Prof. Yonah Alexander, PhD, is the Director of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies International Center for Terrorism Studies. He recently commented to the Los Angeles Times about the new "Inspire" website, an online pro-terrorism periodical that some are calling the "Vanity Fair" of Al Qaeda. Experts say "Inspire" is an alarming example of how slick Al Qaeda's propaganda operation has become. Click here to read the article in full.  

Potomac Institute for Policy Studies Fellow Ben Sheppard, PhD, is a terrorism and security analyst who is closely watching the controversy over full-body scanners at airports. Dr. Sheppard has been studying the trend toward the use of these systems as well as biometric identification tools - and accompanying privacy concerns - for years. He asks if a public that is just getting used to full-body scans at airports will someday have to accept them at all kinds of public venues. As early as 2007, Dr. Sheppard wrote in Jane's Defence Weekly, "With airport systems like body imaging leading the technological curve in surveying individuals for threat items and identification, these concepts will increasingly find their way out of the aviation setting to include public transport entrances, major public events such as sporting occasions, and public spaces." Click below to read Dr. Sheppard's original article in full.

With the "new START" nuclear arms treaty encountering seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the lame-duck Congress, the White House is urging Senate skeptics to reconsider.  In the meantime, analysts are looking at what's next if the START treaty is truly a non-starter.  Potomac Institute for Policy Studies Senior Fellow Dan Gallington, a veteran of arms control negotiations with the former Soviet Union, commented to the Washington Times about the issue. Click here to read the article in full.      

The Potomac Institute for Policy Studies is pleased to announce that CDR Derrick Busse, USN (Ret.) has joined the Institute as a Research Fellow in the Strategy, Planning & Programs group. He is currently supporting the Army Geospatial Center.
 
CDR Busse re-joined the Potomac Institute in October 2010 after a 21-year career as a US Naval Officer.  He previously served at the Institute while on active duty, as the Institute’s first Navy Federal Executive Fellow in 2006-2007.  A career naval officer and strategist with over 20 years of experience in operational aviation, test and evaluation, and staff assignments in policy and strategy,  he brings a wealth of technology and policy experience to his work at the Institute.  Click here to read more.