Bruce Riedel
Encyclopedia
Bruce Riedel is a Senior Fellow in foreign policy at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy
of the Brookings Institution
, a Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group
, a former CIA Analyst, a counter-terrorism
expert, and an author
. He retired in 2006 after 29 years with the Central Intelligence Agency
. Riedel served as Special Assistant to the President
and Senior Director for Near East Affairs on the National Security Council
(1997–2002), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asian Affairs (1995–97), and National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Intelligence Council
(1993–95). His areas of expertise include counter-terrorism
, Arab-Israeli issues, Persian Gulf security and India and Pakistan.
Riedel has a B.A. from Brown
, a Masters in Diplomatic History from Harvard, and has studied at the Royal College of Defense Studies in London. He received the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Medal in 1997, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal
in 2001, and the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award in 2006 for his work in the intelligence and defense community.
He is the author of 'Al Qaeda Strikes Back', which is a study in contemporary counter-terrorism
and was published in May/June 2007 edition of Foreign Affairs
that focuses on the International terrorist organization al-Qaeda
.
Riedel previously served as a policy adviser to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama
. In February 2009 Barack Obama
appointed him chair of White House
review to overhaul of U.S. policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan by April. On March 27, 2009 he briefed the press about this review.
Saban Center for Middle East Policy
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy is a center within the Brookings Institution focused on the United States' involvement in the Middle East...
of the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
, a Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group
Albright Stonebridge Group
The Albright Stonebridge Group is a global strategy company led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albrightand former National Security Advisor Samuel Berger, and former Senator Warren Rudman...
, a former CIA Analyst, a counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
expert, and an author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He retired in 2006 after 29 years with the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
. Riedel served as Special Assistant to the President
Executive Office of the President of the United States
The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently William M. Daley...
and Senior Director for Near East Affairs on the National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
(1997–2002), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asian Affairs (1995–97), and National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South Asian Affairs at the National Intelligence Council
National Intelligence Council
The National Intelligence Council is the center for midterm and long-term strategic thinking within the United States Intelligence Community . It was formed in 1979...
(1993–95). His areas of expertise include counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
, Arab-Israeli issues, Persian Gulf security and India and Pakistan.
Other assignments:
- Special Advisor, NATO, Brussels, Belgium (2003-2006)
- Member, Royal College of Defense Studies, London, UK (2002-2003)
- Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and North African Affairs, National Security Council (2001-2002)
- Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Near East and South Asian Affairs, National Security Council (1997-2001)
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near East and South Asian Affairs, Office of the Secretary of DefenseOffice of the Secretary of DefenseThe Office of the Secretary of Defense is a headquarters-level staff of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. It is the principal civilian staff element of the Secretary of Defense, and it assists the Secretary in carrying out authority, direction and control of the Department...
(1995-1997) - Director for Gulf and South Asia Affairs, National Security CouncilNational Security CouncilA National Security Council is usually an executive branch governmental body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising chief executives on matters related to national security...
(1991-1993) - Deputy Chief Persian Gulf Task Force, Central Intelligence Agency (1990-1991)
- Various assignments, Central Intelligence AgencyCentral Intelligence AgencyThe Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
(1977-1990)
Riedel has a B.A. from Brown
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, a Masters in Diplomatic History from Harvard, and has studied at the Royal College of Defense Studies in London. He received the Secretary of Defense Distinguished Service Medal in 1997, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal
Distinguished Intelligence Medal
The Distinguished Intelligence Medal is awarded by the Central Intelligence Agency for performance of outstanding services or for achievement of a distinctly exceptional nature in a duty or responsibility.-Notable Recipients:Robert G. Brewster...
in 2001, and the Department of State Meritorious Honor Award in 2006 for his work in the intelligence and defense community.
He is the author of 'Al Qaeda Strikes Back', which is a study in contemporary counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
and was published in May/June 2007 edition of Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
that focuses on the International terrorist organization al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
.
Riedel previously served as a policy adviser to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. In February 2009 Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
appointed him chair of White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
review to overhaul of U.S. policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan by April. On March 27, 2009 he briefed the press about this review.
External links
- Articles by Bruce Riedel from Council on Foreign Relations
- Al Qaeda Strikes Back by Bruce Riedel, Foreign AffairsForeign AffairsForeign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
, May/June 2007 - A New Pakistan Policy: Containment by Bruce Riedel, New York Times, October 15, 2011