A new piece for the HS Today website this time exploring the implications of Abu Qatada being featured in a number of videos or messages by extremists ahead of his possible expulsion from the UK. It looks more generally at the terrorist threat to the UK, something I explore in specific detail for the Olympics [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Al Qaeda’
Al Qaeda’s Threats Against UK Show Britain Still a Top Target of Jihadists
Posted: May 19, 2012 in HSTodayTags: abu qatada, Al Qaeda, al Qaeda in iraq, AQAP, Pakistan, radicalization, terrorism, TTP
1
German Trials Highlight the Role of the IMU as a Feeder for al Qaeda Operations in Europe
Posted: May 19, 2012 in Terrorism MonitorTags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Central Asia, Germany, IMU, Pakistan, terrorism
I have been travelling somewhere where this site was blocked, so I am going to be catching up on old articles for a day or so. There are also new ones in the pipeline, but apologies if you have already seen them elsewhere. First up is a piece for Jamestown that builds on my work [...]
The Rise and Fall of Al Qaeda
Posted: March 19, 2012 in International AffairsTags: Al Qaeda, ayman al zawahiri, book review, jihad, Osama bin laden, radicalisation, terrorism
A new book review for International Affairs, this time of Dr Fawaz Gerges The Rise and Fall of Al-Qaeda for Oxford University Press. Another short book that reads like a long essay, and has some interesting detail in it. Unfortunately, the review itself is behind a firewall, so you’ll have to reach out to me [...]
Al Shabaab’s British Accent
Posted: March 10, 2012 in CNNTags: Al Qaeda, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Europe, radicalization, shabaab, Somalia, terrorism, UK
A new post for CNN on the British connection with al Shabaab. Have been talking to a lot of people about this of late, and am wondering when the story is going to take off. It may be on the cusp of turning into something, but we shall see. For previous bits on the topic, [...]
Grinding Terrorist Networks Down in 2012
Posted: March 2, 2012 in UncategorizedTags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, Anwar al awlaki, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Europe, Pakistan, radicalization, terrorism, Yemen
A short article for a new outlet, this time an interesting student run website called E-International Relations. They contacted me looking for a piece, and I am always happy to write for places that ask nicely (well, within reason, at the moment am trying to avoid taking on new commitments as am desperately trying to [...]
When is a Lone Wolf a Lone Wolf?
Posted: March 1, 2012 in Free Rad!calsTags: Al Qaeda, Anwar al awlaki, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, lone wolves, terrorism, US
This is going up a bit late, since have been a bit distracted with other obligations. It also ended up being published after Intelwire and Red State articles on the topic, though I had written it before reading them both (honest!). A long post for Free Rad!cals, something I am trying to return to with some [...]
What Might Boko Haram Do?
Posted: January 20, 2012 in CNNTags: Al Qaeda, AQAP, AQIM, Boko Haram, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, jihad, radicalization, shabaab, shabab, terrorism
A new piece for CNN, this time looking in a bit more detail at the group Boko Haram to try to understand what lessons can be learned from nearby al Qaeda affiliates and fellow travellers to see about its trajectory as an global terrorist threat. My sense is that it is unlikely to start actively [...]
Jihad in the West: The Rise of Militant Salafism
Posted: December 14, 2011 in International AffairsTags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, counter-radicalization, counter-terrorism, Global Jihad, Osama bin laden, radicalization, terrorism
Slightly belatedly another review in a new journal, this time for Chatham House’s International Affairs journal, looking at Frazer Egerton’s “Jihad in the West: The Rise of Militant Salafism” for Cambridge University Press. I see that the publisher liked my review and have already incorporated it into their webpage for the site. The book was a quick read [...]
Brothers in Arms: The Story of al-Qa’ida and the Arab Jihadists
Posted: December 13, 2011 in Terrorism and Political ViolenceTags: Afghanistan, Al Qaeda, ayman al zawahiri, egyptian islamic jihad, GIA, GSPC, libyan islamic fighting group, Osama bin laden, terrorism
Another book review for Terrorism and Political Violence journal, this time about Camille Tawil’s excellent “Brothers in Arms: The Story of al-Qa’ida and the Arab Jihadists.” The book looks at the evolution of the various Arab groups that evolved out of the war in Afghanistan against the Soviets and later melded with al Qaeda in [...]
Locating Al Qaeda’s Center of Gravity: The Role of Middle Managers
Posted: October 31, 2011 in Studies in Conflict and TerrorismTags: Afghanistan, al muhajiroun, Al Qaeda, counter-terrorism, France, Germany, Pakistan, terrorism, UK
A new journal article for Studies in Conflict and Terrorism with Peter and Ryan looking at the community of “middle managers” in al Qaeda. It got a write-up on Bloomberg that appears to have been picked up in a couple of places. Took a while to emerge, but explores some ideas and a community that [...]
