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Perspectives

October 8, 2002: Al Qaeda attack in Kuwait

Two AQ terrorists attacked unarmed US Marines engaged in exercises on Kuwait’s Failaka Island in 2002, killing one and wounding one.

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Podcast 30 – Counter terrorism expert discusses with former Al Qaeda top bomb maker

What happens when you gather together a former Al Qaeda bombmaker, a guy who wanted to be a monk and a former CSIS analyst to talk about terrorism?

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Perspectives

Remember Al Qaeda? It’s baaaacckkk!

When you have been at war with something for almost two decades it is important to declare ‘victory’ at some point. Those whose support you – i.e. the public/taxpayer – need and want to see some results for the actions they are backstopping. Fighting for years with no sense that you are winning is a […]

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Perspectives

Podcast #4 – W(h)ither Al Qaeda?

Here is the script that accompanies episode #4 of the podcast “An Intelligent Look at Terrorism”: W(h)ither Al Qaeda? There are a lot of good pieces on the status of Al Qaeda and here are links to a few of them: https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/08/opinions/where-is-bin-ladens-partner-in-crime-ayman-al-zawahiri/index.html https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-isis-syria-iraq-iran-terror-islamic-state-washington-a8769936.html https://ctc.usma.edu/fighting-the-long-war-the-evolution-of-al-qaida-in-the-arabian-peninsula/ Here is a piece on the assessment of the Office of […]

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Perspectives

No, Al Qaeda never went away

Ready for a “where were you when…?”  question?  I launched my first book last week in Ottawa and my host, the CBC’s Hannah Thibedeau, asked me what my favourite part of ‘An end to the war on terrorism‘ was.  She had warned me she was going to throw that one at me so I had […]

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Perspectives

New Orleans Attack Signifies That Groups Like ISIS and Al-Qaeda Are Still Very Much a Threat

This piece first appeared in The Epoch Times Canada on January 6, 2025. For many around the world, the transition from one year to another is something to celebrate. We usually engage in reviews of the previous 365 days, make resolutions for the next, and party with our friends or attend events to ring in […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh!

Talking with Jesse Morton, former Al-Qaeda recruiter in the US

Episode 106 – A fascinating conversation with Jesse Morton, former to Al Qaeda recruiter in the US

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Is Saudi Arabia really ‘liberalising’?

Episode 284 – Can we deal with the ‘new’ Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia is desperately trying to change its image from an ultraconservative Middle East oil power to a modern state. Much of this change is at the hands of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) who is the darling of the international community and […]

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Podcast Quick Hits

Recognising Palestine is not a ‘reward’ for terrorism

Episode 271 – Why it is important to analyse state recognition objectively If there is one conflict I have tried to stay away from, because it is so intractable, it is Israel-Palestine. The two have been at each other’s throats for decades and terrorist attacks have been carried out on each other’s territory by individuals […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Just how much of a national security concern is the Muslim Brotherhood?

Episode 283 – Why have more nations not listed the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist entity? The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is one of the oldest Islamist organisations, dating back to 1928. It is conservative in its outlook and is seen by some as the inspiration for terrorist groups such as Hamas. And yet, few countries […]