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Rise to Peace offers a deep dive into the world of terrorism through over 560 published articles, special reports, and books, alongside hundreds of media appearances, news updates, and events. Our investigative work explores terrorist radicalization, techniques, counter-narratives, and more, providing a broader analysis of these complex issues. With a hands-on approach, we deliver in-depth research and policy recommendations to combat extremism effectively, drawing from real-world experience to inform global security strategies and foster peace.
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U.S Cannot Win Afghanistan War Without Pakistan
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford has said that the U.S. cannot win the war in Afghanistan without securing cooperation from Pakistan. Pakistan would be a key element of Washington’s new strategy for South Asia, he…
U.S. policy towards the Afghanistan war
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Ahmad volunteered to help the Mongolian people
Ahmad with the Mongolian locals during his medical humanitarian mission. Ahmad’s mission was helping the poor and spreading a message of peace and kindness. August 2016
Message of peace and unity to the people of Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism
Ahmad Mohibi is expressing his deepest condolences to the families of the victims from the deadly suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. He encourages the youth to bring peace and stability to the country through education.
Finding the Root Cause of Youth Extremism
Children and youth populations are the most vulnerable to radicalization and violence all around the world1. Currently, the youth population is the largest the world has ever seen, and the largest sect of this population are in war torn countries.…
Why Rise to Peace Exists
Rise to Peace grew from a simple belief: people from different backgrounds can learn from one another and better understand the conditions that lead to terrorism and violent extremism. Nearly ten years later, that idea still guides our work.
A Ceasefire, or simply a prelude to the next act? Analysing the collapse of the US-Iran Islamabad Peace-Talks.
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on 7 April 2026, narrowly averting further escalation after weeks of hostilities and shortly before a declared US deadline to instenisfy strikes against Iranian targets. The agreement included Iran’s commitment to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital maritime route through which a […]
Closure of the Strait of Hormuz: Is Alaska the Plan for a Bailout?
By Lola McEwen – Rise to Peace Fellow This past year, President Donald Trump met with President Vladimir Putin at a summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska, primarily discussing the state of the war in Ukraine. This invitation marked a huge step Putin and the Kremlin likely did not believe would happen […]
Biometrics, Surveillance & Rights: The DHS Vision vs. Civil Liberties
By Mildred Miranda – Rise to Peace Fellow The expansion of biometric integration across the Department of Homeland Security in 2026 represents a pivotal transformation in American security governance. The proposal to unify facial recognition, fingerprint databases, and interoperable identity systems across agencies signals a decisive shift toward centralized technological coordination. The justification for this […]
The OAS’s Role in Current Geopolitical Tensions in the Americas
By Lola McEwen – Rise to Peace Fellow The United States of America carried out a mission in Venezuela on January 3, 2026, that resulted in the capture of then Venezuelan presidentNicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, to face charges of drug trafficking.Maduro has been on the United States radar for several years, beginning […]
Weaponizing Winter: Energy Infrastructure in Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
By Kie Jacobson – Rise to Peace Fellow Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure provide a stark image not only of how critical these systems are but also of their vulnerability. Strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are not new, but the intensity of the assault during this winter combined with the severity of the season […]
Al-Qaeda vs. the Islamic State: Evolving Media Strategies of Terrorist Organizations
By James Calderon – Rise to Peace Contributor Abstract: This paper analyzes the evolution of jihadist media strategies through a comparative analysis of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). While al-Qaeda relied on centralized, ideologically driven messaging, ISIS transformed extremist communication by exploiting social media, high-quality visuals, and decentralized online networks. […]
Regime Change? What You Need to Know About Iran
By Izzy Knaus – Rise to Peace Fellow The eruption of open conflict in Operation Epic Fury between Iran, the United States, and Israel in early 2026 marks the definitive end of years of covert confrontation and proxy skirmishing. The joint campaign–designed to cripple Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities–has shifted the regional security order toward […]
Gina Bennett: The Woman Who Saw Bin Laden Coming
By Izzy Knaus – Rise to Peace Fellow What better day to kickstart our Women, Peace, and Security Monthly Spotlight Series here at Rise to Peace than International Women’s Day! At Rise to Peace, we are proud to dedicate this initiative to honoring women who have shaped–and continue to shape–the global security landscape. This first […]
The Narrative Trap: How ‘Security’ is Redefining Belonging in Europe
By Giana Romo – Rise to Peace Fellow In contemporary Europe, “security” as a notion has become a speech act. Public narratives have become a defining force in how the continent understands safety, belonging, and vulnerability. Political discourse and media framings no longer merely reflect security conditions. They actively construct what counts as a threat, […]
Pakistan vs. the Taliban: The Monster Comes Home
Pakistan’s defense minister just called the current Afghanistan–Pakistan fighting “open war.” That’s not a headline. That’s an admission that the old arrangement is dead: sponsor versus client has turned into state versus state, and the border is about to punish ordinary people again. None of this is new. It’s the final act of a play […]
The Political Significance of Jordan–Holy See Relations
By Charlotte Soulé – Rise to Peace Fellow Diplomatic relations between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Holy See, formally established in 1994, represent a distinctive case of engagement between a Muslim-majority monarchy and a transnational Christian authority. While such relations are frequently framed in terms of interfaith dialogue or symbolic gestures of coexistence, […]
Four Years of Fracture and Four Years of War: Ukraine’s Grim Anniversary
By Etienne Darcas – Rise to Peace There is something uniquely disorienting about marking an anniversary of a war that has not ended. Anniversaries imply a fixed point in time; a before and an after as a moment that can be observed from a distance. But February 24, 2026 does not offer that distance. Four […]
From Cellblock to Cell Structure: How Extremist Networks Incubate in Prison
From Cellblock to Cell Structure: How Extremist Networks Incubate in Prison By Caroline Thomas – Rise to Peace Fellow When you think of terrorism and violent extremism, it is common to immediately jump to remote battlefields or intense online forums. However, what is far less understood, but extremely important to acknowledge, is how prisons can […]
The Battle for the Vanguard: ISIS-K and Taliban Competition for Jihadist Leadership
By Jamaluddin Mohammadi – Rise to Peace Fellow Often, we paint Islamist-aligned organizations with a broad brush; they all believe in one cause and seek to achieve their objectives through identical means. The reality is far more complex. Islamist groups throughout the globe differ significantly in their goals, tactics, and political ambition, and frequently compete […]
Culture, Politics, and Polarization: Understanding the Backlash to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show
By Mildred Miranda – Rise to Peace Fellow The Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8, 2026, featured Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, whose performance delivered primarily in Spanish and infused with themes of multicultural pride, unity, and social commentary captivated millions of viewers. The performance provoked […]
The 764 Network and the Architecture of Digital Nihilism
Hyper-Violent Content, Stochastic Terror, and the New Lone-Wolf Threat By Etienne Darcas – Rise to Peace Introduction In September 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a Public Service Announcement about an online network it described as a violent extremist group engaged in sextortion, the production and distribution of child sexual exploitation material, and the […]
Taliban Banned Girls Permanently. Brought Back Slavery. And Yet America Sends $40M/Week.
Imagine a world where your hard-earned tax dollars help keep afloat a regime that has permanently banned your daughter from school. That’s not a classroom debate. That’s the reality tied up in Afghanistan right now. I’m Ahmad Shah Mohibi. I was born in war. I’ve spent years in peace work. I wrote WarGuy. And I’m telling […]
Terrorism’s New Target: How non-state actors are shifting to economic and environmental disruption
By Nicholas Oakes – Rise to Peace Fellow For decades, the prominent image of terrorism has been an attack on civilians in a public space. The 20th century model of terrorism has largely fit into this image; the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, the 2015 attack in Paris – both examples depict […]
Masculinity in Crisis: How Extremist Narratives Exploit Young Men on the Internet
By Caroline Thomas – Rise to Peace Fellow In recent years, researchers, policymakers, and journalists have increasingly had to ask a troubling question: why are young men disproportionately represented in extremist movements, particularly those operating online? While radicalization is never the result of one single factor, there is a recurring pattern that is emerging across […]
Understanding Hybrid Lone Actor Violence Through the Charlie Kirk Assassination
By Mildred Miranda – Rise to Peace Fellow The assassination of Charlie Kirk by Tyler James Robinson on September 10, 2025, serves as a reminder that violent acts often arise from complex personal, social, and emotional dynamics rather than ideology alone. The case of Robinson shows that personal grievances, identity stress, social isolation, and emotional […]
A Winter of Fury? The Enduring Confrontation in Minneapolis
By Alex Fitzgerald – Rise to Peace Fellow While the massive arctic storm swept across the entire continent over the weekend of the 25th to the 27th of January, it was not enough to douse the fire that is burning in Minneapolis. While the protests that increased drastically following an ICE involved killing were occurring, […]
The Transatlantic Divorce: Greenland, Ukraine, and the Imperial Boomerang
January 2026 By Etienne Darcas – Rise to Peace The scenes in Minneapolis this month would have seemed impossible to most Americans a year ago. Federal immigration agents firing into civilian vehicles. A registered nurse shot dead while filming a protest. Thousands flooding the streets in cities from Los Angeles to New York to Boston. […]
From Churches to Museums: Understanding the Destruction of Ukrainian Identity
By Kie Jacobson – Rise to Peace Fellow Since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian operations have consistently blurred the distinction between military and civilian targets, where the civilian population is frequently under threat. The lack of differentiation between military and civilians has been a recurring feature throughout hostilities. However, closer examination […]
Fractured Security: Australia’s Struggle Against Domestic Terror in the Post-COVID Era
By Etienne Darcas – Rise to Peace The massacre at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025 marked a grim turning point in Australian security history. As families gathered to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah at the iconic beachfront, two gunmen, later to be identified as father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram, opened fire […]
Why Minnesota? Why Now?
By Alex Fitzgerald – Rise to Peace Fellow The United States is in a confusing period, as is the rest of the world. So much is occurring in the first two weeks of 2026 and so quickly that it proves difficult to stop and analyze an event before the next one grabs our attention. From […]
Rise to Peace OSINT Guide and Manual
We’re pleased to announce the release of our OSINT Best Practices and Manual — a practical, ethics-forward guide for researchers, analysts, journalists, and security practitioners working in an environment of information saturation, manipulation, and hybrid threat. This manual is designed to move beyond tool lists and toward method, judgment, and responsibility. It reflects the realities […]
Iran in Turmoil: Domestic Crisis and Global Repercussions
By Caroline Thomas – Rise to Peace Fellow The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently experiencing one of the most significant periods of civil unrest in decades. Beginning in late December 2025 with protests over declining economic conditions, the turmoil has evolved into a nationwide challenge to Iranian political order, and protestors have demanded […]
The Domestication of the Kill Chain: ISTAR, Hybrid Warfare, and the Colonisation of the Cognitive Domain
Etienne Darcas | Rise to Peace | January 2026 The diagram appears rather innocuous at first glance. A series of boxes laid out and connected by arrows, the kind of systems architecture one might find in any corporate strategy deck. Yet this particular schematic, that which the Pentagon calls an OV-1 diagram, traces the operational […]
Panama, Haiti, Iraq—and Now Venezuela: Lessons in Regime Change
In the early hours of Saturday, January 3rd, the United States military entered the airspace of Caracas, Venezuela. Just after 1 A.M., a multitude of different aircraft began initiating strikes in and around the Venezuelan capital city, damaging and destroying military infrastructure and any means in which the limited capabilities of the Venezuelan air force, […]
2026 RECRUITMENT
Rise to Peace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization dedicated to counterterrorism, peacebuilding, and conflict resolution. We produce policy-relevant research, platform emerging voices in international security, and engage public audiences on critical global challenges. We are expanding our team and seeking motivated individuals to join us in the following roles. All positions are remote and […]
A Season of Growth: Rise to Peace Welcomes New Voices in Peacebuilding and Counter-Terror Research
The past few months have been transformative for Rise to Peace. As we reflect on this period of remarkable growth, we’re excited to share updates about our expanding team and the ambitious projects that will shape our work in the months ahead. Welcoming Our New Cohort We’re thrilled to announce that Rise to Peace has […]
A Religious Persecution in Africa: Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Religious Violence and Islamic Extremism in Central Africa
The bloodshed of people in Africa at the hands of extremists is almost
immeasurable, and what is incredibly concerning is the fact that those who are residing in
predominantly rural Christian villages seem to be at an even greater risk of being attacked or,
ultimately, killed. Christianity, Islam, and various traditional African religions are being practiced
throughout Africa, yet due to Islamic extremists, and an already fragile environment, it puts each
citizen into a high-risk category of being the next victims of terrorism.
American Carrion: The Ideological Rorschach Test of Charlie Kirk’s Murder
The heinous murder of Charlie Kirk in cold blood provides an ideological Rorschach Test for a country that is under strain from its inability to change the systemic and perverse incentives that give rise to political provocateurs and radicalised killers
Prevention or Provocation? Pre-emptive Strikes and Nuclear Ambiguity in the 2025 Israel-Iran Confrontation
In June 2025, the fragile equilibrium of the Middle East was once again disrupted when Israel launched a series of coordinated airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Esfahan, and Fordow. Citing an imminent threat posed by Iran’s advancing uranium enrichment programme and the potential weaponisation of nuclear material, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declared the operation a matter of national survival. The strikes, which occurred with limited prior warning, have triggered renewed debate over the legality and strategic prudence of unilateral pre-emptive military action.
Breaking the Mold: Women as Agents of Terrorism
Terrorism is a man’s game and women’s role in violence is often neglected due to the widely believed societal myth that women are inherently non-violent. Women are seen as life-givers rather than life-takers, and are commonly associated with peace, cooperation, and dialogue rather than terrorism. When women are discussed in the context of terrorism, they […]
America’s Emerging Years of Lead: Christian Nationalism and the Architecture of Stochastic Terror
America's nascent Years of Lead operates under different mechanics than traditional terrorism. The violent acts emerge not from well-defined ideological factions but from an ecosystem of stochastic terrorism. Its characteristics are unpredictable, non-linear violence propelled by radicalization without coherent ideological structures. Radical ideas circulate through mainstream institutions: megachurches, Bible colleges, and online platforms.
Who’s Liable for Terrorist Content? Navigating Platform Responsibility in a Fragmented Global Legal Order
Though terrorist organisations today often operate without clear borders, their digital footprints travel freely, amplified by algorithms, shared by users, and at times left unchecked by the very platforms that host them. In response, a global reckoning is underway over the question of liability: should social media companies be held responsible for the spread of terrorist content online?
Mapping Human Impacts in a New Era: Liminal Warfare’s Distinct Impact on Human Security
The character of conflict in the 21st century has undergone significant changes, moving from the traditional model of state-on-state warfare toward more fragmented, ambiguous, and non-linear forms or confrontation. While war has always changed its form and appearances, recent discussions highlight the hybridization of warfare and its increasingly liminal character.
Shopping for Identity: The Ideological Incoherence of the Palm Springs Suicide Bomber
Yesterday morning, on the 18th of May, the world awoke to news of yet another act of directed violence. In Palm Springs, a suicide bomber targeted a fertility clinic. The attacker himself was the only fatality, though several others were injured, and neither were the IVF tubes and stored eggs damaged. This was an attack […]
From Propaganda to Playbook: The Lasting Media Template of ISIS
Though the Islamic State, or ISIS, has long lost its territorial grip, the influence of its digital propaganda machine endures. At the height of its power, ISIS pioneered a sophisticated media strategy that transformed how terrorist organisations project influence, prioritising decentralisation, visual coherence, and emotional resonance to attract supporters and instil fear on a global […]
The Liminal Agent: A New Model of Online Radicalisation?
Emerging theories of online radicalisation reframes online extremism not as ideological commitment, but as a recursive drift driven by alienation, boredom, and memetic saturation. In this model, radicalisation is ambient, affective, and structurally unresolvable within traditional counterterrorism frameworks. To intervene, we must address not just online narratives, but the material and emotional absences in which they take root
Photo credit: De an Sun, Unsplash
Tradwives with a New Voice: Reframing Femininity in a Polarized Digital Age.
The ‘Tradwife’ (traditional wife) movement in the United States operates as a digital phenomenon that promotes a return to conventional gender roles, where women embrace domesticity, submission to a male partner, and a homemaker lifestyle as empowering choices. In contrast, Afghan women face traditional roles enforced through legal and political structures. These two models of […]
In Loving Memory of Pope Francis
In Loving Memory of Pope Francis by Public Relations R2P A Leader of Compassion and Humility Today, the world mourns the loss of a beacon of hope and love, Pope Francis. Known for his deep compassion and unwavering commitment to social justice, Pope Francis touched the lives of millions around the globe. His dedication to […]
The Terrorist in the Feed: Understanding the New Economy of Terror
Liminal warfare and digital terrorism
The Two Faces of Türkiye: Chaos erupts as Erdoğan’s rival İmamoğlu, is detained — here’s why it matters.
I see Türkiye’s politics as a tug-of-war between two camps. On one side, the AK Party, led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since 2003 — first as prime minister (March 14, 2003) and then president (August 28, 2014) — pushes an Ottoman-inspired, religious and world vision. On the other, the CHP, rooted in Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s secular, Western-leaning legacy, leans […]
Terrorist Arrested. The System That Made Him Still Thrives.
On March 5, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the arrest of Mohammad Sharifullah, also known as “Jafar,” an ISIS-K operative linked to the August 26, 2021, bombing at Kabul’s Abbey Gate that killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 170 Afghan civilians. While this arrest is a critical counterterrorism success, it also reinforces a […]
Digital Extremism
The world has been evolving each day, and by that, society is quickly adapting and changing its means of communication. Not so long ago, people would send letters to get in contact with friends and family that lived in other cities or states but now, talking to loved ones is easier, as staying in touch […]
Climate Change Fueled Eco-Terrorism: The Nexus Explained
“We are sinking”: A Speech from the Sea Tuvalu’s foreign minister Simon Kofe addressed the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) knee-deep in the sea to remind the world about climate emergencies and make world leaders realize the plight of residents of sinking island states. Although rising sea levels and climate change triggered by […]
Remembering 9/11 in the Wake of Growing Threats
As the 21st commemoration of the September 11th terrorist attacks approaches, the solemn anniversary brings a new wave of urgency. It has been one year since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Throughout the past year, the Taliban have worked to reinforce oppression by stripping women of their rights and indoctrinating young boys. Once again, […]
Remembering September 11th: The Prevailing Memories of 9/11
Remembering September 11th “The Black Swan Theory”, coined by Nassim Nicholas Caleb, describes sporadic, unforeseen, and highly significant events. These events are challenging to predict in the normal course of business and are unthinkable. The September 11th attacks portray the Black Swan theory. The tragic event was unexpected to the world, and its implications continue […]
Security and Counter-Terrorism Efforts in Southeast Asia
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI), a comprehensive study prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace on the impact of terrorism in 163 countries, reports that since 2020, the Southasia region has recorded a higher fatality rate compared to other regions. According to GTI 2022, among Southeast Asian countries, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia top […]
Sexual Repression of Afghan Women: a Taliban’s State-Building Strategy
“Women’s security in the home is a reflection of the security in the country. If women cannot be safe at home, they’re not safe at all. And if women are not safe, then no one is safe,” Lina Abi Rafeh wrote. In just a year, Afghan women have lost most of the rights they had […]
US Assassinate Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Al-Qaeda’s Number Two
After months of meticulous planning and geographic calculations, President Joe Biden announced that the US had assassinated al-Qaeda commander Ayman al-Zawahiri, also known as Al-Qaeda number 2 in Osama Bin Laden’s leadership, in a drone strike in Afghanistan. Al-Zawahiri, together with the attackers of 9/11, were then labelled as the most wanted after the tragedy […]
What the Death of Maher al-Agal Means for the Future of the Islamic State
Maher al-Agal was killed in a U.S. drone strike in northwest Syria on July 12, 2022. Al-Agal was a top leader of the Islamic State, and his absence from the group leaves the Islamic State without another leader to develop the organization’s goals. Having lost leaders like Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Abu Ibrahim al Hashimi […]
Katibat Macina: A Growing Threat in Mali
According to a statement by the Malian government, heightened attention is on Katibat Macina, an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization, for its massacre of 132 civilians in central Mali. Mali has not seen a death toll that high from an isolated incident since 2012, leaving the country in a complete state of grief since the attack in […]
A U.S. Drone Strike Kills an al-Qaeda Linked Commander in Syria
On June 27, another drone strike was successfully completed against the leader of an al-Qaeda affiliate group in northern Syria, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, a humanitarian organization. The attack occurred just before midnight when two rockets were fired towards the target. As claimed by Syrian opposition activists and the U.S. military, the man […]
Afghan Elders’ Meeting Ends with No Mention of Women’s Rights
Last week, a three-day gathering of 3,000 male ethnic and Afghan religious leaders ended. Led by the Taliban’s rarely seen leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, the meeting was aimed to discuss the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan and form greater unity among leadership. After many reneged promises on women’s rights in the previous months, this meeting was another […]
Impending Famine in Somalia Exacerbated by Al-Shabaab
Somalia has been facing the region’s worst drought and possible famine conditions within the past 40 years. Experts confirm climate change contributes to the drought conditions impacting the Horn of Africa, including Somalia. Somalians are living in a territory under the control of al-Shabaab and are paying high taxes on the sale of livestock, soil […]
Earthquake in Afghanistan: How Environmental Challenges Threaten Peace
On June 22, at around 1:30 am local time, one of the deadliest earthquakes in Afghanistan’s history struck eastern provinces, killing more than 1,000 people and wounding 1,600. Most homes, hospitals, and buildings in the region are poorly built, which has led to massive infrastructure damage by the earthquake. Even before the Taliban’s rule, emergency […]
The Islamic State Claims a Deadly Explosion of a Sikh Temple in Kabul
On the morning of June 18th, a bomb exploded during an attack at a Sikh prayer place in Kabul while 30 people were inside, killing one worshipper, a Taliban member, and two unidentified attackers. The prayer site was renowned as the capital’s only and final remaining place of worship for Sikhs. The next day, the […]
The Role of the Proud Boys in the January 6th Attack
Proud Boy national chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio of Miami, Florida; former Proud Boy national chairman Ethan Nordean (“Rufio Panman”) of Auburn, Washington; Joseph Biggs (“Sergeant Biggs”) of Ormond Beach, Florida; Zachary Rehl of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Dominic Pezzola (“Spaz,” “Spazzola”) of Rochester, New York have all been charged with seditious conspiracy for their actions before […]
Who are the Proud Boys?
On Monday, June 6, 2022, Proud Boys leaders Henry “Enrique” Tarrio (38), Ethan Nordean (31), Joseph Biggs (38), Zachary Rehl (37), and Dominic Pezzola (44) were charged with seditious conspiracy along with other charges for their actions leading up to and during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Proud Boys have been active […]
Islamic State Allegiances in Africa: A Sub-Saharan Breakdown
The ideology of the Islamic State has taken a significant hold in Sub-Saharan Africa. The group’s ideology has spread from just the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria to a rapidly growing movement throughout Africa encompassing thousands of members. The Islamic State has various affiliates throughout Africa, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, Islamic […]
IS-K Seeks to Undermine the Taliban
In recent months, IS-K has increased the frequency and intensity of terrorist attacks against the Taliban and regional countries, up nearly 300% since last year. This surge of attacks comes as an attempt to undermine Taliban rule and provoke further tension with regional countries. By showing that terrorism has a home in Afghanistan, IS-K can […]
How Likely is Another Civil War in Afghanistan and What Would it Mean for Pakistan?
For the second time, the Taliban captured Afghanistan putting an end to what is known as the United States’ longest war in the country. Though touted as the end of a twenty-year-long war, the Taliban’s return to power triggers other grave issues – a probable civil war. This results in the country again turning into […]
Europe Turns to Mozambique for Natural Resources Despite Islamic State Attacks
Allegedly, energy companies are planning to return to the Mozambique province of Cabo Delgado despite unrest caused by ISIS-Mozambique. Due to the unrest with Ukraine and Russia, liquified natural gas production has slowed. Therefore, Europe is turning to Mozambique in hopes of mitigating the slow production. Liquified Natural Gas Project in Mozambique The Liquified Natural […]
Five Years After the Philippines’ Marawi Siege: Lessons from Within
It has been almost five years since armed militants from two ISIL-affiliated organizations, Abu Sayyaf and the Maute, battled with Philippine government forces on May 23, 2017. The siege ensued when the military attempted to arrest senior ISIL leader Isnilon Hapilon. As a result, attackers retaliated, proclaiming the city a nascent caliphate of ISIL, the […]
The New Fight Against Al Shabaab
To counter the growth of Al Shabaab in Somalia, the Biden Administration has made the decision to deploy U.S. troops to Somalia. This decision came with a request from the Department of Defense to provide a persistent presence in Somalia. In the previous administration, former President Trump withdrew all 700 U.S. troops from the country, […]
The U.S. Removed Five Extremist Organizations From Its Terrorism Blacklist
The U.S. is expected to remove five extremist groups from its Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) blacklist, all of which are thought to be defunct, including several that formerly represented substantial risks, killing hundreds, if not thousands, of people across Eurasia and the Middle East. Although terrorists have different reasons for being inoperative in these circumstances, patterns […]
The Taliban’s Opium Ban Will Prove Unsustainable
In 2020, around 85% of all opium was grown in Afghanistan. The Taliban has previously exploited this trade by placing taxes on the movement, production, and sale of opium. Officials estimate these taxes amounted to nearly $200 million per year for the Taliban. However, the Taliban have just placed an outright ban on opium production, […]
Afghanistan’s Economic Crisis Means Rapid Growth for Terrorist Cells
On May 7, 2022, the Taliban enacted a measure stating that women must wear face coverings in public. This is seen as yet another example in the long line of punitive restrictions on women and religious minorities by the Taliban. This trend signals the Taliban’s lack of willingness to uphold human rights, which will result […]
Saudi Arabia Executed Three Men: Alleged Terrorism Operation
According to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), two Saudi natives and a Yemeni were executed after being tried and convicted of terrorism charges. Mohammed bin Khodr bin Hashem al-Awami pled guilty to being a member of a “terrorist cell,” defined as a terrorist operational network that conducts espionage and surveillance. According to the interior […]
Why Right-Wing Extremism Has a Strong Presence in Eastern Germany
Germany has been reunified since 1990, yet tensions remain between West and East Germany that right-wing extremist groups, parties, and movements exploit in the more vulnerable half: East Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall brought the promise of democracy and better economic conditions. In the past 30 years, certain issues in East Germany have […]
The Ecuadorian Security Crisis
Ecuador is currently experiencing its worst security crisis in a decade. The actions of various illegal groups, the presence of Mexican cartels, prison violence, and drug trafficking are some of the reasons why the government has recently taken measures to mitigate the law and order crisis. The violence and insecurity in the Latin American country […]
Insurgency and the Narcotic Chain in India and Myanmar
Moreh is a small commercial gateway between India and Myanmar. It rests on the Northeastern side of the Indian border and is linked with Tamu, a small town in the Sagaing region in Northwest Myanmar. It is here that 99% of all land-based trade takes place between the two countries. Amid the commercial exchange, the […]
Examining Militancy in Nigeria: Mistakes of the South and Lessons for the North
On June 25, 2009, then President of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yaradua, made a proclamation granting amnesty and unconditional pardon to everyone who directly or indirectly participated in the commission of offences, including those facing prosecution at the time, associated with militancy activities in the Niger Delta region. The requirement for this pardon to be effected was […]
Ukraine Claims to Have Obtained a List of Russian Spies Operating in Europe
Ukraine asserts that it has acquired a list of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents involved in criminal activities in Europe. More than 600 alleged Russian spies are purportedly operating in Europe. According to reports, Ukraine has released names, addresses, and even SIM cards in an attempt to destroy these agents and damage Russia’s intelligence […]
Censorship Through the UK´s Prevent Program
As a part of CONTEST, the Prevent program aims to stop people from embracing different forms of extremism that may lead to terrorism in the UK. The Prevent program targets lawful activity such as thought, expression and behavior to predict future criminal activity. In 2015, the UK drafted its public sector to carry out the […]
The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Proactive Countermeasure Against Abu Sayyaf
Members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) come from a split of the Moro National Liberation Front, which was renowned as an active terrorist organization in the Philippines in the 1990s. Additionally, reports indicate that Al-Qaeda has funded and backed Abu Sayyaf. The organization is affiliated with Jemaah Islamiyah and specializes in kidnappings for ransom, […]
Deadly Attacks Target Schools in Western Kabul
On April 19, 2022, at least nine individuals died, and more than 50 were injured, per UNICEF’s report, after a series of coordinated attacks occurred in Western Kabul in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood, home to a large Shia and Hazara population. The first attack struck the Mumtaz Education Center early Tuesday morning, followed by three explosions, […]
A Growing and Changing Threat: The Evolution of Narco-Warfare in Mexico
The levels of violence associated with drug trafficking in Mexico are critical. The country has several security challenges due to the presence, activities, and strengthening of drug cartels. These illegal organizations continually seek to innovate their methods to ship drug shipments around the world, expand throughout the country and the region, and contest control of […]
Looking Back: Al-Qaeda’s Unexpected Attack Against the Central Intelligence Agency
For a decade, an elite team of military and intelligence agents operated in secret around the world with one clear intention: to track down and kill Osama bin Laden. As the investigation into Bin Laden’s whereabouts progressed, it came to a critical and unexpected conclusion. The so-called “informant” assisting the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials […]
Mitigating Failed Counter-Insurgency Operations in India
Recent cases of repeated failed military operations in northeastern India provoked many to question New Delhi’s approach in countering insurgency in the Northeast. Failed operations at Oting and Chasa had once again incited many to question the age-old use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the region. The Act, which gives excessive powers […]
Who is the New Leader of ISIS?
In a prerecorded voice clip posted online, ISIS declared Abu al-Hassan al-Hashemi al-Quraishi as its new head. This announcement was made weeks after the death of Abu-Ibrahim Al-Hashimi Al-Qurayshi, back in March. Despite the fact that they have similar sounding names, they are not thought to be connected. The moniker “Al-Qurayshi” originated from the Quraish, […]
Black Pill Ideology: What is Incel Extremism?
A new report published last month by the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center has detailed the growing terrorism threat from men who identify as “involuntary celibates” or “incels.” The report documents a growing trend in domestic terrorism involving the increasing threat of lone actors motivated by diverse amalgamations of extremist ideology. Incel ideology […]
Evidence of Russian War Crimes Emerge Outside Kyiv
In recent weeks, Russia has begun pulling troops from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and the surrounding areas as they focus their offensive to the East. It is apparent that Donbas, a region in Eastern Ukraine, as well as coastal areas of Ukraine are the next Russian targets. War Crimes and Human Rights Violations A […]
The Logic of Suicide Bombing: A Terrorist’s Powerful Tactic
The first recorded suicide bombing occurred in Russia on March 13, 1881. Ignaty Grinevitsky, a member of the People’s Will left-wing terrorist group, rushed towards his target Tsar Alexander II and dropped a bomb at the Tsar’s feet, killing them both. But the explosive device was not strapped around his stomach, his legs, or hidden […]
Afghanistan’s Ring Road: Challenges and Failures in its Improvement
The Ring Road in Afghanistan begins at the capital of Kabul and continues to its second-largest city, Kandahar. The focal point of the U.S. plan was to improve Afghanistan following the invasion in 2001. However, the damages exceed $200 million to repair the road, and many lives were lost protecting it. The highway from Kabul […]
ISIS Claims Responsibility for the Suicide Bombing in Pakistan
According to security officials, a suicide explosion occurred on March 4th during prayer services at a Shia Muslim Mosque in the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 58 people and injuring almost 200 others. On a side note, while terrorism in Pakistan has decreased in the past few years, the underlying foundations of […]
Insurgency in India’s Northeastern Frontiers
The far northeastern frontier of India is infamous for insurgent activities which have been functioning for decades. The region is notorious for hoarding numerous insurgent outfits. With 13 active insurgent groups in Manipur alone, and with over 14 factions within the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) in Nagaland, violent faceoffs between the Indian Armed […]
The Rise of Urban Terrorism in Colombia? ELN Involvement in Citizen Protests
During the last few years, there have been multiple protests in Colombia against the government. Thousands of people have taken to the streets to protest against issues such as tax reforms, government management, and police performance. However, although the ability to protest is a legitimate right, there have also been events that have affected security […]
What is Russia Really Thinking?
Since President Putin launched his attack on Ukraine, Russia has faced a considerable Western backlash. Disconnected from the global financial system and targeted by a sweeping range of economic sanctions, Russia has been set on a path to economic meltdown. Over 400 companies have withdrawn from the country, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project […]
Strategies to Combat Narco-Terrorism in Latin America: The Case of Plan Colombia
During the 1990s, the U.S. and Colombian governments entered into a security and counternarcotics assistance agreement, known as Plan Colombia. The strategy has been criticized both in favor and against due to its multiple impacts on security conditions in Colombia. For this reason, it is worthwhile to analyze its development and results in order to […]
The Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine
When Russia invaded Ukraine this past February, there were a number of articles surrounding the logistics and numbers concerning the war. The most prominent angle which outside observers have viewed the conflict is through a tactical and logistical lens. However, the humanitarian aspect of the Russo-Ukrainian War has taken a secondary facet behind the backdrop […]
Historical Perspectives: French Terror and Emergency Measures
Since 9/11 terror attacks have been presented as an ever-increasing threat in liberal democracies and almost no democratic regime has been immune to these heinous acts. These attacks present a dual menace: both as a genuine threat to the safety of the citizens and, based on the reaction of the government in question, a more […]
How the U.S. Withdrawal of Troops from Afghanistan Impacts India
The peace deal agreement between the Taliban and the U.S. in Doha, Qatar, on February 29, 2020, opened up various security concerns in India. And now, after nearly 20 years of annexing the paratroops in Afghanistan in a modus operandi to oust Al-Qaeda supported by the Taliban, President Biden’s government has recently withdrawn U.S. military […]
Sitting Down with the Enemy: The IRA, Good Friday Agreement, and Negotiated Peace
The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) was one of the world’s longest lasting terrorist groups. The group came into being in 1969 after a splintering of the IRA leadership; and, the PIRA represented a more militant and extreme approach to the cause of Irish republicanism in Northern Ireland. The PIRA mounted a sustained terror campaign […]
The Global Terrorism Index: Results and Implications in Latin America
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2022 was recently published. Terrorist attacks in Latin America, the terrorist groups that perpetrate the attacks, and the relationship between terrorism and conflict are highlighted within the GTI. The results of this document can provide valuable information for decision-makers to address terrorist threats in the region and mitigate their impact. […]
Counterterror Through History: Canada’s Greatest Mass Terror Attack
Too often while studying terrorism and counter terrorism, analysts cast their gaze to the present, looking to explain and solve threats in the moment. Like standing with your nose pressed against a billboard and trying to describe the image accurately, this type of analysis often lacks perspective. Stepping back and seeing the whole picture can […]
Desperate Afghan Women Wait for U.S. Resettlement in Abu Dhabi
Authors note: The memo is written by evacuees’ representatives on behalf of the Afghan women residing in the Emirates Apartments complex known as Emirates Humanitarian City-EHC since August 2021, demanding US resettlement. An estimated 12,000 Afghan nationals were transported to Abu Dhabi between the months of August-December 2021 by the US government and private chartered […]
The Forgotten Tragedy of Yemen
Yemen, a beautiful country with a rich culture and history, has been in a state of intractable crisis for years, following the scenarios of Somalia and Afghanistan. According to UNICEF, Yemen is home to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. It has been estimated that 24 million people are in need of […]
The Bear in Latin America: Russian Influences in Latin American Countries
Recent events between Russia and Ukraine have highlighted the support that some Latin American countries express for Moscow, which will likely translate into a greater Russian presence in the region in the coming years. However, Russian influence in the region goes far beyond the support of certain Latin American countries for Russia’s military actions, but […]
How the U.S. is Assisting Ukraine Against Russia’s Attacks
Russian-Ukrainian tensions have persisted since February 2014 and have now escalated to war. Currently, U.S. troops located in Europe are on high alert as Russia moves further into Ukraine. Since the first day of attacks, Russian missiles have bombarded Ukrainian cities and military sites. While attacks erupted in Kyiv, crowds of people flocked into trains […]
President Putin’s Tsarist Imperial Nationalism
The worst-case scenario is unfolding, a full-scale air and land attack from multiple directions is striking Ukraine, and the attacks have already killed over 40 soldiers and 10 civilians. The Russian Federation, led by President Putin, has instigated a a war of aggression to showcase unnecessary hegemony over a neighbor in an attempt to gain […]
Three Days of Terror: The ELN’s Armed Strike and its Implications for Colombia
The National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla announced the beginning of an armed strike in Colombia occurring from February 23 – 26, 2022. Multiple terrorist actions have been registered throughout the nation’s territory, primarily affecting civilians. The ELN’s armed strike demonstrates the revitalization of this guerrilla group and its capabilities to carry out attacks in Colombia. […]
Russia Invaded Ukraine: What Happens Next?
Russia invaded Ukraine after months of military build-up near the border and failed diplomatic talks with the West. “I have made the decision of a military operation,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin in a statement on live news announcing a full military operation (by land, air, and sea) with the purpose of “demilitarisation and denazification” […]
Afghan evacuees in UAE still wait to be resettled in US
Tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees at Emirates Humanitarian City (EHC) and the Tasameem Workers City (TWC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), seeking answers from U.S. Government (USG) while in limbo. Following the August 2021 collapse of the Afghanistan government and subsequent takeover by the Taliban, the U.S. military evacuated over 100,000 people […]
An Overview of Child Terrorism in Syria
One crisis plaguing Syria is the issue and threat of child terrorism. Child terrorism is a reality many Syrian children must face by being born into a war-torn country. No human being is safe, no future is guaranteed, no child can live unscathed. Measures and organized efforts are flourishing and need to be supported and […]
An Update on Syria: The Execution of an ISIS Leader and Prison Attacks
In recent news, U.S. efforts against the leader of ISIS, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, resulted in his death via airstrike and was recently reported by the Head of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism. Despite the death of the ISIS leader, the international community must remember the show of strength ISIL displayed this past January […]
The Threat of Neo JMB in Bangladesh Since the 2016 Holey Artisan Attack
Attacks spread panic and chaos among civilians and law enforcement agencies. Following the 2016 attack at the Holey Artisan Café, security forces in Bangladesh established various counterterrorism and peacekeeping measures. Although there was a decline in terrorist attacks, the current trends and analysis of interactions with ISIL indicate that the Neo Jama’ Atul Mujahideen Bangladesh […]
Ukraine is Fearful of a Possible Attack: Emergency Call for Help
There is an urgent call for help in Ukraine as it has been under the constant threat of a possible attack. Generally, too many unresolved issues have become highly complicated through the years. Currently, Russia is looming along the Ukrainian border, creating speculation of an imminent attack. Numerous terrorist threats have been made and, unfortunately, […]
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Persistent Challenges Facing Afghan Refugees
With the eyes of the world fixated on the crisis in Ukraine, the dire situation in Afghanistan and the plight of Afghan refugees grows ever more critical. An unstable Afghanistan has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world today. Moreover, inaction on the part of policymakers contributes to this and the deterioration […]
Insurgency within the United States: Absurd or Inevitable?
“No one wants to believe that their beloved democracy is in decline, or headed toward war,” says Barbara F. Walter, a professor of political science at the University of California. But “the United States, a democracy founded more than two centuries ago, has entered very dangerous territory.” Speculation of a second civil war within the […]
Violence Overflows in Zacatecas: The War Between the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel
The Mexican state of Zacatecas is the battlefield between two criminal organizations and narco-terrorists. The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel face a bloody war that has already left many dead in the region. The security situation in Zacatecas presents an enormous challenge for local and national authorities. Furthermore, the clashes are […]
The Effects of Oil Production on the Niger Delta
Peaceful, full of life, resource-rich, and green are all features that were once attributes of the Niger Delta. The region, located in Nigeria, comprises a few states in its southern area. The region’s economic buoyance dates back to its pre-colonial days when it boasted of trade explorations extending beyond its borders. With such magnificent antecedents, […]
The Use of Cryptocurrencies to Finance Terrorism in Latin America
In recent years, cryptocurrencies have become increasingly relevant in world financial markets. This digital means of exchange is a revolution in the economy, and it will likely continue to consolidate in the future. However, cryptocurrencies have also been used for illegal purposes. Terrorist groups and drug traffickers are increasingly using them, especially to launder money. […]
Terrorism in the Metaverse: How Extremist Organizations Penetrate Burgeoning Spaces
For as long as new technology has emerged, governments have struggled to keep up with their use by extremist organizations. Such organizations utilize these spaces because it allows them to access platforms where global youth congregate, and it is an opportunity to disseminate their ideals. With current technological trends, the way in which we communicate […]
Terrorism and COVID-19: An Overview of their Impact on Syria
Syria is mired in poverty and disarray as a result of terrorism, and the impacts of COVID-19 have exacerbated the conditions. Syria needs a comprehensive plan to fight a series of unresolved difficulties after decades of terrorism, civil conflict, poverty, and famine. The largest refugee exodus in history occurred across the country during the previous […]
An Overview of Extremism in the U.S. Military
On January 6, 2021, a violent mob of Trump supporters launched an attack on the United States Capitol. They tore through the security perimeter, overwhelming police lines and invading the building. As the rioters attempted to break down the makeshift barricades defending the House Chamber, armed guards drew their weapons and members of Congress removed […]
The State of Terrorism in the United Kingdom
Terrorism within the United Kingdom, over the past decade, has encountered many critical threats that have challenged its security. While the island nation is not unique in the threats it faces, it serves as a useful case study to analyze upcoming trends affecting its allies for the foreseeable future. By doing so, the United Kingdom […]
On the Brink of Collapse: Afghanistan’s Humanitarian Crisis
“A full blown humanitarian catastrophe looms,” said Martin Griffiths, the United Nations’ emergency aid coordinator, describing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan following the collapse of the country’s Western-backed government in August, 2021. “My message is urgent: Don’t shut the door on the people of Afghanistan.” Five months after the Taliban seized power, Afghanistan is accelerating […]
Difficulties in Defining Terrorism: The Case of the Mapuche in Chile and Argentina
The Mapuche conflict in Chile and Argentina has generated diverse reactions by the authorities of both countries. Some of the measures have been harshly criticized for employing counter-terrorism methods to resolve disputes with the Mapuche. Some of the controversies include the use of the Anti-Terrorist Law by the Chilean government and the militarization of certain […]
ISWAP’s Impact on Nigeria’s National Interests
More than half a decade ago, the now dominant faction in Nigeria’s conflict, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), split from Boko Haram, pledging allegiance to ISIS. Formerly led by the late Abu Musab al-Barnawi, son of the former Boko Haram leader and founder, Mohammed Yusuf, the group is said to have disapproved of Boko […]
The Rising Threat of Cyberterrorism
The newest form of terrorism is cyberterrorism, which has been a rising threat in the last several years. The fusion of cyberspace with terrorism is known as cyberterrorism, and it refers to illegal assaults and threats of attacks on computers, networks, and the information stored on them that are carried out to intimidate or compel […]
A Fight for the Border: Clashes Between the ELN and the FARC in Arauca
At least 27 people have been killed over the previous days in Arauca, Colombia. The authorities indicate that the deaths are due to clashes between militiamen from the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissidents from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia’s (FARC’s) 10th Front. The situation of violence in the department of Arauca has already […]
The Misuse of Counter-Terrorism: How Authoritarian States Repress Dissent
Within the past two decades, governments across the world have worked diligently to prevent large-scale terrorist attacks. Furthermore, when examining the current global state of counter-terrorism, it is evident that the counter-terrorism tools at the disposal of governments are the most effective they have ever been. However, there has been a noticeable rise of governments […]
Ending Insurgency in Nigeria
October 1, 1960 was a significant moment in the history of Nigeria; finally, this nation would become an independent, self-governing entity. Accepted with a remarkable mix of hope and doubts, Nigeria set off on a journey that thus far has been characterized by many pleasant and unpleasant events. Regrettably, the unpleasant events continue to reoccur […]
The Repatriation of European Women and Children
In 2019 there was a major incident of the capture of women and children possibly linked to ISIS. Approximately 1,000 women and children from Europe were imprisoned in camps in northeastern Syria, occurring after the crisis with ISIS. Major Obstacles for the Repatriation of Children in EU Diplomatic roadblocks created challenges for Europe to repatriate […]
One Year After January 6: Who Attacked the Capitol?
Just over one year ago, Americans across the nation watched in stunned disbelief as one of the most powerful and sacred symbols of their democracy was attacked by a seething mob of their fellow country men and women. Through their televisions, laptops, and mobile devices they witnessed the furious crowd tear through barricades and police […]
Domestic Terrorism in 2022: Key Risks and Trends
As 2022 commences, the domestic security landscape continues to evolve and mutate. The COVID-19 pandemic, and our efforts to contain it, have upended many people’s way of life, causing enormous disruptions and forcing substantial economic and psychological hardship upon communities. The pandemic has also led to a significant increase in the amount of time individuals […]
Guests in the Gulf: Afghans in the UAE
As part of an ongoing series from Rise to Peace, this article hopes to bring continued attention to the Afghan refugees’ conditions within their new places of residence. As they have made their way far from their homes in Afghanistan, they have braved treks across water, mountains, and militarized borders for a better life. The […]
History Replay: What’s Next for Nigeria?
One Nigeria, a phrase capable of setting off sparks depending on whom you address. Is Nigeria one? Or is this merely wishful thinking? Since its creation and independence, Nigeria has witnessed violence and conflicts; however, none of these threatened its existence as much as the 30-month long civil war from July 6, 1967 until January […]
How to Classify MS13: Gang or Terrorist Group?
On January 14, 2021, the U.S. government accused 14 leaders of the criminal gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) of terrorism. The decision of the American judicial branch resembles the 2015 ruling of El Salvador’s Supreme Court, which also classified the MS13 as a terrorist group. The decision to categorize MS13 as a terrorist organization opens the […]
Understanding the Drivers of Radicalization in Nigeria
Violent extremism in modern-day Nigeria dates back to pre-colonial days; from the far north to the deep south, historical records show the presence of violent extremism that lingered on to the colonial era and continues to date. A unique point to bear in mind is the multifaceted nature of violent extremism, especially in Nigeria, where multiple criteria […]
Restless in Ankara: A Report on Conditions for Afghans
As the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August, many Afghans became fearful of what life under Taliban rule would resemble. This fear prompted a wide array of Afghans from across civil society to try and flee the country before their worst fears would actualize. Those who could flee traveled to Kabul to evacuate Afghanistan via […]
The Perfect Storm: COVID-19 and Extremism
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended human society across the world. Over the last two years, governments have sought to control the impact of the virus by introducing a range of new laws and policies, including lockdowns, public health mandates, and restrictions on social gatherings. They have also initiated the largest global vaccine rollout in human […]
Bomb Attacks Terrorize the Colombian-Venezuelan Border
On December 14th, two bomb explosions were registered in Colombia at the border city of Cúcuta. The explosions occurred near the Camilo Daza Airport and left two police officers and one civilian dead. These attacks add to the wave of violence in the Norte de Santander Department, located on Colombia’s border. In recent months, the […]
Fanning the Flames: How Foreign Governments Fuel Domestic Extremism
Information warfare, according to Dan Kuehl of the United States’ National Defense University, is the “conflict or struggle between two or more groups in the information environment.” The rapid expansion of the online information space has significantly bolstered the efficacy of these information warfare tactics, offering governments unfettered access to one of the most influential […]
Lafiya Dole: Africa’s Old Narrative
The eternally fascinating continent of Africa is home to fifty-four beautiful countries, which are rich in resources, diversity, strength, and sadly conflicts. In the words of Patricia Danzi, Regional Director for Africa for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), “conflicts last and they don’t stop – and more are added.” Leaders in Africa continue […]
Bashar al-Assad’s Impact on Syria
Bashar al-Assad has been Syria’s president for the last 21 years, since he took power on July 17th, 2000. This year, on May 26th, Bashar Al-Assad was elected again to be Syria’s president for seven more years. He won the election with an overwhelming majority of 95.1% of the votes. The Re-election Bashar al-Assad assumed […]
The Wagner Group: How PMCs Drive Extremism
Fourteen years ago, the world became aware of the many atrocities committed by private military contractors (PMCs) when Blackwater killed Iraqi civilians. The incident strained relations with the Iraqi government and proved counterproductive to American counterinsurgency efforts. PMCs have existed in conflicts for hundreds of years, but they have been under the international community’s radar […]
Disintegration of the Second Marquetalia: The Death of “Romaña” and “El Paisa”
Two of the most important ex-commanders of the extinct FARC guerrilla were assassinated in Venezuela. Dario Velásquez, known as “El Paisa,” and Henry Castellanos, known as “Romaña,” died in ambushes last week, which is a great blow to the FARC dissidents, known as the Second Marquetalia. The death of Velásquez and Castellanos, who were signatories […]
The Escalation of Terrorism in Syria
Syria is one of the countries severely impacted by terrorism. It is widely known that Syria is afflicted by suffering, as terrorists have attacked innocent people, obliterated foundations, plundered Syria’s assets, and generated a humanitarian catastrophe throughout the country. Since 1979, Syria has been exposed to terrorist attacks, which persist today. The Escalation of Terrorism […]
Abubakar Shekau: His Many Deaths and Lasting Impact
Very little is known about Abubakar Shekau, the late leader of the group Jama’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-jihad. The little we know is that he was a one-time deputy to Mohammed Yusuf, founder of the group commonly referred to as Boko Haram. Following Yusuf’s execution by the Nigerian forces in 2009, Shekau assumed leadership until […]
Resisting Russia: Ukraine on the Verge of a Far-Right Insurgency
An unclassified U.S. intelligence document, first reported on December 3rd by The Washington Post, revealed that Russia is planning a massive military offensive against Ukraine as soon as early 2022, involving up to 175,000 troops. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly expressed concern regarding NATO expansion in Eastern Europe. In 2008, NATO, an American-led military […]
ISIS in the Congo: A Counter-Terrorism Perspective
With much attention spotlighting ISIS-K’s increased capabilities, little attention has been brought to their counterparts within Central Africa. Much like their counterparts in Central Asia, the Islamic State Central Africa Province (ISCAP) has increased its activities within Central Africa this year. As ISCAP has carried out attacks, they have united the governments of Uganda and […]
Hezbollah’s Tentacles Threaten Latin America
Hezbollah, also known as Hizbullah, is a Lebanon-based Shia terrorist organization. Its creation dates back to 1982, after the Israeli intervention in Lebanon. Since its foundation, Hezbollah has participated in several terrorist attacks against civilians in the Middle East. For instance, Hezbollah militants carried out the 1983 suicide truck bombings against the U.S embassy and […]
Powder Keg of the Pandemic: Exploring the Ongoing Situation in Bosnia
Since the start of the pandemic there have been many worrying trends within global affairs. Among these have been the deteriorating relations between global powers and a stark contrast between the allocation of vaccines of affluent nations with that of the globe’s poorest nations. Additionally, there exists a dire crisis within the Balkans, which has […]
FARC Removed from Terrorist List – What’s Next for Colombia’s Peace Process?
On November 30th the United States announced plans to remove the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) from its list of foreign terrorist organizations. The decision to redesignate the terrorist status of the former guerrilla group follows the signing of a peace deal between the Colombian government and the FARC in 2016. In a statement following […]
Kidnappings in Haiti Terrorize the Nation
In recent weeks, two collective kidnappings have been registered in Haiti. After the death of President Jovenel Moïse, Haiti has suffered a wave of crimes and kidnappings throughout the country, which have severely affected the local population. The situation in Haiti is critical. Despite the fact that two hostages were released a few days ago, […]
The Taliban Kingmaker: Haqqani or Durrani?
Author’s note: The Taliban group was founded in the 1990s by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and appointed Mullah Omar as founder and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as co-founder–the two Pashtun leaders from the Durrani tribe of Afghanistan from heavily populated density provinces in western Afghanistan (Kandahar, Helmand, and Uruzgan regions). In 1996, after the Taliban’s […]
The Refugee Crisis at the Belarus-Poland Border
With the recent happenings on the global scenes, especially in Belarus and Poland, one can fully understand the term global community. A decade after the Arab Spring that led to the breakdown of peace and order in the MENA region, creating opportunities for extremists to take advantage of, the world still feels the impact. For […]
Prioritizing the Evacuation of High-Risk Afghans
With the last American troops leaving Afghanistan this year, there are many questions regarding what the future holds for the Central Asian country. Afghanistan has been beset with conflict for much of recent memory, which has been to the detriment of its citizens. They have once again been put under the harsh rule of the […]
The Liverpool Attack: A Need for Community-Based Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The Liverpool bombing on Remembrance Sunday has once again raised questions about the U.K. Counter-Terrorism Prevention Program. The alacrity with which these attacks have occurred in recent times has once again highlighted the rise of extremism in the Western world. Just before the national two minutes of silence commenced on Sunday, November 14th, a taxi […]
What Measures Should be Taken to Counter Nigeria’s Insecurities?
Nigeria has benefited from several projects and programs, all aimed at resolving the issue of insecurity including, addressing identified root causes and engendering factors. While these efforts seem promising, over time, one realizes its temporal traits. Being a significant player with yielding influence in Africa, Nigeria must understand all that is at stake for the […]
ISIS-K Grows as the Taliban Struggles to Maintain Power
According to a senior Afghan intelligence officer who spoke with Rise to Peace, ISIS of Khorasan (ISIS-K) is growing rapidly in the Char Bolak district of the Balkh province in Afghanistan, notably since the Taliban’s takeover. Recently, ISIS has claimed responsibility for two other attacks, one occurring outside of a women’s hospital in Liverpool, U.K., […]
The Capture of Colombia’s Most Wanted Man Ignites a Series of Terrorist Attacks and Violence
Dairo Antonio Usuga, better known as Otoniel and the leader of one of Colombia’s most feared narco-terrorist organizations, was captured on October 23. Otoniel is the head of the Clan del Golfo or the Gulf Clan, an armed terrorist and drug trafficking group that poses a serious threat to the Colombian State. Colombian authorities captured […]
Afghans Stuck in Limbo at Emirates Humanitarian City Seek Answers to their U.S. Entry Status
Tens of thousands Afghan Evacuees at Emirates Humanitarian City Seek Answers to their U.S. Entry Status. Many are now in limbo in overflowing processing centers, fearful of what comes next. Unlike other Afghan refugee camps in Ramstein Air Base in Germany and US army base in Qatar where evacuees have had relatively quick entry processes […]
What Went Wrong with Nigeria’s Boko Haram Counter-Terrorism Mission?
Nigeria has continued to grapple with the issue of terrorism, and as expected, has had to launch many counter-terrorism missions. While domestic conflicts and extremism were not exactly new phenomena to a fragile state like Nigeria, the activities of Boko Haram would understandably raise concerns, mainly because of its religious ideologies and fatal potentialities in […]
The Emergence and Expansion of ISIS-K and the Taliban
The Taliban blamed ISIS-K for the Kabul explosion on Afghanistan’s largest military hospital near Kabul, killing at least 30 people and wounding dozens this Tuesday. Though there is no immediate claim of responsibility, it’s more likely that IS-K is behind the attack. IS-K has carried out some of the deadliest attacks since its appearance in 2015. This […]
Daesh Within the DMV? Assesing the ISIS-K Threat in Northern Virginia
Bereft of the territory which they conquered at their height, ISIS seeks to restore their ability to instill fear in those who don’t share their fringe ideology. Recent operations conducted by the group such as their attack on the Kabul airport are congruent with this aim. With their fervent desire to be seen once again […]
The Nexus Between Environmental Stimuli and Violent Extremism
Introduction In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, academics and policymakers have struggled to pinpoint a distinct factor that drives individuals towards violent extremism. In light of this, many have tested the hypothesis of whether poverty and poor economic conditions lead to an increase in violent extremism. Whilst other external stimuli can contribute to individuals […]
Neglecting Afghanistan: Lessons to be Learnt From the 9/11 Attacks 20-Years Later
Exactly two decades ago, the United States witnessed a deadly attack that transformed the international security landscape overnight. Only six weeks following the attacks, the Patriot Act was passed by Congress in an attempt to catch ‘terrorists among us,’ on both an international and domestic scale. Consequently, then US President George Bush launched the global […]
#TalibanOurGuardians: Taliban Support Trends via Twitter During Afghanistan Repression
It is not a new agenda for Twitter to be the ‘go to’ space for encouraging violent extremist activities, though, since America made the decision to withdraw their military troops from Afghanistan, it has been pervaded with tweets related to Afghanistan’s latest events. The Content Twitter has been filled with widespread opinions on the actions […]
Islam vs Islamism? The Realpolitik of Islamic Jihadism in Africa
Decades of internecine conflicts, and bloody civil wars have left inedible scars across Africa, and the consequent weakening (or failure) of multiple nations across the continent. Islamist terrorist groups such as Ansar Dine (Mali), Boko Haram (Nigeria) and Al-Shabab (Somalia) have found fertile ground by exploiting the specific deteriorating political and economic conditions of individual […]
What’s Next for Afghanistan Under the Taliban Regime?
In just 10 days, the Taliban was able to take control of most of the major cities and towns across Afghanistan. On Tuesday, an all-male interim government was established by the Taliban, in which it declared Afghanistan an ‘Islamic Emirate.’ Many of the senior figureheads were veteran Taliban officials who were active in the resistance against […]
Afghanistan After the Withdrawal: What It’s Like for One Man Left Behind As the Taliban Takes Over
https://youtu.be/EGk5L0YlJis
Racial and Religious Profiling in the United States in the Name of ‘National Security’
Many things changed in the United States following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Changes in law, policy, and security were made not only in the United States but around the world, in order to tackle the growing threat of terrorism. In response to these attacks, the United States government launched a military campaign called the “War […]
The United Nations in Africa: Mali’s Challenging Future
The Long Road Ahead The UN’s peacekeeping operation in Mali faces an uphill battle to stabilize the country, made even more difficult by recent events. The peace that this operation hopes to keep stems from a 2015 peace agreement between northern Tuareg and Arab rebels and the government of Mali. But the civilian government was […]
A Tale of Two Withdrawals: What the U.S. Can Learn from the Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon
On August 15th, 2021, Taliban fighters captured Kabul without firing a shot, sending shock waves across the world and expediting the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. Like the Afghanistan withdrawal, the 2000 Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon was long expected and planned. Nevertheless, the events on the ground shifted quickly and forced Israel to complete the […]
An Assessment of the Current Terror Threats to the United States
As the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaches and coronavirus is in rapid circulation, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin, warning of the threat of extremist violence in the United States. This advisory is an update of the previous assessment. It is not based on any […]
Is Boko Haram on the verge of defeat?
Over the last few months the Nigerian armed forces have enjoyed a series of military victories against Boko Haram, who have also been plagued with infighting and defections. Notably the recent suicide of Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, marked a major blow to the Islamist terrorist group who, for the last two decades, have spread […]
Views from Washington: How US Troop Withdrawal Will Affect the Taliban
On October 7th, 2001, former president George W. Bush launched the war in Afghanistan, following the 9/11 attacks. 20 years later, current President Joe Biden says, “it’s time to end America’s longest war,” as he announced that the United States is pushing for a full withdrawal of troops by September 11, 2021. The 3,500 troops […]
The United Nations in Africa: South Sudan’s Quest for Stability
Background On July 9th, South Sudan celebrated ten years of independence, remembering how its people overwhelmingly voted for independence from Sudan in 2011. But another entity, the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS), is also marking ten years of existence this year. Initially meant to consolidate peace and development in the […]
UN Peacekeeping Missions in Africa: Introduction and Analysis
Introduction United Nations peacekeeping operations are meant to help countries down the complex path of peace and reconciliation. Such peacekeeping missions are mandated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). A smaller subset of peacekeeping missions, stabilization operations, are not regulated by the UN Charter, but make-up three of the four largest ongoing peace operations. […]
The World Needs to See the Taliban for What It Is: A Hybrid Terrorist Organization
Over the last weekend, the Taliban continued its country-wide offensive, successfully capturing several Afghan provincial capitals. While the U.S. continues to pin its hopes on a Taliban-Afghan government peace deal to halt the country’s relentless violence, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The Taliban’s offensive casts serious doubt on its supposed desire to […]
Special Report On Youths’ Views on the Afghan Peace Process
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How Local Identities Can Shape a More Balanced Response to Terror
The traumatic impacts of terrorist attacks reverberate far beyond physical injuries and loss of life. Victims must often cope with the loss of family and friends, damage to the wider community and social structures, as well as the potential personal and wider economic consequences. In the search for security and stability, exposed individuals often demand […]
Afghan Interpreters, the Peace Process, and the Future of Indigenous Support for US Combat Operations
As the United States prepares for its withdrawal from Afghanistan, discussions have continued about the fate of Afghan interpreters who played a vital role in US combat operations. These interpreters not only served as bridges to language barriers between soldiers and Afghan communities but also as cultural advisors to US soldiers. Their area knowledge and […]
Qatar’s Mediation Challenges in the Afghan Peace Process
As NATO’s 20-year campaign in Afghanistan comes to an end and the Taliban escalate their nationwide offensive, Qatar remains the most privileged actor among the Persian Gulf States. This comes as a result of Qatar’s mediation efforts in listening to the different actors involved in the Afghan conflict and the considerable trust earned throughout the […]
Deradicalization and Combating Domestic Terrorism in the U.S
On January 6th, 2021, white supremacists and militias breached the Capitol, deploying the use of violence and force. In light of this, government officials and researchers are working to identify the factors contributing to domestic terrorism in America. Domestic Radicalization In 2020, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) recorded 110 domestic extremist attacks. […]
A Bleak Picture for Afghanistan: A Weekly Update on Taliban Advances
In recent weeks, the Taliban have made unprecedented gains that continue to threaten Afghanistan’s stability. This furthermore increases the likelihood that it will become a haven for international terrorists. [supsystic-gallery id=null position=center] From strikes against prominent figures to military offensives that have resulted in the capture of three provincial capitals, the situation had become dire. […]
Afghan Youth Killed by Iranian Police Whilst Fleeing the Taliban
Afghan youth Hekmatullah Sharifi, a 19-year-old boy from Balucha Village – Badakhshan province of Afghanistan was tragically shot and killed by the Iranian patrol police at the Afghan-Iran border. Hekmat was occupied by 14 other young boys that feared recruitment of the Taliban, therefore, fled to Iran for protection from the oppression. However, with attacks […]
Support Services for Victims of Terror in the United States: What Is Available?
Introduction In the aftermath of traumatic events, services which pledge support to victims of terror are imperative. These support systems offer hope of stability following crises. This may be in response to individuals who have lost family members, their source of income, been physically injured, or developed a mental illness as a result of the traumatic […]
Can ISIL succeed in their political objective in 2021?
On 1st June 2021 former Trump administration official Jason Miller launched “Gettr” a pro Trump, pro “free speech” alternative to Twitter, aimed at conservative Americans. However, in the space of a few weeks, the platform has become a hotbed of radical Islamic propaganda. Pro ISIL accounts have been flooding the platform with posts including […]
The Evolving Russian-Taliban Relations
On July 7th, a Taliban delegation visited Moscow and met with the Kremlin envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabuluv. This visit took place against the backdrop of increasing Taliban gains in Afghanistan. One might ask how the Taliban, a movement designated as a terrorist organization in Russia, is being welcomed in Moscow by official Russian representatives. […]
Cyberterrorism in Europe Has a Clear Target, but the Motives are a Mystery
Tehrani’s description of terrorism is defined using Black Law’s dictionary and cites “the use or threat of violence to intimidate or cause panic, especially as a means of affecting political conduct”. Tehrani argues that while an all-describing definition for terrorism has proven difficult to agree on, one common aspect of terrorism is apparent. This includes […]
Iran’s Ambiguous Role in the Afghan Peace Process
On July 8, Iran hosted talks between delegations from the Afghan government and the Taliban. This effort provided a new venue for Afghan negotiators to engage one another as the Taliban advance continued and the U.S.-backed talks in Doha stalled. The Iranian position toward the Afghan war has been complex and often ambiguous. While the […]
The Crisis in Cabo Delgado: A Policy for a New Generation
This is the final piece in a series examining the ongoing extremist threat in Mozambique. After understanding Cabo Delgado’s history of economic marginalization, socio-political agitation, and geographic remoteness, one might not be surprised by the government’s military-oriented approach to dealing with ASWJ. With politics dominated by FRELIMO since independence, Mozambique ranks 149th in the world […]
Kurdish and Chechen Women in Separatism
Women’s activities and levels of involvement in non-traditional military organizations are diverse. Because of that, it is important to approach case studies for a better understanding of the connection between women’s personal experiences, their inner environments and their work in such organizations. In this article, Kurdish and Chechen women involved in separatism will be explored, […]
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Historical Overview
The world watched as Israel and Hamas has exchanged rocket fire prior to the cease-fire issued on May 25th, 2021. The death toll stands at over 200 with 1,235 Palestinians injured. Ten Israelis were killed by rockets from Gaza. The recent tensions increased at the beginning of Ramadan as Israeli police put up barriers around […]
The Growth and Impact of ISIL in Mozambique: The Difficulties to Defeating their Insurgency
Mozambique’s conflict with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has experienced a notable increase in the level of violence within the last year. Although active in the region since 2017, it is only more recently that ISIL’s attacks have escalated in both frequency and severity. The bloodshed caused by ISIL throughout Mozambique […]
Saudi Arabia’s Role in the Afghan Peace Process
Following the ongoing U.S troop’s withdrawal from Afghanistan after the 20-year campaign in the country, the insurgency of the Taliban remains resilient. The Persian Gulf States played a key role during the Afghan conflict, in terms of mediation and reconstruction efforts. Consequently, their involvement is likely to increase once U.S troops are fully withdrawn from […]
Pakistan’s Support of the Taliban Might Come Back to Haunt Islamabad
The scenes from recent Taliban military successes in Afghanistan were positively received among members of Pakistan’s security establishment. While denying it publicly, these Pakistani hardliners have funneled support to the Taliban for decades. If the current trajectory of the conflict continues, they will get what they wished for: a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. A Taliban […]
The Reemergence of Right-Wing Extremism Groups in the United States
It has been a scary realization for many people in the United States as more people are witnessing the re-emergence of right-wing extremism. We are living through a moment of profound yet positive change in attitudes toward race, with a majority of citizens coming to understand more about the deeply embedded historical legacy of racist […]
The New Reality in Afghanistan Requires the Afghanistan Government to Change Its Strategy
Since the signing of the U.S.-Taliban Agreement in February 2020, the Taliban has accelerated its offensive, securing major gains. The Taliban has expanded its control of the country and captured border crossings, routing entire Afghan National Army units in the process. Clearly, the current government strategy is failing. The Afghan government should realize the fact […]
The Crisis in Cabo Delgado: A Familiar Road to Extremism
This is the second piece in a series examining the ongoing extremist threat in Mozambique. Cabo Delgado, the northernmost region of Mozambique, has been plagued by a radical Islamist insurgency since 2017. But it is only in the last couple of months that the conflict has become a staple of the international news cycle. This […]
The Impact of the Withdrawal of U.S troops from Afghanistan on the Hazara People
The Hazara people are a Persian-speaking, predominantly Shi’a ethnic group, a religious minority among the country’s majority Sunni population. Comprising 10-20% of Afghanistan’s 38 million people, the minority Shi’a have faced systematic discrimination from the majority Sunni population throughout the centuries and from ISKP and the Taliban more recently.After the fall of Taliban in 2001, […]
The Colonial Pipeline Cyber Ransomware Attack and the Continued Threat to the United States
Those who were not aware of the cyberattacks in the United States are now very aware of the threat after a ransomware attack forced a pipeline to shut down in early May 2021. The Colonial pipeline is one of the nation’s largest pipelines carrying gasoline and jet fuel from Texas to New York. This sent […]
Azov Battalion – Guardian Angels or Notorious Extremists?
History Civil unrest took place across Ukraine during the 2014 revolution. This resulted in an overthrow of the elected government led by Viktor Yanukovych. Following the riots, Russia decided to send military units to Crimea and declared the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol as the 84th and 85th federal subjects of […]
Assessing their Effectiveness of Over-the-Horizon Strategies and Its Viability in Afghanistan
As Afghanistan descends into conflict amid the US withdrawal, President Biden and senior military leaders have pledged to maintain “over-the-horizon” capabilities. This is to prevent the fall of Kabul and terrorist organizations from using Afghanistan as a safe haven. The Afghan air force is in an increasingly precarious position to support ground forces. This is […]
The Crisis in Cabo Delgado: A Region that Perseveres
This is the first piece in a series examining the ongoing extremist threat in Mozambique. On March 24th, Islamist insurgents besieged the district capital of Palma in northern Mozambique, leaving dozens dead and a town in ruins. Tens of thousands were uprooted, and Mozambican security forces barely managed to retake Palma, though some believe the […]
What Is Next For Turkey in Afghanistan?
Following the U.S. withdrawal from Bagram Airfield, the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul has become the last stand in America’s 20-year campaign in Afghanistan. With the Taliban on the offensive, the issue of security arrangements at this highly strategic installation must be resolved before the U.S. and NATO complete their withdrawal. Recently, Turkey has […]
Can We Profile the “Classic Terrorist” in Europe’s Most Deadly Attacks?
Over the last 20 years, the increased presence of terrorism in Europe has prompted many attempts to tackle the causes of radicalisation. In doing so, social scientists, journalists and psychologists have invested time, money, and effort into identifying the people behind some of the deadliest attacks. Despite all efforts, profiling terrorists is still a challenge. […]
Women’s Roles in Right-Wing Extremism in the United States
All around the world, local law enforcement’s failure to understand the gender dynamics of terrorist organizations has led to many vulnerabilities in people’s safety and security. In the United States, there continues to be more and more evidence being discovered that women are playing key roles in right-wing extremist movements. Fortunately, in recent years, our […]
The Sahel Region: Current Crisis and Challenges
Context Over the past fifteen years, the Sahel and West Africa have become the hub of clandestine trafficking and the heart of the fundamentalist terrorist network. The proceeds of illicit trafficking (migrants, drugs, weapons, etc…) and the generous ransoms given by European governments to obtain the release of their citizens, victims of kidnappings, (mostly concentrated […]
From Negotiations to the Front Line Fighting the Taliban: Hoping to End Their Fathers’ War
A Rise to Peace Exclusive interview with Khalid Noor, member of the Afghan negotiating team. Afghan negotiator, Khalid Noor, has been fighting the Taliban alongside his father in northern Afghanistan, with the aim to reverse Taliban advances in Balkh Province. Noor’s diplomatic shift to the military is in response to the Taliban’s military attacks across […]
Trends of 2020: What increased internet has meant for terrorism in Europe
The European Union, United Kingdom and Switzerland have had an unconventional year for identifying trends in terrorist activity. The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, travel restrictions, and digitization of everyday life have posed difficulties for some terrorist groups and opportunities for others. A Europol report on terrorism in Europe declared that in 2020, six EU […]
How Traumatic Events in Conflict Can Serve as a Bridge for Afghan Reconciliation: Lessons from the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Since October 2001, an estimated 241,000 Afghans and Pakistanis have died as a direct result of the war in Afghanistan. Many others have died from indirect consequences of the war such as disease, food and water insecurity, broken infrastructure, and a myriad of other issues. As in Afghanistan, families in both Israel and Palestine have […]
The Security Threats to Afghanistan and its Problematic Shift to Peace
As the conflict status for Afghanistan resides on worsening, there has never been more reasonable grounds for troops to patrol and protect their people and prevent attacks from awaking. With a robust Afghan National Security Force of approximately 350,000 troops, (1,000 UK and 3,500 US troops) deployed from the country Army Forces, its violence and […]
Recent Attacks in the Ethiopian Tigray Region and its Implications for Peace
Context Ethiopia is a federation, made up of a federal government and nine member states. However, this social fragmentation is considered a source of conflict due to the political and economic inequality consolidated in the institutional and cultural fabric of the country. The regional political parties, representing local ethnic groups, are often in opposition to […]
Biden Has Shown An Economic Commitment to Afghanistan. Now, He Must Show a Diplomatic One
The fate of Dr. Mohammad Najibullah haunts contemporary discussions over the future of Afghanistan. In the spring of 1992, Najibullah’s government collapsed under the pressure of mujahideen forces. While the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan weakened his government, the cessation of Soviet aid flowing into the country marked the final nail in his coffin. Since President […]
What We Can Learn About the Soviet Withdrawal From Afghanistan in Anticipation of the U.S Troops Withdrawal
On February 15, 1989, the last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan, signaling the end of a nearly decade of Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan and the beginning of a period of uncertainty. As in 1989, the upcoming U.S withdrawal from Afghanistan on September 11, 2021, fosters much of the same uncertainty concerning the competence of the […]
The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park Bombing and it’s Influence on the 2021 Olympic Games
With the 2021 Summer Olympics less than a month away, there remains a lot of hesitancy from athletes, governments, and fans as many countries are still suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Security officials will have their hands full this year not only worrying about the looming presence of the global pandemic but […]
The Islamic State of Khorasan and the Afghan Peace Process
The recent attack on the girl’s school in a Hazara neighborhood warrants discussion concerning the threat of Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) in Afghanistan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that killed 85 and wounded over 100. However, IS-K has conducted similar operations in the past. The Hazara Shia are particularly threatened because IS […]
The Red Brigades: What We Can Learn From Italian History
Origins of The Red Brigades The Red Brigades, an Italian far-left guerrilla group, were active between the 1970s and 80s. They represent the most important terrorist group in all Italian history. The Red Brigades are also known for the abduction and murder of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro. The group grew in universities of the […]
Reciprocal Radicalisation – What Is It And How Do We Fight It?
With the tragic deaths of five and injury to over 150 people during the storming of the Capitol Building, ISIL propaganda channels became predictably awash with posts hailing the crowds as “great symbolism”. The Capitol Insurrection provided us with a recent reminder of the need to explore reciprocating narratives between extremists of differing ideology. Whether […]
The Rise And Countering Of Maritime Terrorism By The United States
Since the maritime environment is so open there is plenty of opportunity for maritime terrorism. Many terrorist organisations like Al Qaeda, the Chechen rebels, Hezbollah, and Hamas participate in maritime terrorism. Maritime terrorism is the act of terrorism in the maritime environment, using boat vessels or seaports. One of the most interesting types of maritime […]
The Biden Administration And Afghan Peace Negotiations In Doha
As the peace process in Doha continues to unfold, the Biden Administration will face several difficult decisions regarding the future of Afghanistan. The war’s effects have been felt at every level. With trust at an all time low, Americans have demanded solutions to the never-ending wars which plague U.S. Foreign Policy and fail to address […]
Human Rights Abuses By The People’s Republic of China
Overview Out of the eleven million Uyghurs living in Xinjiang in China, between 800,000 and one million people have been detained in Chinese internment camps indefinitely.1 Despite the initial denial by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), leaked documents and first hand accounts detail the repressive policies targeting the Uyghurs. Reportedly, these internment camps permit […]
The European Union And Their Long-Term Commitment To Afghanistan
Since 2001, the European Union (EU) has shown its interest in Afghanistan, resulting in 4 billion Euros provided in aid. This has made Afghanistan the largest beneficiary of its development assistance. The EU’s interest in Afghanistan has both a humanitarian element and the interest in reducing the root causes of its migration flows. These migration […]
The Gulf States’ Relationship With Afghanistan And Peace
The Persian Gulf states have played an important role in Afghanistan’s conflict. Their prominence in the area will likely continue to do so after American troops withdraw. During the Soviet occupation, Saudi Arabia matched American funding to the mujahideen for weapons and humanitarian development. One of the financiers was Osama Bin Laden. Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi […]
Lessons To Be Learnt From Colombia’s Economic Reintegration Programs
A successful peace agreement does not guarantee lasting peace. The successful reintegration of ex-combatants back into society, while it does not guarantee lasting peace, is essential if peace is to stay. Afghanistan is at a crucial moment in its history. If a peace agreement is negotiated, ex-Taliban fighters must be reintegrated back into Afghan society. […]
Rahmatullah Nabil Discusses Afghanistan’s Peace Process
An Impossible Task? Rahmatullah Nabil, Former Director of the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Afghanistan discussed what lies ahead for Afghanistan’s Peace Process while referencing the Istanbul conference on his Twitter account. The Istanbul conference was originally scheduled for April 5th but is likely to be delayed due to ongoing arrangements. Given the date […]
Recent Domestic Terrorism Attacks In The United States
Nearly a week after tragedy struck in Atlanta, flags in the United States were briefly raised. Less than two days later they returned to half-staff following yet another mass shootings. The US has seen at least 34 mass shootings over the last five years, with 365 people killed and many more injured. The nation saw […]
The Role of Foreign Investment in the Afghan Peace Process
Previous efforts to invest in Afghanistan’s economic future have had poor results. But, the role of foreign investment in the Afghan Peace Process has never been more important. Afghanistan has made little progress in terms of economic development, despite the United States having spent over $24 billion on economic development and another $30 billion on […]
The Taliban And Mujahideen: Comparisons And Lessons Learned
At the time of the Soviet invasion, those fleeing from Afghanistan to Pakistan were one of the largest refugee populations in the world. They flooded border towns like Peshawar and Quetta. These locations aided mujahideen leaders in recruitment efforts from growing refugee camps, for their militias. Hundreds of madrassas indoctrinated these refugees to justify their […]
Political Crisis For Refugees Seeking Asylum In Greece
There are currently 119,700 refugees in Greece, while another 19,100 refugees remain on the Greek Islands, seeking asylum. Despite many of these refugees fleeing war torn countries including Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan – it has developed from a humanitarian crisis to a political one. Greece is going through some significant financial issues which makes the […]
What To Expect From The Moscow Peace Conference On Afghanistan
The Moscow conference peace talks are being attended by the Troika group, which includes; Pakistan, Iran, China, Russia, and the United States. And it may provide a preview for what could take place in Istanbul. The current Moscow summit and the upcoming conference in Turkey are the result of the ongoing stalemate in the Doha […]
Are Nigeria’s Counterterrorism Operations Boko Haram’s Biggest Ally?
For the last decade, Nigeria’s deadliest threat has undoubtedly and consistently been Islamic group Boko Haram. The terror group would see the Nigerian government overthrown to allow Islamic law to replace it. Although established in Northeast Nigeria, Boko Haram’s operations have spread beyond Nigeria’s borders. Its occupancy has overflowed into neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad […]
An Introspective Outlook Of The U.S Letter To Afghanistan
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s letter to President Ghani and Chairman Abdulla Abdulla addressing the Afghan peace process highlights its complexity and challenges. It has come at a crucial time in the process, as it states and establishes the proposals of the new American Administration under President Joe Biden. This introspective outlook helps dissect Blinken’s […]
What Can Afghanistan Learn from Rwanda?
When the war in Afghanistan finally ends, an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Taliban fighters will have to be reintegrated into Afghan society. The current generation of Taliban fighters has known little besides war for the majority of their lives. For many, their opposition to the Afghan government and life as an insurgent has formed a […]
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad Visits Kabul For Afghan Peace Talks
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, has left Washington DC for a trip to Kabul. His trip aims to resolve the stalemate on the Afghan Peace Process and resume the discussion with the afghan technocrats, the afghan warlords, the Mujaheddin and the Taliban representatives. The trip comes just a few days […]
Domestic Terrorism Discussion with Michael Sherwin, Acting U.S. Attorney for D.C.
On Thursday 25th February, Mr. Sherwin joined Ahmad Mohibi, President of Rise to Peace, for an insightful discussion concerning domestic terrorism and explored the legal repercussions for the January 6th rioters, who stormed the U.S. Capitol. The discussion centered around what steps The Attorney’s Office for D.C. can take to prosecute these individuals, while also […]
Biden Administration Resumes Taliban Peace Talks
After weeks of increased violence, uncertainty, and a stalemate between the negotiating parties, talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban resumed earlier this week in Doha, amid a looming deadline for US troops to fully withdraw from the country by May of this year. Despite the flurry of historic developments that have taken place […]
What Is Next for Afghanistan’s Sikhs and Hindus?
Before it earned its moniker as the ‘Graveyard of Empires’, the Durrani Empire of Afghanistan ceded a significant amount of its territory to the neighboring Sikh Empire throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, an event remembered today for being the last successful foreign invasion of Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the gains made by the Sikh […]
What Does Future Trade Look Like in Light of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement?
Following several months of talks between trade representative from Pakistan and Afghanistan, the two countries appear poised to finalize a preferential trade agreement (PTA) by the end of January, just one month before the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) is set to expire. Previous discussions have struggled to resolve numerous trade-related concerns raised by both […]
The Kafala Controversy: Migrant Labor Reform in the Gulf
Among the seismic economic changes to emerge in the twentieth century, few were as drastic and consequential as the growth enjoyed by the member-states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Prior to the discovery of its expansive oil wealth between the 1930s-1950s, the GCC states (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates) largely […]
Gender Analysis and Representation of Women as a Counterterrorism Approach
At a time where women can be victims, violent actors, and agents of positive change, the consideration of gender analysis in peace building is increasingly important. A gender analysis involves the representation of women in the security sector. It also means acknowledging the different experiences of men and women in extremism, as a direct result […]
Afghanistan: Peace Talks and an Increase in Violence
Since peace talks in Doha commenced in September, violence has escalated in Afghanistan, however, recent developments could present a way to turn this around. It is appropriate to examine what has changed and how it could have positive effects. Breakthrough Shortly after the intra-Afghan talks commenced, they were stalled due to both technical and fundamental […]
How Can Afghanistan Reduce Its Aid Dependency?
While violence escalated across the country, the intra-Afghan peace talks were stalled for weeks because of difficulties agreeing on procedural issues. It has been argued that it was unlikely to see any significant progress anytime soon because neither side “has an incentive to compromise before the incoming Biden administration lays out its policy.” A recent […]
Investment in Prisons as a Counterterrorism Approach
At a time when Europe is undergoing a new wave of terrorist attacks, the challenges posed by prisons and the monitoring of ISIL prisoners should be a focus in the fight against terrorism. Prisons are places where inmates may be vulnerable, in contact with extremist ideas, and subject to recruitment. There the creation of networks […]
Special Report: The Rise of the Islamic State in Afghanistan
The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is one of the deadliest and most potent terror groups the world has ever known and has made its way to Afghanistan. It emerged due to interstate fragility, foreign policy failure, and perennial instability in the Middle East. The 2003 United States’ intervention in Iraq and the […]
Afghan Aid Dependency: Two Alternatives for Foreign Donors
With just over 77% of its government budget dependent on foreign aid, Afghanistan’s prospects of establishing a self-reliant state in the near future appears bleak. In spite of the billions spent by individual countries and multilateral institutions, the question of how to sustainably use donor funds to embed resilience in Afghanistan has confounded policymakers for […]
Remembering Rajani Thiranagama and Examining the Roles of Women in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka
”One day some gun will silence me and it will not be held by an outsider but by the son born in the womb of this very society, from a woman with whom my history is shared.” The quote above is from Rajani Thiranagama just few months before her assassination in 1989. She was assassinated […]
From Bonn to Doha: Why Is Afghanistan Still at War?
In December 2001, the city of Bonn, Germany hosted a conference on Afghanistan after the joint operation by the United States military and the Northern Alliance toppled the Taliban regime. The conference ushered in a new era for Afghanistan in which a democratic government was established that ensured elections, women and human rights, and civil […]
Understanding Memories of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Memory is not just the process of retaining events that happened in the past as it has a major function of validating reality. Memories do not have a predefined structure as they are shaped according to the emotions, relations, and the locations of the one recollecting an event. By preserving memories, the narrative of an […]
Are There Any Lessons for Afghanistan from Post-Civil War Algeria?
Wars manifest differently in various locales: however, accrued insights can be considered in other scenarios. The Algerian government experienced a brutal decade-long intra-state conflict against Islamist extremist groups that ultimately ended in a statist victory. An official end to conflict left the proverbial door open to experiments in hard and soft government policies to combat […]
Recent American Decisions Will Influence Afghan Peace Talks
Two current events have implications for Afghanistan. Joe Biden was declared as president-elect in the United States presidential election by several news outlets on November 7. He will be the fourth president since the war began in 2001. Further, on November 17, the Pentagon announced that the U.S. will reduce its troops in Afghanistan from […]
Youth Are an Important Factor for a Peaceful Afghanistan of the Future
Some say that the intra-Afghan peace talks in Doha, Qatar represent a unique opportunity to change the current state of conflict in Afghanistan. However, even if the parties manage to negotiate a peace agreement, the road to a peaceful society is long and it will require the commitment from the entire population, including youth. Afghanistan […]
Unite as Americans as We Celebrate this Veterans Day
I had the honor to serve with the United States Armed Forces from the early age of 16. While on the frontlines, I was introduced to Americans who were united in their objectives, not divided by political parties or race. It was one united nation combatting global terrorism and it was that power of patriotism […]
Progress or Plight?: CPEC & Baloch Separatism in Pakistan
With a valuation pegged between $50-60 billion USD, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, most commonly referred to as CPEC, presents Pakistan with one of its greatest developmental opportunities in the country’s 73-year history. Despite US backing during the Cold War, and early economic liberalization efforts in the 1980s, Pakistan’s economy has floundered in the era of […]
What Can Afghanistan Learn from the Colombian Peace Agreement?
Amidst chaos in Kabul and confusion in Doha, Qatar, the future of the Afghan peace process looks gloomy. The recent wave of attacks on civilians and Afghan armed forces is unprecedented. Despite this, the desirable outcome of peace merits a review of similar peace processes and the chance to draw lessons from other countries’ experiences […]
Crime, Punishment and Deradicalization
Deradicalization programming is an essential element in wider reintegration efforts of individuals who have fallen victim to extremist philosophies, however analysts often critique any inefficiencies of such initiatives. This is often the case when individuals convicted of past terrorism infractions later go on to commit subsequent acts. A legal case earlier this year of a […]
Afghan Peace Talks: Interests and Uncertainties
It has been more than a month since inter-Afghan negotiations started in Doha, Qatar. Within this period, they have come close to an agreement on procedural rules and this is important as direct negotiation will commence once both parties agree on a framework at the negotiation table. Right now, two disputed articles are a source […]
What Role Does TikTok Play in Radicalization?
TikTok is the fastest growing social media application currently available. It has surpassed two billion downloads globally and despite its typical lighthearted content, TikTok has not been immune from extremist content. As an example, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has actively used the application since 2019 as a recruitment tool as […]
What Does Iran Get From the Afghan Peace Process?
The Afghan Peace Process involves not only the parties at the negotiation table, but also regional outside actors. Iran is recognized to be an actor with, “Enormous capacity to help or hinder the political stability of its neighbors and, thus, advance or retard U.S. interests in the Middle East.” This article will look into Iran’s […]
Who Are the White Supremacist Extremist Groups in the United States?
In recently released documents from the Department of Homeland Security, DHS states that white supremacy extremism is “the most lethal and persistent” current domestic national security threat and expected to remain as such for the remainder of 2020 and the entirety 2021. As domestic extremism has dominated recent public discourse, it is important to delve […]
How Technology Can Help Combat Terrorism
With the rise of technological transformation, it’s wise for the American counter-terrorism policymakers to pay a closer look at the emergence impact of technology as tools to prevent terrorism movements and help protect communities from the dangers of extremism globally. From 2016 to 2018 the number of people killed in terrorist attacks all over the […]
Intra-Afghan Talks Reveal the Long Road Ahead to Peace
“For the first time in 40 years, Afghans will sit together, the government delegation that includes people who are not part of the government as well as four very distinguished women, civil society, political groups will be sitting with an authoritative Taliban delegation to discuss and hopefully come to an agreement on a political roadmap […]
What’s Next for the United States in Afghanistan?
On September 12, a day after the 19th anniversary of 9/11, talks between the Taliban and Afghan government began in Doha, Qatar. The historic talks mark the first time that the two parties have engaged in direct conversations with each other in hopes of ending forty years of war in Afghanistan. It took over a […]
How Will the Intra-Afghan Talks Influence Inclusivity in Afghanistan?
On September 12, representatives from the Afghan government together with Taliban members gathered in Doha, Qatar for intra-Afghan peace talks. These talks were expected to begin in March but were delayed due to a disagreement over a prisoner exchange. At this point in time, it is impossible to say what the outcome of these peace […]
This 9/11 Anniversary Brings Afghan War to the Forefront
9/11 is undoubtedly a tragic and disturbing act of terrorism on US soil, but it acted as a wake-up call for American policymakers at the same time. It is a logical conclusion that the horrible events of that day would not have happened had the US not walked away from the region once their interests […]
Intra-Afghan Talks: What Does Pakistan Want?
Among the prevalent foreign actors involved in Afghanistan’s peace process, few have as a large of stake as Pakistan. The ascension of General Zia Ul-Haq, who served as Pakistan’s President from 1978-1988, was followed by an assertive foreign policy that sought to protect, and enlarge, Pakistan’s interests in Afghanistan. Long-standing issues, ranging from territorial disputes […]
Small Steps Towards Reconciliation Matter: Lessons from Croatia
Reconciliation is often lauded as a key objective of any discussions intent on ending conflict, but it often remains elusive decades after the conclusion of decisive battles. Hesitancy to overcome hurdles that impede reconciliation are rooted in the fact that traumatic experiences typical of war are experienced differently according to national affiliation, ethnicities and dominant […]
Reforming Afghanistan’s Higher Education Institutions
Among the institutions most affected by Afghanistan’s incessant conflict over the past four decades, few have endured as much damage as the country’s educational system. Throughout King Zahir Shah’s 40-year reign and the subsequent Communist governments that ruled Afghanistan after him, the country’s higher education system was lauded for the quality of its institutions and […]
With Final Prisoner Release, Afghanistan Takes a Giant Step Toward Peace
Originally published at The Diplomat At long last, the Afghan government and the Taliban are ready to start their long-delayed peace talks. The Afghan Loya Jirga (grand assembly) approved the release of 400 Taliban prisoners on Sunday, and President Ashraf Ghani endorsed the decision. This hopefully paves the way for the intra-Afghan talks between Afghan delegates and the […]
Personal Reflections on the Tragedy in Beirut
Editor’s Note: Rise to Peace Research Fellow Cameron Hoffman has a close connection with Beirut, Lebanon. He spoke with some of his friends that experienced the August 4th blast and they offered their candid insights. When placed into the context of political and state security, the explosion took on more meaning than just a tragedy. […]
Remittances: Reverberations for Conflict-Ridden Regions
Since the start of the 21st century, the world economy’s reliance on remittances has risen sharply as globalization enabled growth that created favorable incentives for migration through several emerging markets. Remittances, which refer to transfer payments made by foreign workers to their families back home, have benefitted both the likes of high-growth economies, like China […]
Civil Society Organizations as a Possible Structure for Recovery in Lebanon
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebanon experienced massive protests calling for a new government in response to declining economic opportunities amongst other issues. While lockdown measures have put these protests on pause, the core grievances remain. Its survival hinges on the ability of the government to address its citizens’ concerns. However, the disconnect between the government […]
How Will COVID-19 Impact Efforts in Afghanistan?
It is often surmised that modern conflict is characterized by a steady decline in inter-state warfare and increased conflict perpetrated by illegal non-state actors. In the current context, assumptions about a post-COVID-19 world and conflict add to this discussion as it will present a range of unique challenges to the international community. More specifically, COVID-19 […]
The Emergence of Sara Khitta in the Context of the US Involvement in Afghanistan
The period following the United States-Taliban agreement has provided an opportunity for the U.S. to examine its Responsibility to Protect (R2P) ethos and its impact on affected states, specifically Afghanistan. Operations on the ground have changed over this time and so have counter-efforts by the Taliban. It can be noted that the continued conflict in […]
Problems in the Way of Progress: Uncertain US Troop Withdrawal and New Challenges Facing the Afghan Peace Process
On February 29, 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed a peace agreement, widely referred to as the ‘Doha Deal’, which is considered to have provided a foundation upon which a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan can be built. One of the primary tenets of the ‘Doha Deal’ focuses upon the gradual reduction of […]
Do Civilian Self-Defense Groups Help or Harm Counterterrorism Efforts?
After enduring what may be considered one of its most violent years, the West African nation of Burkina Faso has taken a new approach to countering the proliferation of armed insurgent groups that have traversed the country’s rural peripheries. Back in January, the country’s parliament sanctioned a program designed to equip and train civilian volunteers. […]
Trade, Aid, and a Self-Reliant Afghan Economy
At first glance, a chart depicting Afghanistan’s annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures since 2001 could be characterized as a series of peaks and valleys. Though the imagery may be fitting with the country’s landscape, probes into why Afghanistan’s year-to-year growth is erratic necessitates a deeper look into the country’s trade practices, as well as […]
Do Cryptocurrencies Provide Opportunities for Terrorist Organizations?
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were once considered as fantasy rather than a viable method of exchanging goods and services, but today many companies — even countries like Saudi Arabia — have adopted forms of cryptocurrency. Even average citizens have embraced the use of Bitcoin in everyday transactions. In Lebanon, where COVID-19 has exacerbated the economic […]
Indo-Afghan Ties and the Prospect of Peace
As one of several external stakeholders that have taken a keen interest in the affairs of Afghanistan, India ranks among one of the more reticent partners of the Afghan government. In spite of losing their shared border over 70 years ago, due to the results of the Partition of India and the subsequent First Kashmir […]
A Road to Everywhere: Afghanistan’s Role in the Belt and Road Initiative
Nearly seven years after it was first announced, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) continues to endure a barrage of setbacks that have called into question the feasibility of President Xi Jingping’s signature economic plan. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, criticism of the BRI included accusations of “debt trap diplomacy”, environmental concerns, and the lack […]
Unlocking Afghanistan’s Resource Wealth: Three Obstacles for the Mining Sector
Throughout its history, Afghanistan’s most notable advantage has been its geographically strategic location. The country’s proximity to trade routes and markets in the Middle East and throughout South, Central, and East Asia enabled an unparalleled level of connectivity in global commerce. However, decades of instability as a result of constant warfare, have disrupted many of […]
Eid Ceasefire Offers Cautious Optimism for Peace Process
After enduring a spate of violent attacks carried out by the Taliban over the past two months, Afghanistan received a much needed respite from conflict during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. In recognition of this sacred time, the Taliban announced a 3-day ceasefire, marking the third instance of a temporary truce since 2018. In its announcement, […]
Terrorism or Testing: Will COVID-19 Reduce Counterterrorism Efforts?
In the wake of the global pandemic, concerns about public health dominate the political sphere, enough so that issues related to public security and defense against terrorist activities no longer appear in the headlines. As government expenditures to divert economic damages and bolster public health measures increase, defense budgets are likely to experience cuts to […]
Drone Technology and Its Malicious Use by Terrorists
Emerging technologies may offer recognised benefits, but they pose threats to national security also. A case in point are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — one of the most common examples of dual-use technology. Drone technology refers to a pilotless aircraft whose operation is based on a combination of technologies, such as artificial intelligence and computer […]
Possible Consequences of the Israeli Unity Government’s Annexation Plan
On May 18, Israel swore in a new unity government in which Benjamin Netanyahu will continue as Prime Minister until he is succeeded by Benny Gantz in 18 months. The power-sharing deal resolved a political deadlock that lasted for more than 500 days. While the stated goal of the new government is to fight the […]
Countering Extremism with Sports: A Look at Martial Arts
The inclusion of sporting elements in preventive measures and deradicalization programs has not been treated with sufficient academic rigour, but the notion has been touted at the highest levels of intergovernmental organizations. Accordingly, initiatives that attempt to shift the use of combat sports as a means of extremist or terrorist recruitment into pathways for peaceful […]
Do Terrorist Attacks Directly Impact GDP and Income?
Editor’s Note: Rise to Peace Research Fellows are dedicated to studying all matters of violent extremism and productive ways to contribute to the wider counter-terrorism conversation. Not only do they contribute to the organization, but at their educational institutions as well. Research Fellow Cameron Hoffman alongside his peers Heather Solomon, Daniel Pieratt and Gabriel Cirio […]
The Continued Impact of Technology on Terrorism
Technology has greatly evolved in the past decades to the point that it is fair to speak of a technological revolution. Mobile phones, personal computers, and the Internet are commonplace in everyday life. More specifically, the evolution of information and communication technology has radically changed not only the way people communicate, but also ways of […]
Eradicating Illicit Crops: Lessons from South America for Afghanistan
As the world’s largest producer of opium poppy, Afghanistan’s reliance on the cultivation of illicit crops is integral to understanding the shortcomings of the country’s economic development agenda. Estimates suggest that Afghanistan alone generates over 90% of the world’s opium supply, with the crop contributing over a 1/3 of the country’s GDP and creating over […]
Attacks on Education and Their Impact on Syrian Children
Education is a key pillar of development and an efficient investment in human capital of a state. As a result of ongoing civil wars in different hotspots, education systems have suffered a great deal. Schools in Syria are targeted by state forces or armed non-state actors alike. Now in its tenth year, the Syrian conflict […]
Could US Retaliation for ISIL Strike Influence Afghan Peace Talks?
On April 9, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant -Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) claimed responsibility for rocket strikes on an important United States airbase. The strikes resulted in zero casualties, but have the potential to spark retaliation from the US while it negotiates troop withdrawl as part of their deal with the Taliban. This […]
Disparate Positions Stall Afghan Peace Talks Yet Again
Although the United States-Taliban agreement outlined the release of 5000 Taliban prisoners, the Ghani regime stalled the process before they reluctantly agreed to the release of 100 fighters. The Taliban remain upset that the entirety of their jailed fighters have not been released and such reversals prompted the Taliban technical team charged with prisoner swap […]
Afghan Negotiators Are Ready To Talk to the Taliban
The Afghan government finally released the list of negotiators that should discuss peace with the Taliban. Afghanistan has been drifting from one hardship to another for over 19 years, and keeping sight of priorities amid great turmoil has become everyday practice. As the country contends with 170 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as a current hurdle, […]
Potential Risks and Rewards of the Impending Mass Taliban Prisoner Release
As a primary development arising from the United States-Taliban peace deal (now earmarked as the ‘Doha Deal’), on February 29, Afghanistan’s government agreed to the release of 5000 Taliban fighters from prison, coupled with the Taliban release of 1000 Afghan National Security Force soldiers. The approaching mass release of political prisoners is being heralded as […]
US Cuts Aid to Afghanistan as Leaders Fail To Create a Unity Government
On March 23, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an urgent trip to Kabul, Afghanistan in an effort to end the ongoing political turmoil in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. This political stalemate is rooted in the rivalry between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah and their inability to reach an agreement to […]
Far-Right Versus Islamist Extremism: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Sonnenkrieg Division (SKD) is one of the many extremist far right groups that operate in the United Kingdom, but only the second to be proscribed as a terrorist organization. More often than not, the threat posed by the far-right is neglected, especially in comparison with Islamist extremism. There is a general tendency to minimize far-right […]
Afghanistan in 2020: Secrets and Negotiated Peace
The recent agreement between the United States and the Taliban is a significant political development that will undoubtedly shape the future of the country, the region and relations with external stakeholders. However, cracks in the pact began to show only days after its signing. Retired US Army colonel and former member of the National Security […]
Does the Groundbreaking Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan Go Beyond the Negotiation Table?
After eighteen months of talks and nearly twenty years of war, Afghanistan looks like it has made a step in the right direction: at the end of February, the United States and the Taliban signed a historic peace agreement in Doha, Qatar. The Agreement is undoubtedly a breakthrough, and even critics of US President Donald […]
How Refugees Make their Way to Europe: A special report by Rise to Peace
Greek border police shot and killed a refugee as he attempted to cross the border following Turkey’s announcement that the border is open. Rohullah, an international student studying at Trakya University, stated, “I was there when I heard the gunshots. I saw a woman knocked to the ground. We were scared and ran away. I […]
U.S.-Taliban reached a historic agreement
Originally published at The Heat – CGTN America “Within the next ten days, Taliban leaders are expected to begin negotiations with the Afghan government over a ceasefire and political settlement. This after the militant group and the United States signed a deal over the weekend in Doha in an effort to end the 18-year war. […]
The Prison Environment and Its Role in Radicalization
In the last few years, several terrorist incidents in Europe have raised serious concerns about prison radicalization and the effectiveness of programs meant to counter it as well as de-radicalize individuals. For instance, the United Kingdom presents a number of cases where terrorists were radicalized while incarcerated or failed to be de-radicalized during their sentences. […]
Energy Industry: The Sector Most Affected by Terrorism
In recent weeks, a number of oil and gas facilities in Syria were struck by a series of terrorist attacks carried out by drones. This is unfortunately not the first time that this has happened as the energy sector remains a major interest of terrorist and insurgent groups operating in the region. In regard to […]
How Terrorist Organizations Could Exploit the Idlib Crisis
The Russian-led offensive in the Idlib province has already displaced at least 800, 000 people in three months. Many of them have been displaced multiple times during the Syrian Civil War and are now fleeing towards Turkey, seeking refuge in camps on the closed border. In addition to the grave humanitarian crisis it prompted, the […]
Strikes Against Terrorist Leaders in Yemen Have Little Impact on Peace Efforts
Last week, the White House confirmed that a United States missile strike killed the top Al-Qaeda leader in Yemen While the assassination of Qasim al-Raymi, the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) official eliminated a terrorist whose roots stretch beyond 9/11, it is unlikely that it will impact violence in the country or the overall […]
From Violence to Politics: Will the Taliban Become a Political Party?
The Taliban has rejected engaging in negotiations many times, but President Ghani’s proposal to fully recognize the group as a legal political party in 2018 was a turning point. Terrorist organizations change and many have proven to have the ability to engage in politics. Organizations like Hezbollah or the Irish Republican Army (IRA) changed strategy […]
Consequences of the Ongoing Offensive in Idlib
Without the attention it once attracted, the Syrian civil war not only continues, but has even escalated in past weeks due to the ongoing offensive in the last rebel-held province of Idlib. However, what might be perceived as a final push for victory by Bashar Assad’s regime and its allies will most likely bring yet […]
New ISIL Leader Officially Named and Confirmed
It was recently officially confirmed by two intelligence services that Amir Mohammed Abdul Rahman al-Mawli al-Salbi is the new head of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Prior to the reveal of his identity, Al-Salbi was known as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi: a name implying that he is of Qurayshi descent and […]
Afghan Promises and a Peace Plan in Trump’s State of the Union Address
At the State of the Union, President Trump endorsed peace talks with the Taliban and promised that he continues to work to “end America’s wars in the Middle East” and bring troops home. He stated: “In Afghanistan, the determination and valor of our warfighters has allowed us to make tremendous progress, and peace talks are […]
What In The World Is Coronavirus? A Short Primer
Editor’s Note: One does not typically expect to see an article related to public health or infectious disease on Rise to Peace. After all, we are an organization focused on counter-terrorism and counter-extremism efforts. Nevertheless, an opportunity to educate our followers about Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) arose and organization leadership thought such a measured analysis should […]
The High Possibility of the Reemergence of the Islamic State
In light of the recent developments in both Iraq and Syria, it is quite understandable that the Middle East faces yet another enduring crisis. Current rhetoric and military actions highlight the fragile security situation and the possible scenario of the resurgence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Indeed, the resurgence of […]
Will Violence Stop If the United States and Taliban Reach a Deal?
The latest talks between the United States and the Taliban may conclude with a deal. Content of the peace agreement has been finalized in Doha, according to former Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal. Sources indicate the Taliban agreed to a reduction in violence and potential talks with Afghan government if the deal is sealed. […]
Transcript of a Panel Discussion on Afghanistan 2020
Jonathan S. Landay, National Security Correspondent, Reuters Said Sulaiman Ashna, Afghan Service Reporter, Voice of America Dr. Marvin G. Weinbaum, Director for Pakistan Studies, The Middle East Institute Kristyn Hartwyk (ESIA MA ’21), World Bank Moderated by Ahmad Shah Mohibi, Founder, Rise to Peace Washington D.C. December 11, 2019. Afghanistan 2020: Kristyn: Good Evening Everyone, […]
The Global War on Terror framework and its relationship with the Chinese model of counter-terrorism.
The narrative of the ‘Global War on Terror’ – famously coined by the Bush administration post 9/11 now appears to be adopted by the Chinese government to legitimize its campaign against terrorism in Central Asia and abroad. In response to growing international criticism against China’s counter-terrorist policies (in particular, the use of training centers for […]
Could Quds Force Commander Qassem Soleimani’s Death Open the Pandora’s Box in the Middle East?
A US drone strike near Baghdad airport killed the Commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Qassem Soleimani and the Deputy Commander of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. This move — more important than the assassination of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi yet of similar significance to the dispatch of the […]
The Afghanistan Papers: What Do They Mean for Peace in the Region?
A recent Washington Post investigation — three years in the making — exposed a multitude of falsified positive views and deceptive action directly taken by the United States government and military officials over the course of the war in Afghanistan. Hundreds of interviews with US officials led to condemnation of the war which has cost […]
Lessons from Tetsu Nakamura’s Legacy in Afghanistan
Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese doctor who devoted his career to improving the lives of Afghans, was killed in an attack in eastern Afghanistan. A biography published by the Ramon Magsaysay Award described how Nakamura was initially drawn to the Afghan-Pakistani border region in pursuit of his interest in entomology and posed the question, “Who would […]
President Trump resumed peace talks with the Taliban on his first trip to Afghanistan
President Trump recently travelled to Afghanistan for the first time and announced the resumption of peace talks with the Taliban just three months after he called them off. At Bagram Air Base, Trump told US troops that the Taliban “wants to make a deal very badly.” “We’re going to stay until such time as we […]
Trump’s Visit to Afghanistan and a Revival of Peace Talks
On November 28, President Donald Trump paid a special Thanksgiving visit to American troops stationed in Afghanistan. It marked his first trip to the country amidst a period of recent developments, including a prisoner swap with the Taliban. Could Trump’s surprise appearance signal positive developments in the Afghan peace process and progress towards a future […]
An Afghanistan peace might be in reach, after all
It is a rational assumption that President Trump is likely to resume peace talks in Afghanistan after comments made during a Fox News radio interview. Trump said that the United States is “working on an agreement now with the Taliban” as well as “Let’s see what happens.” The impetus towards this change of heart is […]
Bosnia Needs a Smooth Repatriation Process to Benefit Counterterror Efforts
Bosnia and Herzegovina initiated significant steps recently toward repatriation of its citizens accused of being foreign fighters in the Syrian conflict. Security matters in the small Balkan nation are already complex, however this development highlights the need for deradicalization and reintegration programs, especially in a state that struggles to achieve cohesive unity. It is only […]
Was President Erdogan’s Visit to Washington D.C. a Success?
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington D.C. last week received stanch opposition not only from the Kurds and pro-democracy groups in the United States, but also both aisles of the political parties in the US Congress. The meeting between President Trump and Erdogan included several points of tension between the United States and […]
What Veterans Day Means To Me
I had the honor to serve with the United States Armed Forces from an early age of 15. I fought in the field with Special Forces, trained Afghan Security Forces, and advised leadership on counterinsurgency strategies to enhance the peace process. Leaving school to serve alongside the US military was my decision and it has […]
Narcotics and Insecurity: How the Afghan-Tajik Drug Trade Derails Peace
A special field report by Rise to Peace. Taliban makes 10 million Afghanis daily via drug trafficking in northern Afghanistan. For years, the Taliban continue to smuggle and traffick narcotics — such as heroin — along the Kukche River in the Darqid and Khawaja Bahawuddin districts of Takhar province. This highly lucrative black market venture […]
Extremism Assessment Series: Earth Liberation Front (ELF)
Originally established in 1992 in Brighton, United Kingdom, ELF now operates in 17 countries and is thought to be a descendant of the Animal Liberation Front due to their increased cooperation. Uses a “leaderless resistance” model to take the profit motive out of environmental destruction by causing property damage to businesses. The ELF targets companies […]
Iran’s Approach to Turkey’s Military Operation in Northern Syria
Iran joined numerous countries that scrutinized Turkey’s military operation (Peace Spring) in northern Syria. The operation has been discussed and commented on not only by the Iranian authorities, but also by the Iranian press, social media, and even in Friday sermons. Most of these assessments and comments indicate negative views against Turkey’s actions. The level […]
A Profile of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: Origins to His Final Days
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a United States’ orchestrated raid on October 26. The well educated and self-made man in many respects was also the world’s most sought-after terrorist due to his position as the leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; an organization known for their brutality and cruelty. Origins […]
Death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: Consequences and the Future of the Islamic State?
On October 26, United States special forces conducted a raid in Barisha, in northwestern Syria, that concluded with the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Fear of capture made him detonate a suicide vest while being pursued in a tunnel. According to US officials, the death of ISIL’s former Caliph is the result of five intense […]
Decapitation of the Leader of ISIL and Its Potential Implication?
In a successful operation on October 26, United States special forces killed Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL) in Idlib, northwestern Syria. What could be the implications of this very critical operation for the actors in the conflict and the impact on ISIL itself? From […]
What Does a Chinese Invitation to the Taliban Mean for Afghan Peace Talks?
In a sudden development, China invited the Taliban to a two-day intra-Afghan peace conference in Beijing. This is a peculiar development as Beijing demonstrated little interest towards the prior peace process and Afghans remain critical of any potential for peace with the Taliban. Peace talks resumed weeks ago in Islamabad, Pakistan, however, the addition of […]
Pelosi and Esper in Afghanistan: To Leave or Not To Leave?
Two United States envoys visited Afghanistan this week: the Secretary of Defence Mark Esper under the direction of President Trump and a congressional delegation headed by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi. These trips signify the growing divide in opinion related to the US strategy in Afghanistan. Trump’s growing impatience with the presence […]
Afghanistan: An Exit Strategy Is Not a Strategy
Afghanistan: An Exit Strategy Is Not a Strategy The US secretary of Defense Mark Espers traveled to Afghanistan this Sunday on unannounced trip weeks after the US special envoy for the Afghan peace and reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, met with Taliban in Pakistan to eventually resume the peace talks. Esper told reporters that the US will […]
Turkey’s Offensive in Syria Risks the Region’s Stability
For some time, President Trump sought an opportunity to withdraw United States troops from northeastern Syria. He considers regional security issues to be the responsibility of local actors, and thus no longer saw any purpose to remain after the defeat of Daesh. Trump began the extraction of an estimated 100 to 150 military personnel from […]
Turkey’s Military Incursion into Northeastern Syria Poses Many Risks to Regional Stability
President Trump’s decision to outsource the mission to fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) to Turkey caught many observers off guard. In fact, allowing the Turkish military to carry out a military incursion in northeastern Syria has faced strong reactions in Washington D.C. and around the world. President Trump, who […]
A revival of peace talks between the US and the Taliban
A revival of peace talks between the US and the Taliban Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, his chief negotiator and a team of 12 influential members recently engaged in meetings with the United States’ geopolitical adversaries. In less than a month, they have met with the regional powers of Iran, Russia, China and now, […]
Afghanistan election: A huge victory for the Afghan forces
As the vote-counting commenced, it brought about the end of election day in Afghanistan. The precarious security situation and the struggling economy seemed to be on top of the minds of voters. The Taliban made every effort over the last few weeks to ensure this election would not be a peaceful affair. More than 72,000 security […]
Afghanistan near crises now that election is over
Afghanistan near crises now that election is over Editor note: The information in this article is based on our research, interviews, and analysis. It is a collaboration between our Afghanistan team, including two field researchers and a journalist in Kabul, as well as the Washington D.C. team. This piece provides in-depth knowledge and on the […]
Drones: Weapons of Terror?
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have taken responsibility of the drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s state-owned oil sites in Abqaiq and Khurais. These strikes have escalated tensions in the Middle East. Sources report that 5 million barrels a day of crude oil production were impacted; this impacted the half of Saudi’s output or 5% of the world’s […]
19th Edition of the World Summit on Counter Terrorism in Israel
The 19th edition of the World Summit on Counter-Terrorism was held from 9th to 12th September 2019 in Herzliya, a small maritime city just north of Tel Aviv, Israel. I had the pleasure to live this unique opportunity, which gathers distinguished professionals working in the field of counter-terrorism under one roof, to facilitate the chance […]
Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in Afghanistan
Taliban reintegration into Afghan society is a precarious topic, thus it is prudent to devote weighty discussion towards barriers emboldened by corruption, terrorism, and political instability, as well as seek legitimate localized solutions. Research conducted by Rise to Peace in regard to the Afghan situation strongly correlates with the educated opinions expressed by the panelists […]
Elections 2019: Is Afghanistan Ready?
On 17 September, a blast rocked Ashraf Ghani’s campaign rally in Parwan province, echoing the words of Mohammad Ismail Khan, a former Mujahideen leader turned politician, who previously stated that “the current situation in Afghanistan is not suitable for elections.” Ismail Khan’s pessimism, as well as that of other stakeholders, is no surprise given the […]
Extremism Assessment Series: Homegrown Islamist Extremism in the US
Summary of Extremist Assessment There is no set profile of a homegrown violent extremist; can be any ethnicity and can come from any socioeconomic background The need to belong, political grievances, and sense of purpose are other common factors in an individual’s radicalization Individuals are often radicalized through the internet/social media or through family and […]
Trump Called Off Negotiations with Taliban: What’s Next?
Ahmad Mohibi’s news analysis on Afghanistan’s TOLOnews in regards to the 9/11 anniversary that marks the 18 years of US war in Afghanistan. Since talks have been deemed ‘dead’, it is a better option for the US to take a more active stance on their South East Strategy of 2017 to counter state-sponsored terror and […]
My Reflections on 9/11 Memorial
I distinctively remember the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 as I was barely weeks into a yearlong youth exchange program in France. As a young teenager, it was my first solo venture abroad and I was full of excitement. On that day, my host mother left a Post-It note on the television advising of […]
US-Taliban Peace Talks: So Close, Yet So Far
The United States slowly inched toward a peace deal with the Taliban since talks in Doha, Qatar began some months back. There is a strong desire in Washington to pull its troops out of Afghanistan since the 2001 intervention turned into the longest war in US history. Peace talks between the US Special Envoy to […]
Assassination of top commanders paves the way for Taliban to advance
Famous Afghan commander killed in Northern Afghanistan Hours into September 1st, a mine detonated and killed General Nazir Mohammad Niazi as he made his way to watch a soccer match in Faizabad; the capital of Badakhshan province in Afghanistan. General Niazi was a well-known Jamiati commander and the former mayor of Badakhshan. The incident occurred […]
Lessons From the Past: From Feminism to Women Joining Terrorist Organizations
Women have always demonstrated capabilities of exerting powerful influence in the world. Undoubtedly, the Nineteenth Century provides a glorious example of what women can do: in this era, feminism gave birth to the Suffragette movement in England and France, gathering a whole gender in a fight against that patriarchal society which was meant to end […]
What in the World Is Going On in Afghanistan?
What in the World Is Going On in Afghanistan? [pexyoutube pex_attr_src=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-6WBiu1SoY”][/pexyoutube]
Extremism Assessment Series: The Proud Boys
The Proud Boys participate in semi-organized violence, typically associated with political protests The group has been directly and indirectly linked to several other alt-right, neo-Nazi, and white nationalist groups As the 2020 election cycle ramps up, anticipate further street-level violence in furtherance of fringe political groups, including The Proud Boys Summary of Extremist Narrative […]
What in the World Is Going On in Afghanistan?
The Afghan Peace Talks on the Eve of Their Presidential Election Mullah Khairullah Khaikhwah, a senior member of the Taliban, stated that a peace deal between the US and the Taliban negotiators would likely end in an awaited peace deal by the end of this week. After eight peace talks in Moscow, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia […]
Extremism Assessment Series: Sovereign Citizens Movement
The sovereign citizen movement is often disorganized, but organized groups do exist. The spread of this extremist ideology typically exists and is spread on online platforms. While not all followers of the movement are violent, such ideology has led to the murder of law enforcement officers and terroristic threats against government employees. Summary of Extremist […]
ISIL’s Original Web Series
As a part of its propaganda machine, ISIL created the video series ‘The Best Outcome Is for the Righteous.’ Each video contains common themes: members ready for battle, photos of enemies in respective regions, and calling upon other Muslims to join the fray. Alongside this they renew, or pledge their allegiance to Abu-Bakr-al-Baghdadi, the leader […]
Profiling ‘Lone Wolves’ in Canada and the United States
The concept of ‘lone wolf terrorism’, as we understand in the contemporary, was ‘developed’ by right-wing extremists. Tom Metzger, the leader of the White Aryan Resistance, used the term ‘lone wolf’ infamously during the 1980s-1990s. Furthermore, he advocated that white supremacists should adopt a ‘lone wolf’ or ‘leaderless resistance strategy’ where the supremacists can ‘engage […]
Prosecuting “Domestic Terrorism” in the United States
Infamously coined ‘lone-wolf’ attacks or acts of violence, the United States has tragically experienced 2 separate mass shooting occurrences this month that claimed the lives of many innocents. The shooting in El-Paso, Texas, carried out by 21-year-old Patrick Wood Crusius, is being treated by United States Federal Prosecutors as “domestic terrorism”. Federal officials, however, have […]
Using Encrypted Messaging for Terror Propaganda
In March, ISIL lost its last physical stronghold in Baghouz, Syria when United States-backed Syrian Democratic Forces overtook the territory. Although ISIL had tangible territory, terrorism is not typically bound by such lines. An examination of how encrypted messaging services, such as Telegram, spread propaganda beyond borders and jurisdictions is required. It is important to […]
Extremism Assessment Series: Ku Klux Klan
Founded in 1865, the Ku Klux Klan is America’s original hate group. Targets for violence and bigotry include: African-Americans, Jews, Catholics, LGBTQ+, immigrants, and Muslims. No longer one unified organization, the movement is divided into factions and affiliated groups scattered across the United States. The Ku Klux Klan movement witnessed significant decline in recent years […]
Suicide blast kills 18 and injures 145 as Taliban continue talks with U.S.
The Suicide blast kills 18 and injures 145 as the Taliban continue talks with the U.S. in Doha, Qatar. Taliban claimed responsibility for the car bomb explosion that targeted a police headquarters in district 6 of Kabul on Wednesday morning. Moments ago a heavy explosion rocked #Kabul city days before #EidulAzha2019. This occurred while the […]
13 Hours of Extremism: Domestic Terrorism Across the Political Spectrum Highlights Domestic Extremism Concerns
Between August 3-4 2019, America was horrified by multiple mass killings across the nation. Dozens were left dead and even more injured. At least one of the events is being actively treated as an act of domestic terrorism, while the other appears to be linked to extremism. Below is a summary of the events, a […]
Exclusive Interview with Phil Gurski on Female Extremism
As a part of The Women in Extremism Program, Rise to Peace’s Simone Matassa had the privilege of interviewing Phil Gurski to talk all matters of female terrorism. Phil Gurski, who is the President/CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting, has over 30 years experience as a strategic intelligence analyst specializing in radicalization and homegrown […]
Extremism Assessment Series: Far-Left Extremism
Based on Marxist principles – left wing extremists believe that the working class should revolt against those in power; Can often be classified as “antifascist”. One of the major goals of left-wing terrorism is the creation of a “utopian” society There is absolutely no religious facet of leftist ideology One of their biggest tactics is […]
Extremism Assessment Series: Far-Right Extremism
Far-right extremism describes ideologies and movements that are more radical than traditional conservatism, and often promote xenophobia, racism, white nationalism, Neo-Nazism, anti-Semitism, and related ideologies Modern far-right extremism began in the 1860s, and was met by efforts to eliminate the Ku Klux Klan’s presence after the Civil War. From 2009 through 2018, 73% of terrorist […]
Prevention and Redemption Initiatives Are Key to Countering Terrorism in Russia
A series of recent incidents validate the Russian Federation’s concerns over the rise of internationally-linked terrorist groups active within its territory. This security matter is heightened by the presence of battle-hardened fighters who returned from fighting in the Middle East and North Africa. The main query that emerges is whether Russian authorities will amend their […]
Women’s Roles in Al-Shabaab: Deeper Understanding and Research Is Needed
In April 2019, it was reported that recent studies over-emphasise the role of men in terrorism, therefore overlooking and underestimating the influence of women. Accounting for over 15-25% of membership in terrorist organisations, women possess a significant role in the recruitment, operations and delegation of terrorist groups, to name a few. Data originating from the […]
Extremism Assessment Series: Antifascist Action (ANTIFA)
ANTIFA represents a semi-disorganized collection of extremists on the far-left, sometimes considered the alt-left ANTIFA is more accurately described as a brand, as opposed to a formal group, however, for ease of understanding it may be referred to as such throughout this assessment With the upcoming presidential election, ANTIFA violence should be expected to rise […]
Content Moderation Presents New Obstacles in the Internet Age
The first instance of a terrorist recording violent crimes and posting it online occurred when Mohammed Merah — the perpetrator of the 2012 Toulouse and Montauban attacks in France — did just that with his GoPro. Seven years later, the culprit of the Christchurch mosque shootings used a similar method. These attacks both beg the […]
Hezbollah and the Terror-Crime Nexus
As the US security apparatus continues to publicly focus on Iran’s expansion in the Middle East, it has done little to actively address the threat posed from Iran’s favorite proxy, Hezbollah, on the southern border. Hezbollah has been known to operate international money laundering and drug trafficking operations via Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico for years. […]
Exclusive interview with Khalid Noor on Doha peace conference
Amid a series of peace talks over the last months, Taliban and Afghan representatives gathered in Doha and agreed on a roadmap to end the 18 years of war. Since last year, the U.S. appointed Zalmay Khalilzad as the lead Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation to broker a negotiated settlement between the Taliban and the […]
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) – Does joining terrorist groups challenge gender roles within society?
Photographer: Nicolas Bedoya Source: Bloomberg The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) is a violent extremist group founded in 1964. The FARC is a Marxist-Leninist group that aims to redistribute wealth within the country and reform the government of Colombia. Their main tactics have been involvement in criminal organizations and […]
Hopes For Cease-fire After The Doha Intra-Afghan Dialogue
Originally published in the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty An unprecedented meeting between the Taliban, Afghan officials, and delegates from various political parties and civil society last week has raised hopes for peace, but it must now be followed up by a cease-fire to pave the way to lasting peace in the country. In the Qatari […]
Taliban attack threatens Afghan peace talks
On July 1st, 2019, the Taliban committed multiple attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan which killed at least forty people and injured over 100 more. The facilities damaged included the Private War Museum, a local television station, as well as a primary school. Soon after the attack, American and Taliban negotiators met in Qatar. The Taliban stated […]
Women of the Irish Republican Army: Powerful or Powerless?
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) is a paramilitary organization that has operated out of Ireland since 1917. There have been many versions of the IRA throughout time such as the ‘OLD IRA’ and the ‘REAL IRA’ however the focus of the group has mostly remained the same, which is that the whole of Ireland should […]
Women in the Afghan Peace Process
Under Taliban rule (1996-2001), Afghan women were banned from attending schools and working as well. In addition to violating their civil and political rights, the Taliban has threatened women lives. Since the fall of the Taliban, women have feared that negotiating for a peace agreement with the Taliban meant giving up some of their rights […]
AMISOM and an Approaching 2021 : Is Somalia Prepared?
In March 2019, it was unanimously decided by the United Nations Security Council that the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) would maintain its deployment and reduce uniformed personnel by 1000, in conformity with the prevailing plan to steadily transfer these responsibilities to existing Somali security forces. Resolution 2492 (2019) therefore authorises this reduction, allowing […]
A Profile of Brian Isaack Clyde: What We Know About the Dallas Courthouse Shooter
On June 17 at 8:50am, a gunman dressed in full tactical gear opened fire outside of the Earle Cabell Federal Courthouse in Dallas, Texas. No officers or citizens were injured except for the gunman, who was later identified as Brian Isaack Clyde. Clyde was shot outside of the courthouse and transported to a local area […]
US-Iran Relations No Longer Have Use for Sanctions
All is not well on the eastern front, as Iranian-American relations have hit their lowest point in decades. The current round of escalation began on June 20th, when it was reported that Iran shot down an American drone over the Straits of Hormuz, in international waters. In response, the United States prepared to retaliate against […]
“People, not Pawns”: Female Extremists Beneath the Sensation
The majority of violent extremists in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and around the world are males. However, women also participate in the violence perpetrated by extremist groups and promote radical ideologies. While there may be statistically fewer women in these roles, their participation is still serious and should not be […]
Digital Repression Keeps the Crisis in Sudan Hidden from the World
“How Come My Heartbreak Isn’t Loud Enough?” This message signifies the calls of the Sudanese people who yearn for democracy. The issue is, few in the international community are aware as Sudan’s authoritarian regime restricts citizens’ access to the internet to deter pro-democratic demonstrations, and hide government actions against its own people. Sudan has many […]
The Hezbollah Dilemma
On March 22, American Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Lebanon to convince countries in the region to join the United State with enacting harsh sanctions against Iran. The US believes that Iran is funding terrorist organizations around the world and believes it must be stopped. Under the Trump administration, the US has been hard […]
Iran and Saudi Arabia: Funding Terrorism
The Ministry spokesman, Bahram Qassemi said, “Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of fundamentalist ideology and a source of organized international terrorism, lacks competence and credit to accuse other countries of terrorism.” Qassemi said this in response to Saudi Arabia’s Minister Adel al-Jubeir’s comments in a press conference in Pakistan that accused Iran of funding terrorists. He […]
Iraq in Rubble after ISIL
At the beginning of 2019, the size of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been reduced greatly by a coalition including the United States. Unfortunately, people return home to discover their towns in rubble. The fight has been going on for over four and a half years yet ISIL has been […]
Does Designating the IRGC as a FTO Help or Hurt the US?
On April 8, 2019, President Trump designated Iran’s most powerful security organization, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). He believed it was necessary as America has already labeled Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. This is the first time that the United States has ever designated another government entity […]
US Deems IRGC “Terrorists”
As part of the Trump Administration campaign to isolate Iran, Secretary Mike Pompeo declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist group. The IRCG was created in 1979 to protect the newly established Islamic Republic of Iran. Today it does much more. In Iran, the IRCG is an important actor for business […]
Revolution in Sudan?
Since December, there have been massive protests in the streets of Khartoum, Sudan due to the poor economy, oppressive regime, and the government increasing the price of food. President Omar al-Bashir has been in power since 1989 when he conducted a military coup. During his rule, Sudan has been under his dictatorship. He is currently […]
Will the United States – Iran Stalemate Impact the Afghan Peace Talks?
On 5 May 2019, United States National Security Advisor, John Bolton, announced that the US would deploy a series of aircraft carrier and bomber planes to the Persian Gulf. Bolton added that this move was meant ‘to send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime’, although the United States, ‘is not seeking war […]
Winning Peace in Afghanistan Requires Pakistan
On June 22nd, the Center for Peace Research (LCPR) and the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) in Pakistan hosted the Afghan Peace Conference. This effort sought ways to achieve meaningful Afghan dialogue. Senior Afghan leaders and politicians — Hizb-e-Islami leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, former Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor, second deputy chief executive Mohammad Mohaqeq, […]
Pakistan: A Crossroads for US Defense Strategy
May 1, 2011: United States Navy SEAL Team 6 boarded two helicopters and crossed the Afghan border. They flew low, evading radar coverage on their way into Abbottabad, Pakistan (a military town home to the Pakistani military academy) and the location where U.S. intelligence believed they would find America’s most wanted criminal, the man responsible […]
A Profile of John Walker Lindh — The American Taliban
On February 9, 1981, the man who would become known as “The American Taliban” was born in Washington, D.C. John Phillip Walker Lindh is a former foreign fighter for the Taliban, often known for his involvement in the Battle of Qula–i-Jangi; a Taliban uprising which resulted in the death of CIA Officer Johnny “Mike” Span. […]
Egypt’s Only Democratically Elected Leader Dies in Court
Muhammad Morsi, Egypt’s former President and aged 67, has died of a reported heart attack in a public court appearance in Egypt after speaking for five minutes, according to State TV in Egypt. His death was Kafkaesque. Morsi, a loyal member of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, replaced Hosni Mubarak in the first democratic election […]
Special Report: Countering neo-Nazi Ideology in the United States: Waging a War of Information
[gview file=”https://www.risetopeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/1R2PCOUNTERNEONAZI_2.pdf”] In the report Countering neo-Nazi Ideology in the United States: Waging a War of Information, Director of the Domestic Counter-Terrorism Program John Patrick Wilson and Counter-Terrorism Research Fellow Caitlyn Ryan offer in-depth analysis of the neo-Nazi movement. This broad endeavor covers many important topics required to understand neo-Nazism in the US and methods […]
‘Martyrdom, bro.’: A Case Study on How Mark Steven Domingo Went from the US Army to Would-Be Terrorist
On April 26, 2019, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) officials arrested former United States Army Private Mark Steven Domingo. He stood accused of plotting to detonate an explosive device with the intent of causing a mass casualty event. Domingo, who resides in the small neighborhood of Reseda in California’s San Fernando Valley, planned on targeting […]
The Christchurch Call and Eliminating Violent Extremism Online
On March 15th, the world witnessed an atrocity that left fifty-one people dead at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand. A live stream video capturing the massacre circulated online across social media platforms for two months and enraged people across the globe. The international community provided a response on May 15th. New Zealand Prime Minister […]
Eid Mubarak
Rise to Peace wishes you joy, happiness, peace, and prosperity on this blessed occasion. #EidMubarak! https://www.facebook.com/Rise2Peace/videos/308022160079818/
Can the Taliban Balance Their Wants with Lasting Peace?
On May 28th, the Taliban’s co-founder and head of its political office, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, attended events commemorating 100 years of Afghanistan-Russia diplomatic relations in Moscow. Baradar’s appearance remains noteworthy as it was his primary outing as a public representative of the Taliban and his lone media appearance since his rise to prominence in […]
Will the United Kingdom’s Online Harms White Paper Curb Extremism but Allow Expression?
On April 8, Theresa May turned to Twitter to make a bold statement. Upon the release of the United Kingdom’s Online Harms White Paper, a tweet noted, “The era of social media companies regulating themselves is over.” The 102-page policy document urges the establishment of new regulations which will hold all social media companies liable […]
Can John Walker Lindh “American Taliban” Be De-radicalized?
The United States Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) is set to release the “American Taliban”, John Walker Lindh, after serving 17 years of a 20-year sentence. US Special Operations Forces and the Northern Alliance arrested the “American Taliban” in November 2001 in Afghanistan. A plea bargain with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) led Lindh […]
Advocates push for additional visas for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Program
The Consolidated Appropriations Act for FY 2019, as enacted on February 15, 2019, authorized 4,000 additional SIVs for Afghan principal applicants, for a total of 18,500 visas allocated since December 19, 2014. What is the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program? The current visa program for the Afghans who were Employed by/on Behalf of the U.S. […]
The New Arab Spring
Image courtesy of the Washington Post Many remember where they were when they first experienced the Arab Spring in late 2010. The wave of revolutions which engulfed the Middle East/North Africa region was inspired by Mohammed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in Tunisia. Bouazizi’s suicide served as the flashpoint for the Tunisian revolution in which citizens of the […]
U.S Increases Pressure on Iran, but at What Cost?
On April 8th the Trump Administration designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization. It marks the first time the U.S has taken this action against an entity of a foreign government.[1] Until now, terrorists were always considered “non-state actors.” Iran, however, has been labeled a state-sponsor of terrorism since 1984. The result of […]
George Rockwell: The Original American Nazi
Rockwell at a news conference in 1965. Image credit: Associated Press. Within the American neo-Nazi movement, there is perhaps no single individual more significant than George Lincoln Rockwell. Rockwell, who founded the American Nazi Party, was an active politician, former military commander, and grandfather of the neo-Nazi movement. Channeling conspiratorial beliefs and a dedication to […]
Why The United States Needs to Reform Counter-Terrorism Efforts on the Home Front
Since the September 11th attacks on the United States, many believe that the biggest threat to the United States is from foreign jihadists. Media outlets constantly associate terrorism with foreign jihadist organizations such as ISIL or Al-Qaeda; however, they fail to give adequate attention or coverage to extremist incidents that occur directly on our own […]
Gulf Rivalries and the Afghan Peace Talks
Major players in the Afghan peace talks. Image credit: Reuters/AP. There are doubtless domestic factors behind the crisis in Afghanistan, from ethnic problems to low levels of education. Afghanistan’s geographic position is one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace. Surrounded by neighbors with different ideologies and regional interests, Afghanistan is seen as a […]
Plans for Still-Radicalized Members of the Islamic State
A man surrenders outside Baghouz. Image Credit: Al-Jazeera. Near-victory has been declared over the remnants of the Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria. However, some fighting still remains, and the implications of continued conflict are beginning to be explored. Waves of often-reluctant Islamic State members coming to […]
The Israel-Palestine Conflict and the Rise of Hamas
The Israeli and Palestinian conflict is one of the most intense disputes of the century. It is rooted in issues of land and sovereignty, national pride, religion, and governance. The dispute resulted in the existence of two competing governments in the Palestinian territories, one in the West Bank controlled by the Palestine Liberation Organization and […]
The True Meaning of an “Islamic State”: A Brief Historical Look
The rise of radical groups who claim to be Islamic, growing instability in Muslim-majority countries, habits and norms that constitute “anti-modernity” to Western norms all tend to distort Islamic values and what Muslims hold dear. That specifically influences politics. Islam has a particular relationship to politics. It is broadly shaped by cultural practices, religious scripts […]
Assessment of the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
Following the horrific events of 9/11, media narratives created a paranoid fantasy in which terrorist groups obtain and deploy nuclear weapons of mass destruction. In 2017, Mathew Bunn and Nickolas Roth, a professor and a research associate at Harvard University argued that a “nuclear nightmare” is possible and could result from a single terrorist nuclear […]
The Power of Social Media in Terrorism
Image courtesy of AP/The Independent. Society currently has a strong need for a new topic of discussion. Almost everyone has social media profiles that keep them up to date on current events going on around the world. Many members of society want to gain followers or notoriety and be one of these topics of discussion. […]
Subterranean Warfare: The New Frontier
Image Courtesy of Reuters Ever since aircraft were created, they have been an integral part of society. While they have been an integral part of society, they have also become an important tool for militaries around the world. Whether that be for transportation, reconnaissance or airstrikes, the use of aircraft has played a major part […]
Contested Kashmir: A Critical Analysis and Possible Solutions
The attack against Indian forces which occurred on February 14 was the deadliest thus far in the Kashmiri insurgency. Image credit: Getty Images. Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) is one of the most militarized areas in the world. India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed, have fought three wars since their independence, two of which have been over […]
Who are Warren Christopher Clark and Zaid Abed al-Hamid?
Warren Christopher Clark (left) and Zaid Abed al-Hamid (right) in SDF Custody. In January 2019, Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured a group of men who they state were seeking to launch attacks against civilians fleeing the small pockets of territory still under Islamic State control. The group consisted of men from around the globe, including […]
Boko Haram and Nigerian Instability
Since November, over 60,000 refugees have fled from Nigeria in fear of Boko Haram. Image Source: IRIN Boko Haram, or the Islamic State in West Africa, is a formally nonviolent militant organization based in Nigeria, Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. The group aims to “purify” Nigeria and other territories based on their own Salafist ideals. Clashes […]
How US Propaganda Fuels Domestic Terrorism
Image Courtesy of Evan Vucci/AP America has always been the land of the free, a place where people from all backgrounds can come and make a better life for themselves and experience the American dream. That is unless you’re of Hispanic or Middle Eastern descent. Prejudice towards Hispanics and Middle Easterners has always been a […]
ISIL and the Recruitment of Women
Hoda Muthana, an American-born Yemeni woman who decided to drop out of the University of Alabama at Birmingham to join ISIL now wants to return to the United States. In 2014, Muthana, used her tuition money to travel to Syria where she married an ISIS fighter. After her first husband’s death, she got remarried twice […]
Developing a Law Enforcement Model for Countering Violent Extremism
Ever since the first police departments were formed in the 1800s, there has been continuous debate over the appropriate model of policing to address criminal behavior and activities. The criminal threat, combined with the demands of an ever changing society, drive this debate and dictate the desired model for law enforcement to pursue. In recent […]
India and Pakistan: Deescalating Border Disputes
Image Courtesty of NBC News On February 14th, a suicide bomb killed over forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. The group responsible, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), claimed responsibility. JeM is a militant organization based in Pakistan, who are fighting for the Muslim-majority of Kashmir to be part of Pakistan. The bomb struck a convoy of vehicles […]
Intra-Afghan Peace Talks in the Absence of Afghan Government
Members of each delegation in Moscow beside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Image credit: Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters. Afghanistan has a long history of participating in local and international conferences on peace. The Bonn Conference was the start of a series of other conferences on peace and stability hosted in Afghanistan. The Afghan government has put together […]
Strategies for Countering Neo-Nazi Radicalization
American members of the National Socialist Movement. Source: Southern Poverty Law Center. Decades after the end of World War II, Nazism continues to incite hatred and divide the globe. Thousands have been radicalized into what is now deemed neo-Nazi ideology from dozens of countries across the world. Although the phenomenon of neo-Nazism is well documented, […]
To Leave Or Not To Leave?
Image: (Spc. Anthony Vendejas/Army) The Syrian Civil War has been raging ever since their attempted revolution during the Arab Spring in 2011. This conflict has devolved into all out chaos. The war has been going on for eight years. Over 500,000 Syrians have been killed, many of them civilians. Five million Syrians have had to […]
How Does the Media Determine Who Is a “Terrorist”?
Image courtesy of Modern Diplomacy In an increasingly interconnected, digital world, access to news media is widespread, yet there are great disparities in how likely the media is to cover different terrorism attacks and how those attacks are portrayed. Since 9/11, ninety-nine people have been killed in 136 terror attacks within the United States, but […]
The Caliphate’s Returnees? From the Refugee Camps of Syria to bin Laden’s Grave
From 2003 to May 2011, I was a prominent Jihadi propagandist, the head of a New York City based organization that set the tone, template, and methodology for radicalization and online recruitment in the West. It was the era of al-Qaeda, not ISIS. However, as the controversy continues over whether Hoda Muthana, the 24-year-old Yemeni-American […]
American Strategy in Iraq: The Failures of Intelligence Analysis and Democracy Promotion
In the lead up to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, President Bush cited multiple assessments by the Intelligence Community to assert that Saddam Hussein possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction. That was the main rationale for the war, one that was debunked in 2005 after the release of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission Report. President […]
China’s Perspective on Ethnic Detention: The Ends Justifies the Means
Source: BBC (Dabancheng, April 2018) While not broadly reported, the detention of Uighur Muslims in China has developed into what BBC reporter John Sudworth Calls “one of the most pressing human rights concerns of our age”. Reports emerged in 2017 that China was operating a system of internment camps for Muslims in Xinjiang. This began […]
ISIL: Cathedral Attack in the Sulu Province
Source: Reuters 2019 Abu Sayyaf attacked the Catholic Church, Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, during mass on January 27th in the Sulu Province of the Southern Philippines. The Islamic State of the Levant (ISIL) claims the two back-to-back bombings were the work of suicide bombers, which was later confirmed by Interior Secretary Eduardo […]
Army of Injustice
Image Courtesy of Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Iran has been the subject of much discussion in our current world climate. Whether it’s their nuclear weapons or their involvement in the proxy war going on in Yemen, Iran is a very important country right now for good and not so good reasons. While the majority-Shi’ite country has been […]
Afghanistan: What Does Peace with the Taliban Mean for Women?
Source: PRI (2016) The United States and leaders of the Afghan Taliban are currently in the process of discussing peace talks and negotiations to end the 17 years of conflict. For many, this is a signal of hope that deadly violence and war will finally come to an end. For others, the peace talks have […]
Private Sector Domestic Intelligence
In relation to terrorism, domestic intelligence collection is relatively limited in scope due an absence of an agency or structure dedicated solely to domestic intelligence collection. While the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies participate in intelligence collection and analysis within the United States, it is largely case-based and limited to involved parties. To […]
Terror’s New Form
Source: The East African (2014) Author: Caleb Septoff Perhaps one of the greatest scientific achievements in human history is the invention of the internet, which landmarked the beginning of the digital age in the modern era. Its uses span multiple fields and in large part is responsible for the high levels of rapid globalization we have […]
Brazilian Prison Gangs: Message Delivered
Source: The Washington Post/Alex Gomes/AP Author: Cameron Cassar The newly elected right wing president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, had just been newly inaugurated when he had to deal with his first security crisis; terrorism attacks led by prison gangs in the Brazilian state of Ceara. The attacks have been centered on the capital of Ceara, […]
Colombia: Prospects for Peace
Last week, Rodrigo Cadete, one of the leaders of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) dissident group, died in a military operation in the southern Caqueta region. The Colombian military claims responsibility for his death, along with the death of nine other militants. According to BBC News, Colombian Defense Minister Guillermo Botero said Cadete […]
Old Crisis Sparks Anew: The Bogota Car Bombing
Source: The Tico Times (2019) Author: Billy Baker Colombia has a bloody history of political violence (La Violencia, FARC, ELN). But after the peace agreement with FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) in 2016 and the peace talks with ELN (National Liberation Army), many thought that this would be the end of the bloodshed. That […]
Afghanistan: Results of the Moscow talks with Taliban
Earlier this week, Channel News USA discussed how the Taliban and Afghan government held talks in Moscow regarding women’s rights, a new Islamic Constitution, and the exit of the United States from the war-stricken country. The meeting was headed by former president Hamid Karzai, Afghan politicians consulted with Taliban members to reach an agreement on […]
The Mosul of Southeast Asia? Countering Extremism in the Philippines
Filipino and American forces shaking hands in September 2017. Image Credit: Cpl. Robert Sweet, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. The recent tension between the Philippines’ security forces and Islamic separatists has exposed the cultural, economic, and military inefficiencies of the central government in countering terrorism. Strengthening cooperation with the United States will help the government tackle these […]
How Detainment of Uyghur Muslims Can Lead to Violent Extremism
Source: AP Feed News (2018) By: JulieAnn Sickell, Ahmad Mohibi The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination criticizes the Chinese government for the enduring detainment and forced ‘re-education’ of Uyghurs in the western region of Xinjiang. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) goal of the re-education camps is to prevent extremism and provide vocational training. […]
Returning Foreign Fighters: A Global Threat
As ISIS concedes its last remnants of territory, governments around the world must confront the return of foreign fighters from Iraq and Syria. These fighters present many issues as they now have combat experience, support networks, and knowledge that can be used to create devastation. To explore the threat that returning fighters pose to nations […]
The Mysterious Case of Mohamad Jamal Khweis
Mohamad Jamal Khweis while in Kurdish custody. Image Credit: Associated Press. Few in Alexandria, Virginia, would have suspected that the man driving a bus for the elderly would travel halfway across the globe to join the Islamic State (IS) and wage violent jihad. But this is the case of Mohamad Jamal Khweis, who went by […]
Countering Extremism in the Digital Age
Source: Rand Corporation (2016) The Global War on Terror has challenged Western conceptions of warfare. The days of clearly defined winners and losers amongst nation states, as seen in the world wars, are largely in the past. Tomorrow’s winners and losers will be defined in much more blurred terms as ongoing battles of information and […]
Lessons from the KKK
KKK recruitment propaganda. Source: Link Upstate New York experienced a unique threat to the safety of their community this year: attempted Ku Klux Klan (KKK) recruitment of their school children. Specifically, the United Northern & Southern Knights of the KKK, two specific sects of the Klan, printed propaganda and placed it into bags accompanying candy. […]
What Constitutes Terrorism?
An Israeli woman carrying a coffin with family members and friends to protest domestic violence. Source: The Guardian Photographer: Jim Hollander/EPA Throughout the world, the word “terrorism” has many different connotations; however, each definition shares certain elemtns. The conventional definition of terrorism under U.S. law is that it is “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against […]
The Naxalite Insurgency
On October 30, 2018, a journalist and two policemen were killed in an ambush in Eastern Indian state of Chattisgarh. This attack is particularly notable given that it was carried out by the Naxalites, a group who has been responsible for a series of deadly attacks carried out against the Indian government, including one in […]
The Psychological Battle Against Terror
A man prays by a memorial for the dead. Image credit: Christian Hartman, REUTERS. There is a special aspect to be considered when analyzing the modus operandi and tactics of jihadist movements. As we all know, criminals usually act in secrecy, trying to leave no trace of their underground activities and avoiding capture. However, jihadi […]
Lessons from Strasbourg
Cheriff Chekatt, the Strasbourg attacker. Image credit: BBC. At approximately 8 pm on December 11th, 29-year-old Cheriff Chekatt opened fire in a crowded Christmas market in Strasbourg, France, killing and injuring numerous people in a premeditated act of terror. Not only did Chekatt manage to kill and wound numerous individuals, he was also able to […]
How Minnesota is Attempting to Combat Radicalization
Abdifatah Ahmed, who travelled to join the Islamic State, posted this image on Facebook with the caption “The return of the khilaafa [caliphate] insha allah [God willing].” Image credit: Facebook. In 2014, 18-year old Abdullahi Yusuf was about to travel internationally when he was stopped at the Minneapolis airport by FBI special agents. Yusuf was […]
ISIS Threat
Since ISIS’, or Daesh’s, ascension to power, following the chaos of the Syrian uprisings in 2011, the world has watched as these Islamists used increasingly brutal tactics to secure huge swaths of land in both Syria and Iraq. They targeted fragile, war-torn countries with low state capacity and worked to push their own agenda. The […]
Burkina Faso: Local Instability, Global Implications
Figure 1 Retrieved from Nationsonline.org Link Rampant political instability in Burkina Faso, stemming from the overthrow of dictator Blaise Compaoré, has resulted in a rapidly expanding crisis for counter-terror operations in the tri-border region between Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Ongoing conflicts across the region are complicated by local issues that reach back hundreds of […]
World Cup and Olympics and Terrorism in Brazil
Throughout the second half of the twentieth century, terrorist attacks occurred in countries that were hosting global events, including incidents at the Munich Olympics in 1972 and at the Atlanta games in 1996. Since then, the risk of violence and terrorist attacks have become a growing concern for nations hosting these high profile events as […]
Guerrilla Warfare in Latin America
When a nation is invaded, or succumbs to an authoritarian government, its people usually are no match for either foreign or national military; these well trained troops would likely defeat them on a battlefield. However, as the road toward victory using conventional warfare is blocked, a side road featuring unconventional guerilla warfare can open. Many […]
Women and Radicalization
Ninetta Bagarella and her husband, Totò, who successfully raised children in the extremist Mafia tradition. Image credit: Associated Press. Emilie König, Yasmin Bulbocus, Sadaa Boular each have something in common: all are women of ISIS. Emile is a well-known example of a young French woman who converted to Islam and emigrated to Syria, where she served […]
Social Media and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism
Far-right protestors at the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, August 2017. Image credit: Anthony Crider. In the United States, many would argue that one of the greatest threats to national security is terrorism, but its portrayal in media and politics has convinced most Americans that the threat only comes in the form of […]
Mohammed Hamzah Khan: Case Study of an American Extremist
Mohammed Hamzah Khan, the young man radicalized in the suburbs of Chicago. Born in the United States to first generation immigrants, Mohammed Hamzah Khan and his siblings were raised about 35 minutes west of Chicago in the middle class suburb of Bolingbrook, Illinois. Considering he was a student at Benedictine University, a well-known Roman Catholic […]
Rehabilitation in the Archipelago: Is Indonesia Building a Foundation of Success?
Since the turn of the century, much of countering violent extremism (CVE) discussion has rightly focused on the Middle East and Central Asia. While all corners of the world have seen a rise in violent extremism-related danger, Southeast Asia, arguably, has seen the steepest rise — particularly the archipelago of Indonesia. With as many as […]
Psyops: A New Frontier in Counterterror?
An American soldier spreads free newspapers to the people of Baghdad as part of a mission in psychological operations. Image credit: Department of Defense. “Capture their minds, and their hearts and souls will follow”. This slogan, popular among psyops experts, clearly exemplifies the main implications and targets of psychological operations in war. The term “psyops” […]
When Will the Bloodshed in Syria End?
Late last year, most of the world let out a sigh of relief as it began to appear as though the almost decade-long, brutal Syrian civil war had ended. Bashar al-Assad’s men erected their flag in the town of Daraa. Although more violence did ensue, it was obvious what the flag represented. Daraa was the […]
ISIS: From Unified Caliphate to Decentralized Lone Wolves
Members of a US-led coalition prepare to fight ISIS and retake Hajin. Credit to Sgt. Timothy Koster. This September, the Syrian Democratic Forces began the final push to retake the last vestige of territory held by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS. After previous territorial concessions, the Islamic State has reorganized and […]
Kabul Wedding Hall Bombing
Last Tuesday, November 20, 2018, religious scholars and clerics gathered in the Uranus Wedding Hall in Kabul, Afghanistan. The hall was being used for a wedding as well as for an assembly of scholars congregating to celebrate the Prophet Mohammad’s birthday, a national, and widely celebrated holiday in Afghanistan. At 6:20 p.m. the bombing of […]
Legalization of Drugs in Brazil
Brazil continues to wage war against drug trafficking, prioritizing police and arrests. This past April, President Michel Temer deployed the Army to occupy the areas controlled by drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro. Traffickers sought to maintain the trafficking operations, stay hidden, and let the smoke settle. They planned to return and regain control of […]
Zulfi Hoxha (Abu Hamza al-Amriki): A Case Study of Radicalization
In early 2018, news emerged that a 25-year old from New Jersey was fighting as a commander for the Islamic State in the Levant. Zulfi Hoxha, who goes by the kunya Abu Hamza al-Amriki, initially became famous in jihadist circles after participating in a beheading of a Kurdish soldier. Hoxha is now a major propaganda […]
Toy Soldiers on a Mission: The Training and Indoctrination of Children for Jihad
On September 26, a children’s show aired on Iran’s Channel 2 to commemorate the Iran-Iraq war. Translated by The Middle East Media Research Institute, it shows children of different ages dressed in conservative Muslim clothing and military uniforms while praising martyrdom and jihad. In the video, the young protagonists wear badges of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei […]
Defining the Problem and Reaching a Solution: A Reflection on How to Counter Violent Extremism
“Violent extremism knows no boundaries.” That was the message that Rise to Peace founder Ahmad Mohibi used to open “How to Counter Violent Extremism,” the latest Rise to Peace panel discussion, which took place this Tuesday at the Elliott School of International Affairs. With that in mind, the panelists – Leanne Erdberg, U.S. Institute of […]
The Mafia and the Latin American Drug Trade
Pablo Escobar, the infamous Colombian drug trafficker with ties to the Mafia. It is common knowledge that the Mafia engages in violent criminal activities to build their power and profits. For decades, books, movies, and other media have secured audiences by recounting the Mafia’s global influence and detailing the scope of illegal activities, including human […]
My Best Weapon: A story of Dignity and Courage
“I tell my story because it is the best weapon I have” Nadia Murad, 2018 winner of Nobel Peace Prize Courage, dignity, and peace. These are tenets that the Nobel Peace Prize seeks to reward and encourage, and this year’s winners have both demonstrated the importance of these tenets in their life and work. This […]
Jair Bolsonaro and Violence in Brazil
On Sunday, Brazilians elected Jair Bolsonaro as their thirty-eighth president. Bolsonaro has been described by the New York Times as the most extreme leader to ever have been elected in Latin America history. Bolsonaro has expressed radical views towards minorities, he is in favor of the war on drugs, and has promised to facilitate easier […]
A look at Saudi Arabia in light of recent events and moving forward
Last Monday I attended the Inaugural Annual Gulf International Conference in Washington D.C. where Saudi-American journalist Jamal Khashoggi was scheduled to speak on the importance of a free press. However, over the weekend, Khashoggi disappeared while visiting the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul. On Monday while at the conference, the official word was that the Saudi government had no knowledge […]
Can Colombia Legitimize its Coca Trade?
For the past century, Colombia has been embroiled in an intense war on drugs which has created a steady state of violent conflict within the country, and little impact on long-term production or drug use. This war has largely been financed by the United States. Complicating the drug war is another long-standing conflict with leftist […]
A Brief History of Soviet Support for Terrorism
The reign of terror the Soviet Union inflicted upon its citizens is well-documented, but what’s less well-known is the impact it had abroad. Though it brutally crushed protest movements within its borders, the Soviet Union actively funded terrorist separatist groups across the globe. To undermine governments outside the Eastern Bloc, they provided leftist terror cells […]
Muslim Democracy
While the term contains the word Muslim, Muslim democracy seeks neither to reform or build theocracies, but rather to incorporate Islamic ideals into democracies in Muslim majority countries. Muslim democracy as a concept is being practiced by Islamist groups which aspire to political relevance without revolutionary goals. Violence is an issue that determines whether a group is relevant to […]
Venezuela and the Predicament of Rentier States
Much is said about Venezuela and its current state, but often in isolation from processes occurring in other Latin American countries and the world. At the same time, it’s important to avoid reducing the current crisis to solely external factors. Many elements thereof are indeed purely Venezuelan and have contributed to one of the harshest crises Latin America […]
Scandinavia: Striking the Balance and Setting the Precedent
Europe has been on high alert for terror attacks in major metropolis around the region. Complicating the matter are questions over immigration, asylum, religious freedom, and how countries can absorb and integrate masses of refugees. Scandinavia, with its welfare-state propensity and open-minded lifestyle, is bearing the brunt of these issues. There is no contemporary precedent […]
The Threat of Drone-Based Terror
On August 4, 2018, President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela was attacked with explosive-laden drones during a political rally. Although the drones were not successful in assassinating the Venezuelan leader, they managed to injure seven national guardsmen who were at the rally. A few weeks earlier in July, the Public Safety Secretary of Mexico’s Baja California […]
Thailand Proposal
The Thai government has employed multiple methods to combat the rising insurgency in Southern Thailand. One includes a plan proposed by the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) in March 2005. This article discusses the long-term solutions embedded in the work of the NRC which were designed to deal with the increase in violence. Much of the […]
What Afghanistan Needs to Move Forward: National Unity
Afghanistan’s hero, General Abdul Raziq, was killed just days before the parliamentary elections, leaving a wide power vacuum in the Taliban’s birthplace, Kandahar. General Raziq was shot and killed as he was leaving a U.S.-Afghan meeting in Kandahar, where Gen. Austin S. Miller, the Commander of American forces in Afghanistan, the Kandahar provincial governor, and […]
The Price of a Free Press: Jamal Khashoggi
The last time anyone saw Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi alive was Oct. 2nd when security cameras caught him entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Authorities presume he was murdered there. After openly criticizing the Saudi government, Khashoggi moved to Northern Virginia where he lived in self-imposed exile from Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi, who wrote for the Washington […]
US Online Counterterrorism Strategy
Last week on October 4th the Trump administration released the new National Strategy for Counterterrorism. The White House strategy rightly prioritizes strong partnerships with allies and is refreshingly devoid of the president’s more controversial ideas. However, it curiously lacks any plan to combat the most serious evolution in terrorist threat since the last strategy was […]
Lone Wolf Bio-Terror: Are We Prepared?
It’s no secret that the lone-wolf threat to Europe is bad, and worsening. However, it’s not just an increasing number of lone wolves, but the variety of tactics they’ll employ in terror’s service that makes prevention a challenge. [pullquote]It’s no secret that the lone-wolf threat to Europe is bad, and worsening.[/pullquote] According to Britain’s Security […]
Assad Ascendant: Russia Sells Syria Missile Defense System
On Tuesday, October 2nd Russia’s Defense Minister confirmed delivery of a long-range surface-to-air missile defense system to the Syrian army. Russia has long backed Bashar al-Assad. The delivery of the system comes in response to a recent incident in which the Syrian army accidenally shot down a Russian plane, killing all 15 Russian servicemen on-board. […]
Colombia After FARC
The 21st-century has been one of the more peaceful epochs in human history. People are bombarded with violent images and tragic news, but this century has borne witness to dramatic peace. Rampant violence defined epochs from Pax Romana to the Middle Ages through the Napoleonic Era. World Wars and the Cold War marred the 20th-century. In this century, international wars have diminished. […]
Lingering Consequences of the Paraguayan War
One of Latin America’s darkest periods began in 1865 — around the time that the American Civil War was drawing to a close — but its wounds still have not healed. The mid-19th century Paraguayan War saw its namesake on one side and a triple alliance of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay on the other. Latin America […]
Brazilian Elections
Last Monday, October 8th, 2018, saw the first round of Brazilian general elections. Paraphrasing one of the presidential candidates, Joao Amoedo, what was supposed to be an election of hope, quickly became an election of fear. The country is enduring the worst economic crisis of the 21st century, as well as a political crisis, with […]
Counter Terrorism Strategy in Waziristan
In recent months, Waziristan has been awash in terror attacks since the Pakistani military began new operations in the region. Ostensibly, the offensive is meant to root out TPP fighters, but physical action typically only treats the symptoms of the disease and not the cause. Without getting to the root of the problem, violent terrorism […]
An Overview of SE Asian Extremism: Thailand
One of the regions people don’t usually think of related to extremism is Southeast Asia. Yet, extremism is prevalent there, and like many other types of extremism, it is rooted in religious and ethnic challenges. In this series of articles, I will provide an overview of extremism in Southeast Asia, starting with Thailand. When people […]
Nuclear Terrorism: Threat Profile and Potential Impact
The typical profile of a terrorist attack may include gunmen storming a government building or a suicide bomber detonating his explosive vest in a crowd of festival attendees. However, arms wonks, policy makers, and scientists have long been attuned to a more sinister threat: a radiological dispersal device, or dirty bomb. A dirty bomb is […]
Profile: Brazilian Journalist Tim Lopes
The media alerts us to human rights violations and wars between the oppressed and their oppressors. An under-reported story, however, is how journalists, photographers, and radiographers put their lives on the line to tell us the stories that must be told. Many of them die in the process of doing so: Robert Capa, a Hungarian war […]
No-Deal Brexit: Implications for Transnational Security
As the threat of a no-deal Brexit looms closer, it is becoming increasingly clear that such a scenario would significantly hamper counterterrorism efforts in both the United Kingdom and Europe. As an EU member, the UK is party to European institutions such as the European Arrest Warrant, a system of warrants valid throughout the European Union, […]
Voting in Syria: Elections Signal an End to ISIL
On September 16th Syria held its first local elections in government-controlled areas since anti-government protests and protracted civil conflict broke out in 2011. Polling booths were open from 7 am to midnight, having been extended five hours to accommodate the throngs who wished to participate. Though the EU, US, and Gulf Cooperation Council dismissed the […]
Dividing The Union: How Terrorism Has Changed European Unity
Since the refugee crisis’ start in 2015 Europe has been under considerable strain. Tension and anger commingle as Europeans grapple before the world with their humanitarian duty and concern over their increased risk at the hands of Islamic terrorism. There were only two reported terrorist attacks linked to Islamic extremism in 2014. That number has […]
An Invisible Problem in Plain Sight
Within the realm of counter-terror, governments focus on preventing attacks at the source as well as at the target. Often, western governments define the target as their own backyard. Likewise, they define the source as some far-off region at war. That point of view is not illegitimate. However, experts recognize extremist ideology is on the march across […]
Lone Wolf Terror
Europe, the US, and the Middle East exist in a moment of unprecedented global tension. In the face of collapsing, budding, and rapidly changing alliances, they share one common enemy: lone-wolf terrorists. Lone-wolf terrorists are those who operate on their own, without the constraints imposed by an organisation with a structured hierarchy and chain of […]
Yemeni Violence Escalates as Peace Talks Crumble
UN-sponsored peace talks seemed to provide a ray of hope for Yemen. But within hours of the talks stalling, air-raid alarms blared through the Yemeni city Hodeidah — confirmation that hopes for peace were misplaced. The dead include rebels, government officials, and civilians. The international community must find a way forward for the sake of […]
Latin American Military Dictatorships
The period from 1964 – 1990 is a dark chapter in Latin American history. The period from 1964 – 1990 is a dark chapter in Latin American history. Nearly all of the countries in the region were engulfed by the Cold War, and with American support, many overturned their democratically elected leaders. They turned to […]
Latin America: Transcending the Crime Epidemic
Despite milestones like 2012’s peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC rebels, Latin America remains a region fraught with unconventional conflict. We are not talking about guerrilla war. As institutionalized state oppression largely becomes a memory – most of the region’s military dictatorships crumbled in the wake of the Cold War – homicides have become […]
How Foreign Critics Led the IRA to Disarm
For more than half of the 20th century, violent conflict between pro-British Unionists and Irish Nationalists – a period referred to as the Troubles – decimated communities across British-controlled Northern Ireland and the self-governing Republic of Ireland. Violence even occasionally spilled over into England itself. In counties bordering Northern Ireland and the Republic, violence was an […]
Famine and Terror: A Warning from Africa’s Sahel Region
They say the way to a person’s heart is through her (sic) stomach. That may be true because when food runs out hearts turn sour. With climate change’s breakneck pace, food supplies across the globe are in peril. If communities lose the ability to feed themselves then famine results, threatening social stability. We have seen […]
Weapons for Sale: How the U.S. Indirectly Supplies Terrorists and Organized Crime
While people many are aware that the United States supports partner forces across the Middle East, fewer realize the U.S. sells such partners billions of dollars in weapons. Tracing such support is a challenge. For instance, old, Soviet-style weapons are supplied through Eastern Europe intermediaries. So despite what might be good intentions, the organization Conflict Armament […]
Latin America: How Safe From Terror?
Latin America has avoided the terrorist wave that has brutalized other parts of the world. That’s not to say that 7.5 million square mile swath of territories stretching from the northern border of Mexico to the southern tip of South America, including the Caribbean is immune to violence or that life there is a utopian […]
Brexit and Northern Ireland, Troubles Afoot?
As the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union in March 2019 there remain many who are concerned about what this will mean for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Twenty years after the end of the ethno-national Protestant and Catholic paramilitary conflict known as The Troubles, the British Isles once […]
Analyzing Election Violence in South Asia
Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal all held national elections between late 2017 and mid-2018. All three experience significant election security concerns due to political violence that targets campaign events, infrastructure, and political leaders themselves. While this violence focused on election disruption, the scope, targets, and attack methods varied from country to country. Leading up to […]
A Rallying Cry for ISIS Fighters
This week Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi put rumors of his death to rest when he released an audio recording urging the remaining ISIS followers to continue their fight in the name of Islam. The recording reminds followers and the rest of the world that ISIS is neither gone nor completely defeated. Its followers have dwindled since […]
Malaysia Shutters Saudi-funded Anti-Terror Facility
Following the Malaysian general election in May of 2018, the newly elected government decided to permanently shut down the anti-terrorism center which had been set up by former Prime Minister Najib Razak. The center, known as King Solomon Center for International Peace (KSCIP), was financed and backed by Saudi Arabia. The new government called into question […]
Imran Khan’s Five-Year Test
Earlier this summer Imran Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Party was elected Pakistan’s new Prime Minister, ending the Pakistan Muslim League’s (PML-N) five-year reign. Imran Kahn’s PTI Party is forming a coalition government, promising to fight corruption and introducing austerity measures to manage government spending given the country’s dire economic crisis. Major challenges await […]
Two Birds, One Stone: Terror and Drug Trafficking Recruitment
The last half of a century has seen a turn away from conventional warfare as armed conflicts shifted to guerrilla and other unconventional war-time tactics. It also saw the rise of two new armed efforts: The War on Terror and The War on Drugs. While there have been limited triumphs in each case, time has […]
Youth, Radicalization, and Rehabilitation in Northern Iraq: A Life-Skills Approach
The Iraqi government has initiated a series of educational programs in detention centers that focus on the deradicalization of youngsters who were once part of terror groups such as ISIS. In a detention center in Northern Iraq, teenagers who were once ISIL recruits are learning to lead productive, non-violent lives. The detention center houses […]
Comparing Targeted Killings Across Four Terrorist Groups
Terrorist groups carry out targeted killings for a number of reasons: as a method of internal policing, in response to political repression, or domestic violence, and to exacerbate political or territorial fragmentation. The rate of political assassinations, whether perpetrated by terrorist groups or by regimes themselves, has risen since the early 1970s. Targeted killings are […]
About the Under-Covered Attacks Database
UAD Methodology (Updated 4/3/2018) The Undercovered Attacks Database is meant, especially, to highlight acts of terrorism that do not receive coverage in the United States. The spreadsheet highlights the data from considerable attacks, which we hold were not given attention by U.S. media. Attacks filed here fit three main criteria: 1 – They fall under […]
Hezbollah: Exporting the Political Paramilitary Organization Model
Thursday evening, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah phoned six fighters in his paramilitary political party recalling them to Lebanon following months of support in Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s defense against Syrian rebel fighters. “You accomplished the greatest [accomplishment] of steadfastness, triumph, and fortitude in the history of Hezbollah,” said the incumbent who has held leadership […]
US-Taliban Peace Talks: An Opportunity For Peace?
The United States is planning to lead direct talks with the Taliban in an effort to end the 17 years of war in Afghanistan. The United States plans to lead peace talks with the Taliban in an effort to end 17 years of war in Afghanistan. The New York Times reported in recent weeks U.S. […]
Ahmad Mohibi discusses US’ direct talks with the Taliban on Tolonews
After the New York Times reported that the White House ordered diplomats to hold direct talks with the Taliban, Rise to Peace founder Ahmad Mohibi told Tolonews, “The United States will not negotiate with the Taliban directly. The U.S. is facilitating the peace process, and U.S. talks with the Taliban will expedite the process.” Mr. […]
On Africa’s East Coast, Two Reformers Work to Keep the Peace
Political rallies in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe were disrupted by grenade attacks on June 23, shedding light on the dangers that the political opposition represents to politicians in these countries. In Ethiopia, a grenade attack killed two and wounded more than 150 at a rally featuring the country’s new prime minister Abiy Ahmed. The rally took […]
Hudaydah’s Resistance: An Inflection Point for the War in Yemen?
The Arab coalition’s operation against the Houthis in Yemen has been heavily bombarding Hudaydah for days. Hudaydah is a Yemeni port city on the Red Sea that is of great strategic significance. Through it, the Houthis have established a support line to give supplies to their base in the capital Sana’a. A week ago, the […]
What Makes a Terrorist Attack Notable: Determinants of U.S. Media Coverage
Introduction With the sheer saturation of terrorist attacks occurring each week, US news outlets are forced to make decisions regarding what gets published. Characteristics of terrorist attacks such as casualty toll, perpetrator, or weapon type often determine newsworthiness and thus which attacks get covered. While past research has focused on coverage of domestic terrorist attacks […]
Countering Youth Extremism in Iraq: A Generational Challenge
Of the many countries around the world affected by terrorism in recent years, few have suffered to the degree that Iraq has. The brutal terrorist group known by various names including ISIS, ISIL, and Daesh has drastically damaged the country’s economy and infrastructure. More than anything else, it has brought a great deal of bloodshed […]
Taliban Innovation, Global Threat: Combined Suicide and Firearm Attacks
Taliban attacks in Afghanistan represent a decade-long evolution of terror tactics, drawing influence from a variety of operating groups and countries, including Afghan mujahedeen fighters, Al-Qaeda, and Iraqi insurgents. Suicide attacks in Afghanistan are a relatively recent development. Afghan mujahideen fighters did not use suicide tactics in their campaign against the Soviet Union in the […]
Central Asian Export of ‘Lone Wolf’ Terrorism: Case Studies, Comparisons and Lessons
Introduction Several high-profile terrorist attacks in Western Europe and North America in recent years have been committed by migrants from Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. However, much of the popular discourse on foreign terror threats doesn’t include analysis of this trend. Most famously, President Donald Trump’s proposed travel ban on countries allegedly prone […]
After the Violence in Gaza; Is There a Way Forward?
Mahmud Hams/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Recent violence along the border between Gaza and Israel has sparked significant international concern and condemnation. Sixty protesters of varying ages were confirmed dead as a result of violence on May 14th in Gaza, a self-governing Palestinian territory sandwiched between Israel, Egypt and the East Mediterranean Sea. In a […]
The Lebanese Elections Are Over: What Next?
On May 6th, Lebanon held its first parliamentary elections in nine years. Hezbollah was a big winner. The Shi’ite political party won a small majority in parliament, which dealt a blow to Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Hariri is expected to form the next government despite the Future Movement losing a third of its seats. It […]
Will the Kim-Trump Summit be a Step Towards Peace?
Photo Credit: CNN On May 10th, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong applauded the announcement of a summit set to for June 12th in Singapore between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald J. Trump, calling it a “significant step on the path to peace” (Straits Times). The announcement came after months of […]
Special Report On Youth and Violent Extremism in Iraq
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Special Report On Child Terrorists and Violent Extremism in Afghanistan
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The 40-year Afghan War and the Everlasting Hope for Peace
The 40-year Afghan War and the Everlasting Hope for Peace Today marks the 40-year anniversary of the Afghan civil war. A country at war for four decades, Afghans continue to have faith that peace is possible. The people are tenaciously hopeful, but for how long, given the unstable environment and competing for socio-political agendas? Terrorism […]
Follow the Money: Sources of Terrorism Funding
© CNN Money[1] In 2015, ISIL’s annual revenue was estimated to range from $1 billion to $2.4 Billion.[2] The terror organization had a higher GDP than 60 legitimate countries. Unsurprisingly, ISIL is considered the most well-funded terrorist organization in the world.[3] Governments and law enforcement agencies must aggressively follow the money and stop the flow […]
How Exactly Are Acts of Violence Defined?
© LA Times-FBI Agents in Austin, Texas worked from one blast to another to capture serial bombing suspect Mark Anthony Conditt Last week our attention turned to Austin, Texas as it suffered a series of bombings. Authorities have been hesitant to define bomber Mark Anthony Conditt or his deeds. You can bet questions regarding his […]
How Overfishing Led to Piracy
Source: www.voanews.com In Canadian journalist Jay Bahadur’s film, The Pirates of Somalia, Bahadur travels to Puntland, embedding himself in a world known to few Western journalists. Oscar contenders have little to fear from Bahadur’s release, but The Pirates of Somalia does something remarkable: it gives us a naturalistic impression of Somalis as friendly and welcoming […]
Legal Difficulties May Loom: Arms Sales Between The West and its Gulf Allies
According to John Irish and Emmanuel Jarry at Reuters, Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E., “…are leading a coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi group that controls most of northern Yemen and the capital Sanaa.” According to human rights groups’ legal counsel, “France faces heightened legal risks for supplying weapons to Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. despite […]
Terrorism in France: Past and Present
Photo: International Business Times, 2015 Of the 28 countries that make up the European Union, France has constantly been an influential force in shaping policy and taking action against extremist threats. Be that as it may, unfortunately, France also has the highest frequency of terror attacks of any EU country. The government has struggled not […]
Unrest Over Austerity Measures in Tunisia
Unrest erupted across Tunisia following a government decision to implement a new finance act on January 1st, 2018. The act mainly targeted the wealthy but also triggered elevated prices for basic goods and services throughout the country. It lifted Tunisia’s value-added tax from 18% to 19%, making the consumption of taxed goods and services more […]
What Becomes of Returning ISIS Fighters?
Graphic from the Washington Post[1] Since the Islamic State’s collapse in Syria and Iraq, returning jihadists pose a problem to countries that don’t know how to handle the risk they present. While most are imprisoned, some are being rehabilitated. The rehabilitation process is costly and long and it raises questions about how to deal with […]
An Organizational Tactic or a Volunteer’s Catharsis: Is Suicide Terrorism Strategic for All Parties Involved?
© Copyright Glomacs Many mistakenly believe that suicide terrorism is an act undertaken by the most deranged in a group of deranged people. Others contend that suicide terrorism is irrational, counterproductive, and plain crazy. Prominent scholars have proven otherwise — suicide terrorism follows a strategic logic. The details are calculated, from the logistics of the […]
Terrorism or Just Terror: When Horror Springs From Within
© Lisa Marie Pane/AP, The Atlantic Alyssa Alhadeff. Scott Beigel. Martin Duque Anguiano. Nicholas Dworet. Aaron Feis. Jamie Guttenberg. Chris Hixon. Luke Hoyer. Cara Loughran. Gina Montalto. Joaquin Oliver. Alaina Petty. Meadow Pollack. Helena Ramsay. Alex Schachter. Carmen Schentrup. Peter Wang. These are the names of the Parkland victims. They were students, teachers, and coaches. […]
Terrorism in Africa: Will Tillerson Tip the Scale?
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson traveled to meet with leaders of five African nations this week. He is there to strengthen U.S.-African ties and discuss security and counterterrorism. The countries he will be visiting include Ethiopia, Kenya, Djibouti, Chad, and Nigeria. Certainly, his trip will also see him mending fences with leaders in the wake […]
Jihadist Violence in Burkina Faso
Twin terrorist attacks targeting Burkina Faso’s army headquarters and the French embassy shook the country’s capital, Ouagadougou on March 2nd (Associated Press). The attacks were conducted by two groups of men, each with 4 to 5 people, and left 30 dead (including nine perpetrators) and 85 wounded. According to the International Crisis Group, “The attacks represent […]
The EU Calls for Removal of all Extremist Content on Social Media
The European Union has given social media companies like Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter three months to demonstrate that they are making efforts to rid their platforms of extremist content in order to fight online radicalization. This has been a significant issue in Europe, and the European Commission hopes that by removing extremist content an […]
Human Rights Champion or Ruthless Pragmatist: Did Aung San Suu Kyi Fool Us All?
Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who is serving as the de facto leader of Myanmar, has for decades been hailed as a human rights champion. But Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis, in which more than 650,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees have been forced to flee their country, has highlighted a different side of Suu Kyi. […]
Vehicles as Tools of Destruction: The New Weapons of Terror
It was a day of celebration. Strolling down the waterfront with fireworks overhead. Thousands gathered to mark the holiday. The evening was ideal, but all things come to an end. You heard a commotion and turned. Next, you heard screams. You didn’t know what it was, but you knew that something was horribly wrong. The […]
From Remote, Luxurious Islands to Terrorist Breeding Ground: Trinidad and Tobago
© Getty – Trinidad and Tobago When people hear the words Trinidad and Tobago they think of lush, remote islands, all-inclusive resorts, and some of the most beautiful beaches the Caribbean offers. They might think of the country that beat the United States’ men’s soccer team in its 2018 World Cup qualifier. It’s unlikely that […]
Harrowing Death, Calls For Action: The Syrian Genocide Persists
The Assad regime has been conducting airstrikes on its own citizens for six years now. To date, more than a quarter million civilians have perished. Hundreds of thousands more have been burned, dismembered, or otherwise scarred physically and psychologically. Diana Semaan, a Syria researcher at Amnesty International, commented on the matter saying, “For six years, […]
How the United Nations Is Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow
The United Nations’ Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF) brought together more than 1,000 students and young professionals from around the world to collaborate at the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly from February 14th to February 16th, 2018. The theme of the 2018 Winter Youth Assembly was Innovation and Collaboration for a Sustainable World. Students and young professionals […]
Can Deradicalization Reduce Violent Extremism? This Expert Thinks So
When seeking counter-terrorism explanations and solutions, the focus is generally on why radicalization occurs. What happens after radicalization–deradicalization–is much more complicated. Deradicalisation programs are becoming increasingly important in countries that aim to avoid further violence and rehabilitate those who have been radicalized. Deradicalization programs vary but can include counseling, theological education, and attempts to deemphasize […]
Semantics Matter: ARSA and the Difference Between Insurgency and Terrorism
Independent Online/AFP While tensions between the Rohingya Muslims and the Myanmar government have existed for decades, violent eruptions over the last year have catalyzed the growth of the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Army (ARSA). The Myanmar government has since designated this group a terrorist organization, diminishing the legitimate political grievances of the Rohingya. An analysis of […]
Iraq after Daesh
After years of conventional, media, and cyber warfare, Daesh has lost most of the areas that it seized in Iraq and Syria in 2014. The post-Daesh phase will be filled with new priorities. [1] Amir Hassan Fayyad, the Dean of the Political Science College at Iraq’s Al-Nahrain University, says that the defeat of Daesh, “…should not […]
The War in Afghanistan: Will It Ever End?
The War in Afghanistan: Will It Ever End? (The U.S. Army/Flickr) -American military personnel in Afghanistan The War in Afghanistan has ground on for more than 16 years since its start on October 7th, 2001. Operation Enduring Freedom was part of the response to the September 11th attacks, but there does not appear to be […]
The Terrorist Threat in France: A Look at Prison Radicalization
French counter-terrorism policy rejects the soft measures carried out by many of its European counterparts. So then, why has France, despite its aggressive stance against terrorism, seen more high-profile terrorist incidents than any other Western European country in the last six years? An absence of terrorist attacks in France for more than a decade created […]
Women and their Role in Violent Extremism
Recruitment of women by violent extremist organizations has increased in recent years due to their value as strategic, political, and social tools in service of the organization’s mission. They attract less suspicion, making them valuable in bombing missions, but they also are of deep symbolic importance in the organization’s daily progress. In 2016, Indonesian police […]
Syrian Conflict: When Great Powers Do Not Play Well Together
Syria remains a disaster; for the people who remain there, for those who’ve fled but hope one day to return and for those who seek a sound, diplomatic solution. The catalog of actors operating in the theater, even at this late date, is increasingly alarming: Syrian pro-government forces, Syrian rebels, ISIL-terrorists, Russian armed forces, and […]
Bitcoin: How Terrorist Organizations are Using Cryptocurrency to Fund Operations
© Freedom’s Phoenix: Donna Hancock Bitcoin is the new talk on the streets these days. You may have heard about it on the news recently or in everyday talk and commotion. It is the new hot commodity that has features similar to Venmo and PayPal but is essentially its own unique type of currency. Bitcoin […]
Bioterrorism: How Real is the Threat?
https://dribbble.com/shots/1773940-GQ-Magazine-Bio-Terror Much of the WMD threat today is focused on nuclear weapons and North Korea. However, bioterrorism is a threat worth analyzing. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines bioterrorism as biological agents (microbes or toxins) used as weapons to further personal or political agendas. Almost any pathogenic microorganism could be used in a […]
The United Kingdom and the Challenge of Far-Right Ideologies
On June 19, 2016, Darren Osborne, motivated by anger about the terror attacks in the United Kingdom, drove his vehicle into a group of Muslim worshipers outside the Finsbury Park Mosque. Osborne killed one, Makram Ali, and injured nine others. Ali had collapsed on the sidewalk prior to the attack and a group of Muslims […]
Education Has Become A Casualty of War
Last week, USA Today published an article about a boy named Said in Kenya who had been unable to attend school for more than three years because of the presence of the violent extremist group al-Shabab in his town. According to the article, dozens of schools in the area had been closed for as long […]
U.S. International Terrorism Strategy in 2018: New Battleplan or More of the Same?
© Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images U.S. International Terrorism Strategy in 2018: New Battleplan or More of the Same? On January 30, 2018, President Donald Trump presented his State of the Union speech before Congress and the nation. Since 9/11, presidents’ State of the Union speeches have consistently highlighted the impact of terrorism and the United States’ […]
Terrorism Has No Religion
Terrorism has no religion and no homeland. It is wrong to attribute terrorism to the teachings of a specific religion. Terrorists do not distinguish between Christian churches and Islamic mosques. Places of worship, in fact, be they mosques or churches, have both been harmed routinely by terrorists. In addition to Christians and Muslims both being […]
More than Ideology: The Radicalized Identity
With the rise of violent extremism and terrorist groups like Daesh recruiting and radicalizing people all over the world, we have attempted to understand the root causes of violent extremism, often linking it to poverty, history of criminality, or even affiliation with certain religions. After years of trying, and failing to pinpoint an exact root […]
The Laptop Bomb: The Latest Extremist Weapon and Homeland Security Nightmare
© Harun Maruf-Daallo Airlines Flight 159 after an explosion from a laptop bomb The new threat for TSA and Homeland Security officials is not suicide bombers, but what is being described as a “laptop bomb”. For many years now, terrorist organizations – such as ISIS, Al-Shabaab, even dating back to Al-Qaeda – have been working […]
Midwest and Terrorism
Turkey Run State Park, Indiana Everyone always says write about what you know, and I know the Midwest – especially Indiana. The Midwest remains an amazing and welcoming place, but, like any region, there remain a few things that are dissatisfying. The Midwest’s cultural understanding of terrorism endures as its most perplexing and unfortunate characteristic. […]
Wrong Place at the Wrong Time: Europe unsure of how to reintegrate the offspring of the Islamic State
As ISIS’ self-proclaimed caliphate has collapsed in Iraq and Syria, many European States have to decide whether or not to let the children of European women who have joined the terrorist organization back into their country of origin. Last December, three French-born children of suspected Islamic State members were flown back to Paris as the […]
The Defeat of ISIS’s “Caliphate” Does Not Mean the Defeat of ISIS’s Ideology
What Does the Future Look Like for ISIS? Though the international coalition in the war against ISIS has experienced more gains than losses over the past few years, by no means is the enemy defeated. However, ISIS remains a fragment of what it once was and its goals appear even more unattainable. ISIS will never […]
The Latest Spat of Terror Attacks Threaten to Alter or Halt the Provision of Humanitarian Aid
On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the headquarters of the humanitarian aid organization, Save the Children, was attacked by ISIS. The attack occurred in the city of Jalalabad located within Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. The official death toll currently sits at six and over twenty-five people were injured during the assault. The attack began with a suicide […]
The More We Sweat in Peace, The Less We Bleed in War
The effects of War: The political, sectarian, and ideological conflicts and civil wars taking place in the Middle East since the late 1990s have had devastating effects on social, psychological, and economic frontiers. These threaten to kill the aspirations of multitudes living in and around the conflict zones. These conflicts threaten society as a […]
FIFA World Cup 2018: Russia taking security measures to prevent terrorist attacks during tournament
© Alexandr Sherbak/TASS Every four years societies come together to watch and cheer at the largest sporting events on Earth, the FIFA World Cup. Thirty-two teams from across the globe will represent their nations and compete to be the last to lift the winner’s trophy. Russia will have the honor of hosting the World Cup this […]
The International Community Questions Whether Pakistan can be Counted on to Combat Terrorism
The International Community Questions Whether Pakistan can be Counted on to Combat Terrorism On January 16, 2018, Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shahid Khaquan Abbasi, appeared on a program hosted by Pakistan’s GEOtv network and explained that Hafiz Saeed, the accused mastermind behind the infamous 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was released because he has no case in […]
A Dangerous Method: Zurich University Study Exemplifies Double-Edged Sword of Migration Policy in Europe
Researchers at Zurich University of Applied Sciences have released data linking a rise in criminality in Germany to teenage migrants, thereby sparking a larger conversation about the conditions immigrants and asylum-seekers face. Conducted in Lower- Saxony, Germany, a densely populated area in which 745,185 of its 8 million residents do not have German citizenship, the […]
Poverty and Violent Extremism in Yemen
For over 1,000 days now, Yemen has been devastated by horrific violence and a brutal civil war.[1] In 2014, the Houthis, a group of Zaidi Shi’a rebels who subscribe to the principles of pan-Islamism,[2] advanced into the Yemeni capital of Sana’a. By January 2015, the rebels had gained control of the presidential palace and successfully […]
Terrorism in the Philippines: Can Increased Maritime Security Help Stop the Flow of Foreign Fighters?
While the thought of ISIS typically brings to mind violence in Iraq and Syria, their pervasive ideology, coupled with the ability to reach a broad audience, creates a large swath of global sympathizers. These sympathizers may range from an individual who has yet to be radicalized but resonates with their message, to full-blown sleeper cells. […]
GWOT Panel: Reflections from Team Member Lindsay Stanek
On Wednesday, December 6, I had the honor of attending The Global War on Terrorism: Myths, Realities & Solutions seminar at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. The seminar was hosted by Rise to Peace, a non-profit organization that works to promote peace and counter extremist ideology around the globe. The panel […]
The Global War on Terror: Myths, Realities, and Solutions
On Wednesday, December 6th, Rise to Peace hosted the first in a series of panels focusing on issues relevant to understanding violent extremism. This panel, The Global War on Terrorism: Myths, Realities, and Solutions, featured Ambassador John Limbert, Distinguished Professor of International Affairs at the US Naval Academy; Professor Christopher Kojm, former chairman of the […]
The Global War on Terrorism: Myths, Realities & Solutions
On Wednesday December 6th, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Rise to Peace hosted a seminar at the Elliott School of International Affairs entitled The Global War on Terrorism: Myths, Realities & Solutions. On the panel was the founder of Rise To Peace and GW Master of International Policy and Practice (MIPP) student, Ahmad Mohibi. Ahmad spoke about his life […]
ISIS in Kirkuk: What’s Happening and What it Means
What’s happening Recent ISIS losses in Kirkuk Province in Iraq have been the latest blow in a series of major hits to the group, including their loss of their major stronghold of Mosul. These losses represent a total decimation of the group’s strength: at its peak, the group controlled a third of Iraq, and yet […]
Humvees: Taliban’s new VBIED
The Afghan Taliban has deployed a new weapon in its fight against the Afghan National Security Forces: explosive-laden Humvees. The trend started in late September when a Humvee was detonated outside Maroof district police headquarters in Kandahar and came to a violent head this week[1]. Attacks in Kandahar, Farah, and Balkh left 58 security officers […]
U.S. War in Afghanistan: Review of Previous Strategy
U.S. War in Afghanistan: Review of the Previous Strategy: 2001-2013 The launch of Operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001 marked the start of US involvement in Afghanistan. The operation consisted mainly of airstrikes but also included a special operations force of roughly 1,000 later joined by 1,300 Marines. The primary goal was to support Northern […]
The Flawed Narrative of Terrorist Attack Claims
The Flawed Narrative of Terrorist Attack Claims Every extremist or terrorist group has branded itself as martyrs or freedom fighters, fighting against unjust governments, economic systems, or religious institutions. And yet simultaneously, the same groups often either explicitly target civilians or use tactics that show little regard for humanitarian consequences, including roadside IEDs and suicide […]
Female Suicide Bombers: Mosul, Boko Haram, and Beyond
The Tragedy of Mosul As Iraqi soldiers closed in on remaining Islamic State forces in Mosul in early July 2017, they faced a threat previously unemployed by their enemy thus far. In a mere three days of fighting, from July 2nd to the 4th, the Islamic State deployed up to 20 female suicide bombers against […]
Ahmad talks about the Afghan all female robotic team
Ahmad encourages the all-female Afghan robotics team to take encouragement toward peace by sharing their experiences of this intellectual exchange and connection (without the sound of bombs). Host Fawad Aman discusses the topic with Ahmad Shah Mohibi, from a civil society institution in the U.S. دراین برنامه فواد امان با احمد شاه محبی، رییس نهاد […]
U.S Cannot Win Afghanistan War Without Pakistan
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford has said that the U.S. cannot win the war in Afghanistan without securing cooperation from Pakistan. Pakistan would be a key element of Washington’s new strategy for South Asia, he said. In this episode of Mehwar, host Massoud Malik discusses the topic with Ahmad Shah […]
U.S. policy towards the Afghanistan war
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Ahmad volunteered to help the Mongolian people
Ahmad with the Mongolian locals during his medical humanitarian mission. Ahmad’s mission was helping the poor and spreading a message of peace and kindness. August 2016
Message of peace and unity to the people of Afghanistan in the fight against terrorism
Ahmad Mohibi is expressing his deepest condolences to the families of the victims from the deadly suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan. He encourages the youth to bring peace and stability to the country through education.
Finding the Root Cause of Youth Extremism
Children and youth populations are the most vulnerable to radicalization and violence all around the world1. Currently, the youth population is the largest the world has ever seen, and the largest sect of this population are in war torn countries. The UN resolution 2250 defined youth as the ages 18 through 29[1]. In summer of […]
Mending the Bridge Between Communities with a Simple Hello
As the founder of Rise to Peace (R2P), Ahmad Mohibi, was warmly welcomed at the monthly meeting of the Frederick County Democrats on Feb 6, 2017. The meeting was well attended and Mr. Mohibi’s message dovetailed with the Frederick Democrats mission “to advance the core Democratic values of economic fairness and equality of opportunity in […]
High Level Forum Combating Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Hatred
High Level Forum Combating Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Hatred Encountering Ahmad Mohibi and two other young millennials at the United Nations for the High Level Forum Combating Anti-Muslim Discrimination and Hatred on January 17, 2017 was inspirational and brought a depth of participation and meaning to this insightful informative forum. Many of the speakers and panelists alluded […]
All good things are wild and free
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Adventures are the Best Way to Learn
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Hike more, worry less
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On the outskirts of Tokyo
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Improving your business skills
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Our new team members
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Our New Office
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New Product Redesign
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How to Have The Best Vacation
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The Time is Now
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Ready For a Road Trip
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How Not to Hurry
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The Best Goal is No Goal
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It’s an irony of our modern lives that while technology is continually invented that saves us time, we use that time to do more and more things
A Brief Guide to Life
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How to Have The Best Vacation
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