True Terrorism

Defense Department Further Institutionalizes "Threat Finance Cell" Concept

Counterterrorism Blog — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:10:39 GMT

Michael Yon has posted the new directive, sigend three days ago by Deputy Defense Secretary England, which provides the clearest statement yet of DoD policy and command responsibilities for "counterthreat finance" operations. The directive permanently...(read more)

After Mumbai: Deciphering the Horizons

Counterterrorism Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:11:52 GMT

As the crisis between India and Pakistan is drawing the attention of the international community and the diplomatic efforts of the United States, public opinion has shown an increased interest in the Jihadi agenda in India. In this regard the Counter...(read more)

NBC News: "Pakistani militants deny role in Mumbai terror attacks"

Counterterrorism Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:03:32 GMT

NBC News: Pakistani militants deny role in Mumbai terror attacks The sole surviving terrorist of the Mumbai attacks allegedly spent 18 months training at camps run by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), a banned Pakistani militant organization with a long history...(read more)

A Nuclear Venezuela?

Counterterrorism Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:19:16 GMT

Almost unnoticed in the chaos created by recent terrorist events is the nuclear agreement signed between Russia and Venezuela signed when Russian president Medvedev visited Caracas last week. His visit coincided with the arrival of Russian naval ships...(read more)

Mumbai Style Attack in the US: A Skeptical Analysis

Counterterrorism Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:20:59 GMT

The Mumbai massacre may not be a “new” terror tactic. The mass firearms attack riveted the world in 1972 when the Japanese Red Army gunned down 27 people at Ben Gurion Airport. Since then the annals of terrorism have included innumerable other...(read more)

New Seventh Circuit Boim Decision Puts All On Notice - Liability Will Attach to Those that Contribute Funds to Foreign Terrorist Organizations

Counterterrorism Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:29:39 GMT

Last December I used this space to express concern that the 2-1 decision handed down by a Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals three-judge panel in the Boim case represented a serious setback to victims of terrorism seeking to hold accountable those who provide...(read more)

Congressional Commission Warns of Bio and Nuclear Terrorism threats in 5 years.

Counterterrorism Blog — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:30:33 GMT

Greater government efforts and adequate follow-up budgets are needed to head off the threat of major biological terrorist attacks in the United State or overseas within the next five years, leaders of a congressionally mandated Commission on Weapons of...(read more)

Boim Judgment Upheld: Charity Donations to Terrorist Groups Illegal

Counterterrorism Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:41:24 GMT

A federal appeals court in Chicago today upheld a $156 million judgment against several Palestinian charities accused of funding Hamas. A full history of the history of the Boim case, covered extensively on this blog, is available here . In an earlier...(read more)

Dr. David Kilcullen Added to Tomorrow's Mumbai Panel

Counterterrorism Blog — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:18:48 GMT

We are very pleased that Dr. David Kilcullen will join Dr. Walid Phares and Farhana Ali as panelists at tomorrow's event to discuss the Mumbai attacks. To quote from the biography released last week by CNAS: "Dr. David Kilcullen has joined CNAS as a senior...(read more)

Material Support: From Mumbia to Hamas

Counterterrorism Blog — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:34:55 GMT

Well-planned deadly terrorist attacks such as the one in Mumbai last week against targets scouted out in advance are not conducted on the spur of the moment at a cost of mere pennies. The large amounts of ammunition and the advance planning by the terrorists...(read more)

Counterterrorism Blog — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:19:20 GMT

President Clinton’s January, 2005 executive order designed to curb money flows to 12 groups (10 Arab and two Jewish) that threatened the use of violence against the Middle East process was followed up by more detailed legislation that Congress eventually...(read more)

Financial Setbacks for Hamas

Counterterrorism Blog — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:00:10 GMT

Over the past few weeks, Hamas's international financial support network suffered a series of setbacks, most notably the U.S. federal court conviction of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) and five of its leaders on charges of providing...(read more)

Reflections on Al-Qa’ida from the Management Perspective

Counterterrorism Blog — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:17:54 GMT

A number of my colleagues here on CT Blog, among others, have commented on the recent address by Al-Qa’ida’s (AQ) number two, Ayman Al-Zawahiri. Needless to say, the overall response has not been on the favorable side. It is time, past time,...(read more)

NEFA Report: "Inside As-Sahaab: The Story of Ali al-Bahlul and the Evolution of Al-Qaida’s Propaganda."

Counterterrorism Blog — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:46:12 GMT

The NEFA Foundation has released a new report that I have written titled “Inside As-Sahaab: The Story of Ali al-Bahlul and the Evolution of Al-Qaida’s Propaganda.” The report is based upon previously unseen evidence presented during...(read more)

Contributing Experts to Discuss Mumbai Attacks At December 4 Event

Counterterrorism Blog — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:06:13 GMT

The Counterterrorism Foundation and The Counterterrorism Blog will hold a special panel on the Mumbai attacks this Thursday, December 4, at 11 am ET in room 2220 of the Rayburn House Building on Capitol Hill in Washington. Contributing Experts Walid Phares...(read more)