Bill Roggio, Author at FDD's Long War Journal

Generation Jihad Ep. 159 — Six months of war in Gaza and Hamas still ≠ ISIS

Bill Roggio | April 12, 2024

Bill is joined by LWJ’s Seth Frantzman just after the six-month mark of Israel’s defensive war in Gaza resulting from the October 7 attack by Hamas. They discuss Seth’s latest visit to border communities in Israel and whether there’s a realistic timeline for still-evacuated citizens to return, disturbing reports that Hamas has apparently lost track of which hostages are dead or alive, and Tehran’s possible response to Israel’s April 1 assassination of an IRGC-QF commander in Damascus as we enter day ~seven of bracing for an imminent Iranian attack against Israel within 24-48 hours.

Generation Jihad Ep. 152 — About that Afghanistan hearing yesterday…

Bill Roggio | March 20, 2024

Flying solo for this episode, Bill shares his thoughts on yesterday’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing with Generals Milley and McKenzie — including the questions they *should* have asked (but failed to).

Pakistani military, Afghan Taliban exchange fire along the border

Bill Roggio | March 18, 2024

Whatever disputes the Pakistani state has with the Taliban, it is unlikely that its strategic depth with respect to India and strategic relations with the Taliban will be discarded for the lives of hundreds of Pakistani citizens.

Generation Jihad Ep. 146 — Update from Israel

Bill Roggio | February 28, 2024

Seth Frantzman is back on the show with Bill to provide an update from his perspective on the ground in Israel.

Generation Jihad Ep. 141 — PSA: “Iran + Iran ≠ anything other than Iran”

Bill Roggio | February 9, 2024

This episode features the most special guest to join Generation Jihad in two years: Thomas Joscelyn.

Bill’s OG partner in crime is back on the show to discuss the newest variant of Disconnect-the-Dots Disease and its primary benefactor who also happens to be the arsonist behind the dumpster fire currently engulfing the Middle East — and the dangerous cost of American ambivalence.

Al Qaeda opens 8 new training camps, 5 madrasas, and a facilitation network to Iran in Afghanistan

Bill Roggio | February 1, 2024

Al Qaeda continues to build its network and infrastructure in Afghanistan after the fall of the Afghan government. Al Qaeda opened eight new training camps, five madrasas, a weapons depot and safe houses in Afghanistan that are used to facilitate the movement of its members to and from Iran.

U.S. and Houthis continue to trade fire in and off the coast of Yemen

Bill Roggio | February 1, 2024

Despite the incessant attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis and Iranian proxy militias in Iraq and Syria, the Biden administration continues to insist it is not at war with Iran.

Iraqi government ‘condemns’ retaliatory U.S. airstrikes on Hezbollah Brigades

Bill Roggio | December 27, 2023

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani also denounced militia attacks on U.S. forces, however he is powerless to stop them. The Iranian-backed militias report to Sudani, but do not follow his orders. They are loyal to Iran.

Generation Jihad Ep. 129 — Measuring the prosperity of Operation Prosperity

Bill Roggio | December 22, 2023

Bill is joined by Friday co-host Behnam Ben Taleblu to check in on the U.S.-led coalition formed earlier this week in response to increased maritime aggression from the Iran-backed Houthis. Spoiler: France seems to already be backing out. They examine countries noticeably absent from the bloc, like Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. They also ponder the strategic nature of Operation Prosperity Guardian — is it only defensive? How about going on the offensive to prevent Houthi attacks in the first place? Bill thinks he’s seen this movie before. It’s the one where they ignore the core of the issue.

Generation Jihad Ep. 128 — Operation Prosperity Guardian, the Houthis, and CDR Salamander

Bill Roggio | December 19, 2023

Bill is joined by CDR Salamander to discuss the coalition announced today by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during his trip to the Middle East. The coalition — made up of the UK, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain in partnership with the US — was formed with the objective of “ensuring freedom of navigation in the Red Sea” following the recent uptick in Houthi aggression and attacks in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden area.

U.S. forms coalition to counter Houthi threat on international shipping; Houthis appear undeterred

Bill Roggio | December 19, 2023

The U.S. announces the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian as Houthi attacks have ground international shipping transiting the Red Sea through the Suez Canal to a halt as multiple shippers are now bypassing the dangerous waterway. It is unclear if the operation will be offensive or defensive in nature.

Generation Jihad Ep. 126 — “They don’t pass out candy in war.”

Bill Roggio | December 15, 2023

Bill is back with FDD Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu (now also a Generation Jihad co-host, you heard it here first) to unpack and contextualize this week’s headlines stemming from the Middle East.

They discuss the politics of diplomacy and analyze recent trips and statements made by key players like Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and President Biden himself; whether U.S. support for Israel is at a crossroads, and what message this could send to U.S. partners and allies (and enemies) around the world; an apparent U.S. intelligence leak estimating that 45% of Israeli munition used in Gaza has not been precision-guided; and more.

Generation Jihad Ep. 123 — The Afghanistan affliction

Bill Roggio | December 7, 2023

Bill is joined by Stu Velasco and Zach Popp of The Boardwalk Podcast (also hosted by Kyle Reynolds who couldn’t make it, shoutout Kyle Reynolds) to discuss the trials and tribulations of their time in service to the U.S. during the long war.

Testimony – Go-to-Zero: Joe Biden’s withdrawal order and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan

Bill Roggio | November 14, 2023

Bill Roggio testified before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability, on the order to withdraw from Afghanistan and the impact on the Afghan government and security forces.

Iran-backed militias continue to attack U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria

Bill Roggio | October 30, 2023

Iran’s militias in Iraq and Syria have launched at least 24 strikes, primarily with drones, rockets, and mortars on U.S. military bases since Oct. 17. Five of the attacks took place after the U.S. military struck IRGC weapons depots in Syria in a failed effort to reestablish deterrence.

U.S. military strikes Iranian assets in Syria after weeks of militia attacks

Bill Roggio | October 27, 2023

In response to a spate of attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq and Syria by Iran-backed militias, the U.S. military struck two IRGC weapons storage sites in Syria. After years of largely ignoring these strikes, the Biden administration wants to deter the militias from future assaults. It may be too late.

U.S. warship intercepts missiles fired by Iran-backed Houthis

Bill Roggio | October 19, 2023

The USS Carney intercepted three missiles fired from Yemen as it was patrolling the Red Sea. The missiles appear to have been fired at Israel.

U.S. offers $5 million reward for Shabaab’s deputy emir

Bill Roggio | October 18, 2023

Abukar Ali Adan, the deputy leader of Shabaab, Al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, is a dangeorus commander who has led the group’s military wing and has ties to other Al Qaeda branches in African and on the Arabian Peninsula.

Shabaab responds to FDD’s Long War Journal study on its suicide bombings

Bill Roggio | October 11, 2023

Shabaab denied “randomly” targeting civilians in its suicide bombings. This is a mischaracterization of the data on its suicide campaign.

U.S. military captures ISIS official in helicopter raid in Syria

Bill Roggio | September 26, 2023

The raid is the latest against the Islamic State’s network in Iraq and Syria, which has been weakened since it lost its physical caliphate in 2019 but continues to persist.

On eve of 9/11 Anniversary, U.S. officials continue to downplay Al Qaeda’s presence in Afghanistan

Bill Roggio | September 11, 2023

After nearly two decades of abysmal assessments from U.S. intelligence officials and policy makers on Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, the latest claims that the terror group is “at its historical nadir” should be taken with more than a grain of salt.

Generation Jihad Ep. 99 — The Kabul Fiasco

Bill Roggio | August 30, 2023

Bill is joined by Jerry Dunleavy and James Hasson to discuss their new book: Kabul: The Untold Story of Biden’s Fiasco — from the Biden administration’s deeply flawed decision to withdraw from Afghanistan to its equally disastrous execution of the withdrawal, which was completed two years ago today.

Two years after U.S. withdrawal, the Taliban enjoys an iron-fisted grip on Afghanistan

Bill Roggio | August 15, 2023

The Afghan people continue to suffer as the Taliban consolidates its power. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s support for Al Qaeda, the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, and a number of regional terror groups grows.

Generation Jihad Ep. 96 — New UN report on al Qaeda and the Islamic State

Bill Roggio | August 1, 2023

Bill is again joined by Generation Jihad regular Ambassador Edmund Fitton-Brown to discuss the latest report from the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team (which Edmund previously led). Released on July 25, 2023, the Team’s thirty-second report provides an update on al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Bill and Edmund unpack findings, discuss a few highlights, and also explain some points of disagreement.

Taliban again denies TTP presence in Afghanistan

Bill Roggio | July 21, 2023

The Afghan Taliban continues to claim that there are no foreign terror groups operating inside their country, despite all evidence to the contrary. The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan has an extensive footprint in Afghanistan.

Fact Check: President Biden’s claim Al Qaeda is not in Afghanistan is demonstrably false

Bill Roggio | July 1, 2023

“I said Al Qaeda would not be there,” President Biden said about Afghanistan. “I said we’d get help from the Taliban… I was right.” Except Al Qaeda is indeed in Afghanistan and is receiving support from the Taliban.

Afghan Taliban and Al Qaeda aiding Pakistani Taliban’s insurgency

Bill Roggio | June 16, 2023

The Afghan Taliban has vehemently objected to the lest UN report, as it punches gaping holes into the Taliban’s narrative that it does not shelter and support foreign terror groups. However, the presence of the TTP, Al Qaeda and a host of other terror groups in Afghanistan is undeniable.

Generation Jihad Ep. 94 — Al Qaeda has key roles in Taliban’s Afghanistan

Bill Roggio | June 15, 2023

Bill welcomes back to the show Generation Jihad regular Ambassador Edmund Fitton-Brown. Now a member of the Counter Extremism Project’s advisory board, Edmund previously served as the UK’s Ambassador to Yemen and later as the coordinator of the U.N. Security Council’s Sanctions Monitoring Team.

Edmund’s former team at the U.N. just released its latest report on Afghanistan which details (among other troubling issues) just how embedded al Qaeda is in Afghanistan’s Taliban government.

Bill and Edmund dissect the report’s findings.

Al Qaeda actively operating training camps in 5 Afghan provinces

Bill Roggio | June 13, 2023

Al Qaeda has established training camps in five Afghan provinces, as well as safe houses and a media center. The Taliban-Al Qaeda relationship is strong. Al Qaeda most certainly has not declined, nor has it been decimated or defeated.

Al Qaeda leaders are prominently serving in Taliban government

Bill Roggio | June 11, 2023

Three prominent dual hatted Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders serve in key positions within the Taliban establishment, according to the United Nationals Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The Taliban is providing Al Qaeda with key support, including “welfare payments” and passports.