Blog Posts

The Militarization and Politicization of Counterterrorism

Paul R. Pillar | Oct 27, 2011
Counterterrorism is not a "war." The false label turns a vital practice into no more than a campaign talking point.

The Decade-Long Diversion

Paul R. Pillar | Sep 06, 2011
The greatest damage done by 9/11 is the fault of American policy elites, not terrorist hijackers.

In Search of a Defensible Detention Policy

Paul R. Pillar | Nov 18, 2010
The problem of dealing with terrorist detainees keeps getting murkier and muddier. Ideas, anyone?

Democracies Get the Wars They Deserve

Paul R. Pillar | Oct 12, 2010
America is stuck in a pattern of accepting faulty concepts during wars as common knowledge. Remember the domino theory?

The Hysteria and Confusion Over Mumbai-Style Attacks in Europe

Malou Innocent | Oct 04, 2010
We will never eradicate the threat of terrorism. But we can take measures to rein in the fear it produces.

Thinking Outside the Box

Bruce Hoffman | Sep 20, 2010
The NYPD is coming at the terrorism problem in new and counterintuitive ways. The Beltway is stuck in old patterns and old thinking.

In Defense of the Afghanistan Study Group Report

Justin Logan | Sep 13, 2010
Evidence that neither Joshua Foust nor Andrew Exum recognizes strategic thought when it comes to Afghanistan.

No End in Sight

Bruce Hoffman | Aug 31, 2010
We still cringe to think about that "Mission Accomplished" banner seven years ago. Will Americans be lulled this time into believing we won as violence in Iraq rages?

David Addington's Return to Power

Jacob Heilbrunn | Aug 30, 2010
Dick Cheney's legal counsel and the mind behind the war on terror emerges from the shadows.

Not So Strange Bedfellows

Bruce Hoffman | Aug 25, 2010
Al-Qaeda: Stronger than Ever?

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May 26, 2012