Terrorism

Shelby Holliday | (WSJ Video Report) | – – “In the wake of the Paris attacks, French President Francois Hollande is traveling to Washington and Moscow to build support for a new “grand coalition” to defeat Islamic State. As WSJ’s Shelby Holliday reports, disagreement over the future of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could stand in […]

Iraq

Pushing back against ISIL/ Daesh: How the Kurds Reclaimed Sinjar

contributors

VICE News | (Video report) | – – “Islamic State (IS) fighters swept into the Iraqi city of Sinjar in August 2014, forcing Kurdish peshmerga forces to retreat. The city, primarily made up of Yazidis, a religious minority with roots going back thousands of years in the region, was soon overran with IS militants. They […]

Featured

‘Very Soon’ US forces will Arrive in Syria; Russia bombs near Turkey

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Turkey’s government is very unhappy today about developments in Syria. President Obama’s special envoy, Brett McGurk, said Sunday that the some 50 men from special operations forces will arrive in Syria in the very near future. But Turkey has been upset that the US troops will […]

Belgium

Paris Attackers: What radicalized one Brussels Neighborhood?

contributors

By Martin Conway | (The Conversation) | – – Just as during the German invasions of 1914 and 1940, war, it seems, is coming to France through Belgium. If one follows the logic of the statements of various French political leaders since the bloody attacks in Paris on November 13, Belgium has become the base […]

Counter-Terrorism

How to lose the war on terror: panic and feed ISIL’s narrative

contributors

By Daniel Baldino | (The Conversation) | – – Terrorism’s goal is principally psychological. So, in the wake of events like those in Paris, a good starting point is to refuse to take the bait and become victims to fear. Such a mindset must break away from simplistic notions such as that another round of […]

Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

The ISIS Trap – Will You Fall Into It?

contributors

AJ+ | (Video Report) | – – “ISIS has a pretty black-and-white view of the world. Either you’re with them, or you’re with people they consider infidels. But what about people in the middle? ISIS has a plan for them.” AJ+: “The ISIS Trap – Will You Fall Into It?”

History

Lessons for the West on Immigrants & Exclusion from the Age of the ‘Bomb-throwing Anarchist’

contributors

By Akil N. Awan | (The National Interest) | – – The bearded young terrorist furtively slipped amongst the oblivious theatergoers. Glancing around to ensure he had not aroused suspicion, he looked out over the crowded throngs in the theater. Blissfully unaware of the carnage that awaited them, they laughed and reveled in their petty […]

Government surveillance

After Paris, it’s good detective work that will keep us safe, not mass surveillance

contributors

By Pete Fussey | (The Conversation) | – – Before the dust has even settled from the attacks on Paris, familiar calls for greater surveillance powers are surfacing. The desire for greater security is understandable, but that doesn’t mean we should suspend our judgement on the measures proposed to bring it about. In the aftermath […]

European Union

Can European Union, Russia & US team up to defeat ISIL?

contributors

By Georgi Gotev & Aline Robert | (EurActiv.com) | – – Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has teamed up with French President François Hollande in seeking a ‘rapprochement’ with Russia to fight [the so-called] Islamic State [group], described by both as the biggest threat to the EU. Jean-Claude Juncker [European Commission] Juncker spoke on Wednesday (18 […]