Experts
Paul Cruickshank
NYU Center on Law & Security; Terrorism Specialist
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As the media capital of the world, New York has significant symbolic value. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Prosecuting Radicals without Alienating Moderate Muslims
Although some may sympathize with some al-Qaeda’s goals, says Cruickshank, they draw the line at killing people. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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American and European Approaches to Terror
Despite a larger and more vocal Muslim population, Europe has proven far more effective at counter-terrorism than the United States. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Could al-Qaeda seize power in Pakistan?
Democracy in Pakistan would undermine al-Qaeda, but the U.S. can’t be the one to initiate it, says Cruickshank. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Although terrorists do not yet have access to nuclear weaponry, Pakistan has nuclear weapons and Cruickshank thinks this is a worrying situation. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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How has Al-Qaeda changed since 9/11?
At the time of 9/11, Bin Laden was discouraged, but the Iraq War changed all that. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Predicted operations aim for economic damage Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Why hasn't al-Qaeda attacked the U.S. again?
If another terrorist attack were to occur on American soil, it would be on a smaller scale, says Cruickshank. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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What can the average citizen do to combat terrorism?
The efforts of ordinary citizens have contributed to Al-Qaeda’s inability to launch another attack, Cruickshank says. Read More
June 2, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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The death of Benazir Bhutto and the recent rash of suicide attacks do not bode well, says Cruickshank. Read More
May 31, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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With American support, Iraqi Awakening Councils are resisting al-Qaeda’s control, says Cruickshank. Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy, World
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Is Iran the biggest sponsor of world terrorism?
Although Iran has ties to Hezbollah and Syria has ties to Hamaas, al-Qaeda’s unique mobility and effectiveness comes from their lack of affiliation. Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict the flames of jihadism?
More radical than Hamaas, bin Laden uses the conflict to the advantage of al-Qaeda. Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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The Best Strategy for Dealing with al-Qaeda
How American policy can be more effective under the next administration? Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Is there a common thread in Al-Qaeda's more recent attacks?
Potential recruits for Al Qaeda are increasingly turned off by the kiling, particularly of Muslim victims, says Cruickshank. Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Re: Could Iraq turn into a Taliban-like state?
Description: Despite the efforts of U.S. troops, the danger of Iraq becoming a refuge for terrorism is greater now than before the war, says Cruickshank. Could Iraq turn into a Taliban-like state? Cruickshank: I mean the worst case scenario is, you know, the precipitous U.S. withdrawal from Iraq; a civil war happening in that country on a larger scale than it’s happened in the past between two organized camps; and part of that country becoming incredibly chaotic . . . even more chaotic than it is now; a young population becoming more radicalized; and Al Qaeda sort of gaining increased control over territory by exploiting Sunni grievances against Shiia in parts of Iraq. If that’s the case, then you could see part of Iraq becoming, if you like, a laboratory for terrorism; a very radicalized area a little bit like the tribal areas in Pakistan where Al Qaeda’s ideology might hold sway. That’s certainly possible. But you’ve gotta remember that in Iraq you have a lot of different dynamics to the Pakistan tribal areas in the sense that the Sunnis are the minority of the population of Iraq. So you’re never gonna get a whole part of the country being dominated by Al Qaeda. The idea that Al Qaeda could ever take over Iraq is ridiculous. But Al Qaeda could gain control of certain parts of the country. And what we’re talking about here is a set of hypothetical things which could happen, because we’ve got to remember that Al Qaeda are really on the back foot in Iraq right now. And their behavior has been very counterproductive. But this is all about a precipitous U.S. withdrawal and what could still happen. So I think there’s a very strong argument for leaving a large U.S. troop presence which could be, say, in the high tens of thousands in the country to make sure that none of these hypotheticals have a chance to become reality. And also just for humanitarian reasons within the country, the United States is a buffer between the communities there. And it is the power which is stopping Iraqis from engaging in much worse violence than they’ve already been engaging in. Recorded on: Jan 14 2008 Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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What if the next president quickly withdraws American troops from Iraq?
Al-Qaeda would profit from the violence following a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops, says Cruickshank. Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
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Is another terrorist attack on the U.S. inevitable?
The level of alertness among the American people and government makes another 9/11 unlikely, says Cruickshank. Read More
May 30, 2008 | In Politics & Policy
Paul Cruickshank is a Fellow at the Center on Law and Security at New York University's School of Law. He previously worked as an investigative journalist in London, reporting on al Qaeda and its European affiliates and was part of the CNN reporting team that covered the London July 7, 2005 attacks. He collaborated closely with Peter Bergen in interviewing acquaintances of Osama bin Laden for Bergen's 2006 oral history "The Osama bin Laden I Know" and worked with CNN on a two-hour Emmy-nominated documentary "In the footsteps of bin Laden." Cruickshank has written about al Qaeda and Islamist groups for a number of publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Republic and Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. He has provided on-air analysis to CNN, BBC, NBC, CBS, BBC, Fox News and Al Jazeera on national security issues. Cruickshank graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in history, and has a Masters degree with Honors in International Relations from the Paul. H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the Johns Hopkins University. He has also worked in the European Parliament in Brussels and at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C.
