Defeating al-Qaeda and Neutralizing Its Support Networks
By Michael Jacobson
This afternoon, the Washington Institute published a piece by Ali Soufan, a former FBI agent, who was one of the Bureau's lead investigators and interrogators in a number of key international terrorism investigations, including the 1998 embassy bombings and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole. Mr. Soufan has received considerable attention in recent months for his op-eds for the New York Times and testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the issue of interrogations.
In the piece for the Institute, Mr. Soufan discusses interrogations and provides recommendations on the division of labor between the FBI and CIA, but he also offers his broader thoughts on US counterterrorism strategy.
Here is an excerpt:
In mid-June, a group of tourists visiting Yemen's tribal areas were brutally murdered by terrorists most likely connected to al-Qaeda. This tragic event underscores a particularly difficult challenge for the United States and its allies: as al-Qaeda's activities are undermined in one part of the world, it adapts and moves its operations elsewhere. Yemen and Somalia -- where the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab movement is now a major force -- are the latest examples of this phenomenon. To thwart al-Qaeda's versatility, our counterterrorism strategy must adapt to the terrorist organization's changing modus operandi and theaters of battle. We also need to improve our ability to counter asymmetrical threats, which require more than just a military response. Against a foe like al Qaeda which operates in the shadows, it's intelligence that is crucial to defeating them. It is therefore crucial that we use the best and most effective intelligence-collection methods, and that our key counterterrorism agencies work seamlessly together.
To read the rest of the piece, click here.
