Analysis
Please find below the most recent in-depth analysis pieces from CriticalThreats.org.
Desknote: The Southern Movement UprisingYemen’s fragile and reversible gains against al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula are threatened by a new challenge: the re-emergence of a violent secessionist movement in the south.
The Afghan EndgamePresident Obama’s decision to withdraw another 34,000 troops from Afghanistan over the course of the next year is unwise.
Iraq’s Return to BloodshedEighteen days of protests in Egypt in 2011 electrified the world. But more than twice that many days of protest in Iraq have gone almost unnoticed in the United States.
Rand Paul's Side EffectsSenator Paul’s most important intellectual error lies precisely in his notion of side effects. Inactivity, too, has side effects, and those must be weighed as seriously as the side effects of proposed actions.
Tribal Militias in Yemen: Al Bayda and Shabwah Local Yemeni tribal militias, called “popular resistance committees,” are now the primary defenders of areas threatened by Ansar al Sharia. These militias have been effective, but are not reliable in the long term.
Map: Al Bayda TribesAl Bayda is a governorate located near Sana'a, Yemen's capital. This map illustrates the approximate locations of tribes within the governorate.
Map: Shabwah TribesThis map depicts the approximate location of the many tribes and tribal groups within Shabwah governorate.
Chart: Qayfa Tribe HierarchyThe Qayfa tribe is a poweful tribe in al Bayda. This chart depicts its various sub-tribes.
Chart: Bani Helal Tribe HierarchyThe Bani Helal is a large tribe in northern Shabwah which includes several sub-tribes. This chart depicts the tribal hierarchy.
Iran-Pakistan Pipeline Moves Forward Despite U.S. Opposition