Counter-terrorism; Arab-Israeli issues; Persian Gulf security; India and Pakistan
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)
M.A., Harvard University, 1977; B.A., Brown University, 1975
The United States continues to pursue peace talks with Afghanistan's Taliban as a means to secure stability. Bruce Riedel discusses the challenges faced by the administration, including its ongoing tensions with Pakistan.
See more in Afghanistan, International Peace and Security, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Bruce Riedel discusses what the selection of Saudi Prince Nayef will mean for regional politics in the Middle East and U.S. interests.
See more in Saudi Arabia, Democracy and Human Rights, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Bruce O. Riedel stresses the need to reshape U.S. policy toward Pakistan.
See more in Pakistan, U.S. Strategy and Politics
The country's president, Ali Abdallah Saleh, has returned, and already he's brutalizing demonstrators. Bruce Riedel writes that the power grab is about to lead to full-scale civil war.
See more in Yemen, Political Movements
In light of potentially insurmountable challenges to Obama's Afghanistan plan, Michale O'Hanlon and Bruce Ridel express alarm over alternative propositions that emphasize targeted counterterrorism operations, and outline their own fallback option. (Washington Quarterly)
See more in Afghanistan, Defense/Homeland Security, Democracy and Human Rights
In The National Interest, Bruce Riedel comments on the al-Qaeda plot to terrorize "Obama's city" of Chicago on the eve of U.S. elections back in 2010, noting that the Saudi spy who defected to our allies underscores the importance of U.S. alliances in the Middle East.
See more in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Defense/Homeland Security
Bruce Riedel, senior fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, wonders in this Brookings Up Front blog if it is time for the U.S. to confront Pakistan about its possible collusions with militant and terrorist organizations.
Interview In the event of a successful terrorist attack by Pakistan-based militants, U.S. actions toward Pakistan are limited, but the United States can help Pakistan intensify its fight against extremism, says South Asia security expert Bruce Riedel.
See more in Pakistan, State Sponsors of Terrorism
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
