home > about cfr > leadership and staff > bruce o. riedel
Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution
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Counter-terrorism; Arab-Israeli issues; Persian Gulf security; India and Pakistan
Experience:Past Positions
Special Advisor, NATO, Brussels, Belgium (2003-2006); Member, Royal College of Defense Studies, London, UK (2002-2003); Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and North African Affairs, National Security Council (2001-2002); Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs, National Security Council (1997-2001); Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asian Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense (1995-1997); National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South Asian Affairs, National Intelligence Council (1993-1995); Director for Gulf and South Asia Affairs, National Security Council (1991-1993); Deputy Chief Persian Gulf Task Force, Central Intelligence Agency (1990-1991); Various assignments, Central Intelligence Agency (1977-1990)
October 8, 2009
Interview
The coordinator of President Barack Obama's original Afghan policy, Bruce Riedel, says political and security changes in Afghanistan and "sticker shock" in Washington have contributed to delays in carrying out a new U.S. military strategy.
See more in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Defense Strategy
May 2009
Must Read
"A country rarely fights the same war twice in one generation, especially from opposite sides." Yet Bruce Riedel writes that in many ways the idea describes the United States' current role in Afghanistan. Pakistan's role as a safe haven is remarkably consistent in both conflicts, but that similarity fails to account for the fundamental differences between the two wars. Riedel addresses the differences, and assesses how Pakistan's role is impacting the possibilities for success today.
See more in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Terrorism
May 6, 2009
Interview
Bruce Riedel, who chaired a special interagency committee to develop President Obama's policy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, says "the situation remains dire" in the region and it's crucial that the U.S. Congress expedite legislation on an economic aid package for Pakistan.
See more in Afghanistan, Pakistan, International Peace and Security
January 28, 2009
Interview
Bruce O. Riedel, an expert on South Asia, who has worked for the CIA, Pentagon, and National Security Council, says getting Pakistan to close down sanctuaries for Taliban militants poses the toughest test for the region's new special representative, Richard Holbrooke.
See more in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Democracy Promotion
January 26, 2009
Must Read
This New York Times online feature displays a multiplicity of opinions on what steps are necessary to reverse backsliding in Afghanistan. Kori Schake, Andrew Exum, Bruce Riedel, John Nagl, and Parag Khanna provide commentary.
See more in Afghanistan, International Peace and Security
September 12, 2008
Interview
Bruce Riedel, a former high-ranking CIA and Pentagon official, says the United States faces a very frustrating situation in Pakistan, and that the recent U.S. cross-border attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan is risky given the anti-Americanism in Pakistan.
See more in United States, Pakistan, Terrorism
May 6, 2008
Must Read
The Brookings Institution's Bruce Riedel lays out a new U.S. policy agenda toward Pakistan for the next president. He says the United States has failed democratic forces in Pakistan, and must change course in order to better support the country on its "torturous path to democracy." He also says the United States must "greatly intensify efforts to ensure the security of Pakistan's weapons arsenal."
See more in Pakistan, U.S. Election 2008
April 29, 2008
Interview
South Asia expert Bruce Riedel sees the continuing development of U.S.-India ties as a major accomplishment of President Bush, who has built on steps taken by his predecessor.
See more in United States, India, Trade, Energy, Diplomacy
April 17, 2008
Other Report
Bruce Riedel traveled to India in February to meet with business leaders, government officials, and members of the media. Riedel notes that much of the conversations revolved around Iran's pursuit of nuclear capabilities and the Iran-India relationship. Some in the United States have strongly criticized India for maintaining strong economic relations with Iran and for having exchanges of low-level military delegations. Riedel notes that although India opposes a nuclear Iran, its ties with Iran will lead it to oppose use of a military option against Iran.
See more in Middle East, Proliferation, U.S. Strategy and Politics, Presidency, U.S. Election 2008
December 27, 2007
Interview
Bruce Riedel, a former CIA official and key South Asia policymaker in the 1990s, says he believes Benazir Bhutto’s assassination “was almost certainly the work of al-Qaeda or al-Qaeda’s Pakistani allies.”
See more in Pakistan, International Peace and Security
June 1, 2007
Transcript
Lawrence Wright and Bruce Riedel discuss the continuing influence of al-Qaeda as both an ideology and an organization, and where and why the U.S. has not fully understood or not adequately combated the threat of global terrorism.
See more in Afghanistan, Defense Strategy, National Security and Defense, Economics, Terrorism
May 31, 2007
Audio
Listen to Bruce O. Riedel, senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, and Lawrence Wright, staff writer for the New Yorker, discuss the continuing influence of Al-Qaeda and whether the United States has fully understood and adequately combatted the threat of global terrorism.
See more in Terrorist Organizations
April 26, 2007
Transcript
In this Foreign Affairs-sponsored call, Al-Qaeda Strikes Back author Bruce Riedel argues that al-Qaeda is trying to lure the United States into a war with Iran and that Osama Bin Laden's group now has more bases, more partners, and more followers today than it did on the eve of 9/11.
See more in Middle East, Iran, Homeland Security, Terrorist Organizations
May/June 2007
Foreign Affairs Article — Summary
By rushing into Iraq instead of finishing off the hunt for Osama bin Laden, Washington has unwittingly helped its enemies: al Qaeda has more bases, more partners, and more followers today than it did on the eve of 9/11. Now the group is working to set up networks in the Middle East and Africa -- and may even try to lure the United States into a war with Iran. Washington must focus on attacking al Qaeda's leaders and ideas and altering the local conditions in which they thrive.
See more in Havens for Terrorism
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