Topic: Al Qaeda

Three Things the CIA Is Doing to Undermine American Values

Associated Press

No one is getting off the island during the Guantanamo hunger strike, where there aren't review boards. And did we mention the latest on drones and financing Afghan warlords? Here are a few core democratic principles the CIA is glossing over these days.

By Connor Simpson

Apr 22, 2013

Everything You Need to Know About the Al Qaeda Linked Canadian Terrorist Plot

Another Monday, another terror plot: Who woulda thunk this Monday would yield a thwarted attack in Canada to bomb a Niagra Falls railway passage from Toronto to New York, links to Al Qaeda and all?

Comments | 3,106 Views

By Philip Bump

Apr 12, 2013

And Now Mitch McConnell is Compared to Al Qaeda

There's something about Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell that inspires hyperbole. Today, his policies are being compared with the terrorists behind 9/11, officially completing the trifecta of overwrought analogies.

Comments | 937 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 28, 2013

The U.S. Has a Case Against Its Army Vet for Using a 'WMD' Against Assad in Syria

There aren't a lot of rebels fighting against the Assad regime in Syria who update Facebook regularly. There are fewer still who were born in Phoenix, Arizona, and are U.S. Army veterans. But that's not why Eric Harroun faces federal charges. The FBI arrested him because he fought alongside Al Qaeda, employing a "weapon of mass destruction."

Comments | 3,689 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 7, 2013

Iran Stashed Bin Laden's Son-in-Law in Jail, Possibly to Use as a Bargaining Chip

On Thursday morning, we learned that that the United States had successfully captured Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, who's also al Qaeda's spokesman. You'll never guess where he's been hiding the past ten years.

Comments | 4,956 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 7, 2013

Rand Paul Won, Now What?

Rand Paul declared victory Thursday when his 13-hour filibuster forced Attorney General Eric Holder to answer his question of whether the government can kill by drone an American citizen now engaged in combat on American soil. But that victory was fairly narrow.

Comments | 1,724 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 7, 2013

U.S. Captures Bin Laden's Son-In-Law and Will Put Him on Trial

U.S. officials have announced that a former spokesperson for al Qaeda — who also happens to be a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden &mdash has been captured overseas and is being brought to America to stand trial.

Comments | 2,242 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Mar 4, 2013

One al-Qaeda Leader Is Killed, While Another Fights On

It seems that "one-eyed" terrorist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar was not killed in Mali over the weekend, but a different al-Qaeda leader in Africa was taken out by French forces.

Comments | 690 Views

By Connor Simpson

Mar 2, 2013

Chad's Army Claims They Killed The Terrorist Behind the Algerian Hostage Situation

Members of the Chadian military reportedly shot and killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the terrorist connected with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb who claimed responsibility for the Algerian hostage crisis, during a raid on Saturday. Don't get excited just yet, though: he's been dead before. 

Comments | 1,379 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 27, 2013

France Literally Went All the Way to Timbuktu to Stop the Malian Rebels

People in northern Mali celebrated on Sunday night after French troops won a series of key victories over the Islamist rebels who've been terrorizing the region for weeks.

Comments | 2,138 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 25, 2013

White House Now Connecting Al Qaeda to Algeria Attack via 'Mr. Marlboro'

The Obama administration says it believes that the militants responsible for the recent terror attack were working with "elements of Al Qaeda," as they attempt to solidify the bigger link between Algeria, Mali, and the worldwide fight against extremists.

Comments | 172 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Jan 24, 2013

How Many Times Does Al Qaeda's Number Two Need to Die?

Big victory in the war on terror, folks: A previously unreported air strike in December killed Said al-Shihri, al Qaeda's number two in command. This is third time he's been reported dead.

Comments | 3,793 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jan 22, 2013

17 Dead, Dozens Injured by Sequence of Car Bombs In Baghdad

A series of three car bombs situated around the city of Baghdad exploded one right after another on Tuesday—right on the heels of a string of suicide attacks claiming 30 lives last week. This isn't going to make people feel better either: al Qaeda may be involved. 

Comments | 1,064 Views

By Connor Simpson

Jan 17, 2013

What We Think We Know About the Wild Algerian Hostage Situation

The Algerian military says it's searching the premises after a confusing day, leaving the rest of us to figure out what the French operation in Mali has to do with possibly hundreds of people fending for their lives, complete with escaping hostages (some of them American) who may have had explosives strapped to their chests, plus helicopters, a U.S. drone, angry Brits, and more.

Comments | 1,604 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 17, 2013

Dozens Reportedly Killed As Algerians Attempt to Free Sahara Hostages

A dangerous standoff is taking place at a gas facility in the Sahara Desert, where Islamic militants are holding dozens of oil company employees hostage, and Algerian soldiers have attempted to free them.

Comments | 4,486 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 16, 2013

Al-Qaeda Group Holding American Hostages at BP Facility in Algeria

A group of al-Qaeda militants snuck over the border from Mali into Algeria on Wednesday morning and claims to have taken 41 hostages from a gas production facility, including seven Americans. The situation appears to have become larger and more serious than previously imagined.

Comments | 1,497 Views

By Cora Currier, ProPublica

Jan 11, 2013

Everything We Know So Far About Drone Strikes

The details of the U.S. campaign against militants in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia — a centerpiece of the Obama administration's national security approach — remain shrouded in secrecy. Here's a guide to what we know — and what we don't know.

Comments | 1,379 Views

By David Wagner

Nov 29, 2012

Today's Best

Five Best Thursday Columns

Amy Davidson on Hillary Clinton, Matthew Yglesias on the fiscal cliff, Daniel Byman on Al Qaeda, Bill George on H.P., and Shikha Dalmia on immigration.

Comments | 2,412 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Oct 22, 2012

Jordan Foils a 'Major' Terrorist Plot

Intelligence agents in Jordan have arrested 11 men they say were planning a serious of suicide bombings using explosives smuggled in from Syria. 

Comments | 1,728 Views

By Connor Simpson

Oct 13, 2012

Al Queda Doesn't Want You to Forget the Muslim Movie

Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri would prefer it if everyone focused on the important things like that awful anti-Muslim movie that caused so much controversy in September.

Comments | 704 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Sep 28, 2012

Kenyan Forces Capture Last Terrorist Stronghold in Somalia

African Union troops, consisting mainly of Kenyan military forces, have surrounded the port city of Kismayo, which they claim is the last stronghold of the Islamic militant group al-Shabab.

Comments | 233 Views

By John Hudson

Aug 30, 2012

The Government Won't Bring Charges in CIA Detainee Deaths

Nothing to see here: The Justice Department closed its investigation into the deaths of CIA detainees overseas and will not bring any charges, Attorney General Eric Holder announced today.

Comments | 5,101 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jul 11, 2012

Suicide Bombing in Yemen's Capital Is Becoming a Disturbing Trend

Reports out of Yemen say a suicide bombing attack on police cadets in the capital of Sanaa has claimed the lives of at least eight and wounded 15 others, suggesting that Sanaa may be becoming al Qaeda's favorite suicide bombing target. 

Comments | 278 Views

By John Hudson

Jun 5, 2012

Latest Dead Al Qaeda No. 2: Warrior, Scholar, Pundit, Poet

According to his press over the years, if there was a Renaissance man among al Qaeda's senior leadership, it was Abu Yahya al-Libi, the terror network's deputy leader who was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan on Monday.

Comments | 4,058 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jun 5, 2012

This Week's Al Qaeda No. 2 Killed by a U.S. Drone

Pakistani officials announced today that they have evidence that a U.S. drone strike might have killed Abu Yahya al-Libi, al-Qaeda's most recent second-in-command, apparently just one week after the previous No. 2 was killed. 

Comments | 1,724 Views

By John Hudson

May 29, 2012

Watch PBS Infiltrate the Most Dangerous Branch of Al Qaeda

If you think PBS and the CIA have nothing in common, you're wrong.

Comments | 3,031 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

May 29, 2012

Another Al Qaeda Number 2 Killed in Afghanistan

In what seems to be the only way we find out about who might be the second most powerful man in the al-Qaeda terrorist network, the U.S. is claiming that they've killed Sakhr al-Taifi--al-Qaeda's supposed second in command.

Comments | 2,312 Views

By John Hudson

May 24, 2012

U.S. Counter-Terrorism Hackers Fight Al Qaeda One Prank at a Time

It's not often we learn about the secret world of government-paid hackers, but when we do, it's fascinating to see how they they leave their mark.

Comments | 2,759 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

May 21, 2012

Al Qaeda Claims Credit for Massive Suicide Attack in Yemen

There's some very disturbing news out of Yemen today: A suicide bomber dressed in military uniform detonated explosives in the middle of a parade rehearsal, and according to reports killed at least 96 and wounded at least 300. Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility. 

Comments | 862 Views

By John Hudson

May 18, 2012

Will Senator Feinstein Call for an Investigation of the White House?

On Sunday, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said whoever leaked the underwear bomber story must be prosecuted. Does that include White House officials?

Comments | 2,029 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

May 18, 2012

The U.N. Thinks Al-Qaeda Is In Syria

The Secretary General of the United Nations says he believes al-Qaeda is responsible for two massive bombs that killed 55 people in Damascus last week.

Comments | 569 Views

By John Hudson

May 14, 2012

Whoever Leaked the Underwear Bomber Story Ought to Be Nervous

The heat is on a U.S. official responsible for leaking details of al Qaeda's disrupted bomb plot to the Associated Press.

Comments | 6,128 Views

By John Hudson

May 9, 2012

The Underwear Bomber Sting Was an Intel Bonanza

It's difficult to exaggerate the value of the sting operation that foiled Al Qaeda's latest underwear bomb plot.

Comments | 3,966 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

May 7, 2012

The CIA Stopped Another Underwear Bomber

Somewhere, secretly, some American spies deserve a pat on the back and a hero's high five for thwarting an Al Qaeda bomb plot that was supposed to bring down a United States-bound plane.

Comments | 5,143 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

May 3, 2012

Osama Bin Laden Wasn't Really a Media Critic, Okay?

Sprinkled between rants about mobilizing jihadi fighters and destroying the United States, there's an a lot of commentary about the American media in the recently released Osama bin Laden letters. The only problem is that Bin Laden probably didn't write these things.

Comments | 1,207 Views

By Adam Martin

May 3, 2012

Shortcuts to Reading the Newly Declassified Bin Laden Documents

Original document buffs, today is your lucky day: The U.S. government has finally released a trove of 17 documents declassified after the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbotabad, and you can download them in full from the Combatting Terrorism Center.

Comments | 1,537 Views

By John Hudson

May 2, 2012

Al Qaeda Wants You to Know It's Nothing Like Anders Breivik

Infamous terrorist network Al Qaeda may be many terrible things but it's no Anders Breivik. 

Comments | 2,931 Views

By John Hudson

May 1, 2012

A Guide to Al Qaeda's 'Decline'

Is Al Qaeda "in ruins" or "far from defeated"? On the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death, it's impossible to say.

Comments | 1,087 Views

By John Hudson

Mar 30, 2012

Bin Laden's Life on the Lam Wasn't Exactly Inconspicuous

In a major embarrassment for U.S. and Pakistani intelligence officials, new details reveal that the world's most-wanted terrorist wasn't exactly keeping a low-profile in the aftermath of 9/11.

Comments | 3,762 Views

By Eric Randall

Feb 23, 2012

Insurgents Create Chaos in Iraq to Prove Iraq is Chaotic

Several attacks and car bombings across Iraq today have killed at least 55 people and injured hundreds more. The Iraqi Interior Ministry called it a  "frantic race" by insurgents to undermine the nation's stability.

Comments | 345 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Feb 2, 2012

Philippines Trying to Confirm Death of Southeast Asia's Most-Wanted Terrorist

There are reports from the Philippines that government forces killed Zulkifli bin Hir, a man with links to Al Qaeda, for whom the United States posted a $5 million bounty.

Comments | 784 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Dec 12, 2011

Al Qaeda Stages Prisoner Break at Yemeni Jail ... Again

Around 15 al Qaeda militants busted out of a jail in the city of Aden today, making it the fourth jailbreak by al Qaeda in the past eight years, which makes having an al Qaeda prison in Yemen not like having one at all.

Comments | 172 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Dec 2, 2011

Al Qaeda Has Lofty Demands for a Hostage They May Not Have

In exchange for releasing Warren Weinstein, a 70-year-old American aid worker who they may or may not be holding captive, al Qaeda is demanding an end to airstrikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen; the release of Taliban suspects worldwide; and the release of all Guantanamo detainees.

Comments | 719 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Oct 4, 2011

Cartoon

Less Safe with a Democrat in the White House?

Cartoonist Nick Anderson on al Qaeda

Comments | 685 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Sep 30, 2011

Awlaki's Death Raises a Lot of Questions About Killing U.S. Citizens

For instance: did the drone strike violate the constitutional guarantee to due process?

Comments | 3,452 Views

By John Hudson

Sep 28, 2011

The Onion Predicted Al Qaeda's Frustration with 'Ridiculous' Truthers

The terrorist group is a little to eager to claim credit for 9/11

Comments | 4,183 Views

By Erik Hayden

Sep 15, 2011

A Drone Strike Killed a Top Al Qaeda Official on the Anniversary of 9/11

An unnamed official says Abu Hafs al-Shahri was killed earlier this week

Comments | 1,151 Views

By Ted Mann

Sep 10, 2011

Worry About a New Plot Sets Mood for 9/11 Anniversary

New York and D.C. police on alert as Sunday's memorial approaches

Comments | 2,282 Views

By Ted Mann

Sep 4, 2011

Feds Warn Al Qaeda Targeting Small Planes

A new bulletin warns the terrorist group will seek to attack small craft

Comments | 2,316 Views

By John Hudson

Sep 1, 2011

U.S. Air Strikes Kill 30 Al Qaeda Suspects in Yemen

Yemeni forces helped carry out the attack, say reports

Comments | 4,694 Views

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