Gabriel Koehler-Derrick and the author of the CTC’s report on al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula traveled to Washington D.C. on October 17th for a brief and discussion with members of the House Armed Services Committee regarding developments in Yemen. Topics discussed included the implications of their report for understanding tribal dynamics in Yemen, strategic analysis of Bin Ladin’s guidance for the AQAP’s leadership, and shifts in the group’s communications and tactical operations since the beginning of the “Arab Spring.” The briefing was attended by members of the House Armed Services Committee Professional Staff, the Senate Armed Services Committee Professional Staff and the House Foreign Affairs Committee Professional Staff. Participants are responsible for a range of functional and policy issues for Yemen and the broader AOR.
