Guantánamo Bay detention center in a year’s time and mandated that detainees be given due process. Benjamin Wittes says there are many reasons why the facility won’t close now or anytime soon.
PAST EVENT
Thursday, January 21, 2010
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
Despite an early focus on Yemen by the Obama administration, attempts at combating terrorism in the country have been stymied by many factors, including Yemen’s weak central government. On January 21, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy hosted a discussion on conditions in Yemen featuring Senior Fellows Daniel Byman and Bruce Riedel, and Gregory Johnsen from Princeton University. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Jones, Bruce Riedel, Kenneth G. Lieberthal, Suzanne Maloney, Michael Fullilove and Kevin Casas-Zamora, January 14, 2010, The Brookings Institution
As President Obama completes his first year in office, foreign policy challenges remain a central focus of the administration. Scholars from around the halls of Brookings offer their analysis of the president's handling of foreign policy during his first year in office. In this edition, experts focus on diplomacy, terrorism and the U.S.-China relationship. Read More