How ISIL survives: Air strike sirens, tunnels, Internet security checks

How ISIL survives: Air strike sirens, tunnels, Internet security checks

Special to WorldTribune.com By Backgrounder, Geostrategy-Direct.com Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) has developed a multi-pronged approach that has enabled the terror organization to survive Russian and U.S.-led coalition air strikes. Experts say ISIL uses air raid sirens, tunnels, Internet security checks to weed out spies and has moved most of its control posts […]

From lone wolves to high tech: ISIL’s post-Snowden evolution

From lone wolves to high tech: ISIL’s post-Snowden evolution

Special to WorldTribune.com By Backgrounder, Geostrategy-Direct.com Did the actions of Edward Snowden enable Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) to formulate a blueprint that led to the evolution of its “caliphate”? Several experts say that, in the wake of Snowden’s revelations, investigators have intercepted far fewer of ISIL’s communications. The terror group is now […]

Cyberterror emerges as homeland security threat all can relate to

Cyberterror emerges as homeland security threat all can relate to

Special to WorldTribune.com by Dr. Jack Caravelli, Geostrategy-Direct A new survey by California’s Chapman University has identified cyberterrorism as one of the American public’s greatest fears, a national security threat that hits home at all levels. Cyberterrorism occupied a high place on the list of fears, in part, because participants in the survey viewed cyberterrorism […]

ISIL eyes Central Asia as next vulnerable frontier

ISIL eyes Central Asia as next vulnerable frontier

Special to WorldTribune.com By Backgrounder, Geostrategy-Direct.com Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) is massing thousands of jihadists on the northern border of Afghanistan for incursions into Central Asia, Russian intelligence officers said. Taliban fighters have also pledged allegiance to ISIL and are ready to join the battle as the jihadists pass through weak border […]

Russian military plans ‘unified base’, expanded presence in Syria

Russian military plans ‘unified base’, expanded presence in Syria

A senior official in the Russian General Staff has described the military’s plans for constructing a new base in Syria, a strong indication that Russia intends to establish an expanded and permanent military presence there. Col. Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, Chief of the General Staff’s Operations Directorate which plans military missions, describes in an interview in […]

What Syria and Ukraine reveal about Putin and Russia’s military

What Syria and Ukraine reveal about Putin and Russia’s military

Special to WorldTribune.com by Dr. Jack Caravelli, Geostrategy-Direct The 2014 annexation of Crimea and the ongoing civil war in Syria, while major political crises, also are replete with insights about the current state of the Russian military. First, the Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s disdain for Barack Obama is palpable. If the Russian president continues to […]

‘Obama doctrine’ shows signs of utter failure across the Middle East

‘Obama doctrine’ shows signs of utter failure across the Middle East

Special to WorldTribune.com By Backgrounder, Geostrategy-Direct.com The “Obama doctrine” in the Middle East is coming apart at the seams a year after the U.S. president laid out his strategy in a speech at West Point. American-supported and trained forces in Iraq have managed a stalemate, at best, against Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) […]

MI5 chief: Threat to British security is now the highest since 9/11

MI5 chief: Threat to British security is now the highest since 9/11

Special to WorldTribune.com by Dr. Jack Caravelli, Geostrategy-Direct The head of Great Britain’s equivalent of the FBI says the threat from radicalized Islamist recruits is posing the highest threat in over a decade to British security. Andrew Parker, head of MI5, the UK’s domestic security, in remarks posted on the MI5 website, detailed his concerns: […]

Intelligence ‘revolt’ at CENTCOM by 50 analysts is without precedent

Intelligence ‘revolt’ at CENTCOM by 50 analysts is without precedent

Special to WorldTribune.com by Dr. Jack Caravelli, Geostrategy-Direct Russia is using a broad repertoire of economic, diplomatic and military tools to expand its influence in the Middle East, taking advantage of the Obama administration’s broad disengagement there. Once described derisively by Barack Obama as a “local power,” Russia is demonstrating considerable interest and skill in […]

Report: Iran’s defenses at nuclear site on alert for Israeli attack

Report: Iran’s defenses at nuclear site on alert for Israeli attack

Special to WorldTribune.com By Backgrounder, Geostrategy-Direct.com Fearing an Israeli attack, Iran has bolstered its defenses around its nuclear sites. According to a report on Israel’s Channel 10 news, Teheran is particularly worried about an attack before a possible approval of the nuclear deal by the U.S. Congress this month and has raised its alert level […]