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The article discusses how U.S. war efforts in Iraq have created a haven in that country for al-Qaeda. Before the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, al-Qaeda had almost no presence in the country, but since the destabilization brought on by the Iraq War, al-Qaeda has more profoundly established itself within Iraq's borders. Discussed is how Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had joined forces with al-Qaeda to foster terrorism in Iraq.

The article explains the causes of the terrorist attacks launched by the al Qaeda group at the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia on September 11, 2001. Explanations are categorized into plausible but flawed theories and more credible theories. The flawed theories include poverty, the Madrasas issue on creating terrorist and the hate of the freedom-loving people. While the most credible reason is the flawed strategic reasoning of Osama Bin Laden.

Presents views and insights of the author on the BBC documentary film "The Power of Nightmares" on the significance of Al Qaeda as the loophole in the national security initiatives of the U.S. Questions raised in the film regarding the political manipulation of fear; Historical development of modern terrorism under the teachings of Egyptian literary critic Sayyid Qutb and the rise of radical Islam; Rationale behind the view of director Adam Curtis on the ideological struggle between American neoconservatism and Islamic radicalism; Views on the rise of Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama Bin Laden and the formation of the Al Qaeda terrorist networks; Contention of Curtis that the U.S. government overlooked the Al Qaeda threat before the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Reports on how the war in Iraq has fueled the terrorist network Al Qaeda and ignited its dream of global jihad. Announcement of U.S. President George W. Bush on the end of major combat operations in Iraq in May 2003; Information on how the war has hampered the campaign against Al Qaeda according to experts both within and outside the U.S. government; Most emblematic failure of the war on terrorism.

Focuses on the role of writer Laurie Mylroie in the belief that Saddam Hussein posed an imminent threat to the U.S. Career background of Mylroie; Overview of her book "Study of Revenge: Saddam Hussein's Unfinished War Against America" that presented the theory that Saddam Hussein was the mastermind of anti-U.S. terrorist conspiracy; Discovery that led Mylroie to present her theory.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience as a news correspondent covering the Al Qaeda terrorist organization since the 1990s.

The article looks at the country of Afghanistan in 2011 and speculates on its future. The author believes that Afghanistan will be able to overcome its history under Taliban rule and develop economically. Statistics on the opinions of Afghan citizens on the presence of the U.S. military in Afghanistan are presented. The announcement of U.S. President Barack Obama that American forces will remain in Afghanistan until the end of 2014 is also discussed. The author comments on the economic opportunities awaiting Afghanistan, focusing on the discovery of copper and gold deposits.

In this article, the author argues that the U.S. military should have withdrawn from Afghanistan long ago and should give up supporting a losing cause. The article also notes that a withdrawal in the near future is very unlikely even though it is speculated that the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama knows that its goals are unachievable. The Obama administration has hopes that it will ensure that a stable Afghanistan government will be built and that there will be a Pakistani government that works with the U.S. to destroy terrorist groups.

Profiles Osama bin Laden, a terrorist leader and a multimillionaire businessman in Saudi Arabia. Career history of bin Laden; Formation of World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and crusaders in 1998; View of bin Laden on the United States government concept of terrorism; Family background of bin Laden.

The article discusses the status of the Afghan war, referring to U.S. President Barack Obama's so-called Af-Pak countersanctuary strategy designed to eliminate safe havens for Taliban and al-Qaeda operatives. It notes theories regarding advances that the Taliban would make in Afghanistan were it not for the presence of international military forces.

Several letters to the editor are presented regarding the article "Waltzing with Warlords," by Peter Bergen, which appeared in the January 1, 2007 issue of "Nation." A response to these letters is provided by Bergen, where he discusses the themes of his initial article, which focused on Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

In this article the author examines the phenomenon of young British men of Pakistani descent becoming allies and operatives of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda. They examine the origins of this militancy, citing the young men's lack of attachment to a British society they feel doesn't accept them, the high rate of unemployment among them and a large percentage of youths who trace their origins to the disputed Kashmir region of the Indian subcontinent.

Focuses on Osama bin Laden and his alleged involvement in terrorist attacks on the United States. Reasons why bin Laden is thought to be involved; Description of his organization "Al Qaeda," which employed suicide bombers and pilots capable of flying planes for attack; Mention of attacks of bin Laden against the U.S. during the 1990s; Indications that bin Laden's followers were planning renewed anti-American attacks; Information on a video tape made by Al Qaeda that began circulating in the Middle East and appeared on the internet; Mention of bin Laden's Al Farooq training camp in Afghanistan; Reference made by bin Laden to Al Qaeda's role in a series of anti-American attacks.

Focuses on the rise in fundamentalist militancy in London. Claims of holy war by the Islamic fundamentalists against the state of Israel; Views that a wider Islamic movement has mushroomed in London; London has emerged as the hub of Islamic groups; Views that some the groups may be political or media organizations and other involved in activities of holy war around the world; Reasons for the choice of London as the center; Views that Great Britain has a tradition of offering asylum to political refugees; Existence of sizeable Muslim communities in London; Views that Great Britain has an accommodating welfare system; Reference to Abu Hamza as the most mediagenic of the Islamists; Views that the tolerance for dissenters in Great Britain might be thinning because of the anti-social activities of militants.

Presents information about militant groups operating against India for control over Jammu & Kashmir, the disputed region between India and Pakistan. Information that Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HUM) allegedly supported the hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight in last year in order to release an important cleric member of HUM; Reasons for people to be drawn into terrorist groups such as Tehrik and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba; Description of Pakistan's support for such groups, including groups which maintain offices in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

The article profiles Pakistani tribal leader Baitullah Mehsud, who is one of the world's 100 most influential people, according to "Time" magazine. Allegations that Mehsud ordered the assassination of the campaigning former head of state Benazir Bhutto on December 27, 2007 are discussed. Mehsud avoids publicity but is credited with leading a large group of militants in Pakistan. His stated plans to commit terrorist attacks against New York City and London, England are mentioned.

The article profiles Ayman Al-Zawahiri, leader of the militant group Al Jihad and the public face of al-Qaeda. Al-Zawahiri is quickly becoming more well known than al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, who has had a relatively low profile compared to the prolific al-Zawahiri, who takes pleasure in taunting United States President George W. Bush in his videotapes.

Presents an account of the author's personal visits to Kabul, Afghanistan in the wake of the imposed control of the Taliban, a band of Islamic students. Discussion on how their previous vice and virtue laws which banned entertainment and employment for women have informally changed; Reasons as to why they have become more liberal for the sake of modernization; Job opportunities permissible for women such as working in bakeries; Details of frequent human rights abuse by the Taliban.

The article discusses the use of remotely-piloted aircraft, or drone aircraft, in Pakistan during the presidencies of former U.S. President George W. Bush and U.S. President Barack Obama. Destruction and civilian casualties caused by missiles launched from drones such as the Predator are explored. The use of drones to target officials of the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, extremists, and militants in Pakistan is examined.

The article focuses on Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon and an active jihadist. Al-Zawahiri is as much the force behind Islamic military organization al-Qaeda, as his more famous friend Osama bin Laden, the organization's leader. al-Zawahiri made a powerful impression on bin Laden when they met in Pakistan in 1986. bin Laden was funding al-Zawahiri's militant group Al Jihad, while Egyptian militants close to al-Zawahiri started helping bin Laden to form al-Qaeda.

The article states that it is one of the widespread assumptions of the war on terrorism that the Muslim religious schools known as madrassas, catering to families that are often poor, are graduating students who become terrorists. Last year, Secretary of State Colin Powell denounced madrassas in Pakistan and several other countries as breeding grounds for "fundamentalists and terrorists." While madrassas may breed fundamentalists who have learned to recite the Qur'an in Arabic by rote, such schools do not teach the technical or linguistic skills necessary to be an effective terrorist.

Focuses on the international counterterrorism conference and the national election held in 2005 on the possible democratization of Saudi Arabia. Number of terrorist attacks in Iraq from May 2003 to February 2005; Efforts of the Saudi military in capturing terrorists; Security at the terrorism conference.

The authors present several essays calling for the U.S. government to end all use of torture to detainees. They note that over the past decade, voters have had many legitimate worries: stagnant wages, corruption in Washington, terrorism and a botched war in Iraq. But they believe that when Americans look back years from now, what will shame them most is that the country abandoned a bedrock principle of civilized nations which is that torture is without exception wrong.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to Jonathan Mahler's article about the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in the October 18, 2015 issue.