Remembering 9/11: Recommended National Security Reads

Over two decades since the tragic events of the September 11 terrorist attack, our world — and how we think about national security, both foreign and domestic — has been reshaped. From endless wars in the Middle East, to the creation of a new federal department, and to the evolving security landscape and ways we now perceive conflict: the main terrorist threat today in the United States is best understood as emerging from across political party lines.

For over 10 years, New America has been a trusted resource on terrorism, America’s role in the Middle East, and the threat of extremists. New America’s International Security Program is a home for scholars, fellows, and practitioners studying some of today’s toughest security challenges.

For the latest thinking on new and emerging global challenges, from the rise of domestic extremism to future cybersecurity threats, join us for our virtual Future Security Forum conference on September 13. Hosted by New America and Arizona State University, the Forum brings together experts, journalists, and researchers to explore pressing issues in security.

In the meantime, here are some recommended reads to understand the state of terrorism in the United States and prepare you for the discussions to come at Future Security Forum:

The Rise and Fall of Osama Bin Laden, by Peter Bergen

Written by New America Vice President Peter Bergen, The Rise and Fall of Osama Bin Laden tells the story of Bin Laden the man while intertwining it with the story of the U.S. response to his rise in both its successes and its disastrous failures. While new documents help provide greater insight, the look back at the early years of the war on terror will also be a valuable reminder for many, more than two decades on.
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The Bin Laden Papers, by Nelly Lahoud

New America International Security Program Senior Fellow Nelly Lahoud’s The Bin Laden Papers provides a powerful retelling of the story of Bin Laden and al-Qaeda based on a review of the trove of documents that U.S. Special Forces brought back from the raid on Bin Laden. The book’s analysis of these documents is valuable in its own right, shedding detail on the workings of al-Qaeda, its relations with other states and groups, and the personal lives of the Bin Laden family. However, it is also valuable for the analytic lens it adopts in relying only upon the documents themselves, bringing readers straight to the source after decades of highly politicized reporting.
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America’s Endless Counterterrorism War in Yemen, by David Sterman

In this report, New America Senior Policy Analyst David Sterman tracks the U.S. counterterrorism and drone war in Yemen. The report traces the threat posed by al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen and U.S. objectives across three administrations, and warns of the endless character that the war has taken on even as the number of U.S. strikes appears to have come to a standstill.
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