In the decade since 9/11, the U.S. has dramatically altered its counterterrorism strategy. Focus on Al Qaeda's as an existential threat to our society has waned. Drone strikes in Afghanistan and the targeted assassinations of Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki demonstrate how much the security establishment changed its approach since President George W. Bush declared a “war on terror.”
As Pentagon Correspondent for the New York Times, Thom Shanker has witnessed the evolution of our nation’s counterterrorism effort from the inside. Along with his colleague Eric Schmitt, Thom recently published a book synthesizing the last ten years of his work. It’s called Counterstrike: the Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda. We sit down with Thom to talk about America's evolving approach to terrorism.