Countering Terrorism

Another ceasefire is in tatters. But America keeps reaching out to Russia while expecting a different result.

While global jihadist franchises al-Qaeda and ISIS compete for the public spotlight, the Haqqani Network has steadily and stealthily acted as a formidable insurgent force in Afghanistan, with the assistance of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence. Islamabad's relationship with the Haqqani Network remains a thorn in U.S.-Pakistan relations, and will undoubtedly continue to plague relations with the coming of the next U.S. administration.

The Islamic State’s main rival has just broken ties with al Qaeda, but don't expect it to moderate its jihadi goals. It's actually laying a trap for the United States.

The Trump administration’s short-term thinking is even worse than Obama’s. By signing on to Russia’s strategy, it’s guaranteeing strife, and giving a boost to al Qaeda.

The Perry World House and the American Academy of Political and Social Science jointly hosted a discussion with Richard Clarke (Penn '72), who edited the November 2016 volume of The ANNALS. The volume focuses on the topic of the Middle East, regional transition, and providing paths and priorities for the president and his administration. Malcolm Nance, the executive director of the Terror Asymmetrics Project on Strategy, Tactics, and Radical Ideology, moderated the discussion.

In incorporating Muslim minorities into the nation-state, Chinese policymakers have faced two sets of challenges: The first involves balancing ethno-religious diversity and national integration; and the second entails fostering enhanced connectivity to the outside world while at the same time consolidating CCP-state control over the public sphere. This essay examines the Chinese government's recent and current struggles to address these challenges.

From its periodic war games and firing off missiles as a show of strength, to the IRGC intelligence arm’s willfully arresting Iranian dual nationals to embarrass the president, the corps barley hides its intention to expose the limits of Rouhani’s power.