CSS in the News
Director Bruce Hoffman and Adjunct Professor Rick "Ozzie" Nelson speak to Bloomberg's David Lerman about increased coordination between terrorist groups in Africa. Professor Hoffman highlights the role of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. "Its ability to distribute largess and train other groups has put it in a position of being a power broker," he says. "It gives al- Qaeda the opportunity, even while the center is being pulverized, to expand the movement on the periphery and extend its longevity." Professor Nelson, meanwhile, notes that “(r)ight now, these groups are not threatening the U.S. homeland in any way comparable to what al-Qaeda was doing three or four or five years ago."
CSS Senior Fellow Paul Pillar appears on Minnesota Public Radio to discuss the commonplace leaking of sensitive or classified information, as well as what steps can or should be taken to mitigate related negative impacts.
Professor Elizabeth Stanley discusses the science and mechanics of Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training. "There's something very empowering about learning how and why the body and mind respond under stress," says Prof. Stanley.
More ...CSS Publications
- The issue of apologies
Professor Christine Fair tackles the issue of the U.S. apology to Pakistan and the relationship between the two countries in an article appearing in a publication geared toward Pakistani audiences. "Though a temporary workaround to open the ground routes was found, the fundamental differences in the countries’ strategic priorities haven’t been addressed," says Dr. Fair. In her view, "(w)ith such starkly different accounts of history and responsibility, the deal that has been tentatively inked is bound to fail."
- A Bitter Bargain After US Apologizes, Pakistan Reopens Supply Routes
Professor Christine Fair analyzes the accomodation that led to the United States' formal apology for accidentally killing Pakistani border troops and the subsequent reopening of NATO supply routes through Pakistan. In Dr. Fair's view, "sooner or later, this breakthrough will lead to the next break down." She argues that "(w)hile this deal may save Washington money in the short term, it will pay grievously in the long term as Afghanistan again reverts to being Pakistan's terror field."
- The Salafi Awakening
Professor Daniel Byman and coauthor Zack Gold chart the rise of the Salafi movement as a political force in Egypt. They detail both its religious and philosophical orthodoxy and its surprising political malleability and pragmatism as it participates in the new Egyptian democratic process. "Engagement now is particularly important, as the political agendas and priorities of the Salafi groups are still in flux," the authors conclude. "U.S. influence will be limited at best, but Washington is far more likely to have influence now than in the years to come."
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