From In Homeland Security After two weeks of heated negotiations and multiple stalls, negotiators in Congress appear to have reached a potential deal that would avoid another partial federal government shutdown on Feb. 15. According to CNN, the details of this tentative agreement include $1.375 billion for border fencing and about 40,520 beds for housing border detainees. […]
International
Afghanistan Exit Must Be Gradual, Measured
The best strategy for the United States withdrawing troops and resources from Afghanistan is one that is cautious, measured, and phased according to a Feb. 6 report from the Center for Strategic & International Studies. “Absent a successful peace negotiation, a U.S. force draw-down should be tied to Afghanistan meeting performance and governance benchmarks and […]
Colombia Still Plagued by Rampant Drug Production
From In Homeland Security Despite several strategies to eradicate domestic cocaine production, Colombia continues to struggle with the massive amount of drugs that are cultivated and manufactured within its borders. Government control measures include the arrest of major drug lords and the dismantling of their cartels, as well as the prosecution of corrupt politicians and […]
Perspective: Family Terror Connections Foster Radicalization
Family terror networks—or alternatively, family-affiliated terrorism—involve two or more people from the same clan who support the threat or use of terrorism. Kin terrorism has appeared across diverse views from religiously motivated precepts to national liberation, and from hate-based ideologies to other viewpoints. Family structures enable higher instances of conversion to radical beliefs given the […]
Escalating Tension Between Iran and Israel
ran has used the Syrian civil war to expand its footprint throughout the Levant, while Israel pushes back. On January 20 and 21, Israel and Iran launched attacks against each other. Israel struck Iranian targets in Syria near the Damascus airport, while Iran launched a medium-range missile into the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.