Counterterrorism

Must Read

Esquire: Africa Command

Author: Thomas Barnett

A few years ago, with little fanfare, the United States opened a base in the horn of Africa to kill or capture Al Qaeda fighters. By 2012, the Pentagon will have two dozen such forts. The story of Africa Command, the American military's new frontier outpost.

See more in Horn of Africa, United States, Counterterrorism

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AI: United Kingdom: Deportations to Algeria at All Costs

Amnesty International reports that the United Kingdom authorities are attempting to deport more than 15 Algerian men considered to be a ‘threat to national security’ to their country of origin, contrary to the prohibition of sending persons to countries where they face a real risk of serious human rights violations, including torture or other ill-treatment. Amnesty says it is concerned that the UK authorities’ claims against these men are based on secret information, including intelligence material, never disclosed to the individuals concerned or their lawyers of choice.

See more in Algeria, Counterterrorism

Analysis Brief

Hometown Security

Author: Eben Kaplan

Responsibility for safeguarding the homeland often falls to state and local governments in spite of the increased federal role after 9/11. Of these thousands of agencies, New York City has moved the most aggressively, creating a counterterrorism bureau complete with overseas agents and intelligence analysts.

See more in United States, Homeland Security, Counterterrorism

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AI: Pakistan: Working to stop human rights violations in the "war on terror"

According to this report from Amnesty International, in cooperating with the US-led "war on terror", the Pakistani government has committed human rights violations against hundreds of Pakistani and foreign nationals. Hundreds of people have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in secret; becoming victims of enforced disappearance. Many have been tortured, with their families subjected to harassment and threats. The right to habeas corpus has been systematically undermined, and hundreds of detainees have been unlawfully transferred (sometimes in return for money) to other countries. Amnesty argues that such transfers violate Pakistan’s Extradition Act and the principle of ‘non-refoulement,’ which prohibits the transfer of people to countries where there is a risk of them being subjected to serious human rights violations such as torture and other forms of ill-treatment or enforced disappearance.

See more in Pakistan, Humanitarian Organizations, Counterterrorism