archive

How to fight terrorists

Scott Shane on the lessons of Anwar al-Awlaki: Four years after the United States assassinated the radical cleric in a drone strike, his influence on jihadists is greater than ever — was there a better way to stop him? U.S. counterterrorism strategy is the definition of insanity: Rosa Brooks on six theories for why Washington keeps doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different result. Monica Duffy Toft and Yuri Zhukov on why Islamist insurgents are so difficult to coerce. A new awakening: Ilan Goldenberg, Nicholas A. Heras, Bassam Barabandi on how fighting ISIS means galvanizing its resistance. Bring back the privateers: As violent extremists spread carnage to more and more countries, letters of marque issued by Congress to private companies might offer strategic advantages in flexibility, speed and cost control. For $525, you can learn how to fight terrorists (Muslims need not apply). No, torture doesn’t make terrorists tell the truth — but here’s what actually works. Jacob Silverman on the permanent war on terror: Only as old as it feels.