Terrorism & Extremism

PATRICK COCKBURN The map issued by the Pentagon to prove that Isis had lost territory shows how false optimism dominates the actions of the outside powers towards the Middle East.  A graphic illustration of Western wishful thinking about the decline of Islamic State (IS) is a well-publicised map …

Alex Dick-Godfrey In the past five years, the Somali jihadist group al-Shabaab has lost most of its senior leadership, surrendered its control of southern Somalia, and seen its cash flow shrink. The group has certainly seen better times. But as the success of recent attacks in Kenya and Mogadishu indicate, the group is …

By: Daniel L. Byman Prepared testimony before the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Chairman King, Ranking Member Higgins, distinguished members of the subcommittee, and subcommittee staff, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. The Islamic State’s influence and model are …

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has agreed on a concerted effort against terrorism by blacklisting terrorist organizations and individuals, while hailing Saudi Arabia’s efforts in tackling the menace. The decision was taken at the 16th consultative meeting of GCC interior ministers in Doha on Wednesday. Qatari Prime Minister …

The Islamic State is no mere collection of psychopaths. It is a religious group with carefully considered beliefs, among them that it is a key agent of the coming apocalypse. Here’s what that means for its strategy—and for how to stop it. By Graeme Wood The Atlantic Where …

By T. J. Petrowski Global Research Nowhere in recent years have the contradictions of imperialism been so clear than in the West’s war against ISIS. Working people are bombarded with messages in the media of the worldwide threat of ISIS, with the aim of the messages to convince …

By Brandon Turbeville Global Research It was evident early on that the US bombing of alleged ISIS targets inside Syria was, in reality, an attempt to support the terrorist organization backed by NATO and the US as opposed to an attempt to defeat it. While such a suggestion …

By ANGUS MCDOWALL Saudi Arabia’s Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, a close friend of the United States and a scourge of Islamist militants, will be the country’s first king from the third generation of its ruling dynasty. King Salman on Wednesday appointed the U.S. favorite and veteran security …

  Saudi King Salman appointed Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef as his new heir on Wednesday and made his son, Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman, second-in-line to succeed in a dramatic reshuffle in the world’s top oil exporter. By making Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, crown prince, and Mohammed bin Salman, who is thought …